The coronavirus has obviously been a huge disaster for the economy and public health. However, there have been some positives that have come from the pandemic.
Traffic accidents and deaths are way down because no one is on the road.
A study by UC Davis found that since California’s stay-at-home order on March 20, vehicle collisions are down by half.
“The reduction works out to about 15,000 fewer collisions per month and 6,000 fewer injury accidents per month,” said Fraser Shilling, co-director of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis.
The study also says the stay-at-home order resulted in a 60% drop in traffic volume.
A similar study out of the state of Washington, one of the first regions in the U.S. to feel the impact of the virus, yielded similar results. Washington State Patrol traffic data says that motor vehicle accidents in the last two weeks of March declined by 67% over the same period in 2019.
via Pixabay
Because of the drastic change in drivers’ behavior, two auto insurance companies, Allstate and American Family Insurance announced they will be returning a total of $800 billion to their customers.
Allstate says it will refund about 15% of premiums paid by customers in April and May. That amount comes to about $600 million.
American Family Insurance says it will return about $50 per car that a household has insured with the company which adds up to about $200 million.
“Given an unprecedented decline in driving, customers will receive a Shelter-in-Place Payback,” Allstate CEO Tom Wilson said in a statement. “This is fair because less driving means fewer accidents.”
Reports that Allstate has sent to insurance regulators show that it pays out a little more than a billion in claims every month. If Allstate returned all of the money it has saved in payouts due to the pandemic, the figure would be significantly higher than its $600 million pledge.
Dan Karr, a the CEO of ValChoice, an insurance company watchdog group, says the gesture is nice, but insurance companies should be more generous during these trying times.
“I think it’s great what Allstate did. But where’s the rest of savings?” Karr told CNN Business.
“Is it enough? Probably not,” J. Robert Hunter, director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, said according to CNN. “The actions by American Family and Allstate are the right thing to do to help policyholders beleaguered by Covid-19 restrictions and job loss. We urge other insurers to take similar actions quickly.”
Allstate and American Family Insurance may be profiting off the coronavirus, but that’s part of the risk-reward when being in the insurance game. They don’t have to give a dime back to anyone, so they’re actions are a lot more than we’ve come to accept from insurance companies.
Hopefully, others will follow suit and give more families a break at one of the most economically challenging times in American history.
Garnett is in the rarefied air of no-brainer, first-ballot candidates whose career achievements distinguish him from his peers. His legacy will largely be defined by his time with the Boston Celtics, but Garnett’s early days in Minnesota are where he developed into one of the most dominant, two-way stars of his generation.
Boston is set to retire his jersey next season, although the same cannot be said for Minnesota, as Garnett has an ongoing squabble with Timberwolves’ owner Glen Taylor stemming back to his return to the franchise in 2015 toward the end of his career. As a result, Garnett apparently has no interest in a retirement ceremony as things stand now, ripping Taylor as “a snake.”
Glen knows where I’m at, I’m not entertaining it. First of all, it’s not genuine. Two, he’s getting pressure from a lot of fans and, I guess, the community there. Glen and I had an understanding before Flip died, and when Flip died, that understanding went with Flip. For that, I won’t forgive Glen. I won’t forgive him for that. I thought he was a straight up person, straight up business man, and when Flip died, everything went with him.
There’s no reason to complain. Just continue to move on. My years in Minnesota and in that community, I cherish. At this point, I don’t want any dealings with Glen Taylor or Taylor Corp. or anything that has to do with him. I love my Timberwolves, I’ll always love my guys, I’ll always love the people who fuck with me there. I’ll always have a special place for the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota in my heart. But I don’t do business with snakes. I don’t do business with snake mu’fuckas. I try not to do business with openly snakes or people who are snake-like.
Flip Saunders had been instrumental and bringing Garnett back into the fold so that he could retire in Minnesota and bring his career full circle. At the time, Garnett had expressed interest in becoming part of the ownership group, though Garnett reportedly felt like Taylor reneged on that plan after Saunders’ death.
Now, it’s unclear whether the two sides will ever be able to mend fences. Garnett led the league in rebounds for four straight seasons at the peak of his Timberwolves days and won a regular-season MVP.
If you’ve run out of Netflix to stream and bread to bake, here’s a new quarantine activity to try out: taking in a brilliant celestial event. Tonight, April 7th, much of the United States will be able to enjoy the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year. Tonight’s full moon will be the closest to Earth our natural satellite will ever get, with next month’s supermoon being the last one for the rest of the year.
Thrillist notes that the next time we see a supermoon as bright as tonight’s won’t be until May 26th of 2021 — which feels like a long time in a different universe away — so don’t miss this chance. If nothing else, quarantine is a good reminder that sometimes the best way to cap off the night is to pack a bowl, chill with your housemates (or friends via zoom/FaceTime/whatever), and try to convince the person who is the most stoned that the moon is made of cheese.
According to Time and Date, the moon is expected to rise just after sunset and stay visible until early morning of the next day, though exact times will vary based on location. Don’t bother taking a photo unless you really know what you’re doing, but feel free to video chat your friends — it’s just like camping! You know, on your lawn or through your window. Practically the same thing.
Wild Pink vocalist John Ross is pivoting back towards his solo project Eerie Gaits. After the successful debut effort with the 2017 EP Bridge Music, Gaits returns with the upcoming full-length record Holopaw. Continuing his affection for instrumental soundscapes, Gaits shares the triumphant number “The Rainbow Trout And The Wicker Creel.”
“The Rainbow Trout And The Wicker Creel” opens with smooth synths. But unlike his latest single “Saw You Through The Trees,” the newly released track sounds hopeful. Bright keys bounce above the underlying synth while jubilant percussion creates an exultant soundscape.
According to a press statement, Gaits borrows his forthcoming album’s title from his hometown’s namesake:
“Holopaw, Florida is technically not a town, a village, or even a hamlet. The small area in the middle of the state is officially zoned as an “unincorporated community,” which means that it’s administered under the jurisdiction of Osceola County rather than its own municipality. In other words, the less than 5,000 people who live in Holopaw don’t have a local government to call their own, residing in the liminal space between established community and remote hinterland.”
Listen to “The Rainbow Trout And The Wicker Creel” above. Below, find Eerie Gaits’ Holopaw album art and tracklist.
Sound As Language
1. “What’s Eating You”
2. “Out In The Tall Grass”
3. “Saw You Through The Trees”
4. “Loisaida”
5. “The Rainbow Trout And The Wicker Creel”
6. “The Lure Follows The Line”
7. “A Quiet Explosion In Your Secret War”
8. “Oia”
9. “99, 100”
Holopaw is out 4/10 via Sound As Language. Pre-order it here.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered starts with the alluring grip of nostalgia. The screen greets you with the Infinity Ward logo, then a shot of a soldier in full gear holding his gun, a shot that’s became so iconic it’s now generic. The Modern Warfare series has always been interesting because most hardcore fans agree that Call of Duty 4 is the superior game, but Modern Warfare 2 is when the franchise exploded. It was a phenomenon and one of those major hits alongside Halo 3 that helped push video games into the mainstream.
Modern Warfare 2‘s 2009 release was genre-changing in that other FPS titles tried to emulate it for years to come. But in the 11 years since its release, video games have evolved. Even Call of Duty itself. And so it’s inevitable that last week’s Modern Warfare 2 Remasteredrelease is viewed through that lens. The game is a 1:1 remaster of the original with improved graphics and a campaign many remember long after they finish playing.
Modern Warfare 2 was novel in that shooters, specifically military shooters don’t attempt anything too drastic in their stories. Campaigns generally run through a level, shoot the bad guys, and win. The first Modern Warfare went beyond this, though, successfully playing out a drama highlighted by a playable main character dying in a nuclear explosion. Modern Warfare 2 followed suit by upping the ante in its own way, to a different result.
At Modern Warfare 2’s best, it’s a satirical take on America’s military obsession. At its worst, it’s a glorification of it. This game isn’t meant to be a political commentary, but the game’s “No Russian” campaign struggles with that duality, especially 11 years later. The plot has the player switching between two scenarios: One is with U.S. Army Rangers and another with Special Task Force called “141.” The campaign begins with Joseph Allen, a PFC with the Rangers. After a successful mission in Afghanistan, he’s brought into the CIA, which wants to put Allen into the inner circle of a terrorist named Vladimir Makarov. Allen’s next mission is assisting Makarov in a mass shooting at a Russian airport. The player can choose to participate, or they can do nothing. The game won’t punish you either way, a departure from the ordinary rules that deem it a failure for shooting civilians and/or teammates.
“No Russian” is completely skippable with no penalties, trophies or achievements attached to it, but that doesn’t change that it’s a game in 2020 that lets you participate in a mass shooting. But without it, the story doesn’t advance. Makarov is able to put the blame for the incident on the United States, which sets off a Russian invasion of the U.S. and in turn the rest of the events of the game. It’s a passive mission, but one that can be uncomfortable in the context of 2020 and something the remake doesn’t take strides to work around.
That mission also sets a tone for how the rest of the game will choose to approach its high points. If Modern Warfare was intense, then Modern Warfare 2 is bombastic, with twists and turns and set-piece moments spread out that allow the game to really shine. Call of Duty has always been about the big moments, but Modern Warfare 2 had some of the best in the franchise. It features snowmobile escapes, running downhill through a flurry of gunfire and driving a speedboat while helicopters chase you down. Everything is meant to be big.
It’s also an effort that trips the game up in its attempt to create this magnitude. The twists become absurd and the huge moments make little sense. There’s one at the end of the game that 11 years ago I was confused about and to this day I still don’t understand.
These are among the consistent reminders of the game’s age. Gameplay itself has segment of slog and the deaths becoming frustrating. I played through on one of the higher difficulties and that felt like a mistake. Some of it was just that I am not as good at this game as I was 11 years ago, perhaps, but some features were missing that have become standard in modern shooters. I frequently could not locate where I was being shot from, with certain set pieces leading to my death over and over again in what felt like a war of attrition. At times it was exhausting to walk into a room, seeing waist-high cover and knowing what would happen next. In a lot of ways this is a remaster, not a remake. A modern version of a game with flaws and all.
That means it’s far from bad, it just also includes the things that no longer hold up. Cinematically this game is perfect. Every camera shot, every mission introduction, and even the lighting is perfect and the improved graphics only made them all even better. It even made the playable cutscenes look cooler.
There were so many cool moments in the original game that were simply breathtaking this time around. One moment where, shortly after recapturing the White House from the invading Russians, your character James Ramirez looks over a burning Washington D.C. This was a cool moment in the original game, but with the improved graphics, it’s now arguably the most powerful moment in the entire game’s story.
Modern Warfare 2 is still one of the best first-person shooters ever made, but it’s really difficult to play today and not see the age that surrounds it. If you played back in 2009 then the remastered version is a fun nostalgic romp with an old friend. It’s only $20 and the campaign is a quick 5-6 hours if you know what you’re doing. Just be prepared for a few understandable and expected now-retro headaches along the way.
With families trapped inside, streaming services are practically an essential item at this point, and Netflix is stepping in to give parents a much needed hand in customizing their children’s screen time.
Before now, parents could select the Netflix Kids options for the child’s account, which does a great job curating content, but can skew more towards younger children and feel pretty restrictive to the tweens in your life. With Netflix’s new features, parents can now specifically block certain titles from their kids’ accounts, see their viewing history, and also set limits on their screen time by disabling the autoplay feature on television shows. Via The Verge:
The company is expanding parental control options both for the general section and Netflix’s designated kids portal. The biggest addition is the ability to remove an individual TV series or movie by title. Think of it like a search filter. If a movie like The Matrix is listed as inappropriate for a child user, it won’t appear at all on that profile account. Netflix is also making it so that parents can filter out titles based on the rating. If they want to keep everything G-rating friendly, Netflix’s new tool will now make that possible.
In a Netflix blog post detailing how the new features work and how to access them through your account settings on a laptop or mobile device, Kids Product Manager Michelle Parsons writes, “Choice and control have always been important for our members, especially parents. We hope that these additional controls will help parents make the right choices for their families.”
With schools shut down until at least the end of April, if not the entire school year, we’re sure parents will appreciate these new settings that should hopefully save the added trouble of worrying about what their kids are watching and for how long. Let them learn about the joys of binge-watching when they’re older.
To kick off April, Bazzi decided to share “Renee’s Song,” an ode to his girlfriend, Australian model Renee Herbert, and a celebration of their two-year anniversary. Now he has shared a visual for the tender track, and it’s a loving look back on the time they’ve spent together so far. The video is a compilation of clips from over the course of their relationship, and it features footage of them taking a bath, playing basketball, painting, and otherwise basking in their mutual admiration.
When releasing the song, Bazzi wrote on Twitter, “There’s a lot of craziness in the world going on right now, and i’m lucky you’ve put up with me for 2 years of it. all of my mistakes and insecurities and you still find a way to make me feel loved. […] i made this song for you in hawaii a few months back and have held onto it a bit for you. i hope this makes you feel special today. […] this song just gives me the feeling i think the world needs right now. […] thanks for putting up with me for two years, through everything – it’s been beautiful. happy two year. here is your song RENEES SONG.”
Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.
While we’re at it, if you want more music recommendations curated by Steven Hyden delivered directly to your inbox every week, sign up for the Indie Mixtape newsletter.
Yves Tumor — Heaven To A Tortured Mind
The latest in a series of efforts that forced all eyes on Yves Tumor for his brash — yet inviting — experimentation, Heaven To A Tortured Mind feels like an urgent addition to our current moment. Across its twelve songs, according to Philip Cosores for Uproxx, “Tumor takes another huge step forward, and one that puts him at the forefront of musicians that can stand deftly stand in the worlds of art and pop at the same time.” Heaven To A Tortured Mind is a staggeringly impressive feat, one that cements Yves Tumor as an artist that will not be leaving the spotlight anytime soon.
Ellis — Born Again
There is a certain beauty to conciseness: when an artist is very good at their craft, sometimes they can get cocky and the work can become overblown. The opposite is the case on Ellis’ debut full-length Born Again. Linnea Siggelkow is at the top of her songwriting game, and she “doesn’t need much time to pack emotional depth and formidable insight into her deft, brilliant songwriting,” Caitlin White writes for Uproxx. Born Again is a shimmering collection of devastating dream-pop tracks, one that is instantly impressive in its composition and delivery.
Crisman — Crisman
If you’re into artists like Florist or Lomelda, then Crisman is set to be your new favorite band of 2020. On their debut self-titled album, Crisman show their impressive dynamic range, anchored by Madeline Dowd’s entrancing vocal stylings. While Dowd was previously focused on her visual art, Crisman makes the case for pushing forward in the music world, and marks another stellar release from Topshelf Records.
Violent Soho — Everything Is A-OK
It’s always interesting how bands with massive appeal in their home country are still categorized as “up-and-coming” in other parts of the world. Australia’s Violent Soho fit this bill perfectly — their most recent LP peaked at Number One on the Australian charts and earned them a handful of ARIA awards. However, their new album Everything Is A-OK marks their first release with esteemed American punk label Pure Noise Records. The record features the Aussie quartet’s most anthemic tracks to date, with heavy riffs and Billy Corgan-esque vocals that are sure to make any punk fan’s ears perk up.
Charmer — Ivy
Michigan strong! Ivy is Charmer’s sophomore album, and one that is set to take them out of the DIY world onto larger stages. Where many bands in the underground scene are vocal about their internal struggles, Charmer takes a different approach, promoting optimism while not avoiding the brutal honesty that has drawn fans to the band. Ivy emphasizes making the best of your present moment and not relishing in nostalgia, a message that we can all probably try internalizing.
Yaeji — What We Drew
After collaborating with Charli XCX and Clairo on “February 2017,” Korean producer Yaeji has unleashed an upbeat new mixtape to keep your spirits up in the quarantine. The tracks showcase Yaeji’s knack for expansive production, and deal with themes of “friendship, family, gratitude and support – support that I’ve felt, that I’ve given, and that we all share,” according to a statement announcing the record.
Gerard Way — “Phoning It In”
Later this year, My Chemical Romance are scheduled to embark on their first North American tour in nearly a decade, although Rolling Stone is now reporting that those dates might have been postponed. Either way, MCR frontman Gerard Way took to Instagram to share four new solo tracks in their demo form as part of a project called Distraction Or Despair. The standout here is “Phoning It In,” which, as Derrick Rossignol notes for Uproxx, is “a song he said he planned to originally release as a single, and ‘may still do that at some point when I finish them.’” In typical Way fashion, it features a rousing chorus that quickly gets stuck in your head.
The 1975 — “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America”
The bad news: The 1975 have delayed Notes On A Conditional Form another month. The good news: they also shared a new track, and it features vocals from Phoebe Bridgers. “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” sounds more like a Bridgers or Sufjan Stevens song than anything The 1975 have released in their career, making for another interesting turn from the British outfit. On the serene track, according to Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx, Bridgers and Matty Healy “address forbidden loves.” Based on the singles we’ve heard so far, it looks like Notes On A Conditional Form is going to be a true, massive hodge-lodge of different sounds and inspirations.
Hayley Williams — “Over Yet”
Following the experimental Boygenius-featuring track “Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris,” Hayley Williams’ latest Petals For Amor sampling is more of an ’80s-inspired anthem. Perhaps that’s why she decided to accompany it with an aerobics video. On “Over Yet, “Williams blends down-tempo electric guitar with bright percussive elements to craft an empowering anthem,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever — “She’s There”
After the disillusionment that set in after this Australian outfit returned from a lengthy tour supporting their debut album Hope Downs, they decided to turn the uneasiness into inspiration. “She’s There” is the first preview of the band’s upcoming sophomore effort Sideways To New Italy, a straight rocker that epitomizes the band’s mission on the record. Throughout the album, they “tried to convey that feeling in a dream where you need to be somewhere, and you don’t really know why, but you are determined to overcome every obstacle to get there,” according to a statement.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It’s weird when giant corporate chains try to make you feel like you’re their friends and not just their customer base. I used to look at Taco Bell sauce packets with disdain for their try-hard attempt to connect with me via pithy quotes. However, given the current state of the world, sauce packets that say things like “You’ve got this” or “Live life one sauce packet at a time” feel oddly supportive. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I feel like Taco Bell gets me right now.
Granted, that has a lot to do with the fact that Taco Bell has decided to give out free Doritos Locos Tacos at all of their locations today, no purchase necessary. Who doesn’t love free tacos?
Turns out, you all love free tacos. So TOMORROW, April 7th, we’re giving you a free Doritos® Locos Tacos again when you drive-thru.
Yes, you can straight-up roll to the Taco Bell Drive-thru, order absolutely nothing, and still receive a Doritos Locos Taco. If you can live without adding cinnamon twists, via con dios. We admire you.
The free Doritos Locos Taco deal only applies to orders placed in the drive-thru, or through the app for curbside pickup. So if you plan on ordering your Taco Bell through a delivery service don’t expect a free taco, you’ll just have to use your own Doritos at home which we know you have in lieu of veggies because, let’s face it, we all suck at pandemic grocery shopping.
This is the second time Taco Bell has given out free tacos in seven days. It’s important to focus on independent restaurants at this time, but damn, if this becomes a weekly thing we’re here for it.
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via Pixabay 
via Pictures of Money / Flickr 
