Handheld xrf and archaeology

I'll have a unit on loan from Bruker this summer to try on ceramics and maybe soils at the Etruscan site of Poggio Colla where I've been working. Cool - thanks, Bruker!

Here's what another vendor, Niton, has to see about the possibilities of handheld xrf:

With new advancements in technology, archaeometry – or the collection of quantitative data from archaeological samples – is quickly becoming one of the most trusted methods in archaeological study. As the longtime industry leader in portable XRF analysis, Thermo Fisher Scientific is uniquely capable of providing handheld nondestructive testing solutions for art and artifacts in the field, in the lab, or on the museum wall.

NITON analyzers are ideal tools to aid in a variety of applications in art and archaeology, including:
Archaeological reconnaissance survey – obtain geochemical data instantaneously
Provenance – compare sources and artifacts, build databases, and much more
Restoration – match pigments and other materials for restoration quickly and accurately
Conservation – help identify how objects have been preserved in the past, and how to better conserve them for the future by looking at elemental composition data Cultural Resource Management – identify areas of historic human activity quickly and easily
NAGPRA Compliance – ensure that traces of toxic preservatives have been removed from artifacts prior to repatriation
Dating – glean important clues to the age of petroglyphs, alloys, and other materials through elemental analysis
Authentication – help authenticate a variety of art and artifacts using elemental data

Any success stories or warnings from my many readers?

Michael Jackson, Our Generation’s Elvis

Growing up, I can still recall seeing the Michael Jackson poster on my oldest sister’s bedroom door. It was larger than life, just like him. A full length poster that not only met, but matched, her dusty pink carpet floor. He was clad in a brown leather jacket with that 80s-style soft lighting surrounding him in a heavenly glow. Soulful brown eyes and a set of pearly white teeth to set it off. He parted his lips to form his trademark smile, both shy and sweet. To my sister, he was dreamy. To me, he was a cool dude! I can still recall her Levi's jean jacket covered in "Beat It" and "Thriller" buttons. I can even recall getting a look-a-like Thriller jacket in red pleather one year for Christmas, along with a two-tone colored Nerf football. I put that jacket on and performed my best Heisman trophy pose. I still have the photo of it, which naturally is one my family enjoys ridiculing the most. I believe that was the same year I had to sit thru the dance recital that both my sisters were in. Their jazz performance of...you guessed, Thriller. I would later dress up as Michael Jackson for Halloween, complete with shiny glove. So many memories. So many songs. Like many my age, Michael Jackson was a part of our childhood. He helped define what part of being an 80s kid was. And without him, I don't think my childhood would have been the same.

We didn’t have MTV at our house, so when we ventured to Grandma’s for a visit, my sisters and I would swarm the TV hoping to catch a Michael Jackson video. And his videos weren’t just music videos, they were like mini-movies! No one has ever been able to duplicate his style. The man was truly one of a kind and so incredibly talented! Older folks may argue that he’s no Elvis Presley, but to the younger generation, he was far bigger. In fact, he was the biggest selling artist ever in music history! That’s right, "The King of Pop" Michael Jackson outsold "The King" Elvis Presley! And even though Elvis will forever be known as putting Rock & Roll on the map, Michael Jackson will be forever known as reinventing it and giving the world what has become known as Pop Rock.

The thing about Michael Jackson and his music that I think a lot of people missed or took for granted is that he was sooo ahead of the times. For example, the song "Man In The Mirror". Michael Jackson was preaching for people to make a change 20 years before Barack Obama ever made it his Presidential campaign slogan! Michael Jackson knew back then that if change in the world was to be made, that he had to start with "the man in the mirror" - himself. Of course it wasn’t until Obama took the stage two decades later proclaiming change needed to be made in America that people all decided to chant the word and jump on the bandwagon. But because Michael Jackson was a musician and not a politian, his message didn’t seem to hit home hard enough.

Another thing about Michael Jackson is even if you look back and say that guy grabbed his crotch too much when he danced, he had entirely too much plastic surgery to the point where his nose was nearly falling off, or even those that bring up the pedophile allegations which he was found NOT guilty of...people still can’t deny his God-given talents! The man could dance circles around anyone, not to mention blow the roof off of any sold out venue. His lyrics were always powerful and well written. They touched on every aspect of the human condition, all while doing it in a "cool" way, never overly emotional or cliché.

So I’m sure you already heard the sad and shocking news, "The King of Pop" Michael Jackson has passed away. Honestly, celebrity deaths never bother me, but this one did. I think the reason is because he helped shape my childhood. Michael Jackson's name was ingrained into what I listened to, how I dressed and even who I admired. I used to moonwalk across my Mom's kitchen floor! I have to admit, I'm still having a hard time believing he's gone. Just last week I called up my sister when I had learned he was making a comeback tour. He hadn’t performed in my hometown for 20 years! So my sister and I made a pact that if he ever came back, we would get tickets, no matter what the cost. These days, whether people see attending a Michael Jackson concert as queer or not, it’s the one concert you must see in your lifetime! Just think of what an incredible performance he must put on. Of course, that concert is never going to take place now. I was far too young to see him back in the 80s and as of yesterday, it’s now too late to ever see him.

The great thing about music is that even when the artist dies, his work lives on. Be prepared to hear Michael Jackson’s music being pumped in every club, out of every car window and on every street corner for years to come. The man may have died, but his music never will.

Thanks for being a part of my childhood, Michael. You will be greatly missed.

The Bitch Slap Heard Around The Blogosphere

You don’t have to be a blogger or a celebrity to know who Perez Hilton is. The man is a fame whore and looks for the limelight every chance he can get, whether the lighting is complimentary or not. To Perez Hilton, any publicity is good publicity. Covering scandals involving celebrities is how he makes his living. And when there isn’t a celebrity scandal to report, he tries his damndest to stir one up by spreading rumors (whether factual or not) and just generally talking shit on people. God only knows why his virtual gossip rag drives in millions a day! Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t find anything he posts to be of interest. Then again, I’m not one to pick up a tabloid magazine or tune into TMZ either. In fact, I couldn’t care less what happens in LA. Hollywood lives bore me. Yeah, I said it. It’s a plastic town that’s predictable, artificial and staged. I fail to see the originality or appeal there. Just a quick glance at PerezHilton.com makes me feel like I’ve opened my Junior High School class yearbook. Pages dripping in insecurity, jealously, petty remarks , a hint of desperation in fitting in among one’s peer group, and of course the less than clever or humorous tags on the photos. Breathe in nice and deep. That’s the smell of forever 7th grade being sucked up your nasal cavities. Personally, I would give PerezHilton.com an entertainment value of zero. Although I know many people would disagree with me because it remains one of the highest traffic rated blogs online.

Couldn’t resist making my own lame graffiti photo, Perez-style.

They say Hollywood is just high school with money. If that is true, then Perez Hilton would be the most loathed kid in class! He would be snapped with a wet gym towel, shoved into a locker, and locked helplessly inside screaming and crying until 5th period. Make no mistake about it, Perez Hilton loves his title of "Hollywoods’s Most Hated Blogger". And even though books are no longer being knocked out of his hands in the hallway, Perez Hilton has really not grown up, even at the age of 31! He’s still that arrogant, pimple-faced prick that continues to talk smack and doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of what goes around comes around. Or at least he wasn’t (literally) smacked with that dose of reality until this past weekend.

As an openly gay blogger, Perez Hilton of all people had the nerve to call Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.I.Am a faggot! Seriously, dude? That’s like the pot calling the kettle black. And when the pot calls the kettle black, the pot gets a black eye.

It all went down in a Toronto nightclub when Perez opened his big, fat mouth and left out a homophobic slur. So Will.I.Am’s manager, Polo Molina, politely replied by punching Perez Hilton in the face! Apparently Perez Hilton was so shook up over the incident that immediately after it happened, he Tweeted about it. Yes, he announced he was assaulted and bleeding and needed someone to send him help via his Twitter page! Just more proof that this guy is starving for attention! He even posted a "statement from the heart" on his blog which read..."I was attacked from behind without warning and repeatedly punched in the head in a cold, disgusting and unnecessarily violent manner." Umm, isn't that basically the same thing he has done to people for years? As I've mentioned earlier, Pereze Hilton has made a living off of repeatedly bashing people. Day in and day out he insults people behind their backs and makes it public for all the world to see. That in itself is cold, disgusting and totally unnecessary.

While he’s whining about filing a police report, he needs to put things into proper perspective. The dude got rich by being a bitch. And now he wants to cry when it comes back to smack him in the face? Hey, if you can dish it out, you better be able to take it...to the face. I know you've heard it before, but it's called karma. Deal with it. Am I encouraging violence? Well, no. But did this guy have it coming to him? YES! Definitely yes! And in all honesty, I’m surprised it took this long before someone wailed on him. As far as I’m concerned, Perez Hilton isn’t much higher up on the food chain than your average paparazzi guy. And we all know they deserve a good beatdown every now and then.

So bravo Polo Molina! The pot called the kettle black and the pot got a black eye courtesy of the Black Eyed Peas.

How Being A Geek Will Get You The Girl!

Girls love geeks! No, really. Stop laughing. It's true! These days, geek is chic! And I'm not referring to a bunch of dog faced girls either. I'm talking about hot girls. Girls that once evolved from dating the high school quarterback to the quarterback of the New England Patriots. But oh how the tides have turned! Today she's no longer dating the prom king. She's dating the geek boy! And she finds herself quickly falling in love.

Now before I tell you why girls love geeks, let's first define exactly what a geek is. Or rather, clear up a common misconception that a geek is the same as a nerd, because he is not. There is a huge difference between a geek and a nerd. A nerd is unaware of their "nerdom". They are usually social misfits. Isolating themselves from the rest of the world, they obsess over a single interest (usually sci-fi related) in lieu of developing acceptable social skills among their peers. This of course leads them to a life full of socially awkward behavior, thus making them an outcast to society and often keeping them extremely immature in psychological and emotional development. They will live in their Mom’s basements as 40-year-old virgins playing Dungeons & Dragons and going to Star Wars conventions on the weekends. Calling someone a nerd is seen as an insult. However, calling someone a geek should be taken as a compliment because it’s almost in vogue to be called a geek.

Geeks are not social misfits. They maintain a full social schedule and are merely more knowledgeable than the average Joe about a specific topic. These people are passionate about a particular hobby or interest. And in the eyes of a women, a guy who is passionate about something in life translates to sexy! You can be a geek in really anything, whatever interests you. Geeks are aware of their "geekdom" and most geeks embrace this title. You could call me a tech geek or a sport bike geek (two passions of mine) and I wouldn’t be offended. The main difference between a geek and a nerd is that a geek finds balance in life and a nerd cannot.

A geek is never at a loss for words. We are always "in the know" and ahead of the world when it comes to breaking news in cutting edge technology. We love nothing more than to lend a helping hand and impress you with our brains. And not only are we good with our hands (AKA handy), but we have the ability to stimulate the mind too. In fact some girls even judge a man based on his cell phone! Blackberry = A corporate kind of guy. He’s a typical black suit and tie stiff, but can’t be faulted for being tightly scheduled and well organized. He enjoys following the rules and never colors outside the lines. iPhone = A young entrepreneur. He’s likely to be a 20something who enjoys making the rules and coloring outside the lines. He’s jeans and Pumas. He’s a relaxed "go with the flow" kind of guy, but one that realizes the importance of keeping his shit neatly together and conforming to a schedule. If you know me, I think you know my phone of choice.

Over the years, there have been numerous studies conducted that ask women the same burning question: "What do you look for in a man?" And over the years, the top two answers are always the same!

1. A sense of humor.
2. Intelligence.

Now I don't know what happens to all the dudes that don't have a sense of humor? I assume they live and die a lonely single life since all women want a funny man. But even if you aren't "piss your pants funny", you need some brains to back you up. A cute face and a sense of humor will only take you so far. After that, a woman wants some depth - someone she can talk/relate to, bounce ideas off of, learn from, grow with. If you're just some dumb meathead that walks around staring aimlessly into the world while collecting a puddle of your own drool on the front of your shirt, the romance will surely fade. She will quickly ditch you for...yep, you guessed it. Geek boy!

Why you ask? Because geek boy is like a super hero! He will fly in and sweep her off her feet. In time of need, he will rescue the damsel in distress. When she is distraught and crying over the disappearance of her thesis paper she's been working on for months and her iBook ate it, he will save her...and the file. He will scoop her up off the floor, dry her tears and ease her fears.

She was not one to act irrational or over emotional. So when I saw her resembling a sloppy puddle, I knew something was very wrong. Even if I wasn't in love with her, I would have taken pity on the beautiful mess that she was. I didn't just WANT to help her, I NEEDED to help her. Afterall, I was the boyfriend and her geek boy. It was my duty to come to the rescue! I calmed her down and reassured her all would be ok. "I'll fix it. Don't worry", I said in my most comforting voice. I picked her iBook and her up off the floor. I placed the iBook on the desk. Then pulled out the chair, sat down, and sat her on my lap. "See, doesn't that feel better already?", I asked. She couldn't help but giggle at the pervert in me. "You know, if you swivel around and bounce just a tad, I think better." Really, a little hip gyration never hurts.

Not only does being a geek get you the girl, but it sometimes gets you laid as well! It's official, girls love geeks! So ditch your Kate Spade purse and Burberry scarf. Get yourself a REAL fashion accessory – a geek boy. Because in 2009, geek is chic!

NSF Archaeometry grant to Cal State Long Beach

Carl Lipo's blog, Evolution Beach, reports on success at landing a grant from the NSF Archaeometry program.

This proposal, submitted by Hector Neff, Greg Holk (Geology) and Lipo provides funding for instrument upgrades, student support, and collaborative research support. The funding includes:

• A Bruker Portable XRF spectrometer for chemical analysis.


• A Costech ECS 4010 CHNSO Analyzer for isotopic analysis.


• Subsidized research for collaborative archaeological projects. To be eligible for the subsidized rate, researchers will have to submit a CV and 3 – 5 page miniproposal describing the project and sampling design.


• Visiting research program to support those who want to come to CSULB to conduct research involving highly innovative applications of LA-TOF-ICP-MS, and projects that innovatively use the isotope-rate mass spectrometer, the XRF or combine LA-TOF-ICP-MS with SEM/EDX/WDX.

Congratulations, Carl and colleagues! You've earned the respect of Prospector Pete.

FAQ

Readers often ask me the same questions. So I thought it would be a good idea to compose a short FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section here on my blog. Below you will find the answers to the Top 10 questions I am asked the most in relation to blogging and of a personal nature as well. If there is anything I've left out that you would like to know, feel free to ask!

1. You have such a writing talent! Do you really not consider yourself a writer?
When someone tells me they enjoy my writing or that I've inspired them to write, it's by far the best compliment I could ever receive. However, I don't consider myself a writer because I do not get paid to write, or blog for that matter. And I know that on my blog I state..."I am not a writer. You will never see my name embossed on a fine leather book. The dream of being published does not exist for me..." I wrote that a few years ago, but today, I very much dream of being published. I would love nothing more than to become a freelance writer! In fact, I'm jealous of those who write for a living. Being a Network Security Consultant may be my day job, but I daydream about being a writer. I realize I would make far more money by continuing to run my current company and that being a writer may never make me rich, but I believe it will make me happy. Therefore I am quietly pursuing this career. So if anyone out there is interested in offering me a paid writing gig, even just a side job, drop me a line at diamondkt@gmail.com

2. What does your alias "DIAMONDKT" mean?
DIAMONDKT doesn't really mean anything. It's just a screen name I had well over a decade ago when I first got online and had used AOL. The day I was trying to sign up, every variation of my name was taken. So since I had bought a new mountain bike that day, brand Diamondback, I tried using that as my screen name. That too was taken, so I went with something close to it - DIAMONDKT. It just sort of stuck as my online identity that people recognized me by, so I never bothered changing it. But you can just call me plain old David. Or Hey Dude, I answer to that too.

3. Do you have a girlfriend?
Currently, no. I don't have a serious girlfriend, nor am I actively looking for one. If the right girl comes along, sure I'll commit. Although I'm in no rush to marry. So for now, I am dating, but I choose to let nature take it's course. I'm young and have plenty of time before I say, "I do." Until then, if you're a hot girl, feel free to stuff my inbox full of your nudy pics! And don't forget to send along your homemade lesbian porn and panty pillow fight videos too!

4. Did you name your blog after that Natasha Bedingfield song?
No, I did not title my blog after Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten". This is a very common misconception. The reason I titled my blog "The Rest Is Still Unwritten" is because this is an ongoing diary/journal/notebook for me. Like my writing, I too feel like I am a constant work in progress. So just like everything I write, I never feel it's complete. So really, the rest is still unwritten. As you see, the title is very fitting. (My blog was originally titled "Blog for DIAMONDKT" and then "Tech News and Random Ramblings" before I settled on the current title.)

5. What is the font used in your blog header/masthead?
It's called Scriptina and it's not very common. That's one reason why I like it so much.

6. I love your blog’s layout! Can you do mine?
Thank you and no. Let me rephrase...I don't mind helping people with their blog layouts, but I simply don't have the time to completely overhaul other people's blogs. I have designed several other websites before, but those were rare exceptions and they were for friends and family. As far as my layout goes, I try to implement a new design every year. So this is about the 3rd or 4th design I've had since I began blogging in 2005. This template was actually put together by a German designer for WordPress. So not only did the code need to be translated into English, but it needed to be converted to use with Blogger as well. After that, I added a custom header and did a lot of other tweaking to get it to where it is today.

7. Who is your favorite writer and what is your favorite blog?
My favorite writer would be my Grandmother. Her words flow effortlessly and her penmanship is perfect. Receiving a handwritten letter from her is like holding art in my hands. When it comes to my favorite blog, it's difficult to choose just one because I love a few. Although if I had to choose, I would say PostSecret is my favorite blog because the thought behind it is so original and simple. And at the same time, so powerful and beautiful. Other favorite reads come from two talented writers who are also friends of mine, Marissa Kristal from "The Shared Journey" and Jen Kusack from "The Dating Jungle".

8. How did you get your blogging start?
I signed up for a Blogger account back in 2002 when it was still fairly new. I did so mostly out of curiosity, to see exactly what this "blogging" craze was that I kept hearing so much about! My Blogger account lay dormant for about 3 years until January 1, 2005 when I decided to give it life by publishing my first post. I really didn't think I would stick to blogging. I thought it would be a fad of mine that would quickly fade. Then to much of my surprise, I found I had LOTS to say! And so I began posting on a DAILY basis. I would publish something new every single day (usually tech related news) for the first year, until I realized it should be quality and not quantity. Then I wrote only when I felt inspired to do so. And I wrote less like a news reporter and more like someone who was sharing his private diary. I started mixing in more personal posts and quickly learned that people were drawn to that inner rawness, they could relate to me, and I to them. That is when my blog began to really take off.

9. Your posts are very unique. How do you come up with your topics?
My post topics come from pretty much anything and everything, whatever inspires me to write that day. They may evolve from a conversation with a friend, an interesting article I read online, a past experience, a present dilemma, or just a mere thought that I've been mulling over in my mind. And that writing inspiration usually hits me at a weird time - like when I'm walking my dog, in the shower, or when I lay in bed at night. So it's good to keep pen and paper close by.

10. You're sooo cute! Why aren't there more photos of you online?
Long story short, due to several bad experiences in the past, I have major trust issues (mostly with girls) and heavily guard what information I make public online as well as offline. I was once involved with a girl who took a shirtless photo of me and decided to post a fake Craigslist ad with it, implying I was looking for gay sex. Needless to say, I make sure very few photos and other personal details about me are shared online. With that said, there are a handful of photos of me scattered throughout my blog. There are also some photos of me on my Facebook page, but those are only accessible to friends I fully trust. Live and learn I suppose.

How Long Do You REALLY Want To Live?

Meet Larry Haubner, or as his friends refer to him, "Curly". Curly just turned 107, as seen below in his 107th birthday photo. From my understanding, Curly is of fairly sound mind but only has two teeth. Hey, at 107, I say he’s lucky to have them! Besides, I hear the vampire look is seen as kind of sexy in the geriatrics community. I'm teasing. Honestly, I think senior citizens are adorable! (Just as long as they aren't behind the wheel.) They're like babies - all bald, toothless and drooly. What's cuter than that? And while one would think that your body should be decaying when you're in your 100s, old Curly keeps on keeping on. So what’s his secret? I haven’t a clue. But I do know this...Curly has outlived his life savings, TWICE! And now Curly/Larry needs your help.

You see, most people don't expect you to live well into your 100s! So social security and retirement checks, the sources of income we rely on when we are old and gray, have run out. Curly has outlived all of his family members as well. In the past, for support he's relied on donations, which have allowed Curly to continue living in his home at Greenfield Assisted Living in Fredericksburg. And once again, it seems the only way he can keep chugging along is to ask for a little more help. His Powers of Attorney have set up a website called SaveLarry.org where you can read more about Curly's life and make a donation to his cause.

But this isn't a post to plug Curly's cause. And this isn't a post to make you feel guilty and trick you into donating money to him. No, this is a post to make you think. To ask yourself..."How long do I REALLY want to live?"

In just a few short months, my Grandma will be celebrating her 90th birthday! This makes me very happy, but I'm even happier to know that it's possible she could live to 107 like Curly! To have 17 more years with my Grandmother would be a dream come true! And I'm hoping it's something she too wishes for when she blows out the candles on her 90th birthday cake. Really, she has seen just about everything in her lifetime. The last 100 years is such a profound era in which to live. Think about it. Not only has she seen the invention of the car to the Internet, but she has also experienced life before Civil Rights all the way up to the election of the first black president. She has lived thru two depressions, several wars, man landing on the moon and so much more. It blows my mind when I stop to think about how fascinating her life has been. Although she has the joy of holding great grandchildren on her lap, she also has the sadness of releasing the hand of every single one of her friends and siblings as they passed away. I'm not sure I would want to outlive all my friends and family. Call me selfish, but I want to go before them. I don't wish to endure that type of pain.

People often wonder HOW they will die, but few wonder WHEN they will die. Sorry if this seems a bit morbid, but this sort of fascinates me. I mean, do you really want to live to see the day of saggy balls and elongated titties? A time in which your boobs tuck into your waistband and your balls tuck into the elastic of your socks. I realize these are disturbing images to imagine, let alone endure in a real life scenario, but try to visualize it for a moment. Could you be ok with it? Perhaps these are mere superficial details I shouldn't be concerned with and I should focus more on the big picture - all the things you would see in your lifetime should you be "blessed" (I use the term loosely depending on how you see this, a blessing or a curse) to live past your 100th birthday.

Right now, I'm far too young to imagine a life filled with Viagra. Today, I worry about how to keep it down rather than how to get it up. While my plumbing may be in order and in tip-top shape, I suppose one day I won't be so lucky. So if I should live to see the day when my pipes become rusty, I think I would be ok with that as long as I had someone I loved rocking on the porch right beside me. Because I don't fear dying alone, but I do fear living alone. Really, really alone for years and years. To be the sole survivor. Now that would be depressing and not a life worth living to 100.

I’m not certain I want Willard Scott showcasing my 100-year-old face on the front of the Smucker’s jelly jar, but I wouldn’t mind turning on The Today Show and seeing my Grandmother’s mug pop up there! So how long do I REALLY want to live? I still don't have an answer to that, but it's a deep thought. And one in which I'm pondering late on a Monday night.

***NOTE***
You can also see this post featured on the frontpage of BrazenCareerist.com

Australian archaeometry book online

Good deal. The full text of:

New Directions in Archaeological Science
Terra Australis
Edited by Andrew Fairbairn, Sue O’Connor and Ben Marwick
ISBN 9781921536489 $49.50
ISBN 9781921536496 (Online)
Published February 2009

is available online.

Archaeological Science meetings will have a personality of their own depending on the focus of the host archaeological fraternity itself. The 8th Australasian Archaeometry meeting follows this pattern but underlying the regional emphasis is the continuing concern for the processes of change in the landscape that simultaneously effect and illuminate the archaeological record. These are universal themes for any archaeological research with the increasing employment of science-based studies proving to be a key to understanding the place of humans as subjects and agents of change over time.

This collection of refereed papers covers the thematic fields of geoarchaeology, archaeobotany, materials analysis and chronometry, with particular emphasis on the first two. The editors Andrew Fairbairn, Sue O’Connor and Ben Marwick outline the special value of these contributions in the introduction. The international nature of archaeological science will mean that the advances set out in these papers will find a receptive audience among many archaeologists elsewhere. There is no doubt that the story that Australasian archaeology has to tell has been copiously enriched by incorporating a widening net of advanced science-based studies. This has brought attention to the nature of the environment as a human artefact, a fact now more widely appreciated, and archaeology deals with these artefacts, among others, in this way in this publication.

NERC SBA

The National Environment Research Council of the UK used to publish a Science-Based Archaeology Newsletter. I have some old issues on my bookshelf. The NERC web pages still includes Science-based archaeology, although my casual perusal of the site doesn't easily reveal the scope of this endeavor. Sebastian Payne used to be the co-ordinator for the Science-Based Archaeology Newsletter, and he still writes columns for British Archaeology, which you can search for at the website of that magazine. See, for example, his recent article on forensic archaeology.

Jump...If You Can Write Your Own Suicide Note

As you may or may not be aware, I’m an adrenaline junkie! And like any true junkie, I get my "fix" a number of ways, often more than once a week. I routinely race my sportbike on Thursday nights with speeds often in excess of 160mph, which some compare to a game of Russian Roulette. And on other weeknights, I find that I feel most alive when fighting for my life in an steel octagon cage, MMA-style. Is that sick and twisted? Maybe, but to me, it's really an indescribable feeling and an experience that compares to no other, not even sex. There's not any pill, powder, or needle in this world that could possibly be a worthy substitute. It just couldn't produce this almost unimaginable high that I receive - a state of euphoria. Although the problem with being an adrenaline junkie is that you always want more. In essence, it's a drug and I'm its addict. You crave it in every inch of your body and every corner of your mind. You find yourself always needing to crank it up a notch in terms of danger and excitement. Because if you don't, the thrill will cease to exist. And without thrills in life, what's the point in living? Simply put, I'm a thrill seeker who has an insatiable thirst for adventure. And I’ll do pretty much anything for a rush...and I do mean anything. I'll willingly jump out of perfectly good plane, base jump from the tallest building, or drop out of a helicopter into the Alps and snowboard my way down the mountain all in the name of thrill seeking. Because to me, it all sounds like F-U-N!

So it shouldn't be a shocker to anyone that I recently checked into base jumping. Only problem - you need to be a very experienced skydiver first, which I am not. For your own safety, they require you to have a couple hundred skydive jumps under your belt before you attempt your first base jump (which by the way it's illegal to base jump in most areas). So it looks like I'll have to work myself up to that level. But first things first. Right now it's time to jump from a plane!

When I learned that a skydiver's terminal velocity can reach 120mph, my immediate reaction was..."Is that it?" To some it may sound like total insanity to jump from a plane at 13,000 feet in the air with nothing more than a parachute strapped to your back as you plummet to the earth below. But again, to me, this sounds like F-U-N! So where do I sign up? How do I get started? I'm eager and anxious to soar like a bird! It's then that they lay it on me. The catch. There's always a catch.

"Before you jump, you have to write your own suicide note.
You know, just in case."

Seriously? I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but yet, it made complete sense. "Just in case", they say it so nonchalant! Just in case something doesn't go according to plan they can inform your loved ones of your rather untimely death. So they can present them with a note, along with your mangled body, or whatever is left of your mangled body. It's a morbid thought and I think they are joking, but they aren't. They are dead serious (no pun intended). Apparently it's their standard policy and they don't let you opt out of the suicide note. If you don't write it, you can't jump. It's as simple as that. Or so they make it sound. But writing your own suicide note is anything but simple! It is without a doubt the hardest letter you will ever compose, that is IF you are ever faced with composing it.

They slide a blank sheet of crisp, white paper across the counter toward me along with a blue, ballpoint pen. "Take your time, whenever you're ready", they instructed me. I suppose that was supposed to give me some type of comfort? It did nothing to ease my uneasiness. A queasy feeling came over my stomach and my head and palms began to perspire. I became dizzy and took an empty chair against the wall where I could lean my head back on the cold bricks. Looking around the facility I wondered if all the other jumpers stuffing their parachutes had done this too. I assume they had, but what did they write? I imagine their struggle pouring over the words. How could they collect themselves during this most difficult process? I surely am not as strong. But I want to jump, so I must write.

I gave this suicide note great pause. And after roughly 5 minutes had passed, I picked up the pen. I wrote two words, "Dear Mom". I then put the pen down and crumbled up the paper. There is no way in hell I could do this! Not only was I drawing a blank on the note, but each letter was so staggeringly painful to connect to the next that I could barely write the words "Dear Mom" without my vision being blurred due to the tears welling in my eyes. I am an adrenaline junkie, but I have to curb this appetite. I can't do this to my Mom. I can't do this to the rest of my family, my friends, or my dog. My behavior is so incredibly selfish to those that love me. To think I could sacrifice my life and their love for a short lived high, that should not be forgivable. And I refuse to write the cliche "I'm sorry, please forgive me" suicide note.

Still, I want to say I'm sorry and please forgive me for considering that I could be ok with doing this. I thought before I jumped and I'm glad I did. I hope you are too.

Skater Fag

Kids can be cruel. Nobody denies this. And anyone who has ever been bullied or called some type of name growing up can attest to the fact that the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" doesn’t apply to them. Because truth be told, names do hurt. They break the skin and go far past the bone to leave emotional scars on the soul. Tiny little cuts not visible to the naked eye, but are real and exist just the same as a gaping surface wound. The cutesy, cliché "sticks and stones" saying is a favorite among parents. They attempt to sell their kids on this belief, hoping it will install a false sense of empowerment into the weaker individual and give them the strength to turn their back to it. It also gives comfort to the helplessness felt inside themselves in regard to their own son or daughter being picked on. It’s natural to want to protect someone you love from any and all pain. But sometimes a child has to learn to fight their own battles, overcome and rise above. Other times, parents have no clue that their kid is being abused by others, and in return, tormenting themselves with feelings of worthlessness and shame because of it. I was one of those kids who felt a zero amount of self-worth and an immense amount of shame.

To this day, my Mom still remains in the dark about this. I attribute it to the mask I wore, a mask I single handedly fooled the world with! I couldn’t admit that I was suffering because that would be an acknowledgment of not only weakness, but acknowledgment that I couldn’t handle the problem myself. I couldn’t have my Mother fighting my battles! I was supposed to be a man...at age 10. And part of being a "man" was handling it on my own. I decided the best way to deal was to go into complete and total denial. Admit nothing and deny all! Basically, play dumb until he was the one looking dumb for the all the accusations and storytelling.

His name was Brian and he was the new kid that moved in next door. He resembled a mixture of Louis from "Revenge Of The Nerds" and Paul from "The Wonder Years". In hindsight, I realize he was just a nerdy nobody with low self-esteem looking to make a name for himself on fresh turf. Perhaps he teased and tormented me because he was jealous of me? Perhaps he did it because I was younger than him, thus an easy target? Or perhaps he did it simply because he was evil! I tend to believe the later. I was what he called a "skater fag" - someone who was perfectly happy and content in his own little world. A boy with his board and not much else. I wore long shorts paired with oversized Vision Streetwear graphic tees, Converse All-Star canvas high tops (AKA, Chuck Taylors) and a slew of skater bracelets hand-braided from colorful woven string. I even had the "Tony Hawk flop" - a California skater/surfer-style haircut made popular in the late 80s by legendary pro skateboarder Tony Hawk. The "flop" was buzzed underneath and cut short all around, with the exception of the long bangs that hung low across your face and covered one eye. When you flung it from side to side, you were the epitome of cool.

I was pint-sized for my age and my Vision Psycho Stick skateboard weighed nearly as much as me. A scrawny kid who wasn’t much more than a ribcage and some sloppy laced sneakers. A strong breeze could have probably blown my bony body away. I survived on a skater’s diet which consisted of not much more than Mountain Dew and hard tack candy. It’s amazing I had enough nutrients in my body to pop an ollie! Growing up in a rural area is not ideal for a skater. The nearest playground was miles from me so cement, asphalt, and street obstacles were nearly nonexistent. Still, I made do by tearing it up on my sidewalk and busting tricks out in my driveway. Then, for my 10th birthday, my Dad surprised me by building me a quarter pipe ramp! I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Finally, an answer to the rural riding nightmare I was living. But my joy was short lived when Brian caught wind of my birthday gift. His taunting soon became relentless! So much so that I asked my Dad to move my ramp from the sidewalk into the cramped garage where I could close the door and skate in privacy...in other words, hide. Of course I didn’t tell my Dad the real reason why I wanted my ramp moved. I simply lied. I fed him an excuse he wouldn’t question so I didn’t have to experience further humiliation by informing him as to what exactly was going on. Like a good Dad, he obliged my request without inquiry.

I still don’t know why Brian felt the need to make it his daily duty to harass and call me obscenities from across the road. What had I ever done to him? I never even looked at him, let alone talked to him. His hatred had no merit, no rhyme, no reason. It was simply hateful and ugly. And it hurt me to the point where I hid who I really was and pretended to be someone I wasn’t, just to avoid the ridiculing. Obviously, this made me sad and it truly changed who I was. Or at least who I was as a child and how I enjoyed my childhood. It was bad enough to be teased and picked on at home in my own backyard, but it didn’t end there. It carried on to the school bus and into the classroom. That is where it really had a profound effect on me. This is where others, my peers, would bear witness to it. I made it my job to be one way at home and a totally different way at school. I wore a mask and I wore it well. Being a skateboarder wasn't cool at my school. So when Brian would tell all my friends I was a "skater fag", I acted as if I didn’t know what he was talking about. Me a skater? Ha! I would turn it around and label it as crazy talk in hopes of shielding my true identity. Or as William Shakespeare so elegantly once said..."God has given you one face, and you make yourself another." I would go on to protect myself like this for years.

Yes, I was a skater, but a fag? I really didn’t even know what the word meant and I doubt he did either. Everyone just knew it had negative connotations tied to it and you didn’t want to be labeled as such. I wasn’t gay, but I wasn’t into girls either. I was 10 for crying out loud! The only love interest in my life was my skateboard. I wanted to skate and I wanted to create. I was into drawing and writing as well. But just like skating, those two loves didn’t seem cool or appropriate for a boy either so I hid those parts of me as well. I hid so much of who I really was, that I lost my true identity and my individuality in the process. I had become a mere clone of what the public wanted me to be, instead of being me. Stifling creativity and repressing love interests is nothing short of tragic. It would take me years to rediscover myself and embrace things that once made me happy, like putting pen to paper. Other things such as skateboarding and drawing fell by the wayside. Who’s to say where those things may have taken me if I had learn to nurture those talents rather them fight them off like cancer.

Today, I’m no longer that frail boy. Obviously I’ve matured quite a bit. So at 6’1 and 190lbs, not only am a bigger, I’m emotionally stronger too. These days I wouldn’t allow someone to embarrass and belittle me into being someone else. I want to be me because that’s all I really know how to be. Honestly, people are going to find out who you really are sooner or later, so why bother wasting time and energy faking it? And even though I can’t get back those years of my childhood that I wasted feeling less than, I can learn from it. I can grow from it and vow never to repeat that same mistake again. Afterall, it is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not. It took many years for me to understand that. And even today, I sometimes have to remind myself of that.

Archaeological Geology at GSA, Portland

The annual meeting of the Geological Society of America will be held in Portland, Oregon, 18-21 October, 2009.

Abstracts for contributions to the technical sessions are due August 11.

From the website of the Geological Society of America:

Sessions where Discipline Category = Archaeological Geology

T12. Holocene Alluvial Records: New Investigations of Archives of Millennial Change
GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
Tammy Rittenour, Joel Pederson

This session provides a venue for reporting new approaches and records regarding Holocene fluvial archives of millennial-scale and shorter-term climate response. Papers may include aspects of fluvial geomorphology, cosmogenic sediment yield, paleoflood hydrology, geoarchaeology, and geochronology.

Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology; Archaeological Geology

Submit an abstract to this session

T69. Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR-Applications for Solving Stratigraphic and Geoarchaeological Problems
Kelsey S. Bitting

Applications of ground-penetrating radar (GPR-to near-surface stratigraphic and geoarchaeological problems are wide ranging, but GPR remains under utilized. This session will bring attention to this technology and provide an opportunity to showcase unique and innovative methodologies.

Stratigraphy; Geophysics/Tectonophysics/Seismology; Archaeological Geology

Submit an abstract to this session

T131. Ancient Coastal and Subsea Sites: New Findings and Problems
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; Smithsonian Institution
Jean-Daniel Stanley , Daniel F. Belknap

The session focuses on ancient land sites and former anthropogenic features now submerged off world coasts, a topic directly applicable for archaeologists working offshore, sea-level change specialists and managers formulating protections measures for vulnerable coastlines.

Archaeological Geology

Submit an abstract to this session

T153. Geoarchaeology and Late Quaternary Landscapes of North American River Valleys
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division
Todd Grote, Lara Homsey

This session will focus on recent interdisciplinary investigations of North American river valleys occurring from the landscape to site-specific scale. Submissions should contribute to understanding the archaeological record and late Quaternary lowland landscapes.

Archaeological Geology; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

Submit an abstract to this session

T154. Geoarchaeology, Reconstructions of Paleoenvironments and Past Human- Environment Interactions
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; Paleontological Society
Kathleen Nicoll, Catherine Yansa

Analysis of sediment and fossil records inform interpretations of cultural activity and Late Neogene-Quaternary environments. This session welcomes interdisciplinary papers on geoarchaeology and allied methodologies that reconstruct past landscapes, environments, and the human footprint on natural systems.

Archaeological Geology; Geomorphology; Quaternary Geology

Submit an abstract to this session

T155. Geochemical Geoarchaeology: Artifacts and Contexts
GSA Archaeological Geology Division
Katherine A. Adelsberger, Cynthia M. Fadem

Geochemical methods increasingly provide the critical tools for understanding paleoenvironments, site formation processes, and human behavioral decisions. This session will highlight the variety of geochemical methods used in geoarchaeology across cultural and temporal boundaries.

Archaeological Geology; Geochemistry; Quaternary Geology

Submit an abstract to this session

T156. New Advances in the Theory and Application of Luminescent and ESR Dating
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division, GSA Structural Geology and Tectonics Division, Paleontological Society, GSA Structure Geology and Tectonics Division
Bonnie A.B. Blackwell, Joel Blickstein

This session will hightlight new theoretical developments and their applications within geology, paleontology, and archaeology for the thermoluminescent, optically stimulated luminescent, and ESR dating methods, including new applications for dating barnacles, foraminifera, and sedimentary deposits.

Archaeological Geology; Quaternary Geology; Paleontology, Biogeography/Biostratigraphy

Submit an abstract to this session

T157. Obsidian from Magma to Artifact: Geological and Archaeological Perspectives
GSA Archaeological Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; Geochemical Society
Ellery Frahm, Joshua Feinberg

This session brings together archaeologists and geoscientists from diverse fields -- geochemistry, igneous petrology, volcanology, geomorphology, and more -- to present on the topic of obsidian research, from magma formation and eruption to dating and sourcing artifacts.

Archaeological Geology; Petrology, Igneous; Volcanology

Submit an abstract to this session

Field trips related to archaeology:

405. Geology and Geo-Archaeology of Hells Canyon, Oregon and Idaho
Wed.-Sat. 14-17 Oct. US$850 (B, L, D, R, 3ON).
Cosponsored by Oregon Paleo Lands Institute.
Leader: Ellen M. Bishop, Oregon Paleo Lands Institute.

This adventurous trip explores Hells Canyon—North America’s deepest gorge—jet-boating through Class 4 rapids, with three days in a rugged, legendary landscape. Hells Canyon marks a dominant Pacific Northwest (PNW) suture between North America and accreted terranes. The canyon offers an extensive record of Native Northwest cultures dating to nearly 11,000 years ago, where geology and Native history intersect. Geology emphasizes the growth of the PNW cordillera and the evolution of understanding active margin accretionary processes. Archeology emphasizes Sahaptian and Numic sites in one of North America’s most harsh yet bountiful areas, along with cultural effects of climate shifts, and Nez Perce/Lewis & Clark sites. Schedule: Day 1: Travel to Clarkston, Washington, USA; Day 2: Jet boat into Hells Canyon—Kirkwood area, Cougar Bar, with overnight at Copper Creek Lodge; Day 3: Explore Deep Creek and High Bar with overnight at Copper Creek Lodge; Day 4: Explore Eureka Bar, then return to Clarkston and on to Portland with late arrival.

418. Archaeology and Geomorphology of the Oregon Coastal Zone
Fri.–Sat., 16–17 Oct. US$225 (L, R, 1ON).
Cosponsored by GSA’s Archaeological Geology Division.
Leaders: Loren Davis, Oregon State University; Steve Jenevein; Jay Noller.

The Pacific Corridor for an-American transhumanance is focus of this field trip along the central coastal zone of Oregon. Archaeology will be demonstrated and discussed in the context of paleoenvironmental interpretation of several complex sections involving marine terrace cover sediments, coastal eolian dunes, Coast Range debris flows, estuarine and fluvial deposits, ghost forests, and soils. The chronology of events sealing archaeological deposits, including floods, slope failures, and tsunamis will be presented, and evidence supporting the current understanding of the Coastal Corridor will be discussed.

Magnetic properties abstracts from AGU

The last few abstracts from these two session on geophysics and archaeology, looking at magnetic properties at two type of archaeological materials.

The image is unrelated, other than it is a cool representation of magnetic properties of thin films.

GP11I-03

Magnetic Susceptibility of Ancient and Modern Potsherds Using a Fast, Cheap and Portable Probe
Glover, P W (paglover@ggl.ulaval.ca), Université, Département de géologie et de génie géologique, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

It has been estimated that there exist over 100 million ancient potsherds in various collections worldwide, many of which have never been studied and for which the provenance is ambiguous or unknown. Indeed, many collections are extremely badly catalogued or completely mixed-up. We have been using a novel portable probe to measure the magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity of potsherds in the hope that this fast, cheap and portable measurement can provide data that will help to sort similar looking potsherds into sets in a manner which may help to define their provenance. The probe, which resembles a firearm, uses the Hall effect to make a non-destructive measurement on the potsherd. The probe is attached to an Dell Axim X51 PDA, which runs software that allows the measurement to be carried out and logged. Each measurement, which is made by pressing a button on the gun, takes only a few seconds. We have made measurements on three suites of ancient potsherds as well as a suite of modern potsherds that were created by using a garden centre and a hammer! In each case a set of 5 stacked measurements were taken on the inside and outside faces of the potsherd in two perpendicular directions. Potsherds which were either (i) so flat that the inside and outside could not be distinguished, (ii) so curved (radius of curvature less than 5 cm) that the probe tip could not approach the surface sufficiently closely, or (iii) smaller than the probe tip, were excluded from the suite of measurements. Each suite contained over 50 measureable potsherds. All measurements were completed within one day. In this pilot study we found that (1) each suite was represented by a normal distribution of magnetic susceptibility values, (2) the four different suites could be distinguished statistically on the basis of their magnetic susceptibility measurements, but (3) the distinction was not sufficiently powerful to separate all potsherds (i.e., there was a significant overlap of the susceptibility distributions). This seems to confirm that the method may be used to give additional information that can be used to help to provenance a potsherd, but the susceptibility measurement is not sufficient on its own. In addition, we found that (4) the electrical conductivity measurements depended upon the local conditions (mainly humidity) and was of no use in distinguishing between suites of potsherds. However, most interestingly, we found that (5) there is a statistically significant difference between the magnetic susceptibility measured on the inside face and that measured on the outside face for all three ancient suites of potsherd, but not for the modern potsherds. The reason for this is not currently known. One hypothesis is that the difference is due to the manufacturing style. Further studies are being planned to extend our database.
http://www.ggl.ulaval.ca/personnel/paglover/Home.htm

GP11I-04
Magnetic Fingerprinting of Central Mediterranean Obsidian Source Groups
Weaver, I (isaacweaver@alumni.fandm.edu), Department of Earth and Environment, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, United States
Sternberg, R (rob.sternberg@fandm.edu), Department of Earth and Environment, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, United States
Tykot, R H (rtykot@cas.usf.edu), Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SOC 107, Tampa, FL 33620-8100, United States

The Central Mediterranean islands of Lipari, Palmarola, Pantelleria, and Sardinia are known to be the only sources of obsidian in that region (Tykot, 2002). The obsidian on each source island has a unique chemical composition (i.e., a fingerprint) that has allowed Tykot (2002) to provenance Neolithic obsidian artifacts from archaeological sites throughout the Central Mediterranean to these four sources. Thus, Tykot (2002) revealed material distribution patterns otherwise inaccessible to archaeologists. An exploratory study by McDougall et al. (1983) demonstrated the potential use of magnetic properties to distinguish Central Mediterranean obsidians. If each obsidian source group has a unique magnetic fingerprint, magnetic provenancing might serve as a quick, inexpensive, and non-destructive alternative to chemical provenancing. Our research continues the work started by McDougall et al.; we set out to characterize the Central Mediterranean obsidians and search for magnetic fingerprints that distinguish them. Our preliminary study of the magnetic properties of 30 geologic obsidian specimens from Sardinia A, B, and C subgroups and the three other Central Mediterranean island sources suggests that each source has a unique combination of magnetic properties that could allow magnetic provenancing of archaeological obsidians. For example, the combination of natural remanent magnetization (NRM; median [med] = 2.46 x 10^-4 Am²/kg, interquartile range [IQR] = 9.77 x 10^-4 Am²/kg) and magnetic susceptibility (low field, low frequency magnetic susceptibility [χ_lflf]: med = 27.0 x 10^-6 m³/kg, IQR = 75.9 x 10^-6 m³/kg) seems to have good potential to discriminate the groups. However, statistical analysis shows that there is significant overlap in the confidence intervals of these variables, a limitation which appears to be partially imposed at this point by the small sample size. Discriminant analysis of several magnetic variables also shows potential to assist in classification (i.e., provenancing) of Central Mediterranean obsidians. We have obtained discriminant functions that correctly classify over 80% of the obsidian specimens in leave-one-out cross validations using as few as three log- transformed magnetic parameters: NRM, χ_lflf, and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM; med = 7.59 x 10^-3 Am²/kg, IQR = 2.85 x 10^-2 Am²/kg). Backfield coercivity of remanence, median destructive field, percent frequency effect, and saturation coercivity seem to contribute the least to group discrimination, yet their effects are statistically significant. Even though initial tests of discriminant analysis look promising, it should be noted that the small sample sizes and relatively large number of variables used in the discriminant analyses violate the test's assumptions and may make the resulting discriminant functions unusable; this will be addressed in future research. The results from our preliminary study suggest that the Central Mediterranean sources of obsidian might have characteristic and distinguishable magnetic fingerprints. However, many more geologic obsidian specimens must be measured to define the ranges of the source groups' magnetic properties and to further test this hypothesis.

Discovering My Worth In Written Words

It’s not always what you say, but how you say it. Or in this case...it’s not always what you write, but how you write it. People always ask how to draw more readers to their blog and my reply is always the same - content is key! And while interesting and diverse content may be important to catching a new reader’s attention, there is also another fundamental element needed - well written words. They say a good writer can take any topic, even the most mundane topic, and hold a reader's attention if it's written well. So I’m ready to put that theory to the test! I want to discover my worth in written words. A girl once told me, "I actually think well written thoughts are incredibly sexy." I took it as a huge compliment. However, she may want to rethink her position before penetrating the unorchestrated thoughts that dance thru my mind on a daily basis. The very same thoughts that then become word vomit on my blog for all the world to see. Although in some ways, I guess it’s better than being verbally constipated.

Poo, poop, do-do, dung, crap, shit. Call it what you like, but we all know what I’m referring to - feces. That’s right. I am posting about poop, dog poop in particular. Why you ask? Because I want to test myself. I want to see if I really am a good writer. If I can take the most mundane topic (dog poop) and not only make it sounds tantalizing and thrilling, but leave you wanting to read more as well. If I can do that, then I succeeded! Actually, to be perfectly honest, I’ll settle for just keeping your attention from beginning to end. So will I be able to do it? Will I be able to captivate you with my words alone? Will I be able to keep you engrossed in my gross subject matter? Or will I just be spewing mindless dribble, AKA a bunch of crap? (Pun intended.) Think of this as Poetic Poo. Now let’s begin!

When one thinks of dog poo they think of small, smelly, chocolate chunk nuggets you sidestep and curse while walking from point A to point B. And while our furry, four-legged friends may defecate on every street corner known to man, it’s man that is held responsible for cleaning up the mess after his beloved pup takes a massive dump on Wilshire Blvd. It’s a "crappy" job and nobody wants to do it, but there is something very humbling about the whole poop scooping experience. Bag over hand, bending over, picking up a warm turd in the pouring rain. It puts life into perspective. And these days, I think we all could benefit from a little humbling. It’s probably why TMZ takes great delight in photographing numerous celebrities retrieving the care packages their little Fido has left behind. Because as unpoetic as it sounds, dog shit is something we can all relate to.

Over the past short 2 years since I’ve had him, my dog has taught me many things, including it’s not shameful to feel shame. Everyone should be taken down a peg in life. It’s odd to say, but when my dog drops a twosie and I scoop it up in my plastic baggy, I feel proud. Because a wise man, Benjamin Franklin, once said..."A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle." To that I say, I will not be contained to the small bundle of shit in which I hold.

It's a deep thought, I know. So let it sink in for a minute. Mull it over. Ponder it a bit. And get back to me.

(So how did I do? Was my long awaited and greatly anticipated dog poop post everything you thought it would be and more? If it wasn’t, I can handle the criticism. Although, if you tell me my writing is shitty or crappy, I may just thank you. Afterall, I did write about poo.)

Prop 8 or Prop Hate?

My brain feels paralyzed when attempting to comprehend it. It just doesn’t make sense and for the life of me, I can’t see how people can justify it. I don’t mean to be redundant. I had posted about my thoughts (One Giant Leap Forward And One Giant Leap Backwards) on Proposition 8 being passed back in November. Without a doubt, it was my most controversial post to date. Not only did it stir up a debate on my blog, but when it was featured on the front page of BrazenCareerist.com, the discussion quickly began heating up there as well. It was said to be the most commented on post BrazenCareerist has ever featured, which may have helped land it as #73 in their Top 100 Posts Of All-Time list. Things had been quiet for the past few months. Then, last week when The California Supreme Court upheld Prop 8's ban on same-sex marriage, all hell broke loose once again! So today, while the law may be in effect, the debate continues to rage on. I refer to it as Prop Hate. And still the question remains...How you can look at someone and say you don't deserve what I have?

Thru the years I’ve learned to choose my battles wisely and choose my words wiser. So in my previous post when I used the phrase "sexual preference", I really should not have referred to it as a "preference". Because the word "preference" means a choice, something you choose. I’ve always firmly believed that people who are gay did not CHOOSE to be that way. They did not CHOOSE to live this lifestyle. They did not CHOOSE to willing endure the all the hardships that being gay in our society brings. And they didn’t simply wake up one day saying...Hey, I think I’ll try this gay thing on for size and see how it works out.

To be gay is not a choice. It’s how you are born. Just like being born white, black, purple or even green isn’t a choice. You do not get a say in the matter. You do not get to vote on what you want to be at birth. I truly feel that once more of the world starts understanding that gay people did not CHOOSE to be gay and are actually genetically predisposition to be this way at birth, then the negative and inaccurate views on homosexuality will dramatically decrease. It’s very sad that in 2009 many people still need to be taught compassion, tolerance, and the acceptance of differences.

If you think being gay is a choice and not a genetic predisposition that you were born with, than take this challenge: If you are a straight person that thinks homosexuality is a choice and it is wrong to be gay, then pretend for a moment that being straight is considered "wrong". Could you force yourself to go gay? Not likely. So what makes you think a gay person could force themselves to go straight simply to abide by your right/wrong rule?

I think the reason I feel so strongly about this issue (like I mentioned in my last Prop 8 post) is because I had an Aunt who was gay, hid it all her life and eventually hung herself because she could no longer live with the stigma attached to being a gay. If her pain is any indication of how difficult it is to be gay in America, my heart really goes out to those directly affected by Prop 8 being passed and upheld. And these days, I now have a young cousin who has recently come out of the closet. I’ll be honest, I fear for him. I worry that a brutal Matthew Shepard beating will replay itself with my cousin being the victim. I worry that he will suffer like my Aunt did and follow in her suicidal footsteps. And lastly, I worry he will fall in love and not be given the same rights other couples can easily obtain. That one day when he’s old and gray, he will watch his partner lying on his death bed and be unable to make the decision about life support because our government does not allow him that right, simply because he is gay and they are not legally bound by marriage. Someone being gay does not disgust me, but that scenario does.

He’s into dicks. I’m into chicks. In the end, what difference does it make? He deserves the same opportunities straight society has - to marry and be miserable just like everyone else. I joke, but seriously, I think Lily Allen’s song "Fuck You" sums it up best...

Look inside, your tiny mind.
Then look a bit harder.
Cause we're so uninspired.
So sick and tired.
Of all the hatred you harbor.
So you say, it's not okay to be gay.
Well I think you're just evil.
You're just some racist.
Who can't tie my laces.
You're point of view is medieval.

Fuck you.
Fuck you very, very much.
Cause we hate what you do.
And we hate your whole crew.
So please don't stay in touch.
Fuck you.
Fuck you very, very much
Cause your words don't translate.
And it's getting quite late.
So please don't stay in touch.

Do you get a little kick out of being small minded?
You want to be like your father.
His approval your after.
Well that's not how you'll find it.
Do you really enjoy living a life that's so hateful?
Cause there's a hole where your soul should be.
You're losing control of it.
And it's really distasteful.

In short, one day when everyone is treated with full equality, we'll look back and realize how wrong this was. That they didn't choose to be gay, but you chose to discriminate against them by treating them unfairly, by looking at them and saying...You don't deserve what I have.

***NOTE***
Related post of interest...
11/5/08 - One Giant Leap Forward And One Giant Leap Backwards