Dec 28 2005
GPTV - Serving the Rest of Atlanta Too
We have a 14 month old, so we watch a lot of public TV. As you may know, we in Chattanooga have TWO PBS stations, one for Tennessee, and one for Georgia. The next time you’re watching GPTV and the station identification commercial comes on, pay attention. The screen shows a graphic of all the major Georgia metro areas that GPTV serves while the voice-over explains that GPTV serves Atlanta… and the rest all of Georgia.
um…. ok
I mean, we kinda got the idea that GPTV serves the state of Georgia since it’s called “GEORGIA public television.”
Why not just come out and say what you’re really thinking:
“Thanks for watching GPTV, serving Atlanta, and just outside of Atlanta, which you may know as Georgia.”
I hate Atlanta. One day we’re going to wake up and the Atlanta metropolitan area will have extended right to our doorstep. But, there’s nothing anyone can do about it, I guess - suburban sprawl or suburban takeover. Augusta is following a similar pattern, to a smaller degree. They incorporated all of the surrounding areas like maybe 10 years ago and the population jumped up. They then started referring to themselves as the CSRA - Central Savannah River Area. They probably have their own PBS station now too.
Glad you are not “Grounded.”
Oh, Alli’s still grounded. I wrote this entry.
What’s wrong with Atlanta and your situation? You are far enough away not to be bothered with traffic, unless you choose to come here. You get some benefits of the Atlanta area. Your goods are probably cheaper than most other places not near a major regional hub, and they are cheap because they fly in every day from around the country and the world. Over the Forrest Park area of Atlanta you can see four incomming airplanes at every moment, except for about three hours each day (1-3AM). But you don’t see that in Saint Elmo. When Katrina hit NO, it was from Atlanta that the largest logisitcal pushes came - larger in manpower and supplies than any single city its size in America (even Houston which is the same size pretty much). I think most of us in Atlanta would tell you the advantages of being only 2 hours away (if that) far outweigh the slight slight of PBS!
dear mike,
dont take these things too seriously. seriously.
oh and D, check out who’s FINALLY on top of the bowl mania. woohoo!
Maybe you have something there. Trying to tackle the traffic problem there is like scaling a flat wall. I have friends that live there and they’re always talking about it. I can see what they mean whenever visiting.
But, as to interstate travel, I have to say that I found a good route around ATL, when taking the bypass which is labelled Montgomery/Chattanooga. I discovered it like the day after Christmas too, coming up from Macon. It takes you under this tunnel-type thing near the airport. It was totally clear, a breeze compared to driving through any major city on I-75 in Florida.
What bypass? There are no tunnels on 75, 85 or 285…unless you’re talking about the big underpasses on I-75 in downtown Atlanta.
It actually looks more like a hangar, with fans at the top. Shorter than a tunnel, longer than an underpass.
Obviously, I like to bash Atlanta as much as the next guy, but I do have to admit that the place has a lot going for it.
I guess I just wish all those things Mike mentioned about Atlanta came without the city’s air of superiority. The rest of Georgia’s pretty cool too.
No no, the air of superiority comes from Savannah, if you have ever dealt with the airistocracy down there!
M
Okay, so bear with me here because I’m from California… you’re saying that outside of Atlanta… I mean, JUST outside of Atlanta… and also a little farther outside of Atlanta…. for what probably goes on for about a few hundred miles or so… is… Georgia….
Got it. Good to know. This is why public television is useful and must be supported.
Well, Happy New Year to you and your family… And we won’t even mention Atlanta in case it might give them a big swelled head.
~C~
YOU GUYS!!!! Lord have mercy! I know all of you that live just outside of Atlanta or even 2 hours away LOVE IT HERE FOR MANY REASONS!!! I know that the traffic stinks- but face it- we have amazing restaurants, shopping, FAMILY ACTIVITIES- The Children’s Museum, The High, The Zoo, The AQUARIUM, Fernbank, the list goes on! And lest I forget- we have IKEA!!!!! How “Atlanta” could seem snobby is beyond me- we are just a big city- nothing more or less… and like the rest- we have a lot to offer and occassionally a lot to complain about. Hey now– most of the people here are incredibly generous and ever so nice— we are The Old South, right? (haha) In fact- after I moved back here from Rude People Capital of America- Miami- I almost rear ended a lady and SHE got out of her car to apologise!!!! haha!
So traffic- yes. Snobbery- NO WAY! Love yall’s blog! Kiss that baby for me!
YES, come see the new Aqaurium. It is great for small kids, especially because in its first stage it is not big on educational data. I was hoping, like the zoo in NO, that it would have recepies for good dishes using the fish in the various tanks (actually posted on the tank), but alas, no. Atlanta is nothing if not politically correct. And yes, people are nice here, unless you are on I-285 or in south Dekalb inside a Krystal at 2AM. Then, not so nice.
M
I think this discussion is hilarious, first because I think the post was intended as sarcasm over GPTV’s name and tag line; and 2) because for all of its size Atlanta and the surrounding areas are nothing like the densly populated area in the industrial Northeast where I grew up. It’s also something that the commenter from California can attest to as well.
Obviously, the word sprawl is a loaded term but I think Atanta gets a bad rap because the growth has occured so quickly. Back when Atlanta and Birmingham were vying for the ‘96 Summer Olympics the two cities were roughly the same size. When it won Atlanta boomed. Frankly, I think they’ve managed the growth pretty well and for all of the “backups” traffic flows in Atlanta are comparatively good. Anyone in this thread ever try driving in Houston rush hour traffic?
Chris, I have no idea what you’re talking about and am assuming its some kind of joke that I’m not getting. Bypass, hanger, fans?
No, it’s real. It’s coincidental that it’s close to the airport but, it does look like a hangar.