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Comment by mjbellantoni | Hacker News Reader

The "Old John Hancock" building in Boston has a similar weather beacon and an accompanying rhyme:

  Steady blue, clear view.
  Flashing blue, clouds due.
  Steady red, rain ahead.
  Flashing red, snow instead.

In summer, flashing red means the Red Sox game has been cancelled.

That rhyme conveys virtually no information. It could just as well be:

  Steady blue, rains due.
  Flashing blue, clear view.
  Steady red, snow ahead.
  Flashing red, clouds instead.

True, but that's the case for many a rhyming mnemonic:

I never remember, is it In fourteen hundred and sixty-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue?

But of course I remember remember the ninth of November.

Sometimes, though, I'm not sure if I'm correct with I before E except before C.

But I can definitely remember the order to get drunk in using Beer before wine, all is fine; wine before beer: oh dear.

Remember remember

the fifth of November

the gun powder treason and plot.

I know of no reason

the gunpowder treason

should ever be forgot!