VinTheAttendant

I hate it when my roommate has his friends over. While they pull all the annoying stops like playing their music way too loud and fill the house with the smell of cigarette smoke, the thing that bothers me the most is that they ALWAYS eat my food!!

I'm still using Firefox just because I'm too lazy to log in all my accounts on Chrome and get used to a new browser. It took me forever to switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox. By the time I switch completely to Chrome, I can guarantee that it will be outdated.

Zierer: Has interest in your offerings increased with the success of Verbolten and Polar X-Plorer?

To the TPR members serving or who have served in the military, I wish to thank you all for your bravery and rising up to the honor of defending your country.

Just playing devil's advocate here, but do we know if the lockers are gone for good, or could they be switching out the current lockers for newer ones or from another storage company? Afterall, they may have been overpriced in the waterpark, but a ton of people still depended on them (there was always a long line to rent a unit). Despite assisting in emptying your wallet faster, the storage units at the rides did seem to help station operations go smoother, and there was an element of security knowing that the chances of item theft significantly decreases with them. Whether it was enough to make the system worth it, I don't know, but I guess we'll find out. If ride lockers are gone for good, then that's arguably good news, and I'd be interested in what the new (or recycled) loose article policy will be.

Outlaw Run looks absolutely insane, and if it wasn't for the technicality that I'm over 1,000 miles away, I'd be readying myself for my first ride. As for the ride I will most likely be riding, probably Gatekeeper. I have yet to ride a Wing Rider, so why not start with the biggest one? Overall, it's not looking to be a very coaster-filled summer for me next year, but the additions popping up across the country look spectacular.

So.....yeah. It's snowing out now.

I'm in! Last year's thread helped me with the off-season blues with how ridiculous and awesome some of the gifts were, and I want in! EDIT: As long as people are posting what they like, I don't really have a word on what I'd like to expect except that I'd like to be surprised. Obviously, I go crazy for roller coaster related stuff, but part of the reason last year's thread was so entertaining was for some of the random stuff people got (like the inflatable remote controlled shark for instance). So what do I want? When I open that present, I want to burst out laughing, and then immediately be able to say, "That is freakin' AWESOME!" P.S. I'm a size XL just in case

Intamin: How does the new track shape (Skyrush, I305, Formula Rossa) compare with the traditional box/triangle shape (Cheetah Hunt, Maverick, etc) / Is one design an improvement over the other? Question for Robb: Are multiple part questions permitted in one post?

For me, riding kiddie coasters is all part of the fun of being an enthusiast. While I am proud of my list, I also see it as a running gag that I must get on as many coasters as I can for some quota that does not exist. I'll even hop on powered coasters though I don't count them. I think it's funny to get odd looks from parents and little kids who see some young adult (or two) board a tiny coaster with the expectation of a big thrill; in some cases, the ride operator becomes in on the joke and makes their day more enjoyable. But joking aside, I really will not go out of my way just to get a kiddie coaster credit. When I visit a new park for me, I always go for the good stuff first, the unique stuff second, and then go a round on the kiddie coasters if there is time. While I won't drive several miles for a little credit, I have gone to a kiddie coaster in the middle of nowhere, and then checked out the rest of the town and had a very fulfilling and pleasant day. Other than time, the only other things that will stop me from getting a kiddie credit are lines more than ten minutes, and a maximum height restriction (unless I'm with a shorty I know ) So I've talked about why they matter to me and how far I'm willing to go for one, but as for the reason as to why I go for these coasters; I think every coaster enthusiast and arguably every person in the world has a kid inside of them. This kid is what sees the fun in what others typically don't see the fun in, it's what makes us enthusiasts in the first place. Each kid responds differently to different rides, and that's absolutely alright. Some of us see the kiddie coaster next to the 200ft coaster we've ridden a hundred times and say, "Sure, why not!" So we give it a go and then ride the 200ft coaster another one hundred times. We're admittedly sad and pathetic, but if you watch any TPR video, you'll see we come in great numbers and are happy to be sad and pathetic.

I know it's childish, but I really want to tell off all those people on Facebook who answer those orders of operations math problems incorrectly under the preconceived notion "anything times zero equals zero," and then further call those who answered the problem correctly idiots.

^^Deja Vu isn't defunct, it's just relocated. (EDIT, then again, I think the term "defunct" could be relative) Both Big Bad Wolf and Jaws are probably the ones that hurt me the most. I remember going to BGW in 2009, noticing all the signs celebrating the Wolf's 25th birthday, getting on the ride, loving the thing all over again, and then hearing the announcement one week later. I also miss Jaws because of just how fun a ride it is. It would have been the most glorified attraction at any other park in America, and getting a skipper who is really into the story, be it for genuine laughs or genuine scares made the experience so much more enjoyable than all the technology on its own. I miss both the wolf and the shark, and I have yet to ride their replacements, but I do look forward to checking them out. Honorable mentions: L̶a̶s̶e̶r̶ ̶(̶u̶n̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶i̶t̶)̶ Thanks a lot A.J., it looks great Rotor at Riverside Park/SFNE: That ride was my favorite as a child. As for rides that I'm genuinely happy are gone, there really aren't many I can think of. While rides like Python or Star Jet weren't the greatest of rides, I never really thought, "it's about damn time" when they decomissioned. Unfortunately, all the coasters on my bottom 10 list are still standing.

1. My last ride on Jaws. It was incredibly sad, but I was so happy to get one last ride on it to give it its proper farewell (one day before its closure). 2. Skyrush! I don't care if the restraints tried to kill me, it really is one of my favorite coasters of all time now. 3. Walking by Hersheypark's karaoke booth and watching a snippet of Pier's "Born This Way" performance! Link 4. Goliath at Six Flags New England: The first coaster I rode in two different locations within one year. Also, getting to ride it before it opened to the public. 5. Going to a rather empty Six Flags Great Adventure in the middle of summer. 6. A trip to Coney Island using only public transit. 7. 200 credits milestone on Steeplechase at Scream Zone. 8. FINALLY witnessing a Kingda Ka rollback. I still have to get myself on one. EDIT: 9. Riding the oldest carousel in America

Wow, I'm really glad I got that credit, literally two months ago (almost to the day). It always saddens me to see coasters in such a state, even if they are a giant steel turd. A lot of hard work goes into these rides, but it really all comes down to nature doesn't give a s***. Somebody already updated Star Jet's RCDB page. EDIT: ^Curse you! Beat me to it

So far, we've had a lot of rain and some strong gusts, but nothing too bad. However, the floods along the Atlantic coast about 100 miles away are driving local newscasters nuts. They are saying the worst is coming tonight, but I'm keeping positive and dry. I think tonight will define if Sandy will be worse than Irene.

Batman: The Dark Knight in 2004; that was the year I decided to stop being scared of coasters. After riding Batman, that was when I really felt up to the task of taking on bigger and tougher coasters, and I have B&M to thank for that.

Looking through TV Guide, I scrolled past Cartoon Network and saw that they are playing a bunch of shows that I grew up with! I might just tune in to see how well they hold up, and for a smack of nostalgia Also, I find it funny whenever someone says "[insert hurricane name] is coming," and somebody else responds, "Who?"

5. Right before the barrel roll on Storm Runner 4. First drop of SFNE Cyclone in the back row 3. Just about every hill on Boulder Dash 2. The hill over Rolling Thunder on El Toro 1. I'm having trouble deciding what part of Skyrush, so I'm just going to say the whole darn thing.

It's a bad habit, but when I'm crossing one-way streets I only look at the direction traffic comes from before I cross. It makes sense, why would any vehicles without sirens or flashing lights come up the wrong way? Well, on my way to class this morning, I looked in the sensible direction while crossing one of many one-way streets on the route to school. But for some reason, I'm not sure why, I also looked in the other direction as well; and lo and behold, there is a black sedan speeding right towards me going the wrong way up the street! I had ample time to step back and into safety, but if I didn't look to my left that one time, I would have definitely been hit by a car this morning. From now on, I'm looking both ways at all crossings. I have control over my own stupidity, but none over others'!

I really am curious how this will turn out, though I haven't seen pictures yet of the train or where on site it is. Still, it's assuring to know that the new trains is happening. EDIT: Simaticable reported this two pages ago. Thanks dude

Here is my list: 2003 or earlier: 19 2004: 7 2005: 39 2006: 18 2007: 23 2008: 5 2009: 18 2010: 13 2011: 47 2012: 22 Total: 211

^I have noticed that. I always attributed it to the company evolving, and the design was used to make the Tennessee Tornado more acrobatic than a conventional Arrow looper, but then that might have also been due to advanced technology in designing newer coasters as well. I never really questioned it anyway because I thought it looked sleeker And while we're on the subject of strange coaster tracks, I might as well throw in Canyon Blaster at the Great Escape. The track shape switches several times throughout the ride. I'm guessing that those pieces are replacement parts for when the coaster was relocated, but again, I never really thought to question it. There's the traditional track shape with the sharp, 90 degree edges to the braces Then there's the newer looking track with the rounded edges australianalex pointed out And then there's whatever this thing is... (I know it's used for brakes, but trust me, it looks really out of place in person)

Enemies - Shinedown

I thought the same thing at first, but then I thought to myself, "Do I really want a knock-off Maurer style lap bar (or any lap bar) on a Skyloop knock-off?" I think shoulder harnesses would make me feel safer

Over the past couple of days, I've watched three movies that I've wanted to check out, but hadn't gotten around to seeing...until now! A.I.: Artificial Intelligence: I'm a huge Steven Spielberg fan! Jurassic Park is still my favorite movie, Jaws is in my top 10, I never miss E.T. every time it's on, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List are two of the most beautiful movies I've seen, and even his stinkers like War of the Worlds aren't completely terrible. That being said, A.I. is probably one of his more forgettable movies. It isn't bad by any means, but my main problem with it is that it's so mean-spirited, especially with a humanoid child involved, that it feels less enjoyable to watch. I've seen some downright depressing stuff, but there was a bit too much grit in A.I. with many unpleasant characters for it to work for me. Also, I'm not a fan of century or millenia time jumps (unless it's for comedic purposes), so the 2000 year jump towards the end really bothered me. On the other hand, I still think that Haley Joel Osment was one of the best child actors of the late 90s/early 00s, the special effects are nice, the story knew where it was going even if the audience didn't, and I'd be lying if I said the ending wasn't touching. 2.5/5 Adventureland: Reading some trip reports, I know that Robb didn't like this movie as well as other TPR members, yet it had some decent scores on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, it had roller coasters in it, so I decided to check it out. I thought it was O.K., that's about it. Even saying it was "alright" seems like giving it too much credit. I wasn't thrilled that it was built up as comedy, but spends about 85% of its run time being a love triangle drama. It didn't so much stress the comedy of working a low-end job as build up a rather predictable relationship as a result of that job. On another note, I was hoping that Kristen Stewart's miserable performance in Twilight was only limited to Twilight, but I found her to be just as uninteresting in Adventureland. But other than what I've mentioned, many of the side characters were fun, the plot was engaging enough to just sit through, and it was nice to see some shots of Kennywood. 2/5 Deep Rising: I really thought this movie was going to be unbearable. I pictured it as being an overbloated, campy scifi with actors taking their parts too seriously, saying the worst pieces of dialogue in cinema history, and chocking it full of not-scary CGI. Well, as it turned out, Deep Rising was a very very stupid movie, but it did everything that a stupid movie is supposed to do right: Incredibly easy plot to follow, a couple fun/interesting characters, indications of the actors enjoying themselves, and mixing up the action so every new sequence is fresh and fun. It's predictable, the characters are idiots, but I doubt this movie was meant to be taken seriously anyway. That being said, it really isn't a good movie per se, but I recommend it if you're in the mood for a "leave your brain at the door" movie. 2.5/5