Via The Carpetbagger Report, we learn that McCain confused Somalia with Sudan in a discussion with reporters several days ago. This was probably him misspeaking, but he’s been doing that a lot lately and it isn’t an encouraging sign.
This report got me thinking, though: how well do I know African countries? A quick Google search on ‘africa countries quiz‘ brought me immediately to this interactive applet which quizzes you on the names of various African countries.
I didn’t do very well. The first time through, I got a 65 out of 165. The second time, i got 84. Only a few more times through and I’ll know them all, I’m sure!
I was able to distinguish between Somalia and Sudan, though.
Skulls in the Stars 
112! I’d have had more if there weren’t questions for countries that didn’t appear on the map (where were Rwanda and Burundi?).
Damn, my brain has grown rusty since the days I played along with Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. I managed to get 124. The hardest to remember are the ones for which I know the least history — the ones which are “just spaces on the map”.
stuwat wrote: “where were Rwanda and Burundi?”
Those are the two microscopic countries in the middle of the African map. I couldn’t find them either.
Blake wrote: “The hardest to remember are the ones for which I know the least history…”
After taking this quiz, I did a quick search to see if I could find another quiz which dealt more with history, but couldn’t find one. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but I know relatively little African history, other than some very ancient history.