next year

Regarding future camp:

While there are many things I could say about my experience at BM this year, I'd rather look positively forward to co-creating an even better experience next year.

I want to be part of a creative, egalitarian group of people with balanced time/energy commitments among all. I feel that this is easier to achieve with a small group of dedicated people or Coy's idea of a coalition of small, self-sufficient subcamps, who trade dinners with each other.

I'd rather be minimalist and self-sufficient than rely on the large village, which provided less than what they offered and asked for more than most of us expected.

I really enjoyed our service to the community this year, though I'd like to explore alternative ways of promoting human interaction besides consumption. Joy & Serenity across the street was a big inspiration to me. They simply created a beautiful, interactive space which drew people in. What I'm saying is, we don't need to be serving something for people to come. It would be wonderful if the first motivation was appreciation for beauty or human interaction rather than "I'm hungry" or "I need my caffeine fix". Meeting cool people and building morningtime community seemed to be secondary to a lot of people who would "use" us like a Starbucks -- with thanks, of course, but again it was secondary. Contrast that with Joy & Serenity: no one can "take advantage" of the colorful streamers because that option is simply not provided.

Fully admitting that I too take advantage of service-oriented camps (the bars), for my own time and energy I'd rather create a beautiful space that evokes emotion or facilitates authentic human interaction. Like J & S, or the shadowy metal cocooon on the corner of 7:30 and Catharsis.

I'm also way down for gypsy weekend gatherings.

love,
Pyramis

wired magazine at decomp

I was interviewed by Wired Magazine for their coverage of Burning Man Decompression in San Francisco last weekend. Best quote:

"There was this one really interactive remote-control robot," said
attendee Daniel Steinbock. "It said, 'Prepare to be inseminated!' and started driving toward me brandishing a metal phallus."

Here's the article.

decompression photos

Gabriel and I, plus three bottles of wine, attended Burning Man Decompression Party in San Francisco this past Sunday and I've posted the photos here:

http://flickr.com/photos/mindmob/sets/1124041/