Comments on: Slip Sliding Away Generates Chilly Attitude

By: Doggone

Doggone — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:32:07 +0000

Great job reinforcing gender stereotypes. As a woman who grew up in snow country, where 2-3 feet per storm many times a season is the norm(versus 2-3 inches maybe a couple of times a year,) I can verify that any able-bodied person can shovel snow. That includes the dense stuff kicked up by the snow plows. Neighbors shoveled for those who could not. It’s one of the joys of winter: challenging outdoor work that rewards persistence and a dedication to physical labor. There are multiple rationales for shoveling: Safety, courtesy, clearing the way in anticipation of future storms, and my favorite, restoring the historic hydrology of the valley. When you move water from impermeable to permeable surfaces, you slow the run-off, help to replenish ground water, and create a saturated soil profile to get plants off to a good start in the Spring. I call for a community initiative to move all this free water from our wasteful pavement back to our historic groundwater system.

By: slim jim

slim jim — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:52:37 +0000

As a life long Boisean as well as a person of delicate age who likes to walk in all kinds of weather all I can say is THANK YOU FRAZ for stepping up to the plate (again).
I really tire of the city coming down on homeowners to keep their walks cleared then sit on their duffs. I never did like the “Do as I say, not as I do” attitude!

But then there are the little neighborhoods (not in the sacred north end, but on the bench) that have not only yet to be plowed, but have not even been sanded. Wahoo!!!! It’s fun as along as nothing is damaged.

slip sliding around town….. thank you again, sir. You are a good friend of the people and I am glad that you are enjoying your family.

By: Porcupine

Porcupine — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:22:43 +0000

Eating shark is a lot better than eating crow…..

By: Dave Frazier

Dave Frazier — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 03:17:55 +0000

In reply to Sunshine. The 8 yr old actually caught a shark! About a 40 inch black tip that fed 5 of us--my first shark meal and really good.

By: Sunshine

Sunshine — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 03:08:54 +0000

How was the fishing? Nothing like fishing with a grandson! He out fish ‘ya?

By: Nan Emouse

Nan Emouse — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:43:05 +0000

I went out to clear a path on the sidewalk and got splashed by cars. Needless to say, the sidewalk did not get cleared.

By: Rifter

Rifter — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:28:36 +0000

Wow… 6th grade boys? My 2nd grade daughter helps me. At this point, she is so tired of being cooped up in-doors, I am sure she would GLADLY help. Heck, I’d even bring her shovel from home to let her help. No need for the school to purchase them.

By: riksha

riksha — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:29:54 +0000

Why should teachers shovel snow?–it’as bad enough doing it in front of one’s house. Adults are more at risk of back injuries from shoveling snow than limber kids are.
If the kids are out there shoveling, an adult needs to be on duty with them to make sure they know how to shovel safely, and also in case of any accidents.

By: briarpatch

briarpatch — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:17:35 +0000

Is there some reason that some of these teachers can’t shovel snow?

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:10:43 +0000

Ah, what a blessing it is to live in a part of town where there AREN’T any sidewalks! (/sarcasm)

I’ll gladly defend the Parks Department; IMO they’ve done an exemplary job of maintaining the greenbelt, and this bike rider appreciates it. (Normally I ride on the streets as much as possible, but when it’s slippery I prefer the alternative routes. Yesterday I crashed right by the Ann Morrison footbridge. Since I didn’t get run over by a car after falling, I mumbled something colorful, then got up and dusted myself off, and proceeded.)

I also wish to thank the vast majority of motorists who are patient and wait until it’s safe to pass me. When the roads are treacherous, it slows everybody down. It’s always distressing to wonder if I’m going to crash, when some yahoo in his F350 Super-Duty is 3 feet behind me, revving his turbo-diesel.