ytterbiumanalyst

Anyway.... Anyone else ride some record holding coasters?

Salami Candy canes or candy J's?

There's not really a consensus here. Basically there are two schools of thought: 1) that we should argue about it as though it matters in any way whatsoever, and 2) that Topper Track coasters are lots of fun.

And yet...

Reaction: Even planing doesn't make it smooth. Floor 4: A potted plant and a giant number 4 on the wall.

^ Okay, I guess I confused the demolition as part of the construction. But yeah, they asked for a stadium only as an excuse to get out of St. Louis. And we drew up plans only to give a show of effort. Neither side wanted to continue having the team in St. Louis. The stadium plans are still alive for the riverfront, just for a different kind of football. Honestly I think attendance would be better for an MLS franchise than for an NFL team. St. Louis is just that sort of town.

Interesting topic. Though I haven't been to a huge number of parks, I have ridden three wooden coasters that still hold records: Longest - Beast, Kings Island Biggest drop - Goliath, Six Flags Great America Most inversions - Outlaw Run, Silver Dollar City Most awesomeness per foot of track - Outlaw Run, Silver Dollar City

Actually, Disney, HFE, or Sea World over either of them. Maputo or Lilongwe?

LOL! Don't know, though, I've never needed to make a claim yet. Can you locate Maputo on a map?

For the flights involving Denver, look into Frontier Airlines. They're based in Denver and they're one of the cheapest airlines out there. They have pretty low fares if you're flying out of a major airport. I'd suggest with your itinerary driving from Sandusky to Chicago, then flying out from there. I'm seeing on random weekdays in April (which is as far as they're booking right now) ORD-DEN and DEN-LAX for under $50 for each leg. Now, keep in mind that they're one of those piecemeal carriers that charge a fee for each piece of luggage and each service you need, so the final price isn't going to be that low. Depending on how much luggage you bring (and that may be a lot due to the length of this trip), the fees may be enough that it's better to go with one of the standard carriers like American that roll it all into one price. However, if you travel light and don't care about things like in-flight meals, Frontier could save you a lot of money.

I think for the purists it's sad because that's one more legacy landmark gone. It's a slippery slope I have fond memories of Huck Finn's Hideaway as a kid, but I've been waiting for them to do something with that space. It can't be used ever again in its current form, so literally anything is better than what it is now. I have no use for so-called "purists" who decry everything new as anathema. I've been going to SDC since the 80s, and I will gladly say the park is the best it has ever been--precisely because of their approach to rides. From the beginning they've invested in the most exciting, highest budget rides they could afford, going back to the train, the Flooded Mine, and Jim Owens' Float Trip. These were pretty kick-ass for the 60s, especially for a place that was still essentially a cave tour operator. So for all the "purists": Slippery slope is a logical fallacy, and Gatsby complex is a psychological disorder. Things are better now than they were 20 years ago, not the other way around. They're better because people had ideas and worked hard and made it better. Change is inevitable, and trying to stop change is a sign of mental illness. If you have some constructive input, please contribute. But if all you're going to do is whine about how everything went downhill after 1992, then get out of our way, because we're here to have a good time.

I think the itinerary is good, considering you've done Florida before. All the parks you mentioned are worthwhile. One-way rental cars are expensive, but so are multiple flights, so as long as you've budgeted correctly, should be a fun time. I'm sure a lot of enthusiasts will tell you to skip Denver, since Elitch Gardens isn't worth going out of your way, but I've been to Denver 3 times and never actually gone to Elitch Gardens, and I've had a wonderful time. I work in the travel industry, so in response to some concerns about Cuba: Don't worry about it. The embargo applies to U.S. citizens and nationals only. Previously American businesses were barred from doing business there, but recently some airlines have been given permission to fly to, but not within, Cuba, so it's much easier now. You can expect slow-moving queues for U.S. immigration, as we are still screening passengers coming from Cuba a bit more than we do other countries, but all you'll need to do is show your Australian passport, explain the purpose of your visit to Cuba and to the U.S. ("on holiday" is generally fine), and welcome back to the U.S.

Google

Yes, Lex Luthor was great. Do you enjoy jumping off cliffs?

Woah. That was a close one. That is NOT what I meant to write! Thanks for pointing that out. Corrected.

The feeling really was mutual. We made a good faith effort to draw up some plans for a new stadium, but the Rams were a huge flop from the city's perspective. The reason cities subsidize stadiums is that they attract visitors to the city who then stay in hotels and eat at restaurants (read: pay taxes to the city). The Rams never were a huge draw for visitors, so the city lost millions on the TransWorld Dome. The convention centre makes a fair profit, but the stadium never did. Hence why the offering from St. Louis was pretty weak--so much so that L.A. already began construction on the new stadium even before the Rams officially turned down St. Louis' offer. They were going to California and everyone knew it.

Silver Dollar City!

Target really, really wants us to go there today. They keep sending us emails about their GRATEST DEELZ EVAR! They don't seem to realize that I hate shopping and people and therefore will not be leaving the house today.

Yes! Is your road under construction currently?

Right now. When was the last time you read something on TPR?

Where?/10 sgouwgowgowbguwbgpbeiabgipaw

With the closure of Route 66 Carousel Park, my list has changed: 1. Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO - 45 minutes 2. Miner Mike's, Osage Beach, MO - 90 minutes 3. Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, MO - 2 hrs. 45 minutes

Yeah, that's why I like what Missouri's done. In KC, Kauffman and Arrowhead got some upgrades, but they're the same stadiums we've had since 1973. In STL, the Cardinals got a new stadium in 2006, replacing a really crappy 40-year-old stadium that never was any good. In exchange, we got a beautiful venue that pays homage to the golden age of baseball while also providing modern conveniences that people have come to expect. But when the Rams said they wanted a new place, when we had just given them one 20 years ago that's still perfectly fine, we said L.A. looks good.

X2

Vulcans deciding we weren't ready to join the Federation after all. So Spock...