Posts Tagged: President Obama
President Obama gets DCFD T-shirt at ACFD firehouse. Firefighter hands it over at veterans’ job initiative announcement.
DC spokesman doesn't read much into it.
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President Obama’s Remarks at FDNY
President Obama has lunch at FDNY Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 "Well, listen, the main reason I came here is because I heard the food is pretty good. (Laughter.)
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Obama signs 9/11 health bill aka James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act into Law
Obama signed the bill during his Hawaiian vacation, with no signing ceremony held. In a statement issued later, the president said he was "honored" to sign the bill, which pays for health care for responders believed to have been sickened by pollution at the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York.
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Do we have Robots running the country?
I would hate to work in an environment where my whole job was based on spin and trying to connive the American public. Wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
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A Photo can Speak a Thousand Slanted Words
A couple of years ago one of the guys at the firehouse was showing me how to use Photoshop. I needed to learn some simple skills - specifically how to erase license plates from MVA photos I wanted to send to the press. As a result of boredom over the lesson the famed “sock on fire” trick photo shot was created.
It’s pretty funny when you look at some of the altered images people create with programs like Photoshop, but it is no laughing matter when the press or a news source uses these tools to create something that isn’t really there.
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A Break in the Chain of Command
The embedding of a reporter and giving him direct access and “fly on the wall” status to the daily operations of McChrystal’s Afghanistan command seems bizarre to say the least. I can’t imagine any Public Affairs Officer in the US Army thinking that this was a good media opportunity. This was like shooting fish in a barrel for Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings. I’m sure the word “off the record” was mentioned to Hastings many time, but as we know “off the record” oft means you’re now “on the record.”
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While Nero Fiddled, Obama Practiced his Short Game
Suppose there was a on-going crisis in your community. Could your chief still go out of town to that fire service convention?
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A Crisis Communications Crisis
There was a time when a good crisis communication plan addressed the situation at hand in a timely transparent manner. The plan owned up to admitting and confronting the bad, showing a solid plan for rectifying the situation and giving folks confidence that the best and brightest were working to develop the best resolution.
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Boots on Necks doesn’t cut it
From a crisis communications point of view the Obama administration has failed miserably in providing any sort of semblance of order in providing crucial information, known expertise or a strong face and voice for the overwhelming oil spill in the Gulf.
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Shaking in their Loafers
[caption id="attachment_223" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image from http://www.lethbridgefirefighters.com"][/caption]
Apparently, Harold Schaitberger has the National Right To Work Committee (NRTWC) shaking in their penny loafers. The commit…
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Baby is Surrendered at Firehouse
Check out the video below for a news story from Sacramento. A woman surrendered her newborn child to firefighters at the firehouse. The mother took advantage of a law that protects her from abandoning her child as long as she surrenders her baby at a fir…
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Comedy: Career vs. Volunteer
Now before you go getting hurt feelings, this is just a comedy bit. Enjoy it for the humor. Damonde Tschritter (you try pronouncing it) does a comedy bit on the differences between being a career firefighter and a volunteer firefighter. Quite humorous if…
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Going Overboard
[caption id="attachment_210" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Glenn Fontaine, the chairman of the EMS unit of Toronto's outside workers union, has been charged with theft and mischief. Glenn Fontaine arrested after stolen ambulance found aban…
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Tuesday Morning Job Security Check 2
In this installment of the Tuesday Morning Job Security Check, we find out the lengths that the younger folk will go to keep us employed. Isn't it such a waste that these kids either can't vote yet, don't vote, or don't hold office. I can see it now...Th…
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German Firefighters have Close Call
[caption id="attachment_199" align="alignright" width="300" caption="On top of this I also found a photo of one of their stations. Check out this beauty. I count 10 bays."][/caption]
Update: Apparently, I botched up this entire post (according to a comm…
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Racist or not? You be the Judge!
Jim Schwartz, the Arlington (VA) County Fire Chief, has found himself being called a racist. The issue is regarding comments made to firefighters about what types of conduct are and are NOT welcome in their firehouses.
Chief Schwartz says he was explaini…
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Monday Morning Shoutout – Your Happy Medic
Our Monday morning shoutout goes to Your Happy Medic this morning! The Happy Medic is a FF/PM and offers a wide variety of posts on fire and EMS so don't let the name fool you. Plus, he is one of those guys (although I don't know his name I am pretty sur…
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FWnetz – Fire on the Net
[caption id="attachment_191" align="alignright" width="300" caption="FWnetz translated to English"][/caption]
I found a website today that I am certain I have seen before. I know some of the names associated from one of the other sites I run and I think…
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