That Aud Smell

Partially buying it though? I'll take that as a win. Sure it was. Apparently not with any real reliability. What is "partly cloudy" communicating there? I don't quite know. I think it's giving a general sense of things. But nothing specific. Certainly nothing so specific as "so, will I have a clear view of the sun from 2:30 - 3:15 pm on the forecast day in question?" I think there are a lot of entrenched misunderstandings of what meteorological terminology means in layperson's terms. and in practical effect. For example: "30% chance of precipitation" is not meant to say that there's a 30% chance of rain for you personally as you're out and about during your day today in your portion of the forecast area. Rather, it means that there's a 100% chance of rain for 30% of the forecast area. Da fuq?! I can repeat that to myself a dozen times, and it still doesn't make sense. I end up feeling like I'm in that room of mirrors made famous by the Albright Knox (AKG) Art Gallery. So now I think I've come around to agreeing with your original premise - maybe coming at it from a different angle.

In his post to the Buffalo News website today, Don Paul acknowledges that there's not a lot of scientific horsepower associated with forecasting cloud cover (which he calls "a low-impact forecast element"). This helps explain why it wasn't until mid-morning on the day of the event that we learned that clouds would be clearing from west to east throughout the day. +++ What would normally be a low-impact forecast element, percentage and thickness of cloud cover, became the critical element for days. With all the expansive improvements in weather forecasting accuracy and range, the issue of if and when extensive cloud cover will be present at a specific time on an early spring day remains one of the toughest calls for meteorologists. Even models and pattern recognition remain of limited use, despite model improvement.

By now, it seems clear that he is out of answers. I apologize for repeating myself: He appears to be a gifted development coach who brings a very high emotional IQ to the job of engaging with player-prospects on a personal level. He appears out of his depth when it comes to being an in-season coach in the most competitive hockey league in the world.** There's no shame in any of that! The shame arises from management being content with a team that has consistently produced mediocre results over an extended period of time. **Sheesh - can you imagine him as the head coach of a team in the Stanley Cup playoffs?! Aye, Caramba.

It's a bad one, for sure. But apathy can be overcome by the rekindling of a love that still exists. I think actual contempt would be worse. I get flashes of that occasionally (e.g., "I think I effing hate this team"), but it's not a feeling that endures. I think that the presence of Peterka and Quinn help keep contempt at bay.

Everyone is entitled to their own emotional reality. I sort of envy your feeling this way at this moment in time. For me, I'm feeling exhausted by and exasperated with the Sabres. I'm sure I'll feel differently about them by the time September rolls around. And I don't need to proclaim now how I'll feel then. But for now? I don't want to think about them.

I’m already discouraged for the 24-25 season.

I too was frustrated by this. But as someone here noted upthread: The precise timing of cloud cover is most likely not something the Wx scientists focus on, or have means of predicting in advance. Good stuff. I get the sense there were many stories like this throughout the path of totality — cool clouds and all.

I will try to post the audio file that one of my kids created from just before and then early in totality — maybe I can post it to YouTube. The bedlam from our crowd of a couple hundred was unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Ecstasy.

I met people from/staying in Olean, Bradford, and a point in between (Limestone-ish). I wish you and I had crossed paths as well.

Made a fairly last minute call to hightail it as far west as we could reasonably get from Buffalo. Landed at a charming lakefront park in Northeast, PA. Bluebird conditions arose 30+ minutes before the big show and lasted until just after totality ended (complete with the “diamond ring” effect). I hooted. Hollered. Cried. Kissed my wife. Kissed my dog (?!). Might have kissed a stranger or two. I blacked out a little.

Horrendous take.

My youngest had the team’s 2023 yearbook out - looking at Diggs stuff as part of his processing the trade - and I noticed the cover: Hyde, Dawkins, Milano, Miller, Knox, Allen - but no Diggs. They were keeping the guy at arm’s length, even then. (And still gassing up Knox 🫤.) And I maintain, they’d put up with Diggs’ BS if, in their coaches’ and personnel people’s assessments, he were still capable of getting it done at the level his salary (on this team) commands. Otoh, I hadn’t imagined how deliberately he was working on getting out and, even more so, the Bills’ willingness to accommodate him and rip the cap band aid off. Those elements surprised me.

Disagree. It’s slow-developing, subtle, and delightful. I think modern times have made it difficult to enjoy this sort of material.

I believe that was a quote from a Chiefs DB (Sneed?) after the Bills’ regular season win this past year.

Not sure who's meant to be encompassed by this. I’ve spent time with the meteorologists who work at the NWS site at the Buffalo airport. Those are some of the most diligent, honest nerds I’ve ever met. And I also can’t figure out what aspect I would emphasize more: That they’re diligent, honest, or nerds. Copiously equal parts, I guess.

Objectively hilarious. And deeply obtuse. Quite a trick, really.

I am confusion

Just checked my anticipated sky cover per the NWS. Things are trending the wrong way. And now they've gone from saying high-level clouds to saying mid-level clouds. Fingers crossed, I guess. There's a cruel irony being teed up.

I agree. It's a little maddening. I guess it goes to show how tricky it is to forecast cloud cover when presented with certain forecast conditions.

I think he's more than that, especially because he can move inside and play guard. But I agree on your ultimate conclusion here.

Re the clip from Pro Football Talk: I respect Florio for carving out his place in the sports talking ecosystem. But the guy is so often just a troll and/or a tool. His broadcast partner there - Simms, I guess - has it exactly right: Florio's criticizing Allen for not being more assertive with Diggs, for just eating sh1t in his relationship with Diggs, but if Allen had engaged with, pushed back on, and thereby contributed to any Diggs drama, Florio would have been all over him for that as well. Allen handled Diggs about as well as anyone could have hoped for.

Stockholm Syndrome, man. I'm telling you.

Yeah - he’s most likely not getting a big deal next offseason. He’ll be in that mercenary veteran WR mode. Akin to OBJ, maybe. As @seltzermom speculated on Twitter: Cowboys or Chiefs will likely be on his 2025 wishlist. And as Ross Tucker remarked: There’s downside here for the Texans if Diggs doesn’t get the targets he needs to tee him up for his next deal.