Does anyone know anything about the current offering of Laser Pointers? Specifically, Green Laser? Apparently, there is a liberal usage of the power ratings?

I find a high level of irony in a thread about lasers posted by a guy nicknamed "Argon"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_laser#Argon_laser

THAT's pretty good. The nickname goes back to the college days. It started out as R-san. One night after some serious partying as I was draped immobile over the recliner - somebody who was in freshman chem said "R-san....more like Argon the fully inert gas". It stuck.

The laser is for my Birdwatching class. I have a Dr. from the local hospital in the class and he came in with a green laser. It is bright enough to be seen during the day and is a great way to point out the birds (which can be quite difficult to locate) to the new class members. Beats trying to point out specific branches 50 feet away in a stand of trees with just a finger and words.....

They make good cat toys.

You don't have any Blinded cats do you?

If the lasers are strong enough, can you blow the birds up?


That's not really the point of bird watching, is it?

I don't know about shooting them down - but I guess I could blind them?

Read some of the laser pointer "hobbyist" forums. You won't want a high-power model to play with anymore.

That is true, they love chasing the dot.

But would they enjoy a green beam laser? I thought that was the point of the green ones, you can see the beam.

Depends, there's no explicit rule in bird watching that says the bird needs to be in any specific state, so technically you'd still be "watching."

And everyone loves explosions. It would be interesting to find out which birds pop with the most satisfying sound.

LOL! And see if the explosion sound quality has any relation to the bird call quality. Linear, inverse ...

Speaking of laser pointers, I was reading a couple of days ago that one of the agricultural aircraft manufacturers we use now offers a laser altimeter that can be “zeroed” for landing gear height and is accurate within 1.2" ... meaning I will be able to read the laser altimeter and get within an inch or two of the top of the crop instead of 'feeling' the height by running my wheels through the crop.

I'm getting one of those things.

Rick the Barnstormer!!

They have forums?

Certainly explains all the headless scarecrows you sometimes see.

Got the pointer yesterday. It is definately bright enough to be seen in the daylight against trees and leaves. I took it out last night - it is like holding a light sabre. I tried to "PoP" some bugs with it - no dice. They didn't even start smoking - you know, like with a magnifying glass.....