2025 National Environment and Recreation Research (NERR) Symposium

 The call for abstracts and scholarships for the 2025 National Environment and Recreation Research (NERR) Symposium is open. The 2025 symposium will be held  March 30 – April 1, 2025 in stunning Virginia Beach! As in the past, NERR will focus on innovative research and practical applications spanning a breadth of topics within recreation, tourism, and environmental management.

Key information:

Abstracts Submission: 

Deadline:  November 25, 2024

Submission Link:  https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ABasPee6yM1ggu

Types of presentations:  Oral presentations, poster presentations, Roundtable Sessions.

Format: Word format or PDF with two pages: The first page should be the abstract (maximum 500 words) plus title and the second page could be used for references, tables, and/or figures.

Scholarship Application:: 

Deadline:  November 25, 2024

Application link:  https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6VxK4kcUV1VdXWS

Format: Students should upload two required documents: (1) a cover letter; (2) a recommendation letter from faculty. Please include the student’s name in each file name (e.g., Smith_cover; Smith_faculty letter).

Questions? Please, contact:

RE Abstracts or symposium: Dr. Hung-Ling (Stella) Liu (hliu35@gmu.edu) or Dr. Ellen Drogin Rodgers (erodger1@gmu.edu) co-chairs

RE Scholarships: Dr. SammiePowers (spower5@gmu.edu).

Looking forward to you at NERR! 

Aurora Borealis in Southern Illinois

 Some pics from last night.

Aurora - 30 Minute Forecast | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Bureau Of Labor Statistics

 Workforce data from Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

First a map about the weekly wage for the Leisure/Hospitality in the public local sector

Does the private sector do better?

Doesn't seem so

NESTVAL 2024 at Westfield State!

 First time in my memory, that Westfield State University hosts New England St Lawrence Valley Geographical Society!

For a link on the meeting see Upcoming Meeting – NESTVAL (aag.org).

And register here.

50 years ago today, in the Presidentials

 Some pics from 50 years ago.

Mt. Madison

Back when I had hair

Former Edmunds Col emergency shelter

So disgusted by crowds on Mt Washington, I waited until Lake of the Clouds to snap pic

Further south, another view of Mt. Washington

The USDA-FS map

Waiting a few days at Pinkham Notch, meant I had great weather to traverse the Trail above the timberline.

Future Dystopian Attractions: Benign Masochism in Dark Tourism

 Dark Tourism Futures: Thoughts, Ideas, Scenarios

 The Future of Dark Tourism by Philip R. Stone (channelviewpublications.com)

Philip R. Stone & Daniel W.M. Wright

Chapter 21

Robert Bristow, Alina Gross & Ian Jenkins

Future Dystopian Attractions: Benign Masochism in Dark Tourism

Bristow et al., examine the nature and future of ‘fright attractions.’ The chapter offers a critical account of how and why voyeuristic audiences are drawn to a fictional future of death and suffering, while insisting on a sanitised spectacle. Taking a cross-cultural approach, Bristow et al., anticipate the future of ‘fright tourism’ based upon a macabre interest in death, yet one that is disinfected from reality. With case examples from Japan, Mexico, and Romania, the study is grounded in notions of risk, folklore and mythmaking, geopolitics, religiously, and cultural identity. The chapter also suggests that a ‘benign masochism’ (of pain and pleasure) might be inherent in fright tourism and will remain a key issue for future (lighter) dark tourism attractions and tourist experiences.

Fifty years ago today on the AT

 Fifty years ago, we hike the trail between Sugarloaf and Spauling Mountains in Maine, the very last piece of trail to make the whole AT complete that was blazed and cleared on August 14, 1937.

Some pics and maps of the area:

and the LiDAR image