Very recent events have given my life a little perspective, and it's been a sad few hours. An old friend passed away at some point this evening after being involved in a tragic car accident. To the best of my knowledge it was not due to drunk or reckless driving on his part.
I started really thinking about my life...and how blessed I am to be here. There have been times when life hasn't been easy...but I can honestly say I've never had to fight that hard for my life.
So to keep this short and sweet, Rest in Peace Tyler Bonner, though I only knew you for a speck of time on the grand timeline that is our world, you were a wonderful human being and I hope that God greets you with open arms and a shot of tequila. You will be missed.
"At some point your life will flash before your eyes...so you best be sure it's worth watching."
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Kings Island vs. Cedar Point
This past weekend I visited Kings Island, an amusement park in Cincinnati, OH. For the vast majority of the times I have visited the park (for about 12 years now) it has been owned by Paramount, which is kind of neat because it has this tendency to be like a cheaper alternative to Disney. Everything flows well together because it incorporates things you have seen in movies and otherwise outside of the park, and puts it together. It really has (had?) a nice atmosphere to it.
However, a few years back Cedar Fairs (the company that owns a great deal of parks across the country, including the ever-famous Cedar Point) bought the park while Paramount was in financial trouble and struggling to keep the park operating and current.
This really kills me, because it was truly a gem in the Midwest. It's not too far from a number of states, just far enough to constitute a decently priced vacation that promises fun.
Don't get me wrong, Cedar Fairs knows amusement parks. But I fear they'll stamp out the uniqueness of this particular park...from its trademark Eiffel Tower replica (you can go all the way to the top, and it's 1/3 of the size of the original in Paris-not bad for the Midwest, eh?) to its variety of movie and character themed rides.
It originally began on a similar path as Disney World or Universal Studios, in that it had the rights to all kinds of movies, which are nothing more than stories that are at your disposal to use on these rides. It can really make you feel like you're living the movies they're themed for. Most rides even had preprogrammed TVs in the queue lines so you could watch clips and snippets of the ride's chosen movie.
And don't think this park didn't break records like Cedar Point, because this park also is the holder of a number of "firsts" including the first inverted ride. It was exceptional in ride design for years, and often competed with Cedar Point when it came to ride size and daring-ness.
But it seems those days are over, as just a few short years after changing ownership, the themed rides are gone, as are the unique characters (Hannah Barbara Land? Nickelodeon Kids Zone?) that made it wonderful in the first place. You can just tell that Cedar Fairs sees this park and all its "wasted space" used for shaded areas, parks, and a Main Street that rivals the Magic Kingdom.
They've even begun importing large "thrill rides" that only appeal to those who want nothing more than an adrenaline rush, and are placing them as it seems, "wherever there's space," with no regard to the layout and design of the park. KI was great because of it's space, it was spread out enough to expand if necessary, but not to cram everything into one small area.
If you're a Cedar Point lover, my apologies, but I hope that Kings Island will still be a place I want to take my kids. Because once upon a time, it was great...
However, a few years back Cedar Fairs (the company that owns a great deal of parks across the country, including the ever-famous Cedar Point) bought the park while Paramount was in financial trouble and struggling to keep the park operating and current.
This really kills me, because it was truly a gem in the Midwest. It's not too far from a number of states, just far enough to constitute a decently priced vacation that promises fun.
Don't get me wrong, Cedar Fairs knows amusement parks. But I fear they'll stamp out the uniqueness of this particular park...from its trademark Eiffel Tower replica (you can go all the way to the top, and it's 1/3 of the size of the original in Paris-not bad for the Midwest, eh?) to its variety of movie and character themed rides.
It originally began on a similar path as Disney World or Universal Studios, in that it had the rights to all kinds of movies, which are nothing more than stories that are at your disposal to use on these rides. It can really make you feel like you're living the movies they're themed for. Most rides even had preprogrammed TVs in the queue lines so you could watch clips and snippets of the ride's chosen movie.
And don't think this park didn't break records like Cedar Point, because this park also is the holder of a number of "firsts" including the first inverted ride. It was exceptional in ride design for years, and often competed with Cedar Point when it came to ride size and daring-ness.
But it seems those days are over, as just a few short years after changing ownership, the themed rides are gone, as are the unique characters (Hannah Barbara Land? Nickelodeon Kids Zone?) that made it wonderful in the first place. You can just tell that Cedar Fairs sees this park and all its "wasted space" used for shaded areas, parks, and a Main Street that rivals the Magic Kingdom.
They've even begun importing large "thrill rides" that only appeal to those who want nothing more than an adrenaline rush, and are placing them as it seems, "wherever there's space," with no regard to the layout and design of the park. KI was great because of it's space, it was spread out enough to expand if necessary, but not to cram everything into one small area.
If you're a Cedar Point lover, my apologies, but I hope that Kings Island will still be a place I want to take my kids. Because once upon a time, it was great...
Sunday, July 24, 2011
But I said, "No, no, no..."
That's right, I'm about to blog about...drumroll...Amy Winehouse. I would like to say, before I go on this rant, that I am sorry for her family, because I'm sure it must be incredibly difficult to deal with the loss of a child. I send them my deepest condolences.
But come on. I'm fairly sure there have been many times when the headline, "Amy Winehouse is dead" had to be shelved because it was a false alarm. Granted, I haven't heard much about her (aside from her wandering through the streets of the UK aimlessly at night, and then jetting off to somewhere in the Caribbean...that really is the last I'd heard, then again, she hadn't been the first British person on my mind...) as of recently, but I think it's fair to say that we were kind of anticipating this.
I remember a few years ago, I saw a before and after picture of Ms. Winehouse. She looked very normal and even pretty. Fast forward a few years and Grammy awards later, she looked a mess.
And I can't say it's anyone's fault but her own, because I heard many a time her father asking her publicly to please let them help her. Having a relative much, much like this puts it a little into perspective, and definitely makes me a little sad. But you can only feel sorry for someone for so long...and I stopped feeling sorry for my relative a long time ago when she had the opportunity to change.
So prepare yourselves for a slew of Amy Winehouse jokes...I can't say I won't make any myself...
And P.S...for those of you Amy Winehouse enthusiasts and wannabes, I hope this acts as a wake up call as to what happens when you treat your body like shit. Don't say I didn't warn you...
But come on. I'm fairly sure there have been many times when the headline, "Amy Winehouse is dead" had to be shelved because it was a false alarm. Granted, I haven't heard much about her (aside from her wandering through the streets of the UK aimlessly at night, and then jetting off to somewhere in the Caribbean...that really is the last I'd heard, then again, she hadn't been the first British person on my mind...) as of recently, but I think it's fair to say that we were kind of anticipating this.
I remember a few years ago, I saw a before and after picture of Ms. Winehouse. She looked very normal and even pretty. Fast forward a few years and Grammy awards later, she looked a mess.
And I can't say it's anyone's fault but her own, because I heard many a time her father asking her publicly to please let them help her. Having a relative much, much like this puts it a little into perspective, and definitely makes me a little sad. But you can only feel sorry for someone for so long...and I stopped feeling sorry for my relative a long time ago when she had the opportunity to change.
So prepare yourselves for a slew of Amy Winehouse jokes...I can't say I won't make any myself...
And P.S...for those of you Amy Winehouse enthusiasts and wannabes, I hope this acts as a wake up call as to what happens when you treat your body like shit. Don't say I didn't warn you...
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