Like the title says! You can check out the history section here, or in the menu above. 

I've spent quite a bit of time working on it over the last few years, so if you have any interest in how Burning Man has evolved, I hope you'll check it out!

Last year (2017), a campmate - Ran - and I spontaneously decided Wednesday morning that we'd play the Hamilton soundtrack later that day. Because we're also big fans of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and because the mighty Rum Ham is an object of desire and worship to all of Friendgasm, serving rum and calling the event Rum-Hamilton seemed appropriate. ​ He wrote some shit on a whiteboard advertising it, and put it by Arctica, and 15-20 people showed up for what proved to be a really good time. 

This year, we put the event in the event guide, and a lot more people showed up! Not too shabby for a backstreet camp. The below video is about 20 minutes long, and if you're not either a big Hamilton fan or someone who was there, it's probably waaaay too long to hold your interest. That said, multiple people told me after or later that it was their favorite thing they did at Burning Man all week, which made me pretty happy!

Couldn't host it on YouTube, Facebook, or other usual suspects because the rights holder for the Hamilton music is quite strict, and upon trying, I was blocked from using those, so I'm just sharing it from my google drive.

You're also going to have to trust that I'm linking you to a video here, and not something that will give your device a virus. I may be Dr. Yes, but I say no to viruses!

Link to Rum-Hamilton video.

It'll play in 720p. You might want to switch it to 1080p. If you want to view it in all its 4k glory, you'll have to download all 6.6 gigs of it and watch that way.

​Favorite moments:
​5:22 – Hamilton’s duel against Lee.
 
5:46 – Hercules Mulligan incoming!
 
7:36 – Crowd starts going crazy in Battle of Yorktown.
 
14:57 – Washington dies, crowdsurfs.
 
19:42 – Hamilton’s son dies – big group circle with arms around each other.
 
22:16 – people start eating dead Hamilton’s red vine entrails.

We're going to do this again next year, so if you loved it or missed it, don't throw away your shot and you'll be back. You will be helpless before its sonic glory, and you will be satisfied, because, wait for it.... we just happen to be in the greatest city in the motherfucking world. You'll be in the dome where it happens, right in the eye of the hurricane, and while it may be quiet uptown, it sure as shit isn't going to be quiet at Rum-Hamilton 2019!

Rum Ham!

Your obedient servant,
--Dr. Yes

Burning Man is many things to many people, but one of the aspects of it that I personally enjoy quite a bit are things that challenge convention or are just unexpected. Of course, the beautiful and epic, like last year's Tree of Ténéré, or this year's Hexatron (the forest of 20' tall LED poles), are mind-blowing, but I really love the weird, personal shit out there.

​Whether it's watching an inestimable gentleman suck his own dick at Eggs bar while we cheered him on, or watching two guys in a tricked-out golf cart dressed like law enforcement roll up to people with headdresses and write out a citation, or the even more innocuous like Camp Sharkcage, devoted to the decidedly excellent combination of Nicholas Cage and sharks ("You can cage the shark, but can you shark the Cage?"), I love it!

Sadly, although I have no measurement for it, or even a proxy by which to fake a measure, I feel like the weird factor at Burning Man has slowly been going down, while there's been a commensurate rise in folks for whom looking and feeling 'cool' is a primary drive. You know of whom I speak. You see them dressed in multi-thousand dollar miraculously clean outfits with a photographer with pro-level gear nearby, frequently stopping to preen and pose. Their natural watering holes are places like Robot Heart and Mayan Warrior (both of which are pretty amazing, don't get me wrong) or wherever Diplo (not at all amazing) is playing. 

And, I get it - it's fun to dress up and look sexy, and Burning Man is an awesome background for photos, but goddam people, don't you just want to ditch the fashion show and let your freak flag fly? Black Rock City is a great place for it. Burning Man != Coachella or whatever. Let's get fucking weird! 

In that spirit, about a dozen of us in our camp Friendgasm declared Wednesday daytime would be Weirdout Wednesday going forward.

(You can follow the - as of this writing -  brand new Weirdout Wednesday FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weirdoutwednesday/ )​

For Weirdout Wednesday this year, we did a thing one of my campmates - Ginger - has long dreamed about. We made signs saying things like Can't Stop, Won't Stop or Nvr Stop, got some of those dual beer-can helmet holders, put on adult diapers, wrote some stuff on them, and rolled out.

​First stop, Duck Pond, where we took over the dance floor to lots of stares by pretty, clean people, and a lot of laughs from others. Excitingly, one guy we didn't know also showed up in diapers, saying he'd seen us, and went back to camp to change into diapers. (He happened to have adult diapers in camp? This guy prepares.)

He went even more hardcore than I did. I hadn't worn shoes, feeling that socks-only seemed even more ridiculous, but this guy eschewed even socks, rocking his diaper and only his diaper. I salute you, unknown diaper soldier.

Other shenanigans ensued, including loudly encouraging people to stop supporting the USS corporate pooper monopoly. Stop using the portas, people! Shit where you dance - in your pants!

Finally we headed over to Distrikt, where we rolled up onto the elevated stage and proceeded to irritate a group of women of the aforementioned Instagram type, trying to get a pristine picture of themselves in their pristine outfits without a bunch of idiots in diapers in the way. They kept asking us to move out of the way so they could get pics of just them, but I mean, can't stop won't stop, so obviously that wasn't happening. Nothing wrong with taking pics of yourselves, but if you can't handle a little Burning Man in your Burning Man, you're in the wrong place.

Then, one of their ladies laid a hand on one of our ladies to kind of lightly shove her out of the way, which was a classic mistake. No photos were taken from then on that didn't have a diapered ass in it! The frustrated gnashing of their teeth was music to our ears. 

That was the end of Weirdout Wednesday for us, as it was time to head back to camp for our Rum-Hamilton singalong, because as a camp we do a weird variety of things.

Because it makes me laugh, I have to relate another similar incident from our camp. A group was at Sharkey's - an excellent bar - when an Instamodel was spotted in the wild, out in the street, accompanied by a sole photog.

The prey was cleaning herself carefully of any dust, preparing to display her plumage, presumably in order to attract a mate, when Carmen spotted her.

Carmen is a campmate whom I have compared favorably to my sort of fancy, cuddly, but also rip-your-face-off-fierce chihuahua, Chairman Mao. She hadn't eaten yet that day, and was hungry for prey.

In the distance, a ritual warning call was heard, "Hey, I haven't showered in a week!" 

The prey was as of yet unaware of her danger, and continued to groom herself.
​
​Carmen swung into motion, suddenly dropping down to do frantic face-down dust angels in order to coat herself in playa.

Up she sprung, making straight for the Instamodel, who was still oblivious to the doom rapidly descending upon her.

"You're so pretty! Can I have a hug?!" said Carmen arriving and  baiting the trap. 

"Yes," said the prey tentatively, sealing her fate.

The prey leaned in for the barest possible hug, but Carmen was ready to feed, and went for the full koala (that's a bear hug where you wrap your legs around too). Then it was over, and the prey slumped to the ground, defeated while Carmen roared in triumph (ok, the roar didn't happen, but I like the image, so work with me here.)

Thus, the circle of life was fulfilled. Dust to dust, forever unclean. There was cheering from Sharkeys, and disorder was returned to the streets of Black Rock City once more.

I'll definitely write about this again next summer before the Burn, but I'd love any help anyone interested can lend in promoting this idea. I mean no presumption with this call to action - I just think it'd be cool if a bunch of people devoted Wednesday daytime to letting their freak roam free. Do the unexpected, the weird, especially in places people go to be 'cool'. Mess with people determined to 'be cool.' Set an example and help bring some Cacophony into burners' lives.

I've read of a couple going to Distrikt this year fully nude with markers to let people write stuff on them, just to keep it weird.

I read of another few people that brought a propane grill to Distrikt and were grilling up food in the middle of the dance floor. I love it! (I don't mean to pick on Distrikt here - it's pure coincidence these all involved that camp.)

What are you going to do for Weirdout Wednesday next year? This is an opportunity for a lot more creativity than the more narrowly-defined days out there, like Tutu Tuesday. I've got all sorts of ideas running around in my head, including taking the diaper shenanigans to a new level.

Leave your ideas in the comments, and later I'll collate them and share them to help inspire others to weirdness as well.

Feel free to use the Weirdout Wednesday graphic below I did up (I can copy and paste, mom!) to spread the word too, if you're so inclined.

​(You can join the Weirdout Wednesday FB group here: 
​https://www.facebook.com/groups/weirdoutwednesday/)​

This is the camp I've always wanted, filled with people I love and who love me back. Friendgasm v1 was great (though not the heat), but with Friendgasm v2 we really hit our stride! You are the most incredible hard-working, hard-partying, tender, fierce, loving, supportive, non-judgmental group of people I've ever been privileged to be close to. You've reignited that exquisite lust I had for the burn, and I can't thank you enough for it.

We formed this camp to focus on community, after some of us had had a bad experience with a camp in 2016 that had very little focus on community, and it's worth protecting. We limit ourselves to 30 people to stop us breaking into sub-communities. We allow no randoms, and require all new members to have a camp sponsor who can vouch that they will be the kind of person we want to burn with. And it works. It was a simply superb Burn and while I wasn't sad to leave Burning Man at the end, leaving you all was pretty depressing.

I want you to know that at least twice during the week I was talking to Maybe or Ginger about our camp and broke down into tears, overcome with all the feels thinking about how much I appreciate and love all of you and what we've created.

I've made a little video to help us remember our time together. Hope you enjoy it! 

• Ginger - My friend, my brother. Thank you all the energy and work you bring to camp. I couldn't lead this camp without you right there with me. You are one of the kindest, most approachable, loving men I've met. Can't stop, won't stop! I love you!
• Biscuit - You've become one of my best friends in the world, and I hope we can consciously continue that for the rest of our lives. Thank you for being such a strong part of camp community this year. Let's bless some rains together. I love you!
• Jeremy - You constantly amaze me with your range of talents. Thank you for everything from masterminding the dome to the dome's lighting to DJing to volunteering at gate. I love you!
• Shagrin - You're such an awesome motivator, and your connection to the Fwedding Chapel is so strong. Thank you for putting the energy into organizing group outings that you do. I love you!
• Jenni - Nothing seems to get you down out there. You just roll with it while simultaneously busting ass to volunteer and still help out at camp. Amazing. I love you!
• Carmen - You're like my long-haired chihuahua Chairman Mao. You're pretty fancy, but kind of edgy, and while you're sweet and cuddly as hell with people you love, god help anyone who pisses you off. I love you!
• Josh - My friend, you are one of the most interesting people I know. I'm so impressed with your sobriety and legal work, and you're also one of the most observant people I know. Thank you for anchoring the Kansas City faction. I love you!
• Rick - Dude! You're a fucking firefighter. A hero. On the playa, you're a big teddy bear, and while you had a wounded wing this year, you didn't let that slow you down at all. I love you!
• Lisa - Even when you're having a tough time, you are unfailingly cheerful. You're a joy to have around, and I also thank you for your de-mooping work. I love you!
• Noah - You're a many of many talents! Whether it's teaching me how to slice off my own ear with a whip or teaching other people how to eat fire, you were a damn solid addition to camp. I love you!
• Bronwyn - From the time you arrived, you had a smile on your face, and you brought nothing but positive energy to Friendgasm. Thank you. I love you!
• Poopmaster - You came into it hating Africa, but I'm fairly certain it now haunts your dreams. Time to do some things you've never done! I love you!
• Leanna - You came into Burning Man a little hesitant but you've proceeded to grab it and embrace it. I love watching your evolution as a burner. Thank you for running the mindfulness seminar. I love you!
• Ran - You brought the energy with RUM-HAMilton, and the Highlander game! Thank you for your enthusiasm and lightsaber. I love you!
• Inon - My Israeli-now-Italian brother! Thank you for being such an awesome birgin. You really know how to ride the flow. I love you!
• Babybird - You're one of the most considerate people I've met, and you really went out of your way to make sure that you were as prepared a birgin as possible. I love you!
• Bubbie - You and Babybird win the award for most prepared birgins, possibly ever. Thank you for the group meal, the additional hangout space, and for your unflappable attitude. I love you!
• Where's Matt - You came in not knowing anyone but Shagrin, and given your travails on the way in, that must have been a little intimidating, but damn, you dove right in. Glamcocks! I love you!
• Mait - You're a camping stud! Thanks for coming in, taking care of camp garbage, and providing that awesome camp stove. I love you!
• Autumn - For the second year in a row, it was great having you in camp. You brought the energy to our parties and were always up for anything. I love you!
• Duchess - Where is Ben Jones? Nobody knows. Fucking guy, amiright? When we find him some day, we'll take appropriate action. Thanks for spelling colour with a u. I love you!
• Cinder - Your tireless efforts at the Temple meant I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked with you, but you and I are clearly of the same mold. Canned artichokes! I love you!
• Hilary - You were so fun and always trying to rev people up for a good time. Thank you for prepping and bringing food for our campmates who needed it. I love you!
• Emily - You're consciously empathetic and introspective, and your laugh is infectious. I know the burn was challenging for you at times, and I really appreciate that you handled it well. I love you!
• Bojangles - You're a multi-talented wizard! Thank you so much for lighting the Fwedding Chapel and providing that beacon home we needed, and for your lighting work on the Temple. I love you!
• Madeline - Your reserved exterior hides a fierce interior, and that dichotomy is one of your great charms. Thank you for your generosity. I love you!
• Hayley - You're one of the most positive, fun-loving people I know, and the fact that you guys came from Australia, in a tent, is amazing. I'm not sure I know anybody who travels better than you two do. I love you!
• Mickey - You crazy motherfucker. You'll do anything, anytime, anywhere, and live to laugh. I sometimes feel like you should be Dr. Yes! I love you!
• Maybe - My wife, my rock. You are the most important person in my life, and that's never going to change. Thank you, thank you, thank you. There are too many things I'm thankful for with you to enumerate here.. You're my ideal burn partner and life partner and I love you more than I can tell you. Thank you baby!

Let's do it again next year! Rum Ham!