[Heineken]

A recent (from a couple of months ago) issue of National Geographic contains a wall map of Mexico and Central America. The map includes a small table giving information like area and population for the countries represented. For Mexico, the table comments, "So mountainous, that if flattened it would be as large as Asia." (I'm paraphrasing slightly, since I share my National Geographics around and don't have that issue at hand right now.)

I don't know about you, but I find this utterly astounding. A flattened Mexico would be as big as Asia? It's hard to conceive.

What if Asia were flattened? How big an area would it then cover?

How about the land mass of the entire world? What if it were flattened?

Apparently, when geographers and surveyors measure the area of land, they don't report the "flattened" area. Thus, if you own hilly land that according to the survey is 50 acres, you actually have more than 50 acres of surface area, right? (I have a personal interest in that last question.)

The Earth's land mass appears to be vastly larger than I knew.

[PenultimateManStanding]

I suppose if you brought up the Marianna Trench (6.8 miles deep) and all the underwater mountains and subduction zones, the ocean would swamp the land entirely. It's all relative, Heineken. What is, is. Btw, here is a Clintonesque use of 5 in a row: What is 'is'? 'is' is is. I heard that one on NPR's Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me. But I thought of a better one: What is 'is'? 'is' is is. Is it not? That makes 6! ha! I topped them. Or how about this: What is 'is'? 'Is' is is? Is 'is' anything else? That makes 7! What is 'is'? 'Is' is 'is'? Is 'is' is is a silly question. That makes 8! Please, somebody make it to nine.

[PenultimateManStanding]

Please forgive me, Heineken, I'm just having some fun on the Eve of Destruction. btw, you are absolutely right about stretching out the mountains of Asia, but I guess I'm agreeing with you that it isn't so jaw dropping after all.

btw, this reminds me of the Mensa question of punctuating: jim where bill had had had had had had had had had was right. Somebody, I think it was Carlhole, found a way to add another had to it. I think it had something to do with replacing 'was right' with 'had been right". I was never convinced that it made good English sense, but though peculiar sounding, I think technically he was right.

[PenultimateManStanding]

Alright, if nobody wants to help me, I'll do it myself: What is 'is'? Is 'is' is? Is 'is' is is a silly question. That makes 9. Oh, I already did that did that, never mind. Somebody care to try for ten?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', '
')That's correct. They are reporting what's basically a "bird's eye view" of the area. Congratulations!

[jboogy]

PMS , I'm totally confused about the had , hads and is , ises. I think I was absent that day . Could you explain please?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jboogy', 'P')MS , I'm totally confused about the had , hads and is , ises. I think I was absent that day . Could you explain please?

[jboogy]

I'm more clueless now than I was before, Thanks for trying anyway. Does this mean I shouldn't apply for mensa membership?

[shakespear1]

Read this and then think.


Distance

Length is relative in a sense. Imagine a bacteria which was to move along a specified boundary of Britain which was delineated by sand grains (the strip of single grains make the boundary). The length it would cover would be much much larger then if a human were to cross this distance Not obvious at first thought.

[nocar]

Well, I this reminds me of the of old punch line of someone commenting to a Norwegian or Swiss (I have heard both versions) farmer, on how difficult it must be to cultivate those step hills. Farmer answers: 'Well, we use both sides, so it is double'.

In real life, it is not quite like that.

nocar

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I')'d love to know the answers to my questions in the OP.

[Bas]

Well, I guess that wouldn't make flat Holland much bigger, maybe we should have a go at building hills and mountains

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'J')im, where Bill had had "had', had had "had had". "Had had" was right.

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'J')im, where Bill had had "had', had had "had had". "Had had" was right.

[shakespear1]

Bas

Make Holland bigger by "making" the people smaller

[jboogy]

I get it now, : Jim , where Bil had had "had ", had ,had ,had ,had, Stephen HADley , had ,had ,had, had ,"had" HADn't had had enough? 16 Hads!!!! Did I do it right?

[Chaparral]

Regarding the OP, that exact same principle is what makes south facing hillsides so intriguing here in NA. One could very effectively increase the amount of food production by terracing the hillsides. Tall plants would occupy the same amount of area on the flat XY plane but the slope would expose their lower reaches to more sunlight thereby increasing yield. North-facing slopes in NA however may be handicapped by this same issue. This informs us somewhat when we go shopping for real estate.

[strider3700]

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
was always my favorite

[jboogy]

Damn Stryder , you've upstaged me once again.