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Volume 18, Issue #35 | August 8, 2014
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ROUND-UP OF BURNING MAN WRITINGS:
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GET ME OFF THIS CRAZY RIDE!
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Awwwww dang ... it's heating up, folks. The tension is ratcheting up here at BMHQ, sleep is being lost, nerves are showing signs of fraying, and yet we keep at it, one foot in front of the other, one task after the next, making it happen, gittin' 'er done.
We assume you're in pretty much the same boat. Because Burning Man. Right? Right.
Meanwhile, the DPW is on playa, hard at work creating the infrastructure of Black Rock City, and kiiiillin' it. As they do. (When you see that DPW parade cruise by during the event, give these awesome folks a salute. And a beer. They've earned it.)
All that nervous energy that's building is most definitely tinged with unfathomable excitement at the prospect of the mind-blowing metropolis we are all about to conceive together ... in ... mere ... days. Yes, people ... it's time.
Let's go to Burning Man.
The Man burns in 22 days.
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Correction: Gerlach Water Sales Hours
We had the wrong dates in our recent post about water sales in Gerlach. Here it is, only it's right this time. Heh.
The last place to fill up on water (and thereby the most effective way to reduce your vehicle weight, and thus gas expenditure) is at the Gerlach General Improvement District, the local governing body of Gerlach.
Located at 330 Short Drive, you'll see signs to follow as you enter Gerlach.
The GID will be selling potable water to fill up RVs and water tanks of any size, with the funds going to support the town of Gerlach.
Rates:
50 cents per gallon up to 100 gallons
45 cents per gallon between 100 and 200 gallons
40 cents per gallon for above 200 gallons.
5, 7 & 15-gallon water containers also available (free water with purchase of container). Cash only, but an ATM is onsite.
Hours:
August 18-21, 9am-5pm
August 22-24, 8am-midnight
August 25-27, 9am-5pm
Finally, they are really in need of volunteers for the Aug 25-27 shifts (perks may include free water and definitely includes meeting/helping lots of Burners)!
Call them at 775-557-2601 or email them at gerlachgid@gmail.com for any questions.
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Go Solar on the Playa
In an effort to encourage the spread of solar power on the playa, Black Rock Solar and the Burning Man Art Department are pleased to announce RASPA, or Radically Affordable Solar for Playa Artists.
Registered playa artists and theme camps can rent solar panels for $50 each for the week of the event. The panels will have to be reserved and paid for in advance but can be picked up and returned on playa. The deadline to reserve panels is Wednesday, August 13.
See the website for details.
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Health & Safety Tip: Make Sure You're Up on Your Tetanus Shot
Everybody loves shots, right? Oh wait. Not those kind of shots ...
If you want to stay healthy and (relatively) happy on playa, it's a very good idea to make sure you're up on your tetanus shots before you head to BRC, because there are plenty of metal bits and bobs sticking out of various things and stuff all over the place in our bustling metropolis.
Don't remember when you last had one? Then you're likely due.
This is us, helping you help yourself.
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ASL Interpreters for Emergencies and Community Services
We love all efforts to make Black Rock City more accessible. Squirt Gun writes:
"Hands will be flying on Playa this year as Playa Terps enters our 4th year providing volunteer sign language interpreting services in American Sign Language (ASL). Nationally certified interpreters will be on call 24/7 from Aug. 23 - Sept. 1 for crisis intervention, medical and legal emergencies. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Burners can also request community interpreting services for workshops and social interactions on Playa. Our message board and interpreting request binder will be located on Rod's Road and Darjeeling (approx. 5:50) Find out more about us on our website."
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Exodus Traffic Pulsing = One-Hour Neighborhoods!
During Exodus (when oh so many of you depart Black Rock City for your other home), wait times can run from anywhere to 3-9 hours to get from camp to the highway. And to state it simply, we cannot get vehicles off of the playa any faster than we already do.
To make the inevitable Exodus wait more sane, we’ll be implementing Pulsing on Sunday and Monday this year, 24 hours a day (or until the need dissipates).
Pulsing is a system of moving vehicles at regular intervals toward the highway on Gate Road to avoid the long slow creep that challenges the sanity of even the most patient among us. With Pulsing, vehicles stop and turn off their engines. Then, every hour, vehicles are “pulsed” a mile forward all at once. (Tune your car radio to BMIR 94.5 FM or the Gate Advisory Radio Station 91.5 FM for Exodus info.)
Learn more on the Burning Blog.
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When the Temple Falls
Ian Baker wrote a thoughtful post about ways of being while the Temple burns: quiet and reverent or loud and celebratory?
"Watching as the pain of thousands is released into the windy night sky inspires a complex array of feelings. But, I’m worried that unchecked revelry at this key moment could alienate those among us who need the temple the most; that they will no longer feel safe or supported, and they will start to seek their solace elsewhere."
Read more on Medium.
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Moscow, Megs, and the Red October
On the Burning Blog, Burning Man's Regional Network Manager Meghan Rutigliano tells the tale of her recent visit with Moscow's Burner scene:
"What do you get when you cross a giant, flaming duck with a chocolate factory and a smiling tyrant? A bird, a plane…and my recent visit to Russia.
A few weeks back, I traveled to Moscow to participate in an academic Urban Routines conference at Strelka Institute. The invitation was a fortunate one as it also gave me the opportunity to visit the thriving Moscow Burner community and to meet a fascinating and fun loving Black Rock Arts Foundation grant recipient."
Read more on the Burning Blog.
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A Big Giant Hug from Genital Portrait Studios
This is a fun Burners-eye view of last year's event. Banana Man writes:
"2013 was an incredible Burning Man. These three minutes represent an attempt to capture the magic from that Burn through the lens of GPS (Genital Portrait Studios).
The Playa has given us so much, as a gift, we hope our fun will bring a smile to your awesome face."
Check out the video on YouTube.
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Adopt a Street Sign (ASS) Project
Sometimes, when the citizens of Black Rock City are confronted with a challenge, they turn it into an art project. This, ladies and gentlemen, is one of those times.
The street signs that adorn every corner of BRC are not only beautiful, they're functional. Not only are they functional, they are critical to public safety. When that ambulance is looking to find YOU, they need to know what street they're on. SO DON'T REMOVE STREET SIGNS!
Now, despite what we say, we know it'll happen anyway. So let's solve this with an art project! Here's how ...
Adopt a street corner in your neighborhood, and augment the street sign with aesthetically pleasing, informative signs of your own making!
We're calling this the Adopt a Street Sign (ASS) project, because we're 12-years old.
Radical Self-Expression, meet Communal Effort. BOOM. Make babies.
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BRC Weekly Newspaper Seeks Pre-Playa Submissions
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This announcement fell down some kind of rabbithole recently, but we dug it up for you just in time. The legendary (and we don't use that term loosely) Adrian Roberts writes:
"From the ashes of the legendary Piss Clear comes the BRC Weekly, now in its 5th year of publication on the playa. We are currently working on our best issue ever, and seeking submissions for articles, features, etc. Here's what we're looking for:
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Interesting articles and rants
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Comics and photographs
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Infographics about Burning Man or Black Rock City
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Items for the Playa Out/In List
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Playa Lingo
I am also seeking a would-be journalist who actually wants to research and write a cover story. I have a story assignment, should someone want to take it on.
We're looking for pretty much anything you'd find in any other city's alternative newsweekly, except that it MUST pertain to Black Rock City. However:
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No poetry!
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No puff pieces about one specific theme camp, art piece, or project. Shameless namedrops are fine, but with so much content out there, we don't want to devote column inches to any one specific thing out there.
Deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 10. If you'd like to submit something, or for more information, email us. Check out previous issues on the website."
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Be a Leave No Trace Champion
Leaving No Trace is one of our highest values on the playa. Here's a way to help. Michael writes:
"Friends of Black Rock - High Rock will once again be partnering with Earth Guardians and the BLM to conduct LNT outreach during the event. Last year the program was wildly successful in mitigating oil drips, grey and black water leaks and spills, and burn barrel elevation issues. Friends and Earth Guardians accompanied the BLM as LNT advisors and cultural ambassadors.
So, come join in the fun this year. Morning and afternoon shifts are available. To volunteer, you must complete a training session on the Saturday prior to the event or on Tuesday during the event. Contact Michael Myers for more information or to sign up to volunteer."
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Dude, Where's My Bike?
PocoJoe writes in about one of the several awesome open-source software projects on innovate.burningman.com.
[Editor's Note: you can choose to take or leave these sorts of things as it suits your personal participation preferences. We all Burn our own way.]:
"Finding your way back to where you left your bike (or back to camp in a duststorm) can be tricky on the playa. PlayaCompass is an Android app this year that uses your GPS to help you backtrack to where you left your bike, and to give your current playa location (so many feet from the Man, and at what clock hour, if on the playa, and if in the camping areas, your street address).
Take a look at innovate.burningman.com for a description of PlayaCompass, and how to download it. A gift from your friends at HopperCodes."
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Graffiti Control at Burning Man 2014: Read the Tattoos!
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Graffiti on playa art is one of those thorny patches where the Ten Principles all contradict each other. Sunshine Daydream writes in with a way out of this mess:
"We all know that some art projects invite Radical Self-Expression from anyone, but tagging others constitutes graffiti, which is not only a crime but a violation of the artist’s intention and the 10 Principles we live by. So, how do we know which art is which?
Thanks to graphic artist Meps who made my vision beautiful, artists can choose between “Don’t Mark My Art” or “Express Here” stickers when they check in at ARTery, then display the 4"x4" symbols on/near their works to either invite radical expression or invite it elsewhere. The entire community will know the artists’ intentions expressed in this radically clear manner, and hopefully help each other respect them.
My playa gift this year is inviting everyone's Participation in this Communal Effort to support Radical Self-Expression but NOT in places where Civic Responsibility demands we Leave No Trace!"
Check out both images on Facebook, and when you check in at the ARTery, pick up the one you want.
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Last Chance to Help Bring Burning Man in IMAX 3D to Life
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This is not just any Burning Man movie. This is an eye-popping, 3D IMAX view of the place. Help show the world how we roll. Ronjon writes:
"There are only hours left for these indie filmmakers to raise the necessary funds on indiegogo to complete their IMAX 3D film about the art and artists of Burning Man. With these completion funds, the film could be finished as early as October 2014.
Here's the Indiegogo campaign page that also has excerpts from the movie.
Many of the Burning Man artists featured in the film have donated original artwork as perks for the indiegogo campaign and the filmmakers are giving back back to those artists through some of their perks as well. 'From Day 1 this project has been a collaborative effort with the artists and it is my wish that this film remains faithful to their vision and experience.' explains Arnaud Paris, Director of the film, 'We hope that we can raise the funds to finish this film and share this art with the rest of the world.'"
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Jewelry of the Playa
The header image for this JRS is a sample of the offerings from this promising book. Ladybee writes:
"The Jewelry of the Playa book is wrapping up, but you can still submit your pieces, and pre-order a book, on our Playa Jewel site. If you have 2014 pieces ready, please email a high-res photo of them, with maker info, to Ladybee.
We've been amazed at the sheer volume of work we've seen and have included in our book 22 years of playa jewelry! Thanks to all who have contributed."
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Mutant Art Vehicles Wanted to Make Historic Pilot Run for Epic Parade
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When: Wednesday, August 27 at 10am
Where: 10:00 and G
We're intrigued. Doug writes:
"The Greatest Mutant Arts Parade's pilot run is looking for 25-50 art vehicles who would be interested in joining a parade route on the Playa, near 10:00 and G street, then convoy towards the Man, across the Playa towards the 2:00 and D area, where the line of vehicles will disband and scatter.
Come make history as a participant in this small pilot event and assist in empowering the dream and ambitions of several people who are attempting to garner the BMORG's support for The Greatest Mutant Arts Parade. A parade that, in the future, will rival all other Mardi Gras, Rose Bowl, Disney, and Carnival parades. Why? Because Burning Man has a freedom of expression no other parades in the world are allowed to exhibit.
The Greatest Mutant Arts Parade's Pilot run will meet on Wednesday, August 27th at 10am on the Playa near 10:00 and G. All interested Mutant vehicle owners should email Doug Abrahams. We can only caravan the first 30-50 vehicles in order to prevent any safety issues surrounding a potential observing public."
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A Love Letter to the World: the Burning Man Tattoo Project
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When: Wednesday, August 27 at 9pm
Where: Kentucky Fried Camp (3:00 Plaza)
Kentucky Fried Guy writes:
"Kentucky Fried Camp wants to announce the on playa kick-off of a year long art project by Lexington, KY based artists Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova which combines poetry, tattoos, music, photography, spoken word, storytelling, and global connections.
Inspired by the tremendous critical success and community of the Lexington Tattoo Project, this project aims to create a global community and physical artwork through the words of a poem written as a love letter to the world by Kentucky Poet Laureate and 2014 NAACP Image Award winner Frank X Walker.
Participants download phrases from the poem along with their linked abstract images. They then have these tattooed, photographed, and uploaded to the site. The artists then incorporate the photographs into a video presentation of the poem commissioning musicians from different countries to compose original scores for Walker’s words and revealing one digital image created by combining all of the abstract appearing images from the tattoos. This video will be premiered on playa in 2015 with all participants invited to attend and meet each other.
The poem releases August 15th and the project will begin Sept 1, 2014 via a link on the artists' website.
A handful of project ambassadors have gotten preliminary tattoos, and they will be present at the official introduction of the artwork at Kentucky Fried Camp (3:00 Plaza) at 9pm on Wed August 27. We will be projecting a film introducing the work and the artists will be present as well. A formal Burner ball will follow! Join us."
Learn more on Facebook.
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We were listening to ...
... you know, sometimes the best way to get through a JRS is to jam out. Other times, the grinding white noise of our neighbor's air conditioner is the most faithful guide. It's like camping next to a generator. You eventually learn to let it lull you to sleep. Not that we slept through this JRS, not hardly. But on the playa, you have to sleep like it's your job. You gotta learn to let your obstacles help you reach your goal. You feel us?
However, your faithful editor was rockin' The Rolling Stones for the crew at BMHQ. Perhaps you've heard of them?
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