This was our weatherman

Paul was a real live scientific meteorologist who accidentally ended up a TV weatherman. (The regular one was sick, the substitute was sick, so they threw him in front of the camera.) He then became so popular that they fired him during a budget crunch. He was one of the first weather reporters anywhere, and certainly the first in Minnesota, to tell people that AGW is real.

Don't worry he didn't die or anything. (Don Shelby is retiring thus this conversation):

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Paul Douglas ROCKS -- too bad about his rug. ;^(

By Don in Rochester (not verified) on 18 Nov 2010 #permalink

Paul Douglas ROCKS -- too bad about his rug. ;^(

Is it a rug? I never knew. With all his money he could afford the best, but whatever.

We always liked him in our house, but Dan Barreiro never did.

As a windsurfer, pilot, camper, gardener, and basically an all-around outdoor Minnesotan, I've always had a keen interest in the weather. Paul Douglas has always been my favorite weatherman.

By Benton Jackson (not verified) on 18 Nov 2010 #permalink

Nice, Greg. Have you ever read his weather report page? He pulls absolutely no punches on AGW. I simply wish others here in Minnesota would understand exactly what he's saying and act with some urgency.

By R. Schauer (not verified) on 18 Nov 2010 #permalink

Back in the day (when I was a kid), local news didn't completely suck and the "weatherman" was an actual meteorologist on all 3 of the network affiliates. These meteorologists were also tapped to cover (or at least chime-in) whenever there was a 'science' story. This was in a big market (DFW), so perhaps we were luckier than most. Then things went to hell...

In good news, I've noticed CNN making a bit of deal out of the fact that their weather reporters are actually card-carrying meteorologists. They also seem to be reviving the practice of turning to the meteorologists to comment on general science stories... and even have a little segment where the main meteorologist gets to bring up a short 'non-weather' science story of his own choosing.

Of course, a meteorologist isn't really qualified outside their field. But it is generally better than having someone with no qualifications at all.