F. P. Dorchak

Speculative Fiction (New Weird) Author

Weather

Save The Weather Channel?

by

Okay, I admit it, I do watch The Weather Channel (TWC).

There, I said it.

I usually have it on in “the background,” unless I have Pandora on, or some cool science fiction or supernatural show or movie to “set atmosphere” when I’m writing. I love Wake Up With Al for the banter and amusing repertoire between Al Roker and Stephanie Abrams. They need their own show, if you want my opinion. Have great chemistry. I’ve always been interested in the weather, certain family members across the country and I always ask about it when we talk. Maybe it makes us all feel “more there” with each other, since everyone can identify with the weather, or maybe it’s from always having been outside and active, or all the many cool and varied weather patterns and weirdness that the weather can cause and exhibit as it envelops our planet. Maybe it’s all of these things. But just this weekend I learned that DirecTV is axing TWC tonight. The first thought in my head was, hmmm…I bet TWC is asking for too much money…or at least “too much money,” according to DirecTV.

This morning I did a quick search, and sure enough, that’s the issue.

So, whether (pardon the pun) or not DirecTV is being unreasonable or TWC is being greedy, I don’t know, and am not about to delve any deeper, but the claims I’ve been hearing from TWC all weekend (the Keeptheweatherchannel campaign) about them saving lives…?

Sigh.

Okay, I can see how a weather channel can save lives, but as one article put it, TWC, stop the hyperbole!

Forty percent (that 40%!) of TWC programming are reality shows! In addition to that, I discovered a long time ago that local forecasters are far better at predicting the weather for any location I’ve traipsed through than TWC. DirecTV has also started its own weather channel, channel 361 (TWC’s is 362), called Weather Nation (the link doesn’t even really work, yet!). This may not be a good sign, but my first stop on it this morning yielded a rather long commercial. And with the recent upgrade at TWC’s studios, I’m sure TWC feels justified in their asking price, to stay more engaged and “hip” with their audience. Apparently they are still on other providers, and that’s great.

But…saving lives? That’s their campaign?

I wish TWC all the best in their fight to stay on DirecTV, I do think they’re a great service, amusing, informative, but I do not turn to them when real, life-threatening concerns affect my living space. I find this media attack an affront to my intellect. If anything, I use the local stations. Sorry, TWC, I’m just being honest, but good luck!

Superstorm Sandy

by

Increasing stratospheric water vapor at Boulde...
Increasing stratospheric water vapor at Boulder, Colorado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Earlier this week an absolutely nasty storm hit the eastern seaboard of our United States and wreaked utter havoc and devastation upon our land. As of this writing, 92 people in the U.S. have died from this storm, bringing the storm’s total loss of life since it blew up from the Caribbean (good Lord, this thing was fricking huge) to 161, and there are estimates of between $30 and $50 billion dollars of damage. Billion. To see the images of the near total destruction in some areas is heartbreaking. I have family and friends in the affected areas and have tried to contact them, but the lines of communication are clearly not what they were last week.

Why are these massive superstorms happening? Apparently even all the learned minds can’t even agree, everyone has their opinions about Global Warming, and don’t even try to get Zen on the matter, cause you’re immediately laughed off (cue: Oliver Stone’s statement of punishment), but the most recent National Geographic article I’d read about the mechanics of superstorms does accuse Global Warming in that in the warming of the Earth, more water vapor is being evaporated into the air, and with more water in the atmosphere, and other atmospheric physics I can’t recall nor spit back, storms are simply getting worse because there’s “more ammo” at their disposal (my words).

Now, as to the root cause of these storms, Mother Nature being pissed at our politicians, governmental conspiracies, the normal planetary cycle of life and weather, et cetera, I’m not going to speculate, except that I believe all things are related, and everything is tied to everything else, in the most Zen of ways. I don’t believe in arcane punishment, Mother Nature or otherwise, but I do believe in collective angst. All you have to do is look outside to see angst subject matter everywhere you look. But that’s not my drive here, today.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this massive superstorm. It’s horrendous and dispiriting, but I hope that we can all rise up from this disaster and rebuild physically, mentally, and spiritually. There’s not much that any of us can say who are not directly affected by this storm, but, please, be strong, persevere…and have faith that you can rebuild and rise above this.

Related articles