June 2003 Archives
So the Southern Baptists are out recruiting again. I just saw an article that they just made public their plan to have their members go out and convert gays. And they say we're out to convert people. What a bunch of morons. No, I shouldn't say that. Their plan is pretty good. Use their membership to go out and recruit more people who will in turn make them richer. And of course they can use this cause to get their current membership to donate even more money to their "worthy" cause. Just like corporate America, they're using all their resources to make even more money. If only the GLBT community was so good at raising money. This should be a wake up call to gay America - if you haven't supported a local or national GLBT group lately with your dollars, you should seriously consider it. If not simply because you believe in the work they do, but because those who seek to oppress you are raising money for their cause all the time. As far as the SBC is concerned, it's just another perversion of faith that I'm sure is looked upon by the higher power as purely shameful.
This weekend Jon and I went to Stark Ravin Mad at Holiday World. It's a really wonderful park - not like the Cedar Points or Six Flags of the world. It's family owned and they're totally focused on you being the guest and that you have fun. Imagine that! With your admission which is is markedly lower than most other parks, you get free soft drinks whenever and where ever you want. Seriously, you walk into a "Pepsi Oasis", get a cup, fill it up and on your way. The owner even comes out and will chat with ya for awhile. It's truely a wonderful park that everyone should visit at least once. Not many parks like this exist anymore. So Stark Ravin Mad is a coaster enthusiast event where al the rail junkies get together and ride endlessly. They close the park to the public sometime in the evening and we get to ride all by ourselves. It's usually great. This year ended on a very sad note.
On Saturday evening we had just finished our picnic/dinner and we were about ready to head into the park for some ERT (Exclusive Ride Time - where the public is not in the park or on the ride). It seemed that something was holding things up - we were supposed to start ERT at 8:30. So 9pm rolls around and they told us they had an annoucement to make. The owner of the park told us then that there had been an accident. A woman, a coaster enthusiast, had been ejected from the Raven. (For those for whom this makes no sense, the Raven is a roller coaster and ejected means she was thrown from the coaster.) She died that evening. She apparently had removed her seatbelt while on the ride, went over a hill and was then thrown from the train. Everyone was in shock and left the park in silence as the rest of the event had been (rightfully) cancelled. Of course on the way out there were the few morons who wanted their money back. We're still somewhat in shock over it.
There are certain thrills in life, and one of my favorites is to go careening at breakneck speeds. I think the safest way to do it is on a roller coaster. I feel terrible for the woman's family. I also learn from this - with everything in life that has a thrill, you have to be careful. Sex, condoms. Alcohol, moderation. Coasters, lapbar and seatbelt. Always do what you are passionate about and what thrills you, but be careful that is doesn't hurt you or someone else.
