Update 8-28-07

Hi,

Early edition.  Going to bed at 11:00 to get up for the total lunar eclipse, which starts here near 2:00 AM.
   
    From NASA's website:  A total eclipse of the Moon occurs during the early morning of Tuesday, August 28, 2007.  The event is widely visible from the United States and Canada as well as South America, the Pacific Ocean, western Asia, and Australia.  During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon's disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.
        An eclipse of the Moon can only take place at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow.  The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped parts, one nested inside the other.  The outer shadow or penumbra is a zone where Earth blocks some (but not all) of the Sun's rays.  In contrast, the inner shadow or umbra is a region where Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.  If only part of the Moon passes through the umbra, a partial eclipse is seen. However, if the entire Moon passes through the umbral shadow, then a total eclipse of the Moon occurs.
   
    Back on this planet, in reply to Marc Jonas' comment last week that it "sounds like Ira Mitzner is the class of '65's answer to George Foreman.  Can't wait for the small appliance," Robert Fiveson writes:  From what I hear you won't have to wait long.  Mitzner is known for his small appliance."
   
    And on another continent, from Jack Firestone, class of '73:  My wife Robin and I were in the Alma Tunnel the night Princess Diana died.  We'll be interviewed on the "CBS Early Show," this Wednesday, August 29th, between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM EDT -- set your DVRs.  Also, on Friday night, August 31st, we'll be part of Greta Van Susteren's "Princess Diana Special."  We were on Van Susteren's show last week, too.  It's cable's Fox News Channel, between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM EDT.
   
    [Rich -- And in another time zone, last week I was assembling the newsletter when I was too tired again, and I misread something.  It set off this chain of notes:
   
    From Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Rich .... What part of "not for publication" was overlooked in my mention of Barbara Endy's recent wedding?  Sorry, Barbara, I hope you don't mind the unexpected announcement of your marriage.
   
    From Rich to Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Sorry, I was tired and misread.  Thought you wrote "not been advised that this was not for publication."  Double negative equal positive.
   
    From Barbara Endy to Rich, even before I could write to apologize:  Dear Rich, I am so touched that you put my "news" into the newsletter.  You are wonderful and so dedicated to the newsletter.  I do look forward to reading it each week.  Barbara Endy Calvacca Ianniello Librett
   
    From Barbara Blitfield Pech to Rich:  Not to worry ... we're good.  I was just concerned as I hadn't asked Mrs. E. C. I. L. if it was okay to announce her nuptials as she hadn't.  But she is cool and thanked us both.  She will be forwarding the bridal registry to us for further groveling and apology -- just joking.
        Also, assuming double negatives make a positive, technically, I should have been a math genius.

    From Rich to Barbara Blitfield Pech:  Whew.  Thanks for forgiving me.  I'll try to read more carefully.  Take care.
   
    From Rich to Barbara Endy:  I think it's great that you got married, and I wish you both a long and happy marriage.  And, as I just wrote Barbara Blitfield Pech, I thought she gave me permission to spread the news, but it turned out she was saying she didn't have permission, and I misread.  So I'm glad you're pleased.  Again, congratulations.]

    On another subject completely, from Ronnie Churnin De Luca:  I was in the class of '62.  Is there a website for that class?
   
    [Rich -- As I wrote Ronnie:  I don't think there's a '62 website.  I'll ask in the next newsletter.]
   
    From Gayle Ulrich:  I have not been receiving the newsletters lately and miss them.  Please reinstate me in case I have been deleted from the mailing list.
   
    [Rich -- You haven't been deleted.  It's probably those oversensitive spam filters again.  Gotta love them for all the hard work they do, but it might mean you all have to check your spam folders on Tuesday mornings.]
   
    And related only by name:  It was just Laura Waxman and Ken Ulric's 40th anniversary.  Jeez.  Congratulations.  Now if only I could remember if I was at the wedding.
   
    Penultimately, Emily Kleinman Schreiber reminds us:  Just a brief note to say that the first Alumni Association meeting of the new school year will be next week, Thursday, September 6th, at 7:15 PM in South's Library.  I look forward to seeing many of you there.  How about dropping me a line or two if you're planning to attend?
   
    [Rich -- Which reminds me that I need to send in my dues to Dennis Shapiro.  100 bucks.  Lifelong membership.  Cheap.]
   
    Finally, forwarded by one of my friends some time ago and stashed in my files until things were Labor Day Weekend slow -- Murphy's Lesser Known Laws:
        1.  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
        2.  Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
        3.  Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
        4.  Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
        5.  The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
        6.  If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, on a hill, in the fog.
        7.  The things that come to those who wait will be the scraggly junk left by those who got there first.
        8.  The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
        9.  A fine is a tax for doing wrong.  A tax is a fine for doing well.
        10.  When you go into court, you are putting yourself into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.