The Hindu newspaper published a piece commemorating the recording of Margaret Mead's “This I Believe” essay for Edward R. Murrow's radio series: I believe that to understand human beings it is necessary to think of them as part of the whole living world. Our essential humanity depends not only on the complex biological structure which has been developed through the ages from very simple beginnings, but also upon the great social inventions which have been made by human beings, perpetuated by human beings, and in turn give human beings their stature as builders, thinkers, statesmen, artists, seers and prophets Click here to read the article or here to listen to Mead's recording Telling Voices: Understanding the other SUDHAMAHI...

John W. Hoopes, an anthropologist at the University of Kansas, teaches a course on “Archaeological Myths and Realities" in which he tackles the 2012 myth among other doomsday premonitions: The United States has always embraced religious freedom. Peculiar religious sects, including occult beliefs, have always been part of America," Hoopes said. "End-of-the-world and transformative beliefs are found in many ancient cultures but have been a fundamental part of modern times since 1499," Hoopes said. "They are also fundamentally American." In an attempt to distinguish myth from science, Hoopes uses the 2012 myth and other prophecies to teach students to think critically and learn to distinguish between science and myth. He explained that wishful or magical thinking often helps perpetuate myths and beliefs that have no basis in science. Read more at International Business...

BBC Business Daily dedicated its 29th of December program to “The Banking tribe:” Anthropologists spend decades studying the culture and rituals of obscure tribes in Africa and the Amazon but Dutch anthropologist Joris Luyendik tells Justin Rowlatt why he's decided to study bankers instead. Press here or here to stream to program online, or alternatively press here to download the program in an MP3...

This interesting anthropology-related news bite appeared at ESPN: BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's top prosecutor is questioning why a shaman, or medicine man, was paid $2,000 to keep rain away from the closing ceremony of the Under-20 World Cup. The attorney general's office opened the investigation Tuesday after the comptroller's office in Bogota questioned cost overruns of more than $1 million -- the shaman's charges included. The official cost of the August ceremony was $2.5 million. Anthropologist Ana Marta de Pizarro helped organize the ceremony and says the shaman was justified. She said: "Had it rained, the event would not have taken place. It didn't rain on the ceremony, it was successful and I would use him again if I needed to." Pizarro said the shaman had been used at other outdoor events in the country. The Under-20 World Cup was held for three weeks last year...