INIT915

Really? Fully 50% of your income goes to taxes? The government picked your doctor? What insurance plan are you on? The government told you where you can live? Could you post the letter from the government that dictated that to you? Even told you what car you can drive? Was that in the same notice about where you can live?
The fact of the matter remains, this bill was blocked by the Republicans. They may want to be known as the "law and order, tough on crime" party, but when it comes to matters like the 9/11 bill and union/collective bargaining issues, public sector workers (and private sector) in many cases don't have much to look forward to under Republican leadership.

The fact of the matter is the Rebublicans want the tax cut for the wealthy and arent afraid to hold us hostage--yes hostage. Nothing will get done untill the tax package is passed. it seems like it dosent matter to them that the increase of 700 billion to the debt is ok. Wait just wait till next year when they start with we have to cut Social security or priviatize it, have to cut health benifits, cut unemployment because it will drive up the debt. Is that coming?? as sure as the sun rising inthe east.
We all say REMEMBER 9/11 NEVER FORGET ----ALL GAVE SOME SOME GAVE ALL. We must remember too
I am done ranting.
Scott Brown a fake---what a mistake and I am not so sure the Tea party isnt either. We can see whos standing strong in our cornor. see I had more rant in me done now.

No bill needed to be "shot down". This Bill could have been moved forward. The votes on extending the tax breaks is a separate and distinct issue. The kindergarten playground mentality of my way or the highway is doing a great disservice to many emergency services workers who work and live right here in the Hudson Valley.

Really? Fully 50% of your income goes to taxes? The government picked your doctor? What insurance plan are you on? The government told you where you can live? Could you post the letter from the government that dictated that to you? Even told you what car you can drive? Was that in the same notice about where you can live?
The fact of the matter remains, this bill was blocked by the Republicans. They may want to be known as the "law and order, tough on crime" party, but when it comes to matters like the 9/11 bill and union/collective bargaining issues, public sector workers (and private sector) in many cases don't have much to look forward to under Republican leadership.

Really? Fully 50% of your income goes to taxes? The government picked your doctor? What insurance plan are you on? The government told you where you can live? Could you post the letter from the government that dictated that to you? Even told you what car you can drive? Was that in the same notice about where you can live?
The fact of the matter remains, this bill was blocked by the Republicans. They may want to be known as the "law and order, tough on crime" party, but when it comes to matters like the 9/11 bill and union/collective bargaining issues, public sector workers (and private sector) in many cases don't have much to look forward to under Republican leadership.

Republicans voted en-mass against the bill. They're not giving anybody anything unless they get their billionaires tax cuts. Nice job Republicans, message to sick and dying from 9/11: DROP DEAD!
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=7831203&rss=rss-wabc-article-7831203

This requires a rather lengthy complicated answer, but I'll try to sum it up.
Sergeant: Just your traditional Sergeant as you know them commonly. Now the NYSP doesn't have "Patrol Sergeants" or "Desk Sergeants." They are really administrative positions only, and if you seem them in the field, it is most likely because they are responding to a large scale incident, or overseeing a detail. They do not patrol. Sergeants have permanent rank based on a competitive test.
Technical Sergeants: These are appointments to positions which require some unique skill or expertise. Technical Sergeants either have the permanent rank of Sergeant, or in many cases have the Permanent rank of Trooper. However, a Trooper who is appointed a Technical Sergeant receives all the benefits of a permanent rank of Sergeant.
Sergeant/Station Commander: Highest ranking Sergeant in each Barracks. Not always the most senior Sergeant.
Zone Sergeant: Sergeants who oversee a Zone. The state is divided into Troops, then subdivided into Zones. Usually 3-4 Zone Sergeants per Zone.
First Sergeant: Highest ranking Sergeant in a Troop. Only one per Troop.
Chief Technical Sergeant: Usually assigned to a technical position. For instance, the highest ranking NCO of the TTMC is a Chief Technical Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant: High ranking administrative Sergeant. Could be assigned to any office at Division HQ in Albany.
Lieutenant: Member who has passed the competitive testing process and has the permanent rank of Lieutenant.
Technical Lieutenant: This is someone who may either have the permanent rank of Lieutenant or the permanent rank of Sergeant, and has been appointed to a technical/expertise position where they had unique skills.
Also, in the NYSP, once you receive the permanent rank of Sergeant, if you are an Investigator in the BCI, you can opt to remain in the BCI with the title “Investigator”, while having the permanent rank of Sergeant. This differs from most agencies where when a Detective is promoted to Sergeant, they go back into uniform.
Again, as I mentioned, this is a very, very brief explanation. It’s a little more in depth, but you get the point.

This requires a rather lengthy complicated answer, but I'll try to sum it up.
Sergeant: Just your traditional Sergeant as you know them commonly. Now the NYSP doesn't have "Patrol Sergeants" or "Desk Sergeants." They are really administrative positions only, and if you seem them in the field, it is most likely because they are responding to a large scale incident, or overseeing a detail. They do not patrol. Sergeants have permanent rank based on a competitive test.
Technical Sergeants: These are appointments to positions which require some unique skill or expertise. Technical Sergeants either have the permanent rank of Sergeant, or in many cases have the Permanent rank of Trooper. However, a Trooper who is appointed a Technical Sergeant receives all the benefits of a permanent rank of Sergeant.
Sergeant/Station Commander: Highest ranking Sergeant in each Barracks. Not always the most senior Sergeant.
Zone Sergeant: Sergeants who oversee a Zone. The state is divided into Troops, then subdivided into Zones. Usually 3-4 Zone Sergeants per Zone.
First Sergeant: Highest ranking Sergeant in a Troop. Only one per Troop.
Chief Technical Sergeant: Usually assigned to a technical position. For instance, the highest ranking NCO of the TTMC is a Chief Technical Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant: High ranking administrative Sergeant. Could be assigned to any office at Division HQ in Albany.
Lieutenant: Member who has passed the competitive testing process and has the permanent rank of Lieutenant.
Technical Lieutenant: This is someone who may either have the permanent rank of Lieutenant or the permanent rank of Sergeant, and has been appointed to a technical/expertise position where they had unique skills.
Also, in the NYSP, once you receive the permanent rank of Sergeant, if you are an Investigator in the BCI, you can opt to remain in the BCI with the title “Investigator”, while having the permanent rank of Sergeant. This differs from most agencies where when a Detective is promoted to Sergeant, they go back into uniform.
Again, as I mentioned, this is a very, very brief explanation. It’s a little more in depth, but you get the point.

This requires a rather lengthy complicated answer, but I'll try to sum it up.
Sergeant: Just your traditional Sergeant as you know them commonly. Now the NYSP doesn't have "Patrol Sergeants" or "Desk Sergeants." They are really administrative positions only, and if you seem them in the field, it is most likely because they are responding to a large scale incident, or overseeing a detail. They do not patrol. Sergeants have permanent rank based on a competitive test.
Technical Sergeants: These are appointments to positions which require some unique skill or expertise. Technical Sergeants either have the permanent rank of Sergeant, or in many cases have the Permanent rank of Trooper. However, a Trooper who is appointed a Technical Sergeant receives all the benefits of a permanent rank of Sergeant.
Sergeant/Station Commander: Highest ranking Sergeant in each Barracks. Not always the most senior Sergeant.
Zone Sergeant: Sergeants who oversee a Zone. The state is divided into Troops, then subdivided into Zones. Usually 3-4 Zone Sergeants per Zone.
First Sergeant: Highest ranking Sergeant in a Troop. Only one per Troop.
Chief Technical Sergeant: Usually assigned to a technical position. For instance, the highest ranking NCO of the TTMC is a Chief Technical Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant: High ranking administrative Sergeant. Could be assigned to any office at Division HQ in Albany.
Lieutenant: Member who has passed the competitive testing process and has the permanent rank of Lieutenant.
Technical Lieutenant: This is someone who may either have the permanent rank of Lieutenant or the permanent rank of Sergeant, and has been appointed to a technical/expertise position where they had unique skills.
Also, in the NYSP, once you receive the permanent rank of Sergeant, if you are an Investigator in the BCI, you can opt to remain in the BCI with the title “Investigator”, while having the permanent rank of Sergeant. This differs from most agencies where when a Detective is promoted to Sergeant, they go back into uniform.
Again, as I mentioned, this is a very, very brief explanation. It’s a little more in depth, but you get the point.

This requires a rather lengthy complicated answer, but I'll try to sum it up.
Sergeant: Just your traditional Sergeant as you know them commonly. Now the NYSP doesn't have "Patrol Sergeants" or "Desk Sergeants." They are really administrative positions only, and if you seem them in the field, it is most likely because they are responding to a large scale incident, or overseeing a detail. They do not patrol. Sergeants have permanent rank based on a competitive test.
Technical Sergeants: These are appointments to positions which require some unique skill or expertise. Technical Sergeants either have the permanent rank of Sergeant, or in many cases have the Permanent rank of Trooper. However, a Trooper who is appointed a Technical Sergeant receives all the benefits of a permanent rank of Sergeant.
Sergeant/Station Commander: Highest ranking Sergeant in each Barracks. Not always the most senior Sergeant.
Zone Sergeant: Sergeants who oversee a Zone. The state is divided into Troops, then subdivided into Zones. Usually 3-4 Zone Sergeants per Zone.
First Sergeant: Highest ranking Sergeant in a Troop. Only one per Troop.
Chief Technical Sergeant: Usually assigned to a technical position. For instance, the highest ranking NCO of the TTMC is a Chief Technical Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant: High ranking administrative Sergeant. Could be assigned to any office at Division HQ in Albany.
Lieutenant: Member who has passed the competitive testing process and has the permanent rank of Lieutenant.
Technical Lieutenant: This is someone who may either have the permanent rank of Lieutenant or the permanent rank of Sergeant, and has been appointed to a technical/expertise position where they had unique skills.
Also, in the NYSP, once you receive the permanent rank of Sergeant, if you are an Investigator in the BCI, you can opt to remain in the BCI with the title “Investigator”, while having the permanent rank of Sergeant. This differs from most agencies where when a Detective is promoted to Sergeant, they go back into uniform.
Again, as I mentioned, this is a very, very brief explanation. It’s a little more in depth, but you get the point.

What do you mean by "involvement."

Was your experience from Excelsior?
Again, I don't have first hand experience, but there are quite a few local ER nurses who took that route (because they were former Medics.)

Actually, you can do it online. Check out Excelsior.edu in Albany, New York. I have not experienced their program personally, but I know of ton of Medic-turned-Nurses who have, and they generally highly recommended it.
If I recall correctly, "The College Network" actually uses Excelsior's testing process, just for a much higher fee. The only catch with Excelsior is you have to be an actively practicing Medic (or other approved profession, i.e., RT, PT, OT, etc.) to qualify.

Oh yeah, rubber nuts on an OFFICIAL vehicle (after already being asked nicely once to remove them) and wildlife/domesticated animals. The connection is obvious, how did we miss it?!?!?

I'm the last one to defend politicians, but if our "leaders", in this case a Fire Chief, had some inherent good sense, and a desire to keep his fleet looking crisp and professional, the Mayor would never have needed to become involved, no?

Well, I'm in a Union, a fairly successful one at that, and I think our Union has learned that the first rule of negotiating is never say never. To say there would never be a reason to reopen a contract is extreme. We can all agree there wouldn't be many times the Union would benefit from it, but you really need to keep all options on the table.
And the underlying fact remains is that Unions are democratic organizations. Either way, the leadership of this Union should have put this to a vote of their membership. If the membership voted it down, as the leadership anticipated, so be it. But the decision must be made by the membership, not the hierarchy. This failure to put this matter to a vote tells me, from experience, the leadership was at least somewhat fearful of an outcome they did not want.

This is way off base. The point is not about nature but about the actions of the chief. I don't care if he was told to remove a set of rubber testicles or a bumper sticker or a sticker of that boy pissing on pissing on a symbol, he failed to follow an order by a superior and was disciplined for it. I think we are getting off base fast, exactly how this became a national story.

Nah, I have to disagree. Since this thread is resisting going to a lighter tone (the jokes ain't workin') well then so be it.
This was a very immature move to "hang" this off the rig. I mean think about it. Little old ladies, moms with kids in their mini-vans (Mom:"look at the fire truck sweetheart!" Kids:"Uh mommy what's that thing on the back of the firetruck?" Mom red-faced and p!ssed-off:"Uhhh...uh"....as she looks in her speed dial for the mayor's cell phone number)
Okay so it's not appropriate for being on the apparatus. Mayor comes in (maybe he got a call of complaint about it) says "Chief, let's get that off the rig."
Chief moves it to another location ON the rig.
Mayor suspends chief.
LIke PEMO said "National attention" for this now. NOT good PR.
Any chief, volunteer or career that:
#1 saw this and obviously didn't disapprove
#2 received explicit instruction from the mayor to remove it
#3 moved it to another location on the rig
DESERVES a suspension. and if he doesn't grow up rather quickly is going to find himself OUT of his chief's vehicle.
Like the other posters in the thread have pointed out, with all the problems in the country, with all the pressures on municipal services, with all the stress, THIS ITEM shouldn't have become an issue, and now that it has, this chief will forever be tagged and associated with a very stupid act.

Well, I'm in a Union, a fairly successful one at that, and I think our Union has learned that the first rule of negotiating is never say never. To say there would never be a reason to reopen a contract is extreme. We can all agree there wouldn't be many times the Union would benefit from it, but you really need to keep all options on the table.
And the underlying fact remains is that Unions are democratic organizations. Either way, the leadership of this Union should have put this to a vote of their membership. If the membership voted it down, as the leadership anticipated, so be it. But the decision must be made by the membership, not the hierarchy. This failure to put this matter to a vote tells me, from experience, the leadership was at least somewhat fearful of an outcome they did not want.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/address_mess_VtLGrLpuCbrgl2TmRVAwsM
Interestingly enough, a similar incident here in Westchester a couple years back for anyone who remembers it. A structure fire in Buchanan on Albany Post Road. At the time, Croton, Montrose, Buchanan, Peekskill, and Garrison, all had similar numbers along their respective stretches of Albany Post Road, and the FD was initially dispatched to the wrong one.

I'm the last one to defend politicians, but if our "leaders", in this case a Fire Chief, had some inherent good sense, and a desire to keep his fleet looking crisp and professional, the Mayor would never have needed to become involved, no?

I'm the last one to defend politicians, but if our "leaders", in this case a Fire Chief, had some inherent good sense, and a desire to keep his fleet looking crisp and professional, the Mayor would never have needed to become involved, no?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/address_mess_VtLGrLpuCbrgl2TmRVAwsM
Interestingly enough, a similar incident here in Westchester a couple years back for anyone who remembers it. A structure fire in Buchanan on Albany Post Road. At the time, Croton, Montrose, Buchanan, Peekskill, and Garrison, all had similar numbers along their respective stretches of Albany Post Road, and the FD was initially dispatched to the wrong one.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/address_mess_VtLGrLpuCbrgl2TmRVAwsM
Interestingly enough, a similar incident here in Westchester a couple years back for anyone who remembers it. A structure fire in Buchanan on Albany Post Road. At the time, Croton, Montrose, Buchanan, Peekskill, and Garrison, all had similar numbers along their respective stretches of Albany Post Road, and the FD was initially dispatched to the wrong one.

Sorry for jumping in so late in the discussion. but irish fire is right. I was on the job for 34 years and went to schools,seminars, etc. right up to the time I retired. Some of us go to these classes just to get certificates and unfortunately forget the course material in a week or two. On the other hand, you could have irishfire's attitude: Learn it from those who have been there> remember it> and put it in your back pocket because you might need it some time in the future when you least expect it. It should also come out of that back pocket every now and then for a review. Irishfire, Tommy Brennan would be proud of you.
And Barry: Mofire is young. Don't jump on him when he asks a question. All your information is absolutely correct, but as soon as you jumped on his case, you turned him off.
Cids (or whatever you may call buildings' info database) is a very time consuming effort and takes a lot of work by all members of a FD to initiate and then to keep current. Not a knock, but it is something that volunteer FDs just don't have the time or people to devote.
Everyone, paid or vol should find time to do company inspections, at least of your area's target hazards if nothing else. Wouldn't it be nice if your first time in a building is during a company inspection as opposed to 3an on your hands and knees?
And about that back pocket irishfire talked about...It's like a magic pocket. No matter how much "stuff" you put in it, it never gets full.
There...you got my two cents. Take it to heart and it may be worth a lot more to you