Argentine car washers blame poor weather forecasting for bad business
A summer brawl has surfaced in Buenos Aires between the car washers’ industry and the Argentine Meteorological service that are blamed for their poor forecasts which scares customers from the outlets.
The dispute came to light when the Argentine Chamber of Automatic and Manual Automobile Washing, Calama, criticized the weather forecasters in an open letter addressed to one of Buenos Aires newspapers.
However the Argentine National Meteorological Service tried to downplay the controversy. The director of the service Hector Ciappesoni in statements to another daily said that the mistakes are “even” both when announcing rainfall and when anticipating good weather.
“In any case the owners of the car washing stations must understand that 2012 was the fourth rainiest year since 1900”, indicated Ciappesoni.
In the letter the chamber complains that the “reiterated errors” of the Met Service which forecast rain, storms and hail which then do not occur only help “to scare clients” from our washing stations.
“What the news airs is considered almost a ‘holy statement’ and sometimes there are whole programs dedicated to climate change and the weather, and whenever they forecast rain, it’s a ‘dry’ day for us”, complained Calama.
“They (news programs) even forecast with absolute certainty at what time it is going to rain and for how long, and repeat and repeat”, complained Atilio Krenn, president of the car washing industry.
Ironically from the other side of the River Plate, in Montevideo, there are also serious complaints about weather forecasts and the government’s handling of extreme situations with strong storms of wind and twisters.
However in Uruguay the word is “you can’t trust the local met office, better check what is happening in Buenos Aires, they are usually more on target”.
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31 comments Feed
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.... oh, wait.
One would imagine that, if it's starting to get a little tougher to make ends meet, paying someone to wash your car might be an early casualty a cost-cutting exercise. However if the car wash unions really think the forecasts are to blame they could always canvass to have INDEC take over the role. That way they could be sure that the number of forecast rainy days would be cut by at least two thirds.
BTW, Argentina can have Michael Fish. I met him in the Falklands once and he is a right dick.
Luxuries are always first to be hit when times are hard.
I wonder, is the Argentine met office really that bad?
I have to laugh at the idea of a Car Wash Union. I mean, seriously?!
I wouldn't be surprised if the car wash union's membership list has got a lot in common with the membership lists of the paid thug organisations that CFK bankrolls. Or should I say is struggling to afford to bankroll. She's going to have a big problem with that as the money continues to dry up. Like owning a pack of hyenas. As long as you keep feeding them they'll spare you but you'd better get out of there fast if you run out of food.
I would say it is far more likely that people are cutting back on luxuries, as has been said.
If there were any good forecasters which is pretty big business here they've most likely are working outside of the country. I have a friend who does weather forecasting/modelling for a commodities broker and makes a fortune!
Is the Argentine Car-washer's Union a euphemism for something else?
But most importantly weather services and met offices exist to save lives and protect properties by promptly issuing watches and warnings. They are more interested in NOT missing severe storm and flooding events (ahem... such as those that have hit BA) rather than putting happy pictures of sunshine or whatever on their public forecast web pages so people who don't look out windows will go shopping. In such a formula, it's ok and forgeable to forecast sprinkles for what is really a perfect picnic day.
A car washers union WTF
You can specify your town or local area and there are local, moving weather maps over a two or three day period.
I also use the site to keep an eye on my extended families weather situation in the UK.
www.yr.no
I say it's because Dan “The Man” Corbett doesn't do the weather anymore....
You ever see him? The man is a legend!!!
Playing the 'Best Weather presenter' then...
The Rules of Engagment.
No derogatory terms to be used. You just have to ''see'' your opponents offering, and raise him with the hand you play.
ie.
I'll see your Judith Ralston, newstevesnewscaps.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/judith-ralston-bbc-reporting-scotland_12.html and I'll play Keelie Donovan BBC Look North. stevesregionalnewscaps.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/keeley-donovan-bbc-look-north-yorkshire.html
Any one in?
We have a problem with the new employee.
Supervisor:
What's the matter? He did great in the interview, used lots of words even I never heard before!
Foreman:
Well, half the time he's next door at the Internet Café, and the other half he spends arguing with all the 'real' workers. And besides, he has no idea how to wash cars!
Supervisor:
That's ok. He's my wife's nephew, he lives with his parents in a 'settlement' and we just pay him in Internet Minutes next door.
For me it's Laura Tobin. As a lot of you most likely know, the same folk do the BFBS weather also so we're lucky enough to get a double serve.
news.bbc.co.uk/weather/hi/about/newsid_7844000/7844720.stm
Ok, on mature reflection, Keeley Donovan gets my vote.
Sorry guys, but there it is.... Laura tobin would be the runner up though.
Any objection to “Spanish” speaking weather girls?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSPdsPWit0
Grrrrr sexy minx
@19 Mmmm yes, Laura Tobin.
@21 Awwww. Seriously now! :D
You should have put this instead.
Mayte Carranco Mexican weathergirl. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQVPLxe6F7Y
Keep the suggestions coming.
On a side note, if any of that lot were presenting the weather, would you REALLY know what the weather was without having to look outside? :D
“Mayte Carranco Mexican weathergirl”
Very attractive young lady apart from she speaks as fast as an overclocked AMD A8.
This is good for a laugh: striptease Brazilian 'weather girl' and anchorman.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOoZ8_a3Qn8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoYck9ZtyVo
WTF?!?! @ 0m12s
But for now, I must defer to someone who never wanted to do a weather forecast to begin with.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMAt8ZXqtbc
And then there is THIS
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-TfZslHKoo
ARGENTINA ALWAYS THE VICTIM
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