For as long as I can remember, I've loved cars. Likewise, I have had a lifelong love for all sorts of video games. Naturally, I love a good car racing game, and I have recently been getting back into playing them during my down time. Lately I have been messing around with Forza Horizon 5 tuning cars and doing some races, and it is a lot of fun. The physics behind this game, in combination with the huge map, plethora of cars, sweet graphics, and extensive custimization options of the vehicles make for a fun time playing. It's surely an entertaining way to spend an afternoon, but my heart lies with older games- specifically those on the PlayStation 2 console.

My all time favorite racing game is Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, and I've easily spent thousands of hours of my life playing it. This may be a hot take, but there is no title from that era that even comes close to the perfection of this game, racing themed or otherwise. Gran Turismo's slogan is "The Real Driving Simulator," and it holds up to that. Unlike Forza Horizon, Gran Turismo is soley a track based game, without an open-world or offroad terrain. Additionally, GT3 lacks online competition, whereas Horizon 5 is a relatively current title which maintains that interactive element and promotes online features. Where GT3 wins out is in its splitscreen two-player compatability, and I love playing side-by-side with my friends. It's apples to oranges trying to compare these two games directly, but truly they are both great. 

I haven't played any of the newer Gran Turismos past 4 as I do not have a Playstation beyond the 2, but I'm sure they're awesome. Of course I have more advanced and visually appealing games than GT3, but they just don't hit the same. I would say it is the nostalgia factor, but I have consistently played this game for the last fifteen plus years, and it is unlike any other PS2 game I have. I just love it. 

I can't write a blog about racing games without mentioning Mario Kart. There are many iterations of the series, but the one that sticks with me was made for the DS. I vividly remember playing it on the bus with my classmates during long rides for fieldtrips and the like. I'm a Yoshi guy through and through. It's fun, but I consider it more of a party game, without much depth to it. A special shoutout has to go out to Crash Nitro Kart on the PS2. 

Apparently there is a new movie out called "Gran Turismo", and it seems pretty cool. If you remember the movie "Pixels," it involved translating video game skills into a real world setting, and this one seems to follow a similar general theme. The movie is based on the true story of a racecar driver, who beat the odds and rose from being just a sim racer to driving for a factory team professionally. Check out the link below if you would like to see the trailer for it, and game on! 

Gran Turismo: Official Trailer (2023) David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe - YouTube

This Weekend, was a blast.  Sure hope you had all the Labor Day Fun.  Before the White Pants were put away Monday (kidding I don't have white pants.)   Here's "Ben" There Done That!

Friday was a pool party... my son and his friends celebrated the un-official end of summer and back-to-school.  Great seeing Parents and Friends.

Saturday... I went to OktoberFest in Berea.  Good food, Good beer and maybe my favorite the weiner dog races or more the costume contest.

Then on Sunday, I saw a lot of you at Sunday Funday at The Dusty Armadillo...

Monday was Labor Day and I hope all of you had the day off.  I know that is not the case.  A huge Thank You to those that worked and kept things moving and grinding on the holiday.  We thank you and appreciate you.  

I have returned from my nearly week long adventure down to the Smokies of East Tennessee. Spent about 4 days at my family's vacation house with my mom and we did a few fun things, as well as some housekeeping items as well.

We spent a day at Dollywood (a must on a trip to East Tennessee), went to the Ripley's Aquarium, played a few rounds of mini golf (both indoor and outdoor), went to the Alcatraz East Crime Museum, and the Knoxville Zoo. We also had to go furniture shopping and stopped at a big box store to get a new TV up and running in a bedroom at the house.

On our way home we stopped for a couple nights in Cincinnati. We spent this past Saturday at the Cincinnati Zoo (to see Fiona of course ;)), and then on Sunday we went to the Newport Aquarium across the Ohio River from Downtown Cincinnati. After the afternoon there, we drove home Sunday evening.

The Newport Aquarium was the only attraction I had not been to before. It'd been several years since I had been to the Cincy Zoo, but I always enjoy my time in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. 

Glad to be back home.

Maddie & Tae have announced that their next single to country radio will be "Heart They Didn't Break". They said of the song, "Here’s to friends… the ones that pick up the pieces, that you can call 24/7, that bring a bottle a wine over when you’ve had a bad day and let you show up exactly how you are. Send this song to your bestie!"

I just can't wait to get on the boat again! Seriously, I am so excited to be back out on the water after too many days apart from it. Our pickup truck was down and out with a bad transmission line, but it is now back and better than ever, ready to pull the trailer wherever I need to launch. 

I'm very aware that my time on the boat the season is coming to an end, and I'm planning to make the most of it while I still can. There's a ton of stuff that still needs done in terms of restoring the vessel, but my philosophy this season has been to just run it. I put a ton of work into getting the boat water-ready at the beginning of the summer, and now, it is just time to enjoy it! I do need to readjust the controls, as it was running weirdly at anything above idle speed on my last adventure, but hey at least it runs. 

I consider this boat endeavor a complete success if I make it through the season without anything major breaking, such as the old Suzuki two-stroke motor we took a gamble upon. Additionally, my main priority is to avoid sinking the boat- or worse, the truck. I heard about both of these nighmare scenarios happening to locals this year with a Jeep apparently going in whilst launching, as well as a boat sinking to the bottom. I saw the recovery video of the boat, and as bad as this sounds thought, "Well at least I don't have the worst boat out there." Mine is rough around the edges, but it holds. 

The boat itself is a 1958 Magnolia, made from fiberglass. It's truly a classic, and even has fins reminiscent of a 1956 Bel Air, as well as other period stylstic touches  like the steering wheel. It is not set in stone, but I really enjoy the name "Sweetbay" for the boat, as sweetbay is a variety of the magnolia plant. It is a nice little play on words with the nautical nod in bay. Corny boat names always make me laugh, but I'm thinking Sweetbay is going to stick. 

Whatever you call it, I love my boat. I don't have a radio in it yet, so I make sure to always have my Bluetooth speaker charged and ready to crank the tunes. You already know I've got it locked on WQMX, and you too can listen any time and anywhere with ease. It's Your Country: on the radio tuned to 94.9 FM, here on our website under the listen live tab, on our mobile app, and even on your smart speaker at home! 

Darius Rucker - Don't Think I Don't Think About It  - 2008

Darius Rucker is the first artist to have a second song on my list. He was also featured here with Wagon 
Wheel #47.  He is featured as well in my Vocalist Supreme Series  (Part 2 featured below)  that ran a few months ago.  This was his introduction to the country charts in 2008, and I remember the first time I played this song on WQMX.  We were all kind of eyebrow-raised that he went country after such a great run with Hootie And The Blowfish.  But after the first play of this song, I was hooked, by the hook.  I love songs like this.  Songs that have something to say, that's said in a straightforward way, is adult, is not overdone, and not drawn out longer than it should be. This is a tremendous country song that is delivered by a supreme vocalist.  All these years later it still sounds great and is still as powerful as it was upon the first listen.  Rucker is one of these artists that make it all look so easy.  When I hear him sing, it's like he was born to sing the song he's singing.  I can't imagine anyone else singing this song.  With this written song, its arrangement and delivery, this is about as country as it gets.  This song was a #1 and is a gem.  We are lucky to have Darius Rucker.

Last Week #16

The Vocalists Supreme Part 2

You may have noticed that Sandwiches are getting more expensive all the time.  Let's find out why.  Top chefs tell us the inside story!

The Story On Sandwiches Today

Today, the Browns regular season opens and there are those that think much could be different this year. I write this today from a point of honesty, not with any negativity.  Just straight forward thoughts. 

If the Browns are truly thinking about a big season, playoffs and respect, it begins today.  With this being against the Bengals, at home, huge crowd, opening day, everyone healthy, bunch of new coaches and player personnel, there is much going their way.  With Watson having a full and regular camp under his belt, and Burrow missing virtually all of training camp with an injury, there is no reason the Browns should not win this game.  Frankly, if not NOW, then WHEN will you win a big game you're supposed to?   There is no real excuse for not winning this game.  That time is over.

But what I'm feeling is this. This division today -  all four teams  - looks very good on paper.  This game today does not make or break the season, but it does reveal one thing very clearly.  It will show you where the Browns organization is, not necessarily the team.  Because good organizations win these kind of games that matter at home.  If the Bengals come in here with everything at this moment seemingly pointing the Browns way, this organization would then have a long way to go.  The Browns today, are solidly 4th in the quality of organization in this division until they prove otherwise.

It's not always about the players.  It's about the support and decisions behind them before the season even begins.  I have concerns on a few levels.

 - They have marginalized the sheer importance of the place kicking game.  Drafting and cutting Cade York both made sense. But how they handled York for two camps, and signing a very questionable replacement when many close games are at hand is eyebrow raising.

-  They have a backup QB with ZERO NFL experience. OK, if Watson gets really hurt the competitive season is over.  But asking a rookie to win you games for maybe a month or so if you need to is a very big ask.

-  The running back position has gone from the best and deepest in the NFL to a big question mark. Chubb is the best there is no doubt, but will they use him right? And a big injury there could be a huge problem.

-  Will they still continue to manage tight games poorly?  Are they so married to analytics they continue to self destruct?  Clock management?

-  And will they continue to underestimate the importance of taking points that are there and have been earned?

-  Will they finally win the games you're supposed to like this one?  And win a few they're not, like AT Pittsburgh.  Two wins against the Steelers is the key to the division and possible playoffs.

These are front office and sideline things that have been getting in the way of winning in addition to the play on the field. When and if these things are addressed and fixed, the Browns could be poised for a far better season.  But they have to start getting out of their own way. 

This game must be won, Not as far as the standings are concerned as it is week one.  But as far as respect and perception goes, it is important.  Win it, and you get hats tipped your way. Lose this division game at home on opening day, with all in your favor  - you in the divisions eyes - are still the Browns.

No excuses.  Go Browns!

Here are my articles from WQMX.com this week in case you missed some. Grab some coffee and take a listen. And as always, thanks for reading and listening every day!

Top 50 August Recap

Eat Of The Week

50 Favorites From 40+ Years #16

Forgotten Jukebox TNT - 12

Country Music Memory Lane - The Influencers (Revisited)

Wynn At The Movies And More

Box Office Results - The Equalizer 3  -   (42 Million)

#2  Barbie 10 million   (Now the biggest grossing film of 2023)

#3 Blue Beetle, 7 million. 

New This Week - My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3   /  The Nun 2

Meg Ryan - Has a new Rom-Com coming out with David Duchovney - What Happens Later - October

Taylor Swift  -  Era's tour in theaters October 13  - Tix are $19.89

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #16  (Link)

Plus - My Top 50 August Recap (Link)