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The Arab World
JE, Yo brother.... I would respect you more if you would acknowledge when you are just flat out wrong. You are spreading misinformation. The link is wikipedia.....
Oh, you can also check; http://www.arabworld.org/
Or, here: http://www.middleeastnews.com/ArabWorld.html
Or here; http://www.morainevalley.edu/ctl/MiddleEast/images/Map_...
Be a man, stop spreading false information.... It's just flat out annoying and ignorant. I hate to break you down like this but the LIES need to stop. JE, Yo brother.... I would respect you more if you would acknowledge when you are just flat out wrong. You are spreading misinformatio... more -
McCain owns first foreign policy gaffe during Obama's Iraq trip
As Barack Obama began his trip to the Middle East and Europe, the media was already speculating about the possibility of a gaffe. Obama's travel "carries political risk," the New York Times reported, "particularly if Mr. Obama makes a mistake."
But the only foreign policy error made in the last few days came this morning on ABC's Good Morning America, when John McCain made ANOTHER geography gaffe while trying to criticize Obama's visit to Iraq. (Just last week, McCain repeatedly referred to Czechoslovakia, a country that hasn't existed since 1993.)
Asked by Diane Sawyer whether the "the situation in Afghanistan in precarious and urgent," McCain responded: "I think it's serious. . . . It's a serious situation, but there's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do and I'm afraid it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border."
But as ABC's Rick Klein noted: "Iraq and Pakistan do not share a border. Afghanistan and Pakistan do."
As Barack Obama began his trip to the Middle East and Europe, the media was already speculating about the possibility of a gaffe. Obam... more -
In Longyearbyen, Norway, it is forbidden to die
Situated in polar bear territory, this small town is one cold place, so much so that when people die their bodies refuse to decompose.
This apparently led to people having a morbid fascination with these perfectly preserved corpses and thus came the ban on dying. If you do happen to be unlucky enough to fall ill enough to die you have to be flown to another part of Norway to end your sorry death fearing days.
But what if you just drop dead I hear you ask!? Well the town just straight up won't bury you since the local graveyard stopped "accepting" bodies 70 years ago.
Weird. Situated in polar bear territory, this small town is one cold place, so much so that when people die their bodies refuse to decompose.... more -
Know Everything About India.
India is the Largest Democracy in the World with greatest Diversity Know Everything About India.
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Africa satellite images show stark changes in Lake Chad
Satellite images from 1972 and 2007 show water-level decline in Lake Chad, once the world's sixth largest, due to declining rainfall and diversion of water for human use. Satellite images from 1972 and 2007 show water-level decline in Lake Chad, once the world's sixth largest, due to declining rainfall a... more
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OpenStreetMap - Giving Maps back to the people
"OpenStreetMap (OSM) creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started because most maps you think of as free actually have legal or technical restrictions on their use, holding back people from using them in creative, productive or unexpected ways."
While GoogleMaps, GoogleEarth, traditional maps and everything else you can find on the web is in some form restricted in its usage, this project has an enormous potential to change the face of mapping forever.
Everybody with a GPS-device can colelct geographical data and integrate it into OSM. The outcome is a high resolution street map with every imaginable information (different kind of streets, service facilities, etc) attached to it. "OpenStreetMap (OSM) creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started b... more -
You say Burma, I say Myanmar... but why?
The recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources call it Myanmar. Why?
http://current.com/items/88936935_devastation_in_myanma...
The name change is confusing, but it has socio-political implications.
Burma has been the historic name of the region since the 11th century. Burma became an independent parliamentary democracy in 1948, but a 1962 coup gave a military junta absolute power. In 1988 citizens of Burma held a nationwide protest demanding an end to the junta. Reports indicate that soldiers fired on unarmed protesters, killing thousands. After the protests an internal coup emerged. The ruling faction then established an election, but only after imprisoning opposition party leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a 1990 she received over 80% of the parliamentary seats. Democracy still doesn’t exist in the country.
In 1989 the ruling faction decided to rename the country, Myanmar, the Burmese word for “strong and fast.” As it stands Myanmar is a term that represents the ruling party, and not the people. The Burmese people who struggle for a fair democracy call their nation Burma. The policy of the European Union and the United States is to call the nation Burma, in symbolic protest of the dictatorship.
The issues in this country are complex. These are some links to learn more about Burma/Myanmar
Breaking news about the nation:
http://current.com/topics/77004662_burma
http://current.com/topics/77012082_myanmar
News sources run by exiled Burmese dissidents:
http://www.mizzima.com/
http://www.irrawaddy.org/
International human rights campaigns for Burma:
http://uscampaignforburma.org/
http://www.cfob.org/
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/
http://www.freeburmacoalition.org/
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/
Further reading:
“Should it be Burma or Myanmar? “
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7013943.stm
“Global Business vs. Global Justice”
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/burma.html
CIA World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-fact...
BBC Country Profile
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profile...
Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi
http://www.dassk.com/index.php The recent cyclones in South Asia have brought Burma into the news, but some sources call it Myanmar. Why? ... more -
MapJack: Google Maps on steroids and crack
Amazingly scary crystal clear map pictures. This is taken from the MapJack site:
Mapjack.com showcases a new level of mapping technology. What others have done with NASA budgets and Star Wars-like equipment, we've done on a shoestring budget, along with a few trips to Radio Shack.
Jack’s on a mission, on foot, by car, and by boat. Our coverage area doesn’t stop street-side, we also include walking areas such as Parks, Universities and famous walking streets. San Francisco is only our starting point, more coverage and more cities coming soon.
Amazingly scary crystal clear map pictures. This is taken from the MapJack site: ... more -
What are the most wired countries in the world and why?
How Stuff Works offers a top-ten list of the "most wired" countries in the world. While our neighbors to the north make the list at number nine, the United States does not. Each of the top ten countries has at least 23 broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants -- Denmark, which leads the list, has 34.3. The United States, at fifteenth, has 22.1. According to the report, the U.S. fares badly because of geography, population size, broadband price, and the small fact that we lack a national broadband strategy of any kind:
The governments in the countries that make up the top 10 have a national broadband strategy. These countries consider broadband access a political priority and provide a framework for the Internet infrastructure. The United States does not have a comprehensive broadband strategy, leaving such decisions to corporations and utility companies.
Actually we do have a broadband strategy. It consists of paying broadband lip service only during political campaigns, implementing flimsy policies aimed solely at protecting the revenue of the largest operators, then issuing reports that pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. The OECD's new broadband data portal offers far richer detail than the report above.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/91503
http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,3343,en_2649_33703_38... How Stuff Works offers a top-ten list of the "most wired" countries in the world. While our neighbors to the north make the list at nu... more -
How many countries can you name in five minutes?
I got 82, which I was pretty proud of until I saw the list of countries I forgot. Try it!
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Spot The Error
Even the people at Fox News are profoundly geographically challenged... (hint: 00:18). No wonder those who daily feed on Fox manifest blatant ignorance. Even the people at Fox News are profoundly geographically challenged... (hint: 00:18). No wonder those who daily feed on Fox manifest ... more
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Yangtze Dam Plan Dropped
China has abandoned controversial plans to build a hydroelectric dam, which would have displaced around 100,000 people along the river's banks. Crippling power shortages in 2004-5 led its leaders to expand energy capacity, but many have criticized the dams for carving up the nation's rivers. China has abandoned controversial plans to build a hydroelectric dam, which would have displaced around 100,000 people along the river... more
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Secrets of Google Earth
Check out this video showing some rad images from Google Earth. It's pretty amazing.
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Average Age Of Virginity Loss By Country
This list supposedly breaks down which countries have the highest and lowest average age of virginty loss. There's a few surprises on here... What do you think influence these local trends and what does a low average age say about a western country such as Iceland or Sweden? This list supposedly breaks down which countries have the highest and lowest average age of virginty loss. There's a few surprises on ... more
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Our Dumb World
Explore Our Dumb World
Click on the Onion pins scattered around the globe to reveal mind-expanding factoids about the lesser, conquerable nations of the Earth. Come back each week to learn more about how little you know.
Now with 30% More Asia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Explore Our Dumb World ... more -
Is Europe a country?
Kellie Pickler on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader.
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Know Your World
Test your geography skills and knowledge of the world with this flash game that counts time and accuracy.
Be honest, who actually knows where East Timor is? Test your geography skills and knowledge of the world with this flash game that counts time and accuracy. ... more -
Happily, not all american kids are geography-challenged!
Smart toddler!
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Mt Everest is in Europe
According to 1 in 3 Brits, that is. A recent study shows Britain is a nation with a weak grasp on geography and little ambition to explore. But this week is National Geographic's geography awareness week, so now is a perfect time to brush up on those skills. What's the longest river in the world? According to 1 in 3 Brits, that is. A recent study shows Britain is a nation with a weak grasp on geography and little ambition to exp... more
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Geography
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Geography
