Heat can create serious health problems. Usually the elderly, the very young, the sick and those without access to air conditioning are most severely affected by heat.

Symptoms of heat illness include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, weak but rapid pulse, and headaches. People with these symptoms should find shade, drink water slowly and make sure there is good ventilation.

If fluids are not replaced soon enough, heat stroke can follow causing extremely high body temperature, red and dry skin, rapid pulse, confusion, brain damage, loss of consciousness and death. To help a person showing severe symptoms, get the victim into shade, call for emergency medical services and start cooling the person immediately with cool water or by fanning.

Staying in an air-conditioned area, either at home or in a public place such as a mall, library or recreation center, is the most effective way to combat heat. If air conditioning is not available, pull the shades over the windows and use cross-ventilation and fans to cool rooms.

A cool shower or bath also is an effective way to cool off. Limit the use of stoves and ovens to keep home temperatures lower. Children especially can quickly become dehydrated. They need to drink fluids frequently, especially water, and wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes. Avoid drinks that are heavily sweetened or contain caffeine. Check on children often, especially if they are playing outside in high temperatures.

Unless something unbelievable happens, this is probably one of the last times you will hear from me in blog form at News 2.

I wanted to write this now so folks will have time to read it. In case you haven’t heard from Wrestling gossip web sites already, I’m leaving News 2 early August.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for such an amazing time and opportunity. Life isn’t always easy but I want to admit, I never felt more at ease than in the times I was on air, talking to you.

No matter what was going on, off air or off the job, the world seemed to make a little more sense when i saw the red light on the camera.

My friend Mike Mooneyham of the Post and Currier told me, he expects me back in a few years. He may not be that off. I have a girlfriend that loves this area almost as much as I love her. I have made lifelong friends here, and strangely enough, discovered I have distant, distant, cousins with the same last name, living in the area.

I have covered some incredible stories but the ones I’ll take with me the most are the ones I did about the average joes. The woman who opened up a gym for pets. The Australian who broke his back in a triathlon. My “Star Wars” Kid-zone is something that immediately comes to mind as well as the other 120 kids zones I did.

For a while, I had a tough time accepting Kids zones would be my legacy here but after sitting down and dubbing every single one of them Thursday, I realized what a special opportunity I had! I never got to watch it but I can only imagine the joy experienced in households across the low-country when a kid or parent would see themselves in those pretty wacky stories.

Then of course came the wrestling matches. Another one of those, “wow-that’s what I’m known for moments.“ I was covering a pretty horrible story one day when a man interrupted his conversation, came across the room, just to give me a high five for my high risk maneuvers.

Not going to lie, I felt pretty cool.

Here’s something strange: You know I signed more autographs in my two wrestling matches than I have in 8 years of being a media personality. Did I pick the wrong field? Nah, but I think I picked a great hobby. There’s no greater feeling than experiencing success in something you’ve always wanted to do. I may never make it to the WWE but man, there really is nothing like hearing a crowd go crazy when you jump from the top rope.

I know I may not have met everyone that watches me but if you want to stay in touch, by all means send me a message on facebook. Or on Twitter.

I’m moving up north but I won’t forget the real comfort you folks in the south have provided. It’s been an honor that you all let me into your homes.

It’s Day 9, and that means the long trip home from Vancouver to Charleston. We certainly enjoyed our stay in the Canadian Rockies, and surrounding areas. We ended our touring activities on Saturday, with a trip to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Stanley Park in Vancouver. Kudos to those in the Charleston group for crossing the cable suspension bridge….a bridge that is almost as high as the Statue of Liberty is tall, and yes, it’s an intimidating view looking down. The bridge also MOVES…which was quite unnerving for me! From there, it was on to Granville Island for lunch. Granville Island is a shopping and food mecca, with an unbelievable Farmer’s Market as the centerpiece. Two words for you…“Mango Cheesecake!“ It was delicious. Yes, I skipped the fruit and vegetables and went right for the bakery! We spent a couple of hours shopping and eating, and then it was on to our horse drawn carriage tour of Stanley Park, yes, named after Lord Stanley himself. It is a beautiful park along the waterfront overlooking Downtown Vancouver. Our tour guide was thorough, and took us through the history of the park. After the tour, we then headed to our hotel, and then on to our Farewell Dinner at a
wonderful Downtown Vancouver restaurant called Aqua Riva. How else do we end our trip, but to eat some more! That’s part of the fun, right. I’ll be back in the Gym on Monday, but for now, I have enjoyed sampling the best of what Canada has to offer. It’s time to head to the airport to begin our journey home. We have memories and stories to tell, and tons of pictures to show when we get home. You can check out my pics at http://www.counton2.com. Go to the bottom of the weather page. Thanks to everyone for a great trip. Where are we going next….Stay tuned!

Sorry I missed my Day 7 report…too much fun, and exciting things to do in Whistler, and it wears you out. Hit the sack early on Friday night….needed the rest!
Oh, by the way, did I mention how cool Whistler is? We started our day by heading over to the Gondala ride, which was going to take us all the way to the top of Whistler Mountain. Along the way to the checkin, we got a chance to see mainly young men, cruising down the mountainside on bikes. Mountain biking is big here, and everywhere you go, there are bicycles, and kids, young men walking around with helmets and protective gear. It was pretty cool to watch them. It was now time to head up the mountain for us…what a view on the way up in the Gondola. Once up on top of the mountain (about a 15 minute Gondala ride) the view was spectacular. You can see the pics at the bottom of the weather page at counton2.com. Our next adventure was to take a glass bottom gondola from Whistler to Blackcomb….what they call peak to peak. The 11 minute trip provided us with some amazing views, but don’t look down! You are high above the pine trees and snow below! On the top of each Mountain, there are restaurants and gifts shops, and back decks where picture taking is a must. I got some great shots there.
After spending a couple of hours on the mountains, it was time to head back down into the village. Food and Shopping awaited us there. Yes, I left some money behind on this trip….there is so much Olympic stuff on sale!
The people in Whistler are so friendly, and there is plenty to do, but onward we must go, and it’s time for our Charleston Group to head down the road to Vancouver.
A trip over the Cappellano Suspension bridge, and a horse drawn carriage ride tour await us there. We are having a great time, and our group is soaking it all up!
Time for breakfast, and then it’s on the road!

The Decision is now up there with the Shot and the Drive.

Cleveland is used to pain. But not one like this. This is too close to home.

LeBron James was Ohio’s own creation. Drafted out of high school by the Cavs. He was the savior of Cleveland Sports. Anything in the past forgotten and healed by the money shot of James someday holding the Larry O’Brien trophy. And not just once by the way. No this was a one man dynasty who had the potential to go down as the greatest player in NBA history. And h

Except that never happened. And in a made for TV moment, James channeled his inner bachelor and spurned the Cavs like Jake dumped Vienna.

It was cruel. It was mean spirited. It was outrageous.

James as it turns out was not Luke Skywalker. He was not the chosen one who was to bring order to the Force. As Obi mistook a young Anaken Skywalker, Cleveland mistook James.

And now just as Darth Vader become public enemy number 1 to the Jedi, James is now instant bad guy in Cleveland.

Now I dare say, there will be a time when most of the sports world forgets this crazy week. Over time, they’ll see James in a good light again. Sure he came off as selfish, self-serving, and egotistic but then again in this day in age, who hasn’t? Tiger Woods cheated on his wife like it was his job and he’s still cheered, not jeered when he steps to tee off.

Furthermore, I’m not sure if I buy that every great player stuck it out with one team. Anyone remember when Shaq bolted from Orlando and cashed in with the Lakers? No one was calling him selfish the night he led LA to a title in 2000.

But there is something different to James and his decision to leave the Cavs. You see in the eyes of Cleveland fans, he wasn’t just turning his back on the team. He was turned his back on the whole darned state of Ohio. This is like Hulk Hogan joining forces with the Outsiders to form the NWO. Lebron has gone rougue.

While the world will eventually return to its normal axis, I don’t think Lebron will ever be looked at the same way. How can anyone tells me a humble man buys an hour of TV time to explain his future career plans.

This past week showed us what would happen if college recruiting trips were unregulated by the NCAA. We would have celebrities giving shoutouts and offering hookups. We would have made just-for-them cartoons featuring inside jokes. (The Cavs got help from the producers of “Family Guy,“ to make a 5 minute clip featuring locker room ha-ha’s)

LeBron is called the King and clearly, he views the NBA as his loyal subjects. It was like his was the Pharaoh in the Michael Jackson, “Remember the Time” music video. But instead of taking off their heads, he took out their hearts.

But here’s the worst part. Not once did I see LeBron feel any remorse. This decision was all about him and just him. He forgot about who helped him get to the top.

Cleveland helped shape the legacy of Lebron. And now, they’ll have to watch him fulfill his destiny with someone else.

After a long, but enjoyable trip on the train Wednesday, we are back on the train Thursday with our destination this time being Whistler, a place we have heard so much about, and seen quite a bit during the Winter Olympics. Our scenery on Wednesday was stunning again, especially early in the train trip as we were descending the Mountains and heading into the Valleys. Highlights included seeing quite a bit of wildlife, from the beautiful bald eagle perched high above, to a couple of black bears chilling in a field. Mt Hobson was another highlight. It is the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies, at some 13,000 feet. It’s another one of those mountains so tall it creates its own weather, and is usually shrouded in clouds at the top. We were lucky, and this time around we got to see the peak without clouds! It’s also much warmer on the Western side of Canada. As we arrived in Quesnel (silent s), we were greeted by the red hat ladies, and members of the local Lions Club. All commented how warm it was….31 degrees….Celsius of course. That’s close to 90 degrees F! For us, it’s no big deal!
Everyone in Canada is so nice, and it reminds me of Charleston in many ways because of that.
Well, time to catch the bus back to the railroad station to board the Rocky Mountaineer. We can’t miss Bus Driver Bill, and his entertaining commentary….example…“I grew up in a Canadian town so small the welcome and thanks for visiting was on the same sign!“

It’s on to Whistler…..pictures will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and on the weather page at counton2.com

For many of us on the trip to Canada from Charleston, this is what we have been waiting for, the train! After day full of oohs and ahhs on Tuesday (see pics on the weather page at counton2.com…just scroll to the bottom) we landed in a quaint little town called Jasper, located in the Jasper National Park. We are still in Alberta Province, but British Columbia here we come.
This morning we are loading up on the Rocky Mountaineer for our two day train trip over to Whistler. We stop in Quesnel tonight, before we head west again. All of us are in awe of the scenery, and can’t believe it can get any better. My favorite yesterday was the Moraine Lake area, with its blue green glacier fed water, surrounding by a post card picture in every direction. The highlight was watching snow cascading down the 10,000 foot mountain. It sounded like a jet engine. It was a spectacular sight. A close second for me, actually traveling out on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefields. That was amazing and fun, that is until part of my right foot and leg broke through a weakness in the ice. Needless to say, that water was Cold! We then checked out the Athabasca Falls nearby. Spectacular sights again!

After a great dinner at a local hamburger place (awesome hamburgers…think Poe’s on Sullivan’s Island) with Fred, Betty, Joyce, and Dennis, it was time to turn in….even though it’s still bright at 10pm. We have an early start as we head across the street from our hotel to board the Rocky Mountaineer. Time to get the camera fired up again!

Hope you’re enjoying our travel blog and pictures. Just let me know if you have any questions or comments!

When parents are involved in a custody battle, they are usually focused on protecting their own individual rights. In other words, mothers are concerned about protecting their rights as mothers; fathers get focused on ensuring that they maintain their rights as fathers. However, often lost in the middle of all the motions, briefs, opinions, and petitions, is the fact that, in each and every state, when it comes to custody and visitation, the children have their own set of rights.
 
The judicial system in each state considers numerous factors in arriving at a final child custody arrangement. And while the opinions and desires of an older child generally carry more influence than those of a younger one, the following list of rights is generally upheld for children of all ages.

The right to a continuing relationship with both parents.
The right to be treated, not as a piece of property, but as a human being having unique feelings, ideas and desires.
The right to continuing care and proper guidance from each parent.
The right to have his views and opinions of one parent not be unduly influenced by the other parent.
The right to express love, friendship, and respect for both parents, and the freedom from having to hide those feelings or emotions.
The right to know the impending divorce was in no way caused by any actions of the child.
The right not to be the subject and/or source of arguments.
The right to continuing, honest information regarding the divorce process.
The right to maintain regular contact with both parents, and the right to a clear explanation for any changes or cancellations of plans.
The right to enjoy a pleasurable relationship with both parents; the right never to be used as a manipulative or bargaining tool.
Parents who can study, understand, support, and enforce these rights on behalf of their children will reap immeasurable rewards in their relationship with their kids. Parents who ignore and repeatedly violate these rights run the risk of damaging their relationship, credibility, and their children themselves beyond repair.
 

We had a great another great day in Canada as our Charleston group continues to experience beautiful sights, in addition to forming new friendships. The highlights of Monday (July 5th) were Bow River Falls, and our tour and lunch at The Banff Springs Hotel. I hope you are getting a chance to see all of the pics we are sending back. You can find them at the bottom of the weather section at counton2.com. I am also posting on the Channel 2 Facebook page, along with Twitter (follow StormTeam2).

We also enjoyed, at the end of the day, a question and answer session with a retired Canadian Royal Mounted Police officer, Sgt. Pat.
His insight was fascinating, and his stories compelling and informative. It was certainly a nice end to our stay in Banff, Alberta.

We are now on to Jasper National Park, the Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise, and the Columbia Icefields…yes, we will be riding on a Glacier!

Stay tuned for our next blog, and keep checking for my pictures of the sights and sounds of Western Canada!

It was strange celebrating the 4th of July in another country, but our group did a great job remembering our nation’s birthday on Sunday. Our bus driver Colin, a proud Canadian, helped us by placing American Flags in the seats of the bus! Thanks Colin.

Sunday was a busy day, filled with lots of fun, food, and fantastic views. We started with a tour of Calgary, Alberta, a city of one million people, the fifth largest in Canada. The people here are excited for their annual Calgary Stampede, a roughly week long celebration which brings another million people into town. I would love to see the Chuckwagon Races…sounds like a lot of fun. From there, it was off to the site of the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. It was the Olympics which made icons of Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards, and the Jamaican Bobsled team (remember the movie “Long Cool Running”). It was cool to see the ski jump platforms, and just reminds me why I am NOT an olympic skier!

We next headed to Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. We enjoyed an amazing boat tour on the lake, thanks to our captain and guide, Justin and Jake.
See the pictures at the bottom of the weather page under Rob’s Trips! You can also see the pics on my Facebook and Twitter pages as well.

We landed in Banff for a stroll around town, and what a beautiful town this is. I am a big sucker for a good ole Irish Pub, so after finding one, we had to stop in for one of my favorites, Fish and Chips! Thanks to Fred, Betty, John, Jeanette, Charlotte, Rae, and Eleanor for the company.

We are having a great time, but I have to wrap this up, or else I will miss the bus to the historic Banff Springs hotel!  More to come later!

It’s Day 2 of our Canadian Rockies and British Columbia by Rail trip with our wonderful News2 viewers. Yesterday was our long travel day, leaving Charleston at 6am, arriving in Calgary (by way of Houston) at 1230pm local time (or 230pm Charleston time). We were tired, no doubt about it, but we had to get some sightseeing in. They have a cool place called the Eau Claire Market right down the street from our hotel. The market has some pretty cool shops, and lots to do (even watched a bit of an outdoor arobics class), but I think our group was more into people watching. Calgary has a unique blend of different cultures all around, so it was cool just to hang out and observe. The weather was a big change from what we left back home. It was a cool 65 degrees, in fact it reminded me of a nice winter day in Charleston. One thing missing here….no humidity! It was refreshing!

Today, it’s off for our guided tour of Calgary with our bus driver Colin, and our wonderful tour director Penny. We then will have out big welcome lunch, followed by a boat tour in Banff National Park
and our arrival for a two night stay at Banff Park Lodge.

One side note, if you are ever in Calgary, make sure you eat dinner at Caesar’s Steak House. It was excellent! It reminded me of Oak Steakhouse back home.

I will continue to send back pics on Facebook, Twitter, and Counton2.com. Check out Rob’s travel pics at the bottom of the weather page. You might also see a pic or two with Joey and Josh on News 2!

When it comes to the creation of baseball, we’re left with a lot of doubt.

Did Alexander Cartwright or Abner Doubleday invent the game?

If you believe it’s Doubleday, then listen up.

Right across the station from News 2, is Fort Sumter, the place where the first shots of the civil war were fired.

Doubleday was stationed there as a Union soldier.  Many believe it was at the Fort where Doubleday got the troops together to play the first game.

How about that?

We are all packed, and ready to go North…...as in Canada….for the next installment of our News2 Viewer trips.  I can’t wait to see the beautiful places I have only seen in brochures and on TV. Everyone who has been to the Canadian Rockies says the views are breathtaking, and so beautiful you have to seem them to believe them.  I will be bringing the pictures back home to all of you through Facebook, Twitter, and right here on The Fowler Front blog.  We have about 30 people who are taking the trip with us, so it’s going to be fun to take a little bit of the Lowcountry to our neighbor to the north. Stay tuned for more installments and plenty of pictures from our trip.

If you weren’t in Orangeburg Saturday I say you missed out. But you still need to check this out.

Well, I am doing it.  Finally, after 44-plus years on earth, I am venturing into the water.  I desperately want to learn to swim and Dr. Lance Davis, a family medicine doctor at Roper Saint Francis is committed to helping me learn this life-enriching skill.

Last summer our community was gripped with the heart-wrenching stories of children who drowned and the loved ones who could not save them.  Dr. D and I agreed though daunting I had to do what I was encouraging people to do from the anchor desk…learn life-saving water skills. Today at the Martin Luther King Junior pool on Jackson Street,  Dr. Davis was encouraging and firm. There was a camera over our shoulders but it did not detract from Dr.D’s message: Don’t panic, fill my lungs, make smooth arms movements, and keep my toes pointed

From a technical perspective Dr. Davis is an amazing doctor, educator, swimming instructor and friend, but what I value even most is his ability to empower me so that I can face this challenge.  I am learning a skill but what I am actually proving to my daughter is that throughout life we continue growing and gaining if we are willing.
I have a long way to go but Dr. D has me on a water-logged path to finding the strength within myself to push beyhond my fear so that I may experience that sense of exhiliration and accomplishment. Dr. D is teaching not only a specific swimming skill but, more importantly, a life skill of finding the strength within to push past adversity.

Applying sunscreen really should be a year-round habit, but summer is a key time for everyone in the family to apply a product wtih an SPF of 15 or higher every day.  All that fun in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer, not to mention painful sunburns and premature wrinkles.  To get enough protection, you need to reappluy sunscreen at least every two hours, so keep a bottle handy in your purse, your car’s glove compartment and your kid’ backpacks.  For added protection, ear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.  Using a UV-blocking laundry rinse on clothing will up the sun protection of an average t-shit from a rate of 5 to 30-and it’s car cheaper that stocking up on special UV-protective clothes.

Friday I got a chance to do something that you all will do one day.

It might even be soon.

Like it or not, 3-D is taking over mainstream media. Almost every other summer blockbuster this year can be seen in the third dimension and now it’s slowly but surely coming inside your homes.

Just how soon? Try tomorrow.

Friday, Comcast let us experience the 3-D magic by showing members of the media and soccer community the US-Slovenia game in 3D.

My reaction: VERY COOL.

3D is like salt right now. It can turn mom’s meatloaf into fillet minion.

I think it’s been years since I’ve seen a soccer game from kickoff to injury time in the second half, without changing the channel once. (Not that I could have here but I didn’t want to.)

I got to admit, it kept me hooked the entire time. The full field view didn’t do much. But then came the close ups..and boy were they cool. Once, the ball was kicked into the camera, and almost everyone in the room jumped.

The 3d technology is rapidly improving. These weren’t your blue and red specs you’d find at the theaters. No, these glasses needed to be powered for an hour. You actually have to turn them on and it’s like seeing a light-switch change in the room. Colors change and the screen jumps out at you literally.

I’m not sure how long this stuff keeps my interest but as of now, I’m hooked. Next month, they are showing a NASCAR race…and I don’t think I’m gonna miss it!

Congrats to Mt. Pleasant chosen tonight as an All America City! More to come

Our presentation is now over, and the rest is up to the judges. 25 All America City finalists have shown their stuff, but only 10 will take home the honor of displaying the “All America City” signs.
Our delegation was amazing, and win or lose (even though all of the towns and cities here), it has been a great experience. Our presentation rocked (that’s what the kids are saying). We have also met some great people from all over the U.S. Will keep you updated….the announcement of the winners comes at 7pm Central Time tonight!

We had a great day on Thursday here at the All America City Competition. We have met so many nice people from all over the country. We started our day with our last practice. Our enthusiasm was great, and I know our delegation of 41 strong is ready to rock and roll! We get our chance to show the judges why Mt. Pleasant deserves to be “An All American City at 10am Central Time, 11am Eastern time with our 10 minute presentation, followed by a question and answer period.
Tonight, our wonderful show choir from Wando High School (all recent graduates) knocked everyones socks off during the Talent Show….especially with their rendition of “Love Shack” by the B-52’s! Well, it’s time to head to the room to practice my lines as narrator. It’s been a fun ride so far, and here’s hoping we can bring home the big prize to Mt. Pleasant.
You can watch our presentation live on the All America City Awards website.
Just google All America City awards, and there you will find the live streaming.

It’s been a busy day, starting with our flight to Atlanta, and then on to Kansas City. After getting our room assignments and resting for a bit, it was time to rally the Mt. Pleasant troops, all 41 of us. We held a brief meeting before heading into the main ballroom for our official welcome and orientation. I can tell you, the ballroom was LOUD, with cheers from all 25 of the All America City finalists. It’s going to be a tough competition, but we have a lot of energy, and our cheer of “Come on Over”, the new Mt. Pleasant slogan, went over very well. After the orientation, it was reception time in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency. We were sizing up the competition, and I could tell they were checking us out as well. Sounds like an old Western, but I can tell you, some of these towns and citites mean business!
Our practice time on stage is tonight, so we are getting a chance to see how the stage matches up with our practice locations back home. We are having a great time, and meeting a lot of nice people from all over the country. Stay tuned for future blogs, as we try to bring home the “All America City” designation.

The dietary guidelines for 2010 are now.  The focus is on what experts are calling the greatest threat to public health this century: obesity.

The guidelines emphasize eating a plant-based diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat.

The guidelines recommend decreasing sodium intake from 2300 to 1500, and saturated fats from 10 percent to seven percent.

They also suggest ramping up activity levels to two-and-a-half hours of moderate activity a week for adults, and an hour a day for kids.

To check out the report and find out how you can give your feedback…check out:
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-DGACReport.htm

The Town of Mount Pleasant has been named an All-America City Finalist and is traveling to Kansas City, Missouri, today to win the prestigious All-America City Designation. Residents will be able to watch the presentation live at http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv.

Presentation Live-Streaming

Live-streaming of all presentations, as well as the award celebration in Kansas City, will be made available to community members at home. Residents interested in watching the Town of Mount Pleasant’s delegation presentation live, can do so at: http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv.

Mount Pleasant will give its presentation on Friday, June 18, 2010, from 11 to 11:20 am (EST) and it will be offered through live-streaming at: http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv

Here is the Presentation Schedule http://www.allamericacityaward.com/things-to-know-about-all-america-city-award/2010-all-america-city-awards-presentation-schedule

We will be updating our Facebook page everyday at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Town-of-Mount-Pleasant-SC-an-All-America-City-Finalist/107389065974568?ref=ts

Award Ceremony

Also, the Awards Ceremony can be viewed at http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv on Friday, June 18, from 8 - 10 pm (EST).

In addition to the presentation that the delegation will be giving, the Town of Mount Pleasant has entered a multimedia competition and posted a video online.

Multi-Media Contest: “All-America Stories”

Help us get the most votes for our All-America City multimedia entry by voting for Mount Pleasant’s “Preserving our Main Street” video. Simply follow the link below and click on the “Vote Now” button listed next to our video. The voting period will end on June 17. The winner will be announced June 18 at the celebration. Please send this link to all your friends. Thank you for your help!

http://www.allamericacityaward.com

What kind of parent are you? This mom is a self-proclaimed “mean mom” and even wrote a book about it. How do you balance being “friends” with your child and still enforcing the rules? What are your thoughts on the “mean mom” approach?

Story from NBC:
Stop by any playground and you’ll find all kinds of parenting styles. Then there’s Melanie Sheridan, who calls her husband Phil and their 7-year-old son Tyler the loves of their life. But…

“Are you a mean Mom? Yes, actually, I am. I’m not his friend. He’s got plenty of those at school.“

She’s about to make herself even meaner, sitting down for a 1-on-1 session with the self-proclaimed president of the mean mom’s club.

Maureen Lobue has a masters in education, and year’s of mom experience. Her once little boys are grown men now and now she’s passing on the mean parenting techniques that worked for her.

In her book and her workshops, she teaches 7 rules for being a mean mom. Including:

“Rule 4 is I brought you into this world and I can take you out, and that’s of course from Bill Cosby. I borrowed that from him. And what that’s about is I’m going to be in charge. I am the one in charge.“

Here’s another one:

“Rule no. 6 is I get to be president of the mean moms club. And that’s the one that talks about when you set those boundaries and enforce them, then enforce them every single time.“

Lobue does say that it’s not about being nasty. She doesn’t promote corporal punishment. “Mean mom simply means you set those rules and you enforce them. And that’s a loving thing to do.“

She says she learned it all from her own mom, who passed away a year ago.

“She was no-nonsense, and that’s really what this is about. It’s common sense, it’s no nonsense. It’s respect.“

Alright, is anyone else annoyed at what’s been going on in college football and for that matter college sports?

Teams leaving conferences. Entering new ones. Destroying old ones.

I get it. It’s about money and pretty much that’s it.

Don’t buy into that they’re looking to create more rivalries or “doing it for the fans.“

It’s all about the cash, son.

How else could you explain the rumor of Texas in the Pac10. What sense does that make? PAC is not an acronym. It’s an abbreviation for pacific. Last time I checked Texas was no where near the pacific.

And how bout hypocrisy? 6 years ago, Syracuse publicly chastised Boston College for bolting to the ACC and leaving the Big East. (DYK, before the ACC courted BC, it talked about taking in Syracuse, who by the way was open to the idea.) Now Syracuse is basically looking to do the same, just to the Big 10. (Which now would have waaaay more than 10 teams at last count.) And if that happens, could Notre Dame, a historically independent school, follow?

All logic has been tossed. None of it makes sense except for the stone cold truth.

It is now..and will forever be about the money.

It’s June, and hurricane season has been in session for about two weeks now.  As we enter the third week of the 2010 season, we very well may have our first named system, which would be Alex.

Check this out from the National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center. 

They now have a 50% probability of development on the mentioned system between the Windwards and Africa.  Based off of what I see on the satellite, this system looks healthy.  It has a lot going for it.  Warm water is in place, relatively low amounts of shear, and a decent amount of thunderstorms already associated with it.

Current sea surface temp analysis from NOAA

As of now, it looks like the system will likely be pulled to the northwest over the coming days and will likely enter the Caribbean Sea later this week.  There is plenty of warm water there too.  Get those hurricane calendars ready, you may be using the tracking chart.  If you haven’t picked up your Storm Team 2 Hurricane Calendar and Guide yet, visit Piggly Wiggly or McDonalds.  You can also download them on our hurricane super-site, SCHurricane.com

Mt. Pleasant is just one of many finalists vying for the designation “All America City.“  This is an award given out annually by the National Civic League.
Find out more here…

http://www.ncl.org/aac/AACindex.htm

We are currently in a dogfight with Acworth, Georgia in the video contest, which is part of the All America City competition.  We need your help by voting for Mt. Pleasant. Go to the link below, and vote for our video.  I am honored to be part of the Mt. Pleasant delegation as we travel to Kansas City next week for the official presentation.

http://www.allamericacityaward.com

I always advocate adopting a pet from a local shelter.  Especially because you can’t ask for a better workout partner than a dog! They love to walk or run and will keep you active.  Now there is proof!  But I seriously doubt anybody needed to spend money or time to prove it.

Here’s the story from NBC:
   
A new study from George Washington University shows dog owners who hit the streets with their pooch were more than half as likely to be overweight or underweight than dog owners who didn’t walk their pets.
   
Dog walkers were more likely to meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity and had half the risk of high blood pressure.

Check out the pictures from my various trips. 

I started talking about this back in February, and so far it looks like we are on track for a very long and hot summer.

Over the next seven days I expect heat and humidity to be the dominant features in our weather.  High temperatures could be as much as 10 degrees above average over the weekend with no significant break in sight.

Get ready for several rounds of very hot and humid weather this summer.  We didn’t see any significant heat waves last summer, but we may pay for it this year.

My News 2 is proud to host a donation drive for Pet Helpers, a local animal shelter on James Island.  Every Wednesday, we feature a special pet on the show that needs a loving home.  Now we’re taking our partnership further and hosting a donation drive to keep the animals healthy and happy while they wait for their forever families. 

Take a look at the list below and drop off your items in the lobby of News 2. We are located at:
210 W. Coleman Blvd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29412

Biggest needs:

·    Dry dog food

·    Dry cat food

·    Canned dog food (especially Pedigree)

·    Canned cat food (especially 9 Lives or Friskies)

·    Peanut butter

·    Used leashes and collars

·    Office supplies

·    Gift cards to purchase supplies (WalMart, pet supply stores, etc.)

For extended wishlist and links to specific items that we need, which can be ordered online:
http://www.pethelpers.org/donate/wish_list.html

Now a former campaign worker for Lt. Gov. Andrea Bauer says he had sex with candidate Nikki Haley during a convention in 2008.  What do you all think about all of these accusations? Do you believe it? Does it sway your vote ? How would it be different if this were a male candidate facing these accusations?

Another day, another attempt to ‘slow’ the leaking oil well in the Gulf.

It’s pretty obvious now that the only thing that will stop the flow is the relief well. That won’t be done until mid-August.

Until then, the people of Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal in particular, want BP to cut the check for six segments of dredged sand barriers to protect the coast.

They’re getting nothing in response. According to several reports, including one from FOX 8 it New Orleans, Jindal’s people have a plan. “It’s a dutch dredging plan to build sand booms along the alignment of the state’s barrier islands. The plan calls for land to literally be created along 86 miles of barrier islands from St. Bernard to Terrebonne Parish.“

There are critics who say this will cause damage to estuaries at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

At this point…the Coast Guard says BP will pay for one of them, and that is what has Jindal fuming.

It’s something I usually just see on the tv screen in front of me. But earlier this week, one of our own managers had a great surprise. She thought her husband was coming home from his two week break from serving for a year overseas later that night. With roses in hand, he surprised her here at work!  It was so amazing to watch and really brought to life the sacrifices our service men and women make and their families.

Check out the video: http://www2.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/news_2_employee_surprised_by_husband_returning_from_iraq/140485/

While at the dentist last week, the woman working on my teeth said her husband was deployed for 400 days! She’s also served overseas so she knows exactly what he’s going through. I could not imagine not seeing my husband for more than a year. My boyfriend and I only get to see each other once a month right now and that’s tough enough.

So to all of those serving, those who have served and the family members they leave behind, I stand up and salute you. Your strength and commitment are inspiring and I hope you know how much you are thought of and appreciated.

Happy Memorial Day.

Remember in the days, and weeks after Katrina…how the feds seemingly took their time responding to the crisis?

Well…where is the outrage now?

There is plenty of it, and it is coming from the people of Louisiana who are watching 100+ miles of their coastline be suffocated by oil.

They are focusing their anger on the government, for not taking over the response to the Gulf oil leak.

The frustration boiled over for one of Louisiana’s most famous political analysts, James Carville. Last night on CNN, he had a message for the president…tell BP “I’m your daddy”.

Carville is upset with the response, and blames the people who are advising President Obama for not telling him just how bad it is.

Mr. Obama will visit the Gulf coast on Friday.

We actually had this discussion in our editorial meeting on Monday, right after Will Folks claimed the affair on his website.

Our conversation surrounded more around making sure we don’t.

I think our viewer is on to something though. Society will demand more proof before believing that a woman cheated, than a man.

We are pursuing this story with the same approach as the Sanford story…except this is taking a far different path.

Congress is considering quadrupling the tax on oil, from eight cents a barrel to 32 cents. It would raise nearly $11 billion over the next decade to be used to pay for cleaning up oil spills.

Which we all know means higher prices for us the consumer.  So why do we have to pay to clean up oil spills?  If they are going to charge us because we pump the gas…then also charge the car makers for not making more cars less dependant on oil.  And of course don’t forget that the owner of the rig is asking that he not be made to pay more than a certain amount of the clean up costs. Thankfully the White House is asking Congress to lift a $75 million dollar cap on damages. 

After a cold winter and signs point to a hot summer.  We are also seeing a setup that makes us a little nervous.  The El Nino is fading fast and we could be headed for a La Nina later this year.  Combine that with water temperatures that are above average over the hurricane breeding grounds and you get a recipe for an active season.  The African wave train is already alive and kicking and we are currently watching disturbed weather northeast of the Bahamas for possible development.

Check out these images below.  They will help paint the picture a little better.

First, this is a look at the sea surface temperature anomalies.  Notice the area between Africa and the Lesser Antilles.  SSTs are running 1-2 degrees above the running mean.  Not good.

Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center/NOAA

Next is a look at the July-August-September (The June-July-August outlook is essentially the same) pressure anomaly forecast from the ECMWF—a reliable long-range forecast model.  Notice the expansive area of blue shading across the Atlantic basin.  This indicates lower than average pressures. 

Image courtesy of ECMWF

Most evidence tends to show a very active season ahead.  Some are experimenting with new guidance that calculates the probability of landfalls along the US coastline.  This guidance suggests there is a higher than average chance of seeing a landfalling hurricane along the eastern US coastline.  Of course, this is a long-range forecast, so only time will tell.

After working weekends for my frist two-and-a-half years here, it took a while for me to be able to take full advantage of the downtown Farmers Market. I went out there this past weekend and enjoyed a delish breakfast! One of the stands make the BEST omelets with local fresh shrimp, feta cheese and spinach….toss some cheesy grits! And it’s what I order every time I go!

My dog was on high alert with so many sights, sounds and smells. The fresh peaches, berries and vegtables were everywhere! Live music, cool arts and crafts. Just awesome.

Possibly the best thing is that most cities and towns around the Lowcountry have their own farmers markets on different days of the week.

Check out my photos from the excursion on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2040742&id=1337951650&l=ec10bb7e2f

Alright so here we are, Socon tournament week is here.

The Bulldogs are the one seed. The Cougars are the two.

Not really sure that matters. Both teams will be playing either at home or a home away from home. No matter what, the Citadel was going to get that edge simply based on where the tournament was.

The Cougars maybe the two seed but they actually finished with more overall wins than the Citadel, a fact I have seen a bit overlooked. (The Citadel finished with more conference wins.)

As far as the two squads go, I have been more impressed with the College. I remember talking to Monte Lee at the start of the year and he honestly told me he wasn’t sure how his team would fare this year. That fact they got to 41 wins is a testament to Monte’s ability to get the most out of his players.

I think I see an all Charleston final with the Cougars coming out on top.
Should be a fun week.

It’s times like this where words fall flat…but they’re all you really have in these times.

Today friends and family will gather in Mount Pleasant to say goodbye to Liz Skipper, you may remember her as Liz Scott.

When I first came to Charleston in 2001, Liz was one of our primary reporters. She was the kind of person who lit up the newsroom when she walked in…after all she was from Ohio!

I didn’t get to know her very well before she left with her husband, a pilot in the Air Force who was being deployed. However, she made an impression on everybody who knew her. I was looking through some old tapes to help in putting together the video that will be shown today. I said to myself, “damn, Liz was good”.

A few years after she left, we learned that Liz was diagnosed with cancer, and we lost her on April 10th, but not before she put up one hell of a fight.

Her husband Eric shared Liz’s battle with the nearly 800 members of the Skipper Support Society on Facebook…inspirational doesn’t begin to describe it. The ups and downs from day-to-day make you sit back and wonder how one person, one family could endure so much.

“During moments of comfort and clarity we talk and I review with her what Grayson is doing, how we got here and what her wishes are for continuing treatment. She is unwavering in her commitment to exhaust all possibilities for a cure. Her will to survive couldn’t be stronger…if only her body would follow.“

It’s going to be a tough day for Eric and their son Grayson. Our prayers are with them, and I hope today will help them heal.

LeBron James is headed to Chicago.

Or is it the Clippers?

What about the Knicks?

Rumors are flying around the world of basketball these days, everyone wants an edge in attracting the greatest player in the game today.

Honestly, has there ever been a time where ONE free agent holds the future of so many teams in the palm of his hands.

There’s rumors, he’s going to bring in his own coach, there’s rumors he wants certain players there with him. It’s as if teams are hiring LeBron to play, coach, and run the basketball operations.

To his fault or credit, LeBron has been mum on his future. He is now even more sought after because teams that in reality have no shot at landing him, think they have a shot at landing him.

But here’s the thing. LeBron is not going anywhere. Not Jersey or New York. Not Chicago or LA.

LeBron is staying put in Cleveland and here’s why.

The holy trinity of the modern world of basketball was shaped by three men. Michael. Larry. Magic. Each man not only one championships but did so while identifying themselves as the face of the franchise from the ground up

Now granted, Magic’s Lakers won a title in his first year and although Jordon would later play with the Wizards, his time there is regarded with the same esteem of Babe Ruth’s tenure with the Boston Braves. (IE forgotten) But each player pretty much stuck with his team through bad or good. They are not cherry pickers a la Shaq or Kevin Garnett who won only after leaving the franchise as either a work in progress or ran down failure.

Rest assured, LeBron knows this. He is a competitor and is aware of the importance of legacy in the association. Michael is the Bulls as much as the Bulls are always Michael.

Michael didn’t give up on the Bulls even at thier worst. (Although, it’s not widely known the Bulls were actually looking to trade him in 1990 to Sacramento) Had he, he probably would have won some championships but it’s doubtful he would have been hailed as the best ever.

For Jordan it’s all about the story just as much as it is the stats. Here was a kid that didn’t give up. That overcame nearly any obstacle in his way without the word quit.

You can take a player like Shaq. He won titles in LA and Miami but people in Orlando still bring up the fact he bolted on them in the summer of 96. (Why do you think fans there are so excited about a new man they can call Superman?)

LeBron wants a legacy like Michael’s, not Shaq’s. Least we not forget, he is an Ohio kid through and through. LeBron is a Cav for life.

We’ll have the full story next Monday on My News 2 at 11a.m..  I want to know what your deal breakers are for men and women?

If your date (a man) doesn’t walk you to the door, will you cross him off the list?  If a girl calls you more than once a day after only a few dates, is she a gonner?

Let me know! Sharing your comments after the story on My News 2.

Website for the book:
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/undateable/

The Carnival Cruise ship “Fantasy” arrives in Charleston this morning and it marks the first time a cruiseship will call Charleston “home.“  I’ve still never been on a cruise, but would love to.  If you book far enough in advance (a few months according to my search results) you can find deals as low as $279 a person for five days. Sounds like a great deal!

I’d love to go in the fall but it’d be my chances that a hurricane would come and I’d have to work! Perhaps I can cover it live from the seas! lol

Do you plan to take advantage of the new cruise service?  Certainly beats driving down to Florida!

Can you believe the difference between now and 6 months ago?  Remember December and how it seemed like Mother Nature was never going to turn off the faucet?  Well, March, April, and May have been a far cry from December.

Check out the numbers.  After a fairly wet January and February, our rainfall deficit since January 1 is about a half inch below average.  But since March 1, we are about two and a half inches below average.  That is the number that has me nervous.  Our water table has taken a significant hit over the past 60 days.  It’s time to get some more rain in here.  We need to get those lakes full and those fields green before summer.

As a meteorologist, when I see images like the ones below, I get a knot in my stomach because I know what is happening.  All signs point to strong tornadoes on the ground.  The images below look like they were ripped right out of radar meteorology textbooks when you are being taught what to look for in severe weather situations.

I watched the coverage online last night from the OKC affiliates and I say hats off to them.  The meteorologists out there are top notch.  Those guys used their technology in the best way possible to warn their viewers and saved lives in the process.

I just had to share these images with you.

Courtesy of NOAA
This image was captured at around 6:22 PM CDT.  It shows the lead supercells out ahead of the dryline thunderstorms.  The monster near the center of the screen produced several strong tornadoes, or perhaps even one strong tornado that was on the ground for a long time.  Further damage surveys will determine whether or not the tornado was on the ground the whole time.  Check out the image below which shows the tornado reports.  Then under that are some close up images of that monster storm, which is number six on the storm report map.

This is the reflectivity which shows rain/hail/objects in the air.  Notice the enhanced reflectivity on the east side of the hook.  That is a debris ball (wood, cars, trees, houses, etc being picked up by the tornado).

This is the storm relative velocity image.  Notice the area where the bright green colors touch the bright red colors.  That is where the cyclonic circulation of the storm is maximized, thus the most likely location for the tornado.  In this particular case, radar estimated gate-to-gate shear greater than 110 knots, or winds as strong as those found in a category three hurricane.

You’ve probably heard by now that human hair and pet hair can help soak up the oil. Check out a list of local pet groomer’s who are sending hair to the Gulf.

Here’s the article from Lowcountry Dog Magazine:

http://www.lowcountrydog.com/story/sections/your-hair-and-your-pets-can-help-clean-gulf-oil-spill-31109

I realize it from years of running across the Cooper river and now Ravenel Bridges…that sun is a monster!  it might look like a warm glowing friend and party-starter but it has carved lines in my face deeper than the Grand Canyon.  I wish someone had told me that black people needed to wear sun screen too when I started my exercise endeavours.

I have lots of friends who tan. I never have deliberately, because I frankly did not need to.  I now know it is a sign of the skin reacting to potentially damaging UV radiation by producing additional pigmentation that provides it with some—but not nearly enough—protection against sunburn.

No matter what our skin color, we’re all potential victims of sunburn and the other detrimental effects of excessive exposure to UV radiation. Although we all need to take precautions to protect our skin, people who need to be especially careful in the sun are those who have

pale skin
blonde, red or light brown hair
been treated for skin cancer
a family member who’s had skin cancer
African Americans
If you have an illness and take medicines, ask your doctor about extra sun-care precautions, because some medications may increase sensitivity to the sun.

Cosmetics that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) also may increase sun sensitivity and susceptibility to sunburn. Look for FDA’s recommended sunburn alert statement on products that contain AHAs.

The feds rating system should improve sometime this fall.

2 Your Health

I am not a fan of Kobe Bryant.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the way he plays. If I squint my eyes, it almost, almost looks like I am watching a clone of my one time idol, Michael Jordan. To be fair, in a lot of ways Kobe is an even better player than Jordan, but that is for another blog discussion.

But by and large I just don’t like the way Kobe operates. I didn’t like the way he forced Shaq out of town and then proceeded to hold the Lakers hostage by openly flirting with other teams. And then of course there was the sandal of 2004. But again, that’s a discussion for another blog.

No, what I’m hear to talk about today is the growing concern that Kobe Bryant has lost a step. That the once wide eyed kid is nothing but a broken down, rickety old man. That the shadow of Jordan he has become a shadow of himself. That the once great clutch shooter, can no longer lift the Lakers to greatness. I think you get the picture.

There’s no denying Kobe’s number and level of play are down considerably. And there’s no denying, Kobe has logged a tremendous amount of games.

But listen here, lunch box. Kobe is hurt. We are not watching an aged Kobe. We are watching an injured one. The man is suffering from three different ailments at once with each pushing his body to limits most of us will never understand. On top of everything else, here is a guy that has almost played two full years of basketball non stop.

Dating back to the 07-08 season, Kobe has played in two NBA finals and the Olympics with no break. I think even an 18 year old Bryant would be a little tired from that schedule.

Should have Phil Jackson rested his star a little more before the playoffs? I think even he would admit a big yes to that one. But Kobe is Kobe. Just like Mike. His strengths are also his weaknesses. Kobe’s desire to take it to the limit may ultimately cost him a title this year.

But rest assured. He’ll be back next year. A little older yes. But also a ton healthier.

Well, we were waiting for summer after this year’s miserable winter and it is here.

I think we have our first opportunity to hit 90 degrees on Friday and if we don’t do it then, we will have another shot on Saturday.

We hit 90 degrees for the first time on May 7 last year, so lets see if we can make it two in a row.

Lawmakers are considering making superintendents, principals, athletic directors and administrators teach at least two classes a week to help offset teacher cuts for next year and save millions.

I say make the lawmakers teach for a few weeks and then vote on this idea!

I have no doubt a principal and others would be fine in the classroom, but there’s NO way they can do both positions efficiently or effectively.  My mom is a teacher and it’s hard enough to just do that job on top of all of the committees she has to serve on, continuing education classes she’s required to take and the afterschool meetings to attend.

My opinion…this is a horrible idea.

A new study of 800 children says children who are obese are more likely to be bullied—no matter their race, gender or socio-economic status.

Working with children, I’ve seen the affects first-hand that obesity can have on children. Kids can be cruel and will pick on other kids who are different or overweight and not always realize the extended affects that “joking” can have. A strong sense of self and positive self-esteem are so important to raising healthy kids mentally and physically. We know that low self-esteem leaves kids and adults vulnerable to accepting that abuse and falling susceptible to peer pressure. “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.“

We need to first arm our children with information to make healthy decisions and build up their self-esteem so that they can believe in themselves and be empowered to take charge of their own lives and not be influenced by others negative decisions.

Check out this video from WKRN in Nashville, TN.  This is why we stress the dangers of flooding, whether it is from heavy rain or storm surge.  This speaks for itself.

Flooding on I-24 - courtesy of WKRN from YouTube

Another day and another report about obese children.  This newest report focuses on overweight children who are caught in a vicious circle of self-destructive behavior.  The report says the kids are inactive and very often sad.  The report says they use eating as gratification. We all know that the effect is continued eating which results in increased weight gain.  The cycle is depressing.

So what do we do?  Well remember that you, the adult, must discover the child’s strengths and help involve the child in fun activities.  Introduce the child to sports, or the arts, or even cooking healthy meals.  I connected a couple of sisters to a chef at Trident Techinical college’s culinary institute.  He taught them to prepare healthy pizzas and granola bars. 

Just as the children battling obesity are different, so are the solutions. 

I had a scary moment tonight on the way back from a dinner break.

I found a snake at News 2.

Or more specifically, inside News 2.

It was hanging by our stairwell and I almost picked it up because I thought it was a wire. I leaned in thinking, “Now why would someone put that there?“  Imagine my shock when it moved. It reminded me of a late night experience I had in Syracuse. I was reading a book when I noticed a bird fluttering by my window. I remember thinking, “Now why would a bird be in my apartment?“  Turns out it wasn’t a bird. It was a bat. A big bat. How I got rid of the thing is a story for another day.

Back to the snake.  I ran and got Brooke Katz, our esteemed reporter who happened to be the only one in the building. I also got a ball(A bouncy one, we all grabbed at Wal Mart when we were 5 but our parents never let us get) and threw it at him. It didn’t like that as it stood up and hissed at me. We ran for cover and called pest control.

But when the man arrived, the snake was gone! Thankfully, 25 minutes later, it was found lurking near the studio.

Anyway here is a picture of the critter.

For those of you not wanting your info leaked to third party websites, opting out of that ‘pilot program’ is pretty simple.

One county in California is banning toys from “unhealthy” kids’ meals.

The Santa Clara County board of supervisors approved an ordinance that bans toys that come with fatty foods saying the toys lure children to unhealthy meal choices.

Restaurants can only give toys with “healthy” meals that meet certain nutritional requirements.

Okay…yes I wanted the toy in the Happy Meal when I was a kid (the mini-Barbies always came out during my birthday month in August) but even if I didn’t get a happy meal, I bet I’d still choose chicken nuggets and fries!  Unless officials would rather I order a whopper instead of the kid’s size burger.

How about parents making smarter choices for their children?

It’s an application that Facebook uses the Instant Personalization Pilot Program to help “you connect more easily with your friends on select partner sites.“

In other words, Facebook is going to share your information with third pary websites, like Microsoft Docs, Pandora, and Yelp.





The problem many have is, you’re automatically enrolled in this “sharing” program, unless you go in and opt out.

So…is this just par for the social network website course, or are you going to change the way you use Facebook?

On Thursday morning I remember saying on News 2 Today that Saturday would probably be an ugly day across Mississippi and Alabama and boy was it.  The first significant severe weather outbreak of the 2010 severe weather season occurred this past weekend.

A significant storm system with lots of upper level energy and favorable wind profiles set the stage for the outbreak.  We’ve witnessed a couple of these types of storms this year, but the Gulf of Mexico has had a hard time recovering from the unusually cold winter.  Well, over the past couple of weeks, the Gulf has been warming and this storm was able to tap into that air mass for the first time this year.

The result was a tornado outbreak responsible for 12 deaths over the weekend across the southeastern United States.  Based off of everything we see right now, the relatively quiet start to severe weather season could be a distant memory.

Check your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/

Louie’s Kids

LOUIE’S KIDS is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that raises funds to help treat childhood obesity, which afflicts 25 million American children today. Louie’s Kids works to find the best treatment options to meet the needs of each child. We find the fix that fits, one kid at a time.

http://www.louieskids.org/

Lean Team

The Lean Team is a partnership between the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Division of Adolescent Medicine, and the Charleston County School District (CCSD). Our goal is the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity through individual, family, and community change.

http://www.musc.edu/leanteam

Deciphering Labels (FDA)

The FDA has a kid friendly website that makes it easier to decipher key information in food labels.

http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ConsumerInformation/ucm114022.htm

You’d think they would do this BEFORE passing the law!

NBC: The health care overhaul may expand coverage nationwide…but a new report suggests it will add to the nation’s tab, instead of decreasing costs like many lawmakers first predicted.

Late Thursday the Department of Health and Human Services released a report forecasting the economic impact of the reform measure. It suggests that the new law falls short of the president’s goal of controlling costs.
   
The forecast also warns that the Medicare cuts may be unrealistic and unsustainable.

This is the first comprehensive look at the law by neutral experts.

I don’t know why this rumor frustrates me so much, but it is ludacris to think one of those pilots would be that reckless.

I understand that it can certainly appear that way, depending on the angle from which you watched the shows or the practice runs…but I promise you they did not fly under the Ravenel Bridge.

Having talked to police officers who stood at the top of the bridge during practice runs, and the shows, they said the Blue Angels never came close.

We also talked to the Navy, and Coast Guard and they also said the jets never flew under the bridge.

Here is one of the videos that people posted questioning it.

In every school I walk into I find children who are overweight or on their way to becoming obese; many are not getting the right balance of nutrients in their diets or enough exercise. Research conducted supports the connection between kids’ food gardens and improved nutrition. Could a school garden be part of the solution to the diet- and exercise-related challenges children face? Many forward-thinking educators and parents think so.  I have had the unique privilege of working with The Children’s Garden Project and I can tell you that I believe if it is not the solution…it is a part of the solution. 

Right now in our yard we are growing tangerines, oranges, apples, and plums.  It is a blessing to eat from the good earth.  I hope that I have planted something in Reese’s heart about enjoying her world while feeding her body. 

While you’re cleaning out your closets and trading in the flip flops for winter boots, don’t forget to spring clean you refrigerator and the pantry. Make this the day that you swap out some of your unhealthy snacks for smart choices.

A few staples I can’t live without and have recently added to my grocery list:
Blueberries: They have tons of fiber, can satisfy your sweet tooth and have a satisfying crunch to them.
Almonds: they have good fat and also come with a great crunch. Plus you can find them in 20 different flavors like raw, salted, mesquite, and even cacao dusted (all without adding too much to the calorie count)
Broccoli: full of fiber to keep you full, you can eat it raw or cooked and it’s super low in calories
Frozen Sweet Peas: These are my new favorite. They are great to add to almost any meal, whole wheat pasta dish, a salad and the possibilities are endless. Again great vitamins, easy to cook and low in calories and packed with fiber to keep you fuller longer

Finally!  The pattern appears to be breaking down and it looks like we will have a couple of opportunities for rain during the next 7 days.  This is great news for allergy sufferers.  Why you ask?  Well, it is quite simple.  Over the past 10 days, our dry and warm weather pattern has allowed for robust pollen production and without rain, the pollen has the ability to continuously accumulate. 

The coming rain chances will act to cleanse the air and knock pollen levels down into the moderate category for Wednesday and Thursday.  Levels will spike again by the weekend, but will likely drop again as rain chances increase on Sunday.

Hopefully you will get some relief, I know I’m looking forward to it.

Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to return home to Earth Tuesday morning and on its flight path to Cape Canaveral it will pass near the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  The projected landing time is 7:34 AM in Florida which means if conditions are just right, a sonic boom could be heard over portions of lower South Carolina a few minutes either side of 7:30 in the morning.  It will depend on the exact path, but it is entirely possible.  Based off of the map below, I would say areas west of I-95 would have the best shot at hearing something in the morning.

So astronomy nuts get ready for some fun in the morning and for the rest of you, wear ear plugs if you don’t have to be up that early.

Image courtesy NASA

What/Where: Mellow Mushroom will donate 15% of patron’s bill to the organization or charity of their choice.  If the patron’s organization spends over $500, then Mellow Mushroom will donate 20%.  At the end of the week, the highest grossing organization will receive and additional $250.00.  There is no limit to how much or how often people can eat at Mellow Mushroom or how much they can raise.  Mellow Mushroom is located in Downtown Charleston on King Street.

Who is affected: Anyone who belongs to a charity, school organization, or would like to raise money for a particular cause.

When: Monday April 12 through Sunday April 18, 2010

Why: To give back to the community by raising awareness of local charities and organizations.

What/Where: Mellow Mushroom will donate 15% of patron’s bill to the organization or charity of their choice.  If the patron’s organization spends over $500, then Mellow Mushroom will donate 20%.  At the end of the week, the highest grossing organization will receive and additional $250.00.  There is no limit to how much or how often people can eat at Mellow Mushroom or how much they can raise.  Mellow Mushroom is located in Downtown Charleston on King Street.

Who is affected: Anyone who belongs to a charity, school organization, or would like to raise money for a particular cause.

When: Monday April 12 through Sunday April 18, 2010

Why: To give back to the community by raising awareness of local charities and organizations.

Facebook has suggested age limits for people who want to create a profile page. With almost everybody and their mother, brother and great uncle now on facebook, how much do you share with your family and how much do you check up on your children?

A teen is pressing harassment charges against his mom for posting on his facebook page. (aritle from KATV: http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0410/723100.html).  The mom said she was concerned about her son and was checking up on him through his facebook page. I know some friends that won’t “Friend” their family members or if they do, they limit what information they can see.

Where do you stand? How young is too young for facebook (we’ll actually have a story on this topic on My News 2 next Tuesday)? And if your children are on facebook, how often do you check their profile?

Today is National Start Walking Day!  The American Heart Association is encouraging all employees to take 30 minutes out of the work day to get up and walk.

Experts say it’s the first step towards leading a healthy life—because physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease.  So even if you forgot to bring your shoes with you today…bring them tomorrow and grab a friend! It’s never too late to start making healthy changes in your life!

Find out more at http://www.startwalkingnow.org.

A Swiss survey of couples found a “formula” for a more successful marriage. The most successful/happy couples had this in common: the wife was five years younger and 27% smarter than her husband and the husband and wife came from the same cultural background.  They may be on to something. The divorce rate in Switzerland is about 25% compared to 45% in the U.S.

What do you think makes a marriage successful?

Here’s something that I can’t stand at baseball games: People yelling at the umpire for balls and strikes.

Whenever I am at a College of Charleston game and I hear someone guy, “C’mon Bluu,“ I get shivers up and down my spine.

So to those that insist at yelling the blue call at the top of their lungs, I say this: Umpires aren’t going to get every call right…and you yelling at them isn’t helping matters

That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

The March Forecast issued on the Marthers Blog on March 1:
MARCH FORECAST
TEMPERATURE: -0.5 to -2.5 degrees BELOW AVERAGE
PRECIPITATION:  +0.5 to +1 inch ABOVE AVERAGE

Let’s score it.

The actual temperature anomaly was -1.8 degrees, so the temperature forecast verified.  We saw .53” of rain over the monthly average which means the precipitation forecast verified as well.

APRIL FORECAST
TEMPERATURE: within .5 degrees of average
I’m thinking April will end up right around the seasonal averages.  Based off of the long range guidance and the pattern shaping up, there is no reason to believe significant anomalies will occur.

PRECIPITATION: Near average
Same logic as above.

Ok.  It’s March 31st, that means tomorrow we will take a look at the month and verify the long range forecast from the first of the month.

By tomorrow I will also talk about what we can expect for April.

Enjoy the next few days, man has it been nice!

Enjoyed a great session this morning with Bill Read, Director of the National Hurricane Center. It was billed as a “Rap Session”....and Rap we did. Biggest topics of discussion….the new watch/warning lead times for the upcoming Hurricane Season. The lead times are now 12 hours earlier…watches now will be issued 48 hours in advance, with warnings 36 hours out. This could obviously alter the way we…the media…handle this. We may not start hourly reports until the storm gets a little closer. This was debated in our meeting this morning. Most agreed we need to wait and see how this plays out beginning this year.
The Hurricane Center also says there is the possibility a 7 day track/hurricane forecast may be issued by mid decade. The technology and expertise is there, but this will have to be tested for a couple of years before implementation.
On a side note, it was picture taking time with Dr. Bill Gray, and Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel. Both very cool guys, and both patient with their adoring public!

It’s the end of a long day with a workout, and “The Biggest Loser”....but write this down as a productive day in our Media Workshop. We learned so much from reps from the National Weather Service, Emergency Managers, and many others who signed up as part of the National Hurricane Conference. I think we opened some eyes about what we do, and how we do it. In the words of one attendee, “I won’t ever complain again when you guys cut in to my favorite show.“ I think that was the overwhelming lesson taught, and learned. We take what we do very seriously, and when a hurricane or tropical storm is threatening, we have to dissemenate important information, even if it means covering up your favorite shows. Everyone I talked to after the workshop told me they had a few ideas to take home to their communities, and that’s what today was all about.  Tomorrow, the conference continues with a session by Hurricane Center director Bill Read….

Up early on this Tuesday morning going over notes for our Media Workshop later this morning. We will welcome some 40-50 members of the Emergency Manager community, and the National Weather Service….among others. It will be our job (myself and Jason Kelley from WBRC-TV in Birmingham) to show our attendees what our responsibilities are during a threat. To demonstrate, we will track Tropical Storm Ernesto from 2006 in a simulation today. We have radar images, and other information from that event, and will recreate as closely as possible. We will be in session most of the day, and I will send pics which will post at counton2.com at the bottom of the weather section.

We spent the day after arriving in Orlando getting everything set up for our workshop with members of the Emergency Manager community, along with reps from the National Weather Service. We found out we should have about 50 Hurricane Conference attendees in our workshop. We have a full day planned, as we simulate Tropical Storm Ernesto from 2006 to give everyone a peak at the world of TV Meteorology when there is a threat. At the same time our workshop is going on, there will be 2 other workshops going on where we can see what Emergency Managers, and the National Weather Service handle the same scenario. It should be quite interesting and enlightening. Just keep your fingers crossed that all of our equipment works!  On a side note, was able to spend a few moments with Jim Cantore. I had to relay a story of how he saved my photographer and myself from getting a speeding ticket while covering Hurricane Isabel in NC in 2003. The police officer was a big fan of Jim’s, and when we told him we were speeding to get to cover Isabel, he let us go, if we promised to tell Jim Cantore hello when we saw him….well, 7 years later, I fulfilled my promise to that nice officer!!!

It has been a long and painful winter, but that is now in the past.  We are looking ahead at the next week or so for the development of a significant warm spell.  By the end of the week you will see temperatures above 80 in most areas except the immediate waterfront.

Get ready to say goodbye to winter, skip spring, and head right on into early summer later this week!

Up early on this rainy Monday morning….sitting at the Charleston Airport…waiting for the first leg of my flight to Charlotte, then on to Orlando. It’s time once again for the National Hurricane Conference. This year, I have been asked to conduct a workshop, along with fellow meteorologist Jason Kelley from WBRC-TV in Birmingham, which will give insight into how we, the media, cover a hurricane, or tropical storm. We expect Emergency Managers from different states and counties, along with representatives from the National Weather Service, to be some of those going through the workshop. It should be a good learning experience for all of us. This afternoon, when we arrive in Orlando, we will have a run through, just to make sure we are good to go. Tuesday will be a full day, as the workshop will be an all day affair, as we simulate a hurricane threat, and go step by step through our policies and procedures.

Talk about a difference in one day.  Wow.  Middle 70s Friday afternoon have been replaced by temps struggling to reach the lower 60s on Saturday with a chilly northeast breeze.  This shot of colder air that will last through early Sunday could very well be the final shot of winter-like chill.  It looks like Old Man Winter is making his last stand across the east coast of the US this weekend.

Wait until you see what happens next week.  We will be replacing this chill with the possibility of widespread record warmth across the east.  Stay tuned, I will be updating the forecast over the next day or two, but here is just a little hint.  We will hit or exceed 80 degrees more than once over the next 10 days.  FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the progs from CPC.  Big change from what you’re used to seeing huh?

I got a little tounge-tied Friday morning. Always makes for an entertaing moment in the show!

Presidents Bush and Clinton are in Haiti, as part of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

During a meet-and-greet…well…just watch the video.

So, a woman who says, she is a “concerned runner” sent me an email wondering where all the porta-potties are for the starting line in Mount Pleasant.

Being the dutiful journalist I took a ride down Coleman Blvd this morning.

Granted, it looks like there aren’t as many…so I called Race Director Julian Smith.  He said, “relax, they are still putting them out, and when they’re done there will be 400+“.

So rest easy…you won’t have to do the happy dance for too long.  Or follow your mother’s advice and go before you leave the house!

SeaWorld and the family of the trainer killed by a whale at the park are fighting to keep photos and videos of her death private.

I’m all for freedom of the press, but I do NOT think there is any merit or need to make photos of the trainer’s death public. What will the public gain from these images?

CNN story: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/19/sea.world.trainer.video/index.html

Yep, you guessed it, a cold air wedge will setup this coming weekend after we get spoiled by three days (yes, I said three days) of 70s during the afternoon.

A storm system will impact the region Thursday night into Friday before a cold front moves into the area from the northeast on Saturday.  This could create a cloudy and cool day with a north breeze for the Bridge Run.  I’m hoping that we will see some changes in the pattern over the next day or two, but if everything comes together like I think it will, we will be hard pressed to make it above the lower to middle 60s on Saturday.  The wedge could easily hold through Sunday before it is scoured by another storm system.

Growing up in southeast Virginia, I took several trips to Washington, D.C. with school, Girl Scouts and my parents.  I always loved the museums and the Cherry Blossom festival. I also lived there for a semester in college while interning and went to nearly every museum there.

I had the chance to go back last weekend and went to the American History museum to see First Lady Michelle Obama’s inauguration dress and a new collection of first ladies’ dresses that were on display for the first time.  It amazes me how much of our history we have preserved: Martha Washington’s dress, Mary Lincoln’s dress and they even still have President Lincoln’s top hat that he last wore to the Ford’s Theater.

I’ve now also seen the “star spangled banner” in three different locations. I went with Girl Scouts and it was hanging in the foyer behind a protective drapery and the cloth was lifted only a few times a day.  The next time I saw it, the flag was behind glass as crews worked to restore it. Now, that process is complete and it’s still behind glass in a low-lit room. It’s huge and that’s after people cut more than ten feet off the length as keepsakes.  Just amazing.

So if you’re planning a trip for spring or summer, consider taking a tour of the nation’s top museums.  Plus the Cherry Blossom Festival is a few days away! Always beautiful!

Great information for all of you runners…..did you run when it was the warmest day, or what about the coldest day? How about the wettest Cooper River Bridge Run.  Check out this link from our good friends at the National Weather Service, and the SE Regional Climate Center for the answers to those questions.  Special thanks go out to William Schmitz from SERCC, and Joe Calderone from NWS Charleston.

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/chs/misc/CooperRiverBridgeClimo.pdf

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before in the blog but I love pro wrestling. So much so I decided to take a class and learn first hand what it’s like. Well 1 class became two. Two became two years worth and after all that, I finally got something to show for it. My first match. Check it out.

Finally, after what I have heard some Charlestonians describe as the most miserable winter in decades (and by the way, the data backs that claim up in some cases), the light is finally shining at the end of the tunnel.  Can you believe it?  After a snowstorm, extended cold periods, and some of the rainiest weather seen in years, the spring season has finally arrived.

Now, we have been experiencing spring-like weather over the past week or two, but it just feels better to finally say it is here.  This Saturday, March 20 at 1:32 PM, the Vernal Equinox occurs, meaning there is equal daylight in both hemispheres.  On the day of the Vernal Equinox, the earth’s tilt is perfectly perpendicular to the sun’s radiation, thus from the sun’s perspective the earth is tilted neither toward or away from the sun. At the Equator, the sun will be directly overhead at solar noon on the Equinox. This day marks the progression toward the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere.

Just in time for the arrival of the Vernal Equinox, temperatures will soar into the 70s.  Enjoy the first day of spring!  I know I will!

I’m a HUGE fan of movie theater popcorn. When I was little, my dad and I would stop by the theater inside the mall (before the arrival of the mega-16-theater cinemas) and grab a bag of popcorn to walk around with.  I always hated when teachers in high school would pop a bag of popcorn in one of the teacher breakrooms. The smell would fill up the entire two adjacent halls and I couldn’t have any! lol

Anywho…to the point.  Sony’s chairman is asking theaters offer more healthy food options in theaters. It’s no secret that popcorn, especially when topped with melted butter, it the equivalent of a few cheeseburgers.  I would love a pack of carrots and peanut butter for the days that I can resist popcorn.

But would you actually go for the healthier options?  I would, but I’d still get a bag of popcorn and share it with friends (less calories for us all!).

Aritcle: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article7064680.ece

Find time for “unstructured” creative play this month. As the warmer months often bring busier schedules, these last few weeks of winter might provide a good opportunity to set aside time to spend together as a family.  While waiting for spring to arrive have a family huddle and share ideas for creative (imaginative) play time together. Talk about what creative play can look like and how everyone has a creative side to them. Allow each other to use materials or “props” in a variety of methods. For example, set up a grocery store or a place of work (if a grown-up “goes to the office” every day) and have fun creating the space. The family can imitate healthy grocery shopping (writing a list, following a list, identifying healthy food choices from the perimeter of the store, etc.)

Check out this story from NBC:

If you miss your pooch more than your partner when you are away, you aren’t alone.

A new survey, commissioned by dog snack maker pup-peroni, found one third of dog owners admit they miss their pet more than a loved one while away.

In addition, nearly two thirds of respondents believe their dogs are more dependable than their closest friends and over 70 percent would rather go for a walk with their dog than hang out with a buddy.

The reason may be simple, nine out of ten people questioned said their pet is happier to see them and more likely to notice when they’ve had a bad day.

What better way to celebrate the spring than by decorating cupcakes and winning a free dozen? My News 2 is teaming up with “Cupcake” and we want you to decorate your inner cupcake.

All you have to do is decorate a cupcake, snap a photo and email it to me at TLynn@wcbd.com. Put “Cupcake” in the subject line. We’ll post the photos on “Cupcake’s” facebook fan page and pick a winner.  We’ll take entries until March 31st and announce the winner live on My News 2 April 2nd.

For more about Cupcake visit: http://www.freshcupcakes.com/

We took some heat on the radio Monday for not giving the race of the suspects in the murder at a Mount Pleasant condo complex. It is an interesting conversation about the role of news organizations, and our editorial responsibility.

Mount Pleasant police are still searching for the three men they say are involved in a deadly shooting.

Last Thursday, police say the gunman shot and killed 33-year-old Oscar Manuel Giron-Hernandez at the Marsh Grass Condominiums.

This is the release sent to us by the Mount Pleasant Police Department on March 11, that included the description of the men wanted by police:

Mt. Pleasant Police News Release

Using our policy as a guide…those descriptions, are not enough to responsibly broadcast.  Otherwise, every black man in his 20’s weighing about 200 lbs would be a suspect. As would, a black man in his 20’s who is 5’9”, 185 lbs, short and stocky. There is an argument that the third description would be enough to broadcast.

During News 2 Today on Friday, March 12…we broadcasted the descriptions of the suspects as given to us by police, sans the race. I felt uncomfortable enough to say, “we realize these are very vague descriptions, but this is what witnesses gave police”.

We then decided during a commercial break, to not give a description at all for the rest of the broadcast, and just say police are looking for three men.

I realize there is an argument that we are censoring, or omitting facts given to us by authorities. I also realize that if we give those vague descriptions, and someone sees a group of three guys—fitting even those vague descriptions—and they call police, there is a chance the suspects are arrested. This especially would apply in a “breaking news” situation.

This is a good explanation of our policy on giving race as a description. It’s the policy of many news organizations across the country:

C.  Our job is to report the news, not to classify it by race.  That is why we limit racial identification.

I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this. Do you think we should have given the descriptions of the men police are looking for?

I just wanted to touch base with you on the month so far and see how the monthly forecast is verifying so far.

The March forecast published here on the blog called for -.5 o -2.5 in the temperature department with above average precipitation expected on the order of .5 to 1 inch.

March so-far
TEMPERATURES:  -3.5 degrees
PRECIPITATION: +0.97”

Over the next couple of weeks it appears we will continue to see both near or above average precipitation and near or below average temperatures.  If current trends continue, we are on target for the March forecast to verify.

We shall see!

State Lawmakers are debating a bill to ban texting while driving. Clemson council members did ban it and Mt. Pleasant town council is also considering a ban. The city of Charleston is now the latest to consider the ban, but one concern how will law enforcement enforce it?

I’m all about making it illegal to text and drive because it’s a huge problem. Just this week a women in South Carolina killed another driving because she cross the center line while reading a text message. The story didn’t say anything about possible charges, but drivers should definitely be held more accountable for accidents and injuries caused by texting while driving. I just got a bluetooth and am ecstatic. I hate talking on the phone during long commutes. Plus…if I’m cooking or doing things around the house…I can pop it on and still get stuff done. Now worries about cell phones and brain cancer…that’s another whole issue!

I don’t think anyone out there would say texting while driving (TWD) is a good thing. If you do, please hit the ‘x’ at the upper right of your browser!

However, the thing about TWD bans appears to be the inability for cops to enforce it. An officer can say you were texting, but how do you prove it? Confiscate the phone, run phone records? Some politicians I have talked to say that’s not acceptable.

I have a problem with that, and here’s why…and feel free to disagree;

When an officer suspects a driver is drunk, under the influence while driving…the actual prosecution of the crime can take months/years in some cases. That didn’t stop us from making it illegal. Some officers I know say, they can have dashcam video of the stop that clearly shows someone is plastered, and they still get out of it.

The enforceability argument is flimsy at best. Tell me your stomach doesn’t drop when a cop pulls in behind you with his lights on. Sometimes fear is enough to get someone to correct a behavior, be it speeding, or TWD. Especially when it comes to teens who are the worst drivers as it is. Just getting pulled over and scared half to death by an officer could be enough to get them to put down the phone. Tack on a letter to the parents and you may have something.

It’s just an idea…I’m sure someone in a position of power, and much smarter than me can poke holes in my suggestion, so I would love to hear it!

I just may hear it tonight. The City of Charleston is reportedly about to become the latest municipality to propose a TWD ban. The Town of Mt. Pleasant is two rounds of yes votes away, and some say they should let the state make a decision first.

Do you think they should wait?

My worst fear out of this week’s weather is that everybody is going to get all excited about winter being finished.  Even I have to admit, the thought of 70 + is pretty darn exciting, but I just can’t shake this feeling I have.  I just don’t think we can bet against this winter just yet.

You know, it’s kind of like a horror movie, the killer always comes back for one last scare, except in this case I have a gut feeling Old Man Winter is going to pay us another visit.  Cold has been king all winter long and there is no reason to move away from that just yet.

Just looking at some of the long range guidance, I’m seeing hints of a return to 7-12 degrees below average for a period of time next week and then perhaps for the end of the month as well.  Obviously this is subject to change, but the idea that I have combined with the guidance seeing hints of another cool off in our future, leads me to believe we may not have seen the end of winter just yet.

With that being said, spring is fast approaching, and with higher sun angles, longer days, and warming ocean waters, Old Man Winter won’t be able to fight back much longer.  He’s gotta come at us in the next two to three weeks or else he has an uphill battle.  Once past April 1, I like the odds of those warm winds of the south over the cold winds of the north.

Take care and I’ll see you in the morning.