Cue references to that old Arthur C. Clarke story

[james_davis_nicoll]

A new London skyscraper dubbed the "Walkie Talkie" has been blamed for reflecting light which melted parts of a car parked on a nearby street.

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

That's what I'm wondering. Designing ONE Death Ray building could be an accident. But designing TWO? He's a Bond villain.

[neowolf2.livejournal.com]

Has he built anything inside active volcanoes, by any chance?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear Ghu. He designed the Boston Convention Center, which is next door to, and part of the same complex where, Arisia and Boskone are held. We're doomed.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

He did the Battersea Power Plant on the Thames. That's not an active volcano, but it seems like the sort of thing that could be useful to a mad scientist.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

On further thought: adjusting the building would be very Bond-villain-ish, but isn't necessary. You only need to aim the window panes (per that Clarke story, IIRC). And *that* could be hidden in the window frames, if one were so inclined, or even advertised as a feature. "Automatically open the windows when the air outside is cool and dry! Remotely close them when it starts to rain!"

[neowolf2.livejournal.com]

if one were so inclined,

/rimshot

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Heh. That one was unintentional.