Like Black Sabbath? Neat take on the the iron Man song

TheBobRiversShow Video of I am Santa Claus. Parody of Iron Man.

Two Chicago's firefighters dead and 14 injured Wednesday

This in From Fire Fighter Nation Web site December 22, 2010
Two Chicago Firefighters Killed, Several More Critical After Wall Collapse

ABC & News

You Tube Audio

Officials report that two of the four trapped Chicago firefighters have died as a result of their injuries. Firefighters were working this morning on a fire in a vacant building when a wall reportedly collapsed inside the structure. Four firefighters were trapped and another 16 were injured. Four other firefighters are in critical condition and eight are listed in stable condition. This tragedy falls on the anniversaries of two other fatal fires, Chicago Stockyard Fire, 1910, and Keokuk, Iowa, 1999.
Also at FIREHOUSE.COM
Here is press conference Video

PAVING DAYTONA SPEEDWAY

 

Not only is this a true project engineering feat, but it gives you better perspective of the pitch of the track itself. Good use of CAT equipment

Resurfacing The Daytona Speedway | djmick: V2

Nov 30, 2010 ... Construction workers are racing to resurface the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, tearing out existing asphalt and laying down ...

SOUND FAMILIAR, GENTLEMEN????

Tools Explained (Got this as an email, no known source take it for what it is, FUNNY.)

DRILL PRESS:  A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.
WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light .. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh sh--!'
SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.
BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle...  It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.
VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.
TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.
HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an auto mobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes , trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.
BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.
STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.
PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.
HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short.
HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.
UTILITY KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.
SON-OF-A-BITCH TOOL: (A personal favorite!) Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a BITCH!' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

Seen any of these yet? Door knob gives you a preview

Would be neat to see this in a fire situation, tactical police incident? Pretty cool item here. Could see some uses but not all doors should have it.

Probably not all doors should offer previews, all the time, but this is undeniably wonderful. As it is, the knob offers bi-directional viewing; I wonder if you could half-silver one side and make it one-way? From Make magazine

Johnny Strategy at Spoon & Tomago writes: In conjunction with Design Tide Tokyo, architect Hideyuki Nakayama - a protégé of Toyo Ito - has teamed up with UNION, a manufacturer of door handles and levers, to create a glass globe doorknob. As you approach the doorknob you catch a glimpse of what appears to be another world, waiting for you to enter and join, but in fact is a reflection of the room on the other side of the door.

 

Too Funny, based on “Casey at the Bat”

Obama at the Bat

President Obama as Casey and Governor Palin as the pitcher. 
The original poem upon which this is based - "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Thayer – may  be consider one of baseball's greatest writings.

Obama at the Bat

Uncle Jay Explains | November 21, 2010

UncleJayExplains | November 21, 2010

Excuse me, is this long line for the Harry Potter movie, or the TSA body search? Can I get butter with my pat-down? Can I upgrade to First Class for just a quarter? Uncle Jay explains!

FYI–Another big Government bill interfering with the states

Volunteer Unions? Coming to a fire station

near you? H.R. 413 and S. 1611)

See - A Nation of Unionized Volunteers? by chiefreason reporting on this bill. The House amendment guarantees collective bargaining rights for the nation’s first responders employed by States and localities. Under the language, states would administer and enforce their own labor laws, while the Federal Labor Relations Authority would step in only where such laws do not exist or do not meet minimum standards.

http://www.americansforprosperity.org - House Bill 413 is one of the biggest power grabs by union bosses this country has seen. It is designed to force firefighters, police officers and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in every state of the country into forced union monopoly bargaining. Just imagine the repercussions.
Read more: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/090310-police-and-fire-union-monopoly-bargaining-bill#ixzz15ezPPMGy

The Hill - On Wednesday, a House Education and Labor Committee subpanel held a hearing on legislation that would direct federal authorities to review state laws and issue regulations regarding collective bargaining rights for public safety officers.

Haz Mat resource

National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center is a responder-driven data collection, analysis and education Web site. It was set up between the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The site is a free, voluntary, confidential, and secure Web-based resource that serves as a data and information network for hazmat teams; first responders; federal, state and local agencies; and the private sector.

http://www.hazmatfc.com/Pages/Home.aspx

What the F*#k, Freedom isn't Free??? Had it up for two month and all of a sudden can’t have it displayed??

School Makes Boy Take American Flag Off Bike - KTXL

 FOX40 News -13-year-old Cody Alicea rides with an American flag on the back of his bike. He says he does this to be patriotic and to honor veterans, like his own grandfather, Robert. He's had the flag on his bike for two months but Monday, was told to take it down

Nov 12, 2010 ... Riding a bike is still not allowed on school campus, but when Cody rides his bike to school he can now fly the flag. ...

Video: School tells student to remove flag from his bicycle « Hot Air

Nov 12, 2010 ... The superintendent said Cody was asked to take down the flag for his safety. So its come to a point where it is dangerous to fly the flag in ..

Fox 40 Video

Guess they will start to tell you you can’t display the Flag on Fire Apparatus?

Need a Photo Shoot Done?

In the central Illinois area and need some photos done. Used to work with this guy. Kind of eccentric, but good photographer if you could use his services. Knowing him, I know they would be done right. Nice web site. It has a lot of his work and contact information.

Visually Odd Photography

www.visuallyoddphotography.com

Welcome to my world

Uncle Jay Explains: Nov. 1, 2010

Uncle Jay Explains | October 31, 2010

On election day, we'll see how that Rally to Restore Democrats and/or Liberals worked out. Then, we'll see how those Republicans and/or Tea Partiers work out. But first, we'll see Uncle Jay explain!

Thinking about a New Computer – What’s Ahead?

I have gone to WIN7, and it’s great compared to earlier version (never had to use  Vista), what's in store for computer users? Microsoft has announced the next Windows system to be out in about 2 years. Guess they need some more $. Should be geared towards the touch screen tablet computers? Will the ipad replace everything else? Other makers are getting their version of this out. Guess you are safe to get a new on for now. But as always something better will come along and we will all want it, not that we need just want it.

Windows 8 "About Two Years" Away from Debut [Windows]

from Lifehacker by Kevin Purdy

Microsoft marked the first birthday of its very successful Windows 7 release around the world last week. One such spot was a Dutch blog post, where keen-eyed Microsoft watchers noted a translation that indicated the company believed Windows 8 to be "about two years" off. Microsoft certainly has high hopes for Windows 8, more than the kind of iterative (but great) improvements seen from Vista to 7; one employee said Windows 8 would change the way people think about PCs." [WinRumors via CNET; image via Tested] More »

Right Change Site

 

This site has some interesting comment and content. If nothing else be informed when you vole in 8 days. Do not decide when you get in the boot. Please vote, one way or the other, but be informed! It's not just your local election issues, you are also part of the National election race too.

RightChange engages Americans through informed, fact-based content delivered in a creative format and through multimedia platforms to allow viewers to develop their own conclusions about the most critical economic and national security policies of our day. Right Change cuts through the political spin by using politicians’ own words, votes and actions to hold them accountable.

Read More About RightChange.com

The Obama Zone from RightChange on Vimeo.

Recent LODD’s From USFA

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Marshall, MO

Randall Scott Davenport of the Marshall Fire Department in Marshall, MO has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-10-24

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Ghent, NY

William Akin, Jr. of the Ghent Volunteer Fire Company in Ghent, NY has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-10-19

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Sacramento, CA

Jim Saunders of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District in Sacramento, CA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-10-03

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Hindsboro, IL

Thomas Innes of the Hindsboro Community Fire Protection District in Hindsboro, IL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-10-02

NIST Releases Residential Fire Study

WASHINGTON D.C.--A landmark study issued today by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that the size of firefighting crews has a substantial effect on the fire service's ability to protect lives and property in residential fires. LINK HERE

Uncle Jay Explains | October 24, 2010

UncleJayExplains | October 24, 2010

The First Amendment says speech is free, but Juan Williams just made it pay! The Amendment also says assembly is free, but won't Jon Stewart's rally have lots of bills? And Clarence Thomas wishes there was something in the Amendment about a statute of limitations. Uncle Jay explains!

Submitted for your review - You Make the Judgment

THIS IS WHY WE ARE THE WAY THAT WE ARE NOW…

THINK ABOUT IT.          

Start with a cage containing five monkeys.

Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it.

Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all the other monkeys with cold water.
After a while another monkey makes the attempt with same result, all the
other monkeys are sprayed with cold water.
Pretty soon when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put the cold water away.
Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one.
The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the Stairs.
To his shock, all of the other monkeys attack him.
After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one.
The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked.
The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.
Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth,
then the fifth.
Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs he is attacked.
Hang on…
Most of the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, nor why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water.
Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.
Why not?
Because as far as they know, that is the way it has always been done around here.

And that, my fellow monkeys, is how Congress operates...

And that is why we need to replace ALL of the original monkeys this November.

Uncle Jay Explains | October 17, 2010

UncleJayExplains | October 17, 2010

33 people saved in the Chilean mine! But who will save all those victims in the Congressional House? They don't even WANT to be pulled out. Uncle Jay explains!

Really? You got to be Kidding me?

I now see where he gets his arrogance

from Knuckledraggin my life away by wirecutter

http://wbztv.com/local/obama.aunt.Zei...
For years she lived illegally in Boston public housing. She's unemployed, receiving nearly $700 a month in disability, and for nearly ten years was in this country illegally.
Despite what's she's been given, Zeituni Onyango said flatly that she owes this country nothing in return. "But, it's given you so much?" Elias asked. "So? It's a free country under God," was her terse response.
When asked why the taxpayers should be burdened with her needs, the feisty Zeituni said, "This country is owned by almighty God. You people who preach Jesus Christ almighty God and the rest of it, you are here to help people, help the poor, help other countries and help women. That's what the United States is supposed to do? And you have to give me my right light, every person's right."

BILL HAS DONE IT AGAIN.

BILL HAS DONE IT AGAIN? Found this several places on the internet, True of Not? you can judge it for yourself, it sounds like something he would say but may just be a copy of what his stand on this is??

BILL HAS DONE IT AGAIN. 

'They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. 
I can't even talk the way these people talk:
Why you isn't, 
Where you is, 
What he drive, 
Where he stay, 
Where he work, 
Who you be...

And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk.
And then I heard the father talk.
Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth
In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. 
People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an Education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around. 
The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.
These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. 
$500 sneakers for what? 
And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. 
I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit.
Where were you when he was 2?
Where were you when he was 12? 
Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol?
And where is the father? Or who is his father?
People putting their clothes on backward: 
Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong?
People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something?  
Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body?
What part of Africa did this come from?? 
We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about  Africa  .....
I say this all of the time.  It would be like white people saying they are  European-American.  That is totally stupid.
I was born here, and so were my parents and grand parents and, very likely my great grandparents.  I don't have any connection to Africa, no more than white Americans have to  Germany  ,  Scotland ,  England , Ireland , or the  Netherlands  .  The same applies to 99 percent of all the black Americans as regards to  Africa  .  So stop,  already! ! !

With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap ......... And all of them are in jail. 
Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem.
We have got to take the neighborhood back.

People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now. 
We have millionaire football players who cannot read.

We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job.

Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us.
We have to start holding each other to a higher standard..

We cannot blame the white people any longer.'
Dr.. William Henry 'Bill' Cosby, Jr., Ed..D.

WELL SAID, BILL
It's NOT about color...
It's about behavior!!!
PASS THIS ON AROUND THE WORLD!!!!!!

Links below have the same thing??

1. Palmetto Football Talk | View topic - BILL HAS DONE IT AGAIN

2. Bill has done it again ! ! ! - Patriotic Resistance

3. Bill Cosby has done it again | The Daily Reflector

4. BILL COSBY HAS DONE IT AGAIN !!! - Harvest Heartbeat International

5. Hoax/Scam Details - Bill Cosby Has Done It Again?

Has he done it NOW? In deep? Read Below

1. EXPLOSIVE: Our New Dictator May Be In Deep Trouble… (Chief Justice ... Oct 12, 2010 ... EXPLOSIVE: Our New Dictator May Be In Deep Trouble… ... Obama certainly did not help himself in the eyes of the Court when he used the venue of the State of the Union address early in the year to .... M, T, W, T, F, S, S ...
   justpiper.com/.../our-new-dictator-may-be-in-deep-trouble-chief-justice-supremely-fed-up/ -Cached

   ►

2. OBama May Be In Deep Trouble...Chief Justice John Roberts, U.S. ... Oct 6, 2010 ... OBama May Be In Deep Trouble...Chief Justice John Roberts, US Supreme Court.by Rebel Rouser on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 8:22pmAccording ...
   parkersburgwvteaparty.ning.com/forum/.../obama-may-be-in-deep - Cached

3. Our New Dictator May Be In Deep Trouble..... - Another World Is ...

   Oct 4, 2010 ... Next enter your keyword(s), making sure there is a space between the search string and your keyword(s). ... Our New Dictator May Be In Deep Trouble. ... of BarackObama by the U.S. Supreme Court may be inevitable. ...
   

Uncle Jay Explains

Uncle Jay Explains | October 10, 2010

Just as the miners in Chile get dug out, politicians in America dig to new depths. Most candidates are following a strategy of proudly proclaiming, "Hey, they're even worse than me!" Plus, Nobel issues this year's "Peace Potential" Prize. Uncle Jay explains!

CNN Poll results

CNN poll asks “who’s the better president”: Obama 47, Bush 45

See more at Hot Air TV by tips@hotair.com (Hot Air Network, LLC)

Margin of error.

---

What they’re really measuring, of course, is which one’s the worst president. It’s still G-Dub — by a hair. By 47 to 45 percent, Americans say Obama is a better president than George W. Bush. But that two point margin is down from a 23 point advantage one year ago. “Democrats may want to think [...]

New FAA Medical Chopper regulation

FAA proposes regulations for medical helicopters

On the heels of a spike in fatal air ambulance helicopter crashes, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday a proposal to increase safety precautions for pilots, passengers and equipment. Proposed is a requirement that all air ambulance helicopters install an electronic system that warns the

Full story here

Resources on the WEB

I haven’t posted any resource links for a while. Here is an updated list of resources that are FREE.  Also been seeing some ICS software out there that cost $. Why I do not want to put down supply and demand, here are some government resources and others that you already paid for, why not use them? Information fro the EPA web site below!

EPA CAMEO MARPLOT, ALOHA Good software for hazardous materials, there are other programs here and databases of information.

• MARPLOT version 4.1.2 (for Windows) released (September 29, 2010)
• MARPLOT version 3.3.3.1 (for Macs) released (December 2009)
• CAMEOfm version 2.1 is released (November 2009)
• Tier2 Submit 2009 is released (November 2009)
• ALOHA version 5.4.1.2 is released (April 2009)
• CAMEOfm Training Schedule
• CAMEO Companion tutorial (PDF, 12.6MB)

Visit their Downloadable Programs page to download software and other electronic files, including the Chemical Reactivity Worksheet, an ArcView Extension for ALOHA (allows ALOHA threat zones to be displayed in ArcView), and various technical explanations of the CAMEO software suite.

ERG (Emergency Response Guide) From The D.O.T.

Internet interactive ERG2008 English version

Internet interactive GRE2008 Spanish version

Powerpoint training presentation on the ERG 2008 English and Spanish version

ERGO2008 free downloadable database in three languages

ICS FORMS  - FEMA NIMS compliant ICS forms HERE

USFA Publications USFA provides information resources in many formats, including books, pamphlets and DVD's,free of charge. Customers can use our online catalog to order from over 400 publications and other information products. You do not need to register to download products in this catalog.

Fire Instructor resources here at: 

NFA TRADE Repository- LSU FETI

TRADE's Virtual TRADEing Post. You can browse the CDs by clicking on its name. You can search by topic. The search result will locate the CD location of the topic you are searching for.

Uncle Jay Explains | September 04, 2010

UncleJayExplains | September 04, 2010

Uncle Jay has one more week of vacation, but explaining the news is a full-time job! So, since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer had some, um, trouble last week explaining her state's immigration law, let's see if Uncle Jay's episode from last spring does any better.

Notice of LODD’s

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Lynchburg, OH

Robert Hall of the Lynchburg Area Joint Fire & Ambulance District in Lynchburg, OH has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-27

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Lynn, IN

Ronald W. Stephan of the Lynn Volunteer Fire Department in Lynn, IN has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-24

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Atlantic, VA

William Harold "Hal" Clark of the Atlantic Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company in Atlantic, VA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-24

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: McArthur, OH

Ryan Neil Seitz of the McArthur Fire Department in McArthur, OH has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-24

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Morgan, TX

Edward Mosely of the Steele Creek Acres Volunteer Fire Department in Morgan, TX has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-14

Watch the Memorial Service Here

 You can watch the 2010 National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight and Memorial Services Live on the Web – I added a feed link below for you.   Live Broadcasts:

» Candlelight Service Broadcast: Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
   (Telecast Begins at 6:45 p.m.; Service Begins at 7 p.m.)
» Memorial Service Broadcast: Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:00 am - 12:30 p.m.
   (Telecast Begins at 9:30 a.m.; Service Begins at 10 a.m.)

FEMA Announces Adoption Of New Standard For Emergency Alerts

Common Alerting Protocol Key in Developing America's Next Emergency Alert and Warning Network

Release Date: September 30, 2010
Release Number: HQ-10-192

WASHINGTON,D.C.-- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the adoption of a new digital message format for the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the nation's next generation emergency alert and warning network.  The goal of IPAWS is to expand upon the traditional Emergency Alert System by allowing emergency management officials to reach as many people as possible over as many communications devices as possible, such as radio, television, mobile phones, personal computers and other communications devices.  The current Emergency Alert System relies largely on radio and television to communicate to people.

The new digital message format being adopted by FEMA is the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) v1.2 Standard.  This open standard will enable alert messages to be easily composed by emergency management officials for communication with citizens using a much broader set of devices to reach as many people as possible.

"The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System will allow federal, state, territorial, tribal and local officials to get critical and timely information to the public that can protect communities and save lives," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  "People get their news and information from a wider variety of sources today than ever before, and it's important that emergency management officials are able to reach members of the public no matter what medium they may be using.  The Common Alerting Protocol gives us the opportunity to send one message over all IPAWS alert systems at the same time."

Under Executive Order, FEMA is responsible for establishing the protocols and standards for an integrated emergency alert system that can reach Americans over a variety of media in a timely manner.  The Federal Communications Commission is the lead agency responsible for adopting and enforcing the requirements to ensure that communications service providers have the capability to receive and transmit emergency alerts to the public.

Rear Admiral (ret.) James Arden Barnett, Jr., Chief of the Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau said, "The adoption of the new CAP standard will ultimately transform America's emergency alert and warning capabilities and better enable Americans to receive these potentially life-saving alerts over  television and radio broadcast stations, via the Internet, and on their cell phones.  The ability to receive alerts over multiple platforms will dramatically increase the likelihood that Americans are receiving this critical information timely and are better informed to take actions that will help protect themselves and their families during emergencies."

In order to assist officials in evaluating new alert and warning systems, FEMA is conducting an assessment program to ensure products adhere to the IPAWS CAP profile.  A list of pre-screened products that meet the profile will be published at the FEMA Responders Knowledge Base, to aide federal, state, territorial, tribal and local officials in purchasing emergency alert products that comply with IPAWS CAP.  Vendors can apply for these assessments at www.nimssc.org/ipawsconform.

The three documents defining the FEMA IPAWS technical standards and requirements for CAP and its implementation are:  (1) OASIS CAP Standard v1.2; (2) IPAWS Specification to the CAP Standard (CAP v1.2 IPAWS USA Profile v1.0); and, (3) CAP to EAS Implementation Guide.  Additional information and documentation on CAP technical standards can be found on the OASIS website.  The CAP to EAS Implementation Guide can be found on the website of the EAS-CAP Industry Group (www.eas-cap.org/).

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States

USFA Media Contact: (301) 447-1853

September 29, 2010

Emmitsburg, MD – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2009 (PDF, 2.7 Mb).  The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of onduty firefighter fatalities.  The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States each year.

Ninety onduty firefighters from 33 states lost their lives as the result of incidents that occurred in 2009.  Pennsylvania experienced the highest number of fatalities (8).  In addition to Pennsylvania, only New York (7), North Carolina (6), Louisiana (5), and Texas (5), respectively, had five or more firefighter fatalities.  This compares favorably to 2008's firefighter losses where 9 states experienced 5 or more onduty fatalities.  The total number of fatalities in 2009 was one of the lowest totals in more than 30 years of record.

"Over the past ten years alone, the trend shows a 14 percent reduction in onduty firefighter fatalities but we must continue every effort to be sure that when it comes to firefighter health and safety, everyone goes home,” Acting United States Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines said.

The unique and specific objective of Firefighter Fatalities in the United States is to identify all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates during the calendar year and to present in summary narrative form the circumstances surrounding each occurrence.

An overview of the 90 firefighters that died while on duty in 2009:

·         The total break down included 47 volunteer, 36 career, and 7 wildland agency firefighters.

·         There were 6 firefighter fatality incidents where 2 or more firefighters were killed, claiming a total of 13 firefighters' lives.

·         16 firefighters died in duties associated with wildland fires, compared to 26 such fatalities in 2008.

·         Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 57 firefighters.

·         30 firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.

·         15 firefighters died while responding to or returning from 13 emergency incidents in 2009.  This compares to 24 responding/returning fatalities in 2008.

·         10 firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.

·         14 firefighters died after the conclusion of their onduty activity.

·         Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death with 39 firefighter deaths.

For 33 years, USFA has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis.  Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future.  This information is also used by many organizations to measure the effectiveness of their current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which worked closely with USFA on this report, also maintains a list of firefighters who die in the line-of-duty and are honored during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend held each October in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  Visit www.FireHero.org for more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and their assistance to the families of the firefighters lost in 2009 and beyond.

Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted on the USFA's website.

REMINDER Memorial Weekend October 2-3 2010

You can watch the 2010 National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight and Memorial Services Live on the Web

Live Broadcasts:

» Candlelight Service Broadcast: Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
   (Telecast Begins at 6:45 p.m.; Service Begins at 7 p.m.)
» Memorial Service Broadcast: Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:00 am - 12:30 p.m.
   (Telecast Begins at 9:30 a.m.; Service Begins at 10 a.m.)

105 Firefighters Honored at the National Memorial

The 29th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg on October 2-3, 2010.  A plaque with the names of 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2009 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  Military firefighters who died while performing firefighting duties from 1981-2009 are among 25 from previous years who are also being honored.

Help us honor them by watching the 2010 Services live on the Web.

Uncle Jay Explains - September 19, 2010

UncleJayExplains | September 19, 2010

Halloween and the midterm elections are coming, and we all know which is more frightening. Uncle Jay can't help being nervous, but he's not nearly as nervous as some politicians. They might have to actually start looking for the jobs they haven't created.

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Hinsdale, IL

Mark Johnson of the Hinsdale Fire Department in Hinsdale, IL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-2

Fire Department mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson. Please click for more information and arrangements.

Fire Department mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson     It is with deep regret that the Hinsdale Fire Department announces the Line of Duty death on Monday September 20th of Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, a twenty-four year veteran of the Department.

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Irvine, CA

James M. Owen of the Orange County Fire Authority in Irvine, CA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-09-16

Ground Zero Mosque Backers Divided

Fox News uses map of 9/11 body parts to fight ground zero mosque. Rupert Murdoch's media empire has set what may be a new standard of shamelessness by marking the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks with the publication of a map of human remains that appears to have been developed for the New York Fire Department in 2002 but was never previously released.http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/fox-map-911-body-parts/

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Boycott Building  FOX News

If the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero gets off the ground , it will need hard hats to build it. But there ..... a mixed reaction from construction workers near Ground Zero about whether they would want to be part of the construction … liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/09/20/boycott-building-ground-zero-mosque/

AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

News,  Notes,  and Announcements from the
AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

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Aurora Regional Fire Museum Opens New Exhibit and Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day Exhibit, “Museums Un-Crated” offers an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will open their new exhibit “Museums Un-Crated” which features nineteen rare firefighting artifacts recently transferred from the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the collection of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
It’s a well-known movie ending. The legendary Ark of the Covenant has been rescued from evil, only to be boxed up in a wooden crate, stenciled with an identification number, and then seemingly lost inside a vast storage warehouse.
Although the movie’s plot is pure fiction, large museums such as the Smithsonian do have gigantic collection warehouses where objects are stored in wooden crates. The catalyst for the new exhibit at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is the recent transfer of nineteen rare firefighting artifacts from the collections storage warehouse of the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Why did the Smithsonian decide to offer these objects to another museum, and why did the fire museum accept them? Who decides what a museum should collect and what should be exhibited? How do museums use the things in their collections, and where do they keep the objects not on display?
In short, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s new exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" opens the mythical wooden storage crates of a museum, and gives visitors an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things.
In addition to the new exhibit, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide in opening their doors free of charge on Saturday September 25, 2010 for the Smithsonian Magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day.
In a journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based facilities. Museum Day 2010 is poised to be the largest to date, outdoing last year’s record-breaking event. Over 300,000 museum-goers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Museum Day 2009.
Listings and links to participating museums, and a free Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people at participating museums and cultural venues. One ticket is permitted per email address.

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The exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" will be open Sept. 25th though 2011. For the latest hours, exhibit, and special event information, visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum's website:

http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org

AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

News,  Notes,  and Announcements from the
AURORA REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM

---

Aurora Regional Fire Museum Opens New Exhibit and Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day Exhibit, “Museums Un-Crated” offers an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will open their new exhibit “Museums Un-Crated” which features nineteen rare firefighting artifacts recently transferred from the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the collection of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
It’s a well-known movie ending. The legendary Ark of the Covenant has been rescued from evil, only to be boxed up in a wooden crate, stenciled with an identification number, and then seemingly lost inside a vast storage warehouse.
Although the movie’s plot is pure fiction, large museums such as the Smithsonian do have gigantic collection warehouses where objects are stored in wooden crates. The catalyst for the new exhibit at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum is the recent transfer of nineteen rare firefighting artifacts from the collections storage warehouse of the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History to the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Why did the Smithsonian decide to offer these objects to another museum, and why did the fire museum accept them? Who decides what a museum should collect and what should be exhibited? How do museums use the things in their collections, and where do they keep the objects not on display?
In short, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s new exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" opens the mythical wooden storage crates of a museum, and gives visitors an inside look at how and why museums collect, use, and preserve things.
In addition to the new exhibit, the Aurora Regional Fire Museum will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide in opening their doors free of charge on Saturday September 25, 2010 for the Smithsonian Magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day.
In a journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based facilities. Museum Day 2010 is poised to be the largest to date, outdoing last year’s record-breaking event. Over 300,000 museum-goers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participated in Museum Day 2009.
Listings and links to participating museums, and a free Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people at participating museums and cultural venues. One ticket is permitted per email address.

---

The exhibit "Museums Un-Crated" will be open Sept. 25th though 2011. For the latest hours, exhibit, and special event information, visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum's website:

http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org

Fire News from all Over

Man, 82, survives 20 hours with legs trapped in combine Montreal Gazette - The 82-year-old man was discovered at approximately 8:30 am by his son-in-law, who called EMS. His son-in-law was coming to take the man to a family ...

College Park firefighters consider billing for fire services - Business Gazette

3 Civilians Killed In Ambulance Crash - 2 Firefighters Hurt FireFighting News.com - The crash resulted in 3 civilian fatalities and two Firefighter/Medics being transported to a Trauma Center. Ambulance 826 had just departed the Fire/EMS ... Three Civilians Killed in Maryland Ambo Crash Firehouse.com

South Macon EMT Injured By Blue Mound Emergency Vehicle FireFighting News.com - Holmgren said the EMT who was driving the truck is an experienced member of the fire department. The truck'semergency lights were on when it struck Minor, ...

Clinton considers $4.5 million settlement Quad City Times - The Clinton City Council is scheduled to approve a settlement claiming the fire department fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for emergency services. ...

Uncle Jay Explains | September 12, 2010

We didn't see any books on fire, but we're seeing vast Colorado wildfires, a vast California gas fire, and vast numbers of Democrats about to be fired. Summer's over, but the heat of politics is just warming up. Uncle Jay explains!

Gubmint and How Gubmint Works

"THIS" is from both sides of the isle!

This HAS been going around as a email for a while and thought that I count not pass posting .

Not just one Political party, unless you count  "Progressives" as a Political Party!

Gubmint and How Gubmint Works
Once upon a time the government had a vast  scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night."  
So they created a night watchman  position and hired a person for the job.
Then  Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job  without instruction?" So they created a planning department and  hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one  person to do time studies.
Then Congress  said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks  correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department  and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.
Then Congress said, "How are these  people going to get paid?" So They created two  positions: a time keeper and a payroll officer, then hired two people.
Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an
Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a  Legal Secretary.
Then Congress said, "We  have had this command in operation for one Year and we are  $918,000 over budget, we must cutback." So they laid off the night  watchman.
NOW slowly, let it sink  in.
Quietly, we go like sheep to slaughter.
Does anybody remember the reason given for  the establishment of
the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY..... during the  Carter Administration?
Anybody?
Anything?
No?
Didn't  think so!
Bottom line. We've spent several hundred  billion dollars in support of an agency....the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!
Ready??
It was very simple..and at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.
The  Department of Energy was instituted on 8/04/1977,
TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
Hey,  pretty efficient, huh???
AND NOW IT'S 2010 -- 33  YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT  $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. IT HAS 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND LOOK AT THE JOB IT HAS DONE! (THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?")
33 years ago 30% of our oil consumption was foreign imports.  Today 70% of our oil consumption is foreign imports.
Ah, yes -- good old Federal bureaucracy.
NOW, WE HAVE TURNED OVER THE BANKING SYSTEM,  HEALTH CARE, AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO THE SAME  GOVERNMENT?    

Hello!!  Anybody Home?

Remembering 9/11 NEVER FORGET

Some Links for you

All 343 Members Murdered on 9/11

FDNY - The Official Fire Department, City of New York, Web Site 

THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department

IAFF Remembers the 9/11 Fallen

September 11, 2010– Today marks the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that terrible day, 347 IAFF members, including 343 FDNY fire fighters, lost their lives.

 Never Forget

Remembering 9/11 NEVER FORGET

Some Links for you

All 343 Members Murdered on 9/11

FDNY - The Official Fire Department, City of New York, Web Site 

THE UNOFFICIAL HOME PAGE OF FDNY New York City Fire Department

IAFF Remembers the 9/11 Fallen

September 11, 2010– Today marks the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that terrible day, 347 IAFF members, including 343 FDNY fire fighters, lost their lives.

 Never Forget