For a while now I've been wanting to use my video blog to document elements of fire culture as I travel and meet people. This is my first attempt to do so: last weekend I went up to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT for their Prometheus Club's Winter Fire Arts Festival for some epic geekage and workshops. Here are some of the highlights of the weekend as well as a brief interview with the two ladies who made me coming there possible.

wesleyan2011.mp4

Another one of those poi avenues that I've either barely touched or just haven't bothered to polish since I started playing with it: contact poi! In this case I've been working on the subtype wherein you're treating the poi head like a contact juggling ball. I'm totally awful at contact juggling (though learning), but I'm still trying to work through this related type of manipulation. Here are four manipulations that Elemensce helped me through at Wildfire and the tips that made them work.

techblog98.mp4

More 1.5 and pendulum variations, including behind-the-head, a meltdown variant, turning with 1.5 opposites and same direction, and an interesting take on meltdowns. Sorry about the crappy audio--my normal camera wasn't working.

techblog2.mp4

A bunch of variations on 1.5s and Pendulums--both same and opposite direction variants in wall and side planes as well as behind-the-back.

Video Tech Blog #1