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^I saw Vanishing Point at the Del Puerto Theatre in downtown Patterson, Calif.--they showed American double features Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and Mexican flicks on Tuesday and Thursday (dark on Monday). I thought that Rodriguez and Tarantino both did a good job and "cheated" a bit in different ways--the former through his reliance on CGI, the latter by making a "girls go on a rampage movie" as a standard Tarantino flick (dialogue heavy, clean cinematography). Both were a lot of fun.

A-w-w-w-w . . . a word I've been wearing out as of late. Kristen already has two ride credits that I lack. See you at SFA.

So, some parks have running BMs in the cold . . . Let me rephrase . . . So, SFGA can operate their B&M coasters when it's less than 40 degrees (apparently). Cool TR, indeed.

I need to get back to Dollywood. The last time I was there was pre-Tennessee Tornado. I know what you mean about that parking lot. I was there on a date and suffered the indignity of losing my little Saturn in that rather long, unmarked piece of asphalt. Hardly the smooth image I was trying to project. (Well, the date was pretty much a disaster, anyway--it was with a college professor who hated theme parks, even though she had suggested we go there in the first place.) Mystery Mine looks great! Thanks for sharing the pictures. I've ridden Speed at Oakwood in the UK, and even an unthemed Eurofighter is a pretty cool ride. The dark-ride sections make this a win-win for me.

I wouldn't recommend riding BBW in the snow without a ski mask, Eric. B-r-r-r-r! Fortunately, the April snow was a fluke.

Well, it's either sell the old inventory or toss it, I guess. Actually, they've been peddling those Top Gun shirts for years--to tie in to the Paramount movie, not necessarily the ride (at least that's my theory). I wonder if they'll steal BGE's "Defy the Five" slogan next?

^Now that's funny! And welcome to TPR. Too bad they couldn't have done the same with the "poo" sign by Tomb Raider.

I hope those little smoking gazebos are well ventilated--could get pretty nasty in there pretty quick. Thanks for the pics--might be checking the place out myself this spring.

^Here's your wallpaper--if I did this correctly. Glad you liked the photo. Snowy Wolfie Zip.zip

Looks like Melanie and Crystal have joined the Super Friends--Lex Luthor better watch his butt! Chang looks pretty awesome. Good job, Rich. I've never even been to Kentucky, much less SFKK. At least you won't have to worry about freezing to death at BGE this summer, but heat exhaustion might be another story.

More pics from Euroburg's White Easter. And as the Killearney Sound Machine played me a fond farewell, I headed back to the main gate. Good day. Hey, somebody get me outta the cold! I'm Huge Hummel Boy, damn it! Step right up! Get your official Griffon stocking caps and gloves here! Hi, folks! I'm Griffon, and I think you might want to come back when it's a bit warmer out--say, May 25. How do you like my new nets? Sacre bleu, Pierre! It is a cold day to trap zee fur, no? Oui! And it is difficult to canoe up zis flower bed! Here's the peaceful, snow-covered village that's terrorized by the brain-freezing Big Bad Wolf about every two minutes or so. But Nessie, being a crazy Scot, is going for the gusto. (Well, she and Wolfie are built Arrow tough!) O cruel irony! Alpengeist's theming has never looked better, yet it's too cold for it to run. For once, King Ludwig his some real snow on his DarKastle. Aghh! I got a Dole Whip brain freeze without the joy of eating Dole Whip! Hey, I bet there's no line for BBW!

I woke up this morning and made a shocking discovery--for once, the local weather had accurately predicted snow for Williamsburg! Yes, we had a fair dusting by mid-morning, just enough to make things look kind of pretty (and kind of slushy when the mercury climbed up to the 40s this afternoon). The snow has all melted away, with the exception of a few shaded areas. So, cold as it was, curiousity got the better of me, so I headed over the Euroburg to get some snow pics. After all, it's pretty rare to be in this park on a snowy day. It was really to cold to ride anything but DarKastle (ironically, the warmest place in the park was a spot that's "frozen in time"), but I did take a turn on the Big Bad Wolf because (go figure) there was hardly any line. Did you know that following a snow shower, Wolfie is a water ride? The rubber cowling that hides the train's wheel collects snow, which eventually melts and drains out a small hole. Right into you face. Yes, each time the train rounded a curve, I was treated to 36-degree-minus-the-wind-chill factor shower, which resulted in a fine simulation of an ice-cream headache. Apollo's Chariot and Alpengeist weren't running because the temps were below 40 when I was there (I imagine it wamed up enough later in the day), but low temps didn't stop Wolfie or Nessie. Here's how it all looked. Hmm--looks like they're freezing their balls in Festa Italia. More to come. . . . and LeScoot. . . . the Battering Ram, . . . But there were hardy souls playing freeze-out on Escape from Pompei, . . . Hmm--looks like they're not expecting a throng of people wanting to ride the Roman Rapids. Apollo's Chariot was still closed. I tried riding the train around the park, but could only make it as far as Festa Italia (wasn't wearing enough layers, I guess). I wonder if these poor flowers survived? Here's the view from the parking-lot bridge looking toward Ireland (Griffon in the background). The England parking lot--the shelter on the left is for the Kingsmill Resort shuttle.

As a man, he's one ugly broad.

I imagine Pat Robertson will be ranting about this on the 700 Club this week and praying for the Lord to smite WDW with fire and brimstone (like he did when the the first Gay Days celebration was held there). Robertson really provides a strong argument for nuking Virginia Beach; then again, I say just ignore the attention-mongering little Troll for Jebus (as opposed to Jesus, who I actually respect).

^^A dark ride through the mind of Dale Gribble would be the scariest thing ever!

What amazes me about the The Simpsons is that the quality of the show has been kept so high for so many years (I never miss it). I think it's because there's actually been quite a bit of turnover in the writers over the years (Josh Weinstein, formerly of MST3K, and Conan O'Brien have written and produced this show in years past). As for a Simpsons park, land, or ride, hell yes, I'd go! A "live taping" of the Krusty the Clown Show could be the greatest theme-park show ever, and a dark ride through the Treehouse of Horror would rule. And don't forget "The Zoominator."

^^KD's security was taking line cutting pretty seriously during Fearfest last October--I saw quite a few people get booted (or forced to go back to the beginning of the line) at the mazes.

^^Your links to your pics appear to be bad. Bad, bad links! No treats for you tonight!

I hope little Cameron is home soon, Dave.

I love how the headline uses the phrase FRIGHTENING STATISTICS but the broadcast team just yucks it up through the story. This is why I haven't watched local TV news shows in years--what a bunch of idiots.

Hitting BGE on Friday the 14th should be OK (and you'll even have a light crowd for Howl-o-Scream). Sunday is your best bet for KD, but if you have to go on Saturday, I recommend that you get there a little before opening and ride Volcano first thing (lines for the woodies shouldn't be an issue). I imagine Hypersonic will still be around, too--if so, ride it as early as possible (that line gets long fast). ^^^And go Niners! (I'm a former Central Valley resident--strong 49er territory.)

Howl-o-Scream at BGE starts on September 14--another factor to keep in mind--and KD is only open on Saturdays and Sundays after Labor Day (BGE is also open on Fridays). And, yep, Saturdays are the busiest days at either park.

^Anaconda does have a split personality. The initial drop is great, and the first two inversions are OK. But that second half stinks. The first time I rode it, I came off all headachey and queasy. But when I last rode it in October '06, it wasn't as bad. Still, Anaconda's hardly a classic.

I have mixed feelings about this video. Steve Allen (for you kids, he hosted the Tonight Show back in the 1950s) used to do a routine where he would give "poetic" readings of rock-song lyrics without music, as in Be Bop a lula Be my baby. Be bop a lula Don't mean maybe. Thus, he showed that the lyrics were nonsense. However, he also missed the point that rock 'n' roll was also about "the beat." (Besides, what does 'fa la la la la" mean, anyway?) Morrisette has, indeed, done a good job of showing that this song's lyrics are crap. However, I don't think people listen to this tune for the words.