9/4 mini-burn at BM birthplace

Baker Beach, SF: Toward 7pm, as nudists trickle away from a gloriously hot and crowded September Saturday,
I notice new folks arriving. Why?

One newcomer strips and gets body-painted in puke-green. Whoa!
If these ain't Radical Faeries, then they must be "burners".
Shoulda brung my drum and paints. (Maybe next Labor Saturday?)

Around 7:30 some costumed guy reads aloud from a book about Burning Man. Then he pompously announces that others may read aloud from the book too, but ONLY if they are mentioned in the book's index -- that is, only if they're already famous in burnerdom. People chant "Burn the book!" He demurs. Then some shout "Burn the reader." The reading ceases.

Arties, hotties, neo-hippies, bohos et alii keep arriving, introducing their friends to each other. Brown pelicans pass overhead in V-formation, as if imitating the Blue Angels.

A burner holds up a shiny scimitar, exclaiming "I am now initiating the Circumcision Camp."

Soap bubbles fly thru the air as sea breezes pick up. Sun descends into a low band of clouds, which some careless drunks mistake for the ocean horizon, so they cheer a pseudo-sunset while wiser burners wait. Carnivores offer Chinese pork buns to their grossed-out veggie friends. Sun appears again, eliciting cheers. A nude shouts "That first 'sunset' was just a rehearsal." Official organizers arrive, fashionably late. Gaymale couple arrives, one in cowboy drag, his man in Muslim drag. Sun sets "again", this time for keeps, to universal cheers and clapping.

Around sunset, two people launch a "sky-blue" kite, which might be hard to see if our local sky were still United Nations noontime blue.
(How about making "chameleon kites" of clear plastic, to show any color of sky, for Saint Stupid's Day?)

A late-late arrival explains, "Slacking is a RELATIVE term."

The book-reader offers free mint juleps, which will be made by some underling (Stepin Fetchit?),
"who has been properly trained".

A superhero's costume features silver cape and shorts over black tights, with black shirt bearing the magic word
in silver letters: "FUCK!".
From the Planet Gonad, "Superfuck, Super Sex Hero at your service.... liberates libidos,
thwarts COITUS LAMEOUS, empowers the sexually impaired....".
( Rilly? Most of my sex heros are women, or at least they WERE women before they transitioned;
and most were trained at the San Francisco Sex Information switchboard.)


From time to time, I make comments to burners, who seem unable to hear me.
Eventually I wise up and go silent.
This is an elite in-group, mostly clothed, mostly employed, mostly under fifty.
While I'm nude, unemployed, and 62 looking 70. So I think,
"If you're young,
swap some tongue.
If you're thirty,
still be flirty.
But if you're old,
go grow mold."
My age index descends from a traditional African-American index of colorism.
("If you're white, you're all right. If you're brown, stick aroun'. But if you're black, get back!")

[Please see also:
Erotic Erasing, San Francisco Bay Times, 12 August 2004:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/07/1690448.php ]


As darkness deepens, air temperature falls rapidly, and your nude reporter feels the chill. Soon I see a fire, so I rush over to get warm, foolishly leaving my notepaper behind. On the bonfire, painters burn paintings. One person burns old tax papers. A feminist sculptor burns a goddess. Several people have made tiny wooden images of the iconic Burning Man, which they plant in the sand near the fire.

I sit very near the fire, accompanied by another beach "regular", also nude. Unlike the clothists, I need all the heat I can get, and I needn't worry about my clothing igniting.

A woman beats a drum slowly, as if taming the fire by timing it.

Nearby a man twirls fireworks, like a clown at a Texas rodeo.

A woman in a bikini performs a fire dance, swinging burning fires on chains, rather like twirling "poi poi" in Aotearoa. (Sometimes you can watch people practice these skills near Hippie Hill drum circle, on weekend afternoons; a free place to hang out when nude beaches fog up.)

Much later, when it's very dark, a woman dressed in black does another fire dance.

Tonight's dancers don't get as much applause as they deserve, IMQO.
( Do some spectators think they seem cooler when they don't applaud?
To me, they merely seem stingy, selfish, insecure, and repressed.
Their so-called sophistication is the styrofoam jewel of small minds and stifled hearts.
I say good spectators build performers, as good bottoms build tops.)


Walking back, I can barely find my way, as the moon hasn't yet risen.



Tortuga Bi Liberty
September 2004
http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude

...........
P.S.

(1-A) Burning Man famously begins as "a small gathering on San Francisco's Baker Beach in 1986",
according to S.F. Chronicle report, 5 September 2004:

[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/05/BURNINGMAN.TMP]
....


(1-B) Now the huge Nevada desert festival is being compared to Disneyland (oy!),
and parents are bringing their kids, according to the Chron, August 30.
[ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/30/BAGQJ8GNN31.DTL ]
[Could this lead to elimination of certain "adult" features, such as nudity?]
....


(1-C) For a PARTIAL "List of Queer-Friendly Camps at Burning Man"
in 2004, please see:

[ http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/08/1693014.php ]
.....

.........
P.S 2: As of 10AM on Sunday, 5 Sept., I expect another hot day at Baker Beach.
Such days are rare and precious in Fog City, so don't miss this one....

P.S. 3:
Meanwhile, here's a
CALENDAR 4 FREEDOM-SEEKERS
( compiled by SUN; plus info from HTC ):
........
For more queer events in the SF Gay Area,
please visit Larry-bob at HTC:

[ http://www.holytitclamps.com/ ]
...........
Please FORWARD freely, as appropriate.
...........


SEPTEMBER 2004:

*** CAL-SF: Sunday, 5 September:
a HOT day in San Francisco;
ideal for a visit to clothing-optional portion
of BAKER BEACH.
Take bus #29 or bicycle.
Don't expect to find parking for smogmobiles.
Free (your taxes paid for this beach).
[Tortuga (the turtle) will definitely be there.]

[We can HOPE for good beach weather on
Labor Monday, Sept. 6;
but Baker Beach weather
can shift within minutes.... ]
.............


*CAL- SF: 4-5 Sept, Sat-Sun, 10am to 4pm:
SAN FRANCISCO ZINE FEST.
Cell Space, 2050 Bryant St, SF,
FREE.
415.648.7562
http://www.cellspace.org

..........
CAL-SF: 4-5 Sept, Sat-Sun, 7:30 pm:
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
series kicks off with
a performance of
TWELFTH NIGHT,
perhaps the world's first romantic comedy.
FREE.
Presidio Parade Ground,
Lincoln & Presidio boulevards, SF,
in the Presidio.
FREE.
http://www.sfShakes.org
........

CAL: Sept 5: SF, Cable 29: "Outlook" [queer news], first Sunday, 5pm.
.......



CAL: SF: Sept. 8 thru 19:
Fringe Festival.
[ http://www.sfFringe.org ]

.........

**CAL-SF: 13 Sept, Monday, 7pm:
listen to Carol Leigh (Scarlot Harlot), the UNREPENTANT WHORE,
at A Different Light bookshop, 489 Castro St (near 18th St). Free.
[ http://www.ADLbooks.com ]

..........

MASS: 14 Sept., Tuesday: state primary election, in which candidates' chances
may (or may not) be affected by the MA same-sex marriage controversy.
........

USA: circa 15 Sept. to 15 Oct: Hispanic Heritage Month.
........

MEXICO and USA: Sept. 16: Mexican Independence Day.
........
***CAL, northern: 17-19 Sept.: NUDESTOCK:
annual clothing-optional music weekend.
Advance registration required.
[ http://www.NudestockFestival.com ]
.........

LOUISIANA: 18 Sept., Saturday: state primary election;
including vote on anti-marriage amendment to state constitution.
[There was a lawsuit seeking to keep this bigotry off the September ballot,
butr that effort apparently failed.]
........


CAL, northern: circa 19 Sept., Sunday (?): Berkeley:
Will X-plicit Players again hold
a clothing-optional event in Peoples Park ?
......

OKLAHOMA: circa 23 September (?):
State supreme court hears oral arguments
about whether an anti-marriage amendment
should appear on November ballot.

.......

***CAL: SF: 25 September:

Perverts Put Out!

Saturday
8:00 pm sharp
[on the night before Folsom Fair]
848 Community Space
at 848 Divisadero, San Francisco, CA

Your last chance, for this year, to catch this long-running and ever-popular literary
smut-salon.
Come experience the cutting edge of erotic fiction,
with presentations by local and visiting writer/performers including
Daphne Gottlieb,
Patrick Califia,
Jen Collins,
Simon Sheppard,
Bill Brent,
Doug Harrison,
Steven Schwartz,
ferret.


Costumes, including fetish wear
and birthday suits,
are welcome.

$12-$20 sliding-scale contribution will benefit our chosen charities --
this time around, we're donating to
the Center for Sex and Culture.
No-one turned away for lack of funds.

We strongly suggest making a reservation
by calling (510) 451-2646
and leaving your phone number for confirmation,
or emailing
PPO [at] blackbooks.com.
Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-serve
basis. We suggest you arrive by 7:45pm
and allow enough time before
that for parking, if you are traveling by car.
......

*** CAL: SF: Sept. 26, Sunday, 11AM to 6PM:
Demonstrate nude for peace at clothing-optional FOLSOM STREET FAIR!
Distribute leaflets against circumcision of infants.

[ http://FolsomStreetEvents.org/ ]

In SF's SoMa district, on Folsom St, from 7th St to 12th St.
Always on last Sunday of each September.
Expect around 400,000 leatherfolk, friends, and fans.
Please donate when you enter.

............................


OCTOBER 2004:
Domestic Violence Awareness Month,
Breast Cancer Awareness Month;
Hispanic Heritage Month (until Oct. 15).
.......



***NEW YORK: October 1st, Friday morning, early:
Spencer Tunick's next Naked Pavement photo-shoot will take place
1 October at 6:45 AM,
in New York City on 13th Street
between Washington Street and the West Side Highway.
All are welcome to pose.
The shoot is part of Extremely Refrigerated, a two-week art and performance installation
taking place in New York's meat-market district and on the Internet.
It's being produced by the Floating Point Unit transmedia art collective.
More info at HotWired: Retina - Naked City:
[ http://hotwired.wired.com/retina/95/33/naked/ ]
........

CAL: SF: early October: Love Parade ??? [or maybe in 2005?]
...........
CAL: SF: early October: Reggae festival in Golden Gate Park;
possibly including Capleton, who advocates genocide against queers.
......
CAL: SF: circa 2-3 Oct. (first weekend):
"Strictly Bluegrass" festival, in Golden Gate Park. Free.
.........

CAL: SF: Oct. 3, Sunday:
Castro Street Fair.

http://www.castrostreetfair.org/

Top-optional; but genitals are banned.
..........
CAL: Oct 3: SF, Cable 29: "Outlook" [queer news], first Sunday, 5pm.
.........

USA: Will Bush, and/or Wahhabi terrorists, stage another "October Surprise" ?
.......

USA: early October:
" Marriage Equality California Caravan
and National Rally in Washington D.C.
From October 4 to 11, 2004, marriage activists will leave San Francisco and cross the
country to Washington D.C. on the Marriage Equality Express, making 14 stops to
network with local marriage activists and spread the fire for marriage equality nation-wide.

EQCA and MECA will post daily blogs from the riders.

Consider going to Washington D.C. for the
National Marriage Equality Rally
on National Coming Out Day [Monday, Oct. 11]
in the Upper Senate Park -
hear Barney Frank, Mabel Teng, marriage plaintiffs,
civil rights advocates, Tuck and Patti and more.
To learn more about supporting the marriage caravan and rally go to

( http://www.marriageequalityca.org/events/2004/national-rally/index.php ). +

+ Register to Vote Absentee!
...Registered voters are five times more likely
to actually vote,
when they vote by mail.
To register to vote absentee go to

( http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm ).
[-- MECA]
.........

USA: Friday, 8 October:
"Boycott for Equality".
Please spend NO money today.
[ http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/08/1693067.php ]
........


CA: SF: 9 October 2004:
first annual Nude Peace Day at Baker Beach:

*** N U D E PEACE DAY: You're invited to bodypaint and get bodypainted, for peace and freedom, on N u d e Peace Day, the second Saturday of each October, at Baker Beach, San Francisco. Free. Adults of all genders and orientations are welcome. Take #29 Muni bus to Baker Beach (either of two stops; ask driver); or bike there; or walk from Geary Blvd. and 25th Ave. Walk to northern parking lot, which has water fountain & toilets. From parking lot, walk north on beach (toward Golden Gate Bridge), thru prude zone and into clothing-optional zone. Then visually follow the cable fence (separating usable beach from protected vegetation) until you see a Leather Pride Flag (bearing a red heart, with stripes of black, blue, and white). If you don't see the flag yet, just enjoy the beach on your own. Look again for flag, or bodypainters, each hour, especially near the log stairway. Since organizers must carry supplies on bus, no reliable time can be guaranteed. We hope to be there by 2PM, possibly earlier. Rain cancels.
For details or last-minute changes, please see SUN [ http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude ]
.............
USA: early October: U.S. Supreme Court starts 2004-2005 term.
......
USA: 11 Oct. (2nd Monday in Oct.): Indigenous Peoples' Day (aka Columbus Day, Discoverer's Day,
Pioneer's Day, etc.). [ Celebrations may occur on October 9 or 10. ]
...........

USA : Oct. 11, Monday: "Coming Out Day":
rally for equal marriage rights, in Washington, DC.
[ http://www.marriageEqualityCA.org/caravan.php ]

[ By email, snail-mail, or phone,
please ask your local Congressperson and both of your Senators to defeat
any and all amendments to the U.S. Constitution concerning marriage.
If your politician is liberal, speak of equal human rights for all citizens.
If he or she isn't liberal, say that marriage is a state issue, not a federal issue.
............

CALIFORNIA: Oct. 18, Monday: If you're not already registered as a voter at your CURRENT address,
please do so by this day. And be sure to ask for "Permanent Absentee Ballot" status!

[ Advice by SUN: You can fill out your absentee ballot at home, taking as much time as you please;
instead of hurriedly doing it while standing in a voting booth. You can take it early to
certain drop-off places (in SF, City Hall is convenient); or drop it off, sealed in an envelope,
on Election Day, at ANY polling place (not necessarily at your designated place).
Without ever having to stand in line!
You avoid hassles faced by ordinary voters, who often show up at the "wrong" polling place.
Absentee voting is first class; while ordinary voting is 4th class. ]

[But what if you distrust ALL candidates for office?
You still should vote Yes or No
on the many local measures and state propositions. ]
...............


WORLD: 24 Oct.: United Nations Day. Act locally, think globally!
...........

CAL: Halloween, Oct. 31, Sunday, 6PM to midnight: entertainment at four stages, etc.:
In SF's Castro district, "CastroWeen" offers a pre-election moment for mocking Bush, Ashcroft, et alii.

[Will topfreedom and nudity be tolerated? SUN hopes so; but can't offer guarantees.
Never argue with, or disobey, a cop.
If a mere civilian orders you to cover up, don't reply; just cover up temporarily,
walk away into the crowd until the prude can't see you, then do as you please.
If people insult you, smile silently, then IGNORE them. If they seem violent, walk slowly away.
Don't waste any of your energy on fools.]

[ DON'T bring alcohol or other intoxicants; you may be searched when entering. If you need or want to get a mild buzz on,
do so BEFORE you try to enter the fenced-off area. (If you need to be heavily stoned, stay outside.)
Don't try to bring in anything which could be considered a weapon.
Don't bring valuables. (Bring your cheapest camera, or a one-time camera; not one which would tempt a thief.)
DO wear a costume, even if it's just a mask. (The more originality and imagination you show, the better;
but any costume is better than none.)

[ http://HalloweenSF.com ]
.............................
###