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

Monthly Archives: May, 2018

THE TREE(S) OF LIFE

HOW COME tree-of-life diagrams always have humans at the top? A heady thought, this. There are subtleties galore in today’s evolutionary theory. Indeed, profound changes are taking place in how … Continue reading

May 8, 2018 · 1 Comment

WILLIAM WALKER—FILIBUSTER EXTRAORDINAIRE PART 2

AS WE learned yesterday, the original meaning of the word “filibuster” meant a person, an irregular military adventurer, not a political stalling ploy as we commonly use it today. And, … Continue reading

May 6, 2018 · Leave a comment

WILLIAM WALKER—FILIBUSTER EXTRAORDINAIRE PART 1

IN THESE times of less than cooperative members in the U.S. Congress, we’re all more familiar with the term “filibuster,” of endless oration to delay action. However, this particular meaning … Continue reading

May 5, 2018 · Leave a comment

FROM THE RIO GRANDE TO THE CANAL ZONE PART 3

THANKS TO Harry Franck and Herbert C. Lanks, we’ve already accomplished a goodly portion of our virtual 1940 adventure from the Rio Grande to the Canal Zone. Today in Part … Continue reading

May 4, 2018 · Leave a comment

FROM THE RIO GRANDE TO THE CANAL ZONE PART 2

HARRY FRANCK, the Prince of Vagabonds, chose for his 24th travel book an adventure with co-author Herbert C. Lanks: The Pan American Highway—From the Rio Grande to the Canal Zone, … Continue reading

May 3, 2018 · Leave a comment

FROM THE RIO GRANDE TO THE CANAL ZONE PART 1

THE PAN AMERICAN Highway at different times means different things to different people. In today’s news, it is the arduous south-to-north trek of asylum seekers. To motorsports enthusiasts, there was … Continue reading

May 2, 2018 · Leave a comment

WHACHAMACALLIT?

SCIENCE TYPICALLY avoids the word “whachamacallit,” which, with cool dictionary humor, Merriam-Webster defines as a “thingamajig.” What’s more, humor possibly thought rare for science is discussed in Gregory R. Goldsmith’s … Continue reading

May 1, 2018 · Leave a comment