NOT JUST A CORN COB PIPE AND BUTTON NOSE
THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN
Building a snowman is one of the most picturesque winter activities, which is why snowmen have become a wintertime cultural icon. A snowman appeared on the very first postcards, was the subject of some of the earliest photos, and even starred in silent movies. Frosty may be a happy snowman now, but his ancestors have a much more varied — and sometimes dark — history. THE MIDDLE AGES Snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages. They were constructed with deep thought and great skill because, during a time of limited means of expression, snow was a free art supply that literally fell from the sky. These artistic feats were popular winter attractions for well-to-do couples who wanted to get their fix of temporary art. Snowmen were often created by famous artists, including 19-year-old Michelangelo
who, in 1494, was commissioned by the ruler of Florence to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard.
THE MIRACLE OF 1511 In Brussels in 1511, during six weeks of
Dutch settlement, which was under the constant threat of attack. Soldiers guarded the gates at all times because they were frozen open, but during a blizzard, they left a pair of snowmen to protect the gates while they sought shelter. That’s when 200 French Canadian soldiers and Native Americans approached. Naturally, they were unfazed by the snowmen and ruthlessly invaded the settlement. Building a snowman seems like a simple and charming activity, but after learning about its surprising history, you might find those piles of snow seem a little more complicated and a lot more meaningful than before.
subzero temperatures called the Winter of Death, the city was miraculously adorned with hundreds of snowmen. The spectacle told stories on every street corner — some political and some demonstrating anger with the church, many too risque to speak of. For the people of Brussels, this Miracle of 1511 was a defining moment of artistic freedom. But when spring came and the snow thawed, the Belgians were left with damaging floods. THE SCHENECTADY MASSACRE Not all snowmen have an innocent history. In 1690, former Fort Schenectady in upstate New York was home to a remote
IMPROVING YOUR CSA SCORE BE PREPARED FOR YOUR NEXT INSPECTION
2020 is coming to an end, and the new year is just around the corner. While we may not know what 2021 will bring us, we do know we must prepare for it. For truckers, this could mean getting their commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspected if they haven’t done so already.
As you are aware, inspections are a vital part of a CMV’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score. If the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance finds any maintenance shortcomings, CSA severity scores can rise dramatically. This can place your CMV in an out-of-service (OOS) status, which can drastically influence your livelihood: An OOS order adds 10 CSA points to your license. More points can be added if the inspection reveals any more deficiencies with the vehicle. To improve your CSA score and reduce your likelihood of having points added, you can take a few precautionary steps before the inspection even occurs. MANAGE FATIGUE Fatigue is difficult to prove and is often seen as a matter of opinion. That’s why it’s essential to put a fatigue management plan into effect well before any inspections take place. As an added precaution, ensure you stay well below the maximum driver hours
and regularly take a 30-minute break in your workday. By taking these steps in advance, an inspector will not have any reason to add CSA points for your being too tired to drive. PREVENT UNSAFE DRIVING VIOLATIONS To improve your CSA score, put measures in place that help you avoid unsafe driving violations and align with CSA compliance. One good practice is to increase your awareness of violations that may occur while driving and what being pulled over for one could mean. A few areas to focus on are following too closely, driving unbelted, speeding, and using a cell phone while on the road. By reviewing these and actively practicing awareness, you create good habits that will benefit your CSA scores. If you received an inspection violation or have been issued a traffic ticket, it’s time to take action. Call Bigger & Harman today at (661) 859-1177 for a free consultation.
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