Fine, but they (DC) needs to get the train computers fixed so they don't go into automatic Adams Gomez (Adams Family) crash mose.

Where did everybody go?  Does anybody read this thing (blog) anymore?

Dominic--

In my case, it's just that I don't have much to say about the topics of the latest blog entries (eg, "Love & Romance at a Bus Stop," renewing student Q cards).

--Steve

These last few blog subjects are blah.

DominicMazoch said:  

"Where did everybody go?  Does anybody read this thing (blog) anymore?"

Basically, most fo the topics are more like 'fluff' pieces and the entire format is not conducive to allowing a blog atmosphere Dominic.

It appears that the goal is to come up with new items but the website simply pushes other topics down the list until they disappear.

Many of those other more important, or controversial, topics simply die rather than allowing for further debate.  

An example is the topic "METRO Board Passes 2010 Budget".  It is now 13th and had 31 comments.  I last asked for more detailed clarification (from Mary) and have not heard anymore.

More importanly, because of the poor was this blog is set up, those topics cannot be left to continue for discussion.

An example of a good blog form is http://www.ctchouston.org/forums/

There ALL topics are shown and sorted by activity.  (They are located under unique subject titles at the link above)  Some new topics may die and go to the bottom but others hold strength for months on end.

Another example, which I like even better is

http://www.bloghouston.net/forum/viewforum.php?id=1

Blog Houston also lists all topics by the latest entry but it also shows active members all new posts in BOLD print so you don't have to waste your time looking at the same old stuff.

METRO's blob is actually false in that the number of 'views' is deeply exaggerated by multiple views to see if anything is "new".

If METRO wants to be transparent and forward thinking, they need to redo the blog to a combination of the two blogs I mentioned above.  

Fluff would simply be read and left to go to the bottom while real discussions would thrive at the top.

THEN, METRO, and we readers, would see what the real feelings are.

Again, I wish it were that way so everyone could see the reply I am waiting for from Mary on that past topic without sorting through a maze.  

On this topic, I would wonder how accurate the software is as to getting the context correct on a subject.  One daughter of ours was born with a profound bilateral hearing impairment and we tried several software programs (some VERY expensive) that would convert spoken language to text and they all failed terribly.

Here is a quesation for Mary and METRO.  Since I have a child who was born deaf, why hasn't Metro provided close captioning of all videos shown?  

We keep CC on our TV and it amazes me at the inaccuracies on transcribing the news.  Some mistakes are so profound that a deaf person would get a completely opposite view of the facts told out loud.

Providing CC for saved films is easy and can be 100% accurate and provide ALL information to this part of society.

Off topic but possibly a topic that no one even knows is still ongoing ("METRO Board Passes 2010 Budget" dated Sept 18, 2009).

In this topic, I asked for a reply by Mary on what I thought was a very simple question.

After posting here at this topic, she replied and I feel that the answere did not answer the question.

What do you readers think?  Here is my reply to her post today:  

Don G said:  

That information does not say anything with regard to my question Mary.  All that link takes you to is the SBA procurements or Small Business and in fact, is ONLY related to rail projects and has nothing to do with General Mobility funds?

Just tell us how much money has NOT been collected by the City of Houston and other entities.

In simpler terms, here is the statement you wrote:

"METRO receives 1 percent of the sales tax and allocates 25 percent of that to the General Mobility Fund, which finances transit-related projects for surrounding cities and Harris County."

You also posted that the amount for 2010 is $152 Million and also that the budget is flat.  Therefore, last year would have had roughly the same amount of funds available to all entities, including Harris County, Houston and all other cities included, to use for transit related work.

What we would like to know is exact how much of last years $152M is still available for projects (or how much of that sum has been spent?

This information would also be requested for the past five years.

A lot has been said that Houston is not taking the funds that they have coming to them for projects as well as other entities.  Everyone knows that it is very easy to find transit related projects to spend that sum on with ease.

This is exactly why people are not at all happy with the transparency of METRO Mary.  You all shuffle around or skirt the issues.

@Mary Sit

Do you even ride metro?

Quick suggestion: Put the Neoplan(4400)buses on the 102....

And place some MCI D4500 buses on the 163....

"Quick suggestion: Put the Neoplan(4400)buses on the 102....

And place some MCI D4500 buses on the 163...."

Ummm---since Hiram Clarke doesn't operate the 102, the 4400 series buses won't work---unless Hiram Clarke transfers some to Fallbrook---since they operate the 102.

The only way your plan would work to put some D4500s on the 163 is if West does that---on the weekends.  During the weekdays, Hiram Clarke owns that route---and they only have the 45' NFI D45S "Viking" buses.

@Mary Sit

And are you satisfied with metro?

@Cedric Collins

Any BOF can send any of those waterlogged Cages on any route. How hard is that do?

Metro Needs to store itself in a garage for good. I'll employ those who lose their jobs.

HoustonHater,

I'd strongly suggest that you do more research about who runs what route(s) on what days of the week---thank you.

Also, nobody wouldn't want to work for you so....how does that work out?

In addition, if Mary is satisfied with the people she works for, fine.  If not (in any way, shape, or form), that's fine, too.  As long as she gets paid like she is supposed to, wonderful.

Heck---I may not be satisfied with my J-O-B in full but as long as I get a paycheck, I could care less what goes on here.