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[hitssquad]

The practice of listing certain non-nations in the World Factbook

they are not countries and neither is there a country called World

The Factbook site says:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

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Select a Country or Location
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It also says:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/faqs.html

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Why are Taiwan and the European Union listed out of alphabetical order at the end of the Factbook entries?
[...]
The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these are likely to be expanded in the future. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into the Factbook may be found in the http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ee.html#Intro.
[...]
Why don’t you include information on entities such as Tibet, Kashmir, or Kosovo?
The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.

Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands).
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[Art]

The Factbook site says:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

--
Select a Country or Location
--


It also says:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/faqs.html

--
Why are Taiwan and the European Union listed out of alphabetical order at the end of the Factbook entries?
[...]
The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these are likely to be expanded in the future. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into the Factbook may be found in the http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ee.html#Intro.
[...]
Why don’t you include information on entities such as Tibet, Kashmir, or Kosovo?
The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.

Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands).
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I do not doubt there are probably zillions of accurate facts contained in this publication. I was merely pointing out that under a column header entitled COUNTRIES there were many entries which are clearly not countries. If they intentionally included past countries, regions which will become countries or regions that would like to be countries or even land masses on distant planets, I couldn't care less. The point remains they are not countries now and so the column heading is wrong.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html

 

[Andy]

Thats being abit picky though isn't it.

 

[Art]

Thats being a bit picky though isn't it.

I actually raised it as a humerous point initially but it seemed some folk took it as an affront to the CIA or whatever. :zzz:

 

[BobG]

How does a little fact book with population numbers and land area become a political spin tool lol. Guess ill have to look at it a lil more

Depends what other statistics you compare with it.

You can say Walmart is economically more powerful than Portugal, Norway, or Denmark ... or the Walmart annual sales would rank it the 36th richest nation in the world. Or you could downplay Walmart's power and mention that even Bengladesh's GDP is higher than Walmart's annual sales (not that there's anthing wrong with Bengladesh, but many Americans, at least, haven't even heard of Bengladesh ... or else they think it was George Harrison concert ).

And in regards to the quotation, "What's good for General Motors is good for America"? How so? Even Vietnam has a higher GDP than GM's annual revenues. Well okay, Vietnam has a higher GDP than Portugal, Norway, and Denmark, too, but it sounds good.

I actually raised it as a humerous point initially but it seemed some folk took it as an affront to the CIA or whatever.

No, I just didn't understand your point.

 

[Art]

Depends what other statistics you compare with it.

You can say Walmart is economically more powerful than Portugal, Norway, or Denmark ... or the Walmart annual sales would rank it the 36th richest nation in the world. Or you could downplay Walmart's power and mention that even Bengladesh's GDP is higher than Walmart's annual sales (not that there's anthing wrong with Bengladesh, but many Americans, at least, haven't even heard of Bengladesh ... or else they think it was George Harrison concert ).

And in regards to the quotation, "What's good for General Motors is good for America"? How so? Even Vietnam has a higher GDP than GM's annual revenues. Well okay, Vietnam has a higher GDP than Portugal, Norway, and Denmark, too, but it sounds good.

Or as Disraeli said "There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics"

 

[BobG]

Or as Disraeli said "There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics"

Which makes sources like the "CIA World Fact Book" valuable. Twisting data to meet your objectives only works if the raw data isn't available to the public.

Well, okay, not terribly realistic, since most people won't check the raw data even if it's available.

 

[Art]

Which makes sources like the "CIA World Fact Book" valuable. Twisting data to meet your objectives only works if the raw data isn't available to the public.

Well, okay, not terribly realistic, since most people won't check the raw data even if it's available.

Even the raw information can be slanted. For instance the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and many British owned territories are listed as entities in their own right. This sends a subtle propoganda message based on the current American thinking with regard to Israel and Palestine and Britain's claims of sovereignty over it's overseas territories. It suggests that the current attachment to Israel and Britain of these regions is less legitimate than say America's ownership of Hawaii or Alaska which do not warrant separate entries. To clarify I am not espousing any personal opinion on the rights and wrongs of sovereignty myself here I am merely pointing out that information presented as facts is in itself slanted by US government opinion.

 

[kat]

AS for the other gentleman yes Maine used to be a penal colony. During the French and Indian war or the seven years war, French prisoners were incarerated here. Then people from England came over for the same thing. Like up in Presque Isle or around there there is a town that is full of Daigle's. In Jefferson it's Peaslee or Peasle ( two brothers got into a fight and one changed his name.) Brann and etc. It's like people are so affraid to fight each other because if someone gets killed at the funnel the other relatives are like,"You killed the wrong cousin and it doesn't matter if you didn't know then you were related!" When Massachusetts owned this area, it was still a penal colony. AFter it became a State it had over 60 mental institutions. So when people found out someone was Gay they sent them to Maine. Augusta just built a huge Mental hospital that according to nurses is like a 5 star hotel.
The grounds of the Former mental hospital, next door is huge. It also used to be an Arsenal. So yeah, all the decendents of all the penal residents, the mental cases, the gay people all intermixed and throughout the generations came out a certain breed. That's why they hate people from out of state like myself. I've been here since 1991 and people still have not considered be a Mainer, but a "M*******." In fact after the Ameriocan Revolutionary war, not all those loyal to the crown when to Canada. Like Mc Cain bought up potato fields. Then expanded out to other States (with Mc Cain french fries, does that sound familiar.) So we in fact have a caste system in place. Then we still have people that talk with the thick accent. You know it sounds like a cross between old english and someone talking with food in their mouth. So yes Maine used to be a penal colony, and today only has a population of 1.2 million people. But at least a person can rent a room for $80 a week in the capital and go to college for really cheap.

Oh my lord, a flatlander..wanna be Tim staples type...
please..links to back up this comedy.