Just in case you thought fast changing technology only exists in cell phones and Mp3 players I bring you this Gear Diary entry.

This one hits especially close to home for me because, well you know, I’m a firefighter.

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It’s time for another in my series of “how it’s changed over the years.”

In this post I showed you just how the helmet mounted flashlight has changed for firefighters and now it’s time to look at the Garmin Forerunner.

I’m a runner.  This past May I completed my 10th marathon and I’m registered to try number 11 this November.

My Garmin Forerunner has become an essential training tool.  It keeps track of my speed, distance, pace, heart rate etc. all while running and when I get home it allows me to wireless transfer the data back to my computer for analysis.

The great thing about the Garmin Forerunner is it’s GPS based.  So it needs no foot pod, as some other running watches do, to track all of my stats, it does it all via satellite.

Just like the iPod the Garmin Forerunner seems to get an overhaul every year and each year brings a newer, slicker design.

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While on vacation in Maine a few weeks ago I happened to break my sunglasses.  Luckily I was near a place that sold them and was able to pick up a replacement pair.

The pair I ended up with are Oakley Monster Dogs.

They’re not my first pair of Oakley glasses.  I’ve owned a few.

Oakley has been around for a while and always seems to be at the forefront of the sunglasses market with its innovative frames.

A brand of choice among active individuals they have stood the test of time.

This got me thinking.  How has the Oakley frame changed over the years?

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Welcome to another edition of “How it’s changed over the years.”

The firefighter’s SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) is as important a piece of equipment as his/her helmet.  The device, which consists today of a high pressure tank, face mask and pressure regulator allows firefighters to breath air in the hostile environments they face.

So how has the SCBA changed over the years?

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Amazon is not taking their new competition sitting down. I saw this ad watching television tonight, and almost did a double-take; I’ve seen print ads for the Kindle, but prime-time commercials are a whole new level of publicity.

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