Paul Arthur

They just ran a big scare piece on the news here as well about "Phantom Power Vampires" ( I think our news is a bit too into Twilight) and how you should unplug every power consumer after every use to save money. I'm sure my wife would love it if I unplugged everything behind her as she finishes using it...

A friend of ours works for SnowMasters, who is making the Flogo systems.... they are quite cool in person. They have units right now that can do up to a 4' shape and he tells me that they have a 6' shape unit in the works. They were originally intending to premiere them at the Bejing '08 Olympic games in the Olympic Village, but got skiddish about the concept and mechanics being stolen by Chinese manufacturers, so they opted out of taking them. On a , sort of related, side note...... he is also handling the exterior snow effects for the Harry Potter installation at Islands of Adventure.

^ Rebekah borrowed a friend's DDR the other night..... she's pretty good at it. I look like a retarded monkey trying to audition for New Kids on the Block..... so I gave up on it. But just from the small amount I played on it, I worked up quite a sweat. It takes a deceiving amount of energy to step in time.

When doing this ourselves, we chose the WiiFit board as the control scale, as we also had a problem with 3 different scales reading three different weights. Last night, my wife Rebekah chose rhythm boxing as her Wii workout... and she can barely move her arms today.

Maroon 5 with Counting Crows @ Starlight Theatre in Kansas City.

Here's a picture...

I bought a piece of equipment at an auction that I need some info on... It's an animation controller. The lower right says Feature Animation Technology. It has some control hot keys and a rotating jog wheel and a midi out cable hard wired. It has some Disney logos on it. I'd like to find out if this is something that was sold in the retail market or was used in house in the Disney animation studios. Any help would be appreciated, as animation is not one of my technology niches.

By the time I spend the $$$ for airfare and hotel, a small increase for park admission isn't going to cancel my trip plans.

This reminds me of the scene out of The Great Muppet Caper where Gonzo has the TV set in his cage on the plane.

I'd love to see this come to the US as well. My wife would love it and quickly pay more just to see Remy come to our table. Just curious... how much was the meal?

Everyone's experience on SM2 sounds just like ours earlier this year... Paramedics treating one of many who were severely banged up after riding SM2

^ Not being able to go to the Adventurer's Club on my next visit will make me verrrrry sad.

I sort of remember staying in that neighborhood once when a show I worked for stopped at Monmouth University. Very pretty area from what I remember.....

Bobafett: I just watched the news footage on Youtube..... so sad. I know it's been a while since the fire happened, but do you know if the Nichols family still owns the land or if they sold it to who runs the trampoline attraction you mentioned?

I was pretty ticked off, as well. I used to spend summers at Wildwood and have many great memories of both of those attractions. It was one of those places that was so ridiculous and awful, it was great! When I was younger, I always wanted to work there. If anyone happens to go there sometime in the near future, could you either post or send me a picture of the water park that sits on that spot now? I'm just curious to see it.

Speaking of dark rides.... I recently found out that Castle Dracula/Dungeon Boat Ride at Wildwood burned down a few years ago.... can anyone tell me what sits on that piece of land now?

My opinion includes more than just the rides themselves.... it also encompasses the way the park is run as well as atmosphere and live entertainment. I've worked on special projects in that park under both owners and, personally, much preferred the Hunt days.

I agree fully.... the Lamar Hunt days were certainly the 'Golden Age' of this park. Luckily, I grew up with this park during that time and have many fond memories of it as such.

First off, I have to disagree about Patriot being a boring coaster... I think it is actually quite a good coaster and have never spoken with one rider who described it as boring. And as for draw.... I speak with park management many times each season and everyone has been happy with the attendance and attention created by Patriot.

I've worked several positions like this, and it's actually a great job... at least when I've done it. Ushering reserved seating theatres is so much easier than GA seating shows. Other than the occasional irate guest who shows up late and is mad because they can't be sat during the opening hold. Another plus is that LaNouba doesn't have an intermission. That will make your job 10X easier.

As Jive said, I don't think they meant for the clip to seem legitimately serious or Oscar worthy. I think it was simply meant to be a fun way to perk up people's curiosity.

It really is gorgeous! The architecture, color palettes, fabrics and everything are really very well put together. It feels strangely intimate to me, even with its large size. At least through the pictures....

Maybe one of the hundreds of ferrel cats that roam that park after it's closed and empty.

Great White at Wildwood... I love the drop out of the station and tunnel that follows before you reach the lift hill.

Is Castle Dracula and the Dungeon Boat Ride still open? I grew up going to it, but when I went back to NJ and Wildwood a few years ago, it was in need of some extreme TLC and not doing very well in attendance. Looking at your pics makes me nostalgic for a waffle with ice cream on it