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“Toilet Bites Man”

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Combining Social Media, Haz-Mat and Technical Rescue.

While not as improper or heartbreaking as the Spalding County, Georgia, fatal traffic accident (STATter911 article here), this is an unusual “toilet bites man” fire department response that raises some social media concerns.

This appears to be documented by a Chinese news organization and shown on Independent Television News (ITN) London.

Unfortunately, they neither follow the social media recommendations from Dave Statter or Billy Goldfeder (HERE)

(tip of the hat to NewsBlues)

Mike “FossilMedic” Ward

Posted by on October 20, 2010 • Filed under: EMS Topics, News, public relations, Special Operations, Twitter, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – January 17

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Wireless telephony sprang back into the news again on Friday when both Verizon Wireless and AT&T announced some pretty hefty price drops in monthly calling plan prices.  Not only is competition fierce, but industrial espionage is apparently alive and well in the cellphone industry because the both “just happened to” announce their price cuts on the same day.

The price cuts apply to their unlimited calling plans and are a hefty 30% drop from the current rates.  Beginning tomorrow – Monday – the rate for unlimited talk will drop from $100 a month to $70, and in Verizon’s case, unlimited talk and texting comes down to $100 from $120.  Personally, I don’t understand why people feel that texting privileges are worth and extra $20 a month, but apparently enough of them do, so the extra charge is still tacked on.  I believe that before too long, the texting fees will be wrapped into the basic calling plans.

But getting back to this new pricing, it is obvious that they are going all-out in competing for the smartphone customer base.  And that makes sense because the universe of data exchange is moving rapidly in that direction.  While these plans include unlimited internet access, Verizon is still going to charge an extra $10 mo. for the ability to download multimedia such as videos.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see that one melt away within six months, too.  So, if you haven’t already, start deciding on which is your favorite now – iPhone or Droid – and watch for more price cuts.  They’ll keep coming down until everybody has signed up.  The price-cutting will take another plunge when Google’s Nexus One starts making a dent in their sales.

All of this headlong move to advanced wireless communications has revived another digital feature that has been dormant lately.  That is the concept of a single phone number for all of your phones and devices that you can take with you wherever you live or travel through.  The ability to do this exists now, and it can be easily implemented.  But……  There is often a “but.”  This number portability is strongly opposed by the telephone companies, especially the traditional land-line services.  You see, they control the numbers now with the legality of “owning” the numbers that they issue.  Number portability removes one more facet of service that keeps customers from drifting to competing companies.

But once this concept is finally adapted, not only will you be able to connect all of your phones to a sole number, making it easier to receive calls, but you can use that same number for all of you internet log-ins, such as your Facebook account or your Yahoo! email log-in number.  Just think, no more lists of 40 passwords to keep track of…..just that one number that belongs to you and you only, world-wide.  If you’re interested in reading more about this technology that is already to go, read THIS ARTICLE that begins with an interesting history of the “phone number” and then goes on to explain how we are able to dial anywhere in the world now and how we will be incorporating our personal phone number into all of our log-ins.

Catch up on that while we’re waiting for the big Sunday breakfast.  Right now, though, let’s get this equipment checked out.  I’ll check with cook and get more coffee started.  See you back in the day room.

ice buds 03 b

Posted by on January 17, 2010 • Filed under: morning lineup, technology, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , ,

Morning Lineup – November 17

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You know how we love technology and new gadgets here at Firegeezer.  Well, a new one has just come sailing in from left field that has just taken two newly-created services and merged them into one potential powerhouse.  I’m speaking of Google’s recent purchase of start-up Gizmo5 that will apparently be merged with Google’s new GoogleVoice platform.  Last week Google officially confirmed what the Geek universe had suspected for a couple of weeks, namely that the internet giant had bought Gizmo5 for $30 million.

When Google Voice came out, I didn’t pay any attention to it other than read the headlines.  This kind of stuff goes on all the time and it’s not worth my time to try and keep up with all of it.  But what I remember about the Google Voice is that it has the ability to re-route all of your incoming phone calls from all of your phone lines (home, office, mobile) to one cellphone number.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you had to have a Google-assigned phone number to complete service.

Gizmo5 is a VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) web-based service, like Skype, that permits computer-users to make phone calls anywhere through their PC.  These type of services usually charge a flat monthly fee in exchange for unlimited telephone calls to most anywhere in the world, including domestic long-distance.  Now you connect Gizmo5 with Google Voice and you get, in effect, what will soon be “free” telephone service anywhere and (eventually) everywhere directly through your cell phone or land-line phone.  You will still have to maintain a traditional phone company service, but that’s all.

Google Voice has some additional features that some people will like, such as a voicemail service that can be accessed easily anywhere and can include images or videos.  Also a feature where you can record your conversations as they are happening.  (THIS ARTICLE briefly reviews all the unique features of Google Voice.)  And how is Google going to profit from this acquisition and “free” service?  They have also recently spent $750 million to buy a telephone advertising service, AdMob, that implants ads onto your phone calls.

Nothing is ever free, but we are embarking on a communications experience where we will be able to direct-dial anyone from your cellphone or PC,  anywhere easily and without being charged by the minute.  Oh…..there’s one more thing.  Google Voice is constructed on Google’s open-source Android platform.  That’s the same platform that Verizon’s new Droid phones operate on.  Watch out, A T & T.

Let’s get this equipment that we’re already using checked out now.  It’s time to get the morning started, so I’ll go get a fresh pot brewing.  See you back in the day room.

Posted by on November 17, 2009 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – October 20

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Most of you already know that I like to keep an eye on the technological changes and improvements in the electronic and digital world.  I don’t speak the lingo, so I don’t always understand the detailed descriptions of how the new gadgets work.  But I do enjoy reading about them and occasionally even getting one of the toys to play with.

So far, I haven’t been tempted by the iPhone-type machines, nor was I ever anxious to spend good money for a Blackberry hook-up without having a genuine use for it.  But I’m starting to waiver a little bit.  GeezerDotter got hooked on an iPhone a month or so ago and she is having so much genuine fun with it that she doesn’t call me anymore.  It was a painless step for her to take because her cell phone provider was AT&T already.  Personally, I abhor AT&T, so I was content to just watch from the outside.  Son of Geezer has something similar, I think it’s a Blackberry but I’m not sure, that has the slide-out full keyboard and a good internet connection.  I think his provider for it is T-Mobile.

The thing  that has really taken off with iPhone is the “App Store” where the users  can download add-ons that do all sorts of expanded things with the phone from games to job-assisting programs.  Currently there are more than 85,000 applications, or “apps,” available for downloading.  Some are free, some are a nominal charge of a buck or two.  But so far there have been over 2 billion downloads of apps.  I have seen where there is one for EMT’s that is a CPR metronome that helps you keep a steady and proper compression rhythm.

But on October 30 the phone-toy world will see the introduction of a new device that just might get me sucked into the world of digital dependence.  Informed speculation says that’s when Verizon and Motorola are likely to announce the release of their competitor to the iPhone system.  This new device is called the Droid, a derivative of Google’s Android phone platform that has been available on some lesser systems with only mild success.  But the new Droid has two things going for it.  One, it has been technologically advanced to a level that may be nearly equal to the iPhone in use and operation.  And the biggy is that it is being rolled out on the Verizon Wireless phone network.  Verizon is not only the most-widely available signal in the country, but they also have a far better customer satisfaction record than AT&T does, by a long shot.

The pre-introduction reviews have been very positive for the Droid, and it just so happens that my cellphone provider is Verizon.  I just might become a wireless wastrel and get in on the fun after all.  I’ll be watching closely.  Maybe some of you can help me come up with an excuse that will justify spending the extra monthly fees for the thing.  Put them in the Comments and help me get over this reluctance.

First, we’d better get this equipment checked out.  I need to get the coffee started, so I’ll see you back in the day room in a little while and we can check out this “teaser” video that Verizon has sent out:

Posted by on October 20, 2009 • Filed under: morning lineup, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , ,