Some info on the Bill that Rendell vetoed

Cancer threatens firefighters long after respondingStudies show firefighters have higher rates of cancer and other health problems, with higher risk of testicular cancer By Paul Eakins
The Press-Telegram

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Thirty years ago, when David Ellis became a firefighter, he rarely considered the risks of the job once he stepped away from a burning building or another emergency.

Like most firefighters, Ellis was often in and out of the fire station many times each day. He might reuse the same turnout — his protective pants and jacket — throughout his shift.

Back then, neither firefighters such as Ellis nor even the medical community understood the continued risk of contamination that these emergency workers faced, simply by failing to clean their turnouts, to shower after being exposed to soot, and to take a few elementary precautions.

When he discovered cancer-like symptoms in 2007, Ellis, who was Long Beach's fire chief at the time, still didn't think that he could be afflicted with what turned out to be testicular cancer.

That form of cancer, he knew, typically occurs in younger men.

Then he did some research and discovered an anomaly in the statistics — "Except for firefighters," Ellis told the Press-Telegram last week.

Numerous studies have shown that firefighters have higher rates of cancer and other health problems, and at least one study has found that the highest cancer risk of all is testicular cancer — the same disease that forced the 52-year-old Ellis into an early retirement in 2009.

"Statistically, it's showing over and over again that it's affecting firefighters throughout the country," Ellis said.

Sidestepping soot

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Cincinnati and released in 2006 found that firefighters are twice as likely as other men to get testicular cancer.

The reason for the high cancer rates is that soot isn't just dirty, it's dangerous, said Grace LeMasters, a professor in the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnatti's College of Medicine and a co-author of the study.

Fire and smoke are only the immediate threat that firefighters face, she said.

"As soon as they get out of that fire, off comes their mask and they're getting exposed to soot," she said. "Some of them go to bed immediately after (a fire) because they're exhausted. Well, that's like going to bed with cancer-causing agents."

LeMasters has been pushing for fire departments to be hyper vigilant to prevent exposure to soot and other carcinogens.

Every speck of soot in a firefighters' hair or on their skin could leach chemicals into their bodies. Every smear on their clothes could continue releasing dangerous gases long after the fire is out, she said.

"Firefighters can decrease their exposures by immediately and always showering after a fire," LeMasters said.

Even using the same gear twice without properly cleaning it in between can give firefighters a second dose of exposure, she said.

In addition to testicular cancer, three other cancers were found to be high-risk in LeMasters's study — prostate cancer; non- Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a cancer of the blood; and multiple myeloma, which affects bone marrow.

Although researchers are starting to learn about the cancer risks and examine the statistics, there are still many unanswered questions, such as which specific chemicals cause which cancers and why some are more prevalent than others.

"Why testicular cancer? Well, we don't know why," LeMasters said.

Workers' comp common

Those unknowns can cost the cities and other agencies that employ firefighters, too.

Just as cancer and other ailments have become all too common among firefighters, workers' compensation claims for their illnesses are also common.

The city of Long Beach has settled a workers' compensation claim with Ellis, though the City Council still needs to sign off on it Dec. 7, City Attorney Bob Shannon said. Such claims typically aren't contested because of all of the recognized risks of the job, he noted

"For public safety officers, cancer is presumed to be a work- related condition," Shannon said.

Over about six years, Ellis will receive $86,261.90 for one health issue and $80,787 for another, though Shannon said he couldn't legally divulge the details of the health problems, and Ellis didn't want to discuss the specifics of the claim. He will also receive lifetime medical care.

New safety measures

Although longtime firefighters such as Ellis may not be able to benefit much from new research, fire officials are hopeful that new recruits can avoid the same difficulties.

Assistant Fire Chief Mike DuRee said that firefighters now are much more aware of the risks they face, and the Long Beach Fire Department has many safety procedures in place to reduce contamination, he said.

Every firefighter has two turnouts, and when one is exposed to soot or other risky elements, it is put into an extractor machine, like a high-speed industrial washing machine with special cleaning agents.

The Gear isare cleaned thoroughly, and it isn't allowed into the common areas of the fire stations where the firefighters eat and sleep.

But fire departments simply didn't know about the true extent of the ongoing dangers in Ellis's day, or even when DuRee started his career 17 years ago.

In years past, the rough-and-tumble firefighter, covered in soot, riding the back of a howling fire engine wasn't just an image from children's fantasies — it was the way many firefighters saw themselves, too, DuRee said.

"It was almost like a badge of honor," he said. "The firefighters thought, 'I'm dirty cause I'm working hard.'"

That image has done a 180-degree turnaround.

"The dirty, soiled turnouts used to be the badge of honorowner," said DuRee. "Now the clean turnouts are the badge of honor."

Moving on

Ellis may get his own badge of honor as well, as a cancer survivor. His disease is in remission now.

He said his decision to retire last year was a difficult one, but the right one, so that he could give up fighting fires to focus instead on fighting his disease, as well as spending time with his family — his wife, Roni, his grown son Jeff, and his many nieces and nephews.

Despite his health issues, Ellis said he doesn't regret his career choice.

"Being a firefighter and the crew I had with Long Beach, I couldn't have asked for more," Ellis said. "It was a dream come true for me."

Ellis said he is still recovering and trying to figure out what his next step in life will be. Whatever it is, he said he doesn't plan to dwell on his cancer.

"That's not something that's going to define who I am," Ellis said. "It's a phase in my life and then I move on."

It's simple, The job is necessary. We save lives. Doing our job puts us at risk. We need help. This Bill was the help. It was passed with MASSIVE bipartisan support (almost an unheard of level). Rendell vetoed it. On a Saturday. Does that sound honest? Or does that sound like an A-Hole trying to get revenge for us not supporting him? BTW Dictator Leighton supports him in this. And I think part of the reason is to spite us (The WBFD).


Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

ARE YOU $H1TTING ME???

This CAN NOT be real? Or can it? In todays world where apathy reins and sheeple look to the government to control everything (without realizing that as control goes up, freedom and liberty goes down) I can believe it.
Here is the article
Insanity! Teacher Bans Students From Bringing Pencils To School
By Robert Paul Reyes

"A Massachusetts school district superintendent said a memo banning sixth graders from carrying pencils was written without district approval.

North Brookfield School District interim Superintendent Gordon Noseworthy said Wendy Scott, one of two sixth-grade teachers at North Brookfield Elementary School, did not get approval from administrators before sending the memo to all sixth-grade parents, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported Thursday.

The memo said students would no longer be allowed to bring writing implements to school. It said pencils would be provided for students in class and any students caught with pencils or pens after Nov. 15 would face disciplinary action for having materials 'to build weapons.'

Noseworthy said the memo does not represent district policy." UPI

This is yet another example of zero tolerance policy taken to an absurd level. Who knew that pencils were "materials to build weapons?" Are the school officials going to remove every last stone, rock and pebble from the school grounds, because they are materials to start a war?

Pencils should be removed from school, but not because they can be used as a weapon. Pencils and pens are so "old-school", I say throw away all the pens and pencils and provide every student with a computer.

Wendy is too uptight, one night with me she will loosen up, and she might even provide the students with switchblades."

Remember all you Parental Units pencils are an entry level weapon, If we do not crack down on this now, soon the child units will be using.... (Gasp) BALLPOINT PENS!!!
ARRGGGH....

"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows,
liberty decreases." -Thomas Jefferson

Today, Governor Rendell vetoed House Bill 1231, the fire fighter cancer presumption legislation. The Governor waited until the Saturday after Thanksgiving to make this ill advised move. The timing of his veto was gauged to keep us from making any concerted attempts towards an override. The PPFFA is very aware of the political process, but it is unbelievable that an anti fire fighter governor can thumb his nose at a piece of legislation that has had only 8 negative votes since its inception! The last time we checked we found that we still live in a democracy and when you have over 90 percent of the states elected representatives voting in bi-partisan favor of a bill that will give some comfort to terminally ill fire fighters and some financial assistance to fire fighters windows and children it's more than cold hearted, it's criminal.

I can assure you that we will be back with this legislation, the IAFF is involved and our friends in the PA Senate and House are on-board. It may have taken us 25 years to get here, but we're here to stay. This setback is just that a setback, we have tenacity and resolve, if the Governor and his political cronies don't believe that they're sorely and sadly mistaken. The giant that is the Pennsylvania Fire Service is just starting to rise. While our opponents in the various associations that were opposed to this legislation tout that they have representatives in 900 communities in the state, we have them in 3500 boroughs, cities and townships. We will foster that political power and with your assistance move our agenda forward.

Art Martynuska
President
Pennsylvania Professional
Fire Fighters Association
www.ppffa.org




When I became a firefighter, my first line chief told me 'when you became a fireman, you signed 10 years of your life away'. Yet Governor Rendell ignored that fact and the fact that we are willing to risk our lives and the quality of our lives to help YOU. We are regullarly exposed to every flu, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis (All forms of it), All kinds of carcinagens (think of all the plastics and chemicals in a housefire), and God knows what else. He also criminally ignored the massive bi-partisan support this bill gathered. Makes you wonder WHY he would do that.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

South Franklin St

I haven't posted about this fire yet because I wasn't there. It happened on my days off and since I was out 'having a few' I didn't know about it 'till the next day. So after talking to some of the Firefighters that were there, I have a few conclusions.

1. The first building could not have been saved. It was too far gone. People if you have a fire, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. Don't waste time using multiple extinguishers and then call 911.
2. The loss of the second home... Every Firefighter that I have talked to has told me it could have been saved, but they DID NOT have the manpower. Another engine and 5 more men would have saved it. Hell every one has said another engine and 3 more men would have PROBABLY saved it. This puts its loss squarely on Dictator Leightons slimey back. Of course if called on it he will blame us. I've already posted about how he always blames others.
3. Minutes count. It is not just the number of men on the fire scene, it is the number of men on the fire scene in the critical amount of time.


We are paying for services that he is not providing. He is responsible for taking our tax money and leaving us with LESS than the MINIMUM protection. The city's own study says 17 men per shift. Dictator Leighton says 12. When asked about it he says the city doesn't have the money. But it has the money to give tax breaks to his campaign contributors, or to sell them property at 8 cents on the dollar.
Remember his Senate ad said he "brought safety and prosperity" to Wilkes-Barre.....
Maybe if you define Wilkes-Barre as his campaign contributors because he sure doesn't give a damn about our safety.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

A Thank you to our Armed Forces

On this Thanksgiving, I would like to take a moment and thank all the men and women who cannot be with thier families today because they are serving our great country. Thank you and please come home safe.

Dan Emplit WBFD

Mexican Marines Reconstruct the Death of Don Alejo Garza

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2010/11/mexican-marines-reconstruct-death-of.html

Mexican Marines Reconstruct the Death of Don Alejo Garza
Monday, November 22, 2010 | Borderland Beat Reporter Ovemex


When Mexican Marines arrived at the San Jose Ranch, 15 kilometers from Victoria, Tamaulipas, the scene was bleak: The austere main house was practically destroyed by grenades and heavy gunfire.

Outside of the home, they found four bodies. Cautiously, and with their weapons drawn, the troops continued inspecting the exterior and found two more gunmen, wounded and unconscious, but alive.

Inside the house only one body was found, riddled with bullets and with two weapons by it's side. The body was identified as Don Alejo Garza Tamez, the owner of the ranch and a highly respected businessman in Nuevo Leon.

Upon further inspection of the interior, marines found weapons and ammunition at every window and door. This allowed them to reconstruct how, just hours prior, the battle had played out.

Marines searched for more bodies inside the house, but none were to be found. It seemed hard to believe that one person, armed only with hunting rifles, had caused so many casualties on the attackers.

Dozens of spent shells and the smell of gunpowder gave proof of the tenacity of the man who fought to the end in defense, of not only his ranch, but his dignity.

In the end, it was deduced the man had created his own defense strategy to fight alone, placing weapons at every door and window.

The story began in the morning of Saturday November 13, when a group of armed gunmen went to deliver an ultimatum to Don Alejo Garza Tamez: He had 24 hours to turn over his property or suffer the consequences.

Using the diplomacy he had acquired over nearly eight decades of life, Don Alejo flatly announced that not only would he not be surrendering his property, but that he'd be waiting for them.

When the men had left, Don Alejo gathered his workers and ordered them to take Sunday off, he wanted to be alone.

He dedicated the rest of Saturday to taking stock of his weapons and ammunition and creating a military fortress style defense strategy for his home.

The night of Saturday the thirteenth was long and restless, much like his past hunting adventures; Don Alejo woke early. Shortly after 4 a.m. the motors of various trucks could be heard entering the property from a distance.

Marines who investigated the scene could only imagine how it was that morning: armed men, their impunity secured, confident they'd soon be owners of yet another property. Nobody, or almost no one, could hold out against a group of heavily armed gunmen. Only Don Alejo.

The trucks entered the ranch and took up positions surrounding the house. The gunmen got out of their trucks, fired shots in the air, and announced they came to take possession of the ranch. They were expecting the terrified occupants to run out, begging for mercy with their hands in the air.

But things didn't go as expected. Don Alejo welcomed them with bullets; the entire army of gunmen returned fire. Don Alejo seemed to multiply, he seemed to be everywhere. The minutes would have seemed endless to those who had seen him as easy prey. Various gunmen were killed on sight. The others, in rage and frustration, intensified the attack by swapping out their assault rifles for grenades.

When everything finally fell silent, the air was left heavy with gunpowder. The holes left in the walls and the windows attested to the violence of the attack. When they went in search of what they had assumed was a large contingent, they were surprised to find only one man, Don Alejo.

The surviving gunmen did not take over the ranch. Thinking the military would arrive at any moment, they decided to run. They left behind what they thought were six corpses, but two of their gunmen had survived.

Shortly after, the Marines arrived and methodically reconstructed the events. A lone rancher, a man who worked a lifetime to be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor such as his ranch, had defended it to his death.

In the last hunt of his life, Don Alejo surprised the group of assassins who wanted to impose the same law on his ranch that they had on the State, the law of the jungle.

The marines who were present will never forget the scene: a 77 year old man, who before death, took out four gunmen, fighting the same as the best soldiers: with dignity, courage, and honor.

How many AMERICANS would stand up for what is right, like Don Alejo Garza Tamez did?

I for one salute you, Sir.

Dan Emplit WBFD

TSA vs Common sense

A friend of mine sent me this:

"Another TSA Outrage
Posted by Erick Erickson
Thursday, November 18th at 6:28PM EST

A friend of mine sent me this about his TSA experience. He, unlike most of us, was coming back into the country from Afghanistan on a military charter.

——–

As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.

Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon."

Things To Do In An Elevator

Things To Do In An Elevator

1) When there's only one other person in the elvator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn't you.

2) Push the buttons and pretend they give you a shock. Smile, and go back for more.

3) Ask if you can push the button for other people, but push the wrong ones.

4) Call the Psychic Hotline from your cell phone and ask if they know what floor your on.

5) Hold the doors open and say your waiting for a friend. After a while, let the doors close, and say, "Hi Greg. How's your day been?"

6) Drop a pen and wait until someone goes to pick it up, then scream, "That's mine!"

7) Bring a camera and take pictures of everyone in the elevator.

8) Move your desk into the elevator and whenever anyone gets on, ask if they have an apointment.

9) Lay down the Twister mat and ask people if they would like to play.

10) Leave a box in the corner, and when someone gets on, ask them if they can hear ticking.

11) Pretend you are a flight attendant and review emergency procedures and exits with the passengers.

12) Ask, "Did you feel that?"

13) Stand really close to someone, sniffing them occasionally.

14) When the doors close, announce to the others, "It's okay, don't panic, they open again!"

15) Swat at flies that don't exist.

16) Tell people that you can see their aura.

17) Call out, "Group Hug!"and then enforce it.

18) Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering, "Shut up, all of you, just shut up!"

19) Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside, ask, "Got enough air in there?"

20) Stand silently and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.

21) Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce in horror, "Your one of THEM!" and back away slowly.

22) Wear a puppet on your hand and use it to talk to the other passengers.

23) Listen to the elevator walls with your stethoscope.

24) Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.

25) Stare, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce, "I have new socks on".

26) Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passnegers, "This is MY personal space!"

27) One word, "Shave."

28) Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.

29) On the highest floor, hold the door open and demand that it stay open until you hear the penny you dropped down the shaft go "plink" at the bottom.

30) When at least 8 people have boarded, moan from the back: "Oh, not now... motion sickness!"

31) Frown and mutter "gotta go, gotta go" then sigh and say "oops!"

32) Walk on with a cooler that says "human head" on the side.

33) Start a sing-along.

34) Announce in a demonic voice: "I must find a more suitable host body."

35) If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler "Bad touch!"

36) While the doors are opening, hurriedly whisper, "Hide it...quick!" then whistle innocently.

37) Listen to the elevator walls with your stethoscope.

38) Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.

I LIKE what this Guy is saying.
He is LT. Col. Allen West
We do need A MAN in the white house. Check him out.

Closed minded people piss me off

A friend of mine posted this on facebook:

"I have a strong desire to put some wild turkey in my freezer. Heading upstate after work, 12 gauge in hand. Gobble, gobble mofos!"
a short while later a 'FB friend' replied with this:

"matthew, this comment sickens me. Only cowards and those who are weak-minded feel the need to hunt animals that do not have the ability to hunt them back. I no longer consider you a friend but an enemy of life and of Me. you are also an enemy to yourself. Evaluate your life and the people you are surrounding yourself with."

Now I've met Matt and he's a stand up guy. A little example is, I have a World War 2 axis (Bad Guy) rifle that I was trying to research and was getting NOWHERE. Matt quickly filled in details that I couldn't dig up even after 2 years of looking.


(Matt's in the front row on the right, this is from the camp out back in Sept)




Now I hate closed minded people and her comments kept bugging me so my answer on facebook:
" I eat meat & used to hunt (just don't like freezing my ass off). Does that make me "a coward" & "weak minded"? Even though I give OVER $1000 a year to the ASPCA? Or that I've risked my life to save pets from house fires? Your comments are self loathing that you directed at another and he does not deserve that."

My Grandfather was a Vet and he loved hunting. He was one of the best people EVER.



Obviously people don't realize that being closed minded just 'closes' you off from someone who may be the best person you will ever know.

A blast from the past

I was asked to post this by a friend.
It's from the Wilkes-Barre Online Archives Hosted by Mark Cour Sept 7, 2004.

"Let's cover this...
...Sturdevant Street fire from the other night.
First off, this is not meant as a criticism of our fire department rank-and-file, their union reps, or our elected officials. As many of you know, I listen to my scanners from the moment I get out of bed until I head back to said bed at the end of each and every day. I have listened in while many structure fires were being fought and I also attended quite a few.

I followed that fire from 1 AM when it was toned, 'til 3:15 AM when it was 10-24ed. The original word from 911 was "Flames are showing. Possibly have an entrapment on the second floor." Right away, I'm thinking: "Yikes!" Now I knew Engine 3 and Medic 3 would be on scene real quick, but after that, all bets were off with two engines being recently put out of service and the rest of the apparatus playing musical chairs to some degree. Within eight minutes, the very first responders were on scene and had requested a second alarm. At that moment, Engine 9 rolled from North Station and arrived at the fire ground exactly nine minutes later. Sorry kiddies, but when we're talking fully involved structures and burned children-that's just too slow of a response.

Without an engine staged at HQ and without an engine staged at the now defunct NE station, we're spread a bit far and wide when a calamity actually presents itself.

Another problem. At 1:12 Medic 3 reported: "We've got this kid loaded up. We're gonna head to the LZ." Two minutes prior, Medc 3 had alerted 911 to alert a Life Flight helo, 911 responded that they'd need an engine to set-up the Life Flight LZ, and F-6 told 911: "County. Try Hanover Township." We've had structure fires much bigger than a single family dwelling before, but we never needed an outside department to man our LZ with their engine. Not that I've heard, anyway. But it gets worse.

At 1:25 AM, 911 alerted F-6 that "You have a 3 minute ETA from Hanover Engine 5 to the LZ." So, we were looking at 18 minutes just to man an LZ with an engine. And this is with a burned kid hanging in the balance. Again, correct me if I'm way off base, but this was another first for this Scanner Land junkie.

1:28 AM: "Command to County. Put in a full third alarm."

Yet, at 1:20 AM, the call went out to put the reserve engine in service with off-duty fire fighters yet to report. And then later, the second reserve engine was requested. That's another first for me. The second reserve engine??? I could go on. Despite being a slacker in college and such, I take superb notes on the fly.

The fire fighters handled this situation with their usual professionalism and I expected nothing less, but it's obvious to me that the deployment of our apparatus is not what we need it to be, which is a direct result of putting two engines out of service indefinately. And I think this situation needs to be rectified before...before we suffer a tragedy that could have and should have been averted.

Everybody wants those engines back in service. The fire fighters. The union guys. The politicos. And the residents. Especially the Nord End residents that have recently lost much more than just their local fire engine.

But still the question begs. If everyone involved wants those engines back in service, why aren't they?

I'm still awaiting that seemingly elusive answer.

Later"

Well put, But now we have even less while paying more taxes.

Dan Emplit WBFD

Vote!!

Everyone remember to vote today. If you don't vote then how can things change? And IMHO, Vote for the people who represent YOUR beliefs, not just straight party.

In advance, Thank you for taking the time to vote.

Dan Emplit WBFD