Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

"Accuracy is a crutch"

11568 views
205 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Friday, March 23, 2007 9:48 AM

This is getting silly.  Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Anyhoo, if Malcolm Furlow really said what Sam Posey's book says he said, his credibility in my mind just dropped like a rock.  Back in the 1980s I was a big Furlow fan.  I was a kid then.

Now I find that making things look like they do (or did) in real life is far more rewarding.  Sway-backing a stock car until its truss-rods drag on the railheads may be "cute" but it ain't railroading.

I've said this before...  Look at what Furlow used to do to his freight cars and locomotives.  Now, I volunteer periodically at a local tourist railroad operation, so I have some experience (albeit limited) with real trains and real railroad safety.

Brakie, jump in and correct me, but no railroader who wants to live past his next shift would even operate most of the equipment in the condition Malcolm models.  Rotten, broken cars, rusted-out engines, trestles that look like they couldn't bear the weight of an average-sized dog...  It's cute and neat to look at, but it's not a model of a railroad.  Therefore, should we even call it model railroading?  I don't know.  But I wouldn't hold it up as high as someone like Tony Koester who has modeled a recognizable stretch of real railroad.

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 9:55 AM
 MidlandPacific wrote:

Chip, there's a point that I think you're missing here.  We don't say that there's a "Newtonian world" that's distinct from a "Quantum world."  Newtonian physics, whether done with algebra or calculus, is just a model we use to describe observed phenomena; it's not a structure that confines our thinking, it's a mathematical method of describing what's really happening. 

It's not really a question of being open or closed-minded; it's more a question of distinguishing the difference between observed reality and speculation.  I don't think people's minds are necessarily closed to the possibility that there could be levitation, they just recognize that without some concrete proof, it doesn't reach the level of theory, let alone law - it's speculation. 

Good distinction. You are right, of course. I was arguing the model as if it were a world-view. However, I would venture to guess that very few here were seeing it as a model.

Because I am not a scientist, I have the luxury of speculation--as long as I don't try to convince you that it is fact. This levetaion thing has gone quite along way considering that it was used as an example of differences in perception.

 

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • 1,138 posts
Posted by MidlandPacific on Friday, March 23, 2007 10:11 AM
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 MidlandPacific wrote:

Chip, there's a point that I think you're missing here.  We don't say that there's a "Newtonian world" that's distinct from a "Quantum world."  Newtonian physics, whether done with algebra or calculus, is just a model we use to describe observed phenomena; it's not a structure that confines our thinking, it's a mathematical method of describing what's really happening. 

It's not really a question of being open or closed-minded; it's more a question of distinguishing the difference between observed reality and speculation.  I don't think people's minds are necessarily closed to the possibility that there could be levitation, they just recognize that without some concrete proof, it doesn't reach the level of theory, let alone law - it's speculation. 

Good distinction. You are right, of course. I was arguing the model as if it were a world-view. However, I would venture to guess that very few here were seeing it as a model.

Because I am not a scientist, I have the luxury of speculation--as long as I don't try to convince you that it is fact. This levetaion thing has gone quite along way considering that it was used as an example of differences in perception.

 

 

I think the whole question of how and why you want to portray the world is a valid one, though it's just guaranteed to start a furball!

Every approach to modeling has its limitations, and the whole question of how you compress and capture reality if you aren't willing to model a fairly small area is still an interesting one.  The South Park line's ascent of the western slope of the Continental Divide from Midway Tank to Alpine Tunnel Station scales out at over fourteen vertical feet in HO Scale - so something has to give, unless your wife is unusually tolerant.  The artistry is in figuring out how to capture the aspects of that sort of sight that make it impressive to the viewer in a manageable space.  Furlow always seemed to be good at that, and that's why I like a lot of his modeling. 

 

http://mprailway.blogspot.com

"The first transition era - wood to steel!"

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 10:50 AM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

This is getting silly.  Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Anyhoo, if Malcolm Furlow really said what Sam Posey's book says he said, his credibility in my mind just dropped like a rock.  Back in the 1980s I was a big Furlow fan.  I was a kid then.

I agree on two counts. It got silly. Physic are pretty much a set of rules we live by.

And I applaud the movement back to the topic.

However, I think you might be a little harsh on Furlow. Posey, took four words and presented them without a context. While is intent might not have been purposefully antagonistic, it was certainly literary sensationalism. He was setting up Furlow to be the polar opposite of Koester.

What I tried to do earlier was to frame a context in which Furlow could be making a point within his world view--that of the artist. It was also one that was not diametrically opposed to the views of Koester within that context. I was hoping to start a discussion of modeling theory.

Did it think it would digress, sure. But I've yet to figure out how to talk about modeling theory without a nit-picking of arguments to the point of digression or people taking offense at differing points of view, or people attacking others instead of a point of view.  

I still think hearing and participating in debate about theory is productive.      

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, March 23, 2007 10:57 AM
 Midnight Railroader wrote:

Yeah, I read Richard Bach in high school, too.

May we hear your interpretation of Richard Bach.  I would be interested.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Prescott, AZ
  • 1,736 posts
Posted by Midnight Railroader on Friday, March 23, 2007 11:06 AM
Not on this board. There's too much non-model railroad-related stuff on it already.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Seattle WA
  • 1,233 posts
Posted by Hoople on Friday, March 23, 2007 11:06 AM
I'm sort of the opposite way. I don't have scenery yet (well I have buildings and a bridge), so I do try to do schedules. If only I could figure out how to get the Zephyr to display fastclock....
Mark.
  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, March 23, 2007 11:07 AM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

This is getting silly.  Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Anyhoo, if Malcolm Furlow really said what Sam Posey's book says he said, his credibility in my mind just dropped like a rock.  Back in the 1980s I was a big Furlow fan.  I was a kid then.

Now I find that making things look like they do (or did) in real life is far more rewarding.  Sway-backing a stock car until its truss-rods drag on the railheads may be "cute" but it ain't railroading.

I've said this before...  Look at what Furlow used to do to his freight cars and locomotives.  Now, I volunteer periodically at a local tourist railroad operation, so I have some experience (albeit limited) with real trains and real railroad safety.

Brakie, jump in and correct me, but no railroader who wants to live past his next shift would even operate most of the equipment in the condition Malcolm models.  Rotten, broken cars, rusted-out engines, trestles that look like they couldn't bear the weight of an average-sized dog...  It's cute and neat to look at, but it's not a model of a railroad.  Therefore, should we even call it model railroading?  I don't know.  But I wouldn't hold it up as high as someone like Tony Koester who has modeled a recognizable stretch of real railroad.

Dave,Absolutely! If we saw a car in such condition it would not be picked up until a car man has inspected the car..Then there would be speed and in train placement restictions...Most old line conductors would place any BO cars behind the caboose with  red flag protection.

As a forklift operator I would refuse to unload such cars quoting company and union safety rules.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 11:10 AM
 Midland Pacific wrote:

I think the whole question of how and why you want to portray the world is a valid one, though it's just guaranteed to start a furball!

True--see my reply to Dave above.

Every approach to modeling has its limitations, and the whole question of how you compress and capture reality if you aren't willing to model a fairly small area is still an interesting one.  The South Park line's ascent of the western slope of the Continental Divide from Midway Tank to Alpine Tunnel Station scales out at over fourteen vertical feet in HO Scale - so something has to give, unless your wife is unusually tolerant.  The artistry is in figuring out how to capture the aspects of that sort of sight that make it impressive to the viewer in a manageable space.  Furlow always seemed to be good at that, and that's why I like a lot of his modeling. 

True. However, I like so many others here I could not live with his layout. At the point of Posey book, many of the tracks were not even connected--they were there for looks. If nothing else, I require a layout where the trains can actually go somewhere. Like many here, I fall somewhere in the middle, I really like realistic operations and realistic scenery. I do allow myself artistic license and I like dramatic effects. I want someone to say "wow," when they see the layout. I want them to be entertained at my vignettes. But I also want an inherent self-integrity to the layout. This meaning, within the scope of the layout, nothing is out of place.  

Within my current view, "Accuracy" is not a crutch. But it is not a stumbling block either.  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, Ma.
  • 5,199 posts
Posted by bogp40 on Friday, March 23, 2007 11:10 AM
 loathar wrote:

To count rivets or not to count rivets...That is the question. (anybody got any asprin?)

I'm going to go do some realistic scenery on my fantasy layout.

I think I'm going to shave off all all my rivets and start thinking "DR Seus" after this one!

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,255 posts
Posted by tstage on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:08 PM
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Physic are pretty much a set of rules we live by.

Just a small correction in semantics.  I think it would be more accurate to say that physics is a set of rules we are governed by.  To say we "live by" them is to imply that we have a choice in the matter or can change them.

Okay, back to the regularly schedule program...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:17 PM
 tstage wrote:
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Physic are pretty much a set of rules we live by.

Just a small correction in semantics.  I think it would be more accurate to say that physics is a set of rules we are governed by.  To say we "live by" them is to imply that we have a choice in the matter or can change them.

Okay, back to the regularly schedule program...

Tom

Hey wait a minute!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says I don't know, you don't know.  So I can do what I want, so long as I don't tell you. 

So I am not going to tell you that I have levitation-around layout. 

Irreverently

Paul 

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:21 PM
 IRONROOSTER wrote:
 tstage wrote:
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Physic are pretty much a set of rules we live by.

Just a small correction in semantics.  I think it would be more accurate to say that physics is a set of rules we are governed by.  To say we "live by" them is to imply that we have a choice in the matter or can change them.

Okay, back to the regularly schedule program...

Tom

Hey wait a minute!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says I don't know, you don't know.  So I can do what I want, so long as I don't tell you. 

So I am not going to tell you that I have levitation-around layout. 

Irreverently

Paul 

Man, that would sure save a lot of derailments!

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:23 PM

Sorry friends but,I have come to a conclusion..

 

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:29 PM
 BRAKIE wrote:

Sorry friends but,I have come to a conclusion..

 

 

 

You're going to go beat your dog?

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Warren, MI O scaler
  • 553 posts
Posted by el-capitan on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:31 PM
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 BRAKIE wrote:

Sorry friends but,I have come to a conclusion..

 

 

 

You're going to go beat your dog?

I was wondering what the "report abuse" button was for.

 Check out the Deming Sub by clicking on the pics:

Deming Sub Deming Sub

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • 1,138 posts
Posted by MidlandPacific on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:32 PM
It didn't look like a dead horse to me, either.

http://mprailway.blogspot.com

"The first transition era - wood to steel!"

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:39 PM
 IRONROOSTER wrote:
 tstage wrote:
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Physic are pretty much a set of rules we live by.

Just a small correction in semantics.  I think it would be more accurate to say that physics is a set of rules we are governed by.  To say we "live by" them is to imply that we have a choice in the matter or can change them.

Okay, back to the regularly schedule program...

Tom

Hey wait a minute!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says I don't know, you don't know.  So I can do what I want, so long as I don't tell you. 

So I am not going to tell you that I have levitation-around layout. 

Irreverently

Paul 

Ahhh!!!  Too many armchair physicists!!!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is way too often misused and misinterpreted.

From a quantum sense, it says simply that the act of measuring or observing something changes that thing, so that we can never be sure of what its true nature (independent of our observation) is.  It's meant to apply to things like electron orbits or photons, not people, trains, or Spacemouse.

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • 1,138 posts
Posted by MidlandPacific on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:42 PM

It's meant to apply to things like electron orbits or photons, not people, trains, or Spacemouse.

Somebody's going to use that as a signature block, I know it.

http://mprailway.blogspot.com

"The first transition era - wood to steel!"

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:42 PM
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 BRAKIE wrote:

Sorry friends but,I have come to a conclusion..

 

 

 

You're going to go beat your dog?

 Man,Thats  a mule..Beating a dead mule! LOL!

I did that for a joke.Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]Clown [:o)]

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 2:59 PM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Ahhh!!!  Too many armchair physicists!!!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is way too often misused and misinterpreted.

From a quantum sense, it says simply that the act of measuring or observing something changes that thing, so that we can never be sure of what its true nature (independent of our observation) is.  It's meant to apply to things like electron orbits or photons, not people, trains, or Spacemouse.

As an armchair psuedo-physicist (I can't claim even a remote assosciation) I would point out that you described "the observer effect." The Heisenberg Principle basically says when dealing with a pair of sub-atomic particles, the more accurately you measure one of them, the less accurately you measure the other. Please excuse my simplification here.

However, I think that just anyone would agree that applying the uncertainty principle to Amtrak is completely justified.  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,255 posts
Posted by tstage on Friday, March 23, 2007 3:23 PM
 BRAKIE wrote:
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 BRAKIE wrote:

Sorry friends but,I have come to a conclusion..

 

 

 

You're going to go beat your dog?

 Man,Thats  a mule..Beating a dead mule! LOL!

I did that for a joke.Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]Clown [:o)]

Well, a mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey.  So, I guess we're only kicking 1/2 a dead horse.  Perhaps the other half is just fantasy...

Tom 

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 2,268 posts
Posted by NeO6874 on Friday, March 23, 2007 3:44 PM
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 IRONROOSTER wrote:
 tstage wrote:
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Physics is pretty much a set of rules by which we all live.  We may not know all the rules, but the rules still apply to us regardless.

Physic are pretty much a set of rules we live by.

Just a small correction in semantics.  I think it would be more accurate to say that physics is a set of rules we are governed by.  To say we "live by" them is to imply that we have a choice in the matter or can change them.

Okay, back to the regularly schedule program...

Tom

Hey wait a minute!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says I don't know, you don't know.  So I can do what I want, so long as I don't tell you. 

So I am not going to tell you that I have levitation-around layout. 

Irreverently

Paul 

Man, that would sure save a lot of derailments!

 

Yes, but the trick is getting the train to follow the path he wants it to.  The tangents are no problem,it's the turnouts and curves that are gonna be the real trick Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

-Dan

Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Friday, March 23, 2007 3:47 PM
 SpaceMouse wrote:
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

Ahhh!!!  Too many armchair physicists!!!  The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is way too often misused and misinterpreted.

From a quantum sense, it says simply that the act of measuring or observing something changes that thing, so that we can never be sure of what its true nature (independent of our observation) is.  It's meant to apply to things like electron orbits or photons, not people, trains, or Spacemouse.

As an armchair psuedo-physicist (I can't claim even a remote assosciation) I would point out that you described "the observer effect." The Heisenberg Principle basically says when dealing with a pair of sub-atomic particles, the more accurately you measure one of them, the less accurately you measure the other. Please excuse my simplification here.

However, I think that just anyone would agree that applying the uncertainty principle to Amtrak is completely justified.  

You're right about Amtrak!

As an applied fluid dynamicist (i.e., meteorologist -- not to be confused with "weather man!!!"), I don't generally deal with scales below the order of meters (except in the surface layer of the planetary boundary layer).

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 3:52 PM

Dave,

OT: I've worked out a mathematical equation regarding weather prediction I'd like to run past you.

If you take a snow forecast you divide the lower number of the accumulation by two and you have a 50% chance of getting that much snow.

For instance if the green-screener says to expect 4-8" of snow, you have a 50% chance of getting 2".

PS--I can't think of a more difficult set of numbers to crunch than what you do. Talk about an intellectual pursuit.

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, March 23, 2007 5:07 PM

Since we are enjoying this pinball effect of bouncing our replies from pillar to post, (Big Smile [:D], and I am enjoying it immensely) my understanding of Heisenberg is that, due to limitations in physics (and in technology), the more we learn about a quantum behaviour, the less we can know about its dimensionality, and vice versa.  In other words, if I want to know as precisely as I can about where it is going, I lose more of the information about what it actually "looks like", in a manner of speaking.  The more I want to know about what it looks like, the less information that process will yield about its moment, or speed and direction, or force.

Does this hold any credence?  Someone who actually knows?

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Midtown Sacramento
  • 3,340 posts
Posted by Jetrock on Friday, March 23, 2007 5:13 PM
Well, if we're getting into esoteric physics here, why not hit the "Schrodinger's Cat" theory too? If you build a layout with a tunnel, and there is an intermittent track problem that will result in derailment within the tunnel at an indeterminate time, if you watch the train go into the tunnel, there become two equally possible scenarios--either the train comes out of the tunnel, or it stops inside the tunnel due to the derailment. So, for a brief time, until the observer can determine whether the train is coming out of the tunnel or not, there are two trains--one running and one derailed--existing as side-by-side wave states. Once the observer determines whether the train has derailed or not, the two wave-states collapse into one train that is either derailed or not.
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Friday, March 23, 2007 6:21 PM
 SpaceMouse wrote:

Dave,

OT: I've worked out a mathematical equation regarding weather prediction I'd like to run past you.

If you take a snow forecast you divide the lower number of the accumulation by two and you have a 50% chance of getting that much snow.

For instance if the green-screener says to expect 4-8" of snow, you have a 50% chance of getting 2".

PS--I can't think of a more difficult set of numbers to crunch than what you do. Talk about an intellectual pursuit.

That's clever...  but not exactly how probabilistic forecastiong works. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Unfortunately, it's hard to verify a probabilistic forecast.  You can say 30% chance of showers, but it either rains, or it doesn't!  Verification is actually 100% or 0%.

Snowfall forecasts are particularly vexing.  I learned forecasting at Penn State in the early 90's, back when we had those heavy snow winters.  The trouble is that even if you can forecast the liquid eqivalent properly, there are so many different types of snow (plates, rods, dendrites) etc., that the same liquid content can give you on the order of a tenfold difference in depth.  Humidity and temperature as well as cloud updraft speeds, etc., combine to mean that one inch of liquid equivalent can range from 2-3 inches to a foot of snow.

Now my research for the Air Force is on the interactions of cross-jet circulations and waves formed by mountainous terrain that can combine to cause stratospheric turbulence (i.e., where the Air Force is flying).  In particular, the right superposition of the subtropical and polar jet flows can combine to form an unstable layer which can allow mountain-induced waves to propagate upward and break just above the tropopause.  I'm dumbing it down a bit, though.

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 3,864 posts
Posted by Don Gibson on Friday, March 23, 2007 8:06 PM

Chip:

WHEN  does a 'Fetish' become a "Crutch"?

Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Friday, March 23, 2007 10:03 PM
 Dave Vollmer wrote:

That's clever...  but not exactly how probabilistic forecastiong works. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Unfortunately, it's hard to verify a probabilistic forecast.  You can say 30% chance of showers, but it either rains, or it doesn't!  Verification is actually 100% or 0%.

I was actually referring to the TV new's practice of making a storm seem worse and sensationalizing it to increase viewing audience.

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!