Afternoon Drive with Jeff & Carly

Samoyed

I haven’t spent much time in the company of dogs (you know, other than the ones I have dated), but I have always liked the look of Samoyeds.  Still, as when choosing a life partner, you shouldn’t select a pet based on looks alone.  It’s important to know the guy’s, I mean animal’s character.  A little research is required.  When the “101 Dalmatians” movie came out, there was a spike in the number of dalmatian puppies that were adopted and then surrendered to humane societies because apparently it’s not the best breed to have around young children.

Bulldog

The Canadian Kennel Club should soon be releasing its list of the Top Breeds of 2007.  In the meantime, here’s the American Kennel Club’s Top 10:

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Boxer

7. Dachshund

8. Poodle

9. Shih Tzu

10. Bulldog

Beagle

The Labrador has been King of the Castle for the past 17 years.  The bulldog makes its triumphant return to the list, knocking the miniature Schnauzer out of the Top 10.  The beagle, interestingly enough, is the only breed that has been a constant on the list since 1915.

Are you a dog or a cat person?  What has been your experience with different breeds?  Have your say or post your pooch’s pic in the Comments/Leave a Reply section below.  Today’s bonus code is BULLDOG.  Make sure you sign into your Jack Nation account and enter it by midnight on January 18th.  

William Shatner recently revealed that after his divorce from Gloria Rand, he was so broke that he had to live in his truck.  Maybe that’s why he appeared at the 1978 Science Fiction Awards performing Elton John’s “Rocket Man” in what has become Shatner’s trademark style - the lyrics spoken to music.  That’s a long song.  I can’t imagine being in the audience and having to sit through the whole thing.  Click HERE to see the train wreck for yourself.  Feel free to leave your comments in the reply section below.

If you’re looking for extra Jack Nation points - and who isn’t? - type ROCKETMAN into the bonus code section of your account.  It’s good until January 17th.

Bluebuddies.  It’s not what a guy gets after a date with a tease.  It’s a website dedicated to the cartoon celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year - The Smurfs!  I used to love the 80’s television series.  Saturday morning just wasn’t complete without the mushroom houses that make up the Smurf village and the Beethoven soundtrack when the little blue guys were in trouble.

My favourite Smurf was Hefty because he was tough and muscular, but now that I’m older and wiser, I realize that Handy or Baker might make better life partners - you know, guys who build and cook stuff.  If only they weren’t three apples high.  Or imaginary.  Click HERE to access the website and refresh your memory.

Who were your favourite Smurfs?  Would you take your kids to the new Smurfs movie, scheduled for release in November?  Did you play the Smurfs drinking game in college or university (take a sip every time they say “Smurf”)?  Leave your comments in the reply section below and check back later for responses.  Today’s bonus code, worth 100 points to members of the Jack Nation, is SMURFOFF.  It’s valid until January 16th.

And here are the Ozzy afternoon drive bonus codes, just ‘cuz I’m nice:

3 p.m. - HARD

4 p.m. - ROCK

5 p.m. - COMING

How many email addresses do you check on a regular basis?  I check two - my work account and my personal email address.  There’s an Ipso poll indicating that nearly 60% of adult computer users frequently check more than one email address - 42% only check 1, 48% check 2 or 3 and 10% check 4 or more.  Four or more?  Why would you need that many - unless you’re cheating on your spouse, have Multiple Personality Syndrome or think you’re really clever at picking addresses…

While I’m on that, a word of advice when choosing an address - it’s probably not a good idea to pick iamhorny@whatever.com if you plan on using that account for anything official, like a job or passport application or filing a complaint.  Those people are laughing and it’s not ’cause it’s witty.

Feel free to share your stories about choosing an email address, your opinion on the Facebook phenomenon or your slow-cooker recipe for pot roast in the reply section below.  Today’s bonus code is COMPUTERADDICTION.  It is worth 100 points to Jack Nation members and is good until midnight on Jan. 15th.

Ellen Page

Nova Scotia actress Ellen Page, who plays Juno in the critically-acclaimed film of the same name, recently appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.  (You might also remember her as Treena Lahey on The Trailer Park Boys.)  Page’s interview prompted Letterman to say that he would like to take a trip to her home province someday.  Well, now Premier Rodney MacDonald has jumped on board.  Click HERE to view a video of his Top 10 Reasons Letterman Should Visit Nova Scotia.

It seems like ever since Bill Clinton played his saxophone on the The Arsenio Hall Show politicians have routinely turned up on late night television.  What do you think about this practice?  Do you think it’s undignified and beneath our leaders or do you think it’s a great way to reach the common man?  Can you think of other reasons Letterman should (or shouldn’t) visit New Scotland?  Have your say in the reply section below.

Today’s bonus code is FIDDLINGPREMIER.  You have until January 12th to score 100 points by entering the code when you sign into your Jack Nation account.

I wouldn’t say I’m a die-hard horror movie fan, but while wasting time at work today I stumbled upon a website devoted to the genre.  I’ve always enjoyed the type of film that doesn’t have a lot of blood and guts, but does get your pulse racing by screwing with your mind.  I was pleased to see that my favourite film, The Shining, made the Top 10 of their Top 100 Horror Movies.  I’ve seen the Kubrick flick numerous times, but my heart is always in my throat when Danny’s in the maze.

Click HERE so you too can waste time at work checking out the Best Horror Movies, then use the reply section below to have your say.  Your bonus code for today is SHINING.  It’s worth 100 Jack Nation points and is valid until January 11th.

Air Jordan XX3 - what is rumoured to be the last edition of the popular Nike running shoe because of Michael Jordan’s iconic number - is set to be released over the next month or so.  You can expect to pay $185 to $230 US (whatever that means these days) for a pair, depending on whether you line up for the limited edition or wait for the national launch.

If you hate having to pay over $100 for your kids’ running shoes, you can blame Michael Jordan.  Prior to the launch of Air Jordan I in 1985, running shoes were relatively cheap.  It’s the Air Jordans that took us over the $100 threshold.

If you’re nostalgic for the plain, white running shoe and feel nauseous by all the kaleidoscope-coloured shoes on the market, you can blame Air Jordans.  The black and red shoes were initially band by the NBA because they didn’t conform to the white standard (Isn’t that what Martin Luther King, Jr. was marching against?).  Jordan was fined $5000 per game for wearing them - a cost happily burdened by Nike.

By the way, if you still have your original Air Jordans from 1985, they could be worth thousands of dollars to collectors - if your dog hasn’t chewed them (see The Dog Ate My Homework posting from January 4th).

Have you ever owned a pair of Air Jordans?  Would you buy the XX3 edition?  What’s the most you’ve ever paid for shoes?  Leave your thoughts in the reply section below and don’t forget to check back later for responses.

Today’s Jack Nation bonus code - just for clicking on my blog - is XX3.  You have until January 10th to enter it and score 100 points!

The NHL all-star game is scheduled for January 27th in Atlanta.  The complete roster will be announced on Thursday (Western Conference) and Friday (Eastern Conference), but in the meantime, the starting lineups - as voted on by hockey fans - have been released:

Eastern Conference

Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh - 507 274 votes

Martin Brodeur - New Jersey - 220 392 votes

Andrei Markov - Montreal - 316 136 votes

Zdeno Chara - Boston - 271 272 votes

Vincent Lecavalier - Tampa Bay - 224 661 votes

Daniel Alfredsson - Ottawa - 244 483 votes

Western Conference

Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit - 477 787 votes

Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit - 303 309 votes

Henrik Zetterberg - Detroit - 326 244 votes

Roberto Luongo - Vancouver - 263 221 votes

Dion Phaneuf - Calgary - 307 358 votes

Jarome Iginla - Calgary - 244 538 votes

Do you think any Leafs will make the cut?  Who would you like to see on the roster?  Do you even care about the all-star game?  Post your comments in the reply section below.  Your Jack Nation bonus code is ALLSTAR.  It’s worth 100 points and is valid until Jan. 9th.

You may not care about the all-star game, but you probably care about Ozzy.  Here are the afternoon drive bonus codes that could score you free tickets to his upcoming show in T.O.:

3 p.m. - IRON

4 p.m. - STOP

5 p.m. - CRAZY

Good luck!  You’ve got to enter them before midnight tonight (Tuesday).

The smallest house in Toronto is back on the market.  It was purchased last year for $139 000 and after some renos, is for sale again.  The current asking price?  $173 000.

Now before you get too excited about the possibility of buying an actual home in Toronto for well under two-hundred grand, consider this - the living space is 300 square feet.  My apartment is 700 square feet and as a single person, I would rather replace my entire music collection with Celine Dion albums than move into a space less than half the size.  Still, this house seems to have a decent floor plan.

And keep in mind, guys, a small space can make anything you put in it look big. :)  Check out the rest of the layout at www.thelittlehouse.ca.  

Have you ever stayed in accommodations that made you feel like an inmate in solitary confinement?  Share your claustrophobic nightmare in the reply section below.  Maybe you’ve been an inmate in solitary confinement.  That would be worth hearing about, too.  I’ll post my responses on the blog, so don’t forget to check back later.  Today’s bonus code is LITTLEHOUSE.  It’s good until Jan.8th and is worth 100 points to Jack Nation members. 

The dog ate my homework.

It’s one of those cliches that you just know isn’t true.

Kinda like the cheque is in the mail.  (I need that money - bad!)

Or I’ll respect you in the morning.  (Won’t fall for that one again…)

But sometimes it is true.  A couple of weeks ago, Boston Red Sox player Jonathan Papelbon revealed that his bulldog Boss ate the World Series baseball from the final out of Boston’s 2007 sweep.  Papelbon was quoted as saying, “He tore that thing to pieces”.  I think I’d be tearing Boss to pieces if that were my ball.

My high school boyfriend’s cousin’s dog ate my leather shoes once.  I had just come from church and changed out of my Sunday best into my shorts.  The next thing I know, their Jack Russell is all over my shoes like a fat kid on a Smartie.  No one warned me he was a shredder.  No one replaced my shoes, either.

What valuable item has your child or pet ruined?  Share your pain in the reply section below.  Responses will be posted on my blog, so make sure you check back later.  Your Jack Nation bonus code is DAMNDOG.  It nets you 100 points, but only if you enter it before midnight on January 6th.