Mechanic

Is having that much fun even legal? Thank you for the unique perspective you bring to your reports.

Vertigo in the video was FREAKING INSANE! I almost can't believe how fast that thing is spinning in turbo mode. Those of you that rode it are braver than I. Much respect. Enjoying the updates and living vicariously through all of you lucky souls.

Chalk up another only Goliath here. (And S:TE if it counted)

You don't know it yet, but Chuck Norris has already killed you for that disrespectful remark. How did we get on the subject of Chuck Norris?

How big a deal would it be to just install a friction drive tire and motor at the top of the top hat to deal with just such an occurrence? It could be made so that it's retractable and would only need to be engaged in the rare event of a train stall in that location. It seems like a far better option than dispatching emergency personnel to the top of a ride.

Remember the movie "Contact" with Jodie Foster? Well, apparently after that movie came out, a bunch of people that went on the spinning rings attractions claimed to have traveled to distant galaxies where they encountered shadowy alien beings. They were then subject to grueling interrogations about the claimed events and were eventually determined to be mentally unstable. Most ended up locked away in federal institutions. So they quit letting people ride them after that. At least that's what I heard. I'm not really sure though, so don't go spreading that story around too much. People might look at you funny if you do.

Watching the Kung Fu series in the 70s is still a vivid memory of my childhood. Carradine always had a certain mystique and elegance about him. I also enjoyed some of the slightly self deprecating TV commercials I'd seen him do in recent years, particularly since they imparted a more light hearted and human side to him. I can't imagine why he would have wanted to take his own life, but I hope that he has found whatever it is he sought but couldn't find in this world. May he rest in peace.

Disneyland 1, Disney World 0. Entire 4th quarters that are garbage time make for a game that's not very fun to watch. Although I was very happy to see the Lakers play so cohesively, I'd really have preferred a closer game. I seriously doubt that Orlando will have another game where they shoot that poorly. Hopefully game 2 will be a better watch. On a positive note, I thought it was one of the better officiated games of this entire postseason.

^ There is no shortage of contact information at the bottom of their recent press release: Click here You could try asking them yourself. It's worth a shot.

I honestly have no idea. I'm simply sitting back and watching it all unfold. I believe there was some past mention of the park seeking compensation for days when its operations would be limited, or precluded, due to events at the future stadium, but I have no direct link to such statements. While I don't want the park to fail, I don't find myself feeling very passionate about it one way or the other. I would consider Gilroy Gardens a greater loss than CGA should either of the parks cease to exist.

Click link: Santa Clara city leaders approve deal for new 49ers stadium

Best sports uniform EVER, without question:

The only blue law I've ever personally experienced was not being able to buy a beer when I went to Texas Stadium to watch a Cowboys game. I walked all over the stadium looking for a beer stand and couldn't find one, which puzzled me greatly. I then asked someone who worked there where I could buy a beer, to which he replied, in a very stereotypical Texas drawl, "Ya ain't from around here, are ya?" While not understanding what where I was from had to do with buying a beer, I played along anyway and confirmed that I was indeed, "not from around there". He proceeded to inform me that Irving Texas was a dry precinct and that no alcohol was sold there, at all. To this day, it still strikes me as amazingly odd that a pro sports stadium wouldn't sell beer. It ended up working out ok though. The guys in the seats next next to me, some real colorful Cajuns that drove up from Louisiana to watch the game, had brought in their own cooler and were generous enough to share a couple beers with 'the guy from California that talked funny.' That's right, you could bring BYOB to the game, but you couldn't buy it there... Silly law, but the more I think about it, I wish I could bring my own beer to games closer to home, rather than paying the 8 or 10 bucks, (or whatever it was the last time I bought it), like I do at Raiders or A's games. Blue laws aside, I've got to say that the people I met while on that trip to Dallas were some of the friendliest people I've come across, anywhere. I actually showed up to the game a couple hours early, since I didn't have a ticket and figured that, like anywhere else I've ever been to a game, I'd be able to buy one from a scalper. I allowed the extra time because I had no idea where the scalpers would "set up shop", so to speak, and I didn't want to miss out on getting a ticket. After milling around for a while and not spotting anyone offering tickets, I asked a guy that was unloading pallets of concession stand supplies where I'd have my best chance of finding a scalper from whom I could buy a ticket. Like the guy inside the stadium that I'd ask about the beer later, this guy also gave me the, "Ya ain't from around here, are ya?" line. I explained that I was from California and I was just trying to find out where I could buy a ticket, and that knowing the game was sold out, I figured my only option would be a scalper. He came back with, "Ya came all the way from California and ya ain't even got a ticket?" Growing weary of trying to the find the answer to what seemed like a simple question that I'd asked, but not wanting to offend this guy so that I might be able to finally get that elusive answer, I said, "Yes, sir, that's exactly right and I was just hoping maybe you could steer me toward wherever I'd have the best chance of finding a ticket." He sized me up, giving me a long look from head to toe, surely noticing that I was wearing a Cowboys jacket and he says, "So let me get this straight... You're a Cowboys fan, from California, and ya came all this way and ya don't have a ticket." I replied, "Yes sir, I think you've got it. Could you please tell me where I might be able to buy a ticket?" He said, "Son, I tell you what, we don't get many Cowboy fans from California coming all that way without a ticket, so you just wait right here." Thinking maybe he was going to get security and have me hauled off the premises, or worse... I hesitantly asked where he was going and why he needed me to wait. He then broke out in a big smile and told me, "I'm gonna' GIVE you a ticket." I told him I'd be happy to pay for a ticket and that he really didn't need to go to any trouble, but he insisted he wouldn't take a dime and hurried off inside while I waited. He was only gone a few minutes before he came back and handed me a game ticket. I again offered to pay him for it, but he wouldn't have any more talk of paying for it. I thanked him as well as I know how to thank someone and waited for the game to start. Southern hospitality at its finest.

Molecular spectrometer?

The bent and arched supports look awesome.

Is it a spectrometer?

I really liked the riding nude part. Seriously though, it's a very interesting concept.

Please tell me what influence the passengers have on the seat motions of what are currently considered to be 4D coasters?

^ Already handled:

I'm sure there's probably a good reason, but why does the catch car have a track that extends so far past the lift hill anyway?

My mistake. I did mean the 2nd pre-show room. I accidentally thought of the hallway with the 2nd installment of the video as a room. I'm just going off of Robb's video on the first page.

How would it work to have the stairs after the 3rd pre-show room be kept somewhat full so that there is a pool of riders waiting there? The way I see it, you could then have the grouper calling out, "Group of 2?" or "Group of 3?", etc. as necessary, making sure that the empty seats are kept to a minimum. Is there a reason that's not apparent as to why that wouldn't be feasible?

13/20, not bad for me. I'll admit several were lucky guesses, but having read TPR for quite a while now helped with the parks that are still in operation.

A "friend" will help you move. A true friend will help you move a dead body.

Odom seems to be a big key to how erratic the Lakers can be. The guy's a total stud when he's on his game, and the rest of the team feeds off of his energy. He's just so hot and cold though. If I were Phil, I'd be directing a whole bunch of the zen master power into getting Odom's psyche ready for the games ahead. We already know Kobe's automatic. Everybody else seems to go how Odom goes to a large degree. Get him on the right track and everything else will fall into place. Something I really liked was how serious the team was during the post game presentation of the Western Conference trophy. They weren't even in the "Just happy to be in the finals." mode. They completely had that "We aren't done yet." vibe going on. It's cool when you don't have to ask them how focused they are, because you can see it.