Created by London-based data visualisation studio Kiln and the UCL Energy Institute

IB Geography

I have been looking for resources on the IB geography programme and ran in to this link:

http://www.geographypods.com/ after looking into the The Clark–Fisher model

The Clark-Fisher Model is part of the IB geography courseware on Globalisation:

Global core and periphery

The breakthrough of world-systems theory in the mid 1970s, popularised by Immanuel Wallerstein and others, was at least partly a response to the deficiencies of earlier approaches, such as those of W.W. Rostow (modernisation theory) and A.G. Frank (dependency theory).

The world-systems approach asserts that a capitalist world economy has been in existence since the 16th century. Before this, global interdependence did not exist. Instead the world was made up of a number of relatively independent mini-systems. From then on capitalism incorporated a growing number of previously more or less isolated and self-suffi cient societies into a complex system of functional relationships. A small number of core states transformed a much larger external area into a periphery. In between core and periphery, semi-peripheries existed which played a key role in the functioning of the global system. The semi-periphery is an economic condition to which parts of the periphery may rise or parts of the core may fall.

Within the system a division of labour operated, with the core countries as industrial producers and the peripheral areas as agricultural and other raw materials producers. The terms of trade were heavily skewed in favour of the core, particularly with regard to the periphery but also to a lesser extent in relation to the semi-periphery. The process of underdevelopment started with the incorporation of a particular external area into the world system. As the system expanded, fi rst Eastern Europe, then Latin America, Asia and Africa, in that order, were peripherised. 

The semi-peripheral countries/regions form the most dynamic part of the system, characterised by an increase in the relative importance of industrial production. The rising semi-peripheries of the present, the NICs, are ambitious, competing to varying degrees for core status. Thus the world-systems approach has a degree of optimism lacking in dependency theory, recognising that some countries can break out of the state of underdevelopment. However, Wallerstein (1979) acknowledges that rapid change is not easy and that there are indeed ‘limited possibilities of transformation within the capitalist world economy’. The rise and fall of major economic powers forms part of the cyclical movements of the world system, movements that are basically infl uenced by economic long waves. Thus the world system has periods of expansion, contraction, crisis and structural change, paving the way to renewed expansion. 

The criticisms of Wallerstein’s approach include: 

• too high a level of eurocentricity by underrating the sophistication of other early trading systems, particularly with regard to China, Japan and elsewhere in Asia

• too great a degree of simplicity in assuming a universal one-way fl ow of resources from the periphery to the core 

• failing to recognise the high level of competition between core nations by suggesting that they organise the world economy in order to maintain a clearly defi ned core club.

Exerpt from Paul Guiness (2011) Geography for the IB diploma, Global Interaction , Cambridge University Press

Fixing the Jacuzi

Today I noticed the water in the hot-tub had some green coloring. probably some algea.
I deccided to use my sealskin cleaner to get rid of it, but perhaps it is due ti organice residu in the plumbing.

TG4G (Thank God for Google) :
http://ibbt.emis.vito.be/node/42730

It gave me some pointer aboout the use of chemicals, production of Ozon and how harmfull UV light can be to RNA-DNA structures. something I'll definitly use in my next geology classes.

Gamers..

How about substituting in this questionair http://psychclerk.bsd.uchicago.edu/mse.pdf about substance abuse (alcohol) the word alcohol with gaming?

Are you an alcoholic?

THE CAGE SCREENING TOOL
• “Have you ever felt that you should Cut down on your drinking?”
• “Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?”
• “Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?”
• “Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady you nerves or get rid of a hangover
(Eye-opener)?”
• Scoring: Two or more positive responses correlate with substance abuse.
Ewing JA. Detecting alcoholism: The CAGE questionnaire. JAMA 252:1905-1907 (1995)

Source: http://psychclerk.bsd.uchicago.edu/mse.pdf

The 5 Myths of Innovation

http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-5-myths-of-innovation/

Top 5 Scams (Geoffrey Boltach)

This list of the top five mind blowing financial scams will make your blood boil. These nefarious deeds caused many innocent individuals to lose everything. To make matters even worse, some of these scams have had governmental approval while the perpetrators going free. In addition, the full financial ramification of these scams may never be calculated.

Libor price fixing -The London interbank offer rate is the benchmark interest rate for many commercial and mortgage loans. The scam involved traders at banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and others. They would change their interest rates giving the impression of adequate solvency. Estimates show that anywhere between $300 trillion to $800 trillion dollars are tied to the Libor rate. This affected you by changing your interest payment on a house, or commercial loan. You should be angry because even a slight increase in your interest rate can significantly raise your monthly interest payment.

Full Tilt Poker - During the boom of Texas No-Limit Poker, Full Tilt Poker was the place for online poker. Poker professionals such as Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Howard Lederer were at the tables. Unfortunately, Full Tilt owners decided to help themselves to the collected money and not repay the winners. Eventually the federal government stepped in and closed all accounts and all money was frozen. As of now, over $350 million is owed to United States players.

Bernie Madoff - Bernard Madoff started an investment company with $5,000 dollars back in 1960. After gaining positive returns for his clients, Bernie continued to attract well-known individuals. His scheme was simple - attract new investors to pay off old investors. This scheme works until no more investors join and the money stops. At the height of the scam, Bernie controlled over $50 to $65 billion dollars. Today, only a fraction has been reclaimed for investors. Many clueless investors lost their entire life savings to the con-artist who has shown little remorse.

T.A.R.P. - The Troubled Asset Relief Program authorized over $700 billion in tax payer money to banks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, bailing out General Motors, AIG, and various other entities. Many of these bailed out companies had risky loans, poor leadership, and not profitable. Basically, the federal government picked certain companies to rescue while allowing others to fail. This should trouble you because your tax dollars may have to once again bail out insolvent companies.

Federal Reserve - Instituted in 1917 under Woodrow Wilson, the Federal Reserve's role is: "to promote sustainable growth, high levels of employment, stability of prices to help preserve the purchasing power of the dollar and moderate long-term interest rates." It has done anything but that. The Federal Reserve has devalued the purchasing power of the dollar by 95%, allowed massive debt, fueled the boom-bust business cycle, eroded away savings, and created worthless paper money. This scam has put the power of the dollar in the hands of a few secret individuals.

Let these scams cause you to question critically anything that seems too good to be true.

Source: (Geoffrey Boltach)