"it is likely not feasible to make a paddock suitable for a wheelchair"

It is however, feasible to make a wheelchair suitable for a paddock:
www.sitski.com/dhx1.htm
or
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/techn...5063672.stm

I think being more organised next year will make people happy. Centre Camp will, we are told, not have a PA. Pink Moa will be bigger, better and probably over on that hill again. Even with Centre Camp cranking out the sounds, there were still quiter places to camp - down by the lake for instance...

Jez has hit the nail on the head with regards to the official policy and i can't comment on Kiwiburn but maybe I shed some light on how it works on the playa

The playa gets its fair share of disabled people, and by and large the ORG does their best to help out, they are expected to bring everything they need and the ORG allows them to get special permits for motorised vehicle if they are physically disabled but the event is still 'Radical Self reliance' and this extends to everybody. if you are incapable of dealing with the environment you shouldn't go, nobody will stop you, but if you get evac'ed you'll get stuck with the medical bills.

The playa is big enough for everybody to find their own zone, that's why camps like Hush Vill came into existence (a theme camp dedicated to quiet) the sound camps are put out on the edge of the horse shoe where their speakers can be pointed into the deep playa and if you camp out on the edges of the city its pretty damm quiet at night. But you will always get Camp A and Camp B in an all out yelling match because one wants to have an all night dance party and the other wants to sleep.

This is generally where the Black Rock Rangers can help and do help. by stepping in and attempting to mediate the situation in a non confrontational way, by finding a solution both parties are happy with, Its an interesting situation, Camp a is free to express need for sleep while Camp b is free to express their desire to play music :)

on a side not there is a max db rating camps can push out of their speakers one rating for in the city and another for the large sound installation camps.

Is the Playa for the young and free, i really think the black rock cencus speaks volumes
afterburn.burningman.com/04/ce...x.html

I think of Burningman as more of a city than a party in the desert, young people will be young people and they will party, but old people will be old people too and have dinners with friends and hang out with their families, make art, the playa is for everyone and no matter who you are or what you want, you can find a place for yourself out there. my friends out there range from 18 to 65 and only a small number are actually there to just party. hell i spend my week out there working :)

dance camps and loud noise are only one part of the experience, there is so much more out there.

I hope this answers your question and I'm always happy to answer questions about the playa :)

-Tuatha

and there will be a steam powered serpent roaming around going

"Hushhhh, hushhhh, hushhhhhh, hushhhh...

driven by an eleven year old sound marshal...

I went to bed last night wearing my heavy duty decibal ones, the silicon ones that you mold to fit your ear. My daughter started cleaning her room at 10pm and no way was I going to stop this. We live in a converted 70's motel with paper thin walls. anyway apparently the vacuum cleaner came out - I was blissfully unaware.

The last festival I went to I was proud to camp near the wettest, grossest snorer you have ever ever heard - as did Kathy (also earplug aware) - we were fine. God though, he was amazing. I told him a couple of times I had to stop myself swinging my boot into his tent just for fun. (If you ever join tribe and read this - you know who you are - I only have two words for you - STOP EATING DAIRY!)

I always have earplugs with me - They are great on the bus when the driver decides it's time to listen to the most commercial radio station at full volume. And so on. I could go on.

Yes, I love earplugs. They are like a room within a room. if and when I make it to KB I'll have spares, for sure.

yea... and for those doing art instillations etc... a good nights sleep is pretty important after a day in the sun.

I know I was wrecked from doing the man... and it was rather convienient that we were so far from centrecamp...

No sleepie make artists pissy and grumpie and they don't like it.

bahahaha!

I want to join "Camp Nuclear Bass"

There was a quiet zone last year, but as has been pointed out, centre camp was near it. This will not happen next year because a) centre camp will possibly relocate nearer the man and b) centre camp may only have a small sound system next year.

I have discovered that while rocket engines, subwoofers and Nuclear Bass (I'm so joining that camp!) are not a problem, I have some difficulty with sleeping through drunken acoustic Pink Floyd enthusiasts who don't know the lyrics.

(i suspect there may be some ocd involvement in this)

For people without that talent, do you think it's worth having a designated Extra Special Quiet Camping Area For Wusses area?

Oh hell yes. And it would be a bonus if it was easily findable in the dark. The group I was with arrived in the dark in the middle of a downpour. We had no choice but to pitch our tents right next to Centre Camp.

Cheers,
Urs.