Julian Assange. Solar-eclipse-truther.

[DetlefK]

http://www.salon.com/2017/08/22/julian-assange-solar-eclipse/

On Monday evening, Assange tweeted that there is “no danger staring directly at the moon during a total eclipse.” Instead, as he explained to a Twitter user who responded to him, “you look away when you see it ending. Eyes also move to protect themselves. The hysteria seems to be sustained by glasses company profits.”

...

NASA itself encouraged people to wear special glasses to watch the eclipse, arguing that “the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as ‘eclipse glasses’ or hand-held solar viewers.” This, warning, of course, convinced neither Assange nor the sitting president of the United States.



-----------------------

No, that's not how it works, Julian.

First, the eye does not "move away". It reflexively closes the eyelids.
Second, this reflex takes about 0.2 seconds and by then it may already be too late. That's why security-regulations exist not to look directly into a laser: By the time the eyelids close, your eye has already suffered considerable damage.

You know, Julian, maybe scientists know more about this topic than a random C-list celebrity.

How about a compromise, Julian?
Scientists stick to scientific questions.
And you stick to 1. strategically leaking documents for maximum effect to support your own political crusade, 2. bashing Hillary Clinton, 3. evading rape-charges.

[SwissTony]

1. I'm Australian and all I can say is...

Ecuador, kick him out.

What are you gaining from this?

[still_one]

3. As far as I am concerned he can rot in the Ecuadorian embassy forever

[targetpractice]

2. Serious questions...

How is looking at an eclipse any more dangerous than looking at the sun normally?

I've looked at the sun a million times in my lifetime, and I'm still okay. I also don't wear sunglasses ever... So, I may regret this someday.

Is it more dangerous because the sun is darkened and it's tempting to stare at it longer?

[progressoid]

7. HLMGTFY

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/08/21/20-seconds-of-burning-friends-partially-blinded-after-watching-solar-eclipse-warn-of-dangers/




http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/21/545129631/how-to-tell-if-you-ve-damaged-your-eyes-watching-the-eclipse

[targetpractice]

8. Thanks for the links. Isn't this a discussion forum?

Is the snark necessary?

[progressoid]

10. Yeah, sorry about that.

It's been a stressful couple weeks!

[targetpractice]

11. No worries... It's been a stressful year thus far.

I was overly sensitive... I appreciate the apology.

I do appreciate the info you gave me.

[DinahMoeHum]

4. Fuck him - that turkey went to the dark side some time back.

[yodermon]

5. Assange is a Russian agent and should probably be in jail. However, this is a stupid thing.

I and every one around me stared *directly* at the moon and the sun's corona for 2 full minutes yesterday during the period of totality and suffered no ill effects. As soon as the diamond ring appeared we all immediately looked away (“you look away when you see it ending”). We put our eclipse glasses back on if we wanted to look at it again.

Even at very high percentage of totality, even 99%, it is too bright to look at directly, and it instinctively feels too bright to do so (unless you're Trump though, apparently).

It was silly of him to label it a "hysteria" though, and the "company profits" boogeyman. I was very grateful to have the glasses and kudos to the companies who sold them.

I file this one under "meh".

[chelsea0011]

6. Now I understand why trump came out and looked up at the sun

[Warpy]

9. Probably right. Assange just worded it it really poorly

because you can safely look up during totality. You have to be damned sure you look away before any bit of the sun is exposed because damage can happen in a fraction of a second.

Dumb Donnie thought if he just looked at the moon during a partial eclipse without looking at the sun, he'd be perfectly safe. And he looked up at it 7 times. If Satan hasn't given him an inner eyelid, he's going to have some trouble.