2017 Reno Balloon Races

The skies were filled with color with weekend in Reno as giant balloons filled the air. I was able to snap some photos from afar. The event started on Thursday, September 7th and continue through September 10th.

Coco wasn't impressed by the balloons. She had more fun watching the kids.

what is on the news networks?

http://wordsoffthestreet.com/

https://www.oathkeepers.org/heroes-know-brave-texas-teens-save-50-people-small-fishing-boat/

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2017/08/30/how-nasa-is-tracking-tropical-storm-harvey.html

https://www.oathkeepers.org/two-navy-veterans-team-texas-vfw-post-hurricane-shelter/

http://patriotretort.com/houston-vs-berkeley/

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-41102182/storm-harvey-people-form-human-chain-to-rescue-elderly-man-from-floods

other news:

http://www.ktvn.com/story/36247214/slinkard-fire-burning-south-of-topaz-lake1

http://www.ktvn.com/story/36246613/wildfire-breaks-out-north-of-sparks2

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/30/patrick-marleau-is-packed-and-shipping-off-to-toronto/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41100541

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/30/antifa-violence-leaves-leftists-to-question-whether-movement-hurts-or-helps.html

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Burning-Man-100-degrees-heat-wave-Black-Rock-NV-12161268.php

Accountability - again

When I was growing up I remember hearing (or maybe I read it) that the only thing you can truly own is your mistakes. Own them. Admitting errors or  true lack of knowledge (or that I just forgot) rather than lying about the problem showed my bosses that I had standards and ethics. I was able to take responsibility for my actions.

It's not easy saying, "Yes, I screwed up. I did that." The only actually serious complaint I received (to date) as a Dispatcher came in my first year. When I sat in the Captain's office, I admitted right away my mistake. When asked if I wanted representation I said no. I knew I'd did wrong and was willing to face any consequences for not following the policy, even though it was unintentional. No one had been hurt. So I knew I wouldn't be terminated. The Captain was surprised I admitted my part in the incident (a mishap in dispatching). He praised my willingness to be forthright. I signed the complaint and that was the end of it. He said afterwards if I had lied I would have been suspended.

In previous jobs I've actually contacted supervisors in advance of the public to give them a heads up in case they receive a complaint call. One told me no one ever did that. He said it was a shame more folks didn't do the same.

I agreed. It seems to me too many people spend way to much time covering up mistakes, especially simple ones. The errors blow up into bigger ones. If they'd just dealt with the original goof in the first place, it probably wouldn't have been a big deal. Covers ups snow ball quickly. Lies lead to more lies.

Why do I act this way?

Because when things go sideways and someone makes accusations against me that aren't true, I can say 'I didn't do it." and my supervisors will take my side. They believe me because I don't lie or hide when I make a mistake so my character is in good standing. It also helps that I show up when expected, do my good to the best of my ability, take on extra tasks without complaint, and stay informed about the profession as a whole. I keep up on training on my own (except for mandatory Dept. of Justice NCIC training every two years as the agency TAC, any outside training is on our own dollar.

For those of your starting out: don't be afraid to admit to your goof-ups. We all make them and most are fixable. It will happen at some point. The sooner you identify the error, the quicker you can work to solve the issue. Do your job to the best of your ability. NO ONE OWES you anything in this world. Sorry, but despite what you parents might have told you, the world does NOT revolve around you. We all have to start from the bottom and work our way up. Be accountable to your work. Don't act like a know-it-all. You might have a fancy degree but the co-worker  without one that's been doing the position for a couple of years is just as knowledgeable in the job. Be respectful.

So that's my rant on accountability.

Stay safe out there and avoid wasps hanging out in fire extinguish covers (long story there).

Viking dreams of grandeur: Knut the Great

Knut was born in 995, the son of King Svein Forkbeard of Denmark. Knut (also known as Cnut or Canute) was brought up as a royal Dane, with martial training. His brother, Harold was the expected heir to the throne. Whether Svein favored Knut over Harold is not known. A contemporary of Knut wrote that he was tall, fall, and had a hooked nose.

Public Safety and numbers

Numbers are important in Public Safety. First of all, every agency, whether the department is based in law enforcement, firefighting, or  emergency medical services, relies on statistics.

Why?

Statistics guides the Administrators when it comes to budgets. Let's face facts folks: everything comes down to money. Next, statistics guide Admin in determining staffing. Today, there are software programs and systems status management programs that assist supervisory personnel in placing field units in the areas with the highest 'likely' calls volumes. When it comes to Communications Centers, stats determine which days and shifts have the biggest amount of Dispatchers on duty at any given day - hence, 'dogwatch' (or, nightshift) traditionally having the smallest number of Dispatchers while second shift (swingshift) has the most.

Responding to work-related surveys: are they really relevant?

Have you completed a work-related survey recently? I’ve participated in a number of them in recent years – most dispatcher-specific. In fact, while researching for my book, I had one posted on my blog and a few other dispatcher websites.

I have come to the conclusion that most of the surveys are developed by those who don’t know or understand our profession at all.

A quest for his lady's love: Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein. The real knight's tale

In 2001 Director Brian Helgeland brought his version of A Knight’s Tale to the big screen. The story was part of The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer (played by Paul Bettany in the film).  In Hollywood’s take of the classic medieval story, a tradesman’s son, William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) is apprenticed as a squire by his father to a knight. When the knight dies during a tournament, William takes his master’s place. He wins and assumes a new identity: ‘Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein’. As he and his companions travel the mainland, ‘Ulrich’ keeps gaining experience and winning accolades. At one event, he runs into Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), a noblewoman and his nemesis – Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell). Through adversity, and some compassion from Prince Edward, the Black Prince, William earns his true spurs and his love. All this takes place with hip music and great jousting scenes (even if the continuity messed up by allowing a horse to magically change colors in the middle of a joust run).

Of course, that not what really happened.