tried to help

As I arrived at the Ontario Science Centre last night and parked, I heard firetrucks. I assumed there had been yet another car crash. Stupid car drivers unable to drive in wet weather... Then as I approached the front doors, my spider sense started going. Why are there a bunch of people standing outside? Why are the firetrucks getting louder? Why are Xenon lights blinking all about the OSC building. Ah. There's a fire alarm in the OSC! Oh oh.

I walked into the foyer and saw NOVA people, as well as Isaac, the evening's instructor, milling about. Security was not letting us go further into the building. Or the fire doors throughout the building, including the bridge, were locked. So, we waited around. After a few moments, the alarm was cleared.

First thing I looked for in the Studio 2 was the Elmo. Not there. Not again! That's when I noticed Leslie talking to Isaac about it. She had already discovered that there was no internet access and no 3D projector. It was around then the fire alarm went off again! Oh boy. This is gonna get interesting...

I suggested to Leslie that she think about contigency plans. She had already been on the site for a while and it had already occurred to her as the first alarm was going that we might need to scratch the NOVA lesson. It was then we discovered that this alarm was local. Only in the studios; not in the entire facility, not in the auditorium (where people were beginning to assemble for the RASC TC meeting).

I called Security. She met us outside the studios a few moments later. She was as surprised as we were. But then dropped the bomb. This system was not part of the "main" system she has access to and just reset with the fire staff. She said that only the Facilities staff could adjust this system and they were not due until 9 PM. We asked if another room could be used. There was no available space. That sealed it.

Leslie, Diane, and I agreed to cancel the evening's lesson. Or rather, postpone it. Shifting all the remaining lessons down. We invited the NOVA people to the main meeting. At least they could make use of their evening, still enjoy some astronomical discussion. And the silver lining is that we can try again for the Elmo.