Something interesting I learned at National Geographic is that they have a geographer (titled: "The Geographer", which always seemed impossibly cool to me) and that the geographer maintains several maps of certain areas so that their field photographers and agents are aware of where they are in relation to "the real world", to know when they're in contested territories, and also to be able to theoretically show the wrong map if they get in trouble to show "It wasn't me, blame my shoddy map!" to provide cover
Nothing I know about Google informs me that anyone there is thrilled about the change either, but it's probably one of the easier compliance-swaps they have to engage in, despite how inane it surely is
It's the corporate equivalent of lacking boundaries and failing to maintain emotional maturity.
Everybody has to say 'no' sometimes in order to be awesome and capable. Corporations need to say 'no' to governments far more often than they do.
We all have fears that saying 'no' to a narcissist will lead to retaliation; having boundaries despite that fear is what keeps us healthy.
we'll know more after the midterms.
they're the single most important elections the US had in the past decades. good luck to all of us!
but I digress.
it's not that simple to "just say no".
Retaliatory tariffs need to apply to blue states too.
If you are in America and want to cross water to get to Mexico, you just need to use the Gulf of Mexico. If you want to get to Ontario, find Lake Ontario. You'll never be lost.
Ignoring that your mad king did this specifically because he's an emotionally immature geriatric toddler and had a war of words with the Premier of Ontario, and that the renaming was 100% targeting Canada[1]...
...this wasn't like the US had some drawn out process when the electorate made their voices heard that what really ails the nation is the 400 year old name of a great lake -- older than the province that was then named in its honour --named by a word from of the aboriginal tribes that lived in the area surrounding the lake. No, this was a tantrum from one very foolish, grotesque convicted rapist, who unilaterally, with absolutely no one to stop his idiotic gestures and actions, decided to rewrite the map, and hundreds of millions cluck and say "yes massa!"
I mean...any other nation would be outraged. Like, this is bizarre fascist dictator shit. In the US, who for decades schooled the world on democracy and checks and balances and responsible government, it's just another day where the foolish tyrant does stupid bullshit.
I kind of get why a weak, pathetic firm like Google immediately choked on his micro-dick -- your corrupt government will try to punish any company that doesn't -- but if they had any credibility they would have decoupled from the tantrums of a foolish clown by now. They already learned how embarrassing it is, and came back for more. Disgusting and embarrassing. If Trump tomorrow renames California to "Libtardland", will Google immediately retitle the maps? I mean, Trump has loyal Myrmidons installed throughout government who'll instantly change every database. If Apple actually holds out against Trump, maybe he'll rename Cupertino to Disloyalville. Will Google be facile pathetic servants and instantly change it?
[1] Trump and his cabinet of criminals and greaseballs continually repeat how little Canada matters, how tiny and insignificant we are, etc, while endlessly flapping their disgusting mouths about us. These foolish idiots just cannot stop talking about us, constantly, 24/7.
- Google updated their maps faster than the USGS. https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ shows Lake Ontario
- Google made this decision, there is nothing automated about this
- Apple will do this as well
- Nothing requires either of them to do this.
- This is the same as Cook giving gold to Trump, tech CEOs showing up at the inauguration, ballroom donations etc. That is, simple open bribery.
- While Googlers are probably against this, their opinions are moo (like a cow's opinion). Sergey and Sundar love this.
If the author’s goal is to sever ties with all American companies that he possibly can, I think the post could have been a little more clear about that.
He’s worked this way for decades; why stop now just because he’s got a new job?
That does mean the U.S. Gov't / federal depts have to use the recommendation from the board I believe as they control the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), and it cascades from there.
So technically yes. That being said, I think Trump had the Board undo some of the changes the board enacted under Biden so it will likely just flow back.
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_Names_Information_S...
2. https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/searc...
[1] https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-r...
Geographical place-names get renamed all the time. It’s not extraordinary. You can search for recently renamed place names in Canada. There are quite a few. Canadians don’t get upset over it. Even in the US there is a constant renaming of places, roads, parks and schools. No one gets mad that mapping services update them promptly or that places get renamed…
Seems inconsistent for them to complain about what we call our side of the lake but then go on like nothing when they (and we as well) rename things just about every day of the week/year)
[1] https://www.usgs.gov/tools/geographic-names-information-syst...
[2] 'Secretary's Order 3453 directs the Board on Geographic Names ("BGN") to immediately rename Lake Ontario to Lake America and to update the Geographic Names Information System to appropriately reflect the change. This Order implements President Trump's direction in Executive Order 14420 "Honoring the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America," that the name be changed. The variant name, "Kaniatarí:io Lake", is a Mohawk name which translates to: "nice lake".'
When those corporations need the government to look the other way about things they're doing or want to do, they're going to suck up to it every time as hard as they can.
This is such an easy thing to do to make the little baby happy, of course they did it before he forgets he did it in the first place.
Oh, at least a few people are thrilled: https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/420aa69/214...
We can't even accuse Google of consistency, because they show Türkiye as Türkiye, for example, even though (as far as I can tell) the US Gov still uses Turkey.
ramijames•55m ago
halsafar•42m ago