“Disk” or “Disc” ?

I tend to pride myself on my knowledge of spelling (both UK and USA), but the distinction between “disk” and “disc” had hitherto eluded me.
Now I’ve finally found out, so if you’ve been wondering about this too, read on…

“Disk” first came into use in the mid-17th century, being spelled with a “k” on the model of older words such as “whisk”. “Disc”, derived from the word’s Latin source “discus”, arose half a century later. Both spellings were used interchangeably into the 20th century, with people in Britain tending to use “disc” more often, and Americans preferring “disk”.

Late in the 19th century, the “c”-spelling was used when referring to the newly-introduced flat plate (as opposed to Edison’s cylindrical drum) for sound recordings, and “disc” became the conventional spelling in the music industry.

In the 1940s, American computer scientists chose “disk” to refer to their flat storage devices, and this convention was followed in such compounds as “hard disk” and “floppy disk”.

When the new storage technology of the CD arose in the 1970s, both “k”- and “c”-spellings competed for an initial period. Computer specialists preferred their familiar “disk”, while people in the music industry, accustomed to ”disc”, continued to use that spelling. These tendencies soon became established practice in the different industries.

That is why we buy “compact disks” in computer stores but get the same storage devices with different data as “compact discs” in music stores.

[ information abstracted from "com·pact disk or com·pact disc" ]

Mothers’ Day

Thank you so much for the breakfast.
I can’t say what pleased me the most.
Was it the sauce on the cornflakes,
Or the lard which you spread on the toast?
And doesn’t the coffee taste different
When the water comes straight from the tap?
But I know that you can’t use the kettle,
As you’re still very young, little chap.

The brooch that you gave me is lovely,
With emeralds spelling my name.
No, I don’t think I know any ladies
Who own one exactly the same.
And thanks for the bottle of perfume.
It truly brought tears to my eyes.
I’m going to save it for summer,
And use it to keep off the flies!

I think you’re so clever, my darling,
To make such a beautiful card.
We should get the glue off the sofa,
Though it seems to have set pretty hard.
Oh goodness, is Dad cooking dinner?
I know that he’s doing his best,
And I’m not for the minute complaining,
But the smoke tends to get on my chest.

Thank heavens, it’s Monday tomorrow.
I’ll spend the whole day on my feet
And, polishing, scrubbing, and scraping,
Clean up the effects of my treat.
It’s not that I’m grumbling, my sweetheart.
Don’t think I dislike it, my dear.
I’m just grateful that Mothering Sunday
Comes round only once every year.

… and here is the weather forecast

Hello there. Glad you could drop by. Well, I’m British, and we have a reputation for understatement and for talking about the weather, so I think I’ll reinforce the stereotypes by sharing a little rhyme with you…..

WEATHER FORECAST

You know that optimistic chap
That stands before the weather map?
What he engagingly foretells
Is “Scattered showers and sunny spells.”

The anticyclones come and go,
The pressure may be high or low,
But still he stands, and still he dwells
On “Scattered showers and sunny spells.”

Fronts warm and cold go curving by,
But which is wet, and which are dry?
The answer, like a peal of bells,
Is “Scattered showers and sunny spells.”

And when a cyclone hits our shores,
And loud and fierce the tempest roars,
Above the hurricane he yells, 
“It’s scattered showers and sunny spells.”