Online travel website Expedia has launched the “You Name it Contest and Sweepstakes,” on its Facebook page with the aim of coming up with a better name for its Vacation Packages.

This week, I was speaking with a client who wanted to be able to go on vacation with the knowledge that his business was still moving in the right direction. He wanted to be able to go away and be away without checking in (and stressing out) throughout the day. That conversation inspired this post.

Seems like everybody in the States is wound up pretty tight these days thanks to impending economic troubles and continuing denial at the upper crust. The bad news gets worse: A wound-up America won’t be unwinding this summer.

comScore Media Metrix released today it’s monthly look at U.S. consumer online activity at popular online sites for the month of July.

One of the often overlooked aspects of social media is that it can often be seen a pointer for developing and emerging trends.

Usually, when I go home for the day, I unplug. Unplugging means not even jacked in wirelessly: cell phone is off; computer (if I can help it) is off; laptop is off. The same goes for the weekend; if you want to get a hold of me, it can wait until Monday. Home is home, work is work, and I’m quite strict about their separation.

Randy Morin ran his KBCafe Blog Awards again for 2006. In the SEO Blog category, Barry kicked ass again (while on vacation no less) as predicted.

In attempt to lure more people to book their next flight with British Airways, the airline has added Google Earth imagery to their web site, reports Forbes.

Gmail has been adding features like crazy lately, and this one should come in handy for the holidays: autoresponders for when you are on vacation.

Randy has had a very frustrating day. City workers laying sod cut the cables of his internet connection at least a half dozen times …

Companies and individuals alike are now concerned that the federal mileage deduction or their company’s gas mileage reimbursement will no longer cover the costs of operating a vehicle for business purposes.

It’s great to take a blog vacation. Thanks to everyone who sent nice notes. Just saw this in the Guardian’s blog …

For many of us, it is time to start thinking about packing our suitcases and jetting off on our summer holidays/vacation.

Guest blogging.
It’s definitely something you should consider doing as a blogger.
If you have a blog, having occasional guest bloggers appear on your own blog, is often a good idea as well.

Wired Mag reports on the most popular methods of searching employed when people’s lives are on the line.

I was sitting in my local Internet Cafe yesterday, I like to get away from my “home office” from time to time and it’s a great place to go for a cup of Espresso and to meet interesting people.

In part one of this article series we began looking at the Cruise Vacation Center site: a travel site whose copy was sorely lacking in emotional appeal and visual imagry. (You can see the previous version of the copy here: http://www.copywritingcourse.com/CruiseVacationCenter-Original.pdf.) In the conclusion, youll see how all the rewrite turned out and how exciting the end results have been.

There’s a good reason why we call it a vacation. It’s the time that we set aside to forget all the have-to’s and should’s of daily life and indulge in rest and recreation. In fact, it’s re-creation! Reduce your stress. Relieve your anxieties. Relax your body. Rest your mind.

“The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” — Mark Twain

As soon as you know you’re going, check with neighbor or friend or book a house-sitter. They’re out there and afford peace of mind. Ask around; doctors’ wives are a good resource. If you have children, you’ll need a sitter and power of attorney in case of illness.

Dear Cathy: I am really ready for a new career, new residence and a new life. But I can’t decide what to do! Some days I think I’d like to take a year off and do nothing. Other days I want to go back to school for a degree in forestry. Sometimes I want to start my own business as a management consultant or a dog trainer. My mind keeps going in circles. How do I decide what to do next? Signed: Exhausted

It is perfectly legal to deduct your next vacation. Here’s how to do it.