Nature Trip to Alaska

Quite probably the best vacation I have ever taken. The purpose of the trip was to rest relax and spend time seeing nature. If that is your desire, on this cruise you can’t go wrong. If you are planning a trip to Alaska’s Inside Passage I have some books and guides that are very helpful you can have. Here are just a few pics for you to enjoy.












Sunset looking over Puget Sound from the Space Needle in Seattle.

Heading out to whale watch you geta great view of The Mendenhall Glacier

Blowing from their spouts,













Rolling over the suface and diving,


















So graceful and beautiful both near or far.





























Seals playing "king on the mountain" with a bouy.






















Cruising into Prince Rupert Canada. Magnificent lighthouse. Beautiful landscape and eagles flying all about over head. WOW!!




















Looking down on Juneau from the Roberts Tramway


























The Dawas Glacier. Breathtaking!! It was so big. Note the ship in the 2nd pic at 40x zoom up at the edge of the glacier.

Coop and a Trophy Catch

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Yep, It is a 9# Largemouth Bass. I had stated that anything I caught over 8# was going to go on my wall. The mistake was visiting my guides home and seeing several 12# to 16# bass on his wall. Somehow this 9# catch just didn't seem big enough.

We fished inland north central Florida between Ocala and Jacksonville.

Anyone wanting to catch your largemouth of a life time let me know and I'll put you in touch with the guy for the job.

I plan on going back before the end of the year.

Three ring circus in big D to continue

The three ring circus will continue in Dallas for the ’09 season. All indications are that Owens will be back. Jerry Jones will be back. Look who else is coming back.....How about Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Dion Sanders and Michael Irvin. Yes, they are coming back to help the Cowboys. Not to play on the team but, to help select from a reality T.V. show, a person to fill (what used to be viewed as prestigious) roster spot on the team.

I guess the Boys have been so good the last few seasons they feel they can give a roster spot to a reality t.v. contestant. Maybe they feel things can’t get any worse. Maybe Jerry Jones has always dreamed of being a ringmaster. Now, that would explain a lot!!

The show doesn’t have a title yet but, will air this spring on Spike. The winner just doesn’t win a spot on the team he also gets the pay. The rookie minimum is $300,000.00 per season.
If training camp gets the best of him, he will have to make do with just training camp salary of a measly $4,000.00 per month.

Michael Irvin said this is about far more than money. It’s the chance to line up across from Terrell Owens or catch a pass from Tony Romo.

Jerry Jones said, “I don’t see how you can make this a negative for the Cowboys. We all talk of doing good things for the community, for people, giving people opportunities.”

And I thought the Cowboys were about winning games, making the playoffs and maybe a Super Bowl. Shame on me!

Good luck with this Dallas. Hopefully the NFL will come to their senses and put a stop to Jones making a mockery of the sport. They have refused to comment on this so far.

Coming this week

Humpbacks lighthouses and etc. from Alaska.

A Trophy catch in florida.

Why the Dallas Cowboys are not a "real" football team.

My annual Oscar picks.

Back like a bad dream

Well, I am going to try this again. I have had so much going on this year and most of it new to me. The new stuff was getting a lot of attention.

I have loved horse racing ever since we moved to this area. Purchased a race horse and have spent a lot of time at Churchill Downs and Ellis Park.

"The Boys" as I call them will turn two this spring. We do spend plenty of time with the grand kids.

We now will have four weeks of vacationing and travel to get in on top of long weekends we take during the year.

In the past I pretty much focused on politics in NA. Though I enjoy the topic, I am going to try to touch on general life topics as well pertaining to our life here in the metro area.

Hope my readers come back and enjoy. I look forward to talking to you all again.

Coop

Council meeting 2/28 AAAHHH Horse Feathers!!

John Gonder was absent from both the work session and the council meeting.

The work session on TIFs prior to the council meeting proved to be very helpful to both council members and interested citizens in attendance. Here is just a very brief overview of some highlight points.

The maximum life of a TIF is 30yrs. The only reason I could see to want to end one before maturity would be if there is no more redevelopement to take place in the TIF area.

TIF will free EDIT funds to be used on other projects in the city instead of having to be used within that TIF area.

TIF funds do not have to be invested intirely within the TIF borders. Funds can be used like a spider wed to reach out or, reach in if you will, to the TIF area. TIF funds can be used to fund projects that greatly effect or directly influence the TIF area. However there is an approval process to go through for this to happen.

There were a few questions about TIF area growth maybe outgrowing the capability of the New Albany police and fire services. Now that may be a matter of some concern but, I say the real reason for the no vote on TIF’s is plain and simple, POWER & CONTROL.
Redevelopement has control over TIF spending. When certain council members see the size of funds available from TIFs and see they will not have control over it, that’s just not acceptable.

Speaking of the NO vote could someone smart (since you put it in public record Randy Smith) tell me how CM Price who read info to promote TIFs, and what was important for the council to hear on how great TIFs worked for another city, then follow that up with the only NO vote cast? Unlike Mr. Smith I would never claim in a public forum or on public record that I consider myself a smart person. At the same time I would not consider myself dumb or stupid. I remember years ago stating to my mother that I was smart enough to make my own decisions. Shortly there after my girl friend was pregnant and 3 months after that I was married. No sir, you won’t hear me say I am a smart person. Besides the smartest (book smarts, and formally educated) people I know have also been blessed with the common sense of a turnip. (comment not directed at Mr. Smith) I will take my discernment and common sense over smarts any day.

I digress, Statement of benefits for Rite-Way Industries was tabled and will not be on Mondays agenda.

Enlargement of State Street/Green Valley economic development area passed with one NO vote, CM Price.

Creating a TIF for pretty much that same area passed with one NO vote, CM Price.


Economic development plan concerning the Monon development area passed with one NO vote, CM Price.

OK, I am sorry but I can’t help myself, here you go..... http://www.geocities.com/~jbenz/against.wav

Both Appropriations resolutions passed with all Yes votes. Are you kidding me??

There will be no State of the City Address from Mayor England at Mondays meeting.

Finally, something I may try to do for all council meetings. I award CM Caesar with the “CM of the Meeting Award” for asking a couple of very good questions during the evening. The runner up is President Gahan with another well run meeting and getting us out of the work session in time for restroom breaks and stretching.

Past my bed time or I would elaborate more on those Caesar questions.

Oscar Predictions

Maybe it is just me but, where is the excitement this year? There just doesn't seem to be much talk this year. Maybe I can stir up some conversation with my predictions.

BEST PICTURE-Atonement gets my nod as the best picture. Another film I really enjoyed watching was Juno. This could go to either film.

BEST ACTOR-Johnny Depp is my choice. Watched this performance with eyes wide open!
Look for Daniel Day-Lewis to get the award though.

BEST ACTRESS-Ellen Page was an absolute trip in Juno and is my favorite here. Look for the academy to give Cate Blanchette a close look though. Great role and performance but, in a movie no one liked. When was the last time that an actress won best and supporting roles? Hey, it could happen this year!

SUPPORTING ACTOR-Javier Barden is my hands down selection. I didn't see anyone even close. The academy however is in love with Hal Holbrook. This one could actually anger me slightly!

SUPPORTING ACTRESS-Again for me an easy selection here and it is Amy Ryan. And again here it is Cate Blanchette who had a great performance in a dud film. The academy could very well feel sorry enough for Cate's two great roles in bad movies that she gets both nods.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM- Ratatouille, any film that can hold my grandson's attention at a drive in for "almost" the entire film gets my vote. By the way he will be 10 mos. soon and has seen 6 films with me. In case your interested the one he liked the least was Cloverfield.

ART DIRECTION-I like the Golden Compass in this category. I think the academy will go with Sweeney Todd.

CINEMATOGRAPHY-“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” is my choice. The academy I think may go with “No Country for Old Men.” Both are deserving. I did not see The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

BEST COSTUME-In consideration of the other choices which I didn't think really merit the nominations I will go with Sweeney Todd. The academy has always liked the style in Elizabeth.

BEST DIRECTOR-“Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.) Tony Gilroy with a very good and well directed film. I can't see the academy shutting out There will be Blood. This category and editing may be there only shots.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE-OK call me weird here but I like “Taxi to the Dark Side." The academy I am sure will go with Sicko, which I rate as one of the worst I have seen.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT-You got me there! I have not seen any of these. I have however heard good things about "Sari’s Mother.”

FILM EDITING- I like “No Country for Old Men” here but, if "There will be Blood" has not scored by now give it to them.

FOREIGN FILM-"Counterfeiters" I love the moral issues and the drama they bring forth in this film. It makes me think! However I don't think the academy can pass up a well done film in which Israel gets whoooped. Look for "Beaufort" to get the trophy in this tough category. The only one that could get my gander up would be "Mongol." This was very well acted if not the best acted in all this years nominations. But, just the thinking that Genghis Khan was an inspiring and visionary leader makes this serious drama almost an accidental laugh. Come on now!! I have heard a lot about rewriting history lately and here is a great example.

MAKE-UP-Could yet another bad movie win an award "Norbit." No way Pirates takes this one in a landslide.

MUSIC-ORIGINAL SCORE-You got me, this is a sentimental pick because much to the surprise of my daughters I really liked the score in Juno. Since Juno is not nominated my pick is the best film not nominated for best film, “The Kite Runner.”

MUSIC-ORIGINAL SONG-I have to go with how the song actually works within the movie. For that reason alone I choose “That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted.”

VISUAL EFFECTS-Yet again not a very good film but I must go with “The Golden Compass.”

After writing this I may understand the lack of excitement. I don't remember the last time so many "bad" films were nominated for so many awards. Don't get me wrong the awards them selves can be justified (Maybe) within a bad film.