MY DAY AS A FIREFIGHTER

I was invited to participate in a day of hands-on activities at the county's emergency training center to engage in the on-the-job experiences of firefighters. Activities included a search and rescue exercise inside a burning building, extinguishing a car fire, a jaws of life vehicle extraction, an active shooter paramedic scenario and addressing a mock HAZMAT situation. The day was exhilarating and eye-opening. Everyone is familiar with firefighters but how many people actually strap on the gear and use it?  

You don't realize until experiencing it how heavy the gear is and how quick on your feet you have to be both mentally and physically when it comes to this job until going through the same drills the pros do. This movie geek was able to live out some moments as if he was starring in Backdraft. I had a lot of respect for firefighters even before participating in this Firefighting 101 training and it was truly a great experience; but think my day as a firefighter was enough for me and will stick with my current day job. Thank you to everyone who takes on this much needed and challenging profession!

BUILDING FIRE

It was a nice sunny day outside, but inside a smoke-filled building it was almost impossible to see. We used thermal imaging cameras to navigate through a maze of room looking for people trapped inside and fire hot spots. The value of this tech really stood out when you are the one standing in the midst of a building that is ablaze.  

HAZMAT

Next it was on to responding to a HAZMAT scenario where an office called the fire department to report receiving an envelope in the mail filled with a white powder that could be anthrax. I was geeked to have a real-life Star Trek moment using an actual tricorder. This handheld sensor utilizes a laser to do chemical analysis of substances and tell users what they are scanning. My scan showed that it wasn't anthrax but rather corn starch in the envelope.

PARAMEDICS

Yes, firefighters obviously put out fires, but they also are often the first emergency responders to address medical emergencies. We engaged in a scenario where police officers led teams of firefighters into an active shooter scene to triage victims and facilitate getting them out of harm's way. I practiced putting on tourniquets upon the arms and legs of live volunteers from local police and fire departments.

Then we carried them to awaiting ambulances.  A very stressful situation and this was just a drill!

JAWS OF LIFE

Firefighters don't just rush into burning buildings, they also respond to roadside accidents which actually can make up a majority of the calls for assistance during a year for some departments. Extricating people wrapped up in a crushed shell of metal is no easy task. Utilizing jaws of life hydraulic extraction rescue tools are an essential resource for getting this job done.

I had the chance to use the jaws of life to tear off a door to remove a passenger from a vehicle damaged from a collision. Two impressions from this experience. First, wow these devices are powerful and it was easy to see how they've earned the name jaws of life. Second, ugh these tools are very heavy! Wielding the jaws of life was the most physically exerting and exhausting activity of the day. Departments need to make sure their staff has the weight room and physical training recourses to ensure their personnel can handle these important tools to their full efficiency.  

CAR FIRE

Wrapped up my day as a firefighter extinguishing a car fire. We did two rounds of this drill. First time through I went in first with a crowbar to open accesses to the vehicle for being sprayed down with water. The second time, I led the hose team in spraying the car fire out with water. An exciting experience that was also thrilling to participate in.

What really stood out during this Firefighters 101 training is that firefighting is much more than just fighting fires. Firefighters are essential multitask emergency responders. Search and rescue of damaged buildings after a natural disaster; minimizing public exposure to hazardous materials unleashed into the environment or weaponized against people; 911 responders to medical emergencies; rescuing people from automobile crashes. They do lots more than the name implies! And of course, putting out fires and rescuing people from burning buildings is nothing to scoff at either.

THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS

Let the firefighters in your community know you appreciate them. Say thank you and express your appreciation for their service. Remember, firefighting is a dangerous profession, with these men and women are putting their lives on the line in service to others. Support your local government spending the resources to ensure these people who risk their lives are going into peril with the best tools and resources to accomplish their job. 

Let's make sure firefighters have the ability to not only get the people they are rescuing out of danger, but also be able to return home to their own families as well when their mission has been accomplished. Thanks again to the local departments that let me get a better understanding what is like to live a day in the life of a firefighter.

Legendary Yoda from Spin Master Toys Trains Padawans on the Ways of the Force

**A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **

Learn the ways of the Force with Spin Master's LEGENDARY YODA interactive animatronic toy.  Experience being a padawan training to be a Jedi knight under the guidance of Master Yoda with this 16 inch high toy that is one of the most realistic Star Wars toys A Geek Daddy has ever seen.  Our family has enjoyed hours of fun playing with Legendary Yoda as he demonstrates light saber dueling skills, imparts Jedi wisdom and teaches you how to use the Force.



We've enjoyed practicing handling a light saber on our back deck with Legendary Yoda on multiple occasions and the toy has worked really well though the instructions very clearly state "not for outdoor use."  I believe this warning is primarily for two reasons.  First, the toy is powered by 7 motors that provide for it to operate with an incredible 360 degree level of motion and there is the risk that water, dust and other outdoor elements could damage these mechanics.  Secondly, sunlight hinders your ability to see Yoda's light saber illuminate which takes away from the play experience when using the toy outdoors.  Though I do have to say it is still fun to play with outside!



As you can see indoors, Legendary Yoda's light saber is clearly visible as he engages into Warrior Mode.  Equipped with his signature green light saber, Legendary Yoda will share with you advanced techniques any Jedi will need to know in order to defeat an evil Sith opponent.  He also shares some of his Jedi Master humor with padawans.  Don't despair from Yoda's mocking as with continued patience and practice he will provide you with the wisdom of a Jedi.



Legendary Yoda's Wisdom Mode provides voice recognition to six key phrases allowing any Jedi want-to-be to converse with the toy and trigger a variety of mechanical actions.  In Wisdom Mode, Yoda will utilize the Force to answer any Yes or No Question you may pose to him.  Yoda is programmed with more than 100 phrases to keep his banter from being too repetitious during continuous use.  Just like Santa Claus knows if you have been bad or good so does Yoda with his built-in Dark Side sensor that becomes activated during Wisdom Mode.  Spin Master has also included a walking stick accessory that can be switched out with Yoda's light saber to provide a scholarly appearance for the Jedi Master while engaging in Wisdom Mode.



Once you've experienced Warrior Mode and Wisdom Mode, utilize the toy's Force Mode to use this mystical power for yourself.  Legendary Yoda really moves when you use the Force to control pushing him back across a room.  Who hasn't wanted to mimic using the Force from a Star Wars movie scene in real life?! Legendary Yoda gives you that chance, but beware if you see his hand light up because he may respond against you with his own glowing "force blast."

The toy requires 6 C batteries to operate and doesn't utilize its own rechargeable plug-in battery which is a bit of a drawback as I hate buying and replacing batteries for toys; but it does provide a lengthy amount of play time with the 6 C batteries as our family has played with the toy for several days without having to replace them.  Just be prepared to have to buy batteries for this toy as they are not included. Legendary Yoda's motion works well on flat surfaces such as cement, tile and hardwood floors and thin carpet but avoid shaggy rugs which will hinder its wheels not allowing it to move or spin.

Legendary Yoda has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval because it is a dynamic toy that has provided our family with a tremendous amount of enjoyment playing with it.  The interactivity, iconic phrases, and mechanical motions that are incorporated together to bring Yoda to life truly makes this a wonderful toy to play with.  Any Star Wars fan, no matter if they are young or old, will enjoy playing with Legendary Yoda from Spin Master Toys.  Are you ready for Legendary Yoda to teach you in the ways of the Force?

Legendary Yoda is available from Toys R Us and can also be purchased directly from Spin Master Toys.  Legendary Yoda is recommended for Jedi 6 years old and up.

H.R. Pufnstuf Returns To Television

It's been a long time but I still can remember watching some of the popular kids programs of my youth like Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Dressup, The Friendly Giant, and of course H.R. Pufnstuf.  I really liked H.R. Pufnstuf as a youngster because it featured life-sized puppets in fantasy adventures on a live-action television show which really brought characters like Cling and Clang, Dr. Blinky, the friendly dragon H.R. Pufnstuf and the villainous Withchiepoo to life.   This gang's high jinks on Living Island made for a cutting edge show at the time and have made the television series a cult classic. I have fond memories of the show but don't recall seeing much about H.R. Pufnstuf and its cast of characters since I was about 6 or 7 years old so when I noticed Nickelodeon was bringing its characters back to television that news caught my attention.

Sid and Marty Krofft who in addition to creating H.R. Pufnstuf are known for other popular 1970s era television shows such as the Donnie & Marie variety show, Land of the Lost, Sigmund & The Sea Monsters, Doctor Shrinker and Wonderbug have recently embarked on a new venture with Nickelodeon producing a new live-action preschool series called Mutt & Stuff.  Set in a unique school for dogs, Mutt and Stuff stars Calvin Millan and his dad Cesar (the original star of Dog Whisperer), interacting with a cast of both real dogs and puppets.  Based upon the popularity of the new series this year, Nickelodeon is expanding its first season by an additional 20 episodes.  In celebration of this expanded season, one of the new episodes will pay tribute to Sid and Marty Kroft's beloved characters from H.R. Pufenstuff bringing them back for their first new television show appearance since the 1980s.  Featuring H.R. Pufnstuf, Cling and Clang, Freddy the Flute, and the Rescue Racer, H.R. PUFNSTUF COMES TO MUTT & STUFF is currently being filmed and will have a premiere date in early 2016.

In "H.R. Pufnstuf Comes to Mutt & Stuff," Stuff, the over-the-top canine companion of Calvin, is paid a special visit at the canine school by his favorite uncle H.R. Pufnstuf.  When H.R. Pufnstuf arrives with his friends from Living Island, Stuff goes overboard in an attempt to impress him and make sure everything is perfect.  This episode promises to be a nostalgic moment for fans of the original H.R. Pufnstuff and an opportunity to introduce these characters to a new generation of both parents and children who may not be familiar with this cast of characters because of their long hiatus from television.

"H.R. Pufnstuf was the first TV show my brother and I created, so it has always held a special place in our hearts," said Marty Krofft in a press release provided to A Geek Daddy.  "Our fans constantly ask us to bring pack Pufnstuf and we feel the vibrant world of Mutt & Stuff is the perfect setting to revitalize these colorful characters and build excitement for new fans."

"H.R. Pufnstuf's wildly imaginative characters made an indelible impression on an entire generation, and now preschoolers and parents will see the two fantasy worlds of Sid and Marty Kroft come together on Mutt & Stuff through the same creative storytelling that defines both series," noted Russell Hicks, President, Content Development and Production, Nickelodeon Group.

"It has been an amazing experience to be part of Mutt & Stuff with my son Calvin," added Cesar Millan.  "The show is an amazing platform to educate kids on the responsibilities of being a dog owner and we are excited to be bringing it back for another 20 episodes."

Mutt & Stuff follows Calvin Millan and his best friend Stuff, a larger-than-life dog with the personality to match, as they take preschoolers inside the doors of Mutt & Stuff, a school for dogs, to explore the daily lives of these canine companions.  Each episode features incredible tricks, training lessons and high-spirited humor.  With the help of 15 playful puppies and charismatic puppets, Calvin educates preschoolers on how to train and guide their dogs, as well as showcase the friendship and loyalty that puppies can provide.  The series has a social-emotional curriculum that helps preschoolers identify and manage emotions, build interpersonal awareness and develop social skills.  Mutt & Stuff also carries a message of pet adoption and responsible pet care based upon Cesar Millan's philosophies.

If you want to check out re-runs  H.R. Pufnstuff they are broadcast on the Me-TV television network and streamed at metv.com.  We've also included an episode of the show you can watch below:

Comcast Bolsters INTERNET ESSENTIALS Program for Low-Income Michigan Families

Comcast is bolstering its Internet Essentials program for low-income Michigan families by doubling download speeds and providing routers for in-home Wi-Fi service at no additional cost to participants' existing monthly bills.  Internet Essentials provides low-cost high-speed Internet service for $9.95 per month plus tax, makes available multiple avenues to access free digital literacy training, and the option to purchase a low-cost Internet-ready computer for about $150 dollars.  To participate in Internet Essentials, a family must have at least one child residing in their household who is eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, including public, parochial, private, charter, and homeschooled students.

Nearing its fifth year of availability, Internet Essentials has made the world wide web accessible to nearly 29,000 Michigan families.  The program was created to provide easier access to the Internet and close the digital divide that separates communities into information haves-and have-nots based on socio-economic conditions.  According to the Federal Communications Commission as many as 1 in 3 households do not subscribe to broadband service at any speed because of a lack of affordability and interest.  In Detroit, the numbers are even higher including seven out of 10 children not having access to the Internet at home, limiting their ability to take advantage of online resources for education, employment, and healthcare.

For more information or to apply for the program, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376, or, for Spanish, 1-855-765-6995. No credit check, no contract, no installation fee required. 

“The Digital Divide isn’t confined to certain buildings or neighborhoods in Detroit or in any other city or town,” said Comcast’s Heartland Regional Senior Vice President Tim Collins. “From day one, our goal has been to make Internet Essentials available wherever inequality exists, and to keep enhancing and expanding the program to serve the broadest number of families possible across entire communities, wherever they might be located.

Internet Essentials has been available in Michigan and across the United States in areas serviced by Comcast since 2011.   Since the program’s inception, Comcast has made 25 key enhancements to Internet Essentials, and this is the third time in four years Comcast has increased speeds for customers. The current speed is doubling to up to 10 Mbps downstream, which is enough to power multiple devices simultaneously. In addition, by offering Wi-Fi routers, customers will be able to connect any Internet-enabled device, including tablets and smartphones, which could help save money on monthly wireless bills.

To receive the faster Internet speed, customers simply need to reboot their cable modems. Existing customers who would like a Wi-Fi router just need to call the dedicated call center and either request to have one shipped to them for free, or they can schedule a professional installation, also for no additional cost. New customers will have the option to receive a Wi-Fi router when they sign up.

**Disclaimer** I have been provided a complimentary subscription to the Xfinity TV Go app and access to the Comcast cable programming lineup as part of the Xfinity blogger reviewer program.  #Xfinityreviewer

Nickelodeon is going to the dogs with premiere of new series Mutt & Stuff

Programming on Nickelodeon is going to the dogs, and I'm not talking about the Pups of PAW Patrol which my kids adore, with the addition of a brand new television series in which will feature Cesar Millan, star of Nat Geo WILD's Cesar 911 and former star of Dog Whisperer, and his son Calvin interacting with a cast of real dogs and puppets at a canine school called Mutt & Stuff.  This series, also called Mutt & Stuff, will balance teaching puppies to behave and perform tricks with lessons for children to help with identifying and managing their emotions, building interpersonal awareness, and developing social skills.  Additionally the show will carry a message promoting pet adoptions and responsible pet ownership based upon Cesar Millan's philosophies.

Mutt & Stuff will premiere on Friday, July 10, 2015 at 10 am (ET/PT), joining Nickelodeon's regular weekly morning preschool lineup of content that includes the popular shows PAW Patrol and Blaze and the Monster Machines.  Sid and Marty Krofft, the creators of two of my favorite TV shows when I was a youngster H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost, are serving as executive producers along with Cesar Millan on bringing this show to life on Nickelodeon.

The focus of the show will be on following 16 year old Calvin Millan and his best friend Stuff, a larger-than-life dog with a personality to match as they take viewers inside the doors of Mutt & Stuff.  Each episode will feature fun tricks, training lessons, and some doggy humor with the help of 15 playful puppies and some charismatic puppets.  Cesar will join in on showing Calvin and Stuff how dogs should be guided and highlighting the benefits that the friendship and loyalty of puppies can bring to a family.

Calvin began working with his father at the age of eight when he appeared on the Dog Whisperer helping to train small dogs.  In 2012, he toured Asia and Canada with his dad appearing in the show CESAR MILLAN LIVE.  Cesar of course is well known for his time as the host of the Dog Whisperer television series and more recently as the star of Nat Geo WILD's Cesar 911.  He is also a best-selling author, frequent public speaker, and a pet care product designer.

In addition to Mutt & Stuff being broadcast on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr cable networks, NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App will feature Mutt & Stuff content and clips.  The series premiere episode will also be available to view via NickJr.com, the Nick Jr. App and on Nick Video On Demand beginning July 11.

CLICK HERE for more information about this new Nickelodeon television series.