Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                               

Massive Solar Collector Array (of Doom!)

Augmentation of Massive AOL CD Solar Collector Array
  (+5)
(+5)
  [vote for,
against]

While daydreaming I wondered if a controlled version of the MACSCA might actually be useful. Produce little solar powered motors that automatically track the sun, aiming a mirror at a central plant. Of course bluetooth the whole thing so that you can fine tune it. Give people a few dollars to install them on their roof - I'm picturing about one per square foot.

Then I realized the amazing capacity for mayhem such a system could have using few hundred megawatts of city-controlled heat and light. On a sunny day an uncontrolled politician or hacker could vaporize his competitors, burn holes in bank vaults, melt statues, or possibly even knock out satellites.

Worldgineer, Jan 23 2004

The MACSCA http://www.halfbake...20Collector_20Array
Sometimes I inspire even myself. [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004]

The ray guns are coming, the ray guns are coming http://www.photonic...d.4571/QX/today.htm
[theircompetitor, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

[link]






       Could kindly direct me to Recruiting and henchmen Services please?
Letsbuildafort, Jan 23 2004
  

       [worldg] I've bunned you because this is preposterous. All good ideas are at first.
jonthegeologist, Jan 23 2004
  

       I particularly like the idea of 'fine tuning' with Bluetooth.
gnomethang, Jan 23 2004
  

       hhmmmmm, thinking of all the okies that would suddenly disapear with this thing on my roof. Starting with my crappy landlords. ;)
babyhawk, Jan 23 2004
  

       "We've got something very serious here, Captain. In the wrong hands, this thing could burn down the sun, leaving us freezing our arses in the dark." I prefer MSCA Of Doom, thought.
sidi, Jan 23 2004
  

       MaSCAD. Hmm... has a ring. (was "Massive Solar Collector Array (of Evil?)")
Worldgineer, Jan 24 2004
  

       This sounds very similar to something I've read recently. If I could just put my finger on it.

Wait, that could hurt right?
  

       There's an Arthur C Clarke story ("Case of Sunstroke") similar to this. In the story, on a prearranged signal at the end of a football match half the crowd angle their shiny, silvery programmes so as to blind the (biased) referee. Due to a miscalculation, the referee is incinerated.
hippo, Jan 24 2004
  

       Still the better thing with this WoMD (let's not be affraid of initials, shall we?) would be the Death Star-like concetration of energy as all the mirrors (er, CDs) align in the same direction.
sidi, Jan 24 2004
  

       [sid] just gave me a wonderful(ly evil) idea. Combine this system with geostationary satellite mirrors, and the location of released evil is unbounded.
Worldgineer, Jan 24 2004
  

       So you mean they didn't need all those conflict diamonds? They just needed to collect AOL CDs? Did Time Warner make that movie?
theircompetitor, Jan 24 2004
  

       Sounds kind of like the Icarus satellite on Die Another Day. Except, cheaper, funnier, and better. Man, it's a wonder that they didn't use one of those puppies in Iraq!
red_ensign_chris, Jan 24 2004
  

       We could blow up the moon!......then what?
yabba do yabba dabba, Jan 30 2004
  

       (quietly points out that such a device by itself could not blow up the moon)
Worldgineer, Jan 30 2004
  

       you better hope not.
yabba do yabba dabba, Jan 30 2004
  

       M.A.S.C.A.R.A. ...
galukalock, Jan 30 2004
  

       I like it. MaSCAra (of Doom!)
Worldgineer, Jan 30 2004
  

       I'm this close to fishboning you just for using a makeup product as your acronym.   

       But I love the idea. Plus, I hope to someday be an evil politician, and this would be a nifty tool for removing those pesky "opposition candidates."   

       Perhaps the political parties could be renamed the Lighters and Bricquettes, with the names changing depending on who's in charge?
shapu, May 25 2004
  

       //such a device by itself could not blow up the moon//   

       It would just melt. Then we could have one hell of a fondue.
chud, May 25 2004
  

       I'm gonna bun this again because you are still fine-tuning with Bluetooth. Zigbee might save on batteries though!.
gnomethang, Oct 04 2004
  

       There are no batteries. Just a little solar panel. (sorry, I fell asleep there for a minute - how long was I out?)
Worldgineer, May 14 2011
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle