September 3, 2008 by PT Rothschild.

CENTRAL CAST FACES HOSTILE WEATHER AT BASE CAMP

DCP Zone, CA – There are two things that are paramount to say when music or events are involved. The first ‘magic’ line is, “I’m with the band.” The second line is a question and must always be asked, so about two hours into our journey from our Fresno pitstop I turned and lazily gazed at ‘IPod’, the only female in our group, then I asked, “Do you have the tickets?” A curious expression flashed across her face causing me to further reiterate, “Tell me you have the tickets?!”  Four hours later we, IPod, Bumper, Capt. Tuesday, Mongoose, and myself, are back at the same place where I first asked THE question, breathing a sight of relief that the question wasn’t asked until at the front gate.

We’ll be rolling in a big, rented, white Ford pickup truck that is spotless. A week later on leaving the ‘Burn’, the Ford pickup will not have a spot untouched by dust, inside or outside, prompting a call for extra Mexicans at the detail shop. The reason? A twelve hour balls-to-the-wall ‘white-out’ of blowing ‘playa’ (plý-ya) dust. This is the really fine dirt dust that poofs up when you step on it at places like a fairgrounds or a carnival. It’s so fine and smooth with no rockage that it could be used in a sand dial.


The storm happened after we had gotten set up at our site address of 8:00 & Dart, or 8D. At Black Rock City, the site of the Burning Man, all the area this year is set out in a round clock pattern which runs from 2:00 to 10:00 in a laid back ‘C’ shape. At the center of the clock is The Man, the symbol of ‘the world’ and the Devil’s control of it through the use of systematic bureaucracies, be they governmental or religious. The Man sits approximately two miles from the closest inner edge of the clock rim where all the ‘city’ starts. This strip path is named Esplanade but could have also been named ‘Broadway’ because that is just what this main street is, a broad way for walking and riding. For a week, Black Rock City becomes the fifth largest city in Nevada; behind Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, and Carson.

We put up our two tents and met the Coffee Camp, comprised of Jermo, KB, and a doe-eyed Asian photographer named Kristen who hailed from San Francisco but had spent the last year with Jermo after meeting him at Burning Man last year. Jermo and KB both live in a small Oregon town and work at the super Wal-Mart there. The Coffee Camp (est. 2003) is a Mongoose connection. They start to fill us in on some of the history and hilarity of BRC. Word on the street and from the FM radio station that the city has tells us a dust storm is approaching with sustained winds. I ask KB what a dust storm looks like and he says that you see a puffy light colored cloud that grows until it covers the whole horizon, then it rolls in and covers you!

About noon the aforementioned cloud rolls in and the entire camp scene disappears. It reminds me of an Iowa blizzard except for the hot temperatures and sand (dust) instead of snow. For a minute as I almost blindly head to the tent for shelter, I think of the troops in Iraq now and the failed rescue attempt back in Desert Storm. Sitting in the tent I figure to take a nap until it blows over, I mean, how long can a dust storm last? Twelve hours. 12 hours!! I woke up after my restless sleep as dust continued to blow through the tent, after taking a nap while wearing a bandana across my face like I was a bank robber.

Outside through the howling wind I can hear a dribbling of people going to the row of porta-pottys by the sounds of the potty doors slamming shut. Capt. Tuesday, Mongoose, and Bumper have gone off in this mess to have their first gaze at the Man. I exclaimed them crazy for not waiting until the storm subsided but then I thought it wouldn’t last as long as it did. IPod and I start to debate on whether to pack it all in after she says, “What the fuck am I doing here?”

Finally after not seeing anything abating, we don our goggles, adjust our bandanas, and head out into a twilight zone setting, as we see other people dressed also in face masks and goggles walking and riding bicycles past us. I’ve been here less than a day and I’m covered with a year’s worth of dirt. I flash back to the Dirt Tour I covered a week ago and wonder if that was a premonition.

I’ve already seen some ‘magical’ effects happen in my life that seem to be tied in with this expedition. As the two of us stroll around the camp at night in the dusty darkness, IPod and I start to acclimate. The night-time camp scene has a different feel to it than the daytime scene. After a few drinks and a shot (complete with a souvenir shot glass) from several bars we’ve come across, we start to laugh about the day, sharing the experience with fellow ‘burners’.

A feeling of camaraderie starts to seep into our souls like the dust that coats us. We wonder, if America is all that matters, then this place is a piece of anti-matter, people by citizens that remind me of ‘Total Recall’ and ‘Blade Runner’, minus the rain. Already I’ve seen some very interesting exhibits being built and I wonder if this ‘city’ just might not be quite possibly be the freest societal spot on the planet, a place with rules to be sure, but a place where mutual respect rules supreme and ranks above morals.

To be continued… next: Is A World Without Commercialism A Day Without Sunshine? (Only If You’re Selling OJ)

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September 3, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Temecula, California - Everyone is invited to Perks Coffee on Ynez Road this Friday to meet Chuck Washington, who is running for Re-Election to the Temecula City Council. The event starts at 530pm with some free snacks, coffee and a live musical performance. Shortly before 6pm Bill Gould will be speaking for a minute, letting people know why he believes that Chuck provides the type of leadership and vision Temecula needs and why he should be Re-Elected. At 6pm Chuck will speak to the crowd and answer a few questions, allowing regular everyday citizens a chance to hear from Chuck himself why he deserves your vote. This is a free event and it is at Perks Coffee, next to TJ MAXX, so it is all ages.

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