Praise for blogs and praise to the man..(Chris)

Joseph still deserves praise, but Chris deserves a little for being so ahead of the game...

This afternoon I was sitting in the department waiting for some copies to finish and picked up "The Chronicle of Higher Education"(one of those throw-away rags that sits on the table so that people can read through it).

Interestingly enough, I found an article inside called "The Blogoshpere as a Carnival of Ideas".
In which the author, Henry Farrell (a professor of political science) discusses the validity of blogs in the academic world.

I include some excerpts, but if you want the whole article, let me know. I'll be happy to copy it and send it off to anyone interested.

This is a summary of some of the things he said:

Farrell begins by mentioning the general fear that many academics (especially those in the job market or non-tenured ones) have of blogging due to their fear of discipline for expressing controversial or original views.

Farrel argues that blogs serve several purposes, he says:

"Academic bloggers differ in their goals. Some are blogging to get personal or professional grievances off their chests or, to propose non-academic interests. Others, perhaps the majority, see blogging as an extension of their academic personas. Their Blogs allow them not only to express personal views but also to debate ideas, swap views about their disciplines, and connect to a wider public. For these academics, blogging isn't a hobby; it's an integral part of their scholarly identity. They may very well be the wave of the future."

Farrell provides some statistics for poly-sci and law majors at George Washington University. He said that 130 law professors have active blogs and that those who don't read blogs or maintain blogs of their own are cutting themselves out of important discussions.

He suggests that blogs have been slow to enter areas like the social sciences but believes that they will enter and expand soon.

Farrell believes that blogs can be exciting and free forums of discussion and idea sharing without the nasty grant proposals, project approvals, and publishing reviews which often slow the flow of ideas. Blogs provide a nice area of conversation around and between articles and monographs.

Blogging also provides a flexibility and freedom that publishing does not allow. Farrell considers the vast amount of time it takes to publish in a peer-reviewed journal, stating that years can pass by between a first draft and a publication....(cough...Spotten Cave..cough). He also considers the fact that years may go by while other academics are publishing reactions to a publication. In the blogosphere, these publications and reactions can take minutes.

In addition to rapid results, blogs provide new academics or blossoming students a chance to make their voices and opinions heard. Blogging provides students, academics and amateurs semi-equal footing to enter into a forum to discuss ideas. Farrell says, "This openness may be discomfiting to those who are attached to established rankings and rituals-but it also means that blogosphereic conversations, when they're good, have a vigor and a liveliness that most academic discussion lacks."

Farrell concludes that blogs allow academics to reconnect with the public. Blogging makes intelectualism more democratic, and an academic (with some good ideas and some self-promotion) can enter into public debate quickly. He also notes that while blogging will not replace publishing anytime soon, it provides an excellent environment for the exchange of ideas.


Sorry this is so long, but the article was very well written and seems to be in keeping with the main intent of this blog. I think Chris has done an excellent thing here by creating such a forum, the type that is garnering praise from a nationwide academic newspaper (throw-away or not).
I think that FoF, provides us all with an excellent opportunity to not only keep in touch with one another, but to also kick around ideas about our archaeological pursuits.

So, well done Chris.

If any of you would like a copy, send me an e-mail, and I'll send one off.

Three Corners Conference

So Saturday was the first ever “Three Corners Archaeological Conference” (look, I'm using colored text like Cady) held here at UNLV. A great number of papers were presented, by a good mix of academia and contract archaeologists. Since Karen Harry kind of arranged the thing, and I’m her GA, I was roped into providing a little technical assistance during the session she presented in. BYU was well represented by Jim Allison, who presented some C14 data he’s currently working on. Rich Talbot and the Sand Hollow Project was mentioned by at least one of the CRM folks. In fact, a large project that they did was heavily based off of the Sand Hollow work. They gave high praise to BYU and the thoroughness of the work done. I wanted to say, “Damn straight. That’s Rich K. Talbot your talking about” but refrained. A special treat for all was the comments of two discussants at the end of the conference: Margaret Lyneis and Claude Warren, both big wigs in their own right. After the conference I got to hang out and talk with both of them and Allison, as Lyneis and Warren had some questions about Allison’s work. Throughout the conference I was trying to think of ways I could somehow get a Fremont paper in the next one of these they hold. I remember reading somewhere that some Fremont looking petroglphys have been found as far south as the Las Vegas Valley…......Let the Northern Periphery Rise Throughout The Land!

Classroom in the Desert is gone...

Those of us who frequently check byu.edu noticed that for weeks, a Mark Philbrick (sp?) photo graced the homepage. There was also a link to the "mentoring story" with the photo of Dr.J teaching a Maren(last name?) how to dig, etc.

The photo was a nice one. It showed Mr. Craig Freeman and Mrs. Erika Holje measuring a rock art panel.

Sadly, the photo has now been changed to pimp the library. It was a good few weeks for archaeological awareness though...I think.

Cannon revised?

I stayed up late into the night reading the Capitol Reef Report, and it prompted me to propose a revision to the Friends of the Fremont cannon.

Fremont Farmers : The Pearl of Great Price (It's short, but full of important, foundational doctrine)

Clear Creek Canyon: The New Testament (Like the Bible, deals with the Fremont of the east. Excavated in recent times)

Capitol Reef: The Book of Mormon (Recounts the western Fremont)

Forthcoming PVAP monographs: The Old Testament (Excavated in antiquity. Stuff is important but often unclear. Also eastern Fremont)

The Doctrine and Covenants: Everything else.

The Legend of Ian Robertson

The following is an excerpt from an email I just sent to Ian.

I'm taking Keith's Intrasite Research Strategies class this semester, and because I was new and hadn't taken the pre-requisite class several of my fellow students were curious as to where I had learned my statistics. I explained that I had taken a class from you while you were visiting at BYU.

A reverent hush fell over the assembled students as they stared at me with mouths gaping. After an extended silence, one brave soul finally ventured to speak.

"Did he he ever talk about it?"

I'm afraid I wasn't quite sure what "it" was.

"You know, the Bayesian?"

Were they talking about your work at Teotihuacan?

"Of course that Bayesian!" was their disgusted reply.

Apparently, Ian is a legend in his own time, at least among the current crop of ASU grad students.

Cheers, sweet cheers...

The Dave Madsen Commemorative Pin

So I'm listening to X96 this morning and they are promoting a new commemorative pin from Hard Rock Cafe, SLC. Every Friday, X96 invites this guy named Dave to help them with their show. Dave is a little slow and has a speech impediment (it's great for radio). They found out about him becuae he sells flowers and other things to make money, and he has hit up x96 DJs to by his flowers.

Hard Rock Cafe, SLC found out about Dave and have decided to make a commemorative pin in his honor. All proceeds go towards helping him out.

As I mentioned in the subject heading, this guy's last name is Madsen. This is not a pitch to buy a pin for some guy none of us know, this is a chance to own something with the name of everyone's favorite Great Basin Archaeologist on it. Imagine--showing up to the GBAC or some other conference with a stack of these pins...The University of Utards would snatch them up and I bet we could put Simms down for 5 or 6...

Spammers posting nasty comments...

Hey Guys,
It seems that some spammers have been posting comments to messages that have contained some pretty bad content. We can't specifically block them from posting comments, but as administrators, Chris and I can make it to where only members of this blog can post comments. If everybody agrees, we can set it up that way. Let us know what you think and we'll keep deleting the junk people post until then.

A little Thal on the way...

Recently, I talked to Sean Thal and he mentioned that he and Erika are going to have a baby. I told him that this is information he should post on this site. His exact words to me were "You guys still do that? I haven't been on that site for months"

Yes, Sean we still post on this site.

Anyway, I told him to post the good news on this site. That was two weeks ago. So, I'm doing it for him.

I've walked the narrow strip of land...

Thought all you Book of Mormon Tour enthusiasts may want to know about this conference. Notice the last line in the story...

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/56774

You think John Clark is going to miss this one?

Peace in the Midwest.

From Snail Suckers to Rabbit Chasers

Yesterday in 501 Clark referred to the Fremont as "Rabbit Chasers".

I think that we should all realize the significance of this statement, due to previous monikers for the Fremont such as "Snail Suckers".

Everything's coming up Fremont!

A Report for Chris

Chris I was hesitant to post a report of my defensis because I was so sorely disappointed in people who I used to consider my friends. USED TO! I am happy to report that the defense went well. Dr. J, Clark, and Rich all seemed pretty pleased with how it went except for a few minor things. Their main suggestion is that I expand some of my ideas into publishable articles. So that's cool. I am also happy to report that Cady showed up to support her friend, i.e. me (from now on Cady I will refer to you as Cady and not Katie, because you have earned it). It saddens me to say that Mr. Woods, Mr. Newbold, and the Crapster (yes, that means you Mrs. Raymond, or Rainmon, or what the freak ever)bent to the pressures of THE MAN (in this case Jim Allison)and deserted their friend in his time of need. They were more interested in calculating some mindless statistic that they will probably never use then supporting a collegue. They'll probably have a good laugh over a pint at their next "Concert Goers of Interpol" club meeting (Commonly referred to as CGI). Well who needs um. I've got Dave Madsen(left), Joel Janetski(center), and Rich Talbot(right)all semi-agreeing on one project. Plus I have one friend at ASU, one in Okalahoma somewhere, and ONE at BYU. Good day sir. I said good day!

What the Crapster, Yodester??

Whaa??? Monday? 11:00am?? Well, I have a very important quantitative methods class with a Jim Allison at that same time. What am I to do? True, the Fremont are no match for the Nabataeans, but I may consider going just the same. That is, if you will bring some dang good cookies or something.

What are you even talking about anyway?

Thesis-schmeesis is what I say.

Conferences and Katrina

Hello Fremont Fellows:
I hope everybody's classes are going well. I am being crushed with readings in my "Culture core" class and have a class on political dynamics taught by a Mesoamericanist. They are pretty interesting, but it has been a while since I've been in class and since these classes are 3 hours a piece, back to back, that makes for 6 hours on Monday nights of keeping my eyelids open and a long run-on sentence. But, I've met a number of southwest students all doing interesting research and have spent a beautiful evening in the house of Paul Minnis and Pat Gilman recently. They have a dog named Kidder.
Chris, are you planning to go to any of the SW conferences that are coming up? (Safford or Southwest Conference in Las Cruces NM) They seem to be pretty standard, although the SW conference is an invited-only conference and only occurs every 2 years. Let me know if you plan to go.
Katrina, why did you do that to so many people. That was so wrong.
Just a note to all those still in Utah, take a look at the mountains for me, take a sip of the Provo river, and give Clark a hug today. Be thankful you are there. Peace in the Midwest!

Mr. Yoder is alive but not so well.....109!

Of course I vist the site...well I haven't up until today. But that was because I haven't even been on the internet until the last day or two. It's freaking HOT MAN! Todays forecast: 109! Do you understand?! 109! I'm not cut out for this stuff. I walk around campus and I'm sweating like a mule in a Mexican police office while a a guy named Juan puts on a big white rubber glove. Yeah, its that hot.

We got all moved in in the last week and I've checked out campus a bit. Besides it being hot, I have an office in a brand new building, which is nice. And the campus in general has a lot of goodies for graduate students, lounges, computer labs, discounts, etc. So that's cool. I met with my professors this week to see what responsibilities I'll have. I'm the GA for two professors. One's a soco but the other is Karen Harry (apparently a minor ceramic goddess or something). You know those ceramists. Next semester I get switched over to being a GA for my advisor, Barbra Roth.

So my thesis defense is schedualed for Sept 19th at 11:00am if anyone is interested. It should be fun to watch me get crucified by Clark. Who knows. So Chris, what did your committee have to say to you? Going to be going to the publishers soon? Ya done good by the way. Well, I'm way to dry, need to get back outside so I can work up a sweat again. Oh, did you guys hear about the dates for the pithouse at North Creek? 9000BP! Sweet. I hear a dissertation calling.....

Back to school

Today is the day--BYU has officially opened for business.

Our class selection was sort of limited and Holly totally copied my schedule.
We are taking 501 (Clark's death march), 502 (stats), and 512 (CRM).

Cady is TA-ing for Glenna, I am TA-ing/teaching for Clark, and Holly is TA-ing for Johnson (I think)(If I'm wrong Hol, let me know).

Sherri is working for Geo-Marine Inc. and getting married, Scott is doing stuff for OPA/Dr.J, and has a baby on the way.

Chris is working for Rio Salado and Dave Abbot, Mike is working with Minnis, and Emily is at the U of U.

So, that leaves Mr. Yoder, Sean (and that Holje girl), and Craig...what are you doing?

Let us know(If you even visit this site anymore).

A Backstreet Boys video recommended for Craig

Here, then click "Just Want You to Know".

Introduction to the Hohokam

So I dug three burials today. Imagine that... I'd post some pictures but the local tribes don't allow photographs. I've been working at Los Canopas, a long term platform mound Hohokam community. There are about 20 people working at the site, and I'm apparently assistant project director. I'll be directing the dig Monday, as the director is going to be out of town.

The city of Phoenix and the state of Arizona have an antiquities law that requires the mitigation of ALL human remains on both private and public land. If you find a cluster of Hohokam pithouses, you've also found a cemetery, making for a ton of contract work.

We're trying to get all of the human remains out of the site, so we're monitoring backhoes until they hit a grave, where we stop them and start digging. There are about 20 exposed burials, maybe 40 more that have already been dug, and a lot of trenches yet to dig. Most of the burials are cremations, pretty much just pots full of ash and bone. The inhumations are nutty, it's like freakin' CSI in there the bones are so preserved.

We went on a survey the other day and I was getting mocked for finding groundstone and lithics. ME, finding groundstone and lithics in a world of ceramics?! I guess you can take the boy out of the basin, but not the basin out of the boy...

Haiku for Holly

Sweet Nabatean...

Irishman and red sweater

You're gay? What the crap?

A Haiku for Chris

Proletariat
Fighting hard for the Fremont

I miss the finger

Minnis is Mindful of the Fremont

Well, I had a great meeting with Paul Minnis yesterday about possible dissertation topics. It was fruitful and comforting. At one point he mentioned how working at Casas Grandes can be difficult because many Southwest archaeologists tend to not pay attention to what goes on in this region. Wow, seems very similar to our Fremont predicament. Well, there is something about periphery studies that warrants attention and we're not the only ones who think so. Just thought I'd add my two cents and say that Minnis commiserates. Take care, all.