Ted Knoesel

Thursday nights used to be drill nights at Ardsley FD. Reminds me of Ted Knoesel. What an AWESOME guy. I really miss him. I knew him my whole life, and learned a lot from him. He is an Ardsley legacy, one of the last "true" Ardsley people I knew. hope him and Shiela are enjoying heaven.

It's a small village, but there were so many great people in the "old" Ardsley, my grandmother, my father, and so many more, that are now in heaven that I really miss-people who's time on this earth was too short. They really made an impact on me and on this world.

Wrecked: Season 2 Airdate Announced!

We have an official airdate for the premiere of Season 2!

SPEED ventures into one of the busiest transportation hubs in the United
States. Follow another season of Chicago’s toughest towing family living
life in the crash lane. Ride with the brave crew of O’Hare Towing. Hear real
stories. Witness real danger. Discover the untold side of the business of towing
and get hooked on Wrecked, Life in the Crash Lane. Season 2 crashes into living
rooms May 21, 2009

My Local Movie Theater Chain And EMS

Here in Austin, we have this AWESOME movie theater chain. Not only do they show the newly released flicks, but they show a bunch of classics, have fun events like quote-alongs, and the best part- you have a table in front of you and they serve you food from a large menu throughout the movie! And the food is great, too!!

Anyways, here's one of the events the recently put on, and of the reason why I LOVE this place and love Austin!:

Austin EMS Benefit tomorrow - Mother Jugs and Speed!
To members of Alamo Drafthouse Fanatics

They risk life and limb to help save ours, but what do we do for
them? The Friends of EMS Foundation supports the heroes and heroines of our
local EMS Department and their continued effort towards public education,
awareness and prevention. We owe them A LOT of respect…and we thought, maybe a
little something to help them out in their efforts including CPR training at
public events!. So come out to this absurdly rare movie-going experience to
laugh and enjoy life and do some good for our EMS friends, because 100% of the
proceeds will go straight into life-saving programs!!!

Two privately owned ambulance companies compete for the city
contract in LA. F+B Ambulance Service has the wildest crew on the block with
Bill Cosby (Mother) in the driver’s seat. Harvey Keitel (Speed) is a cop under
suspicion for peddling drugs to minors for rent money. And Raquel Welch (Jugs)
is the dispatch secretary with secret ambitions and no patience for the boys in
the bunkhouse. Together they are MOTHER, JUGS & SPEED, and they are in no
way indicative of the quality and caliber of our own EMS. But damn, they take
you on one wild ride.

“Seriously folks, please come out and support this show. It’s a
fabulous film and all proceeds benefit the underfunded EMS public training and
safety programs, it’s a great cause!” - Tim League, founder, Alamo Drafthouse
Cinema

Here's the theaters website: http://www.originalalamo.com/

Skindred

Skindred. One of my favorite bands out there right now. Reggae meets Metal, and the lead singer is from Wales, UK. Very unique! Saw them in concert not too long ago opening for Disturbed, and the lead singer really engages the crowd and puts on a great show!" Love all their songs, check out their latest video for their single "Trouble":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm_XILaLDr8

"Southland": New Show on NBC

"Southland" is a new show on NBC that airs on Thursday nights.

I think it's one of the best new shows I've seen in a while. It's a drama about the Los Angeles Police Department, the cops, and the victims. I think the show is very well done, kind of similar to "Third Watch"....in fact, the show is produced by the creator/producer of "Third Watch".

What I like most about the show is that it doesn't follow detectives or any elite units, it mainly focuses on the cops on the street, and what they face every day. I think the show is brilliant, and it's not afraid to be gritty and realistic. The show is compelling, and has a "you are there" feel. I hope NBC keeps it on it's lineup.

Check it out. Do NOT miss this show!

"Wrecked" On National Geographic Channel

Tonight, the National Geographic Channel (Nat Geo) will be airing episodes of the hit series "Wrecked: Life in the Crash Lane", previously only exclusively shown on the SPEED network.

There will be two, two hour episodes back to back starting at 8PM EST, and re-airing at 11PM EST. Also they will be reairing tommorow at 10AM EST.

This is my favorite show of all time. It's about a family owned towing and recovery business in the Chicago, IL area. They have a fleet of over 70 trucks, and 100 staff. The cameras follow them to some very interesting incidents, and it's fascinating to watch how they handle them.

They specialize in heavy truck recovery, and it's amazing the situations these trucks get into, and O'Hare has to get them out of. They have an awesome fleet including two heavy duty rotators, flatbeds, and everything inbetween. They are very safety oriented. They are very busy, and very fun to watch. There's more to the towing industry then meets the eye, and watching these pro's will prove that.The show's been picked up for a second season starting in May on SPEED.

A diecast version of an O'Hare flatbed is on it's way.

Photo from National Geographic Channel's website within term.

Update On Austin's New Engine 45

After some digging on the City's website, I found the following information about Austin's New Engine 45 and the two new brush trucks.

This contract is for the purchase two new brush and one new pumper fire trucks
manufactured by Siddons Manufacturing that will be assigned to the Austin Fire
Department. The pumper truck is equipped with a standard foam system, 750 gallon
water tank, 1500 gallon per minute fire pump, and assorted firefighting tools,
hose and equipment. The pumper truck includes a 4-door custom-built crew cab
with a fire pumper body capable of carrying a maximum of six firefighters. The
pumper is capable of pumping water from either a fire hydrant or its own
on-board water tank. The two brush trucks will be built according to National
Wildfire Coordinating Group, Type V specifications and will meet current
National Fire Protection Association standards. These trucks are equipped with a
4x4 crew cab chassis that is capable of seating at least four fire fighters
inside the cab, a 400-gallon water tank with a standard foam pumping system, a
250 gallons per minute pump, tools, hose, and equipment specific to wildland
firefighting. These trucks will be used in various capacities depending on the
size and nature of the fire. One pumper and one brush truck will be assigned to
the new Fire Station 45 serving the Avery area. One brush truck will be assigned
to Fire Station 42 serving the Del Valle area. These are new vehicles to the
City's fire fighting fleet and have an expected use of 15 years before
replacement. These fire trucks are equipped with engines capable of burning
biodiesel (B20) fuel. B20 is a blend of 20% bio-material and 80% petro-diesel.
In line with Austin Climate Protection Program goals, B20 provides an
approximate reduction of 25% of greenhouse gas emissions versus using gasoline,
and an approximate reduction of 5% of greenhouse gas emissions versus using
petro-diesel. The onboard pump engines for the brush trucks also operate on B20.
Siddons Fire Apparatus, Inc is under contract with BuyBoard to supply various
types of fire fighting vehicles statewide as a result of a competitive bidding
process. Utilizing the BuyBoard contract provides for volume discount pricing as
well as the earliest opportunity to get the City’s equipment on order.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/2009/council_032609.htm

Austin Fire Department's New Engine 45

Austin (Texas) Fire Department's NEW Engine 45
2009 Pierce Contender (Chasis actually a Pierce Saber)

Only one of these Engines being delivered currently....no one knows for sure what the four other Engines on order are going to be...with Austin tightening it's belt, and the Quantum's price over the value of a Contender, I think this might spell the end of Austin's Quantums if this Contender holds up.

I also maybe think this could have been an emergency purchase, I don't know if Engine 1 ended up being totalled or what. Maybe someone here has the scoop? Send me an email, x635@emtbravo.com

Job #: 21586

Finally, The Book I've Been Waiting For!!

As many of you know, I love "In-N-Out". Those that have been there know what I'm talking about. I've always wanted to learn more about this chain, and today, a book I'm not going to be able to put down came out.

"In-N-Out Burger:
A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules"

by Stacy Perman

Available from Amazon.com by clicking the graphic above, also available at Barnes and Noble.

Blogging Drought

I know I haven't been blogging much lately, but I promise to start blooging away again soon! I have so much to write about, especially all the great experiences here in Texas! Stay tuned...