This thread has been fun to watch. We've got two poles at work -
theorists and practicalists.

Maybe this will work to help the practicalists understand the theorists:

How wide is the border line we're discussing? As an example, let's
say it runs generally east to west. Do you count the length along
the north edge of the line or the south edge to get the true length?
However thick or thin it is will change the length, unless it has no
curves or bends. And, speaking of pebbles, can you measure the length
of the California-Int'l Waters border and hope for exactness?

Maybe this will work to help the theorists understand the practicalists:

Walk the line, count your steps and then multiply the result by the
length of your shoes, and you've got it! (It might be more accurate
if you do it barefoot.)

BTW: What did the Texas state results show - is California's
basically straight line border longer? Can we do Asian countries'
borders next?

LN