Internet Archive

One of the best websites out there is the Internet Archive (https://archive.org/index.php).  I frequently visit it it for personal and professional reasons.

I the fun side are the thousands of movies available to watch and download.  And these are regular feature films plus documentaries and educational films.  Good stuff.

To continue fun are the thousands of songs.  If you are a Dead Head, visit the 13,000 concerts found at this link.

But these are just on the tip of the iceberg when you consider the texts available.  I have found several old books, that are out of print, for my research.  Additionally there are maps and atlases on the site.

Finally, there is the wayback machine that lets you see what a web page looked like 10 years ago.  This is especially useful for sites that are no longer online.

They note for example:

"The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, the print disabled, and the general public. Our mission is to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge.
....

As our web archive grew, so did our commitment to providing digital versions of other published works. Today our archive contains:

330 billion web pages
20 million books and texts
4.5 million audio recordings (including 180,000 live concerts)
4 million videos (including 1.6 million Television News programs)
3 million images
200,000 software programs"

Long story short, consider donating something to the Internet Archive.  Even $5 will help keep this free library open for all.

Government Shutdown stops Appalachian Trail volunteers too.

"While the Park Service is shut down, there is no insurance coverage for injuries to volunteers or liability protection should the work you do result in injury to others.

A.T. maintainers and Trail club volunteers should cease work on the A.T. and its side trails immediately. The NPS Volunteers in the Parks (VIP) program (on NPS and where extended for coverage on some state lands) is suspended. The Volunteers in the Forests (VIF) program is also suspended. In the event of an accident, lack of those protections would expose A.T. workers, their clubs, and ATC to tort claims and medical costs. Therefore, all A.T. maintenance must cease for the duration of the shutdown. Except for NPS-APPA staff, Acting Chief Ranger Carin Farley, all APPA park personnel have been furloughed, as have most of the staff in the six national park units crossed by the Trail." 

That is the official word. 

Peace on Earth

Let's make this the goal every day, OK?

Communitas in Liminallty

Liminality continued....

During this liminal period, Turner (1969), noted the formation of a community called
communitas. This refers to the realization of a social bond between strangers who, regardless of
their individual backgrounds, temporarily find that they have a common goal during the liminal
phase. In the historic ritualized experience, they are also beholden to the elders, so this bond
develops among the individuals that break down the norms of society and the differentiation
between classes. All are now equal as they face the unknown of the future.

Communitas are also found in tourist groups where social inhibitions are loosened (Campo and
Ryan, 2008; Lett, 1983; Yarnal & Kerstetter, 2005). Night time entertainment in urban centers is
a good example where social norms are relaxed (Campo & Ryan, 2008). Typically these districts
attract a younger clientele who are fearless. Lett (1983) found yacht tourism in the British Virgin
Islands yields freedom to behave beyond the standards of normal accepted life. The communitas
formed during this ludic experience is both fun, freely created and liminal.

In challenging experiences this bond becomes not only important, but essential.

Liminality in Tourism

Tourism scholars have explored liminality for over thirty years (Andrews & Roberts, 2012; Brooker & Joppe, 2014; Crouch, 2000; Lett 1983; Light 2009; Preston-Whyte, 2004; Pritchard, & Morgan, 2006; Varley, 2011). A degree of the unknown is evident in the experience, especially given the hint of death (Andrews & Roberts, 2012). The breadth and depth of understanding the transitional period of travel is an important one to understand since it has a great potential impact on the overall encounter for the visitor.

Challenging us, Preston-Whyte (2004:249) states “(l)iminality is an elusive concept.” Easily recognized, but a challenge to explain, Thomassen (2009) even goes to suggest that the concept does not and cannot explain.  Given that liminality has become as Downey and others (2016:3) call the “catch-all expression for an ambiguous, transitional, or interstitial spatio-temporal dimensions” here we are challenged with defining it under those restraints.  

What does liminality in tourism mean to you?

Volcanism in Costa Rica

Volcanoes are pretty neat.  While they destroy things, from a safe distance volcanoes are wonderful examples of the dynamic world.

To find your favorite volcano, see SI.

And some cool ('er hot) webcams here. and here.

Sulphur Smell by Sólheimajökull Glacier

Something fishy?

Could the sulphur be the warning of something?  In Iceland you never know.

Field work Iceland (2013 and 2015) noting a 100 meter loss of ice from Sólheimajökull.

Burn some matches and watch this video and you get "Odorama" (think John Waters).

Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Activities Management

A new title for academics and practitioners is due in a couple months.

Dr. Ian Jenkins (2019) Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Activities Management: A 21st Century Toolkit, CABI

An essential resource for those wishing to understand the key factors behind the operation of an adventure tourism company and how to be able to deliver a profitable as well as a sustainable product. It discusses important factors such as how the use of technologies and the current importance of environmental impacts and climate change are areas that are key to adventure tourism firms. To remain profitable companies need to address these issues along with the important elements of risk and safety.

Key features include:
Industry Perspective case studies
Sustainable Adventure Tourism Developments
Management of Products and Customers

Created from the author's experience in delivering adventure tourism courses over the last 20 years, this long-awaited book is aimed at both university courses on adventure tourism and outdoor recreation as well as those working within the industry.

Readership
Suitable for students of adventure tourism and outdoor recreation management, as well as industry managers in outdoor activities.

Recreational Cannabis Sales in Massachusetts

A monumental day in the Bay State, with the first legal sales of marijuana east of the Mississippi!

Two retail shops opened yesterday and as one might expect, tourism to Massachusetts from a multi-state market showed there is the demand for legal and safe pot.

In Northampton, NETA opened its medicinal marijuana operation to the casual user.  Details of THC and CBD content are available on the website, that gives the patient or user a chance to get the right mix for health or relaxation.

Neighboring Maine and Vermont have also decided to provide legal marijuana but no shops have opened.

In the mean time "Taxachusetts" is set to become the destination for cannabis.  And it should be taxed!

Community Preservation Act in Practice

 A couple of papers for my students.


See the Community Preservation Act webpage.

Bristow, R., Skala, N., & Pelletier, N. (2004). Open Space Planning and the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act. In In: Murdy, James, comp., ed. Proceedings of the 2003 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 2003 April 6-8; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-317. Newtown Square, PA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 240-244..


Bristow, R. S., & VanHeynigen, M. T. (2008). The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act: factors influencing acceptance. In In: LeBlanc, Cherie; Vogt, Christine, comps. Proceedings of the 2007 northeastern recreation research symposium; 2007 April 15-17; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-23. Newtown Square, PA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 190-196. (Vol. 23).

Cultural Resource Monitoring on the AT

From yesterday.

Appalachian Trail Corridor Monitoring

Time to hit the woods to do boundary monitoring for the National Park Service lands protecting the Appalachian Trail.  I am taking a bunch of students from my Recreation Geography class and joining them will be a few from my Site Planning Studio.

Should be a great day and I hope the weather holds out.

We have two tasks that day.  First will be a quick visit to a cultural resource in Sheffield.  Basically we just need to continue with the photo inventory to make sure the site is not being disturbed.

Next we will head up to Tyringham to do some corridor monitoring.  I have two tracks and haven't decided which one to visit, but in any case our job will be to find these monuments that mark the NPS lands.

So what is monitoring?  Well I created a few YouTube Clips.  The best overall description is this one.

Video 2.

Video 3.

One made in jest is found last.

I will probably make a new one this weekend.

Video Editing Practice

I had a chance to see Stonehenge this summer and while the rain didn't stop, it was still a remarkable experience.  Here is a quick little (slightly over a minute) clip.  I will work on a better one when a get a chance.

Oh yeah, for more official information, try here.

Vote

Vote on Tuesday.

Vote for candidates that support our treasured public lands.

Vote for ballot questions that protect these lands and our global citizens.

Vote

Hallowe'en Movies

Want a list of free horror and sci fi films for your Hallowe'en Parties?  Check out one of my favorite websites archive.org at this specific place.

Where else can you find Night of the Living Dead, along side with Plan 9 from Outer Space?  Enjoy streaming White Zombie, or Spider Baby. 

And the titles are free to download to watch again and again.

Obscure titles are found too and include The Brain that Wouldn't Die, or The Screaming Skull.

good stuff, eh?

In the meantime, enjoy Zontar, the Thing from Venus.

Costa Rica this winter

Been a while since we traveled to Costa Rica. home of the best coffee in the world, Cafe Rey.

Always a joy to connect in Miami (yikes), so I might try to shift to Charlotte if I can.  Much more sane.  Even with Global Entry, returning home is always a hassle.

Anyway, we will hit the volcano region and the Pacific coast to enjoy the best the country has to offer.

¡Pura Vida! 

HALLOWEEN SPENDING TO REACH $9 BILLION

Spending appears to be leveling off.  After all I still use a costume I bought a way back.  What will you be wearing to work on the 31st?

Read about "A study of Fright Tourism during Hallowe’en" at this scary link.

44 years ago today

On this date in 1974, I was hiking south on the AT, when I slipped on some wet leaves and broke the frame of my Trailwise backpack (think Colin Fletcher).  That was the straw that broke the camel's back and I left the trail on US Route 20 and walked into Lee, Massachusetts.

There I bought a bus ticket to NYC and changed my clothes in the local Police Department while I waited for the bus.

Shortly before midnight, I was home in Maryland.

I returned to the trail in the spring and early summer in 1975 to complete my 2000 mile hike.

On this date....

Fall Foliage Tourism

While checking out the color in the Berkshires, how about some breakfast? Besides getting some really good maple syrup, in the fall Halloween welcomes you to your meal.

A great combo, Fall Foliage, Maple Syrup Breakfast, and Halloween.

Hurricane Michael coming ashore soon

For the latest advisory on this big storm, see here.  General information and graphics will be found at this site.  Dangerous flooding from the storm surge is expected. Move inland immediately.

But for crazy surfers, the storm brings crazy waves.  Be careful.

Granville Harvest Festival 2018

37th Annual
Granville Harvest Fair
Columbus Day Weekend 2018

Grab some apples!

National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium 2019

This is the National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (NERR) call for abstracts and scholarships for the 2019 meeting. Please see the attached document for specific details on abstract submission and application for student scholarships. More information on on travel, registration, and lodging can be found at: www.esf.edu/nerr/  

Some key information about...

Abstract submission:

- Deadline: October 28th, 2018

- Length: No more than 500 words

- Submit by email to Dr. Carla Barbieri (carla_barbieri@ncsu.edu) 

Scholarship application: A limited number of scholarships are available to facilitate student attendance. Scholarships will cover the symposium registration fee. 

- Deadline: October 28th, 2018 

- Application materials: A one-page cover letter & a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (see instructions in the attached document).

- Submit by email to Dr. Carla Barbieri (carla_barbieri@ncsu.edu)   

Conference information: 

- Venue: Annapolis Hotel (formerly Lowes Hotel), Annapolis, MD (thirty miles from Washington DC!)

- Dates:  April 7-9, 2019. Note this date is immediately after AAG in Washington, DC!

NERR is an interdisciplinary conference broadly related to parks, recreation, tourism, and affiliated disciplines (e.g., human dimensions of natural resources, environmental education, etc). Past attendees include scholars, practitioners, and industry representatives with an interest in the applied sciences related to the environment, among many others.   

Hope to see y'all at NERR! 

Southeastern Recreation Research Conference 2019

2019 Southeastern Recreation Research Conference 

Call For Abstracts

Greetings!

Abstracts for oral and poster presentations for the upcoming 2019 SERR Conference are now being sought. Presentations should be of an empirical, conceptual, or theoretical nature related to the following topics:

• Leisure and Recreation Behavior
• Management of Leisure Programs and Services
• Methodological Aspects of Recreation Research
• Nature-based Travel and Tourism
• Outdoor Recreation and Education
• Park and Protected Area Planning and Management
• Parks, Physical Activity and Health
• Recreation Economics or Policy

Graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, agency planners, land managers, and researchers are all strongly encouraged to attend the conference and submit a proposal for an oral or poster presentation. Oral presentations will be given in a conference room setting. Audiovisual support will be available in the form of a laptop (with a CD-ROM drive and a USB port) and a projection unit. Each oral presenter will be given 15 minutes for presenting their paper and 5 minutes for discussion. Authors presenting planned (i.e., proposals) or uncompleted research may be asked to make their presentations in the form of a poster.

Submission abstracts are limited to 3,000 characters (500 words), additional information needed includes: project title, list of authors, contact information for presenting author. All presenters are expected to register for the conference.

The submission link will close on January 11, 2019. No submissions will be accepted after this date.

The link to the abstract submission page is http://www.serrconference.org/#papers.

The link to the SERR Conference page is  http://www.serrconference.org/. 

If you have any questions about submission procedures, abstract format, etc. please contact Rob Porter at r-porter@wiu.edu. Any questions regarding the SERR conference, lodging, etc. can be addressed to Jamie Thorn, thornj@lindsey.edu or Bynum Boley, bboley@uga.edu.

We look forward to seeing you at the SERR Conference! 

+++++

I attended this conference back in the late 1980's and found it a wonderful experience!