When your number gets called

Last week I had jury duty. I think it’s funny how almost everyone has the same expression when you tell them you have jury duty. It’s basically the face that someone makes when they smell something really bad. Then they utter something along the lines of “well, here’s how you can get out of it” followed by advice on how to appear biased or crazy or both. I totally understand why people don’t want to have jury duty: the inconvenience, the fear of being on a big case, the bad movies in the jury waiting room. The $15 daily juror pay isn’t enough to sway most people to think otherwise, especially after you figure in parking and lunch costs. Much the same way that it’s difficult to tell someone that having a colonoscopy isn’t so bad if they’ve never had one, it’s hard to convince people that being on a jury isn’t so bad either. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I want to be on a jury but the two times that I’ve been empaneled on juries were very interesting experiences. Even though we couldn’t discuss the case until deliberations, I thought the other jurors were good people who took the process seriously. This time around, I started jury duty on a Monday. There were a lot of moans and groans at the end of the day when the judge told us to return the next morning. When we were told to come back again for a third day, nobody was jumping for joy. By then, I was quite sure that I would be picked for the jury, but it wasn’t meant to be. The panel was seated and I got excused. I was relieved but also a little disappointed at the same time. Weird, I know. But don’t worry, I should have another run at it again next year.

Stay safe and healthy,

Tracy Jacobs

Osher staff has created several helpful resources to guide Osher members through the online registration process. We have created a video tutorial, a registration guide, and a FAQ document. You can find all this information as well as the registration link itself on the website at www.towson.edu/OsherRegistration.

You must be a 2022-2023 member in order to take classes at Osher at Towson University. The 2022-2023 Membership runs from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023. If you need to renew your membership please CLICK HERE. If you have any questions regarding the status of your membership, please contact Osher staff via email at osher@towson.edu.

Email osher@towson.edu with your registration or membership questions.

FEAR, FAILURE, FORWARD

Towson University is holding TEDxTowsonU on Wednesday, November 16 and the organizers are looking for speakers from the local community. Speaker applications are now open and will be accepted through September 12.

In partnership with Beth El, Beth Israel, Chizuk Amuno and Har Sinai- Oheb Shalom Congregations

אולפן עברית

Fall 2022: 10 Classes
Tuesday Evenings | 7 – 8:15 p.m.
October 25, 2022 to January 10, 2023
Beth El Congregation, Pikesville, MD

Absolute Beginner, Beginner, and Intermediate Classes
Registration Fee: $200
Materials fee additional

In this section of our newsletter, we remember Osher members that have passed away recently. While we work hard to provide accurate updates, please let us know if you are aware of an Osher friend’s passing by contacting osher@towson.edu.

• Joseph Arcieri

• Europe’s dry rivers reveal creepy “hunger stones”
• 5 Reasons Woodstock ‘69 Became a Legendary Music Festival
• Great Moon Hoax of 1835 convinced the world of extraterrestrial life
• Scientists Put Trackers on Moths, And it Revealed an Incredible Journey in the Sky
• This 17-Year Old Designed a Motor That Could Potentially Transform the Electric Car Industry
• How Bird Collecting Evolved into Bird-Watching