Comments for For Serious?

Comment on The Longform Census: Our Generation’s Avro Arrow by danno

danno — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:51:14 +0000

Your choice of the Arrow as a national legacy does more to damage your point that reaffirm it. Among those with a passing interest in Canadian or aviation history, the Avro Arrow was a boondoggle that should never have been and although it may have hurt our collective pride (not to mention 14,000 A.V. Roe employees) canceling it made more sense in retrospect.

Among the many problems, Orenda simply couldn’t get the Iroquois engine complete, and thus had to purchase Rolls Royce powerplants in the interim. The aircraft had climbed to a staggering 12 million dollars per unit, which is just over $100 million today (corrected for inflation).

Also, it should be mentioned that many Canadians, especially those in southern Quebec/Ontario, were well aware of the Arrow. Have a peek through the microfiche of your local library…it was no secret.

The aircraft was useless. This pains me to say – i’m a professional pilot, a Canadian, and aviation enthusiast, but i believe that for the sake of your argument, you’re sort of nailing your coffin shut.

There were virtually no buyers for the airframe, and as impressive may have been, it was obsolete before it even hit the air, thanks to the missile age.

As for the census? You’re probably right.

Comment on Dear Hillary, We’re Crazy. Love, Some U.S. Senators. by bill

bill — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:28:37 +0000

execellent. We need Hillary as president in 2012

Comment on The Longform Census: Our Generation’s Avro Arrow by SlyThinker

SlyThinker — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:32:16 +0000

Excellent point and very well stated.

Comment on The Longform Census: Our Generation’s Avro Arrow by Murray B

Murray B — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:49:51 +0000

Interesting article but there is really no comparison with the Avro Arrow because it was the military that wanted the thing cancelled.

From Cabinet minutes dated August 28, 1958, “Finally, the cost of the CF-105 programme as a whole was now of such a magnitude that the Chiefs of Staff felt that, to meet the modest requirement of manned aircraft presently considered advisable, it would be more economical to procure a fully developed interceptor of comparable performance in the U.S.”

The Chiefs of staff had been trying to cancel the thing from the beginning and Diefenbaker’s Cabinet finally took their advice. No one with knowledge of aircraft was surprised at the military’s recommendation.

The Cabinet was worried about job losses at Avro, however, and budgeted $50 million to help the company keep their people working. Cabinet was also looking for other contracts to keep the company afloat. Despite this Avro decided to destroy the industry instead.

It looks like Canadians have been blaming the wrong guys for over half a century.

Comment on The Longform Census: Our Generation’s Avro Arrow by Dilip Andrade

Dilip Andrade — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:36:41 +0000

Don’t be silly… this generation’s Arrow will be AECL.

As for the value of the Long form, the Conservatives are half right. They’re increasing the number of long forms sent out (good), but making them optional (bad because it will result in a sampling bias).

I figure that if Mary and Joseph could make it to Bethlehem for a census, we can certainly fill out a form.

Comment on G20, Moderates and Mobile Technology: A Recipe for Democracy by James Bowie

James Bowie — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:35:22 +0000

If you came to my town and burned four police cars, I’d say it was a big deal, yes.

Comment on I liked Cyndi Lauper’s colour scheme better. by I liked Cyndi Lauper’s colour scheme better. « It’s Getting Hot In Here

I liked Cyndi Lauper’s colour scheme better. « It’s Getting Hot In Here — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:17:18 +0000

[...] The Honourable Jim Prentice began his speech to members of the University of Calgary School of Public Policy and School of Business on February 1 – though, at first, I could have sworn he was right next to me whispering sweet nothings in my ear – with soothing words about the federal government’s energy and climate change: Continue reading ‘I liked Cindi Lauper’s colour scheme better.’ [...]

Comment on World Compares Apples to Apples. Canada Wants Fruit Combo. by Zoë

Zoë — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:30:21 +0000

Hi Polprav,
Yes of course! (Sorry for mega-late reply… your comment was lost in a sea of spam comments on topics inappropriate for re-posting.)

Yours,
Zoe

Comment on ForSerious Editorial Board: The National Post is still with us by lizmcdowell

lizmcdowell — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:50:09 +0000

My fave comments on the National Post site are all the people who are like “uh … this was written by the onion, right? Oh wait – is this NOT the onion? WTF?” My sentiments exactly.

Comment on ForSerious Editorial Board: The National Post is still with us by RK

RK — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:33:36 +0000

Ha! Nice one…