We used to get the Edmund Scientific catalog in the mail when I was a kid, and I always asked for a Fresnel lens, and I was never allowed to have a Fresnel lens.

Wow, a bit like a kid killing ants with a lens of some sort. For safety's sake they should somehow mark (paint? different coloured cement?) the area where the Death Ray will hit.

I've heard of Fresnel lenses being used in lighthouses, but was unaware you could buy them for other things.

I find it hard to believe that this is the first time this has been an issue... There are SO many buildings like this... Though I guess many of them are in more densely packed cities and maybe don't get such direct rays from the sun.

I wonder if Vdara hasn't cooked this story up (haha) for publicity, hmm... I don't know, something just seems fishy about it to me.

amro, I can confirm that this is a real story. Folks at my company know the lawyer whose hair was scorched.