EDITOR'S NOTE: DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE RI HOSTING SERVICE FOR THIS WEBSITE SPINNINGS HAS BEEN DELAYED. Please note that this Spinnings is for the week of Dec. 6.

 

Thought for the Day, Bob Mendoza 

Gave a wonderful recounting of some significant events in George H Bush's life in honor of his passing.

Then told a bad Dumb Blonde joke. Many of women club members were not appreciative!

 

 

News, Angel Riley

Some terrific news about why children shouldn't fight for the holidays, how a husband can buy a fake ring, but not a fake jeep, and some wonderment about why Santa hadn't gotten a young man's e-mail request.

 

 

 

Sunshine Report, Mitch Williams

ALL SUNNY!

 

Bob Campbell

 TO EXPRESS CONDOLENCES TO BOB CAMPBELL, THE CORRECT ADDRESS IS:

Bob Campbell

7121 Orinda Lane

Roseville, CA 95747

 

Jodi and Dick Bennett did a wonderful membership minute--Ask a Friend, Bring a Friend.

In order to remain a vital club--we need to continue to recruit new members!

 

Margaret Taylor made an announcement about Holiday Gift Giving for PAL and Samaritan House. They are collecting cash to be able to buy appropriate gifts which will be gifted Dec. 15 at Samaritan House.

 

Remember the Holiday Party, December 20 with Ragazzi Boys Choir. Sign up, it's a seated and served affair!

 

Speaker, Herb Fong

Burning Man

 

Herb has been going to Burning Man for 15 - 16 years.

It started as a bon fire on Baker Beach in 1986. Each year it grew, until it outgrew the beach and in 1990, moved to the Black Rock Desert.

It is now 7 square miles and has a particular clockwise, half circle configuration camp layout with  the wooden "man" at its apex. The configuration provides campers with a specific address orientation.

It is based predominantly upon a gift economy.

Since it's inception, there have been many Burning Man events that occur internationally.

At Black Rock, it has grown from a population of 51, 511 in 2010 to a population of 70,000 in 2015.

The land is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. It is a pre-historic lake bed, composed of a very fine alkaline, soil. The site is also known for major dust storms--which is part of the experience.

There are ten guiding principles for Burning Man:

Radical Inclusion

Gifting

De-Commodification

Radical Self Reliance (note the dust storms)

Radical Self Expression

Communal Effort 

Civic Responsibility

Leaving No Trace

Participation

Immediacy

Herb then showed photographs and shared stories about how these principles become manifest at Burning Man.

There were beautiful photos of amazing and extravagant art pieces that are built, constructed, displayed, then removed after the event. Each piece is intended to provoke reflection and engagement. And many of the pieces were really big, vibrant and provocative. There are also "Art Cars" that roam. Participants are encouraged to dress in some sort of costume. And there is a lot of music. Between the harsh elements, the beauty of what is on display, the interactions of the campers and the juxtaposition of the high desert mornings, dust storms and raucous lighted evenings--it creates a tremendously transformational experience.

We also had the opportunity to see a video of Phill Raiser's Burning Man Installation that he and many friends installed. "The American Dream" was installed in honor of Phill's father who was an immigrant and arrived in the US with $200 in his pocket. The piece was an 11 story tower that was erected in three days with 200 tons of recycled steel. It was 30ft by 30ft by 105ft. (I may have these numbers wrong--but it was really big and strong). Most importantly it honored Phill's father, provided an amazing view of Burning Man and Phill's mother was in attendance to celebrate.

For more, and images go to the Burning Man website, www.Burningman.org

 

Thank you to Peter Webb for the photos!