text:
Puginier, Oliver: Hill tribes struggling for a land deal: Participatory land use planning in northern Thailand amid controversial policies |
Based on the four problem complexes identified in the introduction, namely environmental, agricultural/livelihood, policy/institutional and data availability, the methodology also takes into account the failure of the TG-HDP Land Use Planning Teams, so as not to re-invent the wheel. It seems obvious to propagate planning teams composed of stakeholders and government agencies, and the theory clearly advocates such an approach, yet in this case it did not work. This necessitated a re-examination of the two key conditions stated by FAO, namely changes in land use agreed by all parties involved as well as the political will to implement a land use plan. Looking back at the TG-HDP, neither of the two conditions for success applied, as forest department officials stayed away from planning meetings and therefore there was never a land use plan agreed by all parties, let alone a political will to implement it. The consequences of this situation were only realised after fieldwork had started and led to a complete reorientation of the research plan in order to assess the obstacles to a participatory planning approach. Therefore the analysis of the policy situation occupied a major part of the thesis, with a focus on the sub-district (Tambon) level in the current process of decentralisation and options for local initiatives in spite of a lack of political framework. Within this context, the research approach followed a call for the application of hybrid research, whereby natural and social environmental science are integrated into a holistic perception of land use planning (forsyth 1998,113). The above components were examined in chronology, yet since planning is an iterative process, the research followed the same path.
The very complex problem situation shows the diversity of issues and opposing interests in natural resource management, particularly when the competition for land and water are increasing, yet at the same time a centralised government struggles to take a unified planning approach. Therefore the challenges represent an ideal case study for land use planning in the hope to identify ways to overcome this difficult situation. In this context the original technical planning approach was changed to a modified objective once the local conditions were witnessed. The original objective was:
The development of a method to combine the top-down approach of land use planning with remote sensing tools with the bottom-up approach of full integration and participation of local communities, in order to maintain natural resources and to safeguard sustainable, ecological farming systems.
Due to several new developments after fieldwork began, underestimated policy impacts and false assumptions, the objective was modified to:
The assessment of participatory land use planning in the highlands of northern Thailand, with hill tribes as the primary stakeholders and government agencies as the secondary stakeholders, based on the agricultural systems of the hill tribes, the policy framework, as well as institutional platforms for communication.
The objectives were formulated into leading research questions, and two hypotheses. A research plan was formulated as a guideline to examine the following (see Annex IV):
Based on the above objectives, two hypotheses are verified, one of a technical nature and one of an institutional/application nature:
The research was conducted towards the end of the longest running foreign funded development programme in northern Thailand (1981-1998) and had to acknowledge modified local realities of Community Based Land Use Planning and Local Watershed Management (CLM) as well as recent policy developments, summarised below:
Formal or informal organisations: During the process of scaling up land use planning activities, three neighbouring villages initiated a hill tribe network in 1996 (Jantakad 1998, vol.2,54). The network took over some functions of the abandoned Land Use Planning Teams (LUPT), yet with little support from government agencies' field staff and no formal official mandate. However, the implementation of decentralisation at sub-district level, with newly forming Tambon Administrative Organisations (TAO), could mean an uncertain future for the hill tribe network.
The above conditions are described in some detail, for they had quite an impact on the research design and the collection of data. What initially focused on the technical support of an on-going extension and planning process changed to examine the impact of incoherent policy and decentralisation much more. Then came the research needs expressed by TG-HDP staff, which were important as the enterprise was set up as project accompanying research. While it is very useful to consider research in terms of the application of results in target areas, this approach also bears the inherent danger of a project evaluation or close identification with project activities, to the extent that the researcher may lose the necessary distance for the assessment of the research plan. It was at times very difficult to keep track of the middle path without too much divergence towards project implementation or the application of an abstract planning model. The resulting outlook of who can use research results in the absence of a project gains importance, particularly since GTZ withdrew from natural resource management assistance in Thailand,
with the exception of the Chiang Mai branch of the Sustainable Management of Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project (anonymous 1999). Perhaps this was premature given the current focus on Good Governance that increasingly influences the development debate. Therefore it was important to consider the post-project institutional environment at village and sub-district level to produce results pertinent to local stakeholders in the planning process.Even though GTZ has more or less withdrawn from natural resource management in Thailand, other organisations continue the participatory land use planning approach. The furthest steps have been taken by CARE Thailand with the establishment of Village Forest Conservation and Watershed Management Committees in Mae Chaem district of Chiang Mai (Anonymous 1997), in which government and village representatives are members and sign land use agreements that use digitised maps as baseline information. So far this is the only documented case where this has led to written documents and could serve as a model to be followed. In a continuation of this approach, a new project phase focuses on the empowerment of these watershed networks as part of the Tambon Administrative Organisations (TAO) under the ongoing decentralisation (srimongkontip 2000). This shows that land use planning has progressed to institutional implementation by local organisations, with ever-stronger demands for a reformed and unified policy framework for the highlands.
The focus of the research approach goes back to the unclear policy situation or lack of a framework as the starting point for the failure of the TG-HDP land use planning teams. The policy development has indeed been very confusing and contradictory, hence it is important to understand the history in order to get a better picture of how it affects the present situation. The chronology of policy development also goes beyond a description in terms of a unisectoral approach like forestry, agriculture or social integration, but shows the interactions and sometimes concurrent realities affecting more than one sector. Particularly from the point of view of hill tribes, issues like permanent settlement, forest use as well as protection, agricultural sustainability, village boundaries and Thai nationality are interrelated. A historical overview therefore serves to better illustrate the state of uncertainty prevalent among the primary stakeholders in the highlands.
A second focus lies on the effects of the CLM approach in terms of agricultural zonation, the identification of watershed forest areas, conflicts with neighbouring villages, and the potential of sustainable planning approaches. Of particular importance is the village boundary, which is a new concept to most hill tribes, and the lack of acceptance of own demarcations at the time of village registration. When it comes to decisions, villagers' own demarcations are not accepted by government agencies and can easily be overturned. This also affects areas under shifting cultivation, for long term fallow areas are often considered as protected forest land by the Royal Forest Department (RFD) with its mandate of forest protection. In this context the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was considered to display achievements to date as well as to show inconsistencies in the recognition of village boundaries by government agencies. The appropriateness of digitised maps is also examined in comparison to topographic models at village and Tambon level, including an assessment of their further use in planning negotiations.
The third focus lies on the institutional environment at Tambon level as the platform where centralised planning comes into direct contact with society under the current decentralisation process, represented by elected village leaders. In this context the issue of the viability of formal and informal organisations is of importance, for in Pang Ma Pha district hill tribe leaders founded a hill tribe network among themselves to deal with conflicts over natural resource management. The future of the network is uncertain, given the establishment of Tambon Administrative Organisations (TAO) with often the same members as representatives. For village leaders official government functions are very new and they have to get used to new responsibilities as well as rights as communal speakers with Thai nationality. Additionally, linkages to district planning are examined as well as the extent to which national policy allows or inhibits such approaches.
In an acknowledgement of the local situation, four components have been identified as the cornerstones for a land use planning model pertinent to this thesis (Table 3-1). There have indeed been a number of changes and very promising developments that deserve acknowledgement, most notably in the formation of inter-village land use planning networks. This development has at the same time taken natural resource management issues out of the village and into contact with first neighbouring villages, and later with government planning bodies. It is there that the top-down influences of national policy can be combined with technical means of presentation and display, such as topographic models and digitised land use maps to set priorities and implementation means. By placing a planning platform at the centre this also considers the issue of aggregation and up scaling of information to meet regional planning priorities of the government. Starting with individual villages affected by development activities, a further step was the creation of inter-village networks that later have come into contact with decentralisation policy of the government in the form of TAO membership or sub-district organisations. The key for future planning lies in these communal organisations in the post-CLM period.
Table 3-1: Components of the land use planning model
Farming systems and adaptations |
Policy framework development |
Community networks and organisations |
Planning tools |
Representative farming systems in selected villages |
History of highland development policies |
Village level planning organisations, formal and informal |
Past land use perception and display means |
Effects of CLM interventions and changes towards permanent farming |
Policy changes during the research phase at various government levels |
Hill tribe networks and formal government decentralisation by means of TAOs |
Topographic models used by the TG-HDP for planning |
Future scenarios for agriculture and diversification |
Necessary changes for future planning, stumbling blocks |
Sub-district level organisations and links to district planning |
Digitised maps and 5-year land use plans |
The components described above should not be seen as separate entities, for there are constant interactions that have reciprocal effects. Nevertheless, the model starts with an overview of highland development policies to show some of the trends and contradictions that have influenced natural resource management. This is followed by interlinkages between the effects of the TG-HDP planning activities as well as planning tools in the present situation, whereby a planning platform at local level stands in the centre of the model. This represents the process of decentralisation that has increasing influences on highland development. The planning model may thus appropriately have the form of a diamond with interlinkages as shown below (Figure 3-1). The purpose of showing it as a diamond model is a consideration of the various activities that have taken place in the past in terms of agricultural and livelihood changes, policy modifications and effects of the TG-HDP approach of CLM. These activities and developments have affected planning from various sides, often more concurrently instead of sequentially, thus reflecting real life realities. These realities will also continue to affect planning in future, hence they are shown as external influences that will shape agreements and approaches emerging from the central communication platform. A proposed land use planning approach is finally suggested, focusing on the necessary commitments of government agencies for effective implementation at sub-district or TAO level, yet with caution given many uncertainties.
Figure 3-1: Diamond model for land use planning
With the aim to combine technical and participatory means of survey for land use planning, it was attempted to combine Community Based Land Use Planning and Local Watershed Management (CLM) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The advantages and risks of participatory GIS for hill tribe farmers as the primary stakeholders and for government agencies are manifold. The concept of a "Participatory GIS" has even been labelled an "Oxymoron" or contradiction in terms, implying that participation of local communities and high technology tools are mutually exclusive. There are several challenges when combining participatory approaches and GIS (abbot et al. 1998,30):
The application of GIS in Thailand goes back to a World Bank land policy analysis in 1985 (ongsomwang 1993,15), though it was carried out in the USA by a consulting firm. Since then the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) carried out an environmental case study in 1987 and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) in 1988. A more recent assessment of forest inventory methods recommends the combination of remote sensing and GIS for forest management planning, and even proposes a decentralised national forest inventory (ongsomwang 1993,195). GIS was even extended to land use changes in the highlands in order to monitor the effects of population pressure on forest cover and productivity, combining spatial information and socio-economic factors (ekasingh et al. 1996,402). These issues have also been considered in more detail for northern Thailand including areas settled by hill tribes by scientists from the local office of the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF,
Saipothong et al., 1999). The extractive aspects can thus already be analysed in case studies, so the challenge remains for the inclusion of land use classification by hill tribes in order to include their priorities in joint planning approaches.
Given the problems prevalent in the highlands and building on the CLM approach, it was important to document the project achievements and to integrate the land demarcations into a computer database for modification and upgrading for future planning to produce:
The use of a GIS may help to overcome the lack of a common map base for the assessment and management of natural resources such as forests, water resources, protected areas, agricultural land and village locations. The issue of data management and local political interests is a crucial one in the unclear policy framework for highland development. It is has the potential to help in conflict resolution between villagers and government agencies, the assignment of land titles and the determination of sustainable forms of agriculture. Yet at the same time, the threat that the revelation of land use to authorities can backfire for farmers in the form of land confiscation is also very real.
The fieldwork began in March 1997 with a three months introductory phase of familiarisation with the TG-HDP infrastructure, activities and objectives for the remaining final project phase, which included an identification of what contributions the research could make. This included many visits to the various project areas with staff, so as to understand the diversity and status quo of the CLM approach and how the project defines its Participatory Working Approach (PWA). It was also important to become familiar with the highland environment, the farming systems, the culture of the hill tribes and their understanding of the project driven land use planning. There were individual and group interviews in villages by TG-HDP staff and short-term consultants, which were used for mutual familiarisation with farmers. Interviews were conducted with the help of translators in Lahu and Karen language.
The next phase was the selection of six target villages (underlined in bold) for detailed surveys of representative farming systems under the CLM approach in both project areas, namely Nam Lang (Figure 3-2) and Huai Poo Ling (Figure 3-3). Nam Lang is the name of the watershed area and gained district status in 1996, upon which it was renamed Pang Ma Pha district and was subdivided into the four Tambon or sub-districts of Pang Ma Pha, Tham Lod, Na Pu Pom and Soppong, inhabited by Shan, Karen, Black Lahu, Red Lahu and Lisu. In contrast, Huai Poo Ling sub-district (Tambon) is inhabited mainly by Karen. Thereby the two traditional shifting cultivation systems in transition to permanent farming were represented, namely pioneer swiddening by Lahus in Pang Ma Pha and rotational swiddening by Karen in Huai Poo Ling Sub-District (Muang District). In Tambon Wawi project activities had ceased and CLM was never practised.
Figure 3-2: Map of Pang Ma Pha district (Nam Lang)
Figure 3-3: Map of Huai Poo Ling sub-district
The following main village selection criteria were used (Table 3-2):
Table 3-2: Characteristics of surveyed villages (source: TAO offices and TG-HDP)
Village profiles |
Tambon Pang Ma Pha (population 2,600) |
Tambon Huai Poo Ling (population 3,500) |
Name |
Huai Hea |
Bor Krai (Cha-Aeu) |
Pa Charoen |
Luk Kao Lam |
Huai Tong |
Huai Hee |
Tribe |
Lahu Sheleh |
Lahu Sheleh |
Lahu Nyi |
Lahu Sheleh |
Karen |
Karen |
Households |
35 |
31 |
14 |
54 |
112 |
22 |
Population |
172 |
169 |
77 |
278 |
470 |
200 |
Area (ha) |
2,103 |
1,451 |
48 |
2,381 |
1,988 |
1,700 |
Density people/km2 |
8 |
12 |
160 |
12 |
24 |
12 |
Status1 |
key village 1987, No 8 |
key village 1996 No 11 |
satellite of Ya Pa Nae |
key village 1988, No 9 |
key village 1964, No 5 |
key village 1983, No 8 |
Established |
more than 50 years |
20 years |
11 years |
more than 10 years |
more than 100 years |
more than 170 years |
Model |
1995 |
1995 |
1992,1998 |
1997 |
1995 |
1995 |
Map |
1996-97 |
1996-97 |
none |
1996-97 |
1995-97 |
1995-97 |
Group type2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Students |
None |
None |
German |
Ger.+1 Thai |
None |
2 Thai |
Towards the end of 1997, all available maps at village and sub-district were collected for digitisation and inclusion into a Geographic Information System (GIS). The digitisation was done at the Survey Section of the Northern Narcotics Control Office (NNCO) as well as at the Department of Geography of Chiang Mai University. NNCO is the Chiang Mai branch of the Office for Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). The GIS programme Arc View 3 with baseline data on Mae Hong Son province was obtained from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of Chulalongkorn University and was presented by Dr. Saengsuan in a workshop at the TG-HDP office in October 1997. The purpose was to assess possibilities to integrate hand-drawn village maps into the programme and to think of ways to use this data for future land use planning activities.
Digitised land use maps were produced using the following procedure. Hand-drawn land use maps were collected in all the 10 CLM target villages of Huai Poo Ling and in three villages in Pang Ma Pha, as only three villages have transferred their land use models onto maps. For Pang Ma Pha it was thus not possible to aggregate the maps into Tambon maps. The village maps were digitised using a hand digitiser into the GIS programme Arc Info and then converted into maps using the map-drawing programme Arc View 3. Contour lines were obtained from the Remote Sensing Centre of Chiang Mai University (CMU) to give a three-dimensional perspective, with 20 m intervals for the village maps and 100 m intervals at Sub-District level. The roads and streams, as well as the Tambon boundaries for Huai Poo Ling were obtained from the Survey section of NNCO in digitised form and overlaid with the remaining data. The different land categories were then colour coded using the same colours as on village maps. Maps were displayed using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates with grid points in steps of 1 km² for village maps and 5 km² for the sub-district map. The polygons for different land categories were added for area calculations. The same procedure was applied to Tambon Huai Poo Ling and aggregated. Adjacent villages often had overlapping outer user boundaries (marked in pink on the map), which is significant in the case of land disputes and official village registration.
The next step intended to overlay village land use maps with the watershed classification for both project areas, but the Royal Forest Department in Bangkok claimed that this information was not available in digitised form, which seemed strange given the proposal for GIS use in forest management (ongsomwang 1993). At district level it was possible to see the maps, but not to make copies, probably for reasons of political nature. A third component of inclusion of village registration data was more successful, though it was not possible to obtain written criteria from the Department of Local Administration (DOLA) in Mae Hong Son town of how land is allocated to one or the other village. However, village registration documents were obtained for 1995 when Huai Poo Loei separated from Huai Tong as well as Phapuak from Huai Hea to become key villages, and for 1996 when Bor Krai separated from Cho Bo as a key village. For the inclusion of demarcation points on digitised maps, DOLA vectors were converted to UTM coordinates as below:
i. M is the first
ii. B is the second
iii. 215 is the third
iv. 755 is the fourth
Where L = 3, M = 4, N = 5, P = 6, Q = 7 etc. Then the equivalent value for the first part (4) is joined with the third part (215) and 00, resulting in: 4 215 00.
Where S = 16, T = 17, U = 18, V = 19, A = 20, B = 21 etc. Then the equivalent value for the second part (21) is joined with the fourth part (755) and 00, resulting in: 21 755 00.
4 215 00 (X-coordinate) and 21 755 00 (Y-coordinate)
The conversion of vectors to resulting coordinates is summarised (Table 3-3).
Table 3-3: Conversion of vectors used by DOLA to UTM coordinates (based on village registration documents of 27 April 1995 and 2 May 1996)
Huai Hea village (1995) |
Bor Krai village (1996) |
Huai Tong village (1995) |
DOLA vector |
X-value |
Y-value |
DOLA vector |
X-value |
Y-value |
DOLA vector |
X-value |
Y-value |
421500 |
2175500 |
418300 |
2164600 |
420500 |
2117600 |
4229 00 |
21759 00 |
421700 |
2165400 |
421500 |
2113500 |
4246 00 |
21762 00 |
422300 |
2159500 |
419000 |
2110500 |
4234 00 |
21736 00 |
417400 |
2160900 |
417000 |
2112000 |
4208 00 |
21722 00 |
415200 |
2160900 |
4211 00 |
21730 00 |
415700 |
2162000 |
4185 00 |
21745 00 |
4195 00 |
21758 00 |
Once the maps had been digitised and printed in poster size (A1) at the ONCB Survey Section in Chiang Mai, they were taken back to villages and TAO members for modifications or corrections, before they were shared with government officials. With the closure of the TG-HDP it is likely that the models will not be updated and will disintegrate over time, and the hand drawn maps may suffer the same fate. Digitised printouts can also be distributed to other agencies and can be taken to network or district meetings to discuss land use issues. Maps were also distributed to district forest officials to facilitate their work in land use monitoring. The results from mapping were first presented at the TG-HDP final workshop on natural resource management in June 1998, and eventually the data and the GIS software were then transferred to the Survey Section of ONCB as well as to the ICRAF office in Chiang Mai at the final workshop in February 1999 (see Annex I for events).
From July 1997, joint field surveys with TG-HDP staff were conducted at village level and at site offices for the process of topographic modelling of land use and villagers' perception regarding the usefulness of models and hand-drawn maps for planning (Photo 3-1). A series of interviews were conducted without project staff to give villagers the chance to speak more freely on communication and planning problems (see questionnaires in Annex II and III). There were also visits to various government agencies in Bangkok in April 1997 for data collection on policies and mapping approaches, and again in June 1998 for the collection of aerial photographs at the Royal Survey Department. In September 1997 and December 1998 it was possible to join a helicopter flight with the Survey Section of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in order to take pictures of land use from above.
In preparation for the final TG-HDP workshop on Natural Resource Management in June 1998 was the 5-day Community Leaders Cross Visit Programme supported by the Highland Peoples Programme of the UNDP, for which 17 village representatives from project areas of GO and NGO highland development programmes were taken as a group to the various project areas in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son province in order to exchange different work approaches and discuss problems. The first village in the Doi Inthanon
National Park (Chomthong district, Chiang Mai) was caught in the land use conflict with lowland Thais that staged a roadblock the day after the group passed (see Chapter 1.1). Other project areas included Mae Chaem district (Chiang Mai) where CARE operates, Pang Ma Pha district in Mae Hong Son (TG-HDP), and Mae Taeng district in Chiang Mai where the Thai-UN Sam Muen Development Programme (SMDP) operated till 1994, as well as a project area of the Thai NGO Hill Area Development Foundation (HADF). These village leaders also participated in the TG-HDP workshop and shared their experiences.
Photo 3-1: Manual transfer of Tambon map to the model in Huai Poo Ling
After the closure of the TG-HDP in September 1998, a final series of interviews were made about the future of CLM under the current decentralisation. This time it was possible to go without project staff, which enabled a much more direct and detailed communication than with project staff, enhanced by communication in the villagers' own language (Photo 3-2). A survey of numbers and types of cultivated plots was conducted for all inhabitants of the 4 target villages in Pang Ma Pha for the purpose of triangulation with areas on maps. The Pang Ma Pha Hill tribe Network was also interviewed about its purpose and operation, particularly on its future given the formation of Tambon Administrative Organisations (TAO). In Huai Poo Ling the TAO is at a very early stage of formation, so the focus was on land use changes and the relevance of land use models. Interviews were carried out on:
Resource availability and food sufficiency;
Land use changes during the last 10 years;
Land categories and land use based on villagers assessments;
Village boundaries and conflicts;
Farmers strategies to solve land scarcity problems;
Village regulations for natural resource management and land use.
Photo 3-2: Interviewing a village elder with a Karen interpreter
The field work ended with a final workshop on 18 February 1999 at Chiang Mai University with 20 participants to present preliminary research results, followed by a four-day field trip to the project areas to discuss the impact of CLM with hill tribe farmers and to assess the future of land use planning.
© Die inhaltliche Zusammenstellung und Aufmachung dieser Publikation sowie die elektronische Verarbeitung sind urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung, die nicht ausdrücklich vom Urheberrechtsgesetz zugelassen ist, bedarf der vorherigen Zustimmung. Das gilt insbesondere für die Vervielfältigung, die Bearbeitung und Einspeicherung und Verarbeitung in elektronische Systeme.
DiML DTD Version 2.0 |
Zertifizierter Dokumentenserver der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin |
HTML - Version erstellt am: Wed Aug 28 15:14:57 2002 |


text:
Ebola Outbreak
Military & Spy Tech
3D Printing
Best Fitness Trackers
Human Origins
Best Science Photos of the Week
by Live Science Staff | November 03, 2012 10:57am ET
More Albums
Gallery: The 10 Strangest Places on Earth
Blue Marble: Looking Back at Earth From Space
Best Science Photos of the Week
In Photos: Cute New Slow Loris Species
Photos: Underwater Google Street View Reveals Stunning Corals
In Photos: Treasures of Mesopotamia
of 11
8 Times Cute
Credit: Chengdu Panda Base
China is experiencing a giant panda baby boom, given that eight new cubs were born this year at the world's largest giant panda reserve, the Chengdu Panda
…Read More »
"Pambassador finalist Melissa Katz from the U.S. formally announced the new additions today in Chengdu and all the cubs are in good health and were photographed together for the first time," Alejandro Grau, a spokesperson for the reserve, told Discovery News.
[Full Story:
China Celebrates Birth of 8 Giant Panda Cubs
Less «
of 11
Celestial Soap Opera
Credit: VegaStar Carpentier
The characters of a celestial soap opera called "The Perils of Andromeda" are represented high overhead in our current early evening sky, with two independent
…Read More »
mythological plots becoming intertwined into one.
Two of the principal characters are Cassiopeia, the Queen, boldly standing out as a zig-zag star pattern, which, at this time of year, resembles a crooked number three or the letter M. Her husband is Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia, who now appears upside-down. Rather than looking like a king, he seems to resemble a church with a steeple or perhaps an Alpine ski lodge with a steep, snow-shedding roof. He's also quite a bit dimmer than his wife.
[Full Story:
Celestial Soap Opera Shines in Night Sky This Week
Less «
of 11
Spooky Squid
Credit: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Talk about a sea monster. This 1889 illustration of a vampire squid paints these mysterious creatures in a creepy light — fitting, given that the
…Read More »
scientific name for vampire squid,
Vampyrotheuthis infernalis
translates roughly to "vampire squid from hell."
In fact, vampire squid are the only known cephalopods that don't hunt for their prey (so much for their namesake). Instead, they're the
sea's garbage disposals
, eating marine detritus that floats down to the depths like snow.
Less «
of 11
Lights Out
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory | Jesse Allen and Rob Simmon
When Sandy's punishing winds and waves smacked into New Jersey and New York Oct. 29, they knocked out power to millions.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, more than 8 million people were thought to be without power. Some 90 percent of Long Island lost power, as well as numerous communities in New Jersey and all of Lower Manhattan ―which created strange views of the island's iconic skyline from neighboring boroughs and New Jersey.
[Full Story:
Sandy Power Outages Spotted from Space
Less «
of 11
Sandy Dies on Halloween
Credit: NASA GOES Project.
After wreaking havoc on the East Coast, Hurricane Sandy was spotted by a NASA satellite as it weakened into a remnant low pressure system over Pennsylvania
…Read More »
on Halloween.
Sandy was a Category 1 hurricane as it approached the coast of New Jersey on Oct. 29, packing winds of up to 90 mph (145 kph) that spread over a vast distance. Its hurricane-force winds extended 175 miles (280 kilometers) from its center, and tropical storm-force winds extended 520 miles (835 km).
[Full Story:
Frankenstorm Sandy Spotted Dying Out on Halloween
Less «
of 11
Tiny Ocean Dwellers
Credit: John R. Taylor and Roman Stocker
A life spent drifting in the currents, eating whatever food they bump into, was once the presumed fate of most microbes living in the ocean.
But researchers are starting to re-imagine the lives of these tiny microorganisms, which are half the size (or smaller!) of red blood cells. New evidence indicates many ocean microbes are active swimmers, following chemical trails toward food "hotspots."
[Full Story:
Ocean's Tiniest Dwellers Dive For Lunch
Less «
of 11
Sandy and Climate Change
Carlos Ayala
If you were listening to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's press briefing Tuesday (Oct. 30) as New York City began to tally the damage from Hurricane Sandy,
…Read More »
you may have been surprised by what you heard.
"There has been a series of extreme weather incidents. That is not a political statement. That is a factual statement," Cuomo said. " Anyone who says there's not a dramatic change in weather patterns, I think, is denying reality."
Yesterday he added, "I think part of learning from this is realizing that climate change is a reality."
[Full Story:
Will Sandy Change the Climate Change Conversation?
Less «
of 11
Oldest Star Explosions
Credit: Adrian Malec and Marie Martig (Swinburne University).
The most distant star explosions in the universe have now been discovered, suggesting scientists may one day see the deaths of the first stars to arise
…Read More »
after the Big Bang, researchers say.
Future research into such remote, powerful explosions could shed light on the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang, investigators added.
[Full Story:
Oldest, Farthest Star Explosions Discovered in Distant Universe
Less «
of 11
Amazing Wind Map
Credit: Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg
The damage caused by superstorm Sandy in the United States is still being catalogued. But so far, it seems the storm will enter the pantheon of top disasters
…Read More »
the country has ever faced.
"Make no mistake about it, this is a devastating storm, maybe the worst we have ever experienced," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today (Oct. 30).
[Full Story:
How Sandy Compares to the Worst US Natural Disasters
Less «
of 11
Elusive Cat
Credit: WWF/Wangchuck Centennial Park
An elusive thick-furred feline has been caught on camera for the first time in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.
A camera trap captured images of the fluffy Pallas's cat, also known as the manul, in the country's sprawling Wangchuck Centennial Park (WCP), which is also home to the snow leopard and Himalayan black bear. Pallas's cats had never been documented in the region before, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
[Full Story:
Sneaky Cat Caught on Camera in Himalayas
Less «
of 11
Lemur's Halloween
Credit: David Haring/Duke Lemur Center
If you prefer your creatures of the night to be cute rather than cuddly, have we got the critter for you. This is an aye-aye, a species of nocturnal lemur
…Read More »
originally found only in Madagascar. The aye-aye is a harmless omnivore with one long, spindly finger it uses to fish grubs out of rotten logs. Like
91 percent of lemur species
, aye-ayes are threatened with extinction, but it's not just habitat loss and deforestation that may do this fuzzy creature in. Madagascar superstition holds that aye-ayes are harbingers of death, so the animals are often killed on sight.
This particular aye-aye is a resident of the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, N.C., a research and conservation facility that houses 250 lemurs and their close relatives. In honor of Halloween and the wrongly maligned aye-aye, the Lemur Center has a special deal for the month of October:
Pledge a donation
and receive not only a packet of information about a lemur of your choice, but also this cute photo.
Less «
Science Newsletter: Subscribe
Follow Us
More from LiveScience
Author Bio
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.
Live Science Staff

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Muhlenberg College 2001 Spring Sports Update
Click on the Mule to return to the athletics home page
Saturday, April 28 (1) Muhlenberg vs. Ursinus, 10:00 (2) Western Maryland vs. Gettysburg (3) loser of (1) vs. loser of (2) (4) winner of (1) vs. winner of (2) Sunday, April 29 (5) winner of (3) vs. loser of (4), 12:00 (6) winner of (4) vs. winner of (5) (7) replay of (6), if necessary
MULE DUO TOP SEED IN CC TOURNAMENT The Muhlenberg mens tennis duo of senior Robby Richman and sophomore Brad Scheller is the top seed in the Centennial Conference Tournament, which will be held at Franklin & Marshall April 27-29. The twosome went 10-2 during the regular season, including a 6-1 mark in CC matches, and is scheduled to open tournament play against Gettysburgs No. 2 doubles team. Richman also is the second seed in the singles draw. The womens No. 1 doubles team of freshman Mackenzie Parke (left) and junior Jennifer Chung is seeded second, while Parke earned a No. 5 seed for the singles tourney. To follow the action, click here, then go to 2001, April and Middle States.
ELSON QUALIFIES FOR NATIONALS Junior Will Elson qualified for the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships this week without even lacing up his sneakers. The NCAA adjusted the provisional qualifying standard for the 800 meters to 1:53.74, up from 1:52.74. Elson, shown here winning the 800 at the 2000 Centennial Conference Championships, ran a 1:53.01 last weekend at the Lafayette Invitational. That is believed to be the fourth-best time in Division III this season. The automatic qualifying standard is 1:51.66. Elson becomes the second Mule to qualify for the NCAAs. Senior high jumper Katrina Beck has met the provisional standard of 1.64 meters (5-4½) and needs to jump 1.68 (5-6) to qualify automatically. Her current best height of 1.66 meters (5-5¼) is the 12th-best in Division III. The NCAA Championships are scheduled to be held May 24-26 at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill.
Tuesday, April 24 SOFTBALL Ursinus 3, Muhlenberg 1; Muhlenberg 8, Ursinus 0. Freshman Danielle DeLucia pitched a one-hitter in the nightcap for her second shutout in as many days as Muhlenberg closed its regular season with the split. Junior Elizabeth Kostelnick, who recorded her 100th career hit in the first game, drove in three runs in the nightcap, including a game-ending single in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Kelly Berg had a two-run single in that inning. The win was the 20th of the season for the Mules, marking the sixth time in school history they have reached that level. Click here for line scores. WOMENS GOLF at Kutztown Invitational. Muhlenberg sent three golfers to this match. Freshman Erin DeVaney finished in 10th place with a 141. MENS GOLF finished second at Lehigh Valley Tournament. Senior Matt Berman won medalist honors for the second time this spring with a 76, one stroke better than two Lafayette golfers. Five other Mules carded an 83. Muhlenberg had the same team score as Lafayette but won second place on the sixth-man tiebreaker. The Mules finished seven strokes ahead of Moravian, and that, combined with the womens tennis win, enabled Muhlenberg to tie Moravian in the final Matte Award standings for the 2000-01 school year. Click here for complete results. WOMENS TENNIS Muhlenberg 9, Moravian 0. The Mules tied a school record with their 11th win of the season by blanking their local rivals, who play their regular season in the fall. Senior Kerri Waldowski, playing in the final home match of her career, recorded an 8-3 win at No. 2 singles and teamed with freshman Sarah Niebler for an 8-1 victory at No. 2 doubles. Freshman Megan Schreiber won her 11th straight singles match, tying a school record with her 12th win of the spring. Click here for box score.
Wednesday, April 25 LACROSSE Susquehanna 14, Muhlenberg 8. The Mules trailed the fifth-ranked team in the region by only two early in the second half, but went down to defeat in their last game of the season. Sophomore Lynsey Caldwell tied a school record with 4 assists. Senior Miruna Lovin scored 3 goals, ending her career with a school-record 195 points. Click here for box score. WOMENS TENNIS Washington (Md.) 6, Muhlenberg 3. The Mules lost in three sets at each of the top two singles spots and dropped their final match of the season. Muhlenbergs singles winners were freshman Megan Schreiber, who set a school record with her 13th win of the season, and junior Jennifer Chung, who tied a school record with her 22nd win (combined singles and doubles) of the season. Click here for box score. MENS TENNIS Washington (Md.) 7, Muhlenberg 0. The Mules won only 11 games against the second-ranked team in the country and lost for the first time in six Centennial Conference matches. Click here for box score.
Thursday, April 26 BASEBALL Muhlenberg 15, Swarthmore 9. All eight Muhlenberg seniors who played contributed to the win in their final home game. John Ziegler pitched five innings to earn his first win of the season. Garret Pachtinger, David Wolf and Dylan Sapir each drove in two runs, while James Barski scored twice. Marcus Mattielli plated a run with a sacrifice fly, and Seth Weinstein pitched the ninth inning, striking out two. Finally, Michael Cirillo had three assists from shortstop to tie the school record of 104 in a season. Junior Joshua Carter stole three bases and scored two runs to become the second player in team history to cross home plate 100 times. Click here for line score.
Saturday, April 28 SOFTBALL Muhlenberg 5, Ursinus 3; Muhlenberg 3, Gettysburg 2. Muhlenberg went 2-0 on the first day of the Centennial Conference Tournament to advance to the championship game. The Mules will face the winner of the Ursinus-Gettysburg contest. Freshman Amanda Ibey had big hits in both games for Muhlenberg. In the opener, her first career home run, a two-run blast over the center field fence, gave the Mules a 4-1 lead in the third. Junior Elizabeth Kostelnick singled in an insurance run in the fourth, and freshman Danielle DeLucia slammed the door with four innings of shutout relief. In the second game, Ibey broke up a no-hitter in the fifth with a triple, then scored on a throwing error. Kostelnick doubled in the game-winning runs in the bottom of the sixth. In the other games, Gettysburg defeated top seed and tournament host Western Maryland, 6-5 in 10 innings, and Ursinus eliminated the Green Terror with a 4-3, nine-inning win. Click here for line scores. BASEBALL Muhlenberg 7, Johns Hopkins 6; Johns Hopkins 15, Muhlenberg 4. The Mules delayed Johns Hopkins clinching of the Centennial Conference championship by winning the first game, but the Blue Jays won the nightcap to capture their first title since 1998. The first game was tied 3-3 in the sixth before junior Joshua Carter hit a two-run single. Muhlenberg had a 7-3 lead cut to 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh, but senior Tim Haberbusch got the final out to earn the complete-game win in his final career start. Click here for line scores. MENS GOLF at Centennial Conference Championships. Muhlenberg holds a commanding 27-stroke lead after the first two rounds of the CC Championships. The Mules shot a 309 in the first round and a 308 in the second. Senior Matt Berman sits atop the leader board with a 36-hole total of 149. WOMENS TENNIS at Centennial Conference Individual Championships. Senior Kerri Waldowski closed out her career by advancing to the quarterfinals before losing in straight sets to the No. 1 seed. The second-seeded doubles team of freshman Mackenzie Parke and junior Jennifer Chung was ousted in the quarterfinals. Click here for Muhlenberg results. MENS TENNIS at Centennial Conference Individual Championships. The Mules No. 1 doubles team of senior Robby Richman and sophomore Brad Scheller advanced to the championship match. The duo defeated teams from Johns Hopkins, Washington and Franklin & Marshall and will face another Washington twosome in the final. Richman made it to the singles quarterfinals and came back from a 5-2 deficit to win 7-5 in the second set, but dropped the third set. Click here for Muhlenberg results. TRACK AND FIELD at TCNJ Lions Invitational. Muhlenberg low-keyed it in its final tuneup for the Centennial Conference Championships. The top individual finishers were senior Katrina Beck (second place in the high jump), junior Will Elson (third in the 400), freshman Richard Kipp (third in the 800) and junior Jim Hayes (third in the javelin). Click here for Muhlenberg highlights.
Sunday, April 29 SOFTBALL Muhlenberg 3, Gettysburg 2. Freshman Danielle DeLucia pitched a four-hitter for her third tournament win as Muhlenberg edged Gettysburg in the championship game of the Centennial Conference Tournament. The Mules, who entered the four-team tournament as the third seed, win their second consecutive title earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which begins May 11 at regional sites to be determined. DeLucia surrendered a two-run homer in the top of the first, but settled down to win her third game in two days. She also singled to start a two-run rally in the third that tied the game. Freshman Kate Dischino singled home classmate Jaclyn Maser with the game-winning run in the fourth. Gettysburg advanced to the championship game by defeating Ursinus, 6-4. The six tournament games, held at Western Maryland, were decided by a total of eight runs. Click here for line score. WOMENS GOLF finished first at Centennial Conference Championships. Muhlenberg won the inaugural CC championship, with a two-round total of 922, 12 strokes ahead of second-place Gettysburg. Dickinson was third with a 952, followed by Ursinus (1026). Western Maryland and Franklin & Marshall did not field complete teams. Junior Jenn Risley shot a 200 over 36 holes to finish in second place, while freshman Erin DeVaney placed seventh with a 232. MENS GOLF finished first at Centennial Conference Championships. Senior Matt Berman shot a 232 over 54 holes to earn medalist honors and lead Muhlenberg to its third CC championship in five years. The Mules tied Ursinus in 1997 and won outright in 1999. Muhlenberg had a three-round total of 940, easily outscoring second-place Gettysburg (973). The Mules shot the best two rounds of the tournament, 309 and 308, respectively, in the first two rounds to open up a commanding 27-stroke lead heading into the final round. Berman, who finished fifth at the 1999 CC Tournament, is the first Muhlenberg player to finish atop the leaderboard at a conference championship meet since Bruce Miller in 1990. Freshmen Jesse Neider (second) and Matt Katz (fourth) and senior Steven Moore (sixth) also finished in the top 10. Click here for complete results. MENS TENNIS at Centennial Conference Individual Championships. The Muhlenberg doubles team of senior Robby Richman and sophomore Brad Scheller dropped the championship match to a Washington team, 6-3, 6-4. The duo finished the season with a record of 13-3. Richman ended his outstanding career with a record of 84-41-2. Click here for Muhlenberg results.
Last updated April 29, 2001


text:
Lawn Maintenance
Successful lawn maintenance involves a number of cultural practices that are used throughout the growing season. Proper implementation of mowing, irrigation, thatch, weed, insect and disease control, and fertility can prevent a lot of the problems experienced in home lawn care to produce a dense, healthy, high quality turf that requires less water. Mowing The frequency and height of cut are two important considerations and will vary depending on species of grass and growing conditions. Turf grasses can be mowed frequently, provided that no more than one-third of the grass blade is removed in a single mowing. Bluegrass and fine leafed fescue should not be cut lower than 4-6 cm. Cutting shorter than this means the grass plant has to use carbohydrates from the root reserves to initiate new growth. Repeated scalping of the turf weakens the root system, directly affecting the ability of the turf to obtain water and nutrients. Lower mowing produces a shallow root system, making the grasses more succulent and susceptible to heat and drought stress and disease injury. A higher height of cut gives a better safety margin, because the grass is hardier, more drought resistant, less disease susceptible, requires less water and remains green longer than at a lower height of cut. Grass clippings are not normally removed from a home lawn unless they are excessively heavy. Clippings have a high nutrient value, breakdown rapidly and do not contribute significantly to thatch. If clippings are removed on a regular basis, then fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, have to be increased by 20 to 35 % to compensate for their removal. It may be desirable to remove clippings in some instances, such as around pool areas, but in most cases, clippings can be returned without causing any problems. Lawns mow better when dry than wet. Dry grass cuts more cleanly and clippings tend to distribute much more evenly. Mowing equipment should have the capacity and power to handle the area to be mowed. Other considerations in equipment selection should be weight, maneuverability, ease in starting, ease of adjustment of height of cut and safety features providing protection from mower blades. Reel type mowers provide a better cutting action than rotary mowers, but are seldom used on home lawns because of their high initial cost and maintenance requirements, and also because they are more difficult to use than rotary mowers. A rotary mower will provide adequate mowing if the cutting blade is kept sharp; otherwise, it tears or shreds grass blades, producing a dull, gray-brown overcast appearance that can be misinterpreted as symptoms of other turf problems. Grasses with shredded leaf tips are also more easily infected by disease organisms. Debris such as sticks, stones, wire, etc. should be removed before mowing to prevent possible injury. Thatch An excessive thatch layer, as shown in Figure 1, can restrict grass roots penetration into the soil root zone, resulting in a lawn with shallow root systems. Thatch can also interfere with water infiltration as it repels water, therefore increasing the potential for damage during dry periods. Thatch provides a perfect winter survival and growing environment for insects and diseases. If thatch is kept to a minimum, then insect and disease-related problems are also reduced. When a thatch layer is present, the lawn feels very spongy upon walking. By cutting a triangular patch of turf with a sharp knife and lifting it back, the thickness of the thatch layer can be measured. More than 2.5 cm of thatch indicates that steps should be undertaken to reduce this layer. Cultural practices such as frequent mowing, avoiding over-watering and preventing over-fertilization can minimize thatch development. If excess thatch is present, mechanical removal by vertical mowing using a dethatcher should be done gradually. Another method of controlling thatch is aerating or coring. The hollow steel tine core aerator removes cores of soil which physically breaks up the thatch as well as bringing up beneficial soil microorganisms that help break down the thatch. Dethatching or aeration is recommended in spring and fall during periods of good growth, allowing for quick lawn recovery.
Weed Control Potential weed invasion may occur when there are thin or damaged areas in the turf. Areas exposed to heavy foot traffic are usually sites of weed invasion, as many weeds require light to germinate and can thrive in compact soil conditions more successfully than most turf species. Problem weeds include both broad-leaved and grass weeds that can be controlled by a number of methods including hand pulling, hand raking, mowing to prevent seed formation, and application of selective herbicides. A combination of methods may be the best way to control most weeds. Before attempting any weed control, weeds should be properly identified. Insect Control Symptoms associated with drought stress can sometimes be caused by insects. If the lawn remains brown or show signs of thinning out despite watering, then closer examination for insects should be done. Inspection of the leaves, stems, roots, thatch and soil will help to determine if the problem is insect-related. Diseases Fertility The three main nutrients required by turfgrass are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen promotes dark green color, leaf and blade development and density of the turf. Phosphorus is important for good root and rhizome development and promoting plant maturity. Potassium contributes to the general vigor of the plant and promotes wear and drought tolerance and hardiness against winter injury. The amount of nutrients required by a home lawn is most accurately determined by soil testing. A soil test will provide levels of phosphorus, potassium, pH and lime requirements. Nitrogen has to be replenished every year, while phosphorus and potassium are relatively stable in the soil. On newly established lawns, higher levels of phosphorus and potash may be required. If the lawn is on sandy soil, higher potash or more frequent applications may be required as it may be subject to leaching under these conditions. Various forms of nitrogen are used in lawn fertilizers for homeowners. Water soluble or inorganic nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate supply a form of nitrogen that is immediately available to the plant. The response of turf is a quick greening. However, this form of nitrogen is readily leachable and can cause lush growth if applied in hot or dry conditions. It also has high potential to burn the turf. Natural organic fertilizers such as activated sewage sludge rely on soil microorganisms to break down the organic compounds into a nitrogen form that can be taken up by the grass roots. These forms of fertilizers depend on soil temperature to release nitrogen and the rate of release may vary with the product. Although urea is sometimes referred to as an organic form of nitrogen, it reacts similarly to water soluble carriers in the soil and is therefore referred to as a water soluble nitrogen form. Synthetic organic forms of nitrogen such as IBDU, ureaformaldehyde and sulfur coated ureas provide slow release properties that reduce nitrogen leaching and have lower potential for burning turf due to a low salt index. These forms are generally more expensive than the water soluble or organic forms of nitrogen. However, their slow release characteristics coincide with soil temperature and moisture conducive to good turf growth. Fall fertilization with slow release nitrogen fertilizers has proven to be beneficial to home lawns. Late fall fertilization when the vertical shoot growth has ceased increases fall and spring root growth and encourages active tillering, therefore promoting a thicker stand. The lawn comes out of the winter in a green condition and does not give the rapid flush of shoot growth that occurs with spring-applied nitrogen. Application of lawn fertilizers is very important in achieving uniform results. If using a drop type spreader, operate it the long way of the lawn. First apply header strips at each end of the lawn to provide room for turning. Overlap one wheel's width when spreading the fertilizer and shut off the spreader when reaching the header strips. With a centrifugal type spreader, make two split (half rate each) applications at right angle to each other. Always make sure that the spreader is properly adjusted, otherwise you could end up with striping or uneven color that would detract from the overall appearance of the lawn. Sources: |


text:
Antinori Cervaro Della Sala 2006
Chardonnay from Tuscany, Italy
Winemaker's Notes
The first vintage, 1985, was released in 1987 and its named was taken from a name that translates as "Stag of the Hall", taken from that of the 14th century feudal owners of Castello della Sala, the Umbrian castle Antinori purchased in 1940.
Vibrant aromas of citrus fruit, pineapple, pears and acacia flowers blend on the nose. The rounded palate has sweet hints of hazelnut butter but is also minerally and lingering. This wine will age and develop very well.
Critical Acclaim
Wine Spectator - "Offers complex aromas of cream, ripe apple, mineral and blanched nuts, even flowers. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit and a long, long finish. Intense and beautiful. Like a great white Burgundy. Should age incredibly well. Chardonnay and Grechetto. Drink now." -
The Wine Advocate - "The 2006 Cervaro della Sala (Chardonnay, Grechetto) offers up an enticing array of smoke, honey, apricots, peaches, smoke and French oak. Despite the wine's big, generous personality, this is a sweet, layered Cervaro imbued with notable clarity and precision."
Antinori Winery
The Antinori family of Florence, one of the world's oldest and most distinguished wine producers, has lived in Tuscany since the 14th century and celebrated its 625th anniversary as wine makers in 2010. The current company president, Marchese Piero Antinori, believes in the tradition that the primary role of wine is to accompany food and enhance the dining experience. In Florence, the Antinori family has led a "Renaissance" in Italian wine making by combining long traditions, a love of authenticity and a dynamic innovative spirit. View all Antinori Wines About Tuscany
View a map of Tuscany wineries (TUSS-can-ee) One of the most important wine regions in Italy, Tuscany is home to the cities of Florence and Siena, the districts of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, and the wineries of Sassicaia, Tignanello and Ornellaia. Tuscany is also home to the indigenous Italian grape variety, Sangiovese. Most of the wine coming from Tuscany is made from some clone of this varietal, but a growing trend, started by the renegade winemakers of those Super Tuscans, is to incorporate more international varietals.
Notable Facts
The most well known sub-districts of Tuscany are Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (note that Montepulciano here refers to the local village, not the grape variety found in the Italian region of Abruzzi). Wine labeled from these regions is DOC-regulated and Sangiovese-based blends. Quality wine from these DOC areas has been on the rise for decades, with top-notch winemakers and wineries shedding the low-quality image once held for Tuscan wine by producing consistently outstanding bottlings that range from deliciously drinkable to highly ageable. Newer to the scene are regions like Bohlgeri and the Maremma, home to of what are now termed "Super-Tuscans," named for the wine coming from the Tuscany area, but not following all of the DOC or DOCG laws required in Italy. In the 1970's, some pioneer winemakers began buying land outside of Chianti and Montalcino, and planting not only Sangiovese, but also international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine they produced only fit into the lowest Italian category of "vina da tavola," but the winemakers sold the wine for high prices, creating an almost cult following, and spurning a new wine category called IGT.About Italy
A little ditty about Italy...
This country has about as many wines as its had governments. With 20 different regions, hundreds of DOCs and even more indigenous varieties, the amount of wine made in Italy is mind-boggling. Most of the juice, however, remains in the country for thirsty Italians. Wine is food in Italy and its rare that a meal is consumed without a glass of vino. That said, it's not common to find many folks drinking wine without food either. In turn, it's a match, and a mighty good one at that. In fact, it's safe to say that Italian wine is a foodie wine – one that goes on the table for a myraid of meals.For regions, the most popular are Tuscany (home of Chianti), Piedmont and the Tre-Venezie, which includes Veneto, Trentino Alto-Adige and Friuli. Other communes of note are in Southern Italy, and a few good wines are made elsewhere in the country. The islands of Sardinia and Sicily are members of the Italian winemaking community as well.
Customer Reviews
Sign In to Add Your Review0 }div>Alcohol By Volume Guide
Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.Wine Style Guide
Light & Crisp
- Light to medium bodied wines that are high in acid and light to medium fruit. Typically no oak.
Fruity & Smooth
- Light to medium bodied wines with lots of juicy fruit, typically medium acid and medium oak.
Rich & Creamy
- Full bodied wines that have typically undergone malo-lactic fermentation and/or spent time in oak.


text:
Best Blu-ray Deals |
Best Blu-ray Deals, See All the Deals » |
Top deals |
Price drops
$49.99 | $19.95 | $25.89 | $19.99 | $22.99 | $14.99 | $14.99 | $27.59 | $4.99 | $19.99 | $14.99 | $4.99 |
Manage your own movie collection and always keep it with you with our Apps. Price track movies and get price drop notifications instantly. Become a member to take full advantage of all site features. |
Lola(1961)Jacques Demy's crystalline debut gave birth to the fictional universe in which so many of his characters would live, play and love. It's among his most profoundly felt films, a tale of crisscrossing lives in Nantes (Demy's hometown) that floats on waves of longing and desire. Heading the film's ensemble is the enchanting Anouk Aimée as the title character, a cabaret chanteuse who's awaiting the return of a long-lost lover and unwilling to entertain the adoration of another love-struck soul, the wanderer Roland (Marc Michel). Humane, wistful, and witty, LOLA is a testament to the resilience of the heartbroken. For more about Lola and the Lola Blu-ray release, see Lola Blu-ray Review published by Dr. Svet Atanasov on December 31, 2012 where this Blu-ray release scored 2.5 out of 5. Director: Jacques Demy Writer: Jacques Demy Starring: Anouk Aimée, Marc Michel (I), Jacques Harden, Elina Labourdette, Corinne Marchand, Alan Scott » See full cast & crew Lola Blu-ray, Video QualityPresented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jacques Demy's Lola arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Arte Video. According to information provided by Arte Video, the original negative for Lola, Jacques Demy's debut feature film, was destroyed in a fire around 1970. In early 2000, a new internegative was produced from a print found at the British Film Institute. The process was coordinated by Archives francaises du film, while the production work was supervised by Agnes Varda with the support of legendary cinematographer Raoul Coutard, Lola's director of photography. In 2012, Lola also underwent complete digital restoration, which was used as a foundation for the new high-definition transfer this Blu-ray release uses. The color grading was supervised by Mathieu Demy. The restoration work was carried by: 1. Cine-Tamaris (Agnes Varda, Rosalie Varda, Mathieu Demy, Cecilia Rose) 2. Fondation Technicolor pour le Patrimoine du Cinema (Severine Wemaere) 3. Fondation Groupama Gan Pour le Cinema (Gilles Duval) 4. Technicolor Restoration Services - Los Angeles (Tom Burton, Danny Albano, Joe Zarceno, Dennis O'Neil, Bob Schneider, Danielle Cantwell, Jason Fabbro) 5. Technicolor Sound Services - Los Angeles (Andrew Giacumakis, Marty Vites) The newly restored Lola does not impress. It is obvious that at some point either during or after the restoration was completed specific digital corrections were performed to make the film look smoother, and the final result now reminds of Pathe's problematic release of Marcel Carne's Children of Paradise. To be clear, there are traces of moderate to very strong filtering corrections throughout the entire film, some causing select darker sequences to almost completely collapse. For example, take a look at screencapture #10 where the fine detail is eliminated by the overwhelming filtering. Elsewhere contrast is also seriously destabilized by the filtering (and for the record, this has absolutely nothing to do with Raoul Coutard's unique use of light and shadow in the film), with heavy digital artifacts also becoming quite prominent (see screencapture #19). Some of the daylight sequences also look disappointingly flat. Healthy shadow definition, in particular, is virtually non-existent (see screencapture #16 and 18). Lastly, there is a small amount of motion smearing as well. All in all, considering how impressive Arte Video's release of Les demoiselles de Rochefort was (a film which was also restored by Cine-Tamaris), I have to admit that I was not expecting to see such an underwhelming presentation of Lola. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content). Lola Blu-ray, Audio QualityThere is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with small portions of English). For the record, Arte Video have provided optional English and French SDH subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it. The lossless track is solid. The dialog is consistently crisp, stable, and very easy to follow. There are no distortions or audio dropouts. Legendary composer Michel Legrand's score also benefits from the lossless treatments, with the violins and flutes in particular sounding notably rich. The English translation is very good.
Similar titles suggested by membersLola Blu-ray, News and Updates• Jacques Demy's Lola Heading to Blu-ray - September 5, 2012 French label Arte Video has revealed that it is planning to release on Blu-ray acclaimed director Jacques Demy's Lola (1961), starring Anouk Aimée, Marc Michel and Jacques Harden. The preliminary release date set by the label is November 21.
Lola Blu-ray, Forum Discussions
» Show more forum discussions for Lola Blu-ray
Trending Blu-ray Movies
Trending in Theaters
This web site is not affiliated with the Blu-ray Disc Association. All trademarks are the property of the respective trademark owners. © 2002-2015 Blu-ray.com. All rights reserved. Registration problems | Business/Advertising Inquiries | Privacy Policy | Legal Notices |


text:
I was debating a Queen vs King size of this bed. The Overstock website claims BOTH beds identical sizing, I even called to confirm this. Yes, Customer Service Rep said, both bed are 40x78x98. I assumed that only the mattress area would differ if the outer dimensions of the two beds are same. WRONG! This King bed measures a whopping 40x93x98. Maybe this wont matter to most people, but I live in a Manhattan apartment and it takes up the entire BR. I don't completely blame OS.com, they simply copied the manufacturer's photos and dimensions. A little research found that the manufacturer was very sloppy in describing and identifying this bed. They mistakenly show both Queen and King the same size. On top of that, the manufacturer's sloppy coding resulted in the warehouse sending Queen sized foot boards TWICE. It took many phone calls and over 5 weeks to finally get King size foot board to complete this bed (which is challenging to assemble if you have big hands as it requires reaching into small pockets in the material to bolt the pieces together). OS.com customer service was great, but again, the result was three shipments of large pieces back and forth before a correct sized bed was delivered.
I feel like a queen in my new and really huge bed. I recently moved into a larger house so my bedroom is larger than the other one. This platform bed looked amazing on the site, but it looks brilliant in real life. The small and well worked details, the high quality material and the white clean color bring the perfect look and atmosphere everyone deserves. I recommend this great quality bed to everyone. It worth the price.
As a recent convert to vegan, I have decided not to purchase any products made with animal products. As such, I am so happy that Overstock offers such a wide variety of animal-free furniture, with lots of good looking faux leather. This is my third faux leather piece that I have purchased and I love it. My bedroom got a serious style upgrade with this piece. From the white quilted faux leather upholstery to the black wooden legs, this platform shows a high level of consideration in its design.
As soon as I saw this White Faux Leather Quilted Platform Bed I fell in love with it. Although I do not usually buy white furniture for my bedroom I took the chance. I was afraid about the maintenance but fortunately it is easy to clean. The bed is high quality on affordable price and gives me what I need: elegant comfort and style. I truly feel like a princess in this huge bed so everyone who needs comfort and style should have such a bed.
Now that I have this bed, and it is assembled; it is very nice. I had to have it shipped three times because the local carrier kept refusing the freight shipment from Yellow Freight because it was damaged. This became very frustrating, and I barely got the bed before my guests arrived...I had ordered it over a month in advance. When it finally did arrive at my home, there were NO assembly brackets! So it took another week to get those from Overstock. I guess this was actually a good delivery, the other two beds i ordered with this one from Overstock were also were damaged (??) and could only be reshipped once, because they ran out of stock.....the mattresses for those beds are still on the floor. How on earth can three separate beds be damaged two shipments in a row????
I've been looking for a bed like this for a long time and was scared to buy it without seeing it in person first. But the bed is better than what i could have expected. Color is great and headboard looks like good quality. I am so happy with my purchase.
Bed is great, but was missing screws which was not great especially midway through putting it together, having to stop and go to the hardware store, but other than that, it was great!
Delivered by freight carrier. See Oversized Item Delivery Policy.
Upon delivery, if you notice any damage or defects, you must note them on the shipping receipt and refuse delivery. Notify Overstock.com immediately in the unlikely event of damage. More details
This item cannot be shipped to Alaska or Hawaii.
More details
This item will be shipped via freight carrier to your home,
excluding rural routes, remote
areas not in close proximity to areas commonly serviced by
freight carriers, islands,
APO/FPO addresses, P.O. Boxes, Alaska and Hawaii. Please
provide your daytime and evening
phone numbers during check out so our carrier can contact you
to schedule delivery. Refer
to our Oversized Item Delivery Policy for additional information.
* For your protection, all orders are screened for security purposes. If your order is selected for review, our Loss Prevention Team may contact you by phone or email. There may be a two business day delay to process your order.
** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.


text:
see more
More like this
American Institute
416 E. Atlantic Blvd. Pompano Beach, FL 33060
(954) 781-2468 x204
| www.american-institute.net
American Institute is a university in the large suburb of Pompano Beach, FL.
The school is on the continuous calendar system.
There are 626 undergraduate students at American Institute.
The school has its own library and participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs for those who qualify.more


text:
This folio from Walters manuscript W.605 contains the 4th of 5 colophons in Arabic giving the names of the scribe, illuminator, and bookbinder. This colophon is written in gold Tawqi' script below the frame, and reads: katabahu wa-tazayyanahu wa-tajalladahu 'alá yad al-faqir al-haqir Jamal al-Din Muhammad ak-Siddiqi al-Isfahani.
Parent Object


text:
The following photos are Khajuraho temple, India. Map 🌐🌍🌎🌏 Khajuraho temple is built around 10th century, spanning a century.
Except a few public domain photos or otherwise noted, photos on these pages with ‡2 are by Dey Alexander, taken in 2000, from her online album. Source Used under ©.
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
sol39l.gif (171K) |
sol39_s55.gif (93K) |
The best image of the Sagan Memorial Station taken to date by the Sojourner Rover. Looking out from the Rock Garden, the camera mast and High Gain Antenna can clearly be seen above the American flag and Jet Propulsion Laboratory logo... | ...And in return, the lander took this image of Sojourner on her way to the rock named Shark. |


text:
As expected, Arthur Rhodes passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment last week and the Rangers have released the 41-year-old reliever.
Rhodes will likely find a new home because he can still be reasonably effective when spotted against left-handed hitters, but none of the other 29 teams wanted anything to do with the $1.25 million or so he's still owed for the remainder of the season.
Texas will be on the hook for his entire $3.9 million salary and Rhodes will officially become a free agent Wednesday, meaning he can sign elsewhere for as little as a prorated portion of the minimum salary.
Rhodes showed decreased velocity while posting a 4.81 ERA and 15/8 K/BB ratio in 24 innings, which along with the Rangers adding a pair of late-inning relievers at the trade deadline led to his departure. However, within the overall mediocrity Rhodes held lefties to a .216 batting average and he posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the previous three seasons.
- paperlions - Aug 8, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Well, now I know what LaRussa is doing on his day off.
- 78mu - Aug 8, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Lefthanded – check
Veteran – check
Cheap – checkIf he can back up Pujols at first he's in.
- mvp43 - Aug 8, 2011 at 3:59 PM
Hello Milwaukee…
- hoopmatch - Aug 8, 2011 at 5:03 PM
My money (if I was betting anything) is on Cincinnati picking him up.
- spudchukar - Aug 8, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Rhodes should get a long look by the Cards. Scrabble is the only lefty. The deciding factor should be dependent on these three factors: 1) Can Sanchez return?, 2) How healthy is Boggs?, and 3) How healthy and how much is left in the tank for Rhodes?
If the answer to the first two questions is that they both can be expected to contribute favorably in the final 50 games then pass on Rhodes, assuming the Red Birds decide Rhodes is as good as past years. If only Sanchez or Boggs returns the decision is iffy, and complicated by the glut at middle infield. Punto's health then should be added to the mix. But if Sanchez is finished for the year and Boggs, who has struggled recently, doesn't improve, then I say pick him up. Unless somebody has another option, and Valdez and his 88 MPH fastball doesn't do it for me.
- sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo - Aug 8, 2011 at 6:40 PM
JC Romero is out there now too. What is the world coming to when being devil-handed isn't enough to secure a bullpen job?
- willo3g - Aug 9, 2011 at 6:34 AM
J.C is DONE just to let you know!
- deathmonkey41 - Aug 9, 2011 at 8:42 AM
I see the Yanks making a run at him.


text:
THE DOLL CONNECTION STORE1-866-817-0795 Toll Free * QUALITY PRODUCTS AND FRIENDLY PERSONAL SERVICE FOR OVER 27 YEARS! |
Contact us easily with the information you get when you click on contact information. | Tasha's BabiesLimited Edition Platinum Silicone Newborn BabiesAaliyah Awake, In Soft EcoFlex 20THIS SPECIAL ORDER BABY HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY A VERY SPECIAL CUSTOMER!Tasha does a wonderful job of micro rooting the hair. Just take a look at the bi racial Layla hair. It looks so natural. (pronounced a-lee-ya) Baby Aaliyah, Awake, is a full size newborn baby girl measuring approx 19 inches in length. She is solid silicone from the waist up, with a lower cloth bottom which enables Aaliyah to be able to bend at the waist. Aaliyah is shown with black hand rooted black mohair in the photos. As an option, you can choose the hair color from black, brown, blond, or red. Aaliyah will come dressed in a darling two piece set by Baby Biscotti and white lacey socks. She will come with a magnetic pacifier, blanket, and birth certificate. Note: Some items in the pictures below are not included with Aaliyah. Stuffed animals or toys, bonnet, shoes, hand mittens are props only and are not included with her. Special Doll Connection Price: $1,699.00. Click Adopt to send this newborn baby home to you now or call Ann at 866-817-0795 (toll free). Click OrderOnline to order online now. Layaway and shipping available worldwide. These babies are exclusive to the Doll Connection Store! PICTURES BELOW ARE OF THE ACTUAL SPECIAL ORDER AALIYAH OUR SPECIAL CUSTOMER WILL RECEIVE! SHE HAS SPARSELY ROOTED LIGHT BROWN HAIR.
Click to Go Top of This Page, Home |
This Web Site Is Created and Owned by Ann&Randy Marketing No parts may be duplicated or used without the express written permission of Ann&Randy Marketing 8260 96th Street Noble, OK 73068 Also visit www.royaltyquilts.com and www.thebirdhousestore.net |


text:
Kendrick Starling
View Single Post
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 48
Posts: 60
Rep Power:
Originally Posted by
I have been very impressed with Starling. However, no way should he start. Who would you pull? AJ, Bradford, or Gaffney? No way he moves above those guys. And frankly, as impressive as Starling has been, imo Armstrong has been twice as impressive! My gut instinct tells me he will make the 53 man roster, and will return kickoffs, be a gunner, and be the 5th WR.
I do feel the sky is the limit for Starling. He has the size/speed/intanigbles to be an excellent WR someday soon. But, someday is not today. I like Sloan as well, and feel he has a slight chance at making the roster, and a very good chance of making the practice squad. No other WR in camp has a shot at the 53 man roster imo.
Well said Porky. I agree w/each point you made. I am anxious to see what Armstrong will do this year. Starling will get his chance as a receiver next year, or maybe in a blowout game this year. He just seems to go all out every play and ends up right in the thick of things. Even when he flew by the punt returner late in the game, he was back up trailing the play and almost made the tackle. That's hustle!
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by dredge


text:
Panthers prop Woolnough to miss 10 weeks
PENRITH prop Adam Woolnough could return within 10 weeks despite earlier fears a knee injury suffered against the Wests Tigers was set to end his NRL season.
Get rid of chicken wing tackle: Stuart
RICKY Stuart has become the latest coach to call on the NRL to stamp out the controversial chicken wing tackle before it results in serious injuries to players.
Raiders prop Weyman banned for six weeks
CANBERRA prop Michael Weyman has copped a six-match NRL ban after pleading to guilty to two counts of striking, including punching Gold Coast's Daniel Conn.
Anthony Minichiello's back pain returns
SYDNEY Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello has been ruled out of NRL action indefinitely due to back pain.
Guilty but no ban for Blair chicken wing
MELBOURNE Storm prop Adam Blair has avoided an NRL suspension after entering an early guilty plea for his "chicken wing" tackle on Brisbane's Michael Ennis.
Lockyer knee scan results positive
THE Brisbane Broncos have received encouraging news about captain Darren Lockyer's knee injury with scans revealing no signs of structural damage.
Luke Bailey sidelined for up to six weeks
GOLD Coast Titans prop Luke Bailey has been ruled out for up to six weeks following a broken arm...
League Arvo Wrap
WOOLNOUGH, Lockyer, Shillington and Minichiello all out of the NRL action this weekend.
Weyman outed for six weeks
CANBERRA prop Michael Weyman has copped a six-match NRL ban after pleading to guilty to two counts of striking, including punching Gold Coast's Daniel Conn.
Adam Blair enters early guilty
MELBOURNE Storm front-rower Adam Blair has entered an early guilty plea for the charge of contrary conduct...
Panthers trounce timid Tigers
THE Penrith Panthers have run out convincing winners over the Wests Tigers in the latest instalment on Monday Night Football with a 30-8 victory in Campbelltown.
Zillman moving from the Capital to the Coast!
CANBERRA Raiders fullback William Zillman has agreed to a four year deal with the Gold Coast Titans...


text:
Your Role as a Preceptor Benefits for Primary Preceptors
Professional Development Preceptor CE Credit
Academic & Clinical Educational Affairs contact & Regional Site locations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Tips for Efficient Instruction
1. |
State clearly that your time is limited; set limits to encounters. |
For example, say to the student, "I can meet with you nor for 10 minutes. You can have five minutes to ask me questions, then I need to give you some feedback on the patient we saw together. |
2. |
Make assignments that are specific and time limited. |
3. |
Have students carry a notebook to record their questions during the day. |
Follow up with them daily for 15 to 20 minutes. |
4. |
Honor your appointments with students and make them brief. |
If you say you'll discuss patients with your student at the end of the day, be sure to do so. |
5. |
Ask students to read about the problems of five patients they've seen during the day. |
Be specific about where they can locate this information (textbooks, journals, article files, internet, etc.). Set the expectation that the next morning you will ask them to give you a 10-minute oral presentation about one of the problems they've prepared. (This approach assures that they will do a wide range of reading, but does not involve you in listening to a long series of oral presentations. Be sure to follow-up and check on one of the problems you've assigned.) |
6. |
Be realistic about how much you attempt to teach. |
You can't teach the whole discipline. Teach what you judge the student needs, and what she or he has expressed interest in. |
7. |
Expose students to your busy schedule. |
Take students with you as you attend noon conferences, hospital committee meetings, boards, and civic activities. |
8. |
Conduct discussions/ tutorials as you commute with the student. |
By car, by foot. |
9. |
Jot down patient care pearls that arise in conversation and on teaching rounds. |
Collect these in a list and share with the student at the end of the clerkship and with the next student(s). |
10. |
Use other staff in your office to teach the student. |
Group partner, nurse, business manager, receptionist. |


text:
Honey K
Senior Developer (Exp 6+yr) PHP/MySQL/CakePHP/AJAX/JQuery/XML/JSON/JS
I'm a qualified and experienced IT professional with more than 6 years expertise in Open Source Technologies. I have successfully completed and managed various web development projects using PHP 5, MySQL 5, CakePHP, XML, Ajax, JQuery, HTML5/ DHTML, Google Maps, Google Earth, Object Oriented Javascript, JQuery and Ajax. My extended expertise are Wordpress, Wordpress MU.
Work History & Feedback
PayPal Website Payment pro integration
15 hrs
@ $13.00/hr
Earned $199
"It was easy to work with the team."
Senior Developer
2,568 hrs
@ $15.00/hr
Earned $38,815
"Top notch work. I would highly recommend Sanjeev."
Website Development
23 hrs
@ $13.00/hr
Earned $297
Job in progress
Tests Taken
Name | Percentile Score |
WordPress Test |
96 |
oDesk Readiness Test for Agency Contractors |
Passed |


text:
'Caloy' weakens into LPA
-A A +ASaturday, March 22, 2014
MANILA -- Tropical Depression Caloy weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) on Saturday afternoon after making landfall in Surigao del Sur, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the weather bureau said Caloy was in the vicinity of Surigao City.
All public storm warning signals were lowered, Pagasa said.
Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions will continue to have cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. (JAC/Sunnex)
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!


text:
Francis Heylighen
Francis Heylighen | |
Born | Vilvoorde, Belgium |
27 September 1960
Nationality | Belgian |
Fields | Cybernetics, Complex systems, |
Institutions | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
Doctoral students | Johan Bollen, Carlos Gershenson |
Known for | Principia Cybernetica, research on Self-Organization, Memetics, Global brain |
Influences | Donald T. Campbell, Herbert A. Simon, William Ross Ashby, Ilya Prigogine, Valentin Turchin |
Website http://pcp.vub.ac.be/HEYL.html |
Francis Paul Heylighen (born 1960) is a Belgian cyberneticist investigating the emergence and evolution of intelligent organization. He presently works as a research professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Dutch-speaking Free University of Brussels, where he directs the transdisciplinary research group on "Evolution, Complexity and Cognition"[1][2] and the Global Brain Institute. He is best known for his work on the Principia Cybernetica Project, his model of the Internet as a Global brain, and his contributions to the theories of memetics and self-organization.
Francis Heylighen was born on September 27, 1960 in Vilvoorde, Belgium. He received his high school education from the "Koninklijk Atheneum Pitzemburg" in Mechelen, in the section Latin-Mathematics. He received his MSc in mathematical physics in 1982 from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where he also received his PhD Summa cum Laude in Sciences in 1987[3] for his thesis, published in 1990, as "Representation and Change. A Metarepresentational Framework for the Foundations of Physical and Cognitive Science."[4]
In 1983 he started working as a researcher for the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (NFWO). In 1994 he became a tenured researcher at the NFWO and in 2001 a research professor at the VUB. Since 1995 he has been affiliated with the VUB's Center Leo Apostel for interdisciplinary studies.[5] In 2004 he created the ECCO research group[6] which he presently directs. Thanks to a grant from a private sponsor, in 2012 he additionally founded the Global Brain Institute at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, becoming its first director.
In 1989 Valentin Turchin and Cliff Joslyn founded the Principia Cybernetica Project, and Heylighen joined a year later. In 1993 he created the project's encyclopedic site, one of the first complex websites in the world. In 1996, Heylighen founded the "Global Brain Group", an international discussion forum that provides a working platform for most of the scientists who have worked on the concept of emergent Internet intelligence.[5] Heylighen was also one of the founders and former editor of the Journal of Memetics [7] which ceased publication in 2008.
Heylighen is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science,[8] and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Complex Systems of the World Economic Forum.[9] His biography has been listed since 2002 in Marquis Who's Who in the world.[10]
His research focuses on the emergence and evolution of complex, intelligent organization. Applications include the origin of life, the development of multicellular organisms, knowledge, culture, and societies, and the impact of information and communication technologies on present and future social evolution.
Heylighen's scientific work covers an extremely wide range of subjects, exemplifying his intellectual curiosity and fundamentally transdisciplinary way of thinking. In addition to the topics mentioned above, his publications cover topics such as the foundations of quantum mechanics, the structure of space-time, hypermedia interfaces, the psychology of self-actualization and happiness, the market mechanism, formality and contextuality in language, causality, the measurement of social progress, the mechanism of stigmergy and its application to the web.
Basic ideas[edit]
This broad variety of work is held together by two basic principles. The relational principle notes that phenomena do not exist on their own, but only in relation (connection or distinction) to other phenomena. They thus only make sense as part of an encompassing network or system.[11] The evolutionary principle notes that variation through (re)combination of parts and natural selection of the fitter combinations results in ever more complex and adaptive systems. This principle is a direct application of Universal Darwinism, the idea that Darwinian mechanisms can be extended to virtually all disciplines and problem domains.
The two principles come together in Heylighen's concept of a distinction dynamics.[12] In his analysis, classical scientific methodology is based on given, unchanging distinctions between elements or states. Therefore, it is intrinsically unable to model creative change. But the evolutionary principle makes distinctions dynamic, explaining the creation and destruction of relations, distinctions and connections, and thus helping us to understand how and why complex organization emerges.
Moreover, any system must be adapted to its environment, which implies that it is able to react adequately to changes in that environment. This is the origin of mind or intelligence, as the system should be able to select the right actions for the given conditions. These "condition-action" relations are the basis of knowledge.[13] As systems evolve, their adaptiveness tends to increase, and therefore also their knowledge or intelligence. Thus, the general trend of evolution is self-organization, or a spontaneous increase in intelligent organization.
Principia Cybernetica[edit]
Together with Cliff Joslyn and the late Valentin Turchin, Heylighen is a founding editor of the Principia Cybernetica Project, which is devoted to the collaborative development of an evolutionary-systemic philosophy. He created its website, the Principia Cybernetica Web,[14] in 1993, as one of the first complex webs in the world. It is still viewed as one of the most important sites on cybernetics, systems theory and related approaches.
The Global Brain[edit]
In 1996, Heylighen founded the "Global Brain Group",[15] an international discussion forum that groups most of the scientists who have worked on the concept of emergent Internet intelligence.[5] Together with his PhD student Johan Bollen, Heylighen was the first to propose algorithms that could turn the world-wide web into a self-organizing, learning network that exhibits collective intelligence, i.e. a Global brain.
In the 2007 article "The Global Superorganism: an evolutionary-cybernetic model of the emerging network society" Heylighen gave a detailed exposition of the superorganism/global brain view of society, and an examination of the underlying evolutionary mechanisms, with applications to the on-going and future developments in a globalizing world. Presently, he is developing a detailed mathematical and simulation model of the global brain, together with his collaborators in the Global Brain Institute.[16]
Heylighen published over 100 papers and a book.[17] A selection:
- 2013. Self-organization in Communicating Groups: the emergence of coordination, shared references and collective intelligence. In A. Massip-Bonet & A. Bastardas-Boada (Eds.), Complexity perspectives on language, communication, and society, (pp. 117–150). Springer.
- 2011. Conceptions of a Global Brain: an historical review. Evolution: Cosmic, Biological, and Social, eds. Grinin, L. E., Carneiro, R. L., Korotayev A. V., Spier F. (pp. 274 – 289). Uchitel Publishing.
- 2008. Cultural evolution and memetics. Encyclopedia of Complexity and System Science, B. Meyers, ed.: Springer
- 2007. The Global Superorganism: an evolutionary-cybernetic model of the emerging network society. In: Social Evolution & History. Vol 6 No. 1,p. 58-119
- 2007. Accelerating Socio-Technological Evolution: from ephemeralization and stigmergy to the global brain. In: Globalization as an Evolutionary Process: Modeling Global Change. edited by George Modelski, Tessaleno Devezas, and William Thompson, London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-77361-4. p. 286-335.
- 2001. The science of self-organization and adaptivity. The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems 5 (3), 253-280
- 2001. Cybernetics and second order cybernetics, with C Joslyn. Encyclopedia of physical science & technology 4, 155-170
- 1999. Collective Intelligence and its Implementation on the Web: algorithms to develop a collective mental map. Computational & Mathematical Organization Theory 5 (3), 253-280
- 1999. The growth of structural and functional complexity during evolution. The evolution of complexity, 17-44
- 1992. A cognitive‐systemic reconstruction of Maslow's theory of self‐actualization. Behavioral Science 37 (1), 39-58
- ^ Dr. Francis Heylighen at LifeBoat Foundation Bios. Accessed 14 May 2009
- ^ research group on "Evolution, Complexity and Cognition"
- ^ * Francis Heylighen's Curriculum Vitae, 2005.
- ^ Heylighen, Francis. Representation and change: a metarepresentational framework for the foundations of physical and cognitive science. Communication and Cognition, 1990.
- ^ a b c Francis Heylighen: Pioneer of the Global Brain by Ben Goertzel
- ^ Evolution, Complexity and Cognition group (ECCO)
- ^ Journal of Memetics
- ^ General Listing World Academy of Art & Science. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012
- ^ Francis Heylighen The World Economic Forum. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012
- ^ Francis Paul Heylighen on marquiswhoswho.com. Retrieved Nov 16, 2012
- ^ Heylighen, F. (2001). Bootstrapping knowledge representations: from entailment meshes via semantic nets to learning webs. Kybernetes, 30(5/6), 691–725. doi:10.1108/EUM0000000005695
- ^ Heylighen, F. (1990). Representation and Change: A Metarepresentational Framework for the Foundations of Physical and Cognitive Science. Communication and Cognition.
- ^ Heylighen, F. (2011). Self-organization of complex, intelligent systems: an action ontology for transdisciplinary integration. Integral Review.
- ^ Principia Cybernetica Web
- ^ Global Brain Institute
- ^ Heylighen, F. (2012). Challenge Propagation: a new paradigm for modeling distributed intelligence (No. 2012-01). GBI Working Papers.
- ^ Francis Heylighen Google Scholar Profile
External links[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Francis Heylighen |
- Francis Heylighen's Homepage


text:
Find commute times to your work, school, gym and more.
Riverwoods Apartments and Townhomes
- This property is an income restricted property. A maximum income limitation may apply. Not all renters will qualify and other restrictions may apply. Please contact the property for details.
Contact this property
Floor Plans
Move In Special
$500 off first month?s rent on select 2 bedroom apartments, for immediate move-in! Call today!
Prices, specials, features and availability subject to change.
Contact for details (703) 634-5002
Clubhouse, Disability Access, Emergency Maintenance, Fitness Center, On Site Maintenance, On Site Management, On Site Patrol, Playground, Swimming Pool
2 full baths, 2 Swimming Pools, Cable ready, Cats welcome, Central A/C, Decks/patios/balconies, Full-size washer/dryer in every unit, Gas hydrotherm heating, Low move-in cost, Military advantages, Public Transportation, Spacious closets, Up to 1295 square feet, Wall-to-wall carpet
Property Details
Close to Potomac Mills Mall and I-95..Maximum Income Limits Apply...Full Size Washer and Dryer in Every Unit!
Riverwoods Apartments and Townhomes offers a complete package of luxury, affordability and convenience! 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom townhomes with up to 1295 sq. ft. of living area! Riverwoods Apartments and Townhomes features two large swimming pools, a kiddie pool, an outdoor picnic area and a fitness center! We're close to Potomac Mall, Quantico Marine Base, Rt. 1 and I-95.
Leasing Terms
Lease Terms: 12 month terms offered. Security Deposit: $100-$200. MAXIMUM INCOME LIMITS APPLY. Pet Policy: 25lbs max pet weight, 2 max pets per unit, $20 pet rent, $200 non-refundable pet fee. Breed restrictions apply. Call for restrictions.
Pet Policy
Pets Accepted. Cats Allowed. Dogs Allowed. Call for service animal policy.
Community Information
291 units
Building Type
Contact Property
Check Availability or call
Similar Properties
Neighborhood Info
location | time | miles |
Ratings & Reviews
- 5 stars
- 4 stars 2
- 3 stars
- 2 stars 2
- 1 stars
Robert B.
There were many problems while we lived there. There was no heat the first night we moved. AC/Heat always ha Read Mored some kind of issue. Parking lot would flood with mud during heavy rains. Staff turn over caused many of issues. It took almost 6 months to get security deposit back.
January 11, 2014
Riverwoods Apartments and Townhomes Resident
I really appreciate the speed Riverwoods has on sending maintenance for a residents complaint or call in. As w Read Moreelll as the maintenance staff themselves. I've had a few machines break or on the fritz and Riverwoods came that same day and fixed it, whether that meant replacing or tweaking it. They always come with the nicest attitude.
December 20, 2013
Contact Property
Contact this property
Office Hours
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-5:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Managed by
Habitat America, LLC
View all Habitat America, LLC properties