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In a new Marist poll, the majority of Americans believe dogs should get more credit for their intelligence.  80% of the people polled say they think people underestimate just how smart their pups are!

87% of dog owners feel their pet ……understands and knows more than people realize….while 73% without a dog agree.

Women are more inclined to believe in the intelligence of their dogs.  85% of women and only 76% of men say the general public is not aware of just how smart dogs actually are.

15% feel think the pups are getting more credit than they deserve!

(Metro Source)

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This weekend’s NASCAR races will be graced with the presence of two country stars.  Chris Cagle is scheduled to sing the National Anthem at the Drive4COPD 300 on Saturday at Daytona.  Cagle’s image will be on the deck-lid of the #01 car driven……. by Mike Wallace.

Craig Campbell is also involved in racing’s biggest weekend.  He’ll headline the Coca-Cola stage before the start of the big race on Sunday.

(Dial-Global)

(Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Congratulations goes out to Taste Of Country star Joe Nichols and his wife Heather!  According to People Magazine, the couple is expecting their first child in the spring.

They’ve known each other since they were 19.  But they got married in September 2007.  Now they are proud to announce that they are going to have a baby together.

“After trying to have a baby for so long, we are thrilled to announce that I am pregnant,” Heather says.

This will be Joe’s second child to join his family making 13 year old Ashelyn a big sister.  Congratulations goes out to Joe and his wife Heather!

[People Magazine]

(Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)

I’ve been having some problems with my shoulder lately.  I finally sucked it up (4 months later) and went to the doctor to get it looked at.  That led to my first MRI.  It’s something that I’ve heard about plenty of times from watching sports and such but I’d never had one myself.  Today I got to experience one.

Have you ever had one of these things?  They ask you in the pre-screening process if you’re claustrophobic.  Now if you’re like me then you really haven’t been subjected to sitting in enclosed spaces for any significant amount of time so the answer was no.

So I headed in when the technician came and got me and he told me to lock up all my stuff that had metal in it.  My phone, wallet, coat, everything went in this little locker and we made our way to the room.

This is where it sat.  The often talked about MRI machine.  It’s huge…but the spot where you go….not so big.  But again, I’m not claustrophobic.  No problem.

I laid down where the guy told me to lay down and listened as he gave me instructions which were pretty much, “lay there and don’t move.”  Sounds like a dream to me.  I’m in.

As he moved me in though, I kept telling myself, this is no big deal.  And really it wasn’t.  It’s some loud noises as you lay on your back with music playing through some headphones.  Then I realized it. 

I still had my belt on!  He told me to take off everything that was made of metal and I still had my belt on!  I yelled to the guy but he didn’t hear me.  Oh man!  How much longer do I have?  Then the music stopped.

It was over.  Before it had barely even started, it was over.  My first MRI was done. 

And the guy said that the belt wasn’t a problem.  No worries.  So if you have an MRI scheduled in the future, I hope yours goes as smoothly as mine did.  But remember to take off your belt.

http://youtu.be/hDkFmnMatCY

Photo via Flickr by gleepythehen

With Lent beginning tomorrow we thought we’d ask our listeners, “Who has the best fish fry in Western New York?”  Within minutes we had over 80 replies.  Western New Yorkers are passionate about food and on any Friday during Lent you can bet people will be lining up for their favorite fish fry.

Here is a sampling of who our listeners think have the best fish fry in WNY:

Langworthy’s Dinner in Salamanca, NY

The Sheridan Memorial VFW in Sheridan, NY

Ebenezer Ale House in West Seneca

Cammarata’s Restauarant in Lockport

Wiechecs in Kaiser Town

Overtime Sports in Sloan, NY

Mr. Bills in Cheektowaga

The Whistle Stop Inn in Alden

Apple Dumpling in Springville

Click to see the whole list on our Facebook page.

Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

Sugarland have long been embroiled in a lawsuit surrounding the August 13, 2011 stage collapse at their show at the Indiana State Fair. Now, responding to lawsuits coming at them, they’re claiming one last time that the incident, which left seven dead and more than 40 injured, was not their fault.

As Taste of Country previously reported, the stage collapsed after Sara Bareilles’ performance and just before Sugarland was about to take the stage. Since then, Indiana State Fair Commission executive director Cindy Hoye claimed in an affidavit that she sent the show’s promoter twice to the band and was told twice that they wanted to carry on with the show, making them responsible for negligence in the situation.

In response to the negligence claims, the duo are asserting that the fatal accident was just that – “a true accident, or an act of God,” according to CNN. In a court document, the band responded by saying that they “had nothing to do with the construction of the venue” and that the scaffolding collapse was due to a “gust of wind of unprecedented intensity.”

Responding to the civil lawsuit filed by several victims Nov. 22, the band maintained that they had nothing to do with the construction of the venue itself and that the claims were the result of “an open and obvious danger,” and that some of the plaintiff’s injuries “resulted from their own fault.” When all fingers started pointing at them, Sugarland began pointing at others, suggesting that they shouldn’t be the only ones held accountable for the horrific event. They say others played a part as well, including Indiana State Fair officials, Indiana State Police, member of the labor union who constructed the stage and the entire state of Indiana.

Their claim does seem to be backed by some empirical evidence, as a Feb. 8 report by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that the stage scaffolding was not constructed properly nor properly inspected after it was erected on the site. With all the finger pointing, Sugarland and their fans are left to wait and see where the lines fall in the end.

Source: TasteofCountry.com

LAST SHOT

This past Saturday night I was out playing with my band LAST SHOT at a local pizza place in Williamsville. I really enjoy performing in the Williamsville/East Amherst area because it’s close to my home and I can get a lot of my friends and neighbors to show up. Saturday night was one of those magical evenings where tons of people showed up and stayed all night long. It was so packed you could not move in the place. The crowd was enthusiatic and was ready to party! When we perform for a large crowd like that it makes us step up our game and put on a great show. It is so cool to look out at the audience and see people screaming out the words to the songs we are singing. For me, that is probably the second best feeling in the world.  Our last song of the night was “Surrender” by Cheap Trick. At this point, everyone was fist-pumping, dancing and just going crazy. The crowd was singing along with us and they may have been louder than we were!

But my question to you is: What is the best bar in the Buffalo area to see a band?

A Bird Feeding A Dog – Watch More Funny Videos

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As soon as I found out John Pinette would be bringing his comedy act to Buffalo State College, I jumped at the opportunity to buy tickets. The show took place at Rockwell Hall over the weekend and Pinette did not disappoint. I had 4th row tickets….and they were well worth it!  Check out some of John Pinette’s material…..

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Check out Chicago-native Jamie Lono and his version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”  I’m still trying to figure out if I like it or not!