Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:27:43 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Former WSFANs get a Worldcon
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

At 8/30/2006 08:04 PM, Ted White wrote:
>Mike B. wrote:
>
>[...]
> >
> >  Denver is a nice place...what they call "heavy traffic" we call "no
> >  delays", and you can get there from anywhere, since one of the
> >  largest airports in North America is located there and is a major hub
> >  for a lot of airlines.  In fact, it's hard to get much of anyplace
> >  the other side of the Mississippi *without* stopping in Denver.
> >  They've even fully automated the luggage-losing systems there, so
> >  human unreliability won't accidentally send your bags to the same
> >  place you are going!
>
>Although it won't have any effect on the Denver Worldcon, due to the
>season, I've seen the (older) Denver airport closed for snow, and I've
>been stranded in Denver (actual destination:  Portland, Oregon).  It's
>centrally located, more or less, but it's a mile high and can get rough
>weather in the winter.

So what if we put these huge mirrors in geosynchronous orbit, and aimed
them at the runways during a snowstorm?  Think that might keep them
clear?  Or just tan the pilots' eyeballs?

Or maybe this could be another use for powersats?  Microwaves of the proper
frequency will heat water very well, and you could just turn them on when
there aren't any planes on the runway.  With the right targeting and on/off
timing, maybe we could keep the whole interstate system free of snow and
ice?  What would that save in fuel, cleanup costs, delayed shipping
expenses, accidents (and associated insurance claims and lost
productivity), road repair, etc.?  Maybe enough to cover putting the things
up there?  Wonder if you could use them to influence the weather enough to
keep major cities from getting hit with blizzards in the first
place?  Weather is heat and moisture-driven for the most part...

-- Mike B.
--
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.