My Very cracked out ramblings

Oh crap, please don't ruin Burningman

General_Loofah — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:43:20 GMT

So a few minutes ago I got a call from the VP of Manufacturing for my company. "Tom, we may need some additional support from you in our Lima OH facility. We are going to hire a logistics manager, but in the meantime we want you to go and help out and oversee scheduling and warehouse functions. How available are you right now" gulp. I am not available from 8/25 until 9/3. I am going to Burningman. So the VP is going to call my bosses boss, the VP of Sales to see if I can be stolen for a couple of weeks. Great. He better not try to ruin my vacation, i am going to stand firm there. But when I get back he is going to send me to Lima, and piss off my wife because I will have been gone for 10 days for burningman, come back, then leave for an extended stay in Lima OH. Great. I can't fucking win. And this asshole cut my bonus last year. Well, not me personally, he cut all non Manager salaried management bonus back last year, but still. Fuck him. He matches what was cut and I'll think about it. Nope. I am a pussy. I'll go anyway. Dammit.

Three days!

General_Loofah — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:05:42 GMT

And I didn't do shit last night to get ready.

four more days

General_Loofah — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:04:15 GMT

For the last week and half I have been drinking 2 liters of water a day at work. Well, crystal lite, but it still counts. My kidneys hurt. But all of you fellow playanauts out there need to get hyrdrated early! I hope all you all have been diligently drinking your favorite clear concoction, and vodka don't count!

Five days!!!

General_Loofah — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:08:53 GMT

holycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrapholycraoholycrapholycrap So I started packing. I have most things ready, just a couple more piddly shit things to get ready. Need to buy more 12 inch nails for the monkey hut. Need to buy batteries. But for the most part I would say that I am 90% ready, just need to toss things in the truck. I have procured most of need to, and I am not broke yet, which is a plus. Yet being the operative word. My truck did need a wheel bearing replaced, and that sucked $540 out of checking account. OUCH. But it would have been worse if it happend out in the playa, or rural Utah. So I'll live. But I have moved passed the scared zone. Now I am mostly calmly shitting myself in anticipation.

Yay! Its back!

General_Loofah — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:08:17 GMT

Tribe is back from the dead. A bit slow yes, but alive nontheless.

For shame

General_Loofah — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:28:27 GMT

I got this from Cnn.com CNN) -- Some airlines are charging U.S. soldiers extra baggage fees to take their military kits with them as they set off for war. Some U.S. airlines give military personnel a break on baggage fees, but others levy surcharges. Military personnel carry large, heavy kit bags containing boots, clothing and gear. In the past few months, airlines have instituted fees for all travelers ranging from $15 for one bag to $250 for a third bag. "What we want to do is nip this in the bud by exempting the military personnel who are traveling under orders from having to pay a fee on their third bag," said Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis. The VFW sent a letter to the Air Transport Association of America, the aviation industry's umbrella group, asking that U.S. troops be exempt from any extra baggage fees. Watch how troops are getting hit with fees » "If you have a family at home and you stand at that airline counter and you have three bags in your hand, and they say you can't get on board unless you pay $100 up front right now, what are you going to do?" Davis said. American Airlines, and others reached by CNN, say troops are allowed heavier and bigger bags and can check two for free, unlike commercial travelers. Troops are allowed 190 pounds each free of charge, American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said, adding: "If they pay, they get reimbursed, so at the end, they don't pay a dime." Don't Miss Airline fees wreak havoc on team budgets How to avoid four new airline fees That's not a good answer, the VFW's Davis said. "These young troops are going to war," he said. "There's a lot more on their mind than to have to worry or try to remember to get a hundred dollars reimbursed to them when they get into a war zone." The military usually issues vouchers authorizing extra baggage before a flight, but troops must pay up front if they don't have one. And though reimbursement is likely, pending approval, as with any business expense, it is not guaranteed. The Air Transport Association says it supports the troops, but baggage policies are "made independently by the individual airlines." The association says it has no plans to ask for an across-the-board waiver for U.S. service members.

I should be freaking out. But i am not.

General_Loofah — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:49:15 GMT

So in two weeks I will be walking on the playa for the first time. In less than two weeks I begin my trip with my fellow virgins and playanauts. I still have shit to buy, shit to sew, shit to do. I should be freaking the fuck out. But instead I feel rather calm. I know that things will work out. It will not be perfect, and i cannot prepare myself all the way. And I am fine with that. We have the essentials sorted out- shelter, water, food (kinda.) Now its jsut a matter of making it happen. I need; batting to cover the mesh of my tent a hitch haul platform (most likely) some plastic totes (the ones I use for Interfuse are just too big to be useful) a playa poncho (too much work to make a coat. But a day-glo orange poncho...) An extra set of chaps? And I have two work weeks to do this. I think it is doable. I have faith in myself. It'll work. I still cannot believe that i will be there so soon. Nine years ago i knew that I would make it out there one day. And that day will come in 14 days. AHHHH. Its killing me y'all! And thats mostly it.

Burningman.com sells t-shirts? WTF?

General_Loofah — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:31:20 GMT

What the fuck man? http://marketplace.burningman.com/catalog.php they sell t-shirts on the fucking website! Am I wrong for being appalled? I mean, isn't this crass commercialism? Selling T shirts? I am so speechless. Or am I slow? Does everyone else already know about this?

Chaps... Check

General_Loofah — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:04:30 GMT

The furry chaps are Check. Extra sarong... Check. A buddy taught me to tie sarongs really cool... Check So no more effeminant sarong tie for me! No more accidental junk exposure threat either! Now all junk exposure will be purposeful.

Some people just don't get it.

General_Loofah — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:26:56 GMT

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/18/what-are-those-kids-doing-at-dark-knight/ The above is a link to a showbiz blog on cnn.com. The writer is lamenting the amount of children he sees at the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. Below people leave comments chiming in on how disruptive kids are at movies, or on how people should accept disruptive behaivor in public as a potential downfall of seeing a movie in public. What??? Are they that dense that they ignore the real question, Why did a parent feel that their 8 year old was ready for this dark and disturbing movie? Now don't get me wrong, I ADORE this movie. My favorite Batman movie yet, easily. Great movie in general (except for the bat-sonar subplot. That suck donkey dick.) But not a movie for kids. It had all the violence and disturbing imagery of a rated R movie,but no boobs or sex so it must be okay for kiddies, right? Or least that is how the rating board sees it. Pencil's through the eyes, fine, no sweat. Torture? Bring it on. Wanton murder and acts of brainless violence? It happens. A boobie? Run for the hills, lock up your kids and say a prayer to Jeebus. idiots.

Sometimes I make flow charts too.

General_Loofah — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:33:42 GMT

When I am not killing my eyes making spreadsheets, I drive myself mad with flowcharts. For security reason i edited out the players involved. I am the batman of Supply Chain Planning/Logistics.

From the onion

General_Loofah — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:50:53 GMT

No One Makes It To Burning Man Festival August 27, 2003 | Issue 39•33 GERLACH, NV—The Burning Man festival, a prominent artistic and countercultural event that draws tens of thousands of people to the Nevada desert annually, is in danger of cancellation this week because "no one had their shit together enough to even make it," organizers said Tuesday. Enlarge Image The empty Burning Man festival grounds. "Jesus Christ, this is pathetic," said event coordinator Ethan Moon as he angrily gestured toward the empty Black Rock Desert basin expanse, known as the playa. "We've been promoting this thing all year. You can't start panhandling quarters for gas the week before the festival and expect to make it here in time, man." Moon listed some of the most common no-show excuses, among them oversleeping, forgetting to request time off work, faulty van-borrowing arrangements, a shortage of ochre body-paint, and the last-minute realization that transportation to the Burning Man festival requires money. "As of a few weeks ago, or even a few days ago, there were 30,000 people who honestly planned on coming," Moon said. "In every case, however, there were, well, you know—shit happened." Although Burning Man festivals have had no-shows in the past, Moon said he's never witnessed absenteeism on this level. "You have to figure out a way to get here, stock up on water and extra clothing for the cold nights, and make sure you have adequate shelter," Moon said. "Apparently, the advance planning it takes to arrange those three basic things was more than anyone could handle. Sorry to be on this uptight trip, but check out the playa. Not a single nude dude in a homemade papier-mâché tribal mask as far as the eye can see." Although Burning Man is billed on its web site as a "temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance," it became evident that the no-shows were more capable of the former than they were of the latter. Los Angeles silkscreen artist Goldi Trewartha was among the tens of thousands of Burning Man devotees who stayed home this year. "Yeah, I was supposed to go with Ari and Shel, but they couldn't score [Ecstasy] in time for the trip, and I forgot my bartering beads at my friend Marnie's place in Los Feliz," Trewartha said. "Oh, and I forgot to get a dog sitter." Added Trewartha: "Shel made this great suit out of old stuffed-monkey pelts and duct tape, and he was going to hop up and down on this old trampoline he found. But his ex, Nikki, made him babysit [their daughter] Gaia while she headed out to Big Sur for a few days. I love Nikki, but sometimes she can be real flaky." Chaz Bullard, a University of Vermont undergraduate and veteran mud person, had multiple excuses for his failure to attend the Burning Man festival. "I totally spaced that August is 8, and I wrote down 9 in my sketchbook," Bullard said. "Oh, and I got evicted. Yeah, fuckin' Dyl up and ditches me, right, and I'm stuck owing $700, because he wasn't on the lease." Bullard added that he contracted hepatitis from his ex-roommate's tacos. Enlarge Image Boulder resident Paul Sandley, who was halfway to Burning Man when his truck "totally konked." Moon said he has received apologetic phone calls from a squadron of recumbent bicyclists lost somewhere in southern Nebraska, a Kentucky artist whose pet python was too carsick to continue the journey, and a group of Germans who uncovered a fatal structural flaw in their "Freak Harnesses" art installation at the last minute. Hippies were not the only counterculture group to miss the Burning Man festival. Portland-area Linux user and self-described cyber-conceptualist "Free" Lance Kaegle explained his absence in an instant message from his studio. "I was organizing this boss techno-art project called 'Off The Grid,'" Kaegle wrote. "We were going to set up computer terminals in various parts of the playa and have people use them. Then we'd feed the binary data from those terminals into this fractals program that [Silver Lake, CA software designer] Ricky [Thomas-Slater] wrote. Those fractals would be sent, on the fly, to a group of exiled Buddhist monks I befriended online. The monks would transform the fractals into a temporal sand painting, the making of which we would webcast live to everyone on the playa." Added Kaegle: "But I had to stop working on the monk thing to finish up this Pam's Country Crafts web site I'm working on. I really need the money." While most absences were accidental, a few were not. Doug "Crazyroot" Pycroft, a former smoothie-stand employee, has a history of missing countercultural events. "I thought about going, but then I decided I don't need some dudes pushing their rules down my throat," Pycroft said. "That's the problem with these things. If they're so nonconformist, how come you gotta obey some fascist wearing a lanyard just to use the Port-A-John? Same reason I refused to go to [The Church Of The Subgenius'] X-Day back in '98. Hell, I ditched the very first Lollapalooza one hour in." As a cloud of sand whipped across the desolate playa, Moon could only shake his head. Although the weeklong festival traditionally culminates in the igniting of the Burning Man, a 50-foot-tall wooden structure strapped with fireworks and other incendiaries, Moon wondered aloud whether he and the handful of other staffers should even bother. "I guess we could burn what we've built, but it would just feel anticlimactic with no one around to watch," Moon said. "You gotta look at the bigger picture here, folks. You shouldn't think of Burning Man as a burden. Burning Man is about being part of a community. Unfortunately, it's a community of people who can't get up before 1 p.m."

Playawear

General_Loofah — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:31:23 GMT

So. Time to put the playa costume thoughts in high gear. For 7 days in the desert so far I have... 1 moustache (to wear with any outfit) 1 sarong (hot chile pepper on black background) -- Several hawaiian shirts to wear with said sarong 1 toga (fire pattern on black background) 1 western leather vest -- wear with army helmet --and boots --and arab smemaugh (head/scarf thingy) -- and the obligatory goggles (perhaps even a $1 pair of shop goggles) And of course I may wear just sunscreen and a smile on one day. I still need... one more light colored toga one more light colored sarong perhaps an arab man dress. Can any of you vets (or even virgins or wanna-bees) toss some thoughts out yo? What are y'all wearing out to the desert?

Going to Branson!!!

General_Loofah — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:46:26 GMT

So tomorrow I am taking the wifey on vacation... To branson!!! And we have tickets to Yakov Smirnoff! Branson AND Burningman in the same summer! Crazy!

toga

General_Loofah — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:28:46 GMT

So the loofah is a big fan of the togas now. I have figured out how to tie them so they are secure and comfy. Thats all I am wearing at burner events from now on. No joshing.

Dr Horrible Sing Along Blog

General_Loofah — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:57:35 GMT

Joss Whedon started a project during the writers stike, it was a three part musical comedy involving a supervillian named Dr Horrible trying to get into a supervillian league while trying to win the girl of his dreams. And its a musical. Called "Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog" It stars Doogie Howser as the aspiring supervillian and Nathan Fillion of Firefly as the asshole Captain Hammer, the antagonist super-hero that foils his dastardly plots. Apparently Whedon paid for entire project out of his own pocket, and the cast is largely unpaid at this point. if you buy it off of I-tunes the cast might some money. Check it out! It is the funniest, most original thing I have seen in a long time.

toga!

General_Loofah — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:14:50 GMT

Toga! Togatogatoga. Toga toga tog-gaga! What goes better with togas? Cheap wine or cheap beer? Wine, yes its a given but in the woods we lack cups. So beer it is! togatogatogaotgaoaogtoaotoaotogotoaoto

Tribe.net nigerian lottery

General_Loofah — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:33:40 GMT

Damn tribe. And damn you some dude from France. Why would you think this works? From : Nicholas Adams Abidjan Ivory coast Email + (nichass045@yahoo.fr ) Tel/+225 0796 5064 APPEAL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE. Dear, With due respect and with GOD all thing are possible that is why I call for help to please Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I got your name and contact from people.tribe.net I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and there commendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person that I can do business with and by the commendation , I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere clean business 100% risk free assurance. I am Mr Nicholas Adams the only son of late Mr.Zuma Adams My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivory coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip .My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special. Before the death of my father on january 2006 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of seven million,five hundred thousand United State Dollars. US($7.5m) left in fixed /suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan ,that he used my name as his only son for the next of Kin in Depositing of the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates. That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where i will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such as realestate management or hotel management. I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways: (1) To provide a bank account in which this money would be transferred into. (2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 22 years old. (3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country. Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated account overseas. All the necessary arrangement has been made at the bank where my late father deposited this fund and the DIRECTOR of the bank told me that as soon as an account of my choice is forwarded to their bank that they will transfer this fund to my destination. Please write back to me immediately you received this mail for us to proceed in this transaction which I beleived that you shall call me for good news that you have comfirm my money in an account which you will provide. Furthermore, you indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within seven (7) days you signify interest to assist me. NB: Dear lovely Brother, as a matter that requries urgent please and please call me immediately your receive this mail for more discussion and make sure you get back to me with this my private mail box... (nichass045@yahoo.fr )(nichass045@yahoo.fr ) for security Reason. Thanks and God bless you. Best regards, Nicholas Adams.

VACATION REQUEST APPROVED

General_Loofah — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:13:03 GMT

So I submitted my vacation request for the big BM. 56 hours of vacay. Thats the most time off I have had since... 2001? Wowzers. And all of it paid for! RAWK. Including labor day thats 8 total work days off. holy crap balls buttman!

Busy day

General_Loofah — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:31:07 GMT

Its not easy being the sole Customer Service and Supply Chain Associate. Herding cats and holding hands and people throwing their toys out of their prams. Conference calls and e-mail chains and project spreadsheets oh my! Make me laugh. Leave a funny, silly, or just plain retarded comment below.

5 day weekend

General_Loofah — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:18:29 GMT

Taking off from work wednesday thursday, and closed on friday. 5 day weekend. what do I do? I workin the plastics industry, as the Customer Service & Supply Chain Associate for a multi-national bottle manufactuer. But I am off because I have house guestscoming in. So tommorrow, I spend all day cleaning and playing GTAIV. Oh yeah. But right now, its bourbon time.

Me likey boobies

General_Loofah — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:15:43 GMT

Just wanted to say.

Mid Mo has no Trader Joes

General_Loofah — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:07:36 GMT

So I am in St Louis right now, in Maryland Heights visit the folks. ABout to go to a beer and brat fest at Westport Plaza. I have not lived in St Louis full time since 1999, and I have learned about something my life has been missing. Trader Joes! I know, I know, everyone else discovered TJs like four years ago. But I am slow! Hell, last year I bought an Ipod finally. And I just learned of universal sufferage a week ago on wikipedia! I mean, look at that photo of Jefferson City. Not exactly a boom metropolis. But yeah. In CoMo, I did my share of shopping at Clovers. But everything there is crazy overpriced. TJs? Cheap Cheap Fun Fun! I mean, anything this cheap and awesome has to give me cancer! For realz.

strangest Interfuse conversation ever

General_Loofah — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:02:17 GMT

So in my four years as an attendee, this exchange takes the cake. My sister was a Virgin burner in 2008, and after arriving friday afternoon she had this exchange with someone... Stranger: Hi! Loofah's Sis: Hello! S: Can I ask you a serious question? LS: Sure... S: Can I pee on you. For realz? LS:... Excuse me? S: For realz, Can I pee on you? LS: Ummm... For Real? S: YEAH! For realz! Can I pee on you. LS: Umm. No thank. S: Okay! Thanks anyway! Mind you this is right after she arrived and unpacked. She took it in stride, and thought it was funny. But seriously. That is probably the strangest conversation I have ever heard of.

Dear Tribe

General_Loofah — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:17:39 GMT

Why does your ad bar think I am a latino hooker? Seriously, this is terrible ad matching. How can you expect to make any money sourcing me, a 27 year old man, to womens slutty fasion outlets. I would love to click an add, but if you are selling my info to people at least sell it correctly. I would also love to pay for service, but NO ONE who has paid for premium service has received ANY benefit. Your fees for premium service brings in more than my yearly salary. Yet your service is spotty at best. Worse than free services. Tribe, your product is better conceptually than all the other social networking site. I mean that. But why do you have to act like you are run by retarded monkeys operating a fly by night service? Everyone who paid money is expecting you to fold, and cease operations at any time now. And these are your PAYING customers. People who want to PAY money to have you serve them, on top of having their personal info already farmed out for money. I really feel sorry for you tribe. I really do.