Simanaitis Says

On cars, old, new and future; science & technology; vintage airplanes, computer flight simulation of them; Sherlockiana; our English language; travel; and other stuff

YOU BETCHA—A PATH TO INSIDER TRADING OR TO PENURY

I PREFACE THIS BY NOTING that I ignore lotteries, betting, and have no interest in participating in “prediction markets.” In fact, from what I’ve read, I fear their deleterious effect … Continue reading

September 7, 2026 · 1 Comment

BACH STIFFED BY MARGRAVE

MY NEW BGF AND I GET TOGETHER WEEKDAYS AT 5 A.M. PACIFIC when she shares great tales of classical music. Colleen Wheelahan hosts SiriusXM “Symphony Hall” in its morning show, … Continue reading

September 6, 2026 · 2 Comments

BEAGLES, EVs, AND THE AMERICAN WEST

OPERATION FRODO IS A WONDERFUL STORY OF 12 volunteer drivers delivering 16 Beagles from Omaha, Nebraska, to Portland, Oregon, more than 1700 miles in four stock EVs over June 7 … Continue reading

September 5, 2026 · 3 Comments

EAST/WEST GERMAN DECRIMINALIZATION, DANIEL DEFOE’S PILLORYING, AND THE MISUNDERSTOOD MOLE

MY FREQUENT VISITS TO LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS are encouraged by a simple truism: Its writing is so blessedly good! Even to the literary quality of its readers.  Here are … Continue reading

September 3, 2026 · Leave a comment

GLADLY NAMED GUILLAIN-BARRÉ

YOU GET MY GIST: Gladly (also a strabismus ursine) must I bear the onslaught of Guillain-Barré syndrome. This malady is described by Mayo Clinic as “a condition in which the … Continue reading

September 1, 2026 · Leave a comment

O Canada/Ô Canada—Quelle Merde De Trump!  Part 2

YESTERDAY IN PART 1 WE BEGAN ANALYZING THE BREAKDOWN of Trump’s dealings with our best friend Canada. We continue today with more of the same as reported by The New … Continue reading

August 30, 2026 · 3 Comments

O Canada/Ô Canada—Quelle Merde De Trump!  Part 1

ONCE AGAIN, TRUMP’S INEPT DEAL-MAKING transforms him and his sycophants into an embarrassment in the world community. The Supreme Court has already ruled that his diplomacy-by-tariff exceeds statutory authority, even … Continue reading

August 29, 2026 · 1 Comment

WHAT ARE ALL THOSE PEOPLE DOING ON THE OPERA STAGE?

“CHORUS LINES” IS THE WELL-WROUGHT TITLE for Rupert Christiansen and Henrietta Bredin’s article in Opera With Opera News, September 2026. Here are tidbits gleaned from this informative piece. The Pounds … Continue reading

August 19, 2026 · 7 Comments

CONSEQUENCES OF A.I. SYCOPHANCY

MERRIAM-WEBSTER DEFINES “SYCOPHANCY” as “obsequious flattery.” Also, M-W notes that “obsequious” is “marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness,” aka known in vulgar circles as “ass-kissing,” coincidentally another of M-W … Continue reading

August 18, 2026 · Leave a comment

THRICE-WED GWENDA, THRICE-CITED PASHA, AND MARGARET THATCHER’S SECTION 28     PART 2

YESTERDAY, AN R&T TALE FROM 1961 GOT ME RESEARCHING GWENDA JANSON STEWART HAWKES NÉE GLUBB. We continue in Part 2 today with, among other adventures, Gwenda marrying Hawkes and, years … Continue reading

August 17, 2026 · 1 Comment