Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a steel roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. With a height of 167 feet (51 m), a length of 3,800 feet (1,200 m), and a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h), it is the largest X-Coaster ever built by German manufacturer Maurer Söhne.[5][6] Announced on March 19, 2008, the coaster officially debuted on August 19, 2009, despite original plans to open several months earlier in the spring. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit features on-ride music LED lighting, and on-ride photos and videos captured from cameras mounted in each passenger row.
VA - Disco Re - Adventures - 2009
The new attraction was officially announced by Universal Studios on March 19, 2008.[8] Although the layout was not revealed, the original press release stated that the roller coaster's vertical lift hill would be 167 feet (51 m) tall, and that the trains would reach a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).[8] It also mentioned that each train would be equipped with a multi-media package, LED lights, built-in video recorders, and the option for riders to choose a song from a list to be played during the course of the ride.[8] The ride would also include six near miss encounters.[8] At the time, the new roller coaster was scheduled to open in Spring 2009.[8] Also, in the months after the announcement, Universal Studios surveyed guests on what songs they think should be included in the roller coaster. Some of the artists that guests could choose from were: The Black Eyed Peas, Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, and Johnny Cash.[9]
Construction began in May 2008 with preliminary land clearing, which caused the removal of some of Twister...Ride it Out's outdoor extended queue.[10] The first track pieces were installed during the week of December 7, 2008.[11] In February 2009, Universal launched a website for the attraction, which included a construction blog and photographs chronicling progress of the attraction's construction.[12][13] The track layout was completed at the end of April 2009 with the crowning of the lift hill.[14][15]
In April 2009, Universal confirmed that the roller coaster would not open as originally planned and said it would open in the summer. Though Universal has never mentioned what the exact problem with the roller coaster was, it is believed by newspapers that issues with the anti-rollback devices on the lift hill that were not working correctly caused the delay.[2]
After the issues with the ride were resolved, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit began public previews in mid-August 2009.[16] On August 19, 2009, Universal Studios Florida officially opened the attraction.[17] It continued to experience technical issues early on after opening. A number of its features worked sporadically or not at all. There were also operational issues, such as slower-than-expected loading times that diminished capacity and led to long lines. One of the notable complaints was the rough ride experience, especially for guests sitting in the back seat.[18]
The initial announcement just said that there would be 5 categories of songs. The full tracklist was not released until July 6, 2009, with Universal Studios Florida unveiling thirty songs (6 in each category) that can be played during the ride.[25]
Anthony Deane Rapp[2] (born October 26, 1971) is an American actor and singer who originated the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent. Following his original performance of the role in 1996, Rapp reprised it in the film version of the show and then the show's United States Tour in 2009. He also performed the role of Charlie Brown in the 1999 Broadway revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and originated the role of Lucas in the musical If/Then in 2014. He currently plays Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets on the television series Star Trek: Discovery.
Rapp went on to play the character of Mark Cohen in the off-Broadway and original Broadway casts of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent. For his audition, Rapp sang R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion", and received his callback in September 1994.[7] After offering him the role, Jonathan Larson wrote new songs for the production with Rapp's voice in mind.[10] He reprised that role in the film adaptation, which was released on November 23, 2005. He returned to Rent on July 30, 2007, for a six-week run, along with original cast member Adam Pascal.[11] The two continued in their return to Rent through October 7, 2007.[12] Rapp and Pascal, along with fellow original cast member Gwen Stewart, reprised their roles of Mark and Roger in a national tour of Rent beginning January 6, 2009.[13]
Warped Tour 2009 was the 15th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. Tour founder/organizer Kevin Lyman announced that this year's tour would feature only one main stage with bands playing 40 minutes each instead of two main stages with 30 minute sets like previous years.[1] The 46-date tour kicked off on June 26, 2009 in Pomona, California and ended August 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.[2]
On February 10, 2009 details for the annual "Warped Tour Kick Off Party" were announced. The show took place on April 2, 2009 at The Key Club in West Hollywood, California and featured Warped Tour 2009 bands T.S.O.L., The Adolescents, Sing it Loud, TAT, and TV/TV on the bill.[3] The tour won the Best Festival/Tour Award at the Rock on Request Awards.[4]
Ernie Ball returned in 2009 to sponsor the Ernie Ball Stage consisting of headlining artists and 5 bands chosen for each date from the 13th annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands competition for the Vans Warped Tour.[38]
Kia Motors returned in 2009 to sponsor the Kevin Says Stage for a second year. The lineup of the stage changed from being mostly local and/or unsigned bands to now feature newly-signed and "up-and-coming" artists.[60] The stage was booked by Warped Tour organizers along with Earn It Yourself, Sonicbids, and East Coast Independent, who sponsored their own "East Coast Indie Stage" on previous Warped Tours.[60][61] East Coast Independent also held "Battle of the Bands" competitions to select bands to play on select East Coast Warped Tour dates.
In 2009, the City of Roanoke donated a two-part conservation easement in Roanoke County and Botetourt County. This easement permanently protects 11,363 acres of open space in Carvins Cove Natural Reserve.
In cases of anisometropia as well as in deprivation, there is a partial "disconnection" of the affected eye in the primary visual cortex, leading to abnormal neuronal competition. While in normal animals most cortical neurons respond to stimulation of 2 eyes, in animals that were subjected to occlusion or blurring of the image of one eye, the proportion of cortical neurons responding to stimuli of the affected eye is much smaller. There is also clear evidence of neural acuity deficit in anisometropia and deprivation. That is, cortical neurons that still respond to stimuli of the affected eye tend to have diffuse and insensitive receptive fields and, therefore, generate worse spatial resolution and contrast sensitivity.30,49,50
Since Hubel and Wiesel demonstrated anatomical and functional alterations in the primary visual cortex due to amblyopia in animal models, much has been discovered about the impact of amblyopia on the visual system and the importance of a critical period of cerebral plasticity on the effective treatment period. Two major shifts in paradigm regarding amblyopia that these bodies of work brought were the belief that successful treatment of amblyopia outside the critical period is possible, and the concept that amblyopia is more of a binocular, rather than a monocular, disease.156
We know that the young brain is more plastic than an adult brain, but we also know that the adult brain is still capable of learning and recovering after injury, so it is clear that there is plasticity at a synaptic level, a cellular level, and at the level of cortical representation. One interpretation in this context is that the critical period ends with an increased threshold for plasticity rather than complete closure, so it is necessary to find stimuli and ways to stimulate the specific plasticity of the adult brain.15,156 Intracortical inhibitory circuitry was discovered as a key factor for defining the limits of cortical plasticity. It has been shown that a brief reduction of gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) inhibition in the brains of rats is able to reopen a window of plasticity in the visual system well after the normal closure of the critical periods,157 so several intrinsic and extrinsic modes of augmentation of plasticity have been employed to facilitate amblyopia therapy beyond the critical period of development.
We proudly support the T.J. Martell Foundation by donating auction items, which funds medical research to discover new treatments and cures for cancer with the support of the music and entertainment industries. A world without cancer is possible through targeted and bold investments in high-risk, high-gain cancer research that advances science and ultimately saves lives. Read More
In "Sisters", Starfire and Robin were at the local carnival ferris wheel, observing the fireworks while eating cotton candy. She was curious about Earthly things. Starfire blankly told Robin that fireworks meant the Gordanians were attacking. After reassuring her that wasn't the case, Starfire was abruptly taken away and being chased by alien probes. After the Titans and her manage to fend it off, they all wonder why it was after Starfire, then they head back to Titans Tower. There, they discover that Blackfire, Starfire's older sister, has come to Earth for a visit. While Starfire is very pleased to see her, Blackfire seems to take a interest more in the rest of the Titans, complimenting them and getting along like they were old friends. Starfire is not very happy about this, thinking that her friends have replaced her with her 'cooler and better looking sister.' After a short while, the Titans are invited to a party in an abandoned warehouse, courtesy of Blackfire. 2ff7e9595c
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