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Category Archives: Uncategorized
In Praise of Al-Jazeera
I remember some time ago, sitting in our living room in Bogor, Indonesia, and turning on the TV to watch our first news broadcast from Al-Jazeera. We were skeptical beforehand, anticipating news coverage with a serious pro-Arab bias. It was … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged BBC, CNN, FOXX, Jon Stewart, news, NPR, Stephen Colbert, world
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American Football—Some Pro’s and Con’s
What a topic of ambivalence. This ambivalence is captured in the tongue in cheek commentary of American ‘humor columnist’ Dave Barry. Capturing the absurdity of this year’s events, he concludes, “…repelled by the drainage ditch that our political system has … Continue reading
On Swiddens, Swiddeners and the Passions of Those who Study Them
I stop in the midst of writing an academic treatise on swidden agriculture globally. The paper is full of rationality and reason, carefully constructed sentences, the making of valid statements, supported by believable evidence. Yet, bubbling beneath this rational superficiality … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Borneo, forest, passion, shifting cultivation, swidden
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On War and its After effects
My friend, Beth, recently learned that one could lend a Kindle book for two weeks to a friend. She wanted to figure out how to do it, so, having several books she thought I’d like, she kindly selected me as … Continue reading
Am I Engaged in Biosociality?
I was initially drawn to Cornelia Guell’s recent article entitled “Candi(e)d Action: Biosocialities of Turkish Berliners Living with Diabetes” ( Medical Anthropology Quarterly (25(3):377-394, 2011), by the focus on Turks—I grew up in Turkey—but I soon found myself enmeshed in … Continue reading
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On the Passing of Summer
The last couple of mornings the temperatures have been in the low 40s (F), and I began to realize that the warmth of summer was nearly over. The reality of seasonality struck me again—after my many years in the tropics. … Continue reading
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On American Pets
I am pretty old and I’ve lived for many years overseas, where animals may be petted and fed, but that’s about it. With this information as backdrop, I have to admit I’m pretty shocked by current American attitudes toward and … Continue reading
Belated Delight in Gardening
Never did I imagine that I would enjoy gardening. But for the past two years, I have found a new pleasure in life. In October 2009, I moved into my own home (only the second home I’ve ever owned, having … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged dirt, flower, garden, play, retirement, weed
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The Dangers of ‘Poverty’ as a Topic
Studying ‘poverty’ has become a popular activity within the field of international development. There are poverty specialists, pro-poor programs (which always make me wonder if the programs are designed to encourage poverty rather than overcome it), and more. CIFOR (the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged international development, strengths, values
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Reveling in my Access to Books
I lived for many years in places where books were not readily available—in Turkey as a child, for decades during my adult years in Indonesia, in the Sultanate of Oman for four mid-life years. Now (in my dotage), I live … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Borneo, Cameroon, Dayak, Dove, Geschiere, Kahn, Kalimantan, Kenyah, swidden
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