Hail observation program
With hail a common topic today, here’s some information on a special project the public can participate in.
The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory is calling on the public to be a part of their science and research as part of the Hail Size Discrimation Experiment.
Hail observations throughout the duration of thunderstorm events occurring within 90 miles of Norman, are needed from as many people in as many places as possible. Volunteers are requested to document date, time, location and the size of hail. The Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office is assisting by providing a link to the project on their website at www.weather.gov/norman
Bryan Painter
Page 1 Columnist, The Oklahoman
Writing from the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office
Half dollar size hail
While meteorologists are monitoring the storms by radar, Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office, is providing radar updates on amateur radio to storm spotters out in the field.
JUST IN: “Half-dollar.” A spotter has seen half-dollar size hail near Randlett in Cotton County.
Bryan Painter
Page 1 Columnist
At the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office.
Half dollar size hail
While meteorologists are monitoring the storms by radar, Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office, is providing radar updates on amateur radio to storm spotters out in the field.
JUST IN: “Half-dollar.” A spotter has seen half-dollar size hail near Randlett in Cotton County.
Bryan Painter
Page 1 Columnist
At the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office.
More penny-size hail
Did you hear that, said Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office? “Five minutes ago, penny-size hail at Chattanooga.” The report came from a spotter in that area. Chattanooga is southwest of Lawton.
And before I could post this, they receive another report from a spotter of dime and smaller size hail near State Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 281 in Caddo County north of Apache.
Bryan Painter
Page 1 Columnist
Writing from the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office.
Storm reports – hail
Two screens at the front of the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office will keep my attention for most of the day. These will indicate watches and warnings for thunderstorm, tornadoes and give additional information. For example on the top screen is a blue dot in the southwest corner of the map. The reason for the blue dot – a report of penny-size hail near Synder. Hail is never welcome but is especially a concern for Oklahoma’s wheat farmers with harvest roughly a little over a month away.
Bryan Painter
Page 1 Columnist
Father of Dentistry
When you’re sitting in your dentist’s chair getting a cavity fixed or a root canal procedure, the Oklahoma Dental Association wants you to know that the organization also is celebrating its Centennial; having organized on June 19, 1907. The first dental office, meanwhile, was opened earlier by Dr. J.E. Wright in 1885 in Savanna, seven miles south of McAlester. The association also is unveiling a life-size statue Friday at its Oklahoma City headquarters of Frenchman Dr. Pierre Fauchard (1678-1761)who is considered “The Father of Dentistry.”
– Jim Killackey, staff writer
Posting a tornado watch
My first reaction was “Wow.” In March while interviewing Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office, he said if you’d ever like to come back and sit in the forecast office on a day when we’re expecting severe weather, you’d be welcome to work out of here.
Today is the day.
I’m in the forecast office and here we go.
Mike Foster, the meteorologist in charge of the Norman Forecast Office, just told me a tornado watch is being posted by the National Weather Service for central and western Oklahoma. This watch is posted as a combined effort of the Norman Forecast Office and the Storm Predictions Center.
Bryan Painter
Page 1 Columnist
The Honor Roll
I registered for the upcoming BIO 2007 conference in Boston today, and the process gave me a real hoot. It offered all sorts of options for the title that precedes my name, and I thought I would try a few out in this blog to see how they fit.
Honors Class
- Ambassador Jim Stafford? No.
- Baron Jim Stafford? Maybe.
- Col. Jim Stafford? No. No military service.
- Dr. Jim Stafford. No. The doctorate certificate I bought online hasn’t arrived yet.
- Gen. Jim Stafford? No. Still no military service.
- H.R.H. Prince Jim of Oklahoma?
I plead ignorance on the “H.R.H.” initials, but a co-worker from Scotland told me it means “His Royal Highness.” I like that one. - Hon. Jim Stafford? No. No honor here.
- Lt. Jim Stafford? No. For the last time, no military service!
- Prof. Jim Stafford? No. Too little education.
- Rabbi Jim Stafford? Wrong religion.
- Sec. Jim Stafford? Sec. of what?
- Sen. Jim Stafford? Not yet.
- Mr. Jim Stafford (along with the possibilities of Mrs. and Ms.)?
- Countess Jim Stafford? Definitely a non-qualifier.
Of course I chose the more common and correct title of “Mr.” But if I thought it wouldn’t cause me grief when I actually showed up at the conference to pick up my credentials, I would have selected “Baron,” I think.
OK, I’m having my co-workers address me today only as “Baron” to see how it fits.
Baron Jim Stafford
Business News Reporter
Immigration and the middle class
In the heated debate over immigration policy, the middle class has largely favored a hard-line approach involving mass deportations and walls at our borders. Conventional wisdom suggests unbridled illegal immigration threatens the middle class and those who aspire to it by flooding the labor force with workers and holding down wages.
Today I received a report from a progressive think-tank challenging that conventional wisdom. The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy says the middle class depends on immigrants for their buying power, for their business start-ups and –surprisingly–for the taxes they pay. Nationally, the Social Security Administration estimates about three-quarters of undocumented immigrants pay payroll taxes. And a study by the National Research Council concluded the average immigrant pays $1,800 more in taxes than he receives in government benefits.
The report argues that immigration policy should be made with an eye to reinforcing the middle class. And it says such a policy will bolster the economic contributions of immigrants and strengthen their rights in the workplace in order to raise wages and benefits for all.
Click here to learn more about the authors and to read the full study. Then tell me what you think.
–Judy Gibbs Robinson, staff writer
OMG!
Morgan Pozgar is incredibly smart. The 13-year-old resident of Claysburg, Pa., also is incredibly talented.
She was handsomely rewarded for being both.
Pozgar typed in 15 seconds “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from the movie “Mary Poppins” and was crowned LG National Texting champion. Her prize: $25,000.
Pozgar defeated almost 200 other competitors in Manhattan to become the East Coast champion, the Associated Press reported.
She then beat the West Coast champion after texting the message: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidoucious! Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough you’ll always sound precocious.”
Pozgar said in the AP story that she sends more than 8,000 text messages a month to friends and family.
That breaks down to more than five text messages an hour. Every hour of every day.
If I were Pozgar’s parents, I’d be glad she won a $25,000 contest. On the same hand, I’d be wondering if my child were losing touch with the world by sending so many text messages.
Maybe this is the way our society is heading. Maybe I’m the one who is losing touch with the ways of the world.
There’s something to be said for verbal communication, isn’t there?
What do you think?
E-mail me at bsargent@oklahoman.com
Brian Sargent
Staff Writer
