What I'm enjoying here...

[Eric]

While conversations about TWC are certainly interesting, and give this forum a purpose, what I'm finding most interesting of all are the discussions about weather itself.  Of course, we're in the middle of hurricane season, and hurricanes have always been a passion of mine.  In fact, they're what got me interested in meteorology in the first place, starting with Gilbert in 1988 and becoming rock-solid with Hugo in 1989.  (I've mentioned it before, and I'll mention it again, but I still think TWC's documentary on Hugo, "Force Four," is probably the best documentary TWC has ever made.)  If it weren't for my total lack of math skills, I certainly would have become a meteorologist.  Even though I'll never become a professional, the weather still remains a serious passion of mine.

Anyway, thanks for many very interesting discussions.  Yes, we get a bit kvetchy at times, and, yes, we often wander into the realm of the bizarre, but it's all interesting reading, nonetheless. 

[phw115wvwx]

I hope that I haven't offended you or anyone else with my weather discussions.  All I'm trying to do is help people see things from a different perspective and even challenge ourselves to come up with new ideas to improve our understanding about weather.  There's still so many unanswered questions, so I want our future generations of meteorologists to be curious, have fun, and be able to creatively solve problems.  We need those skills in our field as we head forward in this century.

[Anistorm]

Though my math skills are ehh, I still have a passion for weather and meteorology no matter what...so I totally agree with ya there. I'll be treating that as a hobby and share it with awesome friends. ^_^

[Mr. Rainman]

I'm hoping to make a career out of meteorology, so it's a small wonder I take part in those discussions so avidly at times. Yes, Eric is right. Thank you all for those inquisitive and pleasant discussions.

[Eric]

Though my math skills are ehh, I still have a passion for weather and meteorology no matter what...so I totally agree with ya there. I'll be treating that as a hobby and share it with awesome friends. ^_^

As early as the 7th grade, my teachers were telling me that I'd really need to improve my math skills if I wanted to take up meteorology as a career.  By the time I got to the 10th grade, they were telling me that it's just a lost cause.  Some people have that skill, and others don't.  Studying like mad can only get you so far, but if a person truly struggles with even simple mathematics all the time, that's how he is, that's how he's always going to be, and so he should look for a different career choice.

I was so bad in math that my 12th grade advanced calculus (how I ever ended up getting put in that class is beyond me) teacher actually bribed me to leave and never return.  By the end of the first quarter (so the last half of October), my grade was 7.  Out of 100.  It was obvious that this was not the class for me.  Because it was already too late to transfer to a different math class, and because I had straight "A"s in everything else, she cut a deal with me.  If I left and never told anyone that I was even occupying valuable space in her classroom, she would give me an extra 60 points so that I could officially withdraw from the class with a passing grade, and that would be the end of it.  I didn't need the credits, actually, so this would be no benefit, but especially no harm, to me.  Of course I accepted, and I spent that hour every day instead puttering around my school's TV studio - and, unlike my math teacher, they were very happy to have me around. 

[TWCToday]

While conversations about TWC are certainly interesting, and give this forum a purpose, what I'm finding most interesting of all are the discussions about weather itself.  Of course, we're in the middle of hurricane season, and hurricanes have always been a passion of mine.  In fact, they're what got me interested in meteorology in the first place, starting with Gilbert in 1988 and becoming rock-solid with Hugo in 1989.  (I've mentioned it before, and I'll mention it again, but I still think TWC's documentary on Hugo, "Force Four," is probably the best documentary TWC has ever made.)  If it weren't for my total lack of math skills, I certainly would have become a meteorologist.  Even though I'll never become a professional, the weather still remains a serious passion of mine.

Anyway, thanks for many very interesting discussions.  Yes, we get a bit kvetchy at times, and, yes, we often wander into the realm of the bizarre, but it's all interesting reading, nonetheless. 

I am delighted you feel this way! Thanks for sharing your comments. I too enjoy the wide variety of topics discussed. It really has something for everyone!

[wxmediafan]

Though my math skills are ehh, I still have a passion for weather and meteorology no matter what...so I totally agree with ya there. I'll be treating that as a hobby and share it with awesome friends. ^_^

As early as the 7th grade, my teachers were telling me that I'd really need to improve my math skills if I wanted to take up meteorology as a career.  By the time I got to the 10th grade, they were telling me that it's just a lost cause.  Some people have that skill, and others don't.  Studying like mad can only get you so far, but if a person truly struggles with even simple mathematics all the time, that's how he is, that's how he's always going to be, and so he should look for a different career choice.

I was so bad in math that my 12th grade advanced calculus (how I ever ended up getting put in that class is beyond me) teacher actually bribed me to leave and never return.  By the end of the first quarter (so the last half of October), my grade was 7.  Out of 100.  It was obvious that this was not the class for me.  Because it was already too late to transfer to a different math class, and because I had straight "A"s in everything else, she cut a deal with me.  If I left and never told anyone that I was even occupying valuable space in her classroom, she would give me an extra 60 points so that I could officially withdraw from the class with a passing grade, and that would be the end of it.  I didn't need the credits, actually, so this would be no benefit, but especially no harm, to me.  Of course I accepted, and I spent that hour every day instead puttering around my school's TV studio - and, unlike my math teacher, they were very happy to have me around. 

That is horrible (about the teacher and being put into advanced calculus).  I was thrown into Pre-Calculus right after Geometry in my junior year of high school.  The first day I looked at the syllabus and went to drop the class, couldn't do it. 

I was on the same road as you, not *the best* at math.  I've always been a B/C student when it comes to math.  I took the pre-reqs to Calculus I in College, took Calculus I during this past spring semester and by the mid-term I was getting a 60%.  I'd like to think this isn't an excuse, but I just could not learn from the professor (obviously).  Took it again this past summer and did great.  You just can't give up, and you can do anything you set your mind to (sup cliche?)

I don't really discuss in the weather forums, but I definitely should visit more often

[twcclassics]

If it weren't for my total lack of math skills, I certainly would have become a meteorologist.  Even though I'll never become a professional, the weather still remains a serious passion of mine.

For me, it was chemistry. I took College Chemistry and within a few weeks, my brain fell out. I didn't understand 90% of what they were talking about. I had some pretty average teachers, though. They certainly knew the material, and they were nice enough, but they didn't seem to know how to explain things to chemistry virgins like myself. I'm sure I could have passed it if I had worked at it, but I dropped out. After that, I realized that I didn't want to be a storm chaser as much as I thought I did. Seemed kind of silly to spend all that time studying, just to live off government grants (unless you get a job w/a private company, of course).

Sounds like you had some pretty lousy teachers, Eric. I'm sure you could have done much better in math, had you received the proper motivation and help from your teachers. It really irks me when teachers "give up" on a student, just because teaching that student requires a little more work. If you ask me, those are the ones you need to focus on the most. And it's really not that much work. As corny as it sounds, sometimes all it takes is to listen to them. Anyway, a former co-worker of mine gave me some great advice awhile back. He basically said that "talent" is pretty much meaningless. If you have the drive, patience, and tools, you can become proficient is just about anything.

[Eric]

Actually, I had some of the best teachers in the whole state of Massachusetts.  But they can't teach to a brain that just can't grasp the concept of mathematics.  Numbers have always been pretty much meaningless to me.  Fortunately, I words DO mean something to me, which is why I got my education as a linguist and why I'm able to be a writer. 

[Eric]

What is strange about my lack of math skills, however, is that I had to take a math placement test in between my freshman and sophomore years at college when I transferred schools.  I somehow, after already not studying math for almost two full years (most of my senior year at high school, and I wasn't required to take one during my freshman year at college, so I didn't), managed to pass that math placement test high enough that the school considered me to have met all of their requirements, meaning I never had to take a single math class again!  To this day I don't know how the heck I did that, and I still remember the fear that went through my head as I had to figure out how to use my calculator again, plus trying to remember what all those funny squiggles on the page were...

I even asked the person who graded it to double-check and make sure it's my test, because I couldn't have scored that high.  She assured me it was my test and my grade.  Granted, I scored only three points higher than the cut-off for never having to take a math class again, but I gladly took it!