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, 2025

“MISTER RADIO’S” CRIME CLASSICS

ELLIOTT LEWIS WAS AN EXTREMELY PROLIFIC actor, writer, producer, and director on radio and television. During the Golden Age of Radio (roughly, the 1930s through the 1950s), his versatility earned … Continue reading

May 31, 2025 · Leave a comment

WOOLWORTH’S LUNCH COUNTER IN HISTORY PART 2

YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED FOUR COLLEGE STUDENTS who wanted nothing more than cups of coffee. These brave young men were part of the civil rights movement, an era that’s on-going to … Continue reading

May 30, 2025 · 4 Comments

WOOLWORTH’S LUNCH COUNTER IN HISTORY PART 1

FRANK WINFIELD WOOLWORTH CREATED MERCHANDIZING innovation in 1879 when his store in New York City sold lots of stuff for a nickel or a dime. “Five-and-tens,” F.W. Woolworth’s became known. … Continue reading

May 29, 2025 · 3 Comments

THE REPUBLICANS’ SCAM—COMING ALL OUR WAY

SNEAKED-IN TWEAKS OF THE DOMESTIC POLICY BILL Republicans recently passed in the House seem insignificant to its more visible consequences (the latter, for example, some 13.7 million people losing health … Continue reading

May 28, 2025 · 1 Comment

BARBIE’S HEELS AND FLATS

AT THE RISK OF UTTERING THE TRUMP-DREADED WORD “DIVERSITY,” here’s an academic report on “Flat out Fabulous: How Barbie’s Foot Posture and Occupations Have Changed Over the Decades, and the … Continue reading

May 27, 2025 · Leave a comment

FATE AND AN F1 HERO

LET’S RETURN TO THE PIRELLI ALBUM OF MOTOR RACING HEROES, assembled by John Surtees, himself a Drivers’ World Champion. Pirelli Album of Motor Racing Heroes, by John Surtees, Motorbooks International, … Continue reading

May 25, 2025 · 1 Comment

GROK GOES BONKERS PART 2

YESTERDAY, PROF. ZEYNAP TUFEKCI introduced us to Elon Musk’s chatbot pal Grok—and the latter’s prompting to less than A.I.-generated veracity. Today in Part 2, Tufekci warns that system prompts aren’t … Continue reading

May 24, 2025 · Leave a comment

GROK GOES BONKERS PART 1

I ADMIRE THE SAGACITY of ZEYNEP TUFEKCI, (“zey-NEP tuu-FEK-chee,” her given name Turkish for “precious gem” related to Arabic “fragrant flower.”) Dr. Tufekci is a Turkish-American sociologist, Henry G. Bryant … Continue reading

May 23, 2025 · Leave a comment

TIME TO EAT!

“IF YOU’VE EVERY REALLY LOOKED AT HOW FLAMINGOS EAT,” says The New York Times’ Rachel Nuwer, “you know how captivatingly peculiar it is.” This and other screenshot captures of videos … Continue reading

May 22, 2025 · Leave a comment