Ouch!Hotel Accidentally Makes Solar "Death Ray", Burns Lawyer
Jason Mick (Blog) - September 29, 2010 3:11 PM
Hot new Vdara hotel might be a little bit TOO hot
Bill Pintas was vacationing in Las Vegas when he decided to stay at the swank new Vdara hotel, a curvy 57-story tower owned by MGM Resorts. He was sitting at the pool when he encountered something alarming. He recalls, "I'm sitting there in the chair and all of the sudden my hair and the top of my head are burning. I'm rubbing my head and it felt like a chemical burn. I couldn't imagine what it could be."
Like an ant under a magnifying glass, he remembers running to an umbrella, but being unable to escape the hot light. He recalls, "I used to live in Miami and I've sat in the sun in Las Vegas 100 times. I know what a hot sun feels like and this was not it. My first inclination was thinking: Jesus we've destroyed the ozone layer because I am burning."
Speaking with employees, he was alarmed to find out that the hotel staff was aware of the situation. He recalls, "They're kind of giggling and say: 'Yeah, we know. We call it the death ray."
The "death ray" appears to be created by the glass surface of the hotel itself -- acting as a concentrating parabolic dish -- similar to those used to heat water to a boil in solar power systems. The dish concentrates light on a 10-foot by 15-foot hot zone moving across the pool. Temperatures in this area spike 20 degrees Fahrenheit -- or more.
Bill Pintas saw his plastic newspaper bag literally begin to melt. The bag -- composed of polyethylene -- is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. And the employees recall seeing plastic cups -- which have a melting point of 160 degrees Fahrenheit – actually melting.
Other guests, including newspaper reviewers, have also observed the burning beam.
The hotel management doesn't call it a "death ray", they prefer the more friendly distinction "solar convergence phenomenon". Gordon Absher, a spokesman for MGM Mirage says the hotel is addressing the problem, and comments, "Because of the curved, concave shape of that hotel, they sometimes get isolated pockets of high temperatures."
The hotel is baffled by how to solve the problem of the "death ray", though. When initially constructing the building, they anticipated the issue and put a coating over the glass that absorbs 70 percent of the daytime sunlight. However, that was not enough to reduce its painful effects. And the ray sweeps across a wide area, making it hard to protect a specific region.
Comments Mr. Absher, "This is quite literally an astronomical challenge," Absher said. "We are dealing with a moving target."
The mishap in architecture isn't as glaring as some of history's most notable mistakes -- such as the 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge, but it is pretty extraordinary. It serves as a reminder that while many take the science and engineering of designing massive skyscrapers for granted these days, it remains a tricky business.
It looks like the Vrada may have exposed the wrong guest to the death ray, though -- Mr. Pintas is a Chicago-based lawyer.
Hotel has a Death Ray!
Forum rules
The global forum rules are found here.
NOTE: posts in this section are not counted towards your total.
The global forum rules are found here.
NOTE: posts in this section are not counted towards your total.
-
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 22136
- Joined: 14 Jun 2004, 02:00
- Processor: Ryzen 1700K
- Motherboard: Asus X370
- Graphics card: Asus 1060 Strix
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Location: Where Google says
Hotel has a Death Ray!
http://www.dailytech.com/Hotel+Accident ... e19756.htm
JUSTICE, n A commodity which is a more or less adulterated condition the State sells to the citizen as a reward for his allegiance, taxes and personal service.
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Epic lulz.
I must acquire this magnificent bit of real estate and use it to further my ambitions of world domination.
I must acquire this magnificent bit of real estate and use it to further my ambitions of world domination.
Ceterum autem censeo Samsung Mobile esse delendam.
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
and this plan of yours.... how are you gonna implement it when you still living at home???
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
They don't call it the BASEment for nothing, dear.
Ceterum autem censeo Samsung Mobile esse delendam.
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
lol.... as in army base??
just remember to do all your chores before working on your plan...!
just remember to do all your chores before working on your plan...!
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
yes ma.
Ceterum autem censeo Samsung Mobile esse delendam.
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
i'm not your mother... thank goodness....
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
- Ron2K
- Forum Technical Administrator
- Posts: 9050
- Joined: 04 Jul 2006, 16:45
- Location: Upper Hutt, New Zealand
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Further reading.D3PART3D wrote:Epic lulz.
I must acquire this magnificent bit of real estate and use it to further my ambitions of world domination.
Kia kaha, Kia māia, Kia manawanui.
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
don't give him more ideas!!!
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
- Ron2K
- Forum Technical Administrator
- Posts: 9050
- Joined: 04 Jul 2006, 16:45
- Location: Upper Hutt, New Zealand
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
More further reading: the Evil Overlord List.
Kia kaha, Kia māia, Kia manawanui.
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
i give up!! men.....
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
A shining example of how not to build a hotel....
(somebody had to)
(somebody had to)
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle
Intel i5 2500; AsRock Z77 Extreme 4; Asus GTX580; 4x 2GB DDR3 1333; Intel 520 240GB SSD + 2x WD 3TB + 2TB Samsung; Samsung 22X DVD/RW; 23" LG W2343T-PF; Huntkey 700W
Intel i5 2500; AsRock Z77 Extreme 4; Asus GTX580; 4x 2GB DDR3 1333; Intel 520 240GB SSD + 2x WD 3TB + 2TB Samsung; Samsung 22X DVD/RW; 23" LG W2343T-PF; Huntkey 700W
- Prime
- Registered User
- Posts: 27729
- Joined: 01 Mar 2004, 02:00
- Location: Getting into trouble
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
The roof is on fire should be their themesong.
- Tribble
- Registered User
- Posts: 88465
- Joined: 08 Feb 2007, 02:00
- Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K CPU@3.50GHz
- Motherboard: ACPI x64-based PC
- Graphics card: GeForce GTX 780 Ti
- Memory: 16GB
- Location: Not here
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Interesting building
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Thank you, Ron.
Ceterum autem censeo Samsung Mobile esse delendam.
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
*throws hands up in the air, i surrender!*
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Ah, the spoils of war.KatrynKat wrote:*throws hands up in the air, i surrender!*
@Anakha:
My goose is getting cooked.
Need a light? </antispam>
Ceterum autem censeo Samsung Mobile esse delendam.
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.
- Elon Musk
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
@D33: no favours for you for a month....
*GO SPAM SOMEWHERE ELSE! - jee*
*GO SPAM SOMEWHERE ELSE! - jee*
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
-
- Registered User
- Posts: 14085
- Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 02:00
- Location: Location, Location...
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
He gets favours?
- KatrynKat
- Insane in the Membrane
- Posts: 24490
- Joined: 18 Jul 2010, 17:42
- Location: In my BDSM dungeon - aka Lockdown
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
lol....
jelous much???
dis net nog die grap dat ons getroud is, maar IS NIE!!!
jelous much???
dis net nog die grap dat ons getroud is, maar IS NIE!!!
"This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons."
-
- Registered User
- Posts: 14085
- Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 02:00
- Location: Location, Location...
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Dis jealous, en nee, moet ek wees?
</nazi>
</nazi>
-
- Registered User
- Posts: 26022
- Joined: 13 May 2004, 02:00
- Location: Getting there...
- Contact:
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
MOOD - Thirsty
A surprising amount of modern pseudoscience is coming out of the environmental sector. Perhaps it should not be so surprising given that environmentalism is political rather than scientific.
Timothy Casey
A surprising amount of modern pseudoscience is coming out of the environmental sector. Perhaps it should not be so surprising given that environmentalism is political rather than scientific.
Timothy Casey
Re: Hotel has a Death Ray!
Dooh, i think that is the beauty (or the dangers) of the innerwebs. That little story was picked up, posted on a few non-important sites, then linked to another like the bookface where it just bloom...
i believe that news agencies have spiders that trawl the innerwebs for news like this... That hotel is now totally in trouble...
i believe that news agencies have spiders that trawl the innerwebs for news like this... That hotel is now totally in trouble...
"Integrity" and "integer" both contain a Latin root meaning "whole; complete." The root sense, then, is that people may be said to be acting with integrity when their beliefs, words, and actions have a sense of unity or wholeness.