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You don't own cats...they own you. Have you ever eaten at the same restaurant for two consecutive meals?

If someone tries to rob you at an ATM and demand that you withdraw money from your account, you can enter your PIN backwards and still get the cash. (Example: Your PIN is 1234, you enter 4321.) But doing that also alerts the local police---so I've been told by a reliable person. Eric

I'm no engineer, but I can offer a little explanation. Coasters, being mechanical devices, have parts that wear, get out of proper alignment, or simply break. Wooden track gets worn and broken fairly easily---so much so that wooden coasters are usually "walked" each morning before opening to assure that any broken pieces are replaced or tightened. Coaster trains also have parts that wear or break, or get out of adjustment. That's the short answer. Hope I've helped even a little. Eric

^ Even though Diana and I were just at SFMM yesterday, we'll be there on September 11. I have not ridden a Tony Hawk coaster as of yet, so I can't comment on their capacity or quality of ride experience. But something like that is what SFMM needs to fill in the gap between XTREME!!1!! and kiddie, especially if they're trying to keep the family image going. This "exchanging of gifts" between parks has me curious. If SFMM gets something from another park, what will they give up? I can't see it being a coaster because management has already stated that SFMM is going to get the coaster record back (that is, number of coasters in one park). Next year's coaster will be No. 17, tying them with Cedar Point. I got it! Another park can have Metro...we're not using it! Eric

I was at SFMM today, and no one in our group wanted to ride it, even with a barely minimal wait. Honestly, it's really sad that what was once such a great ride is no more than an overgrown kiddie coaster. And a rough one at that. Regarding today's visit to the park, waits were all but non-existent, except for X2, which was only running one train. We got two rides on Terminator within ten minutes, about a three-train wait on Goliath, and a two-train wait on Scream! We didn't spend much time there, but it was nice getting to see the brother-in-law and niece. Eric

Log Jammer and Jet Stream are both Arrow flumes. Log Jammer is a traditional one, while Jet Stream is a Hydro Flume. Log Jammer's "boats" are log shaped, while Jet Stream's "boats" are boat shaped. I hope I've answered your questions. Eric

^ You've just spelled out why we buy cars from across the OTHER ocean at our house. True, Audis, VWs, and BMWs have been incredibly reliable for some people, but most people I've known with them always have electrical problems at some point. Not sure why that is, but...it is. Eric

^ Wish I could have seen that. But, unless something comes up, I'm more than likely going out there tomorrow with Diana and meet up with brother-in-law and his daughter. I hope the crowds tomorrow are as dead as has been reported this week. Eric

I've had a few like that, but it's been awhile. Do you ride an elevator and/or escalator to get to work or school?

Remember, too, that Gilroy Gardens is in that general area, too. Not an all day park, but it's pretty and worth at least stopping by. But I also recommend the aquarium and the boardwalk. Eric

You didn't mention the leather belt that drives the lift chain! It's right near where you're standing. (I know that because I took a tour back in 1999 of the Giant Dipper.) Eric

"...after they ride that [X2], they just move counterclockwise in the direction of Tatsu." (GivenOneChance) If memory serves, Tatsu is clockwise from X2. Just for the sake of orientation. At this time, I'm planning to be at SFMM on Friday with Diana and her cousin and uncle. Eric

I think what each Six Flags park gets may depend in part on the area they're in, park attendance, etc. Eric

^ That's partly why Knott's had so much trouble competing under the Knott family ownership. They just didn't have the capital to keep up with Disney and Six Flags. Even now under Cedar Fair, the park has had to add coaster after coaster. Now, of course, being so spread out and so populated, the Los Angeles area can support multiple parks. But if another one came in, I think it'd have a tough time. Eric

^ To me a "drop" is a section of track whose end is lower than its beginning. Gravity causes a coaster car/train to get from the higher end to the lower one. Maybe now we should define "steep." Eric

Could you see these characters being adapted for It's a Small World like the regular Disney characters were? Eric

^ I'm surprised that SFMM hasn't put a net under Tatsu's lift, being that it goes right over the midway. Maybe at some point they will. I've heard tales of people being hit by "unwanted moisture" as they pass by there. If I see a train near the top, I wait for it to drop off before I proceed. Manta's trains are themed very nicely, and I like the spraying water effects. SeaWorld Orlando looks like a nice park. I've been past it on previous visits to Florida, but didn't stop in. Next time, I'll make a point of it. Eric

^ Proof that by acquiring this property, Disney is not losing its Marvels... Eric

Actually, wouldn't the world's "steepest" coaster be the Screamin' Squirrel from S&S? In theory, it has a 180-degree drop because it goes right back under itself. On the other hand, though, it's not a "drop" per se. Eric

Very interesting park. That "four circle" coaster looks almost like the Chinese Arrow rip-off. The Shoot-the-Chutes ride looked like it had an interesting layout---a 90-degree turn between the lift and the drop instead of the usual 180. Makes you wonder what the rest of the layout is like. It reminds me of the one at BGA in Florida, which is a big L-shaped ride as opposed to the usual oval. Eric

^ Sorry to hear about that. If there's any way possible, go see your grandpa and say your goodbyes to him. You will never regret doing that, and your memories of him will be of the happier times. Believe me. Eric

^ I've never had to deal with that, but it is hard when your mom and/or dad has married someone else and you have to try and fit in somewhere. Ranting is normal under what may be a very trying time for you. Eric

The short answer to the question of Six Flags building a new park from the ground up: no. Eric

^ It's been so long since that effect was working during any of my rides on X2. Not that I ride it that much, but enough to have seen it more often than I have. Sometimes I think that a tunnel at the bottom of the first raven turn---mist filled or with strobe lights---would be a nice thing. They were going to add tunnels on X2 (remember that?), but I think those fabric tunnels wouldn't have been that good. Eric

^ Good for you! I can barely run ONE mile... I had lunch today at Topper's Pizza with Diana. We don't do lunch that often anymore, so it's really a treat. Eric