Seán FenianJust got in from clearing the driveway, and the top parking spaces, and the street in front of the mailbox, from yesterday's storm. Again. Not with a shovel, I hasten to clarify; up here it's a job for a track-drive snowblower.
Weary now. But it's a good weary. An accomplished weary.
"But wait, you said you used a snowblower!"
Yes. We like to talk about power equipment and power tools as "#labor saving devices", as though they require no effort to use. It's not true. They are force multipliers. Tools that enable one person to accomplish more in the same period. To be more productive. That doesn't mean it's not still hard work. Not still labor. Not still tiring. Indeed, power equipment greatly magnifies the potential consequences to the laborer of even a minor slip or fumble. Accounts from 18th-19th century textile mills are full of tales of children losing limbs because they stumbled, or were accidentally pushed, into an unguarded drive belt. (Often while working more than twelve hours a day.)
"Labor saving" is a euphemism invented by #industrialists to rationalize not paying the laborers who still do the actual work fairly for their increased #productivity, even at the cost of increased risk, thus keeping more of the money for themselves.
This is not a post about clearing snow. But you already figured that out. Right?
Weary now. But it's a good weary. An accomplished weary.
"But wait, you said you used a snowblower!"
Yes. We like to talk about power equipment and power tools as "#labor saving devices", as though they require no effort to use. It's not true. They are force multipliers. Tools that enable one person to accomplish more in the same period. To be more productive. That doesn't mean it's not still hard work. Not still labor. Not still tiring. Indeed, power equipment greatly magnifies the potential consequences to the laborer of even a minor slip or fumble. Accounts from 18th-19th century textile mills are full of tales of children losing limbs because they stumbled, or were accidentally pushed, into an unguarded drive belt. (Often while working more than twelve hours a day.)
"Labor saving" is a euphemism invented by #industrialists to rationalize not paying the laborers who still do the actual work fairly for their increased #productivity, even at the cost of increased risk, thus keeping more of the money for themselves.
This is not a post about clearing snow. But you already figured that out. Right?