Update 2-25-03


Hey,

Thoughts of war and money, fires and crashes, earthquakes and bad weather kinda eliminate chatter.  But a few notes:

From Paul DeMartino:  I shoveled twice yesterday, because it snowed continuously from about 11 PM Sunday through noon Tuesday.  There are six foot drifts in front of my house, and the plows blocked us in, so we had to shovel all over again (I hate winter).  Anyway, I managed to get out later and do a little shopping, just for a break. My office was closed today as well as yesterday, lucky for me I suppose.  The temps are in the 30s, and there is rain and 40 degrees expected for Saturday.  That means the snow will turn into a flood.  Oh well, the reservoirs are to capacity, at least.  I'm off to an all-inclusive vacation in the Dominican Republic next week, for five days of R&R, and will touch base upon my return.  By the way, there are now flights to Paris and London from New York City for as low as $228 round trip, and I also noticed a package to London on British Airways -- $399 airfare and 3 nights hotel.  "Such a deal!"

From Nancy Garfield, an excerpt from a longer speech by Robert Byrd to the Senate on February 12th:  To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences... Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part... ominously, dreadfully silent... This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption -- the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future -- is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense.  It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter.  And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our -- or some other nation's -- hit list.  High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq.  What could be more destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of many nations so closely together?  There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and US intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation.  Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from US leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11.

This week's news item, from the February 24th Newsweek:  "And though America's worries may seem unprecedented, the current situation has nothing on the 1918 flu pandemic or the Cuban missile crisis.  Yet none of that makes living with fear any easier."

Another journalistic note, from a former reporter friend, reflecting on the seemingly-imminent death of William Randolph Hearst's former flagship, The San Francisco Examiner:  "All the computers and phone lines were turned off before the meeting, and the staff was given about an hour to clear out their desks."

Friendly notes from Carol Ewig Duran, Ellen Epstein Silver, Judy Hartstone, and Steve Spector.

A phone call from Linda Cohen Greenseid, visiting her son and daughter-in-law in LA, with plans for breakfast.

The discovery, after taking some regional standardized tests, that I'm still a B student.

No answer, after several weeks, to letters possibly sent to Bill Brady, Bob Brashears, and Tom Connelly -- meaning they're still missing, at least to us.
Also no word as to whether the latest contact information for Ed Bonlarron, from Yahoo by way of Janet Hernandez, unearthed anything -- meaning Ed's probably off playing poker with Bill, Bob, and Tom.

The additional observation, from Nancy Garfield, that Jerry Bittman's Nebraska, may not be the bleakest place to hold a reunion -- it was seven degrees in Topeka last week.

A reminder from Paul DeMartino that the first reunion of our 37th reunion is aiming for a New York gathering on Saturday, May 3rd.

Finally, the inevitable e-mail joke, probably originally edited by Bennett Cerf:
      A handyman, working for a temple, asks for a raise and is turned down.  So he quits and goes looking for another job.  First, he goes to a Catholic church and is told that in order to work there he has to answer one question.  "Where was Jesus born?" the priest asks.
      "Pittsburgh," the man replies -- and is thrown out.
      He then goes to a Protestant church, where the minister says that in order to work there the man has to answer one question.  "Where was Jesus born?"
      "Philadelphia?" the man answers -- and is tossed out.
      Walking away, he runs into the rabbi, who's been looking for him.  "The board just approved your raise," the rabbi explains.  "Please come back."
      "Only if you answer one question," the man tells him.  "Where was Jesus born?"
      "Bethlehem," the rabbi replies.
      "Damn.  I knew it was in Pennsylvania."

The home page:   http://hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a


Rich