scooterdoug

Hopefully Busch Gardens Williamsburg in May. I'm also thinking of a trip to Magic Mountain on Superbowl Sunday.

You're welcome. Now, gimme my magic internet cookie!!! Chocolate chip please...and lord help me if I find a single nut in there...

Leroy Anderson was a composer of the time who produced those cheesy, cheerful, sunshine 'n bubblegum tunes. One song in particular that really captures the sound and feeling (if you're thinking of the same type of music I'm thinking of) is called "Plink, Plank, Plunk!" Quick paced, cheesy, and filled with pizzicato strings, that might be what you're looking for. Really captures the era quite nicely. You can find many versions of it on iTunes. Hope this helps! -Doug

Ok, I'm seriously impressed. That cake looks about as professional as they come. If not for the ample photographic evidence that you created this cake yourself, I would have thought you bought it. And, I agree with making this an ongoing thread...I want to see the Wizard of Oz cake when you make it! -Doug

^^That sounds amazing! Like split pea soup, but made into a pork-filled entree. How do you make split pea soup better? Add pork chops and smoked sausage. Mmmmmm, sausage... -Doug

It's our silly Imperial system of measurement. To translate to those using the Metric system (i.e. the rest of the world): 1 cup = 0.24 liters. -Doug

Spaghetti Carbonara Most restaurants screw this up and use cream for the sauce, this is the proper Italian recipe. Ingredients: 1 lb dried spaghetti 1 lb thick cut bacon (not that Oscar Meyer crap!) 3-4 eggs (depending on the size) 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup (to your taste) grated Parmasean cheese (not that powdered stuff, get a wedge of cheese and grate it) Procedure: 1. Cut bacon into roughly 1" pieces. Fry and set aside, reserving some of the grease. 2. Grate cheese and set aside. 3. Thoroughly beat eggs and set aside. 4. Boil pasta (make sure you have prepared everything else BEFORE pasta is finished cooking). Once cooked, drain. 5. Combine cooked spaghetti, bacon, grease, eggs, and cheese in a pot and toss until thoroughly mixed. Melted cheese and egg make the sauce. When mixing everything together, make sure not to do it over heat, as the eggs will cook. You want the eggs raw (hence the "cream" sauce). Enjoy one of my favorite dishes. Easy to make, delicious, and really easy on the arteries -Doug

To echo a common sentiment, X2 is definitely a must-ride. It is definitely bumpy (really brutal in the back), but is reasonably smooth in the front...especially the inside seat. The first drop alone is worth the price of admission...especially disturbing if you don't know what to expect (like my first time). As for Las Vegas, yep, you're in for a long haul. Pearblossom Highway is definitely the way to go, don't even bother driving through LA! I've done it many times, it's smooth sailing the entire way. 5 hours is a reasonable estimate. If you're lucky and get no traffic at all, then you could possibly do it in less. But, if you're unlucky and hit traffic (certainly a possibility), you could be in for a 6 hour drive. Even if you don't get to SFMM, at least make the 30 minute drive west on 15 to Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino and ride Desperado, good old-fashioned rough Arrow ejector airtime. -Doug

14/20. Actually a good score, as I guessed on a bunch of them. It would have been 15, but I totally forgot about the Zero G roll on Incredible Hulk. -Doug

I think Robb's suggestion is a really good one. Last spring/summer, my cousin and I did SFGAdv, Hersheypark, and Cedar Point. The drive from SF to HP wasn't all that bad, but the drive from HP to CP was an all day affair. Kennywood was right on the way, I remember seeing the sign as we drove down the highway. I totally understand your desire to do both SF and CP, that's why I chose the trip I did. If you follow Robb's trip suggestion, you get a string of solid, fun parks that are all on the way...no sidetracking. There will be a lot of driving, but the parks are great! -Doug

Ok, I'm gonna jump into the fray...but from a different angle. I'm substitute teaching while working on my masters degree in elementary education and looking for a full time job. For the last two days, I subbed for the CLASS FROM HELL!!! I have never, I mean NEVER, had a class this bad. They were a horrendous group of 27 5th graders. I should have known when I first arrived yesterday morning to find the teacher in the class finishing up the lesson plans. She told me that I should go into the cafeteria to pick up the kids after lunch because they'll fight. I asked her, "Verbal or physical?" She responded, "Both." Yep, that sure was an omen if I've ever seen one. Yesterday, I was dealing with endless back talk, insubordination, kids wandering around the room, talking all the time and not quieting down in the slightest when I told them to be quiet (and I can go loud and mean), creating a huge mess, and general disrespect. There was one girl who just ran around the room, screaming, laughing, and pushing kids as she went. I had to call the vice principal to take her out of class. Today, she spent the day in another class...they didn't even bother putting her in my class today. However, today began with a student throwing a right hook at another student, resulting in a nice little shiner. Yes, you heard that right. Before I had even taken attendence, he was getting sent to the principal's office! And don't forget, these are 5th graders...10 and 11 year olds. I had teachers coming up to me and telling me how they are literally the worst class in the whole school. They were telling me that veteran teachers (even their current teacher, whom everyone was saying is excellent) are completely stumped as to how to bring this class under control. The librarian told me that their last sub released the kids for lunch and then went home...they haven't seen her since. One teacher asked me not to judge the entire school by that class. Yep, that class sure was fun!!!!1!!! *blatantly, painfully obvious sarcasm* To be fair, they weren't ALL bad. There were some good students who quietly got their work done in the midst of profound chaos. However, most of those kids were some f%&ked up, evil little demon spawn. I'm Jewish, so I don't believe in Satan. However, these last two days really made me reconsider. -Doug "Wishes that shock collars were within the limits of the law" Heim

I bought my first CoasterDynamix kit over 4 years ago. Since then, I have been a regular on CD's website forum. I can't even count the number of times some new poster who's never bought a kit complains about the speed. I completely sympathize with Jack, as it has gotten to the point where it drives ME crazy...and I'm not even part of the company! So, I understand why he posts more humorous (and, yes, sometimes with a little bite) responses. I mean, he's created the best roller coaster model system in the world, and people jump on him for something that is utterly and completely out of his hands. Cut him some slack! And, if there are people out there who were considering purchasing a kit and have decided against it due to this thread...I strongly urge you to reconsider. These kits are so very cool, and worth every single penny! -Doug

Way to go, Jack! I'm thrilled to see a Scorpion (and a very well built one at that) on national TV. Keep up the great work! -Doug "Has waaaaayyyyyy too much CoasterDynamix, yet still wants to buy more" Heim P.S.-There's always gotta be one person who says something about the speed...

Last June I was at CP with my cousin. We were waiting in line for Millennium Force when it started to rain (not heavily, but definitely not a drizzle). We waited for the front row, hoping they wouldn't close the ride. We finally took our seats in the front and started up that lift hill. I was so happy that they let us ride, until we actually built up speed. From there on, if felt like thousands of tiny, sharp icicles stabbing me in the face. It genuinely hurt. I would have prefered it if they had simply closed down the ride and waited the 30 minutes it took for the rain to stop. Worst coaster ride ever...and Millie is one of my favorites. -Doug

I can't recommend a Gold FlashPass enough. I went for my first time last May, and it easily doubled (if not tripled) my ride count for the day. Even though the crowds were pretty low when I went, I would have only scored one ride on El Toro (an absolutely amazing coaster), as everyone wants to ride it and the line was somewhat long. With the FlashPass, I got 4 breathtaking rides on my new #1 coaster. The best part of the day was going to ride Superman: Ultimate Flight and finding a very long and slow line. I checked my FlashPass to find a 2 minute wait. I made the reservation, walked out of line walked in the FlashPass line, and got to the line attendant right when my two minutes was up. My cousin and I walked right into the station with a lovely view of the long line we just skipped. It totally felt like cheating...and I loved it!!! If you're coming all the way from Brazil for this one visit and money isn't an issue, then just splurge on the Gold FlashPass. I assure you, you won't be disappointed. -Doug

15/20...I guess that makes me 75% dork. I could have gotten more, but I made some dumb mistakes. -Doug "Wishes he was more dorky" Heim

I, too, thought it was a joke. However, I have just e-mailed him some philosophical ramblings. -Doug

^Very true. Lake Erie stirs up whatever weather it feels like, weather forecasts be damned! I'd go with Elissa's advice: wait a day or two to see how the forecast changes. Personally, if that was the only time I could go, I would chance it. Aside from poor weather forecasts keeping crowds away, Sundays in the fall can be some amazingly low-crowd days. -Doug

The Voyage. My, oh my, The Voyage. What I wouldn't give to ride The Voyage... -Doug

Even though it's been said before, I'll say it again...assigned seating! I HATE it when ride ops tell you where to sit. To me, that's the equivalent of going to the movies and having the usher tell you where to sit. That never fails to irk me... -Doug

I think the reason people complain about roughness on steelies but not woodies has to do with lap bars vs. OTSRs. Woodies have only lap bars, while many steel coasters have OTSRs. With a lap bar, a ride may be rough, but the restraints are nowhere near your head. Hence, why people complain about roughness on steel coasters but not wood ones. At least that's my theory. -Doug

My first ride on Top Thrill Dragster was a rollback...from the front row, no less!!!! It was, without a doubt, the highlight of my first visit to Cedar Point. The realization at the top of the top hat that we were indeed beginning to go backwards was dizzying. The 400 foot backwards descent was epic, and, of course, getting a second launch was just a whole bunch of delicious icing on the fabulous coaster cake!! Finally, rolling through the brake run and seeing all the people in line looking at us with obvious jealousy made me feel very lucky. While I consider TTD to be a one-trick pony (but, WOW, what a trick!), that experience earned the ride a special place in my heart. -Doug

I think there should be no accommodation for people with ADHD. I, myself, have ADHD, and I wait in line just fine...been doing it since I was 11, when my ADHD was REALLY bad! This is not the same as someone with one leg not being able to stand in line for hours on end...that I understand. If I went to a park with such a policy, I wouldn't feel right about skipping the line. To me, that would feel like taking advantage of or "cashing in" on my condition. I can wait in lines with the best of them. Personally, I don't like to, so I try to go to parks on low-crowd days. But, I wouldn't use ADHD as some sort of psychological FlashPass. And, like Kennyweird said, lines allow my mind to run wild. I can just crawl inside my head and entertain myself until my front row ride is ready. -Doug "Ritalin sucks!" Heim

I just finished "Skunk Works" by Ben Rich. For those of you who don't know, the Skunk Works is Lockheed's top secret, cutting edge airplane production facility. They're responsible for such amazing aircraft as the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-117A Stealth Fighter. Ben Rich was the head of the facility for decades, and was the man responsible for the Stealth Fighter. If you're into that kind of thing, it's filled with all sorts of interesting behind the scenes stories and politics.

^That totally made my day!!! Nothing like scandalizing a childhood icon. And I thought Chuck only had a cheese addiction...