Fireworks a no show in Seattle!

[Capt_Picard 0]

The fireworks at the Space Needle in Seattle went nutty... The computer that was going to set them off crashed, then crashed again! All the fireworks were timed to music... Yeah, that didn't happen. Some one had to just press all the buttons by hand to just have them go off... I wounder if they company ever thought to have a back-up?

 

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Update:

Fireworks fizzle, then streets explode near Seattle Center

Police try to subdue a man who was trying to flee officers in a McDonald's parking lot just after midnight Tuesday morning.

Story Published: Jan 1, 2008 at 9:42 AM PST

Story Updated: Jan 1, 2008 at 12:29 PM PST

 

By KOMO Staff

SEATTLE -- 2008 began on a busy note for Seattle Police, who had to respond to several incidents near the Seattle Center area in the first 30 minutes of the new year.

First off, the annual fireworks show on the Space Needle fizzled after a computer glitch brought the show to a stop twice. The automated system malfunctioned and three employees were forced to set off the remaining displays manually, but it the show was no longer choreographed.

 

In the moments after the fireworks, Seattle police were sent to the corner of 5th and Denny for reports of gun shots fired in the area. Officials say two people stopped their car, got out, fired shots into the air, and then sped off.

 

Police did not get to the car in time, but did manage to get the vehicle plate and model. It was a Volkswagen with Washington license 670-WYN. Police say if you know that vehicle, please give them a call.

 

While on the scene of that incident, a bicycle officer noticed a green and white car with large spinner wheels doing "doughnuts" in the intersection of Taylor and Denny, said Capt. Belshay with the Seattle Police Department. Once the driver noticed police had spotted him, he tried to get out of the area.

 

Due to the large crowd heading home from the fireworks display, traffic was basically stalled throughout the area and streets were full of pedestrians. Once the driver ran out of room to go forward, Seattle police say he threw the car into reverse and was going backwards on Denny Avenue at speeds up to 40 mph until he slammed into a van full of people, including children.

 

The driver tried to get away again, but was rammed by a Seattle police car. Two men in the car were arrested. At least one woman in the van was taken to a hospital and several others were treated for neck and back injuries, but no children were hurt. Police say alcohol was a factor in that incident.

 

Just as that crash was happening, a pedestrian was hit by a car in the nearby McDonald's parking lot on the corner of 5th and Broad. There's no word on the extent of person's injuries, but police took the driver into custody.

 

As he was being arrested, a KOMO photographer captured video of a separate man in that parking lot who was running from police. Nearly a dozen police officers and firefighters chased and tackled the man.

 

During the chase, the video showed an officer being maced, a newspaper dispenser knocked over, and the suspect Tasered and arrested. There's no word yet what sparked that incident, and police have not commented on the arrest.

Edited January 1, 2008 by Capt_Picard

[youbroughtheryouRiker 2]

We had a glitch here, too, with one of the station's computers. I had to recue it just to get the traffic and music logs working properly again.

 

This year is off and running... and it just fell flat on its face.

[Capt_Picard 0]

We had a glitch here, too, with one of the station's computers. I had to recue it just to get the traffic and music logs working properly again.

 

This year is off and running... and it just fell flat on its face.

I wpuld have to agree after the rude awakening I just got three minutes ago from the people next door, and I have the feeling the next people I talk to will be the cops if they don't stuff it!

[Wishfire 2]

I wounder if they company ever thought to have a back-up?

 

Well, if the computer crashed twice, I'd say that they weren't betting on it. I mean, how rare is a double crash?

[Theunicornhunter 2]

A few computer glitches do not equal a bad year. Computer glitches occur all the time and if people aren't prepared - well that is the moral of the story - we should be.

[Wishfire 2]

A few computer glitches do not equal a bad year. Computer glitches occur all the time and if people aren't prepared - well that is the moral of the story - we should be.

 

I agree. I just got a new computer barely two days ago. I've already gotten the Blue Screen of Death twice.

 

Then again, the OS is Vista...

[youbroughtheryouRiker 2]

The computer didn't crash completely. It's just that a particular program wasn't running correctly, and I had to correct it.

 

And you're right, it doesn't mean a bad year. Though, add to that the heavy snowfall knocked two of our stations off air, it's safe to say it's not off to a great start.

[Capt_Picard 0]

A few computer glitches do not equal a bad year. Computer glitches occur all the time and if people aren't prepared - well that is the moral of the story - we should be.

 

I agree. I just got a new computer barely two days ago. I've already gotten the Blue Screen of Death twice.

 

Then again, the OS is Vista...

Haha... Vista...

[TJ Phaserman 2]

probably y2k has finally become a reality just in seattle