Afternoon Drive with Jeff & Carly

It turns out laser guided scissors are only as steady as the hand holding them.

Have you ever purchased something that seemed like a good idea at the time, but now collects dust at the back of a storage closet?  You should probably get rid of it - Goodwill, garage sale, re-gift for your brother-in-law - but guilt gets the best of you, so back in the closet it goes until spring cleaning next year.

A British company that ranks consumer satisfaction conducted a survey on this very topic.  Here’s their Top 10 list:

1. Electric nail file

2. Laser guided scissors

3. Electric candles

4. Make your own soda pop machine

5. Foot spa

6. Fondue set

7. Hair crimper

8. Egg boiler

9. Electric fluff remover

10. Electric carving knife

I must disagree with the fondue set and foot spa.  I use both - not frequently, but often enough that I don’t regret purchasing them.  My fondue pot is electric, so no need to worry about oil or alcohol, and it’s great for a leisurely dinner.  The foot bath is fantastic in the winter if your feet get cold or wet, and excellent in the summer if your tootsies are calloused from walking barefoot.  I don’t own a hair crimper, but I did buyer a hair dryer that has a roller brush on the end.  It’s supposed to dry and volumize your hair at the same time.  All I ever did with it is get it stuck in my hair.  Still, I’m no good with a hair dryer and roller brush separately (I didn’t get that particular girl gene), so I keep hoping one day I’ll have some kind of epiphany and the appliance will miraculously become useful.

Have you ever owned anything on this list?  What pointless gadgets have you succumbed to?  How much did you pay for them and how did you get rid of them?  Share your pain by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is USELESS.  But the code isn’t useless - it’s worth valuable points until May 2nd.

This Sunday is Aaron Hill Bobblehead Day at the Rogers Centre.  The first 10 000 Jays fans through the gate will score the aforementioned trinket.  That’s not the bauble (or the bobble) that has everyone talking this week, though.  It’s the Tom Gorzelanny dolls Pittsburgh distributed this past weekend that have created quite the stir (see picture below).

It seems there’s some concern about which finger the Pirates pitcher has protruding from his glove.  Index?  Middle?  A spokesman for the team says no harm was intended - players’ photos are sent to a company that makes the dolls and the pictures are simply replicated as closely as possible.  If this is something that you’re interested in owning, there are quite a few already available on eBay.

What do you think - index or middle or who cares?  Do you collect bobbleheads?  Perhaps you’ve kept another item because it appeared to have a manufacturing defect or looked like something it wasn’t.  I still have last year’s Ikea catalogue - the one with the unfortunate photo of the dog (apparently, it’s his leg) - but I’ve kept it for the decorating ideas, not because I think it will be worth something one day.

Ikea catalogue with “questionable” member

Share your thoughts by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is BOBBLEHEAD.  It scores you points until May 1st. 

Jeff took his family to Wonderland on the weekend and his daughter Victoria - who’s 8 - won this albino gorilla/abominable snowman in the ring toss!  Here’s what it looked like trying to fit him the backseat of the car.

Has anything like this ever happened to you?  Sometimes when I go shopping, I “forget” that I no longer own a car and then I’m struggling with all my bags on the TTC (yes, I’m one of those people).  What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever won?  How did you get it home?  Share your experience by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is WHITEGORILLA.  It’s valid until April 30th.

This is my favourite photo of the week.  Chris Bosh is a class act and it’s heart-warming to see the sea of red at the ACC.  I’m not an ardent NBA fan, but I played basketball in high school and do enjoy watching the game.

Are you going to the game on Saturday?  What was the best sports match you ever attended?  Share your experiences by using the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is REDRAPTORS.  It’s good until April 27th.

Okay, so apparently I’m the last person in the world to have heard about this craze.  Fifteen hundred rain poncho-wearing students in Belgium set a record for the largest simultaneous Mentos and Coke explosion - a chemical reaction caused by mixing the two.  (Yes, those are students, not Jedis in the above photo.)

I have never tried this, but I did witness the results of mixing sulphuric acid and sugar - with a teacher in a controlled environment - very impressive to a ten year-old.  Of course, I also had friends in Grade 9 who tried to make a bomb at home and were so successful one of them lost a few fingers.  Not so impressive.

Have you done this Mentos and cola experiment?  What other science experiments have you tried?  Share your results by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is COLAEXPLOSION.  It’s valid until April 26th.    

According to Men’s Health, women put men through a series of tests.  I guess the magazine is trying to warn men to be on their best behaviour.  Here are some of the tests that were highlighted:

The Humour Test - She wants to see how you handle teasing and if you share a similar sense of humour.

The Backbone Test - She’ll try to engage you in a healthy debate to see if you have a backbone and if you fight fair.

The Service Test - She is watching how you treat people in the service industry.  Be polite, just make sure you look the waitress in the eye, especially if she’s wearing a low-cut top!

I don’t consciously put potential mates through a series of tests, but I do notice if we don’t click on the aforementioned levels.  There’s nothing worse than having to explain a joke to someone… except maybe having to put up with a temper tantrum.  I can’t stand anger management issues, even if the person apologizes after the fact.  Same goes for the way he treats people in the service industry.  A sense of entitlement is a definite turn off.  

I was surprised The Parental Test wasn’t on the list.  Does what your parents think of your significant other influence how you feel?  What tests do men put women through?  What behaviours set off alarm bells for you?  Share your pet peeves by clicking on the No Comment/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is PASSTHETEST.  It’s good until April 25th.

A recent survey revealed the following about the preferences of air travellers:

• 41% said an individual screen is the in-flight entertainment feature at the top of their list
• 26% said a full meal is the comfort feature they value most
• 36% said the in-flight luxury they would most be willing to pay extra for is a bed

Last summer I took a British Airways flight from Toronto to Nairobi via Heathrow and strolled through first-class.  Each customer had his or her own “pod”, so you could stretch out as you slept or watched television.  My economy class seat was pretty comfy, but it was no pod.  By the way, British Airways placed in the Top 5 for both food and amenities.

Have you ever purchased anything from the in-flight shopping catalogue?  Thirty-three percent say they have.  I don’t think I ever have, but I’ve thought about it.  Not your basic last-minute, “I forgot to get so-and-so a gift, so I’ll pick up some alcohol or an airline souvenir” purchase, but the crazy stuff they sell in the Sky Mall magazine, like the satellite dish that allows you to eavesdrop on conversations or the fire escape ladder or the grassy indoor dog restroom for the dog that needs to pee, but can’t get outside.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you can check it out online at www.skymall.com.

Which airline amenities do you appreciate?  Which Sky Mall item would you most like to order?  Share your thoughts by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is AIRLINEAMENITIES.  It’s valid until April 24th.

Careerbuilder.com has revealed some traits associated with the birth order in your family.  The characteristics were given for first-born, middle, youngest and only children.  See if you can match them up (answers at the bottom - don’t cheat!):

a) creative, charming - even manipulative (Jim Carrey)

b) conscientious, ambitious, aggressive (Winston Churchill)

c) confident, articulate, inflexible (Tiger Woods)

d) easy-going, peer-oriented, peacemaker (Princess Diana)

I am the first-born in my family and the evaluation is probably accurate.  My brother, the youngest, is more likely a mix of a middle and an only child.  What do you think of the assessment?  Have these characteristics come into play in your family?  Was there any sibling rivalry in your home?  Share your thoughts via the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is BIRTHORDER.  It’s valid until April 23rd.

By the way, the study suggests that twins turn out similarly in most cases, at least in terms of career choice (Dear Abby and Ann Landers).  I only know a few sets of twins and in my limited experience, they appear to exhibit oldest and youngest characteristics.

(Answers: a - youngest, b - oldest, c - only, d - middle) 

In honour of the awesome weather that is finally upon us (woo hoo!) , I thought I would salute my 5 favourite things about the summer:

• Pedicured Feet
• Halter Tops
• Ice Cold Beer
• BBQ
• Beach

What’s on your list?  Feel free to post your 5 by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Whatever it is you enjoy when the sun is out, I hope you get to indulge this weekend.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is WICKEDWEATHER.  It’s valid until April 20th.

Unless an agreement is reached by 4 p.m. on Sunday between the union and TTC negotiators, TTC drivers and operators will not report for work starting at 4 a.m. on Monday.

Fortunately for me, I can walk to work, as well as the grocery store, but it will cramp my social life somewhat.  Either I won’t be able to attend certain events or I’ll have to pay for a cab - if I can get one to even stop for me!

The last time the TTC went on strike in May 2006, I was working in Ottawa, but still lived in Toronto.  I was home for the weekend and expected to take the first subway train to Union at 6 a.m. on Monday, so I could get the 6:55 a.m. VIA train to Ottawa and go straight to work.  Of course, the door to the subway station was locked, so there I was at the corner of Yonge and Bloor with my suitcase and a crowd of other hapless commuters trying to hail a cab.  Because I had luggage, I finally got one to stop for me, but when the driver realized I was going to the train station and not the airport, he said, “Sorry, I’m not going that way.”  I’m not going that way?  You’re a taxi driver, you’re going wherever I’m going!  But no, he didn’t deem the $10.00 fare worthy of his time and sped off.  I was in shock.  I finally managed to get a taxi to stop for me and I tipped the guy handsomely because if it hadn’t been for him, I would have missed my train and work that afternoon.

What are your thoughts on the strike?  What impact would it have on you?  Even if you drive to work, you’ll still be affected because there will be more cars on the road and fewer parking spots.  It’s going to be ugly.  For a list of the streets downtown that will not permit parking in order to accommodate the extra traffic, check out our sister station’s website at www.680news.com.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is TTC and it’s valid until April 19th.