The Great Zo

OK, from Wednesday the 20th... I present sfog Just a little bit hazy! SFOG's down there somewhere... Same picture + a dose of Photoshop = Six Flags Over Georgia. (meteorologist's note: it wasn't actually fog, just low ceilings)

Commercial plane. Just happened to be in the right spot on descent into Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) where I was changing planes. I have one more I'll post later tonight from my way back to Ohio a few days later, but it's totally shrouded in fog and will be worth more of a laugh than anything else . Glad the pictures were of some value here!

SFOG was near my flight path yesterday, so... Wide View 1 Wide View 2 Closer View 1 Closer View 2

That shot is a combination of brilliant composition and great atmospheric effects. One of my favorites in this thread for sure.

Yup -- and since it's short, it's just begging for some ERT...

Another article about the planned opening: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130122/NEWS/301230046

If you want a good laugh, check out Arthur Frommer's blog post about the RFID wristbands. Apparently, the wristbands are actually high-tech mind control devices that talk, or something along those lines...

I'm expecting that the remaining schedule will be completely revised, so you may yet find yourself with options for games you'd like to attend. However, since it's going to be all in-conference, they won't be playing the Penguins. And thank goodness, because those games when all the Pittsburgh fans fill Nationwide make me sick! There's also rumors that Center Ice could be offered free for the entirety of the partial season, which would be nice. I usually attend a few games a year in Columbus, though I'm doubting I'll go to more than one, maybe two this year.

In case any of our hockey fans haven't completely given up on the NHL -- looks like a tentative CBA deal has been reached, after a marathon 16-hour bargaining session. Fuel for everyone who said "lock them in a room and don't let 'em out until it's done!" Seems like that's what happened tonight.

On a flight out of Orlando in 2009, I passed north of WDW -- too far away for me to get any great shots (especially with my lousy old camera), but I managed a couple. Magic Kingdom area. Epcot area.

I've barely even started thinking about out-of-USA travel. Pun intended, there's a whole world of possibilities. Domestically, a few places I'd like to go, and hopefully within the next 5-ish years... 1) Florida Keys / Dry Tortugas National Park 2) Katahdin (highest mountain in Maine) 3) New Orleans / southern Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (see how close I can get to the end of the Mississippi) 4) Anywhere west of the 100th Meridian

Agreed. I've never had such a problem on a roller coaster, but a ride on The Crypt at Kings Island (Top Spin, formerly Tomb Raider) was one of the most painful amusement park rides I've ever had. There was an oft-repeated, very slow flipping motion with the riders' heads pointing straight down -- it was quite the unpleasant rush of blood to the head.

The first legit coaster I ever rode was Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. I was 9, and thought I was brave enough for the back row. I may have miscalculated. The air time on the first drop was a remarkably startling experience. (Air time on Iron Dragon? Huh? ) (On the same day, I waited nearly two and a half hours in the Berenstain Bears playground for my parents to get through the Raptor line.)

One more, from Cedar Point's Twitter account today:

I drive by The Beach once a week. They've definitely been doing some work there, though it's hard to tell how much from the road (at least some painting). They put up the "Santa and reindeer" lights on top of the park sign, even though their holiday events are obviously not occurring this year. They were illuminated as I passed by at night, but there wasn't a single light on anywhere else in the park.

There's also no "good guys" to rally around this time -- everyone's pretty sick of the antics of both sides of the labor dispute. Donald Fehr's fake-optimism press conference shenanigans yesterday have been almost universally derided, and have caused a lot of people to lose trust in the players as good-faith negotiators. As for the NHL's side, well, find me a hockey fan who likes Gary Bettman and I'll find you the winners of the 04-05 Stanley Cup. One truth: as long as there is drama, .

There's a GM dealership on Michigan state route 24 near the Palace of Auburn Hills (about 30 miles north of Detroit) with an arched driveway decoration that sure looks to me like a piece of coaster track. Google Street View link: http://goo.gl/maps/j88ht Just an entryway to most people -- I see an airtime hill instead.

My family did a real smart thing in June -- got the younger cousins hooked on the flying carpets instead! Walk-ons and re-rides until they were all spun out.

It's going to be nice to have an open view to the south on a tall coaster. Of course, you'll have maybe 4 or 5 seconds at the crest of the lift hill to enjoy it, before suddenly things start turning sideways...

Rush in Columbus OH (Nationwide Arena) on September 20. I was very pleasantly surprised by their latest album, and it translated quite well in concert. Even more surprised by the 80s-heavy setlist, but what a way to mix things up! Quite a few underappreciated gems I'd never seen played before.

I've always liked the beach area at Cedar Point, but the last time I visited in '08, I exited the west (marina) gate and went out on the docks past Famous Dave's. Very few people out there, some great views of the park (MF especially), and nice to be on the water too. Marina docks. MF from the docks.

The video makes it seem like there's a lot of driving around and getting PA announcements about the tests that are being done on your car (especially in the first half of the ride), so I share that concern. Using the old hot/cold rooms as an example -- yes, dated as they were (especially in design), that was something you could feel. I'm sure there's probably more interaction than what was just evident in the video, though. I want to feel like I'm in a car being tested, not just be told about it by a pleasant, detached announcer. The visuals are outstanding. The tunnel effect at the launch and the lightning bolt stood out.

The view from I-71 is sure different now! I only made it to Son of Beast after the removal of the loop. Over the course of two visits, I rode it 3 or 4 times, and the spine-jackhammering just about did me in. I guess I'm happy I at least got that experience, though. That way, when people at work asked me "they're taking it down? was it really that bad?" ... I know how to answer. Will be anxiously awaiting its replacement. KI could use something intense.

Scorpion @ BGT, some time in the late 90s. (picture from my return visit in 2011) ... followed by Python, Kumba, and Montu, all in the same day. That might have been the day I realized I loved roller coasters.