Featuring the Firefighter Cancer Support Network

The December 13 Kitchen Table Chat is about cancer.

As you may or may not know, Dr. Burt Clark underwent prostate cancer surgery earlier this month. He and his wife, Carolyn will be discussing cancer and the fire service with the founder and president of the Firefighter Cancer Support Networks, Mr. Mike Dubron tonight at 9pm ET.

Burt, with the help and support of Carolyn, is recovering from a Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy surgery for prostate cancer that he had on Dec 1.

Mike Dubron, President / Founder of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network explains the organization. If cancer has visited your family, stop by Kitchen Table Chat and share your knowledge, experience, or support.

The Netcast live show is open to all listeners to call in and chat with the commentators and you can participate in the live forum feed that is part of every netcast.  Can't make it during the live presentation?  All shows are archived and can be heard at a time of your convenience.

CLICK HERE to log onto tonight's Kitchen Table Chat and join in.

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It's official but carries some drama

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/–

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announces that today Jerry Lewis has completed his run as its national chairman. In May, Lewis and MDA announced his retirement as host of the MDA Labor Day Telethon.

MDA Chairman of the Board of Directors, R. Rodney Howell, M.D., said, “Jerry Lewis is a world-class humanitarian and we’re forever grateful to him for his more than half century of generous service to MDA.

We will not be replacing him as MDA national chairman, and he will not be appearing on the Telethon.”

more HERE

Lewis, MDA mum on reasons for comedian's exit

Today's Associated Press article indicates that the decision may have not been mutual.

In May, Lewis said in a statement issued through the association that he would make his final appearance on the telethon this year and sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" during a six-hour primetime broadcast scheduled for Sept. 4.

But during a session with reporters last week at a Television Critics Association press tour to promote an upcoming TV documentary, "Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis," Lewis hinted that his involvement in raising money for muscular dystrophy research wasn't finished.

more HERE

Wonder if this fall's documentary from Starz/Encore was an issue?

From the press release:

For the first time in history, Jerry has granted us exclusive rights to document the behind the scenes operations of this massive television/multimedia event.

We captured everything from pre-production to the final tote board tally.

This amazing footage reveals that his tireless efforts are a year round job, and not simply showing up to host this enormous variety show.

We also see Jerry's meticulous production meetings, his outrageously funny performance rehearsals, and countless hysterical candid moments unlike anything that has ever been seen of Jerry before.

In addition, we were also privileged to capture many heartfelt moments revealing how much "Jerry's kid's" really mean to him.

Read more HERE

Mary Elizabeth Williams, writing in Salon.com yesterday, makes another point:

Times have changed. There are other ways to use charity to fight disease now.

There are even more efficient ones, one that couldn't have been remotely imagined when Lewis donned a tux and picked up the microphone all those years ago.

But there will never be another combination of schmaltz and sincerity of its kind again. And the word "telethon" without the words "Jerry Lewis" in front — it's like "New Year's" without "Dick Clark."

Inevitable? Yes. Hard to get used to? Absolutely.

What's Labor Day without Jerry Lewis?

We will never walk alone.

Edited to add:

from Steven Zeitchik and Deborah Vankin in today's Los Angeles Times: Jerry Lewis ousted as MDA telethon host

"It's probably time for him to retire," Tom Arnold said. "But he should get to say goodbye.

"If they'd promoted this as Jerry Lewis' final telethon they could've gotten guys like George Clooney, which would've opened the door to God knows who. It would've been a big deal, and showbiz loves big deals."

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

May be at your next visit to a high end resort

From the Segway for Business website:

x2 Golf for Golf Courses and Resorts

Liven up your links with the technology that's turning heads across the fairway and throughout the industry: the x2 Golf.

Increase your guest through-put, maintain your turf quality and generate additional revenues when you offer the x2 Golf at your course.

Renew your members' and guests' passion and energy for the game while keeping your greens in great condition.

Riding the x2 Golf can speed up play time on-demand, give players greater flexibility in maneuvering the course, and easily allows players to travel together as a foursome or go directly to their own ball.

With so many features and benefits, the x2 Golf is sure to make your club a talked-about location for the unique experience it offers.

.

Has a range of 14 miles and weighs 120 pounds.  A new one is for sale at Amazon.com for $7,999.99.

Maybe we can convert one as an incident aide mobility tool.

This travelog shows how resorts are using the Segway.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

"The mission will not stop for hurt feelings. The most common injury in the fire service is hurt feelings. Too often it isn’t even the act of hurting feelings but the fear that something could hurt feelings that delays a program, decision or action. You must temper yourself and your reactions to critique and criticism if you expect others to respond objectively in the name of progress."  – - Brian Brush

Join John and Rhett for a live Firefighter Netcast Show on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 9 pm Eastern. This week’s featured guest, Brian Brush, is a Lieutenant and instructor in the Denver metropolitan area for a department that serves 110 square miles, and nearly 300,000 residents.

Lt. Brush will be discussing his take on training, his involvement with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events, and his recent blogging gig at FireServiceWarrior.com.

CLICK HERE for the direct link to the netcast and to participate by either call-in or messaging.

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Forget about FEMS, this is from a discussion of safety at the International Association of Crusty Old Jakes.

Posted by Ladder8 , this fireground picture initiated a brisk discussion of the tactical use of structural gear on wildfire incidents.

If you are interested in unique and intelligent discourse on firemantic issues, consider applying to be an IACOJ member.

Go to http://www.iacoj.com

Hmm …

They appear to be taking lessons Captain Wines at  Iron Firemen.

Or that "crusty" firefighters need better eye candy.

Mike "Fossilmedic" Ward

What has Captain Wines gotten into?

Check out his Charity Football post at Iron Firemen.

Discovered that there is a National Public Safety Football League team in metro Washington DC.

They play Los Angeles Heat Saturday night!

Thats right Generals fans, the details are ironed out and the press release is created.

Tell your friends, family and coworkers, the LA Heat are coming to town and we need all of DC, Maryland and Virginia to come out and support the Generals.

Gates open at 5:30 with kickoff proptley at 7pm. Pick up some Generals gear, get some great food and watch some hard hitting action.

Check out the attached press release for more information. (HERE)

April 2nd, 2011, 7 pm Kickoff

George Mason High School (www.masonathletics.org)
7124 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH, VA. 22043

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>

DC Generals webpage

National Public Safety Football League

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Wednesday Morning Lineup

Another shudder ran through the cable tv industry and Netflix’s stock dipped 6% yesterday after Warner Bros. film studio announced a movie distribution deal with Facebook.  The scheme calls for the film giant to downstream movies directly to Facebook users, bypassing the distribution services of companies like Netflix and Amazon who are also downloading films on order.

Even though I am not a movie downloader or live-streamer, I am always interested in what’s going on in the business, and it also opens the way for similar activities to take place that most of us will be able to utilize later on.  This deal between Facebook and Warner Bros. is especially remarkable because of some very imaginative ideas that they are going to be using.  The biggest surprise in this new deal is the payment method.  Downloaders will (initially) be paying $3 for a 48-hour rental and will be able to use ”Facebook Credits” for payment.  Those are virtual cash that members accummulate while playing some of those famous Facebook games.  From what I have been able to glean so far, regular legal tender will also be accepted so that non-gamers will be able to use the service.

Basically this is a pay-per-view service but Warner’s says that very quickly it will lead into being able to purchase and download the films directly to your set.  The other film studios are watching this closely and if it takes off you can bet that they will all join in.  It’s all numbers, folks.  Facebook has 600 million registered users world-wide.  Imagine being able to tap into that.

There’s another side benefit for both FB and the studio, when a customer starts watching the streaming video, a little announcement will automatically be sent to all his Facebook Friends as a posting.  Free advertising.  Facebook will be collecting 30% of the download fees in this partnership plan and the show goes on the road immediately with Warner Bros. offering “The Dark Knight” for the initial flick.

We had better download our checksheets now and get this equipment inspected for today.  I’m going to download some coffee into the filter and get a fresh pot started.  See you back in the day room later.

Hey, Everybody!

I just back from the theater! My cousin, Gnome N. Clature (we call him “Winky”), has a  part in the new movie “Gnomeo and Juliet” and I just had to go see if he could act.  He still owes me the $500 he borrowed from me to get to Hollywood, so I hope his acting career does well!  In truth, it was worth the money just to get him off my couch, where he’s been sleeping since getting the heave-ho at the fish cannery.

Our local theater is showing Gnomeo and Juliet currently in 3-D! Amazing stuff really. No more of those lame red and green glasses either, they got new fangled ones that look just like those special ones in that alien movie “They Live”.  It’s a gnomern-day version of Shakespeare’s classic play, but this one has better-looking actors.

They have 11 screens in there, but the biggest crowd  was with me.

So a cup of bubbly and a bag of popcorn and I was ready for some entertainment. I had heard that Gnomeo and Juliet had been the #1 movie last weekend and I’m pretty sure it will keep that spot judging from the crowds at mid-week!

These new-style 3-D glasses are really cooool!

The movie isn’t just a kids movie, there is enough adult Gnome humor in there for all…and the story is a classic. Well worth the money to see on the big screen and I give it a 5-shovels rating!  Here’s a teaser for you that shows what the movie is about:

I’m not gonna tell you any more about the plot because I don’t won’t to spoil the movie for you.  But if you have ever wondered what your garden Gnomes do while you are at the fire house, this is the movie for you!

Firegeezer notes:  You can catch up on previous Gnome Reports HERE.

Except We Used Halligans Instead of Rifles

This exhibition was perfomed by the drill team of the Royal Guard of the Norwegian Army

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Not Just a Daddy’s Girl

Her Dad was a fire lieutenant and her two youngest brothers (twins) joined as cadets, then volunteers and eventually became career firefighters.

But when Janet Wilmoth tried to join her local volunteer fire department, the fire chief told her to “Go home and have babies.”

She went on to do that too, but in the meantime, Janet Wilmoth took another approach to the fire service. She’s been with Fire Chief Magazine since 1986 and now leads the charge for improving the fire service as the publication’s editorial director.

Join Janet and Tiger Schmittendorf, host of the Firefighter Storytellers Internet radio show live at 9 pm EST on Wednesday February 9, as Janet tells her story of growing up as a firefighter’s daughter to becoming a fire service leader.  Here’s the direct link to the show.

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A natural extension of RuntotheCurb.com, Firefighter Storytellers is an open-format Internet radio show in which listeners are encouraged to call in with personal accounts and anecdotes from their life in the fire service, giving a literal voice to those stories that form a common bond amongst us all.

If you’ve never listened to a FirefighterNetcast, visit the site now, sign up for a new user account for BlogTalkRadio, and be prepared to join in the conversation.

Listen in via the Internet, listen and/or participate by calling in, and join in the live chat that takes place amongst listeners while the show is going on. In case you miss the live show, you can even download the podcast after the fact on FirefighterNetcast and iTunes too. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s easy.