#235 Munsell Color Fun

A couple years ago I did a guest post on the Munsell Color Blog. Yeah, that Munsell. Anyway, since then I’ve been following the blog and their fun Twitter account. The other day I saw something that was just geeky enough to be sort of fun. Check it out.

3D Interactive Munsell Color Space

Created by Oriane Lima, an MD, a PhD, and a painter, has created some really fun Munsell graphics. Below, is a 3D interactive visualization of the Munsell color solid. Click around. It does fun things.

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Munsell Color Studies and Art

On this page are a number of interactive visualizations. I clicked on the 10YR V/C page, of course. You start with an empty 10YR page with the color chips off to the left. Drag on the chips to place them in the right squares. If you hold a click on one chip for 5-10 seconds you get the grid location to help you out.

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On most of these pages you can interact in different ways, although, that's not always apparent. Click around and see what you can do.

I haven’t had time yet to play with all of this. Let me know what you played around with in the comments.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!

#234 Archaeology Podcast Network

We've just recorded the 38th episode of the CRM Archaeology Podcast. Every time we record an episode we find that we don't have the time to really go in depth on any single topic. For that reason I want to start a number of other podcasts. The best way to do that is to form a network of podcasts.

Why a Network?

A network is a good way to do this because it becomes a one-stop-shop for all things archaeology. The shows will have a predictable style and format since they'll all have the same editing standards. 

We're looking at putting together a mobile application to go along with the network. All the shows would be available in the app for free. In the future, we want to include "Master Classes" on single topics. These would be 5-10 episode shows about an advanced topic. We'd have experts from the field assist with the course and there would be a nominal fee. Think of it as buying an audio book.

How can you help?

We need show ideas, hosts, panelists, and editors. We're trying to secure funding so, at least in the beginning, hosts and editors will be paid. Eventually we would like to compensate regular panelists as well.

SHOWS

We have a number of shows already in the works. They include:

• Pioneers in CRM: a show about the beginning of CRM with interviews from the people that were there.
• Jobs: a show all about jobs. We'd cover CVs, References, Cover Letters, job hunting, interviewing, etc. We'd have interviews from HR people and hiring managers, too.
• Archaeo Technology: this show is about all the tech we use, or should use, in archaeology. We'll try out things we can and we might have some product reviews as well.
• Pseudo-Archaeology: a show about all the quackery in archaeology.
• Native American Issues in CRM: This isn't about the people we are studying, necessarily. It's a show by Native American CRM Archaeologists about the issues they face in this field.
• Women in CRM: Similar to the four shows we've done on this topic, this show would be by women CRM Archaeologists about all the issues they face on a daily basis.
• More to come!

We're taking ideas for full, regular, shows and for short run shows on quick topics. Comment or use the contact form if you have an idea, want to host, or can be a panelist.

HOSTS

If you want to host a show we only ask that the show come out on a regular schedule. If there aren't any current event time constraints, shows can be recorded a few at a time and just distributed on the schedule. For example, do you work 10 on 4 off? Record four or five shows on your 4-day and you won't have to worry about it for a while.

A general rule for many shows will be two hours prep time (notes, research, interview questions, setting up interviews) and one hour show time. Shows can be 30 min, too.

EDITORS

We need editors! Currently, I edit the CRM Archaeology Podcast in Garage Band on my MacBook Pro. We can use other programs, though, including Audacity and Adobe Audition. Editing is fairly simple, but, time consuming.

Editing will typically include removing useless parts of speech (um, ah), long pauses, and anything else that makes the person sound unprofessional. You'll also have to add the music track at the appropriate points. A general rule for editing is a 1:4 ratio. That means that for every hour of finished show there will be four hours of editing. Some shows will be quicker than that and very few will take longer than that. If we get funding, you'll be paid a flat rate per show based on that ratio. So, if you're quick and good you'll get more per hour.

Let's do this!

This is an idea who's time has come. We're looking for sponsors for the show and any funding that we can get. I'd love to think we can do this for free, but, getting people to commit on a schedule for all this work is really hard to do. So, keep an eye out for our crowd-funding campaign in the next couple months.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the field!

#233 Call for Posts: First Day

I tried to start a CRM blogging collective, but, there wasn't much interest from the people I contacted, and, I got busy with other things and didn't get to promote it much. Now I'm going to start putting out suggestions for themed posts. Maybe that will help some people dust off their memories and do some writing.

So, the topic I propose for now:

Your First Day

Describe your first day as a paid archaeologist. Do you feel you knew enough to be there? What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself on that day? How were you treated? How do you treat people on their first day?

Try to keep the length to about 1000 words.

Don't slander any people or companies and don't mention clients unless you have permission, which you probably don't.

Here is a link to a Google Drive folder: 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bzhl1RU2VVk_LWFoV3Z0SWMyNkU&usp=sharing

It's open to the public, so, no site information. Click "Open in Drive" or "Sign in" in the upper right hand corner. Create a folder for yourself and put the document and any pictures in there. Don't put the pics in a Word document; they are difficult to get out. You can put in a placeholder, though. You can also just email me your file and pics: chriswebster@digtech-llc.com. Also, let me know that you put a post in the drive, in case I miss it.

Thanks for participating! Let's get this great information out there so others can learn.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the field!

#232 More Companies, More Changes

This is my Day of Archaeology 2014 post. Click HERE to go to the DayofArch page and see hundreds of great posts about the day in the life of archaeologists across the globe.

First, a big thanks again to the organizers of this event! It’s a lot to put on something like this. Go and buy something from their store to support this for many years to come!

Welcome to my fourth Day of Archaeology post! Hard to believe this has been going on for four years now. Every year, so far, I’ve been at a different stage in my life. Nothing stays the same around here, ever! Here are my last posts: 1st year here and here, 2nd Year, and 3rd Year.

LAST YEAR

When I wrote my 2013 Day of Archaeology post my new CRM company was just seven months old. I had done a few projects, but, I was mostly focused on the arduous task of business development (BD). I’ve never been good at BD. It seems that no one actually teaches you how to do it. So, I never really learned the ins and outs. I do have some networking skills, which helps, but that’s not all BD is about.

THIS YEAR

I’ve got a few more contracts down, but, I seem to have put the CRM side of DIGTECH on the back burner. That’s not to say I would turn down a contract if I were approached, I just don’t have time to go seek them out right now. What I’m really focusing on is my other company, Field Tech Designs.

FIELD TECH DESIGNS

This is what I’ve been working on for much of today’s Day of Archaeology.

EXCAVATION FORMS

I’ve been subcontracted to do the excavation for a project in Lake County, CA and the fieldwork starts next week. It’s actually a pretty sweet gig. DIGTECH will do all the fieldwork, but, we aren’t doing any of the artifact analysis and report writing. While I do enjoy those phases of work, I don’t really have the time for it right now. So, this gets me out in the field, shovel in hand, and then allows me to get back to other tasks.

For the fieldwork, we’ll be using iPads rented from my other company, Field Tech Designs, to record the shovel tests and excavation units we’ll be digging. I’ve created custom forms for the shovel tests and spent a portion of today creating the excavation forms.

Working digitally will allow us to transmit the completed paperwork (should digital forms be called, electrowork? digiwork?) to the PI at his office 200 miles away every day. With cell service, we can transmit the forms as we finish them.

TABLET RENTAL PROGRAM

I’ve also spent some time coming up with the various pricing models we’re going to have for our tablet rental program. Over the last few months I’ve gotten the sense that some companies are a bit apprehensive about buying a fleet of tablets for their fieldwork. I don’t know if it’s the upfront cost of the tablets or the thought that they could easily break (which isn’t true). Either way, I thought that since they are used to renting things like Trimble GPS units anyway then a tablet rental would just make sense. Renting the tablets allows Field Tech Designs to assume the burden of keeping them maintained and updated while always giving the client the latest and greatest.

VIDEO TUTORIALS

For the custom forms we are creating for our clients I always make a video detailing the use of the form and how to turn the digital data into a CSV file and then a Word Document. It’s pretty straight forward, but, if you’ve never done it there are a number of steps that just make more sense when you can see them.

Working on video editing this afternoon made me realize just how old my MacBook Pro is getting. I could really use an upgrade soon!

PODCASTING

I spent some time thinking about, and taking notes on, some things we’re going to talk about in the podcast we’re recording on Saturday. The CRM Archaeology Podcast is up to episode 38 and we’re still going strong. We’ve released an episode every other Monday for the last year and a half and we never lack for things to talk about. That’s why I’ve come up with another idea…

NEW PODCASTS

I feel that the current podcast could really be split into a bunch of other shows. The shows would be essentially single topic shows that focus on really digging into whatever issue they are concerned with. I’m not going to go into too much detail right now, but, stay tuned for a lot more content about CRM Archaeology in the coming months.

THIRD COMPANY

The last thing I did today was some research for a new company. This new entity will have something to do with aerial drones but I’m not going to go into it right now. We’re in the research phase right now. Since the FAA here in the U.S. is still up in arms about using drones for commercial purposes, we have some time. I’m a licensed pilot, though, and that might go well for me if the regulations go the direction I think they are going to go based on some information I recently received from an FAA official here in Reno. Interesting times are ahead in the world of Drones.

So, working on tablets with Field Tech Designs, researching a new drone company, and trying to, sort of, find more work for DIGTECH so I can test out all my ideas…busy day. Unfortunately, nothing I did today directly made me any money. One thing you learn while you’re indulging your passions and chasing your dreams is that money isn’t always the reason to do things in life. If you keep doing what you love and work hard at it then the money will come.

Oh, I also turned my popular series of blog posts, the Shovelbums Guide, into a helpful guidebook for CRM Archaeologists at any level. The book was published by Left Coast Press in April and is called the, “Field Archaeologist’s Survival Guide: Getting a Job and Working in Cultural Resource Management”. You can find it on Amazon and at the Left Coast Website.

Enjoy the other posts for the 2014 Day of Archaeology!

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!

#231 Petty Little Man

Check out his feature. Can you tell anything about it? Do you even know what state or country it's from? Yeah, didn't think so. For the record, it was not taken while on a project with the company mentioned in this post. Suck it, lawyers.

I was debating talking about this on this blog, but, it’s what I do. I’ll likely be sued over this blog post and will loose everything. Since there are libraries with computers I’ll keep blogging when I’m homeless and my wife has left me. Onward.

Weird Awkward Bitterness

So, as some of you may know, I was fired from a job about three years ago (THREE YEARS AGO). There was always a bit of animosity between the leadership and I. By leadership I mean the arrogant, distant, socially awkward PI that ran the office and the owner of the company. The owner, we’ll call him Rom Clenchin (obviously a pseudonym), actually only met me maybe twice since he lives in Boulder, Colorado.

The situation was awkward because I am always trying to figure out how I can move up, no matter where I work, and how I can learn new skills and advance my position. It’s just the way I am. I think the company was not too receptive to that. Like at many CRM firms, employees are often just expected to sit down, shut up, and do their work. Ambition, in my experience, is not encouraged. Just get your job done.

Well, when I wrote the “Tonopah” blog post that detailed the area we were working in, they fired me. I’m not going into it again, but basically, the thought I violated the company confidentiality policy by talking about the project.

Now, let’s fast forward to today. I’ve got a new book out. You may have heard of it. If not, the “Field Archaeologist’s Survival Guide” can be found on one of the tabs above if you’re on my website right now. In that book I used pictures from various places I’ve worked. Some of the pictures came from projects I was on while working with the aforementioned company. I took all the pictures with my personal camera and none of them are in the style of actual project photos. What I mean is, there are no photo boards, no features, not even any artifacts. They are candid shots that were likely taken while I was on lunch or on break. I’d be willing to bet that if you’re reading this that you’ve probably taken pictures on a project and most likely posted some on a social media website.

Somehow RC seems to think there are pictures that were taken on his projects in my book. First, none of them are even labeled so he can’t really prove it. Second, they are personal photographs and I can find similar ones on Facebook right now from current and former employees from that project and multiple projects. Doesn’t seem to matter, though.

A few days ago I received a Cease and Desist letter from RC's lawyer. It says that the employee handbook says that when you are terminated or otherwise leave the company  that you have to return all materials that belong to the company. That totally makes sense, of course. The problem is that the photos I took most certainly DO NOT belong to the company.

Options

Now what am I going to do? I can’t unpublish the book. I can put in different photos for the next edition, though. However, a number of copies have been sold already and I can’t take those back. Also, why didn’t the lawyer send copies of that letter to EVERY former employee? They all have pictures too. Well, most of them do, anyway.

I’m going to contact a lawyer on Monday and see what my options are. Of course, I really don’t have the money for this, so, I don’t know what I’m going to do, ultimately. What I really don’t get is why RC is so bitter about all this. Why is he hanging on so much? The man is well over 60 years old and could have a heart attack if he’s not careful.

Questions

Are you a PI or a company owner? How do you feel about people taking, and using, photos from your projects. Keep in mind, I’m not talking about official-looking photographs like those that would appear in a report. I’m talking about candid site photos. Does someone need permission to use them even if the photos are not attributed to any particular project or company? What’s your policy? How are you dealing with the fact that nearly every employee has a digital camera and a computer in their pocket? It’s a new world and we need policies that reflect the technology we have available to us.

As usual, I appreciate any feedback.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field, or, at a homeless shelter.

UPDATE:

I called the lawyer on Monday. First, he was instantly antagonistic. It was a little weird. I told him that I probably did take pics on their projects but that they'd have to prove which ones were theirs. He asked why I was taking pictures when I should have been working. I told him that it's because I'm an archaeologist and I love my job. I told him that we all do it. I don't think he believed me.

He wasn't aware that nearly every employee, both current and former, have pictures on Facebook. Sure, they're not in a book, but they weren't "returned" when those people left either way. He's going to check on some things and get back to me.

My guess, I won't hear from him again. Hopefully he's telling his client that they can't really win unless they want to bring lawsuits up on at least 50 people or more. Probably more. I told him I won't use any photos taken from their projects in future publications, but, I still think I have every right.

More updates when they happen.

#230 - Bad Businessman

So, I might be just a bad businessman, or, I’m going to change the world. Either way, here are some thoughts on business and pricing in CRM and, really, everything.

There is a pretty good chance that DIGTECH is going to be merging with another company soon. We’re joining forces because the leadership of the other company are getting on in age and are looking to keep their legacy going. First, I really respect them for making this decision. There is no reason to let something you’ve built for the past 30+ years just die. That being said, there are some decisions that will have to be made.

DIGTECH Pricing Schedule

When I first started my company I was really stressing out over what to charge for my services. There are essentially four levels that need to be priced: Principal Investigator, Project Manager, Crew Chief, and Field Technician. The price you put on proposals is called the billable rate and it’s intended to cover all of your operating expenses (overhead) and is the source of your profit.

A number of companies I’ve worked for have a billable rate for PI that ranges from $85 to $150 per hour. I’ve seen an average for field technician of about $50-$60 per hour. Some companies charge more, some less. The rate is often decided by using a multiple of 2.0 to 3.0. For example, if you want to pay your field technicians $18 per hour, then multiply that by 2.5, for example, to get the billable rate ($45 in this example). Again, that rate should cover overhead and give you some profit at the same time.

Of course, I don’t really have much overhead. I’m completely digital and don’t have offices to pay for. So, do I use a multiplier that’s under 2, or, do I use a standard multiplier so I can stay up with everyone else and just make more money? That’s the big question, isn’t it?

Undercutting, or, Efficiency?

My big question is: what is the price point I can choose that pays my people well, gives the client a fair price, turns a profit, and is respectable? That last one is tricky. If your prices are too low you won’t be taken seriously; too high and you won’t win any projects.  The prices need to be somewhere in the middle.

If my prices are too low I could also be seen as undercutting by the competition. That’s a sore point with me too. Is it undercutting to work more efficiently by completely rethinking the entire business and how we do it? I don’t think so. If I’m paying my people well and growing the company while giving my clients a fair price then I’m happy. If other companies can’t compete with that then that’s not really my problem. Sounds harsh, but, times are changing and you either adapt and overcome or move out of the way.

Joint Venture Pricing

So, If I join forces with a company that’s been in business for 30+ years, what do we charge? Also, we’ll be working in both California and Nevada. Do multi-state companies have different pricing structures for different areas? You would think they do to remain competitive, but, they still have the same overhead to pay. Bringing in another, established, company will give me some of the experience I simply don’t have.

I’ve been building DIGTECH by the seat of my pants. In reality, I don’t really know what I’m doing when it comes to business development. I’ve simply never done it before. What I do have is drive, ambition, and a desire to do things better and more efficiently than they’ve been done in the past.

On the last episode of the CRM Archaeology Podcast (Episode 36) we interviewed firm owner Sonia Hutmacher. Sonia said that she recommends you start a company with $30-$50k. I started with $7k and a credit card. Still in business, though.

Anyway, we have some decisions to make over the next few months. In the end I think it will be great for both companies.

That’s about it for now. I’ve been a bit absent since my other company, Field Tech Designs LLC, has been taking up a massive amount of my time. We’re creating digital field forms for other companies and our application for Android, and eventually iOS, is well underway with development. Since the dev company is in India there are a lot of late night calls so I can work with the development team. There will be many more details to come.

Also, I'm likely starting a new business for aerial drone surveys. We'll be taking aerial photos for large mine complexes, pipelines, utility lines, archaeological excavations, road surveys, and everything else. Sure, it's illegal now, but, hopefully the FAA gets their head out of their collective...well, you know.

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From XKCD, of course.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the field!

#229 SAA2014 Wrap-Up

Click on the image to go to the book's page where you can download and/or read!

I'm just back from the Society for American Archaeology meetings in Austin, Texas and there is a lot to cover.

Blogging Archaeology, Again

I chaired this year’s blogging archaeology session and I have to say, it was a great success. We had only six presenters—Terry Brock couldn't make it—and one discussant at the end, but, the room was full most of the time. At one point I counted about 60 people with a sizable crowd standing in the back. 

After the session there was a lively round of questions and discussion between the presenters and the audience. I only wish we could get those kinds of comments on our blogs! When we were about to be kicked out of the room a fair number of us adjourned to lunch at the Easy Tiger where the conversation continued. 

I thought about mentioning this earlier, but, decided to wait and see how the session, and my presentation, went. Here it goes: I've never presented at a conference—no posters either—and I've never chaired a session. I've seen enough to know what to do and what not to do. A number of people have congratulated me on a great session, but of course, all the credit goes to the presenters and their engaging content.

Blogging Archaeology eBook

A few months ago Doug Rocks-MacQueen and I decided to publish an eBook of the papers presented at the conference. When we asked the presenters if they'd be up for it, several declined because they were publishing elsewhere. Down to just a few papers, we opened it up to the blogosphere. We ended up with a total of 16 papers from bloggers around the world. The papers covered a wide variety of topics ranging from mortuary archaeology to social media to issues related to looting, among others. 

Since we'd planned to release the book at the beginning of the Blogging Archaeology session there were a lot of last minute tasks that needed to be attended to. That meant some intense editing and formatting time for Doug and some really long nights in Austin for me. We got it done, though, and the book is available on my website as a free download. As more people download it, access will get even better.

Blogging Archaeology, The Brand

The day before the release of the eBook, Doug and I were alerted to a possible issue with the title. We simply called the book "Blogging Archaeology" and thought no more of it. There was some concern that the title would cause confusion with the previous Blogging Archaeology session in Sacramento, the associated bogging carnival, and a publication that is yet to be released. It was too late to make a change and we went with it as is. Does it need a change, however?

At most I would add a year to the title. The phrase, "Blogging Archaeology", however, has become synonymous with this blogging and social media blitz that we’re all in. I see it the way I see tissue paper. Most people in the U.S. call tissue paper Kleenex. It’s not Kleenex, however. Kleenex is a brand. It’s the most popular brand, but, still a brand. This is similar to how some people annoyingly call all soda “coke”. In some parts of the country you can ask for a coke at a restaurant and the wait staff will ask “What kind?”.

So, “Blogging Archaeology” it is.

Papers, or lack of

There were a lot of things I would have liked to see this year. That being said, there was a distinct lack of papers I would liked to have seen as well. I felt that I was running all over the place in Hawaii last year. This year, however, my schedule was a lot lighter. Between my book release, the booth I ran for my new company, Field Tech Designs, LLC, the eBook prep, and the Blogging Archaeology session prep, I didn’t have much time for papers. But, like I said, there just wasn’t a lot I wanted to see.

When I did make it to the Great Basin session on Sunday there were a grand total of about 10 people in the room. I could hardly believe it! It’s usually quite full! Of course, since the SAAs don’t have conference tracks, many people were at the associated poster session that took place at exactly the same time. Nice job.

Friends

This year’s conference was amazing for meeting online friends, making new friends, and reconnecting with old friends. I met, for the first time, two of the people that have been recording the CRM Archaeology Podcast with me for over a year: Bill White and Stephen Wagner. Initial impressions? Bill is freakishly tall and Stephan is as snappy a dresser as he alluded to on a previous episode of the podcast!

John Lowe organized a #blogarch tweetup at one of his favorite haunts, The Liberty, for Thursday evening. A lot of people were there and it was great meeting some of the names I’ve come to know online. I even met Mr. Shovelbums himself!

Future Sessions

As I’m writing this, the submission system for #SAA2015 in San Francisco is now open. I need to submit the next #blogarch abstract, but, I’m at a loss for a title. As some have noted, the session isn’t just about blogging anymore. It’s about the broad implications of blogging and social media. To me, blogging is a form of social media anyway. So, I want a title that includes blogging and social media.

I discussed this with some people in Austin and a few thought we could take blogging out of the title. I disagree. We’re still trying to reach an audience that is unfamiliar with blogging and with social media. Until blogging becomes mainstream in professional and academic archaeology, we need it in the title.

Suggestions? Comment HERE ON THE BLOG (!) with title suggestions and abstract suggestions.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you at #SAA2015!