Atlanta entrepreneur is Iraq's 'king of fun'

Hey, I spent time in an L&D ward....anyone who even thinks for a second that women aren't the stronger sex should try eating a turkey via "the Martha Stewart method" and get back to me sometime....

I'm gonna kick in a word I didn't see earlier that I think is *germane* to the converstaion...whereas I don't necessarily buy the argument that everyone is "racist" (well, maybe to some slight degree, but that's a whole other fork in this road), I will throw it out there that *everyone* has PREJUDICES. Now, I'm too lazy to go over to a dictionary, but the *concept* I'm getting at is that every single individual will make *guesses* about new things and new people, etc. Prejudices need not be malicious, but I don't think anyone comes into any new situation as "tabula rasa", blank slate. As people, we NEED to have some idea what to EXPECT in new situations. What we DON'T need is to come into any new situation *expecting the worst* from others.

bill, really quite happy to have this discussion head-on...it gives us all a little "insight"....but I *still* want a kinder, gentler, buzz where people can LEARN in a hostility-free environment....and HERE come the hippie jokes...:) Go ahead, I can take it.....;)

Gator - Why don't you go back to the Rainbow Gathering you came from?! ;)

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'I want to be a statistic. I want to be masochistic. I want to be a clone.' - Descendents 'Suburban Home' *** This post was edited by chris on 12/5/2002. ***

Gator! Now yer talkin'! Let me ammend that in order to address the original joke....not only should we not expect the worse from someone, but we shouldn't think less of them for riding camels...or assume that they all do...not that riding one is bad.

...actually chris, I *have* attended a Rainbow Gathering, a WHILE back now...tons of naked, pot-smoking hippies, singing, dancing, DRUMMING and getting along quite well for 10,000 peeps....I felt so out-of-place! The *bad part* is that I hadn't caught "the bug" yet and drove from G-ville to Mark Twain Nat'l Forest in MO, and back, and didn't ride ONE coaster....

But until you've dug a trench in solid rock as a sort of *quasi-outhouse*, and had police on horseback actually high-fiving some hippies next to a drum circle, you haven't REALLY lived....

edit: the FUNNIEST part was the number of engineers, accountants, doctors, nurses, and assorted other professional *types* you MIGHT not expect to find there....until you DO! *** This post was edited by rollergator on 12/5/2002. ***

The leader of the KKK used to live less than 5 minutes from my house...that is before he held a news crew hostage at gunpoint, and in doing so landed his ass in prison. I hope he likes it there. Think that's bad? My school doesn't even get Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day off. Gotta love it here in Po-dunk Town Indiana...not!

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It's still me, here from the beginning back in 1999. Add 1500+ posts to the number I have in the info section if you care about such things.

Well. Then everyone go ahead and get your crying done here. This is the official feelbad thread.

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the member formerly known as MisterX

Actually most po dunk no black people schools don't get Martin Luther King Day off. Instead most get Presidents day off. Does it really make a difference? How does an excuse to miss school or work really honor a man unless you actually honor the man?

Anyway new Plaestine Indiana was a extreme hotbed for teh KKK, heck their school mascot is the Knights for crying out loud.

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Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Ode to the offseason:
Offseason Offseason what shall I do? Who cares the sun is still shining the sky is still blue! GET A LIFE!

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This is the official feelbad thread.

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That's funny. I don't feel bad. Wahoo doesn't feel bad. Antuan doesn't feel bad. Rollergator doesn't feel bad. CPGenius doesn't feel bad. FeelTheStrike doesn't feel bad either. Jeff doesn't feel bad. I don't think MagnumForce does. Did I miss anybody?

Why don't you tell us who would feel bad--and more interestingly, why?

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 12/5/2002. ***

Because this thread is pointless... what has happened over years and years of history is not going to be solved in a thread... but hey, whatever does it for you. Do your thing of acting clever and smart.

I wished we could have debated the ramifications of the article (that was the intention of my first few posts), but it looks as if you're using this as youre racial awareness thread, so screw it. Carry on, carry on.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Years and years of history? I'm sorry--did anyone hear me say more than a word or two about slavery, lynchings, children born of slave rape, Jim Crow laws in the South?

The only indignities I highlighted in particular were those suffered by people I happen to know very, very well. In fact, I call them Mom and Dad.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo. *** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 12/6/2002. ***

People are not born racists, bigots no more than they are born Chevy lovers, Democrats or Linux supporters. That stuff is the product of your upbringing and your own right to make decisions for yourself. Myself, I took the orignal joke in the context it was intended and left it at that.

The good and bad of the Net is you wouldnt know me from Adam in the street yet online I can openly insult your country, color and creed without a care in the world. I know my Past and honor those that have given me what you have today.

Respect your freedoms and be thankful that good or bad you have the right to say what you want, when you want and any damn way you see fit. People have died for lesser things.

I feel bad 'Playa. Well, not really. Shall we discuss the ramifications of the article? Ok, let's do.

Let's talk about the timing of the article. While interesting to us enthusiasts, why did the writer choose now to print the story?

Why does Mr. Araim prefer not to talk about politics in his homeland and answer questions about his personal life? Why does he call certain topics "dangerous"? Could it be that Iraq ain't no Disneyland? Eisner isn't going to kill you if you say something out of line (though he might send you packing to Dreamworks).

My guess is that there are more important things going on right now in Iraq than how long the line for the merry-go-round is.

General Public: If you don't care, why do you keep posting? I'll decide what's on or off topic, thanks. Why don't you carry on.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Climbing as we fall, we dare to hold on to our fate, and steal away our destiny to catch ourselves with quiet grace" - The Stairs, INXS

The 'feelbad' I was speaking of was in the extremely narrow context of GP's POV and quote. I should have been more specific.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

No, I was trying to extend the point that this thread is just a glorified pity party. I'm sure this post will get deleted, but if that's how your idea of getting kicks, that's fine. Luckily I have a life outside of this.
*** This post was edited by General Public on 12/6/2002. ***

Hey GP,

I threw some ideas about the article up there. Any brilliant contributions?

Probably not brilliant, I just thought it ws an interesting article, particularly the accounts of running the parks in Iraq and the comparison Mr. Araim gave between Dollywood and SFOG. Obviously he's paying pretty good attention to how the US amuesment business runs, so he can perhaps implement new ideas if and when there's a regime change in Iraq. It will be interesting to see what happens for this man.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

That's it? So basically you had far more problems with a dicussion about race than anything to say of substance on the article's topic. I for one am shocked.

Thanks for nothing. Now run along.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

Is it because that's not what you want to hear? I'm sorry to disappoint you. I forgot it's all about you. *** This post was edited by General Public on 12/6/2002. ***

Ironic you would say that...were you asking me to stop talking because you didn't want to hear me?

Actually, I was giving you a chance to leave before I addressed your other topics of alleged concern. But you're still here...

What makes a discussion of race or race relations a 'pity party' in your (small) mind? Why does it upset you so? Above all, who asked for your pity?

I don't pity my parents, save for the fact that they've gone from penny-pinchers to the baby-grand-in-the-living-room mentality. Other than the fact that I just bought 5 gallons of Sherwin Williams paint in a color that Playette decided she hated, I sure as heck wouldn't pity me either. I do believe I yelled at wahoo skipper earlier because it seemed he was expressing blanket pity for certain folk of foreign descent. Nobody's asking for pity--least of all yours.

You know what I think?

(This is where I put on the brakes....more below.)

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 12/6/2002. *** *** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 12/6/2002. ***