Many moons ago, in fact starting over a decade ago, I did a series on maps. They were hugely popular and got tens of thousands of views but algorithms change and now they are mostly forgotten about.
As it’s been so long, I thought I would post some new maps up that show up the world in interesting ways.
I often think there is a lot of similarity between the USA and Iran and Saudi Arabia which is weird on one level but all three are into imprisonment, capital punishment and have what outsiders consider ‘Fundamentalist” hardliners. Look at India with its huge population but a very low prison population. I hope its because people are law-abiding and not because other factors.
This is one I don’t really get for one reason, Japan! Whilst I would really like to visit for a holiday and I admire their distinct culture, I have never met or heard of anyone wanting to move there. I can see why people from countries which have a similar culture not too far wanting to go there but I don’t get it for Australia, Canada and the USA.
Personally I’d not mind living in Egypt. New Zealand would be nice but its too far away. Canada would be good too. I think lots of British people would pick these two countries that aren’t too dissimilar to us in lots of ways. For similar reasons, the Netherlands and Scandinavia are appealing to many.
When I was little my uniform was grey everything with a purple tie and then at secondary school it was dark bottle green with a bit of yellow/gold. To be honest, no-one liked our secondary school uniform colours and we were mostly jealous of the neighbouring schools who had uniforms with no green and gold blazers, jumpers and ties. Still at least we had grey or white shirts.
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a school here where children don’t wear uniforms though I am sure one or two might exist.
This one is very true in the U.K. In London we just had 2-5 inches of snow depending where one lives but the previous night the temperature was -7C or so. We might not speak many languages but we have a dual measurement system in our heads that is like instinct to us.
The map above is about air pollution with green being the cleanest and dark red the most poisonous. I’m sure there must be varying reasons for the polluted states. Some due to poverty, some like Russia because the leaders don’t care… all the pollution in such a huge country with a population not quite twice that of the U.K. Nations like China and India obviously have way more people but what can you say about Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and much of Saharan Africa? Except for Egypt, barely any people but then also barely any plants and not much wind to dissipate the pollution.
For me it is Cricket I guess though I love football and rugby. Hhmmm as I type this England are almost on the edge of a great cricket victory against Pakistan. I should really go and check the scores but I am a dedicated blogger if nothing else.
18 seems to be pretty much the standard in places you’re allowed to drink. If everywhere else is like the U.K., many if not the majority find a way to get their drink a little earlier.
Who’d think Vatican City would be the most multi-cultural nation on Earth. It seems show how fitting.
Apparently in China people use numbers to indicate they find something funny on line. How F124853 W963 of them lol
Good job there aren’t a lot of people in Mongolia or Greenland. Shame on the USA and really Australia, New Zealand and France should be doing much better. Sadly many of the least wasteful nations are only this way because their citizens don’t have things to waste.
Wow the U.K. is one of the happiest places on Earth. I guess not for the 3 million #Excluded people. I think the place is a total dump with a scumbag government and if I said what I really thought my blog would likely be shut down!
Maybe there is something to my belief about the state of the U.K. as it’s classified as a Full Democracy but the score has slipped somewhat. Funny how the countries I mentioned as being to live in all rate fractionally higher on the democracy front.
Stephen Liddell 
It’s a cheap shot to hang on a closing thread, but how does one matriculate happiness anyway? I suppose if one merely perseverates about material consumption/production/income ratios… sure, I guess. I dunno. Seems like a bit of a bigger chew one could bite off and a statistic forged in a politician’s posterior.
Imagine.
But the rest of the article is interesting. Interesting times to be alive. I’ve never seriously considered moving, but had imagined England or Canada as places I would like to see, as my family came from England originally and it would be nice to see what the fuss was all about before we put on the pilgrim hat and became Yankees.
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