“Can we still call it 'Girls'? 'Cause we’re like old as f*ck”
— Lena Dunham on the five-episode reunion we’ve been waiting for. A voice of a generation indeed.
US News
How Safe Are Roller Coasters?
What's going on: Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old man from Atlanta, died on Monday after witnesses say he was ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, injuring others as he fell. Aerial news footage showed park staff evacuating riders from the Goliath roller coaster. Police have not confirmed the number injured in the incident. Kariem is at least the seventh person to die at the Georgia park, including one person in 2006 on the same ride. After Monday’s incident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six parks in the US and Canada “out of an abundance of caution.” The news comes just weeks after the amusement park announced it would permanently close its X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California after more than 100 reports of sustained brain injuries and at least two deaths.
Roller coasters are supposed to be fun: Deaths from riding a roller coaster are rare. Engineers design and test rides using the same tech as aircraft and space systems. Rides are also checked each morning and, in states that mandate it, go through official inspections. One expert told CNN that the Goliath features a waist restraint but not an over-the-shoulder harness, which he said should be considered. Ride operators also play an important role and have to ensure riders' restraints are properly working. Some argue that amusement parks should be treated as consumer products, which would mean they need to meet national safety regulations. Politicians including Rep. André Carson (D-IN) have repeatedly introduced legislation to implement safety standards for years. “We don't know the extent of what happened yet, but we do know that there are gaps in amusement park safety policies,” he told the Daily Skimm via email. “I'm calling for a full investigation.”
