M. Willis Monroe

This makes me mad. I saw these clever little banners up with the slogans “iShackle” “iDroid” so I thought perhaps this was a website decrying the iPod and giving the consumer good advice. How wrong instead it’s little more than a website shaming iPod users and trying to convince you to switch to SanDisk’s alternative all in the guise of an individualistic rebellion. Of course it doesn’t outright tell you about SanDisk, no, it links you to “the alternative” which just happens to be SanDisk. A quick WHOIS on www.idont.com turns up that the site is infact owned by SanDisk. Shameless.

By coincendence I just happened to pick up my copy of “Nation of Rebels: How counter culture became consumer culture.” This plays right into his whole theory; shame on SanDisk and shame on anyone who falls for this trite.

I came home two nights ago on a long flight filled with screaming kids, but it was more than worth it. Israel is amazing.

The five weeks working on the dig were so much fun. I loved the archaeology and I got to see so much stuff on the weekends as well. Jerusalem was amazing. You get this feeling of how ancient the city is as you walk around. Three faiths situated in very close quarters makes for a very interesting dynamic.

I really like to see religiously devout people doing their “thing” and there was no lack of that in Jerusalem. I particularly liked the western wall and went back numerous times during my stay (after all it was five minutes from the hostel). Church of the Holy Sepulcher was fascinating as well. Unfortunately I didn’t make it on the temple mount as that’s rather an accomplishment these days.

In terms of archaeology, I got five solid weeks of Middle Eastern digging expierence which was great. It was very different to the dig I did in London. I ended up excivating a storage room filled with large complete and smashed vessels, situated in a mudbrick collapse.

Overall the trip was amazing. I saw so many cool places, worked really hard and met some really nice people as well. It was the start (hopefully) to a career studying the region.

As always I have many photos here.

Just in case you’re wondering I’m safe and sound. The Kibbutz we’re living on is hardly a target neither is Tel Megiddo where we dig. We hear and see tons of Military planes and helicopters and hear explosions but we’re safe for time being and will be in the future. I’m coming home in a week so it’s not long.

Israel is amazing. I’ve been here for two weeks now and I’m currently staying in Jerusalem for the weekend to see all the sights. Digging has been fantastic. I’m finding all sorts of stuff and getting great training. A National Geographic film team came today and filmed Leah (my square mate) and me brushing off a surface while the Israel Finklestein talked to us for the camera.