With summer almost here, children will be urging their parents to take them to the nearest amusement park. The highlight of these parks are ever more thrilling roller coasters, which trace their roots back to 15th century ice slides in Russia. In the U.S., the first modern roller coaster opened 125 years ago this week at Coney Island, New York. It was built by Lamarcus Thompson, and was called “the gravity pleasure switchback railway.” The ride lasted a minute and cost a nickel. Now, there are 524 theme and amusement parks across the nation, and along with arcades, they sell $13.5 billion worth of tickets annually. Profile America is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau: Measuring America–People, Places, and Our Economy.
Discuss and more on the Open Lines!
I found it ‘interesting’ that I was in a public building today and ran into who I thought was a respectable,intelligent African American man who works with youth in the county. I won’t name this paricular individual but 9 out of 9 times he would normally go out of his way to speak and talk “shop”,etc. Today was different for no other reason than what I can assume of whom happened to be in the vacinity that we were both occupying. People want to make excuses about schools not being good and children not getting a good education in the local school system but I think we have a BIGGER problem. There are too many RACISTS in Vance County, both BLACK & WHITE!!! My job leaves me no other choice than to cross into all sections of race/religion/region but I find it amazing that so many elderly black males are RACIST. Today’s ‘episode’ only proves the point more than an incident that I had a couple of months ago while walking down Garnett St. when an infamous “rev./pastor/deacon” or whatever he wants to be called accused me of being RACIST b/c alledgedly he spoke while I was on the other side of the street and he didn’t think I responded appropriately. Actually & Honestly I didn’t recognize who it was b/c my eyesight in fading as I grow older. Vance County needs Strong, Unbiased, Respectable, and Professional Black Males if it wants to reach what is fast becoming a “lost” generation of young black men. If I’m wrong……………prove it!!!!! I have 2 instances of racist/ignorant/biased behavior within the past couple of months from at least 1 man whom I thought wasn’t what he appeared to be!! And they wonder why their kids are more likely to drop out of school, get involved in drugs, go to prison, or worst of all…end up dead? I don’t need to wonder……I witness it every day….1st hand!!!!