Big Man = The Sales Man Everyone Wants
September 29, 2009 – 7:25 am | 5 Comments

As a serious student of archaeology, I was expecting to decode Mayan text and unearth priceless artifacts.  Yet somehow, I stumbled upon one of the most ancient truths of humanity: the importance of persuasion, and …

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Human insights and observations.

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Articles in Cultural Telescope

The Evolution of Media: Tool – Content – Behavior
March 10, 2010 – 12:41 am | No Comment
The Evolution of Media: Tool – Content – Behavior

Most people think modern societies are materialistic—we prize our possessions too much. But after working on a fun design-anthropology project on the co-evolution of medium and content, I realized we don’t appreciate our stuff …

Innovation: Avoiding Nails and Finding Fertile Ground
January 29, 2010 – 12:26 am | No Comment
Innovation: Avoiding Nails and Finding Fertile Ground

The dotcom guys got each other excited and created a bust.  Banks verified moneymaking programs with other banks, but somehow, they went broke.  These groups sought to solve problems and produce value, but the solutions …

A Place for Breaking the Rules
November 17, 2009 – 4:24 am | 3 Comments
A Place for Breaking the Rules

In my Great Grandmother’s house hung a peculiar photograph.  It was Grandma J on a ship with a funny pirate and his fake parrot.  This photograph made no sense on the surface. Great Grandma J …

You Can Be Special Without Becoming a Vampire
October 28, 2009 – 6:08 am | No Comment
You Can Be Special Without Becoming a Vampire

It’s easy to get addicted to fun stories. Just start with Harry Potter, then A Series of Misfortunate Events, then Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then Twilight, and soon you’re hooked on many otherworldly texts and …

For The Sake of Making It Easier
October 15, 2009 – 9:56 pm | One Comment
For The Sake of Making It Easier

Oh the inventions and processes we humans devise in order to make life easier and to take back our time from performing tasks.  But, oh the crimes we commit to make a life easier, to …

Reflections on China’s Parade
October 2, 2009 – 7:05 pm | No Comment
Reflections on China’s Parade

Lucky for me, my in-law family has no American cable….Chinese channels only!  Thus, we all sat down to watch China’s 60th Anniversary Parade.  Like the Olympics, this parade probably had a million people involved, with …

Racing Dragons, Shining Sun, Treasure Island
September 28, 2009 – 8:18 pm | No Comment
Racing Dragons, Shining Sun, Treasure Island

Sometimes it just becomes pointless to talk about or describe culture.  There are moments that just need to be seen, felt, and experienced.  A whole day spent on Treasure Island in the sun for the …

From Provo to Midwood
September 9, 2009 – 11:28 pm | 3 Comments
From Provo to Midwood

I’ve spent a number of years in Provo, UT where the highest concentration of devout Mormons-Latter Day Saints (LDS) live.  Then recently, I’ve spent several months in Midwood-Brooklyn, NY where there is a high concentration …

From The Amphora to The Soiree-Decanter
July 25, 2009 – 5:53 pm | No Comment
From The Amphora to The Soiree-Decanter

Archaeologists get giddy when their strata reveal a clean progression in the style and functionality of the artifacts found within the layers of earth.  But, archaeologists don’t have to be the only ones excited about …

Dancing In Our DNA
July 5, 2009 – 7:44 pm | No Comment

Go ahead and watch the babies boppin and dancing in the Snazl above.  All of the clips are cute and one clip shows a baby dance prodigy.  But with a pair of anthropological glasses, one …