I'm really nervous about what role this will play inthe net-neutrality
war currently being waged. Right now the ISPs are being asked tospy on
their users by content providers; and this merger makes the two groups
one in the same. Now the ISP has more incentive to monotoryour
Internet usage, because they will also be the copywrite holder of the
content. Beyond that, I think we'll start to see websites that legally
offer content, like Hulu.com to lose their NBC programing.

Didn't we recently learn our 'too big to fail' lesson?  Oh yeah, guess not.

Mike
ps what is 30 gonna do now without the backing of the shinehardt wig
corporation?

On Friday, December 11, 2009, Mike Filippone
<ioaspiderman@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>       I have Comcast, and the second FiOS becomes available, I'm getting
> FiOS.  Comcast could probably pay me to use their service, and I would
> still get FiOS... I'm that unhappy with it.  Just the cable is
> terrible (the cable box is really slow at switching channels, and
> every time you switch a channel the screen flickers, and there's
> always other random stuff, like how half my channels had all this
> digital distortion and were unwatchable last weekend).  Their internet
> is also really slow and hangs a lot.  I've tried calling, but haven't
> had any progress.
>
> No idea how this will affect Universal parks... not sure it would have
> that big of an impact.  The deal also looks like it would phase in
> really slow, so I doubt there would be many immediate changes.  When I
> heard about it, I was more concerned about programs like Meet the
> Press than anything.
>
> Mike
>
> On Dec 11, 2009, at 12:21 PM, zucker0615 wrote:
>
>>   Any thoughts on Comcast's takeover of NBC/Universal? My personal
>> experience with Comcast is anything but positive. As one of their
>> cable TV customers, I can say that they don't give a crap about the
>> individual, paying end-user. They're a large (and getting larger)
>> money-grubbing corporation that's more concerned with upcharges and
>> extracting as much cash as possible than they are with satisfying
>> their users.
>>
>>   How might this affect Universal parks?
>>
>> Jon Z (just lost access to 2 local PBS stations and Cartoon Network)
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Don't forget our group site at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RollerCoasterTalk
>> bookmarks, files, and more are all found there.
>>
>> Six years at Yahoo Groups, and many more before that!  Spread the
>> word about Roller Coaster Talk and help us to keep growing!Yahoo!
>> Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>

I have Comcast, and the second FiOS becomes available, I'm getting
FiOS.  Comcast could probably pay me to use their service, and I would
still get FiOS... I'm that unhappy with it.  Just the cable is
terrible (the cable box is really slow at switching channels, and
every time you switch a channel the screen flickers, and there's
always other random stuff, like how half my channels had all this
digital distortion and were unwatchable last weekend).  Their internet
is also really slow and hangs a lot.  I've tried calling, but haven't
had any progress.

No idea how this will affect Universal parks... not sure it would have
that big of an impact.  The deal also looks like it would phase in
really slow, so I doubt there would be many immediate changes.  When I
heard about it, I was more concerned about programs like Meet the
Press than anything.

Mike


On Dec 11, 2009, at 12:21 PM, zucker0615 wrote:

>   Any thoughts on Comcast's takeover of NBC/Universal? My personal
> experience with Comcast is anything but positive. As one of their
> cable TV customers, I can say that they don't give a crap about the
> individual, paying end-user. They're a large (and getting larger)
> money-grubbing corporation that's more concerned with upcharges and
> extracting as much cash as possible than they are with satisfying
> their users.
>
>   How might this affect Universal parks?
>
> Jon Z (just lost access to 2 local PBS stations and Cartoon Network)
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Don't forget our group site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RollerCoasterTalk
> bookmarks, files, and more are all found there.
>
> Six years at Yahoo Groups, and many more before that!  Spread the
> word about Roller Coaster Talk and help us to keep growing!Yahoo!
> Groups Links
>
>
>

Any thoughts on Comcast's takeover of NBC/Universal? My personal experience
with Comcast is anything but positive. As one of their cable TV customers, I can
say that they don't give a crap about the individual, paying end-user. They're a
large (and getting larger) money-grubbing corporation that's more concerned with
upcharges and extracting as much cash as possible than they are with satisfying
their users.

    How might this affect Universal parks?

Jon Z (just lost access to 2 local PBS stations and Cartoon Network)

Any thoughts on Comcast's takeover of NBC/Universal? My personal experience
with Comcast is anything but positive. As one of their cable TV customers, I can
say that they don't give a crap about the individual, paying end-user. They're a
large (and getting larger) money-grubbing corporation that's more concerned with
upcharges and extracting as much cash as possible than they are with satisfying
their users.

    How might this affect Universal parks?

Jon Z (just lost access to 2 local PBS stations and Cartoon Network)

OK, Mitch changed the deadline on me. Ignore my previous post.

Chris

--- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, "munkye1972" <munkye1972@...> wrote:
>
> As of midnight tonight, 10 December.
>
> --- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, "munkye1972" <munkye1972@> wrote:
> >
> > The poll went live today, if you hadn't already seen, here's the link again:
> >
> > http://www.ushsho.com/bestrollercoasterpoll.htm
> >
> > ...and since the Steel Poll is even more of a bear to fill out, here's the
link to Coaster Fanatics' steel poll helper:
> >
> > http://www.coasterfanatics.com/sec_poll/default.asp?test=true
> >
> > Chris
> >
>

As of midnight tonight, 10 December.

--- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, "munkye1972" <munkye1972@...> wrote:
>
> The poll went live today, if you hadn't already seen, here's the link again:
>
> http://www.ushsho.com/bestrollercoasterpoll.htm
>
> ...and since the Steel Poll is even more of a bear to fill out, here's the
link to Coaster Fanatics' steel poll helper:
>
> http://www.coasterfanatics.com/sec_poll/default.asp?test=true
>
> Chris
>

Indeed, sad news.  Thank you for passing it along.

--
Nathan Brown

I was sent this tonight...

> Barbara Ellen (Cook) Knoebel passed into the Lord's eternal peace Friday,
> November 27, 2009 at the age of 66. She died peacefully at her home at 206
> Knoebels Boulevard, Elysburg, with her family by her side.
>
> Born May 3rd, 1943 in Lykens, Pennsylvania, Barbara was the daughter of
> the
> late Charles and Elizabeth Cook. She was a 1961 graduate of Lykens High
> School and furthered her education at Polyclinic Hospital becoming a
> Licensed Practical Nurse.
>
> Barbara married Richard Knoebel on February 10th, 1968, a marriage that
> lasted until her death, a span of over 41 years. They are the parents of
> two
> sons, Richard A. and Brian L. Knoebel.
>
> Barbara was a member of Elysburg Presbyterian Church. She was an active
> member of Order of the Eastern Star having served as Worthy Matron of Iris
> Chapter #306, Shamokin. She held the statewide office of Grand Adah during
> 1984-85 and traveled throughout Pennsylvania in this capacity. She was
> also
> active in the Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Association and the
> International
> Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. She served on several
> IAAPA
> committees, most notable the original Hall of Fame Committee.
>
> At Knoebels Amusement Resort, Barbara was an important member of the
> family
> business. She worked side by side with Dick serving as Manager of the park
> office and Group Sales Manager. In the latter capacity she assisted groups
> in planning outings and arranged catered meals for thousands of guests
> each
> season.
>
> In September Dick and Barbara traveled to California where Amusement
> Today,
> an industry publication, honored them with the Golden Ticket award as
> industry Persons of the Year for 2009.
>
> In addition to her husband and sons, she is survived by four
> granddaughters,
> Haley, Hannah, Abigail and Ashley. She is also survived by a brother,
> Walter
> Cook, of Gowen City, sister in law Ruth Cook, brother in law Ronald
> Knoebel
> and his family and sister in law Leanna Knoebel Muscato and her family.
>
> In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by brothers
> Charles "Boom" Cook and Donald Cook.
>
> Arrangements are under the direction of the Alan Horne Funeral Home.
> Visitation will be held at the Elysburg Presbyterian Church, Friday
> December
> 4th beginning at 5:00 pm and Saturday, December 5th beginning at 9:00 am.
> Services are scheduled for 11:00 am at the church.
>
> In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Barbara's
> memory to Give Kids the World, Attn: Development, 210 S. Bass Road,
> Kissimmee, FL 34746.

The poll went live today, if you hadn't already seen, here's the link again:

http://www.ushsho.com/bestrollercoasterpoll.htm

...and since the Steel Poll is even more of a bear to fill out, here's the link
to Coaster Fanatics' steel poll helper:

http://www.coasterfanatics.com/sec_poll/default.asp?test=true

Chris

> I can also see why someone wouldn't like Wild Thing but I think is does
airtime well.

But where?  Aside from the 2nd hill, Wild Thing doesn't *have* airtime.

-Nate

--- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, Nate Kohlrusch <natekohlrusch@...>
wrote:
>
> > Well I agree with the basic things that coasterdude318 is saying except I
would go further and say
> > Renegade is better then Voyage. I covered this in post 31254. Voyage goes up
and down but Renegade
> > goes up, down, left and right.
>
> Which Voyage did you ride?  Aside from the first three or so hills,
> the lift, and the brake run I don't think there's a single section of
> straight track on that ride.  Almost every single hill is also tossing
> you to the side.  Renegade is a very solid ride - even stunningly good
> - but it's still no Voyage.
>
Okay you are technically correct, the Voyage has turns.  It is at its core an
"out and back" and has burned up lots of it energy on "air time" before it tries
for any thing lateral.  I am not going to say that the weaving back and forth on
the return is pointless as all out and backs have a "tame" return, but still
need to get back to the station.  The sprit of my comment is that if you are
looking for lateral elements then you are going to find better ones on Legend,
Renegade, etc.  The lateral elements on Voyage are not the engineering point of
the ride.


> > Wild Thing at ValleyFair! may be the best air time "steel" coaster in the
states as well.
> > I can't think of one I like better in the midwest where I spend my time.
> > coasterdude318 do you have an opinion about it?
>
> Oh, I have LOTS of thoughts about Wild Thing.  But my primary thought
> about the ride is that it is easily the most boring, and most
> forceless hypercoaster out there.  The first drop is decent and the
> second hill gives a nice, sustained float, but it's over after that.
> A long, boring, meandering turnaround. followed by extreme trimming
> and a few hills the train barely makes it over.  The only midwestern
> hypercoaster I like less is Magnum, because it's a rough pile of crap.
>
> I'm actually really confused about your praise for this ride, as I can
> think of at least a dozen steel coasters in the midwest that have
> better airtime.
>

Okay ask a silly question...
(For those who want to see my extended thoughts on Wild Thing! go here:
http://www.coasternaut.com/Wild_Thing/Dreadnauts_Review.html)

This is the ride that makes me understand "the point" of "steel" coasters that
emulate "wood" ones.  The airtime on the outbound hills kick it.  Now the return
on every out and back I have ever ridden is lame, but you pay that price for a
fast outbound trip.

I think there is an argument for an even pace being better then a fast one.  One
of the components of airtime is time.  If you have a high velocity over a hill
you will get a lower (magnitude of) acceleration but you will also get less of
it.  I am sure the engineer types spend time deciding which to do, go for
intensity and quickness or for a longer less intense float.

I happen to like a dramatic pause in a ride, I think it adds to the pacing (like
a high turn around on an out and back).  Rides that slam one through all the
elements are fine but they lack something a well paced ride has.  Speed is not
its own virtue.

I can also see why someone wouldn't like Wild Thing but I think is does airtime
well.

jjloj

--- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, Nate Kohlrusch <natekohlrusch@...>
wrote:
>
> > I find it amusing that our phones are now telling us what is real. I'd
prefer to hear it from a person. :-)
>
> I think that's exactly the point.  Who cares what your phone says?  I
> judge by how much *I* enjoy a ride.  :)
>
> -Nate
>

Since I enjoy just about any roller coaster, that wouldn't make for very
interesting conversation.  Giving the coaster the American Band Stand response
("It has a great beat I can dance to it")  doesn't require any reflection and
doesn't help someone else know what is good or bad about the ride. The
accelerometer is just another tool for looking at the ride.  I use it but I
don't let it trump my view of what makes the coaster good.  I think to not use
tools like this is to cut yourself off from another piece of information.

jjloj

But what if I'm reading you opinions on my iPhone :head explodes:

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, Nate Kohlrusch <natekohlrusch@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>       > I find it amusing that our phones are now telling us what is real. I'd
prefer to hear it from a person. :-)
>
> I think that's exactly the point.  Who cares what your phone says?  I
> judge by how much *I* enjoy a ride.  :)
>
> -Nate
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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>

I did not think it was that excessively rough for a wood coaster.  I know
that it needed retracking but not a complete rebuild.  A co-worker that
lives in Allen Tx forwarded me a different article and that article seemed
to imply that only some portions of the ride were being totally
dismantled.  I got the impression from that article that some sections
were being refurbished and other sections being significantly reprofiled
to make it faster and smoother.

I was in Texas on a combined business trip and vacation in September and
spent at part of each of three days over one week (Sat/Sun/Fri) at the
park and believe I rode the Texas Giant at least half as many times as I
did the Titan.  Hopefully I can arrange another business trip down there
in 2011 to ride it after it reopens.

BTW, SFOT had a great deal on season passes for next season.  I was able
to buy my season pass with parking at SFOT for about 1/2 the price I would
have paid at my home park, SFGAm.
David Rounds


> That's a bit harsh... I wouldn't say dismantled... it's being upgraded
> undergoing a massive refurbishment that will keep it closed until the 2011
> season.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jay_ducharme" <jay_ducharme@...>
> To: <RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:30 PM
> Subject: [RollerCoasterTalk] NEWS: Goodbye Texas Giant
>
>
> I just heard about this. Once considered the ultimate wood coaster, the
> iconic Texas Giant is being dismantled.
>
> <http://cbs11tv.com/local/Texas.Giant.Six.2.1284007.html>
>
> Jay
>
>
>

That's a bit harsh... I wouldn't say dismantled... it's being upgraded
undergoing a massive refurbishment that will keep it closed until the 2011
season.

----- Original Message -----
From: "jay_ducharme" <jay_ducharme@...>
To: <RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:30 PM
Subject: [RollerCoasterTalk] NEWS: Goodbye Texas Giant


I just heard about this. Once considered the ultimate wood coaster, the
iconic Texas Giant is being dismantled.

<http://cbs11tv.com/local/Texas.Giant.Six.2.1284007.html>

Jay

I just heard about this. Once considered the ultimate wood coaster, the iconic
Texas Giant is being dismantled.

<http://cbs11tv.com/local/Texas.Giant.Six.2.1284007.html>

Jay

I just heard about this. Once considered the ultimate wood coaster, the iconic
Texas Giant is being dismantled.

<http://cbs11tv.com/local/Texas.Giant.Six.2.1284007.html>

Jay

> I find it amusing that our phones are now telling us what is real. I'd prefer
to hear it from a person. :-)

I think that's exactly the point.  Who cares what your phone says?  I
judge by how much *I* enjoy a ride.  :)

-Nate

> just what his iPhone says and your results may vary.  I just got the Motorola
Droid phone, and while I haven't ridden any coaster with it yet, it is
telling me that number one airtime coaster in the world is the new Kosmos Curves
at Knoebels.<

I find it amusing that our phones are now telling us what is real.  I'd prefer
to hear it from a person.  :-)

Jay

Remember, that's just what his iPhone says and your results may vary.  I
just got the Motorola Droid phone, and while I haven't ridden any coaster
with it yet, it is telling me that number one airtime coaster in the world is
the new Kosmos Curves at Knoebels.  Also told me that Twisted Twins at SFKK hold
the record for tallest on the planet, and Hypersonic XLC holds the record for
most inversions, with 27.  I look forward to a much more enlightened summer of
riding next year.

Razzle dazzle bitches...

RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>  Roller Coaster Talk
>       Roller Coaster Talk
>     Messages In This Digest      (1
>               Message)
>                       1a.
>    Re: MISC: Renegade & a few Valleyfair observations
>   From:
>       Nate Kohlrusch
>           View All Topics | Create New Topic
>            Message
>         1a.
>         Re: MISC: Renegade & a few Valleyfair observations
>     Posted by:      "Nate Kohlrusch"
>       natekohlrusch@...
>                
>           coasterdude318
>       Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:20 pm        (PST)
>       > Well I agree with the basic things that coasterdude318 is saying
except I would go further and say
>> Renegade is better then Voyage. I covered this in post 31254. Voyage goes up
and down but Renegade
>> goes up, down, left and right.
> Which Voyage did you ride?  Aside from the first three or so hills,
> the lift, and the brake run I don't think there's a single section of
> straight track on that ride.  Almost every single hill is also tossing
> you to the side.  Renegade is a very solid ride - even stunningly good
> - but it's still no Voyage.
>> Wild Thing at ValleyFair! may be the best air time "steel" coaster in the
states as well.
>> I can't think of one I like better in the midwest where I spend my time.
>> coasterdude318 do you have an opinion about it?
> Oh, I have LOTS of thoughts about Wild Thing.  But my primary thought
> about the ride is that it is easily the most boring, and most
> forceless hypercoaster out there.  The first drop is decent and the
> second hill gives a nice, sustained float, but it's over after that.
> A long, boring, meandering turnaround. followed by extreme trimming
> and a few hills the train barely makes it over.  The only midwestern
> hypercoaster I like less is Magnum, because it's a rough pile of crap.
> I'm actually really confused about your praise for this ride, as I can
> think of at least a dozen steel coasters in the midwest that have
> better airtime.
> -Nate
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> Well I agree with the basic things that coasterdude318 is saying except I
would go further and say
> Renegade is better then Voyage. I covered this in post 31254. Voyage goes up
and down but Renegade
> goes up, down, left and right.

Which Voyage did you ride?  Aside from the first three or so hills,
the lift, and the brake run I don't think there's a single section of
straight track on that ride.  Almost every single hill is also tossing
you to the side.  Renegade is a very solid ride - even stunningly good
- but it's still no Voyage.

> Wild Thing at ValleyFair! may be the best air time "steel" coaster in the
states as well.
> I can't think of one I like better in the midwest where I spend my time.
> coasterdude318 do you have an opinion about it?

Oh, I have LOTS of thoughts about Wild Thing.  But my primary thought
about the ride is that it is easily the most boring, and most
forceless hypercoaster out there.  The first drop is decent and the
second hill gives a nice, sustained float, but it's over after that.
A long, boring, meandering turnaround. followed by extreme trimming
and a few hills the train barely makes it over.  The only midwestern
hypercoaster I like less is Magnum, because it's a rough pile of crap.

I'm actually really confused about your praise for this ride, as I can
think of at least a dozen steel coasters in the midwest that have
better airtime.

-Nate

Totally agre with Mike. That's a great suggestion, Jon.

I also agree that, typed out in the way that you have, it does make you come off
as snooty or jerkish. I have no clue if that's what you intend, or if it's
totally unintended, though. This is a huge drawback of internet interaction.

I'm going to choose to interpret it as unintended.

Chris

--- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" <jjloj@...> wrote:
>
> I have visited and poll and found it didn't hit me in the "sweet spot" of
interest capture.  As such I would like to ask what you see as the goal / use /
interest of the poll is?
>
> It seems to me "the point" of the poll is to have every coaster ranked by
every person who road it.  If I have concluded correctly, then only suggestion I
could make is to break the list up in to regional groupings.  Then compare the
top rides from each group. Document the groupings well and let people who get to
travel, "work" more then one grouping.
>
> This would also allow for regional "winners" making for more interesting
reading for folk who can't get to exotic locals to ride the "number one ride."
>
>
> It would mean running the data more times with fewer data points.
>
> Does that help?
>
> --- In RollerCoasterTalk@yahoogroups.com, "munkye1972" <munkye1972@> wrote:
> >
> > So, is Mitch's Coaster Poll getting too big?
> >
> > Last year, we added all of the wood coasters worldwide to the poll, as there
was only a small amount missing.
> >
> > The question at hand is this:
> >
> > The Steel Poll has gotten HUGE over the years, and some feel that it is too
difficult to complete in an honest, meaningful fashion. Do you guys think it
should be pared back some?
> >
> > Mitch has taken some of my suggestions the past couple years, and there's
been a LOT of input from enthusiasts worldwide. I'd like to get some feedback
from you guys if you could.
> >
> > Did splitting the ballot itself from all of the instructions etc make it
easier for you?
> >
> > Should the list of coasters be scaled back?
> >
> > Any other input?
> >
> > Mitch's logarithmic program is just about maxed out, so we know that we can
not make it much bigger so there is a real need to decide what to do. Remove
some of the long suffering bottom-dwellers? Combine more production models?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any ideas you have.
> >
> > Chris
> >
>