OMG POTUS TXTS

CBS New York reports that a new cell phone emergency service is set to launch "by the end of the year" in New York and Washington ... and in other cities by the end of 2012:

It's called the Personal Localized Alert Network or PLAN. Presidential and local emergency messages as well as Amber Alerts would appear on cell phones equipped with special chips and software.

The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the system would also warn about terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

So, how would this work? I'm thinking not too well. Remember when Steve Jobs took down a network when he tried to introduce the iPhone 4? And the overall sluggishness of AT&T since the introduction of the iPhone?

But that's in the corporate world. I'm sure with the government involved, this will go off without a hitch. I do wonder, though, will you be able to read government texts while driving? Maybe those will be exempted from all those texting laws.

And, we obviously need such a thing. How else will we know what's going on in our own cities? Just because today, we can get live messages from Abbottabad that helicopters are attacking a big house doesn't mean that we can know about stuff going on locally.

It's not like every news outlet in the world has Twitter accounts. Except that every news outlet in the world has a Twitter account.

NYC's Nanny-In-Chief, Michael Bloomberg, said, "The lessons that were reinforced on 9/11 is the importance of getting clear and accurate information to the public during a crisis."

So he's responding to 9/11. And we know how well governments respond to 9/11. Tried to fly anywhere lately? Had to wait while some 3-year-old is fondled by the TSA? Government reaction at its finest.

But I can see the use of this for natural disasters. Those texts would really be helpful:

• That really bad wind and rain you're getting? Yes, it is a hurricane. You might want to leave now.
• That water that's inside your house? It's a flood. But don't worry. Our buses are still parked. They're safe. You should go be safe too.
• Those tornado alerts you saw on TV and heard on the radio? Yes they're real.

AT&T and Verizon are on board with this plan, by the way. But you can opt out. For all but the messages from the president. You don't see enough of him on TV or on the radio or in the newspaper or on the Internet. You will be able to get him on your cell phone. And nationally, by the end of 2012. In time for the election.

I can imagine that the president will have only important things to say.

• OMG I SHOT 92 BEST SCORE EVER!!1!!
• CIA FOUND OBL BRB
• OBL DED 1MIL DKP 4 ME!!1!
• TX PLZ STP TXTNG ME NO $ 4 U
• EAK WAH
• BRB OMW TO TX TO RAISE $ FOR 2012

Yeah, I can hardly wait.