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Morning Lineup – March 18

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Monday Morning – What Is The Best Buy?

Have you visited your local Best Buy store lately?  I did the other day and was I ever surprised!  The place was entirely remodeled and rearranged.  It was akin to visiting a store for the first time and practically speaking, it was.  In past Lineups I have mentioned Best Buy's declining sales and the remedies they want to use to turn it around, the most prominent being their plan to downsized their stores and move away from the "big box" formats.  Also included in this restructuring is the founder's ongoing attempt to buy out the chain and take over control of the company again.

Stepping into my local store I saw the fast results of their new philosophy as I was wandering around trying to find a wi-fi signal booster.  They are definitely reducing the amount of display space and eliminating a lot of low-profit product.  One of the main reasons for their recent decline is Amazon who has been underpricing almost everybody on everything and Best Buy has been hard hit by them.  What's left in the store now is mainly products that either aren't mailed easily, or which require the purchaser to see, handle and, in some cases, register in some way.

The only thing left in the radio-tuner-tv department is a huge presence of the massive wall-size tv's (and the added cost of installation and setup).  I didn't take time to look closely at the displays, but I didn't see any racks of tuners and combo radio/CD players, or any other tabletop players.  Gone are the aisles of CD's, which doesn't surprise me at all.  The selection online is much greater than any store can devote space to, and the younger generation is migrating away from CD's and into MP3 devices for their music enjoyment.  Also I didn't notice any space devoted to car stereo stuff.  It might be there, but certainly smaller and not noticable.

Naturally there was major focus on cellphone sales and the little accessories that you want to add to them.  The floor space devoted to computers is about the same, but lots of space between display counters.  I believe that is because they are locked into a lease here and not yet ready to relocate.  Tower PC's are scant with sales emphasis on tablets, e-readers and laptops.

I was kind of surprised to see that they still have some major appliances on the floor, such as refrigerators and washing machines.  I would have thought that Lowe's and Home Depot would have shut them out of that market by now.  Anyway, the times are always changing and I like to observe the passing commercial scenery.

Before we head out to start the equipment check, let's begin the morning with a bit of fun and see what happened in Stockholm about three years ago when the subway put some sound sensors under the stair treads leading up/down to the platform and street:

 

That's my philosophy, too:  Make everyday a "Fun Day."  So let the fun begin with a jolly equipment check while I get some more great coffee coming out of the Bunn-O-Matic.  Then we'll meet back in the digital day room …. with a smile.

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Posted by on March 18, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping, Videos

Morning Lineup – December 10

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Monday Morning – Where Did You Put That?

With the Christmas shopping season going into full-motion this week, the world's Number One online retailer Amazon has their merchandise movement operation staffed, stocked and picking up speed along with the demand.  It's hard to comprehend this, but Amazon fills and ships out orders by the millions each day.  They have 80 distribution centers around the world – 40 of them in the U. S. alone – and in last year's peak day the facilities picked, packed and shipped out 17 million individual items in a 24-hour period.  Seventeen million!  As I said, that's hard to comprehend.

photos provided by Amazon

How they do it in an economically practical method is interesting in itself.  Amazon practices the chaotic storage method of warehousing, a time-saving mode made possible with computers and bar codes.  Simplifying the description of what's going on, whenever a shipment arrives at the warehouse, time is not wasted sorting the items and then storing them among similar products.  They are just placed into any available space that is identified with a barcode label of its own and filed under the package's barcode.  The immediate savings are evident, no time wasted looking for the proper allocated space.  Plus the utilization of space is more effiecient with no vacant shelving awaiting stuff that might not even be on the way.  Of course, all books are in the same shelving and not mixed with power tools, for example.

When the workers receive a customer's order, the computer tells them exactly where the items are stored and he zips around picking the items and placing them in one container for the shipping folks to safely package and dispatch.  All in a matter of minutes.  It's all so efficient that for the second time in a month I received an order here at home the very day after I ordered it online.  In this most recent case it was a dvd that UPS delivered 14 hours after I ordered it.  Very impressive.

If you're interested in this kind of stuff, I found this information in an article published by International Business Times HERE where they go into more detail of the operation and have an 11-image photo gallery with it.  It's a little hard to understand the accent if you don't live in UK, but this video shows everything going on that I just told you about:

 

I have seen some ambulances and battalion chief's desktops where chaotic storage is practiced, but fortunately it hasn't spread to pumpers and trucks yet.  So let's get going on this morning's equipment check while we still know where everything is.  I think the coffee is still stored in the cabinet under the Bunn-O-Matic, so I'll get some more of that started.  See you back in the day room when we're finished.

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Posted by on December 10, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – December 8

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Saturday Morning – Let's Go Shopping

Do you have any of those CVS Pharmacies in your neighborhood?  Chances are, you very well might.  The drugstore chain that is headquartered in Rhode Island has been buying up smaller and regional pharmacy chains climbing from 700 stores, all in New England, 25 years ago to over 7,000 stores in 41 states today.  CVS is now the country's 2nd-largest drugstore chain (Walgreen's is still #1).

One of the things that CVS is noted for, besides not carrying what you want in the first place, is their champion cash register receipts.  Most non-grocery retail stores give you a sales receipt that is about 5 to 7 inches long, but CVS spits out these strips of paper that are sometimes longer than the Safeway weekly shopping trip gives you.  CVS uses their cash register to give you ads, entry blanks, shopping tips and coupons that give you discounts on future purchases.  When you walk out of their store, you are rewarded with an evening's reading on a 2-ft. stip of register tape.

In the past I have read of some noteworthy register receipts from them that have garnered mention, but yesterday I was thrust into the Register Receipt Hall of Fame.  The cash register started printing it out and just kept on going and going.  The clerk was gathering it up as fast as she could move, winding it around her hands as the checkout line behind me was getting longer and longer.  When I walked out of there, I had enough ExtraBucks Rewards and Extracare Coupons to pay for a tank of gas.  I knew that I had a champion here.  It definitely is a personal best.

When I got home, I just had to measure this thing and see what I had.  So I laid it out along the countertop, grabbed a measuring tape and …..   Are you ready?  It is 58-¼ inches long.  Held up vertically it's taller than many adults.  So that's the current record here, although I realize that could be bested at any time.  If you can beat that, then send me an email as soon as you get home and we will give you all the recognition your hard shopping deserves.

For now, we need to take measured steps over to the apparatus and get our equipment checked out.  I'll get more coffee (NOT purchased at CVS) started and then see you back in the day room in a little while.

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Posted by on December 8, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – November 26

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Monday Morning – Need More Tools?

There's a new website in town that we want to tell you about.  They have been online for a couple of months now, getting the site packed and organized and it shows some good promise, which is why I am mentioning it.  It is aptly titled Fire Training Toolbox and is a novel way of presenting training materials.

The website is being organized and headed up by John Shafer and Chris Huston.  You know John already from our references to his valuable website Green Maltese that is used extensively by people planning modernizing their fire stations and equipment to meet today's environmental needs.  John and Chris have designed the Toolbox to be just that … a training toolbox.  When you open it up, you go to the compartment that has the tool you are looking for at the moment, whether it be a video presentation, training session outlines, articles by recognized fire instructors, or any other items in the toolbox that is being continually filled up.

Personally, I like the concept they have designed and I think it should occupy a slot on your Favorites folder.  So check them out HERE and tell them that the Geeze sent you.

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Today is what has recently been dubbed as "Cyber Monday," a takeoff of Black Friday but referring to convenience shoppers who go online to do their Christmas and holiday shopping instead of facing the mob scenes at the mall.  It was noted a few years ago that online retailers were getting a noticable spike on the Monday following Thanksgiving and it was a natural progression to latch onto the phenomenon and promote the day.

So in the spirit of things, and reminding you that we can help you out with your shopping list here, I want to make sure that you remember to keep your family, friends and, yes, your Batt. Chief, in mind today and get an early start on your shopping list:

Kick Off Your Own Shopping Season Now ….

This is a good time to order more GeezerCups…

and Travel Mugs ….

for youself and your favorite relatives.

Both models carry the Firegeezer pledge:

CLICK HERE to read about and order the Geezer Cup:

CLICK HERE to read about and order our top seller, the Travel Mug:

Wouldn't it be great to be a 100% shift where everybody has their own GeezerCup?  Be a pace-setter and order yours today.  We have fast delivery service and it's included in the price.  You can use your credit card or your PayPal account, both are safe and secure to use.

Rick G. knows how to start the day off right!

Now let's get this equipment checked out while I get some more coffee brewed to fill up those handsome mugs.  See you back in the day room shortly.

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Posted by on November 26, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics

Morning Lineup – November 23

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Friday Morning – Attention Shoppers!

I want to lead off this morning's Lineup with Kudo's and Congratulations to long-time reader Ben Morgan down in southern Florida.  He is the first one to spot the Geezer Cup in the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving portrait that we post every year (see yesterday's Lineup HERE).  This was the 4th consecutive Thanksgiving that we posted the enhanced portrait, but Ben was the first one ever to catch it.  I don't know if he caught the Travel Mug or not, but it is just a few pixels to the left of the GeezerCup.  The gent leaning on the table is holding one.

Good job, Ben!

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The dedicated shopping season kicks off today.  This is when the annual raid on the ATM's and unrelenting assaults on the credit cards begin.  Shop 'til you drop, folks.  I'm a big fan of shopping at Amazon.com, as you probably know already.  They have access to almost everything that is sold at the retail level and then some.  I buy enough stuff from them that I benefit many times over from their Amazon Prime program which costs a few bucks a year but gives me FREE 2-day delivery on all my orders.  That's right… it's no delivery charges and you get it in one or two days.

I'll pass along a recent experience that even impressed me about the Prime program.  This past Monday evening I placed an order for a carton of incandescent light bulbs.  I think it was around 8 or 9 pm that I punched it in, and at 10 am Tueseday – the very next day – the UPS truck delivered it.  That's about 12 hours later, for gosh sakes.  I know that Amazon and UPS are both all geared up already for the big rush (there were two men on the delivery truck),  but still…… Wow.

I pointed out to you a couple or three weeks ago that Amazon is now offering the Prime program on a monthly basis instead of annually for a slightly higher effective charge.  So now you can enjoy that benefit for a short-range period if you wish.  Prime has other benefits too, mostly with free DVD and television streaming, but the delivery scheme is enough for me.

We need to get our equipment check scheme going now, so let's get started with that while I fire up the Bunn-O-Matic for a fresh pot when we get back to the digital day room in a few minutes.

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Kick Off Your Own Shopping Season Now ….

This is a good time to order more GeezerCups…

and Travel Mugs ….

for youself and your favorite relatives.

Both models carry the Firegeezer pledge:

CLICK HERE to read about and order the Geezer Cup:

CLICK HERE to read about and order our top seller, the Travel Mug:

Geezer Prime is free and you get fast delivery!

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Posted by on November 23, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping

Morning Lineup – September 27

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Thursday Morning – Let's Go Shopping!

There's a new game in town for online shoppers, but until recently it's been passed around quietly as a sort of inside-joke.  The nice thing is that it's free and easy for anyone to play.  If you have every shopped around Amazon.com, and most people have by now, then you are at least vaguely familiar with their customer reviews for each of the products where presumably previous purchasers of the items send in their opinions and experiences with the product.

A lot people rely on these to learn both the good and bad features before they commit  to buy one for themselves.  I usually read over those whenever I am thinking about buying something that I'm unfamiliar with.  These customer reviews are unfiltered by the Amazon staff and you can say just about anything that you want.  I suppose that's because they probably get hundreds of thousands of reviews posted every day and it would be too costly to have anything more involved than a computerized word filter to scan the entries.  So apparently a loosely organized group of genuinely funny people have decided to have some innocent fun with the review process by dropping by the page for an innocuous product that normally never gets reviews because of its very nature, and they post faux reviews that turn out to be harmless yet entertaining.

Hutzler Banana Slicer

One of these group gags has settled on the sales page for the Hutzler Banana Slicer, a seemingly useful kitchen gadget that isn't particularly necessary, but handy and cheap enough to grab one and toss it in the drawer.  If you CLICK HERE and go to the page I'm talking about, you can spend a truly entertaining time during your coffee break reading some of the 300+ customer reviews that have been posted.  Let me toss out the opening sentences of just a few of them so you'll see what I'm talking about:

  • For decades I have been trying to come up with an ideal way to slice a banana. "Use a knife!" they say. Well…my parole officer won't allow me to be around knives. "Shoot it with a gun!" Background check…HELLO! I had to resort to carefully attempt to slice those bananas with my bare hands….

  • What can I say about the 571B Banana Slicer that hasn't already been said about the wheel, penicillin, or the iPhone…. this is one of the greatest inventions of all time. My husband and I would argue constantly over who had to cut the day's banana slices. It's one of those chores NO ONE wants to do!

  • That's when I found the 571B Banana Slicer. Our marriage has never been healthier, AND we've even incorporated it into our lovemaking. THANKS 571B BANANA SLICER!

  • This product slices bananas fast. I mean really, really fast. A few days after receiving the Hutzler 571B, I realised I was cutting WAY too many bananas just for the rush you get from the power of extreme speed-slicing….

  • I can't figure out how this thing works. If someone could post a YouTube video explaining how to utilize this banana slicer it would be greatly appreciated.

  • Until the Hutzler Banana Slicer came along, no one in our family would touch a banana. But now we throw banana slices into everything. My favorite is a Banana Caesar Salad, which is really unbelievable until you taste it! The Hutzler does have one noticeable drawback however; it struggles with green bananas, which we discovered while attempting to make Rachel Ray's recipe for Banana Butter.

You can see how this is going along.  A new way to have some fun and make a lot of people laugh for a few minutes.  And you also get an introduction to a handy, inexpensive little gadget that would make a nice "stocking stuffer" this Christmas.  They're being offered at a reduced price right now, so I think I'll get a few while I can.  It's never too early to start your Christmas shopping!

And it's never too early to start checking out our equipment, so let's get going with that while I run another pot through the Bunn-O-Matic.  We can get our orders in when we meet back in the day room.

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Posted by on September 27, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping • Tagged:

Attention: SPAAMFAA Members (and antique firetruck riders) – Shopping Tip

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This May Be Your Last Chance to Buy a Pair

HONEYWELL INDUSTRIES IS APPARENTLY OVERSTOCKED with rubber fire boots this summer.  They are having a clearance sale that runs until the stock or backlog runs out.

A look at the webpage showing all the models on sale has a hidden gem down at the very bottom …… hip boots.   Yes, that's right.  Those all-purpose, use everywhere, solid standbys that we Fire Geezers wore for most of our careers:

Very few FD's purchase them anymore because just about all of them are using the bunker pants on every emergency call now (and it always made sense to me).  But if you own an antique firetruck or participate in musters, this is almost a "must-buy" decision for you.  They're not too bad for surf fishing, either.

Or maybe you just need some other boots for your everyday action.  Take a look at the webpage and see if there's something that works for you.  The sale prices are unbeatable.  CLICK HERE to check it out.

This has been a public service announcement by Firegeezer.com

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Posted by on August 1, 2012 • Filed under: antique apparatus, shopping • Tagged:

Free eBook for EMS Week

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Offer Expires Midnight Tuesday

OUR BLOGGING COLLEAGUE GREG FRIESE has found us a great deal on a new EMS eBook.  A free download until midnight Tuesday night.  Here in Greg's words he tells us about the book and the author of 2 Weeks a Year:  Finding Humor While Deployed in Iraq, Chat Trent Cherin.

In this episode of the Medical Author Chat Trent Cherin tells us about his book 2 Weeks a Year: Finding Humor while Deployed in Iraq which is about his deployment to Iraq as an Army National Guard Medic. Unlike most authors being a medic wasn’t something Trent did full-time. Rather it was something he did away from his normal work because he enjoyed helping others and being part of the National Guard. He describes being a medic as "a nice break."

2 Weeks a Year is a chronicle of Trent’s 548 total days of deployment. Much of which he spent on a base in Iraq just north of Baghdad. The book was put together from photos and emails he sent to family and friends during his deployment. He also wrote the book as a way to remember his experience.

EMS Week Special: Trent is graciously offering a free download of 2 Weeks a Year from Amazon for the Kindle e-reader or Kindle app during EMS Week 2012. This download is only available from midnight Sunday to midnight Tuesday. Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity to download the book.

The list price for the eBook is $4.99, but you can download it for FREE to your Kindle or your Kindle app on your smartphone or computer.

Just CLICK HERE to get the order page and download NOW (remember, offer expires at midnight Tuesday).  Thanks, Chat!

Firegeezer sez:  I just downloaded one for me.

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Posted by on May 21, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Kindle, shopping

Bonnie’s and Clyde’s Guns To Be Sold Saturday

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Cultural Artifacts on the Auction Block

SERIOUS GUN COLLECTORS (AND FANS) ARE streaming into Kansas City today so that they can attend the Mayo Auction & Realty Co.'s major firearm auction on Saturday.  More than 100 firearms on consignment will be sold beginning at 10 am.

The star offerings in this show are two guns owned by the infamous Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow, the Depression-Era criminals who traveled the mid-west holding up banks and killing nine police officers along with dozens of innocent civilians.

The weapons coming on the block are a Thompson sub-machine gun treasured and used by Bonnie Parker that was the only "Tommy" gun that the gang ever owned.  The other is a 12-gauge Winchester shotgun model 1897.

all photos via Mayo Auctions

The guns were left behind in a Joplin, Missouri, hotel room when police raided the gang.  They escaped by a hair, but left behind a weapons cache and a camera.  One of the raiding officers took the Tommy gun and the 12-gauge along with the camera for souvenirs.  When the film in the camera was developed, the photos were of the couple in various "crime guy and moll" poses that have since become iconic.

According to Mayo Auctions, the sellers' great-grandfather, M. L. Lairmore who was in law enforcement at the time, was given the two guns by another peace officer who had seized the weapons after a raid on the pair in Joplin, Missouri in April of 1933.

The guns have been in the family of Mark Lairmore and his sisters, the sellers, from Springfield, MO., ever since the unknown Depression-era police officer gave them to their great-grandfather.  For the past 35 years they have been on loan to the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department's museum where they have been on display.  The family has now decided to sell the weapons and consigned them to this auction to be held on January 21.

Mayo's WEBSITE HERE has a series of close-up photos of the weapons for inspection purposes and more information about them.  They will also be accepting bids via internet if you want to get the shift to pitch in and try for one.

Update:  Results of the auction sale have been posted HERE.

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Posted by on January 20, 2012 • Filed under: culture, Guns, News, shopping • Tagged: , , , ,

Last-Minute Shopping Tip

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Still Time to Order

SANTA'S BAG WILL BE FILLED WITH FIREGEEZER CUPS AGAIN THIS YEAR. 

Both the ceramic coffee mug and the popular travel mug are still great buys
and holding their price despite the inflation. 

Each one is $12 in U. S. and Canada, and that includes packing and Priority Mail shipping.
$18 for airmail every place else in the world.

CLICK HERE to review and order the ceramic coffee mug

CLICK HERE to see the details and order the very popular travel mug

You can safely use your credit card through our PayPal account.

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Posted by on December 18, 2011 • Filed under: shopping • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – September 17

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Saturday Morning – Weekend Reading Suggestions

We're going to make this a literary weekend by letting you know about some fire/ems-related books that are fresh on the scene.

One of our readers, Todd Platner is a Firefighter/EMT in Kentucky and is also a fitness trainer.  He has published two books for self-training fitness programs, Get Fit to Fight Fire Fitness Guide and Get Fit to Save Lives EMS Fitness Guide.  Both books are delivered with the carabiners that are utilized in many of the exercises.

You can read more and order them on Amazon.com HERE.

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Another recent publication is from the pen of the original firefighter-author Dennis Smith.  Published last month to coincide with the 10th anniversary of 9/11,  A Decade of Hope: Stories of Grief and Endurance from 9/11 Families and Friends is 384 pages and described by the publisher:

Dennis Smith, a former firefighter and the author of the bestselling Report from Ground Zero, addresses this important topic in a series of interviews with the heroes and families of those most affected by the tragedy either through feats of bravery in the rescue efforts or heroic bearing up in the face of unimaginable loss. Smith provides an intimate look at a terrible moment in history and its challenging and difficult aftermath, allowing these survivors to share their stories of loss, endurance, and resilience in their own words. A Decade of Hope is an honest and vitally important look at a decade in the lives of those for whom a national tragedy was a devastatingly personal ordeal.

This book is also available through Amazon and is offered in both hardcover and the Kindle edition HERE

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Our weekend wouldn't be complete without reminding you about Will Wyatt's excellent and enjoyable memoir And a Paycheck, Too!  We published a review of Will's book back in July HERE after I read it.  It's been selling well for what you will see is an obvious reason after you've read it.

You can order this book directly from the publisher here:   http://www.andapaychecktoo.com/ . 

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And of course, we need to include Mike Cyra's entertaining collection of stories, Emergency Laughter – True Life Medical Stories.

"It wasn't funny when it happened … but it is now!" is the sub-title of the book that explores how laughter helps the mind, heals the body, lowers blood pressure and is a critical survival tool for all who deal with death and dying up close and personal. And that's most of us. Mike's book is published in e-book format only, so the price is only $2.99 (no printing costs, remember) and can be instantly downloaded not just for Kindle, but for Nook and just about any other ebook reader out there. You can CLICK HERE to order for all formats, or if you have a Kindle you can CLICK HERE to skip a page and order direct.

Ok, that should keep your spare moments filled until the leaves start turning.  Now let's turn toward the apparatus and get this equipment checked out.  I'll make sure there's plenty of coffee.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on September 17, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping

Morning Lineup – August 26

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Friday Morning – F.R.I. and Good Deals

We have some more stories from the Fire Rescue International conference in Atlanta to pass along today and they will be scattered through the postings as we go along.  Dave Statter, who is down there and will be giving a presentation this morning, reports that a handful of chief officers had to leave the conference early because of the severe weather heading to their respective cities and towns along the east coast, but the bulk of the attendees are remaining.  Atlanta is not threatened by the hurricane, so it's all systems "Go" at the convention center.

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I'd like to introduce you to a new dynamic website that opened for business earlier this week.  It's called Daily 911 Deals and is aimed solely to fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement personnel.  They will be offering major discounts on selected items such as clothing, tools, and other job-related items that can benefit from group purchasing.  For instance, the lead-off deal that just concluded last night is a canvas-collar job shirt that was offered at 50% off… a better deal than you can get at your local uniform supplier.  An entire VFD or rescue squad could be outfitted at that price.

Later today you will see the next item coming up and soon the offerings will be increased to three per week as the business grows.  In the near-term they will be expanding to five deals every week….a true "deal a day."  If you are responsible for purchasing in your own department, this is a "must visit" website for you.  But even if you're not, you can probably benefit from this marketing adventure.

Put http://daily911deals.com/deals/ in your Favorites folder now and get in the habit of checking it daily…. for your best deal.

Now let's carry on our habit of getting the equipment checked out for the day.  I am heading for the Bunn-O-Matic to get another pot started.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

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Posted by on August 26, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping • Tagged:

Shopping For A Fire Calendar?

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Getcher 2012 Calendar Online Now

Steve Roth of 911 Photography has his annual fire action calendar available now.

This is a collection of 911 Photography staff photos of multiple-alarm fires over the past year in south-central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.  The price is just $10 plus $3 postage. 

Go to the 911 Photography store HERE (scroll down) and order using your credit card via PayPal.

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Posted by on August 10, 2011 • Filed under: Collectibles, Fire Rescue Topics, shopping • Tagged: , ,

Morning Lineup – July 11

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Monday Morning – Get in Line

Ahh, there's good news from the grocery front this week.  It looks like some of the major grocery chains are starting to cave on the "self-checkout" scheme.  It was almost exactly four years ago – July 2, 2007, to be exact – that I ranted on the Morning Lineup (HERE):

　

A rather vile practice has swept through the grocery-store industry in my part of the country. Most of the supermarkets have installed "Self-Checkout" lines where the customer takes his groceries and does all the clerk’s work, i.e.: scanning the prices, weighing the produce, making change and bagging. In other words, the customer has become the store clerk without getting the benefits of wages.Now if the store offered a discount, say 5% or 10%, for doing their work for them, I could see – just maybe – going through all that ordeal. But they don’t. The store relies on you wanting to play with the scanner, like a new toy, and making you think that you are saving some precious time by struggling with the machines yourself.

What it really is, is a gimmick to save on labor costs by getting you to work for nothing so that the store can lay off some employees. I have estimated that for each 60 – 80 customers that go through the "free labor" lines, the store can lay off one clerk. A clerk at one of the stores I patronize told me that on the very day her store opened the free-labor lines, her store laid off 8 clerks.

Personally, I never use the self-checkout lines, primarily because of my aversion to doing somebody else's work without getting paid for it.  And I noticed that I am not alone with that principle.  I always see that I am not the only shopper waiting in the live-checker line even though we only have a few items to purchase.  As the lines build, the floor manager has to hustle another checker or two into the bank of registers to get the lines worked down.

But the concept has started to wither.  Last week Albertson's, one of the nation's largest grocery chains (primarily in Western states), announced that they will eliminate all self-checkout lanes in their stores that have them.

"We just want the opportunity to talk to customers more," Albertsons spokeswoman Christine Wilcox said. "That's the driving motivation."

Wilcox said the replacement of automated checkout lanes with human-operated lanes likely would mean more hours available for employees to work.

Wanting to talk to the customers more is just face-saving blather.  What they really want to do is eliminate those very expensive checkout machines that they have to maintain for just a relatively few customers to "play checker" with.

And Alberson's isn't the only one to fold.  Kroger, the nation's largest chain is experimenting in Texas with eliminating the space-taking monsters that keep telling people to "put your selection in a bag."  It won't be long before they all go and I won't miss a one.

Now let's make sure we don't miss any problems with our equipment and get it checked out.  This is Monday, so we use the long checklist today.  I'll make sure there's plenty of coffee ready.   See you back in the day room later.

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Posted by on July 11, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping • Tagged: ,

“.. enough room to set a bag of groceries in it”

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Following up from Bill's Morning Lineup:

How about a newer Packard – 1948?

Mr. Gibson wants $24,000 for this ride.

Too green?  How about a 1958 London cab:

Needs tires and a tune-up. Located in Maryland.  $15,000

Too foreign?  How about a 1976 Checker

It is in California, an interesting fly-and-drive $9,999

I have MY eye on this sweet V-6 1987 Zimmer – $11,000

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on June 3, 2011 • Filed under: cars, fun, shopping, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , , , , , ,

“Hey, Leatherhead!”

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With the Right Tools, You Can Make One For Yourself.

"Leatherhead" is what many 19th-century firefighters were called because of their distinctive leather hats.  Back then they came in many different shapes and designs before the current "traditional" style was settled on out of practicality.

After all that time, the leather helmet is still favored over all the other materials that have been used in fire helmets, although there are several to choose from.  And if you want to know why they cost so much, then this video produced by MSA, the current owners of Cairns and Bro.,will demonstrate the large amount of manual labor that is used in making each one.

Take a few minutes to watch, enjoy and learn:

 

For a good, concise history of the American fire helmet, be sure to read the article written by Dave Seliger in Core77 HERE.

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Today's Best Buy!!

JVC Dual Slot, High-Definition Camcorder

On Sale Now for 50% Off….

CLICK HERE for full information and to order one for yourself (or Mother's Day).

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Posted by on May 4, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, shopping, Videos • Tagged: ,

Shopping Tip

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A "Can't Miss" Offer If You Need One

Today Only! – 57% Off Reg. Price

DeWalt 18-volt NiCd Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Powerful Motor and Variable-Speed Control
The DEWALT drill/driver's high-performance motor is capable of delivering a maximum of 380 unit watts out, providing enough power for a broad range of applications. The tool also features dual-range variable-speed control–0 to 450 rpm and 0 to 1,500 rpm–that makes material-specific performance easier to achieve.

Lightweight Design for Comfortable Handling
The drill/driver is built with an ergonomic grip for comfortable handling to help you get accurate results. Its balanced, mid-handle grip makes control easy, providing comfort and reduced fatigue when tackling extended projects. This tool weighs 4.75 pounds to minimize user fatigue. Its durable construction makes for reliable operation even on the toughest jobsites. The drill/driver also features a compact size to fit into tight spaces, making it convenient for both use and storage.

Cordless Design and Ratcheting Chuck for Efficiency
This DEWALT tool allows you to move quickly between projects without the hassle of a cord. Thanks to its one-hour battery charger and two 18-volt compact Ni-Cad batteries, you can always have a battery ready, reducing downtime and increasing productivity.  Stay on point with the drill/driver's 1/2-inch, single-sleeve keyless ratcheting chuck, which effectively reduces bit slippage as you work.

Complete kit with carrying case.

CLICK HERE to read more and order one.

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Posted by on April 20, 2011 • Filed under: shopping

Saturday Shopping Tip

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Today’s Bargain …. Not To Be Missed

Marked down for clearance, the Canon PowerShot A490:

This camera normally sells for $99, but a newer model has just been introduced and this one has been marked down by 30% and is being sold this weekend for $69.00!    It has a 3x optical zoom and a whopping 10 megapixel resolution!

(arrow not included)

This is a true “pocket camera” that really fits into your shirt pocket – 2.4″ x 3.7″.

It has a built-in flash and operates with just two AA batteries.

It’s also a great starter camera for a child.

To learn more about this camera and order one if you like it, CLICK HERE

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Posted by on March 5, 2011 • Filed under: photography, shopping • Tagged: , ,

Join The Celebration!

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Today is the Day to Celebrate …. and Everyday.

THE IOWA STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has declared that today, February 26 is Bacon Day in honor of “nature’s perfect food.”

As a public service, Firegeezer is reprinting the House resolution in its entirety:

House Resolution 15

A Resolution recognizing February 26, 2011, as Iowa  Bacon Day.

WHEREAS, the people of Maine have lobster, the people of Idaho grow great potatoes, and the folks of Texas make great chili, we Iowans have bacon —— nature’s perfect food; and

WHEREAS, whether plain or apple-wood smoked, whether store-bought or artisan-made, bacon is a meat for any meal; and

WHEREAS, as America’s top pork producer, Iowa stands tall as the nation’s source of high-quality bacon; and

WHEREAS, the 4th annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is set for Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Des Moines;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes February 26, 2011, as Iowa Bacon Day and invites all Iowans to take part in the festival and to celebrate bacon.

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I think that takes care of the “what’s for dinner?” question.

Source:  Eastern Iowa Government. com

 

If you fry it, they will come…

This video report comes from the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival held this week in Des Moines:

 

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Posted by on February 26, 2011 • Filed under: culture, News, shopping • Tagged: ,

Shopping Tip – New Firefighter Book on the Market

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It’s that time of year when people are looking for gift ideas, including books on fire and rescue topics.  Here is one to consider since it has been well received nationwide since its introduction back in August:

CAPITOL CITY FIREMAN
by Jake Rixner

Capitol City Fireman is about a young man who grows up wanting to be a fireman; he leaves home in search of his dream and finds it in the busiest Engine Company in Richmond, Va.  It’s a firefighting story book much like “Report from Engine 82″ according to those in this profession.  It is also about the American dream, still alive in our young people.  The book is both informative and entertaining as Jake worked with some real characters, that called it as they saw it.

His publisher Friesen Press tells us:  

Jake Rixner grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. and became interested in firefighting at an early age. After graduating high school, he packed his bags and moved into a volunteer fire house in Prince George’s County Maryland in search of a career fireman’s position. After taking numerous exams he landed a job with the Richmond, Va. Fire Bureau. This is his story. Jake has written several articles for Fire Engineering magazine and wrote two chapters in a fire training text book. He has lectured nationwide on topics of firefighter training, and tactics. He currently resides in Doswell, Virginia with his wife, Julie.

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The following revue of the book was posted on Amazon.com.  The poster obviously likes it….

Of all the books written about the fire service, Capitol City Fireman is one of the most entertaining and engaging works that I’ve read. Numerous times I found myself laughing out loud at the author’s hilarious stories of firehouse antics. I also found myself riveted by the detailed and very well written accounts of harrowing fires. Jake Rixner has a unique ability to put a storied fire service career on paper and make it entertaining for both firefighters and those who have never picked up a fire hose (my wife, who is not a firefighter, read it cover to cover). It’s a very easy read and highly recommend it to all!

Capitol City Fireman can be ordered through any bookstore, but it is probably more convenient for you to order it through Amazon.com.  They give prompt delivery and if you order soon you can take advantage of the 30% markdown currently being offered.  Just click in the sales box here and your next stocking stuffer will be on the way:


 

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Posted by on December 6, 2010 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Fire-ology, shopping • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – November 14

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Whenever an auction comes up that has any fire/rescue-related items or equipment in it, we like to pass the info. on it along to you.  Over the past few years we have seen a lot of interesting and unique items come available for collectors or the curious.  Our friend Ron Young has tipped us on a fascinating auction upcoming in Downington, Pennsylvania, this coming Friday night.  The Pook & Pook Auction house is offering a collection of items that have been deaccessioned by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.

The items coming available are what the auctioneers call “smalls,” but the selling prices won’t be quite so small.  Most of the fire-related items are detailed models of fire carts, cast iron insurance fire marks, lithographs and some helmet shields.

The 380+ sales lots include other items of Americana as well, but there are quite a few of the fire artifacts.  CLICK HERE to view the online catalogue that includes color photos of all the items along with their expected range of selling prices.

If anybody here attends the sale Friday night, let us know how it went.  You can CLICK HERE to learn the preview dates and times, the sales time, and the location of the auction house.

Now let’s see how the equipment check goes.  While you get going on that, I’ll see how the Sunday breakfast is coming along and get us some more coffee started.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on November 14, 2010 • Filed under: culture, Fire-ology, history, morning lineup, News, shopping • Tagged: , , , , , ,

New Item in Firegeezer Shop

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The FIREGEEZER SHOP has just added another item to the stock that will be of special interest to dispatchers and scanner buffs alike, as well as anybody interested in historical fire department events.

On May 31,1985, the emergency services of NW Pennsylvania faced a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions, a tornado outbreak the likes of which are rarely seen in the east.  41 tornadoes touched down in 6 hours across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario Canada.  66 people lost their lives with thousands injured.

The dispatch radio tapes were stored on cassettes for two weeks before being scheduled to be re-used by the dispatch center.  Firegeezer contributor Steve Marshal was able to secure those rare cassettes before they were wiped and saved them.  This year, with the 25th anniversary of the centennial storm arriving, Steve remastered them and recorded them onto a CD.  Most of the CD’s were purchased this past Spring by residents of the area and first-responders who were there.

But there are some left over and we are carrying them here and making them available for anyone who is interested in rare dispatch activity.   This 30-minute track contains multiple dispatches for tornado touchdowns, incoming calls to the center requesting rescue, warnings that “a large tornado is headed your way” and the dramatic “I’ve got total devastation down here” radio call used by ABC news in their coverage.

The price is a very reasonable $10 which includes the postage and handling costs.  You can order it using your credit card through our PayPal account.  Just CLICK HERE to visit the sales page in the Shop to read more and order yours.

Posted by on November 9, 2010 • Filed under: dispatch, shopping • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – November 9

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You had to know it was coming.  I didn’t think about it, but it is so obvious once you do.  Naturally they are now making automobile radar detectors with those miraculous little GPS receivers inside them that know exactly where you are, and are thus able to also alert you to red-light cameras and (the new, up-and-coming) speed cameras.

This particular model that I have pictured here is the Cobra XRS 9960G, but it isn’t the only brand doing this now.  The Cobra model detects all 15 radar and laser bands and has the very colorful 1-½ inch display window. 

Along with the GPS receiver tucked away somewhere in there is a translator that downloads pre-stored information on the locations of the red-light and speed cameras in your area and triggers the alert to remind you to start obeying the law.  It has a voice alert that warns you so that you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to find out what the box is beeping for.

Some earlier detectors that do this need to be connected to your pocket GPS receiver to function, but Cobra has come out with this complete package.  There is just no end to the uses of these new super-microchips.  Personally, I have never had a problem with speed limits to the point that I felt the need to buy one of these devices, but I can understand that many people need the crutch to help them navigate the highways and byways.

As it happens, Amazon is currently offering this model on a special sale with a 54% price reduction.  So if you’re interested in reading more about it and perhaps ordering one, CLICK HERE to check it out..

Ok, what sort of amazing electronic gadget will show up next?  It’s getting close to the Christmas sales season where this kind of stuff comes available, so let me know what you think is just around the corner.  Before we run out and buy one though, we need to get this equipment checked out first.  I’m going to speed into the kitchen and get another pot of coffee started.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

Posted by on November 9, 2010 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping • Tagged: , ,

Morning Lineup – November 7

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Did you enjoy the extra hour’s sleep this morning?  Or did you show up for work an hour early before you realized that Standard Time returned today?  Those lucky folks in Arizona and Hawai’i don’t have to be concerned about that sort of foolishness, though.  They keep normal hours all year long.  Wherever you are though, for most people it’s going to get dark outside before dinnertime.

I saw an interesting gadget in a catalogue that arrived in the mail last week.  It is a knife designed to safely open these super-sealed packages that we see more of  these days.  The main feature of this particular knife is its claimed ability to easily and safely open the so-called clamshell plastic packaging that is so difficult to penetrate.  I’d be willing to bet that there isn’t anybody who has stuck themselves or caused some sort of harm while trying to get into the darned things.  One time, I even broke a pair of scissors on one of those maddening  packages.

So at a glance, this looks pretty neat.  I realize that sales claims and constucted photographs always make things like this show up better than they really are sometimes, but it’s worth a try.  Maybe.  You can read all the details and view the photos of the tool in action HERE.  The price isn’t too bad at $9.95 (let’s just call it $10, ok?).  But if you follow through the links you learn that this seller computes their shipping charges based on the selling price and not on the weight or actual cost of shipping.  And this outfit charges $6.95 (let’s call that one $7!) for “shipping”, even though you could drop it into an envelope and mail it 1st-class  for a dollar or two.

Sorry guys, but I’ll continue to use the small blade on my Swiss army knife to get into the armored packages.  Most likely they will start showing up in the variety stores, probably on those “As Seen on TV” tables that they set out.  When that happens I might go ahead and grab one.  If any of you see these gadget in a chain store where the rest of us could go pick one up, send me an email and I’ll pass it along.

Right now I’m going to pass along these equipment check sheets so we can get this chore done before the big Sunday breakfast hits the table.  I’ll take a look and get another pot of coffee started.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on November 7, 2010 • Filed under: morning lineup, shopping

Honus Wagner Baseball Card Update

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ON OCTOBER 28 WE REPORTED ON the rare Honus Wagner baseball card  that was placed on auction in Dallas.  The bids were also accepted online and the sale closed Thursday night at 10 pm Central time.

The winning bid came from a collector named Doug Walton who paid $262,000 for it.  The charitable order of nuns who inherited the card will receive $220, ooo which is the amount bid on it.  The remainder is the 19.5% buyers premium that goes to the auction house.  The pre-auction estimated value of the card was $150 to $200 thousand.

You can read the full story on this unique collectible in our earlier REPORT HERE.

Earlier, after the news went out that the School Sisters of Notre Dame had inherited the card and put it up for sale, Sister Virginia Muller, who served as spokeswoman for the order, told the Catholic Review about a phone call she received:

After news of the card began to circulate across the country, Sister Virginia received a telephone call from South Carolina. It was Leslie Roberts, Wagner’s granddaughter.  “She was absolutely thrilled that the School Sisters had this card and will be receiving such a gift,” Sister Virginia said.

Sister Virginia noted that Roberts recounted how her famous grandfather sat her on his lap while chewing tobacco and feeding her bits of Hershey’s chocolates. The retired baseball star enjoyed telling tall tales and once explained to his granddaughter how he hit his longest homerun when he smacked a ball out of the park and into a train heading to California.

Posted by on November 5, 2010 • Filed under: culture, current events, News, shopping