Topics

31

Random Talk / Miami, OK: Blitz gas can plant closing, 117 jobs lost

« on: July 09, 2012, 06:37:22 PM »

Blame another one on government meddling.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x136110631/Blitz-USA-to-close-plant-at-Miami-Okla

The federal safety regulations for gas cans have effectively made them less safe to use, causing more spilled gasoline.

It's never been smart to throw gas on a fire, but with the new mandatory designs it's not a case of "something bad might happen", but "something bad will happen". The resulting lawsuits bankrupted Blitz, and they are being forced to close and lay off 117 people because of other people's stupidity.

32

Ozark Marketplace / Creature Comforts

« on: July 08, 2012, 02:18:56 AM »

Thanks to Parson B Ready for posting here, and reminding me that this forum section exists!

I doubt anyone here is in our immediate area, so I'm not trolling for customers, but here is my wife's Facebook page for her dog grooming business. I've always thought her business name was better than the typical cutesy puns her competitors choose. Then again, I might be biased. 

Creature Comforts

33

Other Parks / Meanwhile, in Russia...

« on: May 03, 2012, 06:17:05 PM »

 


http://youtu.be/Qk_8H-zx-nc

34

Other Parks / Disney using facial recognition?

« on: April 25, 2012, 04:21:57 PM »

I saw this on Facebook. Short version: a guy buys two one-day passes to Disney Land. His girlfriend isn't with him at the time, but is around the corner.

They enter, and never touch or use the passes after that point.

A couple of official photographers take her pictures with a character, but they don't purchase them. He wasn't in those pictures, since he was taking pictures using his own camera.

He paid cash, no ID, for a picture from Splash Mountain. It's a tandem ride, so they're not sitting together.

When he got home and logged on to download that picture, Disney had already tagged his girlfriend's photos and attached them to his account, offering him the chance to buy them.

How did they know who she was, and that she was with him?

Long version:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=336416016413968&set=p.336416016413968&type=1

35

Other Parks / Winged coaster "The Swarm" rips arms off test dummies

« on: March 03, 2012, 05:50:54 PM »

 

The self-described "flight through apocalyptic devastation on Europe's tallest winged rollercoaster" propels up to 28 riders at a time with their arms and legs dangling freely at 62 miles per hour and includes trips through an inverted 127-foot drop and several close encounters with walled structures that are designed to make passengers feel like they are about to crash.

The ride's designers ran some test runs with crash test dummies, leaving many shocked when the dummies returned from the experience missing arms and legs. A team of former British fighter pilots were then brought in as the coaster's preparation neared completion. Mark Cutmore, team leader of the Blades, a stunt pilot organization, told the Metro: "I am a self-confessed adrenaline junkie, but even as a pilot used to G-force there were some gut-wrenching moments, and I have to admit the near miss element is eye-watering -- you really do feel as if you are going to crash into the structures."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/winged-roller-coaster-swarm-rips-arms-off-crash-183513325.html

36

Other Parks / Zero gravity coaster proposed

« on: February 23, 2012, 06:08:32 PM »

This coaster would give you eight seconds of freefall. Cool!

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2012-01/zero-gravity-roller-coaster

37

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Steampunk GPS for your iPhone: handy for navigating SDC

« on: January 13, 2012, 03:46:31 AM »

Very cool. I don't have an iPhone (I'd love one, I just refuse to pay the outrageous monthly charges for data when I only want to make calls and take pictures).

Anywhoo:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/01/steampunk-gps-app/

38

General Silver Dollar City Talk / If I won a gazillion dollars...

« on: January 12, 2012, 09:59:10 PM »

Okay, not even a gazillion, but if I found myself with enough discretionary dough, one of the things I would do is either make or finance an open source documentary about SDC.

I can see 3-5 hours' worth, broken into history, behind the scenes, the current park, non-SDC Branson, and the future.

I'd sell DVDs or downloads, but open source all the raw footage. Even HFE could use it they wanted to.

I better stop and buy a lottery ticket.

39

General Silver Dollar City Talk / A band I'd like to see at SDC

« on: December 11, 2011, 02:55:45 AM »

They're more Eastern Appalachia bluegrass, but this is a band whose music would definitely fit in well at SDC.

The band themselves might shock a few traditionalists, though. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbcqGjeNz7w

40

General Silver Dollar City Talk / A photo request...

« on: August 12, 2011, 03:14:12 AM »

I'd like to see one of our talent photographers recreate this shot on the SDC swinging bridge. You'll need a panorama mount, or some good stitching software.

Oh, and you have to turn your head sideways.

Don't forget to scroll all the way down!

http://wins.failblog.org/2011/08/10/epic-win-photos-all-the-way-win/

41

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Lehman's should partner with SDC

« on: July 18, 2011, 04:01:37 AM »

One outfit that would do well to become a vendor at SDC is Lehman's.

Warning: they make use of ad tracking, so if you click on the link you can expect to see their banner ads everywhere you go online. It's not a problem, just amusing. They're quite high-tech at being low-tech.

Lehman's has been a purveyor of non-electric goods to the Northeast Ohio Amish community for decades. They've also run a catalog business for back-to-the-earth folks for almost as long. They've gone online, because many "primitive" folks these days rely on the internet for information, knowledge, and shopping resources.

I've bought replacement parts for Aladdin lamps from them, and gotten many good ideas from their online catalog.

They're not the cheapest, but they have almost everything, and they give great descriptions of their products.

I think a brick-and-mortar (okay, log-and-chink) store at SDC would serve them very well.

Thoughts?

42

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Advance warning: upcoming SDC and Dogpatch photo bomb!

« on: July 17, 2011, 04:33:29 AM »

I visited my mother today for a couple of hours, en route to my 30th high school class reunion. (Yes, I'm old, as my lovely child bride born in 1969 keeps reminding me. Shaddup!)

An uncle by marriage passed away earlier this week, and Mom had a couple of boxes of photos that we perused, from her side of the family. She also mentioned a box of "her" photos, which I pulled out and was amazed to find many photos of my childhood that I never knew existed.

Among them were a series of pics from Dogpatch, from a family trip to St. Louis in 1968, plus a bunch from SDC from roughly 1969-72. I don't remember riding the stagecoach, but there's photographic evidence that I did (or at least sat in it with a bunch of other kids). There are blacksmith pics, including at least one of Shad Heller. Lots of various craftsman pics, and Citizen pics (young-ish male citizens seemed to be especially drawn to my older sister for some reason). There are a couple of the North/South skirmish on Main Street, and other Main Street skits, but I don't recall what they're about.

Because we had a tight schedule, I was only able to go through about a quarter of the photos. I'm going back with my scanner, to get it all. Then I'll make an online album to share it with everyone here. There are at least 2-3 dozen pics from SDC and DP, but that's just a guesstimate.

Dad was a professional photographer with a wedding and portrait studio, so the vast majority of these pics are several levels above "snapshot" grade. All were shot on 120mm film (2 1/4 square format), with either a Hasselblad 500c or Yashicamat. Probably the Hassy; I don't recall him ever taking the Yashica on vacation.

43

Other Parks / Canobie Lake Park gets a new EuroFighter

« on: June 09, 2011, 04:07:32 PM »

Looks cool, especially that beyond vertical drop.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110608/NEWHAMPSHIRE0501/706089941

44

Random Talk / USDA threatens $4 million fine to SDC's petting bunny supplier

« on: May 22, 2011, 02:39:06 PM »

Outrageous.

http://bobmccarty.com/2011/05/19/family-facing-4-million-in-fines-for-selling-bunnies/

Follow-up:

http://bobmccarty.com/2011/05/19/usda-stands-behind-hare-raising-fine/

45

Random Talk / Where the Red Fern Grows

« on: April 29, 2011, 05:24:01 AM »

I just watched the 1974 movie of Where the Red Fern Grows, for the first time since I saw it at the drive-in when I was 11.

Bawled my eyes out just like when I was 11.

Who else loves Old Dan and Lit'l Ann?