Category Archives: Examiner.com

Weather Channel goes dark on DirecTV, other weather networks ready to jump in

Despite The Weather Channel's PR campaign, DirecTV has dropped the network from its lineup.
DirecTV dropped The Weather Channel last night. Does anyone really care?

Following a contentious dispute with satellite television provider DirecTV, The Weather Channel went dark on the service at midnight Monday. The loss of the network however has allowed other true weather networks an opportunity to provide news and information to the public.

The loss is the first major outage for The Weather Channel that brought 24 / 7 weather to Americans’ homes but has since given up on its core mission in favor of reality based television shows.

It is that shift in programming choices and the lack of true weather coverage that DirecTV cited in its decision to drop the network.

Read more about the dispute and the alternatives for real weather news and information on Examiner.com

Helmet cam captures motorcycle rider trying to cross Colorado floodwaters

Screen capture of Michael Henao losing control of his motorcycle while trying to cross flash flooding in Colorado in September 2013.
Screen capture of Michael Henao losing control of his motorcycle while trying to cross flash flooding in Colorado in September 2013. (YouTube / GoPro)

September 2013 went into the history books as one of the most disastrous in Colorado history as torrential rains brought devastating flooding. Most residents heeded warnings meant to save lives but newly discovered video showcases one man ignoring them and nearly drowning in the process.

The video, released by action camera maker GoPro last week, features motorcycle rider Michael Henao attempting to cross flooded Colorado roadways near Boulder. The results were nearly deadly.

Shown from his helmet-mounted camera, Henao starts on on mud-covered roads but then continues on what is clearly a closed road. Water that initially appears calm gets deeper and runs faster as he rides further into the floodwaters.

Read the rest of this story and watch the amazing video on Examiner.com

White House: ‘Polar vortex’ cold likely linked to manmade climate change

The extreme cold seen in Chicago and many other North American cities may be attributed to global warming according to White House officials.
The extreme cold seen in Chicago and many other North American cities may be attributed to global warming according to White House officials. (Getty Images)

Amid the record-setting cold being seen across much of the United States, the White House dispatched one of its top science officials to try to convince Americans that global warming is occurring and may in fact be responsible for the cold.

In a video published to the White House’s website and YouTube yesterday, Dr. John Holdren, President Barack Obama’s science advisor says, “If you’ve been hearing that extreme cold spells, like the one we’re having in the United States now, disproves global warming, don’t believe it.”

Scientists however have been struggling to explain the lack of ‘extreme weather’ or increasing temperatures.  Alarmists seem to want to tie any type of event to manmade climate change now.

Read the rest of this story and watch the video on Examiner.com

Video captures chain reaction multi-car crash on I-25 near Colorado Springs

A screen capture shows the moment of impact during one of a series of accidents on I-25 Saturday, January 4, 2014.
A screen capture shows the moment of impact during one of a series of accidents on I-25 Saturday, January 4, 2014. (YouTube / coach tone)

As temperatures dropped and the snow fell Saturday across Colorado, roads became ice-coated and driving conditions worsened. Video captured near Colorado Springs captured a harrowing multi-car pileup on Interstate 25 that highlighted the dangerous road conditions.

Posted by a user Anthony Salazar to KOAA-5 television’s Facebook page, the video is taken from an overpass in the Colorado Springs area on Saturday, January 4.

Showing I-25 southbound, some drivers are shown exercising appropriate caution on the icy roads and proceeding slowly. Calamity ensues when others are less aware of the conditions.

Read the rest of this story and check out the amazing video on Examiner.com

U.S. Coast Guard deployed to rescue global warming expedition and its rescuers

The Russian climate change research vessel Akadmik Shokalskiy is seen stuck in ice near Antarctica.
The Russian climate change research vessel Akadmik Shokalskiy is seen stuck in ice near Antarctica.

A Russian research ship stuck in expanding Antarctic ice and a Chinese ice breaker sent to help have put out calls for further assistance and the U.S. Coast Guard is responding.

The Akadmik Shokalskiy became stuck in the ice on December 24. Tourists, scientists and journalists were on board the Russian ship conducting global warming research.

Chinese icebreaker Xue Long was dispatched to rescue the trapped researchers. Using its helicopters it was able to airlift dozens of passengers to a second rescue ship, the Aurora Australis, on Thursday. However, the Xue Long soon found itself stuck in the expanding ice.

Last week the Australian government asked the United States for assistance in clearing the way for the two ships and yesterday it was announced the U.S. Coast Guard would dispatch one of its largest ships to help.

Read more about the rescue mission – with video – on Examiner.com

Skier’s helmet camera captures Vail avalanche, brother rushing to the rescue

A video screen capture shows Edwin LaMair buried in snow following an avalanche near Vail on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
A video screen capture shows Edwin LaMair buried in snow following an avalanche near Vail on Sunday, December 22, 2013. (YouTube / Ed LaMa)

Winter in Colorado brings some of the best ski conditions in the world but in areas outside ski area boundaries, avalanches are a very real danger. One group of skiers was lucky enough to survive an encounter with a collapsing wall of snow Sunday and captured the event on video.

Brothers Edwin and Davis LaMair were skiing near Vail Sunday in two separate groups. With a helmet mounted webcam running, Davis watched in horror as an avalanche on a nearby slope engulfed his brother.

“Holy sh**! That’s Edwin in an avalanche,” Davis exclaimed to his friends.

Read the rest of this story and watch the amazing video on Examiner.com

NASA releases video recreating iconic Apollo 8 Earthrise image

Planet Earth is seen by humans in lunar orbit for the first time during Apollo 8.
Earth is seen by humans in lunar orbit for the first time during Apollo 8. (NASA)

It was Christmas Eve in 1968 when three brave astronauts, the first humans to leave Earth orbit, circled the moon. As the 45th anniversary of that event approaches, NASA has released a video that recreates the iconic Earthrise image that has captivated the world since.

Using imagery obtained from its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the video released by NASA yesterday allows viewers to see Earthrise as it was first witnessed 45 years ago.

Audio from the Apollo 8 mission provides commentary from the astronauts as they conducted routine observations – until the spacecraft oriented itself to allow them view the planet. The astronauts then scramble to get cameras in place to capture the event.

Read the rest of this story and check out the amazing video on Examiner.com

Cairo receives first snow in over 100 years, Jerusalem receives most in 50 years

An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks in the snow a head of Shabat (Saturday), At the Mea Shearim Ultra orthodox jewish neighborhood on December 13, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel.
An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks in the snow in Jerusalem, Israel. Click to view a slideshow of the event. (Getty Images)

A powerful winter storm system struck parts of the Middle East on Friday to the delight of some residents but causing havoc in other locations where snow is a rarity.

In Cairo, Egypt snow fell, reportedly for the first time in 112 years, covering parts of the city in a light blanket of white.

Parts of Israel saw heavy snow totaling up to three feet. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat told The Times of Israel, “We’re facing a rare storm the likes of which we’ve never seen.”

The local meteorological agency said it was the worst snowstorm seen since at least 1953.

Read the rest of this story with video and photos on Examiner.com

Camera footage shows destruction from deadly Illinois tornado as it happened

Screenshot of a video showing four angles just as a tornado strikes Washington, Illinois on November 17, 2013.
Screenshot of a video showing four angles just as a tornado strikes Washington, Illinois on November 17, 2013. (YouTube)

Last month a tornado outbreak visited death and destruction across multiple states in the nation’s midsection. Security camera footage just release by a homeowner in Illinois whose house was destroyed captures the destruction as it happens.

Over 100 tornadoes spanning seven states were reported on November 17. While the actual number of twisters was likely lower due to duplicates, it was an extraordinary tornado outbreak, particularly given how late in the year it occurred.

The tornado that struck Washington, IL on that fateful day has been determined to be an EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

This week a YouTube user by the name of ‘athlon770’ released security camera footage of the event.

From four different cameras , the video shows exterior views as the tornado approaches and the wind starts throwing debris. In the climax, the inside of the home virtually explodes as it takes a direct strike from the twister.

Following the video, the user adds still photos of the aftermath. It is truly a devastating scene.

Read the rest of this story and check out the video on Examiner.com