VinTheAttendant

I forgot this thread existed! Thank you for bringing back some hilarious memories

Finally! The return of the Pretzel Knot Loop! I've been waiting for somebody to reintroduce it with modern innovation. This ride looks incredible, and the accompanying video was very well done.

Six Flags New England next weekend.

These lists ALWAYS get me pumped for the following year, putting up everything worth getting excited for all on one list. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. On that note, don't forget Six Flags New England's Bonzai Pipeline.

Panic Station - Muse

Midnight Hands - Rise Against While watching a thunderstorm several miles away. It matches unbelievably well

I was attacked by a squirrel today ..... I walked to the nearest garbage can (outside) to spit out my gum. When I pushed the lid open, just like a cartoon, a squirrel suddenly jumped out at me. It was only by leaping backwards that I avoided having a rodent squirm into my sweater. It's been a hell of a day already, and close encounters with urban wildlife was simply the icing on the cake. ^Good for you! Let me know how that turns out. I too have not roller bladed for such a long time, and I may just have to take it up again.

A couple months ago, I watched the Truman Show for the first time (mostly as an optional tie-in to Thomas More's Utopia which we were reading in class), and I thought that it was a fantastic movie. I just finished watching it again, and I now know that I was wrong, it is an AMAZINGLY smart, satirical, funny, cynical yet hopeful movie. The story itself, and the elements it uses to drive its decisions are very original and work so well. Jim Carrey is surprisingly dramatic, the set pieces and setting look fantastic, and all the other characters fall into place as an estranged satire of the media's place in the world. The whole backstory with Carrey's character falling in love with the extra really is one of the most touching story arcs I've seen in recent film history. After getting past the confusion the first time around, you notice a LOT of things the second time around that you couldn't catch; funny things in the background, various actors/actresses in other roles, even a few bits of dialogue that not only make more sense, but adds a whole new level of context you hadn't noticed before. It's all so carefully crafted and taken to heart, and the score is so dynamic. After watching it again, I think the Truman Show might actually crack into my top ten favorite movies!

Broken Mirrors - Rise Against

There's a bug going around the area. Many people are coming down with a cold, and I happened to be one of them. My nose is stuffy, I'm always thirsty, I'm popping cough drops like Tic Tacs, and I have to spray Lysol on everything I touch. It's really annoying, but it's not like it's the first time I've been through it. The problem is that I'm supposed to be singing at my cousin's wedding this weekend, and I can barely talk without coughing as is. I hardly ever get sick, but when I do, it usually gets pretty bad. So I now have three days to fight this thing, and I'm taking every evasive action (chicken soup, orange juice, carrying tissues everywhere, etc). I just wish I didn't have to in the first place. I knew no good would come after that one kid coughed directly into my face last week...

Like others have said, those who work or have worked at an amusement park are all too familiar with the noise, and aren't particularly affected by it. However, I have had an experience that is pretty much the opposite of the given topic: riding a ride in a completely empty amusement park. After doing some preseason training, me and a coworker were sent over to the skycoaster where the attendants needed volunteers to get certified for the position. It was my first time on a skycoaster, and it was at least half a month before the park opened to the public. On that first swing towards the park, I let out a loud "WHOOO!!!", and it was incredibly strange hearing absolutely nothing in return. No crowd ambiance, no pop songs over the midways, no roar of another coaster, and the skycoaster itself is already a quiet ride. So, yes, getting the same thrills without the typical park bustle is about as strange "Going Empty" as it gets.

1. I305 2. Outlaw Run (I know it hasn't opened, it still looks spectacular though) 3. The Voyage 4. Phoenix 5. T-Express 6. Any Intamin Mega-Lite 7. New Texas Giant 8. Nemesis 9. Maverick 10. Formula Rossa Also, call me crazy, I want to ride at least one Chinese Knock-off coaster before I die. I'm not sure why, I just want to try one out; maybe so I can be on I Shouldn't Be Alive or something

WE MEET AGAIN, annoying ice cream truck music

You know, after reading these responses, and thinking about it for a bit, I change my mind. The park and marketing team didn't do anything wrong, and the word is out now. Plenty of parents on the FB page sounded especially pleased. Judging by some of the more positive FB comments, it sounds like this expansion is EXACTLY what this park needs, and some expectations were set a little too high. And on that note, there's a good possibility that half the people upset about the hype are going to forget about within the next 24 hours. I can't wait to watch the progress

^ and ^^ If you look at the reactions on the Facebook page, that's more or less the reason why. The GP isn't as forgiving about these sort of things as the enthusiasts. Personally, I'm happy for the park. I think it will be a great addition. All I'm saying is that a lot of people feel deceived, and at least some marketing acknowledging children in mind would have lead to a more positive reaction from the encompassing GP.

Well, this is fantastic news for children and families, but the advertising as a new record, especially reaching out on Facebook and their website, it really built up hype to the people who are not affected by the announcement. Good for King's Dominion for making the experience for the children a lot better. And this made me laugh

Light Up the Sky - Thousand Foot Krutch

I read the caption first, then when I looked at the picture, the first thing I saw was "Toilet." These pics and parks are amazing!

First, congratulations to El Toro for FINALLY making the number 1 spot. Second, why is Skyrush so low, even on the new rides list? I thought it was phenomenal (granted, it was the only "new for 2012" coaster I rode). And on that note, is Wild Eagle really so much better than X-Flight that the latter didn't even make the list "new for 2012" list, or at least the list the website posted? And as much as I love Millennium Force, I'm almost getting sick of seeing it at the #1 spot year after year. I used to be so excited for the Golden Ticket Awards, now I find myself asking "now how did that land that place?" as opposed to being satisfied with results. Oh well, they're just titles. The world isn't going to hell just because my favorite "X" isn't #1. EDIT: Does anyone know where to find the full or extended list of winners? I can't seem to find it on the GTA site.

8 AM, I'm sitting in my Engineering Dynamics class. The professor just arrived, so I open up my textbook. On the random page I turned to, there happened to be a picture of a Chance Toboggan coaster. My very first thought, "This day is gonna suck..." In more ironic news, the past few days have been hot, humid, and wet thanks to Isaac's leftovers. While I've been more or less successful in keeping my room at a reasonable temperature, the living room could get quiet unbearable. My roommates found it was high time to finally install a window AC. Guess what! The temperature this morning was in the mid 50s, and it's not expected to get much hotter than the high sixties all week.

I just submitted my application. I spent all of last semester contemplating it, read most of this thread as well as reviewed the website many times, and I decided that I could really use a new POV outside the college classroom. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I wish other TPR applicants the best of luck

Count me in the category of people who think Cyclone is fine as it is. I almost never pass up the Cyclone when I visit the park, I think it has enough shake to it to constitute a personality. I don't find it painful at all. While the part that was topper-tracked was desperately needed, I really don't want the ride to become steel-coaster smooth. Call it nostalgia, call it masochistic, but I really hope that Cyclone doesn't get Iron Horse or completely topper-tracked until it absolutely needs it. Until then, I hope the park continues to take care of it. Just my opinion. Of course if the ride becomes completely unrideable/unsafe, then RMC it by all means. EDIT: I find it both interesting and funny how this thread has become more interested in the future of Cyclone than the new waterslides.

Save Me - Queen

^Well, the zoning board did give SFNE permission to build up to 410' if they wanted. Perhaps they are just letting SFOT have the title this year, and then SFNE can claim it next year?

I'm ..... thrilled? A little bittersweet over this announcement. On one hand, I've always wanted to try the looping version of the Alpine Freefall at the Great Escape. On the other hand, I was expecting something a little more ..... dry.