ASHLAND — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell came out with an ad for his 2014 re-election campaign today. He’s obviously a little worried about his position and the prospective race against actress Ashley Judd, who still hasn’t officially signed up (or even moved to Kentucky).

On Judd’s Twitter account last week, though, she tweeted this quote: “I slept and dreamnt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” — Rabindranath Tagore.

Reading between the tweets, if that’s possible, it sounds like somebody open to running for public office. Another rumor said she would make an announcement around Derby Day. Still other rumors say she’s way too liberal for Kentucky — and too aligned with President Obama — to do well in the state.

At least one politico said when/if Judd chooses where to live in Kentucky, it should be in her hometown of Ashland because it would show a love of community and wanting to make a difference. Don’t look for that to happen. My guess is if she moves to Kentucky, it would be to Lexington. She went to school at UK, is a diehard Wildcat basketball fan and Lexington is more hip and seen more as the center of the state.

But anytime we can get the name of Our Town on some of the national blogs and stories, it’s a good thing. Remember, there is no bad publicity.

Regardless of if she runs or doesn’t, Mitch isn’t taking any chances with the early ad. However, I’m not sure how many of us are going to enjoy an election ad 18 months before an election. It’s bad enough 18 days before an election.

-How cool is it there will actually be a flying winged monkey (among others flying as well) in this weekend’s Paramount Players presentation of “The Wizard of Oz?” And I wonder how many nightmares the original “Oz” monkeys spawned? Here’s to hoping all goes well in Our Town’s transformation to Oz.

-Here’s another tweet I read the other day: Putting choco in front of any word makes it better. Try it. (Note to self: Spend less time looking at Twitter).

-In this world of instant communication, who else sees it as odd we find out who the next pope will be with smoke signals?

I understand it’s a time-honored tradition with the Catholic Church, but even the former pope had a Twitter account.

-Former Ashland basketball coach Mike Flynn resigned as head coach at Highlands after four seasons and a 50-61 record.

Flynn, who took Covington Holmes to the state finals in 1990, was coach of the Tomcats for nine seasons, winning 16th Region titles in 2001 and 2002. He has a 467-252 career record.

-I wonder how many SEC organizers will be secretly rooting for Kentucky to win at least once during this weekend’s SEC Tournament? Nobody — and I mean nobody — follows their team like Kentucky. It will be a sea of blue on Friday, for sure. But if the Wildcats exit early — and with this team, maybe accurately dubbed “The Uncoachables,” who knows what might happen — it could be a lonely time void of Blue in Nashville on Saturday and Sunday.

And if UK doesn’t win on Friday, could it be an NCAA Tournament void of Blue, too?

-I watched the first two installments of “The Bible” on The History Channel. It goes on for the next three Sundays, culminating on Easter Sunday.

While it’s not been exactly how it is written in the Bible (Ninja warriors at Sodom and Gommorah?), it’s not that bad and it’s nice to see 13 million turned in the first week and another nearly 11 million the following Sunday. Maybe people are looking for an answer (and actually opening their Bibles again to find them) or maybe they’re just looking for good entertainment (since we seem to be void of it on television).

But, like most movies or television shows, the book is always better. And this Book, by the way, does have all the answers.

-It’s only 18 days until the Cincinnati Reds begin the 2013 baseball season. I’m counting 'em down.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.