Thursday, February 28, 2013

Time Magazine: The Bitter Pill

This week’s Time magazine has been completely devoted to the subject of why our health care system is screwed up beyond all recognition. I’ve been a subscriber of Time since 1965 and arguably, this is the best article of all times.

The author lays out a very balanced analysis of where things are completely out of control. It’s a expansive article and will take some time to read, but as a frontline health care provider, you’ll find the whole story mesmerizing.

You don’t have to be a subscriber as you can read it on line. After you do, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the subject. One thing that I came away with is a healthy appreciation for how well Medicare is managed. Basically, everyone should be on Medicare!

Check it out here:

http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/?xid=newsletter-weekly


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Know Your Smoke

I just finished watching the link below; it’s only 10 minutes long. But you’ll think a lot more seriously about being in proximity to any fire, including food on the stove without your Air-Pak!

I can recall doing salvage and overhaul, checking for extension with a pike pole and seeing a glow in the dark; it was a guy smoking a cigarette! I hope those days have been extinguished.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMjUgdS7SQM

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Listen to the Music

In addition to the hundreds of hours that are spent overhauling the Challenge caravan and associated equipment, we’ve been working on the whole sound thing, adding new to us (slightly used) wireless microphones made by Lectrosonics, arguably, the best such products, made in New Mexico by fanatics - their words, not mine. I now know more about UHF bands than I wanted. Hopefully, interference will be a thing of the past.

The playlist is getting a scrubbing. We’ve been dependent upon cell phone coverage for Pandora. Not always the most reliable way to go. Our objective is to create a 5-600 song playlist of G-rated tunes with a 4/4 beat consistent with what you’d hear at any public sports venue. Our original consultant, the voice of the Washington Nationals, before he was taken out by cancer, provided some guidelines that were very helpful. There is a science behind playlist creations for public events.

Now, we turn our attention to you, our listening audience for your input. On rare occasions you’ve provided friendly criticisms of the songs that are aired. But, even more rarely are there solutions or suggestions. Keep in mind, that this is not a concert; the music adds to the ambiance, but Mike Word does better than any by providing play-by-play about the athletes.

For heavy metal aficionados, there’s always the reliable iPod, the place that you can go to get a dose of pre-competition adrenaline.

If you’ve got some songs that you’d like to hear, send us the title and artist. We’ll do our best to track down the music for inclusion in the playlist. And thanks for listening. Send them to: contact@FFCC.TV