cal1br3tto

No, but when I was a kid (no pun intended), I wanted to be a goat farmer. Has a goat ever eaten your clothing?

"Roller" - April Wine

I made an anonymous donation that was pretty much stalker-level creepy. Well, I shoulda read the FAQs, because it wasn't anonymous to the recipient. (I know GoFundMe is like that, but this wasn't that.) Oh well; I ain't mad!

^^^I opened this page and y'all had me scared thinking the park was doing something to the ride. Whoops. Other than the missing water (still a great touch on SDC's rendition), I didn't have any issue with it. It's a classic.

Yes: Ringo and Paul. I don't think George ever toured in my lifetime, and if he did, I don't want to hear about it! Are you obsessed with a random ride that it seems no one else cares about?

Neat photo; don't believe I've ever seen half of a Ferris wheel before!

Nothing too exciting (although you might be surprised at how many people, however few in the scheme of things, actually would be excited), but I've met a few glam metal performers in recent years. These have mostly been through organized experiences (paid, won, or free to all), so I've gotten photos and/or signatures in most cases. --All members of Great White (current line-up) once or more (this includes Terry Ilous from XYZ!) --Quiet Riot (last year, with Frankie Banali being the main classic member; Jizzy Pearl is the singer) --Bulletboys (looks like only Marq Torien has been there since the beginning) --Jack and Robbie from Jack Russell's Great White --Firehouse (I believe all are classic/long-term members?) I've never had a bad experience involving an actual interaction (though timing or minor details often don't work out ideally); everyone's been admirably polite, or at least quietly cooperative.

Horrific news. Even if it was due to rider irresponsibility (which was not suggested in that article), the tragedy obviously affects many innocent people. I will vouch for carnivals being safer than appearances and stereotypes make them out to be, but that doesn't make news like this less sad or disturbing.

This. I've always felt these policies were potentially dangerous compared to allowing rerides either generously (2-3 in a row) or, preferably, without limitation. Even if they state running and/or climbing isn't allowed, I've rarely seen an event where this has been consistently enforced, or even had the staffing to allow for potential enforcement. Plus, as you said, some employees do encourage climbing, ducking, or running (I'm not saying the first two are necessarily dangerous, but different parks/employees have different, even contradictory takes on it).

I'm mildly surprised that so many people (or so it seems to me, but I'm often wrong about these things) are creeped out by the train; I think I like it, or at least I'm not turned off by it. It goes perfectly with the awesome track colors. It's already hard to think of this coaster as the former Roar since it's such a huge transformation.

Very glad you enjoyed Dollywood, and yes a lot of people don't care for Mystery Mine due to the OTSR, and Pete was asked if they were going to convert Mystery Mine to lapbar, and his response was they've thought about it but just not at this time. I feel like he may just be letting us down easy and that they aren't seriously considering this, but I'd be happy if it does come to fruition. I can't help but really like Mystery Mine because of the theming, but Eurofighters are one ride where OTSRs can be brutal (and lap bars can noticeably enhance the fun).

I'm surprised so many people are indifferent to the closing of BTTF. I thought it was one of those treasured rides and franchises and that people were practically traumatized by the closure of the other ones. Shows how much I know (or else I'm thinking of something else). Really glad I got to ride it and and see the area, though!

^Well, at least it was one of the worst wooden coasters I've ever ridden in its recent state (always thought that was a shame since I've seen it compared favorably to Phoenix, and if it were even a few notches better I'd really appreciate both the former trains and its overall classic-ness). At least I got to ride it on two occasions to confirm this--and better yet, a couple of my rides made the most of it with surprise airtime in the front car. I've never really been a detractor of PTC trains, but it's too bad the new ones are not likely to improve the ride experience like Millennium Flyers (which I actually don't particularly like) are generally said to do. Edit for reading comprehension fail: my post was actually written about Thunderhawk at Dorney. All the non-specific parts still stand; I had a slightly different riding experience on High Roller, but I've always considered it roughly equal to Thunderhawk in lack of quality and sad loss of former glory.

Sadly, that reminds me of this nearly identical story out of California concerning a high-thrill ride. I'm not sure about crazy rules other than that; just the usual measures like scream shields on the former Maliboomer and excessive tunnels on Gold Striker (hmm, both also in California). Wild Waves is close to residences, and they have some mattress-like material on parts of Timberhawk's solid handrails. Am I the only one who checked the date after seeing names in the article like Big Sheep and Hugh Bone?

^Yes.

"Good Times Bad Times" - Led Zeppelin

I was thinking this was one of those slow Sundays where posts are few and far between...what I really should have been thinking was that I need to change the TPR clock.

Next: Bryan Adams. Admittedly, I'm only a "69" fan (ahem), so far as I know. However, I'm now aware that not only do some people not hate him, but he's actually hugely popular. So I'm sure it will be the best night of my life! That is, until my birthday a couple weeks later. I'm going to an 80s hair band fest (of the indoor, one night variety), headlined by [drumroll please]...Bret Michaels! I might not stay for the grand finale; I lose brain cells every time I listen to Poison, after all. But two bands I've really enjoyed seeing are playing, and a few more I haven't seen. It's just a shame that my favorite seems to be playing second (third at best). I've been craving a decent, non-abbreviated set from the guys, and I don't yet know if the sets are all going to be a good standard length or if it's more of a "start out with really short sets and make 'em a teensy bit longer for each band until we hit the big names" deal. I'm not holding my breath, but it'll be nothin' but a good time no matter what.

151 rum, pineapple juice and Malibu, caribou, get them all numb Make baby girl come Outta her shell and raise hell Don't stop 'til the cops come --Tech N9ne

^It's probably not in exactly the same vein, but I do like to write stories that are pretty darn dark 'n' morbid. It's not revenge-based in my case, but dramatic and chaotic and death-obsessed? Yes, or at least that's what I'm going for! For a while this hugely correlated with my music tastes (horrorcore rap and such), and in fact, I've pretty much always got a thing for some kind of horror music. Right now though I like bands inspired by cult horror films, old blues songs and southern Gothic imagery, so they're often less graphically violent or aggressive, and more just plain creepy.

I might jump onto this year's version of the tour, largely for Tesla. This time around it'll be with REO Speedwagon instead of Styx; I'm historically more of a Styx fan, but, again, at least I've seen Dennis DeYoung perform their hits. Once again they won't be in my actual town, but there are multiple opportunities to make it work if I decide it's worth my while.

^^Never heard of that kind; I go for the normal or white cheddar. (And I wish you hadn't reminded me!)

Oaks Amusement Park

I actually just broke my 2016 cherry seeing a local guy, Billy Hagen from Johnny Limbo & The Lugnuts. I even got to step up to the mic and sing the blues with him. Now, some things...happened which don't in and of themselves have me running back for more, but at least I still seem to be welcome at the venue. If you like stories, here's the wild, sordid history of Billy Hagen. My favorite part was when he played slide with his drink glass (and later a salt shaker). This was just after the first time.

It's one of those days where everything is infuriatingly annoying, and I do mean everything. I need to get off the Internet for a good long time. (Or use it only for constructive and/or truly inconsequential purposes. Or actually set limits on how much I use it, which is a hilarious thought but surely could be achieved...maybe.) Okay, there are other things in my life that definitely aren't helping, either.