Richard Starazek, age 11, of Utica, Now York, for his question:

Why are hurricanes named after girls?

It was the weathermen who chose girls' names for the howling hurricanes. The weathermen do the work of surveying, warning and predicting the paths of these terrible storms. So surely they have the right to choose names for the monsters. Perhaps they had a simple reason for naming them after girls. Did you ever‑ count all the girls names and all the boy’s names you know? There are far more girls' names in common use. So this list gives the weathermen the wider selection.

This may be so, but a few weeks ago Andy heard an explanation which is far more to his liking. Carter Montgomery, age 10, of Columbia, S.C. solved this puzzling problem with a joke ‑ which is exactly what it deserves.

He told Andy that her‑icanes are named for girls because who ever heard of a him‑icane? Andy adds his ha‑ha and hopes this answers the question.