jandmz wrote:Kinda late weighing in on this one, but we did "the ultimate no-no". We pointed a 3 inch, 80 power telescope at the sun to view the eclipse. It is one that my parents bought me for Christmas when I was 11 or 12 years old.
It was manufactured by A C Gilbert, the maker of some of the most dangerous toys ever, including chemistry sets that had all the chemicals you needed to make low grade explosives, and a "nuclear research lab" that included a radioactive source. This particular telescope included a sun viewer attachment. It fits over the eyepiece and projects the sun's image an a screen. But, if you take the viewer off while the scope is pointed at the sun, anything that comes near the eyepiece will instantly burst into flame.
So, it was interesting and fun and dangerous. I am a trained safety professional, so don't try this at home.
Yeah, that brings back fond memories of my own misspent "ute" (as My Cousin Vinny would say). I was a victim ... I mean intended customer (known as the "target demographic" in today's MarketingSpeak) of A.C. Gilbert via their infamous chemistry sets ... I still remember using Phenolphthalein when I needed to change "water" into "wine" ... I mean, where were the EPA and OSHA when I was growing up, let alone the Consumer Products Safety Commission??? As they say, though, "That which does not kill me makes me stronger" ... although that "wine" may explain why I never had any kids!
Then again, I grew up during the era when the monkey bars on playgrounds reached dizzying heights ... and were anchored in a full concrete slab with exposed carriage bolt threads ready to snag any skin foolishly placed in proximity, and the merry-go-rounds were mounted on their center bearing such that there was just enough room under the edges for feet, ankles, knees, and smaller-diameter entire legs to be caught underneath and dragged on concrete or gravel for what seemed like miles. I did survive and even thrive, becoming an engineer and a scientist after earning degrees up through a Master of Science, and working in Silicon Valley for many years.
Sooooo, I take it that you're one of those "safety professionals" with a nickname like Lefty, the One-eyed, Peg-legged Jack, who is a living (you call that "living"???), breathing (barely ... some might more accurately call it "wheezing") example of what
not to do, and visits schools warning kids to learn to read Material Safety Data Sheets?
I had to watch the live stream...
2024 totality in my back yard! Limited number of sites, reserve yours early.
