In a shocking twist of cartographic fate, Google Maps has accidentally rebranded the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” sparking confusion among geographers and vacationers alike. Insiders within the tech giant revealed that the change came about after a company intern, tasked with updating geographical names, decided to interpret “local flavor” a tad too liberally – perhaps after a few too many margaritas. “Honestly, with all the talk of making maps more user-friendly, the intern thought it would be fun to give the Gulf a ‘patriotic’ twist,” a source close to the situation reported under the condition of anonymity. “They also suggested renaming Mount Denali to ‘Mount America the Great,’ but cooler heads prevailed—this time.” The social media post from Google Maps attempted to quell the ensuing uproar, stating, “We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps.” In a funny twist, they went further, claiming a “longstanding practice” of adopting name changes whenever they refresh their ‘Geography for Dummies’ handbook—currently being read by the entire IT department. Adding fuel to the fire, geography enthusiasts took to the internet to express their disbelief. One user humorously tweeted, “Next thing you know, they’ll rename the Atlantic Ocean to ‘America’s Aquatic Playground’! Where does it end?” Another joked, “Maybe Google Maps should outsource their geography updates to a drunk tour guide in Key West.” Experts from the National Geographic Society rushed to Google’s defense, stating that geographical mistakes, while embarrassing, are part of the industry’s charm. “We once printed a map that had Antarctica labeled as ‘Winter Wonderland Relaxation Spa.’ Who hasn’t had a little fun with geography?” said a spokesperson, who chuckled nervously as they recalled a previous map mishap involving a mislocated Hawaii. As for travelers eagerly planning their summer vacations, the renaming of the Gulf has created a dramatic twist in the tourism industry. “We just can’t wait to tell people we’re heading to the ‘Gulf of America’,” gushed one eager traveler. “It sounds like we’ll be sunbathing in the heart of freedom!” In response to the wild backlash, Google vowed to pivot back to the correct names as soon as the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)—the mysterious oracle of geographical accuracy—makes the corrections. They reassured users that “when official names vary between countries, Maps users will see their official local name.” The company left out the part about double-checking their sources, which many now suspect may include a particularly rowdy bar in Austin. As the dust settles, the question remains—will this be a trend, leading to more exuberant naming conventions on Google Maps? If so, expect future destinations like the “Desert of Delilah’s Dazzling Dreamers” and the “Grand Canyon of Greatness” to pop up on users’ screens soon. After all, who wouldn’t want to vacation in a geography book that reads like a comic strip?