Columns

The Canadian government has enacted a law that could endanger the entire burley tobacco industry. U.S. tobacco growers need President Obama and the Office of the United States Trade Representative to ensure that the Canadians honor their trade obligations and that other countries do not follow Canada's lead in banning American blend cigarettes.

It was a bloody good time. I went to see "Dracula" performed at Actors Theatre in Louisville two weekends ago. The play was full of everything I expected - blood, scary looking vampires, fog, plenty of suspense and a live rat.

OK, I didn't expect the rat ... especially when it opened its box on its own and attempted to crawl out into the audience. I have to say, the actor playing the character in charge of the rat handled the situation well by nonchalantly going over to the box and firmly closing its lid.

If you haven't joined the CKNJ Bookmarks reading group yet, you're missing something.

Our most recent meeting was Sunday at the Extension Office. We discussed the group's most recent book choice, "Riding Lessons," by Sara Gruen. Gruen was also the author of "Water for Elephants," an earlier choice of the group.

What was so neat at Sunday's discussion was the different opinions.

With apologies to Henny Youngman, "Take my politicians - please!"

To balance the state budget, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and his sidekick, House Speaker Greg Stumbo, before being bailed out with federal stimulus funds, were convinced that slots at racetracks would save not only our budget woes, but would rescue the horse racing industry, too.