Outraged, amused or both?

Not long after we mention the "green theme" of this year's Burning Man, some joker takes a match to the looming effigy -- a couple of days too early.

Paul Addis of San Francisco has been charged with arson (yeah, that's him in the picture). He was able to pull it off because everyone that wasn't already asleep was distracted by Tuesday's lunar eclipse in the wee hours.

Fortunately no one was hurt and the pavilion at the base of the Man, which houses many of the eco-exhibits, appears largely unharmed. Phew! Rebuilding is currently underway so that the planned burn can take place on Saturday.

Yet I fear that the message this year will be lost to the nuttiness surrounding this year's dual burn. To say nothing of an arsonist wearing face paint in his booking photo...

Update: Wired's The Underwire blog finds footage, carries more on the story as well as an interesting piece on another soon-to-be-set-aflame art installation with a message.

Update Update: Wired also scored an interview with Paul Addis. And the SFGate Blog brings us the sad news of the first suicide to occur in the event's 21 year history.