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Suggested items for a Burning Man midweek care package?

jenfullmoon — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:22:59 -0800

Suggested items for a Burning Man midweek care package? A friend of mine goes to Burning Man, and a couple of years ago she gave me her camp address to send mail to. So I made up a bunch of silly pictures that fit with her camp logo and mailed them on Monday or so for a midweek arrival, which were enjoyed. Last year I hit the dollar store and bought glowsticks, cheesy paper costume props, bubbles, silly stuff like that that was a HUGE hit.

So, it's a third year, I don't know how to top the dollar store of awesomeness, and there's more people in her camp than just her and the hubby-- her over-18 son and his friend are going along too. Yeah, I should probably hit the dollar store again and I probably will, but I'm kind of stumped on what else to do. I'd rather not have to mail big boxes o' crap, just have a little fun pack going on, and not necessarily to leave out the 19-year-olds with it.

Any suggestions?

Pimp My Bike!

Juliet Banana — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:11:38 -0800

I'm about to go on a bike accessory spending spree, and I wanted input on the most impenetrable locks, the most stylish helmets, and on everything from baskets to bells to headlights. I also would welcome any input on the best way to light a bike frame using electroluminescent wire. HELMET: After considering Nutcase Helmets and this hilarious derby hat helmet and wishing the Yakkay helmets were available in the US, I'm almost decided on the Bern Watts. I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something really cool in the thousands of helmets out there, though; have you ever seen a helmet that looks so cool you actually want to wear it?

LOCK: U-locks are still the gold standard, right? Does it matter if it's actually a Kryptonite?

HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT: These are required by law and safety, but I still want them to look good, you know? Am I going to regret not getting some crazy expensive bulky high powered light when I'm squinting into the pitch or getting run over from behind? Chicago is pretty well-lit; do I really need a eye-scorching headlight if I never ride trails?

BASKETS, BELLS, HELL, MAYBE EVEN STREAMERS: These are just for fun, so if you've found anything particularly awesome or cute, hook it up.

EL WIRE: It seems like most people trot this out only for Burning Man, but I honestly would like to keep something like this wrapped around my frame 24/7 and turn it on for night rides. Does anyone have any ideas of how to keep an inverter attached, dry, and preferably unpilfered? I would need to be able to detach it to replace the batteries and in case it started pouring. The best idea I've had so far is to velcro the inverter underneath my hollow banana seat, but I'm not sure how to keep it safe from the spray from my un-fendered back wheel; maybe a velcro-attached piece of vinyl? Shrink-wrap?

THE BASIC BACKGROUND: The most important things to me are one, safety, and two, style. I want things that will help me not get killed and look really slick while doing it. I am not athletic and the most competitive event I'm going to take part in on my bike are Eat, Drink, and Ride Bikes pub crawls. If I cared about speed or mileage or whatever people like Matt Haughey worry about, I would not be riding a single speed knock-off Schwinn Stingray from the 1960s with a cruiser brake. I ride my bike to have fun and get from Point A to Point B.

How to become a non-drinker?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:46:35 -0800

I just started a long-term medication (bupropion, for ADD) that interacts very, very badly with alcohol. I don't miss the booze itself, but not being able to drink throws all sorts of monkey wrenches into my social life. I need advice on how to be a non-drinker in the drinkingest town in the United States, New York City... where the default activity for any occaision is going out for a drink.

What do I tell people? I've tried being vague ("I'm taking some medication... it's a long story.") but people always ask what I'm taking. You might say that's rude, but telling every new friend or date that they're rude isn't a viable option. How can I handle the question while hopefully communicating these points:
- I'm not judging you for drinking. I wish I could drink, too!
- It's not because I have a terrible secret. It's not because I'm "crazy". It's not because I'm uptight.
- I don't want to get into too many details.

What are some non-alcoholic drinks that won't draw undue attention to themselves?

I often hear things like, "I must seem so drunk to you!" or, "You must think we're all so drunk and sloppy!" How can I put people at ease?

Bonus question: I'm on the fence about attending Burning Man for the first time this year. If you've been, how much would being stone-cold sober affect my experience?

What do I need if I want to put out a newsletter but I don't have any infrastructure?

croutonsupafreak — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:34:38 -0800

What would it take to print a few thousand sheets of paper every other day while completely off the grid? I will have no access to any electricity or supplies, except those that I bring with me. I've got a laptop and a camera. I need a printer.

Will a consumer-grade laser printer with a new toner cartridge be sufficient? Is there a better choice for making lots of copies? How do I power the printer and laptop for a few hours each day, and keep the camera charged? Do I need a full-fledged generator for this? Is a battery a better choice? How much is this sort of thing going to cost? Anything else I should consider?

I can't stop thinking about this guy from burning man

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:30:09 -0800

So I met this guy at burning man. We WERE on alot of drugs but I felt like I'd known him forever. Now a week later, I can't get him out of my head & it's driving me crazy. He is a friend of a friend of a friend and I met him a couple of days before I left. We spent most of the rest of the time together and at points I felt closer to him than I have to anyone since....I can't even remember. There was just so much craziness going on that I think we were both kind of overwhelmed by the moment, and didn't really talk about what was going on.

Now I wish we had, because I'm starting to feel a little bit insane. I just keep missing him & it's almost physically painful. This has never really happened to me before - I got out of a 7 year relationship a couple of years ago and everyone I've dated since has been way more into it than me. So maybe it's just my karmic desserts. But I'm not sure what to do. Should I try to pursue something? or try to stop thinking about it?

He lives about 6 hours away and we've talked on the phone once since then, but it was a pretty mundane conversation. He is kind of shy, and I have zero experience making the first move in this type of situation. I don't even know what that would entail. We are never really in each others' cities. On the phone there were times it seemed like he wanted to say more, but I do realize that wishful thinking is a powerful force. It kind of seems like, he is trying to be realistic about it, which I really wish I could do too.

I am still kind of shocked that I am feeling this way; recently I've been pretty cynical about love/relationships/soulmates. But now I feel like I'm in middle school, I can't stop thinking about him, and I just don't know what to do. I guess I need to somehow figure out what's going on with him, but if I tell him what's going on with me I'll sound like a lunatic! Do you think it WAS just the drugs? Is it crazy to be obsessing about a guy that I don't really know & doesn't live nearby? I've been trying to go on dates & keep busy & not think about it, but it's not working that well. I don't even know what I would ultimately want the outcome of the situation to be, I like where I'm at, I don't really want to get into some long-distance thing. But it's not rational thoughts that are keeping me up at night & I just wish i could get some resolution/relief!

First-timer going to Burning Man needs advice

gottabefunky — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:17:43 -0800

First-timer thinking of going to Burning Man this year, alone - good idea? Advice? 35yo guy, would be driving down from Portland. I've wanted to do it for a while. But I'm wondering about going solo. Would going for the whole thing the first time be overwhelming and/or lonely? Is it worth it?

Also, any advice for first-timers is more than welcome - what to bring, what to expect, how to prepare, etc. I've looked over the BM website already and spoken to a few people. But I'm not really in that scene so much in day-to-day life.

What PA-speakers should I bring to Burning Man?

darkshade — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:55:33 -0800

What speakers should I bring with me to Burning Man? I'm looking for powered PA-style speakers, preferably less that $250 each, that will withstand the dust and heat. (hopefully for more than one year :) Last year we brought a mish-mash of crappy speakers and crappy amplifiers, most of which died in one of several dust storms. I'm looking for something that's not too expensive, but isn't too cheap, since they must survive. Also, for simplicity's sake, they must be self powered. I'm considering the Behringer B215A, or something similar. Help?

Where have you gone, Larry Harvey

Ziggurat — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:58:11 -0800

BurningManFilter, sorta...I swear that I once read a fairly lengthy lecture or essay by Larry Harvey (founder of Burning Man) specifically about the community aspects of Burning Man. And... ... how anti-community most urban development in North America winds up being. That theme is touched on a lot in the Burning Man literature, but I swear this was a whole big thing just about that one topic. I've looked at the essays/lectures links on the Burning Man site, and Wikipedia, and it ain't there. Is this ringing a bell for anyone?
Thanks a lot!

Burn the horse?

MrMoonPie — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:49:51 -0800

Anyone been to Playa Del Fuego? Should we go this year? The MrsMoonPie and I are thinking about going to this regional Burning-Man-esque gathering. We have various talents, it's close and cheap, and it looks like a generally good time. We're experienced car campers, so that's not a worry.

Have any of you gone? What'd you think? Is it worth going? Any special hints, tips, or tricks?

A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear.

mullingitover — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:40:15 -0800

Enlighten me with your costume ideas. I'm going to a week-long costume party. It will be in a very dusty environment, so I'll need to wear goggles and a dust mask practically at all times.

I have a costume budget of about $200, and I'm budgeting about sixteen hours of labor time. I would like to have at least three to four costumes. I already have:

* 150 LED throwies (small 3v lithium batteries, neodymium magnets, 10mm LEDs x 10 x 5 colors, plus another 100 RGB flashing LEDs)
* 2 white el wire kits, 10' and 15'
* white lab coat
* paintball mask with integrated goggles
* red spandex shorts

How can I best exploit the items I already have, and what other stuff should I buy to make three or four wicked awesome costumes? Ideally two would be suited for daytime and would not make use of the lights, while the other two would be for cold weather and would use the throwies and el wire to make the costume very visible in the dark.

Difficulty: there is no limit to how inappropriate or weird the costumes can be (for example, assless chaps wouldn't have any shock value), but it should be semi-practical to wear for a long time or else be ridiculously cool-looking. Bonus points if it's funny.

What other conferences/events are out these like SXSW, Burning Man and TED?

brokekid — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:11:16 -0800

What other conferences/events are out these like SXSW, Burning Man and TED? I'm looking for events that encompass popculture, technology, film and/or music.

Nutritious Camp-Out Food

freshwater_pr0n — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:25:56 -0800

Help me prepare a nutritious menu plan for someone who's going to a 5-day Burning Man type campout. My boyfriend will be undergoing a gruelling test to earn his black belt in Kung Fu a few days after Flipside, Austin, TX's satellite burn. Any food we bring with us will need to withstand five days in the hot, hot, Texas sun.

If you were an elite-level athlete with nothing but a grill, a cooler (ice replenished daily) and a Coleman stove at your disposal, what would you eat ?

How do I make fake icicle wings for a costume?

nessahead — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:18:39 -0800

How do I make fake icicles like this for a winged costume representing Winter? For my Winter costume I want to have little wings made of branches with fake icicles that look like this.

I don't want something that will break and be dangerous. I can't use anything that will shed itself all over the place, making a mess. I thought about making icicles out of some sort of glue but I don't think it would dry clear. Prop icicles for movie sets are prohibitively expensive.

Any ideas?

What Tent Should I Buy?

otherwordlyglow — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:38:13 -0800

I need a new 1-2 person tent for Burning Man. Any ideas? I've been to Burning Man in the high desert, four times so I have a pretty good idea of what to expect: Hot (95+) during the day, cold during the night (~45 degrees F) and windy and dusty all the time. I have a 3-4 person tent but want to downsize and though I know a lot about Burning Man I know very little about tents.

This tent will be primarily for me (5'2", 120 lbs) though you never know: it's Burning Man and there's an off chance I'll meet someone. Plus, I'd like to think I'll use this tent for more than just Burning Man so it would be nice to be able to accommodate someone else on a more permanent basis, should that lucky day ever happen for me.

I'd like to spend less than $150 and am interested not only in recommended models and brands but also in specific features that I should be seeking.

How to transport 1-2 liters of nitrogen easily (must last 8 hrs)

jcruelty — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:54:43 -0800

What's the best/cheapest/easiest way to transport 1-2 liters of liquid nitrogen from San Francisco to Burning Man? I've made liquid nitrogen ice cream once before and my friend just brought it to me in a thermos. But he thinks it will evaporate en route if I try taking a thermos of it from SF to BRC. The thermos can't be sealed airtight (or so I'm told.) Is he wrong about how long it will last? Is there nothing I can do other than keep it packed in ice? It will probably take an hour for me to pick it up and then another 5 1/2 hrs to get there, so assuming I make it a couple of hours after we arrive, it would have to last about 8 hours altogether.

Putting a professional spin on my Burning Man experience.

lannanh — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:19:23 -0800

How can I spin my experience so it sounds more professional? I am trying to switch careers and move into professional event planning. I have tons of experience doing this for my Burning Man theme camp yet I do not want to say outright that a bulk of my event planning, promotion experience is derived from Burning Man due to the stigma(?) surrounding it.

Camp planning and fundraising are a lot of work all of which would be applicable in a professional setting. How do I show them the extent of my experience without them thinking I'm a drugged out hippy raver freak? Unfortunately, our camp name doesn't sound remotely professional. We do toss around a name as a joke that may pass for something less silly, would it be misleading to use that name. And I'm still stuck trying to explain why we throw these events.

Any helps appreciated and I'll invite you all to my blow out party if I land a job in the field.

Tag! You're it.

a_green_man — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 22:32:13 -0800

Looking for spray-on body paints for stenciling human bodies without an airbrush. Google sucks, I need real-people brains.

I'll be going to burningman for the first time this year and I'm starting to actuate a few brainstorms. This one is to whip up 5-10 smallish stencils to tag nearby (semi?)naked bodies. Stencils will be fairly easy, but I can't find any spray paint suitable for skin usage.

Ideally they will be: fun colors, non-toxic, (relatively)easily removable(water-soluble?) and spray-on. I think an airbrush is out of the question as, a) I want to be mobile, b) I don't want to deal with an air compressor, and c) I'd like to do this for less than $50 or so.

What are my options? Are there any spray-on body paints? Cheap, portable airbrushes using canned air maybe? Paints that can go in a spray-bottle without clogging it? Easy methods for using a brush and can if I have to, keeping in mind the ever present playa dust(don't really want this option, but...)?

Scooby snacks awarded for all inspired answers, ones with creamy centers for those of you with great ideas for stencils. The theme this year is "Hope and Fear".

Trippy Filter: Costume for Burningman

Freen — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:16:06 -0800

I've got an idea for a costume for Burningman, but I'm going to need a bit of electrical help to figure it out. I want to use A set of LED's like these connected to cheap hobby quality fiber optic cable ala This sort of chintzy stuff. The Idea is this, the LEDs cycle quickly between red, green, and blue to produce white light. However due to persistance of vision, as I move, it looks as each point of light is producing a rainbow type effect. I'd like to use these LEDs as light source for some cheap hobbyist fiber optic cable( I know where to get this stuff online quite inexpensively) and then route the fiber optic cable along my costume to produce hundreds of little points of rainbow light. I'd also like to get a big clear plastic tube and put a bunch of these lights at the top and use it as an illuminated walking stick. Clearly I need some powerful LEDs.

I've found that over-the-counter type battery operated LED systems like the one I linked to are not only expesive, but dim, last only a few hours, are difficult to attach a more long lasting power supply to, and have expensive batteries to boot.

Ideally, I'd like to make the LED system myself primarily because it would be cheaper and brighter. I'm fairly handy with a soldering iron, but I don't really know alot about electronics, specifically, the details of powering LEDs and the circutry necessary to make them cycle fairly quickly so that the red green and blue LEDs appear to be white when they are stationary.

What I'm looking for is a good reference to teahc myself the basics that i need to know in order to hack together something that will work, as well as a cheap place to order parts.

I'm also open to buying a kit, or a complete product that will fit my needs, as long as it is relatively cheap and bright.

I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars on this project.

Thanks for your help.