Smells Like Yukon Flog

The image for Caption Contest #14 has now been posted to the Smells Like Yukon website. It kind of ties into the most recent segment, “The Smell of the Yukon.” Mostly, it was to indulge Mark’s twin fetishes: The Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise and Russian military culture.

The two characters in the image were actually photographed in a small Japanese car filled with school children. But in order to appease Whitehorse City Council, the Yukon chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, and Yukon NDP leader Todd Hardy, our Photoshop technician went to great efforts to remove them.

This is how CBC morning show host Sandi Coleman described Jesse and Mark in her intro to the latest segment of Smells Like Yukon, which aired on Wednesday, March 12–a week later than we originally told you. In case you missed it, the segment was all about things that smell like Yukon. We know, we know–it was long overdue!

At any rate, we’re not sure what Sandi meant by this comment: are they below average or above average Yukoners? We’ll leave you to formulate your own answer to that question.

Still on the subject of above average Yukoners, we once again tip our hats to Michael Pealow, who captured his third victory in the Smells Like Yukon Caption Contest. It was the only entry we received, but we dare say, if Mark was the final judge, we can’t imagine how it wouldn’t have prevailed against any slew of other fine entries. For all you keeners–namely you, Michael–we’ll be posting the image for the latest contest sometime over the weekend.

As usual, the broadcast of a new segment also means we’ve posted a new online poll. This one asks for your opinion about an official sound for the Yukon. We’ve also posted an audio outtake from the piece. This one might actually be worth listening too, assuming you’re easily offended and/or a member of the Francophone Association.

Smells Like Yukon has now exhausted its supply of canned segments for the season. Production of the final three monthly segments should commence sometime in early April, with a broadcast date to be determined. We’ll keep you posted.

Before reading this, we recommend that anyone taking heart medication have a few pills and a glass of water close at hand.

If you haven’t been paying attention–and we assume this is the case–you may not be aware that the next segment of Smells Like Yukon is the last one scheduled to air on CBC this season.

Now might be a good time to swallow those pills.

Need another moment to absorb the shock?

No problem.

Alright, dammit, that’s enough time. It’s only a stupid radio segment, you know.

If you still can’t get over it, we suggest you try one of those nifty portable defibrillators. Or maybe the following clarification will help put your heart and mind at ease….

Before Jesse bolted for warmer climes last October, he and Mark were only able to complete seven segments for the current season. However, Jesse’s days of freedom are rapidly drawing to a close; he’ll be returning to the Smells Like Yukon Correctional Facility in late March. At the time of Jesse’s departure, the plan was to produce at least three more segments to complete the season–one for each of April, May and June. Now, we know Jesse has visited a few monasteries in his travels, so we can’t say for sure that he hasn’t shaved his head and found a religion that precludes involvement in anything as spiritually bankrupt as Smells Like Yukon. But we’re operating on the assumption that the plan remains intact and a new segment will air at some point in April, though it’s highly unlikely that this will occur in the usual Smells Like Yukon timeslot on the first Wednesday of the month.

Bottom line: you’d better enjoy the next segment because you won’t hear a new one for a while. Fortunately, this one will pack enough dramatic content to carry you through well into spring. If you don’t believe it, just read the following synopsis:

In the novel Remembrance of Things Past, an excerpt of which Mark discovers on the Internet, French writer Marcel Proust offers a moving description of the evocative power of smell. Finding no need to ever mention this inspiration, Mark and Jesse embark on a quest to produce a radio documentary about the smell that really says “Yukon.” After a brief flirtation with a related get-rich-quick scheme, they enlist the help of a local aroma therapist to make the Yukon the first Canadian jurisdiction with an official odour. And, no, it isn’t dog doodle.

This segment is scheduled to air on CBC Yukon tomorrow–Wednesday, March 5–sometime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. PST. If necessary, you can use the link on the Smells Like Yukon homepage to hear the segment live on CBC’s internet radio.

As usual, the official Smells Like Yukon website will be updated with content related to the new segment. Online features include music details, audio outtakes, behind the sounds gossip, and a bunch of other stuff. As of today, the previous segment “Knock It Off” is now available for online listening to Members in good standing.

In the meantime, we highly recommend that you take this last opportunity to vote in our current online poll about the post-retirement plans of the malamute husky on the Yukon’s Coat of Arms. But if voting requires more work than you can handle, then whatever you do, don’t submit an entry for Caption Contest #13. Right now, we’ve only got one entry, uncontested; any additional entries will only trigger online voting in a democratic process that has the potential to leave Hillary Clinton crushed beyond her wildest fears.