Bright & Early: Kicking And Screaming Edition

February 18, 2010 9:30 AM 1 comment

Good morning, Nashville. The city’s Metro Transit Authority has finally worked out at least one way to drag our bus system into the 21st century. The MTA is partnering with a firm that will be hooking us up with fancy signs, a web portal, and even some smartphone apps capable of providing real-time bus information and schedule updates based on the GPS trackers on each bus. The whole installation process should be finished by early next year.

Next Generation 911. Speaking of dragging things into the 21st century, a bill currently moving through the state legislature would upgrade Tennessee’s emergency response system to allow folks to text 911 in addition to calling in the event of an emergency.
Crime rate falls. Nashville’s per capita crime rate dropped nearly 11 percent between 2008 to 2009, giving us our lowest crime rate in 31 years. Violent crimes dropped 15.5 percent.
Wanna get away? Vanderbilt accidentally sent out 56 acceptance letters to students who weren’t actually going to be accepted. We can only imagine how that apology went over.
Bits & pieces. It is really freakin’ cold outside, you guys … For all the hunting and fishing enthusiasts among us, licenses go on sale today … Three companies have expressed interest in operating the Tennessee State Fair this year since the city isn’t doing it … Another day, another NES-imposter scam … A Tent City tent caught on fire last night.

Photo by ryan2013.

http://nicholsonrecords.com/paul Paul Nicholson

Thrilled about the updates/upgrades to the bus system, specifically the access from smartphones. Of course they still need the info to work on basic WAP phones since most of their riding public uses those (if at all) as opposed to being smartphone users. Hopefully that's what is meant by “smartphones or the MTA website”.

Also: Great that I'll be able to SMS to 911, but I don't think that would be as useful as SMSing 862-8600 for non-emergency police tips. The only text-a-tip service now is screwy and complicated. I should just be able to SMS 862-8600 “There's a guy selling crack at the Citgo on 8th. I am standing next to him filling up my car so I don't want to call you on the phone and tell you this where he can overhear me” (not that that has ever happened to me. No way). Need to be able to txt those in.