All Weather Olympic Torch Lighter

It seems that the Olympic torch-lighting ceremony in Greece may run into a bit of trouble. With Apollo, the Sun god, being on holiday, some back-stager with a Zippo may just have to provide the sacred spark instead of using the parabolic mirror.

I feel we should do more to celebrate alternative sources of energy. A complex array of devices could allow the energy to be sourced by whichever member of the Pantheon decided to show up for work that day.

First, a rotating windmill could drive a generator, allowing Aeolus his turn on the stage; there could also be a set of fixed-direction windmills for each of Boreas, Notus, Eurus, and Zephyr.

A rain-collector with an attached water turbine and generator (I know just where to find some suggestions) will allow Zeus to drizzle some energy into the proceedings.

If all seems still, a block of flint on a slide could be allowed to strike an anvil, forcing Haphaestus into the act.

And, of course, there is a very tall lightning rod just in case Zeus decides to chime in with that other trick of his. We won't argue, even if he's got a different timing for the ceremony than what we handed out to the media.