playa lore, legend, myths, and trusims
- ygmir
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playa lore, legend, myths, and trusims
So,
I was thinking, (rare indeed):
I've heard stories, legend, truisms, etc.........
some fact, some not, but, many, entertaining.
I thought, maybe we could share?
Truism:
"radical self reliance doesn't mean a day pack, a six pack of soda, and, a bag of jerkey"
Myth:
"the playa will provide"
Legend:
"the man burned twice one year"
I was thinking, (rare indeed):
I've heard stories, legend, truisms, etc.........
some fact, some not, but, many, entertaining.
I thought, maybe we could share?
Truism:
"radical self reliance doesn't mean a day pack, a six pack of soda, and, a bag of jerkey"
Myth:
"the playa will provide"
Legend:
"the man burned twice one year"
YGMIR
Unabashed Nordic
Pagan
Unabashed Nordic
Pagan
- Sham
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It is true that the playa will provide. After a few days in 2008, my camera crapped out and was not going to work for me. Hopeless, I was resigned that the photos I got would be all for the week. A photographer in our camp said, "I have a spare camera---do you want to use it?". The best pictures were taken with his camera.
Yes, the Man burned twice. I watched the pathetic specticle with my own eyes as the fire hoses sprayed the Man to put out the flames. I was also there for the raising of the replacement Man on Thursday, while a passing mutant vehicle blasted Free Bird through its speakers. The rising of the replacement Man was one of the most inspiring uplifting moments I can ever recall. This was the same year as the double rainbow!
Yes, the Man burned twice. I watched the pathetic specticle with my own eyes as the fire hoses sprayed the Man to put out the flames. I was also there for the raising of the replacement Man on Thursday, while a passing mutant vehicle blasted Free Bird through its speakers. The rising of the replacement Man was one of the most inspiring uplifting moments I can ever recall. This was the same year as the double rainbow!
- teardropper
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- Captain Goddammit
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- Elliot
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Yes, the Man burned twice. I watched the pathetic specticle with my own eyes...
It was even better than that. You left out the fact that many of us were watching a Full Lunar Eclipse when the Man was arsonized. I was at 4:30 and C, and we had our backs to the Man, going Ooooo and Ahhhh at the Moon. Then a cry went up and we turned around and saw the Man on fire.
The performance of the BRC Fire Dept. was most impressive.
2007, Monday. Hmmm... actually around 3 AM on Tuesday.

Elliot's Naked Bicycle Service, Healing Arts, Body Paint & Piano Bar
No phones, tobacco, or politics in our public areas, please
Bike come unglued? Take it to the nude dude!
Website: http://www.elliotsbikes.org
Email: elliotsbikes@outlook.com

No phones, tobacco, or politics in our public areas, please
Bike come unglued? Take it to the nude dude!
Website: http://www.elliotsbikes.org
Email: elliotsbikes@outlook.com

- Sail Man
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2009. I'm chilling out getting to know the future creator of an Alumipede
when a gent walks up seeking a cream soda. I invite him over to my camp and hand him an ice cold one. He had been seeking far and wide for one.
Seems he had lost his woman, and his job, can't remember about the dog though
Broke, he comes to the burn and hangs outside the gate wearing nothing but a yellow thong asking each car for 1$ so he can buy a ticket. After far too long, and with far too little money to show for his efforts, a car pulls up, mentions he has many extra tickets and offers one for the measly few bucks he has acquired. Amazed, this intrepid burner proceeds to the wishing well and pulls a want ticket out. A fellow burner wanting a nice cold cream soda. After seeking all over he found me, and playa karma came full circle. He was able to pay forward his own good luck.
To me, a perfect example of how the playa does provide.

Seems he had lost his woman, and his job, can't remember about the dog though

Broke, he comes to the burn and hangs outside the gate wearing nothing but a yellow thong asking each car for 1$ so he can buy a ticket. After far too long, and with far too little money to show for his efforts, a car pulls up, mentions he has many extra tickets and offers one for the measly few bucks he has acquired. Amazed, this intrepid burner proceeds to the wishing well and pulls a want ticket out. A fellow burner wanting a nice cold cream soda. After seeking all over he found me, and playa karma came full circle. He was able to pay forward his own good luck.
To me, a perfect example of how the playa does provide.
Excuse me Ma'am, your going to feel a small prick.
_______________________________________
Algorithms never survive the first thirty seconds of patient contact
_______________________________________
Algorithms never survive the first thirty seconds of patient contact
- Sham
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Elliot wrote::DYes, the Man burned twice. I watched the pathetic specticle with my own eyes...
It was even better than that. You left out the fact that many of us were watching a Full Lunar Eclipse when the Man was arsonized. I was at 4:30 and C, and we had our backs to the Man, going Ooooo and Ahhhh at the Moon. Then a cry went up and we turned around and saw the Man on fire.
The performance of the BRC Fire Dept. was most impressive.
2007, Monday. Hmmm... actually around 3 AM on Tuesday.
Elliot, if you remember, it was more amazing than that even! On Monday night, the city was still nearly empty and it was a full, bright, harvest moon. The deep playa was brightly lit and there were very few people. As the lunar eclips started, all the camps and vehicles shut off their lights and the moon slowly dissapeared behind the shadow of the earth. This sequence of events was incredible enough, but at 3:00am Tuesday(as you stated), the Man was arsonized. The smalll group that watched this in utter disbelief made for one hell of a start to the week. True playa magic!
- Ugly Dougly
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- Elliot
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Myth:
You must always have a dust mask readily at hand.
As I see it:
The dust is so fine, it is not noticable to my airways, and I breathe normally even in a whiteout.
(Not that it is good for us, but you will not be instantly incapacitated by a whiff of Playa dust -- as some folks seem to fear.)

Elliot's Naked Bicycle Service, Healing Arts, Body Paint & Piano Bar
No phones, tobacco, or politics in our public areas, please
Bike come unglued? Take it to the nude dude!
Website: http://www.elliotsbikes.org
Email: elliotsbikes@outlook.com

No phones, tobacco, or politics in our public areas, please
Bike come unglued? Take it to the nude dude!
Website: http://www.elliotsbikes.org
Email: elliotsbikes@outlook.com

- illy dilly
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Myth:
"Once you leave there is no real food tell Empire"
Fact:
Navajoes tacos are in abundance!
"Once you leave there is no real food tell Empire"
Fact:
Navajoes tacos are in abundance!
Why don't ya stick your head in that hole and find out? ~piehole
Plan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave
Plan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave
- theCryptofishist
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- Zhust
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Fact: it's okay by the BLM to pee on the Playa if you spread it around.
In 2007, the BLM had a trailer with info about the Black Rock Desert. I asked a BLM officer point blank about peeing on the Playa and that's what he told me. The point is to avoid making a puddle that becomes a depression that eventually becomes a dune.
In 2007, the BLM had a trailer with info about the Black Rock Desert. I asked a BLM officer point blank about peeing on the Playa and that's what he told me. The point is to avoid making a puddle that becomes a depression that eventually becomes a dune.
May your deeds return to you tenfold,
---Zhust, Curiosityist
---Zhust, Curiosityist
- capjbadger
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Shambala wrote:It is true that the playa will provide. After a few days in 2008, my camera crapped out and was not going to work for me. Hopeless, I was resigned that the photos I got would be all for the week. A photographer in our camp said, "I have a spare camera---do you want to use it?". The best pictures were taken with his camera.
Yes, the Man burned twice. I watched the pathetic specticle with my own eyes as the fire hoses sprayed the Man to put out the flames. I was also there for the raising of the replacement Man on Thursday, while a passing mutant vehicle blasted Free Bird through its speakers. The rising of the replacement Man was one of the most inspiring uplifting moments I can ever recall. This was the same year as the double rainbow!
Actually the double rainbow was the year before when we got a bit of rain come through. The year the Man was burned early had no rain during the event.
-Badger
Arrrggg!! Avast ye fucking fluffy bunny shirtcockers! Haul your drunken hairy fat ass out of our sight or prepare to receive a hot buttered hedgehog fired up your aft quarters!
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit!
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit!
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In 2007 it rained quite a bit. The double rainbow occured on Friday afternoon. Why am I so certain you ask? Because the rain caused us to pull the plug on the Crude Awakening show. My crew had to cover what pyro we couldn't remove and post guards on what we left behind. The small items were put back into the truck. We then spent Saturday resetting up the show. It rained enough where we felt we couldn't complete setup in time for Friday.
Those who think they can and those who think they can't are both right.
- Sham
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Thank you dustdevil. While I can't remember what I had for breakfast today, 2007 was the Green Man which was burned early. It was also the same year that the amazing bike arch was at center camp. The double rainbow framed the bikes in so many photos.
With that said, 2007 was the year of the full moon, full lunar eclips, early burn of the Green Man, massive Friday dust storm and the double rainbow!

With that said, 2007 was the year of the full moon, full lunar eclips, early burn of the Green Man, massive Friday dust storm and the double rainbow!

- illy dilly
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Shambala wrote:With that said, 2007 was the year of the full moon, full lunar eclips, early burn of the Green Man, massive Friday dust storm and the double rainbow!
Sounds like 2007 should have been called the year of big events. Apparently making the theme 'Green Man' got mother nature's attention.
Why don't ya stick your head in that hole and find out? ~piehole
Plan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave
Plan for the worst, expect the best. Make the most out of it under any conditions. If you cannot do that you will never enjoy yourself. ~CrispyDave
- Ugly Dougly
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Elliot wrote::D
Myth:
You must always have a dust mask readily at hand.
As I see it:
The dust is so fine, it is not noticable to my airways, and I breathe normally even in a whiteout.
(Not that it is good for us, but you will not be instantly incapacitated by a whiff of Playa dust -- as some folks seem to fear.)
I would have to say that "Myth" is true for at least some people. If I get caught in a dust storm without a good mask for more than a few hours (especially if I am working and cannot breath through nose alone), like in 2008, my throat gets very raw and feels like I got punched in the Adam's Apple. It takes days breathing clear air for me to recover...
Myth: no commerce is allowed on the Playa
Fact: The BMorg sells ice and drinks like coffee and tea. RV pump-outs are available for cash also.
Truism: Bacon
Legend: Killbuck
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer
- Elliot
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I'm also sure about rain in 2007. I went belly-sliding on the wet slippery tarp dance-floor across the street.

Elliot's Naked Bicycle Service, Healing Arts, Body Paint & Piano Bar
No phones, tobacco, or politics in our public areas, please
Bike come unglued? Take it to the nude dude!
Website: http://www.elliotsbikes.org
Email: elliotsbikes@outlook.com

No phones, tobacco, or politics in our public areas, please
Bike come unglued? Take it to the nude dude!
Website: http://www.elliotsbikes.org
Email: elliotsbikes@outlook.com

- Simon of the Playa
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- Simon of the Playa
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- teardropper
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- Simon of the Playa
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