Lowbagger--March Letters

Once we received our first Shit-fer-brains letter, we knew we had to bring back the Little Man, who was so callously removed from the Journal.

Lighting Out for the Territories
Dear shit-fer-brains,
I had heard last summer that you were more or less alive and well in Montana, but
had no details. I think it was a good idea to "get the band back together." I like
the website and your columns have a real flair. I mean that. They're wittier
and sharper than what came out of Hunter Thompson in his last years,
but then he has done more drugs than you. I really liked your observation
that it takes a lot of nerve to live in the red states as Doug Sahm says,
you just can't live in Texas if you don't have a lot of soul -- but the fact
that there are better bars makes up for it.

I of course am sitting in the cubicles of the Bay Area being a dutiful
eco-professional, but we get some good licks in now and then. I have been
tempted at times to follow your example and light out for the territories.
I'm not quite as straight-laced as Hayes, whom I have lunch with in Oakland
now and then.He wears suits to work and I still don't own one I can fit in.

Would dig seeing you sometime. It looked for a while like I was coming to
Missoula on a barnstorming tour to promote a new EWG website/database on
mining/oil & gas on public lands, but we trimmed the itinerary to bigger
markets. Send me your email address so I don't have to track you down.
--Bill Walker, Vice President/West Coast
Environmental Working Group & EWG Action Fund
Oakland, CA

Kudos for Lowbagger
Dear Editors,

A friend called and said check out the Lowbagger site. I did, great writings, as ever. I'm mixed up with a bunch in Astoria fighting liquid natural gas terminals on the lower Columbia doing their web site www.columbiarivervision.org and emailing conspiracy theories back and forth.

Cheers,
Pat Herron
Astoria, OR

Women Must Do More Work
Dear Editors,

Just had my ex-husband send me the link to your first issue. I love it. Good work. I'd been feeling a generalized despair about the wimpy and uninspired ways of the enviro/wilderness movement (what movement?) these days. I'm glad to see many of my old Montana friends with articles in your first issue.

I'm glad to see you have several women among your writers. Please make sure to get more in your next issue. One of the downfalls of the wilderness movement, in my view, has been the minority representation of women and women's voices. There are some kickass women, and tenderhearted and kickass women, doing good work, and the movement needs alot more to survive and thrive in the future.

Thanks so much.

How can I make sure to see your next issue? I am terrible about remembering to check in with website publications.

For the wild,

Mollie Matteson
Richmond, VT
Here at Lowbagger we know that this movement would be worthless without all of the strong women.

Indeed, Envrionmentalism Is Not Dead!
Dear Editors,
I checked out your website. It rocks! So, now I know what to call myself as an underpaid (as in no pay), overworked wilderness activist: a Lowbagger! Mike Roselle’s piece encouraged me. Environmentalism is not dead, but nevertheless maybe a non-partisan makeover is what we need. I swear I know Mike from somewhere but can’t figure out where.

Also enjoyed the RV piece. I wonder why there isn’t more of an outcry about the beasts? I hear they now come with solid surface countertops—how stupid and meaningless, not to mention heavy. As a tent camper, I’m appalled at how snazzy new public campgrounds are tailored to RVs. The tent folks are relegated to the worst, most uncomfortable sites. Witness the new Colorado River State Park campground near Steamboat Springs. The RVers get the flat spots with pads and hookups. The tent folks have to hump their gear over a bridge and into a swampy, mosquito filled, cramped site. All we want is a clean flat spot to throw the sleeping bags overnight on our way to real camping on a river somewhere.
--Jo Johnson
Co-Director, River Runners for Wilderness
Colorado

The $40 Martini
Dear Editors,
What a rip off. I told Ramon my story of the $40 martini in Tokyo (two of 'em actually),
and poof -- he Americanizes it. Harumpff! Tell that Lowbagger to call me immediately. --Tom Rymsza

More Cheers for Lowbagger
Dear Editors,
Lowbagger is a great cyberspace publication. keep on keeping on!! And if you are

ever in southcentral Pennsylvania, ya got a place to stay for a bit.
--Alanna Hartzok
Co-Director, Earth Rights Institute
Scotland, PA

Dear Editors,

Excellent Lowbagger articles. Seems like I haven't read anything exciting on
a greenie website for a long while.
--Chris Hatch

Dear Editors,

I love Lowbagger. You are filling a void. Thanks.
Smile,
Wesley Hutchins