Kane Brown released his next single to radio today, as he also just announced his upcoming tour!

Kane says, "'I Can Feel It' came after we were trying to find someone to perform with me at Stage Coach. Phil Collins was one of the people we wanted, and after we were in Canada, we wrote this song, and I immediately fell in love with it with the drum feel. It's so familiar to a lot of people. I'm really excited to play it live. I immediately saw the image of it after we wrote it and I can't wait for everybody to hear it and get to jam along to it."

The late Olivia Newton-John's birthday was this week. She would have been 75.  It is well known that she was the star of Grease and was a huge pop culture star.  But long before that, she was an award winning country artist.  Let's revisit my article about her, and remember all the great music she recorded.

Olivia Newton-John (Birthday Revisited)

I love all sorts of pets from parakeets to goldfish and everything in between, but we all know a dog is man's best friend. I've never met a dog I haven't liked, just ones that don't like me, unprovoked. (Just let me love you!) This blog is part of a series in which I rank all sorts of stuff, and the purpose of it is to give you some insight into who I am and what I'm about. It's also a lot of fun to get some input on my lists by those who rank things differently, so let's get into it and determine if we see eye-to-eye on favorite breeds of pups! 

10. Miniature Pinscher

9. Great Dane 

8. Labrador Retriever

7. Basset Hound

6. Dachshund

5. Rottweiler

4. Husky

3. Chihuahua

2. German Shepard

1. Bloodhound

Hi everyone! My name is Buttercup and I thought I'd take over writing my dad's blog at work today...he said it would be cool with him and you wouldn't mind. I know he has told you a little about me before, but I'll recap. I'm about 5 years old, and showed up at my current home about 4 years ago. I was too young at the time, I don't remember where I came from before that...or is it I just don't want to tell my daddy? ;) hahaha.

Anyway, I have been so lucky to live where I do. I get fed handsomely (even though I yell at my dad that I'm starving and wasting away). I even get treats! My favorite toys are a shoestring, toy mice, and I love to kick around a ball here and there. I also enjoy going after my dad's shoestrings and his phone charger (which he yells at me to stop it..but I don't). 

I enjoy having deep conversations with my dad. I think I have great ideas for world hunger, peace, and when to bring out Pumpkin Spice every Fall. Along with having these conversations and playing with my toys, my favorite pasttime is curling up in my dad's lap and falling asleep while we watch TV. 

Thank you for listening to my daddy's station, as it provides him the ability to fill my tummy everyday with my favorite salmon-flavored food!! 

'Shell-o', get your tickets for the WQMX Charity Clambake this Sunday at DustyA.com....  this is a great event to help our military members and their families thru Tree of Lights for NEOPAT!

'Awww, Shucks'!!!   There will be silent auctions and raffles and more...  You'll be clam-oring for more while we are 'shelling-it out for soldiers'...

Let off some 'steam' this Sunday.. It'll be the 'pearl-fect' fit... with WQMX, NEOPAT, The Dusty Armadillo and You!!!

You don't have to wear 'Clam-oflauge'...  we are all happy to see you and have a 'Shell-arious' Fun Day to help out our Military.

So get your tickets at DustyA.com and we'll see you Sunday...  'Keep Clam' and Party On...  If you can't make it, 'don't 'beach' yourself up '...  Please consider donating to Tree Of Lights.  Thank you and 'Sea' you Sunday.

Up until now, I have only seen the teaser video online, but a friend shared the whole video for the Monday Night Football performance and it gives me chills. The new Monday Night Football anthem played in it's entirety before the Cleveland Browns took on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sadly, the game was a loss for us, but this performance from Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and Cindy Blackman Santana was a win! 

If there's one thing to know about me, it's that I love everything with wheels. Whether it's a skateboard, bike, tractor, or truck; if it's something you can ride, I'm all about it. I especially love powersports like ATV's, motorcycles, and go karts; I even have a retired podcast on them! 

I know my way around a garage and have fixed up my fair share of machines, but I am no mechanic. I was reminded this after attempting to fix up a snowmobile that had been given to me a while back. It was crashed and had not been started in a number of years, but I was optimistic. I had a moment of clarity about a week ago and made the decision that I was in over my head having taken a bigger bite than I could chew. 

I posted the sled online for sale or trade and asked to be sent offers. I got some random offers like mini bikes, tools, and cash, but what really caught my eye was this big two-seater go kart project. I had actually seen it in an ad prior, and did my best to hide my excitement, though I was stoked. I jumped on it, and the offerer and I met up at his place to initiate the deal.

I was looking for a kart project to build up because I have a spare engine waiting for transplant in the garage, but I had no idea just how big this thing was. It's a Yerfdog Spiderbox with a Honda four-wheeler front end welded on in a questionable fashion, and it has a ton of potential. There is no engine or brakes and a few of the steering components need modified or repaired, but all things considered it's a solid start. 

Had he seen the snowmobile in person prior to agreeing to trade, I don't believe this fellow with the kart would have gone for it. It was rough, but I did nothing to mislead or misrepresent; I'm not like that.  To say loading that sled onto his trailer was a challenge, is a definite understatement. We tried every hairbrained idea until simply yanking it up onto the trailer with the truck, aggressively. I was glad no one got hurt and quite happy to see that piece of junk go to someone who is likely better suited to do something with it. 

Of course I am ecstatic about my new buggy project, but I have been left scratching my head on what to do for the powertrain. I unfortunately cannot use the engine I have on deck as it lacks ample power for the application, so that's gone out the window. I considered scooping up a used motorcycle or four-wheeler motor, (especially one with reverse) but those can be a nightmare with wiring and especially fabrication. With the stock engine putting down about 8hp, any 250 or bigger would easily do the job and gears sure would be cool. 

Going back to the title of this blog, I now have a toss up on my hands. Option one is the motorcycle engine with an unknown amount of work put in to adapt it to the kart platform. I could find something with gears including reverse, but it won't come cheap or easy. Option two is equally if not more expensive, but hugely simpler. Harbor Freight has a 15.8hp Predator engine on sale right now for a decent price. That motor combined with an Amazon 40 series torque converter would set me back nearly $700. Everything else needed to make it go would probably be an additional hundred dollars. That's nothing to scoff at, but the advantages of this option have me tempted. 

Both motors would have an electric start as well as a pull start, and with that a battery. Either option could power lights and maybe a winch. The motorcycle engine would likely have a clutch which may hinder certain friends of mine from driving it and complicate the intallation, whereas the Predator would allow for some pedal to the metal simplicity. Maintence is another consideration, as Predator parts are as cheap as they come whilst motorcycle and quad engine parts vary in afforability. The biggest appeal of all for the Predator over the alternative however, is the warranty. Buying new from a retail store provides confidence, and with such an expensive investment I know I want that.

The biggest toss up is not even necessarily between those two options, but rather when/if to proceed with purchasing a powerplant. I could get a very nice mini bike for the same price, or any number of other things. I'm looking at getting a dog, updating some appliances around the house, and some other major purchases right now, but my desire to make this kart into a mini-RZR is overwhelming. If I'm going to do it, I want it built and ready to rip come wintertime. Maybe I'll call it a birthday present to myself, as that's coming up soon! The sale on the Predator ends on the last day of September, so I guess I have until then to decide. I'll keep you posted on my progress, and thanks for reading!

So being Talk Like A Pirate Day... 

There has to be some jokes:

A few of you called in your favorite Pirate jokes... 

I remember Tricia's, What does a vegan pirate do in jail? Starrrrrve!

Always enjoy you weighing in and playing along.

Luke Bryan has many things on his calendar at the moment. By the picture posted, you can probably guess the first one I will cover is his Farm Tour. He kicked that off last week with a stop outside of Louisville,KY. Just a few more dates left on that before he moves onto the rest of his busy schedule.

I mentioned on my show last night that he and friend Peyton Manning are teaming up for a docuseries to air on Hulu called "It's All Country". It will take a look at artists that have made a great impact on Country music as a whole and even some individual perfomances that stand out. No word on a release date yet.

Finally, he and Peyton are also getting together to co-host the CMA Awards this year. That will air November 8th on ABC.

Somewhere in there, he'll have to find time to be a husband and dad, as well as keep crankin' out those hit songs! Glad my schedule isn't that crowded...hahaha

Monday nights loss at Pittsburgh was ugly for many reasons.  FIRST very sad about Nick Chubb, one of the NFL's good guys. He is Cleveland. He works hard, plays hard and is intent on making a difference. He is the heart and soul of this Browns team, and I'm not sure those in charge of the Browns realize that yet, but they're gonna learn - reluctantly it would appear.

Last week against Cincy, when the offense was not at all effective, they had no choice but to turn to Chubb and he bailed them out and got things right.  Early in the Steeler game, the same thing until his devastating injury.  But that's not at all what this organization wants to do. They want Watson to win them games and chuck the ball all over the yard all day.  Well, now he pretty much is going to have try to do that, becaue their backup plan just had knee surgery.

The Browns are much more talented this year as opposed to last year, mainly on defense and that's great to see.  But the defense had nowhere to go but to get better.  The main issue with the Browns is this puzzling, myopic view of the game and the way they run this team.  They are stubbornly committed to one way to play a game.  In NFL reality, you have to do  -  what you need to do that day  -  to win that game.  They did that in game one and I was thrilled to see that.  But not in the Pittsburgh game.

Stefanski watches and manages a game through a porthole and not a picture window. He is so focused on what HE wants to do, he fails to see the game, place, and situation in its entirety.  He continues to think he is the smartest person in any room.  He's gonna "fool them."  That he's of superior intellect.  And he continues to get beat by far better football men who break the game down to its guts, nuts and bolts.  In the end, that's what football is. You know why the Steelers won Monday?  They out-footballed us.  They lost virtually every single statistical category by a mile, but they knew what it takes to win.  They did, they do, and have for 21 straight years against us in their yard.  My feeling is Tomlin told his team before this game, "We don't lose to the guys here."  And they listened.

As a head coach and organization, you have to take in the totality of the environment with game in front of you. The place, the crowd, momentum, situation, the ramifications of the moment, and the hour.  Also THE reality, and not YOUR reality.  Look at the big picture and not the tunnel visioned kaleidoscope of your rigid plan.  We don't do that well.  Play calling that is just silly, decisions that are reckless and self destructive.  The time has come for this entire organization to quit trying to BE right, and focus on DOING right.  There was none, zero excuse for not winning Monday night, except the Steelers knew how to win it more from the owners box to the equipment box.

And here come the Titans into our yard.  We are better than them and we have no excuse for not winning this game. This is the third straight game we are better on paper, having an overall superior roster.  BUT Tennessee comes in after watching the Pittsburgh game too.  They are tough, well coached and thinking about the playoffs.  And now they have no fear of us after Monday nights debacle.

Get ready coach.  These are football men coming to town who have the ability to see the whole thing better than us. If you allow them, they will find a way to get this done too.  Put down the Denny's menu, hand off play calling to people getting paid to do it.  And finaly at long last get in the whole game, not just the portion you have interest in.  Look around, feel the crowd, the day, the mood. Take it in, read the room and lead.

The time has come to widen the lens and be the head coach. The team needs one.  And - I feel there is one in waiting.

My Previous Browns Articles -

Playing In The Neighbors Yard

There Is No Excuse