WANZeGRAM...070309

When the grieving father of the late "King of Pop" states to the press (CNN, Sunday at the BET Music Awards) "It's been really tough. Remember we just lost the biggest superstar in the world, so it's been really tough." - doesn't that statement serve to once again illuminate the shallowness of Joe Jackson's character?

He was speaking on behalf of "the family" when he made that bewildering statement. So said he, not I.

Isn't it creepily telling that instead of saying - "...we just lost our SON, so it's been really tough," he chose to say, "...we just lost the world's biggest superstar, so it's been really tough?"

What are we to draw from that statement? That the loss of his son would have been less "tough" on the father and family of Michael Jackson had Michael not been "the world's biggest superstar?"

Would it not have been a more accurate statement if old Joe had perhaps said, "We just lost the world's biggest meal ticket?"

Will Joe's sense of loss be less "tough" when Jermaine dies because the elder sibling is less a star than brother Michael?

I'm just sayin'.

Also on my mind; I get that it is important to wear a seatbelt, and in fact, I always do. But one can't help but ponder the sincerity of Florida law enforcement officials when they state "public safety" is the number one priority behind the new seat belt law that went into effect on June 30, making not wearing a seat belt a first class offense; now an officer can pull you over for no other reason than not wearing a seat belt, and the fine for such is greatly accelerated. The stated intent behind that law might be somewhat believable were it not for the fact that Florida recently repealed its motorcycle helmet law.

So, we are meant to believe that it is out of concern for public safety that a driver encased within the structure of a car or truck, which has undergone crash testing and has been outfitted with roll over frames, bumpers, and air bags, must wear a seatbelt, but a driver of a motorcycle careening down the road with no structural protection what so ever, is not required to wear a helmet?

That makes no sense at all, and leaves me to believe it is increased traffic citation revenue that is the impetus behind the new seatbelt law rather than a concern for the well-being of the motoring public. It also leads me to believe that motorcyclists have lobbyists, or that many of our lawmakers in Tallahassee drive motorcycles. Neither seems that likely, but what other sense can one make of such nonsense.

And finally, I was literally besieged with emails from angry Universal Orlando employees, executives, and fans when I reported on that park's lack of operationally skilled employees and overall consumer service, among other things. Most emails were somewhat angry in tone and blasted me for giving out false information about the already-supposed-to-have-been-opened-in-the-spring Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster attraction.

Several people took me to task, insisting the track had been completed over a month before I wrote my rant; but the actual fact of the matter is, that while I was writing that rant, I had (and still have) a clear view of the highest reaches of the coaster from my back yard, and was watching cranes put into place, and take back out again, pieces of track. While it remains unsubstantiated whether or not there was missing track, there were certainly track-related problems.

That was fully two months ago.

The people who wrote in also insisted that the coaster in question would enjoy a soft opening during the final week of June, and would have it's grand opening on the fourth of July. Universal spokespersons announced a July 4th opening as well. And whatever the issues may be, the delay in opening has not deterred the company from running aggressive radio and television ad campaigns touting the opening soon" Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

So you can imagine my surprise when just two weekends ago the cranes suddenly re-appeared in the Universal Studios skyline as I sipped my morning coffee, watching said crane remove the entire main lift section of the ride track. The crane then put replacement track pieces into place the next day.

I've yet to see even a hint of a ride vehicle.

On Sunday The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit would miss its re-targeted opening date of July 4.

But, of course, if you read your WANZeGRAM you did not need to rely on the Orlando Sentinel for this information. You heard it (or read it) here first that the ride was horribly behind schedule and that even the delayed opening date was overly optimistic and impossible to achieve. Although Universal folks are now declaring a September opening for the much anticipated thrill ride, I'm going to stick with my original prediction of a mid-Fall opening. (And I truly hope I am wrong.)

Since you won't be able to ride the coaster on July 4, on Saturday morning point your browser to this ride simulation animation on YouTube, and you can ride it virtually, rather than virtually ride it:

Watch it on YouTube!

Meanwhile, SeaWorld's high tech Manta flying coaster did indeed open on time, as predicted in the WANZeGRAM, and continues to operate without a hitch.

Also, the soft opening of the all new Hall of Presidents, featuring the most sophisticated AudioAnimatronic ever concocted by Disney imagineers - President Barack Obama (as extensively reported on in a previous WANZeGRAM), previewed as scheduled last weekend. Although last minute tweaks continue, a limited number of Magic Kingdom guests are enjoying the attraction daily, and the completely refurbished The Hall of Presidents attraction will roll out its grand opening to the general public, on time, on target, on July 4, as announced by the Disney folks back on November 1, 2008, when the attraction suspended operations to accommodate a truly major redesign.

And you angry Universal people; please don't write to me pointing out that there is a huge difference between a mere theatre attraction, such as The Hall of Presidents, and a roller coaster.

I get that.

After all, one is just a ride, and the other is a highly intricate, nearly-impossible-to-achieve system of life-like robotics synchronized with a fully automated, computerized show system of lights, state-of-the-art sound, projections, curtain cues, automatic opening and closing doors, and the life-like likeness of a recently elected U.S. President, in an 18th century colonial eastern seaboard structure, all "painstakingly recreated down to the slightest detail."

I'm WANZIE and That's All I Wrote