Posts Tagged: Art
Finding Art in Unexpected Places
Firegeezer posted a very recent article that reminds us art, as in beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. While there are individuals out there who think that art is only art if it speaks equally to everyone who views it, there are those of us who see things differently and can see beauty and form even in leading others. It's a matter of being open to what constitutes art.
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Hose & Hydrant Art
....creating an imaginative street sculpture using an abandoned house, a fire hydrant, and a fire hose.
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LODD? Not So Fast!
I have found it increasingly confusing when looking for the hard/fast LODD number. I don’t have this macabre fascination with firefighter deaths, but I look at the reports to find trends that indicate that we are moving in the right direction in reduci…
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Union Banning Members From Volunteering?
Specifically, volunteer firefighting!
Oh; I assume that you can still volunteer at the animal shelter, homeless shelter or the youth football league, but the days of you providing a vital volunteer service to your community as a volunteer firefighter…
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LEAD! And Get the Lead Out
I have read several books written by many of the excellent leaders in the fire service.
I tend to gravitate to books on firefighting tactics and leadership. Don’t get me wrong; I love reading about fire service history with accounts of the big fi…
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That’s It; I QUIT!
First Published 5/30/06
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like in the last couple of years, we are seeing more and more firefighters throwing in the pager for a multitude of reasons, but the underlying reason is that they got upset and made the decis…
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So, You Don’t Have the Time?
First Published 3/23/03
Many of you know that I draw from my experiences and training as a member of a volunteer fire department. That is especially true when dealing with the problems and the issues that face the small, rural volunteer organizations …
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Resolving Fire Department/Fire Board Disputes
First Published 2/16/03
It’s common for volunteer fire departments to become embroiled in disputes with their governing body. For most, that comes in the form of a fire board, fire commission, board of trustees and in the case of Pennsylvania; towns…
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Preparing For An LODD
First Published 3/16/03
We have all experienced the loss of a loved one. In some cases, we can remember where we were and what we were doing when we got word. We have been there during the final moments. With others, we have had time to prepare for an…
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Thanksgiving Call
Today, there are many who will be observing the day without their loved one, who they may have recently lost. It will be bittersweet as they gather and try to share their day.
While the focus of the news is how well sales will do on the day after, I w…
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It’s Happened…AGAIN!
Where I live, 2008 will always be remembered as the year that our downtown changed dramatically, due to fire loss.
On February 2nd, we fought Van Getson’s fire to a stalemate. Our fire department held the fire to the building of origin, when the po…
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I Was A Teenage Fatality
First Published 11/14/08
You know who I am.
I am the face of the fire service future.
In my face, you can see the joy and sweet innocence of youth.
It is the face of a son/daughter, brother/sister, neighbor or classmate voted ‘most likely to succee…
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Alcohol and US
First Published 11/11/08
I am going to start this blog off with a picture. Please take a moment to study the images before you read on:
Beautiful family, huh? The kids are precious. It is a wholesome picture of bright promise. Unfortunately, it …
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When Is It The Right Time To Ask Why?
First Published 11/10/08
The reason that I ask is because the “why” always leads to the “how”.
Firefighter Killed While Working At A Vehicle Accident Scene.
Why was he/she killed? What was he/she doing at the time? How did it happen?
Fir…
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Get Straight With HIPAA
First Published 10/26/08
Let’s get something straight about HIPAA.
Unless you have taken the time to go to the Federal Register and read the entire rule, you can’t invoke HIPAA simply because someone has chosen to come to this website and describ…
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RESPECT Is Over-Rated!
First Published 10/24/08
I want respect and I want it yesterday!
Well, as the song says, “you can’t always get what you want”.
Recently, another P vs. V thread was shut down. Web Chief always shuts them down because, like me, he KNOWS that t…
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The Safety of Air Ambulances
First Published 10/16/08
The headline read, “Medevac Helicopters Under Scrutiny”.
With the most recent crash on Saturday, September 27th that killed four of the five on board, safety advocates are calling for stricter oversight of medical airlift…
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Moronic Motorists and Mayhem
First Published 10/12/08
Friday, October 10, 2008 was an unremarkable day at work, but the drive home on Fridays usually would yield something interesting; it always does!
I have been driving Interstate 74 from here to Peoria for the last 15 years. I…
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No Seatbelt? No Benefits!
First Published 8/17/08
From the secretlist:
In the USFA's 2007 study, it includes information on the hazards to firefighters and seatbelt use. In 2007, 27 Firefighter fatalities resulted from vehicle-related incidents. In 19 of the 27 incidents whe…
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National Survey Confirms Concerns
I have developed a very close, personal relationship with my state representative.
We have become very good friends and have managed to balance our friendship against the work that needs to be done in our state on behalf of the fire service.
Unless you…
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