Clik here to view.
A Dose Of Mortality
I had a sobering discussion with my son last night. He is 23 years old, works as a part-time firefighter, and also serves as a resident volunteer firefighter. He is testing everywhere, intent on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Who Turned Out The Lights?
Ever since I was a kid I religiously read National Geographic Magazine. My grandparents kept issues dating back to the mid 30’s, and I looked forward to reading these mini-time capsules. As I got...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Inoperable Interoperability
I recently met with a group of boathouse owners at our local marina that recently suffered a fire killing two boat owners, destroying the large boathouse and 12 large pleasure boats. In prepping for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fire and Golf
I’m writing this while sitting on the deck of a golf resort, overlooking an uphill tough par 5 hole that I’ve only reached in two one time in the dozen times I’ve tried. All day long, foursomes of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are You Freakin’ Kiddin’ Me?
Over the past couple of weeks the #SMEM Twitter world has been noodling with the question of the changing role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in crisis. Some even wondered aloud if this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Here Comes Sandy, Here Comes Sandy, Right Down Hurricane Lane
Sung to the tune of Here Comes Santa Claus. Yes, I know it is Halloween season, but I can’t get the tune out of my head. The only thing “Frankenstorm” Sandy will likely be delivering are huge lumps of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do No Harm
I found a tweet a couple of days ago that made me go “It’s about time!” The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation just announced they were no longer supporting the rigid approach espoused by the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Heroes emerge…Again
Like everyone else I was horrified to learn of the massacre in Boston. Due to work obligations I learned of the attack three hours after it happened. I am just now starting to catch up on the tweets,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
I must say, this past week was unprecedented as social media news is concerned. The terrorist bombings in Boston, the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion and the subsequent gun battle and manhunt...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Got A Full Slide Tray?
Yesterday Patrick Meier posted a great article about the use of social media (SM) “Big Data” in disaster response. Specifically, he challenges growing assumptions and presumptions that SM big data...
View ArticleClik here to view.
You Are Already Behind
I’m sitting in my favorite easy chair at home, sippin’ a beer, surfin’ my tablet and swayin’ to the music of my favorite Pandora music channel. A balloon pops up in the upper right corner of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
I Told Ya So
This morning I read a San Fransisco Chronicle article detailing the San Fran fire chief’s edict banning the use of helmet cameras by on duty firefighters. Prompted by the viral spread of a helmet...
View ArticleClik here to view.
C’mon Boston, It’s Not About The Vest
A couple of days ago the Boston Globe wrote a lengthy article about the exodus of the most recent Boston Fire Chief, Steve Abraira. Chief Abraira recently resigned under withering public criticism of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gaga Over Google Glass
The newfangled Google Glass device introduced recently is causing quite the stir among techies and detractors alike. It appears to introduce the concept of a heads up display for navigating life....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Boston Globe Strikes Again
Boy, I bet Boston firefighters are fuming right ‘bout now. A few days ago the Boston Globe wrote an investigative piece titled “Plenty of firefighters but where are the fires?” The article asked...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Yippee Ki-Yay!
“Factors obstructing the adoption of crowdsourcing, social media, and digital volunteerism approaches often include uncertainty about accuracy, fear of liability, inability to translate research into...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Indian Street Morons
35 years ago I stood at the top of a set of stairs, watching with anxious fascination the chaos below. Western Washington Security and Bellingham Police Department undercover officers observed drug...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Calling 911in 2025
Imagine it is October 29, 2025. You are sitting up in bed watching a streaming video through your Google Glasses +8 while also checking your alma mater’s basketball scores. Your life partner suddenly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Drones, Hoaxes and Skeptics Oh My
Two fascinating social media and technology news stories broke over the Thanksgiving holiday making for a target rich blogging environment. Amazon drones Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, is a pretty shrewd...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hey LAFD, IT’s Not A Vacation!
I’m sitting in a Houston airport waiting for my flight and my Twitter and Facebook feeds blow up with news the Los Angeles Fire Department social media sites had been shut down due to patient privacy...
View Article
