What's with the wonkily inconsistent format for the state abbreviations?

Ask Popular Science magazine what's up with their abbreviations. I just copy, paste, drop into excel and stripped out data that did not pertain to recycling.

I understand that the data came straight from them.. I was just wondering if anyone had any insight into why they chose to make it look so inconsistent.

Postal abbreviation - FTW!

It looks like they are kinda using AP Style for state abbreviations, but they use "Tex" instead of the proper "Tex as." By the way, AP Style doesn't make any sense either, as I've blogged about it before: http://www.spudart.org/blogs/randomthoughts_comments/3701_0_3_0_C/

(I also, i HAD to put a space in "Tex as," because my spam blocker blocks the word "Tex as" as in "Tex as Hol d Em"

Wow.. I don't like the AP Style for state abbreviations at all. I think I've just discovered a new pet peeve.

AP Style also requires you to write out "Web site" two words, capitalize the "Web." Brilliant, eh? These are the standards for our written word here in 2008.

In fact, here's an email someone at work got from AP after inquiring if they changed their standard for "Web site."

=========================
Dear Mr. X,

Thank you for your email. According to the AP Stylebook 2008, the correct
form is:

"Web site (an exception to Webster's first listing), and Web page. But
webcam, webcast, webmaster."

I hope you find this information helpful but please let me know if you have
any further questions.

Thank you,
Allison Stahley
Marketing Assistant, US Newspaper Markets
The Associated Press
450 West 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
t (212) 621-1705
f (212) 621-5454
=========================

OMG! You work with Mr. X?!

Jus' protecting the identities of those who wish to not be revealed. But the AP lady gets her name published, cuz well, she works with the AP and someone needs to be held accountable for the spelling of "Web site."

I love that this post has gone from being about recycling to the proper way to abbreviate a state!

Can I swing back on why Chicago is so low out of 50? Because da Mayor can't seem to come up with a viable recycling plan that includes downtown and the neighborhoods. The Blue Bag Program failed miserably and no other option has been offered.

Here are my Top 3 for fixing a recycling program in Anytown USA

1. Quit recycling newspaper. People don't seem to realize that BUILDINGS are constructed to house all of the newspaper people "recycle". Wake up America, your newspapers aren't being recycled. Throw them away! The good thing is that newsprint breaks down in landfills very quickly. Too, with many newspaper companies now using a combination of soy-based inks, the decomposition is less-damaging to the environment that the inks of yesteryear. The amount of materials and energy used to build the structures that do nothing but protect the newspapers from decomposing (!) is much harder on the environment than simply throwing your newspapers away. If you want to go one step further, quit buying and taking free newspapers. Read your news online.

2. Require deposits on aluminum cans, glass bottles and recyclable plastic from coast to coast. Currently this practice is decided by the state. Every state should require a deposit on aluminum cans, glass bottles and recyclable plastic. States do a better job of getting these materials to facilities for recycling than individuals and cities fail miserably in this area. Materials not returned for deposit by you will be returned by someone else and the state will be cleaner.

3. Donate used electronics to charity. Instead of dumping your computer, printer, Blackberry, cell phone, TV, microwave, etc. in the trash, donate it to charity. Most of what is thrown away in this area has more to do with staying current technology than it does with things actually breaking down beyond repair. If you're a person who needs to stay with the current trends, make sure you are acting responsibly when "trashing" your electronics.

I have a whole plan that I won't write here. But I think there is a big enough audience here and that my Top 3 "fixes" could affect change even if just everyone who reads this follows my advice or takes steps to help affect change in their towns and neighborhoods.

4.9: Oakland, Calif -- They must count the recycling of bullets...

And Ann Arbor is counting the recycling of Big 10 Teams. Pwn3D!

GO BLUE!

Honestly, I can't believe we're that HIGH on the list...

i love Tex as Hol d Em. Let's play some time.

glad to see boston is up there :P

Certain countries trade in unprocessed recyclates. Some have complained that the ultimate fate of recyclates sold to another country is unknown and they may end up in landfill instead of reprocessed. According to one report, in America, 50-80% of computers destined for recycling are actually not recycled.