NEWSLETTER NO. 10 OF 2007
AXIS OF EVIL MAPPING NEWSLETTER # 10 beginning of December, 2007
The Axis of Evil Mapping Newsletter is released irregularly. Any opinions expressed are strictly those of myself and are not intended to provoke anything more than the intellect.
INTRODUCTION
I’m writing this part of the newsletter in November 11th. Lan and I were at Vancouver’s Cenopath in Victory Square today to share with others a remembrance of those who served and those who died in two world wars, Korea, and various UN peacekeeping exercises. Unfortunately, although 53,000 Canadians served in the Vietnam conflict, we do not acknowledge their service or sacrifice (153 died) because formally, Canada was not involved as a combatant. The thousands of Canadians who served did so as part of the American forces, and have been specially recognized by the US government. I served in the BSA Police in Rhodesia, another non-recognized event by Canada, but I remember and each year at this time, I join with others who remember. I hope you did too.
LAN’S FUNNY STORY
At a recent trial in the southern States, the defense attorney was questioning an elderly woman who was a witness at a trial. “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?” Sure, she replied. I’ve known you all your life. You’re a lazy and incompetent lawyer who cheats on your wife and can barely make a living. Embarrassed and alarmed, he pointed to the prosecuting attorney and asked “Do you know him?” I do, she replied. I’ve known both of you all my life. He’s a liar and cheats on his taxes and is having an affair with your wife. The judge banged down his gavel at this and ordered the two lawyers to step before the Bench for a discussion. “If either of you idiots ask her if she knows me, so help me, I’ll see that you get the electric chair.”
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AFFECT ITMB
As a publishing house, ITMB is reasonably, even prolifically, active. With almost 300 titles in print, it is inevitable that something will be unavailable at any given point in time. Right now, Antarctica, Central America, South America, Guatemala, and Yucatan are at press, along with half a dozen other titles. As we approach the Christmas season, we often experience slowdowns in printing, as our printers are usually frantically busy meeting demand for advertising posters/flyers. We will do our best to ensure that titles already at press will be printed and made available during November. We also have 21 titles that have fewer than 500 copies left in inventory, and it will be almost impossible to have any of these available before late January, even if we were to go to press today.
We are also approaching a complicated property transfer. 530 West Broadway, our corporate head office, production centre, distribution centre, and retail store, is becoming too small for our growing business. We’re not planning on moving in the immediate future, but we have purchased a newer and larger building close to the airport, in neighbouring Richmond, and have sold our warehouse building in Vancouver to help finance the purchase. I am already moving as many cartons of maps out of our current warehouse as I can, relocating them in odd corners of 530. At 50 per day, I can lift 1,500 per month. I have 4,000 to move. We take possession of our new building on December 17th, and hope to have the warehouse operational by mid-January. We intend to keep everything at 530 until March except bulk storage, to provide time for renovations to be completed. I’ll keep you advised of future events.
US DOLLAR HOLDS STEADY FOR NOW
The good news is that the US dollar has arrested its alarming drop, for the moment. After sinking to .90cdn, a record, it has recovered to approximately par with the CDN$, which is still not good from the Canadian perspective, but is less damaging to our economy. Unfortunately, it is very damaging to ITMB.
TRUE STORIES FROM THE CANADIAN NORTH
These things shouldn’t happen, but they do. My first story concerns a family of Inuit (formerly known as Eskimos) in Nunavut. A 65-year-old man, his wife and young son set off for home, a mere 100 kilometres away, on a snowmobile. They didn’t arrive, and worried friends set up a search party, to no avail. Six days later, the man walked into the hamlet he was aiming for originally. It appears that their snowmobile had broken down. He built an igloo for the three of them, and only when food and fuel started to run out did he start walking across the icy wasteland. It took him 12 hours to walk 25 km in the snow. Amazingly, he was surprised that anyone was looking for him, and was able to lead rescuers back to the igloo to rescue his family. Remember, this guy is 65.
The other story is actually a photo story, which I’ll have to tell in words. Recently, somewhere near Churchill, Manitoba (on Hudson Bay, so quite far north), a man and his sled-dogs were camped for the night when a polar bear wandered into the camp. The man immediately prepared for the worst. Impossibly, the bear just wanted to play, and spent the night cavorting with the dogs – normally it’s worst enemy. I have the pictures to prove it. Furthermore, the bear returned each night for a week to play with the Huskies. Amazingly, he was very gentle and not only did not hurt the dogs, but they submitted to the bear’s friendly moves and caresses and played nicely, which they normally don’t do. I have never encountered a similar situation. I would not have believed this story, but I have pictures showing unbelievable scenes that could not be faked. Truth really is stranger than fiction.
PRESS RELEASES AND THE AXIS NEWSLETTER
As we become more familiar with the new technology of our web store, we plan to move our mailing list into this format. Currently, if you wish to subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your email information, you have to send us an email and hope that we effect what you wish done. With the new web store site, you subscribe, change your information, or unsubscribe as you wish. You are more in control. If you wish to switch, please visit http://shop.itmb.ca/ and sign in!
ITMB TITLES: WORK IN PROGRESS (much the same as last month)
Antarctica is now at the printer, for release in December.
Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch is a new ITMB title currently being prepared. As often is the case, we find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place. We don’t have room on our New Zealand map to show city maps adequately, and each of the major urban areas of that country, in themselves, do not generate enough market interest to justify three separate maps, nor are they large enough to need three maps; hence one map for the three major cities. We’re expecting to release this title in January.
Central America is at press. It will probably be late in December before it is available again. Lan has added a lot of new information to it.
Gibraltar is a new title for ITMB, and one that we think offers an innovative new approach to international mapping. Our map will show both the European and the North African sides of the Straits forming the mouth of the Mediterranean. Coverage will extend from west of Algeciras in Spain to Tangier and Tetuoan in Morocco. This is a rapidly growing region for travel. A detailed map of ‘Gib’ will be part of the map. It is at press.
Guatemala This important title is now out of stock. It has been updated, with some good, last-minute information coming from Editorial Laura Lee, and has been sent to the printer. It will be released in January.
Guernsey/Alderney/Sark/Herms and St. Peter’s Port is a new ITMB travel title, whose actual name will be the Bailiwick of Guernsey, but whose area of coverage will include the world’s only feudal territory (Sark), islands where cars are banned, and a town where time stands still. This is a fascinating corner of the world, just off the coast of France, but is pricelessly English – although it is neither a part of the UK nor is it in the European Union.
Guangzhou, formerly Canton, China, is at press for release in December. This will be our fourth ITM City Map for China, and places ITMB in the forefront of mapping important destinations in this rapidly-expanding tourist country.
Istanbul is now out of stock. A new edition is at press, using information gathered during two visits to the city by Lan and myself and separately by the cartographer. We are expecting to release this new edition in January.
Jersey and St. Helier’s is a new ITMB title that is expected to be available early in 2008. The largest of Britain’s Channel Islands is a lovely corner of the world, and we have been able to persuade a great cartographer to prepare an extremely detailed map of the Bailiwick. The island fills one side of this double-sided treasure, with an amazingly detailed map of St. Helier’s and numerous smaller island towns gracing the reverse side.
Mexico Sonora and Chihuahua States is also at press and expected in January. These two States border Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas and, together with recently-released North East Mexico and Baja complete our coverage of the Mexican border states with the USA.
Mexico Travel Road Atlas 1st Ed. 2008 1:1,000,000 – This book is a new venture for ITMB. Many years ago, PEMEX, the Mexican national oil company, published an excellent road atlas of all of Mexico at this scale. It has been out of print for years. Only oldsters in the trade even remember that atlas. Well, Lan has been secretly working away at mapping Mexico at 1:1M scale (hence the new maps) and now we have our very first road atlas at press. It’s only taken 28 years to reach this stage! It should be available by Christmas.
South America is at press in Europe. Due to shipping times, we cannot give an ETA at this time.
South America Wall Map 1st Ed. 2008 1:5,000,000 ISBN 978155341 is a new venture for us. This huge map, being printed in Europe, will be marketed on our behalf by Craenen Distribution, in Belgium, throughout Europe and by ITMB in North America. It is a huge file, but our printer has exceeded our expectations. The wall map will be available in a paper format, a laminated format, and with magnetic hanging strips, all in tubes. It should be ready for sale in Europe by mid-December, and by mid-January in America.
Sunshine Coast (BC) is approaching completion. The coastal region northwest of Vancouver is an interesting and scenic part of our province, currently covered by two titles – Gibson’s and Powell River. This new map will cover a wider area and be more up-to-date. No ETA is available yet.
Wells Gray Region (BC) is also approaching completion. Wells Gray Park is about the size of Belgium/Luxembourg or Prince Edward Island. It is a lovely wilderness area with lots of recreational opportunities. This double-sided topographic map has been enhanced by adding all the recreational activities we can find, and is scheduled for printing in January as part of our Great Parks of Canada series.
Yucatan Peninsula is at press as an updated edition. It should be available early in December.
IMTA WORLD MAP CONFERENCE, VANCOUVER, CANADA SEPT 14-16,2008
As the next global-class map trade conference and trade show is being held in Vancouver, we are receiving queries from probable delegates, and have decided to share them with our readers.
Q. Are there ATM machines in Canada and can you send me a list of locations in Vancouver? (England)
A. Yes there are and no, I can’t; there are hundreds. I think these insidious machines multiply overnight.
Q. Will I be able to see polar bears? (USA)
A. Depends on how much you’ve been drinking; I prefer elephants, myself.
Q. Can I walk to the Rocky Mountains? (Germany)
A. Yes, just follow the railroad tracks eastward for a thousand miles.
Q. Should I bring skiis? (USA)
A. No. The conference is in mid-September; ski season starts in late November. It will still be summer-like in Vancouver and its surrounding mountains. However, a sweater or jacket should be brought. An umbrella is essential, although I can remember entire weeks when it hasn’t rained. Vancouver is located in a temperate rain forest. Tropical plants do grow here (there are three palm trees a block away from my office) but the climate is similar to western Europe or the northern States.
Q. Can I see Indians? (an eastern European country I prefer not to name)
A. Yes. I was going to be facetious and say that immigrants from India form our second-largest ethnic population, after Chinese, but I’ll be serious. Native Canadians form a significant minority of Vancouver’s population. There are several aboriginal lands within the city (still called Indian Reserves, unfortunately). The First Canadians, as they prefer to be called, look much like the rest of us. No, they don’t wear feathered headdresses or buckskin, but they are proud of their heritage and are patiently negotiating new treaty settlements to protect their rights.
Q. Can I rent a horse and ride to the Yukon? (Germany)
A. Yes, but…There is no way to say this inoffensively: Vancouver is located on the edge of the wilderness. It is still wilderness because it is so inhospitable to man and beast that we have never figured out how to ‘civilize’ this vast area. Directly north of Vancouver is the North Pole. In between, there are several glaciers the size of some countries, huge tracts of land, mountain chain after chain, and most of all, enormous distances. No towns, no mountain huts, no trails, and precious few people. Yes, you can drive to a ranch that provides riding experiences, and we will be offering such information to delegates closer to the date of the conference, but no, you can’t rent a horse in Vancouver and ride it to the Yukon; not in a practical sense. Rent an RV and camp.
USELESS STATISTICS
British researchers have determined that the average human (presumably British) lives an average of 2,475,576,000 seconds, which seems depressingly short to me, will eat an average of 10,000 chocolate bars (I’m right on target!), drink 15,000 pints of milk, and have 7,163 baths in a lifetime. I don’t know how they come up with these figures, but I calculate that a Brit living 80 years takes 1.89 baths per week.
FORTHCOMING ITMB EVENTS
ITMB sells existing warehouse building in Vancouver, effective December 14th.
ITMB Acquires New Head Office Building and Warehouse in Richmond, BC, after a two year search – completion date is December 17, 2007, but only the warehouse will move there initially.
ITMB 27th Annual Christmas Party Extravaganza – December 16, 2007, in Vancouver, BC.
Mrs. Do Ngoc Lan Joyce and Jack Joyce wish to announce that our daughter, the inimitable Lan Phuong, will marry her beloved Linh in Hanoi, Vietnam, on January 2nd 2008. All are invited to join the 300 invited family members, who will be assembling for the event of the year. Phuong (24) is the first of her generation to marry and this is always a HUGE event in Vietnamese culture. Linh and Phuong own their own business in Toronto, Canada. ITMB will be effectively shut down during the festivities, due to excessive partying. Lan leaves for Vietnam on the 18th to organize things as only a mother-of-the-bride can do; I follow on the 30th and plan on smiling a lot.
IMTA Planning Session, San Antonio, Texas – Jan. 18-20, 2008 is always a fun event. Lan booked us a flight to Phoenix, Arizona, because it was cheaper to fly there than to San Antonio. I’m serious. She does this all the time, which is why we spend so much time travelling. We should arrive on time – I hope.
IMTA Portugal, in Cacais, near Lisbon, February 28/29- March 1st, 2008 – We’re not only attending, but will be researching the Azores Islands during our visit. Can another ITM map be in our future??? I’ll never tell.
Rhodesia Study Circle 60th Anniversary Convention, Royal Leamington Spa, England – we’ll be there! And map people world-wide will be asking the what? Where? Why? It’s a secret. Can’t tell or I’d have to cull you.
London Book Fair, Earl’s Court, - April 14-16 – we have our stand booked already. This will be a bigger and better organized show than last year, and we’re already looking forward to it. Apparently, Lan has us booked into arriving in London via Tunisia. I don’t even ask why she does these things anymore; I’m just along for the ride.
IMTA Board Meeting – May 28-29, somewhere in the LA area. We’ll be driving from Vancouver, so don’t care where we meet. Linda says TBA. I guarantee that we’ll find a less expensive place to stay than the IMTA site!
BookExpo USA, Los Angeles May 30-June 1 – We will be at Stand 2755 with a big stand. Since we’ll be driving from Vancouver, we’ll have a wider selection of maps to show off (and we’ll find an inexpensive place to stay).
IMTA World Mapping Conference “Mapping the Future” – Vancouver, Canada at the famous Hotel Vancouver in downtown Vancouver September 14-16, 2008, with Alaska cruises and RV rentals a possibility. This convention promises to be one of the most important, largest, and most exciting gatherings of the mapping industry in years! It’s SO big, even Nicolson Maps of Scotland plan on attending, and they NEVER spend a dime!. Even Guenther Nelles might break down and attend, if he can persuade his boss (wife) to come along. You should come too. Nine exhibitors have signed up already, which is extraordinary, considering that prices haven’t been established yet. I’ll have lots more info in future newsletters.
ITMB TITLES PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER, 2007
Amazon Travel Reference Map 5th Edition 2009 1:3,300,000 ISBN 9781553410621 $13.95cdn/11.95us/E8.95/6.99GBP – This map continues to be one of ITMB’s most popular titles. Kevin Healey prepared the first-ever map of the Amazon and its hundreds of tributaries in 1978, and re-worked his information into a map called Amazonia that we produced for a tropical rainforest symposium in Hawaii in 1990. So much information was provided by that gathering that we re-did the artwork again, adding an enormous amount of previously-unpublished material, changing the name to Amazon Basin. This edition is a completely new map, with brand new digital artwork, hence the new name. Time and technology have forced us to replace Kevin’s immaculate artwork with a digitally-prepared, double sided map at a better scale, making the information easier to see. This map is printed on paper, double-sided; new ISBN, but no change in price; AVAILABLE
Brasil Travel Reference Map 4th Ed. 2008 1:2,200,000/1:4,500,000 ISBN 9781553411444 $13.95cdn/11.95us/E8.95/6.99GBP - We are pleased to announce the release of our latest updated version of the wonderful country of Brasil (Brazil in English). This 4th edition of one of the largest countries in the world continues ITMB’s efforts to map South America in detail. The artwork for this map was completed and at press before the recent collapse of the American dollar so, unfortunately for me, must be sold in the States at a lower price. However, this is a beautiful map, full of information, and showing the improvement of the road network in the north to good advantage; printed on paper, double-sided; AVAILABLE.
Mexico: Oaxaca & Chiapas States 1st Ed. 2008 1:1,000,000 ISBN 9781553415930 $12.95cdn/us/E8.95/6.99GBP – Recently, ITMB has been focusing a lot of attention on mapping Mexico. We have updated our country map of Mexico, and our Yucatan Peninsula artwork. Last month, we published the first-ever map of North East Mexico. Now, we are releasing the second of three detailed maps of specific regions of Mexico. The coverage of this map is from Mexico City directly south to the Pacific Ocean and east to the beginning of the Yucatan Peninsula. Essentially, it is a similar coverage to previous ITMB maps covering this part of Mexico, and would correspond to the Mexico region called Istmo. This map is at a better scale than previous ITMB versions, and is brand new artwork ,so is a 1st Edition, concentrating on the States of Oaxaca and Chiapas, although large portions of Puebla and Veracruz States are included. This map will be useful for visitors exploring eastward from Mexico City, for those at the resort towns of Puerto Escondido or Acapulco, and for anyone wanting more information on an interesting part of Mexico; printed on paper, single-sided; AVAILABLE.
Moscow ITM City Map 2nd Ed. 2008 1:12,500 (centre)/1:50,000 (urban area) ISBN 9781553416784 $10.95cdn/8.95us/E7.95/5.99GBP – This map actually has significant improvement over any other map of the city, in that it is the first map showing the actual routes of the various subway lines under the city. Such information is still officially a state secret in Russia, but we were able to photograph a map in one of the subway stations (great way to keep a secret, eh?). Even if the lines are somewhat generalized, it is nice to see them. We have changed the cover picture and ISBN, but not the price. This is a very detailed map of Moscow. The map is printed double-sided, on paper; AVAILABLE
Sierra Leone Travel Reference Map 3rd Ed. 2008 1:560,000 ISBN 9781553413967 D13.95cdn/11.95us/E8.95/6.99GBP We are particularly pleased by this newest release. Sierra Leone was one of the jewels of British Africa. In recent years, it has suffered through some troublesome years. Happily, the country is regaining stability and re-asserting itself as a desirable tourist destination. We have been fortunate in receiving considerable assistance from the Sierra Leone Tourism Authority in enabling the first major updating of this country in years, which also includes a new inset map of Freetown, the country’s capital. For those of you in ‘the trade’, our new cover picture is of Isabella, the better half of Keith Ferries, current President of IMTA EAME. If the background seems more English than African – just pretend! She is dressed in a typical SR national costume. The map is printed single-sided, on paper; AVAILABLE
ITMB TITLES RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER, 2007, a summary
Ethiopia Travel Reference Map 4th Ed. 2008 1:2,000,000 ISBN 9781553412069 $13.95cdn/11.95us/E8.95/6.99GBP – AVAILABLE
Melbourne ITM Travel Map 1st Ed. 2008 1:12,500 ISBN 9781553417156 - AVAILABLE
Mexico Travel Reference Map 6th Ed. 2008 1:2,000,000 ISBN 9781553413288 - AVAILABLE
Mexico North East Travel Reference Map 1st Ed. 2008 1:1,000,000 IBN 9781553415923 - AVAILABLE
Mumbai (Bombay), India, ITM City Map 1st Ed. 2008 1:12,000 ISBN 9781553416777 $10.95cdn/8.95us/E7.95/5.99GBP – AVAILABLE
New Zealand Travel Reference Map 5th Ed. 2008 1:950,000, waterproof ISBN 9781553413462 $13.95cdn/11.95us/E8.95/6.99GBP – AVAILABLE
Vancouver Island Travel Reference Map 5th Ed. 2005 1:250,000 ISBN 9781553418801 $6.95cdn & us/E7.95/5.99GBP – AVAILABLE