“Snow Day”…
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Snow days come and go. This year in the Brew City they have come a lot; and invariably, snow days cause a lot of headaches for firefighters. I’ve often had to stretch around the front of the Engine when snow banks and illegally parked cars prohibited placing the Engine where we wanted it. I call [...]
“Shovel Ready”…
Saturday, February 21st, 2009photo by flickr
Obama admonished the Council of Mayors yesterday to spend their newfound stimulus money wisely, or else. The recently-signed legislation is intended to protect police, fire, health and teachers. It is also meant to go to public infrastructure and ‘green’ projects. My Mayor avowed to fund schools, energy-efficiency projects, and you bet…cops on the [...]
“Had Enough?”…
Monday, February 16th, 2009Here is a woman who just saw the paper and read about all of the cuts and brownouts in fire departments across the U.S. ….
“Blacker Sunday”…
Sunday, February 15th, 2009Photo by NY Daily News
Today is Sunday. It was ‘Black Sunday’ on January 23, 2005. I guess it should now be called ‘Blacker Sunday.’
Asshole Tenants trying to make a buck at our expense: 1 Firefighters: 0.
“Minding the Store”…
Friday, February 13th, 2009It seems that you can spend the entire day on the internet. Just take a look at the links on your right and be sure to hit each and every one every day; They’re good people. I am glad you all stop by to read thehousewatch.com and I am especially glad when you leave comments [...]
“The Devil is Always in the Details”…
Friday, February 13th, 2009Heard from a good friend today in Ohio that the budget axe has dropped again in Toledo; and he is not alone in witnessing and eating these types of cuts. Moreover, my job continues to toss related rumors around the kitchen table about what is going to get lost in the impending budget shell game(s). [...]
“Size Matters”…
Saturday, February 7th, 2009Video from Firehouse.com
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the IAFF and some brains from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute are conducting empirical research on fire department staffing, namely crew sizes. Many are calling this groundbreaking research and I can’t agree more. There have been myriad prior studies done on crew sizes, however, very little objective [...]
“Low Pass”…
Sunday, February 1st, 2009Check out this video compilation of some F-16s doing low passes over their buddies in the field, especially the one at 1:25…
Now ask yourself, self, “What are these guys doing with a zillion dollar plane?!!!” On the surface one should question why they would take an expensive fighter jet and risk crashing it to amuse [...]