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