Dragon*Con is for wimps!

[dang]

Just an attention-getting subject line. In reality, I'd love to attend Dragon*Con and hope to do so one day. For now, I have another mission, and that is to promote a different event that coincides with Dragon*Con.

Next year (August 30 to September 6, 2011), try something different. We're looking for a few hardy souls to join a growing skeptical presence at Burning Man. This festival of 50,000 people, held in a dusty lake bed in Nevada, is full of artists doing utterly amazing things; engineers, metal workers, Tesla coil madmen, musicians playing propane-burning instruments, people driving flaming dragons on wheels, wood-workers building unbelievable contraptions; crazy parties; a fair amount of nakedness; a lot of new-agey woo; and yes, a growing skeptic community.

Enjoy this fabulous event with like-minded friends. Resources:
http://www.burningman.com/
http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/
http://groups.google.com/group/burning-skeptics - A good place to ask questions.

[xinit]

Great to hear that Burning Man is expanding beyond the woo, but until they dome the whole thing and air condition it, I'll stick to TAM and Dragon*Con.

[arthwollipot]

I'm not keen on the dust. And, the 10,000 miles.

[Wowbagger]

Last year I started a thread asking if anyone was going to Burning Man:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=160673

Almost everyone said no.

Unfortunately, I might already be comitted to D*C 2011. I'll have to confirm that, later.

But, if there truly is a growing, vibrant skeptical community (or, at least some community of people I know or otherwise can get along with) at Burning Man, I might join y'all at least in 2012.

[xinit]

Unfortunately, I might already be comitted to D*C 2011. I'll have to confirm that, later.

You should be able to wear your Spaceman Spiff costume at Burning Man just as easily as at Dragon*Con.

Thought, maybe an "NOT A NARC" shirt would be a better fit that "NOT A SPY"

[Wowbagger]

You should be able to wear your Spaceman Spiff costume at Burning Man just as easily as at Dragon*Con.
Somehow, I doubt that.

Thought, maybe an "NOT A NARC" shirt would be a better fit that "NOT A SPY"But, THIS is a brilliant idea! I shall consider it.

[dang]

Wowbagger - Sorry I missed your thread last year. I don't get to the forum nearly as often as I would like. Hopefully the Skeptical Bastards or something similar will be a long-term presence at BRC.

arthwollipot - I've met quite a few Australians at the event. If I knew how they could afford to attend I'd be going to TAM Australia. If you could make it, we'll arrange for a non-dusty year for you. Just have to get xinit's dome installed.

[jsgarvin]

Somehow, I doubt that.

There is much worth doubting in Black Rock City, but I don't believe that this is in that category. In 2009 I saw The Flash among the participants in a 5K run from center camp, out past The Man, and back. This year there was a world record attempt at the most people in Superman costumes in one area. I heard they clobbered the old record. I'm sure Spiff would be a quite welcome and honored citizen in BRC.

[Wowbagger]

There is much worth doubting in Black Rock City, but I don't believe that this is in that category. In 2009 I saw The Flash among the participants in a 5K run from center camp, out past The Man, and back. This year there was a world record attempt at the most people in Superman costumes in one area. I heard they clobbered the old record. I'm sure Spiff would be a quite welcome and honored citizen in BRC.
If I'm going to be in costume, I might be willing to try out my "stranded-on-ancient-Earth Arthur Dent" concept: I would grow a gnarly, long beard, with a "rabbit bone" (a fake one) stuck in it; dress in a "muddy" bathrobe (I will probably use painted effects instead of real mud); and I would "practice talking to trees" every now and then.

It could probably double as "household hippie" costume.

What do you think?

[Phlebas]

with a "rabbit bone" (a fake one)

Poser. So much for fitting in at Burning Man.

[dang]

I think Arthur Dent would be much appreciated. There are no trees to practice talking to, so you'd have to pretend the trees as well. That would make it even better, I think.

[xinit]

If I'm going to be in costume, I might be willing to try out my "stranded-on-ancient-Earth Arthur Dent" concept: I would grow a gnarly, long beard, with a "rabbit bone" (a fake one) stuck in it; dress in a "muddy" bathrobe (I will probably use painted effects instead of real mud); and I would "practice talking to trees" every now and then.

The way I hear it told, you could just break out a fresh, clean, white bathrobe on the first day of the event, and the playa will magically provide the effects you'd be looking for.

[dang]

True. That's a benefit that people rarely appreciate. Start with clean clothes and get that weathered look within minutes. You're also likely to find a camp dedicated to fake rabbit bones.

[Wowbagger]

Poser. So much for fitting in at Burning Man.I'll fit in with the vegetarians, I'm sure. The ones who have no problem eating mock "rabbit" stew, for example.

There are no trees to practice talking to, so you'd have to pretend the trees as well.Not a problem.

The way I hear it told, you could just break out a fresh, clean, white bathrobe on the first day of the event, and the playa will magically provide the effects you'd be looking for.I suppose that would work for Burning Man. You're right.

Though, for the Dragon*Con edition of the costume, I would probably be better off with the simulated effect, for sanitation reasons.