MetaChat - My favorite online source for current weather data

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07 February 2011

My favorite online source for current weather data is Weather Underground, named ironically after a '60s terrorist organization. Currently, it's serving ads for "Young America Foundation's" Reagan's Birthday Celebration at the Reagan Ranch 90 miles from me (your ads may vary). Deep Cynicism or Irony Deficiency?

post by: oneswellfoop at: 20:27 | 9 comments

I've known quite a few people who use that site and have no idea of the name's history.

posted by octothorpe 07 February | 20:59

I was chatting with a bus driver, slightly younger than I, about my weather-following practices and mentioned the name of the site and he, in all seriousness asked... "is that the SAME Weather Underground...?"

posted by oneswellfoop 07 February | 22:40

posted by oneswellfoop 07 February | 22:43

I poked around a bit looking for the ads but I suppose AdBlock has taken care of them for me as I don't see any. But while I was poking around, I realized how great the site is - thanks!

posted by nelvana 07 February | 22:44

Is this where I smugly note that I don't see any ads?

I've been using WU since desjardins mentioned it a while back. It's a great weather resource.

And I knew it was in reference to the radical group, but can't seem to find why they use the name.

posted by deborah 08 February | 02:13

It comes from the Bob Dylan song Subterranean Homesick Blues. Wikipedia:

The Weathermen grew out of the Revolutionary Youth Movement (RYM) faction of SDS. It took its name from the lyric "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows", from the Bob Dylan song Subterranean Homesick Blues. You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows was the title of a position paper they distributed at an SDS convention in Chicago on June 18, 1969. This founding document called for a "white fighting force" to be allied with the "Black Liberation Movement" and other radical movements[5] to achieve "the destruction of US imperialism and achieve a classless world: world communism."[6]

I do think it's the best weather site. I appreciate the name, but I'm sure many people don't know of the connection.

posted by Miko 08 February | 12:21

Oh, kind of awesome - here's the original "Weather" memo. I can see how, with a name like "RYM," the SDS students would just refer to the faction that circulated the "weatherman" memo as "the Weathermen."

posted by Miko 08 February | 12:32

It's my 2nd favorite weather site after my state-specific one. I always wondered about the name. Certainly they must have realized its history, but I always assumed it was just for the name recognition. I use ad-block, so i rarely see any ads anywere, except the nytimes.

posted by DarkForest 08 February | 17:52

I love Weather Underground, but never made the name connection. Most everyone I know uses AccuWeather. I hate it. It's less accurate, has more pop-ups, and their radar sucks in comparison. I recently converted a co-worker to wunderground and cheered a bit in my head.

posted by youngergirl44 08 February | 20:18

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