A good local baker, especially one that will make a decent sourdough, is a must wherever we live.
bignose
joined 4 months ago
My circle of people doesn't include many who can afford an overseas vacation, no matter the destination.
I'd say it would not be “as common” as USAians visiting Canada, simply because we can't drive from Australia to New Zealand.
But yeah, my guess is that New Zealand is frequently near the top of the list of desired vacation destination, for Australians.
So their announcement seems to be saying they'll follow what the national government officially calls the feature:
In an X post on Monday, Google said its Maps service would reflect the change once it is officially updated in the US Geographic Names System. The change will be visible to Google Maps users in the US, but it will remain listed as Gulf of Mexico for those accessing the platform from Mexico. Outside of the two countries, users will see both names.
And, yeah. What is the alternative policy from Google that we're proposing? That Google should be sovereign in itself, declare they'll name it whatever seems right to Google, and not defer to the government appointed names for things? Based on what, exactly?
I want Google subject to official government policy, and not to ignore it. I want Google Maps to follow the official name when, for example, Ayer's Rock is now officially called Uluru.
This specific government policy (that the Gulf of Mexico be changed to the "Gulf of America") is stupid and jingoistic. But is the answer to that, we want corporations empowered to ignore government policy?
If the government of the day orders that Uluru is now called Aussie Stone, and Google announces they'll update maps to follow the change of official name? My objection is not that Google follows the official name; it's that the government of the day is wrong and needs to be ousted.
This is just flat wrong. Pretty much every wild animal in Australia will do its best to avoid confrontation with humans.
It isn't even true that the most deadly animals in the world are in Australia. As you might expect, that goes to animals which sometimes seek and attack other animals like humans: wolves, hippopotamus, bear, mosquito, etc. Nothing special about Australia there.
It's probably a mis-understanding of the truth: That Australia is home to animals with the most deadly venom in the world. Arachnids and reptiles, sea creatures, etc. with highly toxic venom.
This is a very different statement. Most of those animals with deadly venom, are not “out to kill you”. They are deadly but don't tend to seek humans; they have deadly defenses that they will employ if they feel trapped or ambushed.
Some of these animals do seek shelter, which in remote areas often brings them into human habitation. In rural areas you do need to check you're not going to surprise a bitey animal when going to the toilet or other nice sheltered spaces.
So, no the Australian wildlife is not “out to kill you”; quite the contrary, if you move carefully it will do its best to steer clear of you, it has no interest in getting near you and your big mammalian ways.