It’s Curtains For The Death Ray [Updated]
Jan 25, 2011 9:15 - 5 Comments
A large white tarp now covers all the south-facing windows on the District Courthouse which is under construction in Rockville. As we know, the sun’s reflection off these windows was creating a “death ray”. The heat from the beam of light actually melted one car’s side view mirror mount. When you stood in it, you could definitely feel the extreme heat even on the coldest days of winter.
The Department of General Services of the State of Maryland installed the tarp on Saturday, January 22, 2011 as a temporary measure until a real solution could be found.
As you can see in this video, workers connected the bottom of the canvas to the building on Sunday. The wind was really blowing and you can barely hear my narration as this six-story covering flapped around.
A call to the Department of General Services regarding the size and cost of the temporary tarp went unanswered yesterday but if we can get any additional information, we’ll update this post. [UPDATE from a report on TBD: Bart Thomas with the Maryland Department of General Services tells TBD that the installation and tarp cost approximately $30,000 and measures 94 feet by 134 feet.]
The kids and I always enjoyed finding the Death Ray and standing in its bright white spot when we were cold so we’ll miss it. However, the ray was causing damage during warmer weather and something needs to be done.
What’s the use of a death star without its main weapon?!
The Emperor: [In the throne room, Luke is watching the Imperial fleet attack the Rebels from the huge throne room window] As you can see, my young apprentice, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station!
[the Emperor hits the comlink switch on his throne]
The Emperor: Fire at will, Commander!
Moff Jerjerrod: [In the Death Star's firing room, a group of hooded Imperial gunners starts priming the Death Star's superlaser - a device so advanced it can be trained on capital ships, such as the Rebel aircraft carriers. A series of tones signify that the weapon is ready] Fire!
[a second gunner hits a switch, and a huge laser beam roars down a firing shaft. The outer surface of the Death Star shows a huge laser dish start to develop, and then a titanic laser beam moves out from the Death Star's superlaser. It hits the Rebel Calamari Cruiser 'Liberty' and vaporizes the huge carrier in less than a second]
SOURCE: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086190/quotes
Why not make lemonade with our lemons? Put a sculptural curtain above and across the parking lot _covered_ with solar cells. Pump the solar power back into the District Courthouse and use it there.
Then, everybody should act like we always _intended_ to make that Courthouse a self-sufficient model for the nation….
it’s too bad we couldn’t get christo to come over. we could have worked the art/image into the branding logo somehow.
My wife and I thought of a solution similar to William Wagner’s — install a water tank at the focus and use it to provide the building with hot water. If that’s too difficult, maybe just use it as the heat source for a heat pump to supply the building with heat in winter.
The focus point would move, though, depending on the height of the sun, not to mention the hour of the day. I wonder if anyone thought of the cost of the indoor climate control that would be needed from a full-windowed south-facing building…..no, wait, forethought…..nevermind.