Hegemonic geography

You probably aren’t American, but can you name all fifty states in ten minutes? I got 48. It would have been 49 if I could remember how to spell ‘Massachusetts.’ With that freebie, why not see how good you are at it.

PS. Which one did I forget entirely? One hint: while there are a few sets of North-South states, there is only one ‘West’ state.

PPS. One more hint: start with the ones you have visited. Then, do the coasts. Then, think of the states major cities are in. Then, think about recent news events, prominent primary elections, and whatever else can possibly assist you in the last couple of minutes.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

17 thoughts on “Hegemonic geography”

  2. Agreed. It is more impressive, but your average obscure element is much less well known than your average obscure state. At least for a Canadian…

  4. Oana,

    It comes from reading The Economist in the following sequence:

    Leaders
    Letters
    United States
    Science and Technology
    Less interesting stuff

  8. i think i did this once…

    i got 49; i managed to remember the obscure states like delaware and nebraska, but forgot georgia of all of them.

  11. I remember Delaware because of the lax corporate laws, Minnesota because The Mighty Ducks involved it, Missouri because Grandpa Simpson refuses to recognize it as a state, Ohio because the American nuclear missile subs are named after it, and Vermont because of Ben and Jerry’s.

  13. I only got 35, but I kept forgetting which ones had already been listed.

  15. Oleh and I were able to name 49. We forgot Iowa until after 10 minutes when Oleh read your entire entry and remembered the entire primary

  16. Don’t you all know there is a song that all American schoolchildren are taught containing the names of all 50 states, and in alphabetical order? Forget 10 minutes, any American 10-year-old can do it in less than one…

  17. Nora,

    “Fifty Nifty United States” was actually sung quite a number of times on the Snowdonia trip.

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