Busted city has groovy idea: build a, like, huge lava lamp

page A16 of the Boston Globe ^ | 12.01.02 | Eli Sanders

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SOAP LAKE, Wash. - This economically depressed city on the arid plains of eastern Washington has been searching for something to bring back its glory days, when tourists were drawn by the lake's purported healing qualities.

Now Soap Lake's leaders are hoping a vision that came to a local design consultant as he returned from an economic development conference can revitalize this community that considers itself a haven for artists. They're thinking big. They're thinking 1970s.

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click the text to learn more:

Blake and Glassco propose the structure will tower over downtown Soap
Lake with a maximum height of 68 feet and diameter of 24 feet,
although those dimensions could vary. Its structural metal base
and cap will hold the 4- to 6-inch thick glass lamp containing
the same contents as conventional lava lamps, which use a
combination of liquids and colored treated water. An observation
deck surrounding the structure will provide visitors with a closer
view; a fee will be established to access it, which will provide
money to help finance and maintain the structure.

[Fresh Wind]

What's next? A giant bong?

[BADROTOFINGER]

The reason that Soap Lake is failing is because there is just too damn much welfare there. The school district is tri-lingual (English, Spanish, and Russian) and the education(?) money is practically all that is holding that hole up. It is a nice little town, but who the hell wants to live in a welfare village? I have a better idea, let some capitalist developers in there to make it a place where people want to go. The jobs will be there, and if the locals dont want to work them, cut them off of welfare. There are many small towns in Eastern Washington and elsewhere that are being destroyed by welfare entitlement programs...JFK

[Mr. K]

GREAT COMMENT! I was wondering just WHY this town was broke, because the article makes no mention of how it got there. I knew govt. had to be involved somehow...

[openotherend]

I think it would be a detriment to their economy. People would just stand there and watch the globs go up and never get any work done. I do give them credit for thinking outside their glass beaded curtains, however.

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[flying Elvis]

Typical hare brained liberal economic theory in action.

Everyone's unemployed and in debt. Let's build a monument symbolizing sloth and underachievement!

[flying Elvis]

Okay, you science minded Freepers. Figure out how much the operation and maintenance costs would be to keep this monument to sloth working year round.

And for you bean counters, how many people would have to visit the town per annum to make this profitable. Keep in mind that most sane people will glance at it, comment on how strange it is, and go on their merry way.

By the way, it looks like they have the financing figured out. They want state and federal grants! They are going to use our money! Friggin morons.

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[Arthur McGowan]

A lava lamp has to get hot, and LOSE HEAT, in order to work. Getting one to work outdoors is going to require massive amounts of energy. If it is going to work at all, it should be indoors where the heat would be recoverable for the interior of a mall or something.

[Happygal]

I've only got three words to say: ``Only in America''

[paulklenk]

Soap Lake, Washington, where all the lakes are sudsy...

[Fintan]

''Wouldn't you stop to see a lava lamp?'' asked Councilwoman Leslie Slough. ''A great big one?''

I'm just guessing here, but ol' Leslie's a Democrat, right???

[headsonpikes]

"The idea is fundamentally sound...kind of like the yo-yo."

This may be a scintillating example of what almost reaches the status of a canonical post-modern insight. Gotta love the yo-yo!

Either that, or the whole scheme is moronic, and its advocates scoundrels.

I favor the latter hypothesis.

[philetus]

They could put in Green, red and yellow lights and use it as a stop light.

Beautiful and practical.