I only got to level 11 on my first try; missed level 12 by 1500 points (of 55,000). You try it. Speed gets you points, but not as much as accuracy.

¶ 1600 Posted at 08.50 PM ⇒ No Comments ( games | geography )

I've found this Google Maps app to be pretty useful. All it does is overlay colored areas designating different ZIP code areas. Note that ZIP codes to map perfectly to geographical areas as they are defined as "delivery routes," but I doubt you or I would run into any problems because of that.

¶ 1673 Posted at 11.28 AM ⇒ No Comments ( fyi | geography )

First, name all the United States. Eliminate the ones you've lived in for a while, like more than a year. Then try to name as many cities, towns, villages, townships, etc. that you can in each state. It doesn't matter how big or small they are; if it's on a map (and incorporated), it counts. I noticed a wide variation in the number I came up with for each state. Some of the ones I could come up with little for were obvious, others it was appalling. I was pretty impressed by the number I knew in our largest (by population) state; maybe it's because of my industry. Here's a freebie: Springfield.

¶ 1686 Posted at 12.19 PM ⇒ No Comments ( tests | geography )

Belgium is Europe's Delaware. Or Delaware is the United States' Belgium. Consider:

• They're both on the Atlantic coast (sort of).
• They're both small countries overshadowed by larger neighbors.
• Both states have lots of headquarters; Delaware's are corporate, and Belgium's are mostly international organizations like NATO and the EU.
• The capital of Delaware is Dover; Belgium is across the North Sea from England's Dover.
• According to the State Department, Belgium's per capita income was $33,000. According to Wikipedia, Delaware's per capita income was $34,199.
• Finally, you can go weeks, months, even years without thinking or reading about either one of them, and not be an ignorant idiot.

¶ 1728 Posted at 03.18 PM ⇒ No Comments ( geography | observations )