Lone Star

The 'connection' I was looking for was the song immediately before it "I'm So Lonesome, I Could Cry"....

Dwayne, It sounds like your instructor was more into making you think than into smacking you for making a mistake. I had a similar type of instructor who started each new class with the statement, " I have the highest pass rate in the state, and if you don't pass, I take it personally." Ultimately, when I got my final score of 92% after the completion of the written and practical skills, I pulled him aside and thanked him for it. To my surprize, he thanked ME for making him look good in the eyes of the state! I don't see how belittling the student in front of the whole class teaches anything but animosity toward the instructor. In my opinion, belittling the person who has other priorities (like paying bills, putting food in the house, etc) is taking care of those responsibilities rather than going deeper in debt by pushing to go to medic school, falls in the same category. I realize that the EMS industry as whole would benefit from higher educational standards, and there is nothing wrong with furthering your educational levels. But if you can't afford to go, then you do what you have to do in order to make it happen. If it doesn't happen as fast as others think it should, then maybe that other person should look at all mitigating factors involved, before passing judgement.

Call it morals, ethics, values...whatever. I absolutely REFUSE to accept a tip for doing my job! If you think I've done something 'above and beyond the call of duty', then sit down and write a nice letter to the company, so that it can be put in my personnel jacket. That way when it comes time for promotions, I can trot those right out and use them in my favor. I think it's inappropriate to be offered a tip, and to accept it lessens your 'professional standing' in the eyes of the community. If they INSIST on doing something to show their gratitude, then I suggest that they use the money to purchase small teddy bears that I can stow on the rig as part of the 'hugs program'. That way when I have to transport a terrified pediatric patient, I've got something to help calm them down......

First off, King Harvest was the performer of that song. The 'style' wasn't the 'problem'...it was the random titles that were being submitted that had nothing to do with the song before them .... thats why we were asking for clarification to see how they were related. Look at the songs below (taken in order of submission), and see if you can make the connection between them...... Now, in response to Rich's submission...I reply with: "Moonlight Sonata" - Beethoven

Batches? We dont need no steenkin batches!

Interesting perspective Rid! I have to say this, I don't agree with cutting the EMS slots to preserve the firefighters jobs, just as I don't agree with cutting fire protection to save the police jobs. Most of the municipalities, if they actually looked at their budgets, could find other areas to cut back with little or no impact on the public safety aspects. While building codes, (automatic fire suppression devices, such as sprinkler systems) have been put in place, by architects, OSHA, and improved building code requirements,.... the Fire Service has seen little improvement in technique, tools and other technilogical advances in the last 175 years of the history of firefighting. We're still putting 'wet stuff on red stuff'. Just because some departments use EMS call volume to inflate their 'worth' to the general public, not all departments do that. We have to fight for every dollar we can get in order to provide a certain level of protection to the communities we serve. The most prevalent thought process I've seen (especially in the bashing threads) is that if one is doing it, then ALL must be. There are exceptions to every rule. I agree that the end result in this 'area' is patient care. To sit there and try to elevate one service over another as being the 'better provider', (as in that video); is just flat out bullshit! We're all trained to the same levels within the state, and work within the same protocols in the counties that we serve. In both services, you will have the good, the bad, and the abslolute idiots....we all know this. The original poster's choice of titles for this thread, leads the browser to think that the fire service lays awake at night looking for ways to stick it to EMS....which isn't true at all.... Sadly Rid, you're right about most of the promotions in the fire service being based not on education, experience and ability, but on the 'good ol' boy network' reccommendations. Thats why after 15 years of service, I hadn't made rank.... I just didn't fit in to their 'network'...

On the department I served with, Firefighters wore black helmets, Lieutenants wore red, Captains were yellow, and Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief, Chief were white helmets.

It's not just the 'extra comments' that are causing the confusion, but also the random titles that need clarification to show the link between the 'main idea' of the title from the previous song........

Whats the connection here?

"I'm So Lonesome, I Could Cry" - Hank Williams

Im not....I created 3 more posts all by myself!

antidisestablishmentarianism I win!

Well now, it looks like is thread has taken a major left turn into the outfield somehow!

I've had to revisit this topic several times and re-read from start to finish before I could post anything, just to 'cool down'.... I was a Firefighter for 15 years, with a department that was not a 'first responder department'. We did not do medical responses, because 1) the townships that I covered could not afford to provide such services, and 2) there were enough ambulance companies around the area (and the county medics from the Sheriff's Department) to provide that service. After a few years of working with an 'on call/part paid' department, I decided to apply to a larger metropolitan area, (City of Warren, MI [suburb of Detroit]) One of the requirements to make the 'list' after passing the Civil Service Exam, and successfully negotiating the review board, was that I had to be at least an EMT-B. I went to school, and found that it was something that I had the 'grit' to be able to do. (We can all agree that this job isn't for everyone) Unfortunately, by not having the EMT-B license in hand when I met the review board, I wasn't high enough on the list to make the 'cut' for Warren FD. The fact that the area I lived in was primarily an economic slave to General Motors (auto industry based economy), I decided to go into EMS as a way to put groceries on the table and a roof over my head. Before I could test again, I suffered the presentation of a cerebral aneurysm, (the after effects pretty well disqualified me from passing the physical agility tests). I stayed with the small fire department for another 10 years, until several 'regime changes' brought the right people into 'power' and they took advantage of a 'rough time' for me, and used it to axe me. (Believe it or not, my personnel jacket is clean) It irks me to no end to see people constantly spouting how a person cannot master different skills and not be more than 'adequate' in either. I was a good firefighter, and I was also good as an EMT. I've wanted to continue my education in not only fire, but in EMS as well, but doing things like working and recovering as much function as possible from that aneurysm kind of took precedence over any plans I've had. For the original poster: If you think that the Fire Service just sits around and thinks of ways to stick it to EMS service, then rather sitting around bitching about it....do something to change it! Sniping posts on a private server aren't going to be 'productive' in changing anything! I also have to extend 'kudos' to everyone that has posted thus far, I'm impressed that this didn't turn into a FD bashing thread! My little 'sob story' here was to illustrate that a person CAN master more than one skill set and be more than 'adequate' at both. I'm a Firefighter/EMT, (the order listed does not indicate a passion towards one over the other), and I happen to be damn good at both! In my time in fire and EMS, I've seen 'fire based' EMS and I've also seen private EMS station out of the local fire station (completely separate areas for both) In my opinion, both arrangements work well. If an EMT wants to learn fire fighting tactics....gung-ho! The same applies to Firefighters that want to learn EMS. For those that are with a major municipal department that does both fire and EMS, if you can't bring yourself to do the aspects of both sides (whether for the glamour, or 'hero status'), then I think you need to remove yourself from that environment and focus on just one or the other. Whether the better EMS provider is from a standing Fire Department, or private EMS sector...I can only say this: you'll have good providers in both areas, just as you'll have the ones that don't make the grade!

Ok, I give up....there wont be a 'stand off' when the guys with the butterfly nets and the designer sweater with the 8' wrap around sleeves show up!

"I Miss Billy The Kid" - Bily Dean

"The Cowboy Rides Away" - George Strait

"Desperados Waiting For A Train" - The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristopherson)

You and firedoc05 must have posted at the same time....

"Heaven Can Wait" - Meatloaf

Ok tsk, go ahead....beat me with a rolled up newspaper!...I have it coming....*hangs head in shame* Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury.....I stand before you....a man that has made a mistake....lol

I call foul! Rules state that you cannot exceed the starting word (where you got your first letter to work with) by more than two (2) letters.... RESTLESSNESS =12 letters SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLAST = 19 letters

"Waitin' On Joe" - Steve Azar

"Ode To Billy Joe" - Bobbie Gentry

"All Roads Lead To You" - Steve Wariner