In these times, hasn't the notion of bullying someone, or some thing, into submission timed out?

Meet the Snow Bully.

This may be a rust-belt holdover that's soon to disappear, but a company from Wisconsin is still trying to get marketing traction out of a despised term. I came across one of its machines in the Big Y parking lot in Greenfield last weekend.

The device was attached to the front of an enormous tractor, which sat, on this rainy Sunday, parked at the edge of the grocery store lot.

To be sure, grocery lots are a beast to keep clear.
That's no doubt why the double-wide plow attachment, sold by the Monroe Ice & Snow Control of Monroe, Wis., appealed to this contractor.

Here's the sales pitch, courtesy of the company's website, complete with Corporate Capitalization:

"The Snow Bully was developed to offer a Top Quality/Versatile/Productive alternative for: Contractors, Municipalities, Governmental Facilities, Airports and Property Managers. It allows for more versatile use of your current equipment; tractors, loaders, skid steers, etc. by increasing the productivity of each machine and reducing man hours to complete the task. The Snow Bully will allow you to change operations in minutes."

But it could lead some parents to have to explain to kids why an issue that's a top item on many school agendas gets a free pass on the parking lot.

Possible questions for the youth of the Valley: Is it OK to bully something you dislike? How about if that something results in school cancellations? 

What's your favorite kind of snow?

Do you think this dog likes wearing a spiked collar?

Does he need an intervention?