Word: hoses
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...remembered a fire in Boston last year. A three-story boarding house was burning, and firefighters were trying to save the homes of several families. Two members of truck company walked up a set of smoky stairs to stretch a hose line to the second floor. Suddenly, they yelled a may-day. A ladder was brought to the second floor--quickly--and the firefighters escaped. They barely escaped injury. And the panic in their voices sticks with me today. This was a "normal" fire--an everyday happening for the men in uniform...
Since then, it is as if Son & Co. trained a fire hose on Silicon Valley and pumped in a steady stream of cash. President Gary Rieschel figures that in 1996, with Softbank Technology Ventures still an unknown in the valley, it invested $200 million in 55 companies in four months-- although "investing" hardly describes the act of writing checks as fast as you can. Last month Softbank opened Hotbank, an incubator for start-ups. There has been no need to advertise. Each week hundreds of applications pour into Hotbank; out come announcements of new Softbank allies: PeoplePC, Webvan, Global Sports...
Staffing, too, is important. Technological advances mean that fewer firefighters are required to operate hose lines and other equipment. Nevertheless, insurance agencies believe that a bigger crew means a better, faster, response...
Despite the sleeping arrangements, and despite the flat's grungy kitchen and vomit-green bathroom, complete with the traditional European showerhead-on-a-hose, I reluctantly agreed to move in. Having more than overstayed my welcome at the temporary flat, I was ready to go just about anyplace. Three days later, I shoved my suitcases into one of London's finest black cabs, and I was off to Bayswater to live with Mike, Linda and Joanna. Luckily for me, Joanna had a last-minute change of heart and decided that she didn't mind co-habitating (in the most innocent...
Each morning, as I walk out of my West Jerusalem apartment, I must dodge the gardener's hose, as he generously waters our scraggly plants. So conspicuous is his water consumption that little pools form along the pavement, sometimes wetting the cuffs of my pants. The truth is that these native desert plants need infrequent watering but our Arab maintenance man conscientiously carries out his duties...