The Total Solar Eclipse has generated a frenzy here in Western New York. The thousands of “solar eclipse glasses” distributed through our local public libraries were gone in days. Then, stores started selling the glasses, some at $8 a pair! Those sold out. TV stations were showing how to build a home-made “pin light projector” to watch the solar eclipse in safety.
At best, we’ll only see 75% of the solar eclipse here (we’re perfectly positioned for the next solar eclipse in 2024). To my mind, if you’ve seen one eclipse, you’ve seen them all. Are you interested in the total solar eclipse? Will you be watching it today?
No and No.
Deb, the number of people who are excited by the Total Solar Eclipse surprises me. I wish some of these people who are now “into Nature” because of the eclipse would start believing in Climate Change.
amen
I am trying not to see it.
Patti, the Total Solar Eclipse will be hard to escape. The networks are broadcasting it live.
I’m waiting for April 8, 2024, when the eclipse actually comes close enough for those in the Northeast to see it. I agree, it is totally insane what is going on. My brother is in Portland and he says there was a 20 HOUR wait in southern Oregon to get into a festival. WTF? He is going to be at his desk at work as usual. Yes, I get it, if you are in the direct path you could call it a “once in a lifetime experience.” (New York is only going to be at 71%. They said you need to be at 90% or higher to really see something.) But when I saw a guy this morning call it a “life-changing experience” I was taken aback. Not unless you stare at the eclipse without glasses and burn out your retinas, dude.
Here you can’t get glasses even if you want to. I’m anticipating a big disappointment, much like the “total eclipse” of my childhood memories. It was July 20, 1963. (Looking on Wikipedia now, I see it was actually over Canada.) We were in New Jersey at a bungalow colony, and a great of us kids got a ride to see PT-109, which had opened in June. We got some kind of protective glasses and were warned not to look up, but all I remember was clouds and maybe a little dimming of the sun.
The last one of our lifetime will be in 2024, so save the date,
And keep off my lawn!
Jeff, Buffalo is 100% in the PATH OF TOTALITY for the 2024 eclipse. We’ll probably be experiencing what your brother is experiencing when that happens.
I just checked the map. Looks like we’ll be staying at the Kelleys!
Jeff, we’re solidly in the PATH OF TOTALITY for the next Total Solar Eclipse in 2024. I’m sure it will be a frenzy again!
Your page burned out my computer screen and damaged my eyesight. My lawyers will be in touch.
Dan, thanks for your glowing report!
My schedule changed, so I’ll not even be outside for it. We’re not getting too much, but from about 9am to noon, there will be something, but it’s cloudy now, so at best it will be like twilight maybe.
I saw on john oliver last night that one news anchor (didn’t notice where) said she was probably going to look at it without glasses or anything. They’re advising to use a colander, but don’t say how.
Maggie, that explains why I’ve seen a bunch of people carrying colanders today!
What a bunch of grumpy naysayers. But then that’s Eastern thinking: If it’s not happening here, it doesn’t matter, do phooey on it. “Seen one, seen them all” is just sour grapes, George.
We’ll have 99% and everyone is very excited. The bad traffic hasn’t materialized (that horrible traffic Jeff mentions was for the big rock concert, not pre-eclipse traffic). Glasses were plentiful unless you waited until the last minute, which means you’re an idiot. Our library system gave them out, or several stores, including Walmart, had them by the barrel-full for a $1 per pair.
The Portland clinic, where I go, is closed this morning except for 1 doctor and 1 front office person. Yes, my doctor, and I have a 10:00 appointment. I’ll be in one of those tiny square windowless rooms while everyone else is watching a major solar event. Poor effing me. Bah.
Hey, Rick. Glad to see you. Yes, my brother said SOUTHERN Oregon was the traffic, I’d be excited if it was closer to us, as it will be 7 years from now.
Rick, glad you have you back!
Maybe it’s a sign that I’m getting old.
Not real excited about the eclipse.
Beth, like I said: if you’ve seen one solar eclipse, you’ve seen them all!
George, I think you’re right on if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. Here in the Atlanta area we’re getting about 97 %, and I’ll look. But I’d be much more excited if I hadn’t had such a great view of the one in ’79.
Michael, hope the clouds don’t obscure your view of the total solar eclipse!
I hope at least some of you can see it in full – it’s really something special.
I remember seeing a total eclipse in Hungary in 1999 sitting in the countryside outside a restaurant with many others. When it got dark all the animals became quiet – no more birds chirping …
And then suddenly the mosquitos came out buzzing – starting their work.
A bit OT:
A friend of mine brought me a wonderful souvenir from Romania, a banknote designed and made especially for the eclipse – made not out of paper but out of plastic!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_thousand_lei
This article has a nice picture too.
Are there any special souvenirs of the eclipse in the USA?
Wolf, my sister made “Eclipse Cookies” with a cookie in the shape of a sun with an Oreo cookie on top of it!
Krispy Kreme donuts have a special one
I slept through the first half! Then I went onto the deck and looked for a few minutes! All I could think of was A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur;s Court!
Maggie, I love theme-based desserts!
Arthur’s!
Bob, I remember Mark Twain using that eclipse element in THE CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT to good effect.
Me too!
And I really liked that book hadn’t expected this from Twain.
PS and totally OT (as usual … :)):
Has anybody read Twain’s diaries from his travels through Germany and Switzerland? Hilarious!
PPS:
“Eclipse Cookies” sound delicious!
Now in honour of your eclipse we’ll have some peaches (they are ripe right now) with dark chocolate icecream on top …
Wolf, love peaches. Love dark chocolate ice cream. But, not together. I’d pour a bunch of walnuts on top of that ice cream. And squirt some RediWhip on those peaches. Yum!
Congratulationson your taste, george!
And to make you jealous:
We have our own walnut tree and also a peach tree – and if that’s not enough we can get more from our neighbours here in Hungary.
In Germany my family (whoown the adjacent piece of land) have three gigantic walnut trees, it used to be four but one was taken down by one of the younger ones who’s a carpenter and was very inzterested in the tree’s wood which is good for building all kind of things …
As I remember from Niagara Falls peaches should also grow nicely in your climate, don’t they?
Wolf, we’re just a couple weeks away from the Lewiston Peach Festival, an annual event that celebrates peaches in all forms. In fact, I’m going to have a slice of peach bread with my coffee this morning!
MY ECLIPSE EXPERIENCE:
8/21/17
I managed to catch the partial eclipse today but it was a close thing. I had a Doctor appointment at 1PM and it ran really late. It was almost 2:30 when I ran out into the parking lot to see what I could, and I was so focused on watching the sky I didn’t notice that a kind of ratty-looking van had parked next to my car—not till about a half-dozen kids in hoodies jumped out and surrounded me!
“Let’s have the wallet and car keys, Daddy-O!” The leader cried, brandishing an assegai. The others followed suit, and I began to think things had come to a bad end, when I remembered why I was out there. I looked closely at my attackers, and they seemed like youths more up on Cartoons than Current Events, so I took a chance:
“Fools!” I cried, “I am the God of the light, and if you anger me, I shall shut out the Sun!” and I began chanting, “The boy stood on the burning deck, whence all but he had fled…”
Right on cue the sun began to disappear and it grew dark. As one, my assailants threw down their weapons and began pleading with me to bring back the light. I let them stew in despair for a few minutes, then switched to “A bunch of the boys were whooping it up, at the Malamute Saloon…”
As the sun returned, they dropped to their knees, kissing my hands and offering me some dynamite weed, thoroughly cowed.
They now worship me as a God and I have enrolled them all in Refrigerator Repair School to atone for their sins. And I’m trying to find out where they got that excellent hash!
Dan, normally I would take a dim view of such goings on, but I’m glad you and your worshippers have seen the Light.
OUCH!