Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Bright & Early: Watch Where You Roll Edition
Good morning, Nashville. Local cyclists are complaining that Metro isn’t responding quickly enough to the need to replace non-bike-friendly storm drains that have caused serious accidents around the city. Grates whose openings are parallel to the streets can swallow up bike tires and cause cyclists to flip over their handlebars, as has happened in the past and resulted in some pretty hefty lawsuits against Metro. And although some of the grates have been replaced with others that have slats facing perpendicular to the street, there are still enough of the parallel grates to cause a problem.
- Bridge to nowhere. Omni and Metro officials are trying to decide whether a proposed sky bridge connecting the new convention center to the convention center hotel is worth shelling out $5-$15 million, and who would pay for it.
- Bad communication. In case you’re still wondering what went wrong during the May flood, the Tennessean hashes out the timeline explaining which communications broke down and where.
- Bits & pieces. A Tennessee company is yanking certain bags of frozen vegetables because there may be broken glass in them … Just when we thought the construction traffic on I-40 around White Bridge might be cleared up, they’re starting another big project … We might get some of that much-needed rain this week … Dairy King is finally back open for the first time since the flood … Forbes lists Nashville as the 7th most dangerous city in the country … The Tennessee Department of Correction is working hard to keep sex offenders in line on Halloween.
Photo by sleepy rabbit.
Good morning, Nashville. Local cyclists are complaining that Metro isn’t responding quickly enough to the need to replace non-bike-friendly storm drains that have caused serious accidents around the city. Grates whose openings are parallel to the streets can swallow up bike tires and cause cyclists to flip over their handlebars, as has happened in the [...]
Bright & Early: We’ll Take The Boat Edition
- No punishment for McGavock cell phone videographer. The kid who whipped out his cell phone and filmed McGavock High School teacher Donald Wood mid-meltdown won’t be punished for his cell phone use. The various versions of the video have received hundreds of thousands of views on Youtube.
- Metro pension plan in trouble? A new study by the University of Rochester says that Metro’s pension plan will be insolvent by 2025. Metro predictably took issue with the study, saying that it operates on a bunch of assumptions about the government’s contributions and the economy that aren’t necessarily true.
- Bits & pieces. The Frist’s “Birth of Impressionism” exhibit opens today, and we’re one of only three cities in the world to have it … The Preds racked up another one in the win column last night … Hopefully you enjoyed yesterday’s stroll down Starwood memory lane, because there’s a good chance it could reopen … Tickets for the Schermerhorn’s grand reopening shindig go on sale today … Maury County Schools are closed until further notice because they can’t agree on a budget that will allow them to pay their teachers.
Photo by hikenandhistory.
Good morning, Nashville. Metro Police put together a list of Nashville’s most dangerous intersections for injury and non-injury accidents. Among those causing the most injury wrecks are Nolensville and Harding, I-65 North at Old Hickory, I-40 East at Stewart’s Ferry, Donelson Pike and Murfreesboro Pike, and Nolensville and Old Hickory. The worst intersections for non-injury [...]
Happy Hour: Straight Outta Ca$hville
- The IRS will be auctioning off Young Buck’s things at the end of the month to pay off all of the money he owes them for taxes. And many of these things sound like they could be very useful! Such as: “pictures of Al Pacino and rapper Tupac, a “marijuana leaf picture”, three Royal Copenhagen white bear figurines and a 3-foot white and silver Santa Claus decoration.” [Tennessean]
- Here are a bunch of old Starwood Amphitheater pictures to make you feel old if you recognize them, young if you don’t, or really young if you’re wondering what a Starwood is. [Tennessean]
- Belmont broke ground on their fancy new law school today, which is expected to start rollin’ in 2011. [Tennessean]
- MTSU recently conducted a poll to explore how Tennesseans feel towards Muslims. The good news is that 2/3rds of the folks polled said they should have the same religious rights as the rest of us. The bad news is that 1/3 of the respondents said that Muslims should be required to register their whereabouts with the government. [WZTV]
Photo by Jacob.Briggs.
The IRS will be auctioning off Young Buck’s things at the end of the month to pay off all of the money he owes them for taxes. And many of these things sound like they could be very useful! Such as: “pictures of Al Pacino and rapper Tupac, a “marijuana leaf picture”, three Royal Copenhagen [...]
Bright & Early: BRBLOLOKTTYLKTHXBYE Edition
Good morning, Nashville. Local teachers are afraid that text lingo may be getting in the way of our kids learning the English language. With text speak working its way into conversation in real life (IRL), it stands to reason that it has also been showing up in kids’ papers and projects for school. English language expert and University School of Nashville teacher Robert McKay especially worries that all of this shorthand is hurting the art of language and the importance of spelling.
- Something stinks. Not only do we have bedbugs and brown recluses to worry about this year, but an exotic species of stinkbug has also moved into Middle Tennessee. From China! Outside of their nasty odor, bug experts fear they could also be bad for crops.
- Hungry people. Second Harvest is working hard to get ready for the colder months, which usually leave more folks in need of food and other assistance. Due to the economy still sucking and the holidays just around the corner, they’re going to need all the food donations they can get. Find out how you can help.
- Bits & pieces. Our State Attorney General will be studying foreclosure problems over the next few months … Early voting is off to a good start with more than 600 voters showing up yesterday … A last-minute goal with only 26.7 seconds left on the clock lifted the Preds to a 3-2 victory over Chicago last night … Some construction-related road closures on I-65 near Rosa Parks could snarl traffic for the next week.
Photo by kelseywynns.
Good morning, Nashville. Local teachers are afraid that text lingo may be getting in the way of our kids learning the English language. With text speak working its way into conversation in real life (IRL), it stands to reason that it has also been showing up in kids’ papers and projects for school. English language [...]
Saturday: It’s BarCamp Time Again [Where My Geeks At]
A crowd of 500+ folks (Super Swarm badge, anyone?) making their way to Cadillac Ranch on Broadway this Saturday (before 8am, no less) may look confusing at first, but if you look closely, you’ll probably notice more than a few laptops and smartphones in the crowd. The reason for the massive group of technology fiends descending on lower Broad? BarCamp Nashville, an annual “unconference” put on by geeks, for geeks. At an unconference like BarCamp, any attendee can pitch in to help plan, volunteer or hold a session during the day – and what you end up with is a free new media conference with a diverse range of topics, opinions and expertise.
This year, attendees have already been busy creating nearly 50 sessions about online branding and marketing, web development, best business practices and of course, everyone’s old favorite, social media. Check out the sessions, pick what strikes your fancy, and join us at Cadillac Ranch this Saturday to start learning! (If you forget to register online, you can do so at the door.)
Are you skimming this post because you’re already experienced in the ways of BarCamp? We’ve got a few things for you too, so listen up.
- We hear that the BarCamp crew is still in need of a few volunteers (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)! Contact Sam Bradley to lend a hand.
- Go scheduling pro with BCN Social, an online social scheduling tool that lets you find out where your friends are via Twitter and texts you throughout the day to tell you where and when your next session is happening.
- All good lists have three points.
Experienced BarCamper or not, be sure to bring a can or two of food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Still on the fence? Would an afterparty with some free Yazoo help you make up your mind? (Yeah, we thought so too.)
BarCamp Nashville, Saturday, October 16 at Cadillac Ranch (305 Broadway).
Registration starts at 7:30am, sessions run from 8am to 4:20pm, and the afterparty starts at 5.
A crowd of 500+ folks (Super Swarm badge, anyone?) making their way to Cadillac Ranch on Broadway this Saturday (before 8am, no less) may look confusing at first, but if you look closely, you’ll probably notice more than a few laptops and smartphones in the crowd. The reason for the massive group of technology fiends [...]
Happy Hour: With A Buzz In Our Ears
- That suspicious package from this morning turned out to be a backpack full of clothes. [WTVF]
- Early voting started today for the gubernatorial election! Get thee to the polls. [WTVF]
- Headline of the day, courtesy of News Channel 5: “Men say they didn’t run nude through big cat refuge.” The mugshots are pretty priceless as well. [WKRN]
- Consider this another friendly reminder that the deer are out mating in full force, which makes them more likely to run into your car. [WTVF]
- The Tennessean answers the most pressing question of our generation: Where do baby carrots come from? [Tennessean]
- Our heating bills may actually be lower than usual this year, due to the price of natural gas. [Tennessean]
- Nashville has been named the 18th best U.S. city for sports. Quick, someone alert FIFA! [WSMV]
Photo by nathantbaker.
That suspicious package from this morning turned out to be a backpack full of clothes. [WTVF] Early voting started today for the gubernatorial election! Get thee to the polls. [WTVF] Headline of the day, courtesy of News Channel 5: “Men say they didn’t run nude through big cat refuge.” The mugshots are pretty priceless as [...]
Get Your Pinkberry Fix: West End Grand Opening Thursday
We’ve been waiting for years for the Pinkberry-in-Nashville rumors to come to fruition, and it’s finally time – Nashville’s first Pinkberry opens this Thursday, and there will be free samples for everyone at their grand opening celebration! Whether you’re loyal to one of our many local fro-yo alternatives or a longtime Pinkberry enthusiast, who can resist free treats?
Pinkberry will open at 2306 West End Avenue (the old Blockbuster location) on Thursday, October 14 from 6-10pm. Anyone who stops by will receive a FREE sample of frozen yogurt to snack on while enjoying the games, music and other fun at the grand opening shindig.
Photo by wEnDaLicious.
We’ve been waiting for years for the Pinkberry-in-Nashville rumors to come to fruition, and it’s finally time – Nashville’s first Pinkberry opens this Thursday, and there will be free samples for everyone at their grand opening celebration! Whether you’re loyal to one of our many local fro-yo alternatives or a longtime Pinkberry enthusiast, who can [...]
Bright & Early: Highly Suspicious Edition
Good morning, Nashville. We’re having a rough time tearing ourselves away from the miner rescue livestream long enough to peruse the local headlines, so we’re going to get right to it this morning:
- The morning began with a suspicious backpack near several important buildings which shut down parts of James Robertson Parkway, 2nd Avenue and Gay Street. The bomb squad is still looking into it. [Tennessean]
- Metro Police have plucked 89 gang members off the streets in their latest enforcement initiative, Operation Safer Streets. [Tennessean]
- Maury County Schools can’t afford to pay their teachers this week and now they’ve been denied the emergency funding to cover it. [WTVF]
- Break out the 2011 glasses! The visitor’s bureau is throwing us another New Year’s Eve party downtown this year. [Tennessean]
- If you’ve ever dreamed of carving an NES logo into your pumpkin, they’ve got you covered. [NES]
- More storms, more seasonally appropriate temperatures. [Nashville WX]
- Someone who is not John Rich will be grand marshalling the Christmas Parade this year. [Tennessean]
Photo by johnlamb.
Good morning, Nashville. We’re having a rough time tearing ourselves away from the miner rescue livestream long enough to peruse the local headlines, so we’re going to get right to it this morning: The morning began with a suspicious backpack near several important buildings which shut down parts of James Robertson Parkway, 2nd Avenue and [...]
Happy Hour: Braaaiiins
- Remember that small fire problem we were telling you about yesterday? It was alive and well this morning in Franklin. [WTVF]
- Headline of the day: “One-toothed suspect holds up Charlotte Ave. gas station.” [WSMV]
- Vanderbilt University, already one of the nation’s most expensive colleges, is poised to hit the $60,000 per year mark in 2012. [WSMV]
- If you hear cannon fire tonight, fear not; it’s just NES trying to scare off the birds so they don’t fry themselves in the transformers. [City Paper]
- Thanks to some more money flowing into Metro for auto emissions testing, they might be able to expand services soon and extend the hours of some of the existing stations. [City Paper]
- Bellevue Middle School students are sprucing up an overpass in River Plantation with a fancy mural. [WSMV]
- The controversial Antioch mosque (not to be mistaken for the controversial Murfreesboro mosque) may open its doors by the end of the year. [Tennessean]
- Our sales tax revenues actually increased in September! Bust out the champagne. [WTVF]
Photo by Riffysyphon1024.
Remember that small fire problem we were telling you about yesterday? It was alive and well this morning in Franklin. [WTVF] Headline of the day: “One-toothed suspect holds up Charlotte Ave. gas station.” [WSMV] Vanderbilt University, already one of the nation’s most expensive colleges, is poised to hit the $60,000 per year mark in 2012. [...]
Happy Hour: Phone It In
- Walmart has apparently bought up the building that used to house the Expo Design Center near 100 Oaks, from which we can infer that there will probably be a new Walmart there soon. [Tennessean]
- Someone is posing as a representative from the Metro Health Department is calling restaurants to set up fake health inspections. But since health inspections are always a surprise (that’s the point, right?) they’re obviously not real and Metro is advising everyone to report these calls. [WSMV]
- A recent study by health care advocacy group Families USA estimates that the new health care reform will save Tennesseans $2.7 billion in tax credits. [WZTV]
- Help Metro Police catch this robber who has been wreaking havoc all over East Nashville lately. [WSMV]
Photo by Richard Call.
Walmart has apparently bought up the building that used to house the Expo Design Center near 100 Oaks, from which we can infer that there will probably be a new Walmart there soon. [Tennessean] Someone is posing as a representative from the Metro Health Department is calling restaurants to set up fake health inspections. But [...]
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