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The New York Times printed a series of articles on these types of boundaries in various locations in the world.
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Survey Results here[^]
Other amusing findings, shared by the LA Times:
27% identified "gigabyte" as an insect commonly found in South America. A gigabyte is a measurement unit for the storage capacity of an electronic device.
23% thought an "MP3″ was a "Star Wars" robot. It is actually an audio file.
18% identified "Blu-ray" as a marine animal. It’s a disc format typically used to store high-definition videos.
15% said they believed "software" is comfortable clothing. Software is a general term for computer programs.
12% said "USB" is the acronym for a European country. In fact, USB is a type of connector.
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In other news, Leslie appreciation week[^] is in full swing. 
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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Maybe after all he is alive and well. In this occasion we should celebrate all week long 
Microsoft ... the only place where VARIANT_TRUE != true
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We have to search the whole site now! 
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If you make a poll with multiple choice answers where one is a clear "joke answer", at least 10%* will vote for the joke answer.
* figure pulled out of arse
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Is this based on the fact that America accounts for approximately 10% of world's population 
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Not sure if you're making a joke or not because it's closer to 5%.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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10%?
More like 4%. Roughly, the population of the U.S is 300,000,000+ and the population of the world, 7,000,000,000+.
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There was a study that says 85% of all statistics are incorrect or made up.
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Why is a 'UK website dedicated to local discounts and coupons' polling Americans? Ignorance is a global issue. 
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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The L.A. Times reported this study [^], and their reporting is echoed in the link provided by the OP here.
The study was carried out by a UK group that has a web-site, VoucherCloud.net, which promotes vouchers for all kinds of goods, and services. While a sample size of "2,392 men and women ages 18 or older" is impressive, there's no information on how the sample was selected, and the methodology.
I wonder about the diversity of the sample: could it reflect general technical ignorance of people who are "into" vouchers ? I can't find any information about the study on the VoucherCloud web-site.
“The best hope is that one of these days the Ground will get disgusted enough just to walk away ~ leaving people with nothing more to stand ON than what they have so bloody well stood FOR up to now.” Kenneth Patchen, Poet
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BillWoodruff wrote: could it reflect general technical ignorance of people who are "into" vouchers ?
+5. I suspect this to be true, because for every example of the silly American ignorant answer, the writer made sure to put the correct answer (Which were incorrect in a couple of cases). You know, just in case the readers who were delighting in the silly Americans answers didn't know the answers themselves. 
It was broke, so I fixed it.
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I'm not an expert on statistics, survey design or human behavior; but even I can see a big problem with this:
From the article: They were given a mix of both normal and tech-related words, and were asked to choose from three possible definitions.
As harold aptroot pointed out, if there's an obvious joke answer, some people will choose it. Additionally, if people really don't know the answer or if they are just getting tired of filling in the survey, they may decide to choose random answers.
It's things like this that make me very skeptical when statistics and survey results are being reported.
What is this talk of release? I do not release software. My software escapes leaving a bloody trail of designers and quality assurance people in its wake.
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You'd probably get similar findings anywhere
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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No survey is reliable; it's just human nature.
This space intentionally left blank.
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Erudite_Eric wrote: Just when did science decide it can totally detach itself from reality?
It the middle-ages. Back then they started to write books based on other books and imagination, without even stepping out of the door...
That was the beginning of the modern day laboratory...
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is. (V)
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Erudite_Eric wrote: the average French guy, diet rich in cheese, meat, red wine and Gauloise cigarettes
They aren't called "cheese eating surrender monkeys" for nothing you know!
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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This isn't science; this is the Daily Fail[^].
If a week ever passes when that bunch of idiots don't come up with something new that they claim causes cancer, then you'll know the world's about to end.
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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Oh, I dunno - they haven't claimed that Diana causes cancer.
But I suspect they think she cured it... 
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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I am waiting to see an article how eating is the main cause of cancer. After all everybody who had it ate and drank water. We should stop doing these right away !
Microsoft ... the only place where VARIANT_TRUE != true
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Argonia wrote: I am waiting to see an article how eating is the main cause of cancer.
You aren't far wrong. Basically doing anything increases the chances of Cancer and that includes eating, drinking breathing etc.
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Regretably, you aren't the fist to come up with this idea[^]
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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Cough cough[^] must get that checked out.
Erudite_Eric wrote: Ah, highest life expectancy in Europe.
If you ignore Switzerland. Or Iceland. Or Spain. Or Andorra.
Also: Daily Mail. Everything either causes or cures cancer. Quite often the doing both in the same edition.
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