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Formula 1 racecar destroyed in garage fire

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Winner of Spain Formula 1 race, may be related to the KERS energy system.

Shortly after winning today's Formula 1 race in Barcelona, Spain, a fire erupted in the Williams garage.

Sky Sports document the early moments, from Alpha side:

Extensive damage is caused as a fire breaks out at the back of the Williams team garage after they celebrated winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 13, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.

Sixteen people were injured when a fire broke out in the Williams team garage at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix.

Click here to access Sky Sports pictures.

Statement from Williams:

"After today's Spanish Grand Prix a fire occurred in the team's garage which originated from the fuel area.

"Four team personnel were injured in the incident and subsequently taken to the medical center. Three are now receiving treatment at local hospitals for their injuries, while the fourth has been released. The team will monitor their condition and ensure they receive the best possible care.

"The team, the fire services and the police are working together to determine the root cause of the fire and an updated statement will be released in due course.

"The Williams F1 Team would like to thank all of the teams and the FIA for their support in today's incident."

BBC Sports report from Charlie side, including the speculation on the KERS energy management system:

Andrew Benson, BBC Sports Chief F1 writer, has more details here:  Spanish Grand Prix: Williams crew injured in pit fire.

Three members of the Williams team were taken to hospital, while four Caterham mechanics were treated at the track's medical unit. A Force India team member was also treated on the site after suffering smoke inhalation

Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)

The acronym KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration.

There are principally two types of system – battery (electrical) and flywheel (mechanical). Electrical systems use a motor-generator incorporated in the car’s transmission which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Once the energy has been harnessed, it is stored in a battery and released when required.

Mechanical systems capture braking energy and use it to turn a small flywheel which can spin at up to 80,000 rpm. When extra power is required, the flywheel is connected to the car’s rear wheels. In contrast to an electrical KERS, the mechanical energy doesn’t change state and is therefore more efficient.

Read more here:  KERS

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on May 13, 2012 • Filed under: Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Technology & Communications, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

State Police pull over radioactive firefighter

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The Now Normal creates a new dilemma

Amanda Cuda describes the latest twist in police and fire relations:

Mike Apatow was minding his own business Wednesday, driving to an appointment for work in Washington Depot when a state police car appeared suddenly and signaled for the Milford resident to pull over.

…

"I asked the officer `What seems to be the problem?' " Apatow said. "He said `You've been flagged as a radioactive car.' "

…

State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance confirmed that many of the state police cars have the radioactivity detectors. "It's part of our homeland security operations here," Vance said. "It's just another layer of public safety that we have in this state."

Read the article to get the rest of the story.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Connecticut Post Contributed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

see Radioactive man? Milford resident pulled over by state police (May 10, 2012) ctpost.com

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on May 12, 2012 • Filed under: Firefighting Operations, HazMat, News, Special Operations, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Silly Season … Super Sport Performance Chevy

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Finding electronic clues for the next hot-rod Chevy

Christopher Price is a knowledge worker that blogs about technology.  Posted this item on April 24:

Out of the blue, I decided to pull up my OnStar vehicle profile, and check its maintenance. I don’t know why. But, I did.

And afterwards, I was once again ticked that my 2009.5 Pontiac G6 V6 (with FlexFuel), could not take advantage of even the most basic of OnStar RemoteLink features. Generation 8.0 OnStar “won’t ever” support RemoteLink, sadly.

Just for fun, I decided to pull up the list of cars which did support RemoteLink. Sheer boredom, I was expecting nothing but what I knew. And then I saw it. A 2014 Model Year button.

Oh, this must be a mistake, I thought. Nothing will show up. Null entry, move on. Right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GM Confirms the 2014 Chevrolet SS Performance & Cadillac ELR — Thanks to OnStar Mishap

Mike Colias, a reporter with Automotive News, picked up on this item, adding the following nuggets:

The list of 2014 models disappeared from the OnStar site this afternoon, after I called GM for comment.

Another clue: Last week, the Web site GM Authority reported that GM has filed for U.S. patent rights that would trademark the SS badge.

Trail of clues leading to Chevrolet SS nameplate

We reported on this speculation last month: “New” Chevrolet will be 2013 NASCAR racer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I missed the very brief window in 2011 when the Caprice "detective" versions were available for sale. 

Contract loophole = Street Caprices

Maybe I can buy a Super Sport next year.
 

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on April 27, 2012 • Filed under: cars, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – April 14

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Saturday Morning – Cell Phones On

Out of the 30,000+ fire departments in the U. S., a goodly number of them have their own web pages by now.  But only a small percentage of them have what I would call an excellent or even effective website.  Many departments go out of their way to host a website that is truly informative and meant to engage the citizens by telling them useful things.  Over the past five years I have looked at untold hundreds of FD websites in the course of putting together this blog each day, and I have seen all manners of fire department websites….all the way from crap-ola to excellent.

So far, I haven't seen any that come close to the amazing interactive website hosted by the San Ramon Valley (California) Fire Protection District.  Rather than repeat here everything I have already noted about them, I will refer you to my previous postings HERE and HERE on their imaginative and innovative use of the internet and urge you to take the time to read them.  Another feature that they introduced just over a year ago is their citizen CPR program that sends alerts to registered volunteers about CPR incidents nearby that they might be able to respond to and initiate life-saving before the ambulance gets there.  We wrote about it in January of last year HERE and said in part:

Check out this latest addition to their citizen partnership policy, a CPR notification signal. This new app utilizes the GPS technology that is built into cellphones and is installed on the phones of people who are certified CPR performers. To just explain it briefly, if there is a 9-1-1 call for a cardiac incident in the San Ramon Fire District territory, the dispatch will also send an alert to people who are registered in the program and in the immediate area at that moment. It will tell them three things: Where the incident is and what it is, a map showing where the address is located, and a map showing where the nearest AED is available.  The whole idea of course, is to get life-saving help to the victim as soon as possible and perhaps start CPR several minutes before the ambulance arrives.

What brought this program to mind this morning was a press release that told about the developer of that CPR app being a finalist nominee for a major award for their program.  I didn't realize it, but it makes sense that the app itself is commercially available and can be used by any public service agency that qualifies.  And making this even better is that use of the program is FREE.  Click on over to PulsePoint's WEBSITE HERE to learn even more about it.  If your agency has a dedicated IT staff  of one or a dozen, this is a great way to provide a genuine service to your citizens.

Firegeezer notes that this is the type of activity  that goes a long way to protect the FD's reputation and budget from the onslaught of bent politicians.

Let's get started with our equipment check now.  I need to get some good, high-octane coffee going, too.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on April 14, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, Technology & Communications, technology-communications-ems-topics • Tagged: ,

Saturday Car-Toon: ’47 Ford F5 with 400 hp diesel

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Mitch Allread creates rolling art

The first video from the "Big Muscle" series from Mike Musto.

It packs a 400 hp diesel out of a Ford F-350, a Dana 80 rear-end, and a look and feel that would make Max Rockatansky feel right at home. This is Mitch Allread's custom fabricated creation and it is, without a doubt, one of the coolest things on the road today.

This is a machine that transcends the traditional hot rod formula by breaking down borders and setting its own stage. Whereas most hot-rods are built by custom shops utilizing parts from mail order catalogs, Mitch took a different approach and fabricated just about everything on his ride by hand. Calling this a rat-rod would be an insult – a work of art however… that'd be just fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kurt Ernst, writing for Motor Authority, describes the powertrain:

Under the hood lurks a “mildly chipped” Ford PowerStroke diesel V-8, pulled from a 1997 Ford F350. Allread figures it puts out in the neighborhood of 400 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, which explains why he retained the dually wheels at the back end.

Ernst, also writing for Automotive Addicts, describes the Big Muscle host, Mike Musto:

Mike Musto is the car guy’s car guy. He’s run Bullrun, campaigned a vintage Dodge Charger called “Mr. Angry” in One Lap of America and has forgotten more about the pro-touring scene than you or I will ever learn.

Now he’s got his own weekly series on YouTube’s Drive channel called “Big Muscle,” and if the first episode is any indication, it will be worth tuning into.

The pace and focus of the first 10 minute video takes a different approach to the automotive feature, more speaking and less smoking tires.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on April 14, 2012 • Filed under: Car-Toon, Technology & Communications, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

The First Responders of Television

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 Just stumbled across a review of this book.

The First Responders of Television

from the publisher:

From the first live telecast of an actual fire in 1938, to such weekly television series as Rescue 8, Emergency!, Saved and Rescue Me in the US and International favorites of England's London's Burning, Germany's Medicopter 117, and Japan's Burning Flame trilogy, this book offers detailed coverage of the many First Responders of Television.

They include Firefighters, Police Officers, Paramedics, EMT's, Lifeguards, Aeromedical, Forest Rangers, and the Coast Guard. Over 150 dramatic and comedic programs from around the world are discussed including the apparatus they rode on, helicopters, aircraft, and boats utilized as well as the hospitals they filmed out of.

Also included are reality programming, (Rescue 911, The Paramedics, and others), made for television movies (Firefighter, Pine Canyon is Burning), unsold pilots, and individual fire or rescue episodes from programs such as Perry Mason, Hunter, The A-Team, Law and Order, and others are covered.

about the author:

Richard Yokley was a member of the Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Protection District (San Diego, California) from 1972 to 1999. He received Firehouse Magazine's Heroism and Community Service Award in 1987. He has written several newspaper and trade journal articles, this is his third book. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to The Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society.

Lee Goldberg's Review:

"First Responders" is a massive and ambitious undertaking, covering every U.S. TV series, unsold pilot, reality show, dcumentary and TV movie about first responders (mostly firefighters, but also lifeguards, medics, forest rangers,highway patrolmen, etc), produced from the 1950s to early 2011. If that wasn't enough, the book also covers major and minor TV series about first responders produced all over the world and has appendices on such things as firehouses on television, rescue vehicles on TV, and on technical advisors.

Yokley is particularly interested in how authentic the shows were, particularly the vehicles, equipment, and locations they used, and other details relating to how the rescues and fires were depicted. It's fascinating stuff, but for me, I would have appreciated knowing a lot more about the shows creatively, how they were developed and written, and how they ultimately went right or wrong. So, for me, the book was a little unsatisfying…but even so, I loved it. It's truly a great TV book. The depth of Yokley's research, his personal knowledge of the rescue field, and his apprecation of first responders (fire fighters in particular) comes through on every page. This is a major work of television scholarship, something Bear Manor Media specializes in publishing, and is a must-have for any television reference library.

Go to A Writer's Life to read more of Goldberg's review.  (HERE)

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on April 12, 2012 • Filed under: culture, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Technology & Communications, Training & Development • Tagged: , , , , ,

Texts from Hillary

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"State of Cool"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tumbler silliness creates internet meme.

From M. J. Lee at Politico.com:

Adam Smith, who created the Tumblr account that has quickly gone viral with his friend Stacy Lambe – both communications professionals based in Washington, D.C. — told POLITICO soon after meeting the secretary of state Tuesday that he was “still in shock” about the invitation to the State Department.

“It was great. She came out, she was all smiles, told us how much she likes the site and that people have been telling her all about it,” Smith said. “She just thinks it’s great.”

Hillary Clinton likes ‘Texts from Hillary’ Tumblr

Texts from Hillary tumbler

Adam Smith

 

 

 

 

Stacy Lambe @sllambe

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on April 11, 2012 • Filed under: News, Technology & Communications, Twitter • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Five numbers with no Powerball = mad money. Mike plans a hot rod four door Mustang.

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161 ticket holders won $250,000 each

Nine people who bought tickets in Virginia and Maryland were a PowerBall short of the jackpot, but got enough of a prize to have serious fun.

I am planning to be one of the first owners of a four-door Mustang GT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c) Theophilus Chin / Chris Doane Automotive photo

Then have Kenny Brown Performance install a Class III package.

No buyer's remorse this time!

I was seriously considering buying a Kenny Brown Panther, a supercharged supercar that looked like an unmarked Crown Vic police cruiser. Inspired by the 1998 Car and Driver "Lounge Lizard" project car. (article HERE)

In a 2003 follow-up article by Larry Niven, Kenny Brown Marauder S: Ford lobs one into the aftermarket, and Kenny Brown hits it outta the park, we get a feel for the impact of the Lounge Lizard project car:

It's fitting that Brown is the orchestrator of this Marauder transformation. He was the original sculptor of the Lounge Lizard C/D project car (November 1998), a supercharged, blacked-out version of the Crown Victoria (Ford's version of the Mercury Grand Marquis) that we believe was the forerunner to the Marauder.

Since we published the Lounge Lizard story, Brown has built 35 similar cars …

For the Lizard and its SOHC 16-valve V-8 engine, Brown used a Roots-type supercharger that is sold by Ford—through Ford Racing—and sits in the vee of the engine.

Spent the Monday of 2003 FDIC week at the Indianapolis shop trying out their "work car."

It was almost a religious experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Went back that summer to check out a customer car that was similar to what I wanted. 

Met with an Indianapolis Ford dealer to order the proper base vehicle, a 2004 LX in Dark Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic with a Medium Parchment interior.

Got cold feet – over $50,000 for a car.

Ten years and a lottery ticket later …

The four-door Mustang GT with a Kenny Brown Class III package is the closest I can get to recreating that experience.

thanks to Nick Kurczewicki at Road & Track online for the scoop on the new Mustang:

2014 Ford Mustang Sedan – First Look. New 4-door Mustang sedan may also be available as a Boss 302.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update – the four door Mustang may carry the "Falcon" name plate

Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: cars, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – March 28

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Wednesday Morning – Thanks!

First I want to thank all of you who sent us so many good wishes and congratulaions yesterday (see yesterday's Lineup).  They came in via emails, Facebook messages and website Comments, too.  It's very rewarding to know that our readers enjoy our product and make Firegeezer a regular part of their online time.  A few typical examples:

  • Please, keep it going. You are part of my internet ritual every day….

  • I'm not sure exactly how long I've been following you , but your site is the one I visit first everyday!

  • It’s been a great adventure reading your site and allways lots of unusual, diverse and interesting articles.

  • You always maintain my interest by your broad range of articles….  

All of the GeezerGang truly appreciate your sentiments and the fact that you took the time to write to us.  So, Thanks again!

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Do you recall that reference we gave you the other day to a fire-oriented website in Waterloo, Ontario, that showed a couple of ways that the local FD is integrating high-tech stuff into their operations?  (see Firegeezer HERE.)  One of the new tricks they're up to is putting their unique QRC (Quick Response Code) on the sides of their fire apparatus.

I have seen those maze-looking designs showing up here and there, but never really paid any attention to what they are used for.  I know that they are a type of symbol designed to be scanned, like a bar code, but hadn't thought about why.  I didn't even know they are called QRC's or what the letters stand for.  It turns out that these things have been around for years but are only just recently coming into use in North America.  Their purpose is to allow a unique block of information to be very rapidly scanned, as in "high speed."  Not only are they favorable to speedy scanning, but they can hold a tremendous amount of information compared to a bar code.

Toyota invented the thing way back in 1994 as a method to track parts and units in progress on their auto assembly lines.  Because of that, other uses have been explored and utilized in Japan for quite a few years now.  Europe has been way ahead of us in utilizing the codes, too.  Lately, the most common usage that we've been exposed to is largely for commercial ventures where the codes will connect you to a website or replace your ATM card for purchases.  Most smartphones now come with built-in QRC scanners that read the code via your camera function.  If you don't have one built-in, the usual apps are aplenty out there.

They also lend to innovative marketing uses like the company that will emboss your QRC on a piece of chocolate for you to use as handouts.  Customers can scan the chocolate to view your message and then they can eat it.

Leave it to the innovative thinkers at Facebook to dream up the project recently where a bunch of them went up to the roof of one of their buildings and painted a 40-ft. QRC that takes you to a Facebook information website.  It's large enough to be picked up on a satellite map.

That's really neat stuff, isn't it?

Our apparatus are really neat stuff too, and we need to get them checked out now.  I'm going to check the Bunn-O-Matic and get more coffee going.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

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Facebook Geeks Paint the Roof

 

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Posted by on March 28, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, technology, Technology & Communications • Tagged: ,

Firegeezer revealed … 5 years of working online with Bill

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"We also feel its important to provide positive information to the public in an effort to support
fire service operations,especially when budgets are under constant attack. 
Thank you for all you do!"

Secrets of the Firegeezer

Congratulations to Bill Schumm!

Who knew?

I was a truck company officer when I first worked with Bill. At almost every line-up, Captain II Schumm would have a interesting or weird story that was fire related.

Most of the in-station training classes delivered by the Captain included an interesting story or factoid. Some reflected his interest in history or architecture, other items from his experience working at the busiest station in the county. 

Some of the factoids or recommended practices in the Fire Officer textbook came from Bill.

Checking the attic

For example, Bill always required that the attic be checked on every call, regardless of the nature of the emergency.

His goal was for the crews to understand the diversity and surprises found in attics, before we had to operate in a high heat, low-visibility situation. Based on a near-miss when he worked on The Highway.

A large part of the district was filled with houses built during World War II. Many had balloon frame features. By the 1980s almost  all of them were converted to living spaces.

Sweating the Details

Bill approaches his blog like a farmer.

Obsessive attention to daily page views. Experiments with different features. Tries to make it rain.

We are always amazed, and appreciative, of who regularly reads the blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo by Mike Legeros (c) 2011

"Is this a marital aid?"

The first time Bill rented a booth at Firehouse Expo, most of the attendees thought we were selling some supplement for ancient firefighters.

By the third year, most of them were fans, almost more than those coming to serve STATter911 with a summons or threat.

Thanks to all that have made this journey memorable!

The next five years will be more exciting.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 27, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, News, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , ,

Canadian FD Moves On the High-Tech Frontier

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Being in the Right Neighborhood Helps

WATERLOO, ONTARIO, IS THE HOME to high-tech high flyer Reasearch in Motion (RIM), the innovative developers and purveyors of the pioneering Blackberry personal communication device.  So it  was only natural that the Waterloo Fire Rescue Department would readily adapt the Blackberry technology and products into their operations.

Waterloo Region Fire website is an independent photo-oriented website covering the local fire department and the publisher Ian Haight has just posted an interesting article on this topic.  The firefighters figured out that Blackberry's newest tablet, the Playbook fits comfortably in their bunkergear pockets, so the next step was to buy a bunch of them and then develop their own apps to use with them.  WaterlooRegionFire continues:

Waterloo Fire Rescue relies on hundreds of pre-plans which, until now, had been kept in binders on all front line apparatus and command vehicles. Within the last year, these pre-plans were converted into digital format allowing them to be stored directly on the Playbook. Recognizing the limitations of the paper pre-plans, especially for the firefighters already in the building, combining them onto a wireless (handheld) device was an obvious solution. As Deputy Chief of Emergency operations Larry Brassard says, "we’re now able to put our pre-plans in the hands of our firefighters right inside a building." The app was originally designed as a mapping tool to replace the printed run-cards held in each truck; however, it did not take long to adapt the maps to include the tactical surveys of the buildings in the city.

And that was just the beginning of their custom apps for the device that has been issued to every officer.  He tells of other uses they have integrated with the Playbook.

WaterlooRegionFire.com

Also, if you keep scrolling through the article you will learn why their firetrucks have one of those QR Codes stuck on the sides.  In a city that is populated with literally thousands of geeks, it only makes sense that Waterloo is leading the way with this device, too.

Read the article and see what they are doing with it HERE and learn about their Playbook apps.

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Posted by on March 26, 2012 • Filed under: technology, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , ,

Hatusme Miku transmits last concert – implications for emergency service training

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The end of human performers?

Thousands showed up at Tokyo Dome City Hall to watch teen diva Hatusme Miku put on her "last" concert.

 

 

 

Miku had sold out concerts in 2011:

Tiffany Hsu (2011 November 10) Japanese pop star Hatsune Miku takes the stage — as a 3-D hologram Los Angeles Times

Chris Meyers, writing for Reuters, gets right to the unique points:  She sings, she dances, she's … not real

Hatsune Miku is computer generated, based on a voice-synthesizing programme developed by the company Crypton Future Media that allows users to create their own music.

Her image was produced by the company, but her music is a creation of her fans,

Her best songs — the ones headlined at her concerts — have emerged from more than 20 different people.

The fans know what the fans like. All 10,000 tickets for the digital diva's four shows in Tokyo — two on Thursday and two on Friday — sold out in hours despite the 6,300 yen ($76) ticket price.

Hatsune Miku was projected onto the stage at the shows while thousands of other fans packed into 24 cinemas to watch live.

Social media + digital simulation + interactive participation = engaged fans.

Emergency Service Implications

In 2003 I reviewed an adoption of the Duke Nukem video game where the gun was replaced with a Geiger counter. A well-developed way to learn how to handle radioactive incidents, with the physics of radiation (time-distance-shielding) factored into a first person response to a variety of incidents.

While Miku is a little weird and creepy, the technology to make this teen digital diva has implications for emergency services training.

But we may first see it in a new Statter911 versus FireCritic reality episode. More realistic than the Xtranormal videos from 2010.

Here are the Miku players:

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 9, 2012 • Filed under: culture, News, Technology & Communications, Training & Development, Urban Commander, Videos • Tagged: , , , , ,

A test of “any publicity is good publicity.” $108K Fisker car dies after 180 miles with Consumer Reports

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May not get a "recommend" from Consumer Reports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Reports uses anonymous buyers to purchase the automobiles that they test. They bought a $107,850 Karma from Fisker automotive.

"It is a little disconcerting that you pay that amount of money for a car and it lasts basically 180 miles before going wrong," David Champion, senior director for the magazine's automotive test center, told Reuters. 

read more by Ben Klayman Fisker Karma car dies in Consumer Reports testing

Consumer Reports video tease:

Soon after Consumer Reports bought the Fisker Karma to test, it stopped working.

The luxury plug-in hybrid had to be towed off the track.

Read our blog "Bad Karma: Our Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid breaks down" for more information: http://bit.ly/zvxgV6

Fisker's response:

Yesterday a Fisker owner, Consumer Reports, experienced a service event with the Karma they recently purchased from a local retailer.

As a new company introducing a new technology into the marketplace, customer satisfaction and a quick and thorough response to any issue is our primary focus.

As part of the Fisker VIP Customer Service program, the local Fisker retailer immediately arranged for the car to be picked up and diagnosed by trained service technicians.

Our engineers are in contact with the retailer and are working closely with them to understand the cause and resolve the issue so they can return the car to their customer quickly.

With nearly 500 units retailed to date there are many satisfied customers around the world driving Fisker Karmas every day, without incident.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 9, 2012 • Filed under: cars, News, Technology & Communications, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Carbon Motors … no federal loan crumbles purpose-built police vehicle effort

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Press release from yesterday

Carbon Motors ATVM Loan Caught in DOE Political Crossfire

CONNERSVILLE, IN — Today Carbon Motors Corporation, a homeland security technology company, announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has indicated that it will not proceed with Carbon’s $310 million application for a direct loan under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program. The ATVM program was established during the Bush administration and continued under the Obama administration.

“We are outraged by the actions of the DOE and it is clear that this was a political decision in a highly-charged, election year environment. Since Solyndra became politicized last fall, the DOE has failed to make any other loans under the ATVM program, has pulled back one loan that it previously committed and, as of this month, the DOE has pushed aside the three remaining viable loans under active consideration,” said William Santana Li, chairman and chief executive officer, Carbon Motors Corporation.

“Each of these applicants has been caught for several years in a costly and extensive DOE due diligence process. Carbon Motors simply appears to be the last victim of this political gamesmanship. In failing to deploy the tax dollars that Congress allocated for the creation of advanced technology manufacturing jobs in the U.S., the DOE ATVM program represents a glaring failure of the Obama Administration to create jobs that are clearly within its power to create,”

full press release HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been following Carbon Motors purpose-built police vehicle efforts as part of a larger obsession with law enforcement wheels:

October 05, 2008: Police Cruiser Designed by Cops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One result of Carbon Motors effort is far more work-specific vehicles from others:

CHEVROLET

October 05, 2009: New Caprice Police Car

Holden (Australian) import for General Motors.

June 03, 2011: LAPD 2011 Chevy Caprice PPV

Almost got a detective-package Caprice!

June 25, 2011: Contract loophole = Street Caprices

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORD

March 13, 2010: Ford 2012 “purpose-built” police cruiser

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month, Chicago announced that were buying 500 Ford Police Interceptors and utility vehicles.  Ford press release HERE.

DODGE

When Wake County EMS selected the police package, Hemi-powered Dodge Charger from the North Carolina state contract, the important information of the Advanced Practice Paramedics was overshadowed by the vehicle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2012 version of the Dodge Charger Pursuit is getting praise for better sight-lines

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 8, 2012 • Filed under: Funding & Staffing, News, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Morning Lineup – March 4

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Sunday Morning – "We Are Watching You!"

Most computer users are aware that packets of digital information like emails and cellphone calls are loaded with bits of identifying information such as what computer you are using or where you are located while making a call.  Geeks and IT engineers are constantly looking for ways to best utilize those tidbits of 0's and 1's, for both good and evil purposes.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) fine online Technology Review enewsletter has an interesting article published this past Tuesday on how one digital security company is refining the usage of these hidden information clues to prevent thieves and fraudsters from using stolen credit cards over the phone.  From the article:

Just as people's voices betray hints of the region they originate from, so, it turns out, do phone calls. Handsets, telephone exchanges, and other call-routing infrastructure imprint subtle and almost unique fingerprints onto the audio of any phone call, a phenomenon that security company Pindrop hopes to use to prevent fraudsters from using stolen credit cards over the phone.

"We can identify whether a person is using a landline or cell phone, or when a call supposed to come from a mobile in Atlanta comes from a landline in Nigeria," says Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO and cofounder of Pindrop. The "secret" answers and words used to protect bank and other accounts are often easily compromised, particularly using data gleaned online, or through tactics like phishing. Spoofing a caller ID to match a victim's number when calling their bank has also become commonplace, he says.

You've probably noticed that calls placed from different places, different devices, and via different networks, such as a cell phone call compared to one made through Internet services like Skype, sound different. When a person makes a call, the chain of technologies between them and the recipient creates a very particular "line noise."

Pindrop's software has been trained to extract specific information from the line noise on a call. It can even estimate a caller's location, thanks to the patchwork of different telecommunications equipment that links up the globe. "The telephone network has been around for a long time, so there are very different fingerprints for different regions," says Mustaque Ahamad, a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology and chief scientist and cofounder of Pindrop.

Calls placed as closely as 100 miles apart can be identified from one another and counter-maneuvers by the criminals are not totally effective either.  Changing handsets for mobile devices, for example, will change some of the identifying "fingerprint" being transmitted, but enough information from the other digital generators will remain to keep the message identifiable.

Read the entire ARTICLE HERE to see just how amazing this digital exploration can be.  It's impressive.

Now let's make our own impression of sorts and get the equipment checked out for today.  I'll get the coffee started and see how the Sunday breakfast is coming along.  We just might get busy today.

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Posted by on March 4, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, technology, Technology & Communications • Tagged:

Thousands of United passengers have disrupted flights this weekend due to a computer mis-migration

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Day two of an ugly computer migration

 

 

 

 

Joe Brancatelli, the creator of business travel webside Joe Sent Me, warned about the weekend merger of United and Continental computer systems.

Here is his fifth update at 01:45 this morning:

A Shameful Day for United Airlines

   Well, hasn't Saturday been fun for anyone flying United Airlines.

   With most of the pre-merger United's Saturday flight schedule now in the books, the numbers are simply atrocious: just 46 percent on-time for departures and 56 percent on-time for arrivals.

   The numbers are even worse for Chicago/O'Hare and Washington/Dulles, two of the pre-merger United's main hubs.

   At Dulles, it was 29 percent on-time departures and 45 percent on-time arrivals. One JoeSentMe member reports his 64-minute Dulles to Greensboro flight this afternoon was delayed by 227 minutes due to "late arriving" aircraft. Before he was able to board his flight, he passed a customer-service station at Dulles with "about two hundred folks in a queue."

   At O'Hare, just 26 percent of flights departed on-time on Saturday and just 44 percent arrived on time.

   The only thing performing more poorly than United in Chicago on Day One of its supposedly four-times-rehearsed transition to Continental's computers was the Chicago Tribune. In two different stories on Saturday, its reporter swallowed the "everything's just fine" lie being fed to it by a United Airlines spokesman. 

   Shame on United management for not training its pre-merger United crews properly on the new software. Shame on the United spokesman for blatantly lying about the airline's performance at its most important hub. But shame on the Chicago Tribune for not even sending anyone out to O'Hare–or, apparently, even bothering to surf to any of the easily available flight trackers to find the real numbers.

   One final kicker to show you the fantasyland in which airlines now expect passengers to live: The manifestly unhelpful Unitedhub.com site is now telling customers to "consider" not calling the airline because call-center volumes are "higher than normal." It blithely suggests customers use United.com for "self-service." But, of course, United.com continues to change reservation numbers at random, cancel or not display seat assignments and refuse to print boarding passes for many itineraries.

 

 

Brancaelli, Joe (2012 February 29) How to Survive United Airlines' Big Computer Switch. Portfolio.com

If you are flying today, FlightStats may be helpful,

 

 

 

 

 

Good luck!

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on March 4, 2012 • Filed under: aircraft, News, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – March 2

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Friday Morning – There's an APP for that…

Do you remember waaaaay back (4 years ago, in fact) when you would get pager notifications whenever an emergency incident was dispatched in the area you were interested in?  There was / is a loose network of fire dispatchers who voluntarily sent out the pages from their work stations for the benefit of buffs and other interested followers of the emergency news scene.  My former colleague, the late Wes Gerald originated this scheme about 25 years ago and it spread up and down the Atlantic coast, eventually moving across the country to hundreds of dispatch centers everywhere.

Our friend Jeff Harkey who publishes FireNews.net keeps the North Carolina system in sync. and cooperates with the other mid-Atlantic networks.  Now he has taken the next logical step and produced a "Mobile App" that works on all popular brand smartphones and tablets.  Why of course, why not?  Nobody carries pagers anymore….they 're dead and buried.  But everyone carries a cell phone now and it's usually turned on to receive incoming calls and text messages.  Now you can receive working fire notifications, too.  And it's a free APP as well.

One thing I find interesting is that Jeff gives you the option of downloading the app by scanning your QR reader (if your phone has one) over the box code that shows up on the website:

This runaway technology is sooo neat.  Naturally you can just download it directly onto your phone or tablet by using your mobile browser to go to the webpage HERE and then clicking.  Even if you don't normally follow the North Carolina dispatches, it's worth the price just to observe how this feature is evolving with the times.  Now if only I could scan my phone over one of those box codes and get a haircut without driving off to somewhere to get it, all would be well in the world.

Let's make sure our equipment is well in the world now, and get it checked out.  I'm going to start some digital coffee before we meet back in the day room.

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Posted by on March 2, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, technology, Technology & Communications

Eagles “State of the Science” 2012 Agenda

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Topics that will be covered in 10 minute data bursts

The 2012 Agenda for the EMS State of the Science was posted.

Here are the topics the U.S. Metropolitan Municipalities EMS Medical Directors Consortium will be covering Friday and Saturday:

  • Myocardial Infarction
  • The Outcome of Recent Outcome Studies
  • New Devices, New Protocols and New Concerns: Navigating in the "New" Times of Budgetary Constraint
  • Mini-Symposium about Call Center Issues in EMS
  • Mini-Symposium about EMS and Trauma Care
  • Alternatives to EMS patient disposition: Handling 9-1-1 System "Loyalty Program Members"
  • Evolving Considerations in Prehospital Emergency Care Practice
  • The Therapeutic Edge: Challenges in Pregnancy and Asthma
  • Issues in Destination Hospitals and Process Analysis
  • Approaches to Termination of Resuscitation
  • Safety and Risk Management Concerns in PreHospital Care
  • Evolving Considerations in EMS Data Evaluation

More than 50 nuggets presented in ten minute blasts. Hundreds more contacts, conversations, and socializing. Plus, lightning rounds with the Eagles.

It is to EMS what FDIC is to fire.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

related posts:

Posted by on February 23, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, ambulances, EMS Topics, Funding & Staffing, Mass Casualty Incident, News, Patient Management, Special Operations, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander • Tagged: , ,

What Syracuse and Saint Louis Share

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How the Great Recession and Technology Change Two Unique Departments

As an engineering student in the 1970's, I followed the radical changes in fire suppression practices in Syracuse and Saint Louis. Along with the RAND operations research in New York City, we were just a few years away from flying cars.

Cutting age innovations

In reading Signal 99, it appears Syracuse has been hard-wired for innovation.

In a 1913 presentation by FDNY Chief Croker in Syracuse, he stated "Small communities like Syracuse do not need automotive fire apparatus."

Syracuse Chief Thomas Ryan added motorized tractors to Engine 1 and Truck 1 within a year.

Shrinking Syracuse in 1970s

Syracuse was facing a four-sided problem:

  • Ancient fire stations
  • Aging fire apparatus fleet
  • State legislation mandating a 40 hour work week for career firefighters, requiring a fourth platoon
  • Declining population (9% in a decade)

Chief Thomas Hanlon introduced a reorganization proposal in 1973 that would build seven new fire stations, purchase new apparatus and use innovative technology.

The size of the department would not change.  To accomodate a fourth platoon of 125 members the department went from 18 to 12 fire stations and from 26 to 20 fire companies.

MAXI PUMPER

The first maxi pumper was a 1973 all-wheel drive 1500 gpm/500 gwt rig with a 50' telescoping waterway. Lets see the status of the innovations with the rig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engine 5 (IAFF Local 280 photo)

Automated Pump and Hydrant Controls

Designed in 1975 and implemented on Engine 3 in 1976, the radio-controlled automated hydrant valves were high maintenance and poor performers, discontinued after a couple of months.  Same for the radio controlled module at the nozzle of the attack line.

The malfunction alert on the automated pump controls has shown up on other rigs.

Rapid Water

An additive designed to reduce the surface tension (friction loss) in water and allow more flow. RAND introduced it in FDNY in 1969 to increase the water flow in 1.75" attack lines. This would allow a reduction in fire company staffing. 

The last Syracuse maxi-pumpers with the plumbing for the additive was four Emergency One pumpers purchased in 1982.  Recent pumper purchases have Class A foam

Click HERE to read the 31 page, 3 MB .pdf copy of the RAND report on "Slippery Water" 

Traffic pre-emption devices

First generation of the devices that provide responding apparatus a green light intersection. Good chance your rig uses a similar device.

Four-wheel drive

Last pumpers with four wheel drive capabilites were purchased in 1991, the skyrocketing cost of rigs and declining municipal budgets were affecting the apparatus specifications.

50' to 55' Telescoping waterway

Two Sutphen pumpers placed into service in 2000 are the first engines without a telescoping boom. Budget constraints and concern about the availability of a Tele-Squrt boom resulted in this decision for Engine 3 and Engine 7.

 

 

 

 

 

 

'

Engine 7 picture by Tom Shand, from Syracuse press release

Engine and Mini 7 responding:

MINI PUMPER

Originally designed to handle automobile and trash fires by itself, the mini-pumper had a 300 gpm pump, 200 gallon water tank, 750' of large diameter hose, radio-controlled master stream and two attack lines. It could function as the Maxi's hose wagon.

Four person engine company staffing is split between the Mini and the Maxi.

The pick-up truck sized four wheel drive rigs had transmission, brake and suspension problems. Larger medium duty rigs were introduced in 1977.

Change of focus

The fire department started providing ems first responder responses in the 1990's with the private ambulance company providing 9-1-1 service.

The first ems first responder mini was evaluated in 1994. Starting in 2002, new mini rigs were ems first responder with no fire suppression capability.

Mini 5 photo credit Shapiro Photography.

Eight of the ten engine companies have ems first responder rigs, two minis are ambulances.  Based on the 2008 annual report, 62% of Syracuse responses are ems first-responder runs.

Meanwhile, in Saint Louis

When Neil Svetanics was appointed the Fire Chief of Saint Louis in 1986, the mayor required a significant reduction of the firefighter workforce.

Svetanics established the Total Quint Concept because of the mayor’s mandate. 30 quints replaced 30 engine companies and 12 truck companies.

Dennis Maag reported in Fire Apparatus Journal that St. Louis placed nine Smeal 2250 gpm pumpers in 2011, the first non-quints purchased by the city in two decades.

Eight existing 75' and 125' quints are undergoing refurbishment. The first rig is Engine 28's 2000 Spartan/Smeal 75' 2000 gpm/400 gwt quint. Recieved a rebuilt powertrain, new emergency lights, compartment doors, paint, suspension, radiator and brakes. Assigned as Truck 29.

References:

  • Shand, Tom W. and Reeves, David B. (2011) Signal 99: The Fire Apparatus of the Syracuse Fire Department. Grit Printing: Montoursville, PA. available at FSP Books (HERE)
  • Maag, Dennis J. (2011 September-October) "Updates: St. Louis Metro" Fire Apparatus Journal Vol 28, No 5, pages 12-13.
  • Maag, Dennis J. (2012 January-February) "Updates: St. Louis Metro" Fire Apparatus Journal Vol 29, No 1, pages 12 – 13.

Related articles:

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on February 14, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Funding & Staffing, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – February 11

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Saturday Morning – Cleared For Takeoff

Techno-News abounds these days for good reason, and since we have been chatting off and on recently about Tablets and e-readers, I thought I would pass this bit along this morning.

It makes sense if you stop and think about it, but it's easy to miss the obvious.  Two months ago in December the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has given approval for major commercial airlines to issue single-purpose iPads to their pilots to replace their mountain of papers that include their flight charts, weather reports, and other flight-related material.  This new "electronic flight bag" will replace those 30-lb. flight bags and also remove the tedious task of sorting out even more papers that are filed in the cockpit for references.  Of course, there is the added feature of instant updating to the forms and charts that are filed in the tablet.

Wired.com

Alaska Airlines was the first major line to begin using the iPad and have already displaced their Flight Operations Manual and the Flight Handbook.  They're working on the charts now.  Coming on line as we write are United, Continental, American, and freight-hauler UPS, each in the process of switching over.

Now comes news that the U. S. Air Force is beginning the massive changeover to tablets also.  International Business Times is reporting that the USAF is ordering 18,000 iPad 2's to go into use in cargo planes, primarily the C-5 Galaxy and the C-17 Globemaster.

"Moving from a paper-based to an electronically based flight publication system will not only enhance operational effectiveness, it can also save the Department of Defense time and money," said Maj. Gen. Rick Martin, the director of operations for the Air Mobility Command. "Electronic flight bags are becoming an industry standard due to their operational, environmental and cost savings benefits."

There are several benefits to using electronic flight bags instead of physical versions. For one, the iPad can instantly update charts electronically, while the AMC would require flying charts to be reprinted every 28 days to stay up to date.

"This equates to approximately 70 pounds of paper per aircraft each month that must be meticulously sorted, accounted for, and updated," said Maj. Pete Birchenough, who head's the AMC's electronic flight bag initiative.

United Airlines photo

The Air Force Special Operations Command will also be purchasing more than 2,800 iPad 2's.  And the digital beat goes on.  The next question that we have raised before is, whenever will a progressive fire department start doing the same thing for their equipment management?

Until they do, we will just have to grab our old 19th-century clipboards and get our own equipment checked out now.  I will get the coffee started before we meet back in the day room.

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Posted by on February 11, 2012 • Filed under: aircraft, morning lineup, technology, Technology & Communications

500 first responder runs a day

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GPS smartphone app + ambucycles = immediate response

Among the high-minded discusion and topless protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos was a presentation by Eli Beer, Chief Coordinator of United Hatzalah (Rescue).

Creating a Network of Heros describes the process of empowering 1,700 volunteers in Israel to immediately respond to a life-threatening medical emergency.

United Hatzalah's ambucycles are a solution when ambulances that needs to arrive quickly to save lives are unable to travel through congested traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The volunteers have an ambucycle with AED and first aid kit. They have a GPS application in their smart phone that displays the location of the emergency

From their website:

United Hatzalah of Israel is an independent non-profit fully volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Organization that assists in responding to medical emergencies throughout Israel.

The primary role of United Hatzalah volunteers – trained and certified as EMTs, Paramedics and MD’s – is to provide an immediate response within 2-4 minutes from the onset of an incident: establishing a life-saving bridge of medical care; transmitting vital information to control centers and once the local ambulance service arrives, working alongside its crew to enable a swift transfer to hospital. United Hatzalah's education department is an innovative leader in the fields of public health, safety and accident prevention training.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on February 1, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, EMS Dispatch, EMS Topics, News, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander, Videos • Tagged: , , , , ,

Not fair: Creating Expensive Desire

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Porsche pushing buttons

In the last advertising campaign, Porsche promoted the idea that their 911 sports car could be an everyday driver. Chris Woodyard wrote about it in a March 25, 2011 USA Today article: "New TV ad pushes practical side of Porsche 911."

With the 2012 "991" model, the iconic car gets a major update. Third all-new chassis, a little longer than the original 1963 "901" air-cooled model.

Development of Porsche Identity:

New commercial released yesterday. 

Our identity is the 911. This is especially true, even in the 21st century.

Instantly recognisable and originally engineered for the racetrack, it continues to stir the emotions today, just as it did in 1963.

More information on http://www.porsche.com/911

While I am the demographic target for the Corvette generation (old bald guy), the 911 is the only rented sports/exotic car that I still think about (2009: I still want a Porsche).

I came back from that Vegas trip and stopped by a dealership.  Only $90,000.

Unlike Mitt, for me that is A LOT of money for a car.

However, if I get a winning lottery ticket  …..

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on January 21, 2012 • Filed under: Technology & Communications, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

CES 2012 – Day 1

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Updates From the Consumer Electronics Show

which runs from Tuesday to Saturday this week

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HERE'S A GOOD video review of a new smartphone from HTC introduced yesterday.  Coming soon via AT&T, it's a 4G Windows phone that has an eye-popping 16 MP camera in it:

 

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The Associated Press tells us that the theme for this year seems to be "Thin is In"

 

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Nixie's report starts with Ultra Books, only a mention though, but it's worth waiting through the video to see the new Home Drone, a consumer-operated drone controlled by your smartphone that transmits live video images back to your receiver.  You can check the neighbor's picnic!

 

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Posted by on January 11, 2012 • Filed under: technology, Technology & Communications, Videos • Tagged:

3 Days Left to Play the eBook Contest

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Enter the Contest and Start Your eBook Reading Now

Only Three Days Left to Enter

TO HELP INTRODUCE YOU TO the world of eBooks,  Dave Diamantes, author of top-selling eBook Dead Pen Pals has created this simple exercise combined with a contest for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

One of the unique features of eBook purchasing is the ability to download the first chapter of the book for free so you can "browse" and decide if you want to buy it or not.  Our contest is based on this feature and you begin playing by first going to the book's webpage:  www.deadpenpals.com

After you enter the site, move your cursor to the upper left corner of the page and click on "DEAD PEN PALS Chapter One"

That will bring you a .pdf  file containing Chapter One (my download was 5 pages, but the file contracted the spaces between paragraphs.  Don't worry, the actual eBook is formatted properly).  Read Chapter One and then…..

Answer the following questions:

  1. What is the name of Duncan Weller's company?
  2. What is Beverly Hartley's claim to fame?
  3. What is Neil Hartley's cyber-girlfriend's name?

Enter your answers in an email addressed to us:  geezerguys(at)yahoo(dot)com.  Put CONTEST in the Subject line and send it to us by midnight Saturday January 14.

We will draw three names from all the correct entries and those three winners will receive a free copy of Dead Pen Pals.  It will play on all the major brand e-readers, not just Kindle.  If you do not have an e-reader yet, then Dave will send you a paperback version of the book, so everybody has a chance to win!  If you don't want to wait that long for a copy, you can go ahead and order one off the website we linked above.

Ok..get started and Good Luck!

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Kindle Prices Begin at $79

CLICK HERE to compare all models and order.

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Posted by on January 11, 2012 • Filed under: fun, technology, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , ,

Play the eBook Contest

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Start Your eBook Reading Now

TO HELP INTRODUCE YOU TO the world of eBooks,  Dave Diamantes, author of top-selling eBook Dead Pen Pals has created this simple exercise combined with a contest for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

One of the unique features of eBook purchasing is the ability to download the first chapter of the book for free so you can "browse" and decide if you want to buy it or not.  Our contest is based on this feature and you begin playing by first going to the book's webpage:  www.deadpenpals.com

After you enter the site, move your cursor to the upper left corner of the page and click on "DEAD PEN PALS Chapter One"

That will bring you a .pdf  file containing Chapter One (my download was 5 pages, but the file contracted the spaces between paragraphs.  Don't worry, the actual eBook is formatted properly).  Read Chapter One and then…..

Answer the following questions:

  1. What is the name of Duncan Weller's company?
  2. What is Beverly Hartley's claim to fame?
  3. What is Neil Hartley's cyber-girlfriend's name?

Enter your answers in an email addressed to us:  geezerguys(at)yahoo(dot)com.  Put CONTEST in the Subject line and send it to us by midnight Saturday January 14.

We will draw three names from all the correct entries and those three winners will receive a free copy of Dead Pen Pals.  It will play on all the major brand e-readers, not just Kindle.  If you do not have an e-reader yet, then Dave will send you a paperback version of the book, so everybody has a chance to win!  If you don't want to wait that long for a copy, you can go ahead and order one off the website we linked above.

Ok..get started and Good Luck!

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Kindle Prices Begin at $79

CLICK HERE to compare all models and order.

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Posted by on January 9, 2012 • Filed under: fun, technology, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , ,