[TheForge] crackpottery

[marilyn traber 011221]

> > How bout solar?
> > How many square feet of reflective surface does it take to heat 
a 
> > couple of cubic inches of iron to a healthy yellow?
> > What's the junkyard tracking mechanism?
> 
> Somewhere there must be a huge heap of those 6' diameter satellite
> dishes (I only have one I dragged home on junk day.)  They had
> positioning motors on them.  Of course, the focal point is too 
close
> but some math, some jiggering with mylar film might do it.  Fill 
your
> yard with them and focus them on a refractory-brick box.  Put a
> junk-bin web cam with a filter on each one, have yr computer nudge
> each one so as to properly position the sun's disc in the image 
(more
> trig here).  The OFF switch by the anvil causes little 
electromagnets
> to distort the mylar and fuzz the focus.

You know, I'd laugh, except I can see you guys doing something like 
that. Dunno if it's a relief, or a disappointment, that you and 
Bruce aren't very close together...

Phlip