Canada's new Toyota plant

Personally, based on experience working with Japanese people, I doubt very much the quotes are accurate.

I didn't even mention your sex life!!

Besides, we all know Canadians live in igloos, speak French, and just wish you'd fought against the Brits in 1776.

Then you could drive Mustangs.

;-)

"D.K.R." wrote . He obviously has some bias in the matter.

Ya think?

Canadian WERE the Brits in 1776! Except for the French, of course.

Ok- Probably not the group that cares about such things, but-

You are citing as an example of intelligence and work ethic an organization that put a man on the moon in 1969 and hasn't put one farther than low earth orbit since?

David

This isn't due to lack of intelligence or work ethic. Its due to lack of funding.

It's due to politics. $160b has gone into that USELESS ISS and that is the reason for the lack of money. A make-work project for out of work Russian nuclear scientists. Thankfully, the admin and NASA are now making noises that the ISS is being back-burnered. I hope it's left to disintigrate, what a waste.

I'll bet he does not even know why the 'white house' is painted white...

I don't see it as being wasted, necessarily. Much of what is learned developing the ISS will be applicable to sending a mission to Mars, which seems the next logical step in space exploration with the possible exception of a permanent moon base. Developing the technology to reach Mars, and return, will take time... a long time IMO. I think it will take another 25-30 years before it is remotely considered feasible.

But we DO drive Mustangs... you know nothing of my sex life but you are starting to sound like a certain troll with your pretensions.

My igloo is made of wood, I speak enough Quebequois to get my face slapped (that is certainly NOT French) and, as someone else stated, we WERE the Brits.

FWIW, there was a time when the Canadian dollar was much stronger than the US dollar, the Avro Arrow could have flown circles around anything Lockheed, McDonnell, or anyone else. We were good neighbours....

Tables have turned... US dollar is strong, complicated circumstances have instilled Americans with pride and (for want of a better word) attitude. Walk tall... walk proud - but ditch the swagger.

BTW... the smiley looks more like a back-pedal than anything else....

Here I thought you had me figured out.... besides, you have to incant it's name three times by the light of the full moon, right???

"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote

: I don't see it as being wasted, necessarily. Much of what is learned : developing the ISS will be applicable to sending a mission to Mars, : which seems the next logical step in space exploration with the possible : exception of a permanent moon base. Developing the technology to reach : Mars, and return, will take time... a long time IMO. I think it will : take another 25-30 years before it is remotely considered feasible.

I am still having trouble understanding WHY we need to go to Mars.

Seems like a huge waste of money to me. HUGE waste of money.

Like this last little $300 million foofah... lets shoot a rocket at an asteroid. $300 freaking MILLION dollars, good thing this country isn't in debt, or that might be considered a waste of money.

I grew up knowing that if you can't pay your bills, you can't buy new toys either. Why our government cannot understand that is beyond me.

Kate

You have to be naked when you do it, and I get to film it.

: > dumbass jim! : >

: > LOL : >

: >

: >

: :

IMO, there is a real good reason for doing it and it really has nothing to do with reaching Mars or any other planet. Sooner or later, an asteroid is going to be heading toward our planet. If it is big enough it would destroy life as we know it and likely exterminate mankind. Even a smaller impact could kill billions of people. All this space exploration will enable us to better detect and, if necessary, maybe deflect any body that is on a collision course with earth. Granted the odds are slim for a collision but it has happened in the past and it will happen in the future. It is not a matter of if but when. Plus, there are usually some very good spin-off technologies coming from space programs that seem to be very useful in everyday life. Just look at the things we take for granted today that were derived from the 1960's space programs.

Plus if the government didn't spend it on space programs they would probably spend on something even more useless.

Can anyone point me to a document that shows ANY science of value being done on the ISS? It's a white elephant in space. For what it cost, they could have put up the successor to the Hubble, built 5 new shuttles, and launched countless PRODUCTIVE interplanetary probes and funded larger ground-based telescopes.

-Rich

I don't necessarily see the science being done on the station as the benefit. It is being able to hone the technology that allows humans to live long-term in space and a weightless environment. Also, I bet much of the "science" done there is classified and may be only be useful to, or used by, the military.

As a follow up to my reply to Kate, I think we should target a large asteroid and see how we can affect its long term trajectory through various means. Developing that capability might prove useful one day!

"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote : : As a follow up to my reply to Kate, I think we should target a large : asteroid and see how we can affect its long term trajectory through : various means. Developing that capability might prove useful one day!

Well, I suppose it might prove useful someday, kind of like the set of taillights I took off of my car MAY be useful someday, not likely, but possible. In the meantime... I still think...

Ok, here's the rub. Only as an example, but a real problem.

Recently in this state they have cut the Tenncare rolls significantly. Loads of people who are really sick (yes and I am sure some that are taking advantage) have had their medical benefits eliminated.

I see it this way, $300million would do allot to help people. People who really need it right ehre and now. People who cannot help themselves.

Kind of the same way I see big fancy churches with the wide screens and Dolby sound. The money spent could be used to do some real good....

I know it's a soap box, I just have this terribly practical side.

Kate

The waste bother me too. I also think that while the possibility is remote we should have a plan for dealing with a rogue comet/asteroid. It would take that much money. Besides if we are ever hit it would make the suffer you just described look like mankind had a common cold, relatively speaking. The real shame is that we, and other nations, have to spend so much on defense and military related areas. If we would all just play nice with each other think of the greater good we could accomplish.