Indie Bands in Commercials for $300 Alex

Annie is dominating.

I Think He Had the Flu

Trevor, Ryan Adams, and Carlita

Unitended Consequences

I pulled this off Kevin Drum's Blog.

Mike Males has studied the effect of the California law that significantly changed the requirements for 16 year olds to get drvers licenses.

A study I conducted...found, as did previous researchers, that California's graduated licensing law was associated with fewer fatalities among 16-year-old drivers (down 20% through 2005). But that reduction was more than offset by the increased death rate — up 24% — of 18-year-olds, whose driving records researchers have neglected to study. The latest figures also indicate higher-than-expected fatalities among drivers aged 19, 20 and 21 who were licensed under the new law. The death rates of 17-year-olds changed little.

The stricter law appears to have split teens into three categories, none faring well. A few ignored the delays and supervision requirements specified in the new law and drove illegally, resulting in an 11% increase in deaths involving unlicensed teen drivers after the law took effect.

A second group, perhaps unable or unwilling to go through the months of supervision from parents or over-25 adults, waited until age 18 to learn to drive....Fewer 16-year-olds driving may be the biggest reason fatalities declined for that age.

Then there were teens who dutifully complied with the law's licensing requirements. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds driving legally under the new law experienced a 9% decline in fatalities compared with their pre-law counterparts — but when they turned 18, their death rate jumped to 25% higher than that of 18-year-olds licensed before the law.

Drum adds:

Males suggests that driving experience is more important than licensing requirements. 16-year-olds are temporarily safer under the new law, mainly because fewer of them are on the road, but by the time they turn 18 they're more dangerous than they were under the old law because they have less driving experience than 18-year-olds in the past. (This lack of driving experience — and more oddly, a growing lack of interest in getting experience — is something I've noted before.) Perhaps on its ten-year anniversary, it's time California to rethink its shiny new teen driving law?

I agree.

The Man Can Give a Speech

Rule 1: Don't Open Your Mouth

Now this is funny.

On Radar: She and Him

So, it seems that Zooey Deschanel (Elf) is a talented singer and has really good taste in collaborators. She and M Ward are releasing an album, She and Him, on March 18. I'm pretty impressed with the tracks that are floating around the intertubes.

For your listening pleasure: Sentimental Heart

Indie Music and Commercials for 300, Alex

Annie takes the lead with 200 points.

Field Trip: Jason Isbell & Will Hoge

I had been looking forward to a raucous evening of southern fried rock, but the rain apparently interferred. I too almost bailed on Wednesday night's Casbah show co-headlined by Jason Isbell (formerly a Drive By Trucker) and Will Hoge. But, I fought through it and made way through a downpour to the venue. I arrived near the end of Isbell's set, and found the place depressingly empty. And, without the energy of a crowd, the scene was just sad. I made it through a couple Hoge songs, finshed my beer, and got out of there.

Indie Music for $200 Alex.

Song and artist.

WTF

So, I need your help. I was driving home today with the iPod on shuffle, and three straight songs were played that dropped the F bomb. And, the thing is they were all great songs. So, I started mentally compiling a playlist of songs that features the king of profanity.

Here's what I have so far:

Come Pick Me Up ******* Ryan Adams
Creep ****** Radiohead
Oxford Comma ****** Vampire Weekend
F*ck Was I ****** Jenny Owen Youngs

Any additions to the list?

Field Trip: Todd Snider

Headed to the BellyUp on Tuesday to see Todd Snider. Updates to follow.

Update 1: What a terrific show. Snider was as advertised. He sings clever John Prinesque songs and tells funny Mitch Hedbergesque stories. Thoroughly entertaining.


Listen to Vinyl Records

Indie Commercials for a $100 Alex

Madison Avenue has used popular music in their advertising since the birth of commercials. But, it now appears that companies are falling all over themselves trying to establish some street cred hipness by using the music of little known indie bands.

So, for a 100 points and the early lead, name the band and song.

Some Vampire Weekend Vids

Oxford Comma



Cape Cod Kwasa Kwasa

Powerthirst

This is pretty funny.

Concert PIx

Field Trip: Ryan Adams

So, tonight we're picking up some Phil's barbecue and heading over to Spreckels for a Ryan Adams show. Should be a decent (epic) night.

Update 1:

We're back. Excellent show. RA was on point and the Cardinals are a well oiled machine.

We were thrown a curve ball early when we found out that Phil's Barbecue was closed. (Gone Fishin') But we quickly moved to plan B - The Barbecue Pit. No one complained.

After we stuffed ourselves Eth, Carly, John, Michael, Trevor, Liz, and I headed to Spreckles Theater. As reported about earlier shows Adams appeared on stage a few minutes after the doors opened and did a couple songs solo on the piano and goofed around with a song about San Diego on the organ he bought in Tucson yesterday.

The Cardinals made their way on stage at 8:30 and played for a couple hours

This Is Cool

The Library of Congress has a Flickr Account

Big Breaks

Getting picked to be on American Idol is one way to launch a musical career, but getting your song on an Apple commercial works as well. (see Feist)

Your next Apple Idol: Yael Naim (Apple Air commercial)



New Soul

On Radar: Missy Higgins

To continue the female singer songwriter theme, here's a video of Missy Higgins.



Sort of an Australian version of Brandi Carlie.

Big Wednesday

Earlier this month the surf break at Cortes Banks (about a 100 miles off the coast) was off the charts big, and yes there were surfers taking up the challenge. The New York Times has the story.

It looks like Mike Parsons is the favorite to win this year's Billabong's XXL Global Big Wave Contest

Can't wait to see the videos!

I've Got Perfect Timing

So, on the day I add Scrabulous to my Facebook profile add send out a challenge to all of my (3) friends I see this:

Josh Quittner at Fortune reports that Hasbro, manufacturer of the timeless board game Scrabble, is trying to shut down Scrabulous, an unauthorized electronic version of Scrabble that has gained a rabid following on Facebook. The reasons are obvious: licensing. Scrabulous profits from advertising revenue. Hasbro, citing infringement, wants to see it scrapped.

There's no online version of Scrabble, but as Quittner notes, electronic rights to the game belong to video game manufacturer Electronic Arts. One of Scrabulous' creators confirmed to Quittner that Hasbro has contacted Facebook about removing the application.

Scrabble Trying to Bingo Scrabulous

So, before Scabulous gets Napstered anybody want a game?

Holy Cow!

The Chargers beat the Colts!

Flock Revisited

I've been using Flock, a browser built on top of Firefox with social networking integration, for over a year now. Despite the fact that it's still a little buggy and not the most stable program on the planet it has become my browser of choice. While I like the built in RSS news reader, I love the social networking aspects of the Media Center which does things like notify me when friends and family (Carly, Dave, Jeff, Annie and Ethel) do things like post pictures on Flickr.

There's been a lot of buzz that Facebook was going to be the nexus of social networking. I have my doubts. I still think a browser is better situated to integrate the myriad of social web sites that pop up everyday. I'm pretty sure Microsoft won't pull it off, and I have my doubts it will be Flock. My best guess is the dominant social networking browser will come from the open source community, probably Firefox

You can download it here: Flock

Investments: Ryan Adams Tickets

When I heard that Ryan Adams was swinging through town we got a bit aggressive and ended up with some extra tickets. So, last night I put the extras up on Craig's List for $75 a piece (originally $30 + $10 Ticketbastard fees). They were sold 30 minutes later.

I guess David Letterman and I are not the only RA fans out there.

Vampire Weekend: California Swing

Family favorite Vampire Weekend has announced a U.S. tour. The California dates:

Mar 19 The Casbah San Diego, California
Mar 20 El Rey Los Angeles, California
Mar 22 The Independent [21+] San Francisco, California
Mar 23 Rickshaw Stop [ALL AGES] San Francisco, California

A Punk

On Radar: Jenny Owens Youngs

Two days two female performers. Her version of Nelly's It's Hot In Herre almost works.

Fuck Was I

It's Hot In Herre

On Radar: Hem

As my On Radar music picks tend to skew male, here's something female.

Not California

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Based upon my kids' choices for getting news, Nelson is probably right.

On Radar: the everybodyfields

the everybodyfields are definitely on the bluegrass/country end of the spectrum, but even if you're not a fan of that genre they're worth a listen.

Aeroplane

Ouch!!

While playing tennis last night I managed to trip over my own feet, land hard on my side, and bruise my ribs. So, how in the world do football players play with bruised ribs? It hurts to breathe.

Field Trip: Juno

Well constructed, well acted and very entertaining. My one quibble is that a lot of the dialog sounds like it was written by a talented comedy writer rather than what would come out of a real person's mouth.

Fad Alert: Dolphin Cup

I have confirmed reports that the kids at Berkeley procrastinated studying for finals by playing Dolphin Cup