Comments on: Our Second Book Giveaway: The American Skyscraper

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:15:00 +0000

The one element I would include: hydrogen.
It would be tough to build anything without hydrogen.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:32:00 +0000

One word: panopticon. All computer monitors must be facing center to ensure that employees aren’t looking at porn instead of working.

Apologies if this posts more than once. I’m having technical problems.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:48:00 +0000

One word: panopticon. All computer monitors must be facing center to ensure that employees aren’t looking at porn instead of working.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:20:00 +0000

I would turn Mental Floss headquarters into a panopticon and require all computer monitors face center. This way no one can pretend to be doing work while they’re really just looking at porn (like my boss).

By: Sean O.

Sean O. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:12:00 +0000

The entire building would be a series of Rube Goldberg devices. Smaller ones for small jobs like making copies or turning on one’s computer. Medium sized ones for elevators and lighting, etc. And one huge device housed in a transparent box in the lobby to enter the building. You’d have to stand at the enterance and wait for the process to finish before you could enter the building. Might be a fire hazard on the exit, but at least it would be interesting.

By: Patrick C.

Patrick C. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:39:00 +0000

Instead of elevators, giant pneumatic tube-like devices that would allow the floss staff to float up and down from one floor to another, and in the event of a fire – a fireman’s pole (with friction added in parts to prevent the sliding from gaining too much velocity).

By: Peter D.

Peter D. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:38:00 +0000

It would include what every self-respecting skyscraper requires: blimp-docking facilities.

By: pamela

pamela — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Three words…Room of Requirement! It turns into whatever you need at that moment. If Harry potter has it, it must be good.

By: Brian S.

Brian S. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:43:00 +0000

2 things: Floor tiles that give off a sound/light combination when they are walked across, and an intercom system with the voice of HAL 9000. I would enjoy being called into the bosses office if these are the things I had to look forward to.

By: Scott-O

Scott-O — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:25:00 +0000

Sorry- experienceing technical problems here… fourth attempt to update my entry below.

One element it would include? How about carbon… In the form of a “Bucky Ball” pit… You get R. Buckminster Fuller architecture AND a fun time in a single plop.