Yeah, I know, this is a blog for weather geeks. But, many weather geeks are also computer geeks, and as promised here is a post about my big platform change.

A week ago, I made the decision become a "Mac guy". No, it wasn't the cool guy on the Apple TV commercials, or any marketing ploy that pushed me into this, but a long study into operating systems, reliability, speed, and ease of use. Time is precious to me, and anything that saves time (quick video rendering, few problems, and very little down time) is what I am looking for.

Many of my friends made the move to the Mac platform in recent years, and they have tried their best to get me to dump Windows. Brian Peters in our office purchased a MacBook Pro earlier this year.

Understand I am not really anti-Microsoft, like some computer people, I am simply looking for the best solution that meets my needs.

I purchased a MacBook Pro a week ago today. Understand I have had very little experience with the Mac operating system, so it has been quite a quick learning experience. But, with seven days under my belt, here are some observations.

THE NEGATIVE:

A large percentage of the population still uses Windows... those running the Apple OS and Linux are in the minority. Not all applications are available for OS X (the Mac operating system), and there are some conflicts with Microsoft products. A great example is QuickTime, Apple's video format we are now using for the map discussion video we produce. QuickTime videos will not play immediately if you use Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer. The entire file has to download before you see it. very frustrating. By the way, everyone using Firefox and all other browser can watch the video immediately.

I am using Firefox, Opera, and Safari on this MacBook... but I mostly stick with Firefox since I am so familiar with it.

And, after using Windows for 15 years it is a little frustrating learning a new operating system. But, after just a few days I was pretty good at the Mac OS.

The computer runs pretty warm, but not as hot as the original MacBook Pros earlier in the year. Seems like Apple addressed the heat issue to some degree and the strange noises that were reported with early models. But, understand this thing gets really warm since there is so much horsepower "under the hood".

There is no direct mic level input; only a line level input. You have to use a USB or Firewire audio system for a microphone. But, those are inexpensive and easy to find (like the iMic).

You will have to spend a little money on software; like the Microsoft Office suite and other program designed for the Mac OS.

And, not all Mac programs are "universal binary", meaning that have to run under an emulation called "Rosetta" with the new Intel systems like this one. All applications should be universal binary within the next year; there is only a slight slowdown when using Rosetta (it is seamless; you don't even know which ones are using Rosetta).

THE POSITIVE:

This thing rocks. It is fast, has not crashed, burped, or anything else since I put it into use. And, I am a power user. Multiple applications open at the same time, including video applications that are processor hogs. This MacBook Pro has 1 GB of RAM, a 2.16 GHz Intel dual-core processor, and a 100 GB hard drive.

I love just about everything about the operating system (widgets included are too cool). Everything works; just plug and play. No drivers to fool with, no reboots.

The built in wi-fi seems to have a much more sensitive receiver than other notebooks I have used in recent years. And, no drops. Not a single one this week. Great connectivity.

It has a built-in camera, and great applications that come with the OS, like Garage Band (audio editing program) and iMovie HD (video editing program). I am using a higher end editing program called Final Cut for the videos we produce; that thing is amazing.

These are simple, first observations. Give me a few weeks and I will write much more.

Headed out for a long week off. I will check in from time to time, but will do my best to spend quality time with the family. Have a great weekend!

Two good reasons why you need to learn CPR…

Four years ago: A two year old Alabama boy was picking vegetables with his parents when he was struck by lightning. An Air-Evac helicopter was called to transport the child to the hospital, but the little boy was dead on arrival. CPR was not administered in time.

On this date in 2005: A Boy Scout hike up Mount Whitney in California turned tragic when lightning struck the tarp that had set up in a meadow to shelter them from rain. The scout leader and one scout were killed. The scouts were from Troop 7001 in St. Helena, California. They had been on a nine day hike along the John Muir Trail. Scouts were able to keep one troop member alive by administering CPR for over an hour.

Michael Utley was struck by lightning while playing golf on Cape Cod in 2000. His friends knew CPR, which would save his life. They performed CPR on him until paramedics arrived, some 14 minutes later. Severe brain damage would have resulted if his brain had been starved of oxygen for that length of time. Utley created an excellent website – www.struckbylightning.org

The important thing to remember is that many lightning victims simply stop breathing. Administering CPR immediately will often resuscitate a lightning victim.

All Severe Thunderstorm warnings in the state expired earlier this evening.

At 7 pm, a band of moderate showers and possibly a few thunderstorms extended from the Columbus, Miss., area NE across NW Alabama...mainly Lamar, Marion, Fayette and Franklin and Lawrence County.

South of there, moderate showers were scattered across Tuscaloosa County southward across Hale, Greene, SW Chilton and North Dallas County.

Everything moving generally eastward.

Bill Murry will be updating the blog if needed this evening. I am outta here, scheduled for 7 pm Rook.

Wish me luck. The last three times we played, our team got slaughtered. However, we only play one endless game per year, so we have time to bounce back.

Woe is me...

Across most of North and Central Alabama, storms have weakened considerably although a few strong storms still exist at 6:10. They were located:

* South Hale County
* SW Talladega County
* Ne Talladega County near Oxford
* Near Heflin, Cleburne County in Extreme East Alabama

Further south, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Dallas and Autauga County.

Thanks to James Beasley from Stratus Station for a cool roll cloud picture from a passing storm late today:

The storms that prompted the Severe Thunderstorm Warning for part of east Jefferson and NE Shelby County moved east and weakened.

At 5:45 pm, the strongest storms were.....

* Over Marion County, NW Alabama
* Along the Pickens-Tuscaloosa County line, West Central Alabama. These storms were advancing into Tuscaloosa County and will bring stormy weather to the area until 6 pm or later. A Severe Thunderstorm warning in effect until 6 pm.
* North marengo County near Demopolis
* Between Talladega and Jacksonville in East Alabama.

All the storms were moving to the east and NE

A Severe Thunderstorm aWarning for Pickens County in West Alabama until 6.

Marion County EMA reported considerable nickle-size hail around Detroit in Lamar County late this afternoon.

It is for East Central Jefferson and NE Shelby County until 5:30.

Includes:

Mountain Brook
Leeds
Irondale
Cahaba Heights
Meadowbrook
Vandiver
Leeds

The storm was near Lake Purdy moving east at 20.

May have gusts over 60 and large hail.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
447 PM CDT FRI JUL 28 2006

ALZ024-025-282215-
JEFFERSON-SHELBY-
447 PM CDT FRI JUL 28 2006

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR SHELBY AND JEFFERSON
COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT...

AT 447 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM OVER VESTAVIA HILLS...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR FAIRFIELD...
HOMEWOOD...VESTAVIA HILLS...BIRMINGHAM...INVERNESS...MOUNTAIN
BROOK...CAHABA HEIGHTS AND MEADOWBROOK THROUGH 515 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND MINOR
FLOODING. TAKE SHELTER NOW AND AVOID USING ELECTRICAL APPLICANCES...
INCLUDING TELEPHONES...UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED. IF CAUGHT OUTDOORS
AND YOU FEEL YOUR SKIN TINGLE...OR YOUR HAIR STAND ON END...SQUAT AS
LOW TO THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...
FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS...RISING WATER ALONG CREEKS AND FLOODED
UNDERPASSES ARE POSSIBLE. REMEMBER...DO NO DRIVE ACROSS ROADWAYS
COVERED WITH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

A thunderstorm is growing stronger rapidly west of the Hoover area...moving NE

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Sumter County cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Marengo County in West Alabama until 5 pm.

While that broad area of showers and thunderstorms over North Alabama is not as strong, some individual thunderstorms in West Alabama have intensified. There is a very strong thunderstorm over Greene County approaching the Eutaw area. The NWS in Birmingham has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for North-Central Sumter County in West-Central Alabama until 4:45. The thunderstorm was located near Gainesville and moving NE at 10. It may have penny-size hail and wind gusts to 60. It should be near Gainesville soon.

At 4:06 this afternoon, several trees were reported down near the Blanche community in Cherokee County. At 4:20 p.m., a thunderstorm was forming along the Jefferson-St. Clair County line. Thunder was heard in NE Trussville.