Steer on a trail? Consider the flops
A few days ago, there was an item about a local person planning to ride her steer on the Galloping Goose pathway. The steer owner said that people used to ride steers, so why not do it now?
The answer may lie in the huge difference between buns and flops.
Horse manure is in the form of multiple buns, each about the size of racquet or squash balls. Cow manure is much wetter, and comes out as large, wet cow flops.
Steers are indeed cattle. They are exactly bull calves neutered early in life. I know, as a youth, for many (too many) years I assisted at the cutting and branding of hundreds of them.
Female calves become heifers, and are bred as yearlings to produce calves and become cows. Steers, heifers, cows, and bulls are all cattle. And they poop wet flops.
I invite all readers to examine horse manure and cow manure, and smell it. Based on their their own examination, make an informed decision on whether they would allow steers and therefore cow flops on the trail.
Me, I would say “no.”
Richard Kubik
Victoria
How dangerous are these businesses?
A recent story mentioned that customers have asked businesses to fire workers who live in communities with high COVID-19 rates. That prompted me to wonder whether there has been any research into the spread of COVID due to infected workers at businesses other than care homes.
When a major construction project is planned, one of the considerations is the number of lives that will be lost.
Calculation of such deaths is a well-established science, and factors include the nature of the project, its location, the length of time to completion (the shorter the timeline, the more deaths), and other variables.
Similarly, the death rate of workers in various occupations is well documented. (Leading the list in Canada are loggers, commercial fishermen, truck drivers and construction workers.)
Has anyone compiled statistics on the likelihood of COVID increase when businesses continue to operate, ranked by the business? Almost all provinces have shut down pubs, or at least restricted their hours, but have allowed construction to continue.
Is that based on research, or economics, or what?
To cut to the chase, when business owners moan about not being able to operate, do they have any idea what the implications are, how many people might contract the disease, how many people might die? Do workers know those things?
Does anyone? Because I sure don’t.
Ian Cameron
Brentwood Bay
Prove who is paying for Dubow’s hotel stay
A Times Colonist article on Jan. 6 said that Victoria Coun. Sharmarke Dubow is “carrying out his council duties while in 14-day quarantine at a hotel in Vancouver,” and that “The City of Victoria confirmed that Dubow is paying for the hotel costs.“
A quick Google search revealed that the federal government has paid $37 million for quarantine hotel and meal costs.
Given that Dubow has already misled the public with his previous travels to Africa, should we be taking his word on who is paying for his quarantine accommodation and costs?
Could the city post proof that Dubow did indeed pay his bills? As a retired senior citizen on a fixed income, I object to any level of government municipal/provincial/federal paying for Dubow’s, or any other politician’s, personal holiday costs.
Furthermore, Dubow, and councillors Jeremy Loveday, Charlayne Thornton-Joe and Marianne Alto do not reside in Victoria, yet make policies and decisions that the city taxpayers have to fund. But not the aforementioned councillors.
Alberta requires that candidates for municipal elections be residents of that municipality for at least six months. Why not B.C.?
Peter Davis|
James Bay
City councillors and byelections
The overwhelming letters to the editor and commentaries about Victoria Coun. Sharmarke Dubow’s recent holiday trip to East Africa call for his resignation.
In defiance of the B.C. public health request to avoid all non-essential travel, Dubow travelled for pleasure and not only put Canadians at risk of COVID-19 on his return but also people in East Africa on his arrival there.
A completely irresponsible decision to travel, and certainly Victoria residents would have expected more respectful behaviour on the part of an elected official.
One letter suggested that, although his behaviour is inexcusable, he should not resign in order to save the city the cost of yet another byelection. I disagree for two important reasons.
First, since councillors are elected at large, perhaps it is time to change the rules regarding the replacement of a councillor who has resigned. If one of the eight positions becomes vacant, it could be offered to the person who received the ninth most votes, etc.
Second, by having to hold another costly byelection, it might make voters more conscious about whom they are really electing.
Is it someone who lives and works in the community, has a commitment to the community, and wants to contribute to the city’s health and well-being; or is it someone who views it as a stepping stone to the larger political landscape and career advancement?
Louise Manga
Victoria
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email letters to: [email protected]
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
