Food, weather, and other completely mundane, trivial, meaningless topics

[KayC]

4 hours ago, HisMunchkin said:

KayC - have you heard of emla, a.k.a Indian Gooseberries for lowering blood sugar levels?

Nope!  I take Berberine. ACV, some others.

[widower2]

Well I asked for it, it ended up being somewhat cooler and rainy. Happy now? pffft

[Gail 8588]

Who is planning on checking out the North American Solar Eclipse on April 8th?

I'm  taking my 2 grandsons and their dad to Dallas in the hope of seeing it.  Weather is iffy, but the forecast seems to be trending slightly better.

The 2 year old won't  remember it,, but he will see pictures of us together on this adventure.  The 5 year old is likely to actually remember the trip.  Right now he is most excited about going on an airplane. 

I'm  hoping in 2044, when the next eclipse comes to the US, that they will remember when Grandma took them to see the eclipse  way back in 2024.

 

[HisMunchkin]

3 hours ago, KayC said:

Nope!  I take Berberine. ACV, some others.

Sorry, amla, not emla.  Here is a review: https://www.mdpi.com/1661-3821/3/3/26 

 

1 hour ago, Gail 8588 said:

Who is planning on checking out the North American Solar Eclipse on April 8th?

Me!  Got the glasses.  Hope it won't be cloudy.

[widower2]

1 hour ago, Gail 8588 said:

Who is planning on checking out the North American Solar Eclipse on April 8th?

I'd like to, but it's too late to find the special glasses etc.

[foreverhis]

14 hours ago, KayC said:

To those who says it doesn't raise their BS, that's because your body makes insulin to lower it and that in turn increased your insulin resistance, not the desired effect.

That's what we were taught when our internist sent us to "school" when John got his borderline diabetes diagnosis.  An occasional glass of dry wine or cocktail made without or with limited sweet ingredients is okay (as you say, as long as someone isn't an alcoholic), but not daily consumption.

2 hours ago, widower2 said:

Well I asked for it, it ended up being somewhat cooler and rainy. Happy now? pffft

Well shoot!  I didn't want to take your good weather away.  I just wanted some for myself.  Bummer.

[foreverhis]

1 hour ago, Gail 8588 said:

Who is planning on checking out the North American Solar Eclipse on April 8th?

Several friends and neighbors are traveling to see it.  Four friends, including Raleigh's mom, were in Utah last year and only 2 hours away from the 100% path at the time of the annular eclipse, so they drove to it.  Three of them are traveling to this one.  It's really the last feasible one in our lifetime.  If I'm still alive and able to travel in 2045 (I'd be 87), I would go to that one because northern California will be in the path of totality.

We had 80% coverage here for the October annular.  I was able to snag Celestron full frame glasses, simple camera filters, and basic solar-safe binoculars at the last minute.  Four of us had a little eclipse breakfast party.  We woke to fog (oh no!), but it completely cleared by 8 am (phew).  We had scouted out whose house had the best view.  Very cool indeed to watch as the sun became a mere sliver while the light dimmed.  This time, it's only 40%, so we sent all the good stuff with Raleigh's mom and only kept the cardboard frame pairs that came with my Celestron "share with friends" kit.

50 minutes ago, widower2 said:

I'd like to, but it's too late to find the special glasses etc.

You could contact Celestron directly.  If they're out of stock, as they probably will be, you can check with one of their authorized dealers.  That's what I did and received what I ordered from a little astronomy store in Colorado in only 3 days.

Depending on how much coverage you'll have where you live, it might be worth the effort. 

[widower2]

46 minutes ago, foreverhis said:

Well shoot!  I didn't want to take your good weather away.  I just wanted some for myself.  Bummer.

Yeahyeahyeah   

[Gail 8588]

Widower2, you can check with public libraries or children's science museums. A lot of them are giving free solar glasses, or very low cost. Amazon prime will deliver in 2 days, and they are 50% off.

[Roxeanne]

I would be excited if the solar eclipse would be visible in Europe and in Italy...but no!

The last one i remember was 11 August 1999 and was partial...my parents were alive, but both old and sick! The funny thing was that my father explained to my mother the mechanism of the eclipse with the bottles of water and wine...😂

Meanwhile outside the light darkened!

After few months i would met Giorgio...

In ancient times eclipses were believed a sign of Gods's anger and bad luck! 

I couldn't have known it at the time but my life was a tide change...

So that eclipse was a sign of Gods's benevolence for me!

good luck to everyone will see the eclipse of 8 april..enjoy it !

Wish it will bring best changes in your life!

 

[KayC]

9 hours ago, Gail 8588 said:

I'm  hoping in 2044, when the next eclipse comes to the US, that they will remember when Grandma took them to see the eclipse  way back in 2024.

I'm sure they will!  They'll remember this the rest of their lives!  

[Sparky1]

Over here in my area, southern Ontario, we will get the total eclipse visible. In my exact location I might get a 90% eclipse visible. Do NOT get glasses from Amazon, I did a little studying and they are iffy. I'm not going to bother trying to look at it directly, I might make a pinhole camera and watch it indirectly like that. I want to keep my vision for the years I have left .😂

[Roxeanne]

It's emotional.!!!

..at the certain moment the birds stop singing!

[KayC]

I often wish this place had a "wow" emoticon!  There's nowhere in town selling the glasses and we don't get a lot of visibility from here so probably won't watch, don't trust homemade devices and darned if I can find what I did with the glasses I used last time!  Will be sure and listen for the sound of silence. Want to keep Kodie in during that time although I never see him look up, one never knows.

[widower2]

Map of visibility per area FYI: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8 

 

[KayC]

We had an article in  The Register Guard that explained that nowhere in Oregon is the visibility very good.  Where I live even worse with the trees in the way.  Still, if I had the glasses I would look.  Wish I'd have thought of it two days ago when I went to the city...about 25%.

[KayC]

Made some crockpot chicken with red BP, mushrooms, red wine, parsley, shredded when done...also salad with red BP, cherry tomates, olives, avocados.  Wonderful!

[KayC]

Here you go @widower2!
 

Best places to watch the eclipse from in and around Eugene

Miranda Cyr

Eugene Register-Guard USA TODAY NETWORK

The partial eclipse over Oregon on April 8 from beginning to end will be just shy of of two hours, beginning around 10:30 a.m. until about 12:15 p.m.

Peak coverage in Oregon will range from 11:20 to 11:30 a.m. when the sun is pretty high, so we should be able to see the eclipse pretty much anywhere, weather permitted.

Among the places that should be popular viewing areas in and around Eugene are:

h Skinner’s Butte in Eugene.

h Spencer Butte south of Eugene.

h College Hill Reservoir on Lawrence Street between 24th and 25th avenues in Eugene.

“You don’t need to go on top of the mountains or anything, but maybe on top of a hill ... anywhere that you’ve got a nice, open view of the southern sky,” said University of Oregon astronomy professor Scott Fisher.

Because Oregon is already so far from this eclipse’s path of totality, Fisher said there’s also no need drive any where for a better view. Across the entire state, the difference in percent coverage at peak is only about 5%.

“We’re sort of out on the fringe of the eclipse this time where we’re only getting this sort of 25% coverage,” he said.

When is the 2024 eclipse?

The entire partial eclipse from start to finish will be about three hours in Oregon. The moon will begin covering the sun at about 10:30 a.m. and move away at about 12:15 p.m.

Viewers in Eugene will see a peak of 24% coverage at 11:23 a.m. In Salem, the peak will be at 11:24 a.m. Across all of Oregon, the peak will range from around 11:20 to 11:30 a.m.

Weather permitting, the sun will be high in the sky at the time of the eclipse, however, cloud coverage could affect the viewing experience. According to the National Weather Service, both the Eugene and Salem areas are usually overcast 50% of the time in April and only clear about 10% of the time.

What makes this year’s eclipse unique?

According to astronomy professor Fisher, this year’s total eclipse will have some key differences from the 2017 total eclipse.

For those in the path of totality, the time of total darkness will be 4-and-ahalf minutes, compared to just over 2 minutes in 2017. Fisher said this is because of the moon distance from the earth at the time of the eclipse. On April 8, the moon will be closer in its orbit, which is not a perfect circle around the sun, meaning it will be blocking the sun for longer. Fisher said an eclipse can be up to nine minutes long at the moon’s closest point of orbit.

Additionally, Fisher said this is a great time to look at the sun, as it is in a period of high activity, meaning those looking through a telescope with proper eclipse protection will be able to see more sunspots and solar flares, making for a more interesting viewing experience. This is part of the sun’s solar cycle, which is an 11-year cycle, marked by high and low activity.

“Right now, 2024, we’re right at the peak of one of these cycles,” Fisher said, calling it a “solar maximum.” “The sun is very active with tons of sunspots and lots of prominences and things like that. We’re all hoping that on April 8, the sun is kind of an angry sun, and it has a lot of activity, which would (make) an even more beautiful view.”

During the 2017 total eclipse, the sun was close to solar minimum of lower activity.

“We’re excited about seeing some big prominences and beautiful puffed up corona, all of these things,” Fisher said.

Watch the eclipse with Eugene Astronomical Society

The Eugene Astronomical Society will be hosting an “eclipse party” at the College Hill Reservoir, located at 24th Ave. and Lawrence St.

If the sky is clear enough, EAS members will be at College Hill Reservoir with filtered solar telescopes to view the partial eclipse through. EAS will have some safe solar shades available for purchase.

Watch NASA’s live coverage of the 2024 total solar eclipse

NASA will have live coverage of the eclipse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as the eclipse travels through Mexico and across the United States.

Coverage will include live views across the path, expert commentary and live demonstrations

Don’t forget these solar eclipse viewing safety tips

h Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, as it is harmful to your eyes at any time during a partial eclipse.

h Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark tinted, are not safe for viewing.

h Eclipse glasses are the best option. Be sure they are made by companies recommended by the American Astronomical Society and NASA certified. These glasses should have the International Organization for Standardization icon and must have the ISO reference number 12312-2.

h Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use. If torn, scratched or otherwise damaged, discard the device.

h Without eclipse glasses, a simple and safe way to view the eclipse is to watch the sun’s image projected onto a piece of paper. Poke a small hole in an index card with a pencil point, face it toward the sun and hold a second card 3 or 4 feet behind it in its shadow. You will see a projected image of the sun on the second card.

h Do not look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer, as the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury. These require different types of solar filters that attach to the front of the device.

From right to to left: Cheryl Kurchin Chapman, Greg Fisher, Joan Flanders, Paula Staight and Diane Lang gather to view the Oct. 14, 2023 solar eclipse at College Hill Reservoir in Eugene. Another solar eclipse is expected to be visible from most of the U.S., including Oregon, on April 8. HALEIGH KOCHANSKI/THE REGISTER-GUARD

[foreverhis]

19 hours ago, Gail 8588 said:

Amazon prime will deliver in 2 days, and they are 50% off.

Please everyone be extremely careful ordering from Amazon or anywhere like that.  There are hundreds of thousands of counterfeit glasses through third party vendors.  Some even fake the ANSI and/or ISO certification stamps or logo.

It's best to go through the American Astronomical Society's approved list or direct from reliable, certified manufacturers like Celestron or Halo. Here's the link to the information and list of sources.

AAS Safe Solar eclipse article and approved providers

19 hours ago, Gail 8588 said:

Widower2, you can check with public libraries or children's science museums. A lot of them are giving free solar glasses, or very low cost.

Excellent suggestion.  All our public libraries, schools, and the local children's museum ordered in hundreds of the simple paper cardboard glasses, all through certified manufacturers.

As an aside, the frame material doesn't really matter; only the filtering lens material does and that it's intact/sound.  I will admit I love having my regular, full plastic, traditional frame Solar Safe glasses, but those are wending their way to Texas with Raleigh's mom as she and a few friends will be in the path of totality.  We who are staying here and who may or may not have clear skies will have the paper cardboard framed ones from my "share with friends" kit from last year.

If anyone has a pair of any kind from last October, please be sure to check the integrity of the lenses.  Do this by putting them on inside.  You should see no shadows, no light, no pintpoints of "peak through."  Then turn on the brightest overhead light you have, get fairly close, and look at it through your glasses.  If you see nothing or a faint glow of the light, you're good to go.

Yes, I'm a worrywart when it comes to safety.  I spent my life around science teachers and scientists.  Safety in the lab and out of it got drilled into my head from the time I could hold binoculars and peer into a microscope.

Edited April 4 by foreverhis
Just looked at my Solar Safe glasses and realized I forgot to mention the ISO standard

[WithoutHer]

51 minutes ago, foreverhis said:

 

Yes, I'm a worrywart when it comes to safety.  I spent my life around science teachers and scientists.  Safety in the lab and out of it got drilled into my head from the time I could hold binoculars and peer into a microscope.

Your post regarding solar eclipse glasses and safety is justified especially this year. I worked quality control/assurance my entire working life and have delt with potential counterfeit items especially electronic components all the way back to 1974.

Many months ago warnings were coming out about fake glasses coming to the market this year. Yes everyone should be very careful. I still have two pair Vickie and I used during the partial 2017 eclipse but without her I'm not going to bother looking this year. Life and interests just are not the same these days. 

[Sparky1]

I just ordered 2 pairs of legitimate solar eclipse glasses. Fastest way to get them now is to go and pick them up, so I'm waiting for an email to let me know when to pick them up. Thankfully it's a fairly local supplier and they do say they are certified. Will ask more questions when I go there though.

[HisMunchkin]

 

3 hours ago, foreverhis said:

Please everyone be extremely careful ordering from Amazon or anywhere like that.  There are hundreds of thousands of counterfeit glasses through third party vendors.  Some even fake the ANSI certification stamps.

I was worried about that too so not only did I get the glasses from the approved list, I also test them when I got them.

 

 

[foreverhis]

3 hours ago, WithoutHer said:

I worked quality control/assurance my entire working life and have delt with potential counterfeit items especially electronic components all the way back to 1974.

It's always been a concern.  I know part of why I continue to be such a safety fanatic is that I spent my career working with engineers, scientists, pilots, and mathematicians.  Lives depend on getting things exactly right.  I doubt my mindset about that will ever change.

[widower2]

Thanks for that warning. The thing is without wearing my regular glasses I won't get much of a view anyway...not sure I could wear those and my reg glasses on top of those. Well, it's only a 50% view from here anyway. 

What cracks me up is all these people who are going to record it with their cameras or cell phones or whatever. Why not just download a video from the net later, there will be a ton...

 

[foreverhis]

Just now, widower2 said:

not sure I could wear those and my reg glasses on top of those

I was going to write that you can, but what's accurate is that I can.  I have a fairly small face and head, so the basic eclipse glasses fit over my fairly small glasses okay.  My good eclipse glasses fit over my regular glasses well, kind of like the fit-over sunglasses people wear.  So...if you have a big head or wide glasses, the eclipse glasses may not fit over them.  But if you can snag a pair locally, it wouldn't hurt to try.

[widower2]

Thanks but I'm in the boonies. I can't snag much of anything locally.   No big! 

[Gail 8588]

5 hours ago, HisMunchkin said:

 

I was worried about that too so not only did I get the glasses from the approved list, I also test them when I got them.

 

 

Great video! Thanks.

[Gail 8588]

3 hours ago, widower2 said:

 

What cracks me up is all these people who are going to record it with their cameras or cell phones or whatever. Why not just download a video from the net later, there will be a ton...

 

And the worst thing is that those folks making a video may not think about the fact that they shouldn't  look at the sun through their camera without a proper filter on it.  As you say, best to just copy a NASA video of the eclipse rather than try to make one yourself.

 

[Gail 8588]

We are flying into Dallas to have a chance of seeing totality.  

Weather is still looking iffy, in that cloud cover is in the forecast, but at least it is no longer predicting thunderstorms at the time of the eclipse.   I'm  hopeful that we might have a break in the clouds during the period of totality.  But you pay your nickle and take your chances.  We will have fun no matter what.

My main focus will be making sure the 2 year old keeps his glasses on (duct tape may be needed, just kidding). 

[KayC]

8 hours ago, widower2 said:

Thanks but I'm in the boonies. I can't snag much of anything locally.   No big! 

Me too.

[foreverhis]

9 hours ago, Gail 8588 said:

And the worst thing is that those folks making a video may not think about the fact that they shouldn't  look at the sun through their camera without a proper filter on it.  As you say, best to just copy a NASA video of the eclipse rather than try to make one yourself.

 

So true. Then they get upset that their phone needs repair.

The kits I ordered last year came with regular full frame glasses and a camera filter that had instructions for how to install it on SLR lenses and how to hold it in front of phone lenses. It was slightly awkward, but it worked. The pictures were nothing because our phones only had 5-6X magnification. We deleted them all.

[widower2]

54 minutes ago, foreverhis said:

So true. Then they get upset that their phone needs repair.

Didn't know an eclipse can fry a camera phone too - thanks for that info! 

[Boggled]

welp the path goes right across the Ozarks so seeing the totality will be available here.

2024 Solar Eclipse | usatoday.com

I'll be listening for the silence, Roxanne!  but NOT looking at the sun.  Since I'm no expert on eclipse glasses, not gonna bother with any of 'em.

Last eclipse,I took photos of the odd way the shadows doubled themselves;  I'll be looking at shadows.  

[foreverhis]

55 minutes ago, widower2 said:

Didn't know an eclipse can fry a camera phone too - thanks for that info! 

Unfortunately, it does.

Another thing I learned many suns ago is that even the best eclipse glasses do not protect our eyes if we then look through an unfiltered telescope. The magnification of the telescope lenses concentrates and magnifies solar radiation that pierces through.

One of the coolest things John and I saw was at the 9,000 ft Visitors Center on Mauna Kea when we were doing our 2 hour acclimation before summiting to 14,000 ft for a private tour of the Keck II and UH observatory with the UH Institute for Astronomy.  We brought late breakfast and then were treated to a viewing through the UH solar telescope. It wasn’t an eclipse or anything, but it was awesome. We got to watch a flare start.

@Gail 8588 Fantastic! I have a number of friends who are traveling to the area for the eclipse. We have all been hoping and praying for the clouds to break so you have a glorious view. I added The Sun God Ra to that, just in case it helps.😉☀️

[widower2]

22 minutes ago, foreverhis said:

Unfortunately, it does.

Another thing I learned many suns ago is that even the best eclipse glasses do not protect our eyes if we then look through an unfiltered telescope. The magnification of the telescope lenses concentrates and magnifies solar radiation that pierces through.

Yeah, I just read "NEVER watch an eclipse through a telescope or binoculars, even with protective glasses on."

The only place I could find AAS-approved glasses would be $50 (that I could be sure would get here in time). Pass on that; oh well!

[HisMunchkin]

1 hour ago, Boggled said:

I'll be listening for the silence, Roxanne!  but NOT looking at the sun.  Since I'm no expert on eclipse glasses, not gonna bother with any of 'em.

Last eclipse,I took photos of the odd way the shadows doubled themselves;  I'll be looking at shadows.  

I'm actually more interested in how other animals will react.  Will the birds stop chirping?  Chirp more?  Will the squirrels look confused?

[Gail 8588]

The cereal box viewer is easy to make and totally safe, as you are not looking at the sun at all. You look completely opposite the sun and into a box. So there is no chance of eye injury.  You will see inside the box what is happening to the sun, total or partial eclipse. 

There are lots of youtube videos on making box viewers. 

[foreverhis]

8 hours ago, HisMunchkin said:

I'm actually more interested in how other animals will react.  Will the birds stop chirping?  Chirp more?  Will the squirrels look confused?

Yes, they will be confused.  Pets can be stressed as well and need to be kept indoors.  Birds stop flying and go to their nests.  I suspect that many bird flocks will go into murmurations as the eclipse progresses and they become confused, letting the lead birds guide them.  Most diurnal animals (that includes us) may be confused by the timing.  I assume (maybe shouldn't) it's because circadian rhythms are not just light-dark based, but time based as well.  It will be dark, but the "hour" won't be right.  I imagine coming out of the eclipse will confuse nocturnal animals that would have started to waken, but don't know for sure.

One thing I know happens is air temperatures in the path of totality drop overall 5 to 15 degrees, depending on location, humidity, and other environmental factors.  I think the temperature drop starts once the moon transits partway.  I've heard that it takes longer for the air to warm after the eclipse is over.

If John were here, we wouldn't be "here."  We'd be somewhere along the path, maybe camping, setting up his home telescope and adding an eclipse filter, attaching filters to our telephoto lenses (old school 35mm Pentax cameras), and checking that eclipse-safe glasses and binoculars are ready.  In case it hasn't been apparent, John and I are both science geeks who love astronomy and all things space related.  We shared so many and varied interests.  It's sad knowing that he will miss this, though I'm telling myself that he'll have a spectacular view from where he is now.

[widower2]

8 minutes ago, foreverhis said:

attaching filters to our telephoto lenses (old school 35mm Pentax cameras)

Wow that takes me back. I miss my old Minolta and photography in general.

[widower2]

Just a friendly reminder about the eclipse tomorrow...I'm off to make my "viewer" 

[KayC]

Another time I wish for  a WOW emoticon!

[foreverhis]

If anyone has PBS or PBS streaming, NOVA has an hour long special about the eclipse. Even science geeks like me can learn from it. Fascinating and informative.

[HisMunchkin]

1 hour ago, widower2 said:

Just a friendly reminder about the eclipse tomorrow...I'm off to make my "viewer" 

Show us your viewer! 😁

[widower2]

It's just as the video shows above. Although I tried it on the sun today and it' s blurry and tiny, so not sure if this will be much to see, but it will still be interesting to see it get quickly darker and then quickly light again.

 

[widower2]

Hey this is handy, enter your zip and you'll see how the eclipse will look in your area:

https://www.univision.com/especiales/noticias/infografias/2024/eclipse-solar-2024-en/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

 

[HisMunchkin]

I see a cloud covered sky here today....... 😌

[widower2]

Sunny here but so far a disappointment...I can barely see a tiny indent in the sun (using the homemade viewer, so it's just a small dot anyway) and when I took a pic, it looks totally normal. ? 

[HisMunchkin]

I was able to see some of the eclipse between clouds.  It's still pretty bright here, though.

[HisMunchkin]

K, it's pretty dark now.

[HisMunchkin]

Starting to lighten up again.