BURNING MAN ACCORDING TO US

2021. The Great Unknown Question...Can the Burner Culture survive a second year of going online, with no seminal, ritual event in-person? This is the week to find out! It is officially Burn Week, and Evan and Stever recommend everyone who reads and listens to this to jump online into one of six virtual worlds available to you. It's never been easier to get a taste of the Burn if you've always been curious! But will any virtual world be enough to keep the Culture-at-large going two years in a row? There are a few people who are still making their way out to the Black Rock Desert this year, but it's not an officially sanctioned event, and won't have the same support and infrastructure as the "official" event. So what does this mean for Burner Culture? What's it all about to have a physical place and time to go to create something together? And how might art projects be impacted by this? What does it mean to bring Art to an online venue vs a real-world venue?

Lastly, let us know if you'll be checking out any of the worlds, and perhaps we'll see you there!

Recorded: 22 Aug 2021

References & Resources:

How To Access the Virtual Burn - This is a quick guide from the Burning Man Kindling platformMore Info on the Virtual Worlds - This is Burning Man's Kindling platform summary on the different worlds. JUST LET ME PICK A WORLD ALREADY - The starting virtual "Booth" to just get going. You will have to take 2 minutes to 'register' and get 'tickets': most are free but donations are encouraged!"Burning Man: Art on Fire" Documentary about professional and new artists creating and bringing their art to the PlayaVICE Article on "What is Burning Man without Burning Man?" - apparently we're not the only one's considering this question. Who would have thought it's not just according to us!Visit Census Camp! (this is a direct lin...uh err 'secret portal' straight to Census Camp so you don't have to take the ungodly 2 minutes to register or anything, but can just start playing in the Build-A-Burn world. But please do check out their camp, and answer their surveys while there!)

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch!

playaboys(-~atat~-)accordingto(-~dotdot~-)us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

DOUBLE HEADER! We're releasing Episodes 12 and 13 back-to-back since...well...it's been a while! Feel free to binge both, or ignore both, or pace it out...uh...one by one. This episode should give a feel for what 2021 could do for the Burning Man Community should Black Rock City get canceled again this year, or what it might look like while accounting for vaccines and COVID.

Just over 6 months after our Debrief, and just under 6 (ok, technically 5 -- see the Countdown) months until...the Man burns?! Or will it?! Join us as we discuss the question on everyone's mind: What will become of Burning Man and Black Rock City in 2021? Stever talks about how his regional Burn -- Firefly -- has been canceled already, but that event usually happens July 4th weekend. Will the Burning Man Organization, the not-for-profit that provides the legal, coordinating, and fiscal infrastructure for Black Rock City follow suit? Can we trust BMOrg to make a safe, reasoned decision? How do the principles of Radical Self-Reliance and Civic Responsibility play out in this case, just as we've seen nations and other governing bodies wrestle with similar tensions? We take a small left turn to discuss the economy and its financial system and how that's intertwined with the pandemic and Burning Man considerations -- especially the ticketing system. Evan shares his strong opinions on if the decision should be yay or nayt-this-year and what other activities could be done. Whatever unfolds this year for Burning Man...it will be Terra Incognita: Unknown Land (the 2021 theme for the Burn).

Recorded: 13 Mar 2021

References & Resources:

Stever's Regional Burn: FireflyGoogle Fyre Festival for an example of Festival Fail"Black Lives Matter x Black Rock City" - The Intersection Podcast by KALWQue Viva Camp working to make Radical Inclusion mean Racial Inclusion"Burning Man's complicated relationship with the Black community" by Chinwe Oniah in SFGATEThe 2021 Theme: "Terra Incognita" = Unknown LandThe Official Countdown to when the Man will burn this year (on playa or virtually or otherwise)

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch!

playaboys(-~atat~-)accordingto(-~dotdot~-)us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

DOUBLE HEADER! We're releasing Episodes 12 and 13 back-to-back since...well...it's been a while! Feel free to binge both, or ignore both, or pace it out...uh...one by one. This episode should give a feel for what 2021 could be if we go back to a virtual Burn, based on our experiences in 2020.

Maybe this episode would be like going through a black hole and coming out the otherside...only in this case it was a handful of black holes: all the multiple universes that were made available for 2020's Multiverse Virtual Burn. The Serendipity, Playa Magic, Exploration, and Community were alive and well as we all adapted to the digital dust. We give a special tip-of-the-hat to the virtual "Build-a-Burn" Topia Universe experience, and share stories of Secret Sock Drawers, Postal Services three layers deep, Consciousness perspectives from Hong Kong, and a growing Decentralized Dance Party. Special shout out to a listener (Hi Ryan!) for encouraging some more story sharing. And of course we get philosophical and opinionated asking "Should these virtual spaces stay 'open' (and possibly charge money in the face of the "Decommodification" principle?).

A special thank you to all those teams who worked hard to bring these virtual worlds to perfectly imperfect fruition - so the community and culture could continue to co-exist.

Recorded: 9 Sept 2020

References & Resources:

Evan's "The Best Party at The Best Camp"Check out kindling.burningman.org to explore the multiverses and online community optionsThe Decentralized Dance Party"Build-a-Burn" on Topia

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch!

playaboys(-~atat~-)accordingto(-~dotdot~-)us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

2020. What universe of possibilities have been opened up for us? Evan and Stever are back to discuss the last several months, including and leading up to the Virtual Burn this year! Happening now! We go through our emotions and new perspectives the COVID-lockdown-Burning-Man-canceled world provided for us. We reflect on the renewed civil rights movement for Black lives and against police brutality, and discuss how calls to defund the police, re-invest in various community services, and abolish prisons...is...possible. It happens in a city of 70,000 people: there are no jails in Black Rock City, and there are several harm-reduction stewards (Zendo Project) and public safety mediators (Black Rock Rangers) that act as first responders to various situations that happen in the city. We then discuss how the Principles might work in an online world and how you can join us in one of the many Universes of the Multiverse with just a web browser and an internet connection...perhaps the most accessible Burn ever? Let us know your thoughts!

Recorded: 29 Aug 2020

References & Resources:

BuyNothingProject.org - local gift & gratitude communities. Find or start one near you to embody the Gifting principle!Mutual Aid Networks as defined by Idealist.org - locally-organized support systems. Find or start one near you to embody the Participation and Civic Responsibility principles!Team Human project by Douglas Rushkoff (and quick 12 min TED Talk by him) - on how to retain humanity and human qualities in a digital tech flooded world. MAPS Zendo Project - a harm-reduction volunteer community service on Playa (and the default world) that helps address community issues without involving police. Law Enforcement at Black Rock CityBurning Man Rangers - the closest to a "civil servant" or "peace officer" that BM has. A completely volunteer unit of "mediators of public safety and providers of information" which helps address community issues without involving police. Kindling / MultiVerse - Join Kindling and then see all the MultiVerses available for you to join this year! There's something for everyone! (And since we're posting this halfway through the Burn - our current favorite is "Build-a-Burn" - free, easy, simple, and fun :)

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch!

playaboys(-~atat~-)accordingto(-~dotdot~-)us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

Two humans reunite back in the same desert a year later. They've been creating a podcast cross-coast. But now they're back in Black Rock City and take an impromptu Art Walk together, documenting just a fractional iota of the art on playa, for our 3rd experimental episode (see Episode 7 and Episode 9 for our other experiments). They eventually make their way to the Man and continue some philosophical considerations of the 2019 theme: Metamorphoses. It's been often said Burning Man is a "transformational experience" and that one shouldn't be judged for who they are going into Burning Man, but who they are coming out of it...

Recorded: 26 Aug 2019

References & Resources:

Some of the art we came across (links will spoil/improve our verbal attempts to audibly describe what we saw. Look at your own risk...or...just...after you listen...)Chainsaw Portraiture by (we think) Glenn RichardsonFire Tornado as part of "No Place Like Home" by One Man DownPyramid with Swappable Words - (we can't find anything on this one! email us if you know and can provide appropriate credits!)Cloud Swing by Miracle Wonderland Carnival Screen repeater was "The TVs" by Steve LaBerge, Damon Koronakos and the TV Artists2019 Man Pavilion by Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu2019 Theme: MetamorphosesMore on the Golden Spike at the center:"The Gold Spike" by Tony 'Coyote' Perez-Banuet (7 Mar 2017)"Golden Spike!" by The Hun (3 Aug 2005)Black Rock Desert can have water over the old lakebed!"Black Rock Desert is underwater..." in Reno Gazette-Journal (22 Mar 2017) About the Desert - BlackRockDesert.orgAbout the Desert - Bureau of Land Management

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch! playaboys-~atat~-accordingto-~dotdot~-us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

Experimental Episode #2 (see "Ep 7: The Principle of Immediacy According to Us" for our first experimental auditory adventure)! Stever records his OMG Sale ticket purchase process and the considerations to make therein. He also discusses how his local regional Burn, Firefly, handles ticketing. Evan wasn't present during this recording, so he records his reaction upon hearing Stever's full recording. We connect some of our ticketing talk back to "Ep 5: The Principle of Radical Inclusion According to Us and Random" and how ticketing can impact who is able to come to Black Rock City. Who knew there could be different ways to engineer ticket sales? What's a fair way to do it? Should those who "participate" the most be assured tickets? And how does a ticketing system connect to voting systems? All the philosophical questions aside, if you're planning on going to the Burn, ya gonna need a ticket...

Recorded: 31 Jul 2019 and 9 Apr 2020

UPDATE: Literally the day after Evan's separate recording, on April 10th, Burning Man Project announced it was cancelling building Black Rock City this year - 2020 - due to the Coronavirus Global Pandemic. The "Multiverse" theme for this year is instead moving...online, all virtually, and all are invited to contribute and attend...This is all happening on-the-fly. No ticketing procedures have been announced yet, but with >90% of Burning Man Project revenue from Ticket Sales, they are actively seeking donations to help weather this year...stay tuned...

References & Resources:

Burning Man Ticketing ProcessFirefly (New England Regional Burn) Ticketing ProcessYoutopia (San Diego Regional Burn) Ticketing ProcessFairVoting.org on types of voting systemsEqual.vote on the STAR voting systemi-Voting in EstoniaBurning Man Journal - Community During COVID posts

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch! playaboys-~atat~-accordingto-~dotdot~-us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

We take a departure from all the philosophical principles talk to get down to practical business (though we guess this falls under Radical Self-Reliance...the principles! they cannot be escaped!). Tune in as we talk about transportation and packing considerations. Rental Car vs Burner Express bus? Pickup rental vs Minivan vs Moving truck? What about how to stay cool in the hot, hot desert? Plus get some recommendations and hear Stever explain his engineered packing system which takes some upfront effort, but saves time on playa. Or do things the Evan way - a couple of bags with all your $h!t. Oh and don't worry about bringing toothpicks....

Recorded: 10 July 2019

References & Resources:

Official Burning Man Project Survival Guide - for 2019 Metamorphoses ThemeOfficial Burning Man Project Preparation Guide

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch! playaboys-~atat~-accordingto-~dotdot~-us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

Stever was once told, "the burn you're going to have, is the burn you're going to have." We try to interpret this burner koan which speaks to the idea of being present and taking in whatever experience you find yourself in. Evan and Stever discuss some of the philosophical implications of this principle by applying it to our everyday digitally-deviced lives (did you get a notification already on your phone since reading this...?). We hear a short story about "good luck" and "bad luck" and then begin an experimental segment to our episode that tries to simulate what's it's like to be immediately present, and how and why that's relevant to Burning Man. Evan presents Stever with 3 art experiences at his "camp" but Stever can only pick 2 - one will be lost to time forever...

Recorded: 15 May 2019

References & Resources:

"Connectivity vs Immediacy" by John "Halcyon" Styn (8 Feb 2013)"Immediacy, Smart Phones, and the Death of Magic" by John "Halcyon" Styn (27 Jun 2018)"Immediacy and Impermanence" by Rosalie Fay Barnes (29 Oct 2014)"Technology and Immediacy at Burning Man (A slightly less than Socratic dialogue)" by Caveat Magister (18 Aug 2014)"Cultural Direction Setting: What We Heard" by BRC Cultural Direction Setting Group (19 Mar 2019)

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch! playaboys-~atat~-accordingto-~dotdot~-us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

Black. Rock. CITY. Part of the whole point of Burning Man is this dynamic civic life that spawns once a year in the desert. Part of the whole point of the Burning Man Project and its extended community and culture is to bring that dynamic civic life back into local communities. So how might we be responsible citizens of Black Rock City and our home communities? Why, the principle of Civic Responsibility might just have some clues, and its enshrinement as a principle means we (well...most of us?) try to take our citizenship seriously and recognize we're part of something bigger, and that no, Burning Man is not just made for "you." It's made by "us."

We cover a lot from the Latte Carpenters and Cacophony Society of Burning Man yesterdecades, to Adam Smith's desire for rules amidst liberties, how Safety Third is fun but not completely accurate, and the stellar civic service of the Lost & Found Team. We also touch briefly on the role of various state and local agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, who have jurisdiction over Black Rock City (in the Black Rock Desert), and talk about how Black Rock Rangers are a unique facet of civic life and the community. Stever brings up those damn "darkwads" again and we discuss the inherent tension between the individual and the collective. This ain't no "free-for-all" - this is Civic Responsibility.

Recorded: 27 Mar 2019

References & Resources:

"How The West Was Won: Anarchy Vs. Civic Responsibility" by Larry Harvey (Nov 2013)Black Rock City Rangers Official SiteLost & Found at Playa InfoJaywalking policies pushed by car industry (Vox, 2015)"Adam Smith was no Laissez-Faire Ideologue!" (Gutenberg College, 2013)

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch! playaboys-~atat~-accordingto-~dotdot~-us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…

Radical inclusion Evan and Stever? Instead of you two blabbering on and on, why not include someone else in your podcast finally! Answering the call, we bring on "Random" or Maher who's a long-time burner and part of key volunteer leadership with Census Camp. Tune in to hear us discuss this principle, within the context of data from Census Camp on the demographic makeup of the Burning Man community - age, race, education, income, etc etc. Per usual, we get into the nuances of this principle and discuss controversial ways this principles is used to accept or deny involvement on playa. We also talk about why there isn't more racial diversity on playa and its ties to economic considerations that privilege those with the means to get tickets and provide for themselves during a week off in the desert. We recognize we're three privileged dudes offering our perspectives here, so please see the references and resources links for some other voices on and around this topic.

Recorded: 26 Feb 2019

References and Resources:

The Official Census Team Volunteer PageOfficial Blog Posts by the Census TeamSweet, sweet, official Census Data"Burning Man's black campers explain why they are the 1%" by Steven W Thrasher (27 Sep 2015)"Is Burning Man becoming less overwhelmingly white?" by Steven W Thrasher (13 Sep 2016)"Ignore the Haters - I'm a person of color and love Burning Man" by Yodassa Williams (7 Sep 2016)"GLC: Burning Man - A HUEman Experience Explores Diversity in BRC" by Kenny Reff (23 Jun 2016)"This is What a Real Diversity Conversation Looks Like" by Caveat Magister (10 Apr 2017)Project Radical Inclusion's Website and HistoryVIDEO: Burners of Color Talk Radical Inclusion by Project Radical Inclusion (23 Jun 2016)VIDEO: The Kids of Burning Man by Project Radical Inclusion (4 Apr 2016)VIDEO: Bringing the lessons of Burning Man to the World by 9 year old Julia Wolfe at TEDxYouth@ABQ (22 Dec 2014)

Comments? Ideas? Connections? Get in touch! playaboys-~atat~-accordingto-~dotdot~-us

It’s just according to us disclaimer: We are not a part of the official Burning Man Project 501(c)3 nor Burning Man Organization and so we don’t represent this larger legal structure and institution. The opinions are solely our own as merely two individual participants among a city of 70,000+ and a community of way, way more. You know…it’s just according to us…