Birmingham News Washington Correspondent, Sean Reilly, reports funding in next year's budget for a U.S. Navy ship being built in Mobile has been eliminated by a Senate committee. The "littoral"* ships are designed for relatively shallow water. The one pictured in The USS Independence, built in Mobile by a General Dynamics consortium. There was a competition for the contract. The other competitor is Lockheed-Martin, which came up with a much more conventional looking craft. Now there will be a battle with the House over the future of the ships. [*from the Latin word for sea. The littoral zone is shallow water near the shore, especially in oceans, but the meaning varies somewhat from usage to usage.]
Perhaps, Tim... but should this be taken literally?
ReplyDelete*LOL*
Etymologically speaking (I hope that doesn't bug anyone *hah* - not punny) the word littoral is attested from 1656, and was derived from the Latin "littoralis" meaning "of, or belonging to the seashore," and came from the word "litus" or "litorus" meaning "seashore" from "Lido" (Hello? Boz Scaggs calling!) which is of unknown origin. As a noun, "littoral" was first recorded so used in 1828, and is from the Italian "littorale," and was originally an adjective from the Latin "littoralis."
What we have here is a house that banned funding for a sea litorus vessel. Was Troy king involved in any way?
Or, am I being shallow?
Interestingly, I am going to Finger, TN for an upcoming professional conference.
I hope it will be enjoyable! Though we'll likely be digital, I doubt there'll be exams.
Is the humor palpable, or have we touched upon that subject (enough already)?
Is there probity in this anywhere?