17 thoughts on “The Umma’s Involuted Border”

1. There is no question that your hard work is not only bearing fruit, but also producing new growth that will yield yet other fruits in the future. You have started something that may become a veritable institution.

   I also want to give you a quirky little factoid, of sorts.

   His name escapes me at the moment, but in the 1980s, a young hot shot in artificial intelligence research from Stanford, got an appointment at a university in Texas to work on developing software that would emulate human intelligence. I believe the acronym for the project was CYC, and it may still be going.

   Several years ago, there was a documentary updating his progress. At that point, he had constructed these incredibly complex maps of network connections making up the “brain” of CYC. One objective was to feed this “brain” lots of information in order to find patterns of knowledge that would support further learning.

   He pointed out that one peculiar finding was that the “brain” came back with an observation that no Muslim organizations made up U.N. associated NGOs (non-governmental organizations). That did not seem quite right because there are groups like the Green Cross. But, on reflection, that observation may be largely true. Anyway, the researcher noted it as an odd one that he would look into. This was long before 9-11.

   This may be another “fractal” to consider. Not one of violence, but of social service. The Muslim equivalent of Catholic Relief, or Save the Children, or Oxfam would be found, if at all, to be functioning largely within its own sphere (presumably in part because of suspicious funding activities) and not doing much outreach into Christian and other communities.

2. Baron,

   Perhaps a few teams of U.S. SF trainers, some weapons and air support could assist the persecuted Christians of southern Sudan in forming their own commonwealth. That would take a nice chunk from the middle of that green blob.

   As a former Geography undergraduate (many moons ago, B.C., before computers) I greatly appreciate your emphasis on maps and other graphics. You might become the Mackinder of the 21st century . Bravo!

3. These maps are so interesting. Nice work. I notice that the terror attacks in Israel seem to have greatly diminished from year to year. At least your maps show fewer attacks there each year.

4. I think you got the 2 numbers at the bottom switched…

5. Now I just feel guilty.

   Bravo, Baron!

   Funny how the data seem to so closely correspond with the Islamophobe’s fever dream. Almost like all that irrational fear might be… rational.

   Going to go over to Bloody Borders to see if you’ve posted larger versions of the maps for examination. 1600 x 1200 resolution makes these things like postage stamps.

6. Mr. Sadowski —

   You’re right — I had my two variable names switched in the program code. Thanks for letting me know; I’ve fixed them in both places.

7. a4g —

   You just love being the squeaky wheel, don’t you?

   FYI, the next addition to the project will be large-scale maps. But it may take a while.

8. Baron,
   As always, your hard work is right on target. I can’t help but see the “Pakistan” problem. You know what makes it worse, they just banned my side blog. How cool is that?

9. Exceptional!

   Curious . . .not being familiar with Portugal’s history, how is it that it has the smallest % ?

10. Congratulations, Baron, on having created a fundamental Situational Awareness tool.

11. Baron,

    Your hard and diligent work is greatly appreciated. It sure makes things much clearer.

    Thanks for all you do regarding this issue.

    Hope you and yours have a great weekend.

12. Darfur and Southern Sudan are under-reported of course, that would add in a thick solid blue band around S and W Sudan.

    Indonesia is also underrepresented in that while it has less terrorists, but more government terror in the east of that country (Papua, Ambon).

13. Power to the bloggers!

    Involution now!

14. Baron,
    Many thanks for the excellent cartography work. A question, does the bloody borders project have any mechanism for tracking piracy?

    Thanks again,

    Adam

15. fieldpro —

    That’s an interesting idea. Piracy is a distinct problem, and is certainly not confined to Muslims. I’m not sure where statistics for such things are collected.

    Going into piracy is a commercial decision, and arises whenever brutal and unscrupulous people are given the opportunity. Hence the Somali pirates.

16. Baron, you didnt take into account estimated 24 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India!

17. Vikrant —

    I take into account whatever is in the statistics!

    I have to scrape my data from somewhere, but I don’t mind revising my source. If you have an idea for a better set of statistics, I’ll be glad to look at it.

    It just has to be consistent; i.e. the 24 million that are counted in India have to be NOT counted in Bangladesh.

    I do have a database of Indian population totals; eventually I’ll map the Indian states and India will display more than one color of green.

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