Deal or No Deal is back!

This week on NBC, Deal or No Deal, Howie Mandel, and the models, are back, with escalating prizes. When the show last went away, a high school football coach, who brought along his whole team, was playing for $5 million. In the previews, the top prize is supposed to escalate to $6 million.

Can't wait to see the show? Play this fun, tasty take on the hit game show!

Chicago's Big Box ordinance vetoed, rejected

Chicago Sun-Times

The living wage ordinance, which targeted big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart, is dead. After a veto by Mayor Richard Daley, as well as some aldermen, who first supported the ordinance but decided to reverse, because of the adverse economic effects caused by not having such stores in the city.

A South Side alderman with an expansion promise from Wal-Mart and two of Mayor Daley's closest Hispanic supporters said Monday they will provide the crossover votes Daley needs to sustain his veto of an ordinance requiring "big-box" retailers to pay their employees at least $13 an hour in wages and benefits by 2010.

"I understand and share a desire to ensure that everyone who works in ... Chicago earns a decent wage. But, I do not believe that this ordinance, well-intentioned as it may be, would achieve that end," Daley said in his first-ever veto message.

"Rather, I believe it would drive jobs and businesses from our city, penalizing neighborhoods that need additional economic activity the most. In light of this, I believe it is my duty to veto this ordinance."

Even after Daley's veto, the aldermen had the option of overriding the mayor's decision. However, those who supported the ordinance would ultimately lose after some of the council members decided to cross-over and oppose the law. They, among others, have realized that many shoppers leave the city to shop at these discount stores - why not keep the dollars within the Chicago city limits?

While some activists and union/labor leaders won't truly claim defeat, this shows that
"progressive" policy has actually hurt the inner cities and their residents, forcing retailers to build new stores in farmland and greenfields, rather than on brownfields and urban vacant sites that deserve it more - and for residents who need job opportunities and more choices.

Beech Bend neighbor wants Raceway, Amusement Park shut down

From the "I Have Nothing Better To Do Department":

Matt Baker wants to shut down Beech Bend Raceway Park for good.

In the wake of a Kentucky Court of Appeals ruling that would likely reopen a lane past his house to heavy weekend race traffic, Baker filed suit Sept. 8 in Warren Circuit Court against Warren County, City-County Planning Commission Executive Director Andy Gillies and Beech Bend owner Dallas Jones.

Baker's suit says the planning commission hasn't enforced its own ordinance - that Beech Bend's land is zoned for agriculture - and so shouldn't be used for a racetrack or amusement park.

It demands Jones “forever cease and desist all use of this property as an amusement park, campground, racetrack, concession or other entertainment facility.”

http://bgdailynews.com/articles/2006/09/14/local_news/news/news1.txt


I'm not sure if Mr. Baker has a case, but I am sure he has some personal feud going on. Then again, they could re-zone the Beech Bend property, or simply toss the bleeping lawsuit out.

Fox Sports writer ranks Bengals stadium 2nd worst.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5941952

Some people I know that bleed orange and black are going to see red:

The Worst

2. Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.
The fans were so vulgar and there were such displays of drunkenness (no, fans, inebriation is not a right) that the team — to its credit — has instituted a jerk line to call out idiots who cross the line. Fans can use their cell phones to rat out their neighbors. Will it help? I'm skeptical. I realize that Cincinnati fans aren't the only ones who exhibit boorish behavior (Philly fans practically wrote the book on it). Besides those issues, however, there are things to dislike about PBS. I found it difficult to navigate in a car to a suitable lot, and to find the entrance to the stadium. Fans screaming about disrespect ("Who dey! Who dey! Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?") is hardly worthy of great NFL chants.

Honestly, I think the stadium is an architectural landmark for Cincinnati - it's sleek and modern, like I like. If it weren't for Stark County's money and buddy ties, the OHSAA state football finals would be there by now. I also appreciate the restrooms: they're large, and the urinals have partitions between them! But Elliott Kalb got most of the article right - the fans have an attitude problem. And 'Who Dey!" should have been retired with the 1980s, the Sam Wyche area, and Riverfront Stadium. When you have your biggest rival clearly, undisputedly answering "We Dey!" because they not only beat you, but they have yet another Super Bowl ring, it's time to find anoter chant.

Koch bumped off Colbert - for now.

I apologize to everyone who was looking forward to Holiday World's own Will Koch on last night's Colbert Report. Apparently, Will had microphone trouble, which messed up things. By the time they got a working microphone, it would be too late to air the segment yesterday.

According to Holiblog, it will be a few weeks, but stay tuned.

Therefore, you could say, Mr. Colbert himself is... ON NOTICE.

Will Koch tonight on Colbert Report - Sheriff Jones to be on Daily Show

Late program alert: Tune into Comedy Central to see the Colbert Report TONIGHT at 11:30 PM Eastern. Will Koch from Holiday World and Splashin' Safari will be on, in a segment connecting Spencer County, IN to Abraham Lincoln.

Coming soon to "brother show" Daily Show with Jon Stewart is Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones. The Sheriff is known around for his tough crackdown on illegal aliens and implementation of chain gangs, as well as cheap mystery meat for inmates. The segment will tape tomorrow, air date to be announced soon.

So, don't forget, the Colbear Repoor tonight at 11:30. Will Koch!

9/11 Caller - Tower Collapses While on Phone

NOT SUITABLE FOR SOME: Kevin Cosgrove, trapped on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center, is on the line with 911 on his cell phone. The call ends abruptly when the tower collapses.

Please, no comments.

New from Apple: New iPods; major iTunes update, including Movies and Games!

Today came Apple's big "It's Showtime" press event.

First, changes across the board to the iPod lineup.

• iPod nano: new external designs, 5 colors, in the style of the popular predecessor Mini. Though prices remain the same, capacity is doubled. Brighter screen, improved battery life. Should be less scratch-prone than the previous nano model.
  
• $150: 2 GB - silver only
• $200: 4 GB - silver, green, pink, blue
• $250: 8 GB - black only
• iPod shuffle: totally redesigned, aluminum, with built-in belt/pocket clip - dock included.
• $79: 1 GB
• iPod: brighter display, improved battery life. Prices lowered by $50 compared to previous predecessor. Both models still have choice between black and white. The 5th Generation iPod now plays full-feature movies and games!
  
• $250: 30 GB
• $350: 80 GB - Holds approximately 20,000 songs. Increased capacity great for movies!

Next, major updates to iTunes and the iTunes Music Store!

• iTunes 7 released today
• Seperate library for music, podcasts, TV, etc.
• Auto download for album art
• Jukebox-style browsing of artwork
• Still a free download - looks great on my iMac!
  
• Online store now known as "iTunes Store"
• Music
  
• TV Shows
• Growing selection - over 45 million shows have been sold
  
• Features every major network, 220 different shows represented
• Resolution now 640 x 480–4x resolution
  
• Movies
• NEW!
• 75 features now available from Disney, Pixar, Touchstone and Miramax
• Future releases to be available same the same day as DVD release
• $12.99 first week then $14.99 afterward; pre-ordered titles $12.99
• 640 x 480 resolution
• 30 minute downloads, can watch movie as it loads
• Old titles $9.99
  
• Same rights apply on movies as on TV shows
  
• Only available in the US until 2007
  
• Same picture-based browsing featured with album art
  
• Mac with iTunes can now take over your living room (all your base are belong to Apple)
  
• Films feature tons of movie data such as actor bios, etc.
• Games
• NEW!
• 9 games now available, including Tetris, Pac-Man, Bejeweled, Vortex, Mini Golf
• $4.99 each or $44.91 for all 9
  
• Compatilbe only on 5th generation iPods - can't be played in iTunes.

Apple is also venturing into the home media center sector with iTV.

• Apple has wireless set top box for TV
• Working title is “iTV”
• Similar to Mac Mini, but 1/2 the size
• Uses Apple Remote
• Intended an ultimate media center, allowing users to play movies, music, photos, etc. on TV
• Works with PC or Mac
• $299, available in Q1 2007

Missing was the long-rumored widescreen, virtual touch iPod with wireless connectivity, as well as an iPhone - but never say never!

Photos and more at CrunchGear.

2007 Watch: Cedar Point announces Maverick!

"Maverick" is no longer a code name.

Today, Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH has announced its 17th roller coaster, Maverick, now being located in Frontiertown. Built on the former White Water Landing site, the Intamin launched coaster may lack the speed and height of previous Cedar Point coasters, but won't lack the fun thrill-seekers have come to expect.

Maverick features:

• Linear synchronous motor launching system
• 95-degree first drop
• Two launch areas
• Two 360-degree corkscrew rolls
• One 360-degree heartline roll
• Eight airtime-filled hills
• One 400-foot-long tunnel
• 10 banked turns, from 62 to 92 degrees
• Magnetic, non-contact braking system
• Elevated single load/unload station

The $21 million Maverick is the third most expensive Cedar Point coaster, and the park's fourth longest. It will essentially give Cedar Point, once again, the title of park with most coasters with 17! It will also be the first Intamin coaster at Cedar Point with the newer over-the-shoulder restraint design, making it easier for larger riders (like me) to ride!

However, 2007 season pass information for Cedar Point itself has yet to be released. If you live at another Cedar Fair park, like Kings Island, Michigan's Adventure, Kings Dominion, or Valleyfair!, you can get your Cedar Fair Maxx Pass for $125 or less and enjoy Maverick...

New for 2007 at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Just a few minutes ago, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari announced their 2007 plans.

Bakuli

our new family water slide in Splashin' Safari. Bakuli (pronounced bah-COOL-ee) is the Swahili word for "bowl" and that is exactly where this takes you—swirling round and round in a huge, colorful bowl! Start seven stories up and climb into a four-person cloverleaf raft. You'll be launched into a very dark, very steep tunnel that's full of surprises. You know how The Voyage has three 90-degree curves? So does Bakuli!

And you know how Zinga flings you into a huge funnel? Bakuli drops you into a gigantic purple, green and yellow bowl that measures 60 feet across! Around and around the high-banked bowl you'll slide and then drop into one last tunnel. Are where do you end up? Right in the middle of the island at Bahari River! Bakuli will (dare we say it?) bowl you over, it's so much fun!

Turkey Whirl

Over the river and through the woods, in Holiday World, there's a new ride being cooked up for our Thanksgiving section. Your entire family will want to take a spin on the Turkey Whirl! This new themed tilt-a-whirl is truly fun gone a-fowl. And the only leftovers will be your laughter!

Plymouth Rock Cafe
Originally set to be completed in 2006, this cafeteria-style restaurant will serve Thanksgiving-style dinners. Not sure if a gravy buffet will be included, though.

Bakuli image courtesy Holiday World & Spalshin' Safari


Also, tomorrow, Cedar Point will announce the details of the closely watched 2007 project, which is an Intamin steel coaster with inversions, and is said to have up to two LIM launches.

And don't forget that Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg announced Griffon, the world's first B&M floorless dive coaster - reaching heights of 200' and over 70 mph - and 90 degree drops. Yet another quality thrilling coaster at a quality theme park.

2007 Season Pass Sales are now ON!

Looking at the forums, I've found out that you can now buy 2007 season passes through Kings Island now.
Kings Island
- There will still be the basic KI only pass at $75, and the Junior/Senior pass for $50.
- Cedar Fair Maxx Pass is also available at $125, but unlike before, there will be a Junior/Senior version of this pass available for $80. Maxx Pass offers admission to all of Cedar Fair's ride parks, including Cedar Point and Geauga Lake.
- A new version is now available: the Cedar Fair Maxx Plus Pass! Maxx Plus offers admission to Kings Island, all ride parks, and now, the separately gated water parks (Knott's Soak City, CP Soak City, and Oceans of Fun). $150 Adults, $75 Junior/Senior.

Cincinnati's park isn't the only one doing this now...
Michigan's Adventure is now selling their 2007 passes.
MiAdv offers the Regular, Maxx, and Maxx Plus passes, too, but also now a MiAdv+Cedar Point pass for $105.

Valleyfair! is now selling '07 passes for $75. They, like KI and MA, are one park only, but offer a Maxx upgrade for only $10 more. Nothing mentioning the Maxx Plus, though.

The real kicker, though comes from Canada's Wonderland. Passes there will ONLY be valid at that park - no Maxx Passes will be available in Canada.

So far, no information yet from other parks, including Cedar Point, Geauga Lake, Kings Dominion, Dorney Park (where it's Dorney Time!), Et Cetera...

BTW, the BIG announcement regarding the 2007 Project at Cedar Point is coming Thursday, September 7 - expect 2007 season pass info to be relased then, too.