Like there ain’t enough nutty things to do in New York, add one more - A Waterboard Thrill Ride on Coney Island - which is basically kinda like a dollar-slot candy machine. Details from the New York Times. Photo by Atomische.com via flickr (creative commons).

You drop in a dollar, the robots come to life. There’s a guy in a hood with a dark sweatshirt (aka the waterboarder) who starts pouring water over the mouth and nose of another guy in a yellow jumpsuit spreadeagled on a table (aka the waterboardee). The guy on the table flaps about when the water is being poured.

Created by artist Steve Powers, the simulated waterboarding is meant to be a satitical take on the torture debate at Guantanamo Bay. Is it funny? Well, you gotta see it yourself. A bit ‘politically incorrect’? More than a bit. But whatever your thoughts on turning such a serious matter into a tacky amusement thrill at Coney Island, one thing you have to admit - Its marketed pretty darn well - A sign at the entrance has Spongebob tied down as the detainee and saying ’It don’t Gitmo better!’

In fact, I have an even better idea. If San francisco can think about turning the infamous Alcatraz prison into an entertainment park with a luxury hotel, maybe you could have a Guantanamo Bay themed hotel. New York hotels are nothing, if not innovative, and New Yorkers are equally crazy. They’ll line up for a weekend of Guantanamo Bay style interrogation and book ‘cages’.

Heck, let’s take it one step ahead, and turn Gitmo into a luxury hotel. You could have Miami vacations with a day in Gitmo thrown in. Return trip to Miami via high-speed escape boats with mock chase by Coast Guard and Immigration.

In other news, the LA Times triggers a debate over whether hotels should rent out rooms to unaccompanied teen travelers. Its actually an answer to a question from someone whose 17 year old daughter is being refused stays at hotels all by herself. The answer, quite comprehensive, provide by LAT staff writer Catherine Hamm, states that legally speaking, hotels can’t enforce the contract with underage teens. So, say, if the girl in question skips out without paying, then the hotel can’t do anything about it.

There’s also a lot of psychobabble about underage girls not being able to stay alone in a new city. Granted its a valid point, but in this case… Its ok for an 18 year old girl to check in all by herself, but its not ok for a 17 year old girl? Gimme a break…

Posted on August 7th, 2008 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News