Messages

1126

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: September 28, 2011, 01:01:28 PM »

The locals will be temporarily coming back during all live programming until they can fix a few things and send out an update. Then the squeezeback will return for :08/:18/:38/:48, and the locals will only play at :28/:58.

I wonder if by "fix a few things" they mean bugs and technical issues or changing the look and layout of the squeezeback a little.

1127

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: September 28, 2011, 12:53:33 PM »

This is completely

Seeing Tyler post made me think of it, but according to a dream I had the other night, Tyler is a graphics designer for TWC! You'd better get to work.


Sorry, anyway, my opinion on cell phones is pretty much what Ana said. I think before school, after school, and during lunch are the appropriate times to use them just in case an emergency needs to be dealt with. Honestly, it would be much easier to pull out my cell phone than go to a teacher or the office and ask to use their phone. Plus, teachers were often reluctant about letting us use their phones. That was often in big, bold letters on the syllabus: DO NOT ASK TO USE THE TEACHER'S PHONE. I don't know why.

Ana, the policy at your high school sounds very strict. I can't believe even if you were outside the building that your device would be confiscated and you would get in trouble for it!!! However, my high school was not an open campus, so maybe this is why that rule seems a little extreme.

1128

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: September 28, 2011, 12:38:20 AM »

Given the recent drastic decrease in the amount of time given to local forecast segments, and, thus, the number of flavors used, I don't think increasing the amount of information given is anywhere near the top of TWC's priority list right now.

Well, I wasn't necessarily talking about right now. These products should have developed a long time ago, as soon as the IS2 launched. Unless TWC already had the vision that they were going to cut back on their full-screen LFs (and why would they when they are about to launch a sparkling new HD forecast), then I don't see why these were never created in the first place.

1129

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: September 27, 2011, 11:42:09 PM »

Why does it seem like the IS2 has less information than the regular IS? This may not be true, if we haven't seen all the screens yet, but the IS2 does not have record temperature screens or an air quality screen. It also doesn't have the supposed "Airport Delays" screen or the "Pollen Reports" that the ad for the LOT8s on twcmediakit.com was talking about.

My assumption is that TWC figures the average viewer couldn't care less about these screens, so developing them would be a waste, but I would think that airport delays and pollen reports would actually be useful to any viewer.

1130

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: September 27, 2011, 11:23:08 PM »

Was long-form on today at 5 PM CT (6 PM Eastern)? I was just able to get a very brief look of the TV at the National Weather Center, but it looked like the full-screen LOT8s was being used at like :08 or :18. The NWC has the DirecTV app, so I got to see that too.

1131

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: September 27, 2011, 11:18:41 PM »

Is it me... or are schools these days are getting stricter and stricter with their policies?   

Also, hi guys. Just visiting.

Hi Ana!

To answer your question, I do think schools and getting stricter with their policies. Obviously things have happened in which these policies have to be put into place. Some of them are reasonable; for example, I can't imagine what a classroom environment would be like if no cell phone rule was put in place at the high school level. In college, it is often very distracting to see students pull out their phones to text while a professor is giving a lecture. In a smaller classroom setting in high school, I think it would be worse. This day in age has just gotten so attracted to the cell phone. I know this obviously wouldn't have been a problem a decade ago.

However, getting demerits for things like forgetting your pencil or excessive talking or sneezing (WTF?!?!), those are WAY out of line.

1132

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: September 27, 2011, 03:24:30 PM »

I just found out my high school changed their policy for electronic devices. What they're doing now seems more reasonable to me. Here is a rundown on the new policy:

• Cell phones must remain on vibrate or silent in the classroom and are not to be used for texting, placing calls, etc. If you are caught using a device, it will be confiscated and you will pay $15 to retrieve it.
• Cell phones may be used during lunch*, before, and (of course) when school ends.
• You may listen to iPods during lunch*, before, or after school.
• iPod earbuds should not be in ears in the hallway for safety reasons.

*Indicates a new rule

Originally, ALL electronic devices had to be turned OFF and out-of-sight for the entire school day. This policy is more lax but is more reasonable. Cell phones should not be used during class...obvious. I think they should be allowed during lunch, for example, because you just may need to text your parents for something important. I had to do this a couple of times. iPod earbuds during lunch don't seem like a problem. But in the hall, I can understand their forbidden use since it could lead to an accident if you are not paying attention. Too bad this new policy was implemented after I left, but I think it's good that they're being more reasonable.

1133

Hurricane Central / Re: Tropical Storm Ophelia

« on: September 26, 2011, 10:54:59 PM »

NHC gives 60% chance of redevelopment. Looks like Ophelia might be making a comeback.

This has increased from earlier today. It was originally only 30%.

1134

Questions, Comments, Suggestions / Re: Weather conditions

« on: September 26, 2011, 02:59:36 PM »

Reviving an old topic...

The weather conditions box has lately been showing a broken link rather than the conditions.  Is there anything that can be done about that?

I don't see this problem on my end. Likely the deal is that the page will "time out" when it loads, showing a bunch of images that look broken but in fact just haven't loaded.

This happens with a lot of webpages, so I don't think it's a problem that can be fixed. Just try reloading the page.

1135

Questions, Comments, Suggestions / Re: Can't we do something about spam?

« on: September 26, 2011, 12:49:16 PM »

Overall, I have seen very few occurences of spam on these forums, so I assume this is a result of the administrators' hard effort to stop it. Unfortunately, when a spamming instance does occur, the posts usually come by the dozens. However, once again, our administrative team does a good job in handling the issue ASAP. Thank you guys!

1136

General Weather Chat / Re: La Niña is Back

« on: September 26, 2011, 12:47:22 PM »

Knowing my luck, my new presence in central Florida will result in blizzards and -20 degree temperatures. 

The weather's out to haunt you Eric! It won't take the fact that you moved to central Florida and don't want blizzard conditions.

1137

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: September 26, 2011, 12:45:23 PM »

You'll never see any of this "demerit" stuff in college.  High school and elementary school simply teach you how to be a good and prepared student, and those habits should become second nature by the time you enter college as no one is going to remind you to attend class or bring all your supplies.  You'll be on your own at that point as you're an adult.  If you act up in a college, you'll find that security or the police will be called upon to take care of you!

Very true. In most cases, professors couldn't care less if you came in to class 5 minutes late, 30 minutes late, or skipped class altogether. I will say that some of my classes have attendance policies in which your average will drop a letter grade if you miss so many days of class.

But the most important thing to remember about college is that YOU are in control. No demerits, referrals, any of that. Disciplinary actions will either affect your grade or will involve a nice visit with the police if you decide to go to the extreme level such as drinking on campus.

1138

General Weather Chat / Re: La Niña is Back

« on: September 26, 2011, 12:20:13 AM »

OK so would a return of La Nina mean a drier winter or one with more snow and ice? I'm seeing posts supporting both sides above...

I thought it would mean drier conditions.

1139

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: September 26, 2011, 12:15:35 AM »

I wouldn't want to attend all of your schools... jheez...

Well Jesse, surely you had some form of disciplinary action at your school...

1140

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: September 25, 2011, 08:24:18 PM »

Your first office referral, demerits, detentions, suspensions? (I highly doubt anyone here has been expelled but if you have been you really shouldn't share  )

In the CPS, we don't have demerits. In fact, I never heard of them until all of you complained about them. At my school, if you're late to a class once, you're let off with a warning. However, if you're tardy to a class twice, you get a detention. Three times, you get a Saturday School. Four times or more, you get either an ISS (in-school suspension) or OSS (out-of-school). If you have an unexcused absence (aka cutting a class), the consequences are mostly the same except that you get a detention on the first one, with the rest of the consequences adjusted accordingly.

This is literally the exact policy my high school had before switching to the new "Tardy Eliminator" system.

To comment on some previous posts, I personally find it silly to issue demerits or referrals for forgetting your materials or not doing your homework at the high school level. Elementary school: sure. This way, these can be treated as a learning experience to prepare students for higher consequences (i.e. your grade) later in the school career. But by high school (and even middle school/junior high), if you forget your materials, that's your fault. So either borrow a pen from a friend or you're out of luck. If you don't do an assignment, you lose points or get a 0: end of story. No slips need to be issued for these small things at a higher level of education.