An end to war: wordless cartoon.

This cartoon depicts the simple, universal solution to ending all conflict, war, and hatred.  Should be fairly self-explanatory.  Without words, it attempts to reach across language barriers.

Deer in the Headlights Drawing

My illustration of a classic saying.  Here, I apply it to prohibitionist shill, Kevin Sabet, who often appears in public, arguing on the "con" side of cannabis legalization.  Thankfully, with the easy flow of information on the internet, his flat and hollow arguments are now falling on deaf ears. On a drug policy forum that I follow, this image came up in conversation after Sabet had his rhetorical ass handed to him by Ethan Nadelman of the Drug Policy Alliance, so I thought I'd whip out this li'l toon.

Kevin Sabet as the proverbial deer caught in the headlights of the cannabis legalization vehicle.

Painting: File Folder Tabs of Destiny

A painting I made many years ago, based on a vision I saw in my head.  It hangs at my parents' house. 

The File Folder Tabs of Destiny
acrylic painting

Burning Man 2014: Laughter Yoga at the Cartoon Commune (plus Karaoke)

I love my camp!  Come burn with us next year!

We're number One! My brothers, my dad, a neighbor and I.
left to right: Fango, ???, free radical, Nostrildamus, Gerflash

I have led daily sessions of laughter yoga at Cartoon Commune for the last four years of Burning Man. It has been a popular event, drawing as many as 60+ participants, and averaging at least a dozen, even early in the week.  I received my certification from Jeffrey Briar of the Laguna Beach Laughter Club. 

This was me Tuesday morning, moving a little slowly, recovering from Tuesday's ordeal on the road and the long night of revelry.  I'm not worth much before I've had my coffee and my morning bowl.  

The audience for Karaoke

But later on, I was feeling great, belting out "Sweet Caroline" on the karaoke stage.

Karaoke really brings them in off the street on a sunny "Tutu" Tuesday afternoon.

I lead Laughter Yoga every day, or I may skip a day to go out adventuring. Here are some pictures from Friday's lively session:

Going through my spiel.  Introducing the practice, briefly explaining how it works.

"And, at the end of each exercise, we throw our hands up and cheer like little kids."

We start with a rudimentary stretch.

The sizable crowd for Laughter Yoga on Friday. Here, I'm explaining the next laughter exercise.

For more info on Laughter Yoga: http://www.laughteryoga.org/english

More stories about my Burning Man 2014

A hummingbird nest: photos

A hummingbird made its nest right outside my girl's window, and we got to watch the chicks grow.  It's no bigger than a walnut shell.  Hummingbirds are a symbol of joy, and freedom, because of their freedom of movement.

Still pretty little here, about the size of a finger tip.

Almost fully grown, they crowd the little nest.  Click to enlarge.

Shakespeare caricature T-shirt

I made this T-shirt design for The Pegasus School's Shakespeare Fest one year.  Now the T-shirt is providing shade as part of our Burning Man shade structure.

the immortal bard, William Shakespeare
"He was not of an age but for all time."
-Ben Johnson

Burning Man 2014: The Cartoon Commune

(left to right) Nostrildamus, Fango, Gerflash, free radical

One of my contributions to Burning Man is my theme camp, the Cartoon Commune.  It has run for 8 straight years, since 2007.  It has improved greatly over the years, aided by a building body of playa know-how, earned over many disasters. This installment deals with the home life at our theme camp and the neighborhood community.

I and my two brothers and father. 

The Cartoon Commune 2014: (left to right)
Tabias, aka Sgt. Pepper; Daniel Ari, aka Fango; Vickie, aka Toots; Phil, aka Nostrildamus; Laurie, aka Lulu, or Folgers; Jeff Pearson, aka Magic Doc; Gerald, aka Gerflash, or Dad; Dave, aka the free radical.

Tabias from Ohio joined us for his second year.  He volunteered with the Black Rock Rangers, and they put him to work.  The BR Rangers are the community's go-between between law enforcement and the citizens of Black Rock City.  They oversee conflict resolution, or just help out whenever they can.  It was very nice having a Ranger in our camp.  At one point, we overheard angry arguing coming from one of our neighboring camps.  Not wanting to be the ones to have to intervene, we called on Tabias, or Sgt. Pepper as he was dubbed.  He had the situation handled fairly quickly. 

Jeff Pearson is semi-related to us by a former marriage. He and his wife Laurie joined us for their second year.  Jeff performs a magic act for receptive audiences in our camp, and Laurie, as Madam Lulu, read peoples' fortunes.

A candid shot, as we were deciding what to do in the next shot.

Tabias, aka Sgt. Pepper, whups up an all-you-can-eat feast of pancakes and bacon for the whole camp, plus visiting neighbors. 

For the last three years, we have enjoyed choice placement in the 7:30 keyhole.  The keyhole is a widening of the 7:30 radial street where it meets the Esplanade, the main drag, or "boardwalk" of the city.  Being thus located affords us the luxury of having a view of the Man and the open playa from the front of our camp, and being able to watch all the interesting traffic along the Esplanade and deep into the playa.  It's also a "happening" spot that many thousands of burners will pass by each night.  

Strangers passing by our camp

The front of the Cartoon Commune on the left

The dome of our other neighbors, the 7 Sirens Cove.

Phil, aka Nostrildamus

The 7:30 keyhole at golden hour.

Vicki, aka Toots in our large shade structure, snack table in background.

Trifucta, holding down the corner of 7:30 and Esplanade

The open playa as seen from the 7:30 Keyhole

Ornate Street Sign

The scene across the 7:30 street from us

Sunset

Our immediate neighbors, Temple of Polegasm, from the side

An art car tools through the keyhole, strutting like a peacock.

The art car, from the back, with attached remoras.

The side of the Black Rock Roller Disco, on the corner of 7:30 & Esplanade opposite from Trifucta

The DaveDome. 

Inside the DaveDome.  And yes, my pants do match my bedspread.

Drapes Everywhere

The front of Cartoon Commune, street in the BG

Participants in our Laughter Yoga event hung out to talk and connect afterwards.

Polegasm's nice group dome, their living room, dining room, meeting space, workspace, chill space, etc.

Gerflash and Nostrildamus conduct an A Capella sing along.  The star-like object in the upper left corner of the photo is an amazing star lamp designed by Nostrildamus and constructed by he and Gerflash.

...In our giant shade structure with repurposed shade tarps.

Solar cooker

The kitchen, complete with rocket stove, kitchen sink, everything else.

Ok, it's a little cluttered.  Also serves as our tool shed.

Our camp's back alley with our solar panel providing our electricity.

Come and camp with us!  We welcome anyone who's in the burner spirit to join us, use our lovely space for your personal camp.  Avail yourself of our amenities.  See Burning Man in style, with long-time veterans who know what they're doing.  All are welcome!

More BM 2014 Stories

Hawaii 2012 Photos, Part 3: Coffee Plantation, Rum Plant, the rest.

We visited a coffee plantation, and a rum plant.  I took many pictures of the plants and flowers.  In a shop, they offered carved coconut sculptures of "menehune," elves of Hawaiian folklore.