Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

A Christmas wish--more data!!
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 07:48 PM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 25, 2008 +1
Well, it's been another crazy weather year in 2008 here on planet Earth. As we look back on the year, I want to thank all of you for participating in the unique community we've built here at Weather Underground to help document, understand, mourn, and celebrate the ways weather impacts our lives. Special thanks go to all of you who helped out those affected by this year's destructive hurricanes. As we look ahead towards 2009, I'm sure you're wondering what's on my Christmas wish list for the coming year. Hmmm, let's see--let's start with money to fund improved hurricane intensity forecasts, a new QuikSCAT satellite...and more data!

More data, more data,
Right now and not later.
Our storms are distressing,
Our problems are pressing.
We can brook no delay
For theorists to play.
Let us repair
To the principle sublime:
Measure everything, everywhere,
All the time.

For data are solid,
Though dull and though stolid;
Consider their aptness,
Their matter-of-factness.
Theory is confusion,
A snare and delusion,
A dastardly dare,
A culpable crime.
Measure everything, everywhere,
All the time.

No need to be weary
Of the mysteries of theory.
We only must look
At the data we took.
Immediately inspired,
Grasp the answers required.
What are so rare,
As reason and rhyme?
Measure everything, everywhere,
All the time.

More data, more data,
From pole to equator;
We'll gain our salvation
Through mass mensuration.
Thence flows our might,
Our sweetness, our light.
Our spirits full fair, our souls sublime:
Measure everything, everywhere,
All the time.

It shall come to pass, even in our days,
That ignorance shall vanish and doubt disappear.
Then shall men survey with tranquil gaze
The ordered elements shorn of all fear.

Thus to omniscience shall we climb,
Measuring everything, everywhere, all the time.


Poem credit: A. Fleisher. Originally published in 1957 in the Proc. Sixth Weather Radar Conf., American Meteorology Society, Boston, MA, P. 59. Slightly modified by Peter Black, NOAA's Hurricane Research Division.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Jeff Masters
Categories: Humor
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201. AstroHurricane001 11:31 PM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 29, 2008    
Quoting MichaelSTL:


Just wondering, what setting do you have your filter (at the top of the comments on the right side) set to? I keep it on "Show Bad" so that only true trolls are hidden (mostly; if not, I give the comments a plus until they are no longer hidden); none of futuremet's comments are hidden for me.

I have it set to "show average". Is it possible for someone's comment to be hidden if nobody flagged it in the first place? Sorry I'm new to this.
Member Since: Αύγουστος 30, 2008 Posts: 8 Comments: 2811
202. RobDaHood 11:35 PM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 29, 2008    
RE: CFL Lights

I've replaced a lot of incandescent lamps with them. My only beef is that they don't seem to last as long as advertised. I just replaced the second that failed within 3 months, so the lifespan issue is not a given as far as I am concerned. Will continue to use them in fixtures that are "on" a lot though just for the energy savings. Also, the base on the ones I have tried is too fat to fit some of the fixtures.
Member Since: Σεπτέμβριος 2, 2008 Posts: 80 Comments: 26369
203. futuremet 11:37 PM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 29, 2008    
Quoting AstroHurricane001:

I have it set to "show average". Is it possible for someone's comment to be hidden if nobody flagged it in the first place? Sorry I'm new to this.


I have mines set to "show all"

I have never flagged anyone except for trolls who post hateful content.

If set mines to "show average" Whatwhat1's posts are hidden
Member Since: Ιούλιος 19, 2008 Posts: 43 Comments: 4049
204. surfmom 11:41 PM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 29, 2008    
The night sky in SWFL is extraordinary tonight -- just so beautiful. The planets and the moon are sparkling -- Check it out LowerCal's Blog to know what you're looking out!!
Member Since: Ιούλιος 18, 2007 Posts: 30 Comments: 26538
205. surfmom 11:44 PM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 29, 2008    
Dinner BBL
Member Since: Ιούλιος 18, 2007 Posts: 30 Comments: 26538
206. AstroHurricane001 02:08 AM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 30, 2008    
Quoting surfmom:
The night sky in SWFL is extraordinary tonight -- just so beautiful. The planets and the moon are sparkling -- Check it out LowerCal's Blog to know what you're looking out!!

Aww...too bad we have a cloudy (and very windy!) sky here right now in S. Ontario. By the way, 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. Happy New Year!
Member Since: Αύγουστος 30, 2008 Posts: 8 Comments: 2811
207. surfmom 02:20 AM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 30, 2008    
Oh well, maybe tomorrow - early evening was the best for me -- just the way everything lined up.

Got an early day tomorrow - adios
Member Since: Ιούλιος 18, 2007 Posts: 30 Comments: 26538
208. futuremet 02:40 AM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 30, 2008    
What happened to StormW?
Member Since: Ιούλιος 19, 2008 Posts: 43 Comments: 4049
209. KoritheMan 03:52 AM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 30, 2008    
Quoting futuremet:
What happened to StormW?


I heard he doesn't drop by much during the off season.
Member Since: Μάρτιος 7, 2007 Posts: 420 Comments: 15624
210. weatherbro 03:52 AM GMT on Δεκέμβριος 30, 2008    
The models are forecasting mid-January to be brutally cold for the east posibly like 1985...

Member Since: Μάιος 26, 2007 Posts: 47 Comments: 1156

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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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