carolinacaniac

It's going to be tough for the Canes though. They didn't really improve much in the offseason, and a handful of other teams in the conference did. Personally I don't think the Canes will make the playoffs this year. Though anything can happen. Though you do play in that crappy division which pads your point total. Gotta love the Southeast, although I think it is a better division than it gets credit for, especially with Atlanta and Tampa Bay being pretty good teams, But I will admit that it is probably the weakest division in the Easten Conference. The Canes were pretty quiet this offseason, but they brought back Cullen, who was significant for them in the Cup year. I think one thing they need is a good back up goaltender. It was a real shame that Gerber left, but he wanted to be a starter, which Cam Ward had won that role with his Playoff perfomrance. If Ward doesn't give up as many flukey goals as he did last year, and who ever the back up is can be consistent, goaltending for the canes should be good.

Paid the cable bill of 90 bucks

*-I wrote this in story form, if you do not wish to read the story for, I made a summation at the end of the story. -Once upon a time, on a penninsula far up north on the shores of Erie in the land of Sandusky, was a young lad who was the first mate to a ship that sail back and forth. The first mate would make sure the passengers did not posses any loose items and that they were of proper height to board the ship. When the passengers had boraded the ship, bars that were to be held on to by the sailors as they journeyed on this vessel named the Ocean Motion would be lowered, and the first mate would check them, and give a thumbs up to the captain to inform him that the ship is ready to sail. -On one particular sunny day in July, a young girl along with her mother came, wishing to board the ship. The young girl was standing upon the forbidden red line that no one, not even the crew, was to be beyond while the mystical vessel was sailing. So, being a responsible first mate, the lad asked the girl to stand behind the line, which she did. She then proceeded to stick her foot over the line, to which the first mate asked her to return her foot back to the same said of the line as she was. She then place her foot above the line, with an evil grin for the first mate. While he knew she challenged his patcientce, he remained calm, and agian asked her to remain behind the forbidden line. After a few moments, when it seemed the matter was settled, she engaged in this matter once more, which caused the first mate to realize that if she was not listening to him while he stood a mere few feet away from her, what would prevent her from not listening to the captain if she would doing something she was not to do while onboard the good ship Ocean Motion. To this the first mate spoke to the girl "If you can't remain behind the line, you may not be allowed to ride." A message that seemed to finally reach the girl. -So the first mate had no become the captain of the ship since there was a rotation of postions amoung the crew. It was here that the new captain recived a call on the mystical telephone from the Admiral of the crew. "Did you tell a girl she wouldn't be able to ride?" the admiral asked of the captain. "I told her she might not be able to ride if she didn't stay behind the line, but only because she was not listening to me when I asked her to stay behind the line, and I thought that she may not listen to *insert name of fellow ride op who I can't think of right now* if she was standing while riding." Replied the captain. The admiral thought it over on the other end of the mystical telephone, and then informed the captain that the girl's mother had gone to the governor's office, and complained to one of his secretaries stating that the former first mate was a Nazi. I am not sure what inspired the story telling version, but oh well. So while working at the Ocean Motion at Cedar Point, this girl and her mom came to ride, and the girl was standing past the red line. I asked her to step behind the line, which she did. Then she stuck her foot in front of it, so I asked her to pull it back. Then she did it again with an evil grin on her face, so I asked her again. Then she did it agian, to which I came to the conclusion that if she wasn't going to listen to me while I was standing not even three feet away from her, she most likly would not listen to the control ride host, who's name escapes me right now, if he called soemthing to her over the intercom. So I told her that if she didn't stay behind the line, she may not be able to ride. So we had a rotation and I was now in controls, and I got a call from my Team Leader at Peanuts Playground, and he asked me about it, I told him why, and he told me that the woman stormed into Park Ops. and told them that I was a Nazi because of it. She did not even say I acted like a Nazi, but that I was a Nazi. Now was I wrong for having told the girl that? Perhaps, but her mom could at least have told her that she needed to listen to me after I had repeated myself the third time. But what can you do.

Kings Dominion: Volcano Busch Gardens Europe: Griffon

Melissa and I are going to Kings Dominion for Halloween Haunt on Saturday after next (the 5th i think).

^That may not mean anything though, since it is just a sort of concept art for and advirtisement. If the picture of an ad was to show exactly what the ride was going to be like, then there would be an El Toro clone at Cypress Gardens. I am getting on the Texas Tornado from Geauga Lake bandwangon.

I definatly love the name and logo. It deffinatly stuck on me a lot quicker than Behemoth did.

^Wes I couldn't agree with you more on the PTC thing. I would say that I am a little disapointed that this has happend, I can't say I am all too surprised. If anything, I am just glad that it is possible for many of their rides to be relocated. We all know the destinations (those already done, already confirmed, and most likly to happen) of X-Flight, Steel Venom, Dominator and Thuderhawk. I would say that the idea of head spin at Kings Dominion is not as bad an idea as others may think. If they have it with the boomerang part facing the midway, I think it could look pretty good there. As for the other five, Beaver Land Mine Train probably has a good chance to be relocated, and off all the woodies, Villain probably has the best chance since it has the steel structure. I don't see Raging Wolf Bobs, Double Loop or Big Dipper (which saddens me greatly) going anywhere accept either the dump or scrap yard. I too like others will miss the place, but I am not as anti-Cedar Fair about it as others are.

I know it really isn't, especially since John Grahme, last season's back-up goaltender, was the one who gave up the first two goals, he will probably be the back up again even though Micheal Leighton look much better than him. In spite of it not really meaning anything, I can at least be hopeful since they didn't even make the playoffs last season. For all I know they could occupy the celler in the Southest Division, but I sure hope not.

Wes, great pics as always! For some reason I couldn't stop laughing at the Robo coaster caption. Did the park people say how likly it would be that Cliff Hanger would be open with the park at the start of next season, or is it just somepoint next year?

I just went to the Canes' first preseason game this past sunday against the capitals, and it was a good game to watch! Washington scored in both the first and second periods to make it 2-0 going into the thrid, but then one of the minor leaugers and Erik Cole scored within a minute of each other to tie it up 2-2. Washington took a 3-2 lead with 2 minutes to go, then Justin Williams tied it up again with a minute left. And finally in overtime, Cole go the gamewinner. if this is any indication of the season ahead for Carolina, this is going to be a good year for my team. LETS GO CANES!

Hometown: Greenville, NC Nearest Big City: Raleigh, NC

Melissa has the nice car of the two of us, She drives a 2007 Hyundai Elantra, but I at least get to drive it when we go soemwhere togeather. I drive a 1998 Saturn SC 2, but as many problems as I had with it over the past two years, I tend to think of it as a Saturn SLC! (sorry, couldn't help with the bad pun).

Stephen Lynch, especially live! Bill Engvall Ron White Robin Williams

Elementry: I was Homeschooled Middle School: Klahowya Eagles and Fairview Falcons High School: J.H. Rose Rampants (I still have no idea what a Rampant is) College: East Carolina Pirates

I would say you may be better off staying at a different hotel if you want the best value. My one stay at Hotel Breakers was enough for me. $125 for one night in an older room where the deadbolt would not work at all because the door was warped and the lack of air-conditioning in the entire wing just didn't seem like it was worth it. That and Melissa and I couldn't not help but feel like we were being "Nickel and Dimed" when they charged 75 cents for a local phone call that didn't even go through (granted we were refunded the 75 cents, but it still felt cheap of them to do it). Maybe we just needed to stay in a room in one of the newer sections, but I don't know that I am all that worried about trying it agian.

My one visit to Carowinds this year under CF was great. I didn't have any complaints except that Hurler was a bit rough. Kings Dominion wasn't quite as good, but I would say their Hurler was a bit smoother, Rebel Yell was a sad disappointment as it seems that it has been given Roller Coaster Riddilin. A lot of people on this thread have said they didn't care for Grizzly, but I think it is definitely the best wooden coaster at the park. Especially in the front row and at night. The food prices are higher than the past couple years at both parks. Carowinds had the better staff in my opinion (It was cool to meet DarkStitch when he was working on Top Gun). In general, I still enjoyed both parks under the Cedar Fair banner. The only reason I can be kind of Meh about going to Kings Dominion is because other than Cedar Point, I have been there more than any other park, and have been there at least once every year since 1999 except for 2001 (But i still go because I love Volcano and Grizzly, and with the possible addition of Dominator, I may have a better motive to go even if I already have the credit).

That does sound really strange that they would just take a support and remove the footer like that. I wonder if maybe they are trying to redo that footer for some reason?

Count me in as one of those who likes the look and possible increase in enjoyability from these new style seats. I also like the flexable vest part since it will mean that you can put your hands up! (goofy? yes, but it could be fun.)

The floorless aspect of Griffon helps make that ride. I can't tell you how cool it is to be hanging over the edge with only that shoulder harness holding you up at the top. It is something else. I also agree that the front row of a floorless coaster is fun because of that open feel, but other rows loose out on that feeling.

Definatly a cool looking ride, looking forward to possibly getting a ride or two on it next May if the Texas Trip is confirmed.

I don't think he was waiting in line. It looked like he took shots from infront of him or just to the side, but I could be wrong. Still a really stupid thing to do though.

Seems fishy to me that it was really just dumb luck on his part. Especially since the park said that the two times it has happend so far it was the same guy. Another thing is that like Carnage was saying, he didn't seem to be all THAT worried about it, and his legs looked fine to me.

OMG!!!!! I cannot stand it when Kids are rolling along on those damn things in stores, malls or other places of business. I am cool with them doing it at a park or in their neighborhood, but at place like I mentioned should be no-no's, especially since most of the kids around here don't seem to worry about running into other people. Rant over. Best: Meeting my wife while working at my favorite amusement park (Cedar Point) Worst: a tie between people who were being stupid and loud so you couldn't hear the storyline for Houdini's Great Escape at SFGAdv, and Annoyingly loud girls that kept bumping into us while in the small enclosed line of Corkscrew Hill at BGE

I would have to say the pre-drop is a cool little feature to any of B&M's coasters, but I don't think it absolutly has to be a part of the ride (unless it is necessary for the design of the ride of course).