In 2005, I has a windfall from selling my house, and decided to give back to Burning Man, I ended up buying 1144 light sabers, and 2288 AA batteries.

In July, I got my grandfathers van from Wisconsin, and Drove it across country to Palo Alto.

Spent about 80 hours unwrapping, labelling, and stuffing instructions into all the light sabers. Pissed off my sister and Yan -- thanks for your help.

In Mid August, I went to Seattle for a week and helped my friend Richard set up the Cubatron - an art car with over 200 green panels that light up as you drive it.

From there, I drove to BM too early. I found out that there is a "list" and that if you are not on the list, you are not on the playa. :(. I spent time volunteering, and bribing people with light sabers, to no avail. Went back to Reno for a night, but the van didn't lock, so I took a shower in the hotel, and slept in the van.

Finally got in and helped camp Contraption set up their theme camp. Got de-salinated for the first time, and wen to the medical tent. Someone stold my bicycle.

Monday comes and I move to my new location. Meet Camp Estonia next door, end up drinking the best tequilia all night (Thanks Chief). The first dawn of the man has us riding around a car that is goign backwards with a huge missle on it, while we sing 60's rock anthems at the top of out lungs. I walk back and laugh: I am home!

Monday - Set up camp. Give away 128 light sabers.

Tuesday - Camp gets destroyed by dust storm. Gave away light sabers, naked, in the dust. Don't know why, it seemed like fun.

Wednsday - Gave away 400 light sabers - the only night where I saw some on the playa.

thursday morning, Go to attack First camp, and have an army of 3 Jedi. We go and get more light sabers, and raise an army of 60 people out from the dust. The best part was when a guy with a portable music setup starts playing "Sex Machine" from James Brown. Out of voice,

Friday - Drove in Car

Saturday - huge burn - End up on top of this huge buss spanking a hotties butt with a light saber as it goes up.

Sunday - Don't Remember anything else -- all a blurr.

Lessons:

1. Critical Mass
You need to give away all the light sabers at one time, in order to ensure tha teveryone has one , and everyone will play.

2. Setup<
The setuptime was too long -- use labels - don't print out the instructions.

3. Quality
The light sbaers were breaking alot, the lights would only last for 2 hours. The colors were horrendous. Next year, find a better sword.