've been following this thread with interest - it's been quite the  
debate covering many different bases.  One thing that stood out to me  
is the question of how to connect with the public.  I'm not sure how  
well we can gauge public interest based off the comments on the NY  
Times article; it's likely to be heavily laced with privy diggers and  
bottle collectors who see archaeologists are infringing on their  
hobby.  Leaving aside the question of dealing with privy/cellar  
diggers and metal-detectorist who dig for "relics" for fun and profit,  
how about the question of connecting with the interested guy in the  
street?  One opportunity is through the new Time Team America program  
on PBS.  Love it or hate it it's an opening.  For example, on the  
website for the show there are pages for each episode where people can  
leave comments and questions.  One individual, Frank Antonson, left  
the following comment on the page for the recent show:

"I have watched the "New Philadelphia" episode of Time Team America  
and would like to know if a site in Central Pennsylivania is worthy of  
research. The site is of the Oppenheimer (pronounced locally the old  
way with a long "O") iron mine works. It may be viewed roughly on  
google earth at 151 Camp Ranch Lane, 15522. It is extensive, but  
forgotten, and dates from 1884.
I own the property and know it well. As I watched the Philadelphia  
episode, I thought that the site I know of would be so much more  
productive and yet equally unknown. Please let me know if there is  
anyone who would be willing to correspond with me on this matter.
Frank Antonson"

How about it?  It's a little outside of both my geographic area and my  
area of interest, but are there any industrial archaeologists who'd be  
interested in giving the guy a few minutes?  I know funding is always  
a problem, but having a site owned by a sympathetic and interested  
landowner could be a good start of a research project.

I've been trying to come up with other ideas to leverage both Time  
Time America and similar shows - for example, there's the possiblity  
of a "watch party" at a local library where the public would be  
invited to watch some episode that's locally pertinent (I'm currently  
in North Carolina, so the Fort Raleigh episode would work here) with  
the opportunity to have any questions answered by a practicing  
archaeologist afterwards.  I know not everyone has the time or  
inclination to do such a thing, and that's fine, but   for those who  
enjoy interacting with an interested public there are some real  
opportunities we (as archaeologists) may be missing out on.  And a  
roomful of people who are there because they genuinely want to know  
more about archaeology has got to beat day-in-day-out angry land- 
owners and indifferent construction project managers, right?

Just a few thoughts from someone who's still fairly new to the field  
(seems like I should exploit my own enthusiasm while I have the time  
and energy).

Jonathan