Other stuff
Connect with me
New Media Crusaders
- Larry D commented on the blog post Give me some examples
- Bob Conrad commented on the blog post Give me some examples
- Ryan Jerz added the blog post 'Give me some examples'
- Mike McDowell commented on the blog post What Makes Somebody an Expert?
- Bob Conrad commented on the blog post What Makes Somebody an Expert?
Link Blog
This is Reno
Videos
Tallcan.tv
Short Book Reviews
Product Reviews
Misc: Three things I'm really glad to be avoiding this week
Knowledge Center: This “Knowledge Center” is more commonly referred to outside of, well, UNR, as a library.
1. Starting school
Don’t get me too wrong here; I like school. I like the atmosphere and the cool new buildings that have gone up on the UNR campus and the idea that you’re learning simply to learn (which is how I always approached it). I also like that football season is beginning tis week. But the feeling when you’re in school that you are never actually finished with anything used to drive me nuts.
At work, you might have some projects that are long-term, but when you decide to go home for the day, they wait until tomorrow and you can eat dinner peacefully and hang out. With school, I always felt like whatever I was doing that was not directly related to school was a waste, and I didn’t like that at all. So yes, I am very glad I’m not starting school this week.
2. Going to Burning Man
I tend to make a lot of fun of Burning Man people, and have thoroughly enjoyed stories like this with the total irony that the idea of Burning Man clashes with the execution of Burning Man. Yeah, go figure. Also, there was this guy.
And speaking of irony, how about a counter culture festival that the local rag calls possibly the largest party in the world. The article was thorough, except for the non-mention of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party where somewhere near 90,000 people show up. Does the RGJ have anyone who attended either Georgia or Florida to set the record straight? I know the answer to that.
But back to why I am glad I’m not there. The biggest reason, besides not really wanting to be a part of such a ridiculous dichotomy, I really would hate that much dirt and drugs. Not for me at all. So count me among those in town that will be happy when next weekend passes by and the retarded motor homes painted like rainbows disappear for another 51 weeks.
3. The Democratic (and upcoming Republican) Convention
If there’s anything I dislike more than stoners and dirty people, it’s politicians and the people who worship them. My God, could there be a worse place than the Convention? Who actually wants to go there for any reason other than to find things to mock?
I have to say that I really don’t like the direction that blogging is going with respect to the conventions, either. More of the same to follow here. I hate that there have been a set number of blogs given credentials. One per state? Gee, wonder if they’ll be blogs who tend to, you know, love the particular parties handing the credentials out. Because what we need is more circle-jerking in politics. It’s slimy politicians surrounded by people who want to get paid by slimy politicians. Sounds awesome.
It’s basically just a vanity thing for just about every single reporter and every single blogger there. Do you really think anything newsworthy—really newsworthy—will happen there? Something that the other 15,000 journalists can’t handle. Hell, cut that number to 100 and you’d still be overdoing what actually comes out of the convention. Meanwhile, papers are floundering because readership is dropping, but travel budgets for the convention that literally every single other political reporter in the world is covering still exist. Point: missed.
Comments
Damn it I don’t want to comment but I must. I’ve gone to burning man twice and all your comments are valid, but you are forgetting that burning man is just like a Raiders football game. Too many people, all somewhat interested in the same thing, idiots, drunks, good people, families, etc. Burning man is no different nor worse. And there is a huge unofficial contest to build the best shower. Nobody, except me, likes being dirty. Just remember that there really isn’t much difference between any one like or dislike. It is just the subjective light we paint it in. How high is my horse?
High enough.
So you’ve lived 80 miles from what is the most interesting and crazy thing you may ever see, and NOT gone? Not once?
I had a friend that lived in Phoenix and was always bragging he had never been to the Grand Canyon in his whole Life (45 Years)
I don’t understand either of you.
Buy a ticket. Get a Tent and GO TO BURNING MAN on FRIDAY NIGHT.
To live in Reno and not see it once is crazy. You know they burn a 120’ anomatronic man covered in lazers and fireworks? And they do it RIGHT OVER THERE. Like just north of FERNLY! Ya gotta see it. Once is good.
As for the School and Conventions I agree.
Ethan,
You don’t get to comment until you answer my emails. I’d probably agree about a Raider game. I don’t really want to be at one of those, either. And I’m pretty sure there are no families at one.
Zeke,
Not happening. The thing about Burning Man is that I just don’t want to go. The dirt is the biggest reason. It sounds about as unappealing as anything I can think of—except a political convention, of course. I’ll stick to YouTube if I ever get the urge, but I probably won’t. And here’s a shameless plug for a guy who really doesn’t deserve it (emails): click on the link to that Ethan guy’s site. He has some really good photos from Burning Man. I actually have looked at them willingly more than once.
Thanks to you and Reno Rambler, there’s no need for me to write the Burning Man entry I’ve had rolling around in my head the past few days. It’s amusing to watch the burners at the grocery stores, and that’s enough for me. Blowing dirt and contact lenses don’t mix well. Besides, I hate crowds.
Neither of you mentioned the nudity. I know men in their 50s and 60s who go every year just to enjoy the view. Unfortunately, you have to take the good with the bad, and the unattractive are as free to go naked as the attractive. A friend of a friend went one year and came back saying, “I’ve seen enough 60-year-old [male organs] to last a lifetime.” Notice I said she only went one time.
Zeke, I enjoy seeing the burning and the artwork and the crazy people on TV and the Internet in the comfort of my own home.
Bethany, Aug 25, 11:41 AM #:
I’m sure I’ll be kicked off the cool-kids bench for this, but I’m dying to go to Burning Man… just once. And I’d love to experience a political convention. To be in the heart of the action… just once. I can agree with you on the school thing, though. As much as I loved college and sometimes get the yearning to go back and immerse myself in knowledge, I just don’t think I could hack the term papers, finals, group projects, working two part-time jobs around my class schedule, etc., anymore. Thank god for one job that ends for the day and starts over the next day.
Robert Payne, Aug 27, 08:38 AM #:
Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. It is where you are going to go when you are dead anyway.
Commenting is closed for this article.
