Friday Fragments

Once again thanks to the great Mrs. 4444's for hosting this fraggily good time...

• I have been enjoying my sabbatical immensely but like everything there is a downside.  My boys have come to think of me as a human jungle gym.  They climb, jump and generally invade any sense of personal space with me.  I think I may have to go back to work to get a rest.
• On a related note:  I have lost 17 pounds in two months.  I have also gained 1,000 bruises.  I am not sure the trade has been worth it.  On second thought, it has indeed been worth every one.
• Went and saw the Batman movie this week and this is where the Internet age may have spoiled it for me.  All of the reviews I read were so great that I went in expecting that.  I can honestly say that I thought the ending was very well done but the lead up was good.  I think if I went into the movie without reading the reviews first, I would have enjoyed it more.  I was bias going in.
• On a related note:  I am sorry for the families of the victims in Colorado.  The shooter obviously has some serious mental issues, however almost worse is a few of the politicians involved who are trying to turn this tragedy into their advantage in a election year.  There is too much ugliness situation all around and I feel even sorrier for the families as a result.  Not only do they have to deal with the deaths of their loved ones but also have to fight the exploitation of politicos and media as well.  
• I wrote two blog posts this week that I am particularly proud of.  On Monday I wrote five things about birthdays and yesterday I wrote about 'staring.'  Please check them out.  I feel that they are some of the better work on my blog lately.
• On a related note: My stress level has been down lately.  It is such a weird sensation.  After 12 years of constant stress of not knowing if I would have a job, that even if I performed superbly, that I may not be employed, to finally have a couple of months to breathe and enjoy knowing that I have some sort of job security has been awesome.  It has been refreshing in a way that is indescribable.
• If you are really bored...:-) You can go read my latest article entitled, "Destination marketing, accommodation taxes, and mandated tourism promotional expenditures: may be time to reconsider"    This paper questions the mandated use of accommodation tax revenues for destination marketing, noting that for many communities such expenditures may fail to represent their best usage.  It is actually a very good paper discussing where that 'room tax' you pay when travelling should go.
• On a related note:  I also had a paper accepted for presentation at the International Society of Travel Tourism Educators conference in October.  That means I get to go to Germany in the fall.  Not such a bad deal.

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