OldJJman

The bottom line people is: $$$$. Branson is a mediocre tourist trap at best. No major highways or interstates. No major airports to handle an influx of people. Demographically, an old cast off, wanna be Las Vegas. Generally, second rate shows catering to an older (older than me!) generation. Sure they occasionally get the bigger name stars, but that's usually tied into a contract where there are playing venues that are owned by the venues there in Branson. Granted, SDC is a great park with good rides and some great food. CC is a carnival looking for a permanent home. (j/k, but you get the idea) Unles you see MAJOR road improvements, and an expanded airport, don't look for Disney there anytime soon.

I've seen quite a few coasters that didn't look "spectacular" and yet, they were. On the other hand, there have been coasters that looked "spectacular" and were real pieces of crap. Take EGF for example. When it was first built, no one really took notice. A really cool looking first drop, them some over banked turns and a few hills, all through some nice looking trees. Back then, BEFORE it was even built, people were complaining that at 175 feet tall (or whatever it is) is must be boring, not all that fast, and nowhere as good as Millennium Force. (Which IS, IMO, spectacular looking, but only a "B" grade coaster at best.) Because, aside from the first drop, EGF doesn't really look all that exciting. I mean, no loops, no tunnel, no water, etc... However, nothing could actually be farther from the truth. The closest thing I would imagine to anything being "standard" by B&M may be the Batman clones. Yet, every one of them I've ridden has felt different. A couple of them, vastly different. (The ones at La Ronde and SWoT come immediately to mind.) Even the ones with the some of the very same elements and their respective order, feels different. A good example would be Medusa and Scream. Medusa is a real good coaster, where Scream is a rather mediocre ride. Granted, these are my opinions, but I've ridden enough coasters to form a pretty descent opinion. Bottom line is, wait until you ride it BEFORE forming opinion. It saves wear and tear on the senses. Besides, it seems as if everybody is missing the greater point: It's themed to LED ZEPPELIN!! It has to be good!! EDIT: I found some more photos, which include the statue of the "Hermit" from the 4th album. Hard Rock Photos JJ

^ Actually, I feel that it's quite the opposite! Usually, people have complained to Robb that they would like to see the POV videos with no music at all. Well, that's pretty damn boring!! Remember, this is a specific "POV" video (just what some fans have asked for), and not an "antic" type of video (like the normal videos that you've obviously seen) for those people that may have not ridden the ride and would like to experience the next best thing, while seeing the whole ride. All that being said, I think that this is one of the best POV videos that Robb has done, since it does capture all of the interesting POV's with a smoother transition (using the music) between the rides, instead of: ride, cut, ride, cut, ride, end. Granted, I personally would like to see Robb do either an instrumental or a hard rock coaster video, but that's not their style of music. I can live with that. There's a lot of work done on the videos, and you get to download them for free. Great job (again) Robb! JJ

Well, I guess the trip to bowl in Vegas was worth it. I bowled a 639 scratch, that netted me $522. So far, playing Blackjack ($10) I'm up about $400. I just don't feel like going back down to the casino right now. Too crowded. I'll try again in the morning. More than likely, I'll dump $500 in an hour, eat lunch, and head to the airport all pi$$ed off, then find out my flight is delayed for 2 hours. Oh joy. JJ

I'm now sitting at John Wayne airport, with a 2 hour delayed flight, to go bowl my sweeps in Vegas. I have already entered $250 worth of brackets, and another $100 in sidepots. Sitting in the airport stinks! JJ

I am now really afraid of what I'm going to look like!!

Nice PTR Derek! Critically, you could have done without a few of the references. I am kind of surprised that you didn't have more pics of EE. Just wondering: aside from the pics you took, is it not that photogenic or what? Also, I loved the pics of the laugh factory!!! Loved the banners!!! I'm glad someone finally got in and took pictures!! Too bad it sounds like it sucks. Another vote here for bringing back Alien Encounter!!! Did you get Nicole on Poseidon's Fury? How about Twister? (I know, but *I* do like it!) Did you guys also have time to get to Old Towne? Get Nic on a real skycoaster?? Good pics! Enjoyed it! Thanks! JJ

I have not only heard this, I've seen the pics. I trust the source. Sorry. It's true. I give it less than 2 years. Then it goes the way of Psyclone! Good riddance. JJ

"former" ????

Congrats you two! Love you both! JJ

Exactly what I saw!! Damn funny!! JJ

Yeah, twist my arm. I'm still holding onto a 193 average, but I'm taking the summer season off due to the TPR trips. (And the fact that I haven't taken a season off in about 7 years!) My best season was 3 years ago when I finished with a 216 avg which included a 3 week stretch with series of: 754, 716 and a 748. I never broke 700 before or since. (Though I have about 6 series in the 690's) Back then I was using a Brunswick Purple Zone (16lb.), with a high polish. Currently, I am using two Hammer Big Rig Diesels. One 14lb. and one 16lb. Both are sanded. I use the 16 for light-to-no oil, thrown on the outside, about the 4 or 5 board. Basically, straight up and in. I can put quite a bit more revs up on the 14 pounder, so I use it in heavy, sporadic, or stretched oil patterns. Generally dropped about 17-15 to hit somewhere between the 5 and 10 boards (depending on conditions). My favorite ball ever though was a Crush/R. I cracked it when I dropped it. Never found one to replace it that I ever felt as comfortable with. My high league game is a 288. (Spare, 10 strikes, 8 count.) (In a no-tap league ((for fun)) I bowled 9 300's, one of which was legit, but being non-sanctioned, who cares!) I have picked up a big 4 (4-6-7-10), and have the patch and paperwork to prove it. Now, while I've never seen a 294 game (for those of you that don't know, that's DAMN hard to do!!) I have not only seen a 5-7-10 split (at least 3 times I can remember) I have seen it picked up!!

Thank you! Nothing like being the leader in LAME!! JJ

^ Try these: http://www.rcdb.com/ig394.htm and, the really pathetic: http://www.rcdb.com/ig395.htm JJ

I know. Those were horrible, heavy, poor articulating trains which contributed heavily to Psyclone's demise. Trying to bash me, and then immediately changing your avatar to avoid the error of your ignorance?? Get a clue. JJ

What if B&M made wooden coasters? ^ NO!! Look at what they did to Psyclone!!!! Good riddance to both!! JJ

If any of you watch 24, a nuke went off in Valencia on TV show 24 tonight. According to Yahoo! maps, it was only 4 miles away. This could explain any strange things Robb and Elissa do (or don't do) over the rest of their lives. JJ

Not only is it extremely stupid to point out facts that are NOT true (IIRC Viper's height is 188', with a 170' drop), giving an opinion of how a ride is, having never ridden it is asinine. As for being it's sister, the only thing they really had in common were the 7 inversions. One was built for the terrain, the other, a parking lot. So, your opinion is COMPLETELY invalid. Have a nice day. JJ

It's part of the show. I always make sure people see the show. There are about 20 different song/routine lists, depending on the players and time of day. So on any given day, all the shows for that day would be different.

Since Clint and Richard were in town, I joined them at D/DCA for a few hours. Afterward we went up and had dinner with Robb, Elissa and Joey. Disney doesn't quite have the Halloween theme figured out yet, but it's a start. Not too many pics. Deal with it. JJ Disturbing picture of the week. Richard giving Chip and Dale a good licking! Mulholland Madness amongst others. Billy Hill and the Hillbillies... We took in Splash Mountain... The Aussholes at the Haunted Mansion. Haunted Mansion Holiday Look. Even a medium sized pumpkin can TOTALLY obliterate the tiny castle! Even all the street lamps on Main Street had Pumpkins on them. Even the floral Mickey had a mask on it. The entrance with pumpkin shaped Disney characters. They also took in (and scored poorly) on Buzz Lightyear.

What? Are you guys against having old guys in the house?? What gives?? What about having a snoring contest?? Now, there's an art form! JJ

What are you talking about woman???? The beer boy can't handle his beer?? Goes all the way to Germany to experience Oktoberfest, and passes out???? The beer boy??? This is, and will most definitely be, bashing!!! JJ

That's Dave Sanborg and Jana. All, really cool people! JJ

And some of us peeps are going on 2/3 of the 2007 trips!! JJ

I mean, really. Who knew that we'd get 3 HOURS on BALDER with beer and hammers?? Who knew?? JJ