THOUGHTS

(My so-called life)

My so-called life...

29th July 1997

Let it be known throughout the land that the subtitle of this page is dedicated to a certain Angela Chase who is like soooooooo nice...

Well, it sure sounds better than "My life sucks... My "so-called life" which is the alternative.

Anyway. Had to get rid of one of the GQ-3500's so I whipped out my screwdriver and pliers and took the thing to bits. I have now a box containing a 400W floodlight (a.k.a. the 'heater'), two fans, loads of ICs, two PSUs and a LASER diode. Good god - the 68000 processor is HUGE. You Acorn guys - imagine yourselves a 6502. Now imagine it about three inches (or so) long...

The LASER diode is cool. I mean, really cool.

On the left (or top), the LASER pointing at the camera. On the right (or bottom), the LASER module...

This thing appears to be a regular diode with a lens bolted on to the front. The lens collects the light into a tight spot, focusing between 10 centimetres through 10 metres. It isn't a proper LASER, you don't get a beam, but what you do get is projected in the same kinda way. Hey - it works and it's a heck of a lot smaller than a regular neon LASER.

The weirdest thing is, I can see this. I shone it into my eyes (yes, I know that is patently stupid but...) and suddenly I could see it glowing red where I couldn't before. Can't see my remote control yet, though.

Also rescued two HT generators. By HT, I'm talking about 6kV.

My, am I gonna have fun with this lot!