Comments on: Alaska part of Canada

Alaska part of Canada

PrinceValium — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 07:19:09 -0800

While you were sleeping: Alaska became part of Canada, and Vancouver Island sunk into the ocean. This according to the lobby floor of the CBC building. It may be time for those guys - and all of us - to reexamine our geographic literacy.

By: crazy finger

crazy finger — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 07:40:32 -0800

To quote the article, the map is "not representative of Canada, per se."

By: copmuter

copmuter — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 08:05:05 -0800

Some of the results from the geographic literacy survey are pretty amazing, like 1 in 5 people being albe to locate Sweden. Also, why aren't each of the self-locations 100%? There is usually only one option on the right continent...

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 08:16:34 -0800

It's not a map - it's art, y'see. And they're not going to change it: "You wouldn't go back to Picasso and say add another nose over here on this piece."

By: cardboard

cardboard — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 08:41:44 -0800

But without an accurate lobby map, how can I sail around the Horn and bring back untold riches from the Orient? Movie directors screw up physics, floor designers screw up geography: it's all part of humanity's death-spiral into the idiot-savantism of over-specialization.

By: teg

teg — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:08:00 -0800

Alaska became part of Canada, and Vancouver Island sunk into the ocean. Rather, Vancouver Island became Vancouver Peninsula and the Queen Charlottes sank into the ocean.

By: carter

carter — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:10:35 -0800

Re. the National Geographic survey, it was interesting that countries could score less than 20% for the multiple choice questions, which would be the random outcome. (e.g. I think 16% of US students knew were Sweden was). Which must mean not only that they can not identify Sweden, but that they must really think it's somewhere else. it's all part of humanity's death-spiral into the idiot-savantism of over-specialization. Or, of thinking you're specialised, when you're not.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:13:37 -0800

But without an accurate lobby map, how can I sail around the Horn and bring back untold riches from the Orient? That's easy. Head for Guanahani before it becomes Watling Island. Before you turn home, rename the spot San Salvador. Your friends will be so impressed with you, they'll forget all about China.

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:29:52 -0800

Also, why aren't each of the self-locations 100%? There is usually only one option on the right continent... Because I suspect that as much as anything else, what you're seeing is not just a measure of understanding of geography, but of geography, literacy and apathy. It seems rather more likely that 11% of Americans deliberately failed to answer that question or couldn't understand it than that 11% of Americans don't know where the United States is.

By: moonbiter

moonbiter — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:36:12 -0800

I think this clearly shows Canada's nefarious plans for invading and annexing Alaska, no doubt for it's sweet, sweet oil.

By: Durwood

Durwood — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:39:20 -0800

You mean Canada is NOT part of the United States? That will be news to a lot of folks down here....

By: wobh

wobh — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 09:59:59 -0800

Some of the identifications I was only able to get because they didn't clump the possible answers together geographically. I knew roughly where Sweden is, but which is Sweden and which is Norway I still couldn't tell you. I know roughly where Afganistan is and that it's landlocked. I'm lucky that, while I wasn't sure where in South America Argentina was, I knew it wasn't Brazil. The only question I know I got wrong was the one about which religion had the most followers world-wide. I figured Christianity at second or third, with either Buddhism or Islam in the top spot. A silly error in rhetrospect. Anyway, let's hear it for The CIA World Factbook!

By: wobh

wobh — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 10:07:20 -0800

"rhetrospect"?!?!

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 10:54:52 -0800

I can't wait to go all neo-Church Lady "Well, aren't you specialized." I think this clearly shows Canada's nefarious plans for invading and annexing Alaska, no doubt for it's sweet, sweet oil. There is no need to annex Alaska. The fuel will come right to us via the pipeline. Gov. Frank Murkowski and the state's congressional delegation are pushing to win congressional support for federal tax incentives to encourage construction of a $20 billion gas pipeline into Canada. It's a smart move, van Meurs said. Remember, you are either with us or you control an oil reserver or pipeline or you are against us! I think the reason many americans can't find sweden is because their primary exposure to swedes is the bikini team.

By: LouReedsSon

LouReedsSon — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 12:34:18 -0800

For those of us far too broke to travel, why should we care where Sweden is? :)

By: elwoodwiles

elwoodwiles — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 13:03:26 -0800

Swedish. Bikini. Team. Any other questions?

By: antifreez_

antifreez_ — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:05:31 -0800

If it's not worth doing right, it's not worth doing at all. Would it kill someone to take the 3 minutes to open an atlas and at least give a real map something more than a cursory glance? This isn't a work of art, it's a work of fiction. Also, I am all for invading Alaska. We're planning to utilize the RCAF Snowbirds with their remarkable and entertaining flying stunts to impress and distract the locals while we send in the beavers.

By: pzarquon

pzarquon — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 20:55:28 -0800

Might as well give Alaska to Canada... and give Hawaii back to the Hawaiians. I mean, 90 percent of infographic maps supposedly representing the United States snubs 'em. (Sea to shining sea indeed.)

By: alicesshoe

alicesshoe — Sun, 16 Nov 2003 07:41:37 -0800

A great excuse for a fuck up Mr. Art Tallis, Morguard Corporation's general manager for Ottawa. Call it art. That's Canadian art, damnit! I wanna see the receipt from the "artist". WoooHa! Maybe it's a subsidiary of Morguard Corporation? My bet is it's his son or daughter. I call 6 degrees!

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Mon, 17 Nov 2003 12:47:23 -0800

Note that there is nothing the CBC can do about this short of threatening to break their lease (and maybe broadcast what ignorant fools the owners are). They just rent 4 floors of the building and do not control the lobby.