It came from an article is by Alexander Calandra and appeared first in "The
Saturday Review" (December 21, 1968, p 60). It is also in the collection
"More Random Walks in Science" by R.L.Weber, The Institute of Physics, 1982.
The webpage also has some emails suggesting other (Petard-like) ways to use
a barometer to measure the height of a building, no doubt suitable for
future urban legends.
Rick Strickert, Ph.D.
Radian International
Austin, TX
--- All IMO! ---