Messages

1441

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Schedule

« on: September 26, 2010, 10:46:19 PM »

I remember a long time ago the overnight programming on The Weather Channel, especially when I was visiting my grandparents during summer vacation, who were night owls themselves, meaning no one cared when I slept, so long as I got enough sleep in a 24-hour period. 

Things seemed so much more laid back and calm overnight back then, meaning, something quite enjoyable for someone to watch who's not yet tired enough to fall asleep yet has no specific desire to stay awake.  I even remember the super-long local forecasts at the top of the hour when The Weather Channel rewound the tape to rebroadcast the overnight programming again.

1442

Local Forecast / Re: Stock footage used in Local Forecast intro? (1991-95)

« on: September 26, 2010, 03:58:08 PM »

Bravo!  I don't know how you could go looking for something like that, but when something sticks out like that, it sure sticks out!   

1443

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: September 25, 2010, 07:58:06 PM »

This is my 200th post!

Do members really have to post their post counts if everyone can see it on the left side? it becomes very annoying.

Some people take pride in their post counts and enjoy celebrating milestones.  I know I do, and, obviously, I'm not alone.

1444

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Schedule

« on: September 25, 2010, 07:56:30 PM »

I still remember when "You need us for everything you do" changed to "Weather you can always turn to."  Oh, those were the days, my friends... I thought they'd never end! 

1445

General Discussion / Re: Testing

« on: September 25, 2010, 07:47:05 PM »

1. Space your words. (Neworleans, LA isn't being recognized as a city)

This is the internet age... spelling, punctuation, grammar, and general comprehension need not apply. 

2. Obviously you are not a TWC Meterologist

Talk about spelling... 
Isn't impersonation against the forum rules?  I just checked the "Board Guidelines" page and didn't see anything specifically against this, but I'm pretty sure common sense dictates that it shouldn't be allowed.

3. I think the forums are working. No testing needed. 

True.  At least this place isn't Delphi Forums.  They've been having serious server problems since the beginning of the summer, and, since the tech staff is completely baffled, absolutely nothing has been done yet to improve the situation. 

1446

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Schedule

« on: September 25, 2010, 06:42:33 PM »

Don't worry... just like Margaret Thatcher, I'm used to being in a minority of one. 

1447

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Schedule

« on: September 25, 2010, 06:14:13 PM »

I personally like the LDA and 33% LDL - a lot more information can get conveyed that way.  And, since the regular programming on TWC has decided that weather is allowed to take a backseat at times, it seems like the LDA and larger LDL are the best way sometimes for getting real weather information.

1448

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: September 25, 2010, 11:45:57 AM »

Speaking of which, is it just me, or is the DirecTV LF still using the '06-'10 icons, and not cueing all the time? That happens to both of the receivers in my house.

Last I checked (the end of May), the DirecTV local forecast does use the older icon set.

1449

General Discussion / Re: Facebook experiencing DDoS Attack

« on: September 23, 2010, 05:32:06 PM »

That would explain the trouble I had using the site earlier today.

Things seem back to normal now.  All they said was that they were having "issues" that prevented "some" users from accessing the site.

1450

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Anyone Shorter Than Jim Cantore?

« on: September 22, 2010, 09:34:17 PM »

I'm 6'4". 

1451

General Discussion / Re: What are you listening to?

« on: September 22, 2010, 07:53:57 PM »

"Полнолуние" (Алла Пугачёва)
"Full moon" (Alla Pugachova)

1452

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Igor

« on: September 21, 2010, 09:24:14 PM »

I recall with Earl I think the NHC and Canadian Centre debated when Earl was no longer a hurricane. So disagreements can occur. However the WMO declared the NHC the primary center for tropical forecasts so to my knowledge staff members coordinate with foreign government to issue warnings. While its up to that local government to issue the warnings, I have yet to hear an area to go against NHC recommendations. Is that about right Patrick?

That's my understanding, too.  The National Hurricane Center has sole official responsibility for investigating and issuing reports and advisories on tropical cyclones in the Northern Atlantic and Northern East Pacific.  However, that doesn't mean that other countries have their own tropical forecasting bureaus.  Canada, actually, only relatively recently started its own tropical forecasting.  Now that the National Hurricane Center has stopped issuing advisories on Igor, Environment Canada is the only meteorological organization (that I'm aware of) that is.

Even though it's the official forecaster and advisory issuing organization for tropical cyclones in these two oceans, the NHC only issues watches and warnings for the United States.  Each country alone has the authority to issue weather advisories for its own territory and coastlines.

1453

Local Forecast / Re: Intellistar Weather Warning Suggestion and Graphics

« on: September 21, 2010, 04:48:12 PM »

When a severe weather warning is crawling across the screen, I highly doubt the average viewer cares about space during the Local Forecast.  A severe weather warning means we all tune into a radar to see what is going on and how/when it's going to affect us.  TWC has proved and does this with hurricanes, they can do the same for local warnings.  Especially with their technology and the I-Star.

Actually, it's much more difficult to put a radar on the corner of the screen during a local forecast than during national programming.

The new LDL doesn't stretch all the way across the screen.  About 1/4 of the screen on the lower left corner ISN'T part of the Star-produced LDL, but is actually the nationally-broadcast LDL, which is used for small ads or radars.  In other words, your local IntelliStar doesn't produce that radar, but it's broadcast nationally.

Since the entire local forecast is generated by the IntelliStar (or other older Stars), it would have to be reprogrammed to generate a radar in the corner AND broadcast it over the rest of the local forecast information, necessitating a change to the LDL and covering up other information in the process.  I doubt The Weather Channel would ever make such changes.

1454

Local Forecast / Re: Intellistar Weather Warning Suggestion and Graphics

« on: September 20, 2010, 11:10:39 PM »

I agree - a radar on the left of the LDL during precipitation-related weather advisories would be a good idea.  Except during the local forecasts... there's just not enough room on the screen for all of that!

As I understand it, and there was a big discussion about this when the new LDL debuted, the local forecast LDL is going to remain the same, even though the programming LDL changed.

1455

Local Forecast / Re: Weather Warning Question

« on: September 19, 2010, 08:34:59 PM »

IMO, all warnings need to have the Red LDL for consistency.

Also (although I saw it on a few YouTube videos), I didn't think a "watch" scroll was ever used because the Weather Bulletin on the IS took care of that.

I've seen plenty of watch scrolls.