March 15, 2007
I don't usually do much for my birthday (tear), mainly because I am sort of shy and I feel silly reminding people, like my mom (you know you forgot that one time, mom), that it is coming up (another tear) but this year I have decided to call in some back-due birthday-attention from my pals. As usual, my birthday wish is peace (stifle your laughter). So, this year I am organizing a flash mob for peace. A flash mob is essentially a large group of people that congregate in an area and then perform an action. For our action we will have a group hug. This will be a silent activity, meaning there won't be yelling or loud speakers. We will let our actions speak for themselves. I am hoping to get at least 100 people, so, please come and bring your friends. We will meet at 6:15 on March 29th next to the gazebo at South Park on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence. Wear something red (t-shirt, sweater, bandana, etc). Once everyone is ready I will say, "PEACE." And then we will engage in a HUGE group hug. I will wait about 45 seconds and then say, "NOW." And we will disperse. This is a fun and peaceful event. We will be respectful of property, of businesses and of each other. Everyone is invited; all gender expressions, political affiliations, religious beliefs, ages, sexes, races, levels of ability, nationalities, music tastes, ear shapes and shoe sizes, so please feel welcome to come and participate in any way that you feel comfortable, even as a spectator. Afterwards there will be a party and birthday celebration, location TBA. If nothing else, this will be a good opportunity to meet my dogs who are ardent pacifists and who are conspiring to run away from me and join the circus or the Peace Corps. If you are unfamiliar with the idea of a flash mob (and how fun they can be) check out this video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj0Ma2CsHME ][1] Feel free to forward this to others. And drop me a line for more info or if you want to help out by manning the video camera, etc.Billy.keefe@gmail.com [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj0Ma2CsHME
Comments
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proclubitras (anonymous) says...
"Not only was the flash mob a vacuous fad; it was, in its very form (pointless aggregation and then dispersal), intended as a metaphor for the hollow hipster culture that spawned it... I know this because I happen to have been the flash mob's inventor."
READ ON...
http://www.harpers.org/MyCrowd_01.html
March 15, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Thanks for that proclubitras. Meaning isn't in the form, it is in the message.
March 15, 2007 at 3:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
altarego (anonymous) says...
Happy Birthday, Billy.
Sounds like fun.
March 15, 2007 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alm77 (anonymous) says...
Will you post the flyers here somewhere so I can see what you'll be handing out? I hardly ever pass up a chance to spread peace or party. I'll check my calendar....
March 15, 2007 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
I will post the flier as soon as it is ready.
March 15, 2007 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Before you get yourself and others in trouble (even arrested) - unless that is the goal - you may want to (a) review the Lawrence city code on such things as passing out fliers and/or organizing large protest groups.... or (b) call the city police dpt or code enforcement folks ahead of time to make sure your birthday guests know what they're likely to be facing.... Personally, I hate all the red tape governments adopt, but it's wise to at least be aware of it....
See http://web.ci.lawrence.ks.us/legal_se...
Just trying to help out...
Happy Birthday!
March 15, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
E.g.
15-207 PROHIBITED ACTS.
The promotion of events designed for profit or to attract the public is prohibited in parks unless a permit is granted by the Parks and Recreation Department. (Code 1979, 15-107)
14-403 UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.
No person shall engage in unlawful assembly. Unlawful assembly is the meeting or coming together of not less than five persons for the purpose of engaging in conduct constituting either disorderly conduct, as defined by Section 14-409 of this code and amendments thereto, or a riot, as defined by K.S.A. 21-4104 and amendments thereto, or when in a lawful assembly of not less than five persons, agreeing to engage in such conduct.
(Code 1979, 14-402; Ord. 5516, Ord. 8021)
14-404 REMAINING AT AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.
(A) No person shall remain at an unlawful assembly. Remaining at an unlawful assembly is intentionally failing to depart from the place of an unlawful assembly after being directed to leave by a law enforcement officer. (Ord. 8021)
(B) Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $2500, or a jail term not to exceed one year, or both such fine and jail term. (Ord. 8021)
March 15, 2007 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
proclubitras (anonymous) says...
a flash mob by definition can have no point. this is a protest you are organizing. the link posted above (and below) is pretty mindblowing/hilarious.
http://www.harpers.org/MyCrowd_01.html
and yes,
the medium is the massage
March 15, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheEleventhStephanie (anonymous) says...
Damn. I was hoping that a flash mob would turn out to be a mob who flashes people! Can we incorporate that too?
Happy birthday, by the way!
March 15, 2007 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheEleventhStephanie (anonymous) says...
On MY birthday, I'm having a moon mob. Everyone will flash their butts to passers by on Mass Street IN UNISON!!! What a picture!
March 15, 2007 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Thanks for the heads up. I'm not designing the event to profit or attract the public. Not planning any rioting, or disorderly conduct. Not asking anyone to remain at an unlawful assembly.
March 15, 2007 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Love it EleventhStephanie! I am so there, and i will risk the Disoderly Conduct fine, just to celebrate your existence and the existence of butts.
March 15, 2007 at 4:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Proclubitas, I think, by definition, the medium delivers the message, but isn't the message itself, although, admittedly they are inextricably intertwined. Crazy semantics. Gotta love em.
March 15, 2007 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheEleventhStephanie (anonymous) says...
So, can we incorporate some mooning on your birthday, Billy? Mine isn't for another 8 months, and well, now that I've got the idea in my head......
March 15, 2007 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
It isn't a protest - we aren't protesting anything. It is just a peace-loving flash mob. Here one minute, gone the next. I am going to actually suggest this: Let's all show up, when I say now, everyone can hug someone else, then when I say done we will all leave (then anyone interested can come to celebrate my birthday, or anything they want to celebrate after).
March 15, 2007 at 5:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
EleventhStephanie, I would love for there to be mooning on my birthday. I would actually love for their to be all kinds of nakedness.
Justthefacts, you seem very knowledgeable about legal codes. Could you advise us on organized mooning in public versus private places - specifically can we have alcohol and naked bums in the same building in Kansas?
March 15, 2007 at 5:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
betwixt (anonymous) says...
Can we add making out to that list?
March 15, 2007 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Oops, typo above, forgive me.
March 15, 2007 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Betwixt, Uhm, if you don't make out with me or some hot bull dyke or tranny cub or other genderfucker supreme in front of me or on camera for me to watch later on my birthday I am pretty sure I will cry and join one of the religious groups that doesn't celebrate birthdays.
March 15, 2007 at 5:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Okay, I am doing away with the fliers and I changed the event description above to include our action - a group hug.
March 15, 2007 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
betwixt (anonymous) says...
Can I make out with you, some hot bull dyke, tranny cub and genderfucker supreme for your birthday?
March 15, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Betwixt, SQUEEL - That is almost as good as the group hug!
March 15, 2007 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alm77 (anonymous) says...
Um, wait, no flyers? I can't make out or flash.... it's in my contract... I still want to celebrate the B-day though.
March 15, 2007 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
You are welcome to join us . . . I wonder if there is a law against people eating cake en masse in public, too.
March 15, 2007 at 11:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
godjilla (Jill Ensley) says...
Check this one out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3YyNk...
Oddly enough, found while looking up Dylan Moran.
March 16, 2007 at 2:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alm77 (anonymous) says...
Interesting video Jilla, and Dylan Moran is the best!!!!
March 16, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I don't know the city code, just know law types - and since you have PUBLICLY encouraged this event, you may keep in mind that they are forewarned and thus likely to be watching for your group.
Since you asked, the mooning idea may not fly; public nudity is banned in most cities, however brief or innocently done. E.g. I have one friend who now is a registered sex offender b/c while walking home late one night (early one morning actually), he couldn't wait so took a leak in an alley (no one else was there - but a cop caught him in the act)! No joke.
Simplest way to avoid trouble is to check it all out AHEAD of time with the authorities - because it doesn't matter what you or I or any other lay person might think/say. What matters is what the authorities think/say!
If it were me, I'd stick with the group hug and then go separate ways -or to a local watering hole - idea! Sorry Stephanie - the nudity part might have to wait until home! But then I am major paranoid.....
March 16, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Well, folks, we can all rest a lot easier tonight. I called Lawrence Parks and Recreation, they said that we are fine meeting for a group hug. The gazebo will be under construction, but we can meet next to it and hug away. (YAY.)
March 16, 2007 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
betwixt (anonymous) says...
Whoo!
March 16, 2007 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Godjilla - Love the pillow fight flash mobs, also love the newspaper reading flash mobs..
I like that we are going to use an (admittedly small) flash mob to do something peaceful that might make some folks feel better about their day. It is so great. It might not change the world, but sometimes you just need to do something nice with other people.
March 16, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Didn't mention the mooning idea to them, did you? LOL.....
March 16, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Justthefacts - The Parks and Rec folks were already confused enough by the idea of a group hug. I think bare bottoms might have thrown their Weltenshauungs out the window.
Now, as a lowly citizen there is nothing I can do to stop people from, you know, being naked, though it is not something I am officially inciting people to do.
March 16, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says...
Stephanie, do you really need an organized event to show your ass?
JUST KIDDING.
OUCH!!! I just stepped on my proclubitras. How did you do that?
March 16, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheEleventhStephanie (anonymous) says...
Dotdot, my negativity has been squashing proclubitrases (proclubitri?) for well over 30 years.
And, no, I don't really need an organized event. In fact I mooned the intersection of 23rd and Haskell just last night at rush hour. Just my little way of giving back to the world.
March 16, 2007 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hankscorpio74 (anonymous) says...
i guess if you can have marketing flashmobs you can have celebration flashmobs...
although this whole part:
"I will print out some fliers that say something pithy and action-appropriate about peace and basic human rights probably something very general and non-partisan (yes, I am capable of doing this) that we can hand out to pedestrians."
makes this seem more like a demonstration than a flashmob...
phase 6: misappropriation?
March 16, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billy (Billy Keefe) says...
Stephanie - Did you see the mooning float in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade?
March 17, 2007 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheEleventhStephanie (anonymous) says...
Billy, I did. In fact, I saw it first when it was upright...then as it was falling with its butt toward me. Me and my childish sense of humor laughed until we cried. I think it was an accidental moon, which just made it even better!
I was also wild about the standard poodles--one was painted as a dragon and one as a bug.
March 18, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )