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2005-01-02 Home Front: WoT

Follow-up: Man was only "playing" with laser

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Posted by .com 2005-01-02 09:05|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Wheee! A Green Light Sabre!

Posted by Shipman 2005-01-02 5:28:26 PM|| 2005-01-02 5:28:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 How about someone whacking the guy in the midsection with a bat and saying that they were only playing baseball?

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-01-02 9:54:47 PM|| 2005-01-02 9:54:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 A common laser pointer....one that can reach several thousand feet into the air? That's one mightly expensive pointer...because I really doubt the kinds you buy at wal-mart or the mall are going to be strong enough to reach that far.

Posted by Silentbrick 2005-01-02 10:03:11 PM|| 2005-01-02 10:03:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 How about someone whacking the guy in the midsection with a bat and saying that they were only playing baseball?

Batter up!

A common laser pointer....one that can reach several thousand feet into the air? That's one mightly expensive pointer...because I really doubt the kinds you buy at wal-mart or the mall are going to be strong enough to reach that far.

While even a small laser pointer's beam will carry for many miles, it won't arrive with much strength. For a beam to easily be seen in a cockpit several thousand feet (up or) away, it's got to have a bit more wattage behind it.

This is what I was posting about the other night. I don't think we're getting the whole story here. Plus, shining a hand-held laser pointer (of any wattage) and also accurately tracking a remote target without employing an alti-azimuth mount is more than a little difficult. Directing a hand-held beam through a small cockpit windscreen from thousands of feet away, and doing so long enough to be noticed by the flight deck, especially while the craft is moving at many feet per second, is essentially impossible.

Try putting up a dime-sized target more than 30 feet away and then locking an unsupported hand-held laser pointer on it without wavering off-center too much. Let me know if any of you can do it.

I've been playing with lasers for decades and this story simply reeks.

Posted by Zenster 2005-01-02 10:31:32 PM|| 2005-01-02 10:31:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 This idiot is lucky that he doesn't have a couple of blind children in his household.
Wicked Lasers claim that their green laser has a 20 mile range.
They also have a disclaimer that says in part: The sale of our high powered laser modules are not for minors under 18 and are for professional use only. Lasers are very dangerous and not toys. Never look towards the beam. Never point a laser at a moving vehicle or airplane. Never point a laser towards animals. Children must not handle lasers. Never point a laser at reflective surfaces. Lasers can cause blindness. Never use a laser to startle someone. Never use a laser while driving. Never remove a laser's Infrared Filter.
I suspect that wherever he bought the cute laser for his kiddies also had a similar disclaimer. Maybe a judge will give him time to read it and reflect on his gross stupidity.

Posted by GK 2005-01-02 10:42:08 PM|| 2005-01-02 10:42:08 PM|| Front Page Top

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