It's NOT a Deathray!
Many thanks to my good friend Eric the DiscoBoy for this great story that came over the wires at the small SoCal University where he is employed:
Handheld Laser Is Not a Deathray
'Personal Responsibility Is Key' Says Laser Manufacturer Bigha, Inc.
CORVALLIS, Ore., Jan. 4, 2005 -- Recent events have raised concern about handheld lasers being used to wreak havoc and terror on aircraft. On Friday, the F.B.I. questioned a New Jersey man for several hours after he reportedly stood in his back yard and targeted an airplane and a helicopter with a laser he purchased over the internet from an Oregon-based company.
That company's Web site describes its laser as useful for astronomy and other pointing purposes but warns users not to aim at aircraft, cars or people. According to John Acres, president of Bigha, "The handheld laser is an amazing tool, not a deathray. Our laser, while powerful, is carefully manufactured and tested to meet government regulations and is perfectly safe when used responsibly."
This newest generation of laser emits a green-colored beam and weighs only a few ounces. Because the human eye is at least twenty times more sensitive to green than red, the green laser appears much brighter than traditional red lasers though it uses no more power. Handheld green lasers have become more popular since prices dropped last year from over $350 to around $130. Approximately 100,000 green lasers were sold in the United States in 2004 -- double that of the previous year.
The United States Food and Drug Administration strictly regulates laser power. "Our laser provides the maximum legally allowed power for general use, but is still twenty thousand times less powerful than a standard 100 watt household light bulb. It simply does not contain enough energy to cause anything to burn, much less crash an airplane as some people fear," says Acres.
The green laser beam is incredibly bright when viewed head-on and will cause temporary blindness if shined directly into the eye from close range. At longer distances, the beam is still bright enough to startle a person that is concentrating on another activity such as driving a car or flying an airplane. The beam is easily visible for several miles under the right conditions though it rapidly dims as distance increases.
Green lasers are safely used by tens of thousands of birdwatchers, astronomers, botanists and lecturers worldwide. "Personal responsibility is key," says Acres. "Like a kitchen knife or power saw, the laser is a wonderful tool when used with care and common sense."
But it's NOT a Deathray! Got that?
On a somewhat similar note -- you know, talking about futuristic stuff and stuff -- here's an old article, published in 1961 in Weekend Magazine, telling us what our lives will be like in the year 2000.
"It looks as if everything will be so easy that people will probably die of sheer boredom."
That sounds just like my life for the past five years.
"The status symbol of the year 2000 will be the home computer help, which will help mother tend the children, cook the meals and issue reminders of appointments."
Because who could ever imagine mother working outside of the home... especially in the World of the Future!
"By the year 2020, five percent of the world's population will have emigrated into space."
That sounds great! Especially if that five percent was comprised entirely of Freepers, wingnuts and Little Green Footballers. But I repeat myself.
"There will be no common colds, tooth decay, cancer or mental illness."
*sigh* If only it were true... no mental illness would mean we wouldn't have to send the Freepers and Footballers to the off-worlds. They'd all come to their senses and realize what idiots they've been!
Now where are my Hovercraft and my Rocket Belt? And my Deathray?
It's NOT a Deathray!!
Oh yeah.
Handheld Laser Is Not a Deathray
'Personal Responsibility Is Key' Says Laser Manufacturer Bigha, Inc.
CORVALLIS, Ore., Jan. 4, 2005 -- Recent events have raised concern about handheld lasers being used to wreak havoc and terror on aircraft. On Friday, the F.B.I. questioned a New Jersey man for several hours after he reportedly stood in his back yard and targeted an airplane and a helicopter with a laser he purchased over the internet from an Oregon-based company.
That company's Web site describes its laser as useful for astronomy and other pointing purposes but warns users not to aim at aircraft, cars or people. According to John Acres, president of Bigha, "The handheld laser is an amazing tool, not a deathray. Our laser, while powerful, is carefully manufactured and tested to meet government regulations and is perfectly safe when used responsibly."
This newest generation of laser emits a green-colored beam and weighs only a few ounces. Because the human eye is at least twenty times more sensitive to green than red, the green laser appears much brighter than traditional red lasers though it uses no more power. Handheld green lasers have become more popular since prices dropped last year from over $350 to around $130. Approximately 100,000 green lasers were sold in the United States in 2004 -- double that of the previous year.
The United States Food and Drug Administration strictly regulates laser power. "Our laser provides the maximum legally allowed power for general use, but is still twenty thousand times less powerful than a standard 100 watt household light bulb. It simply does not contain enough energy to cause anything to burn, much less crash an airplane as some people fear," says Acres.
The green laser beam is incredibly bright when viewed head-on and will cause temporary blindness if shined directly into the eye from close range. At longer distances, the beam is still bright enough to startle a person that is concentrating on another activity such as driving a car or flying an airplane. The beam is easily visible for several miles under the right conditions though it rapidly dims as distance increases.
Green lasers are safely used by tens of thousands of birdwatchers, astronomers, botanists and lecturers worldwide. "Personal responsibility is key," says Acres. "Like a kitchen knife or power saw, the laser is a wonderful tool when used with care and common sense."
But it's NOT a Deathray! Got that?
On a somewhat similar note -- you know, talking about futuristic stuff and stuff -- here's an old article, published in 1961 in Weekend Magazine, telling us what our lives will be like in the year 2000.
"It looks as if everything will be so easy that people will probably die of sheer boredom."
That sounds just like my life for the past five years.
"The status symbol of the year 2000 will be the home computer help, which will help mother tend the children, cook the meals and issue reminders of appointments."
Because who could ever imagine mother working outside of the home... especially in the World of the Future!
"By the year 2020, five percent of the world's population will have emigrated into space."
That sounds great! Especially if that five percent was comprised entirely of Freepers, wingnuts and Little Green Footballers. But I repeat myself.
"There will be no common colds, tooth decay, cancer or mental illness."
*sigh* If only it were true... no mental illness would mean we wouldn't have to send the Freepers and Footballers to the off-worlds. They'd all come to their senses and realize what idiots they've been!
Now where are my Hovercraft and my Rocket Belt? And my Deathray?
It's NOT a Deathray!!
Oh yeah.
posted by Generik at 2:52 PM
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