Meta - Info about this blog: December 2005 Archives

I'm in Hachinohe, Aomori right now, blogging from my hotel room. Business hotels in Japan have become quite affordable. "Super Hotel Hachinohe" is Y4980 a night, which includes high-speed internet, private bath/toilet, TV, tiny fridge, and all importantly, a little hot water pot for making tea. Breakfast is included as well. If you're travelling in Japan, definitely check for Super Hotels. The only problem is that some (like the one in Hachinohe) aren't located in front of the train station.

I'm off in an hour or so to Urakawa, Hokkaido. I'm visiting the Bethel House community, which is made up of people with psychiatric disabilities. They run their own company which sells local products (seaweed, crafts, etc.) as well as themselves. They have a series of books and videotapes and often go on lectures to talk about Bethel House. I'll be staying there about a week to shoot some video on their community structure.

I've just come back from a very enjoyable time at the American Anthropological Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C. I had to attend three national committees (Commission on Minority Issues in Anthropology; Long Range Planning; and, Committtee on Ethics) as well as the SOLGA Board Meeting and a Mentoring Workshop, so I didn't get to as many panels as I would have liked to, but I'd still like to say that I found MuseumFreak's ethnography of blogging panel very interesting.