Glamp of Approval!

The good news is that the Federal Bureau of Land Management has finally given Burning Man's organizers a permit to hold the annual week-long celebration of dubstep, LED's and explosions. The bad news is that the BLM isn't getting their million dollar luxury mega-camp.

Less enthused about the news: this guy.

I'm going to have to disagree with the
sign. They're actually not that fabulous.

Sorry, did I say bad news? I meant awesome news. It's not that I begrudge anyone the glamping experience, I don't. In fact anyone who goes to Burning Man and tells you that suffering through the dust, porta-potties and lack of shower facilities is like the best part of the experience is a goddamn liar. By day three there isn't a burner alive who wouldn't sell their furry vest and EL wire hat for a flush toilet. I just think that holding the event's permit hostage until they build you what amounts to your own private hotel in the middle of the desert is kind of a dick move.

So what exactly were the feds holding out for? Get this, in addition to on-site housing for law enforcement and government officials, they wanted bathrooms with hot and cold running water, refrigerators, air-conditioning and laundry facilities. Laundry! Oh, and did I mention that they wanted ice-cream? I shit you not, the Bureau of Land Management was holding out for ice-cream. Specifically Choco Tacos. Why not go big, right?

Worth fighting for? Yes. Worth canceling an event that pumps tens
of millions of dollars into Nevada's economy? Apparently also yes.