UPDATE 1-Whale kills trainer at Florida's SeaWorld
Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:46pm EST
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Thu, Feb 18 2010
By Jane Sutton
MIAMI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A killer whale at the SeaWorld amusement park in central Florida killed a trainer on Wednesday, a sheriff's spokesman said.
"She apparently slipped and fell into the tank and was fatally injured by one of the whales," Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said.
The 40-year-old trainer was dead when rescue officials arrived, he said.
Media reports said the orca at the park's Shamu Stadium grabbed the woman by the waist, thrashed her about and dragged her underwater.
The trainer was killed in the whale holding area just before the start of a public performance and the stadium was immediately evacuated.
Dan Brown, president of SeaWorld Orlando, said the victim was one of the park's most experienced animal trainers.
There were conflicting reports about how the incident occurred. The Orlando Sentinel quoted a spectator as saying the whale came up from the water and grabbed the trainer by her waist. The sheriff's official said preliminary accounts indicated she slipped and fell in, but that was still under investigation.
The Florida park is owned by the Blackstone Group (BX.N), a private equity company that also owns part of the Universal Orlando theme park.
A spokesman for SeaWorld in San Diego, California, said killer whale shows have been suspended following the death in Orlando.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the orca involved in Wednesday's incident, named Tillikum but popularly known as "Tilly," has a controversial past.
The whale was blamed for the drowning of one of his trainers in 1991 while he was performing at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia, the newspaper said.
Sold to SeaWorld as a stud in 1992, the whale was involved in a second incident when authorities discovered the body of a naked man lying across his back in July 1999.
Authorities said the man, who had either snuck into SeaWorld after hours or hidden in the park until it closed, most likely drowned after suffering hypothermia in the 55-degree (12.7 C) water.
A former contractor with SeaWorld told the Sentinel that Tillikum is typically kept isolated from SeaWorld's other killer whales and that trainers were not allowed to get in the water with him because of his history. (Editing by Tom Brown and Sandra Maler)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable enters the 2010
Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable enters the 2010 Best Theme Park Attraction tournament as the 16th seed in the Best Movie or Animated Show bracket.
Image courtesy Disney
Image courtesy Disney
Playing in Epcot's Land pavilion at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Circle of Life opened in the Harvest Theater on January 21, 1995, as the Walt Disney Co. looked to capitalize on the recent overwhelming success of its animated movie musical, The Lion King. The film replaced Symbiosis, a film about human damage to the environment that provided some footage that was recycled in Circle of Life.
Recycling - how environmentally friendly! ;-)
Circle of Life follows The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa, as the two dam local rivers to create a lake for their planned Hakuna Matata Lakeside Village. Simba points out that their actions are robbing other animals downstream of the water they need to survive. Then he really rubs it in by telling Timon and Pumbaa that they're acting like a bunch of human beings.
Timon and Pumbaa learn the lesson and remove the dam, restoring the environment for all the downstream animals. And the audience learns a lesson.
You know who also learned a lesson from Circle of Life? The writers of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," who used the same device (a dam in Africa threatening downstream life) as a major plot point in that Dreamworks animated film.
As a 16-seed, Circle of Life faces the toughest road to the title in this bracket. We will find out how this film performs when voting begins in March.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Don't Miss: Polar Bear Club at Gaylor Palms ICE attraction
WHAT: A truly chilling thought: Running through the ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms resort in a swimsuit. Warming to that idea earns membership into the Orlando Polar Bear Club. Remember, it's a bitter 9 degrees in there, so folks won't be dillydallying. Club members will be allowed to come back later that morning to enjoy the ice sculptures while fully clothed. There's also an "after-glow" reception and a commemorative certificate in the offing.
WHAT ELSE: There's lots of fine print and rules (Do wear shoes, don't wear a thong, etc.), so check out the Gaylord Palms Web site or the Orlando Polar Bears Facebook page.
WHEN: 8:30 a.m., Saturday (Participants should arrive between 7:45 a.m. and 8:20 a.m.)
WHERE: 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee.
COST: $21.99. ($7 goes to Special Olympics Florida.)
CALL: 407-586-4423.
Dance movie review - "Swing Kids"
Produced in 1993, "Swing Kids" is set in pre-World War II Germany and stars Christian Bale and Kenneth Branagh. During the years just before the war started, American Swing music and the people who listened and danced to it, were forced to go underground with their love for Swing dancing. Swing clubs were situated in unlikely spots, and when Nazis would come near the establishment, all the musicians and dancers would quickly switch to traditional German dances such as the Polka.
The movie features one particular group of young men who love Swing dancing, and their inevitable confrontation with the Nazi movement. One of the young men is captured during a botched robbery attempt for a radio and is sent to the Nazi training camp. His friend joins shortly afterwards so that he is not alone in training. The fight to remain friends for this entire group of men proves challenging as they are one-by-one acclimated to Nazi thought processes. Additionally, the struggle to continue to enjoy American Swing music and Swing dancing, while also being constantly brainwashed by the Nazi training system, leaves the audience wondering if Swing dancing is able to transcend military propaganda that is directly against American ways.
This movie has some of the best Lindy-hop Swing scenes ever made and the soundtrack is equally full of really great Swing music. For those who love Swing dancing, "Swing Kids" would make a great gift idea.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Sora Sushi Bar and Lounge Review
Sora Sushi Bar and Lounge Review
On my recent trip to Disney World I was invited for a complimentary dine-around at Gaylord Palms Resort, which is a massive complex just outside of the “gates to the World.”
I’ll say in advance that I’m not usually one to leave Disney property all that much when I’m on a Disney trip. There are just too many things (including restaurants!) that keep my attention Disney-focused to spend precious vacation time elsewhere in Orlando. But visiting the Gaylord Palms was pretty eye-opening regarding what else is out there! Clearly, the chefs at Gaylord have been able to carve out a distinctive dining niche for the resort that includes interesting themed surroundings coupled with Really. Good. Food. While there, I visited four different restaurants; today’s review is of Sora, Gaylord Palms’ sushi bar and lounge. I hope you enjoy this first trip outside the gates!
Sora Entrance at Gaylord Palms Resort
The Atmosphere
Now, when I heard Sushi Bar and Lounge, I immediately thought, “Hmm…not really my speed;” even when I lived in New York City I wasn’t a “Bar and Lounge” person. But I can honestly say that this place is not at all intimidating. The restaurant has a relatively open floor plan, lined with comfy booths and offering views into the resort’s atrium and lobby (appropriate, as “Sora” means “blue sky” in Japanese). Walking into Sora doesn’t give the feel of a big city nightspot with blaring music and lights so dim you can’t see where you’re walking — it feels like a hip, but accessible place to pick up some appetizers, light dinner, and cocktails.
Sora Seating Areas
Sora Inside
The Eats
While Sora is known for its innovative sushi menu, I was glad to discover that both the adventurous and the picky will find things to try here. And it’s a fun selection. If you take a look at the menu, you’ll see what I mean. You can even order a drink based on how you want to feel — Balance, Nirvana, Opulent, Divine, Distinct… .
Sora Menu
We started with “Zen,” a delicious drink made with Zen green tea liqueur, Peach Schnapps, and Sauvignon Blanc. The presentation was stunning and the flavor was like nothing I’d ever tasted. I really enjoyed it and wished I could see how all of the drinks looked and tasted (maybe next time!).
Sora's Zen Cocktail
If you move on in the menu, you’ll see a thorough sushi and sashimi menu that includes BBQ eel and octopus along with standards like tuna and salmon. You can also choose from soups, salads, starters, or dinners, such as sea bass and duck. Try the “omakase” — the chefs will prepare something just for you based on the catches of the day and what’s fresh from the farmer’s market!
BBQ Pork Bao Bun Sandwiches
We sampled the Bao Bun Sandwiches, which offered a choice of barbeque pulled pork, vegetable and tofu stir fry, or miso glazed fresh fish of the day, served with Asian slaw, sriracha mayonnaise, and lemon chili sauce. We were served the pork sandwiches, which were “Do-It-Yourself” — fun to put together and sample with the different sauces.
Sora's Bao Bun Sandwiches
Another interesting twist Sora has introduced is offering “tapas”-style dishes like Lobster Fritters or Spicy Tuna Nachos in two sizes — “nosh” and “share.”
Overall
We were impressed with Sora. It’s difficult to make the “bar in a resort” into a destination, but the interesting drink menu and fun-to-eat dishes — along with the easygoing atmosphere — make it a great place to stop for pre-dinner cocktails or even a light dinner. If you’re a sushi-lover or a cocktail connoisseur, definitely give it a go.
Sora is open daily, serving food from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. The bar is open daily from 4:00 p.m. until midnight.
Oprah Winfrey: Karaoke contest brings Orlando man $50,000
The rock singer finished third in the karaoke contest and collected $50,000. On her show today, Winfrey announced the results after 2.5 million viewers voted.
"I went into it like I felt I had already won," said Weddle, 31. "For me the money is fantastic. Now I can close this chapter. I'm hoping for alternatives. I'm hoping to continue this and that this is just the beginning."
The money is nice, but a job would be nicer for Weddle, who has been unemployed eight months. He was a customer-service rep at a medical-publication company.
"I want to move forward and do something sustainable," Weddle said. "It's up to me. I need to make something happen."
Soul singer Abraham McDonald of Los Angeles won the contest and collected $250,000. Country singer Donnie Denny of Hertford, N.C., was the runner-up and earned $100,000 for his efforts.
Weddle raves over Winfrey. "She's awesome. Magnanimous is a fitting word for her," he said.
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