Dealing With Cyberwars in the Classroom

Studies have shown that peer-to-peer bullying at school is more widespread than originally believed—and it's no longer limited to the hallways and playground. The connectivity offered by technology also allows for continued public ridicule long after class has been dismissed for the day. Cyberbullying occurs more frequently after-school and on weekends when students have more time to themselves. Increasingly, when instances of cyberbullying are found, parents often look to schools to manage the conflict. A recent feature in the NYT asks whether this responsibility should fall to educators, and explores the challenges faced by schools, parents, and the law in dealing with cyberbullies. The best defense against the resulting cyberwars may be education, but from an unlikely source.

Social Networks Help World Cup Spectators Cope With Chance

Given the reduced volume of World Cup related posts in my Twitter and Facebook streams, it appears that soccer fever is abating the in US. The reach of the World Cup has been far this year, thanks in part to the role of social media outlets in encouraging discussion and raising awareness about the sport. For a few weeks, Twitter and Facebook were inundated with World Cup related posts, with Twitter reporting surges well above the general 750 Tweets-per-second (TPS) the normally constitute usage on the site. Marked by soccer ball icons and the flags of participating countries, conversations and comments about the World Cup were highly visible. How did this change the experience for World Cup spectators—particularly for Americans?

A State of Timelessness

I talked about Standard Time from a somewhat political standpoint, but there's a fair bit of history involved in the standardization of Time. And I promised you a little more information, but I've been a bit wary about lecturing. There's a ton of information on this topic (and I'm not even planning to touch daylight savings time—we really couldn't leave well enough alone, could we?) I've decided to give you a fly-by history. If you have any questions, post them in the comments and I'll be glad to try and get you some answers. Here's an overview of some of what I've learned:

Four Stone Hearth is Live at Afarensis

The latest round of the anthropology blog carnival is live at Afarensis. The hominin has assembled a really good group of posts from around the web. Be sure to head on over and give it a look.

Does It Still Take a Village?

Anyone who has taken mass transit knows how intense the experience can be with an unhappy child in close proximity. Loud iPods, sprawling seatmates, dripping umbrellas, body odor, and large packages are minor concerns compared with a wailing child. When confined in a subway car with a child in mid-tantrum, there comes a point when the proverbial village seems to come to life.

Standardized Time and Power Relations

Whose Time do we live in? Time zones have set standards in keeping with longitudinal boundaries so that we share a clock experience that is often managed by an urban center. I am not the first to note, however, that these standards of Time overlook local, social definitions of Time. Though these local definitions persist, they are not generally the norm adhered to when individuals interact both across and within Time. Are local Times accounted for online?

Online Reputation Management on the Rise

It seems the iGeneration is coming of age—and they're addressing the very issues the "old timers" have been railing about far more efficiently and willingly than the group that raised concerns about online privacy and digital reputations. What steps are you taking to manage your online reputation? You may want to take a few pointers from the 18-29 crowd.

Hungry, Homeless, and Traveling—Measurements of Wealth

Last night as I entered the subway at William Street, there was a homeless young man sitting at the bottom of the stairs with a docile, friendly puppy of perhaps the Lab family. (I'm not particularly good with dog breeds on sight.) His cardboard sign read, "Hungry, Homeless & Traveling. Folks please help." As usual, most people streamed on by, but as I descended the stairs I overheard an interesting proposition.

Internet Week 2010: The City Goes Social and Encourages Entrepreneurs to Log On

What if I told you that you could have New York City at your fingertips? And you wouldn't need to be billionaire Bruce Wayne or supervillian Lex Luthor to do so. How would that change your experience of the city? Of any city for that matter? These are the questions NYC Media explored last Thursday during Internet Week with an initiative using quick response (QR) code technology in Times Square called "The City at Your Fingertips."

Everyday Reflections of the Digital

As far as subway lines go, the F, M, and L trains have long trundled along their respective tracks innocuously enough. However, the recent reshuffling of the subway system which eliminated some trains and shifted the routes of others as a result of severe budgetary issues has brought an Internet meme to life.

Blog News - IWNY, Godparenting, and Balance

Hello, Readers. Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you. My "to-do" list is sitting in front me, and my suspicion is that neither of us is willing to give any ground. A number of things have been keeping me busy of late—last week was Internet Week New York and I have a few things to report on, including some government initiatives to introduce social and digital media into the mainstream. And I also had a chance to see my goddaughter in NC, who in my humble opinion, is the most amazing human to watch. She is seven months old and full of wonder—which she expresses by trying to eat just about anything in her path. It's amazing to watch her explore the world.

I'm a little off schedule, but here's a look at where things stand with AiP:

Digital and Social Media in the Classroom

A few weeks ago, I considered whether laptops in the classroom were digital distractions—a topic that appears to have divided the academic community. Since that post, I've learned of a number of different ways that the social web and digital media are being implemented in the classroom. A few colleagues expressed uncertainty about whether these technologies have a place within higher education, and while usage is far from widespread, these examples suggest means of harnessing digital and social media to assist in the classroom.

Time in Passing: Mentions of Time in Fiction

I've managed to sneak in a few fiction reads. (I needed to. The books on my shelves call to me if I leave them alone for too long. Some call louder and more persistently than others.) But it seems that even in fiction, my research interests persist.

There I was, sitting in the sun thinking, "Hah! I'm taking a break from reading about circadian rhythms and death and teamwork and digital media and—ahhh! Okay, I'm taking a break. I'm taking a break." With this protective chant running through my mind, I settled back into my chair, breathed in the smell of freshly mowed grass, and turned the page. And found Time waiting for me. I dismissed it, and picked up another favorite—Time was waiting there too.

In any event, I managed to devour three books from authors who are my pick-me-ups—the ones that I can always go to because we know each other almost by heart. And Time was waiting in all three. Here's a look at what I found.

Statuesque in City Hall Park

A new art exhibit has gone on display in City Hall Park. Statuesque features art from six international artists. The show is meant to encourage a re-imagining of the classic form of statues by melding sculpture with beauty and elegance of this now historic style. The show will run through December and is a perfect accompaniment to lunch in the park. Images of the pieces can be viewed after the jump.

Four Stone Hearth #94: Seafood Diets, Prestige, Birds, and Bullying

A hearty thanks to those who contributed to this edition of the anthropology blog carnival. Let's get started!

The bio-physical folks made their presence known this week with the following submissions:

• Raymond of the Prancing Papio reports on a study suggesting that a seafood diet may be responsible for brain expansion in our early ancestors.

• At The Primate Diaries, with a nod to survival of the most successful (traits), Eric discusses why chimpanzees prefer to follow the actions of more prestigious members of their society.

• GrrlScientist shares a favorite radio program that may help you enjoy a short break during the day: BirdNote Radio. This two minute program features bird songs and is designed to teach the public about birds.

• GrrlScientist also has another submission on aboriginal rock art that may depict a long extinct giant bird.

From the socio-cultural realm, here on AiP I looked at the other side of the argument concerning bullying, asking whether a little bullying is actually good for you.

Urban Archaeology in Action

I recently learned about a wall that was uncovered near City Hall. It may date to the 18th-century, and in fact may be connected to the First Almshouse—a poorhouse that stood on this site from 1735 to 1797. It's also a great opportunity for the public to see archaeology in action!

Are Baseball Announcers Necessary?

As digital and social media infiltrate the world of sports, and make teams, athletes, reporters, and information overall more accessible for fans, there is a greater opportunity for fans to connect to the game. This connection is important to the longevity of the franchises, and has largely been borne on the shoulders of the games' announcers. But why bother turning up the volume on the radio or television when you can follow the progress and emotions of a hashtag community on Twitter? Are announcers still important in this evolving landscape?

Call for FSH Submissions

I'll be hosting the 94th edition of Four Stone Hearth right here on Anthropology in Practice on Wednesday. So, what have you been reading? Send me your picks for interesting anthropology posts from your web travels for inclusion in the next anthro blog carnival.

To learn more about Four Stone Hearth, or to sign up to host a round of the carnival, click here—no need to be an anthro pro.

One (Facebook) Friend Too Many?

How many Facebook friends do you have? 500? 2500? 5000? Why stop at all? Why not 10,000? Well, actually, Facebook caps the total number of friends you can have at 5000, so it might make for some awkwardness as you explain to friend no. 5001 that while you're connected, you can't acknowledge your deep and meaningful relationship on Facebook. So what would you do? Start a new Facebook profile? (If you do, don't let Facebook know.) A recent article in the New York Times explores our need to connect expansively and discusses the strategies employed by a few to keep their numbers high.

Subway History on Display

As the MTA prepares to roll out a new, user-friendly subway map this month, I thought it might be the right time to take a look at some artifacts from the subway's history.

And We're Back ...

Hello, Readers—both old and new. Here's hoping that those of you in the States had a fantastic long weekend, and that your Memorial Day celebrations included some recognition of our armed forces. As for me, I had a much needed tech-free long weekend and I'm back with some good ideas for AiP. One of the things that surprised me was how easy it was for me to unplug. I get email on my phone (personal, not work-related) and I can also check on Facebook and Twitter via assorted apps, but it was relatively easy not to—or to give things a cursory glance and keep moving. Sure, I was tempted to look at pictures I had taken or catch up on the news, but in the end the sunshine and my tattered copies of Stephen King books held greater influence. And I'm glad because I feel like someone hit the reset button. Still, I realize I missed A LOT in the digital world but it's a nice reminder that you can go on for short periods without being plugged in. (Even S managed to minimize his email time, though he is definitely more fettered than I am to his smart phone.)

Anthro Blog Carnival is Coming to AiP! Call for Submissions

I'll be hosting the 94th edition of Four Stone Hearth right here on Anthropology in Practice next Wednesday. So, what have you been reading? Send me your picks for interesting anthropology posts from your web travels for inclusion in the next anthro blog carnival.

To learn more about Four Stone Hearth, or to sign up to host a round of the carnival, click here—no need to be an anthro pro.