The Thrills and Starsailor were both excellent in concert; seemed like good kids all around, especially James Walsh of Starsailor. The Thrills are coming back to Boston in April, so I'll probably hit that up again--they're great live because their songs are automatically not as wussy when they plug in their electrics and rock out a bit. James Walsh isn't the most attractive dude, but he kind of reminded me of some people...I don't know, I could be just way off base...


Take Ashton, throw in the facial deformities of Kerry, and you get Starsailor's James Walsh.

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So I went to grab some Mickey D's in Central Square after buying tickets at TT the Bear's tonight, and I have to say the 20-something year old woman who took my order was really friendly and pleasant. It's a pretty sketchy McDonald's so I was expecting a pretty disinterested interaction. For some reason it always makes my day when people are nice to you at a fast food place. I'm a really needy person, aren't I?

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I was sitting there at work the other day, and for some reason I got to thinking about instrument variables (if you've taken econometrics/run regressions you may be familiar with the concept). I wasn't running regressions or anything, but for some reason I thought of this time someone was on Conan and they said they tore their ACL, and Conan had no idea what they were talking about. Then I realized that if you don't know what an ACL is, there's no way you're a big sports fan. And so I decided that if you ask someone what the anterior cruciate ligament is and they don't know, then they can't be a real sports fan (the reverse is trickier...they may know someone who's torn their ACL, they could be premed, etc). The same is probably true for rotator cuffs.

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Choice Conan:

"According to a new survey about the Democratic voters, Most of Howard Dean's support comes from urban voters and most of Wesley Clark's support comes from rural voters. The survey also reveals that most of Dennis Kuchinich's support comes from his family."

"In a recent interview, John McEnroe said that during his tennis career he unknowingly took horse steroids for several years. McEnroe became suspicious when he lost the US Open but won the Kentucky Derby."

In the year 2000:

"Thanks to advances in automation, Nike shoes will be made by robots. Unfortunately, the robots will be made by children in Malaysia."

"Terrorism experts will reveal that dirty bombs are just regular bombs that just enjoy sleeping with high school chicks."

"Tired of being referred to simply as drunks, Irish Americans will legally change their name to Drunken Americans."

"On the VMA awards Britney Spears and Madonna again imitate lesbians- this time not by kissing, but by fixing the transmission on a Chevy pick up."

"Ball park franks will no longer plump when you cook 'em, but rather, moan when you suck 'em."

"UN weapons inspectors in Iraq will make a most horrific discovery beneath one of Saddam's palaces. Master tapes for a new Spin Doctors album."

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Updated concert list:

02/03 The Stills@TT's
02/18 Kings of Leon@Middle East
02/25 Franz Ferdinand@TT's
02/28 Elefant@Paradise
03/10 British Sea Power@TT's
03/27 Broken Social Scene@Middle East
04/03 The Sleepy Jackson@Middle East

Already in the books since August:
Radiohead
The Sleepy Jackson
My Morning Jacket
Nada Surf
Interpol
Longwave
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Thrills
Starsailor