Breaking News - Fort Worth Zoo Reptile Predicts Super Bowl Winner

The Travelling Toe is normally not interested in sports and sporting events but found an interesting local news story to share about predicting  the winner of the 2015 Super Bowl in Arizona.  

The Fort Worth Zoo announced Friday, January 30th that the 1,500 pound saltwater croc, know as Salty,  predicted the Super Bowl winner for 2015. Two frozen chickens were hung from a rope for Salty to choose from.   One chicken was decorated with the Seattle Seahawks colors and the other chicken in the colors of the New England Patriots.  

When Salty decided that it was snack time, he rose up out of the water and grabbed the Seahawks chicken first.  OK, later on he did return and took out the Patriots chicken as well.  Could the Pat's chicken have been deflated a tad just hanging out there?   Just asking!

The Fort Worth Zoo says that their zoo animals have correctly chosen 5 out of the last 6 winners of the Super Bowl.   Sounds like good odds to the Travelling Toe.   Vegas Baby!!!!

We will find out for sure on Sunday if Salty picked the winner of the 2015 Super Bowl.  He might be eating crow on Monday.


Fort Worth Zoo


Fort Worth StarTelegram
for related article and marvelous picture of Salty


NBC Channel 5
for related video of Salty making his prediction


Seattle Seahawks


New England Patriots

Foxcatcher (movie critique)

Foxcatcher is a film that draws from real life events and centers around billionaire wrestling benefactor John du Pont and brothers Mark and David Schultz.  Set in 1989, both brothers are Olympic champions and Mark is in training for upcoming competitions for the next Olympics.  John du Pont takes an interest in Mark (who seems to struggle mentally in this picture) and flies him out to his estate, Foxcatcher, that overlooks Valley Forge.   On the premises, du Pont has built a fully equipped gym with state of the art equipment and asks Mark to head up a team of elite wrestlers that will live and train on site for the next Olympic games.

One scene in the movie that is very telling of John's upbringing, is when the team is practicing and John's mother (played by Vanessa Redgrave) comes to the gym to watch what John and the wrestlers are doing.  John who has been standing on the sidelines, then makes an attempt to impress her by wrestling with one of the team members.   His mother leaves the practice, disgusted with her son, yet again.


John introduces Mark to cocaine and he becomes a regular user and begins a downward spiral.   Dave in spite of misgivings, goes to work for du Pond and joins the Foxcatcher team as the new manager.   Dave tries to help Mark get his life back under control.  As events unfold, du Pont after seeing that Dave can not acknowledge John as a coach and mentor, John begins a slow burn.  John calls his bodyguard, drives to Dave Schultz's home and after a short conversation, he pulls out his gun and shoots Dave.   John returns to his mansion, where after taking refuge for 2 days he finally surrenders and is arrested.

The Travelling Toe thought this was an interesting movie and the acting by the 3 men was exceptional, Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum.  The Travelling Toe did think it was slow moving at times going from scene to scene and was not always clear regarding the events unfolding.  The movie also has a grey overtone which matches the grey emotions of the movie.

Steve Carell in a very serious role as John du Pont  and did an excellent job.   The facial prosthetics helped change his physical features to match those of du Pont.  

Steve Carel as John du Pont

John du Pont

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 1 toe up plus a callous.


Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher Farm

Vanessa Redgrave as Jean du Pont

Mark Schultz

Mark Schultz

Dave Schultz

Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz

Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz

Valley Forge

Valley Forge

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional movie critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.  

Bishop's Palace - A Tour of a Historic House

Bishop's Palace
Galveston Island, Texas

Bishops Palace

During a recent trip to Galveston Island, The Travelling Toe and 3 cohorts toured the Bishop's Palace.  Guided tours and also
self-guided audio tours of the palace are available for visitors to purchase.  We opted for the guided tour. The tour guide we had on our excursion shared a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the mansion as well as interesting stories of local history and what part the house and the family played in it.  The house is actually a survivor of the 1900 hurricane that nearly destroyed Galveston.

Galveston Hurricane

The house was  built for Walter & Josephine Gresham.   After their deaths, the home was then purchased by the Catholic Church for the Archbishop. The home became the residence of Archbishop Christopher Burn - hence the house became known as the Bishop's Palace.  After the Archbishop passed, the Catholic Church eventually leased the house to the Galveston Historic Foundation until the Foundation was able to secure the funds needed to purchase the mansion.  The building has been beautifully restored and has some furnishings that are typical of the period.  

Main staircase

A very nice gift shop is located in the basement of the mansion and has a nice variety of items for sell.   

Taken 3 (movie critique)

Liam Neeseon

Taken3


The Travelling Toe having seen "Taken" and then "Taken 2", decided to complete the series with "Taken 3".   With friend in tow, off to the local multiplex we went, settled in our seats, and strapped ourselves in as we knew it would be a bumpy ride....and so it was.  Now to us it was much better than "Taken 2" as there was an actual plot to the movie.  Liam  Neeson once again plays ex-covert operative, Bryan Mills. He and his ex-wife are tying to decide where their relationship is going.  Well it does not go well as she is murdered at his apartment and he is framed for her murder.  He takes it on the lam and tries to prove his innocence.   (side note - if he is such an excellent operative why did he pick up the bloody knife in his apartment - even The Travelling Toe knows you don't do that????)   

During the course of the movie, there are lots of car chases, car crashes, helicopter tacking and  plenty of body slams.   Oh and there is the usual Russian bad guys with lots of body tattoos and menacing stares and grunts.  Of course Bryan takes them all out which then turn leads him to the real villain who killed his wife and set him up.  Forest Whitaker, plays the LAPD Police Inspector in charge of tracking down and bringing Bryan in for the murder of his wife.

Forest Whitaker

The action does keep your heart rate up and your eyes wide awake.  The Travelling Toe and friend agreed that Liam Neeson is always a pleasant site to look at even when he is taking out major parts of LA.