Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 1d

If you only care about narrative and storytelling and suspension of disbelief, there are plenty of other, better media for you to work in!

If you want to create experiences that speak to the unique physicality of being present in the world, then theme and amusement parks are well suited to that!

1 3

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 1d

This part of the monologue is something I've dealt with in my own writing. But we seem to land on opposite sides. Whereas Rohde sees excessive physicality of rides as an obstacle to narrative design ("what themed attractions do best"), I think that's a core reason why they exist in the real world!

Think about it. The thrill of going really fast and being up high is exactly the thrill of knowing that your body is really there in real time — and that’s what’s happening. So in order for that sensation to be successful, it’s awfully hard to combine it with another sensation that says none of that is really happening. In fact, little dancing fairies are singing to you. Hard to do.

1 1

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 1d

It's amusing to read Joe patiently answering a set of generic pre-scripted questions, and then later unilaterally decides to skip the Q&A format and just launch into an extended manifesto about design philosophy.
attractionsmagazine.com/joe-rohde-di...

Joe Rohde, former Imagineer, on why theme parks are art | Attractions Expert Q & A

Joe Rohde in-depth interview about his tenure as lead Imagineeer of Disney's Animal Kingdom,and the qualities that define theme parks as art.

attractionsmagazine.com

1 2 8

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 2d

I'm always impressed at what a long, well-paced ride this is given the tight footprint.

Park Lore✨ @parklore.com · 2d

A new #LayoutTuesday entry this week! PINOCCHIO'S DARING JOURNEY debuted at Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, built in tandem with one in Disneyland's New Fantasyland the same year. Then, it was an Opening Day Original in Paris! #ParkLoreArt

See more hand-drawn ride layouts at parklore.com/main/then-now/!

1 7

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 2d

Savoring one of the handful of days each year of fall weather in LA.

1

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 5d

I just rewatched Diane Keaton in FATHER OF THE BRIDE last week. She seemed like one of those actresses who would just always be around and give you that happy comfort whenever she turns up.

I can't believe she didn't outlive her ANNIE HALL co-star. Very sad day.

2

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 7d

Fortunately I have some contract work that's starting soon to help keep my mind off the possibilities of what could have been. It's been a long, hard journey, and unfortunately there's no triumphant end to it just yet, only a series of smaller steps finally in a better-ish direction.

1

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 7d

(Not a dig at California, I think it's great to live somewhere that you get more rights as a worker than most other places in this country.)

1 1

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 7d

I had to turn down a good job offer last week because it required immediate full-time relocation to Florida. I might have taken it if there was some remote work flexibility for the remainder of this year, but California's labor regulations meant doing anything from this state was a no-go for them.

1 1

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Foolish Mortals Point & Click Adventure Game @inklingwood.bsky.social · 8d

Our hand-drawn, full-length, fully voiced point & click adventure game Foolish Mortals releases November 5, 2025! 👻 www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0rN...

A wedding... vanished. A treasure... lost. A heart... broken.

Wishlist us now! store.steampowered.com/app/1848440/...

Foolish Mortals Release Date Trailer - November 5, 2025

YouTube video by Inklingwood Studios

www.youtube.com

8 32 83

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 8d

This one is actually kind of interesting to watch how it flies through the end of the circuit when the splashdown pool isn't filled with water to act as a natural brake.

2

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 8d

That's pretty cool! And surprising that they haven't had any Korean/Asian filmers request a similar shoot in the seven years it's been open.

1 1

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 10d

Monsters Unstringed: The Frankenstein Experiment

2

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 10d

And yes, you can also catch the Bob Baker Marionettes at Coachella this year...

Poster for Coachella, with Bob Baker Marionettes highlighted by a pair of clown stickers

1

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 10d

First time seeing a performance at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, doing their annual Hallowe'en Spooktacular. Really cute show with some amazing hand coordination by the puppeteers.

A lot of vintage cultural touchpoints seem to mostly be kept alive today by children's entertainment.

Poster for the Bob Baker Marionette Theater Hallowe'en Spooktacular

Exterior facade for the Bob Baker Marionette Theater

A pair of marionette puppets of Dracula and his wife on stage

1 4

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 11d

The AI slop seems to be pulling reference from Chinese knock-off theme parks more than anything from Disney. Layers upon layers of crap imitation.

1 1

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Mr. Joshua @pantspants.bsky.social · 12d

4 680 3.5K

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Brett Martin @brettmartin.bsky.social · 14d

I went to Disneyland to track the long, strange history of Disney and New Orleans—and how each has taught the other how to be.

gardenandgun.com/feature/the-...

The Curious and Twisty Love Story Between New Orleans and Disney

The fascinating, decades-long dalliance between the Crescent City and the Disney version of it, starring a cartoon princess, Creole chefs, mechanical tiki birds, and the world’s most meticulously rese...

gardenandgun.com

13 13

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Haus of Decline @hausofdecline.bsky.social · 14d

A man is burning to death. He says "Help ME! Oh God I'm burning to death!' As his flesh melts he shrieks "AHHHH THE AGONY!" He shouts "help me! help me!" to two other men watching him die. One man says "bro's crashing out." The other one winces and says "cringe."

36 680 4.3K

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Mr. Joshua @pantspants.bsky.social · 14d

11 380 2K

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 15d

The Haunted Mansion

Mr. Joshua @pantspants.bsky.social · 15d

3

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 15d

Apparently the Utah parks are being kept open with minimal staffing, which is even worse.

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 15d

Glad I got to experience these right before most of them shut down in their peak season!

And this isn't the first time I've had to plan visits to national parks around a government shutdown. Seriously, if you have to plan far in advance, avoid the start of fiscal quarters.

Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 17d

This past weekend I was in Utah and, in 2.5 days, visited three national parks, two national forests, and one state park. It was a lot in a short amount of time.

I want to share some pictures and thoughts on the excursion, which we did at the end of my wife's work trip in Salt Lake City that week.

The "Pando" Aspen Tree Grove in Fishlake National Forest

1 1 7

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Jake Cole @jakecole.bsky.social · 16d

It’s not psychologically sustainable to spend every waking minute both terrified and embarrassed. It’s like being a civilian in Gotham when the villain on a tear is the fucking Clock King.

4 55 230

Reposted by Jeremy Thompson

Jake Cole @jakecole.bsky.social · 16d

Feels like my brain is cooking sous vide in its own cranial fluid grappling with Hegseth announcing “I am so sick of fat, effeminate men” to warm up a crowd of generals for a planned loyalty pledge to DONALD TRUMP, the show tunes president currently dreaming of a ballroom the size of the Taj Mahal

5 51 260