We all can hope that outrageous weather is not a trend, but between the earthquake on Tuesday and the upcoming hurricane, I think this is trend-blog worthy. 

While everyone knows they can find the latest comprehensive information on Irene at nhregister.com, I thought I would mention a few tips that I learned today, other than stocking up on water and batteries, to help those battening down the hatches. 

I was told by a few sources and family members that if it rains before a hurricane (as it did in the New Haven area today) tree roots become loose in the soil so trees are more likely to topple with the help of heavy winds. One source told me he is putting heavy-duty plastic around the tree base tonight to avoid any further soil saturation and allow the water to runoff elsewhere in the ground.

Now onto technology, which won't be very usable during a power outage unless you prepare. First of all, if the power is out, you won't be able to charge your cell phone. That wouldn't seem so bad but you may need it to call for help (or play angry birds to pass the time if the weather is less severe.) This may not be doable for other cell phones but for iphone users: have a laptop charged up so you can use it as a cell phone charger if you need to. If you have an ipad or netbook, keep those charged for the same reasons.

If the weather does get nasty and cell phone calls are dropped, there is an app called Voxer that acts as a walkie talkie. This allows you to reach others in a time of emergency when cell-phone service may be spotty or the lines are clogged. Look into this before Sunday, when Connecticut is supposed to feel Irene's wrath.

 The latest on Irene.

Now, for a slight blast from the past. If you are looking for some not-so-fair-weather entertainment:

Humorous things people had to say about the August 23, 2012 earthquake

Do you eat, sleep and breathe news? My bet is, if you are a hard core journalist you do. You have probably had newsprint stuck to your favorite notebook after you spilled coffee on it and it created a crusted beige blob forever imprinting the news of that day onto the cardboard backing. Maybe you have even fallen asleep on a newspaper like I have and awoken to find faint sans serif type tattooed on your cheek. Here is a classier and more fun way to sport the news: on your nails.

My initial warning to you is that I have not yet tried this so I cannot report results yet but I am planning on reserving some time for a manicure tonight so I will report back with my successes and failures. I will also add that I would have told the world about this apparent trend eons ago had I known about it but my trend-savvy friend Mandy  mentioned it to me last night.

Now that I have kept you all patiently waiting, here are the instructions:

-What you will need: ten finger-nail size strips of newspaper (the words do not matter as the newsprint will appear backwards but of course content always matters so take out your New Haven Register), rubbing alcohol or vodka (for those over 21 years of age) will do just fine and a bowl that your hand will fit in.

1) Go through the whole shabang of cutting, filing and nail-polish removing your nails. 

2) Let that dry. (In fact, I am just going to asterisk this and whenever you see **, then let your nails fully dry. This is (from what I have heard) very important.

3) Paint your nails with a light color (this is important as newsprint is black)

**

4) Paint your nails once again with the same color, creating a second coat.

**

5) Dip one nail at a time in the alcohol and press your newspaper strip against your nail. I have heard it also works to dip the strip of newspaper in alcohol as well. The words should show up as planned.

**

6) Once your nails are sufficiently set and dry, coat your newsprint nails with a clear coat of polish and preform any touch-ups you may need.

The final step is to flaunt your new nails like the savvy and fashionable journo or English fiend that you are.

It has been a very trendy summer so far and while I have spotted them, I'll admit, I haven't been great about writing about them. But no worries because I am catching up. So in case you were trendless for a week or so without my posts, here's one you're bound to latch onto - or perhaps one that will latch onto you.

Women and men alike are attaching rooster feather hair extensions - the same ones used for fly fishing - to be a part of the latest trend. The sleek feathers range in pattern, color and length and have to be attached in a salon. 

Over the past few weeks I have heard of high-fashion icons going individually to chic salons to make their hair a little more flashy and gaggles of 12-year-old girls who troop to a salon together for a birthday party to get the trendy addition for their locks. 

While trends like Ugg boots even planking can only be seen in certain age groups, there are not too many trends that sixth graders and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith can all participate in.

But before you go chasing down a rooster, know that these hair additions are affordable (but they do seem to range in cost). So flock together trend-setters.