Thrill_Biscuit

Adventure Express is kind of an Independent: leans a little Wood, leans a little Steel. AE is also admired for having a unique perspective on coasterdom; what with its lift hills in the middle and at the end of its track, always providing an uplifting future to its riders.

Thanks, jcgoble3! This is a great, fun way to get through another off-season day!

You know, come to think of it, Drop Tower does look kind of bigger than most other Drop Towers.... Flight of Fear might be on to something here...

Both parties are campaigning at Viking Fury and Delirium, each trying to get swing votes.

The Vortex campaign has accused Diamondback of "eating Rivertown," and using it's vaunted splashdown for political expedience. His closest ally, Senator Shake Rattle 'n Roll, was too busy raising three issues at a time, only to spin them and bring them back down to earth, which helps the Steels somewhat, but leaves the Woods seeking support from other areas of the park.

The Wood party suffered a dip in the polls when Son of Beast crossed over into the Rubble party. I'd say moderates who sit on the Wood/Steel fence (Adventure Express) can bring unity to the coaster race this time around.

I spent the Christmas of 1994 in Balikesir, Turkey. There were no strings of lights on any houses; in fact, nighttime there was often foggy and very, very dark. Shopping centers (which were very much alive and bustling with friendly people) played traditional Turkish music, mixed with modern Turkish and European pop music throughout the months that are the "Holiday Season" in the western world. (We could go back to our base, where they played all the American holiday standards); but seeing an entirely different culture during that time was very much enlightening, and made me appreciate what I missed back home. The funny thing is that now, when I hear any of those songs from that area of the world, it's like holiday music to me because of the time frame I heard them in.

That smarmy commentatrix makes me want to vote for the guy just because of her condescending and vituperative vitriol. Jeez, wake me up when this crap is all over!

My wife and I were just laughing about that!

MeTV Cincinnati, Today at 12:30... coming up!

The world will end when I die (well, for me it will). You will die in the future, somewhere within the vicinity of earth, and yes, there is a Stairway to Heaven; haven't you been listening to FM rock radio anytime during the past 41 years?

Yes. Take it away, boys... and a one, and a two....

Where is Eric "Garbage Day" Freeman? Is "One Day" Piglatin for "Done?" What lies beyond the bed and the bath? Why can't I draw a circle on an Etch-a-Sketch? Can a Naval officer legally marry his widow's sister?

What an enviable career!

Did you account for the land in the sky? I heard there's ghost riders who ride up there, when I was on the train. Oh, yes! And that poor guy, Joe, who got cotton in his eye. Man that has to be annoying!

Or, of course if you prefer, by UFO... Ok. I get it ... enough.

I'd rather see a forklift gently carrying Beast cars to their happy hybernation than to see them strewn about by the fury of nature. Wait... who talks like that? ...I need to stop listening to art rock!

It reminds me of a traveling carnival. One day, a parking lot is a wonderland of lights, sounds, laughter and music. Delighted, but blissfully ignorant of schedules, you return In 24 hours, only to witness a lone, discarded popcorn wrapper dancing on the cold, empty wind as it flutters and flips along the barren blacktop. It's kind of sad, really, but you know that it will all be back sooner than you think.

..."Terminator Tex." ..."We forgot the MARSHMALLOWS!" ..."The Marlboro Man shows what smoking can do to your body..." ..."Every bad Texas Barbecue joke rolled into one, five-minute event." ..."He'll be replaced with "Hug Me Hank."" ..."This was his big birthday roast." ..."Left the fair to get my camera, but he burned up on re-entry."

I remember, on the long drives down here from Michigan, when getting closer to Mason, asking my mom if every single, stupid red, glowing light was the Kings Island tower.

First hill, rose bowl, helix are still there. Still a long way to go. Fine. "On its way to being almost gone." It's a matter of perspective. I've no intention of misinforming anyone; I just see things from the perspective of knowing how "fast" (precious) time really goes by. For example, when Diamondback was going up, and the first lift hill came into view, I could already feel the anticipation of riding it the following season, because I see things that are in progress as being very close to completion in my fast-burning sense of time. It feels like yesterday; it's been four years. I could slow down a bit and savour the moment (cue "Time Stand Still" by Rush), but like I said earlier this season, in 20 years we'll look back on SOB's removal and laugh -- not because of the reasons it's being removed (certainly no laughing matter), but at the amazement of how much will have changed by then.

Such a great deal of expectation and excitement abounded when this thing was under construction. Now, in late October, we see it being torn apart and brought down to the ground --almost gone. Son of Beast joins the growing toll of signature attractions that have come and gone, while the venerable, tried-and-true Racer, Beast, Vortex and Adventure Express roll on.

There once was a pair of noises in Coney Mall, back by the SR&R. One sounded like a car alarm, for when someone won a prize "boow, boow, boow, boow, boow, boow..." The other was a random, electronic noise from the "Strength Hammer" game (the one with the super-bright flashing lights), which sounded like the background sound on the classic "Galaxian" game. One favorite of mine is the boom from the salutes during the fireworks - how they echo through the valley behind the park. Awesome!

[edit] Not worth it.

How about that distinct, electrical smell of the bumper car attractions? I think it's ozone? (I only say that because of the line from "A Christmas Story," where Ralphie's dad plugs in too many cords and "snap!" and he says it's the smell of 'ozone')... Anyway, that's another of Kings Island's sweet potpourri.