--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 15:40:43 -0500
From: Fred Schaff <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Mapping "ERRORS"??
Sender: Fred Schaff <[log in to unmask]>



At 03:08 PM 02/12/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
>Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 10:46:53 +1100
>From: Brendan Whyte <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Victorian Payback
>Sender: Brendan Whyte <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>The following query was sent to me yesterday. Can anyone help? Replies
>direct to Tom, (and a cc to me!)
>
>Brendan Whyte
>University of Melbourne
>
>>From: "Tom Edwards (Geographer)" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>>Hello all.
>>
>>Someone recently told me a story (a tall tale?) about Queen Victoria. I'm
>>not sure if they had their facts straight or not, but they said that at some
>>point in 19th Century history, the British embassy was burned down in either
>>Colombia or Bolivia (the person who told me was not sure). As a reaction to
>>this event, Queen Victoria supposedly instructed her cartographers to remove
>>this country (Colombia or Bolivia) from British maps!
>>
>>Does this story ring true to anyone? Has anyone heard this one before? I'm
>>curious to know, and if so, if anyone has any citation or lead for where
>>more information could be found.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>Tom Edwards
>>Geographer
>>Microsoft Corp.
>>
>--- End Forwarded Message ---
>

        Don't know much about that story except that it follows in the best
British tradition set by King Canute when it has been said that he stood at
the seashore and ordered the tides not to come in and stayed until his feet
got wet.

        In more recent times, some one in the United States Government has ordered
our US Geological Survey organization to remove the features contained
within the famous, (or is it in-famous), Area-51 in the Nevada desert and,
as a byproduct, older USGS topographical maps that show the area are being
sold at a premium as collector's items.

        A bit before that, of course, the USSR is famous for misdrawing its' maps
as an attempt to confuse the USA and their allies. Although started by
Stalin when access to the more remote areas was difficult and the mapping
modifications hard to detect and keep track of, as they continued those
techniques into the age of satellite surveillance, the USSR became the only
folks confused by the errors.

Fred Schaff, Spring Grove, PA, USA <[log in to unmask]>
        LAWS OF DISCUSSION
1: In total agreement, there is no net communication possible.
2: In total disagreement, there is no net communication possible.
        JOHN W. CAMPBELL
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