Knowledge Transfer and Science Fiction

I just left the Los Angeles Science Fiction Convention where the theme was archaeology and I gave presentations on three panels: problems that archaeologists have, ethics, and the future of archaeology. I got a lot of insights from the experience in terms of dealing with the interested and educated public. This is what most people call public outreach, but what my Uni now calls "knowledge transfer." One of the other panelists was an indigenous Californian who is also an archaeologist. So, the panels were worthwhile. I also went to a presentation on the real archaeology on Indiana Jones, where I got some information I can use in my course on Egypt. The experience also gave me a chance to promote the excavations at Tel es-Safi/Gath and meet up with many Jewish fans. Of course, there were also some great parties and the green fairy made an appearance. I also got to see an Astronaut diaper, something that was an endless topic of dinner conversation last year at the Albright - that is till Anna Nicole died and Paris got sent to the slammer. I'm spending a few days with friends and going to a couple of concerts before heading back to work and a new government in Australia.

Interlude, Friends, and Doggies

I'm not driving so I ordered the large margarita!


Brian, Me, Sandi, and Leslie on Thanksgiving
I'm spending 2 days in Carlsbad, California before heading to my next conference, which starts on Friday. I'm staying with my friend Sandy, her daughter Kate, and her 2 dogs, Scruffy and Tommy (Trojan). Sandy is one of my oldest friends - she and I were undergrads together at USC. I miss Asta, so I've been walking Tommy and Scruffy to compensate. Sandy made some home made chili. Last week we also went out for Mexican food before the ASOR conference started. Brian met us at Leslie's house on Thanksgiving. Leslie and I were in the USC banc together.

San Diego Maritime Museum

I spent my last day in San Diego at the Maritime Museum. This reavealed some unusual symmetries with Australia. The centerpiece of the Museum is a ship known as the Star of India, but it was originally the Eutrepe, which took English emigrants to New Zealand after it was built in 1863. A new addition to the museum is the HMS Surprise, used in the movie, Master and Commander, which my sister-in-law worked on. Behind the Surprise is a 1974 Soviet Submarine.

San Diego: Zoo, Sea World, Brian's Birthday

I managed to also make vistis to the San Diego Zoo and Sea World - the Shamu show was a highlight. I took Brian out for a good steak for his birthday before he had to drive up to Anaheim to spend time with his mom. I spent my last day in San Diego at the Maritime Museum.

ASOR Meeting

Aren Maeir is Reporting on the 2007 Season at Tel es Safi

Jeff Chadwick is speaking about Cooking at Tel es Safi

Morag Kersel Answers Questions In Our Theory Session While Jonathan Lawrence Prepares to Begin and Andrew McCarthy Moderates
Both of the sessions I co-chair went well at ASOR as did my paper on an international style of Bronze Age architecture. This paper provided many examples, but focussed on the site of Hala Sultan Tekke on Cyprus. Aren Maeir and Jeff Chadwick also gave terrific papers on the site of Tel es-Safi/Gath. Aren talked about this season's new finds and Jeff spoke about the cooking installations in Area F. We also attended an exhibition at the Museum of Man and made several visits to more Mexican restaurants.

Arrival in San Diego

Brian and I met up yesterday in the OC and drove down to San Diego in the afternoon. The hotel we are staying in is located on Harbor Island - a beautiful place, but further away than I expected. While Brian took a nap, I checked out the pool and jacuzzi (spa in Oz-speak), which was quite nice given that it's a "chilly" 73 (20 C) degree winter day here - much warmer than the "spring" in Melbourne. In the evening we drove out to our favorite Mexican Restaurant - Casa de Pico - the one that serves margaritas you can swim laps in. We had the medium size, which for $7 are still 3 x as big as the Australian ones that cost twice as much - do the math. I will be spending the next couple of days getting my powerpoint presentation ready.

Los Angeles Hash and Foothill Hash

I spent my first full day in Los Angeles going through the 60 e-mails that accumulated in just 24 hours, then driving to Glendale for the Los Angeles Hash. It was kind of a small turnout, but it was still great seeing everyone. I was kind of tired at the end and skipped the on on on. I ran another hash, the Foothill hash, today in Griffith park. It seemed pretty much like it was all uphill with lots of dirt trails and shiggy. This one had a bigger turnout. I got a couple of down downs both days - for being a returner. I've now done more hashes this year in California than in Melbourne. It's "freezing" here in LA - dipping down as low as the mid-60's! (18 C) - shocking! We went out for pizza afterward, which for me is kind of like taking coals to Newcastle. Tomorrow, we're heading down to San Diego for the ASOR conference.

Life in the PDC

The great thing about flying to Los Angeles from Melbourne is arriving 2 hours earlier than I left. I really needed those 2 hours just to drive across Los Angeles to my friends house - Craig and Christine who I stayed with last year. My first nite back, we went for drinks at the Pacific Dining Car where I got married and which features prominently in so many James Ellroy novels. I was still able to muster the energy to drink martini's and howl at the moon. Meanwhile Brian is visiting his mom in Anaheim and we are meeting up on Monday to head to San Diego for the ASOR conference.

Marking Papers

It's hard to believe that I've had very little to say on my blog for over a month, but it seems like every time the 10 inch high pile of papers I've had to mark goes down, that more come in. I've been getting a little help with the last batch from Asta. I can't believe that the marking is finally done, the grades are in, and the 8 (count 'em EIGHT) honours theses I supervised were all finished and I'm packed to go to ASOR tomorrow.