Confusing ship propulsion terms

When a sailing ship arrived in port, it was announced by saying, she sailed into port.

The arrival of a steamship was announced by saying, she steamed into port.

The arrival of a modern ship, powered by diesel or gas turbine engines, is never announced by saying, she dieseled into port or she turbined into port. No, of course not. Dieseled or turbined just don’t seem to have the allure of sailed or steamed. Besides, I don’t think dieseled or turbined are even words found in a dictionary.

Why don’t we just say, she pulled into port? Well, actually, sometimes we do but more often it’s sailed or steamed.

I found the following picture and caption on the Internet:

The Royal Caribbean Cruise ship Explorer of the Seas steamed upriver on its way to State Pier in New London this morning.

Since the cruise ship Explorer of the Seas is powered by gas turbine engines, why did they say she steamed upriver?

It must be that we just can’t be logical and nautical at the same time.

Colbert explains the history of ATT&T

The more AT&T changes the more it stays the same as shown here.

Proof that light travels faster than sound

Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

For Sale, Saddam’s yacht: rocket launcher and submarine included

At the link below, the Rocky Mountain News reports that a unique yacht is for sale

A palatial pleasure yacht with swimming pools, opulent salons and, should the winds of war blow, a rocket launcher and mini-submarine.



The sale of the 269-foot Ocean Breeze [pictured], built for Saddam Hussein and docked on the French Riviera, could be thwarted, however, if Iraq can prove it belongs to someone in the late dictator's entourage — and now, therefore, to the government in Baghdad.

The yacht was built in 1981 and was originally named Qadisiyah Saddam. It was stored in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Jiddah in 1986. The Yacht has been renamed Ocean Breeze and is now in the harbor at Nice, on the French Riviera.

The yacht has an asking price of Euro 23.5 million (US $34 million).

Link