You don't know what you're info

The cultural stepchildren of William S. Burroughs throw a bash called "Disinfo.con," where conspiracy theorists meet new-media gurus.

By ROBIN EISGRAU
www.offoffoff.com

Disinfo.con sounds like a rave with an agenda. If youre the kind of person who salivates at the mention of black ops, UFO sightings and conspiracy theories and are looking to mingle with like-minded folk, check out Disinfo.con happening on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th St. off of 8th Ave in Manhattan). The event, billed as happening in a "technicolor dream house environment" is presented by the Disinformation Company, an organization that's put up a website (www.disinfo.com) where you'll find fascinating articles on things such as the paranormal events besieging Point Pleasant, West Virginia, from 1966-1967, conspiracy expert Todd Brendan Fahey and the fishiness surrounding the death of Vincent Foster.

DISINFO.CON

Featuring: Richard Metzger, Douglas Rushkoff, Robert Anton Wilson, RU Sirius, Genesis P-Orridge, Joe Coleman, Adam Parfrey, Grant Morrison. And Marilyn Manson?
Official site

Advertising itself as the first gathering of its kind since the 1979 Nova Convention, which honored William S. Burroughs, Disinfo.con's list of speakers should make for a stimulating and provocative cornucopia of thought. Those scheduled to talk include cultural agitator Genesis P-Orridge (who's dressing like a woman these days), virtual reality and cyber innovator RU Sirius, conspiracy factotum Robert Anton Wilson, new media guru Douglas Rushkoff, artist Joe Coleman, Feral House publisher Adam Parfrey and comic book artist Grant Morrison. The event's host is Richard Metzger, creative director of the Disinformation Company. Marilyn Manson is advertised as appearing via satellite.

Admission for the event is a little steep, $99.95 for the full 12-hour shebang and $49.95 for the evening session, but chances are you'll probably blow that same amount of money on stuff if you spent a Saturday at the outlet stores, on the slopes or at a sci-fi convention outfitted in full Trekker regalia.

The event will also feature a preview of the "Disinfo Nation" TV series which is produced for Channel Four in the UK and will probably never see the light of day on American TV given the way the networks are set up, a biographical short about Timothy Leary (who once worked for the CIA, according to an in-depth article in Grand Royal), Salvador Dali advertising Alka Seltzer and a look at the truly frightening Montauk Project. Maybe if you mingle well enough you'll find that perfect person to snuggle up with in front of "The X-Files."

FEBRUARY 11, 2000
OFFOFFOFF.COM • A GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE NEW YORK

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