Say Nothing About the Failing Satellite

The QuikScat satellite used for predicting the intensity and path of hurricanes could fail at any time (it's already past its designed lifetime). Without this satellite, the accuracy of US forecasters' predictions could be degraded by up to 16% — and there are no plans for any replacement. Bill Proenza, director of the National Hurricane Center, has been outspokenly critical of his superiors on this situation, but he has been warned to stop commenting on it.

Step right up! Bargains galore!

[dangitman]

The QuikScat satellite used for predicting the intensity and path of hurricanes could fail at any time

Wouldn't a satellite named "QuickScat" be properly used for improvising jazz lyrics?

Burt Rutan Called.

[Prysorra]

Says he can do it soon. Didn't leave his number :(

Global Warming

[cbelle13013]

<tin foil hat on>

This is all part of a ploy by the global warming alarmists to show how "crazy" hurricanes are behaving and how meteorologists can no longer predict their path with the accuracy they could in the past. To ensure another Katrina doesn't happy, the Imperial Federal Government will establish behavior guidelines to make sure the citizens are acting in a way that is friendly to our environment.

Shortly after that, Freedom and Liberty are brought out back and shot.

</tin foil hat off>

Boy it's a lovely day outside.

or

[Anonymous Coward]

Wouldn't a satellite named "QuickScat" be properly used for improvising jazz lyrics?

or a Taco Bell commercial. Just saying.

Re:Is it any wonder?

[MrMr]

Only a few more years and everybody in the US will also understand why all their new democratic friends in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait etc. consider the war in Iraq a win-win situation.

It is NOT a failing satellite

[Anonymous Coward]

It just may be experiencing a temporary deorbiting maneuver.

Re:Step right up! Bargains galore!

[MrYotsuya]

The QuikScat satellite used for predicting the intensity and path of hurricanes could fail at any time

Wouldn't a satellite named "QuickScat" be properly used for improvising jazz lyrics?

You're close. It does both. That way the weather forecast is more entertaining. Who doesn't like it when a middle-aged white guy starts belting out "skeep-beep de bop-bop beep bop bo-dope skeetle-at-de-op-de-day! "

No point.

[TripMaster Monkey]

There's no point in putting up a replacement for the failing satellite...after all, the Rapture will be here soon enough, and whoever's left deserves to be surprised by the weather.

</snark>

Tough PR problem with an easy solution

[golodh]

Really ... hurricanes claim billions of dollars in damage annually and hundreds of lives (see http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/nat_disasters [usgs.gov]}.

Now the real problem is ... you can't really address the problem by shooting at something. So that makes it a downright un-American issue.

Now here's what to do about it.

First of all the NOAA has to be brought under the Department of Home Security because that's where the money is nowadays. Secondly, submit a {sizeable} donation to to e.g. the Cato institute or an equivalent, and have them bring together a posse of "intelligence experts", who go on record as being "worried" that hurricanes may be caused by Al-Quaeda, or that Al-Quaeda is somehow taking advantage of them. PR campaigns in the media are optional, but be sure to work the lobby circuit.

Then introduce the number of tracked hurricanes as a DOH success metric. That's important because it's a measurable and *achievable* goal.

Now you've created a win-win situation! The DOH gets a clearly visible and achievable success metric [they haven't got all that many of those], and the NOAA gets the funding to track hurricanes in every part of the globe. Problem solved.

Don't bother us now!

[PPH]

We've got our hands full with the ISS.

-NASA

Re:What it means

[TapeCutter]

"The term "Scat" has long been used for a form of jazz lyrics..."

And here I was thinking it was zoological term for turds.

Re:Is it any wonder?

[Plutonite]

My cynicism detector thresholds have now been adjusted. Thank you for your input. Please proceed to the nearest exit.