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Maybe we can even reopen the Blimp port on the top of the Empire State Building.

I seem to recall seeing a history channel story discussing that port, and recall that it was horrible to actually dock an airship there.

ah well here's a relevant quote:

One depression-era scheme didn't work out -- the plan to make the Empire State Building a blimp port in the sky. A dirigible mooring was built on what is now the base of the television tower. The idea was that passengers could fly directly into Manhattan, getting off at the ESB, rather than landing in one of the boroughs or New Jersey. Only one blimp ever successfully docked with the Empire State, and that was only for three minutes. Near disasters, unpredictable winds, and the thought of passengers walking a catwalk 1,350 feet above the ground scuttled the plan.

Yes they have. It's called "product placement", and it's getting more invasive.

Not entirely correct. As I recall, it was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that sued over a guy distributing posters, and in fact they lost because there is a very specific part of copyright law that covers this:

 
United States Code - Title 17 - Chapter 1 - Section 120
Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works

                (a) Pictorial Representations Permitted. - The copyright in an architectural work that has been constructed does not include the right to prevent the making, distributing, or public display of pictures, paintings, photographs, or other pictorial representations of the work, if the building in which the work is embodied is located in or ordinarily visible from a public place.

 
( as quoted by http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/ )

Here's a copy of the court ruling in the defendant's (poster making guy) favor:

http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/IP/trademark/rock _and_roll.htm

Having just taken my parents to the Empire State Building in late September, I can tell you that whomever thought of the idea of offloading people across a small platform, at that height, in the wind that was there on the day I went, really, really, REALLY, needs to get themselves on some meds.

Fortunately, the idea was scrapped (second paragraph) long ago for the very reasons I just mentioned.

You must be referring to pictures with Atomium in it
Obviously, yes, and the lawyers were convincing enough for him to remove the picture on his site.

But then, it was not a vacation picture on his family blog as I had first thought, but a picture of the Atomium for a site about architecture.

Anyway, these European copyright laws which apply to public buildings are completely insane...

On the other hand, just before clicking on submit, I see that there is also a shop connected to that site. Now this is getting sort of different, and I could understand that the architect of that Lippo Centre on the mug feels that he is entitled to some share on the profits. But still, I'm not convinced he should be granted such rights; how does one stop on that slippery slope before you really cannot publish your vacation photographs on your family blog because someone has some right on something which happens to be in the picture.

a use for those docking ports at the top of the Empire State Building.

No, New York is not Gotham. Chicago is Gotham, as evidenced by the fact that Batman Begins was filmed on location in Chicago.

Nah, people still die on construction projects all the time--right here in America--and nobody considers it "hugely threatening" to the project. In fact, a common superstition among construction workers is that a site isn't safe to work on until a death has occurred. The ground demands blood, or something like that.

But yeah, it'd be weird nowadays if a bridge claimed upwards of 20 lives in its construction. OSHA and the unions would throw a fit, at the very least.

I wouldn't categorize wind power as being entirely green. There is much evidence to suggest the impact windmills have upon migratory bird populations can be devastating. Migrating birds tend to like strong winds, which often place them in the same geography as wind farms.

It would seem to me that windmills would work well in urban environments where migratory birds aren't likely to be. I live on the 25th floor, and it's always windy outside my windows, and I never see any birds up this high. It would seem a perfect place for some wind turbines.

I know this is being tried on the Freedom Tower in New York that's replacing the Twin Towers, and the New York Sports and Convention Center. Though I imagine there will be lots of birds in that riverfront location.

Maybe there's a way to do it on a smaller scale over a larger number of buildings.

I wouldn't categorize wind power as being entirely green. There is much evidence to suggest the impact windmills have upon migratory bird populations can be devastating. Migrating birds tend to like strong winds, which often place them in the same geography as wind farms.

It would seem to me that windmills would work well in urban environments where migratory birds aren't likely to be. I live on the 25th floor, and it's always windy outside my windows, and I never see any birds up this high. It would seem a perfect place for some wind turbines.

I know this is being tried on the Freedom Tower in New York that's replacing the Twin Towers, and the New York Sports and Convention Center. Though I imagine there will be lots of birds in that riverfront location.

Maybe there's a way to do it on a smaller scale over a larger number of buildings.