Messages

1426

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: October 29, 2010, 03:13:07 AM »

I've been told they like the look of the graphics on the screen so it may be permanent in the future. We shall see

1427

Local Forecast / Re: The Weather Channel / The Weather Network UK STAR

« on: October 29, 2010, 02:03:48 AM »

You know in all of the countries I visited (UK, France, Germany, Italy) I have concluded that Americans are actually quite into weather. TWC really is one of kind (for now anyway).

1428

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Shary

« on: October 29, 2010, 02:01:13 AM »

Here's another tropical storm that barely made the cut.  Shary will only be a small threat to Bermuda, but it poses no threat to the United States.  Here's something you may not realize:  While the Atlantic continues to churn late in the season, the western Pacific has been completely silent since September 23 after Georgette dissipated.

I am impressed with the Pacific. This has been a nice quiet streak for it.

1429

Hurricane Central / Hurricane Shary

« on: October 29, 2010, 01:45:13 AM »

Tropical Storm SHARY Forecast Discussion

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000
WTNT45 KNHC 290254
TCDAT5
TROPICAL STORM SHARY DISCUSSION NUMBER   1
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL202010
1100 PM AST THU OCT 28 2010

SATELLITE...SHIP...AND BUOY DATA INDICATE THAT THE CIRCULATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW PRESSURE AREA SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA HAS
BECOME BETTER DEFINED.  THE SYSTEM HAS MAINTAINED ORGANIZED
CONVECTION THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE DAY AND HAS ENOUGH ORGANIZATION
TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A TROPICAL CYCLONE.  THE CENTER OF THE CYCLONE
HAS PASSED JUST SOUTHWEST OF NOAA BUOY 41049 DURING THE PAST COUPLE
OF HOURS.  THE BUOY REPORTED PEAK 1-MINUTE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 33 KT
AT BOTH 0000 AND 0200 UTC.  BASED ON THE WIND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE
BUOY...THE SYSTEM IS STARTED AS A 35-KT TROPICAL STORM....THE
EIGHTEENTH OF THE 2010 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.  SINCE THERE IS
ENOUGH SEPARATION BETWEEN SHARY AND THE UPPER-LOW TO THE
SOUTHWEST...AND THERE IS A SMALL RADIUS OF MAXIMUM WINDS...THE
SYSTEM IS DESIGNATED AS A TROPICAL RATHER THAN A SUBTROPICAL
CYCLONE.

THE INITIAL MOTION IS A SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN 310/20.  IT APPEARS THAT
THE CENTER HAS REFORMED TO THE NORTHWEST DURING THE PAST SEVERAL
HOURS...MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE A MORE PRECISE MOTION.
SHARY HAS BEEN MOVING BETWEEN A MID-LEVEL RIDGE TO THE NORTHEAST AND
THE LARGE UPPER-LEVEL LOW ITS SOUTHWEST.  THE TROPICAL STORM IS
EXPECTED TO TURN TOWARD THE NORTH AND THEN NORTHEAST DURING THE
NEXT 24-36 HOURS AS THE RIDGE MOVES EAST AND A MID-LATITUDE TROUGH
MOVES OFF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.  THE TRACK GUIDANCE
IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT...ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES IN THE
FUTURE FORWARD SPEED OF SHARY.  THE GFS...UKMET...AND ECMWF ARE
SLOWER THAN THE NOGAPS...GFDL...AND HWRF.  FOR NOW THE SLOWER
SOLUTION IS PREFERRED...AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS SLOWER THAN
THE DYNAMICAL MODEL CONSENSUS.

IT APPEARS THAT SHARY WILL BE A RELATIVELY SHORT-LIVED TROPICAL
CYCLONE.  MODERATE SOUTH TO SOUTHEASTERLY SHEAR IS FORECAST TO
DECREASE DURING THE NEXT 12-24 HOURS...WHICH COULD ALLOW FOR SOME
STRENGTHENING.  AFTER 24 HOURS...SHARY WILL BE TRANSITIONING TO AN
EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE AS IT MERGES WITH A COLD FRONT.  THE GLOBAL
MODELS DO NOT SHOW ANY ADDITIONAL INTENSIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM AS
AN EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE.  IN FACT...THEY INDICATE THAT THE CYCLONE
SHOULD WEAKEN IN 3-4 DAYS AND DISSIPATE BY 96 HOURS

1430

Hurricane Central / Re: 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season running out of names - a possible idea...

« on: October 29, 2010, 01:43:11 AM »

There are still storms forming out there? Could of sworn Paul would be the last one this year.

Anyway, I don't think we'll run out of names this year...just a prediction. If we're lucky, then Walter will be the last named storm.

Two tangerines and tropical storm now. 3 names left on the list. Its very possible

1431

General Weather Chat / Re: Severe Weather Threat: Tuesday, October 26th

« on: October 29, 2010, 01:39:50 AM »

While this storm was impressive and the storms did cause damage the media did hype it a lot in regards to the wind. It wasn't as bad as some of the wild scenarios that were being predicted

1432

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: October 29, 2010, 01:38:21 AM »

W.T.F. http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/arkansas_school_board_member_says_gay_students_should_get_aids_and_die

It was done on his own personal facebook page at the very least. While I don't support what he said it is certainly his freedom to do so. Similar to Juan Williams. Personal opinions are just that... personal. If this was affecting his decisions on the school board I would then call for his resignation. Still a dumb move by this guy. It's a shame people have so much hate

1433

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 28, 2010, 07:14:33 PM »

SOOOOOOO, we're getting back on topic.

I stumbled upon an interesting article from The Washington Post. Somehow, the live weather coverage will still be there, but they'll only use it WHEN NECESSARY (i.e. blizzard, severe weather, man struck by lightning, etc (kidding on the last one )). Shirley Powell, TWC's executive VP says that they're "going to stick with the formula, 80% live weather coverage, and 20% longform".

The article also reveals that Dr. Steve Lyons left the network to take the job at the NWS because of TWC's crappy programming changes. (So it's not the contract then?)

Link to the article here

Oh freaking great... they're trying to turn things around again.

The choice was not all up to him according to those I spoke to

1434

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 27, 2010, 11:43:07 PM »

NBCU is destroying The Weather Channel. 

I completely agree... even though it appears such sentiments are frowned upon here.

It is fine to discuss it when there is something new to talk about. This qualifies.

1435

Programming and Graphics / Re: Lightning Rod--CANCELLED

« on: October 27, 2010, 06:08:35 PM »

So lets get this straight.... TWC spent thousands on revamping part of the studio, getting fancy gizmos, running promos, designing snazzy graphics packages for a show that never aired. Nice

1436

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 26, 2010, 08:37:52 PM »

Damn it. Anyone by chance download that video?

1437

The Game Room / Re: Guess the Next Poster

« on: October 26, 2010, 03:40:19 AM »

Stuck with me again

Evan?

1438

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

« on: October 26, 2010, 02:47:08 AM »

Just like people got over the MTV thing, people will get over the TWC thing as well. Trust me. You'll all eventually get over it and move on to more important "in real life" problems.

In a way what she said makes sense. People can instantly check the weather on all of their devices and who really cares about the national forecast anyway? Really all that the general population cares about is their local weather for the next day or so which can be satisfied by a STAR.

Having said that I think they are definitely going in the wrong direction if this does turn out to be what there plan is. Weather programming is mildly interesting but I really don't see how in the long run it will save the channel. NBC is treating TWC like it would with any of its other assets. It sees that viewer ship probably has declined over the past 10 years. They automatically think that this is a problem and throw a hissy fit trying to stop it and ultimately fail. TV is becoming a smaller part of the American lifestyle and the networks are going to have to get used to it. Trying to find other content to make people interested in the channel again is not going to work.

We can compare how NBC is treating The Weather Channel to its other stations. SYFY has moved away from many of the core shows that brought true scifi fans to the network and has been pumped full of sex and drama to appeal to wider audiences.  MSNBC has moved away from true news reporting and become more opinion based than anything else. The reasoning? People can get the basic news online but they have to watch TV for actual commentary and opinion. NBCU is taking drastic changes that will in the end hurt the branding of their stations. TWC nor any other NBCU station will NEVER be sold or change hands. NBCU will remain. Hopefully they will see the error in their ways at some point.

1439

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: October 25, 2010, 08:50:47 PM »

Just came home, turned on my TV, and see breaking news of a school bus being flipped over in East LA... with students in it.  Luckily none of the students nor the bus driver were killed. But there's one fatality, but that's yet to be confirmed.

If you want to follow the news story, go to KTLA's website

Man... I can imagine how scary it is to be in a school bus crash. I can even feel the pain.

Considering how poor many of the bus drivers are at their job I am surprised we don't have more wrecks in this country.  Very sad about that story and it looks like the car who crashed into the bus was at fault

1440

The Game Room / Re: Guess the Next Poster

« on: October 25, 2010, 08:40:55 PM »

Yes

Patrick?