The Buzz

The problem is in the name.
They are “Christmas tree farms” so naturally we think they are in rural areas.
Actually, three of the 22 Christmas tree farms in Kentucky are in Lexington and one is in Louisville, according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
These farms are a mile or two from the suburbs or maybe on [...]

Toyota or Chevy.
Japanese or American.
Rock or hard place.
Ask Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.
He recently bought 85 Toyota Camry Hybrids, instead of Chevrolet Malibu Hybrids, for the Indianapolis police.
Good move?
Kentuckians think so. The Toyotas are made in Georgetown.
Indianapolis auto workers are mad and Ballard’s political foes want an investigation.
He faced a tough choice.
Malibu Hybrid parts are made [...]

Looking for a stocking-stuffer?
State government might have just what you need.
That’s right.
Do your holiday shopping with the state.
The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Division of Historic Properties has released its 2008 Kentucky State Capitol ornament, the sixth in a limited-edition series.
“This year’s ornament features the west lunette, depicting the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals,” the announcement [...]

Here’s something to chew on as you eat your next turkey sandwich at Subway: The bird you are digesting might have been a runner-up to a turkey “pardoned” just before Thanksgiving by President Bush.
But there’s more.
Your Subway turkey was raised on feed products made by Nicholasville-based Alltech, chief sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian [...]

Several whisky makers have created cocktails for the presidential candidates and their backers.
Easy Times Kentucky Whisky, which calls itself the “Workin’ Man’s Reward,” is honoring Joe the Plumber, the workin’ man who has come to symbolize this election.
Joe’s drink is called Everyman’s Plumb.
Pour 3 ounces of red plum juice over ice cubes in a glass, [...]

You’ve heard of “Joe the Plumber.”
Now there’s “Joe the Horse.”
He’s otherwise known as Alysheba or simply “America’s horse” — the world’s third richest Thoroughbred, with purse earnings of $6,679,242.
On Thursday, it was announced that the Kentucky Derby winner, who has spent the last eight years in the royal stables of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, [...]

You would think the bourbon industry would want to forget all about Prohibition, the years between 1920 and 1933 when all-but-medicinal alcohol beverages were illegal and most distilleries closed or switched products.
You would be wrong.
To mark the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition, Old Forester Distillery in Louisville is issuing Old Forester Repeal Bourbon [...]

We forget sometimes that the United States is still in the space business and that we are still developing rockets to take us to other worlds.
Don’t say anything like that to the folks at American Synthetic Rubber Co. in Louisville. They’ll probably ask where you’ve been living, on Saturn?
American Synthetic Rubber is one of 200 [...]

Time currently has a very entertaining feature on its Time.com Web site called “50 Authentic American Experiences.”
Just don’t look too carefully at the picture with the Kentucky item if you have blood pressure problems.
It’s like “sticking a red-clad Louisville Cardinal in the UK Basketball team picture,” says reader John E. Campbell of Lexington.
The item is [...]

WARNING: The following item contains references to poop, manure, fecal matter, crap, turds and neckties. Those with weak dispositions should skip to the next item.
Pat Kelly was scooping along in a customer’s back yard in his role as Lexington’s Pet Butler franchisee.
He was thinking about the upcoming Pet Butler annual convention and what new product [...]