LA CONTESSA IS DEAD

sidecar tommy · Post by **sidecar tommy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:51 am

[b]so somebody set la contessa on fire - the never-ending saga has come to a close...

tommy[/b]

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:44 am

Do you (or does anyone) have more info?

nogganoodle · Post by **nogganoodle** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:55 am

I found this over on Tribe

http://bm.tribe.net/thread/d3619ac7-6c1 ... fbf9a2ff85

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:31 am

Just found it too... I am saddened beyond words. I can still visualize her drifting across the playa... To see these pictures broke my heart this morning...

Link to the pix of the ashes of La Contessa...

Yet in the spirit of Burning Man, it seems that if she had to depart, was a fitting pyre for her to transit to the next plane... sad it was at the hands of someone do horribly disturbed they felt it necessary to do such a violent act. Such an ignoble end for a noble (if troubled) ship... She deserved so much better.

Strangely, I tried to post a tribute to her (The Bar #2 thread) and it took 7 attempts just to get it to post. Somehow, this too seems fitting...

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:16 am

Disgusting.

Such a beautiful vehicle destroyed by some scumbag. I hope whoever did it get caught and made to pay for a new one to be built. That ship was one of my favorites I have been looking forward to seeing up close for a few years now.

Well what goes around comes around so if the law doesn't get em karma will see it through I'm sure.

My heart goes out to those that built it and I hope this tragic event doesnt discourage them from future art vehicle builds.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:50 pm

That is absolutely ridiculous -

If arson was the motive - i hope the bastard is prosecuted and confined. Contessa was an icon, and despite past rubs with BMORG admin - I would have loved to see contessa on the playa again.

I have so many memories of BM and Contessa, the Shark, Sawblade, Uchronia, Thunderdome, and so many others.

I do not know the drama with the neighbors, but burning someones art, is low.

dana · Post by **dana** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:50 pm

Fuck (does little to describe what I just went through after reading this post.)

Haven't been on the eplaya for a while and this was the first thing I read.
First sense of - fuck burning man, it just gets worse over time. Then a series of other emotions came in. I have delt with major setbacks, fuck-ups and disasters in my life. I learned to move on. Was Contessa worth it? The linked post got it right. Let's rebuild! Put my name down as someone to help. I work very close to Black Rock. email me if you decide to rebuild.

dj_john69 · Post by **dj_john69** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:58 pm

Crazy !!

Did that happen on the Playa ?? It looks like it did...anyone know when it happened ??

Sad.

~John

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:46 pm

Quoting the Chronicle after 9/11 â€”

BASTARDS!!!!

My empathy with Simon and everyone else involved in La Contessa.

Zhust · Post by **Zhust** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:17 am

I had read through the Tribe posts to be sure this is what happened. As far as I can tell, it was apparently a nearby resident who is believed to have burned La Contessa for whatever reason.

Saying they did it because they hate art is (1) speculation, and (2) misdirects energies. From what I could glean from the Tribe posts, it was a local resident who disliked Burning Man's presence near them. This motive is something we can react to, even if their actions (burning the ship) are irrational, illegal, and worst of all, ineffective to their goal.

I don't understand the desire to say they hate art, or they have no reason to dislike Burning Man's presence near their property. People are driven to do absurd-seeming acts like this because they otherwise feel powerless, disenfranchised, and ignored.

It is a much more frustrating and difficult course to find out why the (presumably) small group of local residents dislikes Burning Man. Is there anything we can do to come to an understanding with them?

The first step is to start from an assumption that they have a legitimate complaint and that we should respect that. People like this, however, often can't articulate anything specific and the next huge challenge is to try to coax out their issue -- and this means not answering every minor complaint along the way.

...

I feel a certain smugness about saying I go to Burning Man. I think being a Burner means I do things better than the average person. That claim comes with a caveat that when confronted with a problem that I formulate an elegant, creative, and respectful solution. Picking up torches to burning down the home of the arsonist and beating them to death is not elegant, creative, nor respectful.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:05 am

Or we could just *BURN THEM*. Burn the witches! Burn the witches!

...kidding

...sorta

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:44 am

I would guess , as with many places that have a massive tourist influx there is a love hate relationship with the tourists. Some would enjoy the circus atmosphere, excitement and money the tourists spend. While others hate the disruption of having strangers around and there communities need to stoop to make money off of the event. Certainly a resentment towards people driving RVs that cost more than a local could make in a decade, and people with such expendable wealth they can afford to squander it on things like a fucking ship in the middle of the desert they only use once a year. There isnâ€™t a lot we as a community can do alleviate these resentments and still have Burning Man.

Not that we shouldnâ€™t be respectful of the locals, polite, and as bifacial to the local economy as we can, but no matter what we do we will never make every one happy. It just takes a few kids with a case of beer and a lighter out to have a good time to destroy most anything.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 10:42 am

Yeah, I "grew up" in a town which was at least semi-dependant upon the tourist trade, and there definitely existed a love-hate relationship between the locals and the tourists. (I recall my mom saying that when we moved to town, the whole local attitude changed at the end of the tourist season, and it wasn't until then that people were interested in knowing you.)

(Slightly off topic, there is also the stereotypical small town merchant, whose attitude is "Just give me your money and don't bother me, better still, just mail it to me!" Not really relevant, but this discussion reminded me of it.)

It *is* possible to make a favorable impression on locals, though. Basically, it involves being polite, treating people as individuals who might be worth knowing, and all those other things people are supposed to do to get along. (And, of course, it is all easier said than done-- esp. after spending a day or two in a car and dealing with a traffic jam at the end-- and even more so if the locals have just got done dealing with some condessending jerk just ahead of you and are already p.o.ed with these strange people descending upon their quiet community!)

Oh well, enough with the philosiphizing (sp?)! I am seriously thinking about taking a nap since I just got done taking a State exam to try to get promoted (which would mean more money to spend on fun stuff, and maybe another shot at getting vacation time off so I can go to B.M. in 2007! [Being second lowest for senority kinda sucks-- and almost everyone ahead of me wants August off!

)

B.

madmatt · Post by **madmatt** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:40 pm

RIP. So sad. The video sure looked cool though.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:25 pm

My understanding is that it was torched by the landowner on the land where it was squatting. It was the cheapest way to get rid of it. If this is true (and I don't know that it is) it raises several questions:

1) if it was so important why didjn't the people who cared about do something to protect it better instead of just abandoning it?

hmmmm, I guess that was one question.

I do want to comment about the attitude of ebing smug about going to burningman. Lots of xtains and muslims and what-have-you have exactly the same smugness about their dogma.

If it's so damm important build another one, like Dana said.

One dawn, walking home from a very magic morning at the Temple we came across the Contessa. The guy who built it was up in the Crowes nest, but otherwise the ship was empty. He'd heard us say something and invited us in. It was bueatiful and special, but it has gone the way of all flesh.

MrMojoinCO · Post by **MrMojoinCO** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:27 pm

The owners of the ship were in contact with the owner of the land and had well over a year to remove it from the property it was on. They did not have permission to keep it there. They refused to move it over and over. It's too tall to take thru gerlach so there storage spots were limited. They burnt there bridges with both the burning man organization and the man they would have liked to store there car with. Think about those factors... and dont forget that they wrecked it the last time it was at BM after crashing thru the fence late night and it needed many repairs and had turned into a huge rat/mouse nest where it sat. This information can be taken as true. it is.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:07 pm

I am sure all of it is true to some point,

but I do know this (as a land owner in Nevada) When crap is abandoned on my land, I cannot simply notify the owner and then torch it after a designated amount of time.

Amongst other reasons that is why we have A Sheriff in each county. It is his duty to condemn, and authorize the removal of a "Junk Hulk" or "abandoned vehicle" I have had to do it more than once in Winnemucca, as the nature and location of our property is perfect 4X4 property and a great place to dump em when you break em.

The Contessa was a parade float, built on a bus chassis. I am sure the bus still had a VIN attached to it and is therefore a vehicle. The owners of the title to the bus are the ones that are liable for cleanup, and impound fees. Thats what was supposed to happen. the Sheriff answers a complaint by the landowner, notifies the title holder, condemns the bus, has a commercial tow company impound it and remove it. Then the county files liens on property until the bill is paid.

Pretty straight forward and is done daily around the country. I think the owners of Contessa still have a claim for destruction of property - even if it was abandoned.

thats my opinion and knowledge of the system/

later all

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 4:01 am

You are correct in that, 007. Sheriff or NHP condemns and authorizes removal. Only other way is for landowner to file a storage lein, have judge approve lein, and go thru the motions of taking posession before doing whatever to it. Once they have LEGAL title to it they can do whatever (including turining it into charcoal).

IF they do not have title to the property they dispose of then it is vandalism. EVEN IF it's on their real estate. Otherwise when you took your $30K car to the shop they could re-sell it. Or scrap it.

And Nevada has some pretty strict laws when it comes to vehicles, property damage, etc. NOT like California.

It's the same as if your branded cattle wandered onto my property, and instead of notifying you I shot it and butchered it and ate the damn thing.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:59 am

Lawfully torched or not its a shame it had to be burnt and nobody was able to have it dismatled to be moved. If the courts weren't involved with the torching than there should be hell to pay. I notice that even though a dispute was brought up that there was no mention of proceedings to settle this according to local customs/laws.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:36 am

I find it funny that if the landowner had simply dropped a note to BMORG,

or on eplaya himself saying - "get this thing out of here"

It would have been moved the next weekend. and this wouldnt be an issue.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:32 am

Hey maybe we can get some corporate sponsorship to build a new bigger better LA CONTESSA
Larry has opened the door for us? Right?

We just need to make sure that neither Burning Man, nor Black rock citizens, represent their target demographic. Lets see and no use of logos, the display of brands and any sort of sales representation on the ship.

If BORG can do it so can we? Right?

I bet I could get corporate sponsorship to get one built if BM really has opened the corporate sponsorship door.

Or is it a â€œdo as I say not as I doâ€

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:34 am

okay, that image goes up on the cubicle wall!

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:44 am

Thanks the name of it is Sabkha Haunting.

Fire Wire · Post by **Fire Wire** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:20 am

That gonna get a grown man cry, or woman of course. Break my heart, that was the proudest ship on the playa.

http://laughingsquid.com/la-contessa-ha ... in-a-fire/

soupman · Post by **soupman** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:19 pm

Wow I'll miss seeing her lumbering about the playa in coming years...

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:26 am

MozyBonz wrote:Hey maybe we can get some corporate sponsorship to build a new bigger better LA CONTESSA
Larry has opened the door for us? Right?

Yup.. BRAF is also a great way to get funding for something folks wouldn't normally be able to afford. Not sure if there is a mutant vehicle exclusion though. Maybe Odwally or one of his minions could clear up specifics, or someone from BRAF. From what I hear about the problems with larger vehicles maybe a standing structure would be better. With a good design it can be disassembled and rebuilt. With all the manufacturing and building talent we have about that shouldn't be too hard. I would love to help brainstorm ways to make this happen. Let me know if anyone gets something like this going.

BigCock · Post by **BigCock** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:19 am

mdmf007 wrote:I find it funny that if the landowner had simply dropped a note to BMORG,

or on eplaya himself saying - "get this thing out of here"

It would have been moved the next weekend. and this wouldnt be an issue.

I'm not sure anyone would have done anything. Used burning man projects are unappealing to be around, let alone work on, especially this time of year. There's a lot to be said about burning your art at the end of the week.
Of course, the current lame ass theme seems to undermine that fundamental tenant.

Bit your points about vehicles and property are well taken 007.

Bootzy2012 · Post by **Bootzy2012** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:04 pm

My first burn, 2002, I remember her parked along the Esplanade when she was still half a school bus. Then they finished those beautiful planks and voila! She was GORGEOUS!!! I will never forget her.

that same year was the last year of the opera I think. WOW. Unforgettable. Good-Bye Majestic Contessa!!!!

Sniff.....

Bootzy2012 · Post by **Bootzy2012** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:05 pm

My first burn, 2002, I remember her parked along the Esplanade when she was still half a school bus. Then they finished those beautiful planks and voila! She was GORGEOUS!!! I will never forget her.

that same year was the last year of the opera I think. WOW. Unforgettable. Good-Bye Majestic Contessa!!!!

Sniff.....

Bootzy2012 · Post by **Bootzy2012** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:05 pm

My first burn, 2002, I remember her parked along the Esplanade when she was still half a school bus. Then they finished those beautiful planks and voila! She was GORGEOUS!!! I will never forget her.

that same year was the last year of the opera I think. WOW. Unforgettable. Good-Bye Majestic Contessa!!!!

Sniff.....

LA CONTESSA IS DEAD

LA CONTESSA IS DEAD

!

the truth

Memories

Memories

Memories