Big Plans Eclipsed

It may be the eclipse of the century, but so far it has done nothing but cast a shadow over Lewis H. Strauss and his finances.

The retired physicist hoped to make a fortune putting together travel packages for people wanting to see the July 11 total eclipse of the sun, which will darken the big island of Hawaii for about four minutes.

Strauss booked nearly 1,000 airline seats on four flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Hawaii, reserved 850 hotel rooms and about 800 rental cars, which he sold as packages ranging from $1,475 to about $2,850. He promoted it through ads saying “The Big One Is Coming . . . (and it won’t be back until 2017 A.D.!)”

But interest lagged, which Strauss blamed on the soft economy and the public’s preoccupation with the Persian Gulf War. Only about three-fourths of the rooms are booked, and unexpected costs for additional television, magazine and newspaper ads sent his expenses soaring. Strauss says the effort cost “several million” dollars to finance, much of it borrowed. He won’t say how much he’ll lose, except that it will be a lot.

“We’re giving an eclipse, and nobody seems interested enough to come,” he said.

How About, ‘Is This Relevant?’

Add to the growing number of self-help business books one by author Gregory Stock, whose “The Book of Questions” poses a series of ethical situations and questions. They include:

* Would you display ads on the doors of your car for a fee equal to one-third of the car’s value?

* If you could obliterate one country to achieve world peace, which would it be?

* If President Bush called you and offered to implement any policy, what would you choose?

* If you lost your thumb in a chain saw accident and were at fault, would you sue the manufacturer?

Who Framed Roger Clemens?

Last week was a rough one for Boston Red Sox star pitcher Roger Clemens.

First, Clemens served a five-game suspension for his tirade against an umpire during last year’s American League playoffs with the Oakland A’s. Adding insult to injury (or suspension in this case) was a picture identified as Clemens in last week’s Barron’s. The photo, accompanying a story on baseball’s absurdly high salaries, showed the right-handed hurler pitching as a southpaw.

Turns out the picture wasn’t of Clemens, but another high-priced player, former Red Sox pitcher Bruce Hurst. He’s now with the San Diego Padres.

Briefly. . .

The “Overpriced Stock Service” newsletter notes that Thousand Oaks biotechnology wonder Amgen’s stock has soared so much that the market has recently valued the company at about $10 million per employee. . .Souvenirs? A recent aviation newsletter lists under “aircraft available” 727-100s and 727-200s now operated by the Trump Shuttle.