KFC Has Become A Christmas Tradition In Japan

    I found this to be a very interesting story since I live in Kentucky and I'm still amazed at KFC's  phenomenal growth and how they have filtrated cultures with their fast fried chicken all over the world.  Apparently, Kentucky Fried Chicken has become very popular at Christmas time in Japan through the years!  Check out the story.http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/12/22/japans-finger-lickin-christmas-tradition/?hpt=hp_bn8

The Filming of Sleeper Agent's "Get Burned" Video In Bowling Green, Ky.

   Tony got home from the most recent Sleeper Agent show in Atlanta with another indie rock band called "Awolnation" around 3 a.m. this morning.  He had to get up at 8 a.m. to go to the filming of the video for "Get Burned," the next single off Sleeper Agent's album, "Celabrasion."  Get Burned is one of my favorite Sleeper Agent songs.  It's peppy and it has an upbeat tempo.youtube.com/watch?v=rFMPUHmmp2c
   I asked him if I could drop by for a little bit on my lunch hour to see the video filming and he said "Sure, Dad," like there would be no problem at all.  So I did.  It was being filmed upstairs at the old "Spot Cash and Carry Clothing Store" in downtown Bowling Green which is now Labold and Sons Salvage Co.youtube.com/watch?v=1_sk_e93Hk8  Apparently, they have a lot cool, old vintage stuff in there.  Even Robert Plant from the former classic rock band, Led Zeppelin dropped by there one day a couple months ago and spent a little time looking around.
   I walked in the store and said, "Hello, I'm Tony's dad from Sleeper Agent and I was wanting to know where they are filming the video."  And the nice lady named, "Danielle, the owner said, "Oh, it's upstairs." And she had her assistant to show me the way.  As we were heading up the stairs, the young lady said, "Watch your head, you can bump it easily here," and so I watched my head.  I was led down a dark, dusty, attic looking hallway which also looked an old dilapidated apartment which I bet was at least 100 years old or more.
   I found Tony, Alex, Justin, Josh, Scott and Lee all sitting in this old room with covered antique chairs, couches and benches waiting for the next scene to be shot.  Of course, the room was filled with cigarette smoke.  Matt Shutlz from Cage The Elephant who was directing the video and he was running up and down the hallway wearing black jeans and boots and a black cowboy hat and shirt.  He saw me and said, "Hey Galen and came into the room gave me a big hug as I stood up."  "Good to see you, Matt, " I said.  He said, "Good to see you too, Galen."  Matt then continues to run down the hallway.
    I sat back down next to Tony and another young guy comes in and takes everyone's order for Subway sandwiches.  He offered me one but I declined because I had already eaten.  Also, Darby, the marketing director for Mom + Pop Records from New York City was there and she came in and shook my had and introduced herself to me.  She said, "It's such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith." And I said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Darby. I've been seeing you on Facebook."
  "That's right, we're Facebook friends, aren't we?" she said with a big friendly smile. "Yes, we are," I said.
After a while, I got up and walked around and took a few photos.  The place was dark and cramped.  I felt like that I could easily get in everyone's way.  So I went back downstairs.  Some of the band members had also gathered downstairs and went outside for a few moments.  Then Tony came down too.  He offered for me to stay awhile longer.  But I told him that I needed to get back to work.  We gave each other a big hug and we agreed that we would see each other at the house tonight.
   As I was driving off, I thought to myself, "You know, it must be really fun and exciting to be young and be in a rock band, shooting videos and traveling all over the country as well as playing before thousands of fans."  But then again, that lifestyle is not for everyone I thought. It takes a certain kind of person. You've got to be young, energetic, talented and really, really want it bad.  Also, it takes tons of hard work. And Sleeper Agent has it and done that.
     Now I can't wait to see the video!

How Stupid Can Stupid Get? Man Steals Car After Wreck In Order To Get Home From The Hospital

  BOWLING GREEN, Ky. _ Man, there are some stupid people in this world.  Or should I say some dumb criminals.  This is one of those guys who is a complete idiot!  Why didn't he just call someone to come pick him up to take him home after he was released from the hospital? Or at least call a taxi cab.  Then a friend or family member could have paid the tab perhaps.
   And I'm sure that he didn't have any health insurance either.  So it's the taxpayers like us that will be paying his hospital bill too not to mention the fact that we'll have to provide him with a cot and three square meals while he sits in jail.  So just how stupid can stupid get?

   Check out this crime story that the crackerjack crime beat reporter, Deborah Highland wrote for the Bowling Green  Daily News. Deborah does a fantastic job for the newspaper.

By DEBORAH HIGHLAND, The Daily News, dhighland@bgdailynews.com/783-3243 

A Butler County man who needed a ride home from The Medical Center after receiving treatment for injuries suffered in a car wreck is accused of stealing a Lexus from a Bowling Green dealership in order to get back home to Morgantown.

William Peterson Jr. called the Bowling Green Police Department on Monday to report a break-in at Certified Auto, 1001 U.S. 31-W By-Pass. Someone had used a flower pot to break the front window to gain access into the building, according to police records.

Once inside, the thief rummaged through desk drawers before finding vehicle keys in a closet. Numerous keys were scattered around the office. Peterson told police that a 1997 Lexus SC300 was missing from the lot, records show.

As police prepared to process the crime scene, Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward called to say that he had recovered the Lexus and was with the man believed to have taken the car, Timothy Jones Sr., 24, according to records.

Ward found Jones after Jones' mother called Ward to tell him that her son had driven a car home that probably wasn't his, Ward said. Ward drove to 7559 Caneyville Road in Morgantown to talk to Jones, who asked the sheriff for a ride back to Bowling Green so that he could talk to city police here about the incident.

Jones, 24, whose address is listed as 7559 Caneyville Road, told Bowling Green police that he had been taken to The Medical Center on Monday after being involved in a car wreck in Butler County. He was released at 1:30 a.m. and could not get a ride home from anyone. As he was walking, he noticed Certified Auto. Jones told police that the door to the business was unlocked and denied breaking a window to get in, records show.

Jones said he found several keys in a closet and took several sets outside with him, according to police records. He told police that he took the Lexus and drove home.

Police charged Jones with third-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking-auto. He is being held in the Warren County Regional Jail on a $6,000 bond, according to online jail records. He is scheduled for a court appearance Friday in Warren District Court.

Indie Rock Is Alive And Well In Bowling Green, Ky, with Cage The Elephant, Sleeper Agent and Schools.

  My son, Tony, left last night from our house with Alex Kandel, the lead singer of "Sleeper Agent," the indie rock band from Bowling Green, Ky., to fly to Portland to perform in a sold-out show with Awolnation at the Crystal Ballroom Wednesday night, Dec. 7th.http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/96074--Sold-out-December-to-Remember  Actually, they flew out of Nashville this morning.  Of course, they drove down to Nashville with the other members of the band in their van and stayed with some friends overnight before heading out this morning.  Patty, my wife and I, always enjoy having Tony back home even if it's just for 15 hours like it was this last time.
  Sleeper Agent is picking up a lot of speed and touring and gaining more notoriety and fans across the nation.  They have been touring with some big name acts of the late such as Cage The Elephant, The Joy Formidable, Manchester Orchestra, Foster The People, Bush, Grouplove and Awolnation, just to name a few.  Their album "Celabrasion" has been out several months now and selling really well.  To say the least and as you can probably tell, I am really proud of my kid, Tony.

   Regardless, I saw Matt Shultz again, the lead singer from Cage The Elephant a couple weeks ago at the Lava Lounge in Bowling Green where Tony and I went to see the up and coming new indie rock band from Bowling Green, called "Schools" perform.  Matt was friendly as always. Jay Joyce, the famous music producer from Nashville who recorded Cage The Elephant's two album, "Cage The Elephant," and "Thank You, Happy Birthday" and Sleeper Agent's "Celabrasion" also recorded "Schools" new album about a month ago.  Also, I got to meet Jeremi Simon, the lead singer and songwriter for "Schools."  By the way, the Schools sounded great that night.  And Jeremi is a super, nice guy also like Matt from Cage The Elephant.  I think the Schools will go far in the business like Cage The Elephant and Sleeper Agent has already.
   These are some very exciting times for indie rock music in the City of Bowling Green.  I think it is incredible that we already have three bands that have recorded albums and two bands are currently on tour and headlining with other national acts.  "Schools" is not quite out of the starting gate yet, but they are getting there, fast and soon.  Be on the look out for these guys!

Dishonest Small Town Preacher Gives Religion A Bad Name

In my opinion, when you read stories like this in your local newspaper, it can really turn you off towards religion.  Especially, the those who are indifferent towards religion or for those who choose not go to church to worship God.  Or how about the atheists?  Things like this just give the atheists more fodder to point out on how corrupt religion can be for your mind according to them.  There's nothing worse than a small town dishonest preacher where he takes advantage of their congregation and of the elderly members who are barely surviving on their social security checks.  They trusted this guy who was there pastor, treasurer and secretary of the church.  Wow, that's a lot trust! And the church didn't have a bank account!  What's up with that?
I hope an Allen County, Ky., court, especially the judge, county attorney or a jury throws the book at this guy in order to make an example out of him.  Just maybe, it might deter other small town dishonest preachers to come clean and to become honest so that they will not continue to give religion a bad name in this state or country.

Longtime pastor faces theft charge
Minix accused of taking $300,000 from congregation in Allen County
DEBORAH HIGHLAND, The Daily News, dhighland@bgdailynews.com/783-3243

Published: November 10, 2011
A Scottsville pastor is accused of embezzling $300,000 from New Gospel Outreach Church.

Billy Owen Minix, 42, 59 Cherokee Drive in Scottsville, was charged Tuesday with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000, according to Allen Circuit Court records.
“I have no comment,” Minix said when reached by telephone at his home Wednesday.
The church had been saving money for a new building, Scottsville Police Department Detective Brad Emery said.
The congregation has seen its membership drop from about 70 members to 35 since news of the theft rocked the congregation in September, interim Pastor Roy Yoakem said.
“I guess we were more heartbroken than anything,” Yoakem said. “Our church consists mainly of elderly people. The average age of the congregation is about 60 years. And they just couldn’t believe that he would do something like this.”
“A pastor’s position is a position of trust. We told him we forgave him biblically because that’s what the Bible teaches, but the law has to take its part, too,” Yoakem said.
Minix made a self-incriminating statement in front of the congregation in September, Yoakem said.
“His words were, ‘I just let it slip through my fingers,’ ” Yoakem said.
After that statement, the church saw its congregation dwindle. The congregation currently gathers at 108 S. Court St. in an old storefront.
Minix was the pastor, treasurer and secretary of the church, Emery said. Minix does not have a prior criminal record.
Emery opened an investigation into Minix in August after receiving a complaint, he said. Emery alleges that over a 12-year period, Minix stole $300,000.
The church didn’t have a bank account, Emery said. Emery accuses Minix of collecting money intended for the church, depositing it into an account he controlled and then spending the money.
“I do have some more investigation to do on it,” Emery said.
The church now has officially incorporated, Yoakem said, something the congregation thought had already happened. Remaining congregants elected a treasurer and secretary in addition to Yoakem’s election as interim pastor, a job that Yoakem is not paid to do.
Minix was arrested and posted a $25,000 surety bond to secure his release from the Allen County Jail.

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal: When All Hell Breaks Loose

"It goes to show that no institution is immnue to sex abuse scandals whether it be the Catholic Church or Penn State University. Penn State University just better hope they have plenty of money and damn good lawyers because the victims and family members will probably sue the hell out of them like the church was and continues to be. Also, the media is currently and will smear them all over of the place like they have us Catholics for years for the unspeakable actions of a select few leaders of the church. These perverted perpretrators should be prosecuted to fullest extent of the law and pay legally for their sins according to the law."-Galen A. Smith Sr.

Brad M. Kelley: Southcentral Kentucky's Billionaire

I am not a smoker.  However, I used to be.  I remember when I could buy a pack of cigarettes for 45 cents at Dye's Store in Eudora, Miss., near Lake O' The Hills where my dad used to live.  It was in the late 70's and I was an teenager, an underage smoker like a lot of kids used to be back then.  I remember I could take Coke bottles to return them at the little country store and get a pack of Vantage menthol cigarettes, an RC cola and a Moon Pie with the bottles. I don't even think kids nowadays know what returnable bottles are, do they? Wow, those days are long gone and they are truly amazing now that I look back at them.

But these days, apparently smokers almost have to pay what like $5 a pack to smoke and some places like New York City, it's what like $10 a pack?  That's crazy! I understand a lot of that money for a pack goes to local, state and federal taxes.  However, at one time there was tons and tons of money to be made in cigarette manufacturing in the United States.  What do I know?  I know there's a lot of regulation with tobacco industry.  But in spite of all that, there's a Cinderella tobacco story that happened right here in Bowling Green, Ky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XliBdscCSQk&t=27s

I used to work for a certain service company that performed a monthly service for a placed called, "Commonwealth Brands Tobacco."  It was located in a former, old warehouse for Fruit of the Loom off Church Street and Double Springs Road in Bowling Green.  In the mid-1990's, I performed the service for the tobacco company that was started in 1991 by Brad M. Kelley who at the time was probably in his late 30's and was a self-made entrepreneur.  I noticed that the place was full of old cigarette manufacturing machines that seemed to always be breaking down.  There was an old guy or two working on the machines every time I went in there to perform the service.  One of the workers said Mr. Kelley bought the machines from a cigarette manufacturing in North Carolina.  Also, I used to see large cardboard boxes of imported tobacco from foreign countries like Africa and places like that.  The place was not the cleanest in the world either and looked like everybody in there smoked.  They even had a computer graphic designer in an office who designed the cigarette package labels as well as advertising.  I can honestly say that I had been in that particular office many times where such world famous brand names of cigarettes were created such as "USA Gold, "Bull Durham" and "Malibu." Mr. Kelley's office was really cool too.  He had a lot of stuffed wildlife animals in there and he was a tall, burly red headed and bearded man. I said "hello" to him several times and he seemed like he was pretty friendly fellow, at least he was to me.  It looked like he was trying to create some new BBQ, steak and wild deer sauces too.  They had even had labels created for the sauces that were laying around.  And I serviced a large old house near the Bowling Green airport that served as the sales office for the company and a large distribution center warehouse on Russellville Road in Bowling Green where he kept his million dollar Provost camper bus.
According to some internet searches, in 1991, when very few people wanted to be in the tobacco business, Kelly started Commonwealth Tobacco Brands from scratch.  While keeping his advertising budget sparse, Kelley out-performed big brands by keeping the prices of his good low. His company set out to undercut the big tobacco companies by producing discount "branded generics" cigarettes.  In 2001, just 10 years after starting the company, Commonwealth Brands was the fifth-largest cigarette maker in the country, with sales approaching $800 million.  It's top brand, USA Gold, was, and still one of the nation's top selling brands.  And then amazingly in 2001, he sold the company to another Bowling Green based company called, "Houchens Industries" for $1 billion dollars.
And according to some other internet searches, seven years ago, when Mr. Kelley was 48 years-old, he was worth about 1.3 billion dollars and was America's 258th-richest person.  He likes to keep a very low profile and stay out of the limelight.  So you really won't find out much about him on the internet.
I had been trying to think of this guy's name lately because I'd had forgotten it.  Fortunately, there was a story in Friday's (Oct. 21, 2011) Bowling Green Daily News where Brad and Kent Kelley purchased 322 acres of farmland on Interstate 65 at an auctioned that occurred in Bowling Green last Thursday at the Sloan Convention Center.  By selling off his tobacco company 2001, he has become of the biggest players in the property business along with Ted Tuner and only a handful of others.
Here's a quote from the Bowling Green Daily News. "Brad Kelley, who is one of the largest land owners in the country, purchased 322 acres contiguous to I-65 on its west side, while Kent Kelley purchased 190 acres on the far east side of I-65."
"Brad Kelley, formerly of Franklin, Ky., who is now a Tennessee resident but has land holdings across the country.  He formerly owned Commonwealth Brands Tobacco, which sold to Houchens Industries for $1 billion.  The tobacco company is now owned Imperial Tobacco Group which paid $1.9 billion for the purchase."
Besides being a significant stakeholder in various equine racetracks, including Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Downs in his hometown of Franklin, Kelley owns more than 1.25 million acres of ranching and farm land across Tennessee, Kentucky, southwestern Texas, Florida and parts of New Mexico.  And he also dedicating a lot of the land to wildlife conservation who's spending millions of dollars conserving black rhinos, white rhinos, pygmy hippos, okapi, anoas, impalas, white-bearded wildebeests, Nile lech we, Eastern bongogs and Beisa oryx.
They say Kelley has never been on a yacht and still drives a white Ford pickup.  He has no college degree and he moved to Tennessee with his wife, Susan, of 26 years, to be close to his children's school.  Born and raised in Franklin, Ky. (pop. 8,000), which is about 20 miles southwest of Bowling Green and 40 miles north of Nashville, Kelley seemed destined to run the family farm in Franklin.  He graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School in 1974 and he was not athletic or nor was he especially handsome.  He was secretary for the Future Farmers of America, winner of the Courier-Journal Louisville Times Future Farmers of America contest and a member of Who's Who American High School Students and was named Corn Derby Winner.
To me, it's just a fascinating, all around intriguing story and always will be.  And to know and remember when Commonwealth Brands was in its infancy stages and where it all began firsthand makes it even more of an incredible story to me.  It's a totally major American success story.  Even though, Kelly was not poor growing up, it's not quite a "rags to riches" story but almost. However, if you ever see Brad M. Kelley out in public, you probably won't know who he is because apparently he's just a regular person like you and me. And you definitely won't know he's Southcentral Kentucky's billionaire either.