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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/29/2021 in Posts

  1. I never paid my kids an allowance. When my oldest son asked for one, I told him he was already getting an allowance. We sat down and I listed all the bills for the house including the mortgage and food costs and divided the number by 5 and (we had 3 kids at home at the time) and told him that WAS his allowance. I also told him how much an apartment would cost him, etc. and he was convinced he as getting a much better deal at home even without an allowance
    3 points
  2. Opened the webcam up before bed and saw this happening.
    2 points
  3. Orion costed $30 million lol. It's anything but a filler.
    2 points
  4. While we're on the subject I also believe waiters and waitresses should get the $15 minimum wage as opposed to relying on 'Tips' to make up the difference. If a server is doing a poor job, they should be trained or let go. Managers should manage and not rely on customers to do employee evaluations on a continual basis. A raise in the minimum wage benefits EVERYONE. More tax revenue as well as more money in the economy. Someone making $15 is more likely to work harder than someone making $8. They also have less worries about paying rent, etc. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2021/02/25/496355/small-businesses-get-boost-15-minimum-wage/ And no, putting the minimum wage at $15 would NOT raise the price of a Taco Bell Burrito to $38. (yes, that is out there) https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/01/21/biden-raise-minimum-wage-affects-myth-taco-bell-burrito/4245883001/ OK, off my soap box. In the end we're all in this together. If it means keeping a roof over someone's head and feeding their child, I'd gladly pay a little more. As the good book says "do unto other's as you would have them do unto you".
    2 points
  5. The comparison shouldn't be with inflation, rather the cost of living. How much does that minimum wage get you in today's dollars. True the minimum wage was $1 in 1960 with in today's dollars is $9.62 (Still above the current minimum wage) but the median value of a single-family home was $11,900 (equivalent to $104,346 in today's dollars). A gallon of gas was 31 cents. In 2009 (last time the federal minimum wage was raised, it's been a record 12 years) the minimum wage was raised to $6.55 an hour. The median price of a newly constructed home was $214,300 and a gallon of gas was $2.35. Basically the price of the house adjusted for inflation has more than doubled ($104,346 vs $214,300) while the minimum wage adjusted for inflation went from $9.62 to $6.55. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-us-minimum-wage-and-its-value-has-changed-over-time#2008-2009-22 And to be more precise wouldn't it be nice if what you got paid to do kept up with what you did? The minimum wage is WAY behind in productivity. If it tracked with productivity the minimum wage would be $25 (that's where the $25 is coming from). Granted I think that is way to high, but $15 is a nice compromise. https://cepr.net/this-is-what-minimum-wage-would-be-if-it-kept-pace-with-productivity/ Companies like Wal Mart are making out at the taxpayer's expense. They pay workers sub par wages and sometimes only part time (to avoid having to supply insurance) and these WORKING people still get government subsidies paid for by our tax dollars. I think that if subsidies were taken away for ANYONE who had a job it would require companies to hire full rather than part time. Instead of hiring 2 part time people making a combined $15 and hour, they would hire one at $15 and hour and the other would be on subsidies. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2017/04/08/walmart-tax-every-american-taxpayer-pays/100188002/
    2 points
  6. I have two teenagers, and the oldest is trying to tell me I should pay her more to mow the front yard, but the youngest is fine with my current offer. So the older one finds me very frustrating, but the other is happy as can be if he can get the job. They have not yet figured out how to unionize, at which point they'd just get fired, and I'll mow the lawn myself...lol. Certainly neither one needs a "living wage"...they're just kids. But they are able to enter the workforce and learn what it means to work.
    2 points
  7. Sorry I couldn`t make the recording of this podcast. My wife gave birth to our third child, a healthy baby girl on Sunday, and we were just getting home from the hospital when this was recorded. We already have the next episode recorded, with another special guest, and former park employee. It was a fun interview. Stay tuned for the release of that episode. As always, if you have thoughts on subjects or special guests for future episodes, please let us know!
    2 points
  8. This news totally made my day. It's going to make my trip to KI and Cedar Point in June even better not having to cover my face. It's nice to see common sense being used here.
    2 points
  9. We will use this thread to discuss and review food and beverage for 2021! Kings Island is rolling out new spicy chicken sandwich at Chicken Shack. More details on the KIBlog. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2021/april/kings-island-rolling-out-new-spicy-chicken-sandwich-at-chicken-shack
    1 point
  10. Which park do you think is building this? http://amusementtoday.com/2021/04/gerstlauer-to-build-one-of-a-kind-record-breaking-roller-coaster-in-the-united-states/
    1 point
  11. If you don't know what Scandia Screamer is, it is E&F Miler's largest coaster and was very well received for its drops and airtime. It was closed down with it's park, Scandia, and people were very upset about it. We just got news that a new park in Texas called Trader's Village has bought Scandia Screamer as it's main attraction and it will be renamed Prairie Screamer! Here is the video for more info:
    1 point
  12. I hope they have The Racer’s fourth hill lit up again this year. They added lighting to it in 2019 and it looked really nice, since that hill is the backdrop to Kings Mills Antique Autos! As I recall, it was on-and-off throughout the 2019 season, and I didn’t see it or photos of it lit up in 2020 at all. I don’t know if they removed it or if the lights burned out and they just never replaced it, but it looked really good. It was synced with the lighting package on the lift hill.
    1 point
  13. ^^Canada's Wonderland is in a position where the Ontario government is basically playing around with them pretending that amusement parks are dangerous and super spreaders while all evidence and data prove otherwise. Plus, the Reds opening day crowd at the DORA downtown that caused all these alarms to sound by Dewine and people caused absolutely no outbreak traced back to it: https://www.wcpo.com/news/coronavirus/hamilton-county-health-leaders-saw-no-increases-in-covid-19-cases-since-dora-launch
    1 point
  14. Won't be hard because it typically won't be enforced.
    1 point
  15. Actually a single income households with only the husband working was at 38% in 1965, in 2010 it was still at 21%. https://taxfoundation.org/america-has-become-nation-dual-income-working-couples/
    1 point
  16. I believe this comes from a good place. I don't want to see people out on the street either. However, here are some points to consider in addition to the one I raised earlier. 1. How do you arrive at $15? Why not $20 or $25? If it's the arbitrary living wage, how do you determine that amount? Different people and households have different needs and spending habits. 2. Realize that whatever increase in low end pay will undoubtedly result in more expensive labor at middle and high income positions. If I'm working a somewhat "skilled" job at $16 an hour and minimum wage shoots up to $15 will I still be happy at $16? Of course not! I would expect my wage to increase relative to minimum wage. I would need to make $21 or so to maintain my relative level of pay. To pay for all of this the value of the dollar is cheapened through inflation. Any wage bump for the minimum wage worker (assuming his job is not eliminated) is just a shell game that will only raise his real pay (buying power) in the very short term. After that, it is an increase in name only because his buying power is the same relativeto others and the new value of the dollar. It holds true whether the minimum wage is raised or not that your work value whether $10 an hour or $100 is directly tied to what someone is willing to pay me which is itself determined by the value I bring to the business. 3. Regarding your point about minimum wage not keeping up with inflation. Minimum wage has kept somewhat close to inflation since 1960. Although the wages have not kept up completely this holds true for wages in general outside of top earners. https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/items/1960-united-states-minimum-wage I don't believe anyone ever made it as a sole breadwinner working a minimum wage job 40 hours a week without assistance. I believe this is a fairly new belief that's caught on in recent years. 4. For heads of household who's only income is through a minimum wage job, taxpayers pick up the slack. Medicaid, Food Stamps, the Earned Income tax credit, and other programs provide resources to people who earn below a certain level. These programs together increase (in free resources, reduced costs, and in tax breaks) what a minimum wage worker receives day to day far beyond the dollar amount on their paycheck.
    1 point
  17. Everyone is worth $15 per hour. While you may take a second job many will give up their second job since they won't have to work two jobs. Given employment needs I don't see a job shortage. To answer you question, no I don't see a problem here.
    1 point
  18. ^The issue with this is some jobs do not return 15 dollars an hour in value. If $15 is mandated you will simply see less employees to make up the difference. The game will be changed to keep the doors open on a given business. This is part of the reason I don't like u-scan at Kroger or touchscreen ordering at McDonald's. I think that a job to get started is better than no job at all.
    1 point
  19. My idea of a minimum wage should be a wage you can live off of and only work 1 full time job to do it. It should also be tied to inflation. Shouldn't matter where you work. Tying people's alleged value to where they work needs to be a concept that needs to be reframed. The concept of work and wages needs to be drastically changed. Also, countries with higher minimum wages aren't devoid of small businesses. This'll be the last post I make on the matter to not get too political and whatnot.
    1 point
  20. ^The countries with $15 minimum wage and higher would like to disagree. They make it work fine, can't see why the US can't. There's also little if any correlation between prices of things and higher minimum wages.
    1 point
  21. I will politely disagree. $15 minimum wage will kill small business, and the cost of everything will quadruple. Higher wages, means higher prices. Something needs to change, but doubling the minimum wage is not the answer, IMO. If you think it is hard to live on $7.25, $10, or maybe even $12 an hour now, that will be multiplied to the struggle when workforces are forced to pay $15 an hour. Many that are making less, will not get much a=of a raise, and those at $15 will probably stay there. So when cost of living skyrockets, the ones making minimum wage will be the ones who suffer. If you think it is bad now, it will only be worse. I would suggest, let it be known that I am not an expert by any means, finding a way to utilize a percentage for every business to be regulated by a percentage. If the top dog (CEO) makes so much, then the lowest man on the wages should be within maybe 60% of that? Spread the money back through each business so it can be spent elsewhere. And just so you know, the percentage was a guess, I have no idea what that number should be. My 2 cents. Oldschool75, I agree there needs a change, but I don't think it is in minimum wage, with all due respect.
    1 point
  22. Yes! The unemployment compensation is way, way out of hand at the moment. So many people have no incentive to work right now, it's ridiculous. It was fine for a time, but time to send folks back into the workforce.
    1 point
  23. If one does not have to wear a mask how do you wear one improperly? You also forget many of us have been vaccinated. Also i read somewhere that the science proves that you need to be standing within 6 feet of someone for x amount of minutes in order to really catch the virus outdoors. So just walking by someone on the midway should be safe.
    1 point
  24. This 100%. I was down in Pigeon Forge last week. Their mask mandate expired on April 15, and very few of the businesses decided to keep their mask protocols in place there. Walking into an establishment with no mask requirement for the first time in ages was one of the most refreshing things I've done in years. The difference in mood at the park will be palpable, and it will be MUCH more fun this year than most can imagine. I just hope that employees aren't required to masks so that everyone can breathe freely!
    1 point
  25. A little disappointed that they announced that they initially won’t do indoor shows, but other than that I’m very very happy with the changes. I went to Dollywood yesterday and they have similar protocols. It was so freeing to not wear a mask on the midways.
    1 point
  26. This is definitely great news. We have both been vaccinated and I've been counting down the days until the season pass days. Just not sure if we'll wear masks in line or if we will discard them. All the "science" is pointing to minimal risk, as others have said, for outside venues and thus I will probably keep the mask in my pocket. I'm more excited about full train operations. The coasters can get back to cranking people through and lines will be more normal. Less than two weeks to go!!
    1 point
  27. Dr. Fauci said yesterday that the risk from outdoor spread is "miniscule". I'm glad Cedar Fair is following the science. This is great news.
    1 point
  28. The mere fact that the name "Gerstlauer" is continually mispronounced "GerTslauer" in that video undermines any potential credibility IMO. ;-)
    1 point
  29. 1 point
  30. I agree that it is probably Cedar Point. An inversion breaking (even if just North America) makes sense there. An outside chance for California's Great America since they never got their hyper. Carowinds and Wonderland just got coasters in 19, we got Orion last year, and Dominion is getting the FreeFly. WOF wouldn't make sense to put a record breaker in and Dorney had those plans for the Gravity Group woodie. The Dollywood clearing area is fairly level where the presumed next coaster would be and I think you'll see Dollywood go with something high capacity and relatively family friendly after the problems they have had with Lightning Rod. I do think Dollywood will add a coaster next year but I think it will either be a B&M hyper or giga or a Mack spinner like Time Traveler.
    1 point
  31. Keep dreaming man, last huge addition Michigan’s Adventure got was an slc and their last addition was a kids section retheme. Not trying to sound rude or anything, but the only way that MI will get a new coaster is if they go the family run park route.
    1 point
  32. Hmm- if I had to guess, I would say...Cedar Point. They were rumored to get a new coaster in 2021, but it was supposedly delayed due to COVID, and this thing is supposed to be big and break records- Cedar Point loves that stuff. HangTime at Knott's Berry Farm was apparently very well received in 2018, so it is possible that Cedar Fair now wants a even bigger and badder version for their flagship park. Sorta repeating what happened with Xcelerator and Top Thrill Dragster, in a way. As for what record I expect to be broken: # of inversions, most likely. We are probably looking at a ride with 14+. As for where in the park I'd see this, survey markers were seen around the Antique Cars in Frontier Town in 2020. Hence the "space" challenge that was mentioned by Gerstlauer. Though if this new ride is in Frontier Town, that really isn't gonna help draw the crowds away from Maverick and Steel Vengeance since the new ride will be in the same section as them, so now there will be 3 rides with crazy long lines (unless the Gerstlauer ends up having great capacity but even then it probably will have long lines) in Frontier Town. Plus, a big new ride at Cedar Point? That would get Gerstlauer noticed. If not Cedar Fair, I could see Sea World possibly adding this to one of their parks since they are on a coaster-buying spree. Or maybe Herschend for Dollywood or Silver Dollar City. I don't see Six Flags buying such a large and expensive coaster, same goes for most of the small non chain parks as well. Very slim chance this goes to KI- I don't see us getting anything until 2023 at earliest. If this does end up going to KI this soon somehow, then it is likely gonna be The Vortex replacement- though opening a new coaster on a anniversary year seems unlikely, especially since CP didn't do that for their 150th.
    1 point
  33. This is awesome news! I can't wait to float lazily in the river. As for the masks, A combination of UV rays and chlorine should suffice for protection. Everyone is aware of the risk (though I believe it to be way less than many would have us think). Make your own decision. I wear a mask where it is required but I feel no less safe when I've been at bars, casinos, and resorts that have not required it. Before they were vaxxed i always got tested before seeing my parents or grandma, but I think our health should be our own perogative at this point rather than never ending mandates. I am no doctor or expert though.
    1 point
  34. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the chlorine water was supposed to kill Covid?
    1 point
  35. That's a plan I'd sign up for!
    1 point
  36. That’s exactly the problem, “socially distant.” Even on the midway it is difficult to have 6 feet gaps between individuals and groups. You have folks that can’t wear a mask properly, now asking them to stay 6 feet apart? Good frickin luck
    0 points
  37. "Face coverings are not required outdoors unless it is not possible to maintain 6’ of social distancing." There is zero chance groups can keep 6 feet distance in the walkways around the park, yet alone in ride lines or on the ride itself. So basically masks are still mandatory.
    0 points
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