Storm clouds gathering for a brutal hurricane season  The
Atlantic hurricane season kicks off today, and the forecasts
from NOAA are not promising:    They predict anywhere from 14 to
23 named storms to form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and
Gulf of Mexico. Of those named storms, eight to 14 should become
hurricanes, including three to seven "major" hurricanes with
wind speeds above 111 mph.  This prediction is the highest of
any that federal forecasters have made since they began issuing
seasonal hurricane forecasts in 1998.  To be fair, these
forecasts don't have a great record, but given what else is
happening in the region, they are cause for concern. I hate to
use that hackneyed cliche, "perfect storm," but the potential
for environmental and humanitarian catastrophe this year does
seem particularly worrying.   First there's the gulf spill.
Scientists don't know exactly how hurricanes will affect the oil
slick --  it could push more oil toward Louisiana's fragile
marshlands, but could also assist