Dave Maass

Well, I realize now that for those of you who haven’t been following my blog the last year, the post Krisantervention may not make a whole lot of sense. For those of you who’ve just tuned in, here’s a link to the article I wrote for Diplo magazine:

Riot Act: Is the UNHCR Hearing the Noise in Ghana? (5.3mb pdf)

I’ve updated my “About” page. Nothing major. Just thought I’d let you know.

The US Committee for Refugees and Immigration has published its 2006 report and thanks to our investigation, the Krisan Riots feature prominently. They even include one of my photos.

Check out this pdf:

Refugee Protest in the Global South: Recent Developments

and the Ghana page.
Ghana Country Report 2006

For all who wondered what sort of a job visual anthropology prepares you for….how about conducting market research surveys about movies? I think I’ll be starting it this weekend with E Works, hounding filmgoers at the mall for their opinions on previews. It’s a part-time thing.

Meanwhile, I’ve made it to the shortlist for a six-month temporary editor job for a web site… among other duties, I’d be in charge of keeping a Reality TV blog. Awesome.

But I’m keeping it real, too. I’ve put in to be a volunteer on the Richard Hugo House’s prison project.

I’ve got a phone now… email me if you want the number.

Tomorrow I think I’ll go to the library downtown.

Well, I’ve been here a week and not much progress since the first few days. It’s a waiting game, I suppose. The only news I have is that I wasn’t chosen for the McGee fellowship in Botswana.

Well… my first Saturday was eventful, if not forgettably so. Scott and Amanda left town for a belated wedding party and so I was on my own. Determined to do something, anything,  I went to a reading at the Elliot Bay Bookstore in the afternoon, which was under attended and slightly boring. Then an open mic at the Langston Hughes centre, which was a bit too clean and positive for my liking. I left before it was dark outside. I sat around and watched a few more episodes of Arrested Development (four in all, just today) and then went and had a coffee at the same sterile coffee shop as I have every day since arriving. I don’t think I’ve had a proper conversation with anyone other than my flatmates since I got here.

Not that I’m complaining… i’m going to have a great time in this city, I’m sure. It’s a paradise. They have a friggin waterfall park in the center of town.  I’m just impatient and a bit lonely.

Well, I think I know uptown from downtown now. After all, it is on a hill.

Some news.

The part-time job fell through. No big deal, though. Only my third day, and I’m working on a piece for The Stranger and I was invited to the Seattle Weekly’s office. They have a great selection of hard candies available at the reception desk.

Alina in California, who wanted to help raise funds for a Liberian refugee film has accepted a job in Darfur, which is really great for her. It does mean she won’t be able to help with the film. That’s okay, there’s still time and Semantics will be in the US in a few weeks.

I’m still sleeping on the couch, but I should have a room in the next few days.