Yes, aside from depictions on this page, moon is round

Today’s reader’s rant and rave about which there is nothing I can do:

Are you aware of the egregious astronomical depiction of the first and last quarter moon phases right below your column? ... They are just plain wrong. You will never see the moon looking that way during the first and last quarter moons. Those phases should (and do) always show the moon’s terminator (line between day and night) as a vertical line, not concave for the illuminated portion of the moon. … These erroneous drawings are sure to confuse the public. Any self-respecting amateur or professional astronomer would laugh at them. Okey-dokey.

Let’s move on, shall we. There is good news at hand.

Once again you people have covered yourselves with glory in Valley 101’s never-ending struggle against Big Gooberism. (Gooberism is, course, the ability to help others, but declining to do so.)

This year when the trumpet sounded in the Valley 101 Anti-Gooberism arm of the Season for Sharing campaign, you people responded with a heart-warming, goober-eliminating $291,118.99.

As you know every penny of that went to local nonprofits that help the needy or downtrodden among us. You’ll find a list of this year’s Season for Sharing recipients elsewhere in today’s paper.

People, people, people … You never fail to scintillate. You’ve done yourself proud and I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Have you ever heard of the expression “bashful bladder?” Is it an actual medical term? I had a brother-in-law who claimed that he was afflicted with this and that it was an actual medical term?

Of course I’ve heard of it. It’s a fairly common term for an inability to pee in a public bathroom or with others nearby.

The official medical name for it is paruresis, and it is considered to be a sort of anxiety disorder.

Have a question for Clay? Reach him at 602-444-8612 or clay.thompson@arizonarepublic.com.