THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY (Maryland) FIRE AND RESCUE DEPT. Fire and Life Safety section will be broadcasting a special show on BlogTalk Radio at 7:00 pm Eastern.

But don’t worry about missing it…..as with all the shows on BlogTalk Radio, it will be available as an mp3 download immediately after ward.  Tonight they are doing A 24-Hour Day In The Life of a Firefighter.  A sort of “ride along with me” show, I think.

Just go here:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mcfrs  at 7:00 to catch it live, or log in later to listen to the download.

LAST MONTH I NOTICED A NEW DVD ON THE DISPLAY SHELVES THAT WAS EYE-CATCHING because it had a prominent picture of a dog wearing running gear.  It’s a movie titled “Firehouse Dog” and I’ve since learned that the DVD was just released two months ago.  The film itself came out to the theaters in April.

If you have children, then you probably already know about it.  But if you don’t, I’ll share with you what I learned today.  It’s definitely a kid’s movie.  I’d say the 8 to 14 age bracket would be perfect.  Adults would be a bit bored with the preposterous plot lines and impossible situations, but it’s great for the youngsters.   No exploding car chases or gratuitous violence, just good clean fun.

In a nutshell, the story is about a movie stunt dog that gets lost and is found by a boy whose unmarried father is a fire captain.  His firehouse is stocked with misfits and broken equipment and they are always in trouble.  The city manager wants to close the station because they are so inept and most of their neighborhood has burned down.  (I told you it was preposterous)

After a series of remarkable dog actions, he saves the day, the firefighters suddenly become heroes and the station gets to stay open.  Go ahead, get it for the kid.  He’ll love it.

Play the video to view the movie trailer

OK, TAILGATERS…..HERE IT IS!  The last word in tailgating hospitality.  It’s time to upgrade to the Gameday Customs Ultimate Tailgater.

This trailer comes packed with everything you need to have the best tailgating party in town, with features like a 26″ LCD TV, satellite dish, CD/DVD player, 1000 watt generator, 10 gallon fresh water system, 5 gallon holding tank, draft beer system, electrical outlets, a toilet, sink, and more. Pull up, set up, and enjoy.

That’s right, it comes with the satellite dish to feed your hi-def TV.  (you go in the rear door for the toilet) You can order them in a variety of configurations HERE.

EVA NAZEMSON WAS HOSTING  a late night phone-in game show on Sweden’s Channel 4 Saturday night when she suddenly became ill.

As she was awaiting a caller to solve a word-puzzle, she was stricken while on live TV.  After a few moments, she recovered and pluckishly carried on with her assignment, finishing out her 2-hour segment.

After you watch the video we will translate what she is saying as she explains to the audience what is causing her distress.

“Wooh,” she began. “OK, I just have to explain something here: I’m having period pains. Absolutely anything can happen during a live broadcast.  I have to say I’m sorry about that but I really do have period pains and they can make you feel really sick,” said Nazemson.

After the show was over, she confessed:  “First I was worried about what people would think, especially my bosses. But then I thought, well, everybody needs to spew sometimes.”
Firegeezer says:  Well, at least she’s honest about it.

THERE IS WORD GOING AROUND THAT A NEW SIREN is going on the market soon for ambulances.  Disturbed that so many people are ignoring sirens now and refusing to make way for emergency vehicles, the inventor has introduced an additional setting on the electronic siren that sounds like machine-gun fire.

Reportedly, it has been field tested somewhere in Oklahoma where the following quote originated:

An ambulance driver currently participating in that pilot program, who wished to remain anonymous, recalled his experience with the siren: “Well, it’s been a mixed-bag, really. We’re using these sirens so other drivers will actually move out of the way and let us get to the hospital - and believe me, the other drivers do get of the way. They get out of the area altogether, actually - sometimes leaving the city limits. We were just hoping for a clear lane through traffic, but we pretty much get the whole road to ourselves.”

To learn more about this innovative device, read the full report in The Spoof.com HERE.

Firegeezer notes:  Pay close attention to the name of the publication before you try to order one.

FROM MY ENTERTAINMENT BLOG, I received a a HUGE tip last night regarding a classic firefighter movie. From what I hear, Frank Darabont is currently casting for a remake of ‘Fahrenheit 451′. Of course, to make this a wide audience release (and successful) would require over the top casting of Guy Montag - the firefighter lead in the film. There were additional rumors of veteran actors such as Paul Bettany and Matt Damon. A source in Hollywood (in a position to know this sort of thing) is saying TOM HANKS will star as Guy Montag! Can you ask for any better? If I can get better confirmation on this story - we’ll post it here. Stay tuned.

Visit Backdraft’s entertainment site RocklandUSA HERE.

KATHERINE HOWELL OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA served 15 years in the ambulance service, writing in her spare time.  But after recognizing that burnout was setting in, she resigned and set about seriously finishing her first novel, a murder-mystery involving an (what else?) ambulance worker.

Frantic, which is just now hitting the bookstores in Australia and Europe, was good enough to land her a contract for two more books.  Her main character in each book is a police detective whose cases involve different ambulance officers each time.

The Sydney Morning Herald has a good review of the book as well as an interesting story of Howell’s career and her plans for the upcoming thrillers.  Read it HERE.

AN ARTICLE IN TODAY’S BOSTON GLOBE tell us that radio advertisers, frustrated by station-hopping listeners, are trying something new: the two-second commercial.

More than 1,200 US radio stations run by Clear Channel Communications Inc., including four in Boston, have been selling super-short ads the company calls “blinks” and “adlets” that are tucked between music or disc jockey’s chatter. Blinks, in about two seconds, may spit out three or four words like “Sweet tea at McDonald’s.” Adlets, about five seconds, offer a bit more: “This Saturday at Rain, it’s a glamorous VIP afterparty hosted by Fergie. Visit rainnightlife.com.”

This is perfect for blogs and podcasts.  A quick 2-second soundbite, generally unobtrusive and not irritating (except for the jerk who loads 50 of them on a page.  That’s what Volume Control is for).  After all, blog surfers are usually in, scan, and out in a half-minute or less.  This will be interesting to follow.

The full story in the Globe is HERE.
Tell us what you think…….is this a good move, bad move or “who cares?”

SERIOUSLY, WHERE DO I FIND these things. Firegeezer wants me to keep up on the entertainment front, but when I find out about movies like this I get pretty nauseous. Try to follow along. Daniel Myrick, best known for his indie hit movie ‘Blair Witch Project’, comes up with a movie so good that it’ll bypass the theaters and head right for DVD! (If Evan Almighty would have it that good). Here’s the synopsis: Two paramedics receive a call from a young girl whose mother went unconscious in a deserted area (can you say stage for PD? Hello?!) Well, they get kidnapped and are locked in some isolated underground bunker along with a secret cult. Obviously, they want to escape since they didn’t think about rule #1 about arriving on the scene of a call - scene safety? Duh. Anyway, if you’re into this sort of thing, check out the strangest paramedic flick EVER - here. Hey, whatever happened to John Gage and Roy DeSoto? ‘Believers’ Homepage

THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE has just announced the 2008 scheduled inductees for the Walk of Fame Stars.  One of the nineteen sidewalk stars dedicated next year will honor the Munchkins.  Several of them are still alive and some are even performing these days.

AP story HERE.

MOTOCROSS STUNT DRIVER AND X-GAMES star Carey Hart lost all 8 of his motorcycles yesterday when his hauler caught fire and was destroyed on I-15.  Hart is also known from being married to pop-star Pink.

KUTV has the STORY.
Channel 4 has good on-scene VIDEO.

Hart & Pink

Carey Hart entertainment webSITE.
PINK entertainment BIO.

ONLINE MUSIC DOWNLOADS were given a boost Monday night when a CD factory in Santa Monica, California burned.  The roof came in early on, and eventually the 2nd floor collapsed.  More than 90 FF’s fought the blaze.
Channel 2 has a brief video HERE.
The Santa Monica Mirror has the FULL STORY.

Caldwell/Mirror photo