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

Author Archives: simanaitissays

“A SILENT AND ABSOLUTELY TRACTABLE” BUGATTI

PERHAPS THIS TITLE BRINGS TO MIND THE ROYALE, the 12,760-cc  straight-eight Golden Bug only six of which left Molsheim. No, actually these tidbits are gleaned from the British Autocar Road … Continue reading

July 19, 2025 · 2 Comments

REPARTEE ON AND OFF STAGE AND SCREEN

ENOUGH WITH POLITICS; THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY of great dissing in other areas. Dr. Mardy Grothe has a fine collection in Viva La Repartee, tidbits from which are offered here … Continue reading

July 17, 2025 · Leave a comment

BAEDEKER’S CANADA 1900 PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE FIGURED IT’S TIME to learn more about Canada. And my Baedeker’s Travellers Guide, 1900, seemed a fine place to start. Here in Part 2, we’ve missed our train … Continue reading

July 16, 2025 · Leave a comment

BAEDEKER’S CANADA 1900 PART 1

WHAT WITH THE ACQUISITIONAL WEAVES of our Queens Felon, I thought it’s time to direct attention toward our friends to the north. And, you’ll not be surprised, I have a … Continue reading

July 15, 2025 · 1 Comment

BOROWITZ WISDOM

I BELIEVE ANDY BOROWITZ IS the preeminent political satirist of our time. As I noted in “The Best of Lines,” he has “an amazing way of condensing his satirical news … Continue reading

July 14, 2025 · 1 Comment

HYPIN’ HOLMES REDUX PART 2

YESTERDAY IN PART 1, WE DISCUSSED THE WORLD’S FIRST CONSULTING DETECTIVE and his appearance in advertising. We continue here with thirst-quenching themes. Holmes, Gin, And What’s That Building? There’s internationalism … Continue reading

July 13, 2025 · Leave a comment

HYPIN’ HOLMES REDUX PART 1

DR. JOHN H. WATSON HAD A CRACKIN’ GOOD literary agent Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. How else to explain the numerous ad placements about the World’s First Consulting Detective? Several of … Continue reading

July 12, 2025 · Leave a comment

HURRAH FOR THE ACLU! HURRAH FOR CLASS ACTION!

LET’S APPLAUD THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION! Never has its activism been more critical. Zach Montague and Pat Grossmith’s article “Judge Blocks Trump’s Citizenship Order in Class-Action Challenge,” The New … Continue reading

July 11, 2025 · 4 Comments

SONO TUTTI BUGIARDI PART 2

YESTERDAY IN PART 1, WE TRACED TRUMP MENDACITY, from the seemingly inconsequential (“architectural envy”) to the profound (his worldwide dissolving Voice of America truth). Today, we start with his biggest … Continue reading

July 10, 2025 · 4 Comments

SONO TUTTI BUGIARDI PART 1

I MAY WELL BE MISQUOTING (after all, it’s almost 50 years ago), but my editorial mentor Larry Givens at the Society of Automotive Engineers cited his father believing “Sono tutti … Continue reading

July 9, 2025 · 2 Comments