a field guide to Philip and Brian

If you are a regular on the electronic music and dance scene in Seattle, likely attending Decibel Festival, you may have identified the person on the left as Brian. This apparently is a common mistake. Brian is the person on the right. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you should instead recognize the person on the left as Philip. To help in proper identification:

• Brian is slightly taller
• Brian's eyebrows are slightly darker and bushier
• Brian's nose is more pointed and beaklike, while Philip's nose is a little flatter and crooked
• Philip's smile is also crooked, and Philip doesn't show his teeth much
• Philip gives you a quizzical look when you seem to recognize him, while Brian greets you by name because he already knows you

Although the two species share a number of superficial similarities, such as curly hair, glasses, and being Capricorns, they are distinct beings with separate histories, and care should be taken to identify them properly so as to avoid confusion and possible embarrassment. That said, field observations suggest that the Philip is just as friendly and gregarious as the Brian, and you should not fear to approach him.