August 2, 2019. After 25 years, 3 weeks, and 12 hours, I’m officially retired. Here’s a look back at some of what I saw.
That’s a wrap!
August 3, 2019
9-1-1, commentary, Personal 9-1-1 dispatcher, 9-1-1 dispatcher stories, 911 dispatch, emergency dispatching, Jim Reeves, kc6yru, retirement, tulare county sheriff's office, visalia 1 Comment
25 years, 3 weeks, 12 hours.
That’s how long I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Friday was my last day. Here’s my signoff on the radio.
Here’s the text:
Calling all cars, calling all cars, and units and stations
copy BOL
(break)
Visalia one continuing,
After 25 years, 3 weeks, and 12 hours, “Radio, Jim” is officially 10-42 at 1800 hours.
It’s been my pleasure and honor to be one of the voices on the other end of this radio and the phone for that time.
Being able to support you, and serve the citizens of Tulare County as part of the team here in dispatch, has been at times nerve wracking, infuriating, suspenseful, frequently amusing, but always rewarding. I can’t imagine having done anything else as a career. (well, astronaut, maybe, but NASA never seemed interested)
My time here has seen three sheriffs, six dispatch supervisors, and various shift supervisors. Sometimes I wonder how many deputies and officer’s voices have come across my headset? There’s been a bunch, and sometimes it seemed like they were all trying to talk at once!
Being a dispatcher means being part of a team, and I want to compliment all of the dispatchers I’ve worked with over the years. The comeraderie and support for each other is what makes this place operate so well. I feel fortunate to have been a part of that.
So now I hang up my headset for the last time, and head off into retirement. Thank you for putting up with me, and for allowing me to be part of this family and team. Stay safe, be nice to the dispatchers, and know that from time to time I’ll be listening.
Visalia 1, Dispatcher Reeves, clear at (time)
Now, time to relax, reflect, take some bike rides and country drives, and cogitate on what comes next.
JimmieJoe 
The begging bytes
August 31, 2019
Jim Reeves commentary, News, Personal campaign ads, Devin Nunes, Donald Trump, donation requests, kamala harris, political emails 1 Comment
Now, I don’t mind the emails, they’re easy enough to delete. I find the ones from Devin Nunes and Donald Trump endlessly entertaining. I have noticed a theme, though, from all sides, that I find annoying.
They’re all “falling short of their fundraising goal this week (or month)”, and need my immediate donation to reach it. It’s important, they’ll say, that they show how strong the support for their campaign is (I’m assuming they mean for the big, high-dollar donors, the ones they never mention by name).
They’ll go on about how important it is that they reach their goal, so they don’t fall behind in their battle to save the country.
Here’s an idea, folks. Set more realistic goals, if you’re never reaching them. I know you want to give the impression of being the underdog, that you’re the come-from-behind-anti-establishment-only-hope-for-all-mankind who will win in the end… but geez!
Let me give you some free advice.
Don’t run with this “we’re behind” theme in your ads. You’re claiming you’re a loser. Start setting lower goals, and then blow past them! Tell your supporters you’re gaining support across the country. Let them join the bandwagon of a winner! Everybody loves the underdog who comes from behind to win at the last moment, but you can’t *all* be the underdog.
Other email annoyances from the political mob:
Kamala, I *really* don’t need three or four emails *every* single day!
Devin, this “it’s me against the deep state” crap is getting old. Nobody but a few hard-core Republicans really believes it. Also, hold some real town halls in your district. The only places you show your face these days is “pay-for-play” fundraisers, usually in some distant district! Locking the doors to your offices is a clear sign of what you think about your constituents.
Donald, you and Donny Jr. can quite lying to me in every other email. I am 99.99999999% sure neither of you has noticed my name is not on your contributor’s list. If you have, how about sending me a short video of you in the Oval saying “why hasn’t Jim Reeves donated yet?” You have my email address.
So I scan the emails, and hit “delete”. The bits and bytes are recycled, to live again in some other form. Probably another email begging for money.
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