Category Archives: Living
Superbowl Sunday Epic Giveaway
The Superbowl is this Sunday, which means men (and women) around North America will be tuning into the clash of two titans – the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. While they tune into the big game, they will likely be enjoying great food, beer and likely gambling… well I always gamble on the Superbowl anyway. Who doesn’t bet on how long the national anthem will be?! Pays 1.9 usually!
But, let’s pretend for a second you don’t have Superbowl plans… or let’s even pretend you have Superbowl plans but they are likely going to involve you, your couch and some beers cheering by yourself or with your neighbour… we can’t have that! That’s just not the way the game needs to be enjoyed!
Instead… how would you like to enjoy the game with NFL all-time sack leader Bruce Smith and Former Titan/Eagle Jevon Kearse, with a bunch of Buffalo Bills cheerleaders hanging out around, with beer, tailgating food and a crowd that is so into the game, you’ll feel like you’re there! How about if we add in a live performance by Big Wreck, who quite frankly will be a lot better than a horrible lip synced show by that old bag Madonna? Now let’s add in the fact that this is a NFL sponsored Superbowl party in Canada… and you get to watch it on a bunch of HD TVs at The Sound Academy. This all sounds incredible right? Right… and what will this all cost you? Well, if you want to buy tickets it will cost you $46…
But what if you could get in for free?! AND what if you could also bring a friend?!?! Interested? Obviously. Don’t deny the excitement you’re feeling right now. Just don’t. It’s not worth it. Get up and scream at the screen how excited you are. I’ll give you a minute.
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Okay… a little much. But I appreciate the enthusiasm.
So here’s what I’ve got… 2 pairs of tickets to giveaway to the event and winning is going to be quite simple. A simple tweet gets your name in the hat for a pair... “The 2012 Superbowl Champions will be ________! @zachbussey http://bit.ly/wGHifr #CanadasXLVI” adding in the missing information as to who you think will be the winner. (Your answer is important because I’m going to bet with the consensus, hehe.)
But don’t hesitate! This opportunity closes on Saturday evening and the winners will be able to pick up their tickets from the media pickup outside the event.
Oh and PS… there’s one other pair up for grabs via @TalkBackShow… check it out here.
My Exciting Announcement
This morning, I’m so excited to be able to announce something that’s been in the works for a couple months but had to be kept quiet. For me that was especially difficult, because I enjoy sharing my accomplishments or news with friends, family and collegues. But it was all worth the wait!
My big announcement is that I have partnered with Dentyne to bring my gift of gab to the media to talk all about chemistry, the elements of attracton and, of course, fresh breath!
What we’re going to be discussing is the results of a survey that Dentyne commissioned across Canada to determine what are Canadians looking for in a partner, how they describe themselves and what do they do when they feel chemistry. The cliff notes version:
- Humour is the most important trait in a partner according to 33% of Canadians.
- Low Maintenance is the most self described trait, with 1/4 Canadians say they are such.
- When we feel chemistry, according to the survey, acting on that chemistry is for the young and the French. (18-34 and people in Quebec act more than other groups.)
While the term ‘spokesperson’ may apply, the reality is they weren’t just looking for me. No, this agreement was made in large part due to @TalkBackShow, the weekly live radio/podcast show that @ValTorontoGal and I cohost. They listened to our banter, the way we interacted and our own chemistry and decided that we would be a great duo to take our style to the mainstream media to talk about chemistry and elements of attraction – a true honour and quite frankly, a major achievement for both of us. But that’s not all, to bring another expert into the mix, they brought in Chemistry Coach/Relationship Expert @Jen_Kirsch to be the third muskateer – all for one and one for all!
Needless to say, this is so exciting for me. What I really am especially thrilled about is that they don’t want Val and I to walk in and be an automaton, they want us to banter and have fun – basically do what we do on the radio show. So over the next couple weeks, you’ll be able to possibly listen to us ham it up on radio across Canada, in print, on TV and in other places. And make sure you join in with us and have the debate on Facebook.
I’m so thrilled to be part of this campaign with Dentyne and excited to bring what we do on the podcast to the mainstream! Not bad for a show going into a 6th episode! (Oh, and I’ll probably have some gum to hook you guys up with in a bit!)
2012 Love A Heart Auction: Bachelor Buying Guide
You’ve had time to digest the Bachelorette Buying Guide, so now it’s time for the men. Oh wait, you don’t know about the Love a Heart Auction? Fine, let me tell you about it…
The Love a Heart Auction is a bachelor/bachelorette date auction that raises funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The auction will again be held at The Hideout at 484 Queen St. West, from 8PM on till morning on Thursday, February 9th. The auction will be split in two, with 5 men and 5 women auctioned at 9:30, and the remaining 5 men and 5 women auctioned at 11:30. A total of twenty people will be up for grabs all for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Cash was the only accepted payment last year, so I imagine the same will occur this year. To find out more details, or to confirm your attendance, you’ll want to click here.
But if you want my insight into the men for sale, let’s have a look shall we?
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Wilder Weir @WilderWeir Wilder hosts a show on Cosmo TV called “Oh So Cosmo“. The guy has the white tshirt look down pat… something I’m working on but still a while away. Also can anyone confirm that his teeth are indeed that white?! Cosmo is no small feat so I assume there’s going to be a solid market for him. Wilder will sell for around $325. |
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Brock McLaughlin @BrockMcLaughlin Returning from last year is Brock – the only bachelor you’re sure to get sex from if that’s what you’re after. It’s kind of funny when you look at the lineup this year because Brock isn’t the pretty boy on the list. Expect a shirt with one or two buttons done up. If you’re younger, now is your chance to live out your Twilight fantasy. Brock picks up where he left off in 2011, sells for $425. |
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Sheldon Levine @40Deuce I think this shirt says it all. Show him the money ladies! (I don’t believe he’s still mustached, so you can spend a little more now, relax.) He works as a community manager at Sysomos which is probably a cool job. Rumour has it he’s pretty good in bed too. That’s good for a couple extra bucks ya? Sheldon is likely to be put up in the first round, and for $120. |
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Dan Levy (Not Eugene Levy’s Son) @TheDanLevy Dan is a returning auctionee from 2011. Friendly, and very talkative, Dan is a ball of energy. Dan has balls in that he’s in a group of auctionees that many look straight out of a magazine. Which may give him an edge overall. Familiarity will also play to his advantage as he’s a recognizable character. Dan tops what he did last year and secures $120. |
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Scott Cavalheiro @ScottCavalheiro When I Googled Scott, this image came up and it only seemed fair to post it. (Bigger image here, no pun intended). He’s an incredibly charismatic guy, so expect to be entertained… but that being said, unless the evening is equal opportunity, I hope all the guys leave their shirts on. Charisma goes a long way, so he sells for $400. |
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Jeff Cole @iamjeffcole Jeff Cole is the community manager at Lou Dawgs, a late night food spot routinely frequented by social media folks. I don’t know much about him, other than that and he clearly plays guitar. So in terms of bidding, he’s going to have to be a wild card here. As the wild card, I’ll predict he sells for $100. |
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Mike Bradwell Wide Receiver for the Toronto Argonauts As one of two sports figures in the auction, he will clearly come with fans. Granted the two sports are Canadian Football and Lacrosse… so to me, almost not sports… but even pseudo prosports players become drool worthy when you’re female at a bachelor auction. That, and he’s not terrible looking. CFL Fanettes will buy him, so he’ll sell for $1550. |
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Kerry Morrison @kmore Kerry is the CEO of EndloopMobile, which makes mobile apps. He was supposed to come on @TalkBackShow, where I would have found out how often app developers get laid… but alas, I have no answers. CEO is always a nice title though, so that’s worth some bucks folks! CEO Life Whattttup? No $.99 app here, he’s selling for $180. |
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Matt Roik Toronto Rock Starting Goaltender As mentioned above, he plays lacrosse professionally… and as mentioned further above, that’s kinda a sport. I’m pretty sure @shankell is responsible for this one, so lacrosse fans make sure to thank her. Oh, and by the way he’s the one on the right, not the tool on the left. You’re welcome for clearing that up. Girls here’s your best bet to date a proish athlete, sells for $850. |
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Bachelor 10 Is Currently a Nobody Well, there’s supposed to be 10 bachelors, and only 9 have been posted… which means we don’t know anything about him yet. But needless to say, he’s probably going to be a stud… I mean, look at that hairline… Mmm mmm. Bid high folks! Sells for nothing. |
2012 Love A Heart Auction: Bachelorette Buying Guide
Many things change over the course of a year, but one thing that will always remain consistent is my support for charitable events. I’m always willing to get behind something for good, even if the organizer thinks I’m the worst person she’s ever met… crazy right?! Regardless, the Love A Heart Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction is back and ready to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation!
The auction will again be held at The Hideout at 484 Queen St. West, from 8PM on till morning. The auction will again be split in two, with 5 men and 5 women auctioned at 9:30, and the remaining 5 men and 5 women auctioned at 11:30. A total of twenty people will be up for grabs all for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Cash was the only accepted payment last year, so I imagine the same will occur this year.
Now, last year I posted the Buyers Guide for the Bachelorettes and Bachelors that people seemed to really enjoy. So it only makes sense to do it again! So without further ado, let me give you an introduction and my personal opinion on the characters up for grabs in 2012!
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Kat Stefankiewicz @MatterofKat If last year’s female Auction Coup was @GailGabrielle, than this years top doll is Kat. Former Raptors Dance Pak member, and now highly involved in all things sports in Toronto (Raptors, Leafs), Kat is definitely the lady you’ll want to save your shillings for. (Are shillings still a thing?) Very sexy but without the ‘very sexy’ attitude according to my sources. Based on Gail selling for $2002 last year, I expect Kat to sell for $2250. |
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Sofi Pa @sexytypewriter Sofi is a dating writer, which means she knows what’s going on. Well most of the time, unless she’s writing this kind of trash. But I don’t think she is. That being said, she’s probably a good buy just so you can pick her brain and figure out what the hell is wrong with you that you need to buy dates. That, and maybe she cooks? Who knows. If she’s in the 9:30 group, I expect her to sell for $125. |
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Meg Button @megbutton Oh the stories I could tell about Meg Button… I won’t because I value our friendship, but they are good! She’s not really the standard hot chick either. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her with a purse… Also, while I suspect she has a great rack, she always seems to use her hair to cover herself. It’s a pretty good tease. She’s another star candidate in this auction! Skip your rent this month to buy her. Meg Button will sell for quite a bit. At the very least she’s worth $800. |
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Michelle Beilhartz @MichelleHartz TV Host, Dancer, Actor… and my personal favourite, Yoga Instructor. I’d actually seen her a few times in a few things but never knew who she was. So that counts for something right? I personally think she looks better with straightened hair, so hopefully that’s the look she opts for. But, seems to be another great option in this auction, and well worth serious consideration. I’m expecting Michelle to garner some attention, enough to get her $450. |
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Lisa Marie Chen @SciontistLC She’s the editor for Scion Magazine… Scion makes those awful box vansdon’t they? That’s sadly a demerit against Lisa. Fellow Sciontists may get a thrill out of her though and being able to talk about your mutual Scion love. I think she’s got a niche following that may be in the crowd that night, or maybe she ends up being my Charise Garcia pick. Niche buyers on this one, so she fetches a tidy $125. |
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Christine Estima @ChristineEstima Everybody knows Christine. Show us your tweets Christine! (If you follow her, you’ll get that.) Christine is great company who always makes me laugh, and I’m like Stalin (or maybe Teller.. whichever one laughs less?) She also can spot graffiti from a mile away and keeps getting recognition for it *cough Toronto Star*. I expect a conglomerate of buyers to pitch in and grab Christine for no less than $170. |
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Regina Sy @FragileHeart Total sweetheart and one of the kinder people I’ve met, Regina is a great buy if you’re actually looking to meet someone. Of all the women for auction, I’d say she’s most ideal for a relationship. So maybe you can make that connection with her? At the very least she’ll make a great friend… we still need to have that catch up coffee Regina! Serious bidders only on this one! $160 is what she goes for. |
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Danielle Baker @Danny_MB I don’t know anything about Danielle other than she sucks at Twitter, and probably doesn’t like me – just based on what people tell her heh. Googling her doesn’t provide much either… so she’s sadly going to have to be this years Connor Mullane. But, she’s female and blonde so those will work in her favour and the bids will be better. I’m anticipating a sale price of $125. |
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Lauren White @RaymiTheMinx Back again from last year is Lauren. She sold for $200 last year.. but I think she was also a couple pounds heavier and not doing Burlesque at that time, which means her stock value has certainly gone up. She’s eccentric and definitely not afraid to be herself, so guys, you better be confident in who you are if you’re going to bid! Maybe we get a little live Burlesque? If so, she’s going to sell for $350. |
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Casie Stewart @CasieStewart Back also is Casie. While not entirely sure what she does for a living, it’s apparently some sort of blog entrepreneur thing. I’m actually curious to know how much she makes. Casie is not for everyone, so I expect the buyer to be someone who knows Casie well. Maybe she’ll mention you in a blog though – you too can be a super star. Side: Shout out to her sister. Familiar buyer means that she will sell for $500. |
Recapping the #FordNAIAS
I made it safely home! No bullet wounds, no shark bites, no bullets fired by sharks! I went to Detroit and had an experience of a lifetime. Compliments of the great folks at @FordCanada, I had the opportunity to spend 52 Ford filled hours at the media preview of the North American International Auto Show. But not just me, 150 bloggers from around the world were flown in to the Motor City to partake.
The interesting thing about this is that Ford intentionally did not invite any auto bloggers. Instead, the room was filled with design, art, fashion, personal, mom, dad, technology and other non-auto bloggers all coming from places around the world including Australia, USA, Thailand, France, England and a dozen other countries. And damn were we treated well! From getting advanced access to an unopened museum, behind the scenes look into Ford’s innovation and research centre, a special sectioned off area at the Auto Show where we had the opportunity to sit and talk with the VP and CEO of Ford, and fed delicious food at every meal. They spared no expense to make us all comfortable and the experience is something that I will remember for the rest of my life. (Oh, and that’s the extent of it haha. We didn’t get cash or anything… though I did order room service one hehe.)
Ford HQ as seen from my Room at The Henry Hotel
The day we arrived, we were given advanced access to The Henry Ford, a currently unopened 80,000 square foot museum home to some incredible pieces of history including Rosa Parks’ Bus, the limo Kennedy was assassinated in, and thousands of other really cool pieces of history!
Kennedy Assassination Limo
Reagan Car
Rosa Parks' Seat
Did you know Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were friends?
The next day was an early one… 6:30AM we had to be downstairs to get to the Detroit Auto Show for the Ford press conference where they were officially revealing the new Ford Fusion for the first time!
The media swarmed to get interviews and good pictures.
Let me just say… the Ford Fusion is an incredibly sexy looking car. Below is an image of the 2013 Ford Fusion, and below that is an Aston Martin… remove the branding, and it would be a difficult time trying to figure out which is which! While they didn’t give us an actual price point, they did say this car would be competitive with cars like the Cobalt, Golf, Matrix etc… it easily looks significantly more expensive than those cars. Additionally, I was pretty impressed with Ford’s new Plug-In Hybrid engine which gets 100mpge! That was 13mpg better than the nearest competitor, Toyota, who’s engine had 87mpge.
I also was asked to appear on the Jim Richards show on NewsTalk 1010 here in Toronto to talk about the Auto Show, which was a lot of fun. We talked about the new Ford Fusion, the show in general, how electric and mpg was a main priority, and somehow managed to talk about hookers in hotel rooms. Thanks Jim for having me on.
But, this was the International Auto Show… so here’s some of the stunning vehicles that were on display!
Every image was taken with my new Motorola RAZR! So happy with this phone.
