haiderodes

CONGRATS! I totally agree with Julie. The earlier the better. You never know what sorts of things you might be dealing with as you reach the end of your college career. I did my spring advantage program the spring/summer of my sophomore year...it seemed to be the ideal timing because you arent so into your major that you can't miss a semester. Also, if you like it a lot, you might also be able to investigate extending your program, doing an advanced internship (now called professional internships), or perhaps even transferring schools and working down there on an ongoing basis. The possibilities are limitless, but it all comes down to timing.

Not only is he big, he's tall too. He's like 6'5"!

Sky Fun 1 is the only maker of the Skycoaster attraction. The style of the structure just varies depending on what the customer is asking for. They actually have a complete training program as well. For each attraction there must be at least one 'Site Controller' who has to go through specialized training to be granted a certification (yearly) to operate the attraction.

They are building one at The Mall at Millenia...or so I've heard.

MGM Grand Adventures! I spent one of the best summers of my high school career working there. I think about all the good and bad times that were had as I drive past its remnants everyday. Indoors recap Like everyone else said, when it was indoors it had a cheesy essence-of-space-mountain-but-not-really thing going on. It was located on 'New York Street' near the main park entry. Its entrance was something akin to a theatre entrance with a marquee on the side of the building. Once in the door you went down a plain hallway into a mirrored room with a large neon display on the ceiling (yes it was very half-assed). This room contained switchbacks which i never saw used. Then you went through a doorway into a darkened area and up a short set of stairs. Fake recordings could also be heard similar to those you hear on the real Space Mountains. By now you were at the station - dimly lit in blacklights with fake warning signs about space traveller safety and what not. Across from the loading zone was a large screen painted with something resembling a nebula. On the loading side there were no airgates so the crew had to un-hook each and every row to let you take a seat. There were 10 cars that fit two passengers each, restrained by a non-padded T-Bar restraint. Like Robb said the cars had high sides and really low seats (raised less than a foot off the floor). The ride... You started with a 90 degree left turn and immediately up the 35ft lift hill via a tire drive system. There were screens of white fiber optic lights on both sides to give the cheesy effect of outer space with a swirling light projection at the top of the lift. There was also a very destinctive sound effect as you ascended which was actually quite loud and could be heard pretty much throughout the queue. Off the lift you descended a shallow portion of track before turning 90 degrees to the left again and hitting the main drop. Suprisingly this drop, while short, did manage to produce air in the back. After this the ride was already halfway over. At the bottom of the drop you spun through a right handed upward then downward helix and then repeated the same on the left and a final left turn in the brakes. On the floor to the left of the brake run was a large model of the Las Vegas Strip as if you were coming in for a landing. Once past the model you entered another dark area where more sound effects and strobe lights flashed (this is where they took your picture). Then the train traveled over a small hump (for the exit walkway to pass under) and reintered the station. There was an on-ride photo station at the exit. So thats pretty much it. Nothing spectacular. But for me being 10 - 12 years old, it was something special for us kids that lived in Vegas and really didnt have anything for us. By the time I got a job there the park had been remodeled and the coaster moved. One interesting note is that when they first moved it, they kept its original layout (minus the random camelhump between the brakes and station.) It was a good few months before they added the second half of the ride. Too bad they didnt change the trains in the expansion - would have made it better. But he expansion did allow them to run two trains as they now effectively had a midcourse braek with the second, taller 70ft lift.

Elephant Cock! That makes me want to go ride a zipline right now!

The SFMM staff makes the staff of the Circus Circus Adventuredome look good...and that's sad. You know I had been wondering if Tatsu would have problems with the mountain landscape. The first time I saw it in person, I was suprised how they left that hill next to the queue...its such a steep cliff in comparison to how it was before. Even a few months later the foliage was still having a hard time growing in and thats what really holds the dirt together. I just think overall they did a good job with the ride, but I think they could have done a little better at incorporating into the landscape. There's so much foliage gone compared to before! I liked the Freefall video. The girl saying "I'm not sure" had me dying laughing! And yes, it is good to have it back.

So I went to see this film on Sunday night. Its only playing at one theatre locally so that was kind of a hassle. Anyways, it was an ok movie. Its not what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to end up more documentary type but instead was more drama. It didnt seem like a finished movie. I think there should have been an extra 20 minutes.

Ooh Freefall...oh how I miss thee! I'm so jealous.

yes...definately! so do you loooook like a man?

I totally agree with you Jahan. I visited SFMM twice this year, once in May the week Tatsu opened and once at the end of September. It was definately night and day.

Knott's Berry Farm... I went a few times when I was really young and then again when i was in 8th grade (1997). Back then it was a pretty fun place, definately not Disneyland and not SFMM. I went again this past May and I was let down. They have a lot of new stuff, but the whole feeling of the place has changed so much. Lots of hot concrete and a lot of what I remembered from my early vists was gone. I talked to a worker at one of the Camp Snoopy shops (a young girl, about my age). She was talking about how she used to always visit the park as a kid and how its changed so much that its just not the same and she doesnt really care to hang out there anymore (not sure if it was work related or not). But at least i knew I wasnt alone. Good thing I had cheap $25 tickets, otherwise I would have felt ripped off.

I've always loved My Chemical Romance. And Panic. But unlike most Panic fans, I know all their songs. Whereas most people only know Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off and But its Better if you do. And I've listended to them since HFestival and small basement shows thruout DC metro area. Its been good and bad seeing them become popular due to MTV. Pretty much, DEATH to MTV. They ruin good bands. It's mainly Panics (and Fall Out Boys, which I've also listened to before they were signed) girly "OMGZ I'M PANICS BIGGEST FAN CUZ I ONLY NO 3 OF THUR SONGZZZZ!!!111!!" that I hate. oh ya! well they are from vegas and i remember them before they even named themselves Panic! so there... lol...j/k! but i like em, i just wish they'd play more than i write sins not tradgedies on our local radio...

There's a lot of stuff I would like to see either updated or return to its former glory, but the stuff I could really live without are: - sounds dangerous...which should be called "sounds crappy" but with another choice word. if you take the headphones off it becomes the best place to take a nap. so maybe it should just be a napping place...kinda like the laughing place, but ....eh ya you get the idea. - star tours...it still gives a rough and tumble ride in the back but theres not much going for it outside of star wars weekends. - backlot tour...theres nothing "backlot" about the studios anymore. wow three of mine are found at a single park...who would have thought! although the number one disney ride at any park i would like to see gone is heimlich's chew chew train at DCA...i still cant believe we waited 15 minutes for that thing!

it takes 25 minutes to go 9 miles in the morning and 45 to go that same distance when i get off. its all because i work on the "fabulous las vegas strip" which is virtually traffic-free in the morning (aside from construction), but at night its worse.

That is amazing about your phone. I broke mine just walking into Knott's. It didn't even fall.

no have you done the deed today?

It has nothing to do with Log Jammer itself. The ride was open last Sunday when I was there.

time for another photo.

I like "Kentucky", they crack me up. They come out of each leg looking like refugees.

I was so NOT expecting that.

AFTERMATH? A bit extreme no? They had this all over the television the night it happened. First the scrolling banner, then the breaking news reports. Stuff rarely happens here in Vegas, so they get all excited when the littlest thing does. Not to minimize this fire, but it wasn't anywhere near the hotel tower or casino...they didnt even evacuate. I assume the 3 alarms were rang because it had been really windy that day and they wanted to make sure it didnt spread. They had already closed the Strip in front of the Venetian earlier in the day when the Blue Man Group's sign blew off.

For me at least, Knotts was great in the late 80's to early 90's. My trips down to the park always struck a cord with me. It was a different place, yes there were more thrills than Disney, but it wasnt the whole focus. This whole concrete jungle thing they have going on now, isn't doing it for me. Back in May I visited the park for the first time since 1997 and I was dissapointed. Yes there are new thrills, but the charm was missing...it seemed sooo...corporate. I think their most promising venture would be to bring back what charm they had. That mixed with the newer thrilling attractions would be a home run. Oh ya...SFMM does have Chicken Dinners (well they used to), granted they arent served in a sit down full service restaurant, but I think Chicken Plantation in Six Flags Plaza is still good food.

It too suprised me that they still had the MCBR trimming the speed of the car...it came almost to a complete stop! I also thought it was kinda funny how it engages the lift and just stops for a second.

Ya I totally can't wait for this. I'm trying to make the trip down next month to check it. I do wonder though, if the backlot is just gonna be a large scarezone or will there be a particular maze or path.