moinab Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Ok, is it just me, or did the crack about having a "real job" sound like a swipe at his former "partner?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 ^Then again, when was the last time they updated their site, other than to restrict comments? EDIT: OK, they're up to 384 bucks now. LOL! Wow! That have DOUBLED their donations in the last 10 days! HOORAY!!! I find it funny that they are focusing on T-Shirts and asking for materials to be donated to get them printed up. I'm picturing they get boxes of old rags or heavily used shirts where they write in Sharpee "Save the Big Dipper" on them. In fact, we should do a photoshop contest for the T-Shirt design to help them out! Do they not even realize that if they REALLY needed to, they can go to a site like Zazzle or Cafe Press, and yes while the quality is usually crappier, those sites do all the leg work, and you can still get a $5 - $10 kick back per shirt by doing nothing but uploading a T-Shirt Design? Seriously, these people, sorry "Kat" (since there aren't "people" anymore on the project) is so inept and retarded that they don't even know how to use Google to make their jobs easier. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astroworldfan1 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 This is completely random, but I love how Kat says in the WKYC link a few pages back,"Some people met their significant others"." (Unless of course you divorced your significant other, then met your new on of the Big Dipper, again.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbeawannabe Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Two updates today. This past weekend was an exciting one for the Big Dipper project. I had the chance to visit the site in person for the first time and take stock of the coaster, the cars, and the current condition of everything involved. The good news is – everything is in fantastic shape. Due to diligent maintenance when the coaster was operating, the use of pressure-treated lumber in the 1980 rebuild, and perhaps just some luck, the structure of the Big Dipper appears to be in much the same shape it was when the coaster was operating. The control panel and electronics are completely in tact, albeit slightly dusty. The cars do show some slight weather wear, but it all seems to be easily repaired and the cars will soon be protected from the oncoming winter snow. The condition of the coaster and all of it’s components is a large package of good news for this project, as it will greatly reduce rehabilitation costs. There are areas that are becoming a bit overgrown, and my boyfriend and I will be getting to work soon on clearing out some of the trees and low-growing brush before it damages the structure. We are working on getting T-shirts printed so you can show your support of the Save the Big Dipper project. We’ll have more information on that as we get it. Also, for anyone who missed it, or doesn’t live in the Cleveland area, I did an interview with WKYC-TV news this past Sunday. You can read the article and watch the video here: http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=153937&catid=45 Pictures from my visit to the site will be posted as soon as possible. She has finally been there! Progress and forward movement! Well, 'akshully,' she's still 'retarted.' I have gotten information back from the engineering firm we have been discussing options with. Because a feasibility study and report have previously been compiled by this firm, we are able to get the results of this study for significantly less than it would cost us to bring them in and create a new report. The organization that previously hired them for the report has offered to release the results to us in exchange for a partial recovery of the costs they incurred in getting the study completed. It is my hope that the T-shirt sales campaign will raise more than enough money to cover the cost of purchasing the results of the report and bring us one giant step closer to the successful relocation of the Big Dipper. While we already have a design for the T-shirts, we do need assistance in getting them printed. Anyone that is willing and able to donate materials, please contact me at kjones@savethebigdipper.org so that we can get things moving. Every day brings us a little closer to the day the Dipper flies again! Engineering company? OMFG! She has been listening apparently. Only problem is that 98% of our advice flew over her head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 So I wonder if they walked the entire track and examined the wood, saw if the steel track was still nailed to the wood in all places, inspected to see if any of the layers of track were cracked or damaged in any way, etc.; or if they just stood there and looked at it, saw it was still standing, had no clue in what to look for as far as wooden coaster maintenance is concerned, and then for the purposes of positive press, deemed it could "still run today if it had cars (trains??) on the track." Puh-lease. Edit: I just thought of a good analogy. In 2002, Rampage didn't run for the entire season because Visionland was bankrupt and couldn't afford to run it. In 2003, from all accounts, Rampage was almost unrideable because of how rough it was after sitting dormant with no maintenance for a year. At that point, Rampage was 5 years old. Big Dipper is 85 years old and hasn't run in over 3 years. That's the equivalent of the grandparents in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory getting up out of bed and jumping around singing "I Got A Golden Ticket." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jray21 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) "my boyfriend and I will be getting to work soon on clearing out some of the trees and low-growing brush before it damages the structure." just when you thought she was being even a tiny bit professional. Ps. I anyone has any supplies they could donate like gloves, clippers, saws, ladders, dumpster, truck, jeans, shirts, hats, sock, shoes, and underwear, please let me know, and I will forward them to her. Edited October 20, 2010 by jray21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDcoasterMAN Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 ^ It totally sounds like she also trying to convince us and herself... heck, at KD, Hurler can get re-tracked and still be rough as hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) She has finally been there! Progress and forward movement! Engineering company? OMFG! She has been listening apparently. Only problem is that 98% of our advice flew over her head. I think you're completely missing something... Let me translate her recent updates: "I went to go look at the ride for the first time this weekend and to my un-trained eye it 'looks' like it's in good shape, but really, I wouldn't know what wood rot looks like if it was chewing on my vagina. An engineering study had been done prior to us buying the ride, sure, and we haven't actually done an UPDATED engineering study since then, because, you know, we only have three hundred and eighty four dollars, but we're hoping to raise enough money with really cool T-Shirts to buy the the results of that study, which according to my quick phone call with the company that did the study, said the ride was in 'good shape', I guess, but really, we don't have a clue. Don't we look cute sitting in the train?" Beyond that, I haven't seen ANYTHING from them that actually says "We have people working for us RIGHT NOW, that we have actually hired, and are currently in progress evaluating the ride as I write this, and everything we are saying is based on up-to-date studies that we have recently commissioned by professionals in the industry that know whey the are doing." Look, I got those same emails from the APEX owner Tom back in 2008 that every other roller coaster and theme park organization did when they were shopping the ride then. He sent me the results of evaluation that was done then. I bet the engineering study Kat is talking about is the same one that was conducted in July of 2008 where it said it would cost about $700,000 to remove the ride, and that was over 2 years ago, and that was with going with APEX to remove it at a "discounted rate." The whole thing seemed VERY sketchy then, but these guys actually found a sucker to buy the ride. Plain and simple, that's what it comes down to. But again, many of us only speak from our personal and professional experiences which of course seem to be ignored by the owners. --Robb Edited October 20, 2010 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdillaman Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Ok. I'll say it. I've been on the ride. It wasn't that good. Sure it was old and a "classic" but no where NEAR my top ten woodies. It just doesn't seem worth it to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
let1gre Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 In fact, we should do a photoshop contest for the T-Shirt design to help them out! I'm game. It'll sell like hotcakes, trust me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelTheFORCE Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 I love how they show pictures of Villain in the beginning of that video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 ^I think that was Raging Wolf Bobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 I love how they show pictures of Villain in the beginning of that video. I saw that too!!! I was like "Um, that ride in the video has already been demolished..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 "my boyfriend and I will be getting to work soon on clearing out some of the trees and low-growing brush before it damages the structure." . The things men do to get laid [...] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 I wonder what would happen if someone snuck on to the property and injured themselves on her ride? I doubt she's thought about (or could even afford) insurance for that matter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbeawannabe Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 I was being sarcastic.... Anyway...I see that we can comment because those two updates aren't locked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 I was being sarcastic.... No, I know...so was I! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hmm...it would appear that Prince Desmond has updated his Facebook and Twitter Pages: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-Big-Dipper/114237488636242 http://twitter.com/#!/savebigdipper I wonder what he could be up to? Hmm...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDcoasterMAN Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 ^ Maybe he's decided to convert it into an aquatrax with the laser tunnels! Just watched the news video made me gag... alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Anyone that is willing and able to donate materials, please contact me at kjones@savethebigdipper.org so that we can get things moving. um, sure i will get right on that, i would much rather donate to cff, thank you. Not enough money to even print t-shirts much less buy a hammer. I would bet she spent part of that 384 dollars on gas to "survey" the ride this past weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Prince Desmond has announced his Photoshop contest: http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=57204 I expect to see LOTS of "quality" entries!!! --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyD Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 The things men do to get laid [...] Sure, if she was hot then I would totally trim some foliage under a doomed coaster... but, you know, just why?! It is sad that this project is so misguided because it is always sad to see an old coaster be ripped down but it's just been one bad decision after another from the word go, it doesn't even seem to be a particularly popular ride to start with so why bother?! Also, I think TPR/Prince Desmond/Rob(b) and Wes should totally try and save Eagle Fortress, you can bet your life that they would get ten times the donations Save The Big Dipper have got in the same time span because 1) it's actually a well liked coaster that a lot of people would probably like to save and 2) they'd actually do some proper marketing/business plans/surveys/costings etc. so that it was actually a viable option people could invest in! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capitalize Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I have to say the level of vitriol sustained for this project is almost impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) Also, I think TPR/Prince Desmond/Rob(b) and Wes should totally try and save Eagle Fortress, you can bet your life that they would get ten times the donations Save The Big Dipper have got in the same time span because 1) it's actually a well liked coaster that a lot of people would probably like to save and 2) they'd actually do some proper marketing/business plans/surveys/costings etc. so that it was actually a viable option people could invest in! Matt I'm not sure if you are trying to make a joke or not. A major point here is that everything mechanical has a shelf life and is it not economically feasible to save every coaster and that includes Eagle's Fortress. Edited October 22, 2010 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OISU8P Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Everyone blames TPR for being rude and not helping out the cause (that is how I found this great site). I however have had a change in heart and want to really help Kat out now that Kiwi jumped ship. I have thought about the only success she can have with her current planning skills and budget. I thus decided to help here with a basic budget break down and plan. This is the only realistic scenario I can see coming with the current situation. I did not get into details, because I did not add a line item in for my services. You get what you pay for. Anyways, here we go…. Here is the budget: BASIC Budget BASIC Plan Directions: http://mapq.st/h/1-AKKdFRGJ There you go and sorry for the reality check here, that is the only logical outcome for a successful plan. Unless some Millionaire gets drunk and stumbles upon your site between now and June 30…. Just hope they are real drunk. EDIT Disclaimer: Please look past any spelling or grammar errors in budget and plan. I did this fast and in about 20 minutes. Also, please tell me if I am out of line. I am new and not sure where the line is yet. However, this is as bad as I get… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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