This is the first episode of the Ordinary People Project, Gord from Pemberton, BC. Thanks Good!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx9pxLw4xJo
…Author: mark
The Ordinary People Project
I am taking a few months off to drive to Alaska and have conversations with the random people that I meet along the way. I’m calling it The Ordinary People Project because the primary part of the fun is turning the idea of celebrity on its head. After doing a short conversation with someone, I take a celebrity headshot style photo of that person and they autograph it to send them to the celebrity of their choice.…
Part 2: As folks head into the AAA, a few thoughts about anthropology in the military
I used to listen to right wing radio like Rush Limbaugh from time to time or the yahoo’s on FOX news and be amazed that people actually listened to that crap as if they were credible new sources. I feel the same sometimes about my continuing engagement in the rants (others and my own… I am certainly not off the hook) about anthropologists in the military and HTS as the focal point for that conversation.…
As folks head into the AAA, a few thoughts about anthropology in the military –Part 1
Yes, I know. I rant about the AAA and yet I still download the PDF of the conference program. I wonder why we all do things like that? It’s not like I’m looking to change the stance of the AAA or the stance of people that get hysterical over anthropologists working in the military or intel communities. To me, those are all done deals, my mind is not going to change (at least not by the arguments presented so far) and I am not going to change someone else’s.…
A view from 2 months in Iraq with a Human Terrain Team
A wordle a day
I saw this great idea at Grant McCrackens blog. It called a wordle, and are some of the words that are in this post on ethnography.com.
Ok, for the record, I am not a left leaning anthropologist
I am not a right leaning one either. I feel compelled to mention this due to a bizarre claim made by Hugh Gusterson in an article he wrote for Foreign Policy Magazine. Heres a partial quote related to anthropologists accepting funding from the Pentagon:
“Some will be concerned that the Pentagon will seek to bend their research agenda to its own needs, interfering with their academic freedom. Still others will be nervous that colleagues will shun them.…
Some thoughts as my additions to ethnography.com wind down
Hello Folks-
I have been avoiding writing much about the Human Terrain System since I am not an “official voice” of the program. Also, as I have written before, I don’t consider myself a scholar in any way. I don’t write (or desire to) create the usual peer reviewed materials. I am part of the long proud tradition of tradesmen… craftspeople. I am an anthropological handyman if you will. People have a problem or issue and I am happy and lucky enough to use my training to help them with a resolution.…
Hurry, Deadline July 25th! Scholarships Announcement
I just received this from the EPIC folks!
Scholarships Announcement 2008 Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference
We [EPIC, not ethnography.com] are pleased to announce 3-5 scholarships for the EPIC conference in Copenhagen, 15-18 October 2008. Any student (undergraduate, master’s, Ph.D.) can apply! Scholarship recipients will receive free registration, in exchange for working 12-16 hours before or during the conference.
Deadline for applications: 25 July 2008
Application process: Please submit a curriculum vitae and a cover letter to scholarships@epic2008.com…
Nicole Suveges, a funny, kind person, has died on an HTS mission in Iraq
The HTS program lost its 2nd Social Scientist this week, Nicole Suveges. She was funny and kind and one of the first people I met in the program. 11 other people, military and civilian were also killed in the explosion. The official announcement from the HTS is below (original link: http://humanterrainsystem.army.mil/In%20Memoriam.htm)
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the tragic death of Nicole Suveges, our social scientist team member assigned to the Iraq Human Terrain Team (HTT) IZ3, in support of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based at FOB Prosperity, Baghdad, Iraq.…
Is Being A Scholar Right For You? What Business Are You In?
I have often said that I am not in the business of anthropology. By this I mean that while I am trained in the methods and theories of anthropology, I use that training in a different business. I am in the business of insight generation, risk reduction, sometimes cross cultural understanding. But I am not very concerned with the “giving back” to the discipline of anthropology. I enjoy mentoring when someone asks (people should not impose it unrequested), and helping people make that leap from academic to applied work.…
The HTS program has released the sad news of the death of an HTS team member and military personnel
The following announcement can be found on the HTS website at http://humanterrainsystem.army.mil/In%20Memoriam.htm. This announcement is also found at the SWJ Blog were it includes multiple links that tell you more about Mr. Bhatia.
It is with deep sorrow that we must inform you of the tragic death of Michael Bhatia, our social scientist team member assigned to the Afghanistan Human Terrain Team #1, in support of Task Force Currahee based at FOB SALERNO, Khowst Province.…