BS: Do you know where Iraq is?

Subject: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 04 May 06 - 10:30 PM

This is pretty disturbing.

where is Iraq?

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 04 May 06 - 10:36 PM

"where is Iraq?"

The test results are poor likely because the people who took the exam were unable to locate Shit Creek. Had they been able to do that, they could have looked up, and voila, they'd have found Iraq.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 04 May 06 - 11:00 PM

I can find Iraq....I even know how to properly pronounce Iraq...unlike most of the American and British journalists and ex-military pundits.

It is NOT Eye-rack.....

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 04 May 06 - 11:58 PM

The Eye-talians will be pleased to meet YOU, IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:28 AM

Set aside Iraq - from that link it appears that it looks as if more than one in ten Americans couldn't even find the USA on a map.

Is it something in the water?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:44 AM

what is the point you making there Peace with the shit creek stuff?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:01 AM

I've read lots of this sort of criticism. Usual allegation is that kids in school these days are taught to question the author, make judgments, and draw conclusions--but they have no facts on which to base these skills--since teaching facts is not considered important. Perhaps the assumption is that they can always look up the facts on the Web. Which, of course, never steers you wrong.

I believe the expression is "O tempora! O mores!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:30 AM

Sadly, Geography and History have become elective subjects in most schools, so most kids would rather do Drama, Art, Martial Arts, Dance and Music, than study boring history and geography. The internet does their thinking for them too.

Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:40 AM

I think Peace is referring to a colloquialism that ends in "...without a paddle".

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:57 PM

Where's Iraq?   Just west of "A Hard Place".

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: kendall
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:57 PM

Pathetic

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:09 PM

It wouldn't take a lot of Geography in school to give a basic perspective of locations around the globe. It's not like we had to dwell on minutae for weeks. It just needs to slipped into almost every part of other studies.

Geeez! I knew DETAILS by the 6th grade! I can still draw a passable map of the USA from memory. I can't do that with the middle east, but I sure have perspective that seems to escape a lot of people...(ever watch Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" routine, where he quizzes folks on easy knowlege?.....I shudder when I see it)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:09 PM

Kendall, I sincerely hope you were referring to the article, and not my attempted humorism.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:44 PM

Gotta quibble a bit, Dave. You'd be amazed at the number of schools that have had to cut their music and arts programs within recent years (decades) because of lack of funding. Which raises the question: when a substantial number of kids graduate from high school not only not able to name their own state capital or not sure who the current Secretary of State is, but also unable to locate their own butts with an anatomy book and both hands . . . where is whatever funding there is going?

When she was in her early teens, my niece, who was educated in Canada, could name all fifty states in the United States and their capitals. Most kids educated in the U. S. probably couldn't name more than two or three Canadian provinces, if even that many. And where's Canada? "Uh--well--like--somewhere north of here--I think."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:46 PM

'Scuse me, Uncle Dave. That was addressed to Dave the Mariner.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:49 PM

Dear Bill

Your geography may be impeccable, but you still split an infinitive.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:59 PM

However, Richard, you neglected to put a comma after Bill.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 02:10 PM

BTW, Richard, I was just kidding.

Frome the web:

These are from a Washington, D.C.Travel Agent with 30 years experience:

I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window.

I got a call from a Candidate's Staffer, who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information then she interrupted me with, "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts." Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." Her response ..... (click).

A Senior Vermont Congressman called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map, and Florida is a
very thin state!!!"

I got a call from a Lawmakers Wife who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." She said, "But they look so close on the map."

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:52 PM

An Aide for a Clinton cabinet member once called and asked if they could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed they had only a 1-hour lay-over in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between the gates to save time."

An Illinois Congresswoman called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and got into Chicago at 8:33am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that!

A Senator's Aide called in inquiring about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"

I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them."

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:52 PM

Actually, National Geographic did essentially the same survey, and reported the same result, with about the same response from at least some who heard the result - in 1954 when I was about to get out of Junior High School. They have done a smaller survey about once per year, every year since, with results that I've seen reported on a national basis. They've done "international comparisions" every two or three years.

Can anyone think of a reason why a magazine called National Geographic might have a vested interest in this information?

My 6th grade class, in 1951, had a class project in which each kid made flags, crayon on cloth, accompanied by a "report" on each country. Our class of about 18 kids made a flag and report for every one of the member nations in the United Nations. One of the parents (my mother) thought the flags should all look alike, so she cut and hemmed "blanks" for the kids to color. Another parent (my dad) made a "stand" for the 60(?) flags, with flagpoles all cut alike from wood dowel stock. One of the kids (me) may have gotten minor extra credit for stapling all the flags on the flag poles.

Note: It is unlikely that most of the kids involved even remember doing this project. Several said so when I showed the newspaper picture at a 30th High School reunion some years later.

The main thing I remember¹ about the project is that it's a b***ch getting "paper" staples to drive straight into hard maple dowels.

¹ I also remember that "P," the classmate who provided the most extra help, picking up slack for those who couldn't complete their quota of flags, was incredibly "hot" (at a 6th grade level) but rejected all my 6th grade (and later) advances. She said she liked "tall guys," but ended up married to a little shrimp who was only 5' 29" tall.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:52 PM

A Lady Senator called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, FL. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?" I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, FL on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever!!"

A Senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!"

A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York" The agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent: "Are you sure that's the name of the town?" "Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the lady. After some searching, the agent came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere." The lady retorted, "Oh don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?" "That's it! I knew it was a big animal", she admitted!!!

I'm wondering. . ...should we be worried about the state of the union?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:52 PM

And how many citizens of the US...of any age...can name half of Mexico's 32 states? How about the six that border the US? Any of them?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:53 PM

LoL! Never underestimate the power of sheer ignorance and a short attention span.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:56 PM

I split an infinitive?

"... to dwell on minutae for weeks."?

surely you jest!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:57 PM

While I guess I know the answers to those questions, my question would be DO I need to know? Knowing where Iraq is does one no good unless he/she is in possesion of a commercial pilots license.


7' 5" ???

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:05 PM

I once knew a travel agent who told me there are lots of people like this:

--Where have you been the last two weeks?
--Aruba.
--Aruba? Where's that?
--I don't know. We just got on a plane and it took us there.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:08 PM

I will call soon and see if I can get a ticket to the Isles of Langerhans.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: kendall
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:08 PM

What's the difference berween ignorance and apathy?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:09 PM

I don't know, but who cares?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:12 PM

Knowing most of the things people know does you no good "unless".... ;-)

But it's all part of developing a certain degree of cultural awareness which is a good thing for a human being to have, wouldn't you say?

You don't NEED to know that:

the Earth rotates around the sun
the moon is a long way away
clipper ships had a lot of sails
a sperm whale has a long jaw
there's no air in space
the ocean is very deep and it's dark down there at the bottom
Indian elephants are different from African elephants
an ape is not a monkey
an elk isn't a kind of lizard
the Chinese invented gunpowder

And so on, ad infinitum...

But if you DON'T know a certain amount of this basic stuff about the world, aren't you in a position to become more vulnerable to unscrupulous leadership...and aren't you far less capable of making any kind of intelligent decision when one is required?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:17 PM

Plumbers HAVE to know that

1) shit flows downhill

and

2) payday's Friday

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:45 PM

You also don't have to know that decimation doesn't mean the same thing as devastation, but it sure makes you seem less ignorant when you use them correctly. Hint: decimation means reduce by ten percent.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:51 PM

You also don't have to know who put the bomp in the bomp shubomp shubomp, but it can be a real help if you're ever stuck in a phone booth with a trivia buff.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:58 PM

People who don't know where Iraq is will get by just fine. It's not knowing 'flammable' from 'inflammable' that will burn you.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:03 PM

Flammable

Inflammable


""Inflammable" means the same thing as "flammable": burnable, capable of being ignited or inflamed. So many people mistake the "in-" prefix as a negative, however, that it has been largely abandoned as a warning label."

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:05 PM

Well, hell's bells, I shoulda knowed!

Having long been an astronomy/cosmology buff, I'm often amazed at how little most people know about the nature and structure of the universe. Even people who really should to know better. For example, on the sci-fi teevee show Battlestar Galactica (the one with Lorne Greene), I was forever snorting at the fact that the writers obviously didn't know the difference between a galaxy and a solar system and seemed to use the words interchangeably.

When I was in Denver in the middle Fifties, I met a doctor there—yes, a doctor!—who asked what the tallest building in Seattle was. I told him that (at the time), it was the Smith Tower (the L. C. Smith building) and it was 42 stories. He thought I was pulling his leg. He had thought that Seattle was a small clump of log cabins and igloos. One of his colleagues mumbled to me that the doctor in question was surprised when he arrived in Denver to find it was a sizable city. He was from New York City and his trip to Denver was the first time he'd ever been out of the Big Apple. He'd expected a Boonesborough-style fort complete with cowboys and Indians. Yes, he was a doctor.

Mexico has thirty-two states? Uh. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:05 PM

Among other places, I know where the following are:

Algeria
Saudi Arabia
Aruba
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Canada
Antigua
Baffin Island
Queen Maude's Land
New Zealand
Tarawa
India
Siberia
Russia
Bylorussia
Kurdistan
Turkey
France
Scotland
The Seychelles

and that's just a few.

Yup, I know exactly where they are. They're not in Idaho.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:05 PM

Very good, Peace. CAn you tackle 'innuendo' and 'nuendo' now ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Amos
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:05 PM

Decimate:

Originally meant the killing of one in 10, as the Roman legions once did to punish troops for avoiding going into battle. It should be used only to mean killing, not other destruction, and even with killings, it ideally should be reserved for cases where the idea of one in 10 isn't outlandishly off the mark.
www.careerjournaleurope.com/columnists/styleandsubstance/glossary.html

kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies
eliminate: kill in large numbers; "the plague wiped out an entire population"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Decimation was a form of extreme military discipline imposed by officers in the Roman Army. Literally meaning "removal of a tenth," this punishment was assigned to mutinous or cowardly soldiers. Those selected for punishment were divided into groups of ten; each group cast lots, and the soldier on whom the lot fell was executed by his nine comrades, often by stoning or clubbing. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimate


But in popular usage these days it has taken on the meaning to shatter into smithereens, or perhaps tenths. :D

Meanwhile, if you follow the North African coast of the Med east to Tunisia, and onward along the shorelines of Libya and Egypt and Jordan, turn right at the border of Syria and proceed easterly about 400 miles roughly, you will find your self smack dab in Iraq, just south of eastern Turkey and west of Iran.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bert
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:06 PM

Knowing where Iraq is does one no good unless he/she is in possesion of a commercial pilots license...

When I worked in Iran right on the Iraqi border, it was VERY important to know because, if you strolled across the border by mistake then you could get shot at.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:09 PM

Maybe not knowing where Iraq is means that the US really intended to invade Afghanistan. The war in Iraq could be the result of a geographical screw up. Recall once that Rand McNally once put out a USA map that just didn't have New Mexico on it at all. Huh . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:25 PM

But doesn't it just p...s you off when some ignorant hick who knows nothing about anything can cancel your vote in an election when you've spent a lifetime gaining knowledge for your decisions. I'm going off democracy. Maybe we need people to qualify for the vote, like they have to qualify to drive a car. That way we might increase the national knowledge bank.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:31 PM

That's the strength of democracy, Guest. It makes sure those who cannot afford an 'advanced' education have an equally potent 'X' on polling day.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:49 PM

Nuendo


In nuendo

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 05 May 06 - 06:58 PM

I suspect that this level of ignorance is not confined to geography. Do you think it's got anything to do with sitting on your arse watching mindless television programmes all day while eating the sort of food that a civilised person would be reluctant to feed to his dog?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 05 May 06 - 08:53 PM

do you know what the captial city of Latvia is ... or even do you know what Latvia is?

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 05 May 06 - 09:14 PM

No argument. My point was to illustrate that what were compulsory subjects in my day are now electives. My school day consisted of a mix, English, Math, 1 Science subject (General Science,or Physics, Chemistry, Biology) History, Geography, two periods a week were: Art & Music and two periods of Physical Exercise or Sports... anything else was elective.

We now have kids who can surf the net write MSN speak and do Calculus, but cannot spell or write an articulate essay; Half cannot balance a checkbook or give the right change when they work as a cashier at fast food joint. Most of them know nothing of world history, but will form mindless blind opinions on subjects they have either seen on TV, or read one newspaper article on. (those that read at all)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 05 May 06 - 09:26 PM

>>...(ever watch Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" routine, where he quizzes folks on easy knowlege?.....I shudder when I see it)<<

Last year, just before the Detroit fireworks, a newsman went around the crowd asking people to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. You'd be surprised how many people don't know the words. Probably, the same doofuses cheering on Bush and his war.

I remember watching Jaywalking once when Leno asked this college girl who took 2nd place in the last presidential election. She puts her finger over her mouth and looks up in the air. Hmmm, gotta think about this one. Let's see...who took second in the last election? Hmmmm...Then Leno says, "Who ran for the democrats?" and the girl says, "Kerry."

"So who took second place?"

The girl slaps her forehead. "Ohhh, Kerry!"

"That's right," said Leno. "So who took first place?"

Once again, the girl put her finger over her lips and looks up in the air.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 May 06 - 09:57 PM

Blaming the eduycational system or the mass media for this strikes me as missingb the mark.

I doubt very much if many of us actually learnt all that much of this stuff at school. Geography involved learning a certain amount about particular aspects of the subject - some parts of the world, some categories of geographical processes etc.

But most of what we knowin the way of facts like where places are gets picked up as we go, from what we read and what we see on TV, and to a much lesser extent what we do and where we go. Natural curiosity - surely one of the defining characteristics of human beings.

And the astonishing thing about surveys like this is that evidently, for a great number of people, this natural curiosity just doesn't appear to be natural at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:05 PM

Maybe they are too busy just getting quick entertainment...

Like watching the popular TV sitcoms and other shows, playing video games, eating pizza, that sort of thing. Most of the entertainment being marketed nowadays teaches people almost nothing factual about the real world. It's pure escapism.

One has to wonder, though,...what are these people escaping from????

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:07 PM

We learned where Iraq and Iran are in 6th grade but I knew even before then.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:22 PM

Don Firth reminded me of an encounter I had almost forgotten.

In 1975, I took the ferry/cruise ship from Seattle up the coast to Juneau. As I was sitting in the lounge, I exchanged small talk with a couple from California....(Los Angeles, I believe).

"You have a funny accent", he said, "Where are you from?"

"Kansas", I replied..."Wichita..."

"Oh, wow," she said, "Have you ever been to Dodge City?" (Gunsmoke was still popular at the time)

"Yes...a couple of times."

"So, do they really have those hitching posts on main street? How do they clean up after the horses?"

I assured her (and him) that it was not a big problem any more...and that they had even paved a few of the streets. They were suitably impressed. I was afraid to explain that we even had TV and that you couldn't wear loaded guns on the streets.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Amos
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:23 PM

And, thanks to the courageous efforts of Balts and Estonians, Latvia is still today right where she has always more or less been, threatened by Russia and nestled between Lithuania and Estonia. Her capital is still Riga, and she lies due east of Helsingborg and Sweden.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:28 PM

A++ Amos.

Thanks,
sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:37 PM

When I was in the seventh grade we were expected to be able to extract square and cube roots -- arithmetically, on paper. We were required to memorize all of the counties and county seats of Illinois (where I was in school). We began geography in the third grade; I learned then (among other things) that Malaya was a pennisula, Australia was an island, where Baffin Island was, and something about the people that lived there.

In high school I took two years of Latin, two years of algebra, a year of plane geometry (with a bit of other geometries tossed in at the end), a semester of trig, a semester of analytic geometry, a semester of typing, four years of history (US, Western Europe, World, Western Hemisphere), a year of chemistry, a year of biology, a year of physics, four years of PE (which for various reasons I never did take), driver's ed, four years of religion (Catholic school), four years of grammar and literature, and public speaking.

We were REQUIRED to memorize things from second grade on through 12th. As a result I can memorize folk songs and other things and my memory is pretty good.

It didn't seem to harm me any. And I can add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:42 PM

BUT, do you know who put the bomp in the bomp shubomp shubomp?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:53 PM

I thought I knew Peace ... I found out later I didn't really know who it was at all. Anyway whoever it was, was without doubt some knucklehead who hasn't a clue where Toledo, Ohio is.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 10:58 PM

You mean Holy Toledo?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:01 PM

No .... not her. Not her at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:13 PM

Her?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:14 PM

"And how many citizens of the US...of any age...can name half of Mexico's 32 states?"

.. if they knew, maybe there wouldn't be a 'secure border' issue.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:35 PM

I knew more about Canada when I was ten years old than most sixteen year old Canadians do now.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:36 PM

I don't doubt that. But there were only nine Provinces then.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:44 PM

(You said you're ancient.)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: number 6
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:46 PM

Where Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces then ... you said he was ancient.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 12:10 AM

That was 1905. I don't wanna push it here . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 06 May 06 - 01:22 AM

We are between "IT" and a hard place.

So, it is either to the left or the right of wherever we are!!!!!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:30 AM

I know where Shit Creek is. Really. And it IS in Idaho.

Now if I could only find my paddle....

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:06 AM

"Do you know who put the bomp in the bomp shubomp shubomp?"

Yeah. William Shatner.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:48 AM

Well I did support Victoria's plan Peace, but she was never one to discuss much with common sailors LOL.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: bobad
Date: 06 May 06 - 12:10 PM

"the same doofuses cheering on Bush and his war."

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 07:51 PM

"Well I did support Victoria's plan Peace, but she was never one to discuss much with common sailors LOL."

That gave me the best laugh I have had in weeks. Thank you, Dave.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 07:53 PM

Bobad: Who is Morans and why is that guy holding a sign telling him/her to get a brain?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:22 PM

Peace said: Maybe not knowing where Iraq is means that the US really intended to invade Afghanistan.

I hate to disillusion you, Peace, but we invaded Afghanistan before Iraq.

And then Rapaire told us that he was taught at an early age that Australia was an island.   Teachers like that should be impeached, or whatever the appropriate word for such punishment is for teachers. They should have known (and taught) that Australia is (and has been for millions of years) a continent.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:39 PM

Australia is NOT a condiment. THESE are condiments, Dave O.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: JudyB
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:47 PM

OK, Rapaire, I give up where/what is Queen Maude's Land?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:51 PM

Look south, look WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY south . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:52 PM

You know when you look at the globe upside down the relative location of Iraq and Iran changes. We used to do rude things like that with maps of different unlabeled countries of the world in college geography class. It's amazing how alian a country can look upside down.

We did even worse things in aerial photography class where students were usually presented a mirrorstereoscope and a pair of overlapping photos which appeared to be 3-dimensional when viewed. Did you know that if you swap the photos you see an inverse 3-dimensional landscape, with rivers running along what appear to be ridges? You would be amazed at the explanations we received for how these features evolved. LOL

So where is Addis Ababa and what does the name of the city mean?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: JudyB
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:19 PM

OK - so why does Norway have a claim? Unlike, Chile, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, they aren't exactly geographically nearby (unless of course there's a wormhole somewhere at the north pole).

And, by the way, could Mudcat put in a claim for that sector that seems unclaimed?? Mudcat Land. It has a ring to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: JudyB
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:28 PM

Oops - sorry. For those who haven't checked it out, Queen Maude's Land is the Norwegian claim in Antarctica. That's what led to my rant above.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:12 PM

I second the request for more information on that short little guy, JohninKansas. Far be it from me to suspect a Kansan of s t r e t c h i n g the truth but 7 foot 5 is a longish drink of water.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:16 PM

Yer not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:18 PM

See? See how gud my edikashun wuz?

Australia IS an island, as it is surrounded on all sides by water. So is Eurasia, and so is the Americas. It was also on the list of the Seven Continents we had to memorize (Australia, Asia, Europe, N. America, S. America, Greenland, Africa).

These differ quite a bit from the Seven Incontinents. I won't name them, but You Know Who You Are.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:19 PM

Ah. I get it - JiK's little guy was Robert's brother, or perhaps cousin. Surely not his son.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:24 PM

The six continents include Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America.

The seven continents include Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 May 06 - 10:55 AM

And the Seven Seas?

Hint, most appear to be oceans but what the hay.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 May 06 - 01:21 PM

Noone has any territorial rights in Antarctica these days, following the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its various subsequent Protocols. (See here.)

As for the Norwegians, it was Amundsen who reached the South Pole first.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 04:47 PM

did ya' ever notice how you hafta be very careful who you post just ahead of?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:03 PM

Why did you put ' with the word ya?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:21 PM

just an indicator that there are more letters involved in the original, and to connote that it is not just a misspelling.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:23 PM

Why did you not focus on "hafta"?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:29 PM

As I was starting my coffee, I realized that a better clarification of my use of the apostrophe was to graphically indicate the use of a phonetic contraction.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:31 PM

Oh. Glad you MEANT to put it there because I cleaned the computer screen and there it still was.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:38 PM

HAFTA

"Deriving from 'have to', or 'have+{infinitive}' broken down into 'have+to+{verb}' but minus the verb, 'hafta' works as a verb-modifying adverb taking the place of the modal-auxilary 'must' which means literally 'to be required to __'. In colloquial speech (as opposed to 'formal speech' under which you would not use this word{hafta}}, it means simply to have a strong desire towards, or want for, doing {something}, with the 'something' usually seen through the eyes of the speaker as a *necessity* (even if in actuality it is no more than icing on the cake)."

That's why!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:38 PM

silly...you don't CLEAN the screen...you use white-out!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:44 PM

DAMN, NOW you tell me . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:46 PM

Bill: Is starting yer coffee like starting one of these?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:49 PM

No, I have an electric coffee starter...besides...My coffee would stall one of those

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:56 PM

I just boil the beans, strain the stuff or not, and drink it. Y'all get pretty fancy down there in the US . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:02 PM

yeah..we are right uptown. Gadgets 'n stuff. I grind them beans & use fancy filters. No boilin' or perkin'...makes it too harsh for my delicate taste buds.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:09 PM

and I just got post # 100 without thinking about it....must be something in the coffee.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:09 PM

LOL

Love yer humour, Bill. Always have.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:15 PM

*sniff* you think I was being funny? au contrairé....

*mumble* try to explain important matters, and you get accused of joking..hmmmpppfff~!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:19 PM

(do you think this thread's crept far enough from Iraq now?)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:22 PM

Just to get us back to the main point here . . . .

What a sign for a deli, huh?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:38 PM

what a sign when you can't FIND a deli!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:42 PM

These folks understand, Bill.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:43 PM

re the comments on the 5' 29" person:

He played basketball at Wichita State University (locally known as "Hillside High" except by alumni) at about 6' 10". After graduation he enlisted in the US Marines, but was booted out ("honorable - for the good of the service") after a little less than a year, because he had a "growth spurt" that took him to his apparently permanent 7' 5" height - and they couldn't keep him in uniforms.

When I met him at a H.S. reunion, he liked to minimize his height by describing it as only 6' 17" but I though it appropriate to additionally minimize to the 5' 29" description. (Sour grapes?)

Some years ago, my design group got several puzzling complaints about "pilot accomodation" on an experimental 'plane - that were finally understood when we learned that the military unit assigned primary test functions had two test pilots at "7' or better," so I'd guess it's not all that uncommon(?).

re: "name all the 50 US States:"

While in Massachusetts, I was more than once corrected with "Massachusetts is NOT A STATE, it's a COMMONWEALTH." I believe there are a couple or four others who are offended at being referred to as "states." I guess they're entitled to ... whatever.

Just so's y'all know if you ever get to one of them. I wasn't greatly impressed by the distinction, but they seemed to think it matters ....

John

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:45 PM

Canadians get real pissed off when Canada is referred to as a State.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 06:56 PM

"played basketball at Wichita State"...before or after Cleo Littleton? I began classes at WSU in the fall of 1957, and I can't think who he might be.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 06 - 07:02 PM

Nick Pino?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you know where Iraq is?
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 08 May 06 - 01:31 PM

Australasia