The Amazing Miss South Carolina

The new season of The Amazing Race started tonight. One of the contestants is the geographically challenged Miss Teen South Carolina 2007, Caitlin Upton:

Her goal in this show is to prove she's not quite as air-headed as she appeared during the pageant. She survived the first episode, in spite of a boneheaded mistake (unrelated to geography).

Good luck, Caite. You've suffered embarrassment enough...

George of the Jungle Deep in the Heart of Africa

As a kid in the 1960's, I was a fan of the wacky humor in the George of the Jungle cartoon show (including Tom Slick and Super Chicken!). I never saw the Brendan Fraser live-action Disney film version that was made in 1997 (and doubt I ever will) however, I happened across a YouTube video of the intro and caught sight of this goofy little map that shows they still retain the wacky sentiment....

Deep in the heart of Africa:


Here's the Disney version video:


But I still prefer the original:


"Ah ah ee ee tooky tooky!"

Swindon's Magic Roundabout

In what looks to me like a driver's nightmare: Swindon's Magic Roundabout.



Constructed in 1972, the roundabout consists of five mini-roundabouts arranged in a circle. Its name comes from a popular children's television series The Magic Roundabout. Depending on your BBC survey, it has been voted the fourth or seventh scariest junction in Britain.


View Larger Map

A few weeks ago, Ms. Cartophiliac's friend sent a hilarious YouTube video of the roundabout in action, with a Benny Hill soundtrack. Sadly, it has already been taken down. But below are several more videos to give you a flavor of the experience.







Here is one recommended by Jude (see comments):



And for those of you new to driving through roundabouts, here is a useful instructional video:



And finally, my favorite Roundabout:

AT&T Fights Back With Big Map

Unable to get any traction in the courts, AT&T has taken to the airwaves to fight Verizon Wireless: Map vs. Map.



Nice postcards, Luke. I thought I even saw a couple map postcards in the mix...



Via Mashable

Visualizing Empires' Decline

As an experiment in information art, Pedro M. Cruz has created video representation of the evolution of the top four empires in decline during the 19th and 20th centuries; the British, French, Spanish and Portuguese:

Visualizing empires decline from Pedro M Cruz on Vimeo.

More info on how he did it.

Via Coming Anarchy

AT&T Sues Verizon Over Coverage Map

For several weeks, the Verizon Wireless commercial mocking AT&T for their coverage has caught my eye:



I thought at the time that there had to be something wrong with those maps. I could not believe that AT&T customers were that limited...



It turns out, AT&T agrees. They have filed a lawsuit, claiming that Verizon is misleading "consumers into believing that AT&T doesn't offer ANY wireless service in the vast majority of the country."

So, what the map really shows is 3G coverage, whatever that is. AT&T apparently offers less 3G coverage, but most of the country is covered for standard cell phone service.

Full disclosure: I am a Verizon Wireless customer, but sadly, I have not received any sort of considerations from them. Hey! I'm easy. For a significant discount on my cell phone service, I could become a shill for Verizon. Can you hear me now?

UPDATE 11/20: I see that AT&T has lost their battle...

Google Street View Guys

I've always wondered what it would be like to be a Google Street View camera car driver...

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Parag Khanna maps the future of countries

TED is a small nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading". On their site you can find videos of speakers on technology, entertainment, design, business, science and global issues. In this episode, Parag Khanna discusses geopolitics:

Many people think the lines on the map no longer matter, but Parag Khanna says they do. Using maps of the past and present, he explains the root causes of border conflicts worldwide and proposes simple yet cunning solutions for each.

Interesting overview of border troubles around the world. Some of his ideas about redrawing the Middle East have been discussed here.

He also discussed a trend in population movement in the Far East of which I was not aware. As Russians depopulate Siberia, Chinese are moving in to take advantage of the abundant resources.



In addition, some discussion of China as the center of a new Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Not built through conquest, as attempted by the Japanese, but through trade and interdependence.

Thanks to Atlas(t) for the heads up!

#475

The Onion: Andorra Not In Africa

Nation Of Andorra Not In Africa, Shocked U.S. State Dept. Reports

Meanwhile:


Breaking News: Series Of Concentric Circles Emanating From Glowing Red Dot

Late Late Show Russia

Craig Ferguson is my favorite late night talk show host. Not the least reason because he provides helpful, topical map graphics when discussing current events. Don't know where Russia is? Here you go:





Craig Ferguson previously on Cartophilia.

Craig Ferguson in Kosovo

It's a video map triple-play! I just watched last night's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and we get another funny map:



Last week, Ferguson was on a USO tour to entertain peacekeeping troops in Kosovo. However, he was having a little trouble with Balkan geography.

See the video (for as long as CBS keeps it up).

Al Franken's Stupid Human Trick

Two videos today! Sorry about that. But when a funny video includes a map, Cartophiliac is there.

Like him or not, Al Franken is the new Junior Senator from Minnesota. Like most politicians, he is also a comedian (the others just don't admit it...). Talking Points Memo has pulled together a collection of highlights from his career, including this 1987 appearance by Franken and Davis on the David Letterman show:



If you don't want to watch the full video, skip ahead to approximately 6:30 where you can view Franken perform his "Stupid Human Trick": Al Franken can draw a map of the contiguous United States in under two minutes!



What ever happened to Tom Davis?

#425

UPDATE 9/7: Here's a new version:

Mexico Builds Border Wall

As always, I depend on The Onion News Network for the most important news.



Warning: Contains "bad words"


Mexico Builds Border Wall To Keep Out US Assholes

Canada Day!

Today is Canada Day! So, in honor of our neighbor to the north, I offer two amusing videos, presumably by Canadians, to poke a bit of fun at the United States as well as boost their egos. Both videos make use of maps for comedic effect.









Canada previously on Cartophilia

Long Island the 51st State?

More on secession:

Last week, The Daily Show reported on yet another secession movement in the United States: Long Island.



Secession is a big word for these intelligent revolutionaries.

More here, here and here.

Flounder Lee: US 1783 to 1894 720p

Big Car at the Murphy Art Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.

March 6: A Music and Video Experiment, featuring video art and experimental music

Big Car's First Friday show for March will feature a bevy of local, regional, national and international video and sound artists... including local artist Flounder Lee (featured previously on Cartophilia). Lee will be featuring a map related video:



So, I asked him, "Am I reading it correctly that the red bits represent Native American reservations? or is that the yellow? and if so what are the red?"

His reply:

The red parts are where there was either multiple tribes that turned over land to the US at different times, or where the US claimed land but then tribes signed a treaty later finally actually releasing it. The yellow is just land that has not been turned over to the US yet or has been turned over and then back as in reservations. The blue is the US. For some reason I can't get it to upload in HD, it looks really nice when it does because the pieces move a lot. They are cowboys and Indians. Not sure if that is clear from the smaller youtube video. I pulled all the data from these out of the library of congress report in the year 1897. There is a lot of detail that is missed due to the resolution of plastic toys :) They represent a lot of area each.

Why are we changing maps?

"You can't do this."

"Why not?"

"Because it's freaking me out."

Via Eric at Following the Equator

Anthropomorphizing America

Serendipitous map fun today.

On Twitter this morning, @pascal_venier knew I would be amused by this pic posted by @ggatin "Assuming the brain is under the hat?"



This image is on a T-shirt available from BustedTees... which led me to its corollary:



Lest Canadians and Mexicans be offended... the search for these images also led to this YouTube video, "This Country's Getting Dumber":

Czech Artist Commemorates EU With Stereotypes

Czech artist David Cerny has put together a controversial sculpture to commemorate the European Union. Each country is represented by a stereotype: Romania has Dracula, Sweden has IKEA, France is on strike. Not surprisingly, more than a few countries are less than pleased. For some reason, Bulgaria as a squat toilet left a few Bulgarian art lovers cold... I would be surprised if Germans appreciated the swastika turned autobahn.

Cerny was paid £350,000 for the project.

Reported in several places, notably The Map Room and Boing Boing.

C'mon, Move to Canada!

"Leaving those red state yahoos behind has never been easier!"





"So, affluent American Elites, what are you waiting for?"

Wakko's 50 State Capitols

Speaking of state capitols...

How many of us struggled to remember all of the United States state capitols? If only we'd had this song to help us:



Of course, kids today don't have School House Rock to teach them how a bill becomes law or how to use interjections!

Caught Mapping

Caught Mapping - 1940

This Jam Handy film teaches us how road maps are drawn, field-checked and printed.



Part of the Prelinger Archives, this film is also available from Archive.com when its working...


Thanks to Laura for the link

Lilly: The World Map Master Baby Genius

23-month-old knows 80 countries on a map of the world!



From the orignal YouTube poster:

Lilly is my niece. She was 23 months old when this was done in August 2007 in her parents small one bedroom apartment. She now knows over 80 countries. Yes, we know that Tasmania is not a country everyone. It's still a fun place to know.
She knows better geography than a 5th grader. She has been doing this for about 8 months. She is one funny niece. If you think that this is cruel and unusual, get a life.

Cruel and unusual? Hey it beats, "What does a cow say?"