This post courtesy of regular magazine contributor and occasional guest blogger Kay Carstens–I wasn’t sure which category to file it under, Strange but true or Destinations!

It doesn’t yet offer a lot for meeting planners, but for an out-of-this-world incentive or perhaps for way-future meetings . . . who knows? The Space Tourism Initiative, a new organization of the emerging space tourism industry, privately funded spaceships dedicated to carrying commercial passengers on space flights, has announced the “Space Tourism Summit, a trade-only event for professionals in space tourism” and the “Space Tourism Conference, an event for would-be space tourists.” Both annual events begin with conferences (and a trade show?) in 2005.

The Space Tourism Initiative produces trade events allowing industry leaders and professionals to interact and drive the industry. It also provides potential space tourists opportunities to meet and evaluate with space travel companies the variety of space options available to them, so tourists can select those most suited to their needs and interests.

“Led by scientists and start-up entrepreneurs, space tourism is now attracting great consumer attention and generating buzz among businesses, investors and governments,” Christopher Sherman, director of the Space Tourism Initiative, told Business News Service. “Burt Rutan’s Mojave Aerospace Ventures’ garnering the X Prize and Sir Richard Branson’s formation of Virgin Galactic, which aims to be a commercial space tourism operator, is only the beginning. Additional details on the two conferences will be available here and and here

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I know things can get a little heated at meetings, but this is ridiculous. Seems that a local Indiana parks board meeting came to blows after “the city’s public safety director shut down the session and then had a heated dispute with a City Council member and her brother.”

Some witnesses said Deputy Mayor David Rapp shoved City Councilwoman Linda Treat or swung at her brother, Rick Wells. But Rapp disputed those accounts, saying he had cross words with the two but kept his hands to himself.

“I did not touch anybody,” said Rapp, who also serves as the city’s public safety director. “And my hand, so help me God, was never formed into a fist.”

I think they need a good facilitator–or maybe a referee! How do you keep things from getting out of hand when tempers flare?

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This poll from Buzzwhack.com may not give you insights on why attendees wait until the last minute to sign up for programs or book hotel rooms. Then again, it may. Either way, it’s pretty funny:

The first BuzzWhack Undecideds Poll clearly backed BuzzWhack’s suspicions. Most undecided voters really aren’t undecided. In fact, 75% know exactly who they’re voting for. They just too embarrassed to tell you. Here are the results of the survey:

43% - I’m actually voting for Kerry, but don’t want anyone to know

32% - I’m actually voting for Bush, but don’t want anyone to know

14% - I’m just one of those folks who can’t make up their mind about anything until the last possible minute. And I always regret my decisions later.

11% - I’m totally clueless, don’t really intend to vote at all and I don’t want anyone to know

Note: While this survey is totally unscientific, we’re 99% certain that it is accurate within plus or minus 1 percentage point. After all, why would anyone admitting to being this stupid lie about it.

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