Identity Theft
It's a strange thing to me. Privacy experts tell you not to give out your home address online, for fear of identity theft or something worse, yet nearly every business puts their real-world location online. Why don't people steal those identities? I could assume the role of a Pet Smart if it'd help my credit. From '03-'04, I told people I was an Outback Steakhouse in Philly.
Orlando Magic
It truly is magic that I didn't turn into a fireball down I-95. But somehow I made it to Orlando without my car splitting in half like in the Herbie movies.
Blue Storm
Someone found a hidden narrator for a ten-year-old GameCube launch game Wave Race: Blue Storm.
80-90
Cedar Fair, in their most recent earnings forecast, suggested they would spend between $80 and $90 million on new projects. So far, these projects are three Planet Snoopys (Dorney Park, Valleyfair, Worlds of Fun) and four StratoSoars Wind Seekers (Cedar Point, King's Island, Canada's Wonderland, Knott's Berry Farm).
The pricetags for each breakdown like this:
So what's missing? Rumors point to a new water slide for Michigan's Adventure (couldn't be more than 2-3 million on that), and Starlight Experience for Carowinds (Cedar Point's was $1 million, couldn't see anything more than double that). I haven't heard of any plans for King's Dominion (just a guess, but a Starlight Experience could compete with Busch Garden's similar offering), California's Great America, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom, or the Soak Cities.
Part of this spending could be on 2012 attractions (Knott's, Canada's Wonderland, and Cedar Point would be due for a new coaster by then), but it would be a little out-of-character to see them spend 30-40 million on a number of projects that wouldn't pay off until the following year.
The pricetags for each breakdown like this:
- Dorney: $8 Million
- Valleyfair: $9 Million
- Worlds of Fun: $5 Million
- Cedar Point: $6 Million
- King's Island: $5 Million
- Canada's Wonderland: $5 Million
- Knott's Berry Farm: $5 Million
- Total (so far): $43 Million
So what's missing? Rumors point to a new water slide for Michigan's Adventure (couldn't be more than 2-3 million on that), and Starlight Experience for Carowinds (Cedar Point's was $1 million, couldn't see anything more than double that). I haven't heard of any plans for King's Dominion (just a guess, but a Starlight Experience could compete with Busch Garden's similar offering), California's Great America, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom, or the Soak Cities.
Part of this spending could be on 2012 attractions (Knott's, Canada's Wonderland, and Cedar Point would be due for a new coaster by then), but it would be a little out-of-character to see them spend 30-40 million on a number of projects that wouldn't pay off until the following year.
Cool Pictures
Too bad they didn't remove it, or else it would have been on RA.
Memento (2000)
I saw Memento again last night. It really holds up, even after ten years, as being Christopher Nolan's best work.* I'm hoping to see Inception soon, and watching his old stuff got me more hyped.
* I haven't seen Insomnia, so I can't pass judgement on that one.
* I haven't seen Insomnia, so I can't pass judgement on that one.
Independence Day
How I spent my summer vacation: The Carr's and I went to Stricker's Grove, a really nice small park in Ross, Ohio. The Tornado was great, and worth the drive! Then we went to King's Island, where the rides were mostly closed (what looked like a power failure), so we rode the train. Then we went to Cedar Point, and rode Millennium and Magnum.
Overall, a good ID4.
Overall, a good ID4.
Shoot the Ride
I rode Shoot the Rapids today, on it's first day open to the public (three times in just over an hour, thanks to the Single Rider line... although the real line was about that long as well). It's actually pretty fun, and has some decent theming. It did seem like more people were watching the ride from the deck/midway than actually riding it, though.
Kinda surprised Cedar Point didn't just go with another coaster with a water feature. That would have made for an easy 18th coaster. Whatever.
Kinda surprised Cedar Point didn't just go with another coaster with a water feature. That would have made for an easy 18th coaster. Whatever.
Slap Yo Mama
... is the name of a new restaurant that opened down the street. It's Sandusky soul food at it's finest.
Love/Hate
Gizmodo has a great article (err, comic?) on having a love/hate relationship with Apple. In a way, I would agree... Apple can both be forward thinking and forgetful at the same time. I'm in the same boat with Google: for all their talk of Android phones and Chrome web apps, why is something as simple as logging into their web services often gives me trouble?