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Ya Know, I HAVE Noticed A Shorter Drive
Apparently, the AVERAGE DAILY COMMUTE IS GETTING SHORTER....by 45 seconds according to a study released by the US Census Bureau. We're saving, on average, 0.4 minutes to and from work each day. WOW! Stop the FREAKIN' presses!
Now I ask you....is this REALLY a newsworthy story?! And, why the HELL is the Census Bureau waiting money on THIS?!?!
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is the final coaster from Paramount's Carowinds park: Rugrats Runaway Reptar. This is a tradional inverted steel coaster themed after the popular Nickeloden cartoon.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 30, 2006
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Katrina: One Year Later
August 29, 2006
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Are You Ready?
I just happenned to turn the TV onto Monday Night Football on ESPN to see who was playing and what the score was. I also left it on long enough to hear this:
The Oakland Raiders have come to terms with the draft's #1 overall pick....from 1990. The Raiders ANNOUNCED TODAY that they signed QB Jeff George who last played in the league 5 years ago. Sounds to me like Aaron Brooks has made just as good an impression in Oakland as he did in New Orleans. You can't help but laugh.
Biker Gang
After dinner, Kayla and I made a trip to Academy Sports where we bought Kayla a bike. I have owned a bike since moving to Baton Rouge 3 years ago and rode it a good bit when I lived closer to campus. Around LSU, there are several lakes with biking/jogging paths all around the perimeter. The path takes you along sorority/fraternity row at LSU featuring some of the most beautiful houses in the city. Then, you pass into campus before getting to City Park, right along the golf course. The path then takes you into the many small neighborhoods along the lakes before returning you back to LSU's campus.
The ride also has many of the best views of LSU's campus and is just a relaxing trip. Hopefully we'll get to do it soon. As of now, we're settling for riding around the aparment complex.
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is the world's fastest and tallest coaster rocketing riders 456' into the sky (the equivallent of a 45 story building) at 128mph. Oh yeah, you achieve that speed in only 3.5 seconds. Also, this coaster boasts the world's longest drop. When you get to the top of this monster, you have to come down, right? Try a drop of 418' - straight down. Any takers?
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 28, 2006
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Wash Me
 OK, we've all been there before: a dirty car with filth all over the back window, when someone decides to write "Wash Me" in the dirt. Of course they think it's the funniest thing in the world. MY question is, "how come people can't come up with anything more clever than that? I mean, it's be done like 1 million, billion times.
Now there was one time that I was at an LSU football game and came back to my car after the game only to find this message wiped into the dirt on my passenger window, "Hey Josh!" I'm still not sure if they meant the message for me or not - but I have a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't really meant for me.
 To the side of my rants you will see what looks to be classic artistic masterpieces. On the top, you see DaVinci's Mona Lisa in a frame in front of Van Gogh's masterpiece Starry Night. And below that, you have C.M. Coolidge's All-American A Friend in Need....more popularly referred to as Dogs Playing Poker. You may be asking yourself as to what medium the images have been created in as well as what it has to do with my initial subject of car windows. If you really want to know, click the pictures to reveal their secret.
That's right, their created in the dirt on the back windows of cars. Apparently there IS one person that also feels that "Wash Me" is way over used. That person is Scott Wade of San Marcos, TX. He doesn't just use his finger, he uses paintbrushes in sort of a reverse role; instead of putting paint on a canvas, he brushes dirt off of the glass. CLICK HERE to see even more of his incredible work. Is it just me, or does the guy kinda look like a Hobbit?
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is the final coaster from Paramount's Carowinds park: Rugrats Runaway Reptar. This is a tradional inverted steel coaster themed after the popular Nickeloden cartoon.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 27, 2006
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Saints Reaction
Well, what else can you say about the game other than BLAH!? Well, on a good note, at least Deuce looked pretty good; it seems as though he's recovered from his injury almost completely and with no visible lingering effects. Also, Reggie Bush is still an amazing athlete and very smart football player.
I'm not really sure, however, what to think about Drew Brees. I mean there's no question that he's much smarter than Brooks ever will be, but I get the feeling that he's not fully recovered yet from the injury, especially mentally. Passes are too low one minute and too high the next. Hopefully he can work out the kinks and get back to normal soon.
Of course, the o-line needs to protect him much better as well. He's getting too much pressure put on him and I think he's had to rush quite a few throws this preseason. As for the defense....what the HELL was Mike McKenzie doing tonight? 3 penalties in the first half?! Inexcusable. And, as I expected, Manning had a field day with the Saints secondary. Looks like it may be another long season...let's just hope it's not quite as long as last year.
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is your typical run-of-the-mill steel inverted coaster. Interestingly, the coaster was originally planned to be themed after the Paramount GODZILLA remake, but the movie bombed so badly that the powers that be at the park chose, instead, to theme it after Top Gun.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 26, 2006
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Birthday Time
Happy birthday to my older brother Blake who is NEARLY 30....but not quite yet.
The Demise of a Planet
As you may have heard by now....PLUTO IS NO LONGER A PLANET....which, in my opinion, sucks! According to a vote of astonomers gathered in Prague (albeit a small percentage of the world's astronomical community) stripped Pluto of its planetary status and also prevented the promotion of Pluto's satellite Charon, the asteroid Ceres and the icy body known as "Xena" from becoming planets as well.
Instead, the vote created 3 classes of of solar system objects: Planets, Dwarf Planets and small solar system bodies. Pluto, Ceres and "Xena" will now be known as dwarf planets...but make no mistake about it, they are not true planets - I know, I know, then why call them dwarf planets, right? Incidentally, Ceres was actually considered a planet upon discovery in the late 1800s until it was later demoted.
Charon, Pluto's largest moon will be known only as that...not a planet or dwarf planet. However, the new classification system now clears the way for the inclusion of numerous celestial bodies as dwarf planets. So remember, there are now officially only 8 true planets in the solar system now. Bye, bye Pluto. :(
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster puts a new twist on the traditional inverted steel coaster as it's name alludes. No it's not the fastest or tallest coaster, it incorporates water into the ride. As the train travels along the coaster track, riders go under water drips, over geysers and past water cannons activited by other park guests. Now THIS is a coaster we could definitely use down here during the summer months.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 25, 2006
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Surviving Your Own Kind
Survivor, the hit reality show that created a television revolution, is set to begin its 13th edition on Thursday, September 14. Over the years, the producers have tried many different twists on the basic show premise in order to keep it fresh and different from the previous editions.
This season is not different. It has BEEN ANOUNCED that this season, the contestants will be divided into 4 seperate tribes....according to race. That's right, the tribes will be white, black, asian and hispanic. I think it's somewhat of an interesting social experiment to see how alliances evolve, how people interact with the other tribes on a limited basis and how they set-up their own mini civilizations.
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is one that I think several of you will be very interested in seeing. Blake, Heather, Uncle Todd and any other Trekers out there, welcome to the BORG Assimilator.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 23, 2006
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WOW
Madonna, you know...the controversial American-born pop-star with the phoney British accent...has DISCOVERED HOW TO CLEAN RADIOACTIVE WASTE! Madonna and her top-notch husband have been lobbying the British government to use a - and I quote - "magic, water-based liquid" which they claim has been successfully tested in a Russian Lake.
I think I speak for ALL of us when I say...THANK YOU for moving to Britain! This may be the dumbest thing I have EVERY heard come from a celebrity.
Cajun Confessional
A co-worker sent me this joke today (reader discretion is advised):
A married Cajun went into the confessional and said to his priest, "I almos' had de affair wid annuder woman."
The priest said, "What do you mean, almost?"
The Cajun said, "Well, we get undress' and rub together, but den I stop."
The priest said, "Rubbing together is the same as putting it in. You're not to see that woman again. For your penance, say five Hail Mary's and put $50 in the poor box."
The Cajun left the confessional, said his prayers, and then walked Over to the poor box. He paused for a moment and then started to leave.
The priest, who was watching, quickly ran over to him saying, "I saw that. You didn't put any money in the poor box!"
The Cajun replied, "Yeah fadder, but me..I rub de $50 on de box, And 'cordin' to you, that be de same as puttin' it in.
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Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is a special twist on a family-favorite, Space Mountain: Mission 2. One thing I have noticed about the traditional rides in Paris compared with Florida and California is that they are more fanciful than their American counterparts. Personally, I would LOVE to see this kind of theming at the parks here in the states.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 22, 2006
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Planet? Or Not?
 As you have been reading, there is an ongoing, gut-wrenching saga that is tearing the astronomical community apart:
What is a planet?
As you have read (or SHOULD have been reading over the last month), scientists have proposed naming Pluto's largest moon, Charon, as a co-planet with Pluto as well as an icy sphere officially known as 2003 UB313 - nicknamed Xena.
However, some scientists ARE DEBATING whether Xena (or Pluto and Charon for that matter) should be considered planets. If scientists get their way, there are several other celestial bodies beyond Pluto that could become candidates for planet-hood in the near future. Click the picture on the right to see these objects and their comparable sizes.
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster can be found in Erin's backyard at Kennywood theme park outside of Pittsburg. This family-owned park has been operating since 1898. The picture is a look back down the lift hill just before the first drop. This coaster, like the others in the park, ingeniously weave in and out of the other coasters creating great thrills.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 21, 2006
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Return of the King
Yes, I am finally back. I'm sure some of you were wondering where I had gone, why the site hadn't been updated since this past Wednesday...and if you didn't, that's what you SHOULD have been wondering.
Well, Thursday morning as I flipped open the laptop to check my e-mail before I was off to work, the computer gave me an error telling me that it could not load my profile's settings and then froze up. I restarted the computer and when it loaded my profile...it was like starting the computer up for the first time ever.
All of the Windows welcome screens appeared again, telling me the wonderful features of XP. The weird thing is, Kayla's profile worked fine. Nothing different whatsoever!
Well, I spent the last few days locating all of my files (resumes, pictures, databases, etc.) - luckily they were still on the computer.
So, now I think that I have restored everything to the way it was, but it was just really weird for that to happen to MY profile and not Kayla's too.
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster features a very unique ride train. Named Pegasus, the train is a pegasus (winged horse from Greek mythology) pulling a chariot.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 20, 2006
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New Kids on the Block
This past Monday, I broke the news that we may be losing our beloved 9th planet, Pluto, to reclassification. Today, I'm happy to report that it looks as though the planet is here to stay.....AND HE BROUGHT SOME FRIENDS.
At the convention in Prague, a proposal was made defining a specific class of planets that would be dubbed "Plutons". The new class of planets, however, would ADD 3 more planets to the list: Charon (Pluto's largest moon would be reclassified and the two celestial bodies would become co-planets);
2003 UB313 AKA Xena (the recently discovered icy sphere); and Ceres (the asteroid found in between Mars and Jupiter would be reclassified).
Looks like the LEAP Test just got a little harder!
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's picture is a second look at Hades from the parking lot which it goes under. As you can see, the initial drop just disappears.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 16, 2006
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X&O-Men
ESPN.com has a college football preview online right now that previews 10 of the top figures in college sports this year. This preview has a twist, however. Meet THE X&O-MEN.
Basically, it takes these players and a coach and gives them a comic book-like persona, then analyzes the individual in the context of a superhero. Pretty clever with good artwork. Oh yeah, make sure to look for LSU/Hahnville High/Ama's own LaRon Landry (AKA BALLHAWK).
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's coaster is Hades found at a Greek Mythology-themed water & theme park. This is a steel supported coaster with a wooden track that is over 4,700ft long that actually goes under the park's parking lot. It surfaces several times through the parking lot and is surrounded by theming such as a Trojan Horse - among other things.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 15, 2006
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Bye, Bye Pluto?
I read an interesting ARTICLE discussing the possible reclassification of the now-planet Pluto. Ever since it was discovered in the 1930s, there has been debate in the astronomical community over the icy rock really is a planet or not. But what makes a planet? There really is no true consensus among experts.
Part of what's driving the debate is the recent discovery of a larger rock even farther away from the Sun known as 2003 UB313, but you can call her Xena (no joke, that's the body's nickname).
A 12-day conference began today in the Czech Republic capital of Prague to discuss this topic among others. When all is said and done, we may have as many as 53 planets in our solar system....and I was just really getting to know the other 8!!!
Weekend Recap
Kayla and I had a fairly busy weekend.
FRIDAY: We did some shopping for a wedding on Saturday and also made our way to the Mall of Louisiana. Afterwards, she and I tried out the recently opened Corky's restaraunt here in Baton Rouge. I had eaten at the Metairie location any years ago and remembered that I DEFINITELY LOVED their barbeque sauce.
I ordered a combo meal consisting of a half rack of WET (AKA Traditional Memphis-Style) ribs and pulled pork while Kayla ordered a shrimp pasta dish. We both really liked what we ordered and would recommend it to anyone.
SATURDAY: We travelled down to Thibodaux for a wedding for one of my fraternity brothers from Nicholls State. The service was a 1pm mass in St. Joseph Co-Cathedral - a facility I had never been inside, but was extremely impressed with the beauty of the building and its intricate decorations. The reception followed at a local hotel where we were able to catch up with many of my old college friends and fraternity brothers.
We booked a room at the hotel and had dinner with two friends of ours at La Casa del Sol. The one stipulation to dinner....we had to be done by 7pm so I could catch the Saints game. I was pleased with the overall performance of the team, but I feel they could get some better trainers. The ones they had just smacked their gum WAY too much and, in my opinion, lacked the proper technique when handing out water bottles.
SUNDAY: Kayla and I made our way down to Houma where we met her mom for church and then went to lunch with her parents at Ryan's. We had a great visit, but the day went by too fast. Sigh, back to work on Monday. :(
Roller Coaster of the Day
Today's roller coaster picture is from Busch Gardens Europe in Virginia. The park is world renowned for its beauty as it is nestled in the wooded hills around historic Williamsburg and has a Disney-like feel to the theming. The coaster is a suspended coaster, meaning the cars hang from the track, swinging independently from one another (as you can see in the picture).
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 14, 2006
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The Wonders of Science
Do you like science so much that you're going to name your children Darwin, Kepler and Beaker? Would you like to surround yourself with reminders of the wonders of nature? Would you want to work in a place that is shaped like what you're currently researching? NOW YOU CAN!!
The Institute for Nanobiomedical Technology and Membrane Biology in Chengdu, China has ANNOUNCED PLANS to construct the first ever cell-shaped building. A very unique building indeed, the facility will feature a courtyard designed to resemble the interior of a cell, complete with vacuole-like fountains.
Above the atrium courtyard will be pedestrian bridges in the shape of "X" and "Y" chromosomes. NEAT!
Roller Coaster Time Machine
Here is a blast from the past for many of you: Zephyr at Pontchartrain Beach on the New Orleans lakefront.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 10, 2006
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Saints Update
The players, coaches and staff of the New Orleans Saints organization have been hard at work for nearly 2 weeks up in Jackson, MS with their first preseason game this Saturday night in Nashville against the 3rd overall pick in April's NFL Draft, Vince Young, and the Tennessee Titans.
We all listen to the radio, read the paper and watch the news to hear about the players and coaches of the team. But I am here to bring you the scoop on the "unsung heros" of NFL training camps around the country: the golf cart drivers (aka trainers).
Will has been "hard at work" - his words, not mine - in Jackson and wanted to pass on "proof" of his doings. Therefore, it is my esteemed pleasure to give you: Will, Hard at Work.
- X -
Here is the final picture of X that I will feature. It shows the lift hill and many of the drops and turns that help to expose riders to the 4th Dimension. I do want you to take note....rides go up the lift hill on their backs and then down the first lift, head first on their backs before the track flips and riders are hanging.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 9, 2006
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Here It Is....No, WAIT! HERE It Is (Until Next Week).
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't projections/forecasts meant to predict what will happen? Then you usually go back, after-the-fact, and see how accurate they were. Well, at least that's what they USED to mean.
What I'm talking about are the "experts" "adjusting" their hurricane season "forecast" AFTER 1/3 of the season has gone by! Hell, I could have done that!!!!
- X -
This is perhaps the best view of X to help explain the coaster's unique 4th Dimension feature. Conventional coasters have 3 dimensions: they can move up & down, side-to-side, or forwards & backwards. The special thing about the coaster is that the riders do not ride directly above or below the track; the ride apparatus hangs from the track with the seats connected to the "car" on either side (as you can see in the picture).
Riders then ride the track while the pod-like seats actually spin. That's right, they will spin and flip over as the train goes along the track. THAT is the 4th Dimension.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 8, 2006
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Disappointing
Kayla and I were looking forward to this past weekend with high anticipation. See, every year, for the past few years, Baton Rouge has played host to the:
NABA National & Louisiana State
Hot Air Balloon Championships
The 2006 Pennington Balloon Championships were to run from Wednesday through Sunday with competition every day. In fact, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, I drove to work everyday under a sky filled with beautiful, colorful hot air balloons. Now, Friday and Saturday nights, there was to be a mass ascension and what they call a "balloon glow".
A balloon glow is when all the balloons anchor to the ground and inflate just after dusk. They are illuminated in a field like giant lightbulbs and guests walk around visiting each of the ballons...it's suppossed to be REALLY cool.
ENTER MOTHER NATURE
She, apparently, felt as though no onw in Baton Rouge deserved to see the balloon glow and brought rains on Friday and Saturday night, cancelling both glows. Hell, Kayla and I wanted to see and get pictures of the balloons so bad that we actually woke up at 6:45 Sunday morning to drive out to the site and watch the final competition. The powers that be decided to cancel the contest and then not announce it or anything.
So, I'm sorry to report that I was unable to get ANY pictures of the balloons over Baton Rouge.
- X -
What makes this coaster named X so eXtreme you ask? Perhaps the fact that this is the world's first 4th Dimension coaster. What's that mean you ask? You'll just have to find out next time. Just think about a flying coaster....with a "twist".
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 7, 2006
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Home Decor #5
 The fifth and final home decor item to be featured is cross-stich done by Kayla's Nanny Sue as a wedding present to us.
It reads the following:
God bless the happy couple
Joined together on this day
Stay with them
through their marriage
And guide them all the way
Kayla and Kerry
were united in marriage on
January 6, 2006
End of the Road
I'm sorry to report that my Six Flags Superhero Series of roller coasters has come to an end. But do not fret. Do not cry. Do not raise up arms against your local goverments demanding more pictures or exciting/frightening/record-breaking coaster for I shall continue to supply you with the GREAT images that you have come to expect here at kpJR.net.
In fact, I think we'll start off with perhaps the most extreme coaster ever built. So extreme that it's known, simply, as X.
More to come tomorrow....so stay tuned.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 4, 2006
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Home Decor #4
 The fourth home decor item to be featured today is and shelf/coat-rack mounted in the dining area of the apartment.
The shelf is actually part of a set that came with a matching bench/storage-unit that is right under the shelf and holds several throws/afghans.
Atop the shelf are the humble beginnings to my mini-helmet collection. The collection is made up of the football helmets pictured above; they are (from left to right): New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Voodoo, LSU Tigers - 2003 National Champions Special Edition,
Nicholls State University Colonels, and LSU Tigers - normal version.
Roller Coaster Requests
The thirty-third installment in my Six Flags Superhero Series of roller coasters is Mr. Freeze, the sister to the coaster by the same name found in St. Louis. The 2 coasters are mirror-images of each other and utilize the same launch system to move riders at speeds up to 70mph.
The ride can be found at Six Flags Over Texas in Texas.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 3, 2006
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Home Decor #3
 The third home decor item we're going to feature is Kayla's birthday present to me this year: a framed poster of LSU's Tiger Stadium.
The photograph was taken this past football season during the LSU/Auburn football game in which the Bayou Bengals were victorious to the tune of 20-17 in overtime.
The photographer was perched at the highest point, farthest from the field in the newly rennovated West Side Upper Deck, which is being polished up hopefully in time for the start of football season.
From this vantage point, one can see LSU's Bernie Moore Track Stadium as well as the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (aka PMAC).
Also, although you can't see it in the picture, in the distance is an illuminated state capitol building.
Roller Coaster Requests
The thirty-second installment in my Six Flags Superhero Series of roller coasters is another version of Batman The Ride. This steel inverted coaster put riders upside-down 5 times at speeds up to 50mph.
The ride can be found at Six Flags Over Texas in Texas.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 2, 2006
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Home Decor
 The second home decor item we hung is a print that Kayla and I purchased from a store in the Esplanade mall several months back. The print is entitled "Café in the Vieux Carré" by native New Orleanian James Hussey (read his bio here).
The picture is a view of Jackson Square from the viewpoint of the moonwalk/river. In the foreground, we see a crowded Café Du Monde, a horse & buggy and a misty view of St. Louis Cathedral.
We also got this print matted and framed at Michael's here in Baton Rouge. It now sits above our fireplace and mantle. Click here to see a picture of the mantle with the print mounted above. Notice Kayla's action figure of the Fish Out of Water character from Disney's CGI feature film Chicken Little on the left.
Roller Coaster Requests
The thirty-first installment in my Six Flags Superhero Series of roller coasters is Mr. Freeze. This steel sit-down coaster launches riders from 0-70mph in 3.8 seconds with the assistance of a LIM launch track. The ride recently changed the type of restraints that are used to hold riders in their seats from an over-the-shoulder system to a conventional lap bar.
The ride can be found at Six Flags St. Louis in Missouri.
Roller Coaster Pic of the Day
August 1, 2006
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