Reasonably So

DIBBLE DIBBLE. DOPP DOPP. According to Dr. Seuss’s Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? that’s what rain sounds like. Sometimes when I read books like that to the 20-month-old for whom I babysit, it makes me happy to know that he’s learning in creative and constructive ways. If only Mr. Brown could hear the sounds that Rony Iwryn can make with water.

On Saturday night, I attended a concert by the Idan Raichel Project. For many reasons, the concert was fantastic (lots of energy, great audience, and excellent musicianship by a talented and earnest multi-national band) but Uruguayan percussionist Iwryn stole the show—by using water.

Iwryn used two wooden bowls, one large and filled with water, the other, slightly smaller, and empty. He started by using his hands to create various sounds on/in/with the water (a microphone was responsible for making sure we could all hear this) and after a minute or so of splashing, dripping, and smacking sounds, he began using the second bowl as a drum, turned upside down on top of/in the water. I wish I could describe the sounds to you, but I’m not nearly as onomatopoetic as Dr. Seuss. The first 40 seconds of this video show how it works, but the video does absolutely NO justice to the way it sounds live.

I’ve been inconsistent about attending live shows in the past few years, but a performance like this really makes me wish that I hadn’t skipped so many. There are some really amazing artists out there, and from this day forward, I plan to make a more conscious effort to support more of them.

The Idan Raichel Project is performing at the Fillmore in New York this evening (11/19/07). If you’re lucky enough to notice that they’re coming to your neighborhood sometime soon, make a point to go. The tickets aren’t cheap (they were $35 at the sold-out show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston), but they certainly are worth it.

-Emily S.

The trash receptacle seen above was observed today (Nov. 15, 2007 - approx. 10:20am) at the Arlington Street MBTA Station in Boston, Mass. If you manage to decipher the headline on the top newspaper (apologies for the cell-phone-quality-image) you’ll see it reads:

“IT IS INEXCUSABLE”

Yes, yes it is. Look at all that wasted news! Look at those one-time-use beverage cups! It is INEXCUSABLE that there is not enough “green” reading and “green” beverage consumption for the commuting public.

I see this need, and I’ll offer you this: I cordially encourage you to sit back, settle in, and sip from a reusable mug or glass while you absorb some words, photographs, oddities, and wisdom that wouldn’t dare waste paper.

You’ve already earned a hearty pat on the back for (nearly) making it through this, my first blog post. What are the chances of finding a blog abandoned on top of a trashcan?

Most of REASONABLY SO will not be about the environment, but I’m happy to help “green”-up the world by starting with the Green Line. And just in case you’re too stubborn to give up the Dig, the Post, or the L… please recycle when you’re finished reading!

- Emily S.