I think they do. Take for instance, a NYC subway stop after it has rained. Or the Atlantic Ocean vs. the Pacific Ocean. Or prairie grass in the summertime.

What's weird to me about smells is that (for me at least) it depends so much on our other senses. Smelling the same flower when it is -20 below and when it is 80 degrees doesn't feel the same. Or at night time certain smells seem more intense since my nose works harder.

Am I talking crazy here?

"I wanted to let you all know that this is the last weekend to see HANDJOB at Space 1026 in Philadelphia. For this show, artists were asked to replicate machine-made items by hand. I recreated common mobile phone ringtones by recording myself performing the sounds, even though I don't have vocal training or beatboxing experience. I also enlisted the help of other folks including people at the opening for the show earlier this month. Even if you can't make it to Philly, you can get my project on-line.

LINK TO THE PROJECT: http://www.myxertones.com/artist/429943/
INFO ON SPACE 1026: http://space1026.com/space.php

The sounds represent some popular models and carriers like the Motorola RAZR with Verizon, Samsung LG, and those Nokia block phones everyone had for a while. So go ahead, replace your electronic bleeps with analog versions! If you can't download these ringtones because you don't have internet on your phone, contact me for MP3s that you can transfer to your phone using USB or Bluetooth.

Here's a word from our sponsor:
"I wanted to think about when 'handmade' objects are better, and when they are actually nonfunctional and just difficult to use," says artist Courtney Dailey, who is coordinating the exhibit. "To question how we valorize handmade items as special/precious/more valuable and often have disdain for mass-produced ones."

More later,
Fereshteh
http://fereshteh.net"

Yesterday evening was the start of the Persian New Year, Norooz. It's basically the best holiday ever. You get to grow wheat and put out bowls of vinegar and garlic and get some goldfish and jump over fires and have a picnic. It's a celebration of life, rebirth, of spring, of things changing and becoming new again.

Here are some of the traditional things to do: http://www.norooz.ca/ncustom.html

Ye Olde Wikipedia with more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norouz

Some people think that the early nineties scene was the "last time music mattered." I'm not sure how I feel about that. In the eighties there seemed to be a growing sense of community and rallying around ideals and creativity. Nobody knew what they were doing and having a lot of fun making it up. You had style wars in hiphop, and underground indie/punk bands playing shows where nobody showed up, and the emergence of independent grassroot networks, zines, labels, venues, etc. - looking back it seems like an explosion. But I imagine at the time, and especially for bands like Black Flag starting out - they really had absolutely no idea what they were doing, and maybe didn't see that they were part of a cohesive movement.

I think there is a lot of great music being made right now but it is very fragmented. There is no sense of community or a cohesive movement. And it's able to operate this way because of tools like the internet allowing fans to laser beam in on music they like and completely bypass mainstream outlets. The iPod lets us even fragment albums and split them, and iTunes lets you pick and choose from entire back catalogs. And while all this freedom is cool, the majority of the positive change is happening on the consumer end of things. It's easier as a consumer of music to find what you want, but as a musician it seems harder than ever to get heard above the noise. In the past a band would write a few good songs, go record a demo at a studio, and then play shows while waiting to get signed. Nowadays more responsibility and work is being put on the musician, because this old model is dying. As a musician it only makes sense to conduct marketing, promotion, and distribution on the web and record high quality recordings at home with digital recording gear. No need for a label, right? It's empowering, but much more work, and confusing since nobody really knows how things are supposed to operate now.

These videos of Fugazi are great. Check out the big bell the drummer starts wailing on halfway through in the second one. Finding old videos/performances of bands is probably my favorite part of YouTube.

Hey all! The show was a lot of fun. Thanks especially to those that came on time, and apologies for having to wait around a long time. The last band that was supposed to play canceled and apparently didn't tell anyone...except for a myspace bulletin message that had been sent out a few hours before the show. Lame! Shout out to Justin for making the trek from Champaign and for bringing a huge entourage, much appreciated.

This was my first show playing with Orange Drink, and my first show in a long while. I think the last show I played was with Brendan in Champaign last year (which was also a duo). Jesus, that was last summer. I suppose between moving to Chicago and other life changes shows have taken a backseat but I really would like to start playing more regularly again.

I thought the show went really well, it was the first time I had a microphone next to my drums that I could speak into. WITTY BANTER! WITTY BANTER!

I think it was also the sloshiest, rockiest feeling show I've played. I found myself really digging in a lot harder into the drums and favoring more rawness over technique. Maybe 'cause I've been listening to too much Soundgarden these days? :D

On Friday Drew and I had the good fortune of catching two sets of Ben Allison at the Green Mill jazz club. Ben Allison is one of my favorite contemporary jazz composers as he's able to fuse a lot of different styles and genres in a way that is both grounded and innovative. Although he is technically gifted, I find myself listening past all of the technical details and really getting immersed in the melodic lines and introspective harmonies. In the end he just writes damn good songs, and they always feel fresh. I highly, highly recommend any Ben Allison record. It was doubly awesome to see him in the oldest jazz club still in existence.

Also, last week I was forced beyond my will to take a picture for work. I took way more photos of myself than I'd like to admit, and in the end still couldn't decide on a photo, so I decided to have some fun with it. Here was the result. Taking pictures of myself ranks up there with my least favorite things to do like getting my hair cut in a barbershop and returning things I just bought from a store.

BEARDY!!!

Orange Drink (of which I am currently a member of) is playing a show this Saturday, March 3rd at Ronny's Bar (2103 N. California Ave, Chicago, IL). Drums, guitar, noise, samples, screaming and more. Bring a change of clothes, you may wet your pants.

Saturday, March 3rd 2007 (probably starts around 8pm)

Ronny's Bar [myspace.com/ronnysbar]
2103 N California Ave (next to California Blue Line stop)
Chicago, IL 60647

Orange Drink with:
Dramatic Paws [myspace.com/dramaticpaws]
Miss Autopsy [www.miss-autopsy.com]

This is a benefit for the not-for-profit performance/gallery/art space South Union Arts
[www.southunionarts.com]

There is some terrifying legislation that may soon be passed in Nigeria. Essentially it strips away all rights from homosexuals, and goes a step further to basically deny them the right to express themselves, congregate, and basically exist. Call/write your senators to let them know you are concerned about this. Unfortunately, discrimination against gays is still widely accepted (even promoted?) around the world (and here too). There are some pretty fundamental human rights being violated here. Read more below.

http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=12180&sectionID=2

Nigeria: World's Worst Anti-Gay Law May Pass Soon
by Doug Ireland; DIRELAND; February 22, 2007

One of the most sweeping anti-gay bills ever introduced in any parliament in
the world is in danger of rapid passage in Nigeria in the coming weeks.
Although billed as a ban on same-sex marriage, the proposed law includes

I haven't seen this movie but it seems interesting from this clip.

I have a beard.

Meant to post this before...but remember that dance dance revolutionary remix contest a while back my sister organized? Turns out spinnerty won! * head nods and pats on backs all around* Also check out spinnerty's "slow boil" track on his website, it features my ride cymbal.