DerekRx

Which came first, the Swedish word for "coat hanger" being bumerang, or Ron Toomer using said coat hangers to make the boomerang element?

Definitely very cool to acknowledge us in the PR teaser, makes it seem a little more personal and that this attraction is something they're really proud of already. He dropped a couple of interesting phrases that stuck out: "speed through details", "accelerate", and "moving fast around here" pretty much clinching that it's going to be launched. Since he said "curiosity" and that is in fact what killed the cat, I'm still going with a cat theme, specifically the cheetah. I'll be very excited to get back to Florida next year for this, as if Busch Gardens doesn't have an awesome coaster collection to begin with. Oh yeah, and I loved the excitement over piles of dirt, they really know enthusiasts, don't they!?

If SyFy Channel is reading this, I want to see this acted upon in your next Saturday night movie, ASAP!

And Six Flags says that amusement parks don't need bumper cars. Wiener Prater proves them wrong, over and over and over and over again!

Robb's descriptions are awesome. Good article on the fun and thrilling side of parks and rides, with not one mention of some random accident that occurred somewhere where it was ultimately determined to be the rider's fault like most articles try to throw in.

Looks like a nice addition/retheme that should be very easy to identify with children and draw more families to the Blackpool area for holiday. I'm just happy that Zipper Dipper and Rollercoaster appear to be staying, renamed to Blue Flyer and Nickelodeon Streak.

Sweet stuff so far, happy to see Skyline getting more rides from my planned visit in 2006. You've found one component of German beer, Larry so good job! However, hops look like little tiny green pinecones and grown on vines which can be raised to grow like bushes. These are hops Hops on a vine Hops on my leg

The front of the line passes good for all the roller coasters was something special Bruno and the park set up for TPR. However, the park does sell front of the line passes that are good for some of the coasters and several other rides including the dark rides and water rides. I believe they were 10 Euros each and there were 2 different types, family, and adventurer.

I'm interested in finding out more about this ride, the layout, etc, but this definitely sounds like a standout ride, which is exactly what Gardaland needs.

Hooray, I'm a nerd again! Full circle has been achieved! Great stuff so far, Larry. I'm loving how my biggest debate right now is with myself as to which is better, Katun or iSpeed. They're both just so amazing in their own ways!!

Great stuff so far, Divv, looking forward to Studios. Is it just me, or does the baby appear to be breast feeding from Lou via straw? If Scottish was a little bit closer to the sign it couldn't looked like he was feeding the baby like a bird would

How stoned do you have to be to not be able to avoid getting hit by a Wacky Worm? If they went any slower they'd be going backwards.

I like Larry's thinking. Step 1: Take down GASM Step 2: Paint GASM Step 3: Reassemble GASM at Kentucky Kingdom and tell the new owners it's totally the same coaster they had before known as Chang Step 4: Plop Chang down on GASMs old spot at SFGAd Step 5: Collect underpants Step 6: ??? Step 7: Profit

Yeah, why a 10 year old is unsupervised at a waterpark is beyond me. Not to play Devil's Advocate here, but this whole article is only 1 side of the story...from a 10 year old's perspective. I'm not defending random teenagers who "beat up" a kid, but were they even beating him up, or could he have been trying to fit in with them in some random game of "punch me as hard as you can" as dumb boys like to do. Since no one stepped it while in this waterslide line, I would assume it had to be done while on stairs...not the best place for a beat down to occur. Another possibility is that the attackee instigated the attack, maybe spitting or something that hit the teens, or since he was Autistic perhaps his social awkwardness somehow offended the other boys who may have been trying to strike up a conversation with him and he either said something they didn't like or ignored them completely. As for why this woman in front of him in line didn't do anything, maybe she thought they were all together and he was like their younger brother who always gets beaten on, or maybe she was too busy watching her own kids in front of her in line. In any case, I hardly doubt there are roving bands of teenagers going around amusement parks looking for unsupervised Autistic kids to beat up, and if there are the easiest thing to do is WATCH YOUR KIDS!

I haven't been to any of these places yet, so use your own digression as to where to go and what you get out of it but the closest brewpubs and beer bars to Holiday World would be near Louisville, the closest being in New Albany. I don't know what style of bar you're looking for (neighborhood hangout, sportsbar, beer bar with lots of options, a place for mixed drinks and shots, chain restaurant vibe, pizza place, etc), but here's some places I pulled up. New Albanian Brewing 3312 Plaza Drive New Albany, IN 47150 Louisville offers up: BJ's Restaurant 7900 Shelbyville Rd Louisville, Kentucky, 40222 Bluegrass Brewing 3929 Shelbyville Road Louisville, Kentucky, 40207 Bluegrass Brewing 636 E. Main Street Louisville, Kentucky, 40202 Bluegrass Brewing 660 S 4th Street Louisville, Kentucky, 40202 Brownings Brewery 401 East Main St Louisville, Kentucky, 40202 Cumberland Brews 1576 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky, 40205 Flanagan's Ale House 934 Baxter Ave Louisville, Kentucky, 40204 Indigo Joes 1321 Herr Lane Suite 130 Louisville, Kentucky, 40222 The Irish Rover 2319 Frankfort Ave Louisville, Kentucky, 40206 O'Shea's Irish Pub 956 Baxter Ave Louisville, Kentucky, 40204 Sergio's World Beers 1605 Story Avenue Louisville, Kentucky, 40206 Evansville (the other direction from HW) offers up: Turonis Pizzery & Brewery 408 N. Main St Evansville, IN 47711 Gerst Bavarian Haus 2100 W Franklin St Evansville, Indiana, 47712 Just be warned though, you may want to research these places for yourself to find out hours of operation and such, many of them seem to close by 12am at the latest, and may not be opened on certain days. Also, I believe Santa's Lodge still has a bar. Just standard swill on tap, but there's also plenty of liquor and it can get pretty fun with a bunch of coaster enthusiasts and locals meshing after the event.

^That was my big question from tonight's episode. Obviously we know that the evacuation would have occurred whether the Lostie's were in the 70's and knew of the Swan leak or not, and that Ben and his Dad did not leave the island on that evacuation much like baby Miles and Charlotte did. Even if the explosion did sink the island slowly enough for a full out DHARMA evac, why would Ben's dad be wondering how life would have been different if they had stayed? Therefore we can only guess for now that they left the island on their own accord and had no knowledge of it sinking.

There's nothing I love more than seeing a new brewery open up and get such a good reception. I wish there was time to fit it in with my Dark Lord plans, though maybe I'll be able to hit it up the next time I get to Indiana Beach.

Hey, we don't kill people who kill people, we just lock them away for the rest of their life, give them a roof over their head, 3 meals a day, and some time to exercise. Since whales are our brothers of the ocean, I say let Tili live, at the taxpayers expense!

^My layover was only supposed to be 2.5 hours, but I can't complain to Southwest about getting me to Denver 1.5 hours early, now can I? Not to worry, we'll have plenty of time at Pizza Port again soon! The following day we were headed to SeaWorld in San Diego, but since we were going there specifically for the holiday stuff which wasn't until the end of the day, we had the early part of the day to enjoy on the way there....Derek style! and to end the trip, Elissa will now attempt to steal my Jeremiah's Red Ale, as that is her favorite style. Feel free to send her lots of Shark Bite from Port Brewing (or any beer for that matter) No, I'm not in the backseat of a car, I'm chilling out at BJ's by Magic Mountain for lunch, enjoying some PM Porter on nitro and to end my Pizza Port experience for the year, Booya Steez double IPA! Looks like Pizza Port is a hit with another group of friends Hello Pizza Carlsbad, my artichoke covered favorite I'd say Chris is enjoying himself, but it's food, of course he is! One of the best things about Pizza Port, the beer buddies! I was sad Swami wasn't on tap, but was fine with the Wipeout replacement The current tap list I like Carlsbad for its selection and room, but I love the location right above the Pacific and the surfer vibe of this one the most Flash forward a few hours beyond a now gotta-buy-it-if-you-want-to-drink-it SeaWorld and we find ourselves at Pizza Port Solana Beach for dinner They're in the midst of redesigning this location, and just recently added drawers to the merch area so you can get the goods yourself instead of having to ask them to search in the back. Woohoo! and finally, their Oktoberfest, which was fairly buttery and the Even Keel reminded me a lot of the East Coast more malty IPAs like HopDevil, and was VERY low in ABV! I couldn't pass up my current favorite IPA, Sculpin, on tap a look at the current tap list Next on the list, Ballast Point another awesome San Diego brewery New for me there was the SPA, Summer Pale Ale, which wasn't very pale, in fact, very hoppy and right up my alley! The new tasting room was pretty cool, with lots of stuff on tap to choose from, and chilled bottles of their rarer stuff up for grabs as well. (But those we'll save for home consumption) "In Brettanomyces, We Trust" Lots of good things come from here still, some even carbonated! After visiting the new Stone, it's only appropriate that we visit the old Stone, now known as Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey This would make a sweet tattoo, someone should get it! Oh wait...already been done. maybe next time it'll be warm enough to sit outside by the fire bar and a BLT and mac and cheese for the Alvarez's BBQ duck tacos for me Stefanie gets a huge honkin Buffalo burger Onto the food, where Wagner again gets ribs They really made this place look nice, lots of attention to detail Stef is thinking way to Christmas-y already and orders some white hot chocolate While both Chris and Wagner get ready to flight with Stones Double Bastard 2009 will start the day off right for me but I'm mainly interested in the beer menu to start! Stef and Wagner seem to be really deep in thought over the menu Even though he's not that into beer (he can't even finish one!), Chris seems to like it here First on the agenda, lunch at Stone's World Bistro

All this thread does is makes me miss Epcot and want to book a trip back there! I would so love for the other World Showcase pavilions to be built, and more rides added to the counties that didn't get them originally. ^I'm kinda, sorta with you on this one. While I do like the new "horizon-esque" finale, I did like the "future" (even if it was already outdated) and the fiber optic swooshes and music from the previous version. I like how the new one keeps your interest and you really don't pay attention to anything else around you other than the TV, but it really seems to cut the cutting edge future out of the ride (plus is really going to be a boring ride back to Earth if your screen ever is broken)

Friday and Saturday was the Strong Ale Festival. This year I managed to sign up early enough to be able to do the VIP session on Friday. It had a limited number of tickets meaning less crowds, an extra 14 rarer beers, and was only $10 more. The total list this year was a lot less than last years, 84 total compared to 102 last year, but it was still all great stuff! both were amazing! I should have read the sign better though, because after 3 Melange #3s, I was feeling it! That 17% was hidden quite well Friday was special because both a firkin of Two Turtle Doves and some Melange #3 were on tap A look at all the stuff they offer on tap when they're opened for tastings on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons Lots of barrel aging going on in the tasting room Magic brewing A few hours in traffic later I found myself back up in Orange County to visit The Bruery in Placentia and I ended my drinking session with some Hopsquatch barleywine from Four Peaks. A great barleywine, I can see why they keep winning awards with this Deschutes Black Butte XXI had a good alcohol kick don't forget to rinse and drink with plenty of Holy Water I've got a few bottles of this at home still, but may as well enjoy some Russian River Consecration when it's on tap and there's no line! another collaboration beer, Sierra Nevada's Empire Strikes Black brewed with the help of Tomme Arthur, Tom Nickel, and Jeff Bagby. Barmy was a very interesting high alcohol apricot beer from Ballast Point gotta eat some free pizza to stay sober, none of these beers are under 8% Pizza Port San Clemente brought a barrel aged version of their InFamous chocolate imperial stout. Bourbon notes mixed well with the chocolate Much easier to get around during the VIP session. Picture trying to get a beer through this, only with 5 times as many people! Well worth the $10 The Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head collaboration beer Life and Limb was next. Good stuff with a nice sweetness I pretty much stuck with the stuff on the VIP beer list since I knew it would be the first things to kick. First up was Barrel Aged Speedway Stout from Alesmith, fantastic! Let's get ready to drink The line for the VIP session entrance, which went fairly quickly since you just had to show ID and get a bracelet and your glass Always a lovely thing to see, Pizza Port Carlsbad

Last weekend I headed out to Southern California for what seems to now be an annual event for me, the San Diego Strong Ale Festival. Of course, Disneyland for the holidays and some Magic Mountain for the new credit had to be included, but that isn't necessary to post or talk about here. Instead, here's me and my SoCal posse enjoying some of the finer points of the region! But first....a layover in Denver, which is yet another awesome town for beer. So awesome, in fact, that the airport alone has a brewpub in each of the 4 areas, Boulder Beer Co in the main concourse (covered by me back in January 09), Denver Chophouse and Brewery in the A terminal, New Belgium in the B terminal, and Rock Bottom in C terminal. Let's check those out while we're here! and to end the night, I grabbed a Ballast Point Victory at Sea, which Wagner also approved of My pulled pork sandwich with hush puppies was just what I needed, even though I still like the combo at Pierce's Pit better. Ribs are good. Girlfriends with sharp knives, not so much Us guys all decided on the Alesmith IPA. (actually, I decided on it, they all enjoyed a taste, and ordered their own, but that's just minor technicalities) This BBQ place has a penchant for good beer After arriving in California and some time at Disneyland, it was off to Seal Beach to visit Beachwood BBQ for a late dinner I went with the Dortmunder Lager. Not nearly as good as Great Lakes version 1.5 hours before my flight, plenty of time to check out the Denver Chophouse's chapter of airport brewpubs Having worked on Thanksgiving, I was only too happy to enjoy a Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry sandwich and some sweet potato fries here with my Fat Tire. The food was really good, I'm surprised they don't add a brewpub to the real brewery in Fort Collins I think there's a law that you must have Fat Tire when in Denver, especially when you're at the New Belgium brewpub you can watch the smaller planes from the comfort of your brewpub chair it was 10 degrees outside that day, so I felt a darker ale like 1554 was needed. Well received! Even the tables were New Belgium inspired. But a very nice little place In the B terminal is the New Belgium brewpub, which is simply awesome. Too bad it's all the way down by the commuter flights It's lunchtime where I flew from, so let's enjoy a 16th Street Wheat. Nothing too amazing, but it did have some coriander and clove notes as fate would have it, my arrival gate and departing gate in Denver were the same gate just 4 hours apart, located right next to Rock Bottom

Kinda creepy, but I was thinking the same thing last night on my drive home from work, Elissa. No precipitation, 39 degrees F, and yet everyone was driving 45-50mph in a 55 zone, and pulling out extremely slow. There wasn't much traffic, nor was there police or anything like that, so I was a little confused. I really do think people are slower and more sluggish when it's colder. So much for humans being warm-blooded.

My thoughts go out to her husband, Dick and everyone else in the Knoebels family which includes the employees. Barbara was a sweetheart and will be missed. At least she isn't suffering anymore.

^I think there were like 5 or 6 robocoasters. There wasn't a wait when I did it, but there was about 30 minutes of queue setup. There is a preshow you have to watch first before they send you through to design, so the entire process may take about 15-20 minutes. As for the lines at HRRR, I know they still aren't using the omnimover, and were only running 2 trains when I was there. I think the ride has some issues if it gets a little cool out so they were being cautious.