The Off Topic Topic

[Valmy]

40 years since the Spanish democratic election of 1977. Despite all the ups and downs, the longest democratic, prosperous,  and peaceful period in the history of this little corner of Europe.

Congrats! May it continue for 40 more and beyond.

[grumbler]

40 years since the Spanish democratic election of 1977. Despite all the ups and downs, the longest democratic, prosperous,  and peaceful period in the history of this little corner of Europe.

I think the story of Spain (and Portugal) are undersung stories that show some of the real benefits of the One Europe idea.

[Tamas]

40 years since the Spanish democratic election of 1977. Despite all the ups and downs, the longest democratic, prosperous,  and peaceful period in the history of this little corner of Europe.

I think the story of Spain (and Portugal) are undersung stories that show some of the real benefits of the One Europe idea.

I just wish it can be maintained, and evolved.

[HVC]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was named the Transit System Of The Year by the American Public Transportation Association. So.. like how bad are the other NA cities transit systems?

[Valmy]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was named the Transit System Of The Year by the American Public Transportation Association. So.. like how bad are the other NA cities transit systems?

New York's is pretty good if you can overlook the billions of dollars it losses every year.

[garbon]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was named the Transit System Of The Year by the American Public Transportation Association. So.. like how bad are the other NA cities transit systems?

New York's is pretty good if you can overlook the billions of dollars it losses every year.

It is only 6B.

[The Larch]

40 years since the Spanish democratic election of 1977. Despite all the ups and downs, the longest democratic, prosperous,  and peaceful period in the history of this little corner of Europe.

I think the story of Spain (and Portugal) are undersung stories that show some of the real benefits of the One Europe idea.

And that's why Euroscepticism is solidly at the fringe over here.

[The Minsky Moment]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was named the Transit System Of The Year by the American Public Transportation Association. So.. like how bad are the other NA cities transit systems?

New York's is pretty good if you can overlook the billions of dollars it losses every year.

That's really a political choice to spread some of the cost of the system to the general population (NYC has an income tax) and not all on the riders.  There are also deliberate inefficiencies - e.g. running the system 24/7 means running more empty cars off-peak but it's considered important to the self-definition of the city.

It's kind of a miracle that the NYC subway system runs at all, given that it is cobbled together from a bunch of different legacy companies with key infrastructure dating back over a century

[Zanza]

40 years since the Spanish democratic election of 1977. Despite all the ups and downs, the longest democratic, prosperous,  and peaceful period in the history of this little corner of Europe.

Congratulations!! 

[Malthus]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was named the Transit System Of The Year by the American Public Transportation Association. So.. like how bad are the other NA cities transit systems?

WTF? 

[Valmy]

So is everybody as excited for Canada's 150th Birthday this coming July 1st as this cartoon suggests Malthus?

[Malthus]

So is everybody as excited for Canada's 150th Birthday this coming July 1st as this cartoon suggests Malthus?

Heh, it's the usual editorial cartoon complaint over left-wing excesses. 

As so often with such things, there's a bit of truth to it - our PM's fondness for apologizing for each and every past wrong draws a certain amount of justified jeering.

However, by and large (and excluding the usual inter-provincial bickering, particularly with Quebec over identity politics) Canadians are pretty happy about being Canadians. Our systems aren't perfect, and we have our share of past injustices and mistakes, but overall our system appears to - work pretty well? Canadian objectives have never been very immodest - "peace, order and good government". That seems well worth celebrating. 

Particularly now, where the countries we usually compare ourselves to - namely, the US and UK - appear to be in such shambles, politically speaking. 

[Admiral Yi]

Beets?

[CountDeMoney]

I think the story of Spain (and Portugal) are undersung stories that show some of the real benefits of the One Europe idea.

Must be something to see since the days of Tordesillas, huh?

[Jacob]

Canada is spending $500.000.000 on the 150th anniversary celebrations. I don't think the MacKay cartoon is accurate. Of course, I've never seen a MacKay cartoon that was accurate, so that is hardly a surprise.