The Famous Among Us
Deb is one of our regular comment contributors and a real live customer at the beauty salon.
She describes herself as a science nerd, but that’s not true at all. She’s just a nerd. Just the flaming red hot kind. She can grab ahold of a topic and hold on to it until she has sponged-up every last drop of information about it.
And she’s also very funny and a helluva good cook.
She says the only part of the story that she didn’t like was that they gave her age. I have no idea why she’s upset about that – she lied to them about it anyway.
She did find some proper eclipse glasses because she lives right underneath it.
I plan on watching the eclipse on the TV where it is much safer! I tell folks the Universe is putting on this spectacular show on that date because IT’S MY BIRTHDAY! LOL OMG … No. 74 for me! I can’t stand it!!!
1Congrats to Deb the Celeb. Any chance solar radiation from the eclipse can help your diagnosis? That would be cool and a spectacular way to end a tumultuous period in history.
2As a true “lazrgrl” I bought a box of (reputable) glasses to share with grandkid’s daycare. But (wisely) they decided to keep the kids inside. So I’ll take her out of school and have a grandma science day.
Actually I prefer the pinhole viewer- under a leafy tree, made by a colander or – my favorite- eyelet lace. Noticed my first eclipse (they weren’t so well publicized in the 70s) when eyelet lace curtains cast banana shapes on the kitchen floor. Those were innocent days for sure.
3Congratulations, Deb, and I didn’t notice a mention of age. Or care.
My husband ordered our glasses from Amazon, I think, but they’re made by Celestron, a telescope company which ought to know from safe. And the eclipse is on our anniversary, but he’s going to be in Charleston SC with a friend for the total. I’m going to be in Maryland with four cats, one newly-diagnosed with cancer (a mild form, we hope). At least we both saw a total about 20 years ago– awesome, and a partial isn’t even close to that experience.
4I didn’t see Deb’s age in the article. I got my eclipse viewers ($2.95 for 2 pair, free shipping) from Explore Scientific, which I found through the AAAS website. We’re not in the direct path; 70-75% is what we’re slotted to get.
5My wife ordered our glasses through Amazon and we got the same notice a few days ago. Went to space.com to see what they recommend and the only ones I could find in stock anywhere were in Germany… being delivered by DHL today!
6Happy Anniversary to Rhea and Hubby on the 21st! 🙂
7I happen to know how old Deb is. She’s 39, just like Jack Benny. And me.
8Thank you, Marcia in CO. It’s been an interesting 35 years.
9Since the article did not, in fact, disclose Deb’s age, I get the chance to spill the beans. Deb is 27.
10Nice article Deb.
Just a suggestion, but perhaps you could donate your non-certified eclipse glasses to a local racist.
I’ll admit blindness might be an extreme cure for racism, but with some it might be the only way.
(I do not actually recommend, condone, or seriously advocate…)
11God bless you Slipstream!
12Happy Birthday in advance Marcia.
Congratulations on the anniversary Rhea, I’m sorry about your kitty. The one good thing about my diagnosis is it does get me to a Houston and that gives me a chance to visit Juanita Jean herownself and her Bubba!
The nice young lady took my age out, she was just tickled that a grandmother follows BuzzFeed and has a Twitter account (gotta keep up with the kids). As to famous, I’m not certain this would even be worth Andy Warhols time to take out a stopwatch and measure, but the grandkids got a chuckle out of it!
We are in the path of totality and if the clouds cooperate we should get 1 minute and 41 seconds of eclipse. No, not at all nerdy to have it down to the second.
I’m with you lazrgrl the pinhole camera works well. If you live near a national park that lies within the path, they have free viewers just call first.
Happy viewing all.
Thank You, Deb! 🙂
13And, God willing … your trips to Houston will pay off for you!! Hugs, Sweetie!!
And, Rhea … here’s hoping your kitty’s diagnosis will be a mild form of the Big C … Hugs to you, too!!
Like Deb and ronanon (#8), I’m also 39. ::coughcough::
Saw my first (and only) total solar eclipse in north/central Oregon on my grandfather’s birthday Feb 27th, back in 1979, nearly 40 years ago. Was AMAZING!!!
So looking forward to Monday, we’ll need to drive a bit south to be in the path of totality. Clouds STAY AWAY. Somewhere in my messy house are the solar blocking strips we bought for the eclipse back in 1979, and last used to view an annular solar eclipse (disappointing) in northern California a few years ago. Have moved since then and misplaced, BUT as others suggest, use pinhole, or look at dozens of partial eclipses in leaf shadows. Just heard of the strainer/colander, will try that.
One more thing that’s cool is to do is face away from the sun and hold your hand out, fingers apart, close to a flat surface so the shadow is strong. As the moon covers the sun, the shadows of the end of your fingers will curve to one side, then will curve to the other side after the moon has passed. This will work even if you’re not in the path of totality but I suspect will be stronger the higher the % of coverage.
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