The Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial writer D. Parvaz can understand why somebody might commit arson. In a recent article entitled "Arsonist or performance artist?" about Paul Addis and his latest failed "prank" attempt, she writes: "On the one hand, I can understand the power of the image to someone who sees the church as an oppressive institution."One burner's sacred effigy is another Christian's

From the "Third Pipe - The Future of Broadband" comes this blog post in which writer predominantly discusses Google's plans for growth and domination in the VOIP market with brief mention of the Burner boys who run the enterprise. Altogether, an interesting read and the reader comments are noteworthy.Check out the entire article here.About Third Pipe: "Third pipe is alternative information resource

I'm OhTony. I'd like to invite you to come see "Burner: Tales from the Playa" on Thursday, November 8th at The Bank Heist in North Hollywood."Burner: Tales from the Playa" is my true story as a six-time "Burner" and chronicles the joy, heartbreak, amazement and life lessons learned at Burning Man, the annual festival which takes place on a Black Rock Lake, a remote, dry lake bed in Northern Nevada,

Adam Fish shot this video with Paul Addis back in September, about a week before Addis' arraignment for attempted arson hearing in Nevada. Along with Adam and Paul, I also recognize in this video Amacker Bullwinkle and Dee Dee Russell. There is another man featured whom I believe is named Jeff.Early in the video, Paul references a laminate and says it's the true badge of Black Rock Intelligence. He

Halcyon does everything he can to make the world a more understanding place. Every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. PST he hosts Hugnation, an on-line place for a world-wide group hug.Learn more about Halcyon's sweet mission by clicking on the above below and be sure to participate today at one o'clock.

powered by ODEOThis is of a conversation of Ms. Amacker Bullwinkle, a friend of Paul Addis. Here she shares information of what she believed occurred regarding Addis' alleged involvement in the Early Burn. She also shares a story of their devoted friendship to one another. Recorded at Burning Man on Wednesday 29 August 2007.A photo of Amacker and Paul can be seen here.

In this week's episode, we speak with the folks from Bentley Biofuels, Burning Man's #1 supplier of biodiesel fuel. Dragon and Pixie Little tell us their thoughts about mixing work with play, and ObiWan tells us about the higher calling of biodiesel and his thoughts on the Greening of the Burn. Katherine the Great also makes her debut as a BURNcast producer-- yay!CreditsMusic: "Nitro Dub" by Stargardenavailable

Alleged Burning Man arsonist accused of trying to burn Grace CathedralAs reported in the SFGate, Paul Addis was arrested yesterday in connection with an arson attempt on the Grace Cathedral. Read more here.Authorities say suspect in Burning Man arson arrested in SFThe San Jose Mercury News also reports on this. Read the article here.SF Police Police Arrest Man Allegedly Trying To Burn Down Grace CathedralOfficers,

Matt from the Mystikal Misfits Camp put together this heartfelt video from Burning Man 2007. Only 308 more days until the Man burns again!

I've been doing BURNcast for three seasons now. As some of you may know, it all started when Chai Guy and I took the advice of some friends who said "Be the change you want to see" with regards to how the media covers Burning Man.Speaking for myself (and not for Chai), I find it utterly fascinating as to how the event is portrayed in both mainstream media and social media. I've seen examples that

LA Decompression was awesome. I went and set up an “unscheduled installation” in the form of a “HUG HERE @ 6PM” sign. This video gives a taste of the amazing burner vibe.

Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin is one of the coolest people I know. She's super hip, über intelligent, and she's a burner, too. Here, she talks with Simpson's director David Silverman about his flaming tuba. Incidentally, David is just as hip, just as intelligent and just as burn-y too. He's also a member of the Phoenix Projekt, LA's premiere fire troupe.Oh, and if ya wanna to hear more from David, his

From CBCtv

Mim Chapman, a burner from New Mexico, is performing her original work "The Vagina Penis Monologues" this weekend in Santa Fe. Santa Fe, incidentally, is the city with "Zozobra" the original Burning Man of which I've had the opportunity to see burn several times when I've visited that enchanted state.Chapman says in a recent article: "I started out at Burning Man because I wanted to go to a really

The hilarious "Shroom" parody paper is available online as a PDF!I saw a copy at SD Decom and was *honored* to see my image illustrate their "Twice As Gay" article. :)

Today BURNcast goes to Los Angeles Decom which took place on October 13, 2007.Credits:Music: "mystery box house"by Daniel Berkman,available on Magnatune.

This recording contains several voice-messages for Otto Schutt which can also be heard in the next episode of BURNcast. If you would like to leave well wishes for Otto, please call the BURNcast hot-line at 775-363-5861.Credits:Music: "mystery box house"by Daniel Berkman,available on Magnatune.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Here's an article by Matthew Taylor of Peace Power Magazine in which Taylor asks "Can 45,000 people journey vast distances to a lifeless Nevada desert and participate in an environmentally sustainable festival devoted to burning stuff?".His response and the entire article here.

Soon to be heard in an upcoming BURNcast is Anton Viditz-Ward talking about his installation "Fire Spinner" for BM 2007.

Dan Terdiman blogs about the Star Wheel installation at this weekend's Maker Faire Austin.

Burning Man is big in Japan! Recently posted on the Kanda News Network.

Steven "Scribe" Jones of the San Francisco Bay Guardian blogs this news about the recent and unexpected passing of El Circo's Tiffa Novoa.

I just found this video on the ABC News website. Unfortunately, though I would love to embed it here in this posting, the code is unavailable.At any rate, I've obviously missed it's original air broadcast for the fact that I was at the event. The old footage from 1997 shows a Burning Man from a long time ago on a playa far, far away.

The Hugmobile stopped at SF Decom and shot a little bit of video of the start of the event. What a fantastic time it was!

Today BURNcast goes to San Francisco Decom where we take a ride on the Skeedaddlehopper with Darin Selby. Additional guests include (in no particular order):Miss Cameltopia 2007;the Postman and Kernul Killbuck;Mr. Jellyfish;the Massive Bri;Black Rock City mayoral candidate Steve23;also, we make fresh home-made ice cream with our playa neighbor Stephen.Credits:Embedded photos by Tristan Savatier.

This recording contains several voice-messages for Otto Schutt which can also be heard in the next episode of BURNcast coming out tutu-tomorrow (tutu-Tuesday!).We are currently working on our next volume of messages, so keep'em coming by calling the BURNcast hot-line at 775-363-5861.Credits:Music -"Diabolique" by Burning Babylon,available on Magnatune.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons

Michael Franti and the Spearhead family have stepped up to help raise the money for Otto’s treatment, which is now going to be nearer to $100,000 with chemo, etc.On Friday, October 19, 2007, SpearGear will donate 100% of proceeds from their online store to our brother Otto.Be sure to click here on Friday.

From Random Lee Kind:I was able to visit Otto for a few minutes today. Wow, he has a lot going on; tubes, wires, and needles everywhere. Mark (former roommate), Dex (travel brother) and I snuck in before visiting hours because Dex was on a lay-over on his way to NYC. Otto is still very groggy and heavily sedated. In the moments Otto was able to focus he conveyed the gratitude he has for all of

Click image to light a cancle for Otto.

Otto's Fundraiser at Shine on 10/21. Save the date! Otto went into surgery this morning at 7:30 a.m. at St. Lukes Hospital. Here's the latest update from Random Lee Kind:Otto is out of surgery but deeper in the woods. The tumor they took out was the size of an orange and showed serious signs of spreading. The doctors removed the lymph nodes around the liver and biopsied the surrounding tissue.

This from Random Lee Kind:Otto Schutt is a big man with a little tumor that is going to be removed from his intestine on Friday. They cut him open last week to check out his appendix saw that was fine and thought it was all just a nasty infection. The biopsy results came back Monday and unfortunately the doctors found the tumor is malignant (the bad kind) and I don't know the prognosis but your prayers

L.A. Decom organizer Athena Demos puts a shout out for volunteers to help with the Homouroros installation. Please contact her for details at the number she leaves in this voice recording.Mobile post sent by Athena using Utterz. Replies.

Hipgenesis, Ninja Skillz and Pocket Present: AfterpartySaturday,October 13th10pm to 5 amShuttles will grab you from the main gate at the La Decom,at Corner of Mateo and Palmetto15$ presale, 20 at the door.Dear Burners and Burnettes,How's your recovery going? Have you cleaned the Playa dust off of your shade?Do you think you will before next year? We haven't because we're getting readyfor THE AFTERPARTY!Saturday

From Crackle: Burning Man

In this episode, divaD talks to several couples about relationships on the playa and what makes them work.Photos: Jared MechaberMusic: "Giant" by Test Shot Starfish

So I found this old article about Burning Man entitled "Burning Man and the Rituals of Capitalism" written in 1995 by Matt Ray. At the time Ray is reflecting back on his first year, 1993, in which there were only 2,500 participants. (Sotto voce: can you imagine?)In this piece, among other things, Ray discusses media presence at Burning Man and his concerns at the time echoed my concerns 10 years

Since BURNcast has not heard a peep about Paul Addis' arraignment trial last month, we decided to give the man a call and catch up. His one-man play "Gonzo - A Brutal Chrysalis" was set to run in Los Angeles this month. Currently his voice mailbox is full.The official statement (which can also be found on his website) is as follows: "Regrettably, due to Paul's illness, all upcoming shows have been

OK, so here's a montage of photos and video clips of SF Decom where we get to experience the event along with a cat . I think it's name is "Boo". Mew! Mew! Mew!Also, this video shows how Opulent Temple's "shit was bangin'".

Friends and family, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...At a loss as to what to do this Saturday night? Have something planned already? Well, drop whatever you're doing and ransack your closet for your Burn-night best to come out to the Fire Stage at LA Decompression 2007! A night of truly epic talent showcasing LA's finest firebirds in all their glorious plumage needs only your presence to grace

Writer Chris Nelder recycles an article he wrote into a blog and shares his thoughts and experiences on the Green Man theme and the Green Pavilion at Burning Man 2007. read more

Disclaimer: I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray.As some of you may have heard from my previous audio post from SF Decom, it was going off! If you're a virgin reading this, here's a primer: Decom's are the after parties of Burning Man and take place within local communities (drink!). I love'em! Lots of music, art, performance and freaks!While I was there, I got an opportunity

French Burners have launched their website: FrenchBurners.org. With 400 current members, they are officially BMorg sanctioned and join a global community (drink!) of burners that includes Burners Canadiens, Burners of New Zealand, Burners of Ireland, Burners Australia, Burners UK, Burners Japan, and Burners of South Africa.Translated from the French Burners website (Veuillez pardonner mon français.

This from Milk and Cookies. The title says it all.

The Brooklyn Rail provides an open forum for criticism of the arts, politics, and culture. This article by Valery Oisteanu covers the art at Burning Man for 2007.

OK, so I experimented making an audio post from my cell phone using Utterz at SF Decom. Thing is: it was sooo loud at Space Cowboys, I was unable to hear the menu prompts. Surprisingly, the post made it through. We'll work on getting better at this. :)Mobile post sent by DaBomb using Utterz. Replies.

Blogger Katy-with-a-y has just outed the most well-known shirtcocker of our time. And he's not even a burner! Discover who it is here.

This piece originally aired on CBS news on September 30, 2007.

Umbrella performersOriginally uploaded by Jonathan! Some photos off of Jonathan's flickr stream.

Kay O. Sweavers blogs about his experience at this year's burn. Here's a quote:"The Burn used to be better. Why people toss around the attendance numbers like it was some kind of achievement is beyond me. Yes we're nearing fifty thousand freaks a year. I hope it feels good to say it, because having experienced it, I'd gladly go back to the thirty thousand of my virgin year."Sweavers even offers up

The US Department of Art & Technology promotes the ideal of a new era of international dialogue between the arts and government to help establish a peaceful, more culturally-engaged world, and to redefine the role of the artist as a mediator whose reflections, ideas, sensibilities, and abilities can take significant action on the world stage.This item is part of the collection: Open Source

Jason Eppink wrote this reflective blog post on what he learned at Burning Man 2007. He writes:"I wish I'd been able to attend Burning Man when I'd first heard of the festival back in 2000. I don't want to be that guy who complains about Burning Man "jumping the shark". (Really, what would I compare it to?) But I couldn't help but feel it used to be more genuine, more raw, more revolutionary. Burning

RealitySandwich and Soul Dish presents a series of videos about Burning Man:In this video, Paul D. Miler aka DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid brings us all the way back to when Burning Man was young and feral with only 4,000 attendees -- "the ancient mid-nineties." After a romantic break up, Paul leaves New York to relax and "deprogram." But his attempts are thwarted by Pippi Longstocking's playa-wide

From Sk8GodFather:How great could it be at Burning Man 2007? It's Monday night, a full moon and a lunar exlipse. The Black Rock Roller Disco was deep into the Lunar Eclipse Roller Disco Party. People were skating and dancing the night away. Then the Man catches fire. Check it out!!!

Oh, yeah. John Law was right.

Jeff Taylor, Founder and CEO Of Monster.com, spins techno music at "That Thing in The Desert", where, apparently, 50 is the new 20. Corporation meet theme camp, theme camp meet corporation, come out and network kids!- Chai GuyP.S.- Did Jeff Taylor write this thing? It says By "Jeff Taylor", what the hell is going on here? Did he interview himself for this article? I'll get back to you guys on this.

It would seem that the last summer's Business 2.0 article about Burning Man that inviting corporations to participate is right on the money. One of the companies that was "exhibiting" at the Green Pavilion was plugged in the Wall Street Journal. Bob Noble, the company's CEO, really loves to promote his brand through his partnership with Burning Man, as you can see below:Says Noble in a recent interview:

Erik Davis has posted an addendum to his blog in which he discusses the ethical issue of risk to human life in the Early Burn.Larry Harvey gave him a call after posting his first two blogs about this topic. Here's a snippet:According to Harvey, there were not only people beneath the structure when the man was set aflame, but some people who were kinda out of it and needed active assistance from the

From the CoastalPost.com, based out of Marin, comes this piece by Maryam Karimabadi who attended Burning Man for the first time this year.

The SF Decompression HEAT THE STREET FaIRE!Sunday, October 7, 2007Noon SHARP till 12 amPublic Entrance: 19th & MinnesotaDetails here.

A group of burner attorneys are mounting a grassroots project to challenge BLM citations that may have been issued WITHOUT probable cause and/or where consent to search was NOT freely given. If you or anyone you know was issued a federal citation from a BLM Officer or BLM Ranger at Burning Man 2007 and you are interested in contesting the citation then visit their website by clicking on image above.(Please

A story from the Napa Valley Register about how David Best is teaching students build their own art car.

A 4-minute interview with environmental activist Micki Krimmel about how to learn more about sustainability and the green movement. Produced by JDLasica.

...it's all gone. Photo by Paranoidroid.

OK, I confess. The third post in 30 days about panoramic photos. But, ya gotta admit: they're really, really, really kewl!Check these out!

From Crackle: Burning Man Voyage in utopia - Laurent Yostyle.comDoes anybody know more about this piece and who the producers are? It's really slick. Lots of art, music, and fire. But I don't see any community ... (drink!) Perhaps it's in the actual film.

In today's episode, we catch up on the playa with Peter Hudson, the artist and creator of the "Homouroboros" for its debut at Burning Man 2007. We then speak with Hudson's sister Tess about her first burn. Finally, we speak to burners Stephen and Michael as to the meaning of the piece.As mentioned in this episode:Article by Theresa Harrington (Pete's sister): "How Burning Man lit her fire"Credits:Music:

Photographer Richard Renaldi has created this e-book which is available for download here.Digg it! • Reddit it • Add to Technorati • Bookmark on del.icio.us

From Manic Films comes this half-hour documentary film by Mark Pesce and Steven Piasecki that shows the stunning art and visual environment of Burning Man.Mark also wrote this notorious piece about the Burning Man franchise for TripZine.com a few years back.

As a follow up to the Putt Putt Playa last week comes these hilarious images from photographer Douglas Keister from the Black Rock Self Invitational Golf Tournament.Click on image to see the entire album.