DougR, you've been watching- and internalizing- too many Jay Leno-jay-walking segments! Do you have any idea of how many people they have to ask those questions before they get - and air- the lamebrains??

It's my theory that people remember the most populous cities/regions of individual countries and don't commit to memory smaller areas. Many Europeans, Africans and U.K.ers (!) and others are familiar with New York (the city, only. Many don't even realize there is a whole state of New York); they know California as a destination and San Francisco and Los Angelos within it (They don't have a clue about Sacramento); they know Alaska, with its mystique- some think it's a country...

OTOH, it's not too surprising. The chances of an American abroad coming from NYC or from LA or San Francisco is fairly great- given the millions of people who live there.