Emergency Broadcast test -- well, THAT was a waste.

[Atman]

I was watching last weekend's SNL on OnDemand -- big NBC logo came up, it made the squawking moose one time, with a message saying it wasn't really an emergency, then switched channels to People's Court or something. Wouldn't jump back to OnDemand, had to start over again...which, since it was just SNL, wasn't worth the effort.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. It was certainly more disruptive than Y2K.

:P

[sufrommich]

3. lol. nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. There was absolutely nothing on ESPN...just a little note on the

ticker, telling us not to be concerned, that it would only be a test, and you may "see something".

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Preparedness is not a waste....

It was a systems test, to make sure the system functions as needed if needed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Apparently it doesn't.

:)

[FarCenter]

10. Originally, it would broadcast the warning and then shut off all TV and Radio transmitters

So that the Russian bombers couldn't ride the signals to their targets.

But that doesn't seem very useful any more.

Exactly how would this capability be used?

Natural disasters from weather are either well advertized in advance, as in hurricane forecasts, or they are local in nature, like tornados. Earthquakes occur with no warning, and eventually LA and San Francisco will be destroyed without warning.

There are no longer any preparedness plans for thermonuclear war, not that any of the previous ones would work. You were generally better off not trying to evacuate cities. And sheltering was minimal at best.

Other WMD attacks would be localized, ranging from dirty radiological weapons, chemical attacks, and biological attacks.

[Submariner]

12. I made a Thermonuclear war siren ringtone for my phone off a YouTube

cuz I got to missing the alarms from my grade school days in the 50s. I love the fear that comes across the face of people who hear my phone go off. It must be the devil in me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42_Ag0vpIbM&feature=player_embedded

[FarCenter]

15. Good one! There are some categories of incoming calls for which that is appropriate

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. The thrill is gone. When I was kid they sounded sirens and told us to "Duck and Cover".

[leveymg]

13. Sirens Saturday afternoon at 1 pm in my hometown. That was the time for the Russians to attack.

When I was a boy, 8 or 9 years old, I once rode my Schwinn bicycle past the Nike Missile installation when the emergency test sirens sounded. I thought it was the most awesome thing. In my imagination, a group of white Nike Ajax two-stage missiles roared skyward from behind the trees, leaping upwards toward a squadron of shiny silver Russian Bear bombers far, far overheaded. They exploded noiselessly. Then, a pause, and a light as bright as the setting sun burned from the direction of Manhattan, 52 miles south-west. One of them got through.

Yup. Those were the carefree '60s. Life was simpler back then . . .

[catabryna]

7. I'm beginning to wonder if we will see another one on Friday...

my paper said it would be the day after tomorrow.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Oh shit. I missed it.

I was going to tune in so I could participate in the drill.

[brooklynite]

9. I think it'll be available on your ON-DEMAND channel...

...if you'd like to relive the moment.

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. I'm on the Dish. No on-demand but they've probably got it on pay-per-view for $7.99

[Motown_Johnny]

11. Because the very first time you test something it should work perfectly?

If so, why test at all?

[a la izquierda]

14. Every student in my class jumped...

as their phones all vibrated simultaneously. I actually started to bawl out two of the students, until I realized what the problem was.