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Most interesting. As a layperson I have trouble understanding what happens 17:00 to 06:00 the next day. What does it mean to "flag down" if you are still runnin

Most interesting. As a layperson I have trouble understanding what happens 17:00 to 06:00 the next day. What does it mean to "flag down" if you are still running 911 calls all night?

fencepost 9y ago
I believe that in the US many (most?) fire departments are 24 hours on/48 hours off so the overnight is sleep at the fire station or respond to calls if there are any. In this case I think "flag down" just means "no responsibilities other than responding to calls."
- throwanem 9y ago
  It could also be a literal reference to taking down the United States flag. Those organizations of which I've been a member, which flew the US flag, would strike it at or just before sunset, and I believe Title 4 of the US Code, which details respectful treatment of the national flag, requires that this be done. ETA: Indeed, 4 USC 6(a) [1]: It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. To the best of my understanding, no criminal penalty attaches to mishandling a flag in contravention of Title 4 requirements, despite the occasional misguided attempt to prosecute someone who, for example, incinerates a symbol of his nation in order to attempt some sort of point about the present conduct of its government. That said, it would surprise me to learn that anyone who flies the flag for patriotic reasons would disregard a legal recommendation regarding the proper manner of such display. [1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/6 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/6
  - Jeremy1026 9y ago
    There are six United States flags that are not required to follow this rule. Do you know which ones they are?
    - throwanem 9y ago
      The one in front of the White House is one of them, I believe, but then I also seem to recall that it's lit 24/7, so may not count. The other five I couldn't hazard a guess at.
      - Jeremy1026 9y ago
        The six flags planted by the Apollo astronauts on the moon.
    - incredimike 9y ago
      NOT YET?
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    > I believe Title 4 of the US Code, which details respectful treatment of the national flag, requires that this be done. The cited provision requires nothing, it is purely descriptive (“it is the universal custom that...” is not “everyone who flies a flag shall...”) > To the best of my understanding, no criminal penalty attaches to mishandling a flag in contravention of Title 4 requirements, There is, for actual requirements, like those regarding advertising use of the flag in 4 USC Sec. 3. But section 6 subsections either describe custom or describe what “should” be done, and thus are not requirements in any sense.
behnamoh 9y ago
It's good to see people from other professions such as yours on HN. I often get the feeling that HN commentators are mostly senior software developers, but people like you kinda balance the atmosphere here.
- throwanem 9y ago
  (Vouched for civility and substance despite a recent ban. Please don't make me a fool to have done so.)
- monkmartinez 9y ago
  Yeah, I do have two apps in the Play store and I love tinkering with Python... I have a dream that when I retire from the fire service, I will develop software for money or no money. It's a long shot... but I try to stay abreast.
monkmartinez 9y ago
Typically between 17:00 and 06:00 I am trying to learn something other than EMS and Fire... in between calls of course. Lots of my buddies watch sports and/or read during that time. If you are at a busy station that typically is the time you get the snot kicked out of you. That is, every time you put your head down the "tones" go off and you get back into the truck to handle a problem for the citizens of your community. Some problems are real, some are perceived, and most just need a firefighter/EMS person to tell them what they should do. Flag down was captured perfectly by @throwanem.

Most interesting. As a layperson I have trouble understanding what happens 17:00 to 06:00 the next day. What does it mean to "flag down" if you are still running 911 calls all night?

fencepost 9y ago

I believe that in the US many (most?) fire departments are 24 hours on/48 hours off so the overnight is sleep at the fire station or respond to calls if there are any. In this case I think "flag down" just means "no responsibilities other than responding to calls."

throwanem 9y ago
It could also be a literal reference to taking down the United States flag. Those organizations of which I've been a member, which flew the US flag, would strike it at or just before sunset, and I believe Title 4 of the US Code, which details respectful treatment of the national flag, requires that this be done. ETA: Indeed, 4 USC 6(a) [1]: It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. To the best of my understanding, no criminal penalty attaches to mishandling a flag in contravention of Title 4 requirements, despite the occasional misguided attempt to prosecute someone who, for example, incinerates a symbol of his nation in order to attempt some sort of point about the present conduct of its government. That said, it would surprise me to learn that anyone who flies the flag for patriotic reasons would disregard a legal recommendation regarding the proper manner of such display. [1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/6 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/6
- Jeremy1026 9y ago
  There are six United States flags that are not required to follow this rule. Do you know which ones they are?
  - throwanem 9y ago
    The one in front of the White House is one of them, I believe, but then I also seem to recall that it's lit 24/7, so may not count. The other five I couldn't hazard a guess at.
    - Jeremy1026 9y ago
      The six flags planted by the Apollo astronauts on the moon.
  - incredimike 9y ago
    NOT YET?
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  > I believe Title 4 of the US Code, which details respectful treatment of the national flag, requires that this be done. The cited provision requires nothing, it is purely descriptive (“it is the universal custom that...” is not “everyone who flies a flag shall...”) > To the best of my understanding, no criminal penalty attaches to mishandling a flag in contravention of Title 4 requirements, There is, for actual requirements, like those regarding advertising use of the flag in 4 USC Sec. 3. But section 6 subsections either describe custom or describe what “should” be done, and thus are not requirements in any sense.

behnamoh 9y ago

It's good to see people from other professions such as yours on HN. I often get the feeling that HN commentators are mostly senior software developers, but people like you kinda balance the atmosphere here.

throwanem 9y ago
(Vouched for civility and substance despite a recent ban. Please don't make me a fool to have done so.)
monkmartinez 9y ago
Yeah, I do have two apps in the Play store and I love tinkering with Python... I have a dream that when I retire from the fire service, I will develop software for money or no money. It's a long shot... but I try to stay abreast.

monkmartinez 9y ago

Typically between 17:00 and 06:00 I am trying to learn something other than EMS and Fire... in between calls of course. Lots of my buddies watch sports and/or read during that time. If you are at a busy station that typically is the time you get the snot kicked out of you. That is, every time you put your head down the "tones" go off and you get back into the truck to handle a problem for the citizens of your community. Some problems are real, some are perceived, and most just need a firefighter/EMS person to tell them what they should do. Flag down was captured perfectly by @throwanem.