This is important, because it is animated
July 21, 2014 6:04 AM   Subscribe

19 U.S. Maps that Will Blow your Mind Or, um, not. If you love beautiful infodata, you'll really something this.
posted by Mchelly (67 comments total) 35 users marked this as a favorite
 
You won't believe what happens next!
posted by gimonca at 6:30 AM on July 21, 2014


Supplement to #1.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:30 AM on July 21, 2014


you'll really something this

Well, I can't say I was deceived.
posted by obfuscation at 6:31 AM on July 21, 2014 [10 favorites]


I was kind of doubting the importance of this project, but then I did see the animated one.
posted by Atreides at 6:31 AM on July 21, 2014 [7 favorites]


When things change color attention must be paid.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 6:32 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Are we having, like, broccoli quinoa tacos for dinner or something? That is wack.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:33 AM on July 21, 2014


3. Letters at the beginning

I had no idea Rhode Island was that big! Well, you learn something new every day.
posted by TedW at 6:44 AM on July 21, 2014


I'm gonna put this on the shelf next to Primiti too taa
posted by CincyBlues at 6:50 AM on July 21, 2014 [5 favorites]


I love how in #6, it looks like someone is falling right down the middle of the country.

a
a
a
a
a
and then Texas fucks it up.
posted by Etrigan at 6:53 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


This is great - very funny.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:53 AM on July 21, 2014


All I want to know is, why orange?
posted by Mchelly at 6:59 AM on July 21, 2014


Because orange is the new black.
posted by telstar at 7:01 AM on July 21, 2014 [6 favorites]


I wanted to like this but instead I loveit.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:30 AM on July 21, 2014


Now I understand. Awesome internet, bringing me knowledge!
posted by From Bklyn at 7:30 AM on July 21, 2014


The one about the state names ending in "a" is because something like half the state names borrow from Native words, which often ended in vowels.
posted by notsnot at 7:32 AM on July 21, 2014


and then Texas fucks it up.

So, so true so so often.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:33 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]


Be sure to visit the rest of the site -- lots of cool, fun maps and visualizations, like this: How much underwear to bring on a trip.
posted by notyou at 7:34 AM on July 21, 2014 [4 favorites]


Batman doesn't have a dad, Bruce Wayne does. Batman was birthed in the grimdark of grimdarkness. No mother, no father, only justice.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:37 AM on July 21, 2014 [4 favorites]


I certainly do something this. I something it hard.
posted by GrammarMoses at 7:59 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]


Be sure to visit the rest of the site -- lots of cool, fun maps and visualizations, like this: How much underwear to bring on a trip.

I am fascinated that, on a two week trip, you can only bring 2 or 14 pair of drawers for optimal wash-to-skivvies ratios. Thank goodness I added an extra day to my current trip. 8 pairs for the win!
posted by aureliobuendia at 8:03 AM on July 21, 2014


I've often wondered what happens to geographical data science workers when they snap.

Well, now I know.
posted by seyirci at 8:30 AM on July 21, 2014 [6 favorites]


Origin is unreachable

That's an odd key for a map.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:34 AM on July 21, 2014


But Hawaii doesn't really have borders, does it? I mean, not political borders, exactly. Now I am consumed by an epistemological debate about whether Hawaii should have been included on that map.

Also, I was a fan of when he quoted that speech from Independence Day which is one of my favorite documentaries.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:36 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


The one with the Z in the middle is Arizona, by the way. You're welcome.
posted by Mchelly at 8:41 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


But Hawaii doesn't really have borders, does it? I mean, not political borders, exactly. Now I am consumed by an epistemological debate about whether Hawaii should have been included on that map.

A border can be a line between two entities or a limit of one entity's area of influence or sovereignty regardless of whether there is another entity on the other side.
posted by Etrigan at 8:44 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Okay, fair, but it is still making my brain all scrunchy. I am also pretty tired.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:46 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text. Filler text.
posted by asperity at 8:57 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


I like that there is an ad at the bottom with the headline "Learn to Master Big Data", from the Northwestern University Master of Science in Predictive Analytics. Target marketing, right there.

(On refreshing the page: YMMV. On reload I got an ad for Tableau Software with the headline "Data Storytelling: Using visualization to share the human impact of numbers." Also spot on.)
posted by beagle at 9:05 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


The one about the state names ending in "a" is because something like half the state names borrow from Native words, which often ended in vowels.

I'm going to be pedantic, because wasting five minutes on this comment allows me to procrastinate from work a little longer. Short answer: No, not really.

STATES ENDING IN A (the link says 19, but it's actually 21)
Alabama - Native Word (local Indian tribe)
Alaska - Native Word (means "place that sea crashes against" in Aleut)
Arizona - Native Word (Spanish corruption of a local Indian name)
California - derived from fictional paradise Calafia in 16th-century Spanish book
Florida - Spanish for "flowery land"
Georgia - named after King George II
Indiana - means "Land of the Indians" (so, about the natives, but not a native word)
Iowa - Native Word (name of local tribe)
Louisiana - named after King Louis XIV
Minnesota - Native Word (native name of local river, means "cloudy water")
Montana - Spanish for "mountain"
Nebraska - Native Word (native name for Platte River, means "flat river")
Nevada - Spanish for "snow-covered"
North Carolina - named for King Charles II
North Dakota - Native Word (tribal name of Dakota Sioux, means "allies")
Oklahoma - Native Word (means "red people" in Choctaw language)
Pennsylvania - means "Penn's Woods"
South Carolina - see N. Carolina
South Dakota - Native Word (see N. Dakota)
Virginia - named for Queen Elizabeth I
West Virginia - see Virginia

So, if I'm going to be a dick about it (and really, why not), only 9 out of the 21 states with names ending in A are derived from native words. That's 43%. As you were.

Sources - 1 and 2
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:11 AM on July 21, 2014 [10 favorites]


The one with the Z in the middle is Arizona, by the way. You're welcome.

What about Alazama, Alazska, Arkaznsas, Califzornia, Colozrado, Connezticut, Delazware, Flozida, Geozgia, Hazaii, Idzho, Illiznois, Indzana, Iozwa, Kanzsas, Kentzucky, Louiziana, Mazne, Maryzland, Massaczusetts, Michzigan, Minnzsota, Missizsippi, Misszouri, Monzana, Nebrzaska, Nevzada, New Hamzpshire, New Jzrsey, New Mzxico, New Zork, North Czrolina, North Zakota, Ohzio, Oklazhoma, Orezgon, Pennsyzlvania, Rhode Zsland, South Czrolina, South Zakota, Tennzssee, Tezas, Utzah, Verzont, Virgzinia, Washizngton, West Vizrginia, Wiscznsin, and Wyozing?
posted by Sys Rq at 9:22 AM on July 21, 2014 [12 favorites]


It is an atrocity that B,E,J,Q,X,Y, and Z do not have at least each have a state. (sic, oxford comma)

Proposal:

Bermont
Ehio
Jennisee
Que Mexico
Xinnesota
Yoregon
Zidaho
posted by bendybendy at 9:24 AM on July 21, 2014 [17 favorites]


The one about the state names ending in "a" is because something like half the state names borrow from Native words, which often ended in vowels.

I'm going to be pedantic, because wasting five minutes on this comment allows me to procrastinate from work a little longer. Short answer: No, not really.


More pedantic: notsnot wasn't referring to only state names that end in A, and 26 out of 50 state names -- or "something like half" -- borrow from Native words (and it's 25 on the dot if you don't count New Mexico, which only indirectly borrows from the Aztec).
posted by Etrigan at 9:28 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


More pedantic: notsnot wasn't referring to only state names that end in A, and 26 out of 50 state names -- or "something like half" -- borrow from Native words (and it's 25 on the dot if you don't count New Mexico, which only indirectly borrows from the Aztec).

Mostest pedantic: But notsnot's statement that "something like half" of state names borrow from Native words (which is not in dispute) was put forth as an explanation for "the one about the state names ending in 'a'". Which I disputed.

Put another way, 11 of the 26 states named after native words do not end in vowels.

Put another another way, native words account for a higher percentage of states' names overall than they do for the states ending in 'a'.

Thus endeth the pedantry.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:33 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Is 43% not "something like half"?
posted by Sys Rq at 9:36 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


I do some work using GIS to map data to maps, so this article is really important to me. Thanks!
posted by rebent at 9:37 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Sys Rq: Is 43% not "something like half"?

If you graph it as a 3-D pie chart with the right perspective, you can make it look like way more than half.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:37 AM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


The best thing about metacommentary is that it's not just about the thing it's about.
posted by psoas at 9:43 AM on July 21, 2014


Perhaps, but notsnot didn't say "Because native words are responsible for something like half of all state names, they are also responsible for something like half (or slightly less than half) of all state names ending in 'a'." Wouldn't be much of a result that way.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:46 AM on July 21, 2014


I would totally live in Zidaho (maybe because of zydeco).
posted by Mchelly at 9:46 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


This cracked me up. Great skewering of all the writers online who heard that maps are supposed to be cool and exciting for some reason but don't exactly understand what they're for.
posted by threeants at 9:57 AM on July 21, 2014


Zidaho sounds like the wackiest state I love it
posted by threeants at 9:57 AM on July 21, 2014


zomg, itttttttt's Zidaho!
posted by threeants at 9:57 AM on July 21, 2014


This is such a weird point to focus on. Yes, some state-names ending in 'a' are from native languages, but the majority are from (pseudo-)Latinate origins --Spanish, French, and royal-- and those tend to end with 'a' often.
posted by psoas at 9:57 AM on July 21, 2014


Que Mexico is my second favorite not-state.
posted by threeants at 9:58 AM on July 21, 2014


I also like Que Mexico but only if it's styled ¡Qué México USA! and is always accompanied by the sound of a rifle being fired into the air.
posted by psoas at 9:59 AM on July 21, 2014 [7 favorites]


That's Rhode Izlandz, thank you very much
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:09 AM on July 21, 2014


bendybendy:
Bermont
Ehio
Jennisee
Que Mexico
Xinnesota
Yoregon
Zidaho


This is cracking me up for some reason. Bermont.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:11 AM on July 21, 2014 [3 favorites]


You can do anything at Zidaho.com. The only limit is your imagination.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:12 AM on July 21, 2014 [4 favorites]


Zidaho Is For Lovers.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 10:14 AM on July 21, 2014


Also pedantic, but about a different entry (#8): Wisconsin should not be a "top state" as Michigan and Minnesota meet north of it, having a water-only border in Lake Superior.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:15 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


Wisconsin should not be a "top state"

Oh yeah? Come say that to my face.
posted by desjardins at 10:16 AM on July 21, 2014 [10 favorites]


And then we'll go out for cheese and beer
posted by desjardins at 10:17 AM on July 21, 2014 [8 favorites]


I would definitely get behind an initiative to change all News to Ques

¡Qué Hampshire!
¡Qué Jersey!
¡Qué Mexico!
¡Qué York!

¡Qué Brunswick!
¡Quéfoundland!
posted by threeants at 10:20 AM on July 21, 2014 [13 favorites]


¡Québec!
posted by threeants at 10:21 AM on July 21, 2014 [11 favorites]


That's Rhode Izlandz, thank you very much

The Ztate of Rhode Izlandz and Prozidenz Plantazionz if you want to get all official about it.
posted by Copronymus at 10:28 AM on July 21, 2014 [7 favorites]


Copronymus: Ztate of Rhode Izlandz and Prozidenz Plantazionz

I believe I saw that sticker alongside the Korn logo and Calvin pissing on something-or-other on the rear windshield of a 1991 Civic DX with Rhody plates, an imitation carbon fiber hood and a mismatched quarter panel last time I was on the Cape.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:37 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


♬ ♬ Massocheicheeeeeeei
posted by threeants at 10:37 AM on July 21, 2014


I believe I saw that sticker alongside the Korn logo and Calvin pissing on something-or-other on the rear windshield of a 1991 Civic DX with Rhody plates, an imitation carbon fiber hood and a mismatched quarter panel last time I was on the Cape.

And to think that a '91 Civic is now less than two years away from being certified as an official Classic Car. I imagine the stickers make it a shoo-in.
posted by Copronymus at 10:57 AM on July 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


¡Qué bec!


I would also like, in service to the letter 'Z', to change the name of my state to 'Zazzlechusetts'. We will strip the gold from the dome of the State House, and bejazzle it with rhinestones.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:12 AM on July 21, 2014 [4 favorites]


Why do you suppose they listed 51 states under the States listed by the first letter category? (Count 'em) The extraneous one appears to be under "D", as far as I know, Delaware is the only state that begins with D.
posted by e1c at 11:19 AM on July 21, 2014


STATES ENDING IN A (the link says 19, but it's actually 21)


22, I guess, cuz you also left off Ahia.
 
posted by Herodios at 11:20 AM on July 21, 2014


Oh, jeez, I just got it, it's District of Columbia, never mind.
posted by e1c at 11:23 AM on July 21, 2014


And if the Great Quéing bothers some folks, they can go take a vacation in the lovely Caribbean capital of St. John, Richport.
posted by threeants at 11:44 AM on July 21, 2014


Holy shit, I said "something like half" because I didn't feel like going through the whole map in my head when I realized the dogs had shit in the parlor. Sorry I didn't flesh my comment out more.

(I meant it about the "holy shit" thing.)
posted by notsnot at 1:33 PM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


Colonel Mustard, in the parlor, with the dog shit

sorry, I couldn't help it
posted by desjardins at 1:44 PM on July 21, 2014 [2 favorites]


I accidentally the whole thing.
posted by flabdablet at 8:06 PM on July 21, 2014


they listed 51 states under the States

it's District of Columbia, never mind

Yeah, yeah, rub it in.
posted by zap rowsdower at 11:47 AM on July 23, 2014


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