Who is bobbie cookie?

[Aaron Dooley]

The system probably needs reliability level codes... for example 0 is someone not verified at all, 1 is someone authenticated only through email (even claiming to be a spotter), 2 is someone authenticated by snail mail or automated phone verification, 3 is someone verified manually.... all the way up to 7 being a spotter verified on a network, 8 being spotters verified on a network and verified for current training, 9 is a NWS employee. It's a scalable system as ways to validate reports are developed, and they can be made part of the report and can be color coded in GrLevel3, etc.

Even systems like Rentacoder regularly do automated phone verification, and I'd imagine it's a matter of time before an e-spotter system manages to do confirmations like that (or by some other method besides verifying a throwaway email address).

Tim

I like this but just because they are NWS employee doesn't mean they know how to visually identify while mobile. Just make those "in the know" the top. Nonetheless, I think you have a good start here. I like it.
-Dooley

 

[Scott Bennett]

The system probably needs reliability level codes... for example 0 is someone not verified at all, 1 is someone authenticated only through email (even claiming to be a spotter), 2 is someone authenticated by snail mail or automated phone verification, 3 is someone verified manually.... all the way up to 7 being a spotter verified on a network, 8 being spotters verified on a network and verified for current training, 9 is a NWS employee. It's a scalable system as ways to validate reports are developed, and they can be made part of the report and can be color coded in GrLevel3, etc.

Even systems like Rentacoder regularly do automated phone verification, and I'd imagine it's a matter of time before an e-spotter system manages to do confirmations like that (or by some other method besides verifying a throwaway email address).

Tim

I would be happy to provide the telephone gateway and some of the code for a telephone authentication system. Assuming it continues to be a free service I would be happy to provide the LD minutes.

Obviously the levels of verification would be nice but extremely time consuming. The Telephone verification would at least be quick, easy and put a physical tie to the person for whats it's worth. We have databases of all the payphones so weeding them out is not an issue.

 

[Aaron Dooley]

Shane wasn't far off!

COOOOOOKIE!

lol... Okay, how about this: Make the new level 1 on SN "COOKIE", level 2 "Bobbie", level 3 "Bobbie Cookie", & level 4 "beginner" (and so on). You have to integrate "Cookie" in there somewhere so several years down the road if SN makes college Meteorology books, we can make new students wonder "why did they use that terminology".

Tyler...maybe you can get with Randy Denzer & Josh Jans to possibly integrate their online training as an incentive for higher status if that route is taken. Have people who want higher level go through it. Synergize!

-Dooley

 

[Tyler Allison]

Tyler...maybe you can get with Randy Denzer & Josh Jans to possibly integrate their online training as an incentive for higher status if that route is taken. Have people who want higher level go through it. Synergize!

-Dooley

I'm not familiar with either. Got a link or something for them?

 

[Joe Dorn]

"bobbie" was not anywhere near Texas. According to our information he was in New York and I suspect he wanted to see what happened when you submitted reports. Unfortunately he didn't understand that the SN actually works and no...we don't need people running tests...thank you very much.

This answers a concern I have had about some local person playing games with our network. We and the FTW folks know who the regulars are and will be very sensitive in the future about reports from an unknown source.

We cover about 15 counties in Central Texas (70 mile radius from Eddy Texas or marker 315 on IH-35) and we welcome chasers that are passing through the area. Checking in with us during major events will put a validity stamp on your reports. The repeater frequency is 147.14, pl 123.

That will probably bother some of you that look down on the SKYWARN spotters but we have a very strong working relationship with Fort Worth and one of the best SKYWARN networks in the country. They know and depend on us for the southern portion of their CWA. Most of our mobile spotters have trackers and are registered with the Spotter Network.

Tyler's 'Spotter Network' has been a big aid to our operation and do not want one bad 'cookie' to mess up an outstanding contribution to the chaser/spotter community...

 

[Darin Brunin]

Tyler's 'Spotter Network' has been a big aid to our operation and do not want one bad 'cookie' to mess up an outstanding contribution to the chaser/spotter community...

I couldn't agree more...Tyler probably doesn't get thanked enough for the great tool that he and others have developed and the positive aspects of Spotter Network outweight any negatives that anyone could possibly want to bring up. I don't see how anyone could complain about the tool that we have at our hands now and it's a tool that is certain to get better as more development is done on the project. Cookie could have just as easily phoned in bogus reports.

So thanks Tyler for all of your hard work!

 

[david diehl]

Ok, here is what I am seeing so far,

everyone wants to cut the Cookie down, maybe they were making false reports, maybe they were trying to be helpfull, I do not know, however I have never read any one of you say let us help this person, if they truly want to learn, how to better report severe weather, and how to chase a storm. All that I have heard is how SN has its loop holes, as any computer program does, look at the purge that just happened here on ST.
I have also heard how Cookie needs to be locked up for submiting false reports, have you heard it from cookie, or just making assumptions?
Yes this whole issue of false reports ticks me off, but we as chasers need to find out what is going and try and offer our services to help someone new learn what is going on.

just my 2 cents.

 

[JIM SELLARS]

Bobbie Cookie celebrates his first successful tornado report via Spotter Network

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

"bobbie" was not anywhere near Texas. According to our information he was in New York and I suspect he wanted to see what happened when you submitted reports. Unfortunately he didn't understand that the SN actually works and no...we don't need people running tests...thank you very much.

Since you have put it like that, I must agree with David D that he should be pulled from the system.

I was led to believe by earlier posts that "BC" was in Texas somewhere near the events; not in NY.
If he did this in the manner that David D described - then I feel compoelled to change my view from my first post.

"BC" was way, way out of line...

 

[Tyler Allison]

With the help of Kory and Andy at Severe Studios we've been able to piece together enough clues to approach the person and get a confession out of him and the reason for what he did. "cookie" is none other than "alberto" that some of you already know.

He purposely submitted false reports in a misguided attempt at exacting retribution on members of the weather community that he says are bullying him. None of which have anything to do with the SN or the NWS.

Thanks Kory/Andy for stepping up.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

With the help of Kory and Andy at Severe Studios we've been able to piece together enough clues to approach the person and get a confession out of him and the reason for what he did. "cookie" is none other than "alberto" that some of you already know.

He purposely submitted false reports in a misguided attempt at exacting retribution on members of the weather community that he says are bullying him. None of which have anything to do with the SN or the NWS.

Thanks Kory/Andy for stepping up.

I'm not exactly sure what Fed law has been broken, if any.
Nobody has taken any oaths to be a spotter that I am aware of - either.
I think that the FCC may have some reason to approach him and question him, and his actions.
Maybe you should call up their nearest field office and talk to one of their representatives concerning these issues.

If nothing can be done legally; then maybe a system that was employed in WWII to rate informants by the US Intel community could be enplaced for the SN - as Tim V closely suggested.
Rating informants/spotters from AAA to FFF; 3A being extremely reliable and 3F total liars.
And everything in between...
Someone will need to keep score for all reports and spotters to make it work - however.

I don't have to tell you how to rate Alberto aka 'BC": I think its academic at this point.

 

[Jarrod Cook]

I'm not exactly sure what Fed law has been broken, if any.
Nobody has taken any oaths to be a spotter that I am aware of - either.
I think that the FCC may have some reason to approach him and question him, and his actions.

What are you talking about? Tyler didn't mention anything about federal laws in his post. He said the guy was just trying to seek revenge of some sorts with the "wx community."

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

What are you talking about? Tyler didn't mention anything about federal laws in his post. He said the guy was just trying to seek revenge of some sorts with the "wx community."

What if someone was hurt by 'BC' actions?
There was an earlier post that mentioned it - Tyler didn't - you are correct.
Fact is - this was a dangerous eye-opening breach; someone could have very well been injured by this brand of action.
''Vengence doesn't work righteousness'; but if someone were to get hurt by BC's 'vengence', then someone may seek a civil suit for damages against him - or any/all in that chain! It may hard to prove; or it may not be - hard to say...
Somewhere in this system there very well may be a legal aspect of responsibillity. I'm not so sure yet that it doesn't already exist. Tyler needs to protect himself as well; I think that is a part of his concern - too. He is dilligent in seeking remedies for this situation and for the future...

If 'BC' become an example thru an FCC action against him; that may have a far-reaching effect from the NWS to the spotter as well.
....IMHO....

 

[Dann Cianca]

Someone care to elaborate on the "alberto" saga publicly or privately? I did a quick search but didn't seen any results.

 

[rdale]

Rob - what jurisdiction would the FCC have in this case?

Dann - he visited various chatrooms, pretended to be Jim Cantore and others, and just otherwise made sure that he wasn't welcome back...