Comments on: A Map the Size of the World http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 18:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497417 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497417 When does a map cease to be a map to become a copy? Is it not a question of physics, of mass? When does a map cease to be a map to become a copy?
Is it not a question of physics, of mass?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497676 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497676 that's a very Deep Thought that’s a very Deep Thought

]]> By: towlemonkey http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497168 towlemonkey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497168 Wonderful. I discovered Borges about 4 years ago, and Hurley's version of his collected works has a permanent place on my nightstand. Anytime I need some inspiration, I pick it up. Wonderful. I discovered Borges about 4 years ago, and Hurley’s version of his collected works has a permanent place on my nightstand. Anytime I need some inspiration, I pick it up.

]]> By: lowrahk http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497173 lowrahk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497173 I wrote a paper for school about Lewis Carroll's "Sylvie and Bruno Concluded" in which there is a map that is 1:1. I never knew that this story existed! Thanks! I wrote a paper for school about Lewis Carroll’s “Sylvie and Bruno Concluded” in which there is a map that is 1:1. I never knew that this story existed! Thanks!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-613142 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-613142 "One describes a tale best by telling the tale. You see? The way one describes a story, to oneself or to the world, is by telling the story. It is a balancing act and it is a dream. The more accurate the map, the more it resembles the territory. The most accurate map possible would be the territory, and thus would be perfectly accurate and perfectly useless. The tale is the map that is the territory; you must remember this." — Neil Gaiman (American Gods) “One describes a tale best by telling the tale. You see? The way one describes a story, to oneself or to the world, is by telling the story. It is a balancing act and it is a dream. The more accurate the map, the more it resembles the territory. The most accurate map possible would be the territory, and thus would be perfectly accurate and perfectly useless. The tale is the map that is the territory; you must remember this.”
— Neil Gaiman (American Gods)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497182 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497182 Is the picture the back of the 1995 Nissan Path Finder? I own one and that pic looks just like my car...you see that stupid fin on the back? The entire car has them everywhere..are they called fins? Is the picture the back of the 1995 Nissan Path Finder? I own one and that pic looks just like my car…you see that stupid fin on the back? The entire car has them everywhere..are they called fins?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497183 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497183 I once estimated that a 1:1 scale map of the Earth on regular paper would be about 1 cubic mile when folded up. Different assumptions would lead to different sizes, but still pretty darn big. I once estimated that a 1:1 scale map of the Earth on regular paper would be about 1 cubic mile when folded up. Different assumptions would lead to different sizes, but still pretty darn big.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497185 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497185 I was going to mention Lewis Carroll's novel myself, that's where Borges got the idea from. I was going to mention Lewis Carroll’s novel myself, that’s where Borges got the idea from.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497442 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497442 A while back I wrote a response to Professor Eco on the same subject. http://www.someplacesomewhere.com/lofiversion/index.php?t11324.html A while back I wrote a response to Professor Eco on the same subject.

http://www.someplacesomewhere.com/lofiversion/index.php?t11324.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497187 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497187 I would strongly recommend reading the Umberto Eco's essay "On the impossibility of drawing a map of the empire on a scale of 1 to 1". It's a great piece to see this concept get a "serious" treatment I would strongly recommend reading the Umberto Eco’s essay “On the impossibility of drawing a map of the empire on a scale of 1 to 1″. It’s a great piece to see this concept get a “serious” treatment

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497444 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497444 Maps owe a big part of their utility to what information they leave <em>out.</em> Most are essentially a representation of part of the world as seen through a narrow lens, such as the roadways in a city or the wiring in a building. A map is a drawing of the world minus everything except the information you need. Maps owe a big part of their utility to what information they leave out. Most are essentially a representation of part of the world as seen through a narrow lens, such as the roadways in a city or the wiring in a building.

A map is a drawing of the world minus everything except the information you need.

]]> By: Ingmar http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497203 Ingmar Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497203 Umberto Eco has also written an essay in "How to Travel with a Salmon" named "On the Impossibility of Drawing a Map of the Empire on a Scale of 1 to 1." Umberto Eco has also written an essay in “How to Travel with a Salmon” named “On the Impossibility of Drawing a Map of the Empire on a Scale of 1 to 1.”

]]> By: jfno http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497221 jfno Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497221 I don't get it. I want to have a map of the world that is much bigger than the world itself in fact. The problem is not the size of the information, it's the way to access it. I dream of having an augmented reality system and have access for a place to all the geological, topographical, historical, sociological, etc... This is not just for science either, I want to have access to all the art that cite this place as an inspiration. If all this was on paper maps, there would be many layers all over. I don’t get it. I want to have a map of the world that is much bigger than the world itself in fact.

The problem is not the size of the information, it’s the way to access it. I dream of having an augmented reality system and have access for a place to all the geological, topographical, historical, sociological, etc… This is not just for science either, I want to have access to all the art that cite this place as an inspiration.

If all this was on paper maps, there would be many layers all over.

]]> By: aGranny http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497491 aGranny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497491 Ummmm, Im pretty sure that the concept of a 1:1 map was put forward by Voltaire about 300 years ago in one of his most famous bits of prose. It was either in 'Candide' or 'Zadig'. In fact the language used in the passage is almost similar. Any lit buffs able to squeeze out a quote? Ummmm, Im pretty sure that the concept of a 1:1 map was put forward by Voltaire about 300 years ago in one of his most famous bits of prose. It was either in ‘Candide’ or ‘Zadig’. In fact the language used in the passage is almost similar. Any lit buffs able to squeeze out a quote?

]]> By: DWittSF http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497244 DWittSF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497244 In the sequel, they call in Benoit Mandelbrot to map the coast, and then things get really crazy! In the sequel, they call in Benoit Mandelbrot to map the coast, and then things get really crazy!

]]> By: nanuq http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497247 nanuq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497247 "I don't get it. I want to have a map of the world that is much bigger than the world itself in fact." I can't even fold a regular-sized map properly. I'd just as soon not even try with a map that big. “I don’t get it. I want to have a map of the world that is much bigger than the world itself in fact.”

I can’t even fold a regular-sized map properly. I’d just as soon not even try with a map that big.

]]> By: edgore http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497250 edgore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497250 It also sounds a bit like the film Synecdoche, New York with it's full scale model of New York City located in a warehouse in New York City It also sounds a bit like the film Synecdoche, New York with it’s full scale model of New York City located in a warehouse in New York City

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497262 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497262 Wouldn't a map the size of the earth just be a mirror above the world? Wouldn’t a map the size of the earth just be a mirror above the world?

]]> By: firetheft http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497266 firetheft Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497266 Just stating the obvious, but Google Earth IS a map the size of the world. I haven't checked how its coverage of maintenance hole covers is coming along though. Just stating the obvious, but Google Earth IS a map the size of the world. I haven’t checked how its coverage of maintenance hole covers is coming along though.

]]> By: oscar http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497268 oscar Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497268 Steven Wright has a bit about a map that's 1 mile = 1 mile, and how difficult it is to fold. Steven Wright has a bit about a map that’s 1 mile = 1 mile, and how difficult it is to fold.

]]> By: rjkenagy http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497295 rjkenagy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497295 A similar bit by Steven Wright: "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" A similar bit by Steven Wright: “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?”

]]> By: cmpalmer http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-498075 cmpalmer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-498075 I loved the video and found a related Borges video on YouTube that I liked as well. I've read most all of his work in translation, but this was the first time I've heard his voice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2Eo-G-1sE&NR=1 I loved the video and found a related Borges video on YouTube that I liked as well. I’ve read most all of his work in translation, but this was the first time I’ve heard his voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2Eo-G-1sE&NR=1

]]> By: taj1f http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497313 taj1f Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497313 "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" ANSWER (given by a three year old): "I'd just leave it where it is." “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” ANSWER (given by a three year old): “I’d just leave it where it is.”

]]> By: walyd66 http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497840 walyd66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497840 Talking about mapping, Google is trying it's best to map the Earth, 3D style, very interesting. Check it out http://walydopts.blogspot.com/2009/05/google-once-again-is-facing-critisicm.html Talking about mapping, Google is trying it’s best to map the Earth, 3D style, very interesting. Check it out http://walydopts.blogspot.com/2009/05/google-once-again-is-facing-critisicm.html

]]> By: Chrome http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497842 Chrome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497842 A wonderful story...if untrue. Although the monumental stone carvings of sequential numbers and letters arrayed across much of Asia at what were the borders of the old Empire and the great Key at the South-East corner explaining the scale as "one inch=one inch" are a tourist attraction today. But modern archaeologists have determined that the Cartographer's Guild eventfully became so dominant in the government of the Forbearers as to devote ever more of the Empire's resources to the perfection of the Great Map, the reason it is believed for the eventual decline and fall of the Empire, but not before a full scale three-dimensional representation of the Empire indistinguishable in scope from the Empire itself was erected and contained in perfect congruity within it. The ravages of time make the remaining ruins of the Empire itself and the map contained within it difficult to distinguish but as the map is annotated as to dimensions, building materials, dates and so forth, and the Empire is not, modern enquiry has evidenced that the remnants we see today are in fact of the map and not the original Empire and, furthermore, that for many generations after the ruin of the Empire it was the map which the ill fated and ever dwindling population inhabited, and did so, it is now believed, without marking the difference. Sevan A wonderful story…if untrue. Although the monumental stone carvings of sequential numbers and letters arrayed across much of Asia at what were the borders of the old Empire and the great Key at the South-East corner explaining the scale as “one inch=one inch” are a tourist attraction today.

But modern archaeologists have determined that the Cartographer’s Guild eventfully became so dominant in the government of the Forbearers as to devote ever more of the Empire’s resources to the perfection of the Great Map, the reason it is believed for the eventual decline and fall of the Empire, but not before a full scale three-dimensional representation of the Empire indistinguishable in scope from the Empire itself was erected and contained in perfect congruity within it.

The ravages of time make the remaining ruins of the Empire itself and the map contained within it difficult to distinguish but as the map is annotated as to dimensions, building materials, dates and so forth, and the Empire is not, modern enquiry has evidenced that the remnants we see today are in fact of the map and not the original Empire and, furthermore, that for many generations after the ruin of the Empire it was the map which the ill fated and ever dwindling population inhabited, and did so, it is now believed, without marking the difference.

Sevan

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-498106 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-498106 Isn't there a place between perfect duplication and 5-second sound-bite oversimplication though? Isn’t there a place between perfect duplication and 5-second sound-bite oversimplication though?

]]> By: Jason Rizos http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497380 Jason Rizos Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497380 Michael Martone has an excellent chapter devoted to McNally Junction, IN, in his awesome travel satire "The Blue Guide to Indiana." It's probably my favorite non-narrative work. You have to read it. Michael Martone has an excellent chapter devoted to McNally Junction, IN, in his awesome travel satire “The Blue Guide to Indiana.” It’s probably my favorite non-narrative work. You have to read it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497646 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497646 Steven Wright - "I have the worlds largest seashell collection. You may have seen it, I keep it spread out on beaches all over the world. " Steven Wright – “I have the worlds largest seashell collection. You may have seen it, I keep it spread out on beaches all over the world. “

]]> By: pKp http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-498427 pKp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-498427 I think there's a Neil Gaiman story like that in the introduction of "Fragile Things". I think there’s a Neil Gaiman story like that in the introduction of “Fragile Things”.

]]> By: ret3 http://boingboing.net/2009/05/20/a-map-the-size-of-th.html#comment-497404 ret3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-497404 This reminds me of The Mapmaker from Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things collection. This reminds me of The Mapmaker from Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things collection.

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