The Philosophy Now Forum

phyllo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2026 4:00 pm I'm not here to pontificate or evangelize

Perchance, to cavil?

If that's what you think, so be it.

What I think is ... O Canada, without the ego-stroking sometimes it's like getting blood from a stone.

You don't know anything about Canada. You're just repeating talking points that you have been spoon fed.

phyllo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 3:17 pm You don't know anything about Canada. You're just repeating talking points that you have been spoon fed.

I saw Canada once from Niagara Falls, American Side. We had our bicycles. I hear the view of the natural wonder from there (Canada) is a sight better, but we were just passing through and hanging out for the day. From there we drove east along the shoreline of Lake America, before the name change.

I must disagree with the spoon-fed apprehension and opt for the grape vine. I heard, heard it through the grapevine, the things I heard about Canada. Lots of trees, most of the folks clustered near the US border. Can't blame them. I think to get there you need to be going there, and I never had the need.

You should get out more. You would learn something.

Walker wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 3:43 pm Lots of trees, most of the folks clustered near the US border.

Yes, this is true. 90% are within 100 miles of the US border...and that, in a country that has about 3,000 miles of vertical space. It's too cold for most people farther north.

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 7:45 pm Yes, this is true. 90% are within 100 miles of the US border...and that, in a country that has about 3,000 miles of vertical space. It's too cold for most people farther north.

Well, not 90%, certainly not by road, etc.
About 20% of Canada's total population lives in either the Toronto or Ottawa metro areas. Ottawa is just over 100 miles from the nearest border crossing and Toronto about 200 miles. I've driven both. Once, coming back from visiting Penny's mom in Thunder Bay, we intentionally took the northern route back east to experience the wilderness stretch between Long Lac and Hearst.

Of course, if you consider all of the 50 US states, almost all Canadians live SOUTH of the border (think of the border you cross driving from Whitehorse to Skagway). Well go west along that border to the vicinity of Mt Logan and the border turns to the north all the way to the Arctic Ocean. To go from Fairbanks to Whitehorse you are going SOUTH to cross the border.

MikeNovack wrote: ↑Fri Oct 09, 2026 1:32 am

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 7:45 pm Yes, this is true. 90% are within 100 miles of the US border...and that, in a country that has about 3,000 miles of vertical space. It's too cold for most people farther north.

Well, not 90%, certainly not by road, etc.

Actually it's 90%, as the crow flies.

Of course, if you consider all of the 50 US states, almost all Canadians live SOUTH of the border

Southern Ontario is parallel with northern California, actually. But it's the only bit that sticks that far south.

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Fri Oct 09, 2026 1:36 am

Of course, if you consider all of the 50 US states, almost all Canadians live SOUTH of the border

Southern Ontario is parallel with northern California, actually. But it's the only bit that sticks that far south.

Almost all the population of Canada is SOUTH of the US border if you consider parts of the US like Fairbanks or Nome.

The majority of the of the population of Canada lives below 49 degrees latitude (that's the long, stretch of the border between the US and Canada. Even Thunder Bay is below 49N (just)

Well, not 90%, certainly not by road, etc

Calgary is 150 miles from the US border and Edmonton is 350 miles from the US border.

And the main reason lots of people settled in Toronto and Montreal is because they are on waterways which were the fastest and easiest way to travel and move goods ... by boat.

phyllo wrote: ↑Fri Oct 09, 2026 2:18 am

Well, not 90%, certainly not by road, etc

Calgary is 150 miles from the US border and Edmonton is 350 miles from the US border.

Calgary and Edmonton combined are 8.5%

MikeNovack wrote: ↑Fri Oct 09, 2026 2:13 am Almost all the population of Canada is SOUTH of the US border

No, that's not the US border in Ontario. That's the 49th parallel, and is only 23% of the border. The border runs through the Great Lakes, south of Southern Ontario. So no, Canada is not south of the American border.

How is it you don't know that?

phyllo wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2026 5:42 pm You should get out more. You would learn something.

“Oh behave!”
That logic fails with AI, the Super intelligence* that never goes anywhere but knows (learns) a thing or two.

The objective appeal of Canada (to outsiders) is cultural.
The appeal is not to go conversationally trudging across the tundra of clichés, mile-after-mile.
Literal beaver top-hats are no longer in fashion, although the figurative variety have become popular with feminists.

When I think of Canada, I think of Joni Mitchell. She left it, btw. Went to paradise, i.e., California. And just look at what too much government did to paradise, and be sad about it when you look. Ever get out to paradise?

Voice like bird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6tlDUqRMUo


*Nod to the Don

Walker wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2026 5:09 pm Maybe Super Intelligence will fit when machines are actually conscious.

Oh no... now you are THE ENEMY of TRUMP!

Trump says anyone who does not refer to AI as ‘super intelligence’ is ‘THE ENEMY'

“The White House considers anyone that uses the term, ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ as opposed to the highly accepted new and more accurate term, ‘Super Intelligence,’ THE ENEMY!” Trump said on Truth Social.