Unfortunately, the video cuts off before the sweetest part. Each episode of Undercover Boss ends with the big reveal, when employees discover they’ve been working with the boss. The boss in question generally tries to do what they can to make life a little better for these employees. Great stuff.

Willaim Carstanjen bestowed raises, promotions, and he even stepped up employee security. In the case of the jockey valet in the video below, Carstansjen named a memorial race at the track after his much beloved daughter. The grieving father was also invited to come to the winners circle, and bring any family members he chose to and present the winner’s trophy.

And they say there’s nothing good on tv anymore. Horse feathers.

Click HERE to see a video that actually shows the father’s reaction.

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If you’re anything like us (us being my family and myself), you love the outdoors so much that you sometimes resent the walls of your house and the windows of your car.  It’s darn near impossible not to feel this way when you live in such a beautiful place, right?   The birds, the squirrels, the trees, the flowers – all that Kentucky and this area have to offer keep outdoorsy people craving more.

Get Out! Outdoor Adventure in the Ohio River Region is right up our alley. If you recognize yourself in the words above, you really have to check out their wonderful online magazine.

From Get Out’s About Page:

The editorial mission of Get Out! Outdoor Adventure in the Ohio River Region is to inform, entertain and inspire all citizens of the Ohio River region to pursue an active, healthy lifestyle through outdoor adventure and to learn more about how to be stewards of our natural environment.

GO! is a web magazine by and for people in the region who participate in outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, cycling, paddling, climbing, skiing, backpacking, wildlife watching, photography and so on.

2010 GO! Readers’ Choice Awards

Kentucky was beautifully represented in Go!’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

• Cumberland Falls, Kentucky was chosen Best Overall Destination
• Louisville, Kentucky was chosen Best Adventure Town
• E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky was chosen Best Urban Park
• Pine Mountain Trail, Kentucky was chosen Best Backpacking Trail
• Mammoth Cave was chosen Best Cave

Congratulations to all of the people involved in keeping these remarkable places remarkable.  We have a lot to be grateful for and proud of here in Kentucky and a lot of work goes into our landmarks, parks, and tourist attractions.  It’s not much, but I for one want to offer a HUGE thank you to all of the workers.  You all rawk, man!

Read more about the Readers’ Choice Awards.  Each destination sounds like a place worth spending some quality time, if you ask me!

Image Credit: The beautiful picture of the Magical Moonbow of Cumberland Fall’s State Resort Park is courtesy of http://www.parks.ky.gov.

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One of the most popular and beautiful Classical ballets of all time, “Swan Lake” – along with its incredible score by Tchaikovsky – have left audiences breathless for years.   The costumes, the music, the sets, the performances…  in a word, Magical.

The Louisville Ballet will conclude its 2009-10 season with performances of Swan Lake on Friday, April 9 at 8 pm and Saturday, April 10 at 2 pm and 8 pm in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center.

Tickets start as low as $25 and are available at the Kentucky Center.

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What a super cool idea for all of you mad hatters!  Kentucky Derby hats is one of Kentucky’s most beautiful and popular traditions, dating back over 100 years!

Now, thanks to Dee’s in Louisville, you can wax creative and create your very own, highly unique and original Kentucky Derby hat.  By taking a “Derby Hat Decorating Class” at Dee’s Crafts in Louisville, Kentucky, you can ensure that your hat turns out exactly how you want it to.

Dee’s own designers will help participants create awe-inspiring and head-turning hats for Oaks, Derby, Easter, and other special spring occasions.

Apparently these hat decorating classes were so popular last year that the Shelbyville Road store (5045 Shelbyville Road) is holding three classes this month. Future hat designers can choose from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 13th, or 6 to 8 p.m. March 17th or March 24th.

There will be unadorned hats in many shapes and sizes to choose from or you can bring one of your own. The decorations, of course, must be purchased at Dee’s and will include a gorgeous selection of feathers, ribbon, and flowers.

The fee is $20, plus the cost of materials. Class size is limited, so call to register asap. Call (502) 896-6755.

Dee’s is at 5045 Shelbyville Road – Louisville, Kentucky.

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It’s a girl!

The first baby gorilla born in North America this year was at the Louisville Zoo.  The adorable bouncing baby is a girl.

She was born February 6, 2010, to Louisville Zoo’s 20-year-old western lowland gorilla Mia Moja. While the baby continues to cling tightly to mom nearly all the time, ZooKeepers have been able to get several close looks to determine and verify the baby is a girl.

A naming contest for the baby is being planned and I’ll post more about the contest when I get more information.

Below is an excerpt from the Louisville Zoo’s press release:

“I’m excited, either way—boy or girl,” Gorilla Forest Keeper Michelle Wise said. “On the night the baby was born, Mia Moja made a big fluffy nest out of hay and a soft, pink blanket and settled herself and the baby into it. I think maybe she was giving us a hint at the time with the pink blanket!”

This is the second gorilla ever born in the Zoo’s 41-year history. (The first was male Azizi born to Makari on December 4, 2003, a year after Gorilla Forest opened in May of 2002.) The father is 22-year-old silverback Mshindi. It is Mshindi’s first offspring and Mia Moja’s second. She proved herself a good mother with the birth and subsequent raising of Olympia, who was born in 1996 at Zoo Atlanta and still resides there.

Mia Moja and baby are continuing to bond and baby is staying awake longer, looking around and being very observant with her big, brown eyes.

Since there are only 354 western lowland gorillas in 52 zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, each birth is a celebration of life and a step toward preserving the species.

“We hope the community will come and see the precious baby,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This remarkable baby girl is engaging and inspiring—a true ambassador for her relatives in the remnant wild. Because of her, we hope visitors will be motivated to learn more about conservation and preservation, which are at the core of our mission to better the bond between people and our planet.”

Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species and the wild population has declined rapidly over the past decade. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 100,000 western lowland gorillas in the wild. However, there is no truly accurate census as these elusive apes inhabit some of Africa’s densest and most remote rainforests.

Mia Moja became pregnant as part of a recommendation from the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort of North American zoos designed to encourage a healthy gorilla population in captivity and to ensure that the population remains viable, genetically-diverse and self-sustaining.

Female western lowland gorilla Kweli (pronounced “quay lee”) is also housed with the baby, Mia Moja and Mshindi. She arrived at the Louisville Zoo in 2008 from Cincinnati.

This birth brings the total gorilla population at the Louisville Zoo to 12. For more information on the Louisville Zoo’s gorillas in Gorilla Forest, visit www.louisvillezoo.org/collection/exhibits/gforest/gf-meet.htm.

Even during cold weather, visitors can view the gorillas inside Gorilla Forest’s comfortable, climate-controlled sanctuary. But note, in Gorilla Forest the animals rotate through the exhibit spaces on a daily basis so baby, mom Mia Moja, father Mshindi and Kweli will not always be visible.

Starting Monday, March 1, the Zoo will be operating on its spring and summer schedule. You will be able enter the Zoo daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (exit by 6 p.m.) For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.

GORILLA BIRTH INFORMATION

* A gorilla’s gestation period is about 8-1/2 months
* Labor can range anywhere from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours
* Gorilla babies usually weigh at least 4 pounds and are about the size of human babies
* Nursing usually occurs in the first 24 hours
* The baby will begin eating solids at 2 months of age
* The mother may first put her baby down for extended times at 3 months of age
* The baby may begin weaning as early as 4 months of age
* A baby begins to crawl away from mom and starts exploring at 4-5 months of age

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Mark your calendars: Pre-historic creatures are set to invade the Louisville Zoo in March 2010.

A new adventure will be stomping into the city of Louisville and heading straight for the Louisville Zoo in March. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re very lucky here in Kentucky for a great number of reasons and one of them is the outstanding Louisville Zoo. There’s always something extra-special going on at this amazing zoo. Just check out what’s coming in a few months!

From the Louisville Zoo:
Precautions are being taken as the Zoo prepares Dinosaurs Alive!, a temporary dwelling for a herd of 16 robotic dinosaurs never before seen at the Zoo—including the giant Brachiosaurus, the menacing Tyrannosaurus rex, the fierce Deinonychus whose name means “Terrible Claw,” and the Cryolophosaurus which is often referred to as the “Elvisaurus” because the large crest atop its skull resembles the iconic hair of Elvis Presley.

Through the magic of incredible, futuristic technology, the mammoth, life-like animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move will offer a full-blown dino-reality experience to visitors as they travel back in time along a lush, winding pathway where these enormous primeval creatures lurk at every turn. There, guests will encounter adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings.

The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Billings Productions of McKinney, Texas, and high-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a booming sound system gives them their distinctive roars and chirps. One of the animatronic creatures can even be operated by visitors using a remote control box.

In addition, kids can excavate dinosaur fossils at a paleontologist dig site using brushes and sifters to search for clues about the lives of dinosaurs.

“Guests of all ages will be transported back in time as the world’s largest and most advanced collection of high-tech, life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life here in Louisville,” Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This Dinosaur exhibit will be a fun and educational learning adventure for the entire family. We’ve lost many animals from this planet over the course of history, and unfortunately animals are still becoming extinct today. Conservation and preservation are at the heart of the Zoo’s mission and it is our hope that visitors will come away from this exhibit both excited and more aware of the need to conserve animal species living today.”

In a revenue-sharing partnership with Billings Productions, Dinosaurs Alive!, is similar to other new attraction partnerships at the Zoo like Sky Trail High Adventure Course and the 4-D Ride Theater.

Dinosaurs Alive! will open mid to late March and will continue through the end of September. A special attraction fee of $5 applies for non-members in addition to regular Zoo admission and $4 for Louisville Zoo members. Children age 2 and under are free. Groups of 15 or more may call (502) 238-5348 in advance for group discounts.

Shopasaurus—a new gift shop at the exhibit’s exit—will be fully stocked with “dinorrific” toys, games and souvenirs to help visitors take home a reminder of their amazing experience.

***

The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

*** Get up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit by checking out our new Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville Zoo by becoming a fan on Facebook.

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One of the things we Kentuckians are most proud of is celebrated in the slideshow above – our beautiful horses.  Enjoy the beauty of  an adorable colt at the beginning of the slideshow, followed by horses grazing on beautiful horse farms from Frankfort Pike and Paris, Kentucky.  Then the slideshow moves on to the greatest horse race in the world, The Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs!  Finally, we appropriately end on a statue of the legendary Man O’ War, born at the Nursery Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, shortly before midnight on March 29, 1917.

Maybe the little beauty at the start of the slideshow is dreaming of becoming the next great legend!

The gorgeous, gorgeous pictures used in this slideshow are courtesy of Kentucky Tourism.com.

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At any rate, love the campaign or hate the campaign – few will ignore the campaign.

Pip Pullen, an accounts director for the Louisville-based marketing and advertising firm that worked on the campaign, said the ads have received “an incredibly positive response.”

“Except,” he said, “some members of the Metro Council took umbrage.” Well, that’s what council members do, they take umbrage. In fact, they’re considering changing the job description from Council Member to Umbrage Taker.

True story.

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Few things are as relaxing and enjoyable as sitting down with a cup of hot coffee and watching Kentucky Life on KET. Below are some of the upcoming programs. Since I currently live in Owensboro, Kentucky and once called Louisville, Kentucky home – the November 21/22 dates totally jumped off the page for me.

All of the programs sound like Must-See TV, though. Be sure you don’t miss a single one!

Oct. 17/18: The Evergreen Hills Maze in Flemingsburg, an “Our Town” visit to Adairville, and Cricket Press of Lexington. Also, “Dave Does It” features Dave working at Dahl & Groezinger Scrap Iron and Metal.

Oct. 24/25: Buffalo Soldiers camp, Magee’s Bakery in Maysville, an “Our Town” visit to Midway, and the Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort.

Oct. 31/Nov. 1:  An alien abduction legend from Kelly, Ky., an “Our Town” visit to Hell for Certain, ghost hunter Patti Starr, and the reintroduction of the Bourbon Red Turkey, once America’s most popular turkey.

Nov. 14/Nov. 15: Dog Scout Troop 107, a tasty recipe using locally grown produce, and the Flaget High School Alumni Association.

Nov. 21/Nov. 22: An “Our Town” visit to Greenup, Diana Earle and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and Henrietta and Jeff Scott’s Highland Raku Studio.  Also, “Dave Does It” features Dave working at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.

A Few Did You Knows About Kentucky Life:

• Dave Shuffett is from Greensburg and graduated from Murray State University in 1982.
• The first five seasons of Kentucky Life were hosted by Byron Crawford.  Byron’s grew up in Lincoln County.
• Kentucky Life’s episodes are story driven and profile the lives of Kentuckians from each of our distinct regions.
• Kentucky Life debuted in 1995.  By 1996, it had become KET’s most watched local production.
• If you love animals like I do (okay, I admit it, I’m obsessed!), you’ll love Paw Pals – a photo album on KET’s website where you can enjoy the pictures of Kentucky pets and even upload your own.  Click HERE to see some of the most beautiful faces you’ll ever see.

Visit Kentucky Life for more information and perhaps to even challenge Dave Shuffett to do your job!

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The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky

The original Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a two-story wooden structure which was opened in 1910.

The larger brick and concrete structure you see today was built in 1926.  The hospital has always been dedicated to the treatment of tuberculosis patients, a disease that was fairly common in the early 20th Century.

Reports estimate that as many as 63,000 people have died in this sanatorium. Furthermore, there have been many reports or patients being horribly mistreated.  Oh, it gets worse… there were (again reportedly) highly questionable experiments and procedures conducted.

If these occurences don’t set the stage for a haunted  location, nothing does!

Get this:  Ghost and paranormal experts and investigators who have ventured into Waverly have reported a host of strange paranormal phenomena, including voices of unknown origin, isolated cold spots and unexplained shadows. Screams have been heard echoing in its now abandoned hallways, and fleeting apparitions have been encountered.

Screams, isolated cold spots (indicating a paranormal being….oh, Lord, I’m sleeping with the lights on tonight…), voices of unknown origin, shadows!?!?  I could not be more creeped out right now.

Click HERE for more information… if you dare.

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