[mrfizz]

Europe getting hit badly.

BMW PR gaffe - names 'lethal' weather front: http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-16852429

Cold Spell kills at least 60: http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-16828781

Ferrari cancel F1 car launch due to snow: http://www.bbc.co.uk...la-one/16853552

[PK2]

mrfizz, on 02 February 2012 - 13:18, said:

Europe getting hit badly.

BMW PR gaffe - names 'lethal' weather front: http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-16852429

Cold Spell kills at least 60: http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-16828781

Ferrari cancel F1 car launch due to snow: http://www.bbc.co.uk...la-one/16853552

Thanks mrfizz. On a lighter now I dunno what the problem with F1 cars in the snow is:

[mrfizz]

That looks fun. I bet he struggled to get heat in his tyres..!

[skanky]

Quote

An advertising agency for BMW has paid to name a cold weather front sweeping Europe "Cooper" in Germany, after the carmaker's Mini Cooper.

But the public-relations stunt by the agency went wrong after the freezing conditions led to dozens of deaths.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-16852429

I thought the whole system was what was named, not the fronts?

[Uskys]

Just what is our society coming too? ... paying to name a front - thats wrong on so many levels...
.
"Germany's meteorology institute allows the sponsorship of weather systems.

On its website, advertising agency Sassenbach says that naming the front after the open-air vehicle was a "wind- and weather-proof idea".

Who do the German Met-institute think they are?

what next? heatwave sponsered by East Anglia University?

[PK2]

Already discussed here but anyway you're right it's the system (in this case the high pressure) that's named - see here for Cooper and note there's also a Minnie (which would be a low) sponsored by the same person. No doubt hoping for both Minnie and Cooper to appear together.

[skanky]

PK2, on 02 February 2012 - 14:46, said:

Already discussed here but anyway you're right it's the system (in this case the high pressure) that's named - see here for Cooper and note there's also a Minnie (which would be a low) sponsored by the same person. No doubt hoping for both Minnie and Cooper to appear together.

Ah sorry, assumed it would be in the media section, didn't look in the European one. Minnie was mentioned in the article.

[PK2]

skanky, on 02 February 2012 - 15:00, said:

Ah sorry, assumed it would be in the media section, didn't look in the European one. Minnie was mentioned in the article.

No worries on my part - although thinking about it there are two parts to that thread 1) the BMW stuff and 2) the more serious story of the actual conditions in E Europe. I thought I'd seen it - a "warmer weather front" apparently !!!

This post has been edited by PK2: 02 February 2012 - 15:15

[Uskys]

I've merged topics but kept skanky's title ... I trust thats ok Mrfizz

[mrfizz]

Uskys, on 02 February 2012 - 15:12, said:

I've merged topics but kept skanky's title ... I trust thats ok Mrfizz

Okay by me!

[John Robert Mellor]

'Germany's meteorology institute allows the sponsorship of weather systems.'

Well, as the German Met Institute don't own the weather itself, it can't really 'allow' sponsorship of it. Its a commercial gimmick to raise funds for the German Institute, and an obviously poor one at that as we know the death and destruction various systems can cause. I'm surprised that any commercial company would want to be associated with something that has the potential to cause many so much grief and heartache.

Even in the 'lets sponsor everything' world of American TV, I don't believe they have stopped to the lows (no pun intended) of sponsoring Tornado outbreaks or Hurricanes. Can you imagine the uproar if CBS/FOX/NBC/ABC started talking about 'Acme Window Protectors Hurricane John' is now bearing down on......?

[Bazmundo]

I don't think it's entirely bad, though there are questions as to why they can't find funding from their Govt or private sector:

http://www.met.fu-be...vortex/gruende/

[P.K.]

They've been doing this for years but I'm surprised it is allowed to be used for commercial purposes like this. The final line of the article is nonsense though "The institute is the only one outside the US which names weather systems." I can think of loads who do but no one else charges.

[skanky]

How often do people sponsor them? Has this sort of issue with associations of products and damaging or fatal systems occurred before and we're only seeing about this one because it involves a (traditionally) British brand? Or is it infrequent enough that this is the first time this has happened?

I wonder if the advertising company thought that an HP would be safe, but forgot that in winter they can bring very low temps?