Tag Archives: News

Podcasts of a few sessions at the SfAA conference

23 Mar

That’s right folks, you heard it here first. Well, maybe not first- but this is the first of any outside publicity of it.

As it stands right now, there are 9 sessions at the SfAA conference next week that are set to be recorded and published as podcasts. It’s a variety of sessions anything from linguistics to archeology to global health in a time of violence. Hopefully most people will find at least one session of interest to them.

I’ve been working with the SfAA office and my anthropology department (UNT) for the last couple of months and it looks like everything is set to go! Over the weekend I will set up our website sfaapodcasts.net which will offer some more info. I hope to have the first podcast up by April 7th. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on the progress.

Here is the rough draft of the flyer

Fantastic Publicity Stunt

26 Feb

I took three archaeology classes as an undergraduate and for the most part the only thing I got out of them is a well-informed opinion that I do not like archaeology- it’s just not my thing. BUT- one of the three classes was Dr. Tykot’s Fantastic Archaeology and this was an awesome class. Here is a copy of his online syllabus with readings, etc. Plus, it’s an online course and we all know how much I like online courses!

Anyhow, in this course we used Frauds, Myths, Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology. Here is a linkto the book online. It’s a great book- very interesting and easy to read. The book and the course covered some basic archaeology hoaxes. Despite my lack of interesting in archaeology, I can appreciate a story about a great scandal or the “fooling” of the masses. To this end- I still read articles about Piltdown man, etc when I come across them. Recently, I saw this site, which explores the question ‘could we be fooled again?’.

As you’ve probably already seen today in the news, James Cameron will be holding a press conference to announce the finding of Jesus of Nazareth’s (and family) tombs. There is statistical, archaeological and DNA evidence that the tombs discovered in 1980 are indeed those of Jesus and his family. Discovery channel has devoted a website to the project and there will be a documentary to air March 4th.

I must be missing something- why the hell is James Cameron involved in this and why the hell is he making the announcement? He doesn’t really hold much scientific authority with me and his involvement makes me very skeptical about the scientific groundings of this. I think Will summed it up nicely: “Stick to sinking ships and aliens, James”.

UNT’s Online Master’s Program in the News

20 Feb

Well- I guess it may not be in the “news”, but it’s in some current anthropology publications.

In last month’s issue of Anthropology News there are three short articles about anthropology and the Internet. One is written by Christina Wasson of UNT. Her article is about the online program and is a good read for anyone considering the program. She also speaks briefly about the pilot study comparing the online version and the on-campus version of the same grad course that I am an RA for.
I have access to AnthroSource through UNT, but I can’t access this issue online. If you can’t get to it- look around your department or prof’s offices :)

UNT is also in the current (Winter 2007) special issue of Practicing Anthropology the whole UNT group writes about the online program, it’s conception, and their roles in it. I highly recommend the issue to anyone that is interested in the program, in online education, or maybe someone that wants to be able to argue intelligently about the program ;)

Margaret Mead

29 Nov

The Atlantic Online has put out a list of the Most Influential Figures in American History. Our very own Margaret Mead made it in at 81 and, another one of my favorites, William James made it in at 62.

FGM trial in the States

1 Nov

The headline reads Dad gets 10 years in first female circumcision trial in U.S..

The practice of FGM is a widely discussed topic in the field of anthropology, but I’ve always known it to be discussed as practiced in Africa. Now that it is getting news coverage in the States, I’m interested to see where the discussion goes from here. How will the field of anthropology handle FGM so close to home?

RIP, Clifford Geertz

31 Oct

It seems that we lost a great mind yesterday, as reported on Savage Minds, it appears that our beloved Clifford Geertz may have passed away yesterday. So far, his death is unconfirmed, I did notice that his wikipedia page has been updated.

There is an email circulating announcing his death which can be found here.

UPDATE 10/31/06

GEERTZ’ DEATH HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY

HERE IS THE LINK

Context-based Research Group in the News

23 Oct

MSNBC ran a news story about context-based research group yesterday.

The article is short, but it sums up how anthropology is being used by businesses to conduct ethnographic research about clients.

AMNH Takes an Applied Approach

3 Oct

An article about the American Musum of Natural History came across Digg this morning. The article is about a new survey conducted by the AMNH to determine how much Americans know about science and the article specifically mentions knowledge about the world’s water. Apparently we do not know much, but this didn’t surprise museum President Ellen Futter. Instead it encouraged the museum to create an exhibit about the world’s water supply!

Admittedly, I haven’t followed the AMNH in the past. In fact, the only aspect of the museum I am familiar with is Margaret Mead’s work in the Anthropology division bringing anthropology to the general public. But, I found it fascinating that the museum responds and reacts to surveys! Due to a lack of knowledge of the public about water, the museum is going to create an exhibit next year to educate the public. Applied research in action!

Brevard County Archaeological Sites

11 Jun

Brevard County FL, home to the Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, and myself for the first 21 years of my life.
If you have any interest in Archaeology, you may be fimilar with the county because of Windover Dig Site.

I came across an article this morning on Floriday Today’swebsite, the local newspaper. The article talks about the controversy of people wanting to develop the lands that house archaeological sites in Brevard County and the few activists groups that try to keep the developers at bay.

I really don’t have too much to say about this, in fact, truth be told I am only interested because it hits close to home. I wanted to post this so that others’ may voice their opinions on the comments section of the site or atleast become aware of the problem.

We have matryred yet another Al-Queda member

8 Jun

I woke up early this morning to CNN HLN reporting that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had been killed in an airstrike and identified by scars and tattoos.
Video was released around 9:00 a.m. of the coalition strike that killed Zarqawi, a religous leader and others. I wanted to find the video online and not to my surprise www.foxnews.com had the video up first. I could not get the video to load in firefox or in a ie tab in firefox. I finally got it to work in IE.

The media has pictures of Zarqawi dead, so I guess we are suppose to believe them this time.

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