Afternoon Drive with Jeff & Carly

You probably take them back to the Beer Store for a refund - good for the environment and even better for you because it’s money back in your pocket.  This guy in China took it to another level - he made a solar water heater using only beer bottles and hoses!

I guess cold water flows through the bottles and is heated by the sun.  It seems simple enough.  He wants to build a public washroom for the people in his village, but he has to wait until he has enough beer empties.  I’m sure Jeff Brown could help him out, especially after the long weekend.

Do you have any creative uses for your empty bottles?  You know, a device that fulfills a legitimate need, not necessarily a hillbilly invention (although those are worth checking out for inspiration - click HERE).  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is EMPTIES.  It’s valid until May 14th.

If your mom is a fan of Whoopi Goldberg or Lily Tomlin, you might want to send her a  free Mother’s Day message from the comediennes via The Women on the Web.  Lily’s greeting is in character as “Ernestine” and Whoopi has some advice about where to spend Mother’s Day.  Click HERE to see for yourself. 

Gordon Lightfoot is performing at Massey Hall tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday).  At last check, there were still some tickets left.  They range from $45-$75.  I’ve seen him twice and both times his performance brought a tear to my eye.  Click HERE to take the mother in your life… even if that mother’s name is Steve.

Still stumped as to what to get your wife for Mother’s Day?  Jack FM listener Janet says a vasectomy.

Happy Mother’s Day!  Today’s  Jack Nation bonus code is WHOOPI.  It’s valid until May 12th.

Askmen.com has compiled a list of ways to tell if a guy is whipped.  Here are just a few examples:

• going for a beer requires permission
• she makes decisions for you
• you go home when she’s ready
• your friends don’t even bother trying to make weekend plans with you

One I was surprised to see wasn’t on the list is “you now pee sitting down”.  Don’t laugh - it happens!  Why would you put up with that?  I guess it’s a self-esteem issue, just like it is for women with controlling boyfriends.

What would you add to the list?  Do you have any anecdotes about buddies who are whipped?  Maybe you were once whipped, but you snapped out of it.  Have your say by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is WHIPPED.  It’s valid until May 10th.

Everyone has a story about chewing gum.  I stuck some on my headboard when I was about six and after a night of tossing and turning, it wound up in my hair - right in the front, around my face.  My mother tried to “ice it”, but it had to be cut out and it wasn’t pretty.  There’s a trailer running for the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler movie “Baby Mama” where the former discovers the latter’s chewing gum under her coffee table.  Funny - when it’s not happening to you.

The issue with chewing gum is its sticky property.  Singapore has even banned the substance because it “pollutes” public places.  But there’s a company in Britain that hopes to change all that.  Revolmyer that has raised $20 million CDN in order to study the addition of a special polymer that modifies the properties of gum so it’s less adhesive.

Do you chew gum?  Did you blow bubbles while you had braces?  What other chewing gum mishaps have you experienced?  Post your anecdotes via the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is CHEWINGGUM.  It’s good until May 9th.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, for women anyway.  For guys, it still seems like a year away, but it’s not - it’s this Sunday!  If you don’t want to get stuck buying Mom a sympathy card and motor oil at the last minute, you might want to pencil a shopping trip into your schedule before the weekend.

Christian Children’s Fund of Canada conducted a survey of The Worst Mother’s Day Gifts of All Time.  Here’s the Top 5 list:

1. kitchen utensil or appliance

2. cleaning products

3. an artcile of clothing

4. a vacuum

5. an iron

If a kitchen appliance means a dishwasher and an article of clothing means a cashmere sweater, I’m in!  I’m not a mother, though, so I don’t like my chances. :)  Some of the items that made the “worst of all” list include a cactus in a donkey-shaped planter, a gong, a ceramic poodle with a feather duster inserted into the head, a 20 lb. bag of onions and a bottle of whiskey.

What are some memorable gifts you have bought or made for Mom?  What are some of the craziest gifts you have received?  Share your stories by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is MOM.  It’s valid until Sunday, May 11th.

The main distribution centre of the Toronto Salvation Army experienced a devastating fire on Sunday.  Luckily, no one was injured, but food, clothing and toy donations were ruined.  The damage is expected to total somewhere in the millions of dollars.  The location was insured, of course, but officials are most concerned about not being able to meet food demands in the short term.

Since they haven’t yet fully assessed what can and can’t be salvaged - e.g. cereal boxes were damaged, but some canned goods might still be okay - the Salvation Army is asking for monetary donations.  Contributions can be made online or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.  Please specify that your donation is for the Salvation Army Warehouse Fire.  For more info about the story, click HERE.

My blog has been pretty sports-intensive this week (not that that’s a bad thing, not that it’s a good thing), but I did want to cap off the week with this little nugget.

It happened the other day at a university women’s softball game in Oregon.  With two runners on base and a strike against her, a player named Sara Tucholsky hit her very first home run, but as she was rounding the bases, she blew out her knee.  In order for it to count, she had to touch all the bases.  She would be called out if her teammates tried to assist her and if a pinch runner was called in, the homer would count as a single.  Her opponents came to her rescue, asking the umpire if they could carry her around the bases.  There was no rule against it, so that’s what they did.  Their display of sportsmanship cost them the game and led to their elimination from the playoffs. (Click HERE to read the whole story.)

Have you ever experienced or witnessed anything like this?  What “feel good” sports stories have touched you?  Share your thoughts by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is SPORTSMANSHIP.  It’s valid until May 4th.

(Photo: J.P. Moczulski/Canadian Press)

The Canadian 2008 Olympic uniforms have been unveiled.  They were designed by HBC (which is also where replicas can be purchased should you so desire) and are made from eco-friendly fabrics, including bamboo, organic cotton and coconut.  (Click HERE to see more pieces.)

(Photo: J.P. Moczulski/Canadian Press)

The clothing seems a bit “busy” to me and no wonder - in addition to Canadian colours and symbols, the uniforms incorporate the 5 aspects of Chinese astrology (earth, wood, fire, water, metal) and the lucky number 8.  They also feature UV protection, four-way stretch and odour resistant and cooling properties.  That’s a tall order for one outfit!

I hope the athletes are happy to wear them because what you’re wearing can affect how you feel.  I cringe when I think back to Grade 8 basketball and the terrible polyester uniforms we were assigned or our poor Canadian military showing up in the desert wearing forest camouflage.

What do you think of the gear?  What’s the worst uniform that you ever had to wear?  Let us know what you think by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is BADUNIFORM.  It’s valid until May 3rd.