Square Inch Anthropology

Zach Hyman

I reflect on low-tech ingenuity and microentrepreneurs that I come across, mostly in resource constrained environments. I enjoy documenting solutions to problems across many cultural contexts that use everyday objects in new ways. I'm interested in appropriate technology and market based solutions to social problems. You'll see all that stuff here, plus whatever happens to catch my eye while out on rambles. Thanks to Grant McCracken for the inspiration behind the name. The views expressed here are my own, and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.

Respect

In the cool of the early morning, this man sheds his shoes as a sign of respect before ladling out the rice prepared for the line of over three dozen saffron-clad monks walking their early-morning rounds.

Merit marking

Donation norms: This fan includes the husband's name on one blade, the
wife's on the other, and their address on the third. Why the inclusion
of an address? How will this norm change over time? Email address?
Twitter handle ("don8ed fan 2day @merit")?