JRS VOLUME #12; ISSUE #02
Jack Rabbit Speaks
Volume 12, Issue 2
September 25, 2007
Has the dust settled yet?
We’ve (mostly) returned to the office. We’re unpacking the trucks. The DPW began the line sweeps last week, and Black Rock City 2007 has almost completely disappeared. Wow, we think, reeling back in the “real” world…*that* went by fast…didn’t it?
And it did. A week of unusually extreme weather (even for the Black Rock Desert!), a double rainbow, a full lunar eclipse…an arson at the Man, and a chance to watch the city respond and the Man being built again…more visitors than ever (just over 47K on Saturday at noon, if you’re keeping score), recycling, composting, biodiesel, algae that eats diesel fumes, engines that run on coffee grounds, bizarre lights in the sky, solar panels all over the city…and once again, AMAZING art, large and small, all around the playa. We’re impressed, BRC. You did it again.
It was an intense and amazing one, to be sure, in more ways than one. We got one feedback email from an angry participant who said that our preparation materials were insufficient because we should have warned the new folks that there are “horrible white outs EVERY SINGLE DAY”…we thought to point out that not only does BRC have completely different and unpredictable weather every year, but some of us actually LIKE the dust storms…but we figured we’d just make him madder. 😉 And HOT! Wow! It was a treat to run around in NO sleeves at night, for the first time we can remember since the 90’s.
But the weather aside, there is plenty to say about what worked and didn’t in BRC this year. You’ll find info below on how to submit your own feedback. (Hint: we can’t do much about the unpredictable weather in the desert, nor would we want to….and no, we’re not planning to move “somewhere more comfortable” any time soon. Thousands of us actually *do* like it just like it is, dust and all!) We look forward to hearing from all of you about your experience…and learning from your suggestions about how we can continue to adapt and improve the event next year. See BRC News, below.
There are also images and pictures GALORE, and upcoming Decompressions across the country, and opportunities to participate in those events and wrap up from the year of the Green Man. And for those that are still looking for info on what happened to the first Burning Man on Monday night, here’s a link to our website news statement: http://burningman.com/news/arsonist_07.html . Of course there’s PLENTY of discussion on the ePlaya since the event on this and all manner of other subjects, so hop on over if you’re itching to share your thoughts: http://eplaya.burningman.com.
There’s more below…and more coming soon… and we know we’ll hear from more folks with images and stories once we get this out — but this is a nice JRS dose to get your Volume 12 kicked off. Welcome back to the rest of your life…340 days until the burn!
*/* T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ================= BLACK ROCK CITY NEWS =====================
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY: Feedback loop
PIX! PIX! PIX! AND STORIES!
SAN FRANCISCO DECOMPRESSION IS OCTOBER 7, 2007!
YOU LOST WHAT? LOST AND FOUND AT BURNING MAN
BEYOND BLACK ROCK FOR DOWNLOAD ON JAMAN.COM
====================== PARTICIPATE! ========================
CALL FOR ART FOR LA DECOM….OCTOBER 13
KEYPUNCH FOR THE CENSUS!
SEND YOUR EVIDENCE OF PLAYADIPITY
HOMOROBOROUS – “THE MONKEYS” – CALL FOR HELP TO GET TO DECOM SF!
LA DECOMPRESSION SEEKS FIRE FOOTAGE AND PHOTOS FOR MULTIMEDIA FIRE STAGE
================= EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS ====================
ARIZONA AND EL PASO JOIN FORCES FOR DECOM: OCTOBER 6-8, NEAR FLAGSTAFF
SAN DIEGO DECOMPRESSION: “FUEGO DE LOS MUERTOS” OCT 19-21
OTHER DECOM SAVE THE DATES…CHECK FOR YOUR CITY!
==================== ADMIN ON AND OFF =====================SUB/UNSUB ============================================================================== BLACK ROCK CITY NEWS ================================================================================ **/**/**/**/**/**/**/***/**/**/**/**
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY: Feedback loop
Hey, how about that Burning Man 2007? What did you think about the art? Were the toilets clean and easy to find? What were your experiences with law enforcement? Did you find the map, WhatWhereWhen and Survival Guide informative? What about performances in the Cafe? Did you find what you needed in Center Camp?
Every year after the event, Burning Man staff reflect on what we’ve accomplished and what we plan to do in the future — changes, improvements, what was right, wrong, etc. First, we attend a meeting in October with the BLM and other agencies to debrief on how the organizers and agencies worked together to fulfill the permit stipulations. At about the same time, staff members submit their feedback in EMBER reports. The reports are read by the Board and discussed at the annual Board Retreat. Then the over 100 reports are read by the Senior Staff in preparation for another off-site debrief in mid-November. A fundamental principle of the Burning Man Project has always been to engage in “self-reflection”. This applies to the individual as much as the Project. We take the body of information we’ve gathered in the fall, and begin planning for the next year immediately.
We want to include YOUR feedback in our planning process. When the event was smaller we held Town Meetings in the winter in San Francisco as a forum for feedback. However, even when we offered a virtual option for participation, these events just didn’t prove to be efficient to receive the broadest comments from the community all around the world.
Thus, as in the last few years, the Project is making available an email address for participant comments on Burning Man 2007. Please email any comments to: feedback (at) burningman (dot) com before November 1, 2007 in order to be included in our retreat process and planning for next year.
Due to the fact we typically get a large response to this request for feedback, it is not practical to reply directly to everyone. Depending on the nature of the feedback, some participants may receive a direct response. If multiple feedback emails touch upon similar issues, we will draft a general response that will be sent on the JRS and posted in the Q&A of our annual AfterBurn Report. We DO promise that your email will be read and passed on as appropriate. We want to hear from new and old Burners alike. (Inserting your good feedback along with the bad is always helpful. 😉 )
Furthermore, Burning Man staff members are interested in meeting with participants and hearing their thoughts in person during their increasing number of trips to meet with Regional groups year round. We will gladly work with any Regional groups to set up gatherings with participants when Board or Senior Staff members travel. If you would like to find out more about the Regional Network and a group in your area please visit http://regionals.burningman.com. Many of these groups host town hall meetings or meet and greets when our staff are in the area, so join your local announce list for that face to face opportunity. Regional contacts are also very vocal about letting us know what people are saying in their local groups, so they are also a way for you to have a voice.
Thanks for taking the time to contribute your thoughts. We promise we’ll read what you have to say and take it into account. Looking forward to 2008!
– The Burning Man Project Staff
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PIX! PIX! PIX! AND STORIES!
Time to pull up a chair and reminisce about BRC 2007 in pictures….
Rick Egan’s always got a beautiful eye: http://www.moonski.net/burningman/
All that talent AND a killer accent? Catweasel’s pics are at: http://nephology.org/gallery/list.php?exhibition=119
Howie’s shots including the eclipse, and the, er, “unscheduled” Man burning…http://home.comcast.net/~playaitch/b7mana.htm
Another year, another personal report with pics from Marc Merlin: http://marc.merlins.org/perso/bm/2007/#parades
TV Free Burning Man’s got mountains of video coverage – yes, including that early burn, as well as TONS of great pods created by YOU! – at http://www.current.tv/burningman
Patrick Roddie has posted his tenth consecutive year of Burning Man at http://webbery.com/bm07 (We’re especially fond of his “Paperwork”, aka the “people filling out a model releases” series…heh)
Scott London works his magic: http://www.scottlondon.com/burningman
Gabe Kircheimer does it again: http://www.gabekphoto.com/portfolio/bm/burningman2007photos.htm
More next time, of course. That’ll keep you busy for a while.
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SAN FRANCISCO DECOMPRESSION IS OCTOBER 7, 2007!
The SF Decompression
HEAT THE STREET FaIRE!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Noon SHARP till 12 am
Public Entrance: 19th & Minnesota
On Indiana Street between Mariposa and 22nd, SF
$10 donation in Black Rock Couture/Costume; $20 in streetwear
All ages outdoors; kids under 12 absolutely free!
Outdoor sound ends at Mariposa Stage at 11pm; 10pm other outside areas
Age 21+ inside Cocomo (club closes 1:30am)
Full Event Info: http://burningman.com/blackrockcity_yearround/special_events/decompression/decom2007.html
First we Burn The Man, then we Heat The Street! Come at noon SHARP for a full twelve hours of art, performance, fire, steam, dance, theme camps, green technologies, puppetry, circus, marching bands, DJ’s, Burning Man 2007 imagery, and more, more, more – don’t miss a minute! This Decom will span 6 blocks and include a beautiful art park. Bring a picnic and plan for a full day and night!
pARTicipate!
To reserve a space for your art, theme camp, mutant vehicle, or performance, please email flambe (at) burningman (dot) com TODAY (by September 23rd latest PLEASE!) so we can accommodate and celebrate YOUR special contribution to this amazing community. (Note: Sorry, but the deadline for fire art and fire performance in was September 10th – we were still on the playa!) All sound systems, fire art, theme camps and vehicles must be registered. We need digital image content upfront this year, so please email it to flambe (at) burningman (dot) com and we’ll help get your imagery up on the big Decom screen!
Volunteer!
To be part of the process and team that makes Decompression so special, email firekitty (at) burningman (dot) com, or visit http://burningman.com/blackrockcity_yearround/special_events/decompression/decom_vols2007.html
Leave Only a Positive Trace
This is our 8th year at this awesome location, and each year we must earn the right to come back by respecting the neighborhood. PLEASE review the DECOMandments (our Survival Guide) on-line and follow them so we can do it again! http://burningman.com/blackrockcity_yearround/special_events/decompression/decom2007.html#DECOMandments
PLEASE VISIT the link to get more information about parking, schedules, LEAVE NO TRACE, participation, and post-event park cleanup!! http://burningman.com/blackrockcity_yearround/special_events/decompression/decom2007.html
We can’t wait to see you again!
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YOU LOST WHAT? LOST AND FOUND AT BURNING MAN
Let’s get this much out of the way: if you lost your sanity, your mind, your innocence, your lousy attitude, your belief system, your boyfriend, the respect of your peers, or your future chances to run for public office…well, we probably can’t help.
But for everything else, there’s Lost and Found.
Whether you lost or found something at Burning Man, there are several ways to reconnect things with their rightful owner. And yes, we actually know of a lot of past “reunited” success stories, so give it a try!
Option #1: By far your best option is to create a post under the lost and found discussion on the ePlaya. You can post a description of a lost or found item, and scan other posts to see if someone has your missing stuff. http://eplaya.burningman.com/index.php?c=37
Option #2: Try the same thing on Tribe.net’s Burning Man Lost and Found thread …it has quite a few members, and there’s a big and helpful Burning Man community to be found there. http://bm.tribe.net/thread/88db8f85-12f1-4c5f-b2ab-14b0413cf203
Option #3: Send an email with a description of the item to: lostfound (at) burningman (dot) com. If your stuff has been turned in to us, or someone has written us having taken it home with them, we’ll do our best to re-unite you.
Option #4: Call our hotline 415-TO-FLAME, and leave us a detailed message including your full name, phone #, and a description of the item in question. If we have it or have heard from the person who does, we will try to help re-unite you with your stuff.
Lost a camera or film? A few weeks after the event, we develop all the lost film we find, and post a selection of representative shots on our website so people can identify their film. ID your pics, and we can return you your camera. Stay tuned for that.
WHAT ABOUT LOST BIKES?
In the past, Burning Man’s efforts to re-unite lost bikes with owners has had some success, but measurably less than the effort and cost it took to bring them back to BMHQ, so lost/found bikes programs were not sustainable.
But this year the crew who assembled hundreds of Community “Yellow Bikes” also collected hundreds of abandoned bikes post-event. They are based in Reno, NV. You can write them at lostbikes (at) burningman (dot) com with a description of your lost bike…it’s worth a try!
So often, a “stolen” bike is really just a borrowed bike, and bikes end up left behind in other places and the camp where it’s abandoned carries the bike home to try to find the owner later…so another resource for bike-finding is the lost and found thread on ePlaya. We have a great community, and you may well find the owner of that random bike you found in camp, or be surprised to see your bike posted looking for you. (http://eplaya.burningman.com/index.php?c=37)
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BEYOND BLACK ROCK FOR DOWNLOAD ON JAMAN.COM
Still haven’t seen “Beyond Black Rock”? If you’re hip to download an outta-the-box copy of this ’03 documentary, you can find it on Jaman.com:
http://www.jaman.com/a/video/0vnln3YL-Zco
**/**/**/**/**/**/**/***/**/**/**/** =================================================================================== PARTICIPATE! =================================================================================== **/**/**/**/**/**/**/***/**/**/**/**
CALL FOR ART FOR LA DECOM….OCTOBER 13
Dale writes: “Yes, it’s that time again – the Man has burned (twice!) and we are ready to decompress LA -style in a wonderful new location -Santa Fe between 4th and 6th – on October 13th from noon until 11 pm. This year we have more room, more stages, more fabulous entertainment , and need more art of ALL kinds – 2-D, sculpture, big installations, interactive art, and more art cars ! We will be setting up a gallery -style show under a large tent (a Burner Art Pavilion!) for paintings , photographs, smaller sculpture, fashion, whatever you have created that has been to the playa (or photos of what was there this year) – and will have lots of space for BIG installations and fire art as well.
Without you – there is no Decom, so please come, bring your wondrous art, volunteer if you’d like, and make this our best year yet! Also please pass the word to other burners – we need lots of participation this year!!
PLEASE SUBMIT ART VIA EMAIL IN THE FORM OF PHOTO ATTACHMENTS OR JPEGS. All submissions will be answered and placed if submitted before Oct. 6th . Once we have recieved your submission I will be sending you a form to fill out with important info regarding your space requirements, electrical needs, set up schedule, ticket requests, etc.
Thank you for participating !!
daleydale100 (at) yahoo (dot) com ”
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KEYPUNCH FOR THE CENSUS!
“The Black Rock Census needs YOUR help with the 2007 Keypunch!
Get to know hundreds of burners (anonymously, of course) as you enter data from their slightly dusty forms. The Census Team is looking for enthusiastic and careful volunteers to be keypunchers–that is help enter data from the 2007 Black Rock Census. Experience with data entry, or worksheet-based software (Excel/Open Office) is a plus, but detailed instructions can also be provided. We’re asking for those who can commit to volunteering from now until the end of October. If you’re interested in helping with the 2007 Keypunch, please email Kateri McRae at katerimcrae (at) gmail (dot) com or census (at) burningman (dot) com”
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SEND YOUR EVIDENCE OF PLAYADIPITY
Amani writes: “I’m compiling a book, and already we have some really amazing moments of playadipity recorded! You know Playadipity, aka Playa Magic- e.g.. when you think, ‘Hey, it would be nice to have some bacon with this bailey’s and coffee’ and then someone comes strolling down the street with a platter of bacon and a half-full cup of coffee, wishing they had some Bailey’s. There’s a lot more magic out there, and it rocks my world on a regular basis.
Send them along with any instructions (change name, year, whatever you want included, permission to publish) please! It’s going to be a really amazing tome of work when it’s finished. Please send me email to playadipity (at) gmail (dot) com. thank you so much!
xo,
Amani”
____
Speaking of Playadipity, it doesn’t always happen INSIDE the trash fence… the Jack Rabbits have one for you, excerpted and heavily quoted from a story we heard from a crew member…
We heard it like this: Smoke Daddy (Smoke does the neon on the Man) and Doctor Glass Eye (he’s the guy who made the hand blown plasma tubes that formed the beautiful garden on the waist of the first Man, which almost none of us got to see) went into Reno on Tuesday to go pick up whatever neon they could for the second incarnation of the Burning Man. Smoke was resigned to the fact that they were just going to get blue glass because generally, shops don’t just carry green glass – green glass is a special order with special materials, and very hard to come by, especially at the volume we needed.
Well, guess what? When Smoke Daddy got to Reno, he went to a neon shop and asked on a longshot if the proprietor could handle a large order for green glass. The shop owner said, as we hear it: ‘Funny you should ask…back in 1992, the Truckee River flooded and took out this other guy’s glass shop and he went out of business…so I bought out his inventory. I’ve had a bunch of green glass for the past 15 years, just sitting in my warehouse. You want it?’
Turns out he had more than enough to create the Man’s basic neon outline all over again, in GREEN just like before…just sitting in his warehouse for 15 years, just waiting for the moment that Smoke walked in.
And that, boys and girls, is the story of how the resurrected Man came to be green.
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HOMOROBOROUS – “THE MONKEYS” – CALL FOR HELP TO GET TO DECOM SF!
We are hearing SO much feedback about one art piece in particular this year – Homoroborous! We mean, of course, the monkey-and-snake zoetrope not far from the Temple that delighted thousands of us every night. If a group of people rode the bikes and play the drums at juuuust the right speed (talk about interactive art!), the monkey and snake “animated”, coming to life to swing from branch to branch right before our eyes. Were you totally blown away? We were too!
Peter Hudson, zoetrope maker par-excellence, is trying to bring the piece to Decompression in San Francisco on Oct. 7 so that more people can enjoy this installation. In order to do this, he’s looking or some support from the community.
Peter writes: “Here’s what we need to pull this off:
Pre-Decompression:
– Volunteer drum repair person to fix broken drum skins (6)
– $1400 for 1 months rent for the Alameda warehouse for maintenance and repairs. Even better would be a super low long term rental.
Friday, Oct. 5
– 6 volunteers for an 8am Alameda Load Out
– 1- 20′ flatbed truck
– 1-24′ 5 ton box truck
– Load all components for Saturday 8am build
Saturday 10/6 8 am
– 6 volunteers: Unload trucks & Build
– 1 Gradall (reach forklift) with fork extensions (8′ forks) for unloading and building piece
– Volunteer Security guard (day)
Sunday 10/7
– PM volunteer security guard (night)
Monday 10/8
– 8am Loadout: 6 volunteers
– Gradall w/ fork extensions
– 20′ flatbed truck
– 24′ 5 ton box truck
If you can help, please contact Peter at: peter (at) hudzo (dot) com
Peter is also hoping to recoup some of his expenses from the desert. Despite a partial grant from Burning Man and gallant fundraising efforts, Peter is still personally $30,000 in debt. If you were touched by Peter’s vision, he would surely be equally touched by a donation, and any amount will help. If you feel so inclined, you can send checks to “Homouroboros” 161 Gilbert Street, #2, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Or, to use PayPal click here.
Peter can be reached at peter (at) hudzo (dot) com For more information about Peter’s work, visit http://www.hudzo.com .
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LA DECOMPRESSION SEEKS FIRE FOOTAGE AND PHOTOS FOR MULTIMEDIA FIRE STAGE
Quin writes: “Do you have some great fire footage that you are willing to share with the community?
This is Quin from the Phoenix Projekt Conclave in Los Angeles and I am coordinating the Fire Stage for LA Decom this year. The LA fire community is creating a full day of fire performance related workshops and a multimedia fire showcase called ‘The Emperor’s Court’.
As an opener for the fire showcase I would like to feature a 15 to 20 minute video montage of the various fire art and performances from this year’s Burn.
I am looking to gather photos and footage of the big burns such as the Man, Temple, Crude and big fire events such as Fire Idol, but I’d also love to present imagery of more personal moments of fire spinning and watching fire art with friends.
If you are interested and/or willing to share, please contact me at markquin (at) gmail (dot) com for more details.”
**/**/**/**/**/**/**/***/**/**/**/** ============================================================================= EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS ================================================================================ **/**/**/**/**/**/**/***/**/**/**/**
ARIZONA AND EL PASO JOIN FORCES FOR DECOM: OCTOBER 6-8, NEAR FLAGSTAFF
The Arizona-El Paso Joint Regional Decompression, October 6-8 This year marks our second year hosting a joint regional event with our friends from El Paso Texas.
Come out to Gateway Ranch Near Flagstaff Arizona and join us for the Azburners Annual Decompression! All Black Rock City customs and courtesies apply. Details are at this link: http://www.azburners.org/azdecom.htm Or contact Arizona (at) burningman (dot) com or elpaso (at) burningman (dot) com for details or questions.
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SAN DIEGO DECOMPRESSION: “FUEGO DE LOS MUERTOS” OCT 19-21
Fuego de los Muertos, The Fire of the Dead, is the annual San Diego decompression: three days of art, music, fire performance and the celebration of life. It is our rite of transformation: a nexus connecting the end of the completed burn cycle with the start of the new one. We gather together to light the fires, to release the old, to renew ourselves. Through our passion, our art and our ingenuity, we evoke the savage and the sacred. At FDLM, we express ourselves in radically new ways and create our own meaning in this wild autumn celebration.
Situated in Anza Borrego, you’ll encounter a spectacular variety of creativity. Theme camps, art, music, performance and workshops will abound in this outdoor desert paradise. And this year brings a new tradition: The Secret Sculpture. Anchoring FDLM from beginning to end, this sculpture is set aflame on the final night… revealing a special transformation from within.
This is the harvest season, a time of burning away the old and creating the new. Come experience the transformation… and please participate! Help make this our best FDLM ever!
The fine print: No pets, no vending. Obey all fire safety and camp ground rules. No one under 21 without a guardian. This is not a rave. This is a Leave No Trace event–pack it in, pack it out.
For all the details, please visit: http://www.fuegodelosmuertos.com/ or contact sandiego (at) burningman (dot) com
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OTHER DECOM SAVE THE DATES…
We have heard about the following dates for Decompressions that you might want to mark on your calendar – we’ll forward more info as it’s sent to us:
Chicago Decompression: THIS SATURDAY Sept 29: http://www.burningmanchicago.com
Los Angeles Decompression: October 13 (la (at) burningman (dot) com for info)
Colorado (Denver) Decompression: October 20th (denver (at) burningman (dot) com)
Portland Decompression: October 20th (portland (at) burningman (dot) com)
NY Decompression: November 3 (newyork (at) burningman (dot) com)
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{Soundtrack to the JRS: rumble, rumble, rumble….wouldja believe this rabbit is STILL doing playa laundry?}
{=============================================================} ==================ADMIN ON AND OFF THE JRS==================={=============================================================}
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