The Bar 2015 Edition

[VultureChow]

If they didn't keep raising the population, they wouldn't need vehicle passes. Maybe 50k is just the right population limit and more of us are going to have to get comfortable with BM being a not-every-year-thing-in-the-desert. They're trying to increase population without increasing vehicles, and that just radically changes the nature of the event. Instead of lots of little camps with interaction, you're looking Glastonbury like fields of small tents with some interactive areas. And how long are those interactive bars and domes and whatever going to remain non-profit? It one thing to ask a camp with a bar to just run on their own members' donations and labor when they're one of a thousand bars. But when you've got 20% the population responsible for serving the other 80%?

[maryanimal]

Hi everyone! Has anyone have any updates on Elliot? I know he has a fire very close to his home! I hope all is well.

[FIGJAM]

Instead of going from 37,000 VPs or whatever it was to just the vehicles that they counted last year, 10% over last years count would have left some wiggle room.

Where did the 37,000 figure come from that got approved for last year???

[Dr. Pyro]

Mornin' campers!

Well I'm going to gloat for just a moment. My youngest daughter Joelle is flying back home to Sacramento from London today. She got laid over in Philadelphia. I checked with the airlines and saw there was one seat in First Class still available, so I told her that since we're in the Million Mile Club, go up and ask for an upgrade. She did and they handed her the ticket! On her own she never would have done that. Hell, the idea never so much as entered her mind. So now on the nonstop from Philly to Sacramento she can be wined (even though she's 19 they occasionally "look the other way" in First) and pampered like a good Jewish American Princess. I guess I have learned something in my 60-odd years of life.

And before I pick her up at the airport I'll be at the Sacramento Burners Meet-up at 20th and Q. Stop by and say hi!

[Elliot]

From what I have read, the limiting factor is neither the number of vehicles parked on the Playa, nor the number of humans present there. The limiting factor is the maximum safe number of vehicles per hour on highways 447 and 37.

The simplest of mathematical calculation will tell us that the number of vehicles per hour can be reduced by increasing the number of hours. So I continue to be in favor of adding days to the Festival, so the bulk of the arriving and departing population will be spread out.

There are solid arguments against this, discussed previously in various topics here on ePlaya. One argument is that the ticket price would need to increase, which is true. And I recognize these as valid arguments. But I do not agree with them. I feel that we could successfully have a few "soft" days before and after the Festival proper, for people to trickle in and out.

In fact, such a system is already in place.
We have an 8-hour soft opening on August 30.
And we have a soft ending of the Festival. We may not think of it, but the "keynote" event of the Festival -- the Man Burn -- takes place on Saturday. Many participants leave after that. Then on Sunday we have the Temple Burn, an event of lower "importance". This "reverse" arrangement serves to spread out departing traffic, and I would wager that this is intentional.

We simply need to extend this system. The additional ticket cost -- "rent" per day to BLM -- would be a trifle, compared with all the other costs of participating in the Festival.
The only really fixed day is the day after Labor day, when the "gainful employment season" hits the ground running. So we might burn the Man on Friday and the Temple on Saturday, gaining a whole extra day for Exodus traffic.

The big wildfire here in Lake County seems to be under control. Today I have seen a lot of fire engines parked at restaurants and motels. And I have a hastily painted "Thank you, Firefighters!" sign in my front yard.

[lucky420]

afternoon Bar!


*sigh....


that is all

[tamarakay]

From yesterday's federal register...

Thank you for this ms. Fish

[chuckularone]

The big wildfire here in Lake County seems to be under control. Today I have seen a lot of fire engines parked at restaurants and motels. And I have a hastily painted "Thank you, Firefighters!" sign in my front yard.

Elliot, you are one classy dude!

[Aurelia]

Truth speak !!

xoA.

[theCryptofishist]

The problem is, this is an event where everyone is supposed to truck in all their own stuff.
Radical self-reliance. I can't carpool. My vehicle IS my camp. And I have to tow the MV in, it's not like the people who bring the big Burning Man infrastructure that makes BRC what is is - MVs, art, and all the materials to build camps - can hitch a ride in the back of someone's minivan.

The low price is an issue. In the overall cost to go to BM, $40 is a tiny drop in the bucket. Most people don't give a rats ass about $40, that has ZERO effect on encouraging carpooling.
The limited supply does, but as was pointed out, the extras people have likely don't end up back in circulation because it's not worth bothering with it.
If I had an extra pass, unless I had a friend who needed it, it would just end up in a drawer somewhere.

I think the problem is the BLM and their artificial caps.

What if the DMV invite came with the option to buy a vehicle pass?

[theCryptofishist]

Instead of going from 37,000 VPs or whatever it was to just the vehicles that they counted last year, 10% over last years count would have left some wiggle room.

Where did the 37,000 figure come from that got approved for last year???

I think last year's number came from the number of vehicles from the year before and some added.
I also think it was foolish to use this year's number. That assumes that every pass would get to someone who would use it, and that everybody who needed one would get a pass.

[Aurelia]

Fishy is speaking
common sense

take heed

xoA.

[ygmir]

*shuffles in, pours drinks*
To BIN!!!!

Fair winds and smooth seas, dear one!

[tamarakay]

To Bin. *raises glass*

[VultureChow]

To Bin.

image.jpg

[LeChatNoir]

Goodbye Bin Noddin. Thank you for leaving me better than you found me.

[ygmir]

Goodbye Bin Noddin. Thank you for leaving me better than you found me.

THIS!!!!

[lucky420]

*raises a glass...

Bin

[mgb327]

To Bin! So glad I got to meet him in June.

[Mojojita]

Godspeed Bin! You lightened our days. Goodbye to one of eplaya's own.

[jella]

God Speed Bin ...your infectious smile is my fondest memory

[theCryptofishist]

Bin--May the PagoPago Octopodes cradle you in their arms.

Much love.

[Patsh]

To Bin!
I'm so glad he was able to get around this summer for a final adventure on this plane. (A HUGE thank you to his nephew for making that possible!)
It was so wonderful, sitting and talking with him at the Hof.

*sniffff*

[Elorrum]

To Bin! I had a lovely dinner with him in D.C. and he told me stories of the neighborhood and his wife's store and it was a charming evening.

I overheard a guy at work saying he was going to the desert where there was no water, and he wasn't sure what he'd be doing. I looked back, and said "you got a ticket?" He said he got one in the omg sale yesterday. He's never been and he's very excited. Suddenly I felt very selfish wanting to be certain I go every year, when it seemed right for this guy to get a chance.

[Ratty]

To Bin. I met him for the 1st time in person at the hof also. We sat and laughed at ourselves. Thank you Nephew. It was a wonderful thing you did. I know it couldn't have been easy.

[ygmir]

To Bin. I met him for the 1st time in person at the hof also. We sat and laughed at ourselves. Thank you Nephew. It was a wonderful thing you did. I know it couldn't have been easy.

this as well!! Thanks Ratty.
Abdullah did me, and I'd say us all, such a kindness to bring Bin all the way there.
A great person in his own right, as well.
What a treat, to get to see him at the Hof, eating smoked pork, chuckling and visiting with old friends......seems even my allergies from that weekend are coming back now.......

[Elliot]

Only one month ago... Bin Noddin bestowed upon me the great honor of visiting me here in Clearlake. What a class act, making such a trip to visit countless friend... with the precious little time and energy he knew he had left.

Indeed, a moment of silence at the Meet-n-Greet is in order.

[Madgirl]

To Bin.

I never had the opportunity to meet him but I do remember seeing him around these parts and he always struck me as a good guy. I'm sorry to hear the news.

[theCryptofishist]

Yeah, sick to my stomach with grief. Brings up a lot. He was such a gentle soul--but that name tells you he's kinda wicked, too.

[Aurelia]

Oh The heart !!

xoA.