Category Archives: Featured
On Equality
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th August 2020We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal… This self evident truth is obviously not self evident. Thomas Jefferson undoubtedly knew such to be the case. He meant that we all should be equal before the law and that the laws should be designed without bias or special benefit not thought…
› Read the full entry
The Invention of Jazz
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 16th June 2020The conventional view is that jazz is an American art form that originated in African-American communities of New Orleans. It was a derivative of blues and ragtime. Over time it split into many branches. When one thinks of the original New Orleans version, names like King Oliver (1881-1938), Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1940), and Louis Armstrong…
› Read the full entry
Livin’ the Dream – Governments, Polls, and Other Blunders
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd May 2020The current state of societal and economic collapse is completely the governments fault. Yet what’s seen as the solution? More Government action. Since the viral epidemic was recognized, we warned here that locking down the economy would make things a lot worse, which sure enough it did. We’ve had worse viral outbreaks, some within living…
› Read the full entry
Church Scenes
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th April 2020I recently wrote about the last few minutes of the first act of Tosca, which is set in a church – Sant’Andrea della Valle. There are other operas which have scenes in a church or houses of worship, five are presented below. Giacomo Meyerbeer was a German composer who tried to follow the style of…
› Read the full entry
World War 2 Photos
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 19th June 2019The photos below were found in a box after my mother died. They detail part of her brother Nat’s service in the US Army during World War 2. I know nothing more than what was written on the back of some of these pictures. They were about 60 years old by the time I saw…
› Read the full entry
Dr. Donald W. Seldin, ‘intellectual father’ of UT Southwestern, dies at 97
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th April 2018Dr Seldin died April 25, 2018 at the age of 97. I was one of thousands of physicians whose life and career was shaped by this great man. The article below is the tribute to him that was published by Southwestern Medical Center, the institution that he devoted his life to and which was shaped…
› Read the full entry
The Genetically Modified Organism in Your House
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th April 2016Vermont in a spasm of enlightenment has mandated that all genetically modified foods sold in the Green Mountain State be so labeled. According to numerous polls 90% of the population of the USA thinks this a good idea. This is the same concerned and informed group that by an 80% margin supports labeling food that…
› Read the full entry
Verdi Chords
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th December 2015One of the most distinctive characteristics of Giuseppe Verdi’s operas is his use of chords to resolve or punctuate the moments of greatest emotional and dramatic tension as his story reaches a crisis point. This simple device would seem within the grasp of almost any composer, but Verdi’s use of it is unique. Below are five…
› Read the full entry
A Serious Bird
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 29th September 2013BOISE, Idaho — Albertson’s LLC said Monday that it has agreed to acquire The United Family, a privately owned chain of 50 supermarkets based in Lubbock, Texas, operating under three banners. Supermarket News Sept 9, 2013 This is really very simple, but I’ll do my best to make it complex. Groucho is a Yellow-Naped Amazon…
› Read the full entry
Second Law of Thermodynamics Held Unconstitutional
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th July 2011A deeply divided Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, held the Second Law of Thermodynamics to be unconstitutional. In a decision released Monday the 4th of July, the first time the court has ever met on the nation’s birthday, the court ruled that the law violated the due process section of the 5th amendment. The case (ACLU v. Cal…
› Read the full entry
