ONE

Back at it?

In all honesty I had put the blog on the "back burner" for this semester. Things this fall have been so out-of-this-world crazy that I really didn't have time to even think about reflections or thoughts to share. That being said, I have had a lot of comments posted or e-mailed to me lately which is telling me that people are still finding this blog and finding interest. That has led me to want to continue to share my thoughts and experiences so I am going to try to get back in the blogging grove.

So what has been going on? A LOT

I am taking some really involved classes this semester that have be doing some very involved and intricate work that is occupying my every thought. I am currently working on the evaluation design of the HIV/AIDS program in Uganda with the aid of some new research assistants that we have taken on. I am super pleased with the progress, professionalism, and work ethic of the group that we have compile and think that it is going to work really well. I am also beginning a new phase of research into masculinity. I have a "Culture, Identity, and Power" class in which I am critiquing the "New Masculinity" paradigm as not being reflective of the lived experience of my own generation. I am conducting interviews and literature reviews to combine with my data from talking to young men in Uganda to show that we have a new form of masculinity in my own generation that has not yet been shared. In addition I am working on a project on environmental education to aid in the environmental justice/racism movement that is starting in South Memphis.

I think that is it for the moment, or at least all that I can come up with for the moment.

Cheers!!

New HIV Education Campaign in the U.S.

Don't have much time to go into details, but just heard of this new education and awareness campaign that could really do some good things.

It is called Living Positive By Design

Back to it

I am sure that by this point most of the people whom were following this blog have now moved on. And I don't blame them. This summer brought a lot of new adventure and demands into my life and I wasn't able to make the commitment to keep up two blogs. With that being said, this one is back. After taking a much needed break from technology and everything anthroplogical, I am back to needing a venue for writing and expressing myself in the most anonymous way possible.

So everything starts back today. Classes resume (6 hours of class without a break to be exact) and I am diving head first back into my work from Uganda. While the much needed break from my research and research partner are over, I am ready to get back to the grind. This semesters classes are already proving to be a challenge with the amount of reading that I know lies in store and the demands of my graduate assistantship. I have to admit that I am having extremely mixed feelings about getting back to it.

This summer allowed for a plethora of personal and professional exploration for me and led me to make some rather big decisions. The most substantial of which was deciding to work in the field after getting my masters versus heading straight into a Ph.D. program. While I deliberated over this for some time it was the secondary factors that were more of the deciding moment for me rather than pure academic ones. Spending another couple of years here in Memphis and being able to give back to the city that has given me so much is something that I think is necessary. Adding to that I hope that I am able to apply my interest and work that I did in Uganda to the population here in Memphis for both philanthropic and academic purposes.

Regardless, this semester will be a challenge and an adventure and while I am hesitant to get really excited, I am curious about what this next year will bring.

I will be blogging on the same randomness and often ranting that is usual in hopes that someone out there may actually find it interesting.

Cheers!!!

Still alive and Kickin

Hello All.

The last thing I wrote was of me heading off to Uganda. Well, I have been here over a month now and am finding it rather fascinating. We are here to do an evaluation on an HIV/AIDS education program, but being medical anthropologist minded we are diving into the culture as well. And in order to study the culture of HIV/AIDS, one must study the culture of sex. So far we have been conducting random conversations on the topic at popular local hangouts, bars, and clubs which has been a riot. Also, we have recently made our way into one of the high sex work areas of town and have befriended both a "pimp" and "prostitute" in the sex work industry. The interviews were very interesting and emotional and more informative then I think they could ever realize.

I am learning a lot on this trip and it has undoubtedly changed my world view. I have so many topics that I could carry in Ph.D. research and so many NGO's that I want to start that will actually do some good and that I can actually see in the field. That topic is for another time though. Hope you haven't given up hope on my blogging, internet access here is sparse.

Headed to Uganda

So I am getting ready to go to Uganda. Yep. It is finally here. I am gonna to be there for exactly 63 days and am nervous and exited all at the same time. The reason that I want everyone to know this is because this blog will be my sort of blog for venting my frustrations and trials while I am gone. That being said, i am not sure how much I will blog here because I have a second blog that I will also be keeping up with.

Ok, time to get back to packing. Check out my other blog about my time in Uganda as well, Ramblings from Abroad.

Wish me luck.

It paid off

I feel that this semester is by far that I have had in my entire school career. I had many, many sleepless nights and there was even a wedge driven between me and my wife. This semester took a toll on my life that I could have never imagined. Now it is over.

I never thought that just getting grades back could provide validity and resolution to the work, effort, and strife that has gone into a semester. I really had no idea that I would feel better after just seeing my grades.



There were several obstacles that I had to overcome this semester. There were several times that I thought I would never make it through. Yet somehow I still didn't feel vindicated, until I saw my grades. It is really strange though. I knew that I was doing well. As always, I could have done better and put more time into it, but I did well. Somehow seeing those grades really allowed for me to formulate my identity. If there was doubt that I was going to cut it or those moments that I doubted if I was an anthropologist all became moot knowing that I could do it and get perfect scores.

Now comes the next stage of my career. While I have my reservations about working in the field and my ability to do so, I am diving in head first to learn from my mistakes and be an anthropologists. Knowing that I made the transition from a biological anthropologist to a biocultural/medical anthropologist really gives me the confidence that I can do this. I will be heading into new, unchartered territory in my career having to act professional and confident while in the inside I will be terrified and scared out of my mind. I am ready , though, and these grades made me realize that I can do.....and be good at it.

Wow.. A must See

LHC Rap

Nerdiness!!!!

I needed a laugh

Facebook Manners And You - watch more funny videos

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

Put it on a hook - A rap video (featuring mario, link and megaman) by Inhumans - watch more funny videos

Butter Face - watch more funny videos

Dude v. Chick #5 - Working - watch more funny videos

An Interdisciplinary Evaluation of an HIV/AIDS Education Program in Kampala, Uganda

SAS Foundation: Kampala, Uganda

Yes, this is my new research. It is the research that I will be conducting for two months this summer and will serve as my practicum. Here is a little rundown of it.

We have been asked by a HIV/AIDS treatment, counseling, and educating foundation to evaluate the education portion of their organization. We are looking at the training and establishment of not only the mentors providing the education but also the children themselves. We are doing this in attempt to identify best practices and provide recommendations that will allow this program to be replicable and sustainable through the rest of the city and eventually the rest of the country.

The research we will be doing is all social. We will be working with researchers from Johns Hopkins and Case Western that are doing the epidemiological and biological research for this project. Our focus will be on determining if the material presented is appropriate and received by children of different age groups and that the information is correct. We will also be evaluating if this program is causing behavioral change and if this information is having effect on the community at large. Our research will include interviews, observations, focus groups, and community meetings with a focus on the impacts that this program has had and how to improve it.

The major goal for this program is the replicability and sustainability aspects. This program is getting a lot of media and a lot of support in the region and has been cited as reducing seroprevelance in the area. We are there to relate the information that the children are learning and determining if it having an effect on their actual behavior.

For us, this is a major undertaking and could be a major benefit for us. The director of the program wants us to further develop the social data to show the efficacy of the project and spread the word. He is really wanting us to publish and present this material as much as possible. Talks of the future even reach to presentations to Ugandan parliament, the international conferences on HIV/AIDS education and eradication. This would be amazing.

We met with the head of the foundation this past weekend and everything is working out great. He is really excited and supportive of the research and is really excited about what we have to offer. He is a very well known and very well connected physician both here and in Uganda and will be a major cornerstone for us throughout the rest or our careers.

We will be spending two months gathering data in Kampala, Uganda and then spending the next six months doing data analysis and reporting. This is kind of the project that will validate me as an anthropologist and is turning into a project that will set the tone of my career.

I am so excited.

Paula and Raiford's Disco

Here's a video that I found about Paula and Raiford's Disco. For all of you that have never seen Raiford, he is the star of this video and is as amazing as ever. I also just now figured out that the bartender that always talked to me and knew me as "cutie" was Paula. Guess I should have figured that out, oh well.

Academic In Training

I have to admit, the thought of becoming an academic versus a "professional" always seemed like an easy way out of sorts, a decision to be divided from the "real world", a choice of never entering the "work force" and becoming one of "those" people who was set on doing research and teaching topics that may not even be known by the rest of the world.

All that has changed.

My undergraduate work trained me in a set of skills that were very useless without some other kind of title behind my name like MS, Ph.D., or board certification. I knew from this point that I was going to have to have further training, but that I might be able to land a "real job" once all was said and done. Or so I thought. The more I got specialized and indoctrinated into anthropology, and forensics in particular, I realized that I would more than likely have to find a job with an academic institution and work as a consultant. This really didn't strike me as being an academic though, like I would still be a professional in the business sense of the word.

I am now an academic. NO doubt about it. And it is has dispelled all preconceived notions that I had about it. Yes I knew anthropology graduate students and doctoral candidates when I was doing my undergraduate work, but I didn't know any of them well enough to really understand what it was like. On top of that, most of the graduate students that I did know had second jobs which spoke to there being extra time to be had outside of the education they were getting. I know this was probably not the case knowing what I know now. It was a necessity for them, it would not have been a choice.

I have also known other people whom have gone to graduate school for business related masters degrees or some one year masters program, and still this didn't help me understand what to expect. I just didn't take people's word for their experience and I didn't see the dedication or demand through their actions during our interactions. If that makes sense. I always down played the current status of graduate studies as being an extension of the specialty you had chosen during your undergraduate career and not much else, not this difficult. I have to admit that some other people in graduate school that I have talked to have fallen into two categories: those whom have every hour of every day taken up by their studies and research and those who skate by with little effort and little dedication. I contribute this to the difference in academic areas that i have seen as in what is demanded and expected. But I could be wrong, I have been before.

I say all of this to say: Graduate school is not easy. Becoming an academic is one of the most demanding, stressful, and intense experiences that I have ever had and not what I expected. I am enjoying every minute of it as it is expanding my knowledge base, teaching me to think and conceptualize in different ways, and really testing my limits. But damn, it is consuming me. Having so many things in the process on a regular basis, the coordination between classes, meetings, projects, and assignments all on top of having an assistantship is a lot. This is the first time in my life where the demands of my life and work (aka school) are actually diminishing my sleep, causing fatigue, interrupting my hunger patterns, and leading to contemplate whether or not I am actually burning out.

Becoming an academic is now something that holds prestige to me. It is a position that I hope to achieve in that doing so will allow me to hold a title that I can really be proud. An opportunity to look back and know the amount of hard work and dedication that is required to reach such a position and know that I was able to do it.

I am so happy and so fulfilled by the work I do, I hope that I can accomplish my newly founded goals and become someone that people can look up to. I want to be an academic as in doing so will bring be great pride and allow me to give something back to other people. Not only in the nature of my discipline but in the ability to share my knowledge with others.

PeaceofPi suggested this wonderful post about what it is like to be an academic. If you are in this boat with us as well, check it out. The K-Zone: So you want to be a University Lecturer?

I want to try this

What do you think?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hairport_lisbon/2762418657/in/set-72157604787269381/

Works in Progress #1

I wanted to work through some of the projects that I am working on so that I can better articulate it to people that ask. I thought, well what better place to do that than here to share it with the masses. So if you are not interested in the work of a bio-cultural anthropologist then feel free to skip this post.

Evaluating the Weight-loss surgery Model

I have become very interested in the concept of weight-loss surgery particularly from the secondary health implications that it can have on an individual. After doing some preliminary research it is apparent that there are many more social implications alive here that I did not recognize in the beginning. One aspect of our (me and my research partner) research will be looking out the biological stresses and complications posed by these surgeries. Examples of this would include the effects of rapid weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, and things like osteoporosis or osteopenia as a result. Another aspect of the project is going to be looking at the individual on the basis of their identity and power struggles within society as they go through the transition of loosing weight. These could be things that either complicate their progress or cause them to regain the weight they loose. Things we have noted so far is not being able to handle the new attention they receive from loosing weight, power struggles with significant others since they are no longer repressed socially due to their weight, and on the other end of the spectrum the strong empowerment that some individuals feel by having a sense of control over their lives. There are a number of issues that fall into this group, but it is fascinating. Another aspect of the research looks at the model of intervention by the clinic. Looking at the authoritative position of the surgeon, access to knowledge by the patient, and the power struggle that resides between physician and his support staff and between physician and his patient. The model that has been alluded to here is one of a deviant model where the patient is seen as a social deviant and is repressed through the workings of the weight loss procedures. Again, very interesting. Last, my research partner and I are hoping to design and implement some new methodology through the use of new technology. There is no reason that anthropology should not be capitalizing on the technology that is out there and we feel that we have the knowledge base to at least attempt this. The use of blogs, twitter, and bookmarking applications that will allow for real time communication, support, and dissemination of knowledge between physician, support staff, and patients that will allow for support and confirmation on a number of issues without having a face-to-face interaction which can be problematic for these individuals.

It is our goal through doing this project to understand the weight-loss issue through the lens of weight-loss surgery in hopes of building a list of best practices and more socially sensitive methodology. To understand the position of both the patient and physician and the problems they encounter working with each other and amongst themselves. Hopefully, we will be able to offer some suggestions to help with adherence and compliance to such a procedure and regimen.


So that is project one, more to come.

News In Paleontology

Paleontologists Discover Skeleton Of Nature’s First Sexual Predator

Hilarious! I love Onion News!

A Spring Miracle

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2393/2217286668_7574a51e5c.jpg?v=0

As many of you have noticed, especially if you follow my tweets, the past couple of weeks have been crazy busy. With the middle of the semester upon me the stress of book reviews, reports, research, and mid-term exams have been weighing heavy on my mind. This is in addition to me trying to figure out where to uproot the family and move us to for a Ph.D. program. As you know the first attempt to find a suitable Ph.D program was less than successful it has begun.

So mid-terms. I have been presented with the midterm of all mid-terms this semester. I am used to being busy. I am used to writing an exorbitant amount in a short amount of time. I am used to conceptualizing and condensing vast amounts of material. This one topped the cake. This mid-term is designed to help us follow the history of anthropology from it's conception to present. This is to be accomplished through the identification and chronological ordering of all paradigms, identification and contribution of all major theorists since the 1600's, identification and significance of major anthropological terms, and the summary of at least four major theorists of our choosing. If this doesn't seem like a lot of material....well you would be mistaken. Let me just say that I have personally written over 20 single spaced pages at this point and only find myself about half way done....at the most. On top of this I have spent upwards of at least 30 hours working on gathering and conceptualizing information in order to present concise and precise information on the progression of theoretical paradigms throughout the history of anthropology.

This mid-term has consumed my every thought and hour for the past three weeks. I have been skipping class and choosing to not read for other courses in order to get this mid-term completed by this Wednesday. Then the miracle. After consulting with numerous other colleagues of mine (fellow graduate students) we employed a graduate spokesperson to petition for an extension of our deadline....and it worked. This never works. We have been working our asses off and now we have an extra week to complete the exam. I can now put the extra time into this assignment that will allow for a more cohesive presentation of the material, let me employee my table of contents, and produce a document that I will be able to reference in the future. A miracle. MIRACLE.

I just can't believe it worked. I also can't believe some of the products that I have seen coming from other students. The amount of pages that this professor is going to have to read is remarkable. I have to say that I finally feel that I am really learning the material through the process, but having to write so much and so often is leaving me jaded and uninterested. I hope that I can just push through and get this shit done.

On another note, I sat in on a support group for individuals that have gone through weight-loss surgery (mostly Lap-band) and gathered so much material that I am ecstatic. There are so many issues and so many social implications to this new social construct that it will provide for very interesting research, possibly for years to come. It was an amazing experience and made me happy to be an anthropologist again, despite of the mid-term.

Doctoral Program Visit #1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24785917@N03/2980051095/

Ok........to say the least my first doctoral program visit did not go well. Maybe that isn't fair. It didn't go as planned, we will go with that.

The plan was to visit campus and get a feel of the workings of the campus and the student life type of things. I also wanted to be able to visit the department and take a look around to see what kind of resources were available and how well the graduate students interacted with the professors. I had set up meetings with three professors that I wanted to work with (two of them more than the other) as well as plan to attend a guest lecture and meet with some graduate students to get their opinions. So that is what I had planned.

What happened was a little different. I did get a good feel for the campus. I got a good feel for the department. I got to talk to a couple of graduate students (one of which graduated from my alma mater) and see most of the department resources. And the guest lecture, Dr. Bob Brain, was an amazing hypothesis of increasing predation allowing for increased encephalization. But that is where it all stopped. When I first got on campus the one professor that I kind of wanted to meet with yet don't care to study with, canceled cause he had broken a tooth. Ok, no big deal. Well the day went on and my first meeting didn't show up. I started to get upset at this point. I spent time hanging out in the department talking to other students and other professors. Ok, so killed two hours of time just walking around and waiting for my final meeting. And after waiting and hour after my meeting was supposed to start, I considered my self defeated and went home.

So, things did not go as planned, but I did learn a lot. There is also the fact that I did have to explain my interests, thoughts, theories, and etc. over and over again which really helped me to clarify how and what to say during these interviews. I also got a good feel for the department which is one of the more important aspects that I needed to see. But, I had planned to also be back on campus on Friday only to find out that the department was going to be closed. Despite the fact that people encouraged me to go ahead and visit despite the fact that it was the end of finals week, no one mentioned that the department was going to be closed. So, I am out of town for an additional day, unnecessarily, because someone neglected to inform me that the department wasn't going to be open.

Ok, just wanted to put this all here so people could read it and I wouldn't have to go through it over and over again. Also, this will allow me to look back and see how poorly school #1 did on the basis of respect and interest in students.

The Landlord

The Landlord from Will Ferrell

Sorry. Don't want to be one of those bloggers who only posts videos. But this is f'n hilarious!!

Damn Humans!

Procrastination

Every time I find myself in a bind for time I end up wanting to add things to my list. It isn't so much as of wanting to procrastinate consciously, but some unconscious mechanism that is trying to sabotage my sanity and make things as difficult as possible. The good thing is I am realizing this now before it does too much more damage.

Like today for instance. I got a TON of sleep. With my constraints on time and the amount of work I have to do I probably should not have slept at all. Then, this morning, while printing out my paper to proof and writing my theory dissertation (a.k.a. mid-term take-home exam) I decided that I would like to redesign my blog page, find new people on twitter, find some great new material to post on, and look into all things techy. Luckily....I didn't. Instead I am writing it all down here so that I can procrastinate for a couple of minutes and then move on.


Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35752108@N00/118277922/

The paper I have written is an in-depth review of Sean B. Carroll's Endless Forms Most Beautiful. I will post a review of it in the upcoming days. It is a popular work that covers the paradigms of evolutionary thought and our current working paradigm of evo devo. While the concept might seem a bit abstract to some, the writing is very enjoyable and tangible. The arguments proposed within the book provide a framework that makes the "evolution in schools" and "creationism" argument obsolete and even a bit ridiculous. So, it is a great read for anyone that wants to have a better understanding on the current work of evolutionary research and our movement in evo devo. I will post more about that soon.

Ok, enough for now, back to work!!!

Not sleepy...can't study

Every time that I think that my life isn't going to get any busier...it does. I have been out of my mind. I mean the, I am gonna freak out in a way that I don't even want the dogs to see, kind of freak out mega-session.

I am technically on "Spring Break" this week. The quotes are a strong hint on how I feel about that. I have so much assigned tests, readings, and grants that I am going out of my head. And yet I can't seem to focus...or get sleepy at beneficial times. I guess my recent study schedule has thrown my sleep schedule out of whack...I am tired right after lunch and then not again till 3 or 4 in the morning.

Anywho, I have this research project that I am trying to get off the ground, and if it pans out I will finally get to go to Africa. I have been asked to assist in a program evaluation in Uganda. I know I have written on this before, but this should give some more info. I will be working on evaluating the effectiveness of and HIV/AIDS education and mentoring program for school children. The program is based out of Kampala, Uganda and will be through a private clinic organization that has established this program. I have already started trying to write up grants and etc. for funding, and then the project component will begin. I will be in Uganda for 8 weeks, will spend the next year analyzing the data, will return again for a month for follow up....and then who knows. I am really looking forward to it but am a little overwhelmed as well. I am not sure yet, but there is a very good possibility that we have bitten off more than we can chew.

Other than that, I have gotten my first grad school assignment that made me want to vomit. I really did get nauseous. A take home exam consisting of 2 front and back pages. And the topic......History and Theory of Anthropology. Estimated hours to compete: 30. Weeks to complete: 2. Estimated Pages for completion: 30.
Yes, I want to "break-a-leg" just to get out of writing what could be deemed a very detailed dissertation.

Enough about that. I spent a great day with the wife and doggies today, my brother came to visit this weekend, and I got to blow off some steam with some colleagues. I needed all of that to prepare me for having to buckle down and pull a 70 hour week of.....just studying.

I am sure I will be writing more in order to procrastinate further.

My favortie Animal

Humans. Homo sapien sapiens. anatomy. biology. physiology. habits. behaviors. sociality. culture.

Humans are the most complex animal. The most interesting specimen to study. Things are never simple, things are never straight forward, there is an exception to every rule. That is why I am an anthropologist.

Reflection has become sort of a past time or hobby for me at the moment. While I have found my personal identity, I am still looking for my academic or professional identity. This leads me to be very critical. Not saying that this is a bad thing at all. I am being trained to be critical for god-sake. But is it too much?

Humans are such interesting animals. And by far my favorite animal. With nothing about being a human being simple, or even tangible for a lot of people. No two humans are alike. No two humans will have the same upbringing, same experiences, same inerpretatoins, same world-view, same understanding, same death. Each of us is unique. Each of us is a product of our experience in life.

Political Economy, Environmental injustice, Economics, Structural violence, symbolic violence, oppression, power relations, empowerment, stigmatization, stereotypes, racism, life. We are a product of everything we know, everything we learn, everything we take for granted, and everything we don't understand. We are products, or are we people? What is it to be human?

Adaptability, predictability, acclimation, enculturation, identity, culture, society, change, variation, symmetry, phenotype, genotype, evo-devo, biology, anatomy, cultural compotantancy, knowledge. What do we know? What is it that we are missing? Are we forever in this dynamic state of self study and reflection? Can we really ever understand us and understand what it means to understand?

We are by far my favorite animal. Until I understand my favorite animal; I will always be a student!

My amazing opportunity

So, I have been given an amazing opportunity and after much deliberation.....I have decided to go through with it.

I have been asked to help in the evaluation of an HIV prevention/education program in Uganda. There is a physician that works here in the U.S. that got in contact with a colleague of mine and she asked me to be a part of the team. Our tasks will be to evaluate the HIV mentoring program that has been established in Uganda and provide feedback and suggestions. There are 87 schools involved in this project and over 57,000 students. While this target population and health issue is outside my major field of focus, it is an amazing experience and will really help my career (it took me a while to realize that).

We have a lot of obsticales to still overcome and a LOT of work to do before we head over, but I am excited. I will update you more as I know more, and find more time to write.

YAY!!!!!

Where did my weeken go?

So I sit here on Sunday afternoon asking myself where the time went. Last I remember I was rushing home from GIS class on Thursday to get my house ready for company and start dinner. The rest is all a blur of drinking, Waffle-house, volunteer days, and very little sleep. Did I forget that I am in graduate school and had a lot to do today or did I just need to let loose? I think the later.

So the past two weeks my wife and I have been trading off with a friend of ours of dinner and TV night on Thursday nights. We go over there or she comes over here and we cook and we watch TV, hang out, and just talk about whatever. With both my wife and my own busy schedule, it allows us to see friends and lay low all at the same time. It has been pretty successful so far, but I tend to drink more when we hang out and since I work no less than 9 hours on Friday, it has been a challenge.

And Friday, I went to work for my 8 hours, met my wife and her parents for dinner (which was an hour drive across town cause of traffic) and then headed out to a birthday party. My night before, long day at work, and having to be back to work at 8 on Saturday had left me excited about the party, but really not wanting to stay that long, and I was determined. Well, after I arrived my wife called and said that she was going out so I decided I could stay out a little later, and then more people came, so I decided I could drink a little more, and next thing I knew I decided to make a late night run to Southaven to Waffle-house and get home for 3 hours of very poor sleep. Needless to say, when I have a good time my little "rules" for myself go right out the window. I really had a blast and the night went by so quickly, I guess I really needed it. I am really getting to like my colleagues and really enjoying their company. This is the first time that I have been academic rivals with people and not let my competative nature get in the way. I hope that I don't do anything to mess that up as usual.

Saturday, oh Saturday. I was tired, and really not feeling like talking to people. I was running the Volunteer day for the museum and didn't really expect a good turn out. Well, of course that was not the case. I had 15 people come out, showing up at different times, and that were all pretty talkative and wanted to know about me. While I really wasn't in the mood, I had a blast and really got them to do a lot of work. So, all in all it was successful despite the fact that I wasn't looking forward to it.

And here I am, on Sunday, after sleeping 13 hours and needing to get a lot done. I have a definite reading marathon ahead of me and I am not looking forward to it. Also, my bad mood Friday night (from knowing that I had to leave early and not drink a lot) had me twitter some stuff that has now come full circle and probably upset some people. So I am experiencing some of the negative aspects of twitter. While I meant what I said when I said it, those feelings changed and quickly for that matter. One of the colleagues that I respect and admire a lot, however, may now be pissed at me and I wouldn't blame here. Regardless, I need to remember that people can find me here and that what I twitter can show up. I guess people also need to know that I share too much, and this is one of those times that it may just bite me in the ass.

Will let you know how it turns out.....Cheers!

A complete 180

While graduate school has been literally a "learning" process, I am also reflecting a lot on what I get out of each semester of required course work and the inner workings of department politics and graduate life. While I think this is something that many people do, anthropologists have a bad habit of examining not only other cultures but also their own, how they fit into that certain niche, are creating their own niche, and how that culture is effecting the overall person that they are striving to be. This is where I have made my complete 180.

My course work last semester left a lot be desired for me. My topics of study focused on community development, the culture of health care, and museum administration. While these topics are well and good, they were not what I was looking for. A lot of last semester left me very jaded and inspired me to turn things around a bit. I vowed, after the massive amounts of course work that I found less than interesting, that I am in graduate school for me and I will have to make my own way. And I have. I have gone against the advice of many and the support of few to pave my own path through this graduate program, play into departmental political games, and make myself stand out.

Course work this semester is what I wanted it to be and while being very overwhelming and daunting (upwards of 400 pages of reading a week) I am completely intellectually stimulated and satisfied. So far this semester I have delved into the principles behind social epigenetics, looking at the social factors that aid and allow for the spread and dispersal of different diseases and the way to prevent epidemics from the isolation of social factors. I am also spending a lot of time re-examining evolution, epigentics, evo-devo, and human adaptations to find a deeper understanding and synthesis of all the past anatomical information that I have taken in with the social evaluation skills that I have acquired. I am also at the forefront of contacting my own individuals for possible internships for the fall (required in my department) as well as planning summer international travel for research. Right now it looks like Bolivia, but that is still kind of up in the air.

Needless to say, while my semester is crazy, stressful, and a little over the top...I am loving it. I am enjoying my time in class and in my G.A., and despite how much that I may complain about my work load...I am doing it. I am doing it, I am playing a huge part in the critical analysis of this new material, paving options for the department, able to hold conversations on material that my peers are unaware of, and starting to separate myself from the pack.

Things are going great, and I just hope that I will find time to look into Ph.D programs soon so I can get that ball rolling. Anyone have any suggestions?

Evolution Rant

So, a news group recently reported a story that sparked a quick rant. I sent it to many of those close to me, but thought I should share it here as well here since I have not ranted in quite some time.

The original article: Knox schools say they don't teach human evolution, but how the process relates to all life

And now....my rant:

"That article made me so incredibly angry that I really wanted to respond on the discussion page but couldn't articulate my ideas in a professional manor. I can not believe that with the amount of education that people receive today, how far science has come, and how much science people incorporate into their every day lives that they don't see that there is a separation between science and religion. They are not the same, can not be compared, and don't fallow the same intellectual principles to support their ideas. It is like trying to solve a math equation using grammar rules. And if I ever hear some one say "I know we didn't come from apes" one more time I am going to freak out. People have taken a much to simplistic and mechanistic view of evolution in that argument and if it was only that easy. I can not believe the ignorance of some people and that they don't even attempt to understand it because they are so scared that it will undermine their religious beliefs. If your religious beliefs are that fragile in that you can't combine fact with faith, then you have an issue of your own...not one of science. I can't believe this is still happening, Darwin is rolling over in his grave right now. It makes me happy to also know all the publicity he is getting this year since it is the 150 year anniversary of his book publication and the 200 year anniversary of his research. He is also being posed as a strong advocate against slavery (which he was) and commended for his strong Catholic faith. He didn't have a problem with science and religion as separate entities, why are these f-tards messing it all up.

Thanks, I needed that rant"

Anyway, would love your comments!

BAM!!!

Wow....kids.....it seems like so many people that I know are having kids. What makes it even "weirder" is that most of them had not planned on it. All the people that I have known to get pregnant or have children recently have either been in a relationship or been very successful and stable people, but still..it wasn't planned. I am not against the idea of kids, but the spontaneous realization that you are going to have a kid because you had some fun a month ago is terrifying. I am a planner, i want to have things be in my control and that just isn't the case. I mean, one minute you are planning your next trip to Vegas and then all of a sudden, BAM, it is time to grow up, forget about going "out" or having "fun" (you know what I mean), it is time to start saving for college, planning birthday parties, painting nurseries, buying clothes, and diapers, diapers, diapers, and more diapers. (not to mention perfecting home-made baby food because my kid will not be eating all those chemicals in the jar kind). Anyway, no we ARE NOT pregnant and are not "planning" to be for quite some while. The whole planning thing really doesn't seem to hold up to anything these...so keep your fingers crossed. To all of those pregnant or new parents...you have my respect and you are heroes. Babies are scary!

Ok, done freaking out....how is everyone?

Joys of a Good Nights Sleep

Wow!!! I finally got a really good night of sleep and feel amazing today. It is really amazing to me how different that I feel when I have gotten a restful night. It isn't so much that I have to get 8 hours of sleep (because I didn't) but a restful night. I didn't wake up at all during the night, didn't toss or turn a lot, and am really really rested. I guess this should be a sign to me to start making rest a priority and it will really help in my productivity.

(I have been working out again as well and I am assuming this is helping also)

Finding my way

So it has started. School is back in full swing and I have a whole plethora of things to deal with. Just to let you into my little world, here is what I have decided to study for this semester:

My GA - Collections management that is allowing for some paleopathological research. I really am not at liberty to really divulge anything else.

Classes:
GIS for Health Care - applications of GIS technology for identifying health issues in order to formulate disease prevention or intervention programs

Social Epidemiology - Pattering disease through social groups

Human Adaptations - genetics, variation, adaptation, evolution

History of Anthropological Theory - title says it all

I will also be doing research with a colleague of mine on osteoporosis prevalence and care in Shelby county from both the epi and GIS perspectives.

I think it is going to be a good semester!!!

Tomorrow is the big day!!

I am back in my routine now and I am hopeful that I can keep this blog up. Tomorrow marks a very exciting and historic day that has enormous implications for our future. I am not sure if this is a case of my better understanding and investment in politics or if I have just paid more attention this go round. Either way, this is a time in our history that deserves notice. I will be camping out in front of the TV and computer as long as possible tomorrow and am looking forward to keeping track of the term of this president. There are very few political events that keep me as interested as this one is and has, and I can't wait see what manifests out of it. In short it is just the change that I am excited about. I am sure that you have heard enough of my rants and raves about the past administration, but I think Obama is just what this country needs and in my opinion, help reinforce the democratic and liberal ways of thinking and allowing us to branch out from that which is conservative thinking.

Career Freakout

Maybe this is just part of being an academic. Maybe it is part of being in a field that doesn't prepare you for a specific job. Maybe it is being in a field where you have to shape your own outcome and never really know what you are going to be doing until you do it. What ever it is, it has me consumed!

On my breaks from class work I try to spend my time doing projects (school related) and reading as much as possible. This way my reading speed and comprehension don't suffer from being on a break and I keep myself busy. The problem is that with this break I have chosen to read a lot of material that is career related. I have chosen to do a lot of reading pertaining specifically to forensic anthropology since I am not currently studying that and want to make sure that I stay sharp on the subject. Well it is making me really freak out. I have this overwhelming feeling that I should be more specialized, that my attempt to be a more rounded anthropologist is going to hinder my future career goals versus help them. I know this is just the interpretation that I am setting up from the text that I am reading, but it is really throwing me for a loop. What is it that I am trying to do here? Where am I wanting to go with all of this, what am I trying to be well trained in? What am I doing???? Oh the complicated and convoluted path that is the anthropologist.

I think the part that is bothering me the most is that I don't really know. I will never really know. My career doesn't have absolutes. When you go to school to be a medical doctor you get out and have a job as a doctor. When you train to be a teacher you get out and get a job as a teacher. When you train as an anthropologist you get a job as an instructor, a consultant to investigations, or work in a health department, hospital, or clinic in one of many many titles. But there is never a job opening for an anthropologist. There is no place to mark that you got a degree in anthropology. You constantly have to sell yourself. You have to say that you can do qualitative and quantitative research, you can write grants, you can do osteological and trauma analysis, you can do regression analysis, you can do cultural research, GIS, interviews, oral histories, design culturally appropriate programing, or even do epidemiology. You never get a job as an anthropologist (almost never anyway) and it drives me crazy.

Right now in my life my wife and I are enjoying each others company, spending time with our friends, enjoying the culture of the city, and taking in life. In the back of my mind is the fact that we will start a family within the next five years and that I should probably start contributing to our finances (and my loans). But I can't!!! Right now I know that I "should" be done with my master's degree in spring of 2010. After that....who the hell knows. I may get into a doctoral program I might not. Do I go for a doctorate in forensics, physical, cultural, or medical anthropology and after I pick one of those what do I plan to do with it? Is the job that I want gonna be available when I am ready to get a job? Will there be a job that interests me at all or have I wasted my time? Am i gonna spend 10 years in college just to find out that I could make the same amount and a truck driver (not to put down truck drivers but the ones I know did not have secondary education). Is this process gonna get me anywhere but allowing me to study what I have wanted to study? I just don't know and don't know that I will until they happen.

I am a planner. I love to plan things out even to the minute. I am (almost) always on time and do very well with my time management (except for my procrastination which is usually intentional). But I can't plan this. I can't plan out the next 5 years and know that I am gonna be in a good place. I don't know if I am wasting my time. The thing that bothers me the most is that I don't know if I am gonna be able to be a true forensic anthropologist. I am still unsure if I will be able to get into a doctoral program in forensic anthropology after defaulting to a medical anthropology degree for my masters. I did so because I didn't get into any forensic anthropology masters programs. I didn't get in because I wasn't mature enough as a sheltered 18 year old to not drink and make myself go to class. My low (2.99) GPA kept me out of a forensics masters program and therefore may keep me from my dream. My decisions as a freshman (only the first semester where my grades bad) may keep me from doing what I want to do and that kills me. I have worked my ass off getting back into school, staying above a 3.75 GPA since my sophomore year in college, and taking as many summers and hours as possible to have the first semester I was in college haunt me and kill my dreams forever. I am in crisis!!!

Just Relax

I really suck at keeping up with blogging for some reason. I have taken a lot of time to do some leisure reading, travel a bit, and had a friend come stay with me for a week around new years. I have had an amazing break and some amazing experiences and have really enjoyed my break from everything including the computer.

Let me share a very nice revelation with you. If you feel stressed, anxious, and stretched in too many areas....but an automatic response on your e-mail and don't worry about getting back to it till you have to. It has been so good for me not to have to be on the computer all the time to ensure that I am responding to e-mails in a certain amount of time. I understand that this possibility is not available for everyone, but if you can then i really suggest it.

My second little tip on relaxing is....read. Let TIVO catch those shows that you aren't wanting to miss, turn on some soft music, and read a book. Not something heavy or cerebral (unless you like that like I do) but something light heated and easy to read...and relax. I have read David Sedaris' holiday short story collection and am now reading Descartes' Bones. It is a really good story about history, anthropology, science, and religion that has really captured my attention and been very enjoying.

Last, my friend being here was relaxing as well. It help me really realize that there are some friends that you are going to be able to connect with forever, and others are just not going to work out. My friend went to undergrad with me and then moved to Nashville. I usually only see him for a couple of hours when we meet for drinks as we stay over in the country music capital. This time though, he came and stayed 5 days with me and my wife and we got to know each other again. We still really have a lot in common and were able to have some really good, intellectual, and compelling conversations. We still have a lot in common and still are able to talk and experience things together without it being awkward and still getting along great. This was a great experience to have to reset me for the coming semester and I suggest it to anyone that hasn't talked to one of their most cherished friends in a while, ask them to come stay for a while and it will help you relax.

I am going to continue my relaxation now and head back to reading and will hopefully be able to keep up with my bloggy community.