Redhats

So the good news is I have about 8 redhats at my station that should be going to fire school in the new year. Problem is only about 1/2 of them are viable in terms of being an actual useful, proficient and effective firefighter.

This sucks.

I have one redhat (I directly mentor 2), who knows where *everything* on our rescue engine is. In fact, I'll put his knowledge up against anyone in the fire station, with the possible exception of the Chief (who specced the apparatus).

My other redhat, who is brand new, is hungry for knowledge and training. She wants to be another (redhat #1).

On the other end of the extreme, we have a guy who only talks about another station he went to, is dramatically out of shape (unless that shape is round), and doesn't have the highest level of motivation.

Fortunately, I'll be one of their instructors when they go to fire school in january. This means I'll have an accurate assessment of how they are doing. The last redhat we sent to fireschool failed everything, and when asked how he was doing - he said he had no problems. Happily he moved to Tx. Let the Bush Clan deal with him.

The key obstacle I need to overcome is the culture within the firehouse. Most of the crews don't do *any* training while in house. Ask more than 1/2 of our members when they last pulled a hoseline or threw a ladder they would have to stop and think about it. While the decision of minimum staffing vs quality staffing is for chiefs, for us guys on the ground trying to motivate our brand new members, it is a real pain in my arse.

Shame I can't use a cattle prod. Would make my life simpler.

I worry that our more motivated members will go join stations with more calls and a better training culture.

Heck, I worry that I'll go too.

Election fever, results and a sigh of relief

So my fire department annual elections have come and gone. Thankfully the result was overall pretty good.

While I think that electing the company level officers (Lieutenant and Captain) is really really really really really really really dumb, I don't see many other recourses in a volunteer organization. Just because people like you, or don't like you - doesn't mean you are the best qualified person to ensure that everyone goes home at the end of the shift.

After all, that's the primary job of the company officer.

The paid guys in LCFR have a good solid testing process. If you know your stuff, you pass and go on the lieutenant/captain's list. If you don't - you don't.

I was nominated for LT, but thankfully didn't win. I really didn't want the job, but I wanted someone else to become LT even less, so I accepted the nomination. Happily neither of us are the LT.

This means I can relax, and continue learning/training and gaining experience that one day, if i end up in that front right seat, will be very helpful.

Let the madness begin

'Nuff said.

We're not in kansas anymore

Looks like Mother nature is pissed. Been nice knowing you all.

Baldgit's Tip of the Day

Never hire your colour blind firefighter friend to repaint rooms for you because you dont' have time to do them.

Pics will be posted once I stop cringing.

Versatility

While in class a couple of weeks ago, I was asked to introduce myself and say something about me. I couldn't really thinkg of anything witty or interesting. So I decided to ask the Great God Google who I am.

Hmm. Apparently I'm more versatile than I thought.

I am the drummer for Kim Mitchell. At the 2006 CCMA awards I was awarded Canadian Country Music Drummer of the Year. I have also contributed to many computer games (even Donkey Kong 64!). Really cheesy artwork is something I do in my spare time. I also do voiceovers. I love canadian football so much I was selected 28th overall in CFL draft by the Hamilton Tigercats. My brain is so big that I'm a reknown cryptographer who has presented papers and helped write books on Security Engineering, financial and applied cryptography, promotional marketing and how to get out of speeding tickets. Need help building your home? I'm also a featured masonary student. There is also a play, and a Washington Post article about my childhood in Western Kentuky.

What's really scary is some of this is actually true.

Fun times ahead

I'm trying not to be lazy and actually post stuff. This will help me be more lazy in actuality. By posting the minute details of what is going on in my world, I won't need to talk with my family and assorted friends as much. Moreover, they won't have to talk with me as much either. A win/win if ever I heard of one.

So a couple of weeks ago I was an 'igniter' for the recruit class at the Loudoun training academy. It was much fun, and kicked my butt. Lighting 11 fires back to back, hauling the hay and pallets and just sitting there baking in the rooms while flames roll over my head, while damned fun, it very tiring.

The recruit class is headed to Prince William county's burn building next week. I won't be igniting for them this time, I'll be driving one of the pumpers and pumping. Sweet. Given that I'm in the middle of a DPO (driver / pump operator) class, this is great training/experience.

I'm stoked.

Diary of a Cert Whore

I've been organizing my books and stuff in my home office (it's only taken 3 months)... I realized I have a ton of books from classes. I am a self professed 'cert whore.' We don't run a lot of calls, so I need to get my training where I can (getting people to train at my station is like putting square pegs in round slots (you need to use a hammer)).

Here's a list of my certs from the last few years:

Basic Fire Certifications
Fire Attack - Essentials
Firefighter I - NFPA 1001-02
Firefighter II - NFPA 1001-02
Hazardous Materials Operations NFPA 472-02

Misc Fire Certifications
MAYDAY, Firefighter Down 16 Hour Program
Rural Water Supply 16 Hour Training Program
Liquid Proprane Gas Emergencies 16 Hour Training Program

Emergency Vehicle Operations
Emergency Vehicle Operations – Class 2 (Ambulances)
Emergency Vehicle Operations - CLASS 3 (Class A Pumpers)

National Fire Academy / FEMA
N.F.A. Arson Detection for the First Responder (ADFR)
N.F.A. Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations
N.F.A. Basic Incident Command System for First Responders

National Incident Management System (FEMA)
Incident Command System 100
Incident Command System 200
Incident Command System 700
Incident Command System 800

Heavy Tactical Rescue
Vehicle Rescue Awareness and Operations
Vehicle Rescue Awareness and Operations (second time I've taken it)
Vehicle Rescue Technician - NFPA 1006-03
Confined Space Rescue Awareness and Operations
Trench Rescue Awareness and Operations
Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations - Phase 1
Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations - Phase 2
Rope Rescue Technician - NFPA 1006-03
Swift Water Rescue Technician -NFPA 1006-03 - Unit1
US Park Police Helicopter Rescue Awareness

Fire Instructor
Fire Instructor I - NFPA 1041-02
Fire Instructor I - UPGRADE NFPA 1041-02
NFPA 1403 Awareness
Firefighter I and II Train the Trainer

Currently Taking
Driver / Pump Operator - NFPA 1002 (completion at the end of November 2006)

Registered for...
Fire Officer 1 (December 2006)
Aircraft Rescue Firefighting – NFPA 1003-00 (March 2007)

Plan on Taking in 2007... (Assuming they are available)
Fire Instructor II
Fire Instructor III
Fire Officer II
Fire Officer III
various other Train the Trainers (these are needed to teach specific classes)

So if any of you have been wondering why you haven't seen me in the last few years, this should explain it.

Maternal Unit Update

As in all things, there is good news and bad news.

The good news is my Mother seems to be going well. The CT scans show only minute calcium in her pancreas. The docs aren't sure what caused this attack, but they say she seems okay. So she was released this morning

The bad news is she will be staying at her Mother's (my Grandmother) house.

The silver lining here is that this is great motivation to recover quickly and return to her own home.

*sigh*

So my mother is back in hospital again. She has chronic pancreatitis. This generally isn't a good thing.

I read some more about it this morning as I realized I don't know all that much about it. Here are some nice highlights (courtesy the NIH).

Definition: Chronic pancreatitis is ongoing inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach that produces chemicals needed to digest food, as well as the hormones insulin and glucagon.

Treatment: The goal of treatment is to reduce stimulation of the pancreas, prevent indigestion, reduce pain, and treat diabetes (if present). Treatment may involve:

* Eating a low-fat diet
* Getting enough fat-soluble vitamins and calcium in the diet
* Analgesics or surgical nerve block to relieve pain
* Insulin to control blood sugar levels
* Supplemental pancreatic enzymes to correct underproduction

Patients must not drink alcohol.

Surgery may be recommended if a blockage is found. In severe cases, part or all of the pancreas may be removed.

Prognosis: This is a serious disease that may lead to disability and death. The risk of death may be lowered the person continues to avoid alcohol.

Well ain't that just a kick in the nads.

Tip of the Day

Well tonight I learned a valuable lesson. When you slam shut the rear hatch of your SUV, make sure you're not standing underneath it.

Duh.

Weird friends

So I was IM'ing a friend of mine that I went through fireschool with...

(8:35:25 AM) becca: i had a dream about you last night
(8:36:23 AM) becca: for some reason i decided i wanted to come by your house in the morning on my way to work to scoop the cat box for you. i came in through the garage and saw you tip-toeing around the kitchen and living room wearing white leggings and a pink tutu.

Hmmmm... I have no idea how to respond to that.

New York New York

So this weekend I was up in NYC with Vivien for her cousin's wedding. It was much fun (insofar as weddings are 'fun'). It was a union of the New York Italian community with the Coonass community from just outside New Orleans. Very interesting crowd.



The wedding took place in Central Park on Gothic Bridge. It was a perfect day for it. The weather gamble more than paid off.

The best part though was the cruise for the reception. All the guests ended up on a small cruise ship for food + music while we toured the various bridges and of course the Statue of Liberty.

The humourous highlight of the evening was when the bridge (who is younger than her brother) took care of her brother (according to good Cajun traditions) and gave him a blow up doll at the reception. Damned funny stuff.

But when you combine New Orleanians with what look to be extras from The Sopranos and an open bar... anything can happen.

We stayed in Manhattan and I remembered just how much I LOVE city life and hate living in the burbs. Gawd help me - but I want to live in downtown NYC. Shame that it costs more per month for an apt that is only as big as my bedroom.





And of course, here is Viv and I on the boat with the Manhattan skyline.







photos (respectively) by me, viv and an FDNY Deputy Chief that I only know as 'Joe.'

And for the ultra paranoid...

Now you too can know when your nads are about to glow in the dark. Thanks to our enterprising friends at NukAlert, you can have a keyfob that will shriek loudly so you'll know you're about to have a slow death thanks to radiation poisoning.

If you're worried about annoying the public with that noise, I wouldn't be. They're going to die with you too.

If only that strange almond smell would go away.

House update

Okay,

so i've been rather busy lately. New contract, recently finishing Fire Instructor Level I and Swift Water Rescue Technician classes and such has kept me busy.

I do have some new pics (taken with my phone) of the pad. it's getting there. Slowly.

Still need dining room and bar furniture. Pool room furniture (4 spectator chairs and 1 pub table + chairs) is on the way sometime this month.

Meanwhile, the house...

This is the living room view from the kitchen.

And this is the kitchen from the living room.

More to come...

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Okay, This is one of the funniest damned things I've seen in a while.

I guess I don't get out much.

Cube Essentials - Sennheiser RS 140 Wireless headphones

Typically I'm listening to DI.FM while at work, and I've found the limitations of headphone cords to be annoying. So I spent some time doing some research on what wireless headsets I should get.

At first glance, the Sennheiser looks nerdy, bukly and heavy. It's actually very light and super comfortable. I usually forget I'm wearing them. While advantageous, I do tend to look (more) like a dork when I walk to the print and I am still wearing them.

Which brings me to the range. The manual says 500 feet range. I have been able to wander aimlessly all over my floor and have yet to lose any signal. They also have enough batter power to last for an entire work day. And I mean a Smith work day, not mine.

Recharging is also very cool. Use just set them on the enclosed stand and it has a smart charge built in. No fuss or muss.

On to the important bits - the sound quality. 192k streaming audio and 256k mp3s sound crisp clear and with a nice full bass sound. They are also good at blocking out the hum off the office while still letting you hear your phone and such. They have volume on/off and balance controls on the unit itself for convenience.

How much? A reasonable $110 if you search online, or nearly double from the (not quite) Best Buy shops.

Station 9 Haiku

So another night passes at my fire station 609. Nothing. Not a wheel was turned.

So to celebrate this so unusual occasion (sarcasm chip on overdrive), I wrote some haiku.









Duty is fulfilled
No calls were run, no wheels turned
Same again next week
*
Again at house 9
Silence, safety - prevailing peace
Firemen wait, hoping…
*
The public is safe
Not because we are so skilled
Nothing happens here
*
My crew and I wait
Waiting to help, maybe save
Still we sit, waiting
*
Sirens, lights flashing
Racing against time, to save
That's for other crews
*
Echo in our dreams
Tires screech, crashing sounds then fire
Then we wake, nothing.

*
Sense a common theme perhaps?

the ulitmate commuter car

So I've been considering getting a cheaper car to commute with. My original motivation was to get an ugly ass hybriad as they are allowed in the HOV Lanes, in addition to not spending >$100/week on petrol. However, HOV access for hybrids is only going to be allowed for only another year. I love my motorcycle, but city riding is frikken suicidal. I don't think a day passes where I don't have some type of close call. Unfortunately I'm not a(nother) bald wanker that is able to ride his mountain bike to work. (yeah I am jealous).

But I do like the idea of an electric car. Sometime around 1998 or 1999 I got to test drive a GN EV1. It was quiet of course (the motor is only on when you drive), and the acceleration and handling was awesome. Problem is, it only had about a 100 mile range. That totally sucked.

Finally, someone is coming out with a new car that will be tasty. In a CNN article which I read while waiting for someone to get a system back online, I discovered a company called Tesla Motors (not to be confused with the physicist or the big hair band.

The Roadster will be able to drive about 250 miles on a single three-hour charge, drive up to 135 miles per hour and accelerate from zero to 60 in four seconds! Tasty!!

Here's the major downside. It will cost between $85,000 and $120,000. And where would one go to have it worked on? Can't really just drive it up to Radio Shack and have some pimply nerd work on it. Oh well... to quote the prophetess Kim...

"It's good to want things."

new tv thoughts

The ultra nice flat tv that's pictured below the Texas Longhorn is unfortunately not coming with the new house. this sucks.

Currently, my largest flat panel tv is a 35 inch lcd. I plan on doing a projector in the basement, but meanwhile i need something for living room. i'd like to get something that is 42-50 inches (prefer 50), 1080p, and has 4000+ contrast. Unfortunately i have no idea what that might be.

any thoughts?

Beer Necessities

This weekend was the 10th Annual Old Dominion Beer Festival, which was held in the metropolis of Ashburn.

While lucky enough to miss the crap weather, I managed to enjoy multiple beers from multiple vendors. Some were good, some were crap.

Hefeweizen seems to be a new trend in the US with most of the breweries presenting some version. Unfortunately I didn't taste a single one that tasted anything like the Hefe's I've had in Germany.

Legend Brewing out of Fredericksburg VA has a Brown Ale that was bold, nutty and full of flavour - with no bitterness in the aftertaste. It became my hands down favourite. So if you get a chance to drink some - I highly recommend it. Look out Newkie Brown.

Bong Manor

So it's official. August 1st I'll be moving into Bong Manor. This place rocks. hugeass kitchen, awesome deck, prewired for audio everywhere, and all sorts of fun. It is also on the 9th hole of a very nice golf course.

Shame I hate golfing. Maybe I can tan naked on my deck and scare the golfers with my Canadian Windmill(TM).

A slideshow was also done by the real estate people.

Learning the ropes

Day two: Some arena in Portsmouth, Va.

So a few months back, I officially cured my fear of heights. How? I completed my Ropes Rescue Technician Level III class. Ropes III is the highest level of rope rescue training you can get in Canada and US in the fire service. It was damned fun.

Cheesy notice at my fire station's website is here

Best part of the class was when we built a horizontal and vertal rope system that went off a 150foot platform. We needed the first human load (i.e. victim) to go over the side and ride the system. One of my classmates said...

"Let's send the Canadian, they're expendable."
















This is me! (you can tell by my Special Needs helmet).

This is still me.

And this is what caused the (un)expected need to change my undies.