Prepping for Totality

We’ve all been inundated lately with eclipse information and safety warnings.  But there probably can’t be enough said about the risks and the safety steps needed.  I guess I have waited too long — can’t find eclipse glasses anywhere in this community.  All sold out.   And I’m not about to shell out for genuine welders’ glasses (the ONLY other alternative to ISO-certified eclipse lenses for any direct viewing).  But I was thinking of just building and doing a pinhole viewer (and optionally, perhaps, photograph or video the projected image) without looking toward the sun at all.  Here is what looks like a pretty good set of tips from the San Francisco Exploratorium, as well as this video describing one possible approach:

Note that the Exploratorium will be livestreaming the eclipse starting at 10:15am PDT here.   But here are some times that will help you decide when you should start watching, depending on your location.  Along with the jillions of other sites that will undoubtedly be streaming live, this would have to be the safest and most comfortable way to view!

And here’s a large batch of related articles, including some attesting to the emotional impact of the whole thing, including the admonition that you join a crowd for viewing, rather than risk the terror of being alone when it happens!