Before You Dig: 8 Snow-Shoveling Tips (Bloated Government Barf Alert!)

Arlington Patch ^ | February 14, 2014 | Mary Ann Barton

[McBuff]

Ever wonder what a "Loss Prevention Manager" of a "Risk Management Division" of Arlington County, Va does for a living? You didn't? That's what I thought. Well apparently, he dresses up in a suit, tie and overcoat, puts on his ear muffs and then tells us how to shovel snow. Yes, that's right, how to shovel snow. Oh, you think you already know how to shovel snow and don't need a high salaried public employee to tell you how to do it "properly?". . well, think again. His knowledge of how to shovel snow properly is impressive; probably representing hours of "loss prevention" research by, no doubt, an enourmous staff. God, I'm so grateful for having a Risk Manager like this fellow. . .what would we do without him and the government to tell us how to shovel snow!!?? (Watch the video for a good laugh, by the way. . .in case you didn't already know it. . we are doomed).

[CaptainAmiigaf]

Laughing at this. As a kid (eons ago) we all grabbed shovels and went out to “earn our own money”. And the dollars did add up. We were rich.
Shoveled the neighbors walk and steps, but never where I lived. In my 20’s I found out out mothers had cooked up a deal where I did the neighbor’s shoveling and when I wasn’t looking my neighbor’s kid did where I lived.
BUT— we had each labored and EARNED money. A true life’s lesson, never to be forgotten.
Of course, in some cases, earned money went into the family coffers because it was really needed.

[nascarnation]

Just curious...what is the “Patch” ?

[ArcadeQuarters]

Good scene. I love how they have desks shared between two offices and end up in a tug of war.

[dennisw]

ping

[Robert A Cook PE]

So, one of those uber-”free” conformity-wearing Stalinist youth (er, paid volunteers) didn’t get the word about wearing their government issue brown shoes?

Nuremburg parades were less frightening.

[nothingnew]

Step One: hire some kid to do it. Nearly fainted last winter when some kid and his buddy knocked on my door, offering to shovel snow from the driveway and front walk for $10. Hadn’t encountered that in decades. May be hope for this country after all.

Did that all through my childhood. Snow shovel, rake leaves, pull weeds...made a few bucks.

Then in high school got myself a job selling mens clothing in a rather high end small store. I learned a lot as a youngster.

FMCDH(BITS)

[McBuff]

The “Patch” is a website focusing on local community news. It’s the equivalent of the local community paper. There are “Patch” sites for many communities. . .they are all over Northern Virginia. . not sure how prevalent nationwide.

[Drango]

Pre-warmed plates are essential.

[tet68]

Waiting for the ‘How to fill a sandbag without a hernia’ video...

Don’t be silly, you can’t fill a sandbag with a hernia,
although it certainly FEELS like it...

[bert]

any more, one doesn't shovel snow.

the proper tool is a handled blade much like a dozer blade. rather than lift and throw, one merely pushes.

[dennisw]

Big government, based on the idea that with enough micromanagement the world can be perfect.

That's what they want you to think. Reality is many Governments are jobs programs for the incompetent and the affirmative action babies who happen to be politically connected. We have thousands of Governments in America. More than 3000 counties, 50 states, One Federal gov and so on

[Straight Vermonter]

How do these municipalities get away with forcing people to work without compensation?

Seriously, I don’t know how it is legal.

[gitmo]

A cardiologist told me they double staff in weather like this. It's a stress test on steroids. The cold air causes blood vessels to restrict and that causes the heart to work harder than ever before. People drop like flies.

[rlmorel]

That is absolutely my favorite scene as well in that movie!