I am not a gigantic "sweet" eater.  I do love Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, and...pie.   I also love ice cream, but being honest I don't eat much of either.   But I do love Chocolate Chip Cookies, and if they're in the house, I will eat them.  They are magnificent! 

I grew up in Berea and there is a bakery called Dick's Bakery that has the most amazing ones ever.  When I travel there I have to pick up a dozen.  But I found this article doing some show prep that can help us make the best ones at the house.

Take a look!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

I saw this article and read it.  Yes, falling asleep during movies or TV at home is a problem lots of people have. I may be the wrong one to ask, because for the last 42 years I've basically been getting up at 230AM five days a week to do a radio show.  Yes, my schedule is all turned around and this is a problem for me at times.

I fall asleep at home watching movies especially if we start them too late.  I have never fallen asleep at the movie theater but I have seen and heard those that do. 

So, if falling asleep is an issue for you while trying to watch a show or ball game, take a look at this article to see if it can help. 

If you can stay awake long enough.........

Stop Falling Asleep Watching Movies

Taylor Swift was a polarizing figure in country music. She left us for Pop a few years ago and I respect that, especially not using us as a safety net as has been done many times prior.  When she was country, there was great success and a ton of new and younger fans. I felt this was a very important song for her.  Until this song, Swift was recording songs that had that wonderful feel of youth.  It was easy to see why young fans loved her dearly.  But to me, this song was the bridge to a far more adult sound and Swift.  It's a song of incredible sorrow, grown up regret, and total accountability. Not many songs have the guts to be that vulnerable anymore.  In short, it's very real.  The fantastic musical arrangement was very different for her and this qualifies as a solid power ballad.  After hearing this the first few times, it was clear Taylor Swift was capable of much more than we had heard up until this.  Fantastic song, written and sung by the right artist  -  at the right time.  Perfection in many ways from a remarkable story teller. This song doesn't age at all, as it still sounds great.

Last Week #49

Other Articles I've Written Featuring Taylor Swift

Food secret - I love asparagus, I just don't know how to spell it without looking it up.  It's one of my favorite veggies. I love to grill it, or make it in the oven with olive oil and sea salt.  But there are many ways to make it.  Ken Stewart's in Akron breads it and deep fries it as an appetizer, and it's GREAT!   If you don't really know how to do it, or are looking for ways to freshen it up, here are some really great recipes!

Enjoy -

HOW TO REALLY MAKE ASPARAGUS

Box Office Results -  Avatar   -  Still #1

A Megan – Sequel is already in the development stages - out July 2025 -   (Story) 

New This Week - Alice, Darling / Missing / Women Talking

February 3rd - 80 For Brady   (Lots of buzz) 

Top Gun 3 - Is on hold right now, only because Tom Cruise is too busy with his Mission Impossible franchise - but it's gonna happen   (Story) 

Antoine Fuqua - Will direct the biopic Michael, based on the life of Michael Jackson (Story)

Channing Tatum - Says he's planning a remake of the classic movie – Ghost!  (Story)

Jeremy Renner - Is now out of the hospital and recovering at home  (Story)

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

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week  - #49  (Link)

I got an e-mail from Jeremy this week asking where he could see some of my Memory Lane articles from a long while ago. They are all here at WQMX.com, but I have been doing this series for almost three years, so for the next couple weeks, I'll post some articles you may have missed. For the next two weeks, we will feature some great country bands that I have written about over the years.  These bands all had GREAT success! 

We'll start with these five in case you missed them the first time around.  The Southern Pacific article was the first one I ever wrote n this series.   And THANKS for reading and listening every week!

Alabama

Atlanta

Southern Pacific

Shenandoah

The Bellamy Brothers

The Browns had a press conference last week and we've all either heard the clips, watched, or listened to what the coach and the higher ups had to say.  And as I listened with you, it seems it's more of the same, and then some.

The problems with the Browns are far beyond the players on the field.  The Browns have some very nice players on this team who are as good as any in the NFL.  And there are some pieces to build on going forward, but as good or as bad as they are, they are not the main problem with the Browns. The bulk of the problem with the Browns are the ones in charge of those players.  The higher ups, including their coach are living in a denial state with this team.  To hear them talk it would seem we are right there, ready to be a big winner, a few tweaks and all is great!  Then one thing jumped out at me - they don't know, or refuse to believe  - they are not winning.

The sheer amount of double talk and flowery words is simply incredible.  The past two seasons have been an exercise in underachieving and non-accountability.  And the majority of it has to be laid at the feet of the "smartest people on earth."  The ongoing decisions off the field are really catching up with the Browns.   Have you watched many of these playoff teams this week?  It seems they are playing in a different league than us. And they are.  Faster, stronger, smarter and just better overall. 

The last few drafts have been overall lousy, and the next couple drafts have been heavily compromised for Deshaun Watson.  The commitment to overrated veteran players other franchises let go with big money here has revealed few benefits.  The teams decision to play a certain type of football on both sides of the ball is well into question.  Analytics are being used on big time game day decisions that are costing this team a few games a year.  In short, this team seems to be far more bent on being right, than being successful.

Kevin Stefanski is more than likely on the hottest seat imaginable for next season. The brass sold the owner on the Watson thing so much, I feel it is believed in the Berea building that he will fix all the ills.  He won't.  And if the Browns are off to a bad start next season, that may be all for Stefanski.  The Browns also have to understand the fan base doesn't buy this whole disingenuous act they stage. They're not honest with fans, themselves or reality and think we are too stupid to notice.  Love him or hate him, Mike Tomlin is straight forward, honest and you know where he stands, where the Steelers stand, and what their reality is. 

To fix what's on the field, the Browns first have to fix what's off the field. Accountability, honesty, and the guts to do things differently.  If they fail or are unwilling to do that, then it will be more of the same next year and stand by for 7-8 wins.  When that part of this organization is adjusted it will lend itself to better decisions on players drafted, chosen, signed, committed to and the correct schemes to place them in on all sides of the ball. 

Buy the front office a mirror, look into it, and understand that you -  through your own denial, are not winning.

I remember the first time I heard this song.  I was stunned by its raw power musically and the near perfect delivery of the artist.  We all heard Gilbert had written a lot of big songs for others, but this was his real debut on radio.  Country was not this rock inspired in 2011 -  as it would become in the coming years.   I have always felt this song is among the reasons why, if not the biggest reason.  To me, it's one of the most influential songs of the last 40 years in Country.  It's an anthem for sure, and I feel there were many new artists that pointed to the radio when hearing this and said, "I wanna do THAT!"  Lyrically it pays respect to the music before it, and is sung by a guy clearly influenced by those who were here before he was.  But this song also pointed straight ahead to where we were possibly going. (Word is too the first recording was even stronger than this final version  -  and they scaled it back some) .

Last Week - #50

Other Articles I've Written Featuring Brantley

For the past few years I've been writing my Country Music Memory Lane Series and my Mega Star Series.  They post here on Thursdays and will continue to do so.

Over the past 42 years I've played Country Music continuously on the radio, I  am featuring 50 songs that are ones I have enjoyed playing the most, and in many cases still play -  on the radio.  I'll post once a week, till the end of the year!

I am NOT saying these are the BEST songs, just the ones I enjoy the most.

I love eggs!  Especially on the weekends like we just had.  A good egg breakfast to me is a very comforting way to start any weekend day, let alone a cold an wintery one.  Poached is my very favorite, but a good omelette, or scrambled is fine too.

I found this great article for all of us advanced egg-mavens and maybe we can get some new ideas, or confirm that we do indeed, know what we are doing!

LET'S MAKE SOME GREAT EGGS!!

Box Office Results - Avatar   -  Still #1

M3gan – Did Very well 30 Million is debut  /  A M3gan – Sequel is already in the development stages  (Story)

New This Week - A Man Called Otto  /  Plane  / The Devil Conspiracy

Very Cool - Austin Butler won the Golden Globe for his role as Elvis   (Story) 

Lizzo – Wants to star in an Avatar movie  (Story) 

Titanic - Is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with a new 3-D version in theaters February 10  (Story) 

Finding Nemo - Turns 20 this year

Jurassic Park / The Fugitive / Sleepless in Seattle - Turn 30 this year

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane -  Lorrie Morgan  (Link) 

Check Out  -  My Top 50 Countdown From 40+ Years  (Link)