Weather Rock

The Weather Rock is a prop used to make fun of the intricate technology used to create modern weather forecasts, as well as the fact that their accuracy is still not perfect, or even good, in the eyes of some. Often there is a great deal of fanfare pertaining to the proliferation of the notion that the pilfering of the "weather rock" will result in the ensuance of terrible consequences. The joke varies, but in all cases there is a large noticeable rock or similar, often suspended from a tripod, particularly within scouting camps or activities. A sign next to it states something like:

*If rock is wet, it is raining.
*If rock is green, it rained a while ago.
*If rock is white, it is snowing.
*If rock is shaking, there is an earthquake.
*If rock is dry, the weather is fair.
*If rock is swinging, it's windy.
*If rock is warm, the sun is out.
*If rock is not visible, it's dark outside.
*If rock is under water, there is a flood.
*If rock is gone, there is a tornado (Run!!)

References

* [http://www.nj.gov/military/publications/guardlife/volume27n2/weatherrock.htm NJ Guardlife]
* [http://www.windycreek.com/weatherrock.html Windy Creek]