@funranium (reads)

It just keeps getting worse, doesn't it.

@funranium "On closer inspection, we later leaned that the Quanta-Ray had burnt through the wheel well and cut the brake line"

uh. Well then. A. glad you found that B. glad you weren't in a spot where it could do that to your retina?

@funranium That's a pretty good laser-eye-injury story, from both a humour and an educational perspective.

I kind of love how it's also the classic "wasn't wearing laser goggles and bodged something, with serious consequences".

@funranium @hendric

Oof. That’s a wild story. Can’t say I’ve ever seen anything remotely as bizarre and ill-advised, but I did once witness what happened (with many fewer bad consequences) when you don’t pay attention to laser safety.

When I was an undergrad I did a research project in a laser lab whose primary laser was a 5W-ish nitrogen laser. The students and PI working there pointed out the safety interlocks, the heavy blackout curtains, and various other bits of gear and protocol to keep things safe.

They also pointed out The Hole. This was the roughly 5mm diameter, perfectly circular, hole burned through the blackout curtain one day when the beam went someplace it wasn’t supposed to.

Looking through The Hole from inside the laser room, you could see the frosh chemistry lab.

It did not need any saying to make it clear that it would not go well for you if you made a Second Hole.

@funranium the further through this I read, the longer my "oh no"s got.

oh nooooooooooo.

@funranium I just kept repeating “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.” all the way through the story.

Jesus.

@funranium @mxshift ~~do not look into laser with remaining eye~~

Edit: Apologies, it's been pointed out to me that this is in rather poor taste given what happened. Will delete if requested but leaving up for now to acknowledge.

@funranium

Probably the biggest one Xerox had for laser printing.Visible light red, and a high voltage power supply about the size of case for ten five and a quarter inch floppy disks. I was showing people how tight the beam was in a college dorm corridor, but I am not a fool and don't want to risk anyone's vision. So I put the whole thing on the floor and and turn it on with the beam maybe two inches off the carpet. Of course someone tries to crouch down to look in it.

@funranium

given the context already of "laser stuff" you had me at hearing rapid clicking *outside*

I only ever encountered these things in darkened basements

@funranium

Very uncomfortable reading. And quotable. Above all: "Are you declaring war on the United States, Bob?"

@funranium

Yikes! Glad the damage to your eye wasn't too bad. I salute your storytelling skills!