Sure, that was turbulent enough, but I'm thinking about the "Super Outbreak" of tornadoes that took place across the eastern U.S. from the afternoon of April 3rd into the early morning hours of April 4th. Those twisters were spawned from a deepening area of low pressure that moved from the Rocky Mountains into the Upper Midwest. CLICK HERE for official archived weather maps from Wednesday, April 3, 1974...select day 4 from the drop down list on the upper right. That weathermaker was part and parcel of the La Nina pattern the nation was locked into at the time. Interestingly, the winter leading up to that disastrous event was mainly warm and mainly wet (sound familiar?). Bowling Green saw no measurable snowfall in the winter of '73-'74 until February 8th, when 1" fell. It's worth noting that the 1" or less of snow in our area last week turned out to be the first measurable snowfall of the season for many.

Paris discovers its playboy President

For many, Sarkozy's defiance of the rules is refreshing in a country still governed by a rigid social structure and an unspoken adherence to class etiquette. In a nation that prides rarefied intellect and venerates philosophers, Sarkozy portrays himself as a bruiser, a scrapper, a contender. One photographer recently commissioned to take his portrait for an American newspaper recalls that he spent the entire interview tilting his chair back on two legs, like a bored teenager. 'There was a sort of vulgarity to him and you felt he enjoyed it. He had a large plate of sliced saucisson in front of him that he ate all through the interview without offering it to anyone else.'

For all his gumption and glitz, Sarkozy's dramatic transformation of presidential office has been met in some quarters by a snobbish disapprobation of 'la peopolisation' of French politics.

Chelsea lacks class at exclusive event

Clinton arrived at Stanford yesterday for a one-day swing through campus in order to talk to young women, a key target demographic of the Clinton campaign. But the limited invitation policy of the event at Pi Phi, which was only open to members of the Inter-Sorority-Council, left a bad taste in the mouths of the many Clinton fans and political junkies across campus, many of whom would have stayed home from Lake Tahoe ski trips for a chance to attend.

In an effort to sway undecided voters for California's upcoming Feb. 5 presidential primary, Chelsea hosted a small round-table discussion at Old Union and later a larger event open only to sorority members in the Pi Phi lounge. According to a member of the Stanford Students for Hillary, who was quoted in the Stanford Daily on Monday [Chelsea Campaigns at Farm], the former first daughter wanted to reach out to the sorority audience in order to tap into a "core demographic" of Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Police arrest suspect in armed robbery

Maryland State Police have arrested an Ijamsville man in connection with a robbery in a McDonald's parking lot in Mount Airy Thursday.

Andre Jullian Meade, 19, was arrested Friday and charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, theft of less than $500 and several handgun charges, according to a press release from state police.Troopers responded to the parking lot of the McDonald's in the 1700 block of Ridgeside Drive shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday for a report of a man who had been robbed, according to the release.A 19-year-old man had reportedly been confronted in the parking lot by two men who demanded his money before he drove away in his vehicle.The two suspects then demanded money from a second man, according to the release. The man, 21, refused and was threatened with a gun, at which time he gave the suspects an undisclosed amount of money.Neither victim was hurt, but their names weren't released by police, citing concerns for their safety.The two suspects drove off in a green vehicle police described as either a Honda Civic or Toyota Camry with unknown registration.Troopers from the Rockville barrack located Meade around 11:30 a.m.

Megson tackles fans head on

Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association chairman Tony Pearson said "the jury is out" on Megson but called on fellow fans to give the former West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Nottingham Forest manager time to get things right.

"I don't think it's fair to totally write Megson off this early in his career.

Weather Slows Clinton, Obama Campaigns

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A snow and ice storm Sunday slowed the campaigns of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in Wisconsin.Clinton had scheduled an early afternoon town hall meeting in DePere, but a spokeswoman for her Wisconsin campaign said the event was postponed until Monday.Carly Lindauer said it was too risky to travel to DePere, in the eastern part of the state, and that the campaign did not want people going out into the storm and trying to get to St. Norbert University, where the rally was to be held.Obama had scheduled an afternoon town hall meeting in nearby Kaukauna, but that also has been canceled due to weather. .