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: January, 2026

PAUL FRÈRE ON FERRARI PROTOTYPES 1961–1967 PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE BEGAN SHARING PAUL FRÈRE’S INSIGHTS gleaned from Cars in Profile Collection 1. Here in Part 2, Paul recounted Ferrari’s achievements as well as foibles.   Ferrari’s Initial Views … Continue reading

January 12, 2026 · 2 Comments

PAUL FRÈRE ON FERRARI PROTOTYPES 1961–1967   PART 1 

PAUL FRÈRE WAS A BELGIAN RACING DRIVER, ENGINEER, AND JOURNALIST. Indeed, as the European Editor for R&T he was also a pal (and mentor). Paul Frère, 1917–2008, French-born Belgian race … Continue reading

January 11, 2026 · 1 Comment

TRUMP ON HISTORY—160 YEARS AGO, 5 YEARS AGO, AND JANUARY 7, 2026.

TRUMP HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN TO PREVARICATE. To lie and go on is bad enough, but to attempt rewriting history is another matter entirely—and markedly contemptible. Image by Flavio Pessoa … Continue reading

January 10, 2026 · 2 Comments

CELEBRATING AYRTON SENNA, LEGO, AND GRANDSON CARTER

CARTER RECENTLY SHARED NEAT PICS, the topic of which suggest the efficacy of DNA. He along with his mom, Daughter Beth, are hooked on Formula 1 (along with Daughter Suz … Continue reading

January 9, 2026 · Leave a comment

ON ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION PART 2

LET’S CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION of Lord Acton’s adage “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Part 1 dealt with Trump; here in Part 2 we focus on Pete … Continue reading

January 8, 2026 · 1 Comment

ON ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION PART 1

IN 1887 JOHN DALBERG-ACTON, 1ST BARON ACTON, wrote “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” These days, lamentable, Lord Acton’s adage comes to mind increasingly often.  John Emerich … Continue reading

January 7, 2026 · Leave a comment

STROLLING THE STRAND—MIND THE PRIMEVAL HIPPOPOTAMI PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE BEGAN GLEANING TIDBITS from Ysenda Maxtone Graham’s LRB review of Geoff Browell and Eileen Chanin’s The Strand: A Biography. Today in Part 2, we continue the fun.  Nationalizing … Continue reading

January 6, 2026 · Leave a comment

STROLLING THE STRAND—MIND THE PRIMEVAL  HIPPOPOTAMI PART 1

IN READING “BUSIEST THOROUGHFARE OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD,” by Ysenda Maxtone Graham in London Review of Books, December 4, 2025, I am reminded of my sole phrase of … Continue reading

January 5, 2026 · Leave a comment

AS SHAKESPEARE WOULD SAY….

IN A MUCH-NEEDED ATTEMPT to raise discourse out of the low-IQ/LARGE CAPS level of Truth Social, here are tidbits gleaned from Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, MBEBooks, and Goodreads.  (See also “Bereft … Continue reading

January 4, 2026 · 6 Comments

CELEBRATING A TALENTED ARTIST RECYCLING BODY PARTS

“THE ORIGINAL BARBIE GAVE SIDE-EYE,” Daughter Suz explained to me. “But Malibu Barbie’s eyes looked absolutely blissed out,” Suz recounts, “and that’s why she continues to appeal to me.” A … Continue reading

January 3, 2026 · Leave a comment