Messages

16

General Weather Chat / Nor'easter jetstream vs. clipper?

« on: January 27, 2014, 11:08:23 PM »

So, I've been feeling like a confused noob as of late. Each time I saw the jetstream map last week, the kid in me jumped a little and said, "Hey, that's a nor'easter jetstream." For a moment I'm excited, waiting for a low to start circulating in the Gulf of Mexico, and then they cut to the news about the near-endless stream of Alberta Clippers. What is confusing me is the jetstream looked exactly like what I remembered seeing at times where Nor'easters were common. But any low pressure following the initial jetstream failed to travel south, and instead 'jumped' the trough, shooting across the Great Lakes. This was happening even when the trough dipped as far south as Alabama. From what I remember of "Clipper" jetstream patterns, the trough is subtle, dipping only slightly below the lakes.. which more like what we're seeing this week.

So, what crucial Nor'easter ingredient is it that I'm forgetting about?

17

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: April 14, 2013, 06:47:51 PM »

SNL did a skit about TWC last night. A few OCMs have posted about it, even though it is clearly making fun of all of the longform they have been running. They also feature Jeanetta Jones for some reason.

What's scary is I could actually see a news network attempting a format like this in the future, as some twisted way of making news more fun. You know, when we reach a point where news can no longer hold anyone's attention because it's all about the reality shows.

It's also like a parody on the origin of soap operas, which started out as nothing more than advertisements.

And... that video was hilarious.

18

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: April 13, 2013, 07:25:17 PM »

I can only wonder where television goes from here.  I thought "Jersey Shore" was as low as it gets... until Honey Boo Boo came along.

I'm guessing... Idiocracy with a hint of The Running Man?

19

Everything Else TWC / Re: Why The Weather Channel is Naming Winter Storms

« on: April 13, 2013, 07:24:25 PM »

TWC is now on its 24th named storm, with only 2 remaining (Y and Z).  With us being well into spring, it's probably unlikely that they will run out, but who would have thought we would have had two named storms in April?!

I'm actually surprised that they didn't run out. Not because their parameters for a named storm are too generous, but because it's much easier to wind up with multiple winter storm systems at the same time than it is with hurricanes, which have a tendency to come one-at-a-time.

20

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: April 13, 2013, 10:29:01 AM »

Just a couple of evenings ago, I was discussing with people too young to remember the days when cable networks actually had unique purposes.  The Learning Channel, Bravo, The Weather Channel, even Discovery and History... they all had their own unique niches.  Now, everyone's trying to outcompete everyone else by being pretty much the same as everyone else, and it saddens me.  Not only that, but this competition through similarity just means that the quality of programming gets worse and worse with each season.

Niche marketing was doomed when Wall Street came around, I think. It's a world where you can get 'voted out' if the shareholders can prove you're not working in their best interests. The very fact that you're catering to a niche means you're not maximizing profitability. Ya gotta go for widespread appeal, or you're toast.

Everyone's fighting over the biggest piece of the pie now, while the rest of it spoils.

21

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Greenlights 6 New Series in Time for First Upfront in 5 Years

« on: April 12, 2013, 09:35:03 PM »

Wow... just.... wow.

Wouldn't "When Weather Changed the World" be essentially the same as "When Weather Changed History"?
Honestly, TWC does not need anymore new shows.

How about a "When TWC changed the world." Then maybe NBC would get a clue of what it actually is that they bought.

22

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: April 10, 2013, 07:17:22 PM »

The DirecTV-generated local forecasts use ZIP codes, and regular Stars use location names.  I don't think I've ever seen ZIP codes used on a Star.  Unless you're talking about something else that I'm missing.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about.

During the past few years I've been here, it's been incredible how much the LOT8's has changed. I remember in 2009 people were still complaining about the IS icons and wanted the XL ones back. Then people didn't like how many of the LOT8's songs were repeats in the years 2010-2011. 2012 was the big permanent music shift--or debacle, for some-- from jazz to vocals, and 2013 has just been a serious diminishing of the LOT8's importance. I was one of the people to complain about the music, too, but it's amazing how many of us took the LOT8's for granted the past few years, complaining about things such as icons and music repeats. None of those things, though, compare to the phasing out of the LOT8's. I didn't think it'd happen this quickly, but time does inevitably lead to change, and TWC is living up to that principle. I wish the network the best, but I don't see it surviving on major TV networks much longer with all the negative changes I'm observing. If TWC doesn't keep the LOT8's, it won't be keeping my attention or viewership, as I mainly watch for my local weather anyhow unless there is some serious weather news around the country.

It's very depressing, the way that broadcasting has gone. Subject to the same kind of hyper-inflation that has hit, well I guess an OK example is the health industry.

Premium Cable, which once upon a time was meant to be a holy grail for broadcasting because it would be free of ads, has now fallen right back into it. Only now the technology just demands everything to be even MORE costly than it was before. Combined with the kind of 'ADHD-proof' programming that is prominent now, and it's not surprising that nobody can ever expect to sit down and RELAX to watch a weather forecast. If it takes more than 5 seconds to get your message across, you risk losing your audience. Even the coverage of Golf... of all things, Golf... has started to show signs of trying to make itself super-exciting. Last year I did a literal face palm when I saw an ad for a tournament set to music from Inception (complete with the dramatic foghorn noise). I felt like I was watching one of those satirical youtube trailers where they take something cute/romantic and turn it into a horror piece.

TWC hasn't even taken the brunt of this though. The history channel seems to have had to reinvent itself as the fantasy channel just to keep itself alive.

Growing up, I wanted to get into broadcasting. I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole now. 

23

Local Forecast / Re: Are the classic LF playlists complete, or... ?

« on: April 10, 2013, 05:42:27 PM »

I have others that I plan to add soon.

Cool, thanks.

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Everything Else Classic TWC / Re: Debut of TWC

« on: April 10, 2013, 03:16:09 PM »

I never even found the music from the early years be bright and upbeat.

For example: Green Into Gold is one of the most depressing and haunting piano melodies I've ever heard.


Twctornado77, thanks for posting that. My wife and I will be sitting through the whole thing sometime soon.

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Local Forecast / Re: Are the classic LF playlists complete, or... ?

« on: April 10, 2013, 10:33:06 AM »

http://www.twcclassics.com/local-forecast/playlists/

After '94, there isn't another Christmas playlist until '99. (I checked the latter month playlists too to make sure the songs weren't hidden amongst them.

26

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: April 10, 2013, 04:39:18 AM »

This is a reminder that there actually were 30-second LFs at one point:

http://www.twcclassics.com/local-forecast/flavors/weatherstar-3000
http://www.twcclassics.com/local-forecast/flavors/weatherstar-4000

If I'm not mistaken, the 4k wasn't a forecast at all, and only showed local/regional conditions. The 3k 'maybe' but I remember times when that would skip forecasts as well.

Are all 30-second LF's going by the zip code instead of a local name? That seems SO impersonal.

27

Local Forecast / Are the classic LF playlists complete, or... ?

« on: April 09, 2013, 11:04:05 PM »

This question popped to mind because of Christmas playlists (or lack thereof). I seem to remember Christmas music still being played in '95 and '96 for example, but there are no Christmas playlists for those years.

Is my memory just off and there were no X-mas songs for the LF in those years? Or are there blocks of time that the LF playlist section doesn't have documented?

28

OCMs & Personalities / Cantore snow battle

« on: March 11, 2013, 04:16:01 AM »

http://www.weather.com/video/abrams-vs-cantore-throwdown-35537

I already knew he had the best job in the bloody universe. But doing this while at work?  OK, now he's just bragging.

29

Contributions / Suggestions for archiving/restoring analog video to digital?

« on: February 20, 2013, 02:59:53 AM »

Before I drive myself crazy creating an account on some random video editing website that I'll probably only make 2 posts on, I thought I might have a shot at getting the info here, since there's folks here who have really old videos that they've since uploaded.

I want to archive my old TWC footage, but am at a loss for what kind of player to use. Some of the tapes are rather screwy with the tracking. In some cases, what would be needed for optimal tracking is in a constant state of flux (no idea why) resulting in a video that looks fine, then goes haywire, and then returns to normal, in near regular intervals.

In other cases, though the tracking is stable, it's impossible to get a perfect image (with tracking adjustments, I I have to pick between static on the screen, a bouncy V-hold, or broken sound).

What I'm wondering is, with all the advances in computer technology, has there been a machine built that can compensate for all of this chaos and provide a clear image, so that I may then capture it to digital? Based on what I remember of how how VHS tapes worked, this should technically be possible, but I've no clue if anyone has ever done such a thing.

30

General Discussion / Re: Bogus EAS "Dead Bodies" Message Tramsmitted

« on: February 16, 2013, 01:12:06 AM »

So... I almost fell on the floor laughing at this for about the first 30 seconds... and then sobered up pretty quickly as I remembered the movie, "Wargames".