Letters for September 13, 2007

It’s still icky
Re “10 things I hate about Burning Man” (Feature Story, Sept. 6):

Brad Bynum is a great critic. I really enjoyed his Burning Man article. The head lamp adventure made me laugh out loud. If anybody gives you grief about it—well, all their taste is in their mouth.

Ms. Sparky Allen
via www.newsreview.com

The truth heals
Re “10 things I hate about Burning Man” (Feature Story, Sept. 6):

Thank you, Brad, for expressing my views so clearly and accurately. I could not have said it better or more accurately. Reading your article provided me the venting I have been wanting to do for four days since I got home.

Lewis Sanders
via www.newsreview.com

The best story ever. In history.
Re “10 things I hate about Burning Man” (Feature Story, Sept. 6):

This was the best story I have ever read. This was my first year at Burning Man, and every comment made was verbatim what I have griped to all my friends who said it was the greatest thing on Earth. Although he missed the 11th thing hated about Burning Man, the one thing I was really looking forward to—what the hell was “green” at Burning Man? The way I see it, there is no reasonable way to offset their carbon footprint simply due to the magnitude of the carbon produced. Offsetting it does not make it “green.” Let’s talk about the large mushroom bomb that exploded after the burning of the Man and burning of the oil derrick. Is the production of pollution in the name of art somehow a way of educating and offsetting its negative impacts? Seriously, dumbest thing I have ever seen. How about all the natural resource consumption for all the RVs and generators? Come on, not very green. Where were the insane amounts of solar projects that I was expecting? What about all the garbage that was produced? I love the fact that San Francisco is going to ban plastic water bottles only to have their work negated by the mass sale of them to “burners.” Honestly, I could go on and on about the non-greenness of Burning Man, but I have to get back to work where I can make enough money to replenish my Burning Man expenditures in order to go on a real vacation that entails no spontaneous sand-blasting storms, only sand that stays in place under your chaise lounge while you order cocktail after cocktail filled to the rim with ice and handed to you by someone other than a dirty, naked-with-only-a-T-shirt-tied-in-a-knot, raver-hippie pervert. Goodbye not-so-much Green Man!

Kellee Jones
via www.newsreview.com

Dogs eat poop
Re “Dogs are special creatures” (Letters, Sept. 6):

Joseph Pasulka’s fawning letter about dogs was by far the most vomit-inducing piece of dog worship I’ve ever seen. Dogs are lobotomized wolves. Dogs are blind followers that latch on to anyone who gives them food. They are subservient mute brown-nosers. I don’t admire subservience.

Maybe people whose self esteem is below sea level admire the pathetic grovelings of the domestic dog, but not me.

Larry Taylor
Reno

Don’t dis da Man
Re “Greening of the Man” (Green, Sept. 6):

Man, love your criticism of Burning Man. Surprised that you waste your time out in that dirty place, especially since every aspect of it is something you despise. I know of a magical place where you will feel right at home. It’s called Disneyland. They will know you as Grumpy.

Troy Dalmasso
via www.newsreview.com

We’re really important
Re “In decline” (News, Aug. 30):

Now that the Democratic Party and its candidates for the presidential nomination have successfully insisted that the current schedule of the first four caucus and primary states stays “as is,” Nevada Democrats can finally rest assured (and with invigoration) that their voice will be the second one heard, not only nationwide but across the planet. Having the potential to really impact the race for the nomination, by either slowing or reinforcing the momentum of an Iowa winner, is an opportunity Nevada Democrats have never had before but certainly do now.

Since the tradition of Iowa and New Hampshire as the first two voices to be heard is so deeply ingrained, and Nevada’s injection into the early round a big change in the old routine, Nevada receives little news media recognition as a significant factor in the race for the nomination. But, in the end, it’s not the news media that will be creating this story, it will be those of us participating in this caucus. If we have a turnout of Democrats that approaches Iowa’s usual 15-18 percent, then our voice will be heard and considered on Jan. 19 and in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary.

Amazingly, the latest reports are that Nevada Democrats are ahead of Iowa Democrats in preparing for the caucus (like in filling up caucus chair spots for each precinct). The Washoe County Democratic Party is unique (and starting to favorably impact Clark County Dems in organizing). Very few places in the country have the type of organized volunteer network that we have here. So, let’s see what actually happens! That will be the basis for the story that’s told, in the end.

Mike Jamieson
via email