Looking back at all the technological improvements since I first entered broadcasting in February 1971, gets me thinking about the lines in an old Barbara Streisand classic song...
Can it be that it was all so simple then,
or has time rewritten every line.
If we had the chance to do it all again, would we, could we?
Memories may be beautiful and yet...
When I started in 1971 in Tampa we used paper maps with Plexiglas coverings and hand drew our fronts with felt tip pens. Now it's all computerized. Watching David display the newest graphics, including predicted storm surges, was indeed beautiful during Hurricane Laura. To the song I'd add this to the line "if we had a chance to do it all again", should we? The obvious answer is no since modern technology allows us to produce graphics that way better display the dangers of storms and who is at greatest risk. But looking back does have some neat memories...
Like my being the kid joining two NOLA Legends, the late Buddy D. and late Alec Gifford.
Perhaps you remember the sign on the bus promoting...err. shampoo! Wow! But what I remember is our yearly hurricane tracking charts.
Ch. 8 produced charts for 30 years before that type of information was shifted to our station web site. The picture above has me joining Nancy Russo & the late Mike Herrera. Nancy went on to Houston, Washington D.C & Boston before returning to Ch. 4 here in NOLA. She retired to raise her children. Mike was the long time station announcer for Ch. 8 and you heard his voice on many commercials. Since we are in a quiet period, I'll try to highlight some of my past co-workers during the next week.
NHC now is watching 3 areas for possible development. The newest is off the east coast as a frontal boundary sinks offshore early next week. The others are out in the Atlantic so we'll have plenty of time before we need to get concerned
The Caribbean and Gulf are quiet except for a cluster of storms over the NE Gulf heading away from us. Locally, some storms have bubble up during daytime heating as summer lingers on. There are hints that our first pre-Fall front might arrive during the second week in September. I'm just trying to give y'all some hope! Stay tuned!
5 comments:
Taking us down memory lane. Those were the days. A daily family tradition, relying on you guys for all the latest news and weather.
Thank you Bob Breck
Congratulations on being named the #1 meteorologist in New Orleans history today. I read TigerDroppings, which now has a larger readership than the Times Picayune and saw it there. Wanted to make sure you were aware of this award.
https://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/o-t-lounge/tulanelsus-top-10-meteorologists-of-new-orleans/91597914/
Congrats Bob .. There has never been anyone better than you
Thanks Bob for the mention, those were the days!!
Thanks, for the travel back in time and the reassurance for now. It's always great to read a blog from someone so familiar. I've heard your voice so much over the years I can almost her your voice as I read your words.
Post a Comment