Happy New Year 2009!!!

Best to all!!

Making a Steampunk Necklace

I've always been a creative soul. Loved arts and crafts as kid. Whether it was construction paper, clay, or wire sculpture, I was always building and hanging ten on that artistic wave. Inspiration surged through me like a title wave. Either that, or I drank too much Gatorade.

I revisited those days recently with trips to the electronic store and craft store. The goal was to build a Steampunk gear necklace similar to something I'd seen in Second Life. Yeah, that online place I NEVER talk about.

First was the electronic store. There's a place a few miles up the road from me that carries all kinds of old parts. Capacitors, computer cables, fuses, etc, much dating back to the 50's and 60's eras. When you walk in, you're greeted with a medium sized room with a few aisles of varying sized cardboard bins just filled with scrap. Man, can you ever smell the old! Even so, it's a creative gadget hound's amusement park, and I've got a fistful of tickets for the Cyclone. (Had to work in a roller coaster reference in there somewhere.)

Fast forward through much perusing, sorting, head scratching over what some of the parts were, and I find a winner. Before me is a bin of threaded plastic caps with a hole in the middle. Around the thread is a metal piece that looks similar to a gear. $1.00 later, and I have a couple of pseudo gears for pendants. Found some belt pouches too that could be useful on another project.

Next on this noble quest is the Hobby store. You do not smell the old when you walk in here. No, there's just about every scent, from plastic flowers to bamboo. The room is huge, with towering ceilings, blinding lights, and various creative types, milling about. Weaving my way through the aisles, past the new "old style" decorative leather travel trunks and throw pillows, I get to the beading and jewelry section. Beads of every size, shape, color, and material hang on metal hooks in a rainbow that would give a seasoned hippy flashbacks. Groovy!

A few minutes of hunting and a couple aisles later, I find the leather cord. Hmm...just not down with the cow for this necklace, plus it needs a clasp. Yeah, I'm thinking choker here. Hunt hunt sort sort. Aha! Silver chain. Pseudo gears can be threaded over that, but how to adjust it? Hunt hunt sort sort, stomach growl (what? I was hungry). Aha! Lobster claw clasps. This makes me think of lobster dinners, which makes me think of the lobster dinners a couple nights during my recent Pigeon Forge trip. I snap back into reality and realize I can put those lobsterclaw clasps on the chain with needle nose pliers. Vunderbar!

Alright, how much is all this? Silver chain, $5.00. Lobster clasps, $1.47. Getting to the check-out and paying $3.48 total because you missed the mark-down signs. Priceless. (does the Snoopy dance)

And to add one more happy moment to this rambling tale, there was enough chain and clasps left over to make a matching bracelet. For a grandtotal of $4.48, not bad at all. And my creative side is appeased. +1 to Make Jewelry skill. ;)

Platformz YouTube Account Closed

Well friends, Platformz, the YouTube account that started it all is now closed.

Suffice to say, there were just too many people who didn't understand the concept of building replica roller coaster models in Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, or it's given inaccuracies. They complained loudly without any sort of helpful suggestions, nor reading the clear and simple video descriptions. Nine times out of ten, reading the description would've solved their gripe or helped them understand something. Yes, when you dread the emails that tell you of a comment posted on YouTube, it's just time to pull the plug.

Too, the channel was dorment since the middle of summer 2008, when I started blogging. The blog was just a better tool and creative medium to work with. Even so, it seemed like a good idea to leave the documentary footage up, especially after the many hours of work spent building the models and aquiring the footage. Well, I was wrong, and the complainers won out.

For the record, yes, you do assume risk putting your art out there on the WWW. Yes, people are entitled to their own opinions. Yes, you will take a beating and a lot of criticism. These are all hard fact and I accepted them as such.

Ok, doom and gloom aside, I DID have a very nice Christmas with family and friends, and got some great gifts. Here's the run down:

• Lego Batman pc game
• Lego Indiana Jones pc game
• Wall-E pc game
• Nightmare Before Christmas Special Edition DVD (with Haunted Mansion ride-through!)
• The Dark Knight DVD
• Wall-E DVD
• Polar Express ornament (great reminder of my trip to Dollywood at Thanksgiving)
• Custom Steampunk dog tags from my buddy Luke
• Wine bottle rack
• Cool candle holder and Chocolate Cupcake tea lights from Yankee Candle Company (my pad smells AMAZING right now!)
• Christmas Cookies candle from Yankee Candle Company
• Patagonia outdoor belt
• Black Diamond Gizmo head lamp

And, by far, the best gift was a picture of me and my buddy Ray taken this past spring. We're proudly wearing our kilts just before his wedding. Paris and Raymond, thank you again for the AWESOME gift.

What better way to end up this entry, than on a high note? ;) Until next time...

Second Life_Chapter 21_The Beltain Blog

Please join me in welcoming a new Second Life blog filled with Role Play musings only King Raistlin Skytower could pen!

Be advised. Humor, sarcasm, and the occasional wirty dird abound. Not advisable for those under age, or the office. Regardless, it's all in good fun.

Click the title above, or go here: http://skytowerblog.blogspot.com/

I bid thee welcome your Highness and look forward to the merriment!

Second Life_Chapter 20_The Royal Wedding

This weekend has been yet another string of firsts and continued good times with good people on Second Life.

We'll start with my first online bachelor party Friday night. It was good to get to know some of the folks I've hung out with for a while. Definitely good times and MANY laughs with the guys. A couple of us almost had cardiac arrest from laughing at Jard's stories. Great guy and really funny. Yes there were other events. And that's ALL I'm at liberty to say. ;)

Since a wedding is a formal occasion, I needed something appropriate to wear. Garnet (a close friend to the lucky Neko kitty mentioned previously) found a place that had Victorian formal clothing. Yep, dressy Steampunk wear (are you SURE this isn't a woman's suit?). A top hat and brown gentleman's coat later (see picture, me on the left with the monocle), I was good to go, and feeling quite the cat's meow. ;) Good thing too. There was a surprise at the ceremony.

Next up I had my first try at an online drinking game. Whoever is still conscious at the end of the rounds wins the money in the pot. It's kinda like a weird version of poker with random percentages thrown at you per round. Whoever hits over 100% drunk is out. I actually won a round, by outlasting everyone else...only to pass out last and not with the money. Another first, being fall down, piss drunk, online. Hope there isn't a virtual hangover on the way or waking up to some scary person in my bed.

Ok, the REAL reason for this article is the royal wedding of King Raistlin Skytower and Lady Sienna (whose last name escapes me, and boy am I gonna hear about this later...). Yes, not only did I attend my first virtual wedding, it was a ROYAL event. Even better, I was "drafted", as the king put it, as a groomsmen at the last minute. Yep, I got to be IN the wedding. Would you believe I even got nervous walking one of the bridesmaids down the aisle? Seriously. Thank heavens I didn't trip and bless good scripting!

As you can imagine, all the craziness, planning, scheduling, etc, that goes with any Real Life wedding also holds true in the digital world that is Second Life. There are rehearsals to attend, gifts to hunt, bridesmaids and groomsmen to pick out, and you get the idea. On the plus side, you do have good control of the weather, nobody can spike the punch, and no rentals suits or dresses to return.

Well, the ceremony was a beautiful one and it was very clear just how much Raistlin and Sienna meant to each other. They had written their own rather touching vows that really made the event special. Remember, though this might seem like a game, these are very real people with very real feelings for one another. While Second Life marriages are more common, it doesn't cheapen the feelings or the commitment of the people involved. Everything I witnessed was done with deep respect, great love, and steadfast commitment.

Following the wedding was the new queen's coronation ceremony. Yes, another first. This ceremony was brief and held similar pledges of devotion and loyalty to not only her husband, but those she would preside over. Per the ceremony, her subjects also acknowledged her new status. It was fascinating, as I'd never been to a coronation before.

The knighting ceremony was next. Yet another first, and possibly the most hilarious swearing of allegiance I've ever seen. When the King humorously addresses his knights as "you sorry bitches" and says "may your eyes bleed from boredom during one of the queen's 4 million shopping trips" you know it's gonna be fun. Cue people crying from laughing so hard and the traditional dubbing once it all settled down, and it was time to celebrate. Yes, reception, dancing, and much humor ensued. Just too many funny things to recall, but excellent rumaki on the buffet. ;)

To my friends Raistlin and Sienna who've I've come to know over the last few months, my sincere best and happiness to you both. It was an honor to attend and to be a groomsman. Thank you for letting me take part. :)

Theme Park Withdrawal

Unless you're fortunate enough to live in Florida or California, the end of October to early spring is dreaded time of year for park and coaster enthusiasts. You guessed it....The Off Season (dun dun DUUUUUNNNN!)

The Off Season (dun dun DUUUUUNNNN!) is an empty time spent missing our favorite parks, rides, food, whatever. The typical enthusiast will try to fill his or her time by looking through pictures and videos taken from this years trips or even previous years. This behavior is usually followed by a heavy sigh and a longing, glassy-eyed stare out the nearest window. Some fist shaking and general cursing of Mother Nature's way might follow.

Other enthusiasts will find comfort in movies or video games during...The Off Season (dun dun DUUUUUNNNN!) Yes, building a simulated coaster in No Limits or Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is like giving someone a veggie burger. It'll fill the bill, but it sure ain't Micky D's. Same goes for the movies. Sure, that Behemoth PoV on volume #2461 of the roller coaster DVD series still looks AMAZING, but it's just no substitute for the sun on your face, wind in your hair, and calling out all the major religious deities on the way over the first hill. And don't even get me started on the lack of good food smells, although Yankee Candle Company does offer some acceptable alternatives this year.;)

Add to all this the torture of coaster construction web cams. Yes, new rides to drool over...oh, but you have to wait. Even so, the avid enthusiast, in sheer desperation for some hot coaster action, will stay up day and night watching images refresh on a given webcam, with a warm Dr. Pepper in one hand, and a vice grip on the bag of Cheetos with the other. The computer keyboard is worn out from checking Screamscape every 5 minutes for construction updates, and the Any key is still as elusive to find as ever. Is that a lonely character sheet and a painted ranger figurine nearby on the desk? (Yes, I speak from experience here.) ;)

Suffice to say, The Off Season (dun dun DUUUUUNNNN!) is just brutal for those of us who love our parks and coasters. Spring time can't come soon enough, especially with the promise of more thrills in the coming year. And now, some questions to ponder:

• What will the new coasters be like?
• Will the log flume or rapids still be there next year?
• Will the Monster Mansion redo be all that, and a bag of pork rinds...ya'll?
• Will I actually get a DATE this year?
• Will the mashed potatoes and gravy on the buffet truly be "like Mom used to make"?
• Will they add MORE trash cans to the vast battalions already at ______ ?
• Is that human dryer near River Battle really just a dryer, or a Transporter? Will it suck my soul and/or will to live?
• Will Flying Turns ever get done, or was it just a clever marketing ploy?
• Will I hit 4-ish on my coaster count next year? (Yes you read that right...and quit laughing)
• Will my jokes get ANY better?
• Will certain parks still have Vault Icee? If they don't, will they get it before there's a riot of crazed, camera wielding, yet under caffeinated enthusiasts on the verge of narcolepsy?
• Since when does Will Holder have a blog? Crazy urban legend...
• Just how will Manta do that water-splash-with-the-wing-tip thingy?
• In 2035, will Diamondback be re-classified as a kiddie coaster, due to it's small size?
• Will the new looping water slides be totally tubuler, or just all wet?

Yes, these are questions of the highest order and must be thought upon with a most serious mind...and stale Cheetos.

Hang in there friends. Just a few months to go. :)

101st Post

Yes friends, in just a few short months, TheRapidsBlog has already reached a milestone: post #101. Why not celebrate #100 as normal people do? Well, I didn't quite realize the last post WAS #100. Either way, oh you poor people...;)

Frankly, I did this blog on a lark thinking it might last a month or so, and that would be it. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 models were getting harder to research and build, let alone post on YouTube. What was on YouTube was getting respectable reviews, but paled in comparison to what other modelers could do, especially with custom scenery packs, that I just wasn't willing to use. Well, this blog surprised me with being a wide open canvas and creatively expressive tool. Much like my favorite park ride, I was hooked. I could post my photos and write more at length...about anything!

The focus was simple and had a few necessary rules. The blog had to be light hearted and fun. It had to talk theme parks (one of my favorite things in life) and various entertainment options (movies, touristy stuff, etc). It had to skip being a complaint fest as well as discussing my real job. I have a good job and work with nice people, and that's all that really needs to be said anyway. The blog also had to sidestep political, religious, and football discussions. Why? Those topics are the fastest ways to upset people and they tailspin in a hurry. Besides, there are a lot of good things to see and do out in the world.

As far as writing about friends and family, I spotlight the good things, with their blessings of course. :)

Since it's start, the blog has evolved into a curious mixture. 1 part Adventurer's Club eccentricity (Kungaloosh!), 1 part Steve Irwin wild-eyed curiosity, 1 part Mr. Belvedere journal, 1 part Steampunk influence, and then just random stuff that fell into the soup somewhere along the way. Entertainment, after all, is a broad category. ;)

The main thing here is to tell some stories now and then and entertain. If you have a laugh, even at my dignity's expense, all the better. Yep, it's supposed to be a good time. Thus spawned the phrase, "No worries. Just fun."

Pat McCabe over at The A Walk in the Park Podcast and Blog is the one to thank here. It was his coaxing that made me take the blogging plunge. It was definitely one of the better decisions in my life.

Second Life_Chapter 19_Changes

Been enjoying hanging out in the Beltain lands on Second Life. It's been the usual hilarious hi-jinks at Club Paradox, with my hat getting taken one night, and an all out brawl ensuing. Seriously, this made those jumps for the bridal bouquet look tame. There were tentacles and staple guns involved. Even some purring (a whole other story). Just all manner of chaos. Matter of fact, my Steampunk hat saw more action than I have! Wonder if it'll give me some dating advice?

Love is in the air on Second Life as well. Just about everyone is getting married. Even the Paradox security guy who said he'd never do it. Me? No. Be it Second Life or Real Life (leaning more toward Real Life for obvious reasons), I'm only doing it once, so it better be VERY special. Besides, right now I'm enjoying spending time with a particular Cyber Neko whose also the eccentric artsy type. She gave me a very nice gift called Mr. Orb recently. It's a black, softball sized floating robot that follows you around. My gadget side is applauding. ;)

In more comical SL news, I had my first try at the gun range in a combat sim. Was taking no prisoners until I was mysteriously transported out. After rezzing somewhere else I get an IM from Tikki (a friend) saying "Um Rapids, you dead." Ricochet. Yeah...So I go back to the range and try again, while following the Aliens "short controlled bursts" mantra. Keep in mind I'm wearing large, twin, shoulder mounted gatlin guns. It happens again. Bloody ricochet! Apparently I never got the memo that you wear armor or an AO (Animation Override) that protects you during range time. So after all this, how's my shooting? Let's just the say the barn would be safe, especially the broad side. Even so, I loves me some gatlins and thank you to Icis and Tikki for my new firearms as well as Cappo for the armour. Yep, it just goes to show you have to treat guns with great respect and care and use good sense, whether it's SL or RL. If not, you make the Darwin list.

Updated my SL avatar with a new skin, hair, boots, and AO (Animation Override) in the past few weeks. Oh yeah, he's ballin' now....not. ;) You see, the AO gives your avatar different pose animations than the standard and boring defaults. So if you want to jump all Ninja crazy or walk like a tiger, you can find AO's that override the default animations so you can. In short you can "theme" how your avatar moves and make it match up better to his or her looks. If you're technically adept, you can find specific animations and program them in. Heh, I fail at this, despite a programming background. Lol! Oh well...At least I found a good AO on the first try, thanks to a very lucky kitty. ;)

Thanks to Ray, Tak, Val, Tikki, and everyone for some really good landmarks that aided the improvements. Best of all, no more "noob walk"!

Curiously, all the SL creativity has further inspired my RL creativity. Have had more of a desire to make some new necklaces or bracelets out of odds and ends leather and whatever curiosities I find lying about. Also have a new fondness for hardware stores and craft stores. Oh, the possibilities! (rubs hands together and gins). Hey, have glue gun and leatherman, will travel, especially until it's coaster season again.

Bettie Page Dead at 85

Pin up legend Bettie page has died after being hospitalized with pneumonia and suffering a heart attack.

I think it's safe to say many of us will miss her, in that there was something mysteriously alluring about this beautiful woman. There was also a spirit and a personality that would glow through whatever pictures she posed for. Her facial expressions ran the gamut of sweet, to saucy, to sexy, to downright comical.

My buddy Ray gave me a book called "Betty Page Confidential" as a gift this year. In it were several photo sets I'd never seen before. One of my favorites is Bettie holding up some kelp at the beach with this borderline horrified "you've GOT to be kidding, this is so gross" look on her face. Yes, I have several other favorites of hers as well, but that one always makes me laugh. No, not really provocative, just funny.

One of the things I really liked about Bettie was her free spirit. She did what felt right to her and made no apologies for it, including leaving public life to return to her faith. Once again, her spirit and personality shows through.

Thank you Bettie, for your beautiful photos and inspiration. We'll miss you.


CNN Story:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/12/bettie.page.obit/index.html

Bettie Page Critically Ill After Heart Attack

This is very sad news. It seems she had pnuemonia for the last few weeks and was about to get out of the hospital when the heart attack happened. According to the AP article, it's possible, but not confirmed, that she could be in a coma.

I wish her the best from the bottom of my heart.

Here's the full AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZUqEZI68r9LHs45IyvnFNrflxowD94SVL800

Punisher War Zone (Spoilers Included)

My buddy Luke called me up last night and said "Let's go see Punisher." I checked my oh so demanding social schedule (pffft! yeah right!) and was able to go.

Luke pretty much summed it up by saying "They killed more people in the first 15 minutes than in all of the last movie" and "Awesomely bad." Here are the standout parts:

• First forget the previous movie. This is a retelling from the ground up that skips most of the backstory set up and goes straight for the action. The new guy is a bit older and more grizzled and even looks a little like Steven Sagal at times.
• Great action and Punisher gets style points for some cool moves...like spinning upside down from a chandelier while spraying a mob dinner with bullets.
• Neat twist on the typical thugs by having free runners. It felt kinda forced, and more could've been done with the idea (ripping chase scene on rooftops, parking garages, neighborhoods, through the mall, etc). What happened to two of them you just have to see. Ouch and funny all at the same time.
• Did I mention it's violent? Like multiple head exploding violent? Yeah, it's Punisher after all and it makes the first movie look tame.
• Newman is Pun's gun supplier/support. Newman! (or Dennis Nedry for you Jurassic Park fans.)
• Billy the Beut, after whirling around in a glass bottle grinder is reborn as Jigsaw, thanks to a messed up plastic surgery reconstruction, similar to Joker's in the 1980's Batman movie. He ends up being the main bad guy and borrows looks and mannerisms from Tommy Lee Jones rendition of Two-Face and Edger from Men In Black. There are a couple of touching scenes where his brother, Loony Bin Jim, reassures Billy about his new look. "James" is also well versed in human anatomy (ala Hannibal Lecter) as you'll find out at various points in the film. Oh, and he's a bad arse martial artist.
• I love how, just like in Blade, Pun can walk down the street in full gear (flack jacket, holsters, big skull on chest, etc.) and NOBODY thinks twice. No, not conspicuous at all.
• Goofy detective who's been following Punisher for the past several years felt kind of hokey and out of place, though the part with him at the end is pretty funny.
• The "Recruiting Speech" Jigsaw makes to the various gangs is just hilarious. Well done!

Overall, I enjoyed the movie, mainly for the "Holy crap! Did THAT just happen?!?" moments and the action. Gory? Oh yes. It's not "The Fly" nausia intensity, but this IS NOT for little kids or weak stomachs. If you like comic-based movies, Punisher War Zone is fun to check out.

I miss Dollywood...

Sigh...

Thanksgiving Pics on ThemeParkReview.com

Just a quick note, I'm posting my trip pictures on over on ThemeParkReview.com over the next several days. You can see them by clicking the title above or this link:

(http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47980)

Been posting at TPR for a while now and will include links to photo trip reports from now on. Hey, it's a good site and I'm fully behind the Park Index project they're working on. Great historical record and gathering of various media. Rock on Robb and Co!