Afternoon Drive with Jeff & Carly

Road signs featuring “666″ have been disappearing from American highways, for example mile marker 66.6 along the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 666 in Pennsylvania.  Sign theft was so frequent along Route 666 in Utah, New Mexico and Colorado that the highway was renamed Route 491.  Did you have a “friend” who used to steal street signs for his/her dorm room?  What funny signs have you seen?  Have you ever stopped to take your picture with a sign (funny or not)?  Click on the No Comments/Comments link to share.  Today’s Jack nation bonus code is FUNNYROADSIGN.  You’ll be laughing until October 2nd.

The CRTC’s national do not call list goes into effect tomorrow (Tuesday, September 30).  You might be surprised to learn, though, that there are organizations that are exempt from the registry:

• registered charities seeking donations
• newspapers looking for subscriptions
• political parties and their candidates
• organizations conducting market research (not considered “telemarketing” because no sales involved)
• companies with whom you’ve done business in the past 18 months

The groups on the above list are expected to maintain their own lists.  To find out more about the CRTC Do Not Call Registry, go to www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca.  Organizations must stop calling you within 31 days of your registration.  The exemption is good for three years, when you’ll have to re-register if you wish to continue to be left alone.

Do you have Call Display?  Do you answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number?  Have you had an incident with a telemarketer?  Will you be signing up to the Do Not Call Registry?  What other kinds of Do Not Contact lists would you like to see?  State your case by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is DONOTCALL.  It’s valid until October 1st. 

I recently had a listen to Motley Crue’s latest album “Saints of Los Angeles” and found that although it rocks, I was turned off by all the gratuitous swearing.  They’re bad boys, I get it, and a strategically placed f bomb can add emphasis or humour when making a point, but in the same way The Osbournes were funnier when the show was censored, I find that less is more.  A verbal flipping of the bird every second word is monotonous at best and a cheap, attention-grabbing tactic.  

Do you know anyone who swears like a sailor?  Is it endearing or embarrassing?  Has it ever had any adverse effects?  Do you monitor what your kids watch or listen to for foul language?  I remember when bands like 2 Live Crew raised all kinds of censorship issues back in the day, but that kind of material is almost tame by today’s standards!  Have your say - keeping it clean, please :) - by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s bonus code is CURSEWORD.  It’s music to your ears - or to your Jack Nation account, anyway - until September 28th.

Here’s the latest on the York Region Transit Strike, as per Charlene Close at 680 News:

Thousands of York Region commuters left scrambling

Thousands of York Region commuters have been blindsided after being lulled into a false sense of security on the weekend when marathon bargaining produced a tentative agreement between the Amalgamated Transit Union and Veolia Transport.

The drivers voted 61 per cent against the tentative agreement on Wednesday. Through a media release, union officials said the drivers would strike at 4 a.m. Thursday.

Five rapid transit routes are affected including the busy Yonge Street and Highway 7 services. The Viva buses also link to TTC subway stations at Downsview, Finch and Don Mills. Regular York Region Transit buses will continue to operate but YRT general manager Don Gordon told 680News the transit service will not add extra buses because it doesn’t have any extra buses. He said commuters should expect the buses to be full.

The 160 Viva drivers are contracted out to YRT by Veolia Transport and York Region is not involved in the negotiations. Transit inspectors will be on hand Thursday morning to help confused commuters. Thirty-five thousand people use Viva transit daily.

The major issues in the dispute surround shift assignments and sick day policies. York Region officials urged commuters to carpool and suggested using Carpool Zone (www.carpoolzone.smartcommute.ca) or call the YRT/Viva Customer service centre at 1-866-668-3978 or go to YRT’s website by clicking HERE.

I’ll continue to update my blog as information becomes available.

The poor, the elderly and students are the most affected because they’re the least likely to have access to a car.  Plus, this does little to encourage people to give up their vehicles or downsize from two to one per household for the sake of the environment.  Have you ever been inconvenienced by a strike?  Have you ever been on the picket line or crossed one?  Was it worth it?  Do you think transit should be declared an essential service?  Have your say by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is YRTSTRIKE.  It’s valid until September 27, hopefully outlasting the actual thing.

Lincoln, Nebraska has banned “porch couches” and other indoor furniture used outside.  I guess tattered old furniture is considered an eyesore and city council doesn’t want the neighbourhood to look like an episode of Sanford and Son.

What have you seen that should be outlawed?  For years, I have felt that extra low rise jeans on females older than 14 should be banned - “muffin top” is not a good look.  Rusty old implements on your neighbour’s yard - washing machines, wheelbarrows, vehicles - not very appealing, either.  Post your list by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is PORCHCOUCH.  It’s valid until September 26th.

Research out of Britain and Canada indicates that reaction times of drivers who text are worse than those of motorists who drive drunk.  Texting distractions in the car involve taking your hand off the wheel, dealing with a small font and small display screen, and thinking about how to get your message across succinctly instead of concentrating on the road.  But the main issue is how we perceive text messaging - 19% of us admit to doing it while driving.  I doubt that many of us are driving drunk - I seriously hope not, anyway.

This got me thinking about bad drivers.  Are you a bad driver?  Have you had a ride with someone who was?  What kind of distractions have you seen on the road?  Women doing their make up?  Guys grooming with an electric shaver?  Do you text while driving?  Confess your sins or state what you’ve witnessed by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is BADDRIVERS.  It will clock you points until September 25th.

Monday is the first day of fall - hard to believe, I know - and as much as I love the summer, there have to be some beneficial aspects to autumn, right?  (Come on, please humour me.)  So I have decided to compile a list of reasons to look forward to the equinox.  Here’s my Top 3 List:

1. Suede Boots
2. Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner
3. Can you say Grey Cup Party? Woo hoo! 

What would you add to the list?  Help me usher in the new season with a rousing welcome by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is ILOVEFALL.  It’s valid until September 22nd.   

I was surprised to learn that a recent survey by ShopSmart determined 49% of women wouldn’t be willing to change their brand of toilet paper to save money, but 68% would be willing to try a different over-the-counter medication.  I don’t know about you, but I’m not loyal to a particular brand of toilet paper.  I won’t buy 1 ply, but I will buy whatever 2 or 3 ply is on sale.  I don’t buy many over-the-counter meds, but I won’t compromise on ketchup, not again.  It has to be Heinz.  I’m sure there are some perfectly acceptable generic brands, but I’ve had a few bad experiences, so I’m sticking with what I know and love, even if it’s a dollar more. 

Are you loyal to any brand names?  Have you had bad experiences with generic brands or surprisingly good ones?  Give us the scoop by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link below.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is BRANDLOYALTY.  It’s valid until September 20th.

Christmas Card featuring Mary G. Smith’s “The Game”

It may seem a little early to be talking about Christmas, even if the decorations are already out at Costco, but something came across my desk that I wanted to share.  Game On Marketing is offering pond hockey Christmas and greeting cards for team or school fundraisers.  So let’s see - original Christmas cards that raise money for your organization with a portion of the proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network - sounds like a hat trick to me!  To see the rest of the cards and find out more, click HERE.

Christmas is only three months away.  Have you seen any displays yet?  Have you started your Christmas shopping?  I must admit, I buy stocking stuffers throughout the year to keep holiday costs down.  Do you send Christmas cards?  Have you ever received any original ones?  I don’t send as many as I used to - not sure if the Internet has something to do with that or if I just have fewer friends these days - but I do send some because if you don’t give, you don’t get, right?  I like to decorate my apartment with the cards I receive.  It looks festive and better still, is easy to dismantle in the New Year.  Let me know your thoughts on Christmas displays and cards by clicking on the No Comments/Comments link at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is CHRISTMASCARDS.  It’s valid until September 19th. 

Ipsos Reid recently conducted an online poll about one of the favourite chores of Canadians - laundry!  Here are some of the findings:

• 30% only do laundry when they run out of underwear
• 25% have left their clothes in the washer or dryer for a day or more
• parents do an average of six loads of laundry a week
• 27% put everything in the dryer, even if the label advises against it
• 4% of adult Canadian homeowners confessed their mothers still clean their clothes!

I guess I’m not all that surprised by the stats.  I do believe having lots of underwear is key because most clothing can be worn more than once - except underwear.  I live in an apartment building, so leaving my clothes in one of the communal machines is not an option, unless I never want to see them again.  I also have the added aggravation of competing for a machine on weekends, so yes, I hate doing laundry.  If it were conveniently located in my unit, though, I might feel differently about it.  I certainly prefer cleaning clothes to washing dishes by hand or scrubbing the tub.

How do you feel about laundry in relation to other household chores?  Have you ever had any laundry mishaps?  Do you have any stain removal tips to share?  Does your mother still wash your clothes?  Would you admit it if she did?  Support or challenge the Ipsos Reid results by clicking on No Comments/Comments at the bottom.  Today’s Jack Nation bonus code is DIRTYLAUNDRY.  You can take that to the cleaners until September 18th.