[CarowindsCentral]

I'm going to guess someone here would be good with computers. I have a entry-level gaming PC, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for specific parts to upgrade it. I would like to be able to run GTA V, Saints Row: The Third and Stranded Deep. (The last two of those will run but on minimum settings with a VERY unstable frame rate. I don't have GTA V on PC yet, but would like to be able to run it due to it being on my steam wishlist.)

Three things: 1. I am open to switching out AMD for Intel. 2. I am open to switching out the motherboard. 3. I already plan to upgrade from 8GB of ram to 16GB.

Here's my current specs:
Processor: AMD FX(tm)-4130 Quad-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 1150
Memory: 8GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 1GB DDR3
Hard Drive: Toshiba 1TB 3.5 SATA3 7200RPM 32MB Cache
Power Supply: InWin 350W ATX12V PSU

[chargercrazy]

I would think that your video card is the limiting factor for graphics on games, but I haven't built a machine in 5 or 6 years - I am not up on the latest hardware.

[coasterbruh]

Maybe carowinds should do this in the water park!!!!
click me...

[RollerBee]

Oh hell no......

[JosieQ]

It's even cheaper to go to Discount Tire. If the tread is still within the limits, they will patch your tire from the inside for free (they don't use plugs). No strings attached. I've used them a few times to fix flat tires.

I thought for sure you were completely mad, because what mechanics do stuff for free, but you were right! They DID offer to patch me for free! *Gasp egads!*

Unfortunately the nail's on the shoulder so they couldn't do it (which I was worried about) so I'll just have to drive around with it until I can afford a new tire, but still at least I know they're out there for future tire issues. Thanks, arby. ^-^

[ColetD]

Speaking of tire issues, I was absolutely thrilled to pull out of my driveway and realize very quickly that I have a flat tire this morning. I've got AAA, so after calling them around 7.45 this morning and it is now almost 9.. I have figured out what their name stands for:
Anxiously
Awaiting
Assistance

Good thing I'm not that eager to get to work today. And I wish I had more guy friends. Haha

[FamousAmos]

Have any of you ever gotten a sunburn on your feet and legs and it caused swelling? Or your chest area and it caused swelling?

[ColetD]

If you push into the area of inflammation/sunburn, does it stay as a little indent or does it immediately return to where it should be? If you have severe enough sunburn you can have some edema as a result. I once spent a weekend out on a boat and had pitting edema that migrated from the top of my head, down my forehead and across my eyes. It was awesome, had second degree burn and everything.

[arby]

^^Yes, and it's not fun. The entire top half of my back was swollen and ended up being one big blister. The best way I took care of it was some rest and aloe on the all the sunburned areas. I still have dark sunspots all over my shoulders, now, and they are extra sensitive to direct sunlight

Moral: Don't go shirtless in Puerto Rico when the daily temperature is around 115 degrees and always use sunscreen.

[FamousAmos]

We've determined that it is a bad case of sun-poisoning. I will be headed to the hospital in a little while.

[Hiveminded]

Anyone going to holiwood Nights? My first time going to this one and the reviews make it sound awesome. Unfortunately Fiesta Fest was a bust, it rained over half the day. I got most of everything once except for Poltergeist and the roller skater. Iron rattler varies a lot with the temperature, when it was a sunny hot afternoon it was flying with ejector everywhere, but a cool cloudy morning was much more tame with strong floater level air (around Fury level air). Batman was surprisingly good as well, and on my last ride of the night I got the most insane ride I had ever gotten on any ride. From the bottom of the first raven turn to the bottom of the second one, it was nothing but contentious flipping. I think there were five in a row on that section of track! Insane! Muuuuuch better than the Intaman zacspins.

[arby]

<rant>
I know it's been said before, but I'll say it again.

I know Mike has made himself very accessible. But please don't bother him with questions and let him do what he does best - run an amusement park. While many of us are enthusiasts, we still are just part of the public.

I see Mike about half the time that I go to the park and he recognizes me. I usually stop and chat with him for a few minutes but I don't try to harass him with all these questions that I also have. I just take that opportunity to give him immediate feedback on the positive changes in the park and/or any immediate constructive feedback that I think might be helpful.

Even bothering the PR department with some of these questions is a waste of their time. They are working with marketing to get the word out about all the new changes and try to increase revenue - the $$$ that helps bring us even more great big changes. I'm sure they are swamped right now trying to plan out teasers and promotions for what will be announced in August and all the press about TR leaving.

Enthusiast organizations like ACE hold events to give us the opportunity to see some behind the scenes stuff, and every enthusiast event I have been to always has a Q&A session. That's where the park officials have set aside a block of their time to focus on answering (usually 'talking around' ) our direct questions.

Mike and the other park officials really aren't going to give you much more information than they are telling the GP, anyway, because they know in many cases it makes its way to the Internet. (Hey, look at that, Carowinds Connection is public on the Internet). Sometimes the questions they are bothered with don't have a final answer, yet, either, so even what you are told may not be accurate. I'm willing to bet that the plans for 2016 aren't 100% and won't be until whatever they have planned is opened. Some things have to be changed because other things went over budget, logistics, etc.

I like inside information as much as anybody else, and sometimes I do find out details before they are public. I keep quiet about them but it usually ruins some of the fun of speculating.
</rant>

[Jarsh]

I know Mike has made himself very accessible. But please don't bother him with questions and let him do what he does best - run an amusement park. While many of us are enthusiasts, we still are just part of the public.

This.

Even bothering the PR department with some of these questions is a waste of their time. They are working with marketing to get the word out about all the new changes and try to increase revenue - the $$$ that helps bring us even more great big changes. I'm sure they are swamped right now trying to plan out teasers and promotions for what will be announced in August and all the press about TR leaving.

And this.

Please and thank you!

[CarowindsCentral]

Every time I see the petition for #SaveThunderRoad spammed, it just makes me want to pick up a blowtorch and a sledgehammer and start taking the ride down myself.

[Sivart]

Every time I see the petition for #SaveThunderRoad spammed, it just makes me want to pick up a blowtorch and a sledgehammer and start taking the ride down myself.

+1.

For those of you who live in Charlotte, how do you like it? My mom and I are considering that we move to Charlotte since we've heard nothing but good things about it. Is it as dangerous as it is made out to be? We know about the ghettos (West Side, East Side, N. Tryon, Hidden Valley), but is it really that bad? Do you enjoy living in Charlotte?

EDIT: I actually enjoy a little bit of a ghetto atmosphere, but not something too dangerous.