June 8, 2005
"...National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)...recently joined National Air Transportation Association (NATA)...in sending a letter expressing strong opposition to pending Senate legislation that would prohibit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) from providing weather reports, forecasting and data collection services free of charge to the public...if the services are offered by a private company..."

June 10, 2005
"...Boaters no longer would have access to free weather service reports if a bill by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) is approved...would drastically cut boaters' access to information from the National Weather Service (NWS). It would mean no more weather radio, and no more weather fax - at least not free of charge from the NWS..."

You need to get a life

9 is enough, thank you

Ain't good enough Allison. I boat in Pittsburgh's rivers .. what you "sell" ain't bought here. First of all, NWS don't mean squat as far as Pittsburgh goes. We have so many hills and valleys that they quit trying. So if you want to use Santorum/NWS .. keep Pittsburgh out of it. heh .. in fact, keep Pennsylvania out of it. :wink:

AccuWeather is based where?

Your point?

Follow the (Santorum contributions) money!

That's an incredibly stupid piece of legislation.

If it passes, I'd have to pay twice for my weather forecasts before I go flying. Once because my taxes support the NOAA and NWS and a second time from a private company.

__________________
I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
And the touch of a world that is older

Ain't politics against the FAQ Allison? :roll: Like I told you many moons ago .. you don't like this country? - leave.

The point Allison is making is that there is an implied conflict of interest here - Santorum proposing legislation that directly benefits a company that has contributed to his campaign coffers.

Now back to the original topic.

Why should my tax dollars be used to provide free information from the NOAA and NWS to companies that, in turn, charge me for that information? Essentially, Santorum's bill would subsidize those companies to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars or more per year. If the private companies are going to charge for weather forecasts, those companies should pay a fair price to the government for the weather data.

__________________
I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
And the touch of a world that is older

You don't have to tell me what point Allison is trying to make, her resume speaks for itself. Spare me Santorum's agenda. First of all it's politics and and shouldn't be discussed here .. second of all, take a long look at the whole thing. That's all I'm gonna say. If you can't read between the lines and have to jump up & down about it, PM Allison. She'd appreciate it. In the mean time, spare me.

Critical thought---ain't it grand! =D> =D> =D>

At least I speak my mind "Ms Post-a-Link." You ought to try it some day.

I, too, used to think the mind was the most beautiful part of the body---until I realized what was telling me that 8)

Then again, maybe you should stick to links. :P

First, everyone should read this.

This bill very well may be a bone-head idea, I haven't really considered it closely enough. What it isn't though is a NWS or NOAA blackout on forecasts. To quote the actual text of Senate Bill 786; §2(c)1:

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In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

So if you want the dog's bones on the weather it's still going to be free and as real time as practicable. If you want to watch a pretty face in a pink tutu pointing to copyright map symbols then you'd have to pay for it. Doesn't sound like a big deal to me.

(Aside: If I want to know what the weather's like I normally stick my head out the door, detailed forecasts in the UK are not that great at local level although trends are pretty reliable)

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By asking questions we sometimes get the wrong answers, from wrong answers we learn to ask the right questions.

a) Overcast with no rain.

b) Overcast with light rain.

c) Overcast with heavy rain.


Choose one.

I was stationed at RAF Lankenheath in E. Anglia during the 90s. I had to use a grow light in my dorm room to get over the blahs.

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In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

Being from Pennsylvania I can tell you that what sarong linked to isn't an issue here and not only because of our topography. I really don't want to argue politics but it bears mentioning that, based on her posts, she's out of touch with reality more often than not. My proof? Her posts. Read 'em and come to your own conclusions.

Yea. I think the point is to not have the NWS or NOAA to spend a lot of taxpayer time and money polishing their forecasts to compete with broadcast products while still maintaining the public service qualities. I don't know if it's a good idea or bad. I just wanted to point out that it is not a data blockout from either agency.


[Edit] By polished, I meant to say to commercialized. The forecasts should be "polished" in terms of accuracy and the changing nature of atmospheric influences and the conclusions should be presented in as clear a manner as possible to a lay audience.

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In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

Does this subsection - §2(d) - remind anyone of the plot of the movie Trading Places?

For those not familiar, a forecast for the orange crop was used to try to corner "the frozen orange juice market."

[Insert Eddie Murphy laugh here]

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In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

Hey, it works just like cable---how conve-e-e-nient!
"...RadarPlus Silver Account (Personal Use)
Monthly (1 license) - $7.95

RadarPlus Gold Account (Personal Use)
Monthly (1 license) - $29.95

RadarPlus Platinum Account (Commercial Use)1
Monthly (1 license) - $129.95..."
https://wwwl.accuweather.com/radarplus_signup.php
Love the special effects, Candy

Although sometimes this big, bright yellowthing comes out and the sky turns blue for some reason 8-[ Although the current conditions at the 'heath are currently choice a) at the moment.....

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"Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." — Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man

441!!!! :)