"The French daily Le Parisien revealed that the net loss of EuroDisney SCA may widen from 33.1 million Euro in 2001/2002 to 58 million Euro in 2002/2003 with guest numbers actually decreasing by 600,000 to 12.5 million. EuroDisney SCA has conceded that the company faces major obstacles but declined further comment pointing out that the official numbers won't be released prior to mid-November. Le Parisien had obtained his information from a 'source in the know' which it did not identify prompting investigation by EuroDisney SCA as it was pointed out that the report of Le Parisien was based on non-audited numbers avialable in an internal paper only that was supposed to be confidental. Le Parisien went on to state that the operating costs actually exceed the income of the company.

"This major leak brought at least one good result: Prince Alwaleed bin Talal increased ints efforts to help the company refinance its 2.2 billion Euro debt. The prince, a major shareholder since the first financial crises who had been forced to reduce its holdings in the company during the issuing of new shares to finance the second gate, already started talks with the banks and the company when EuroDisney SCA earlier this revealed its problematic financial situation originally. The shares quickly regained their old value from before the news release after an initial 6.5 percent drop."

Source: Disneyland Paris Internet Guidebook

The European town of Tichilesti is a kind of paradise, but developers threaten this intentional communty. The common thread that brought the members of Tichilesti together is fading from the world, and they may be the last community of their kind. A different sort of theme park.

The Edifying Spectacle reports: "In a few weeks, on a massive site outside Interlaken in Switzerland, Von Daniken’s Mystery Park - containing recreations of major 'extra-terrestrial works' that include Stonehenge, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Mayan temples, and others - will open to visitors at a cost of £22 a head."

(DH adds: Here is a Fortean Times article.)

"They expected ghosts, goblins and Dr. Frankenstein. They got murder, drugs and Jesus Christ." This article raises interesting questions for the ride theorist... why is there so little effort to make age-appropriate scary stuff (aside from films) - that is, things clearly for kids and things clearly for adults? And what does it mean when a Christian Church celebrates what they themselves call a Satanic holiday by offering people peace through the medium of terror?

New Danny's Land Merchandise at CafePress. That's it over in the left column.

I gotta say, you never know what people will buy. The Charles Darwin's Bumper Car shirts sell sporadically, and I have no idea how people stumble upon 'em. Are they bumper car fans? Or Darwin fans? Or what? It's delightful when people like your work, and even more delightful when they vote with their wallets, but when you put something out that is such an intentional non-sequitur, you have to wonder what meaning they draw from it. "Why that's just the thing," I imagine them saying, though I can't imagine why.

And clocks. People buy clocks. Like five or six clocks at a time! What are they, setting up a wall with identical clocks, labled LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK...?

This section of Chicago Uncommon includes photos of the El, the subway or CTA buses. Also included are a few photos from Chicago suburban commuter lines.