Five Time!
Five Time!
Five Time!
Five Time!
Five Time!
Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers!
And thanks to Ben Roethlisberger for being such a star so early, Jerome Bettis for ending his career the way it oughta be, the Rooney family, and to the Steelers altogether for beating the best (Colts included) in the playoffs.
And continuing to 'PWN' the Bengals!
Did I just say that I got back from Pittsburgh? Coincidence? You decide.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Back from Pittsburgh, and more!
I'm back home on my beloved new iMac, and yes I'm watching the Super Bowl. Having been IN Pittsburgh this morning and last night, the atmosphere, from Mellon Arena to Station Square was estatic for the home NFL team. And even on the way back home, lots of proud orange and black.
And now, it looks like what St. Louis couldn't do in baseball, and Indianapolis couldn't do in football - the Pittsburgh Steelers are about to do it all. One minute left in the game 21-10 Steelers over Seattle.
More in a few minutes...
And now, it looks like what St. Louis couldn't do in baseball, and Indianapolis couldn't do in football - the Pittsburgh Steelers are about to do it all. One minute left in the game 21-10 Steelers over Seattle.
More in a few minutes...
Pittsburgh Pt 2: Comments and last minute sights
I left off with a trip to Station Square on the Port Authority Light Rail system. The subway station, right near the hotel, might rival that of newer heavy rail lines in Washington, San Francisco and Atlanta. Also, I rode the Monongohela incline, a very interesting and scenic way to see Pittsburgh. Before I leave town to see more of Pittsburgh at home (Steelers in the Super Bowl XL!) I'll drive around downtown, get some more shots of Mellon Arena, drive past Heinz Field (Steelers) and PNC Park (Pirates), and ride the Duquesne Incline up and down.
It's a safe bet that I'll be returning to Pittsburgh soon - I have yet to visit the wonderful Kennywood park nearby, and seeing a baseball game at PNC Park is also worthwhile (preferably against the Reds or Cardinals).
So long, Steel City.
It's a safe bet that I'll be returning to Pittsburgh soon - I have yet to visit the wonderful Kennywood park nearby, and seeing a baseball game at PNC Park is also worthwhile (preferably against the Reds or Cardinals).
So long, Steel City.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Reporting from Pittsburgh Part 1: Penguins vs. Islanders
Not long ago (around an hour), I got back from the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders hockey game across the street at Mellon Arena. This is my first time in Pittsburgh and Mellon Arena "the Igloo."
My seat was in the D level, center ice, so the view was outstanding, it's a neat arena, even as the trend is to build new ones, replacing Mellon. More on the arena debacle in another post.
The Pens, I can say, haven't been doing too well, having a bad record so far in the NHL, plus with the second (and final) retirement of Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby's bout with the flu, which caused him to miss Thursday's home game against Ottawa, which was lost 7-2.
Today's game against the Islanders would be more exciting - Crosby was back, and scored in the 1st period, which ended 2-1 Isles, but the Penguins would compete well, defend, and come back to end regulation with a 4-4 tie, plus a scoreless overtime period. The game would come down to an exciting shootout - Only the Isles would score two goals, none by the Pens. Another loss, but an exciting matchup.
Today was "Black & Gold Day" - not only for the Penguins, but also for the AFC Champion Steelers, who face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL tomorrow in Detroit. Some folks in my hometown want the Seahawks to kill the Steelers (bitter after a certain failed rhetorical question), but honestly with Shaun Alexander from Florence KY, I'd cheer for him a bit. But the surprise team this year is definitely the Steelers, having snuck past the heavily favored Colts in the playoffs at RCA Dome last month. It might be the finale for Jerome Bettis in his hometown of Detroit. And Ben Roethlisberger, what can I say? An exteremely impressive rookie season that we thought was followed by a sophomore slump. Go Steelers!
Later on, I'll head over to Station Square, and check out the sights, the Monongohela Incline, go eat, and ride the light rail. Pittsburgh has been impressive so far - I went into Kaufmann's earlier downtown. 11 floors are still used for retail space, and there are so many escalators, even some really old Otis wood escalators (with wood steps, although no longer in use). Hopefully Federated/Macy's won't kill it after they take over Kaufmann's parent company May Dept. Stores.
Pitts-off!
My seat was in the D level, center ice, so the view was outstanding, it's a neat arena, even as the trend is to build new ones, replacing Mellon. More on the arena debacle in another post.
The Pens, I can say, haven't been doing too well, having a bad record so far in the NHL, plus with the second (and final) retirement of Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby's bout with the flu, which caused him to miss Thursday's home game against Ottawa, which was lost 7-2.
Today's game against the Islanders would be more exciting - Crosby was back, and scored in the 1st period, which ended 2-1 Isles, but the Penguins would compete well, defend, and come back to end regulation with a 4-4 tie, plus a scoreless overtime period. The game would come down to an exciting shootout - Only the Isles would score two goals, none by the Pens. Another loss, but an exciting matchup.
Today was "Black & Gold Day" - not only for the Penguins, but also for the AFC Champion Steelers, who face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL tomorrow in Detroit. Some folks in my hometown want the Seahawks to kill the Steelers (bitter after a certain failed rhetorical question), but honestly with Shaun Alexander from Florence KY, I'd cheer for him a bit. But the surprise team this year is definitely the Steelers, having snuck past the heavily favored Colts in the playoffs at RCA Dome last month. It might be the finale for Jerome Bettis in his hometown of Detroit. And Ben Roethlisberger, what can I say? An exteremely impressive rookie season that we thought was followed by a sophomore slump. Go Steelers!
Later on, I'll head over to Station Square, and check out the sights, the Monongohela Incline, go eat, and ride the light rail. Pittsburgh has been impressive so far - I went into Kaufmann's earlier downtown. 11 floors are still used for retail space, and there are so many escalators, even some really old Otis wood escalators (with wood steps, although no longer in use). Hopefully Federated/Macy's won't kill it after they take over Kaufmann's parent company May Dept. Stores.
Pitts-off!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
New hope for SFKK and more...
Seems the speculation has ended... Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro visits Kentucky Kingdom, and the Louisville park is getting the attention it deserves. Le's hope it includes lots of marketing and better customer service, with Holiday World, Beech Bend, and Kings Island not too far away...
Louisville Courier-Journal Article
In the middle of big sports events and/or their cities. In September/October, it was St. Louis as Busch Stadium was being closed down. In November, it was Indianapolis as the Colts played the Steelers on a Monday Night. In January, I was in Chicago as the Bears hosted the playoffs (did not attend the game though).
Now February, I will be in Pittsburgh this Saturday to see the Penguins play the Islanders at Mellon Arena. Of course, Pittsburgh's football team, the Steelers, are playing Sunday in Super Bowl XL in Detroit!
Side note, it seemed that when Albert Pujols of the Cardinals had a magazine article not long ago, so did Sidney Crosby of the Penguins. Crosby just might be the Pujols of hockey...
Louisville Courier-Journal Article
In the middle of big sports events and/or their cities. In September/October, it was St. Louis as Busch Stadium was being closed down. In November, it was Indianapolis as the Colts played the Steelers on a Monday Night. In January, I was in Chicago as the Bears hosted the playoffs (did not attend the game though).
Now February, I will be in Pittsburgh this Saturday to see the Penguins play the Islanders at Mellon Arena. Of course, Pittsburgh's football team, the Steelers, are playing Sunday in Super Bowl XL in Detroit!
Side note, it seemed that when Albert Pujols of the Cardinals had a magazine article not long ago, so did Sidney Crosby of the Penguins. Crosby just might be the Pujols of hockey...
Monday, January 30, 2006
Elmo in talking children's book: "Who wants to die?"
You may have read this, but I just had to add it for records here in the AAblog:
Local6.com, Orlando, FL story:
Think it's a Grand Illusion? You can get one, but since all of the books with the, uh, glitch, have been pulled from retail stores, so eBay is your only option now. Some bidding has started as low as around $10, but some auctions, including those nearing closing and those with the 'Buy it Now" option, are as much as $100.
Some YTMND sites:
elmo wants you to die!
Elmo "Who wants to die"
Elmo wants you to die!!!!!11
Local6.com, Orlando, FL story:
A mother in Dallas is one of several parents complaining about a new interactive book for toddlers in which Sesame Street character Elmo asks "who wants to die?" according to a Local 6 News report.
Family members said 16-month-old Miranda Boll's new book, "Potty Time With Elmo," was supposed to teach an interactive lesson using voice commands.
However, when the book's buttons are pressed, it reportedly says something it is not supposed to -- "who wants to die?"
"It's a sick joke," mother Angela Bolls said. "If it's a joke then it's a bad one, you know? And it's not necessary. It's inappropriate."
Bolls said she checked another copy of the same book and found that it says something completely different; "Who wants to try to go potty?"
The company that makes the book said it has had several complaints concerning the book, according to the report.
Think it's a Grand Illusion? You can get one, but since all of the books with the, uh, glitch, have been pulled from retail stores, so eBay is your only option now. Some bidding has started as low as around $10, but some auctions, including those nearing closing and those with the 'Buy it Now" option, are as much as $100.
Some YTMND sites:
elmo wants you to die!
Elmo "Who wants to die"
Elmo wants you to die!!!!!11
Sunday, January 29, 2006
CBS Corp. to sell Paramount Parks, including Kings Island
This may be a repeat of news from over a month ago, but it is back in the spotlight now that Viacom has split into two companies, CBS Corporation now wishes to sell the Paramount Parks by the end of the year. Several groups have expressed interest.
http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=175
Scenarios, if the parks are indeed sold, as a whole:
- An investor group could buy, such as the Blackstone Group. The parks could retain the 'Paramount' name as well as their existing character and brand names, through licensing. This would probably be the smoothest transition, as changes could be more gradual.
- Another theme park chain could buy. Most likely is Cedar Fair, L.P., owner of Cedar Point and Geauga Lake parks, both also in Ohio. Though CEO Dick Kinzel has said that the company's growth has generally been more conservative, having only acquired one park every few years since the 1990s, don't be surprised if they buy, if the financial situation is right.
When CF acquired Geauga Lake from Six Flags in 2004, intellectual properties, such as Warner Brothers, Looney Tunes, and DC Comics, licensed to Six Flags parks like Worlds of Adventure were not transferred to the park's new owner. Cedar Fair had to quickly remove signage, theming, and characters from many rides, as well as the children's area. Starting in 2005, Cedar Fair expanded its license rights to Geauga Lake by placing Peanuts characters in the park
Therefore, would CBS and Viacom transfer the intellectual properties such as Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and CBS television, to another chain like Cedar Fair? What about other licenses, like Hanna-Barbera?
- It is also possible that the parks could be split up and sold separately, or CBS could keep one or some, and sell the other(s).
Reaction to the possible sale has been mixed, as discussed on PKICentral.com, the leading unofficial website of Kings Island.
- Some welcome the change, as while they appreciate the success that Kings Island since the 'Paramount' was added in 1993, they feel that it has been more of a commerical for Paramount and Viacom, at the expense of quality and choice of additions and changes to the park. They believe the days before Paramount meant better quality, rides, and entertainment than as of late.
- Others fear the change. During the park's 34 years, 14 have been as Paramount's Kings Island, which has meant so many of the park's popular rides and attractions have been named/themed after Paramount films and other Viacom properties such as Nickelodeon. They are concerned that the marketability of these brands, will be lost in the sale.
When Kings Island was purchased by Paramount Communications in late 1992, many were concerned about popular attractions either being removed and/or being renamed. While several venues were renamed to enhance the Paramount name, and attractions such Wild Animal Habitat safari monorail, animal shows, and some live entertainment were removed not long after the change, much of the park retained its previous state, including International Street, Hanna-Barbera Land (until 2005), and the Beast, whose namesake was added to an even larger wooden coaster in 2000.
Also in question are future planned attractions (including, possibly, a large steel roller coaster) for 2007 and beyond. When ownership changed after the 1992 season, plans for the 1993 ride were slightly altered. The old group had planned an Arrow Suspended coaster for the Wild Animal Habitat section of the park, to be called either 'Swoop' or 'Thunder Road.' Paramount quickly changed the theming, and the name of the ride to 'Top Gun,' but the coaster's layout was not changed. Nickelodeon Universe, the revamp of old Hanna-Barbera Land and Nickelodeon Central, is still moving ahead for Spring 2006, and the park will continue to sell and accept 2006 season passes and tickets as planned.
Yes, 2006 at Kings Island will be interesting, so stay tuned!
http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=175
Scenarios, if the parks are indeed sold, as a whole:
- An investor group could buy, such as the Blackstone Group. The parks could retain the 'Paramount' name as well as their existing character and brand names, through licensing. This would probably be the smoothest transition, as changes could be more gradual.
- Another theme park chain could buy. Most likely is Cedar Fair, L.P., owner of Cedar Point and Geauga Lake parks, both also in Ohio. Though CEO Dick Kinzel has said that the company's growth has generally been more conservative, having only acquired one park every few years since the 1990s, don't be surprised if they buy, if the financial situation is right.
When CF acquired Geauga Lake from Six Flags in 2004, intellectual properties, such as Warner Brothers, Looney Tunes, and DC Comics, licensed to Six Flags parks like Worlds of Adventure were not transferred to the park's new owner. Cedar Fair had to quickly remove signage, theming, and characters from many rides, as well as the children's area. Starting in 2005, Cedar Fair expanded its license rights to Geauga Lake by placing Peanuts characters in the park
Therefore, would CBS and Viacom transfer the intellectual properties such as Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and CBS television, to another chain like Cedar Fair? What about other licenses, like Hanna-Barbera?
- It is also possible that the parks could be split up and sold separately, or CBS could keep one or some, and sell the other(s).
Reaction to the possible sale has been mixed, as discussed on PKICentral.com, the leading unofficial website of Kings Island.
- Some welcome the change, as while they appreciate the success that Kings Island since the 'Paramount' was added in 1993, they feel that it has been more of a commerical for Paramount and Viacom, at the expense of quality and choice of additions and changes to the park. They believe the days before Paramount meant better quality, rides, and entertainment than as of late.
- Others fear the change. During the park's 34 years, 14 have been as Paramount's Kings Island, which has meant so many of the park's popular rides and attractions have been named/themed after Paramount films and other Viacom properties such as Nickelodeon. They are concerned that the marketability of these brands, will be lost in the sale.
When Kings Island was purchased by Paramount Communications in late 1992, many were concerned about popular attractions either being removed and/or being renamed. While several venues were renamed to enhance the Paramount name, and attractions such Wild Animal Habitat safari monorail, animal shows, and some live entertainment were removed not long after the change, much of the park retained its previous state, including International Street, Hanna-Barbera Land (until 2005), and the Beast, whose namesake was added to an even larger wooden coaster in 2000.
Also in question are future planned attractions (including, possibly, a large steel roller coaster) for 2007 and beyond. When ownership changed after the 1992 season, plans for the 1993 ride were slightly altered. The old group had planned an Arrow Suspended coaster for the Wild Animal Habitat section of the park, to be called either 'Swoop' or 'Thunder Road.' Paramount quickly changed the theming, and the name of the ride to 'Top Gun,' but the coaster's layout was not changed. Nickelodeon Universe, the revamp of old Hanna-Barbera Land and Nickelodeon Central, is still moving ahead for Spring 2006, and the park will continue to sell and accept 2006 season passes and tickets as planned.
Yes, 2006 at Kings Island will be interesting, so stay tuned!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Remembering Dan O'Brien, 2004-2006
The following is a list of people Dan O'Brien thanked when he was first hired by the Reds as General Manager about two years ago:
Dan Fawcett, Lloyd Coughee, Jeff Odenwald, Kenneth Horzberg, Steve Krause, Randy Ademack, Hal Keller, Rolan Heamon, Hal Smith, John McMullen, Hal Rosen, Drayton McClane, Tim Hellmuth, Mertha Campbell, Tracy Diering, Jerry Kraft, Kevin Stein, Walt Matthews, Stan Benjamin, Andy McPhail, Tony Siegel, Linwood Stallings, Greg Whitworth, Doug Deutsch, Bob King, Gene Wellman, Dan Houston, Nelson Rube, Sean Pender, Tad Slowek, Lou Temple, Zach Manazian, John Blake, Rob Matwick, Don Cockstein, Rick Aponte, Julio Lenares, Ray Coley, Bob Riesenover, Bob Missick, Jeff Wood, John Daniels, Russ Artelina, Chris Lingus, Tony Taylor, Eric Nadel, Vince Cotronio, Brad Scham, Tom Grieve, Alan Ashby, Bill Brown, Bert Miller, Rob Wyndham, Bob Watson, Richard Wagner, Rudy Herrimeo, Richard Saco, Doug Melvin, John Hart, Tom Hicks, Judy Johns, Margaret Mayo, Debbie Benson, Chuck McMichael, Randy Taylor, Rivan DeJesus, Andres Riner, Manny Batiste...
Note that this may not be the complete list, and that it was only transcribed by ear, so many names may not be spelled correctly.
Dan Fawcett, Lloyd Coughee, Jeff Odenwald, Kenneth Horzberg, Steve Krause, Randy Ademack, Hal Keller, Rolan Heamon, Hal Smith, John McMullen, Hal Rosen, Drayton McClane, Tim Hellmuth, Mertha Campbell, Tracy Diering, Jerry Kraft, Kevin Stein, Walt Matthews, Stan Benjamin, Andy McPhail, Tony Siegel, Linwood Stallings, Greg Whitworth, Doug Deutsch, Bob King, Gene Wellman, Dan Houston, Nelson Rube, Sean Pender, Tad Slowek, Lou Temple, Zach Manazian, John Blake, Rob Matwick, Don Cockstein, Rick Aponte, Julio Lenares, Ray Coley, Bob Riesenover, Bob Missick, Jeff Wood, John Daniels, Russ Artelina, Chris Lingus, Tony Taylor, Eric Nadel, Vince Cotronio, Brad Scham, Tom Grieve, Alan Ashby, Bill Brown, Bert Miller, Rob Wyndham, Bob Watson, Richard Wagner, Rudy Herrimeo, Richard Saco, Doug Melvin, John Hart, Tom Hicks, Judy Johns, Margaret Mayo, Debbie Benson, Chuck McMichael, Randy Taylor, Rivan DeJesus, Andres Riner, Manny Batiste...
Note that this may not be the complete list, and that it was only transcribed by ear, so many names may not be spelled correctly.
Monday, January 23, 2006
O'Brien out as Reds GM
Only three days after the big press conference at Great American Ball Park on Friday, new Reds owner Bob Castellini has already made a major change at the Cincinnati baseball club by firing General Manager Dan O'Brien, according to the Associated Press and FoxSports.com.
Bill "Seg Man" Dennison just said on 700 WLW that O'Brien is indeed out, and will be replaced by interim GM Brad Kullman. A press conference on the change is coming shortly.
I'll sort of miss Dan O'Brien, who read a long list of names when he was hired (Dan Fawcett, Lloyd Coughee, Jeff Odennwalt, Steve Krause, Randy Ademeack, Richard Keller,... etc...) and also said "A man playing with boys." The double entendres will never end!
Bill "Seg Man" Dennison just said on 700 WLW that O'Brien is indeed out, and will be replaced by interim GM Brad Kullman. A press conference on the change is coming shortly.
I'll sort of miss Dan O'Brien, who read a long list of names when he was hired (Dan Fawcett, Lloyd Coughee, Jeff Odennwalt, Steve Krause, Randy Ademeack, Richard Keller,... etc...) and also said "A man playing with boys." The double entendres will never end!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
The new look at Allen Arena.com!
You may have now seen the beginnings of the next generation of Allen Arena. This is the first major change since going .com in 2002. Why the change? New software, and a new computer - I am now using Adobe GoLive CS2 on my iMac G5. And It's no surprise I've been a fan of Apple products, having talked about the latest iPod models in the past - I just as highly recommend their Macintosh computers to upoad to your iPod from. Contrary to belief, Macs are great for the average consumer - even you're not a designer using Adobe design products. You can surf the Internet quickly, safely, and with less hassle, as Macs don't get the bad viruses, rapid pop-ups, and spyware that slow down otherwise good Windows PCs.
You can even switch to Mac for as little as $500 by using your own existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse on a Mac mini. Or, for great power for the money, the new iMac with new Intel Core Duo processors as low as $1300 - which includes the widescreen LCD monitor, mouse, and keyboard - and twice as fast as the previous iMac G5. And the Macs look better - inside and out!
You can even switch to Mac for as little as $500 by using your own existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse on a Mac mini. Or, for great power for the money, the new iMac with new Intel Core Duo processors as low as $1300 - which includes the widescreen LCD monitor, mouse, and keyboard - and twice as fast as the previous iMac G5. And the Macs look better - inside and out!
Steelers off to Super Bowl XL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now off to Super Bowl XL in Detroit, after defeating the Broncos in Denver 34-17 - the sixth seed in the AFC defeating the second seed. This comes just one week after defeating the #1 seed Colts at RCA Dome to get there. And if they were to win the big game, it would be quite possibly a storybook season, as Jerome Bettis, who may retire at the end of the season, will get to play what may be the final game of his career - and a big one indeed - in his hometown of Detroit! The fact that the Steelers got past the Colts makes them good enough to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Who will they play? Either Seattle, with the great running back who is Shawn Alexander (from nearby Boone County HS, Kentucky) or Carolina, which has some recent Super Bowl experience and up and coming Nick Goings and powerful Jake Delhomme (enough with the ass tear jokes).
Who will they play? Either Seattle, with the great running back who is Shawn Alexander (from nearby Boone County HS, Kentucky) or Carolina, which has some recent Super Bowl experience and up and coming Nick Goings and powerful Jake Delhomme (enough with the ass tear jokes).
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Monday, January 16, 2006
Back from Chicago... and feeling BLUE in more ways than one.
I'm back at home on my wonderful new non-PC. Saturday I spent the entire day at Marriott's Linconshire Resort for a fun-filled but LONG No Coaster Con. More on NCC in a later post.
Today, I headed downtown and rode the CTA blue line train from a park & ride near O'Hare and went to Sears Tower for the 103rd Skydeck, then rode the Brown Line around the loop, then back to the car on the Blue Line. While not a coaster, it was a neat experience on rails! Right near our station was a restaurant where I had lunch and saw the Colts-Steelers playoff game, where the theme soon turned to "Oh Crap!"
The moral of the story, I practically lost my heart and mind in Chicago today. Yes, the football fans there aren't too happy, either - but most everyone was picking the Colts to win the Super Bowl. Peyton and Marvin (Harrison, and Ben and Jerome played great today. Mike Vanderjagt? See Jay Feely.
If the NFC team - either the Seahawks or Panthers, don't win the Super Bowl, you might want to find the way to your nearest church.
Or just wait until April for baseball season. Redbirds vs. Redlegs at New Busch sounds great now!
Seriously though, visit Chicago sometime soon! There's more to it than Oprah and other fat people.
Today, I headed downtown and rode the CTA blue line train from a park & ride near O'Hare and went to Sears Tower for the 103rd Skydeck, then rode the Brown Line around the loop, then back to the car on the Blue Line. While not a coaster, it was a neat experience on rails! Right near our station was a restaurant where I had lunch and saw the Colts-Steelers playoff game, where the theme soon turned to "Oh Crap!"
The moral of the story, I practically lost my heart and mind in Chicago today. Yes, the football fans there aren't too happy, either - but most everyone was picking the Colts to win the Super Bowl. Peyton and Marvin (Harrison, and Ben and Jerome played great today. Mike Vanderjagt? See Jay Feely.
If the NFC team - either the Seahawks or Panthers, don't win the Super Bowl, you might want to find the way to your nearest church.
Or just wait until April for baseball season. Redbirds vs. Redlegs at New Busch sounds great now!
Seriously though, visit Chicago sometime soon! There's more to it than Oprah and other fat people.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Navy Pier to add waterpark, coaster, and monorail!
Too bad only the plans were announced this weekend
Chicago Tribune article
I'm sure this will be discussed in the morning at No Coaster Con. Does The Monorail Society know about this?
Chicago Tribune article
I'm sure this will be discussed in the morning at No Coaster Con. Does The Monorail Society know about this?
Reporting from near Chicago, Day 1
I am now in Lincolnshire, NW of downtown Chicago. We came in through some rain and snow, but once we reached the city, it was a beautiful sight seeing Sears Tower and the skyline of the Second City.
I'm here for No Coaster Con 2006, located next door at Marriott's Lincolnshire Resort - for some fun and info, and meeting familiar faces, among enthusiasts and park representatives, including those from nearby Six Flags Great America, my hometown Kings Island, and more... All day! Saturday! Lincolnshire! Marriott! No Coasters!
Sunday before I go back home, I'll head back to Sears Tower for some sight seeing, and will ride the famed CTA subway and elevated trains.
I'm here for No Coaster Con 2006, located next door at Marriott's Lincolnshire Resort - for some fun and info, and meeting familiar faces, among enthusiasts and park representatives, including those from nearby Six Flags Great America, my hometown Kings Island, and more... All day! Saturday! Lincolnshire! Marriott! No Coasters!
Sunday before I go back home, I'll head back to Sears Tower for some sight seeing, and will ride the famed CTA subway and elevated trains.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
New exciting changes coming...
Please pardon me for a lack of updates lately... I have some new equipment here at The Allen Company World Headquarters here in the northern suburbs on Cincinnati. Do, however, expect some new exciting changes - more photos, features, and more at Allen Arena.
PS... I'm also watching the big football games - the Giants and Tiki "Big Sexy" Barber vs. Jake "Ass Cheek" Delhomme - and the one right nearby - Bengals vs. Steelers. The pickers and pundits are mixed - Many pick the Steelers, notably Rush Limbaugh and Frank Caliendo because they have the postseason experience - But others say the Bengals will win at Paul Brown Stadium today because of Carson, a Willie, and some Johnsons (I'll stop, I want to remain family friendly).
Picks: Giants and Bengals
Also congrats to my successful picks from yesterday - Tom Brady and the Patriots, and Chick McGee's Redskins led by the legendary Joe Gibbs!
PS... I'm also watching the big football games - the Giants and Tiki "Big Sexy" Barber vs. Jake "Ass Cheek" Delhomme - and the one right nearby - Bengals vs. Steelers. The pickers and pundits are mixed - Many pick the Steelers, notably Rush Limbaugh and Frank Caliendo because they have the postseason experience - But others say the Bengals will win at Paul Brown Stadium today because of Carson, a Willie, and some Johnsons (I'll stop, I want to remain family friendly).
Picks: Giants and Bengals
Also congrats to my successful picks from yesterday - Tom Brady and the Patriots, and Chick McGee's Redskins led by the legendary Joe Gibbs!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
The 2006 Prediction List
my apologies if this sounds too optimistic...
Sports
Super Bowl XL - Colts over Seahawks
(The Bengals will make it to the AFC finals, but be defeated by the Colts)
World Series - Cardinals over Yankees
NCAA Basketball - Michigan State
The University of Cincinnati will extend interim basketball coach Andy Kennedy's contract another year.
The OHSAA Football Division I title will be won, for the fifth time in a row, by a Cincinnati area team, either a repeat by St. Xavier, or it will be reclaimed by 2004 winner Colerain. Kerry Cooooommbs!!
Coasters and Parks
Kings Island will finally announced they are adding its long wished for (by fans like me) B&M megacoaster for 2007.
Cedar Point will announce their third Beemer to go in the site of White Water Landing in '07.
Six Flags will either sell or close down at least one of its smaller parks.
Politics
Republicans will keep control of the House and Senate in November, and will see their candidates elected governor in Ohio and Pennsylvania, despite trends moving towards Democrats.
A Bush cabinet member might resign - and quite possibly DNC chairman for Howard Dean after he has his last scream.
Technology
Apple will once again revamp its iPod lineup. A widescreen iPod? I think so. They might also finally bring the G5 processor to its top notebooks, and gain market share - even as Microsoft will release Windows Vista - which seems very similar to Mac OS X Tiger.
The flying car will still be an abstract concept - as well as common courtesy on our roads and highways.
Sports
Super Bowl XL - Colts over Seahawks
(The Bengals will make it to the AFC finals, but be defeated by the Colts)
World Series - Cardinals over Yankees
NCAA Basketball - Michigan State
The University of Cincinnati will extend interim basketball coach Andy Kennedy's contract another year.
The OHSAA Football Division I title will be won, for the fifth time in a row, by a Cincinnati area team, either a repeat by St. Xavier, or it will be reclaimed by 2004 winner Colerain. Kerry Cooooommbs!!
Coasters and Parks
Kings Island will finally announced they are adding its long wished for (by fans like me) B&M megacoaster for 2007.
Cedar Point will announce their third Beemer to go in the site of White Water Landing in '07.
Six Flags will either sell or close down at least one of its smaller parks.
Politics
Republicans will keep control of the House and Senate in November, and will see their candidates elected governor in Ohio and Pennsylvania, despite trends moving towards Democrats.
A Bush cabinet member might resign - and quite possibly DNC chairman for Howard Dean after he has his last scream.
Technology
Apple will once again revamp its iPod lineup. A widescreen iPod? I think so. They might also finally bring the G5 processor to its top notebooks, and gain market share - even as Microsoft will release Windows Vista - which seems very similar to Mac OS X Tiger.
The flying car will still be an abstract concept - as well as common courtesy on our roads and highways.
Happy New Year, and the events since then...
If you're writing 2005 on your checks, papers, and such, you might need a little help, it is now the year 2006. So here's what's happened so far...
- Dick Clark returned to ABC Rockin' New Years Eve after suffering a bad stroke in late 2004. He obviously wasn't 100% but I was glad to see him. His voice wavered some - at some points his speech seemed close to normal, but it would deteriorate after a lot of speaking. I won't be surprised if he's back for 2007.
- The four BCS games are over, and congratulations to Ohio State, West Virginia, Penn State, and Texas. Last night's Rose Bowl was simply a classic - and the highlights are available at iTunes. Will Ferrell (USC alum) and Texas sensation Vince Young will be on tonight's Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
- Bill O'Reilly was on The Late Show with David Letterman. I thought this interview proved Letterman's political views - those that side with several of his repeat guests, including Al Franken and Michael Moore. Dave was being ignorant on 'the greeting war,' and revealing his sympathy toward Cindy Sheehan, mother of killed soldier turned anti-war activist, who has made many statements deemed anti-troop and anti-American by many people, including O'Reilly. To be short, Letterman has a right to his liberal views, but I think he could be stunting his ratings against Jay Leno, who has a better record of bringing guests with conservative views - Schwarzenegger and Coulter mainly... I might expand upon the O'Reilly-Letterman interview later, but here's a link to a QuickTime video of it...
- Dick Clark returned to ABC Rockin' New Years Eve after suffering a bad stroke in late 2004. He obviously wasn't 100% but I was glad to see him. His voice wavered some - at some points his speech seemed close to normal, but it would deteriorate after a lot of speaking. I won't be surprised if he's back for 2007.
- The four BCS games are over, and congratulations to Ohio State, West Virginia, Penn State, and Texas. Last night's Rose Bowl was simply a classic - and the highlights are available at iTunes. Will Ferrell (USC alum) and Texas sensation Vince Young will be on tonight's Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
- Bill O'Reilly was on The Late Show with David Letterman. I thought this interview proved Letterman's political views - those that side with several of his repeat guests, including Al Franken and Michael Moore. Dave was being ignorant on 'the greeting war,' and revealing his sympathy toward Cindy Sheehan, mother of killed soldier turned anti-war activist, who has made many statements deemed anti-troop and anti-American by many people, including O'Reilly. To be short, Letterman has a right to his liberal views, but I think he could be stunting his ratings against Jay Leno, who has a better record of bringing guests with conservative views - Schwarzenegger and Coulter mainly... I might expand upon the O'Reilly-Letterman interview later, but here's a link to a QuickTime video of it...
Monday, December 26, 2005
Long time since last post... and Christmas
Sorry, folks since the last time i posted, some personal stuff going on lately. But I did have a good Christmas day, having dinner with family and friends, and a fun board game, too.
I guess the "greetings war" is over. I thought that both sides blew it out of proportion. My two concerns:
1) The 'secular left' doing what it can to censor anything related to Christmas!
2) 'Religious right' urging boycotts of retailers who don't mention Christmas in early November!
I am a Christian who believes that the reason for the season is not deep discounts or giving the coolest video game system or big screen HDTV. I have no problem with 'Happy Holidays' in general; I have respect for Jewish and Muslim people as well.
You want a 'Holiday Tree'? Why not decorate it with (Holiday) eggs, bunnies, turkeys and fireworks as well. But I thought it was silly to tell companies and stores to say Christmas WEEKS before the actual, uh, holiday, came up.
I hope everyone had a merry Christmas, whether you got an X-BOX 360, video iPod, a sweater, new pet, or just the love and presence of family.
I guess the "greetings war" is over. I thought that both sides blew it out of proportion. My two concerns:
1) The 'secular left' doing what it can to censor anything related to Christmas!
2) 'Religious right' urging boycotts of retailers who don't mention Christmas in early November!
I am a Christian who believes that the reason for the season is not deep discounts or giving the coolest video game system or big screen HDTV. I have no problem with 'Happy Holidays' in general; I have respect for Jewish and Muslim people as well.
You want a 'Holiday Tree'? Why not decorate it with (Holiday) eggs, bunnies, turkeys and fireworks as well. But I thought it was silly to tell companies and stores to say Christmas WEEKS before the actual, uh, holiday, came up.
I hope everyone had a merry Christmas, whether you got an X-BOX 360, video iPod, a sweater, new pet, or just the love and presence of family.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Viacom to sell Paramount Parks
Here we go again... according to Reuters....
DUBAI, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc. (VIA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is ready to sell theme parks owned by its Paramount Pictures division, as well as book publisher Simon & Schuster, chairman Sumner Redstone said on Tuesday.
The U.S. media conglomerate splits into two companies on Dec. 31, separating its faster growing cable networks and film business from the relatively sluggish CBS television broadcasting and radio operations.
Simon & Schuster, which will be part of the more mature side of the business has often been cited along with the theme parks as assets Viacom might choose to sell.
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