Volcano Tourism

I wonder if the interest in volcano tourism will drop as the death toll increases in Kiso Japan. Toxic fumes are erupting from Mount Ontake, and rescue attempts to reach climbers have been difficult.

This raises several issue.  Should rescues even take place?  Is it fair to risk the life of rescuers attempting to get some recreators off the mountain.  I don't know.

But in the meantime, I will continue to be a volcano tourist. Photo is western flank of Arenal in Costa Rica.

Chicago Airport closed, air travel stymied

Gosh, it seems just like a few months ago when the winter weather created havoc in air travel.  Me?  We got stranded in Miami and spent a night in the airport hotel (thank goodness) when bad weather canceled our flight home.  And this has happened several times during our annual flight to escape winter.

So today, it is a human-caused fire that disrupts ORD and the rippling effect will be felt across the country and perhaps the world since this is one MAJOR hub.

Hope folks have a book to read.

Planning air travel

you know what I hate about air travel? Well several things but one problem I have now is trying to find out who flies where and on what days.  So I can use a search engine to find flights, but what do I do when an airline only operates 2 or 3 times a week?  My travel dates a flexible so if a schedule could be downloaded I can find my flights.  Instead I am forced to plug in multiple dates and times, connecting airports and then eventually book my flight on my timetable, on my connecting cities and my duration.

this stinks.

NERR Proceedings for 2011 and 2013 now available

Took awhile but the Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium Proceedings are now published online at this link.  At present, just two years, but I suspect 2012 will be along shortly.  See the NERR homepage for details.

The Song Remains the Same

We miss the days of rock concert movies.  I am watching, more like listening to the 1976 movie called "The Song Remains the Same" chronicling the Led Zeppelin concert from 1973 in the Madison Square Garden.  I mean, it is not my favorite, but it is like listening to a live album for a couple of hours as I make dinner.  

My favorite, of course is "The Grateful Dead Movie" released in 1977 from a series of '74 concerts.  This one rocks!

And then there is the rockumentary "This is Spinal Tap."  I bought the soundtrack for that one!

There are others out there too.  But we no longer see artists producing them.  Maybe it is time for newer musicians to create another rock opera? 

The Big E opens this weekend

Some rain was sandwiched between some great days, but that won't dampen (pun intended) the interest is this fair.  The typical rides, food, displays, including all those "shown on TV" must-haves, and of course, some farm animals, will be available to the guests.  Lynyrd Skynyrd is on tap for next weekend, but ZZ Top canceled.  Fried food is plentiful, too.

We did an economic impact study some fifteen years ago, and after attending the fair daily for 2 weeks during 1999, I have not returned.  Filled my appetite I guess.

Westfield City Council rejects move to rescind Community Preservation Act

Good news for our Town, As reported in the media, the Community Preservation Act is safe, for now.

The measure assesses property owners one-percent of their property taxes to raise funds for preservation of historic property and buildings, open space and housing. It exempts the first $100,000 of property valuation.

For Westfield's CPA page, click here.

Since the town dissolved the BID (Business Improvement District), all citizens will bear the burden to keep our city alive, not just those who profit from it.