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Even without captions everything looks great. (I'll come back and read 'em later.) I'm surprised they got that 3-Point Basketball Challenge thing up so fast since the area was bare last weekend. Also, it's good to hear that X2 is running well. Smoother than Scream!? If that's the case, I may actually start riding again because I don't think Scream! is rough to begin with. Let's hope the new trains hold up. Eric

"the ride ops there are usually jokers with the drop countdown." (Homer) If I worked there I could have some fun with that...counting down in Roman numerals, Japanese, etc.---the same way I do when I'm taking pictures: "On the count of three...I...II...III..." Eric

"I just assumed all Vista users had switched back to XP by now" (ghost007jas) What's "Vista?" Eric "XP Pro User" L.

"Go green! They make solar panel roof tiles now, and you get tax breaks from the state to install them. That way, with solar power, the park saves money on elect costs, and could bring more a/c to the "q" lines. Excess power can even be sold back to the utility. Paper recycling of course. Zeroscaping for arid climates." (DBJ) Amen! Solar is the way to go, especially out here in "the desert" of Southern California. I've given thought to solar panels here at home. It is a tremendous expense at first, but it pays for itself over time. I've always thought that cities should go solar on traffic lights so they won't go out during a power failure. Solar = nearly free energy! For recycling, not only paper, but bottles and cans as well. However, as much of a recycling nut as I am (just last week I turned in a barrel of cans and got $27!), the problem with that at parks is that people will throw trash in them even if they're right next to a regular trash can. Just to be difficult, I guess. But some people are like that. We've seen 'em... Jay and Co. are already implementing some of what I'd do. But in addition, I'd like to see: StarFlyer up on the mountain. Japanese teppan style (think Benihana) restaurant to replace Laughing Dragon and become the premier dining spot in the park like it once was. A good wood coaster, but I think that's already coming at some point. Eric

^ And not very comfortable when you're traveling that slow facing downhill on a steep track. You could definitely get out and walk faster. Eric

This looks like a nice little park. The missing wheel on the locomotive reminds me of the missing wheels on the Big Thunder Mountain ones. I have no clue how that helps, but...whatever. Thanks for the Photo TR. Eric

^ Yes, while I was in the bathroom reading the paper... Would you like to meet the American Gladiators?

First, I don't mean to be nit picky, but the Orient Express takes guests up the east side of the mountain, while the old Dragon served the west side. Just gettin' ya oriented. Anyway, the Dragon, while convenient, was very slow (and stopped a lot), making it easy for guests to step out and walk alongside the cars---and believe me, many did! Those cars were connected to a chain that moved continously, and the cars themselves were boarded much like the Jet Stream boats as they moved around the turtables at each end. My guess is that now with Spin Out gone, they could combine that space with that of the old lower Dragon station and place a future attraction there. Same goes for the old Shangri-la station of Eagles Flight (the long-empty building just under Tatsu's "egg turn"). Eric

^ Expensive to install for sure, but possibly difficult to manage. Any number of times at the various Disney, Busch, and Universal parks I've been to, the wait times posted in front say one thing, but at the attraction itself it's a different story. We'll see what the future holds. Getting the SFTV system up and running is a good start, though. Eric

Damned nice shot of X2---maybe the best one I've seen of the entire ride. Eric

"There are still shady guests lurking around the park, I'd hate to see some of that awesome museum stuff vandalized or stolen." (PURE) Heck, there were shady people amongst us on Sunday. My camera doesn't have legs, y'know... As Robb said---and I was told---everything will be inside a case, and there will be a track lighting system installed to shine light right onto objects. Eric

I still think a decent size electronic LED sign somewhere in Six Flags Plaza would do the trick. And they could post wait times for major rides. Speaking of which, they could put small LED signs at each ride that would indicate the wait time. Those would replace the signs they have now, which are rarely correct anyway. If Disney can do that... Eric

^ Has issues with cookies. < Has issues with tailgaters. V Has issues with tissues!

I have yet to see myself in any pictures---thankfully. It's been a looonnnggg time since I went up in the Sky Tower at night. I'd forgotten how nice the view is after dark. Of course, the park has so many more coasters, and the surrounding area has developed so much more. Many things to see. Now with the museum up there, the Sky Tower has become a destination within SFMM itself. Eric

On National Pi Day, Marie Callendar's should give everyone a free pie to honor the occasion. Eric

"Some crazy lady asked about the candy vending machines and the souvenir cups." (RIP Psyclone) Well, that was the park's highest priority... Eric

It's NOT Elissa's birthday. Someone just started a thread about it as an early April Fools joke. Eric

Not that it would reduce or prevent the rocking of seats, but I wonder how X2 would have turned out had the track been a couple or three feet wider than standard Arrow track gauge (four feet, I think). I do know that B&M went to wider track on their Dive Coaster; I feel that Arrow should have done the same. Unless, of course, they did, and it's an optical illusion that it isn't wider. Eric

Today... I eated at McDonald's, I meeted my job recruiter, I drived my CR-V, I maded and eated my lunch, I surfted the Web, and I haved some nuts and chocolate. See? I've hased a good day. Eric

^ I've always wanted to drive one of those to see how it is on the road. I did drive an older Civic Hybrid with a manual transmission, but it drove like a regular Civic. A couple of weeks ago, I did drive a 2009 Corolla. Not bad, but not really that impressive. Eric

While we were standing in that area watching the new trains cycle, I noticed the jerky motions in the seats, but remembered that Tim Burkhart said something about having to tighten everything at some point. So, I figured that things were still a bit loose at that time. I believe (and I'm hoping) that the extra weight in the seats will dampen the jerkiness. The entire 4-D concept is great, but if I'm going to get bashed all over, then I'll stay off of this ride. Eric

Interesting note...Kristen's birthday is on March 3, yours is on March 14---eleven days later. Mine is August 1, and my mom's is on August 12---eleven days later. My due date was supposed to have been on her 23rd birthday, but I came early! My niece had her son (now four) on her 18th birthday in 2004. Funny how these things work out, huh? Eric

Interesting, too, is how Knott's used to pull in over four million a year, and now it's not even on the list. To me, that says something... Eric

Breakfast at McDonald's...the Number 5 (Sausage Biscuit) combo with a Diet Coke for $3.53. What a big spender I am! Eric

It's been a looonnnggg time. When was the last time you cleaned your computer keyboard?