Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Because he loves you

This is a great video promoting bike helmets.



via Reddit

Monday, May 30, 2011

Dead Air Nightmares

I recently joined a Facebook group for KCPR, the radio station I was involved with for three years at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.  It has only been a few months since I stopped DJing at KCSB, but it's been fun to scroll through old pictures of my former station and read the comments when someone starts reminiscing, like "What song would you play to give yourself enough time to run to the bathroom?"

Someone recently asked:

Turns out a LOT of former KCPR DJs have the same anxiety dream, either screwing up the sound board, flubbing the station ID, not finding music to play, or otherwise broadcasting dead air.  It must be one of those "you know you're a real DJ if..." situations.  They're rare, but I definitely have them!

from Len F. posted to KCPR - Cal Poly Radio on Facebook

Friday, May 27, 2011

UUVVWWZ

I'm digging this song today, "Jap Dad" from the band UUVVWWZ (pronounced "double-you-double-vee-double-double-you-zee").



It's mathy and quirky and kinda reminds me of Deerhoof, who I adore.  I think the singer is spelling "make me love you."

UUVVWWZ is a four-member band from Lincoln, Nebraska.  They have one album out on Saddle Creek records.  You can get this song, as well as some tracks from some other lablemates for FREE on Amazon, part of the Saddle Creek records 2010 sampler compilation.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

This is great!

Walking up to random people in NYC asking a simple question:
What song are you listening to?

Monday, May 23, 2011

Bands you break up with

OK, have I mentioned that I love NPR's All Songs Considered and I think my dream job is be a host on their show?  Anyway, I'm listening to their May 3rd show: Splitsville: Breaking Up With Your Favorite Bands, which is all about bands they USED to love.  I got my headphones on at work and I'm cracking up at my desk because they're mentioning several bands I used to like too, like Weezer, and even really embarrassing ones like Sting (sans The Police, if you can believe it).

I'll also admit to liking these a lot at one point in my life...  Ah, high school.

R.E.M.  (still love their old stuff)


Tori Amos (can barely listen to her anymore)


Then there was my regrettable industrial phase, circa 2002...

Skinny Puppy (oh boy..)


More fun discussion at All Songs blog too.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Parks and Rec

Took me a while to warm up to the show, but lately I'm enjoying 'Parks and Recreation.'  It's pretty amusing to watch the main character's attempt at having a romantic life, including joining an online dating site and having a crush on one of her co-workers.

Here's a clip where Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ann (Rashida Jones) try to plan for a work-related road trip.



Ok, I'll admit it.  I have a girl crush on Rashida Jones.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

My friend reminded me of this song today.  Classic roadtrip music.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Bikes bikes bikes

It's National Bike Month and in Santa Barbara that means it's CycleMAYnia: a whole month of local bike-related events. On Sunday, the kick-off event was a cyclo-cross race held at Santa Barbara High School.

Here's a video that makes cyclo-cross look really cool:

From WikipediaCyclo-cross (sometimes cyclocross, CX, CCX, cyclo-X or 'cross') is a form of bicycle racing. Races typically take place in the autumn and winter, and consists of many laps of a short (1.5–2  mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike whilst navigating the obstruction and remount.

I got talked into competing in the local cross race just for fun. The event was really low-key and small, and women's heat had only two other competitors.  I decided to just go slow and just enjoy myself.  I got lapped twenty minutes in, but that's okay, at least I finished!

Here's a few pictures I ganked from Hector Gonzalez's Facebook album:

Starting line, we ended up in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, left to right.  That's me in the socks.  I figured if I was going to lose horribly, I might as well try to get a few style points.


Climbing over obstacles


Still smiling, even though I'd just fallen into a tree in front of all the spectators.