grumpyff

That hits the F%$# nail on the head. I am not a terrorist. I spent my time on the Pile, and luckily, so far, have only had minor problems (PTSD, and sinus problems) compared to what some of my co-workers are going through. I am really getting disgusted with the way our government is acting. I really am beginning to believe it is time for a Second American Revolution. No more Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Tea Party, but we the voters need to look at what the candidates are about. Elect only those that put country above all else. No more multiple term members, if we can have term limits on the President, then we should have them on Congress as well. Eliminate their pensions and life time health benefits for serving just one term. The current government (not just Obama, but his predecessors, Bush(s) Clinton, etc.) have given away money like crazy, and never once checked the recipients like this. Why start now?

an oldie, a Chevy Caprice wagon marked for Highway 2, spotted just recently in Mount Vernon. I took the photo from a train at Mt Vernon West (photo through window)

2010 Ford Fusion

2010 Chevy Van assigned to Transit District 12.

I recently attended the Putnam Northern Westchester Fire Police Association (http://www.pnwfpa.org/) annual Seminar on traffic control/ duties of the fire police. One speaker was New York State Police Tec./Sgt. Ira Promisel, who gave a lecture on "Quick Clearance". This program is in use up the I-95 corridor and in other parts of the country. NYSP is beginning to train its troopers in this program. Sgt Promisel spoke about the need to get traffic moving where possible, and the consequences of blocking traffic unnecessarily. Economic impact, traffic congestion, pollution, and even additional accidents as other drivers particularly on the opposite side of the road rubberneck the original incident. He spoke of "lane plus one" where you take the lane of the incident, and the next adjoining lane as a safe area to work, leaving any additional lanes open to move traffic out of the area. He even touched on scene lighting, recommending turning off forward facing emergency lights, as it just slow opposing traffic (which on a divided highway is not a good thing), and having only the rear most vehicle with its emergency lighting on. No need for two engines, a rescue, and god knows how many police cars with all the light bars on.It doesn't make you safer, but a bigger distraction to other driver who want to see what is going on., leading to bigger traffic jams, and more potential for additional accidents. Position the ambulance(s) in front of the accident scene, with tow vehicles in front of that, so that ambulances may depart the scene quickly utilizing the lanes that are already closed eliminating the need to pull out into traffic. This also allows tow vehicles to back into the scene to begin clearance. Here is a link to the Quick Clearance program, http://www.i95coalit...88/Default.aspx Take a look at the video titled "Seattle Wave" to see how one incident effects traffic flow, and the safety of responders working on the scene.

Yes, IIRC this is a part of the TIMS. One thing brought up was to determine if you could "move it" or "work it". Sgt Promisel was excellent, and very knowledgeable of the material. He was also quick to acknowledge that every agency has member(s) that are hotheads, and that we need to work together to quickly and safely get off the highways. One thing I liked was the he seemed very proactive, that the time to meet is not at incident, but before hand during training.

When your pager falsely alerts, is it near your cellphone? For some reason my Minitor II will do the same thing if it is on my belt, directly next to my cell. I also agree on the quality of the Minitor II, but lets face it at some point they will stop working, and at this point it difficult/impossible to repair. Weak point was also the belt clip.

Yes it is! Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of it, but here is a link http://www.mahopacvf.../Apparatus.html

They may have an extensive supply of parts for the Crown Vic that need to be used. Also buying a small number of the Taurus allows the mechanics to become familiar with they car and any maintenance quirks they may have once in service. This may prevent a large number of cars from being out of service once the Taurus is the main patrol vehicle. For example when the NYPD first got the Impalas it was found that they had low ground clearance on the front ends, leading to bumpers and even a few oil pans getting ripped off.

Yeah, but their response times look great, its all smoke and mirrors. People who think their taxes are going to fire/police/EMS love it when they get a bill from the paid service.

Does anyone know if this height restriction was written into the spec? If so, I would say the blame would fall on the manufacturer, not the consultant.

Metro North uses an under-riding third rail shoe, while LIRR uses an over riding design. The new M8 train are supposed to have a shoe compatible with both types of third rail. However there is a section from New Rochelle where the track that connects Metro North to the Hells Gate Bridge has no catenary or third rail. Metro North's M7A were serviced out in the Arch Street shops (near Hunterspoint Ave) in Queens by Bombardier for warranty work, hauled by diesel locomotives so the connection in theory will work, However there is no room in Penn Station at this time to run this type of service.

Pierce of #*$/

NASA announced today which museums have won the selections to house and display the space shuttles upon their retirement. The Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101) currently on display in the Smithsonian will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air, Space Museum in New York City. The other remaining shuttles are going to Los Angeles ( Endeavor), Kennnedy Space Center (Atlantis), and The Smithsonian in Virgina (Discovery). While never flown in space, Enterprise was used for glide/flight testing. Enterprise will be housed in a clear dome across the pier from the USS Intrepid (CV-11) http://www.socaltech.com/la_to_get_space_shuttle_endeavor/s-0035076.html http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/EnterpriseLandsatIntrepid.aspx

Typical journal news reporting. The East SIde Access project is not a direct connection between Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. It is a new tunnel from Queens utilizing the lower level of the 63 street tunnel and then under Park Avenue to a new LIRR terminal underneath the lower level of Grand Central. It was designed to give Long Islanders better access to midtown Manhattan around 42 Street, and possibly free up spots in Penn Station in the future for Metro North via the HelLs Gate Bridge or West side. Amtrak and NJ Transit will not use this at all. You will still have to take subway between Penn Station and Grand Central. Check out railroad.net for more info. According to sources there, Penn Station is operating at capacity and any slots freed up by LIRR trains going to Grand Central, Amtrak has first shot at followed by NJ transit. Work on the tunnel from 63/Lexington to Grand Central has been going on via tunnel boring machines for the last few years. The hardest part of the project, connecting the current tunnel underneath the East River to LIRR's sunnyside yard in Queens still has to be dug and will be the hardest and most expensive part of the project.

I'd be happy with a portable that actually works. Especially when it rains. We in the transit bureau are still using the old Motorola Sabers from the late 1980's. They say they are working to improve them, but then again They have said that since Bratton was chief of Transit. How is this for interoperability....get me a radio that allows me to talk to units in my own department, I.E. Precinct units. Current radios in use can't do it.

I have a Western Digital external hard drive, and if I leave it plug into the computer while the computer when it boots up, the computer runs the external hard drive. For some reason it will not run the programming in the computers hard drive so it freezes and locks up. I can only plug it in after the computer is up and running. Dell sucks, I will never buy one of their pieces of crap again. Worst customer service ever.

IN NYS a person with an arson conviction is ineligible to become a volunteer firefigther, unless they hold Certificate of Relief from Civil Disabilities. If one is presented, it is up to the fire company/department to determine if they want to deny membership. http://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/2010/06/certificate-of-relief-from-civil.html The convicted person is also prevented from serving as a fire commissioner.

"Alright meow, check in with the IC, he wants you to stand by in the resource area for meow." Super Trooper -- Meow

Its too bad there wasn't enough room to put E88 outside. Here is TL 1 another shot of E88 inside with R75

Some thought went in to this, The Knox box is in the driver's step area: And in the officer step area, a haligan

Nice photos, here are a few I took

I know its something I keep in the back of my head. I know too many people who have gotten sick from working down there, as well as having some problems of my own. It just amazes me though that Mayor Bloomburg continues to deny, deny, deny. Just look at his backing of the Medical Examiner in re-taking the body of retired Police Officer George Wong during his wake, due to wording on a death certificate. Even after all his service to the City of New York, they delayed his funeral, and interrupted his relatives grieving, due to wording. They had every chance to examine the body before it was released to the funeral home. My linkhttp://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/03/30/2011-03-30_family_of_nypd_cop_george_wong_who_died_of_cancer_rages_at_city_for_taking_body_.html?r=news http://www.nytimes.c...ner=rss&emc=rss http://www.nypost.co...3esGUwFqrlXV1OI If you remember, Detective James Zadroga was treated in the same fashion after his death, vilified by Bloomburg as someone who abused drugs.

Going to try and make it. With the weather forecast of snow, will you guys be serving hot chocolate?

I bought some Speedtechlights about 4 years ago. Complete crap.