tv Comunidad del Valle NBC December 23, 2012 10:00am-10:30am PST
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even allowed to film its exterior. hence our artist's painstakingly detailed depiction. >> great work, christopher. >> as a matter of fact, even the production crew of "goldfinger" never got inside. they had to create an interior design from scratch. >> and we figured if james bond didn't get in, what chance did we have? >> speak for yourself. ahi, this is albacore. the cat is open, and it's time to get fishy. >> was he just talking into his swatch? [ bell ringing ] [ camera shutters clicking ] [ pop! ]
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[ tires screech ] >> when i think of how the state of kentucky influences my daily life, there's only one thing that comes to mind. >> harland sanders and his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices may just be kentucky's greatest contribution to our nation! >> wasn't abraham lincoln born here? >> we'll just call it a tie. >> harland sanders moved to corbin, kentucky, in 1930 and opened a service station. here he served his chicken in a lunchroom with only six chairs. it wasn't long before he realized he needed to expand. in 1937, he built the sanders cafe. it seated 142 customers. it was here that harland experimented with different herbs and spices until finding the exact 11 which would become his famous secret. in 1939, a large fire destroyed
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sanders cafe. whether his mad-scientist cooking skills had anything to do with it has yet to be proved. the colonel rebuilt his restaurant and started a chain of franchises in the 1950s. >> today, kentucky fried chicken is found in more than 80 countries and serves over a billion chicken dinners a year. >> not bad for a guy that was pumping gas at the age of 40. there is hope for me. >> if horse racing is the sport of kings, then churchill downs is buckingham palace. >> although horse racing was a common sport in kentucky as early as 1789, it didn't reach its apex until nearly 100 years later, when it was provided with this majestic venue in 1875. >> the kentucky derby was one of the inaugural races and has been run every year since, making it one of the
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longest-tenured sporting events in world history. >> not only that, but during the derby, the infield fills with over 90,000 people, making churchill downs the third-largest city in kentucky. >> wow. nice silks. >> hey, aren't you a little big to be a jockey? >> yeah, that's what everybody says, but i feel that my superior motivational technique will more than offset any excessive girth situation. >> i pray for your mount. >> thanks. i'm gonna go check to see what kind of horses they have. hopefully they have one in black. >> or maybe one with a racing stripe. >> [ gasps ] >> located at gate 1 of churchill downs is the kentucky derby museum. >> the derby museum offers two whole floors of exhibits and memorabilia, cataloging and
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explaining the rich history of thoroughbred racing and the derby. >> what's the matter? were they out of black ones? >> turns out all these horses already have owners, and they're way too expensive. a guy did tell me that he would go in on a horse with me, but i told him there's no way we're gonna win a race with both of us on the same horse. >> yeah, i don't think that's what he meant. >> well, whatever he meant, it wasn't gonna work. that guy was fat. >> one of the more unique displays in the museum is this exhibit that pays homage to the kentucky derby annual hat contest. all of these stunning chapeaus are quite valuable, often costing hundreds of dollars, although true worth is always in the eye of the beholder. >> there are numerous interactive exhibits that allow visitors to test their knowledge at racing trivia and also a simulator for those that want to see what it's like to be a jockey. >> one of the most unique parts of this museum is the multimedia presentation of the greatest race. it is the first 360-degree high-definition presentation in
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the world. this area is dedicated to horses, owners, and trainers. anyone can pick up a phone and hear the oral history of their favorite pony. >> seattle slew is my boy! he's still the only horse to win the triple crown while undefeated. take that, secretariat! >> i bet you thought we forgot about your show in the 1973 wood memorial, but we didn't! >> are you guys trash-talking a deceased horse? >> we thought we'd challenge him to a race. >> but in the end, we figured we'd still just be beating a dead horse! [ max and leonard laugh ] >> gentlemen, you are living proof that a g.e.d. is not equivalent to a high school diploma. >> ohh! >> besides, seabiscuit rules! >> [ scoffs ] >> tobey maguire. >> spider-man.
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>> how old is the kentucky derby? >> well, the kentucky derby was first run in 1875, and they've never missed a year since then, so that's 134 years in a row they've been running this race here at this track. >> whoa. >> wow. so the same dirt? no, i'm sure not. but they bring in new dirt all the time -- right? -- and they clean up all the business. >> [ chuckling ] exactly. >> i have to ask, right off the bat, aren't jockeys important? i mean, sometimes they're, like, put in at the last minute. do they make a difference? >> absolutely. the horse gets all the credit, you know, because they're running the derby in two minutes, but the jockey up on top of the back is also an incredible athlete. you know, telling the horse, you know, which lane to take, giving him encouragement, and also giving him just drive to finish the race strong. >> that's cool. >> so, when it comes to the horse itself, what would you say is more important? would it be nature or nurture? is it the training, or is it the breed? >> well, it's really all of the above. i mean, thoroughbreds are amazing animals. they're able to hit 40, 41 miles an hour in a short burst of speed. they can hit 22-foot strides.
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but also a lot of it's genetics. the most important thing in winning a race is, you know, your heart, your determination. >> do they have a special diet right before a really big race? >> well, the diet is extremely important year-round if you're gonna be an athlete. but, yeah, the day of the race, they'll cut back a little bit, and that also tells the horse it's game day -- "i didn't get my full allotment of breakfast, i get to run." >> game face on. >> and now "getting to know your obscure units of measurement." >> traditionally, the distance of a horse race is measured in furlongs. >> and exactly how long is a furlong? >> a furlong is 1/8 of a mile or "220 meters" for our friends in canada or abroad. >> hyah! hyah! hyah! >> [ laughing ] he doesn't even have a whip. >> this has been "getting to know your obscure units of measurement."
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>> louisville, kentucky, is one of the great sports towns of america. >> but there's a lot more going on here than just horse racing. >> from nearly the moment that baseball was created, louisville slugger has been providing the hit stick. >> the moment you arrive here, you will be greeted to a gigantic replica of babe ruth's weapon of choice. >> weighing 68,000 pounds and standing 120 feet tall, this model is the world's largest bat. if you've ever wanted to swing derek jeter's bat, here's your
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chance. >> here at bud's batting cage, you can measure up to the legends like ted williams and babe ruth by lifting their lumber. >> if you're an old man with a bad back looking to get an edge in this thursday night's softball game, you can also test the newest technology offered by louisville slugger. [ cheers and applause ] >> any real fan of baseball needs to stop here at the oval gallery. inside, they actually have some of the bats used by the game's greatest players. >> here you can learn about the history of the game by experiencing it. >> here at the ball field, you can step up to the plate and listen to the hall of fame broadcasters call the game's greatest plays. [ clears throat, spits ] bring it on, rag arm! >> [ clears throat ] you ain't nothing, meat! >> [ chanting ] we want a pitcher, not a belly itcher! >> [ clears throat, spits ]
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>> uhh! are you guys spitting on the museum? [ record scratches ] we should leave -- now! go. >> so, how many bats do you guys make every day? >> we make about 2,500 full-size bats a day here in louisville. >> wow! >> cool. so, what kind of wood do you guys use? >> we use two types of wood. we use maple, and we use ash. most major-league bats -- they are made of maple. barry bonds hit all his homers using maple. >> barry bonds! >> we can make a bat in about a minute on a computer. major-league bats are made on a computer, so it makes real precise bats. >> no kidding? >> so, how long do these bats last? >> a typical major-league bat doesn't last as long as you think, mainly 'cause the handles are pretty thin. >> okay. >> so maybe about four games a player will get out of one bat. and for the whole year, they order anywhere between 8 and 13 dozen bats per player.
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>> i know. some of you are a little disappointed now that you know that kentucky is rich in sophistication and culture. >> most of you probably thought that kentucky was no more than a land of abundant fried chicken. >> actually, i did think that. that's kind of the only reason i got on the plane. >> and for intentionally misleading you like that, max, i apologize. >> but for those of you hoping to see a woodsy backcountry full of adventure, never fear. >> because the next stop on our kentucky tour is the cumberland plateau. the crown jewel of this region might be the majestic cumberland falls. >> known as the niagara of the south, it is literally a wall of water. at 125 feet wide and 60 feet tall, the water plunges off the edge into the rocky, water-filled gorge below. >> the cumberland falls state resort park is really just that -- a resort. anyone looking for a little rest
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among nature would be wise to make a trip to this eastern kentucky paradise. >> with over 17 miles of hiking trails, 50 campsites, fishing, and river rafting on the cumberland river, it's a nature lover's dream. >> okay, seriously, if you like to catch a lot of fish, you need to come here. they won't put it on the brochure, but they've got the dumbest fish anywhere. >> it's true. they even fall for leonard's homemade lure. i mean, look at it. >> be careful with it, okay? it took a lot of hours to put together. although, to be honest, a lot of it was just putting the hooks and the doohickey in it. see? >> here, fishy fishy. here, fishy. spot me. here, fishy. come on. get the lure. >> okay, let's say that i love nature, but i do not love sleeping on the ground, taking cold showers, and grabbing
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bunches of leaves before i go to the bathroom. what can i do? >> well, for those of you who aren't fans of roughing it, thankfully, there's the dupont lodge. the lodge's 51 rooms provide all the comforts you would expect from a top-rated hotel. >> historic dupont lodge is a perfect combination of the past and present. its massive stone fireplaces complement the solid hemlock beams and knotty-pine paneling found throughout the resort. >> and if you enjoy eating a meal without having to outwit it first, the riverview restaurant is here for you, serving up local favorites and a beautiful view of the cumberland river. the cumberland plateau is actually just the southern part of the appalachian plateau. >> this region is characterized by its pretty spectacular scenery, but cliffs, rivers, and waterfalls are only a few of the attractions. >> this area is also home to many coal mines, as cumberland plateau has some of the nation's largest coal deposits. >> and only a few miles away from coal country is the big south fork scenic railway. notice the route of painted
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rocks. this 16-mile trip takes riders through the lush forests and mountain streams of the big south fork recreation area and daniel boone national forest. >> and for my money, it is the best way to see this beautiful area, especially if you don't like getting lost -- all alone, in the backwoods of kentucky -- which is actually even less fun than it sounds. >> listen. we thought you were in the other car. you need to move on. the train also makes a stop at the blue heron coal-mining camp. >> blue heron was founded by stearns coal and lumber company back in 1937, but it stopped operating in 1962. now all that remains is a ghost camp. >> come on, leonard. let's check it out. >> you know, even when they're operating, you don't hear a lot of pleasant stories about a coal mine. and a ghost coal mine even has less appeal to me. adios. this is the train, and this is me grabbing on to the whole caboose of the train. >> the story of blue heron is told through each ghost structure in the camp.
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each of the buildings tells about a different aspect of life in the camp. audio programs explain the details of the community, like church and school. if you were ever curious about the life of a mine worker, you will find your answers at blue heron. >> hurry up, guys. this place gives me the creeps. i'm getting us out of here. >> oh, where's the engineer? >> he had to go to the bathroom. now, move it or you're getting left behind. >> i don't think you're allowed to just steal a train. >> oh, yeah? well, he gave me this hat, and on the rails, this hat is equivalent to a driver's license. now get in! >> should we tell him this track only goes back to where we came from? >> no. let's let the engineer tell him.
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>> well, we didn't quite make it to california, but we made it here. >> this is mammoth cave. >> why do they call it mammoth cave? >> is it because it's like batman's bat cave but for a much larger, harrier superhero? >> mammoth cave is so named because it's the longest cave in the world. its underground network is even longer than the more-famous carlsbad caverns. for 4,000 years, people have walked through mammoth cave. >> and, unfortunately, somebody died here. what?! it's how we know someone was here 4,000 years ago -- he never left. >> you know, they might have just found some of his stuff. they found old shoes here. >> oh. yeah. but, i mean, seriously, who leaves their shoes in a cave? >> this cave has over 350 miles of chartered territory, making it easily the longest-known cave in the world. >> but you don't have to walk more a mile to see many of its spectacular features.
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>> there are numerous chambers, colorful rock formations, and thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. >> and bats. >> well, yeah. >> and narrow passageways that a normal american man would find a little bit snug. you know, not everybody is anorexic or hollywood skinny. is that weird? >> do you not want to be here, leonard? >> no, i just don't want to get caught in a hole like winnie the pooh, especially if i'm surrounded by a bunch of flying bats. >> i'll tell you what. why don't you just stay here with the stuff and me and lexi will go finish the tour? >> fine. i'll watch the stuff again. that's cool. i'll stick it out. >> all right. >> okay. [ scary music plays ] in less than an hour, you can see some of the most amazing artwork mother nature ever created. cathedral ceilings, painted walls, and more rock sculptures than you could ever count make
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mammoth cave one place everyone needs to see. so, elizabeth, how was mammoth cave formed? >> well, mammoth cave was basically formed by underground rivers flowing through the limestone bedrock millions of years ago. it began flowing through as very small tubes, and the longer it flowed, the larger it made the horizontal passageways that we walk through today. >> well, i have to ask -- what's the most interesting cave story you guys have here? >> the most interesting story is probably floyd collins, the caver in the 1920s who got trapped exploring in the mammoth cave area. he was trapped underground and survived for 11 days until the cave entrance collapsed on top of him. and then the 14th day, they actually dug a shaft down to him but found out that he had died due to, you know, lack of food and water -- basically exposure to the elements. but 11 days underground alive.
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>> wow. let's not tell pooh bear that one. >> [ chuckles ] >> yeah. >> there's a lot of water going on here. like you said, that's how the cave was formed itself. and i heard a term you mentioned earlier -- correct me if i'm wrong -- "krast topography"? >> "karst topography." >> karst topography. >> karst topography is why we're the longest cave in the world. >> okay. >> it's basically limestone bedrock, which is calcium-based rock, topped off by silicon-based rock, known as sandstone, which keeps the water from flowing vertically very often and weakening the cave roof. it's got the topsoil running above that silicon-based rock, where all of the dirt and the trees and, basically, the topography. >> well, that's all the exploring we have time for today. >> we enjoyed having you with us, as we got our passports stamped by the bluegrass state -- kentucky, u.s.a. >> hey, it's called the
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>> i thought i knew music, and then i went to berklee, and i got my butt kicked, and that's where i learned how to play guitar, and that's where i learned how to really write a song. >> we try to bookend the new material that we're a little bit nervous about with things that we know they're gonna like. so in case it doesn't go well, then it's like, "all right, we're back in," you know. >> i always loved that -- you know, that guy that came in
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