The Use of Electric Models in Geography

The use of electrical models, such as conducting sheet analogues, in geography is based on the fact that a wide variety of problems, say, the flow of groundwater and an electrical current, are founded on the same set of differential equations. The technique of electrical analogues is found to be useful in the solution of a number of geographical problems that cannot always be handled effectively by electronic computers. For example, conducting sheet analogues can be used to obtain map transformations in which area is proportional to the magnitude of a particular mapped feature, for example, equidemic projections in which countries or continents are mapped on the scale of their population density. Other problems that may be suitable for analogue simulation include those involving population potential as well as those in which optimization calls for least cost or least effort.     

Toward a Transcendental Human Geography of Places*

The behaviorist research paradigm represented in human geography is anachronistic and manifestly inappropriate for explaining the results of human activities, such as distinctly constructed cultural landscapes. Phenomenological method is appropriate for explaining human actions on an individual scale, but is not applicable as it stands to the group or regional scale investigated by geography. The suggested technique adapts the fragmented reference plain featured by both phenomenology and relativity-based explanation in physics, to afford justifiable explanations of cultural phenomena.     

The Geography of Population and the Geography of Services

In discussing a methodology for a geography of services, a new branch of Soviet geographic research, the authors propose geographically meaningful classifications of services, the use of value and labor-input indicators, the problem of a typology of service regions, and other aspects of research in this new discipline. The geography of services is found to be closely related to population geography because of the correlation between the distribution of services and the distribution of population.     

The Geography Teacher

Ask Dr. de Bli by Dr. Harm de Blij, page 3

TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION:

Improving Geographic Understanding with a State Atlas by Jerry T. Mitchell, Monti Caughman, Susan Wise, page 4

Girl Wins Geographic Bee by Scott Norris, NG News, page 9

LESSON PLANS, ARTICLES AND OPINIONS

Playing with the 50 States and the Chemical Elements by Antonio Joaquin Franco Mariscal, Maria Jóse Cano Inglesias, page 10

Why Geography Matters to a Teen by Eric Goldfischer, page 13

Reading Our World by The Geography-Literacy Task Force, page 14

The Uses of Geography by James F. Marran, page 18

World Refugees Interview with Lavinia Limón, page 21

Mapping a Secret by Dawn Bryant, Sue Gerstenberger, Dr. Timothy Lintner, page 28

The World’s Human Population by Chuck Fahrer, page 32

Atlantic Canada in Review by Penny Anderson, page 38

Infidel by book review by Jody Smothers Marcello, page 41

Movies as Teaching Tools by Mary Lynn Everhart, page 43

Book Reviews: Now and Then Lydia Lewis, page 46

International Geographic Bee by NG web site, page 48     

The Geography Teacher

Ask Dr. de Bli by Dr. Harm de Blij, page 3

Refugees in America by TGT, page 4

TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION:

Guinness and the Irish Pub Company, excerpt: H. J. de Blij, Alexander B. Murphy, Erin M. Fouberg, page 6

LESSON PLANS:

All Locations are Relative: This Place is Mine by Michael S. Murphy, page 7

Reading Our World by The Geography-Literacy Task Force, page 10

Population Changes in Cities and Farms by Eui-kyung Shin, Jason Gold, page 12

ARTICLES AND OPINIONS:

Defining a Highly Qualified K-12 Geography Teacher by GENIP, page 16

When the Rivers Run Dry by Jody Smothers Marcello, page 18

The Five Fundamental Themes and the Six Essential Elements by James F. Marran, page 20

A Firm Foundation, a Sturdy Roof by Ed Grode, page 23

Latitude with Attitude by Lydia Lewis, page 27

No Matter Where You Go, There You Are by Ed Grode, page 28

Literature/Geography Quiz by TGT, page 35

Movies as Teaching Tools by Mary Lynn Everhart, page 40

Review: Travels with MusicTM by Steve Ferringer, page 43

Book Reviews: Adventurers and Geo-facts by Jodi Ann Vendor, page 46     

The Status of Geography in Cuba

A review of current Cuban research in geography and associated fields and of the institutions established for that purpose.     

The Idealist Dispute in Anglo-American Geography

Leonard Guelke proposes an 'idealist' approach to geography. His critics see it as either irrelevant or incorrect. But both Guelke and his critics adopt a misguided approach to the problem of geographical explanation, assuming that the resolution of this or some other philosophical dispute will provide us with a theory which can then be applied in geography. An approach that begins not with philosophical theories but with the world of people and places will be more useful. The idea of 'forms of life' is offered as a focus for that concern and as a tool for criticizing Guelke and his critics.
Leonard Guelke propose une approche « idéaliste >>à la géographie. Ses critiques considèrent ceci comme non pertinent et inexact. Mais Guelke et ses critiques adoptent une approche malencontreuse au problème de l'explication geographique, assumant que la résolution de tel ou tel débat philosophique fournira une théorie applicable à la geographie. Une approche qui ne commencerait pas pardes théories philosophiques mais pale rnonde des hommes et des lieux s'avèrerait plus utile. Nous proposons le concept de « formes de vie >> (lebensform) comme un point de base en ce qui concerne cette approche et comme un outil avec lequel critiquer Guelke et ses détracteurs.     

地理学的基本规律

地理学有三个基本规律:一,地域分异规律,包括纬度地带性、经度地带性、垂直地带性和非地带性;二,地域综合规律,包括距离衰减规律和区域系统规律;三,地域发展规律,包括地理环境周期性发展和人地关系发展阶段性.这些规律既涉及自然过程,又涉及社会过程,许多重大的历史事件,如文明古国的出现,东亚经济起飞,我国开放政策,在地域上都受地理学基本规律的影响.     

The Geography of Zydeco Music

Zydeco music is a blend of African-American and African- French traditions that developed in southwest Louisiana. Although related to Cajun music, zydeco music has been influenced by Caribbean rhythms and urban blues and jazz, and the music now serves as an important indicator of black Creole ethnic identity. From its origins on the prairies of southwest Louisiana, zydeco music has spread to several other areas of the country, particularly Texas and California. Such diffusion is linked to the World War II era out-migration of black Creole families. While its role as a cultural trail is strongest in the core area, zydeco music fulfills the same function elsewhere. The increasing popularity of this music is attributable to commercial recording, radio broadcasts, and concert tours by zydeco musicians.