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From: Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: [OT} Niagara Falls declares state of emergency due to April 8
 eclipse
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2024 05:15:08 -0400
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On Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:08:28 -0700
BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:

> In article <20240329191353.00001dc3@example.com>,
>  Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
> 
> > Niagara Falls has been touted as one of the very best places to view
> > the solar eclipse that will be occurring on April 8. (That area is
> > also one of the only parts of Canada that will be in the Path of
> > Totality, where the moon will completely cover the sun for several
> > minutes.) 
> > 
> > Niagara Falls, "out of an abundance of caution" - you always know
> > something ridiculous is coming when you hear that phrase - has
> > declared a state of emergency with regards to the eclipse.  
> 
> My old home town back in Texas has done the same thing. It's
> ridiculous. They're literally declaring an emergency over a shadow.
> 
> It's almost like they've devolved back into those primitive savages
> who used to think eclipses were the gods turning out the lights when
> they got angry with people.
> 
That's exactly right. 

> > https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/niagara-region-proactively-declares-state-of-emerge
> > ncy-ahead-of-total-solar-eclipse-1.6827320
> > 
> > Unfortunately, the article doesn't identify any special rules that
> > will be in place due to this "emergency". Will driving be forbidden
> > lest anyone be blinded by being in their car during the eclipse?
> > (Several major school districts are shutting down their schools to
> > prevent children travelling home from school from being blinded if
> > they look out the window during the eclipse.)  
> 
> WTF? No one's going to be blinded by just looking out the window, for 
> fuck's sake. Just don't look AT the sun itself-- which you shouldn't 
> ever do regardless-- and you'll be fine.

Yet the Toronto District School Board, the biggest in the country, and
several others, all moved a Professional Development Day to April 8 so
that no one would have to go to school. Perhaps they realize how
piss-poor a job they're doing as educators and know that the dim bulbs
they're teaching can't follow instructions to not look directly at the
sun for the few minutes that the sun will be covered (or rather ALMOST
covered because Toronto is not in the Path of Totality). 

Or maybe they're worried that some student WILL look at the sun and
then the parents will sue the school board for big bucks.
(Historically, we're not nearly as litigious a country as the US but
we're starting to catch up.) Liability fears seem to drive all sorts of
stupid decisions....

-- 
Rhino