Month: January 2013

  • ETERNAL LIFE

    The title of this essay might lead some people to assume that in my later years I have succumbed to the teachings and the blathering of Christian preachers.  That clearly is not the case.  It is my intention in this instance to review what might take place if a few or many of us were…

  • THE LANGUAGE ACCORDING TO MITT ROMNEY

    Willard “Mitt” Romney is in a pitched battle during the Republican primaries with Newt Gingrich.  Newt Gingrich is a master at spinning a phrase in the English language.  Mr. Romney, on the other hand, does not know his backside from third base.  But two additions to the American language pronounced by Mr. Romney compelled my…

  • A SORRY TALE OF TWO EGREGIOUS PISSANTS

    This is the second case in which I have occasion to refer to pissants.  For those who did not see my earlier description of pissants, it should be remembered that pissants are living creatures.  They exist primarily in rural areas of this country.  They have no eyesight but their hearing apparatus seems to be in…

  • SAINTLY THOUGHTS AND OTHER ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS

    I am quite aware that it is unseemly of me to dictate an essay on saintly matters and other ecclesiastical thoughts.  Be that it as it may, on this Yom Kippur afternoon that is where my thoughts are headed. A learned gentleman once said to me that Catholic saints offer some specific qualities.  For example,…

  • A LITTLE THISA AND A LITTLE THATA

    Those of you with prodigious memories may recall that in 2009 there were three essays appearing in this space.  All of them had to do with Ben Bernie, the orchestra leader of the 1930s, 1940s and ‘50s.  When Ben Bernie led his orchestra through a medley of songs, he would often introduce it as “a…

  • GUY D’

    As most of you know, I worked for the AT&T Company for a long time.  During the last seven or eight years, my duties were with what was then called the Overseas Department.  Basically this had to do with telecommunications outside of the United States.  It was an assignment that brought a great personal satisfaction. …

  • CHERISH THE CHILDREN AND/OR THE UNFATHOMABLE

    The dual titles to this essay span a period in time of more than 2500 years.  Cherish the children is a maxim from Confucius.  Unfathomable was enunciated this week in Newtown, Connecticut by Don Lemon, the indefatigable announcer for CNN on weekends.  As you may have guessed, the title has to do with the recent…

  • THE ABOMINABLE MONTHS OF THE YEAR

    For all of my long life, I have detested months that have 31 days in their duration.  At the moment, we are enduring the grim days of January in the new year.  When two months of 31 days follow each other, that is the cruelest time of year for every creature known to me. July…

  • UPON BEING TIRED AND FEARED

    This essay is being written for those who trace their birth to nearly pre-historic times.  Specifically, it is being written for those of us who have passed the age barrier of 80 so long ago that it must be viewed in the rear view mirror of our lives.  Facts are facts and no magic hoopla…

  • MOLASSES MOBILITY

    Upon reflection, it may be that this essay should be properly entitled “Molasses Immobility.”  But we will get to that question a bit later. It may well be that readers of Ezra’s Essays are unfamiliar with the term molasses.  I always try to be helpful in these circumstances and here is what a reference source…