Category Archives: Short piece
Walking Through the Airport
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th March 2015These thoughts occurred to me while walking the 4 miles that separate American Airlines arrival gates and baggage claim at Miami International Airport. I’m sure you’ve had similar experiences to the one I describe below when in public spaces. Ahead of me was a man of about 40 who was talking loudly and gesticulating with…
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Air and Romance
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 19th December 2014This site has been silent for the last month. I was on a trip on the Amazon River. I got as far as Manaus, Brazil and then came back out. A little later I’ll post some photos of the region, but my theme today is American Eagle. To get to most places east, north, or…
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The Paris Bulls
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 6th December 2014There won’t be any new posts until a bit later in the month so I’ve recycled an old one. In 1922, a dinner party was held in the Paris Ritz attended by Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Serge Diaghilev, Igor Stravinsky, and Pablo Picasso. Other than the guest list, no record of the event was thought…
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A Visit to the Doctor
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th October 2014A few days ago I went to see an orthopedic surgeon for the care of a minor injury. Actually, I first showed up in his office a week before I saw him. Remember this is the age of the electronic medical record. I was told that before I could be seen I first had to be…
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The Bell That Didn’t Ring or the Kindness of Strangers
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 1st May 2014If you live in the lunar landscape of Lubbock you give up something for the easy living of the South Plains. One such sacrifice is Jewish delicatessen. That’s why the internet was invented. While nova has made to the local super markets, smoked whitefish, baked salmon, corned beef, and the like are as rare as…
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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…
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No Second Acts in American Confectionary?
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th September 2013OK so the world has been going steadily downhill for last 5774 years. The trouble began with food which will eventually be my focus. But first a few disjointed musings. Most of our problems result from misdirected attempts to make things better. There are few Iagos in the world. This (the desire to do good…
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Commentary on Numbers 8:23-26
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 24th May 2013The Lord spoke to Moses saying: This is the rule for the Levites. From 25 years of age up they shall participate in the workforce in the service of the Tent of Meeting; but at the age of 50 they shall retire from the workforce and shall serve no more. They may assist their brother…
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Time Through a Buffet Line is Inversely Proportional to IQ
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 9th February 2013Recently, I was looking at some reviews of local restaurants posted by their customers. After a short time I noticed a pattern among them. Those who had patronized restaurants that required it’s customers to go through a buffet line or to order their food from a person behind the counter commonly complained of slow service. I then went to one…
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An Obvious Solution
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th November 2012In the interest of fairness, the altar before which we all worship, I have a solution to all our problems. It so obvious that you will kick yourself in the head, if you’re really limber, when I tell it to you. The solution came to me in the shower just as it did to Archimedes in that…
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