| The era of the sixties and seventies will not go down | | | | Back in those days. I could afford to sit aroud in a |
| in history as the era of good taste. But among all the | | | | dreamlike state; today. I have way too much to do. |
| crazy trends of those decades is one that I still hold a | | | | The modern version of the lava lamp is the Plasma |
| fond remembrance for: the lava lamp. If you are too | | | | Lamp. They do not have the appeal of lava lamps to |
| young to remember lava lamps. I'll describe one. Picture | | | | me. They seem like something out of a science lab or |
| a wiggly glass tube. filled with slimy liquids that are in | | | | clinical experiment. Lava lamps have a personal appeal. |
| the most incredible colors of purple. neon green. hot | | | | almost with a soul of their own. The best ones were |
| pink. etc. Lumps of some blobby material floated | | | | the purple ones. especially if viewed while listening to |
| through this mass of color as it undulated in the tube. | | | | Jimi Hendrix' Purple Haze. I believe you can make a |
| Sounds lovely. no? Yet. whenever I was around a lava | | | | valid character judgement about someone based on |
| lamp. I would be mesmerized by the slowly swirling | | | | their preferred lava lamp color. Some psychologist |
| colors and the floating blobs. I found it very relaxing and | | | | should conduct a study on it. |
| would further enhance this experience with the aroma | | | | The lava lamp was invented by Craven Walker. and it |
| of joss sticks and the sound of sitar music. I felt that | | | | is rumored that. like most great inventions. like |
| lava lamps were a harmless way to relax and chill out. | | | | vulcanization and post-it notes. it came about by |
| Lava lamps are still available today. and I imagine they | | | | accident. He was certainly not aware that he invented |
| are being purchased by children of the sixties to | | | | the symbol of a culture and an era. Even though lava |
| recreate that era or by young people of today who | | | | lamps are intended to be fun. make sure you read any |
| enjoy a retro look. Despite their inherent ugliness. I still | | | | of the warning labels on a lava lamp. One impatient |
| find them relaxing and oddly comforting. Maybe I | | | | (and stupid) man failed to do this. with dire |
| equate them with an age when I was still young. | | | | consequences. In 2004. this young gentleman bought a |
| optimistic and had dreams. I have even considered | | | | lava lamp and wanted it to start its bubbling twists and |
| buying one. knowing full well that it would clash with | | | | turns right away. Instead of waiting for it to warm up |
| everything in my home. I don't know how I would | | | | normally. he put it on a stove burner. and the glass |
| explain it to my cool. Ikea-decorated friends. The | | | | exploded and a shard of it pierced his heart. There are |
| appeal of contrast? An ironic comment? In thinking | | | | even those who try to make their own lava lamps. |
| about it. I realize it would not be such a good idea. | | | | and they are really looking for trouble. |