NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:
So the World Cup did it's job.

I was wondering where Togo was so I looked it up and then got distracted by all of the extremely interesting facts in the CIA World Factbook.

I'm sure some of you will get caught up by the fact that it has "CIA" in the title but if you can get past that I'm finding it very interesting.

If you click on the little graph icon next to each statistic it ranks the countries in that category.

A lot more stuff makes sense when you look at the numbers. I knew that certain countries were ahead in certain categories but I didn't realize BY HOW MUCH. It explains quite a bit about why that country might behave the way it does.

I was impressed/depressed by:

Life Expectancy (I didn't expect the worst to be almostTHREE TIMES worse than the best.)

AIDS prevelancy (Almost 40% at it's worst?!)

Labor Force (There are 6.5 billion people in the planet but the work force is only 3 billion?)

The US has more land lines but the EU has way more cell phones.

The US has a fifth of the world's paved roads (and so much more than the EU)

And the millitiary expendatures explains EVERYTHING.

Bah, enjoy. biggrin

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


BirgitBRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)


Posted:
Some of the comments explain a lot, too...

"Land area (comparative): slightly smaller than Massachusetts"

Now that's gonna help me imagine 23000 sq km, isn't it ubblol

But yeah, we used to have a book like that in school. The rates of illiteracy and infant mortality were quite shocking to me then...

"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)

Owner of Dragosani's left half


NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:
Well I think it's designed for Americans. Then again, most Americans couldn't find Massachusetts on a map of the US. Then again, those probably aren't the ones that are looking up geographical information.

smile

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
I remember in school being told to take what factbook said with a grain of salt...being the CIA and all...but then again that *was* one of those teachers who was *slightly* into conspiracy theories.

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England


Posted:
i love that site smile

all kinds of fun things to learn about. and it helped me wind up living in uruguay for awhile. go figure.

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....


MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
It's actually a pretty good site with pretty neutral and accurate information.

I mean, nothing's perfect, but it shows that the CIA can actually get its stuff together.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura



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