3AM?

I'm noticing all these "Black Friday" sales starting earlier and earlier each year.....some stores are even opening at 3AM!!

While there are some bargains to be had, it's a little ridiculous to have to get up at 3AM to get them. It's also not fair to the store employees, who have to get up so early on the day after a major holiday and deal with the madness that come along with these sales.

But, I guess opening the stores earlier results in more sales, technically, which must make the books look good.

So, I'm On Facebook

I used to think that Facebook was just for college kids, and never thought I would join.

Well, after hearing more and more cool things about Facebook recently from my friends, I decided to join.

I couldn't believe how many of my friends were on Facebook, and this now makes it easier then ever for me to stay connected.

This is like the internet's local "Pub".

Interesting Episode Of "Prototype This"

Tonight at 10PM EST on the Discovery Channel (and repeating at 2AM):

Prototype This! Robotic Firefighter Assistant The team attempts to build a hi-tech Pyro Pack to help firemen see in burning buildings and a robotic fireman to carry gear up flights of stairs and a victim back down.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/prototype-this/prototype-this.html

Will also repeat this weekend and on the Science Channel.
Sound interesting, and I'm looking foward to watching!!

In Memory Of Lt. Thomas Salvatore II, Empress EMS

As I refelect back on what's happened in Novembers past, I always remember "Tommy Sal".

It's been almost 9 years since his passing. Tommy was a street Paramedic Supervisor for Empress EMS. I worked with him during the early years of my EMS career, back when I was an EMT.

Tommy was alway laid back, friendly, approachable, and a great teacher. I remeber his love for his Supervisor's Tahoe, no matter how much it gave him problems! He always had a great spirit despite the valiant battle with Lupus and the health problems it caused him.

I remember the last time I saw Tommy, it was on a ventilator at Sound Shore Medical Center's ICU, and then at the funeral home across the street from city center.Tommy died of complications from Lupus disease.

His death was a tremendous loss for the Empress EMS family, his own family, fiance, and friends, not to mention the EMS community as a whole.

There's a whole new generation at Empress EMS now who probaly have a whole new set of supervisors. I come from when the old Empress was ending, and the "new" Empress was beginning to emerge. I remember "306 on the back", but there was nothing like hearing "301" on the air.

I reflect on a lot of the EMS lessons he taught me, and to this day remember the wide variety of calls we did together. Tommy's fellow supervisors have gone on to new careers now, but were just as awesome as him. I didn't realize it at the time, but it really was an era. I think about it, especially with all my fellow alumni who are active members of this forum.

Remember 301.

Thomas A. Salvatore III died on November 26, 1999 at the age of 33. He was born
in New Rochelle on January 30, 1966, the son of Thomas A. and Janet Longo
Salvatore. He graduated from New Rochelle High School and is a veteran of the
United States Navy. He was a Paramedic Supervisor with the Empress Ambulance.