QuickCheck: Are airlines required by law to keep window blinds open during take-off and landing?

FOR anyone who has ever taken a flight to anywhere before, you might have wondered why it was that the flight attendants were so adamant about you keeping the window blinds open during take-off and landing.

Since more often than not flight attendants rarely explain why the blinds need to be open, many have taken it upon themselves to concoct reasons for the necessity.