1) I have noticed there has been no mention of "Eurasia." I have never cared much for this term. Is it used outside of the USA? 2) With all honor and respect for my second-favorite continent, I've often wondered how the distinction between "continent" and "island" is made. Based on this thread, it seems there is no hard-and-fast definition of the c-word. In fact, I once worked at a natural history museum which stated New Guinea was the world's second-largest island, after Greenland. A visitor from Australia felt his homeland deserved the world's-largest-island title. I asked the staff geologist why Australia wasn't listed as such, and he rather vaguely said "Because it's a continent." But when pressed for a definition, he shrugged and turned back to his work. Have I uncovered a vast conspiracy amongst geologists to shroud their profession in mystery, keeping the uninitiated lay person at arm's length? With best wishes for a pleasant weekend (though not as nice as the ones in Sydney, I'm sure), -- Gene Eugene Dillenburg Lead Developer, Philippines Coral Reef exhibit John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois 60605 V: (312) 692-3136 F: (312) 939-8001 e: [log in to unmask] "Our management consultants actually queried the necessity of our firm to employ a pantomime horse at all." -- M. Python, 1970