To continue from where we left off...
After the debacle of the former British Columbia's attempt at self-government, Something else had to be done, the two choices were to rejoin the UK or be absorbed into Mexico. That is until clever PR program by the country Columbia, pointing out that it was called British Columbia swayed the populace to Vote to join this Country (remember, these were the same people that thought East was West). All that is except Vancouver Island which decided to return to UK rule.
Also, the French sector of Canada decided to go all the way and just become a part of France
In a surprise move, Russia invoked, a little known "buy back" clause in the original purchase Contract. After a brief battle int he international courts, the ceding of Alaska to Canade was voided and Alaska reverted to Russia.
The Four States of the US found it too hard to govern such large areas, so it was decided to break them back up, this time along the lines of a latitude.
certain states kept the time Zone Names, while the others adpted new ones.
some reasonings behind the new names:
The Northwest corner state encompassed what used to be the Oregon Territory, so it was decided to go back to this. However, tired of everyone else pronouncing the name wrong (or-a-gone), they decided on a more phonetic spelling.
Arakis was the Desert planet from Dune.
Fridgeria was the Frozen Moon of Mongo from Flash Gordon.
Mordor was chosen so that they could rename the super volcano known as the Yellowstone Plateau as Mount Doom.
The former New England states, tired of being a political Football, (US, UK, US), broke off and formed a separate country, Yanksland.
http://home.earthlink.net/~parvey/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/north-america2.gif