Standardized Weather Graphics, Please!

For the most part, local TV weather people have worked hard to tone down the hype and to increase calm and reliable forecast presentations. Gone are the days of trying to outdo the competition to panic the audience into the belief that their world would end if viewers dared to switch the channel. 

One thing that the purveyors of meteorological data could do to further improve public confidence and understanding of weather data and forecasting would be to somehow standardize the colors and terms they use on their graphic presentations. 

Here's how Indiana Homeland Security, using a National Weather Service graphic, sees today/tonight's weather:

The Weather Channel with their TORCON (whatever that means) offers this:

And, WPTA ABC 21Alive offers this:

Do you understand why those of without a degree in Meteorology might be a bit confused?

Standards Have Changed?

A letter to the editor in today's Journal Gazette caught the Maven's eye. 

Making no judgment about the letter writer's arguments, referring to a US Senator and candidate for Indiana governor as Senator BLOWHARD, seemed out of place.

The Maven has blurred the name and hometown of the letter writer because that is not the issue here.

The issue is that the Journal Gazette seems to have relaxed its Letter To The Editor standards to allow name-calling and ad-hominem attacks.

Many years ago the Maven, writing under his legal name, penned a caustic letter regarding a "blowhard" member of the Fort Wayne City Council. I called the man "Councilman Blowhard". The letter was rejected, noting that calling someone a "blowhard" and "idiot", constituted an ad hominem attack on the individual, and could not be printed. 

So, the question is: Has the JG changed its rules? 

Whatever Ever Happened To...

It's pretty common knowledge that the Federated Media stations, WOWO, WMEE, K105, et al are moving offices and studios to a central location in the Coventry area. The Maven wishes them well.

However, that's not the only operation that's moving. Or at least had plans to move. 

You may recall that Northeast Indiana Public Radio Inc, WBOI 89.1's parent company had purchased the old Odd Fellows Building at 210 East Jefferson downtown with plans to develop a state-of-the-art broadcast facility. 

If you drive through downtown, chances are you've seen the building, next door to Subway and across from Wendy's.

.

Here's the announcement:

Cool stuff. Here's the architect's rendering of what the new facility might look like:

So, why does this building still sit empty? 

Northeast Indiana Public Radio Inc, WBOI's parent company, continues to own the property. A search of the records is here:

So, the mystery remains. Whatever happened to WBOI 89.1 moving into these fancy digs? Or are they just another passive real estate investor with plans to "flip" the property to a fast-food operator, tobacco store, or fireworks stand?