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MARBLES
The genesis for this essay had to do with a remark made to me by Dr. Andrew Beamer following our most recent discussion. In essence, Dr. Beamer said that I had all of my marbles and seemed to have held onto them late in life. I am not quite certain that Dr. Beamer is right…
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WHY DO WOMEN DO IT?
Simply put, I expect to be denounced and excoriated for the essay that is to follow. I am at a loss to tell you if being denounced is a greater penalty than being excoriated. But I can guarantee you that neither one is pleasant. As long as I am not castigated, I believe I can…
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THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON BLUES
Perhaps the most famous in the genre of blues songs was one composed by W.C. Handy. That of course was “St. Louis Blues.” Those of us who list St. Louis as our place of birth do not necessarily go around singing “St. Louis Blues” at all hours. The composer, Handy, wrote of a man who…
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WHERE SHALL WE GO NOW, MY FAMILY AND I?
As a general proposition, I often warn my readers about the essays that appear on these pages. And so it is that in this case, I will tell you that the essay that follows is about Irish music and also about my father. My father could not sing worth a lick. That applied to Irish…
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YANECONE, YADAMIEC, BLAUSTEIN AND MULDOWNEY
An outsider not familiar with Ezra’s Essays might have read the title of this essay and believed it referred to an international law firm. That is not the case. The title reflects the fact that this is a country of immigrants. At the moment none of my readers are native Americans such as Cherokee, Iroquois,…
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“THAT CERTAIN PLACE”
“THAT CERTAIN PLACE” Jake Haberfeld, Jerusalem~ 1983 Most Americans, particularly of the male gender, like to think of themselves as stand-up guys without a need to revert to nuances and/or euphemisms. There is nothing wrong with nuances and euphemisms, but there is also a virtue in calling things by their proper names. For reasons…
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IOWA AND BLIND PEOPLE
Apparently the sheriffs in the great state of Iowa have an inordinate amount of power. Among other things, they can determine which blind person will be issued a gun permit. Most of those applying for a gun permit as blind people say that it is for target shooting. None of them say that it is…
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IRA HUDAS: A SOMETIME SOLDIER
It is peculiar or perhaps amusing to find that one memory prompts another one. I am writing this on September 17 which is the day after the horrible tragedy at the Washington Naval Yard. In this case, the memory that has been revived goes back to 1942. If my mathematics are correct, which are not…
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GIFTY’S SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT
As some of my readers know, I have employed home health aides as a means of avoiding institutional care. I require help during the evening and midnight hours. Among other things, my ability to stand up or get up during the night time is limited. During the course of an evening, I may stand up…
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SO BP HAS IGNORED GRUBER’S LAW
The title suggests that there are two principles involved in this humble essay. The first is, of course, British Petroleum (BP), an organization that is now hip deep or chest deep in grave trouble. The second principle is the dermatologist named Gruber, whom you will come to know before this essay is finished. Taking the…