Messages

1

Branson Talk / Re: Branson Strip 2020

« on: July 08, 2020, 08:08:13 AM »

I have a feeling it was the insurance cost of the cruise that made them pull out and not the time it takes. I know a lot of things that have been "cancelled" due to rising insurance costs and at the end of the day they could not stomach it - or afford it

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Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2020 Project (Thread #2)

« on: July 07, 2020, 03:16:55 PM »

Did it look like it was moving incredibly fast to anyone else? yet even with it moving that fast is still a very long ride

3

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City

« on: June 30, 2020, 02:33:15 PM »

Yes, it was definitely a "pay" show if I remember correctly. It was an added charge for the evening show

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City

« on: June 30, 2020, 12:53:15 PM »

To put this a bit back on topic...

Does anyone else remember the civil war themed drama that was in Echo Hollow when it first opened? It was a dinner type show. Or has my memory completely failed me? I would have been about 8 when Echo Hollow opened so I could be misremembering or convoluting that memory with another similar type show my family saw in the Lakeside or Kimberling city area

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General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City

« on: June 27, 2020, 09:33:05 AM »

Does anyone remember the civil war themed drama that was there when echo hollow first opened? They served dinner with it. I was a kid so it is fuzzy

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Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2020 Project (Thread #2)

« on: June 26, 2020, 10:53:58 AM »

In one of the few times I might agree with some of you on political type things, I think the teaching and learning of history has gone severely downhill since I graduated high school 30 years ago. And even though I often have thought that I knew quite a bit about history, I have learned in the last few years that I really don't know anything - especially about world history. I read a book recently taken from the journals of the US ambassador to Germany just before the war and was amazed at the things going on in the US at the time that I had no clue about.

I think the bigger problem here is that most everyone takes things at face value. Whether it be news or pictures of the baldknobbers or all of that. No one wants to do the leg work to understand. So they see (or hear) things they don't like and act without truly KNOWING or VERIFYING.

Honestly I am torn on so many things like the monument removal and even things like "injuns" from the old train ride script. I am part Cherokee... but I guess it never bothered me.

I guess I hope they don't change the signage and all on things at SDC (even though I'll probably never be there again). But might be nice to provide a context next to it. Say by the baldknobber painting in Fire In The Hole maybe give a short synopsis of who/what they are. At least at that point, the people don't have to do the leg work on the research... but still have to read. Which can also be a challenge to get people to do

7

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Going back to SDC

« on: June 01, 2020, 12:24:57 PM »

I had a feeling it was going to follow a similar pattern to what six flags stl was doing with the reservations and the masks. And I have a feeling that the whole front line employees are going to get the brunt of a lot of ire and insults when people did NOT make reservations and/or aren’t wearing masks. I feel sorry for those people as that is gonna be bad

Plus imagine how much of a slow down the whole checking your reservation is going to cause. And are season pass holders going to get preferential treatment on reservations or is it first come first served. I just feel so bad for the people taking tickets as their life is going to be horrible if other interactions in the Springfield/Branson are hold true. I have a friend who works at the Paddlewheel who had someone get in her face and call her all sorts of names because the employees as the paddlewheel have to wear masks and this person took issue with that

But I agree, I can’t imagine walking around all day in the heat and humidity in a mask. I have been horrible about not wearing one but went to the dr the other day and had to wear one of the N95’s I had. It is the first I had had a mask on. I nearly had a panic attack because I just could not get enough air. Took me about 15 minutes to calm down. I can’t imagine how bad trying to wear one through all the rides

But on a positive note, if they branded one with the outlaw run theme, It would definitely sell out!

8

Branson Talk / Re: Oyo

« on: May 15, 2020, 02:10:36 PM »

Www.oyorooms.com/about

Seems to be an indian hotel startup that has been gobbling up hotels and other properties around the world. The wikipedia page is kind of interesting

Weren’t the ones listed in Branson the same ones that were long term stay hotels that the city closed down?

9

Random Talk / Re: Coronavirus

« on: May 09, 2020, 06:24:08 AM »

Wow... you take that as a rant? I was just trying to get people to look at things from a worldwide perspective. And no. You have mistaken me for someone else in “leaving the site for good”. I am supposed to be leaving the country, but I never said anything about leaving the site for good


But seriously if you think that was “ranting” you have a very large problem. If you think this was "ianappropriate" perhaps you are part of the problem and not the solution. I addressed several things in the last 4 pages of posts with logical discussion and not party bias. How is this "inappropriate"? Because it goes against your beliefs and you have trouble arguing it? Because I am logical? What exactly is the problem?

I was trying to bring the discussion around to solutions and not the arguing that has been going on. If that is "inappropriate", perhaps you are the problem

10

Random Talk / Re: Coronavirus

« on: May 08, 2020, 07:35:46 PM »

I have not checked the site for a few days and I red through this thread with astonishment and a bit of shame...

For those of you "plandemic" folks... How about you read the BBC news or ANYTHING not biased one way or another... How about you look at the ENTIRE world and not stuck in your "USA" frame of mind. Be logical... Do you REALLY think that the ENTIRE WORLD has conspired against the president to take him down? To ruin EVERY economy in the ENTIRE WORLD? Have you ever known that many nations to agree on ANYTHING? We can't even get agreement in this forum... now throw in entire world views. I read the BBC news constantly as I just can't handle the news here. They have no agenda to further ANY political view in this country. I've read their criticisms of how things are done in their own country... But I don't see the divide there that is here. But I also don't read anything there saying this is all a made up hoax. They have taken it seriously... and even so, their death rate in the UK is EXTREMELY high. Regardless of your political leanings, this is a worldwide problem. It is NOT made up. And the death rate on closed cases worldwide is 17%. While it is a lagging indicator from time of diagnosis until outcome (3-4 weeks), it says this is a real problem. The US death rate by closed cases is something like 26%. Both numbers have dropped considerably in the last 2 weeks as more people have recovered thankfully.

I came back from the UK on March 22 and then was in health dept. quarantine - not allowed to leave my house or be around people - for 2 weeks. I am an essential employee and have been working. My company has about 20 people so my exposure has been limited to about 10 trips to drive throughs, 3 Walmart visits and a grocery store visit since that time frame. Missouri just reopened most everything and Springfield, where I currently live, just decided to open bars as well with a maximum of 25 people. I am a musician in a band here and most weeks I would be in a bar 3-5 nights a week. But I won't be going for awhile. I don't feel safe. My choice. If people feel comfortable, more power to them. I have NOT been good about wearing a mask or gloves the few times I have gone out. Hence why I have limited my exposure.

I am lucky in that I am an engineer and an essential employee for my business in the automotive sector. And our overall company - which employs something like 1500 people - has been lucky as well in that there have been no cases within the organization. While someone said they are a machinist and still working, I wonder how many outsiders are you exposed to every day? How many people do you work with? And for those who are saying it is majorly effecting the average worker, with the extra $600 the federal is kicking in, I don't know of anyone on unemployment who is not making MORE money now than by working! Missouri's unemployment is awful but that extra money makes it very livable for anyone making $75k or less - which is a HUGE amount of people. I don't know about other states, but in MO it is hard for places to open when their employees can triple their monthly income by staying home.

The real losers in all of this are the small businesses. My friends own a bar here and they decided to not reopen after having to be closed for 2 months. And I am sure that will be the norm across the country and across the world.

I implore all of the people who have posted in here - no matter your political leaning - to look at news NOT in the US and see what is really going on. Get outside your "USA IS BEST" mindset and look at the world. Yes, many other countries have handled this differently and better... You can't compare Sweden to the US. You can't compare country to country. Most of Europe and the UK are MUCH more active than we are in the US. And we are considerably less healthy and more obese than the rest of the world. There are so many cultural factors that come into play. You have to stop being so "America" centric and be WORLD centric. We are a global economy. We need to start acting like it

Would I go back to SDC this year? Well, I thought I would be moved to the UK by now but this pandemic has slowed that down... But would I go should they open? No... It is my choice. I won't be going much of anywhere for the foreseeable future. Because I have seen and heard too much and I don't trust others. If you feel comfortable, go. It is your life. BUT as others said, how would you feel if you were asymptomatic and spread it to others and they died?

I read somewhere in here someone saying that hospitals are being subsidized to diagnose as COVID-19. PLease post your sources and don't spread false "facts"... But again, look at the entire world. The UK for example is government funded health care. They are not operating their hospitals like a corporation for profit. Do you really think they are making up their numbers to get paid? You all have to stop focusing on America and look at what is going on in the world...

And quite honestly, we are a laughingstock in most of the world. They just shake their heads. I talk to people on a regular basis in the UK and they just laugh at us... To make America great again we have to be respected. We aren't. They laugh at our divide. They laugh at decisions made by people in charge. They use us as an example of WHAT NOT TO DO. How about we set about changing that... regardless of your political party. How about we start listening to each other? Caring about each other? How about we be able to have discussions again about topics and we listen and learn and maybe research and change our mind? How about we admit we're wrong and not hold so tightly to things on principle and not on facts and data?

11

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Starbucks in the park?

« on: April 05, 2020, 02:17:01 PM »

Keeping the number of drink options for Starbucks to a minimum is essential for this not to be a mess...

Although I like the Freestyle coke machine at the pizza place, it is a major congestion point. It is just as much a congestion point at the restaurants that have it too. It takes 3-4 times longer per soda fill due to the interaction and menu section and all the choices. Great idea... poor implementation

12

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Starbucks in the park?

« on: March 30, 2020, 11:58:19 AM »

questionable political views depends on which side you are on.

I personally don't drink much coffee but bringing politics into a coffee discussion seems a bit much

13

Random Talk / Re: Coronavirus

« on: March 29, 2020, 09:30:45 AM »

Chittlins... agreed on the speed here for the most part. From what I have been told, people in the UK buy a supplemental insurance to speed things up. But from what I was also told, you still have to go to NHS GP first

I have heard, but not experienced it, that the medical care in Springfield is a bit lacking... and things that would be no big deal anywhere else are misdiagnosed or just not handled quickly here. Thankfully, I have not experienced it.

And it is great you were able to get grants and the like. Was that because of rarity? Or perhaps again the knowledge in the Memphis area? I know people here who have had similar severe diagnosis here and are struggling to pay the medical debt.

I had a great doctor in St. Louis. The one I have in Springfield I don't much care for. I literally had to have a logic discussion with him 3 weeks ago. I am on a few medicines and the prescriptions had run out while I was out of work. They would not prescribe without seeing the doctor. But I could not afford to pay doctor out of pocket entirely with being out of work. So I went once I got back to work. He wanted to do bloodwork to check levels of medicine in my system. Told him that was pointless with having been off the medicine for 2 months. He was not going to prescribe them. I said, well if you want to check levels, you need to prescribe them so bloodwork can be checked with them in my system. He was completely illogical and I had to spell it out for him and he finally did. I've been on said medicine for 17 years and my levels when on it do not ever change... Same doctor was completely useless when I asked about transferring medical records and prescription to the UK as well... So still not sure how that is going to work

I think the quality of care depends on where you are in relation to large cities... and I think that is probably any country. I cut part of my left index finger off 22 years ago but was in a very small town not near big city when it happened. Had it been near St. Louis, it would have been re-attached. But because it was a small town, I have a very interesting looking finger and had to relearn playing guitar. I am not bitter or angry... it is what it is

14

Random Talk / Re: Coronavirus

« on: March 29, 2020, 05:45:40 AM »

While I don't agree with everything Chittlins said, i do agree with a lot of it. We, as a country, create most of our own health problems. We are, in general, a very obese country and I believe that is the cause of many of our health issues. Whether it be diabetes or heart disease or the myriad of other issues that come with that. I say that as someone who is currently overweight! I had a health issue 10 years ago that messed up my lungs and I gained 100 pounds. I recently lost 60 pounds but I am not as small as I used to be. According to research, I am "average" clothing size for a woman in the US and going into any Wal Mart that seems ike maybe I am a bit smaller. Anyway, although research shows that I am slightly over average in the UK, I can count the number of people I would say are obese on maybe both hands in 3 trips - and 2 of those I spent extensive time in London. They seem healthier. They walk everywhere. As I do when I am there. They think nothing of a mile or 2 walk to get to a train whereas we here will jump in a car to go 2 blocks. The food portion size there is mostly smaller. And it is REALLY hard to find soda with sugar. Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper... all were sugar free. At McDonald's, you have to pay an extra 15 cents to get Coke classic with sugar. I had far more fast food while there than I have had in a year plus as I was stuck in a hotel and could not cook.

In my area, cigarettes are $5 a pack... over there they were $12 a pack... I actually just started smoking in the last 8 months (don't ask) and it got real expensive to do that there. We make it cheap enough that it is easy to afford for most people. And I am fully aware of the health issues that come from smoking. But at $12 a pack, there is a real pain point. It hurt every time I bought a pack and I will be rethinking that life choice.

We have made poor food and health choices easy and cheap. And I am as guilty as the next.

But another thing I noticed there is people seem to keep themselves together better as they age. If you look on say Tinder here and I restrict myself to the age I am, there is not a single person within 5 years that I would consider dating. I look much younger than I am and usually date girls considerably younger (16-18 years). But there, the people my own age look like girls in that 16-18 year younger than me range. There does not seem to be as much of that middle age spread that happens here. Is it because of food choices or the exercise or ? I don't know. But it seems to be true - even in the small northern towns.

We've made poor life choices easy and cheap and our medical system takes the brunt of it

15

Random Talk / Re: Coronavirus

« on: March 27, 2020, 08:26:24 PM »

Again.. Do your research. I have extensively with this move. My taxes there are going to be about 10%-15% less than I pay here AND include health care so YES it is "free".

And honestly, I made too much to get a check from this stimulus in the 2018 tax year. So no, I won't be cashing it as I won't be getting it... That being said, my finances in 2019 ended up not being good with a company closing a division and then my being too overqualified for most of the positions in this area... so I was on unemployment for 4 months and blew through most of my savings just surviving.

And yes I will say I am uninformed on many things... There are things I don't care about that I don't bother researching. For example, I do not have cable and only watch streamed shows. I don't see commercials or anything like that. So people will ask me to a movie and I have never even heard of the movie or know what it is about. Sure, I could research that, but does't really matter to me. Things like some politics, well, I do my research

As far as Trump... All I can say is look and READ news from around the world. When I was in the UK I was asked by EVERYONE about him. The world does not have a good opinion. Personally, I have an issue when anyone tries to govern with religious laws as it is no different than muslim countries ruling by shariah law. And his rulings on the LGBT community have directly affected me and people I know. These are things he has done. So no, I am not a fan. Hate? No... wouldn't go that far... but I know that he has hurt my community.

Again, the media thing was big in THE WHOLE WORLD. This is a WORLD crisis. I can't tell you why it wasn't big during Obama... I had a lot going on then and don't remember much. But I have found with this UK thing that there is so much going on in the world that we in the US have no clue about. We think we are the center of the world and ignore the rest. It was just as big of a deal in the UK as it is here with the media. Good bad or ugly, they are trying to save lives. Perhaps they should have been more vigilant in the Obama era. I can't say.

As far as pandering... It pretty much is. I mean, when you are performing (and I am a lead guitar player in a band in Springfield for a little while longer), when you KNOW you are going to play a certain song or say a certain thing and the crowd is going to react, of course it is pandering. It is absolutely no different than the norm of an "encore" at any concert you go to these days. I would rather they just play the whole set rather than take a break then do their "encore". It is so staged now. Just as these shows stage the religious and patriotic stuff. It is not my thing and I avoid it. I will leave at that section or stay seated. I mean, I've not stood or done anything for the american flag/national anthem for over 20 years. I have my reasons. I don't make a big deal of it. I don't try and force my views on anyone... Which is totally different than most on both sides.

And NO currently I do not have health insurance. It is a 60 day wait after starting... I think it kicks in next week. So hopefully I do not get sick...

I think all economies are strained by this. I saw it firsthand in the UK and I see it here as well.

As far as people coming to america for treatment, absolutely some come here for treatment... But they are the rich people who can afford it all without insurance and where a treatment is not offered where they are. I mean, how many people are traveling out of the US for STEM cell treatment? Some countries have restrictions on procedures and if they can afford to pay for it, they go where they can have it done.

Maybe I am a bit jaded with my ideas of the NHS in the UK. Ask me again in 6 months... but I know no one there is going to go into debt for their medical treatments... I see posts all the time with people wanting money in their gofund me account just for treatments to keep them alive. Something is wrong there