Are you aware of how you come across to your friends and camp mates when it comes to Burning Man? This little video might give you some food for thought.

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Religious Zealots Jamming to Metal Music

Who Says Religion and Rock and Roll Don’t Mix?

Heavy metal music and religious zealotry do not mix. Until now!

Watch as exalted bible thumpers thump their heads to heavy metal music. Sure to make you smile and thank the lord! What’s that you say? It’s not possible. Watch this and reconsider….

Same Goes for Drum and Bass

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The iSnort iPhone App

One of the best iPhone apps I’ve seen! Though I’m not sure that it wouldn’t drive me insane after the novelty wore off!

Visit the iSnort website

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Hitler Unfurls Plans for Black Rock City

So there’s hope for the 3rd Reich after all. Burning Man may never be the same. Is that a good thing?

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Bill Hicks on British Kerrang Radio Feb. 26th

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the sad and unfortunate passing of comedy legend Bill Hicks, arguably the best stand up comic social commentarian that ever lived. In honor of this great man (who was hugely popular in Great Britain), listen in on internet radio:

Kerrang Radio – Featuring Bill Hicks

Tonight at 12 Midnight (London Time) or 5PM (US Central) or 3PM (California)

Nick Margerrison is the host of The Night Before will interview Bill Hick’s producer/ friend/ biographer Kevin Booth on the 14th anniversary of Bill’s passing. Topics will include – Mushrooms – Flying Saucers – Waco – Bill’s longevity and a plug for a live tribute show for Bill taking place in NYC Feb, 26.

If you happen to be in London, you can listen over your WW2 ham radio or whatever you use in London, or tune in to the Karrang Radio Website – Bill Hicks Tribute

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The occasionally overwhelming darkness of life can seem to be all encompassing. Depressing beyond belief. Beyond hope. I’m looking at life through those dark filters at the moment. Actually, for quite too long now… It’s not pretty… but I’ve seen uglier, and lived through worse.

They say that god works in mysterious ways…

But something has lifted my spirits, if even just a little bit. I’m here watching the end of a mediocre movie called “Devil’s Advocate”. It’s not all that great. In it, Al Pacino plays Satan in human form… an attorney, no less… And he is giving a belligerent, indignant speech about God, his nemesis. It is this speech that has given my spirits a boost and a grin for the day. A ray of hope and sunshine. Redemption can come in odd, unexpected ways. I’ll take it! I accept!

I hope you enjoy this transcript as much as I enjoy bringing it to your attention:

God? …..Is that it..?

…God!?

Well, I’ll tell ya… let me give you a little inside information about “god”:

God likes to watch.
He’s a prankster.

Think about it :

He gives man instincts…
He gives you this extraordinary gift…

And then what does he do..? I swear, for his own amusement… his own private cosmic gag reel…

He sets the rules in opposition. It’s the goof of all time:

Look… but don’t touch…
Touch… but don’t taste…
Taste… but don’t swallow…

Ha ha ha!

And while you’re jumping from one foot to the next, what is he doing?

He’s laughing his sick f cking ass off..!

He’s a tight-ass..!
He’s a SADIST..!
He’s an absentee landlord..!

Worship *THAT* !?!…

NEVER!

Al Pacino as Satan in Devil’s Advocate

Even though Pacino is playing the devil… that particular description doesn’t sound so devilish at all… Sounds pretty logical to me! And I don’t have much use for those bankrupt, irrelevant concepts known as ‘god’ and ‘devil’….

Update: OK.. I finished watching the movie since I originally posted this message.

Twan’s quick capsule review:

“Piece of Shit!”

But that doesn’t diminish the quoted text above. That much is golden!

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Creative Vandalism : Burning Man Art in the City

This might be old news to some, but it’s new news to me: Have a look at what an enterprising vandal (with big balls!) did to the large scale sculpture made by married artists Dan das Mann and Karen Cusolito.

Dan and Karen had constructed the large sculpture to be displayed at the Burning Man Festival in 2005, where it was very well received, as their excellent works of art always are.

Through the efforts of the non-profit arm of Black Rock City, LLC (the corporation that produces Burning Man), The Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF), this work of art, known as “Passage”, has found a home within the city, which is one of the functions of BRAF:

The mission of the Black Rock Arts Foundation is to support and promote community-based interactive art. For our purposes, interactive art means art that generates social participation. The process whereby this art is created, the means by which it is displayed and the character of the work itself should inspire immediate actions that connect people to one another in a larger communal context.

BRAF Mission Statement

So, last year while the many thousands of Burning Man participants were out at Black Rock City enjoying themselves in whatever manner they saw fit, some folks stayed behind and welded some additions to Passage in the city. Here’s an image to give you a little idea of what went down:

Please go to the San Francisco Metroblog, which is where I found this story, for more images and some very enlightening and hilarious commentary by the person who posted it, Violet Blue.

In particular, the comments are insightful as they are hilarious:

“Knowing Dan and Karen, who have a pretty good sense of humor, they would probably not be too upset about this, since it appears that there was no major damage done to the sculpture and the alterations can be easily removed.”

Scott Beale from Laughing Squid

“the bong has been stolen.
THE BONG HAS BEEN STOLEN!”

Violet Blue

“What’s a bong?”

James Barff

Artist Dan das Mann left a comment in very good spirits, as can be expected. The prank was a good one, in this prankster’s opinion…

“Thanks for the interesting addition to the sculpture. Karen and I found it humorous. We appreciate the careful fabrication work required to create and install mom’s pipe and are touched that someone felt so compelled to be a part of the sculpture making process in our absence. We could definitely use your fabrication skills on future projects. Give us a call and keep up the good work!”

Dan das Mann

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Porn, Pyro, Performer: Jennifer Steele

I’m sitting here right now, 1700 miles away from my home in Los Angeles, visiting my sister and brother-in-law at their lovely home in Hot Springs Arkansas… When all of a sudden the name Jennifer Steele cuts thru the airwaves.

Jennifer Steele featured on Howard Stern’s Sirius Satellite Show

As I’m working away on my computer, I’ve got the Howard Stern Sirius Satellite Radio show streaming through my speakers. Howard mentions that adult film actress Jennifer Steele will be on today’s show…. And my little mind starts roaming… “Jeez, that sounds familiar”. “Do I know Jennifer Steele?”. “If so, how so?”…

Then it dawns on me: I may or may not have actually met her, but I do know that she and I have communicated thru the Burning Man community, and she is on some of my email lists…. I recalled that I had at one time or another visited her website and been impressed with the way she handled the art of pyromania: She’s an exemplary fire artist, not to mention and awesomely erotic fire performer. Downright nasty even! You go, girl!

So I checked my bookmarks, and sure enough, there was Jennifer Steele’s Web site… except now it’s a blog.

So here I am in Hot Springs, getting reacquainted with Ms. Steele, listening to her very fun and outrageous stint on Howard Stern’s show. Since this is a family website, I have to refrain from describing what went down, but you can visit Howard’s site for photos and to get the rundown from Jennifer’s performance (from April 18, 2007). Great, very fun stuff!

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