Five Things You Need to Know Today, Oct. 13

1. Stay dry. Or, if influenced by the full moon, go dance in the rain.

2. Forgive me a personal note. This day in 2010 rescurers extacted the last of the 33 miners trapped in a mine in Chile. Last May I met two of them while reporting for Plymouth Patch their visit to Plimoth Plantation. Omar Rojas smiled at all he saw. Florencio Silva, the first to come up the shaft, bought a simple gift for his young son in the gift store. In the hold of Mayflower II they compared their days underground with the days of the 1620 voyage. They stayed in the dark longer. Both men stopped at every, numerous request for photographs with surprised tourists. I asked Rojas why they had such patience for the photos, delaying the tight schedule of their visit. "We have a reason for patience," he said. "They suffered so much for us." Each exuded grace which flowed into everyone who met them.

3. Consider our astonishing history. This day in 1863, Ohio voters rejected Clement Vallandigham as governor. A leader of the anti-war Demcrats, known as the Copperheads, he ran on the rejection of the amancipation proclamation of Republican President Abraham Lincoln.

4. If you love books, register now. The Boston Book Festival became so popular in its second year in 2010, long lines prevented many from attending their favorite programs. The event is free of charge Saturday in Coply Square. For a $10 fee, payable online, you can reserve a preferred seat at the major sessions without waiting in line.

5. Fellow Blacberry users, have faith. The Canadians will solve the intrusions that disrupted service yesterday. Let us hope.