Good morning, Whitewater.
Monday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny with a high of twenty-seven. Having received reader replies in comments and email, I’ve decided not to switch the sunrise forecast to a twenty-four hour clock. We’ll stay conventional here at FW, at least in this regard. Sunrise is 6:58 and sunset 5:19, for 10h 20m 08s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 75% of its visible disk illuminated.
Whitewater’s Planning Commission meets tonight at 6:30 PM.
On this day in 1943, America defeats Japan at Guadalcanal, with the United States making a formal announcement on success there:
Washington, Feb. 9 — The long and hard-fought battle for the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomons apparently has ended, Secretary of the navy Frank Knox said here today. His declaration, made at a press conference, was the first authoritative statement of a United States victory that has been indicated by the Navy communiqués for the past two or three weeks.
The conquest of this island, or specifically a few square miles of territory around Henderson Airfield on its northern shore, gives American forces undisputed possession both of the airfield and an excellent harbor near by, which becomes a threat to Japan’s major bases in the South Pacific. This conclusion was voiced by Secretary Knox.
The Secretary’s comment was inspired by a broadcast Japanese communiqué, which announced that units of troops had been withdrawn from Guadalcanal. Mr. Knox said this appeared to be correct. He added the speculative statement that possibly the sea action that was announced as occurring last week and the previous week in the Solomons, with some loss for our Navy, might have been precipitated by the Japanese to cover withdrawal of troops rather than as an attack on our forces.
On this day in 1870, the United States establishes a weather service:
1870 – National Weather Service Authorized
On this date President Ulysses S. Grant signed a joint resolution authorizing a National Weather Service, which had long been a dream of Milwaukee scientist Increase Lapham. Lapham, 19th-century Wisconsin’s premier natural scientist, proposed a national weather service after he mapped data contributed over telegraph lines in the UpperMidwest and realized that weather might be predicted in advance. He was concerned about avoiding potential disasters to Great Lakes shipping and Wisconsin farming, and his proposal was approved by Congress and authorized on this date. [Source: History Just Ahead: A Guide to Wisconsin’s Historical Markers, edited by Sarah Davis McBride]
Here’s Puzzability‘s game for today:
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This Week’s Game — February 9-13
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Hearts and Letters
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Naturally, there’s romance in the mix this Valentine’s week. For each day, we started with a word, added the eight letters in the words TRUE LOVE, and rearranged all the letters to get a new phrase. Both pieces are described in each day’s clue, with the shorter one first.
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Example:
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Pool length; track and field athlete with a long stick
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Answer:
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Lap; pole vaulter
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What to Submit:
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Submit both pieces, with the shorter one first (as “Lap; pole vaulter” in the example), for your answer.
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Monday, February 9
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