Austrian Town Sees the Light

Austrian Town Sees the Light 339

Posted by Zonk on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:43AM from the visitors-from-the-outside dept.

pin_gween writes "The Austrian town of Rattenberg (a 10 minute walk from sunlight during the winter) plans to install a mirror on a mountain to redirect sunlight towards the town. The town was built in the winter shadow of Rat Mountain. The plan is to place heliostat mirrors to shine light in several locations around town, where villagers could 'congregate and get sunned up.' The EU is ponying up half the $2.4 million costs. The company installing the mirrors, Bartenbach Lichtlabor GmbH, is contributing $600,000, and hopes other communities will use their technology."

Austrian Town Sees the Light

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ob Southpark (Score:3, Funny)

by narkotix ( 576944 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:45AM (#14080287)

SIMPSONS DID IT!!

Potential Problem (Score:5, Funny)

by SlashSquatch ( 928150 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:47AM (#14080299) Homepage

If there's a glitch in focusing, then the people get fried like ants?

earlier (Score:1, Funny)

by manojar ( 875389 ) writes: <kmanoj32@nospAM.yahoo.co.in> on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:51AM (#14080311) Homepage

There was this project about a decade back - to light up scandinavian countries (or is it Greenland), to bring light the same way. The environmentalists raised a stink. Googled, but could not find it; Can anyone throw light on that one?

Cool! (Score:5, Funny)

by dbolger ( 161340 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:53AM (#14080320) Homepage

During peacetime, it brings light to the people, but if war is declared - instant Archimedes Death Ray [wikipedia.org]! :D

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:53AM (#14080322)

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:earlier (Score:5, Funny)

by dbolger ( 161340 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:58AM (#14080337) Homepage

No, but if somebody could find a 'mirror'... ;D

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm Sure... (Score:5, Funny)

by MattLiv ( 932749 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @05:58AM (#14080338)

...that the mirror companies decision to pay for some of the cost will reflect well on them over time.

Re:If you can't stand the heat... (Score:5, Funny)

by meringuoid ( 568297 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @06:01AM (#14080350)

Doesn't this fall into the category of "don't live there?"
Well, yes, probably. That said, I wonder if this might actually attract a certain type of warped tourist to the town? The City of Eternal Darkness, lit only by giant mirrors that reflect an eerie faded sunlight onto its dismal roofs... Chances are something Lovecraftian lives there.
Myself, I'd be heading up the hill to stick a giant cut-out of a bat onto one of the mirrors :-)

Re:being an EU citizen (Score:3, Funny)

by rxmd ( 205533 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @06:07AM (#14080366) Homepage

What about EU funds for my city - it's a bit chilly in winter. Has been for the last 5000 years. Everyone there knew it was chilly in winter and it hasn't blown up or fallen off the edge of the world because of this winter chill. I think the EU should pay for some weird underground heating to recompense us for this winter horror.

Let me guess, you live in Helsinki? :)
Well, the EU made Finland lower their taxes on alcohol... and since Estonia has joined the EU, the import tariffs on cheap Estonian vodka have fallen, too. ("Viru Valge [viruvalge.ee]" at 80%, anyone?) So the EU is actually doing something for the Finns and their cold winter nights ;)

Re:Shadows... (Score:1, Funny)

by blackomegax ( 807080 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @06:12AM (#14080378) Journal

the puppetiers better be prepared for massive sunburn, then.

Re:Australia (Score:4, Funny)

by shrewd ( 830067 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @06:20AM (#14080399)

the Austrian variety of kangaroo's live deep deep underground in dark cold caverns, they'll be alright.

Re:Potential Problem (Score:3, Funny)

by flyingsquid ( 813711 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @06:35AM (#14080435)

If there's a glitch in focusing, then the people get fried like ants?
You say that like this would be some kind of a reason not to do it.

Slashdotted! (Score:3, Funny)

by ndogg ( 158021 ) writes: <the@rhorn.gmail@com> on Monday November 21, 2005 @06:55AM (#14080502) Homepage Journal

I can't seem to read the site. It seems to be slashdotted.

So, does anyone have a good...umm...mirror?

Gerry Anderson is prophetic again! (Score:3, Funny)

by Yooden_Vranx ( 758878 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @07:19AM (#14080571)

For a sneak peek at what happens next, see the classic Thunderbirds episode "Lord Parker's 'Oliday" :) http://www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/tbirds2eg.htm l#Episode%20Four [fanderson.org.uk]

Re:cool! (Score:2, Funny)

by mrselfdestrukt ( 149193 ) writes: <nollie_A7_firstcounsel_com> on Monday November 21, 2005 @07:22AM (#14080577) Homepage Journal

You win the palindrome UID prize! Congrats! You can pick up your toyota at any dealer now. Second prize is two toyotas!

All I can think of (Score:5, Funny)

by $RANDOMLUSER ( 804576 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @07:27AM (#14080590)

Is Wyle E. Coyote and a giant "Acme" mirror.
Unintended consequences ensue.

Re:Sun reflecting mirrors in space (Score:3, Funny)

by Indy Media Watch ( 823624 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @07:36AM (#14080625) Homepage

Your zeal to irritate hippies shortcircuited your brains again huh?

Nah... The lack of hurricanes in my neighbourhood just lowered my thirst for knowledge of how to defeat them.

I already know how to defeat hippies [wikipedia.org]...

Re:Potential Problem (Score:4, Funny)

by zerocool^ ( 112121 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @08:14AM (#14080750) Homepage Journal

And it's where the remains of Mary Magdeline are kept.

//worst book I've ever enjoyed reading. I'm so ashamed.

In Other News... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @09:55AM (#14081161)

Skin cancer research finds a new home.

Someone should let this guy know (Score:4, Funny)

by bareman ( 60518 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @10:04AM (#14081204) Homepage Journal

www.solardeathray.com

and send a photographer to capture the ensuing hilarity.. er, um.. I'm mean document the event.

Where the sun don't shine (Score:3, Funny)

by goombah99 ( 560566 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @10:51AM (#14081478)

Is this the place people have been telling me to stick my head all these years? Gosh I thought they meant something else.

Re:All good until... (Score:3, Funny)

by uradu ( 10768 ) writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @10:51AM (#14081480)

> Why would the kid sue someone's pants specifically?

Sue their pants OFF. You know these kids nowadays, they can never get enough pr0n, even if they have to sue for it.

Re:If you can't stand the heat... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday November 21, 2005 @12:35PM (#14082350)

stick a giant cut-out of a bat

damn it the only reason i came in this thread was to say that!

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Austrian Town Sees the Light 339

Austrian Town Sees the Light More Login

Austrian Town Sees the Light

ob Southpark (Score:3, Funny)

Potential Problem (Score:5, Funny)

earlier (Score:1, Funny)

Cool! (Score:5, Funny)

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

Re:earlier (Score:5, Funny)

I'm Sure... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:If you can't stand the heat... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:being an EU citizen (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Shadows... (Score:1, Funny)

Re:Australia (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Potential Problem (Score:3, Funny)

Slashdotted! (Score:3, Funny)

Gerry Anderson is prophetic again! (Score:3, Funny)

Re:cool! (Score:2, Funny)

All I can think of (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Sun reflecting mirrors in space (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Potential Problem (Score:4, Funny)

In Other News... (Score:1, Funny)

Someone should let this guy know (Score:4, Funny)

Where the sun don't shine (Score:3, Funny)

Re:All good until... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:If you can't stand the heat... (Score:1, Funny)

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