Scaparri

Yeah, it's pretty much all but announced that he is going to go to Toro Rosso in F1. I'd be really surprised if he didn't.

My favorite concert was probably The Format in St. Louis at some tiny venue in May. They put on a solid performance, they are my favorite band, and I happen to be front/row center. The best show I've ever seen was probably Robert Randolph & The Family Band and O.A.R. at IU Auditorium in February 2004. RR&TFB is to this day the single greatest live performance I've ever seen. Those guys are incredible musicians that really know how to rock out and jam. O.A.R. put on a great performance as well. They are always a solid show. Honorable mention goes to Nickel Creek and Howie Day. Again, Nickel Creek jams and rocks out so hard. They are just incredible. And Howie did a solo show in which he created his 'band' through a technique called looping. It was amazing.

I'm a huge open wheel race fan. I probably could have ridden a lot more coasters by now, but I spend too much of my money going to races. I've been to a few CC races, most recently the Cleveland Grand Prix this year, but I'm a bigger fan of Indycar (it wasn't always like that). Though they seriously need to get the two series back together if open wheel racing is to become successful again. We have two 'ok' series that are struggling hard just to stay afloat. Kalkhoven and George seriously need to take a break from their power trips and think about this logically before American open wheel racing becomes a complete joke. (Steps off soap box) But yeah, I'm still dumbfounded as to how Doornbos won that race yesterday. I'm personally a Graham Rahal fan, and to some extent, Neel Jani. It's too bad they are going to lose Bourdais after this year.

I popped my IKEA cherry yesterday at the Schaumburg, IL location. I just had to see what the rage was about. And yes, it was pretty freakin' sweet. The shopping cart escalators were worth the trip alone.

That first drop is just sick. I'm getting desperate to ride this ride. As crazy as it looks, I can see this becoming one of those rides that slowly gets neutered after about five or ten years. Can't wait for the reviews to come in though.

Cool Runnings- Hans Zimmer Cast Away- Alan Silvestri Days of Thunder- Hans Zimmer Over the Hedge- Ben Folds

You're stretching really hard there. Think about it. Morgan re-did at least 80% of that ride. The first drop wouldn't have changed much because it goes to the edge of the park and fits in a tight space. The second drop wouldn't change because that was the whole point of building the ride in the first place. Besides those two drops, the ride is completely different. The large majority of the ride is Morgan, and was designed in a Morgan way. There is a lot more to the ride than the first two drops. They make up a fraction of the ride's entirety. -Scott "I don't get why this is such an issue" Parrish

Mine was when I was 12. It was unbelievably romantic... (Insert loud school bus noises, in a cold school bus coming home from a swim meet, feeling every single bump in the road 'cause school busses don't seem to have suspensions) Kid: "Hey Scott, truth or dare?" Me: "Dare" Kid: "I dare you to kiss Karen" Me: "Ok" Smooch And that was probably the last time I ever spoke to Karen. Ahhh the one that got away...

Wow, those are some great memories, Shari. And I can't get over how awesome that picture is of her playing skeeball at that age. I'm really sorry about your loss. I wish I was better at this kind of stuff, but I just have to agree with everybody else, and think about the great memories you have. It sounds like you have some pretty good ones. Thanks for sharing.

I have to go with Phantom's Revenge. I still feel it should be a part of this, not only because a huge majority of the ride is Morgan, but also because it's the second half of the ride that really takes it from 'great' to 'awesome'. Airtime is just out of hand.

Wow, I don't think anybody could have summed that park up better. Seriously, I think it would be better if they took out Wild Thing and Excalibur. Wild Thing is easily the most "meh" ride I've been on, kind of like the park itself. As you said, it's nice, but not very memorable. MOA is awesome though! I can't wait for the upgrades! I see nobody told you how to properly ride an Impulse coaster before doing so. They really are awesome once you learn the defense. Oh well. Cheers to sterility!

I think you've over-estimate the size of 30 acres.

^What!? The Token Yankee moved to Vegas? Anyway, I'm anxiously awaiting the end of my summer job, as well as anxiously waiting the announcement of next year's trips.

It's a neat concept, and the art makes it look pretty cool, but there wasn't a chance in hell they were going to be able to pull that all off with a $15-17 million budget.

Definitely the back. You'll get a nice ass kickin', but it's a heck of a ride. I don't think there is a bad spot on the train though. I loved every seat I rode in.

Awesome TR! Judging by the pics, "worst park in the SF chain" seems like a pretty bold statement. I still can't get over the pics of TGE though. A walk-thru at a SF park? Who know!? And yeah, Canyon Blaster is obviously nothing more than a "missed credit." Rode it at Opryland. Should have been called The Lift Hill Experience.

^No kidding! My girl loves coasters and parks, but she's by no means an enthusiast. She's still a blast to go to parks with though. And I can tell that she's slowly getting more and more interested in it, since it's such a big hobby of mine. But at the same time, I don't fill her with stupid facts. I might say a random fact about a ride, but for the most part, I try to keep it interesting and at a minimal. You don't have to have a girl that can shoot the poop with you about coasters just to have fun with her at a park. And yeah, she freakin' loves water parks.

I understand this on rides that have seperate stations, like MF, but this is a little ridiculous. What's wrong with having bins? Does it screw up capacity THAT badly? Or do they think this will somehow fix a problem they might be having with riders losing loose items while on the ride? It's probably just another way for them to rob guests of every dollar they can. If you're going to charge guests $2 for a locker, at least give them more than three hours.

Folks, I think it's pretty clear we're about to see the first launching, dueling pair of woodies, entitled, "The Break Up," in a new Valentine's Day section. They are also going to take the loop from SOB, have another one made, and the rides will feature interlocking loops.

Wicked awesome. I'll be joining you guys at either CP or Stricker's Grove. Maybe both! Lookin' forward to meeting some of the posse.

I haven't posted one in quite a while. Why not... My girlfriend and I at the drive-in movies.

Sweet. I'm hoping to meet up with you guys somewhere. Is the Stricker's visit for trip participants only?

Happy Belated Birthday Lou! I would have caught ya on your actually birthday but I was out of town. Hope you had a good one!

Busch Gardens Africa Animal Kingdom Magic Kingdom MGM Studios EPCOT Six Flags St. Louis Six Flags Great America Holiday World I guess I'm not doing as bad as I thought I was. I'll probably hit one or two more which probably either Cedar Point, Kennywood, King's Island, Six Flags Kentucky Krapdom, Beech Bend, or Six Flags Over Georgia.

As far as the track itself goes, yes, it's an inversion. However, to me, an inversion is when a rider goes upside-down, which doesn't occur, so no, in my mind, it's not.