April 4, 2000- Recently, The Reno Gazette-Journal posted an online poll pertaining to the relocation of BurningMan. The question was whether the event should be allowed to relocate further onto the playa, or made to use the same patch of land as last year. Clearly, the intent was to gauge local feelings about where BM should be held. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons (see below), BMORG is determined to move away from last year's site. So, Marian sent an email to her Rangers- I posted the message verbatim on the Reno Gazette-Journal's BurningMan message-board, with my brief commentary before and after.

I would like to point out that this 'question' of moving the man, certainly intended for local folk to voice their opinion, has been 'rigged' by the BurningMan LLC. Here's an email from one of the top administrators, sent out to hundreds of rangers, telling them to come here and vote! *************** X-Sender: baker18@webnexus.com Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 00:29:37 -0700 To: rangers@burningman.com From: Maid Marian (by way of Joseph Pred) Subject: [BManStaff] VOTE for BMan, Now The Reno Gazette-Journal is doing a survey as to see if people think that Burning Man should be moved to the proposed site location (further our on the playa) or remain near Gerlach. Click on the URL to vote: http://www.rgj.com/news/index.html Pass it on! B18 **************** I believe that the the people who operate burningman are greedy, selfish, and manipulative. At least in this instance, I have proof! See more of this opinion on my website- one of very few who offer criticism of burningman. http://www.cardhouse.com/drcliff/wreck/dead/bmisdead.htm

This has earned the expected hatemail, all filled with bad grammar, name-calling & finger-pointing, but no real discussion of any issues. Funny, that. Why would BMORG be so adamant about NOT using the same land two years in a row? Are they, perhaps, hiding something? Could it be that the 'Leave no Trace' motto is just another empty corporate catch-phrase, like Nike's 'Just Do It' plastered across every beer-bellied lethargic slob across the country? I don't have the answers. But at least I have the questions. That's enough to rattle a cage or two, and that's OK, too. Please tell me what YOU think. Thanks for listening.