Posted on 08/21/2012 7:21:36 AM PDT by Past Your Eyes
Here's a riddle for you: What do you call a horseshoer that doesn't shoe any horses? An employee of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. No, you're not supposed to laugh, but the perpetually cash-strapped city somehow still employs a horseshoer, even though the department does not own horses, nor does the former employee of the Police Department work with any of the city's four-legged equines. The horseshoer's position was revealed as part of an independent report that concluded that the DWSD could "trim more than 80% of its workforce," a suggestion that union leaders say isn't possible. In case you were wondering, the horseshoer's annual salary for doing nothing is $29,245. Maybe that's why horseshoes are lucky.
(Excerpt) Read more at now.msn.com ...
My local precinct captain in Chicago had an official job of “ bridge tender” for a bridge that had its motors removed in 1941 as part of the war effort.
He dosnt work for the Police dept. He works for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. From the article:
“...even though the department does not own horses, nor does the former employee of the Police Department work with any of the city’s four-legged equines”.
“And they produce an ample supply of biscuits for the rest of us to clean up.”
“Biscuits?” I thought they were called “Road Apples.”
No doubt, as opposed to the three or five legged varieties.
All job descriptions would be rewritten to be much broader than current ones to allow more flexibility. Brian Hurding, vice president of EMA, the firm that did the study, said the department had 257 job classifications, including "horseshoer." "We didn't find any horses," Hurding said. "That's the strangest job classification I've ever seen." He noted later that the person in the job also was classified as a welder, which was his main job. Under the reorganization plan, the number of job classifications would fall to 31.
Don’t know if it’s still the case, but the railway worker’s union contract required trains to have a “fireman” on the crew long after they had all converted to diesel-electric locomotives.
I heard this morning that they have not had horses since 67.
If he got the job in 66 and was 18 years old, that would make him 63 years old. I would bet the original dude retired long ago and they actually hired a new guy for the position even when they no longer had horses.
horseshoer??????????????
There is no such thing. The proper word in the English language is “farrier”
http://www.oldscollege.ca/programs/Farrier/index.htm
Every town that has horses in it needs one.
If I'm not mistaken, the same base trained some of our special forces in Afghanistan. So our military still uses horses for tasks other than just ceremonial funerals. There was a story on this unit who went into Afghanistan and the guys were absolutely awesome with their horsemanship.
With 0bama messing around with the auto companies (and the economy in general) every town is going to need several of them.
A horsehoer? LOL
I thought they were called a farrier.
Actually the correct term would be Equine Podiatrist.
Someone should be horsewhipped over this.
The Soviet Army used cavalry on the Eastern Front during world war two, and on occasion had great success in wreaking havoc behind enemy lines when conditions and fuel shortages made motorised transport difficult.
If there was real journalism, the media would be all over this with in your face interviews of the said “horse shoer”, his boss and the mayor until this mess was resolved. It would be interesting to check in which union this guy has membership and whether “horse shoers” are allowed to join. My bet is a year from now the “horse shoer” will still be getting his check for doing nothing and Detroit will be going bankrupt.
I think we all know that. If not before, there’s no excuse now. I didn’t write the headline so take up your grievance with MessNBC. It’s beside the point anyway.
Believe me, I knew what a farrier was long before a bunch of you jumped on it.
Culver Military Academy, Black Horse Troop 1974. I was a 14 year old kid who didn’t know which end of the horse to feed and which end made the poop when I got there. Eight weeks later I was on the drill team, running steeplechase and riding bareback. Mostly taught by 16 year old kids. 150 high school kids, whose “adult supervision” consisted of three college students doing their summer jobs, and a former Army officer who was about 30 years old.
Believe me, I knew what a farrier was long before a bunch of you jumped on it.>>>>>>>>>
Thats OK, “horseshoer” is just fine, LOL.
**************************************************
I once knew a female horse shoer,
and PAST YOUR EYES loved to _______________.
Once she said farrier,
he continued to harrie her
And now he’s boffing a brewer.
( Fill in the blank bucko, LOL.)
**************************************************
With 0bama messing around with the auto companies (and the economy in general) every town is going to need several of them.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thats a real cogent point, and one which is so true as we watch the gas prices going up over 5 bucks and higher, and consequentially Americans lose their freedom of movement and freedom of assembly. Divide and Conquer.
You bet I ‘d take that horse any day instead of a piece Obama Union Detroit Iron, a whole herd. And my trusty pistol and CAR 15 too. Farriers are terrific.
My father was one generation away from the Reservation. He had that kind of aptitude. I did not learn to ever do more than the basics.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.