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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AGAIN
From time to time in Ezra’s Essays, I have commented upon changes in the English language that have impressed me. There are a good many that do not impress me. Today’s essay largely has to do with those that don’t impress me. There are four words that I might cite as reasons for writing this…
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COJONES
Within the next few days, Barack Obama will celebrate his first year in the office of the presidency of the United States. I suppose the media will make this anniversary something to remember. If I may be excused, I would like to add the words of an old essayist to the batch of communications that…
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DELICT
Those of you who have followed my career know that I have spent my full time in study and in contemplation of the great theological works. In spite of the fact that I have spent nearly 88 years in the study of theological works, I was astounded to find that there was a religious word…
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D.A.D.T. – R.I.P. ~~
In the year 1867, the Marquess of Queensberry published some rules concerning the sport of boxing. I am told that the fellow who has the title of marquess ranks below a duke and above an earl in the British peerage. The rules contained the essentials of good sportsmanship. There was to be no hitting when…
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CESAR AND ANDY
Under ordinary circumstances, my wife and I go grocery shopping twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Again, if ordinary circumstances hold, we have found on Tuesdays, there are two attendants who retrieve the carts over the large parking lot and bring them back so they may be used again. When the two cart retrievers…
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CATTYWAMPUS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE THOUGHTS
This does not purport to be a definitive essay on the English language. It is simply an interim report on the current usage of the language as well as one reference to a word that has ancient connections. These days I am obliged to hold onto a sighted person leading me about. This is not…
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CERUMEN
This essay should properly be called, because of its shortness, an essayette. Cerumen is a reasonably important health problem and I would not want the shortness of this essay to detract from its importance. If the truth were known, it would disclose that the proprietor of Ezra’s Essays is now prepared to throw its readers…
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CAPTAIN BELL’S INNATE DECENCY
This is an essay about my military career which ended about 65 years ago. The essay will necessarily record the incompetence of the United States Army but at the same time will celebrate the decency of one commissioned officer. This essay is being recorded at this time prior to my brain delivering a “don’t answer”…
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BAMBI AND THE SEASON OF THE RUT
In the 13 years that Ezra’s Essays have appeared in print, the editor has manfully and cheerfully tackled such third-rail subjects as politics and religion. But in that long period of time, there have been a dearth of essays on the subject of sex. We are going to try to make up for that dearth…
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BASTARDS LIKE ME
I guess that I am finally cornered. I will have to admit that I am a Democrat and that I subscribe to the liberal wing of that party. Today that is called the progressive part of the Democratic Party. But as I progress into my 88th year, and this is being dictated on the Christian…