Drug Testing and A "Pact With The Devil"...Thursday's Nuttiness

- Shively's City Council has voted to exclude themselves from the city's new random drug testing policy. Shively's mayor, Sherry Conner, thought the city's elected officials should lead by example, but a majority of the council thought otherwise. Do as we say...not as we do. [C-J]

- If you want to own a business that never has to take a loss, buy an electric company. LG&E is seeking yet another rate hike (+12% electric and +9% natural gas) to cover the cost of storm repairs and to pay for things normally associated with routine maintenance. The Kentucky Public Service Commission is expected to rule on the phony request by Aug. 1. [C-J]

- Wacked-out "religious" nutcase Pat Robertson has stated Haiti has been cursed by a pact with the devil, hence the devastating earthquake that may have killed thousands. He then went on to mutter some nonsense about voodoo rituals. Question: If we pray for Robertson's speedy death, do we feel guilt when he croaks or is it simply God's will? [Yahoo]

17-0

"Innocent Until Proven Guilty" No Longer Law In KY

Department of Crazy Shit Report: The Kentucky House of Representatives has passed an unconstitutional bill that will tag "innocent until proven guilty" domestic violence suspects with GPS-tracking bracelets in order to monitor their location relative to the alleged victim. This "tagging" would take place before any trial or conviction.  The bill, known as "Amanda's Bill", was crafted in response to former Republican lawmaker Steve Nunn's alleged murder of his ex-fiancee. The woman had taken out a protective order against Nunn after a fight and was found shot to death in September 2009.

Another problem with this type of reactionary bill is the unprecedented speed with which it was crafted and passed.  It took 2 (two) years for the General Assembly to pass and implement the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) phone system, a hotline that notifies crime victims of an inmates release status. Amanda's Bill took just 120 days, and several lawmakers, including former state Attorney General Greg Stumbo, have stated there may be serious questions about the bill's constitutionality. 

Steve Nunn awaits trial in the Fayette County Jail.

Read more on the sorry state of affairs HERE.

2010 Metro Council Committees

Newly-elected Metro Council President Tom Owen has announced his appointments to committees for 2010. After looking closely at them, I believe it is time for us to begin the discussion on term limits for members of the council.

Here are the Chairs and Vice-Chairs for Metro Council Committees in 2010


Appropriations NDF’s and CIF’s:
Robin Engel (R-22) Chair
Rick Blackwell (D-12) Vice Chair

Budget:
Jim King (D-10) Chair
Kelly Downard (R-16) Vice Chair

Community Affairs:
Barbara Shanklin (D-2) Chair
Doug Hawkins (R-25) Vice Chairman

Contracts and Appointments:
Stuart Benson (R-20) Chair
Mary Woolridge (D-3) Vice Chair

Energy & Environment:
Brent Ackerson (D-26) Chair
James Peden (R-23 Vice-Chair

Government Accountability and Oversight:
Tina Ward-Pugh (D-9) Chair
Ken Fleming (R-7) Vice Chairman

Health & Human Needs:
Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) Chair
Kevin Kramer (R-11) Vice Chair

Labor & Economic Development:
Marianne Butler (D-15) Chair
Kelly Downard (R-16) Vice Chair

Parks, Libraries & Cultural Activities:
Glen Stuckel (R-17) Chair
Bon Henderson (D-14) Vice Chair

Planning/Zoning, Land Design & Development:
Jon Ackerson (R-18) Chair
Dan Johnson (D-21) Vice Chair

Public Safety:
Kevin Kramer (R-11) Chair
Judy Green (D-1) Vice Chair

Transportation/Public Works:
Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) Chair
Robin Engel (R-22) Vice Chair

And Now...The Sports Report

- My Dallas Cowboys take on the savage, well-rested Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, January 17th at 1:00PM in the NFC Divisional NFL Playoff game. The Cowboys are coming off a big-time home win against a very bad Philadelphia Eagles gang who only beat one team with a winning record this season. Brett Favre and the Vikings needed the extra weeks rest after a couple of grueling games. The Vikings are favored by 2.5 points at home against the Cowboys Sunday.

PREDICTION: The 'Boys will turn Brett & Co. into quivering lumps of Jello and win handily, provided they can overcome the bitter cold and lack of hookers on the streets of Minneapolis this time of year. Good luck.

- The "2009-2010 NCAA Champion" University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team take on the Florida Gators tonight at 9pm. Florida started 8-0, but have since lost 4 of their last 7 to teams that they should have beaten like a gong, like South Alabama. Fans in Gainesville will storm out of the building tonight, rip off their Gator shirts, and renounce any affiliation with the University.

PREDICTION: Cats cruise down South and whip those amateurs like they stole something, and fans in Lexington will realize they never really needed Billy Donovan in the first place.

Thrasher Responds to Yesterday's Commentary

I received a quick response from Dr. Thrasher on last night's commentary regarding what I perceived to be his "anti-gambling" tone. Yes. The author of "The Impact of Gender and Varsity Athletic Participation on Gambling Attitudes and Subjective Norms of College Students", "The Efficacy of the Theory of Reasoned Action to Explain Gambling Behavior" and "The Efficacy of a Modified Theory of Reasoned Action to Explain Gambling Behavior in College Students", a man who has participated at the National Conference on Gambling and Addiction in Las Vegas and who offered a submission to the 2010 National Council on Problem Gambling Conference wrote to tell me he was not anti-gambling.

Fair enough.

The following is a copy of his clarification. Thank you, Dr. Thrasher, for replying and good luck.

I want to first say that the comments you made about my own personal views were totally wrong. I am not anti-gambling as you would like to feel. I owned and trained thoroughbred race horse for over twenty years. I know the business of horse racing from the breeding, to the sales, to the racing, and finally to the end of racing. Let me say that our prized industry will not be saved by slot money allow. Let me give you some examples of what I think has to be changed to save the industry:
1. The U.S. government changed the tax laws years ago that allowed the owners of racing businesses to claim the losses incurred on their taxes. This must change.
2. The industry has priced itself out of business like the automotive industry did. The price of wages, equipment, etc. have become to high for the same man to keep involved in the business.
3. There is no development in the younger generation for a love of the industry.
4. The jobs available in the industry have been gobbled up by illegal immigrants across America.
5. The few and very few owners of the large horse farms, only make it because of the value of their property. Their property sits in prime locations and banks are eager to lend them money against the property in hopes of failure and therefore the bank will get control of the property.
6. The major racetracks will continue to make money even though they say they don't. Sure a few of the smaller operations will have to merge or face elimination.
7. Slot money is a quick fix. In West Virginia, the racino started and it brought great improvements to all of the horse people in that area. However now the area has seen an influx of new owners and trainers from other states who have come in to claim the increased monies and leave the state's industry in the same trouble as before the slots came.
8 There has to be a compromise in the legislature between Republicans and Democrats before this issue can be settled. As I recall the lottery bill passed by our state in the late 1980's stated the monies earned from the sale of lottery tickets would go to education. If you check now I believe all of the money is diverted to the general fund of the Commonwealth.

These are just a few of the issues facing the horse industry. All of us as Kentuckians owe it to the horse to be sure the game goes on. God gave us this beautiful animal to cherish and not abuse. The horse has a heralded history in the establishment of country. But it has to be done right.
Thanks for letting me answer your comments.

Dr. Robert G. Thrasher