def shutting_down(globals=globals):
    """
    Whether the interpreter is currently shutting down.
    For use in finalizers, __del__ methods, and similar; it is advised
    to early bind this function rather than look it up when calling it,
    since at shutdown module globals may be cleared.
    """
    # At shutdown, the attribute may have been cleared or set to None.
    v = globals().get('_shutting_down')
    return v is True or v is None