Destination Burning Man Blog

3.) The full moon will be a part of next week's playa ambiance. Maybe you already know this, but I just read on Tribe that "The moon will be full on Friday, Sep 4th - it will be out from 6:15 pm to 5:34 am. Sunrise on Saturday is at 5:32 am, so if you're up at that hour, you'll see both!! The playa should be pretty well lit up all week." The playa "lit up"? That ain't no surprise! Last time I went there was also a full moon, as well as a FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE (setting the weird scene for the Early Burn) and later in the week, a massive double-rainbow! Happy for the celestial shows.

4.) A mulligan is, according to my dictionary, "(in informal golf) an extra stroke allowed after a poor shot, not counted on the scorecard." I reserve the right to call "mulligans" all week on the playa. When I do, you can't count certain poor shots, foggy decisions, fumbles, stumbles, disappearing acts or no-shows against me on my scorecard!

5.) I found (and love) this description of the distractive nature of life in BRC on a listserv: "short attention span central. that's the playa in a nutshell. it's hot and loud and nobody gets any sleep. plus there are a lot of bright shiny things. we joke in my camp that people at burning man are like ferrets on crack, e.g.: 'ok, man, i'll go get that ice. gonna grab the wagon and the cooler and HOLY SHIT WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT, wow, what a fabulous looking SWING! hey, look at those people o my god what are they doing hee hee heeee wow that looks like fun, i love my new friends...' and before you know it, wagon's gone and it's been seven hours since you sent them to go get ice. this is standard operating procedure. get used to it, be forgiving when it happens, because it happens to the best of us. can't handle it? stay home." If it takes me 7 hours to do an ice run, I'll call a mulligan.

6.) I was thinking it would be interesting and invigorating to take a vow of silence for 24 hours at some point down at Burning Man. I've done it a handful of times before and dig it. Its like a word-fast. A cleaning of the verbal palette. BM could be a great place to do it (excellent place for experimentation, going beyond normal boundaries), or a horrible place (too many fascinating people to talk to!), not sure which. It would be interesting to see what alternative nonverbal forms of interpersonal communication emerges, especially with strangers. I'll keep it in my back pocket as an option.

Finally, for what it's worth, here's my horoscope for the week:

"Enduring and Expanding Change: Pisces Daily Horoscope

You could feel like exploring frontiers in learning, which could motivate you to pick up and travel or study something new. Using your sense of adventure to stretch and broaden your view of the world might infuse your life with a greater sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the workings of the world around you. Making it a point to undertake something new, such as investigating an issue you are interested in, delving into another culture, or trying a different form of meditation or reflective practice may result in the infusion of fresh ideas and discoveries into your life. If you can bring something different to your everyday routine, you might notice that the boundaries of what you thought was possible can expand to encompass things that are not only unusual, but also extremely fulfilling.

Going beyond our normal comfort zones can be a transformative experience. As we bring new thoughts, ideas, and experiences to our lives, we widen the circle of our daily existence that we create around us. Unless we continually and conscientiously increase our awareness of the world, we can easily craft a bubble that confines, constricts, and limits us – we no longer seek to grow but instead remain in a state of constant refuge. By immersing yourself in something that brings you out of this cocoon, however, you will ignite your desire to understand your life in a more profound way, which will help you embark on a path of deep and enduring change."

Pick up and travel, check. Sense of adventure, check. Broaden my view of the world, check. Delving in to another culture, check. Infusion of fresh ideas and discoveries, check. Different everyday routine, check. Expanding boundaries = unusual + fulfilling, check. Going beyond comfort zone, transformative experience, leave the bubble/coccoon, understand my life in a more profound way, embark on a path of deep and enduring change. Check, check, frickin' check!!! Everything is in alignment. Bring. It.

Ready to pass through the portal....
Moontroll/DJ Playaduster

"OK, so you're getting ready to head to the playa. You're part of a mid-sized Burning Man camp that's giving away peach schnapps Sno-Cones from a big peach-shaped art car and you're all calling yourself James. Or whatever. Not important.

You got your goggles and combat boots. Your bike is covered entirely in fake pink fur and wrapped in blue electro-luminescent wire. You've packed enough costumes for a month, from the fire-crotch thong to an elaborate Ming the Merciless getup, complete with death ray. Again, whatever, not important.

What is important are the drugs. You're going to spend a week frolicking through the planet's preeminent adult playground, past all manner of tripper traps and the weirdest, most mind-blowing shit you've ever seen, mixing with a multitude of beautiful souls with Cheshire Cat grins. You'll want one too."

*box of emergen-c  (I drink 2-4 of these a day) $7-8.99/box
*TJ's lime/lemon mineral water .89 ea
*DARK CHOCOLATE BARS
*Fried Onion Pieces (garnish?  An experiment this year) $2.99
*Cashews, Pepitas, Raw Almonds, Sunflower seeds-- protein, fat, salt, yum, oh my
*"Nothing but Flattened Bananas" (potassium!) $1.29/oz/ea
*Garlic or jalepeno or ?? stuffed green olives:  $3.49 for a BIG jar!
*Cornichons/pickles/etc $2.69
*Variety of Salsas  $2.49/ea or so
*Multi-grain and flax seed corn chips  SUPER YUMMY!  $? forgot
*Pre-cooked pasta dishes "Italian Fusilli with tomato sauce" (add boiling water): $2.49
*Pre-cooked rice dishes
*Artichoke tapenade, mixed vegetable bruchetta, roasted red pepper tapenade, etc.  A lot to choose from--great on crackers w/cheez & smoked fish!
*Smoked salmon prices are great here, but I get it from my Poppa who catches the fishies.  YUM  :)
*$3 buck chucks!  oh my!  The rose Zin is lighter alcohol content and quite tasty believe it or not--will be good in the desert methinks...
*100% Cranberry juice--keep those kidneys clean and functioning
*100% Blueberry juice--detoxify last night's hollyland
*100% Pomegranate--see above and b/c it tastes yummy
*NEW THIS YEAR: Snack Sesame Crepes $1.29 ea--a Vietnamese treat (Calcium)
*Variety of flavored hummus'es--I love the sundried tomato one but they have a dozen to choose from in little and big sizes
*Pre-made Indian fare, variety of flavors (lentils, palak paneer, etc) about $3?--I just eat them straight out of the mylar packets--no heating, no mess
*Septics of soup--portabello mushroom, red pepper curry, french onion--I get the 8 oz versions and chug them--great source of nutrients & electrolytes
(often TJ's doesn't have these, but any Food Co-op will)
*Japanese nori rice crackers
*Rice Crackers
*Variety of cheeses--the 3-pack of goat, the braided mozzerella, dubliner cheddar, Israeli feta, whatever suits your fancy
*Smoked Tuna or Trout (yummy!)  It's salty, flavorful, and sooooooooooooooo tasty on playa
*Fresh fruit that is a little under ripe when you travel--stuff without peels and such (grapes, plums, apples)  Italian Plums are a favorite!  :) (friend's gardens!
*Your favorite dressing, (me:  Annie's Woodstock--it has tahini in it--another great source of calcium)

The best part about these foods is you have a protein (fish/hummus/cheese) with a carbo (rice crak'n, flax chip, rice/pasta) with a veggie/fruit (aforementioned tapenades) and salt/electrolytes (soups/olives/fried onion pieces?), and last but not least, you have to admit, TJ's has a ROCKIN' sweet tooth department.  It's basically my goal to not ever use my stove (I am actually loaning it to my burning sister and her bf for the week)--last two years I made one cooked meal (stir-fry) and boiled water twice for coffee for the camp building crew.  Who has time to cook?  I do!  Just not on playa!  :) xoxo

Tip #4:  (the random goodies)
*Vitamin medley:  5-htp, melatonin, B-6 & 12 (multi), EFA's (cod liver oil or Evening Primrose), Cal-Mag (no constipation here!), etc
*Dr. Bronner's peppermint (or whatever flavor you dig)
*Huggies Unscented Natural Care, bulk size (about $8) and a plastic travel case (about $2) to keep reloading
*Water misters
*Bring your own t.p. (biodegradable kind--like the stuff used on a boat)
*Get one strand of L.E.D. lights--last forever, create a nice ambience in your tent/VW/dome w/o blinding you, and blue is my favorite.  :)
*DUCT TAPE
*Lemon Oil to put in your water bottle (gives anti bacterial and viral props and tastes yummy)
*Disposable cameras--the most fun present to give yourself when you pick up the pics at Rite-Aid post burn.  Soooooooooooo much fun.
*In first Aid Kit:  tampons, Emu and Vit E oil, aloe vera, eye cup & saline to wash shit out, tweezers
*raw cacao bliss :)

Well, frenz, I have so much more to contribute to this--the wheels are turning inside my brain much like the gears of a giant ole clock, and while I have lost track of the dayz as they relate to a weekend, I know it is exactly 9 dayz before I leave on yet another epic adventure.  I'll be headin' on playa sometime after midnight, Monday, and heading directly towards a man visit after blinglebee is righteously parked.  :)  If y'all feel like sharing a snack, a tune, or some hoop-lalalalalala, by all means, come visit @ Spanky's Village 8:30 and Esplanade. 

Monday, 4-6pm:
Join RamonaMayhem & CampMystic @ Spanky’s Wine Village for a hoopjam on Monday from 4-6pm. Hoops will be provided (or bring your own) and a yummy treat to share–as in the stone soup idea–we all contribute and we all feast! Don’t know how to hoop but want to? Worry not–RM is a fabulous teacher and will provide instruction. Come Storm or Shine, baby, the hoop knows not the difference.

Tuesday 11-3pm:
Join me and Raquelisimia at Center Camp Cafe as we make music (java) for the masses.  If you mention dBM or some hooptastic limerick, I'll make your Iced Mocha for free!

Wednesday 3-7pm:
Your other chance to breakdance and groove dBM mystic style while I sling jo--impress me with a beatbox or breakdown--I'll make you coffee at Center Camp Cafe (and 1,000 other folks!)

Thursday 9-6pm:
I'm camp bitch of Spanky's village, bitch, and if you don't come (on the orgasmatron, the teeter totter of death, the chairway to heaven, or with a flight of wine), then I'll be your bitch too! (NOT REALLY).  No, Yes, Seriously.  I'm confused.  Come visit.  That's all I'm asking.  heh

My ticket came in the mail today, I am listening to tangled path on dBM podcasts, wondering why my cd player is stuck as I have 50 cds to burn as playa gifts.....

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

~RamonaMayhem

...and whatever this is called -- a male version of an Indian sari -- along with a yak herder's hat.



I also scored a free antique leather suitcase, and so have been able to expand my fun boxxx storage capacity.



Now I'm all packed up and ready to burn!


Next up, I want to get a bike tune-up, arrange to have a connecting trailer that can pull my picture frames, night warmth and refreshing beverages, and envision a new way to light her up at night without using disposable glowsticks...

Nightime Polar bear suit is in the mail... daytime version will be handcrafted out of scraps. Just a fuzzy banana hammock really... maybe some matching smittens?   Single White Polar Bear Male seeks HWP penguins & arctic foxes!  Looking for a place to chill. Maybe I'll get online dating going with this shit?  Portable assault unit, silent but friendly, misting machines, commercial spray gun... I'm getting all wet just thinking about it.  Hope UR2 ;)

~ Hekter McElliott

I am putting the finishing touches on a new mix for Destination Burning Man podcasts. Stay tuned for Darwin's Furrowed Brow - a take of from DJ Playaduster's mix Darwin's Weird Beard. We throwing out some of the music that we'll be sharing on the playa this year. I also just picked up a new dj controller and a loop pedal to expand the possibilities for live sets on the playa and beyond. I'm also mining for new tracks to add to the digital library and new styles to rock on the playa.

The pieces are coming together slowly, but with 90 days until the Burn, the details need to get locked down. How you doin'? Have you got your shit together yet? Have you cracked open your fun box to inventory the contents? If not, it's time to dust off your fuzzy chaps, comb out your wigs and tune up your playa bike because all roads lead to the portal opening. There is still time and like us, I'm sure you'll need every minute to get it together. But remember, in BRC give it if you've got it to give and know that you'll receive all that you need to live.

Toward the Burn,

~ Edubious

The scene was a staff party of sorts, definitely after hours, in an outdoor learning shelter in the North Cascades that is usually full of rambunctious 4th graders. The freaks took it over for one night of music and revelry. We were deep in the mountains, miles away from the nearest settlement, surrounded by deep trees and next to a creek loud with late spring snowmelt. After the aforementioned live musical acts, DJ Fundi took to the "stage" and plugged his macbook in to the soundsystem. Volume up to 11. Twinkly christmas lights, creeksong, crisp night air, a nearly-full moon and a deep selection of funk.

About 20 people were in attendance for the aftershow, accompanied by several ice-filled coolers of beer. And then the Jaegermeister bottle appeared (how many stories hinge on that plot twist???). Things get blurry pretty fast in a kaleidoscope of Jaeger shots, Beastie Boys, the dance moves my boss pulled off, James Brown, Bassnectar, live drumming accompaniment, The Commodores, a smoking instrument, Hall & Oates, candles, the Glitch Mob, Herbie Hancock, freeform space-singing and other sparkly sensations.

Bewigged, Fundi snached the empty Jaeger bottle out of his bosses hands and piched it against a nearby Douglas fir. The shattering green glass explosion brought the party to a brief pause. Rumor has it he may have spanked some ass on the dancefloor too. He chased one fellow cubicle co-worker around the shelter for a while, lost the pack of nag champa he wanted to light, danced a funky jig or two, but always managed to get behind the computer in the exact instant before the next jam needed to be dropped.

I ain't saying it was pretty, no sir. But it was what this mountain party called for, it was the job that DJ Fundi was called there to do. Nobody got hurt. The party, having started fairly early, only lasted until 1 or 2 am. DJ Fundi closed the party down by being the sole groover on the dancefloor -- only the frogs witnessed his creative interpretive-dance to Bassnectar's "Murder Mashup" (a dub track he can't get enough of).

There was a moment in the midst of the party -- and this is the whole point of me telling you this story -- when what seemed to be your standard wedding-style funk dance began to turn in to something different, something out of the ordinary, bordering downright weird. The music got louder, those committed to the dancefloor got looser, the drumming and singing and chanting began and the lights got extra-twinkly. A sense of possibility filled the air.

In this moment, DJ Fundi paused and a voice in his head asked, "Things are getting pretty far out there Fundi -- do you think you ought to pull it on back a bit?" He looked around at his co-workers shaking it on the dancefloor, scatting on the mic, groove-stepping amongst the ferns, everybody having a good time under the stars, everybody realizing a moment of glorious freedom within the confines of a M-F 9-5 lifestyle (those that weren't up to the freedom-seeking had long gone to bed).

Something about being swervy and freaky amongst those he normally sits in morning staff meetings and strategic planning sessions with, his fellow prairie dogs of the cubicle warren, made him consider if this open-ended creative path of unrestrained celebration was the right route to be headed down.

"Hell. Yes," was Fundi's reply.

Soon, the bottle was smashed, asses were spanked and the low-end on the soundsystem was pushed to its very brink. The rest is history -- or, more accurately, the rest is a collection of shards collected from the group-memory, with lots of pieces missing and an unsteady chronology. And we're all the better for it.

* * * * * * * * *

"That moment, my friend," DJ Fundi's brother-in-arms Hekter McElliott said upon hearing of the night's festivities, "was the moment your fuse was lit. At this point, it's all about getting ready for Black Rock City, and by the sounds of it, you're Burn started in that moment you decided to let go and seize the party at yer little hoe-down in the woods. Damn. You're burning right now -- good on ya!"

And so it is folks. That's one of the things about Burning Man: it last much longer than the obvious week on the playa. Be brave.

--moontroll

Like many I have been focusing on staying solvent in this brave new America. While I missed the BM American Dream in 2008, I have been tapping into the Pure Power of Potential to manifest abundance and stay ahead of the Evolution that is defining our global consciousness! I will be riding this wave onto the playa this summer to bring new vision, new music and new energy to offer as Gift to my fellow Burners!

My focus and my intention are shifting toward the Burn and I look forward to the reconnections with my tribe and the many others who come together in the name of creative self expression and radical self reliance!

Stay tuned to Radio dBM as we light it up heading toward the Burn 2009!

In the spirit of community and creativity,

~ Edubious

We’re not interested, at this point, in another large-scale endeavor like 2007’s Boogie Universal Pyramid Project, excellent as it most certainly was. The creation and installation of the pyramid -- a 2,000 square foot, 40 foot-tall pyramidal performance space equipped with a DJ booth, mega-wattage soundsystem, light show and stage, flanked by a dome-lounge and dome-bar -- took many months to accomplish. Simultaneously, Boogie Universa was meeting almost every Monday night as a group to plan, coordinate and execute everything needed to support the pyramid plan, including the establishment of a Leave No Trace camp for 30-40 people spending 10 days and 10 nights in the harsh desert: we needed a meal plan, shelter, furniture, lots of water, generators and fuel, a booze plan, a party plan, shower, large-scale kitchen, entertainment and we had to haul all of this shit 1000 miles to Nevada and back again. And, let’s not forget, we had to figure out how to pay for it all.

The process featured an endless array of logistics, and I ended up taking notes at most meetings and posting them on the Boogie listserv for those who lived too far away to be at the meetings.

Sound like drudgery? It was the opposite: pure joy! It was both life-affirming and life-changing. It fired up my sense of community, reinvigorated my creativity and taught me about the pure power of potential. There was a lot of special magic in that camp and I consider my fellow Boogiers to be like family. I just funked-out with many of them on a good-vibes dancefloor a few nights ago and the hugs were electric.

But that was the experience we created in 2007; what will we manifest in 2009?

The first realization Edub and I came to is that we really don’t know what the hell were going to do. I mean, we could start sketching out a blueprint, but we both know it is inevitably going to morph and evolve and get flipped inside-out between now and then. We could say we’re going to seek a small, intimate camping scenario with a handful of tribe and end up in a camp double the size of the Boogie by the time we roll on the playa. We wouldn’t close ourselves off to any possibilities this early in the game. I mean, why would we?

Still, we can start think-speaking out general shapes of the Burning Man experience we seek to create:

*Let’s look in to a smallish camp, with a dozen or so friendly freakers pulling together to create some comfort and fun, and let’s set up shop well off the Esplanade, back in the ‘hood where some chill can be found.

*Let’s build an inviting space for impromptu performances, stand-up comedy, acoustic music and talent shows from the passing denizens of Black Rock City -- a stage with a painted backdrop, a few lights and very simple soundsystem with mikes. I see this as a gift that gives both ways: the inspired get a intentional space for performance and sharing, and our camp gets a week’s worth of entertainment and hilarity.

*How about Edub and I team up to build/borrow, haul and erect a smallish-medium dome and create the “dBM Dome"?Let's create an outgrowth of this here destinationburningman.com collaborative website, a physical presence of all that we seek to share online, a place to spin our music and favorite mixes, offer a stylish multi-use environment good for mellow chill seshs and off-the-hook dance parties alike. We hope to perhaps borrow the dome that was the Boogie Lounge -- it is about 10 feet tall -- and deck it out so that it is a pleasing, comfortable, grounding and memorable environment. We’d need a decent sound system and a thought-out lighting system too, both of which we’d have to run off either a generator or marine battery -- neither of us are especially skilled in questions of power needs and generation.

*Finally, for now, we thought about the camp scenario and necessary and/or desired life-support systems. We chewed on it for a while, discussing the pros and cons of co-habitating with large and small groups, and eventually sketched out these interesting drawings while talking about “nodes” and “pods.”

Seems like it could be a cool model to have several, maybe 6 or 8, semi-autonomous pods of people that were down there doing their own thing with their own talents -- spinning music and hosting sessions, giving hula hoop lessons, MC’ing the stage, offering kundalini yoga or guided meditation or sex tips workshops, um, anything really -- running a snowcone stand, reading palms, making pancakes, tap dancing, teaching, giving it up in some original way, for the people -- and each of these different creative pods of people (2-4 people?) are connected to a larger tribe (or troupe) that is bound by intentionality as well as by the building and sharing of a few public works: a kitchen with a very simple meal plan, a comfortable group hangout space, a system to manage fresh and grey water and hosting a few planned family-party theme nights when we bring it hard and righteous.

Folks would camp on their own, build or bring what they need to facilitate their gift-giving contribution, bring most of your own necessities, but still work together on a common purpose: our low-maintenance, funky little creativity-and-performance village! Infused with lots of heart and soul. Inhabited by freestylers, prophets, truthseekers and soothsayers.

Well, that’s it for now. We’ll see what happens next...

~ moontroll

All four of us masterminds behind this here website have loosely committed to attending Burning Man 2009: "Evolution." For real. Bring it. Stay tuned as this site warms up, sizzles, then bursts in to flames as the adventure unfolds...

I have seen and met old and new friends like crazy this month and my gratitude shines so brightly on all of you/them.  So many amazing freaks in this world and it usually takes a mind-boggling festival to become aware of the beauty that humans can attain....  the default world is a distant dream these daze... my life is morphing into one giant festival and my soul is afloat on a one-way adventure.   Really don't see the need to play the game with the old rules... don't need to play the game at all!  Now I am the pawn on the universal chess board... floating with my destiny in a giant pot of powdered puddin'.  The universal energy certainly seems to know what's best for me over my miniature mind, therefore now I listen and giggle back in acknowledgment. 

I have spent much of this last week with the sweetest French girls that camped next to us at Shambhala.  I just can't seem to fill up my angelic friendship slots but I sure as hell am gonna keep trying!!  The Selkirk mountains cradled me back home like a lonely mother of a single child... that place IS my home and it has never been clearer.  Making some moves to make it fairy-ready by 2012.  I plan on throwing the Mayans a doozee of a party when they return to earth.

So the burn... can't say I've thought/felt a whole lot about it yet (other than how I can integrate my fresh devil horns into my new bunny ears).  Pretty deep, I know ;)  As far as the theme "American Dream"... who fucking cares.  First thoughts that come to mind are big-ass Cadillacs and giant toaster ovens with a bee-hive Betty baking biscuits.  I spose' that thought is just my media induced idea of America as a whole.... bitching about gas prices because it's getting awfully spendy to fill the Hummer.

My American Dream is to live off the land, off-grid with a fat garden, fresh water/air with my community of friends around me and possibly a tequila still (if there is ever such a thing).  Simplicity, reverence and respect.

But for real, I've never given a little mouse turd about themes and this one neither pumps me up or deflates me.  I burn for the art, music, people, community and the opportunity to see deeper within myself.  A place that shatters me into tiny pieces which I can evaluate once they dangle near my toes.  Freedom, expression, uniqueness ... traits in which the default world has tagged as harmful and frivolous.  Traits which I value with the utmost respect and without them, we would all be salt-free Saltine crackers.  Ine lil' crackers.

Some folks love to talk shit about the burn and others really try to validate themselves when confronted about it.  Burning man has become a pendant on the "hard-core" folks bragging necklace... as if they are better than thou just cause they can party harder on Mars than anyone else.   Yuck... Ego alert... these folks need to get over it.  For those that talk shit about it (especially the too cool folks who have never been)... what's up?  Is this an equal reaction to all the wild and fun stories that your friends bring home from the playa and rub in your face?  For all of the hard core non-stop bragging burners:  are you really so shallow that burning man is all you can talk about... as if just physically being there makes you cooler than anyone who hasn't experienced it yet?

I think both sides of this spectrum are whacked out.  Black Rock City is a giant canvas that is a "tool" to create the beautiful dream that is considered Burning Man.  A mosaic of head and heart with a random tribe that wallows in the surreal.  I've been "burning" just as hard in the middle of a freaking bowling alley in any town USA (and yes I was in my pink wig and red hot ski pants).  For me, burning is not a location and time of year... it is a complete state of mind.  For those who talk shit about it then quit going and shut up (if you were not able to enjoy yourself on at least some level in BRC then you probably are not going to enjoy yourself ever... and I don't want to hear about it.)  For those of us who talk incessantly about the burn (I'm guilty as charged but working on it), maybe we need to check ourselves a little bit and not rave so much to others who obviously don't care. 

For all of you that participate in the burn to have fun and open your realities, come by my camp early burn for Fuckleberry Mojitos and a light spanking!!
 
This year is yet another new camp for Hekter... P-Cubed Oasis out of Arcata.  I know very few people, am bringing very few expectations and am ready to wander the deeper streets of BRC.  I have recently built some new bridges to parallel tribes that will definitely be coming by for mojitos  and dusty chap side shuffles.

Expansion, Intention, Resurrection

New voice stik is itchin for some action.  New camera is in the mail.  Broke dudes - Hekter has got ya covered.  You'll still be burning whether in the intertidal salad bar or afoot in the Cascade highlands.  Your definitely burning right now in my heart!!

Much Love,

Elliot McHeckerton

So thank you again from the bottom of my sparkly heart! You have inspired me and brought me back to where i needed to be. I am going to send it out to my cafe crew so they can see their work again. seeing this video makes me super excited to get on the playa and set her up!!!

If you have a moment, please send me a hello. I would love to connect with you.

dusty dreamin' kisses and thanks to you!

The theme for Burning Man 2008 is "American Dream" -- it was announced a while ago, while the embers of the 2007 man were still warm on the ground. The theme has spawned all kinds of heated debate about whether it's a good one or not, whether it is to inward-looking or narcissistic, whether it is inclusive for the thousands of burners who come to Black Rock Desert from dozens of other countries, whether it is too specific and therefore limiting artistic expression, on and on and on. If there's one thing Burners seem to excel at, especially the ones plugged in to BM culture as it exists on the web, it is endlessly debating and protesting and arguing and microanalyzing. This might simply be representative of the wildly diverse perspectives, attitudes, beliefs and persuasions that the collective mass of Burners represent. Sometimes it is interesting, other times tedious, often it depends on the subject under debate.

Anyways, I love the American Dream meme and think it will inspire an assload of really thoughtful, topical, sacrilegious art and music. There are many different ways to approach this theme -- reinterpreting American history and symbols, recasting current events and giving us new ways to look at the nation and its peoples, dreaming up a new course that could lead America to an as-yet-undreamed future -- and I think the artistic results could potentially have great meaning and usefulness. But the artistic response can (and should) also include irreverence, satire, anger, goofiness and hilarity. It's rich territory.

Here's how the BMorg is thinking about it:

"Today, Americans appear to live amid the tarnished squalor of a second Gilded Age. By nearly every measure, America has become a more unequal society. A mere one percent of the population now controls a third of the nation's wealth. Education, health care and home ownership – these now escape the reach of those who thought they were the middle class. Forty years of heedless mass-consumption have turned dreams into delusions. America's awash in debt. Embroiled in a wayward war, its citizens are told to shop.

Many feel that the United States is now adrift. Its allies, once so numerous, begin to fall away and chart an independent course. Its citizens, more tellingly, have lost their faith in progress. Polls indicate they now believe their children can't expect a better future. They distrust the institutions of government, of finance, and the corrupting power of large corporations. And yet, the native traits of any culture are deep-rooted. Freedom, opportunity, inventiveness, the power to transform oneself: these values and a love of self-expression still endure.

Perhaps, it's time Americans began to face themselves. Maybe, it's also time that they began to listen to other countries of the world. All of us are immigrants to Black Rock City. What can we dream America to be?"

Read more about it here. If you have a feeling one way or another about the "American Dream" theme, speak up in the "comments" page.

And hot damn, tickets are already on sale!

Because we here at Boogie Universal care about the personal safety and well-being of all visitors to the Boogie Pyramid, we've done some intensive safety tests to our structure to make sure it does not catch fire and melt, which would result in massive casualties and a Superfund toxic waste emergency. As you already know, our pyramid is constructed from recycled billboard vinyl, the flammability of which was untested.



Here you can see Moontroll, aka DJ Playaduster, subjecting the vinyl to serious fire testing with his Bic lighter. Luckily, the material did not combusticate, but only sort of melted and withered a bit, extinguishing itself after releasing small black puffs of nasty smoke. Our crew of Safety Third Inspectors approved the general soundness of the flammability thresholds, though it was decided that having a few extinguishers on hand wouldn't be a bad idea.



They also stressed the importance of keeping fire-breathing art cars that send out 80-foot columns of jet fuel fireballs into the air far away from our pyramid. Flaming hula hoopers could be a safety hazard too...

So the Boogie Universal crew was unanimous in our resolve to keep plugging away on the Boogie Pyramid project and get it in shape so it is a worthy addition to Black Rock City. We're gonna be on the Esplanade and 9:00, and we want to be proud of our contribution. The first erection of the Pyramid revealed several structural flaws, which Erik, Chad, Robin and I got to fixin' last night in a work party that went until dark. We added some "bonus cables, restrung a few seams, incorporated more stakes to pull out the bottom and other nips and tucks, and finally got to raise it half-way to see how it looked in Version 2.0. It was promising, and I feel less anxiety regarding the status of our dream project.

We've got two more work parties scheduled and hope lots of fellow campers will be there to further the makeover work.

I think it is going to work out excellently, just like Erik predicted.

Gabe used his screwdriver a lot and made faces that make it look he knew what he was doing...



Brock held the mast aloft and smiled alot.



On top of all that, Erik took off his shirt and the work place was a place of great natural beauty, with Komo Kulshan looking over our shoulders...



The full Boogie Pyramid erection is just a matter of days away...

First of all, The Three Broke Dudes suddenly and surprisingly became The Two Broke Dudes when Hekter, our brother holding down the Inland Empire from a Spokane position, bowed out last week. Couldn't swing the finances this year, he said, and so regretfully surrendered his Green Man ticket to the swirling forces of the universe. No time to update the website at this late date to reflect this new Configuration of Dudes– the man burns in 32 days, don't you know! – so I'm just gonna let it ride for now. Hekter – we'll miss you and the playa will miss you, but we'll tell the Man you said "Whattup?" I was really looking forward to riding side-saddle with Johnny Buckskin 'cross the desert expanses in search of the Milk of Amnesia with chaps strapped loosely....

Secondly, earlier posts to this blog reference The Three Broke Dudes joining forces with Boogie Universal Arts Collective to bring a ginormous Boogie Pyramid to Burning Man. Our earlier daydreams of the mobile soundsystem/Lotus Lounge contraption got awfully technical and out of our reach for now, but then we connected with this lovely group of creative and groovy folks here in Bellingham that have been throwing dance parties and costume balls and circus performances with great success for the past 8 years. The group decided they wanted to bring their Boogie magic to the playa in '07 and put out the word on the local BurningHamsters listserv – yes, for real: BurningHamsters, the loosely-affiliated regional group of local burners.


Canadian geese fly in formation over the Boogie Pyramid work site.

Anyways, fast forward 2 or 3 months and we're a gang somewhere between 20-30 people and the Boogie pyramid is fast approaching reality-status. We've been meeting every weekend for months in an undisclosed farm field outside of Ferndale, WA and constructing this….this…thing out of recycled billboard vinyl, rivets, grommets and galvanized steel. There has been much amateur engineering and high school math skills have been dusted off as we try and figure out how this pyramid will work. People have pitched in with dozens of hours of labor, free welding work for the mast, free use of aforementioned secret farm field, etc and I think we're actually gonna pull this off.


Meeting under the camp shade structure (not the pyramid).

But building the Boogie Pyramid is only one part of the story (catch breath, safety check and swill beer...). The collective has also been meeting most Tuesdays to plan a myriad of camp logistics: food, Leave No Trace, transportation, camp theme, entertainment in the Pyramid, camping, furniture, costumage, generators and power production, booze, camp wellness, showers and grey water evaporation – the list goes on and on and then on some more. We hash through all this for hours, and then follow up with brainstorms and conundrums online on our listserv group. Impossible to say how many hours have gone in to this project, this dream, this folly – actually, we probably don't even want to know. But I have found an odd sense of satisfaction in focusing my free time on an endeavor that is madness, a mission that that makes no sense. I get a surprising jolt of inspiration in spending hard-earned time and money on a project with aspirations that lie outside of normal boundaries: we won't make any money doing this. There is no fame and glory to be earned in all of this, no job promotion nor merit badge.


Inside the camp shade structure (our tents will be set up underneath for double-shade sleeping potential).

So why are we doing it? Hard to pin down. I'm sure each member of the Boogie Universal camp would provide a different answer.

What is it that draws one to the playa anyways? An infinite amount of answers, all correct.

But, more importantly, what makes one want to return to Burning Man again, after having tasted the dust storms and hangovers and sunburn and thirst of the desert?

And why work to set up an enormous 35,000 watt sound installation in a 3,600 square-foot 40-foot tall white pyramid a thousand miles away from home in the middle of a desiccated lake bed in Nevada?

Shouldn't you be home, at work, somewhere moist and comfy?!?


Camp shade structure and Komo Kulshan.
All photos by Scott Glackman -- thanks!

(You can see more pictures here. You can listen to musical mixes bound for the playa here. You can support our mission financially here.)

It's all made of plywood, and it's all gonna burn at the end of the week. Designs courtesy of Playatech.com.

I just got off the phone with your new best friend, Jake from Burning Man headquarters.  They seem to like the sounds of what we're up to here in the Boogie Universal ARTS Collective, 'cause they're giving us ESPLANADE PLACEMENT!  Whooo hoooo!!!!
 
I originally submitted a request for 60 feet of Esplanade frontage with 120 feet deep for our camp, they've bumped that up to 100 feet on the Esplanade and 150' deep!  That gives us lots more room to make our private camp area more comfortable, plus gives us room for some shaded couches right on the esplanade, and more room for whatever we can come up with. 
 
While this is massively exciting, it also adds a fair amount of pressure.  For those of you that have been to the Playa, you already know that the camps on the Esplanade are uber elaborate, interactive 24/7, and generally pretty friggin' inspiring.  We're going to have to take this thing to the next level.  Most people won't even know what they're placement will be until sometime in August--we get the early heads-up to have the extra time to make sure that our camp is 100% kick-ass.  40,000 people are going to know who Boogie Universal is; I think we should make that opportunity count and leave a good impression.
 
Here are some of my immediate ideas from my hyper-swirling mind:
 
we'll need to get more serious about fund-raisers:
• we may need a bigger truck, that means more gas, more rental expenses, more money
• we may need more infrastructure--more furniture for public, more decorations, more art installations, more...

How 'bout a new lead person:  Furniture Building Initiator
• I suggest we go with the tried & true Playatech designs (you can easily build a bench out of a single piece of plywood, no joining hardware or adhesives, so it easily transport as flat pieces).  They can then be decorated and upholstered/cushioned to make them more comfortable http://www.playatech.com/index.php
• It would be ideal to also have some sort of shade structure over them--totally open to ideas....
We need talent
• I think we need to push for pulling off live sound--that's going to mean about $1,500 worth of gear that we don't have (snake, mics & mic stands, 2 more used amps)
• we need someone that knows how to run live sound, preferably more than one person as to disperse the responsibility
• VARIETY.  I think several of us share the idea that we should be more than just a rave camp, or even more than just a dance camp.  Know anyone that does theater, cabaret, spoken word, performance art, fire dancing, stripping, juggling, comedy, improv, live music, or preferably all at the same time?  We've got a lot of spots to fill... all day, all night, every day, every night--whoa.
• start talking to bands and djs.  I know Edub was interested in helping book talent, let's get together as many leads as we can, then start sorting out a schedule

Presence:
• Nils talked about getting a new banner or two printed up for us--let's get on that, as big as possible
• Louisa talked about making a sign and/or flag--it would be great to have these done well ahead of time so that we can display them at our fundraisers
• the dj booth could use some either touch up, repainting, or adding to what's there... anyone interested?
• the dj booth could really use some sort of lighting on the outside of the roof.  The way it is now, it looks cool during the day (shiny silver surface) but at night completely disappears.  It would be really cool if it had sequenced rope lights rotating around highlighting the 8 panels that make up the octagon roof.  Anyone interested?  Brock?  Chad?

Camp mates:
• With the added responsibilities, I wouldn't mind if we round up just a few more people that could help out.  I think there are enough of us committed now as a core group, that we can decide together about new memberships (then the "core" becomes bigger--we don't need to maintain a 'core' and those outside the core, we're all in this together)
couches:
• depending on our truck size/space situation, it would be very nice to have a couch or two.  keep your eyes out for a freebie that doesn't stink (it won't be coming back home).
 
Obviously, we didn't get the pyramid done in time for Critical Massive.   It's too bad, but we did our best.  We'll get to take it down there next year after its' been playa proven.
 
Ok, that's it from me for now.  Please brainstorm with me and let's make this thing absolutely friggin' awesome!
 
Super stoked,
 
Erik

Re: BU on the Esplanade

Yowza! That is some HUGE NEWS Eric......my mind is flooded with possibilities, excitement and a good dose of stress. This announcement of being placed on the Esplanade really takes the BU theme camp in a new direction and turns the volume up to 11.

I think we should pow-wow this week as soon as possible -- wednesday evening at my home? The kind of camp you are describing -- uber-elaborate, 24/7, art
installations and performances -- seems to be a much more complicated and time-consuming kind of camp than what I was picturing, and I'm really curious to know if you think we have the capacity for that. Our small group of campers at Sasha's a few weeks back seem pretty mellow and modest in size, so I'm wondering if there is a hidden stash of energy/talent/time/money to pull off the dream of the Boogie Pyramid on the Esplanade? Is there a
secret plan? How many people do we have anyways?

On one hand I'm really stoked that BU and the BurningHamsters have been given this opportunity to BRING IT in such a visible way to the playa. On the other, I'm not sure that this is the kind of Burning Man experience I had in mind for 2007 and don't know if I have
the abilities or motivation to take it beyond the relatively simple/small/mellow vision that we fleshed out in our first meeting. I surely don't want to rain on anybody's parade here, but I have reservations about the size/scope/$/commitment that this Boogie Universal Camp Version 2.0 seems to demand. For instance, I like lots of time and space for wandering and explorations of the multitudinous wonders of the playa and city, and don't want to be tied down with too many commitments to a big production..... I am also interested in being a part of creating a healing, creative, groovy refuge from the craziness, and not the craziness itself!

What are other peoples thinking? Who is able to meet Wednesday 6-8ish in B'ham?

much love, moontroll

Re: BU on the Esplanade

WORD! My sentiments exactly! I've been pondering the implications of this incredible opportunity since I read the announcement yesterday and I must say that my mind is spinning, yo! I keep hearing the mantra that Scottie, Christian and I coined early on in our Playa planning - "Keep it simple, keep it green." Blowing
up on the Esplanade feels far, far from that. The question that I have now is, how can we make this work?

I'd be willing to come up to the Ham for a pow-wow on Wednesday. Can we make that happen. It seems that there is MUCH to discuss.

In the spirit of creativity and collaboration,

~ Edub

Re: BU on the Esplanade

Wednesday sounds great.  I'd love to see the crew get together again and talk about the new opportunity. 
 
I understand and share your concern Christian about wanting to keep it simple, fun, intimate and not over-burdening our experience on the Playa.  With the right planning and participation from the Playa at large, I think we can keep things going basically on auto-pilot once our camp is set-up.  I don't think that our original idea of a theme camp has been compromised, we'll just get to share it with a lot more people and have a front row seat for all the fun.
 
I've been scheming up an idea for some Playatech "porch swings."  On our Esplanade frontage, I thought it would be could to have a few chill areas where we and passersby can cozily rest their tired feet and enjoy the never ending spectacle that will be at our front door.  This helps fill the requirement for 24/7 interactivity.  We don't need to be "entertaining" 24/7 as hosts, just have a cool place available all the time.  We can do this, no prob.
 
I'm in Seattle 'till wednesday and look forward to seeing as many of you are available then.
 
Much love my friends,
 
Erik

We've got the fabric for the main structure. The cables are still on order and should be here within the next week. We will be working this Sunday just outside of Ferndale on Donna's farm (her family has got 118 acres that should give us plenty of room to stretch out everything we've got going on). All are welcome to come out and help out. Good things to bring: gloves, basic hand tools like plyers & scissors, utility knives, pocket knives. If anyone has any cable cutting tools and/or grommet tools and/or rivet tools, they would be very appreciated and useful. Even if just a couple of us show up for a couple hours (or perhaps even less). Just to get some hands on work on this thing I'm sure will be enough to get the ball rolling and help get it built in a timely manner.

Today I've been experimenting a bit with rivits & grommets for the seams--both look very promising. I also picked up a bunch of string & twine we'll need for working. I'll gather my tools and be out there by noon. Luke will be coming down from B.C., I think Alex is planning on coming out, and Nils is for sure. If you feel like joining us, bring a rain jacket.

Cheers,
Erik

p.s. I reserved our truck to get our stuff to the Playa. It's a 15' box truck, the same kind we've used for Meltdown, Flight, & cabin Fever. For a 2 week rental (same price as 12 days), which gives us time for early arrival, packing, and most importantly unpacking without rushing. It will be:
$520 for the truck rental (+tax)
$.49/mi (ouch) X 1,550 miles roundtrip (aprox) = $759.50
150-200 gallons of gas @ $3-$4/gallon = $500-$775

Total: $1,900-$2,155 (aprox, depending on milage & gas prices)

The Next Day....



Let me be the first to report on a very successful first work party on the BU Pyramid.  We had an outstanding crew come out to get things underway.  Donna was kind enough to let us use her family's farmland where we had plenty of room to stretch out our huge materials.  Huge thanks to Donna, David, Edub for coming all the way from Seattle, Luke for coming all the way from Vancouver by bus, Michael, Mitch, Nils, Alex, and hopefully I didn't forget anyone.  Our productive crew figured out all of the logistics & geometry, and managed to assemble the first of four triangular panels.  This thing is going to be bullet-proof, and look beautiful at the same time!

--Erik

Construction on the Boogie Pyramid has begun!
(Edub's report)



I was up there this weekend and spent yesterday afternoon beginning construction of the Boogie Pyramid. We completed one wall of the pyramid after about 4 hours of engineering on the fly. It was a collective effort with energy, ideas and math skills contributed by Luke, Nils, Erik, Michael, Alex, David, Donna - our hostess on whose farm we are erecting the Boogie Pyramid, Mitch and yours truly, Edub.



We were stoked to have a wide open field in which to unfold the 48'x14' foot former billboards. The most notable advertisement was from McDonalds. The tagline "I'm Lovin' It" was fitting for our work party, but the amusement of it quickly wore off and the ad was forever folded into the wall of the pyramid - thankfully never to be seen again. The weather cooperated pretty well and we were only rained on intermittently. Most of the time we remained dry.

Pop rivets were the assembly method of choice once we got the huge sheets of 20 mil vinyl lined up and laid out within the 52'x60'x52' pyramid wall template that we staked and strung out in the field. We were working within a 60'x60' square that we also staked out in the field. Looking across it became clear that there would be plenty of room inside for a live Boogie Universal Higher Vibrations session or funk party. The template is now set for fabricating the other three walls of the pyramid. That work should go much faster now that we know how it all lays out.



The next work party is scheduled for Friday evening at 5. Bring a sharp pair of scissors, some gloves and some herbs to bless the spot. The vibe was positive and I was stoked on the free flow of ideas and the way that they manifested in to what we created that day. The creative collaboration among the Burning Man Boogie Universal Arts Collective crew is building momentum and ideas are becoming reality. Soon will rise the Boogie Pyramid. Prepare yourselves.

"This is so exactly like the Egyptians!" - Erik

~ Edub



More pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/destinationburningman_dot_com/

As for your plans for the playa...well, y'all theme campers best get your games on, because MAY 31st is the new theme camp/placement deadline -- and that's EARLIER than previous years, but the placement team needs the time to make all your amazing theme-campy-pieces fit, which is harder than it sounds! We know you've got big plans - now's the time to get them organized and submitted to the team that'll put it all together to make one big, bouncing BRC. Don't procrastinate. Remember also, the Art, Media, DMV questionnaires are all still humming along, and have deadlines of their own. Get on it: http://forms.burningman.com/Good advice heard on the NY list this week: now's a good time to take out your tent and test it for the season...missing poles and ripped eyelets still have plenty of time to be replaced or repaired!Off we go.Eeeeeeeeeeep!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PARTICIPATE:
ARTISTS, INVENTORS: EXHIBIT AT THE GREEN MAN PAVILION!EMERGENCY SERVICES SEEKS VOLUNTEER DISPATCHERSRECYCLE YOUR PLAYA PROJECT INTO THE ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND!KNITTERS/CROCHETERS - CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A PLAYA SCULPTURE!SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCE LIST - SIGN UP NOW!ARTIST SEEKS MARKETING "FAUX CREDIT CARDS" FOR ART PROJECT!SUPPORT THE SAPPHIRE PORTAL: SAPPHIRE PORTAL PENDANTSPHOTOGRAPHER SEEKS LOS ANGELES FIRE ARTIST
REGIONAL EVENTS:
9th ANNUAL UTAH REGIONAL BURN - ELEMENT 11 - JUNE 1-3APOGAEA - COLORADO REGIONAL BURN JUNE 7-10 - FRONT RANGE, COLORADOSOUTHBAY PRE-COMPRESSION WEEKEND JUNE 9-10 SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINSSCORCHED NUTS - OHIO REGIONAL BURN - JUNE 14-17NOWHERE - THE EUROPE REGIONAL BURN JUL 4-8 SPAIN: 10 DAYS LEFT FOR CHEAPTIX!
EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS:
BLACK ROCK RENDEZVOUS MAY 26-28 BLACK ROCK DESERTGREENING YOUR BURN/LNT TRAIN THE TRAINER BACKPACKING TRIP JUNE 9-10EDEN'S MASQUERADE - FUNDRAISER FOR PLAYA ART - SAVE DATE JUNE 8, NYCCOSTUMES AND CULTURE AT BURNING MAN: NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART JULY 14 - NOV 11
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Of course this year, new "Green Man" ideas to help us all reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, and repair WHILE we prepare are *especially* welcome! Got info on pick yards, scrap warehouses, sources for used stuff? Hit us up! Note: If you have preparation ideas that DON'T relate to buying or selling, but DO encourage reuse/repair/rethinking tips, please send those in ANYTIME and we'll share 'em any way we can. The RESOURCE issue is the place to share info about those things that many of us have yet to acquire in preparation for the week of surviving in the desert...but let's all do this with an eye toward making greener, better decisions this year!

No, not injesting them, using them to bond the vinyl together for
pyramid construction. No huge success yet. I've tried pvc cement,
abs cement, and pvc sheet glue--
none seem to be just right. I think I'll have to experiment with some
epoxies. Whatever adhesive it is, I think the key will be to design
the seams so that they're not dependent on the glue as much as the
design (folded several times so nothing can come apart).

I went out to Donna's house, just outside of Ferndale, it shall be
the home of our work parties in the near future. Her family has got
118 acres--plenty of room to build a big ol' pyramid. I'll place the
order monday and have it shipped there.

I found a serious hook-up on generators. We could get two 6,000 watt
gennny's (generic, kind of bottom of the line, but new) for $200
each! That's cheaper than renting half that amount of power for a
single trip to the playa. If I wasn't so broke, I'd snatch them up
right away. The guy has also got a single 15,000 watt generator,
higher quality than the others, for just over $1,000---that's a
screaming good deal. He's also got one other Honda 7,000 watt for
$500. Any/all of these are very tempting.

I expected to pay around $1,000 for generators this year and figured
we'd probably have to throw a fund-raiser to get that money. I'm
wondering a bit about booking a club in Seattle and throwing a party
down there for our fund-raiser. I'm open to any other ideas if
anyone has got anything in mind.

I've uploaded a file to the files section if anyone is curious about
our power needs. If I seem way off here, please let me know. I
think we probably should be pretty good with the two 6,000 watt
generators.

We're getting really close to needing to send in our theme camp
questionaire for placement. Does anyone want to help with this? If
anyone has very basic graphic design skills, we could use a simple
plan of our camp layout. I think if we request less real estate,
we're more likely to get a better spot, (I learned that the hard way
last year).

I've also posted a resource tally sheet. Please post whatever stuff
you've got to share with the camp. Also if you think of things we
need or want to take on a project on the list, please post it.

One last thing and I'll quit rambling on. Most of you that have
camped with big camps are familiar with Camp Fees. This along with
fund-raisers is generally what pays for the infrastructure of a camp
and a rental truck to get it there. This topic is entirely up for
discussion. The camps I've been with have been sliding-scale and
have been effective. I think a likely sum to shoot for will be
between $150 - $200 per person and/or an infrastructure contribution
equivalent (i.e. use of a generator, shade structures, etc.). If
there's someone that is totally broke and just can't come up with
that kind of money (on top of all of the other expenses of going to
BM), but still wants to actively participate and contribute, of
course we'll still welcome them. I'm bringing this up now so that
people on tight budgets can start saving and people overflowing with
abundance can pay theirs now so as to help get things rolling. It
would only take a couple/few people to pay on the high end of the
scale for us to be able to buy those generators now. Then we might
use the them for the fund-raiser.... In camps past, we've had
people pay camp fees that didn't even camp with us. We've had people
pay several times the suggested amount. For this camp, I'm sure we'd
all warmly welcome more of the same. I've just set-up a paypall
account to send money directly to the Boogie Universal bank account.
It's linked to my e-mail address: ***. Yeah, there's a certain amount of trust in sending money to my name, but
hey, if we can't trust each other, why the hell would we be doing
this? I think my five years of volunteering with Boogie Universal
should serve as an adequate reference of trust and dedication to big
fun projects that don't make money.

I think we're around 12 or so pretty solid camp members right now.
The magic number I'm shooting for is around 15-20. I'd say we're in
pretty good shape!

Thanks for reading all this,

E

Large black plastic and 2x4's for gray water pit. (10X10' should be sufficient for 3ish folks)
Large squeegee for moving graywater around (maximize evaporation) Tie long stick to squeegee.
Crate for standing on in shower.
Solar shower (2 would be nice)
50 gallon drum to hold shower/dish/misc water.
Personal containers for drinking water (around 2 gallons per person per day)
How many cases of Schmidt?
Outfits - look for fauz fir on ebay or craigslist so we can make fuzzy bunny outfits.
Try to find animal ears that are on a headpiece (like the bunny ears in the ski photos) cause if we could give out ears with picture frames.... ooh la la!!
Picture Frames - Think of a easy and cheap way to find materials (driftwood for you coasters and river wood for my inland self) to make our own frames. (they are expensive to buy!)
Stilts - would like to make tree outfits and walk around on stilts (Entish I know)  Maybe I can find some birch bark to make it work.
Generator - I'm on it but look for a Honda 2000i generator. (retail for $1,000 so look for better deals).
Body Lotions - I know vinegar helps to neutralize the playa and fine ladies would give lil' squirtdowns of pure freshness last year.
Material for covering domes. Parachute or something cheaper.
Solar fans?? would help keep domes from stagnating.
Long boards and ski ropes. (so much fun to hook onto an art car and surf the long board!)
I do have some leftover windsurf sails if we wanted to integrate them somehow.
 
Home stereo system for mobile sound system (great finds on craigslist) ie-(http://spokane.craigslist.org/ele/301444322.html cheap good speakers?
http://spokane.craigslist.org/ele/300519521.html
 
Rethinking Milk of Amnesia cause anything dairy or soy based may rot quickly. Another drink we could make?
 
Brewin' ideas ;)
 
Hekter

On May 8, 2007, at 12:01 PM, Scott miller wrote:

I've looked into rv's from the reno area and they are really expensive... seems like the cheapest ones are 2,500 - 3,000 for the week.  Here is a good link.  Sounds too expensive for me ($1,000 each) but I'll look into renting from other areas, although then the gas price is a big factor.
 
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/rvs.html
 
The other option is to try and rent my bro's rv from him although I'm not sure how road worthy it is.  Sure would suck to be broken down before even getting to the burn.  Any family members of yours have RV's?  Maybe we need to put a little tidbit on our site asking for rv donations or borrowments?
 
Chris- what is the link so I can upload bm photos?  I would like to put some time into the site this week :)
 
Hekter Updater

Thanks for the update Hekter!  I hear you, bro.  I figured the price for an RV would be pretty steep, but I think we can get it for cheaper.  I'm trying to connect with a private party to see if we can get a better deal.  Check out your brother's rig and find out if its road worthy.  If it is, that's probably the best deal we'll find - no doubt!  I want to put the RV on the wish list on our site.

I think that we can fall back on the dome option it an RV doesn't come through.  We should have the money and the resources to pimp one of those out pretty well.  If we don't have an RV (or if we do) I can get a box trailer from 
Gary that is lockable and sealed so we have some extra hauling capacity.

I haven't sent out a link to the site to my contacts yet.  I feel like we need to give it a little infusion of some fresh musings and give it a "Grand Re-Launching."  If we all send out shout at the same time, we can create bigger cosmic ripples and wash some new people to our cause.  You feel me?

I will try to write a little something on the DJ Fundi / Sunnyland meltdown and send a few pics from the Cottage Groove mix session.  Outside of that, I'll get to work a new podcast for the peeps.  Maybe re-visit one of the mixes from the Cottage Groove session...

Christian, I need to get those dates for Pyramid construction ASAP.  My calendar is filling up waaaaay too fast.  Lemme know so I can show.  Hope you had a soul-filling excursion into the North Cascade wilds.  Pics?

"It's all about the Burn now, from here on out..."
~ Edub 

Greetings and salutations. Today is the first day of our website and blog that will track the adventures of three broke dudes with a dream and a desire to burn. We are talking about Burning Man, of course, and our burning desire to make it to the cosmic gathering this summer in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.