JRS VOLUME #7; ISSUE #12
JRS/7.12/01.24.03
Happy Friday, readers. As you can tell, we’re finding our bunnylegs again as the year gears up, and returning to a somewhat-regular JRS schedule. Try to count on once-a-week, though fluctuating information means it might be a different day from time to time. We appreciate your patience.
So, what news is there in January? Important stuff! We’ve got a brand-new newsletter for you from the DPW, “The Coyote Nose.” Find out what it’s all about with the year-round doings of the people that build the city that you fill in each year. And there’s more: changes to the website, burner projects getting underway, and some great regional gatherings. And speaking of gatherings, we’re hearing that the word in Sacramento is a lot of Burners are planning to play at the annual Damento Juggling Festival next weekend. Interested in hearing more? damento.org.
On with the news!
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*************TABLE OF CONTENTS************
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**ANNOUNCING: THE COYOTE NOSE NEWSLETTER!**
**BURNING MAN MARKETPLACE**
**BUYING A TICKET FOR A FRIEND?**
**A NEW MARCHING BAND IN TOWN**
**ARIZONA REGIONAL BURN**
**SEATTLE MEET AND GREET AND CLEAN AND SWEEP**
**LA: DRAMA IN THE DESERT / REGIONAL GATHERING**
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***********BLACK ROCK CITY NEWS**********
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**ANNOUNCING: THE COYOTE NOSE NEWSLETTER!**
Burning Man staffer Tony Perez, aka Coyote, is the DPW go-to guy for all things cleanup. You have Tony to thank (and profusely, we’d hope) for wrangling the team of dusty saints that returns the Black Rock Desert to its pristine glory, long after you’ve headed home from BRC. If you see this man or any of his crew, plant one on ’em and hand over a cold one. That’s the rabbit’s advice.
This week, we’re proud to announce the very first installment of “The Coyote Nose,” the delightful and proud voice of the DPW. The Coyote Nose will tell you what it’s all about. Enjoy!
“(Yaaaawn, streeeetch) Good morning, everyone! I’m a slumbery coyote in January, and I’m just now rubbing the Christmas crud from my eyes. Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m Tony Perez aka Coyote, (everyone should have a playa name) and quite simply, I’ve been elected to be your DPW and ranch guide for the next several weeks. For those of you who are just checking in, we’re the crusty, dusty mechanics who troop out to the desert somewhere in July to bang in Black Rock City, and then make it go away by October — glorified carnies, if you will. Feeling a little misunderstood, (someone could use a hug over here!) we figured that the folks might like to know just what goes on in the desert during the forgotten winter. For instance, did you know that much of the playa becomes a lake in the winter? Somewhere in November, a snow storm hit, and imagine a flat Black Rock desert under a blanket of blinding white!! Mr. Metric (ranch manager, and keeper of the winter flame), had cleverly said one time that in the process of cleaning and restoring the playa, the watery winter was the rinse cycle. I like that. Well, he should know – he’s one of the few who actually stays out there year around. Yes, some people do!
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Over the several whacked out burning years, one might imagine the stock pile of materials that mounts from the hundreds of orphaned projects that trek to the desert. After Burning Man ’97, we realized that we we’re going to half to get some turf to stow the stuff – so Black Rock Station was born, and we now have a two hundred and eighty acre root growing about twelve miles north of the playa. It doesn’t have a moat or a draw bridge yet, but we do have some armored Knights that reside in that high desert winter sub-freeze. Sir Metric is our lone wolf resident that knows the where-abouts of pretty much every nut, bolt, and screw. Sir John Kelly aka Kamakaze, has become his faithful squire. And Sir Sam, the Jamaican Jah-man rests quietly in some un-known lair, showing up daily to spin his wrenches and fix all that the winter desert gods have broken. Who are these people?! Meanwhile, Sir Flynn, and Maiden Lisa have a home in Gerlach – (you know, the rootin’ tootin’ junction just south of our play ground) and are bringing the newest little girl burner up to speed. (Timberline is just over a year old, now). This team is in charge of operations, properties, real-estate, landlording, daily details, dealing with the wild westy locals, crossing t’s dotting i’s … what the hell ever!! And all of this in the winter-whipped bleak land of the northern Nevada high desert. Hats off to these invisible war heroes that our event truly depends on!!
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So the cogs and wheels of the hidden machine that cranks out our amazing momentary city wish to be recognized and understood. What better way than the weekly ‘Day In The Life’ of the Nevada properties, and the workings of DPW. So I’ve shouldered the task of this hopefully weekly column, ‘The Coyote Nose’
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Here’s a good one! Wishing to gather items for this column, I sent a message to Sir Metric asking him just how things where. Because of the goofy nature of our friendship, it went something like this:
So how’s the daily routine?
What did you eat today?
Heard that the storms are kicking ass
What blew over? What blew away?
What did you fix?
What did you break?
Do you eats beans?
Do you eat steak?
Who are you loving?
Who are you hating?
Tired of masturbating?
Give me something soon.
Coyote clear
Metric’s clever response:
So how’s the daily routine?
Getting the whole ranch clean.
What did you eat today?
An egg cheese and pork tortellin-ay
Heard the storms are kickin’ ass.
Sunny, warm, and growin’ grass.
What blew over? What blew away?
Office building askew, Rivka’s dome’s array
What did you fix?
Re-oriented crew dynamics
What did you break?
The onset of slake.
Do you eat beans?
Wanting more greens.
Do you eat steak?
Give me a break!
Who are you loving?
Cats good for snuggling.
Who are you hating?
Gerlach goons grating.
Tired of masturbating?
Seems to be abating.
Give me something soon.
There you go, you goon.
Coyote clear
Now send us some beer!
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So, even though it seems that the burning bear hibernates in its den for the winter, there’s actually lots of goings ons, gossips, and did-you-knows, and this Coyote won’t have troubles finding items to write about. I mean, the politics surrounding this event alone!… We are an alternative community after all, and even in our supposed free country, true freedoms must be fought for. ‘Coyote Nose’ can help to keep ya’ll posted. Got something on you’re mind? Got something that needs to be said? I’m hoping that this column can be a venue for this kind of thing. Just mail it in, baby!
* * * On a side note – me and the cronies like to kick up a fuss now and then, so we sometimes pull out the instruments and drum up the party gods! I have a funk-jam band in the city called ‘Tony Perez and Second Hand Smoke’ and this Tuesday, I’ll be playing at the Red Devil Lounge, splitting the bill with a latin-funk band called ‘Bautista’ Sounds pretty fun, huh!
Red Devil Lounge
Polk and Clay (S. F.)
Tuesday, Jan. 28th 9:00pm Come meet us! We’ll be there!”
Coyote Nose
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**BURNING MAN MARKETPLACE**
We’ve revamped the existing merchandise section at Burningman.com – we now accept online credit card orders for your convenience. Scratch the itch for videos, wearables, and other Burning Man goods, including the latest releases: “Gifting It” by Renea Roberts, and “Drama In The Desert,” the new book and DVD from Holly Kreuter and Raised Barn Press.
As you’ll read on the Marketplace home page, we’re not opposed to commerce, but we do believe that a vending environment at the event diminishes participation. Likewise, you will not find any of the things we sell at a store conveniently near you (if you do, please let us know). We’re *not* interested in mass merchandising. We don’t advertise these items to draw people to the website. The context is your experience.
If you’re interested in more insight about Burning Man’s position on commerce vs. commodification, please check out the interview “An Economy of Gifts,” a discussion between Darryl Van Rhey and Larry Harvey, from the 2003 Summer newsletter.
Our motto: culture is based on communion, not on consumption. Instead, the medium of our marketplace is the Burning Man Journal (newsletter) and this website. These are our principle means of communication. The context of your purchase here identifies your involvement in our community. Proceeds from the sale of these goods subsidize the event’s survival.
Check it out at marketplace.burningman.com.
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**BUYING A TICKET FOR A FRIEND?**
Reader Miss Pink reminds us to remind you that if you buy a ticket for a friend, your friend will need to also get applicable newsletters, Survival Guides, and information (newbies AND vets alike!) IF you sell a ticket, please do notify us at partiserv(at)burningman(dot)com so we can update the database, and pass on the latest Survival Guides and other information so your friends get the safety and preparation guidance that they need.
Thanks, Miss Pink!
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**A NEW MARCHING BAND IN TOWN**
We are a group of Seattle Burners are organizing a marching band for the 2003 burn. Our goal is to gather 70+ musicians to create a sound that will fill the playa with energetic, fun, organic music.
We need your help.
We have room for all sorts of creative input from all over the country. In addition to the band we would love to have other related performance such as: a cheer squad, color guard, flag team, or whatever anyone wishes to add to the project.
We need your help with the following:
PEOPLE:
-musicians
-drum majors
-on/off playa organizational help
STUFF:
-larger instruments (sousaphones, bass drums, quad toms)
-sheet music
-lyres
-uniforms
-rehearsal space
IDEAS:
-new peripheral project ideas
-organizational advice
-creative input
-general expertise
Any and inquiries and/ or input to playamarchingband(at)hotmail(dot)com is welcome
Our goal is to make this an exciting, inclusive project. Rehearsals will take place in Seattle later in the spring/summer. Out of town musicians, and all skill levels are welcome. At this time the creative vision is for the band is fairly traditional with fun choreography, and loud, danceable music that could reasonably be expected to be heard at some high school or college sports event. Nothing is set in stone.
lets rock!!
Ben Lidgus
playamarchingband(at)hotmail(dot)com
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*************REGIONAL CORNER***************
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**ARIZONA REGIONAL BURN**
April 25-28, East Central Arizona
Last year Arizona created Scalping Man for our first regional Burn. This year Arizona announces, Toast the Toasted man and Burn Toast at Toast!, the Arizona regional Burn located near Witch Well Arizona on April 25 through the 28th. Friday is early arrival and set up, Saturday and Sunday the official event days and Monday the clean up day. The event is on 80 acres of private land in a very remote area of East Central Arizona about half way between St. Johns and Sanders on Highway 191. Currently there is no charge for this event; however, we will have a Pay Pal-porta potty fund account set up on line and will also ask for donations at the gate to cover those expenses.
Maps may be viewed on line at Toast
Our official website is under construction and will be up in a week or two. Until then feel free to inquire about our event to
Arizona(at)burningman(dot)com or
Grover(at)solocollective(dot)org.
All Black Rock City Customs And Courtesies apply. Just like the Playa you must bring everything you need to survive during the event. Due to the fact we are not selling tickets we ask that you please contact us as soon as possible if you plan to attend.
Pack It in Pack It out, Leave no trace! Participate, You Are Toast, it is what you make it.
Gary Taylor
Arizona@burningman.com
To subscribe to the Arizona announce list:
arizona-announce-subscribe(at)burningman(dot)com.
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**SEATTLE MEET AND GREET AND CLEAN AND SWEEP**
Saturday, February 1, 2003 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and beyond
Bring a shovel, bring a rake, bring a broom, or something you baked. We are staging a clean-up around the Fremont Troll, the adjacent park and the Bridge Street Mural one block north. We will sweep up dirt, pick up trash, clean off graffiti, tidy up plants, basically, make the place look a little better. Bring gloves, brooms, shovels, dust pans, rakes, bags, cleaning supplies and other implements of destruction. You can costume if you like with an eye towards the weather, the work you want to do and of course so people wonder exactly what is happening.
The goal of the clean-up is to do something social and do something community oriented. It is a chance to meet outside of a smoke filled bar and help tidy up one of the fixtures of the Fremont Community. The Troll is under a bridge so we will meet rain or shine.
Anyone who has attended Burning Man, has considered attending Burning Man or wants to look like they go to Burning Man is welcome to attend. Bring photos or art cars if you like.
For more information and directions, visit:
burningmanseattle.com/events/
To sign up for the Seattle announce list: blank message to seattle-announce-subscribe(at)burningman(dot)com.
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**LA: DRAMA IN THE DESERT / REGIONAL GATHERING** January 25, Los Angeles
Join Burning Man staffers Larry Harvey, Ladybee, Holly Kreuter, and yours truly, among others, at a special regional gathering and booksigning this Saturday night.
The program for the evening will include readings and projections from Holly Kreuter’s book “Drama in the Desert,” as well as some words and general Q & A by Larry Harvey and other members of the Burningman Organization.
To put it mildly, we are thrilled to have these people at Abundant Sugar and want ALL L.A. BURNERS to be represented at this great night. This is your chance to find out about the new theme, the regional events, art grants, and to get down with your freaky friends.
A $5.00 donation is suggested to offset the travel expenses of all attending from San Francisco, but as usual the donation, is not required to attend the event.
Books/DVDs will be available for sale and producer, Holly Kreuter will be signing.
See Directions below.
Drama in the Desert is a very cool collection of photography, art and writings about the Burningman experience. Check it out!
Abundant Sugar
618A Moulton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
323 226-1225
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{Soundtrack to the JRS: old indierock mixtape: Tsunami, Unrest, Fudge & Versus….}
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Burning Man
jackrabbitspeaks(at)burningman(dot)com (for questions and post requests)
The JRS: guaranteed to be interesting every now and then.
old rabbits: www.burningman.com/blackrockcity_yearround/jrs/
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