I had a thought recently about this concept. A few (or maybe many)
of us have Text Messaging capable cellphones now. Some may not have
this service enabled even though it is included in thier monthly
plan. Some may not make use of it. Some may have to subscribe to the
service. I believe it costs 15 cents or less (depending on your cell
plan) per message to send and free to receive.

How many of us out there actually have Text Messaging capable
cellphones?

We could use this feature to send a message from the beach to
windtracker@m..., WindTracker will then forward this message to
the Yahoo Group and to anyone who would like to receive this message
on thier Text enabled cellphone. Informing many people at once (even
those that may be already on the road) with a short and descriptive
message about the actual conditions at a particular beach at that
time or about a change in venue because the conditions are
undesirable.

For example, "Stoked at Patricia, 4.7*, NW 19G25*. Myron"
or "Offshore at Patricia moving to Sunset. Myron". Short and
descriptive.

Some words /values that can be included in the message to make the
message short and descriptive:

Stoked = good /steady,
Marginal = light and very up /down for sail size,
Gusty = wind spanning more than one sail size,
Skunked = too light /calm /offshore,
Improving = an update from "marginal" or "gusty" or "skunked".

The name of the beach.

Sail sizes: 6.5, or 5.5, or 4.5....

The windspeed and direction estimate provides a value that may or
may not reflect those given in the Regional Summary.

* to show steady conditions,
- to show decreasing winds (rigging bigger),
+ to show increasing winds (rigging smaller).

Please sign the message.

Any thoughts?
Myron

p.s. For those interested in trying this, that have a Text capable
cell please e-mail me privately with your cellphone text address
so I can include it in the forwarding service.

NOTE: I believe the cellphone number will work for cell to cell or
using your
service providers "send message service" web page. However, in order
for my forwarding to work I need it to be in the usual e-mail
format. For example 12041234567@y.... The correct domain
is provided by your carrier so that people can e-mail your cell from
any e-mail client from any e-mail address.