News and information from the New Orleans area
Posts tagged WDSU
Arthur Hardy vs Krewe of Zeus!!
012 years
Politics has reared its ugly head upon the pristine party pastures of the New Orleans Mardi Gras.
I’m trying to figure out who is the bad guy in this story, and I’m fairly sure, though not 100% positive, that Arthur Hardy is the bad guy. It’s a confusing set of facts, however, so I’m going to try to sort things out.
A rumor was started that the Krewe of Zeus had canceled their Metairie parade. WWL and WDSU TV both reported that Zeus canceled. Once an innuendo gets launched, it helps to have two major networks carry your fake story. This makes the false tale seem real, since your trusted newscaster told you. WDSU revised their story and stated that Hardy gave them this information.
According to the Krewe of Zeus, they haven’t canceled, and plan to parade on Lundi Gras right after the brand new Hera, the newest parade, and one that is affiliated with Zeus.
Next, Zeus’ logistics officer, Brian Landry, denied the cancellation reports and blamed Hardy on his Facebook page. Landry wrote, Latest reports name the unnamed source on the false reports as none other than…Arthur Hardy!! I knew there would be a backlash when we opted out of an ad in his magazine.
Arthur Hardy-Good Guy or Bad Guy?
Here’s where politics intrudes itself into the Jefferson Parish Carnival scene. Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts blamed his own Carnival coordinator, Scott Burke, for the discredited report of the Zeus parade cancelling.
In faulting Burke, Roberts refocused attention on the degrading relationship between council members and Parish President John Young’s administration. Roberts and Young don’t see eye to eye on this or many other issues.
Krewe of Zeus Drachma
Hardy has responded, claiming he did not say Zeus was cancelling.
Calliope Digital, Maker of WDSU’s Parade Tracker, Claim They Aren’t!!
013 years
This is another exclusive story for Carnival New Orleans News. On wdsu.com’s Parade Tracker site, they claim with a link and email that Calliope Digital is the creator of the mobile application. I’ve been in touch with Chris V. of Calliope Digital via email because I want to delete the program from my phone after I received over 100 texts over the course of the South Shore parades the very first night of parades! That’s way too many for me!
The graphic and text below is cut and pasted from the Calliope Digital web site-
Calliope Digital, LLC announces the release of the WDSU Parade Tracker for Android. The WDSU Parade Tracker is New Orleans’ original FREE parade tracking app for the Carnival season. Now with more parade schedules, parade routes and more real-time tracking of your favorite parades. This year, we’re tracking 30 parades in Uptown New Orleans, Metairie, and on the West Bank. And best of all, this app keeps you up-to-date with the latest carnival news and changes in parade schedules and parade routes. Get it free on Android Market today.
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The following is cut and pasted from the wdsu Parade Tracker page on the Android Market site-
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The WDSU Parade Tracker is New Orleans’ original FREE parade tracking app for the Carnival season. Now with more parade schedules, parade routes and more real-time tracking of your favorite parades. This year, we’re tracking 30 parades in Uptown New Orleans, Metairie, and on the West Bank. It’s the “must-have” app for Mardi Gras day and best of all, keeps you up-to-date with the latest carnival news leading up to Fat Tuesday, including auto-updates in schedules and parade routes.
Visit Developer’s Website› Email Developer›
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The following emails are from Calliope Digital Founder Chris Van Buskir and myself concerning me getting rid of the pesky program.
From: Chris Van Buskirk <chris@calliopedigital.com>
Subject: Re: how to remove parade tracker-
To: “David Eidler”
Me as well, as the app I built does not send notifications. We do not send texts. We do not collect phone numbers. I have no clue as to what you are talking about.
On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 12:16 PM, David Eidler wrote:
WDSU’s site lists Calliope Digital as developer and have the link to your site and the email I used to contact CD. I’m puzzled about your response.
David— On Sat, 2/11/12, Chris Van Buskirk <chris@calliopedigital.com> wrote:
From: Chris Van Buskirk <chris@calliopedigital.com>
Subject: Re: how to remove parade tracker-
To: “David Eidler”
Subject: Re: how to remove parade tracker-
To: “David Eidler”
Date: Saturday, February 11, 2012, 11:20 AM
No I didn’t. It was probably something they did prior, so contact them directly.
http://www.wdsu.com/station/267996/detail.html
On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 11:17 AM, David Eidler <araborecs@yahoo.com> wrote:
WDSU does, and you created the program from them. So if you cannot help me, can you give me an email to send this to so I can get this off my phone. Thanks very much.
David
— On Sat, 2/11/12, Chris Van Buskirk <chris@calliopedigital.com> wrote:
From: Chris Van Buskirk <chris@calliopedigital.com>
Subject: Re: how to remove parade tracker-
To: “David Eidler”
Date: Saturday, February 11, 2012, 11:13 AM
???? We don’t send out texts, notifications of any sort. We don’t collect phone numbers.
On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 11:10 AM, David Eidler <araborecs@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi there,
I desperately want this off my phone. I don’t mind Orleans parade updates, but not the entire South Shore. I cannot find a way to do this, the app isn’t listed in my downloads, or my programs. Please help and Happy Mardi Gras!!
David Eidler
http://news.carnivalneworleans.com
http://watchopp.wordpress.com
WDSU Parade Tracker System Review
015 years
I’m a big fan of this parade tracker system, when you want to find the start of a parade that’s rolling or a parade stops for some reason. How does the system operate? WDSU puts a car near the front of the parades they cover. The car uses the GPS tracking system to pin point where the tracking car is, and relays that information to a computer, which texts that info to all opt in phones. The system is a bit intrusive when you are already at a parade, catching throws and enjoying the sights and sounds of of the event. You constantly receive parade updates on your phone, when you don’t need them, as you are already parading. You could always opt out when at parade, and opt back in when you are searching for a parade on the street. However you might think this is a bit much opting in and out.
To get Parade Tracker updates on your mobile phone, text “follow parades” to 40404. This is the second year for this service. If you opted in last year, you were automatically opted in for this year. For some parades, you can track the parade’s progress on WDSU.com, via a special map. The markers on the map show the location of the lead float in the parade, and they update every 10 seconds or 20 feet.
The biggest flaw in the system is they skip parades! Babylon had to switch days because of bad weather. Could parade tracker keep up with parade rescheduling? NO. No parade tracking for Babylon. Earlier in the Carnival season, when some of the smaller parades roll, parade tracker opted not to cover the earlier parades.
Among the Orleans parades that WDSU opted not to track were Sparta and Ponchartrain.
My thoughts on the inconsistent tracking is that if you are going to offer a parade tracking system, you should cover all the parades in an area.
WDSU Parade Tracker Review
016 years
by NewOrleansMusicMan
in Mardi Gras
Kudos for the new GPS system which allows the parade participator to receive text updates via Twitter from GPS units in the front and rear of New Orleans parades. Last night, for example, the updates came for Babylon, Chaos, and Muses. It’s very convenient to receive up to the minute parade location information while the parades are rolling.
Some key information is omitted. For example, last night during Chaos,there was a break of 50 minutes. No more updates for Chaos and the parade behind, Muses. Why did the break occur? As WDSU receives information on the breakdown, they could easily pass this on via Twitter. Virtually everyone who attends a parade wants to know why any long breakdown occurs. There’s always a reason- broken float, accident, a rider falls off the float, etc.
Also, once a parade is rolling , the Twitters pile up on a three parade night and clog your inbox quickly.
All things considered, the WDSU Parade Tracker is a success.