Nikki’s Christmas Tree
I did not ask Janis to convert to Judaism before we got married. It was her choice. I’ll talk about that more in another post. But my brother required his wife to convert in order to get married. Their first Christmas together Nikki wanted a Christmas tree. The family very adamantly told her that we’re […]
History with Phil – Document 1
I am coming across documents in my files which record interesting moments in American history. I think it will justify another series like Travels with Phil. This one is self-explanatory!
My Farewell to Lewis Mumford
He was in fact to pass away just for years later at 95 years old. I knew him when he was in his 70’s and still going strong. I have shared much about him already on the website, but in trying to reorganize a lifetime of writing I came across this letter and wished to […]
Imperialism
The story of Tom voting for Wallace was actually preceded, when I wrote much of this 40 years ago, by a discussion of my political analysis and philosophy during our years as protesting activists in the Sixties. Of course we were all against the war then. It was not until I had gone through my […]
Leon Spitzer Eulogy
Thank you all for coming to show our Dad your respects. Many years ago when he could not attend his own father’s funeral his Aunt Bess, his father’s sister, told him “Funerals are for the living”. I hope to share some stories that say a lot about the kind of person he was. When we […]
Yiddish Name Calling
Everybody calls people these things all the time, without having ANY idea what they mean. As a public service, I thought this would be helpful. Nebish A person regarded as weak-willed or timid. A person who is ineffectual, timid, and often luckless; a person of no significance. One who is fearful and timid, especially in making […]
Introduction to the poem Mosaic
I have previously explained how people had given me things to put in the PaPeR, our underground newspaper in Miami, in the 60’s. Due the PaPeR’s short life much did not get published. This is one that after 60 years I cannot even remember who wrote it. But I like it enough to think it […]
Phil’s Sense of Humor
And a thousand giants of the land…
This is another of Nanlee Haston’s poems. I’ve introduced her story in an earlier post, The PaPER and the Poets Two And a thousand giants of the land, took hold of humor and burned it at the stake: heretic of fate. As mothers fathers children dogs were turned to bark at moons (too soon to […]
Lewis Mumford, renowned Twentieth Century scholar of urban history and architecture
I have never seen this story about Lewis Mumford told anywhere in spite of my extensive reading of his work and works about him, including his authorized biography. I was disturbed at reading that, which the author agreed not to publish until his and Sophie’s daughter had died, as it told of his affairs. I […]