Fake news is better than real news. Discuss. Yah, you totally agree, right? As much as we love the consistently bizarre local news from the Bay Area, we’re still partial to the fake stuff—it’s just not as depressing. When The Onion launched a San Francisco outpost a few years ago (resulting in local’s pictures appearing on op ed pieces) we were thrilled. Now The Onion has a new book—“Our Dumb World: The Onion’s Atlas of the Planet Earth” chock full of all the good, fake stuff. Onion Editor, Joe Randazzo and writer, Megan Ganz will be presenting many of their “findings” from the book project tonight from 7:00 – 9:00 PM at The Rock It Room (for reals, not for fake). In an attempt to make peace with the Bay Area, Randazzo has undergone the grueling SFist interview—read on for his takes on what’s dumb about us, and what has got to be the all time greatest mode of transportation we’ve ever come across.

What is the dumbest thing in the world?
I am tempted to say nationalism, for the way in which it rallies people around a symbol they believe to be inextricably linked to their own identity but which belies a much darker reality and causes those who take it up to lose their independent mind and soul and give it over to the idea of a thing that, in and of itself, can only exist by oppressing the very people it purports to represent, creating monsters of us all, but I think you'll be expecting that. I'll go with Pop Tarts.

What is the dumbest thing about the Bay Area?
That it insists on calling itself the Bay Area, as if there are no other regions of the world centered around bays!

What was the most surprising thing you learned in working on this book?
Unlike what the people of Germany might say, it is remarkably hard to make light of unspeakable human suffering. Our greatest challenge was finding something to say about countries no one has ever heard of and which we are not even sure exist. I also really want to go to Iceland some day—it looks to be paradise on Earth.

What is the most fake seeming (yet real) news story you've come across?
"Bush Wins." That one got me twice.

Please create an Onion headline about SFist:
Online Alternative Magazine Has Perfect Obscure Band For You To Feign Enjoying This Weekend

What should people expect from the book?
We have a saying around the office: "This is the greatest book ever written." People should expect somewhere in the order of 35,000 jokes and a unique look at every nation, protectorate, and principality of the world. It's dense and comprehensive, but very readable. We tried to imbue it with every kind of humor and always sought to be true to some underlying reality about the countries we wrote about. You can literally spend months poring over it, because there is a joke on every inch of page, and many of the entries are more rewarding the more closely you read them. Or you can just flip to the titties on pg. 221 when you're taking a dump. As long as you pay full price, we have done our jobs.

It's the holidays—who does the book make a good present for?
This book would make the perfect gift for that special military strongman or bloodthirsty tyrant in your life, looking for some fun facts about vulnerable South American nations. Anyone, really, who enjoys comedy, geography, reading, skimming, and fantastic Photoshop work will find something in here.

Name
Joe Randazzo

Introduce yourself in one sentence
I am a fairly hairy, newly married beer-and-cheese-lover whose favorite movie may well be Robocop.

Age and Occupation
29. Associate Editor, The Onion

Home Town
Penacook, NH

How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where ?
I once spent a weekend here trying to sleep with an old friend?

Favorite place to spend time online
I enjoy youtube, nytimes.com, gizmodo, sites about conspiracy theories, Perry Bible Fellowship, sites that have movie trailers, various semi-pretentious podcasts, and some podcasts about beer.

What I'm currently Reading
I have been reading Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy since my honeymoon, Sept. 1. Seriously.

Best Deal in San Francisco
The free views!

Favorite mode of transportation
Stretch limo with champagne hot tub and/or BART

Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Toss up between Sly & the Family Stone and Joanna Newsom if she counts—ooh, and Vince Guaraldi

Favorite Bay Area Stereotype, and whether or not you buy into it
That it is an uber-liberal, super-friendly place. I was accosted and repeatedly referred to as "white boy" during an impromptu drum-circle concert at a flea market last time I was here.

Favorite local hangout
That racist flea market.

SF has the BEST
Korean food and air I've ever tasted.

Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
I quite liked the cut of Willie Brown's jib.

Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
My aunt Susan. She could use a strong man.

You can tell someone is a local here IF
They're always saying things like, "As a native of the Bay Area, I..." or "Let go of my dreads."

SF would be soooo much better if only
It weren't so far from NYC.

Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
Chinatown or Big Trouble In Little China. Really, anything featuring miniaturized versions of China and crime.

Favorite author to come out of the bay area
NOT Richard Brautigan, that's for sure. Probably Jack London.

You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Drugs!

I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
Nintendo Wii. Roommates.