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
ANOTHER DIPLOMATIC AMBUSH—WITH EVEN LESS VERACITY
I SUPPOSE WE CANNOT EXPECT BULLYING BY A QUEENS FELON to include a modicum of truth—but Geez. Trump already had his mind, such as it exists, made up on the … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
FRANK MUIR ON EDUCATION AND LITERATURE PART 2
YESTERDAY WE STARTED SELECTING CHOICE QUOTES from Frank Muir’s An Irreverent and Thoroughly Incomplete Social History of Almost Everything. We continue today in Part 2 with the likes of George … Continue reading
FRANK MUIR ON EDUCATION AND LITERATURE PART 1
FRANK MUIR, HE OF MUIR AND NORDEN “My Word!/My Music!,” also put together a wonderful collection of things he enjoyed reading. An Irreverent and Thoroughly Incomplete Social History of Almost … Continue reading
TRUMP’S WORDS OF OPPRESSION—ETYMOLOGY PART 2
YESTERDAY WE BEGAN ANALYSES of the Trump administration’s means of oppression. Today in Part 2 we focus on propaganda as a tool, retribution as a goal, and an easy catch-all … Continue reading
TRUMP’S WORDS OF OPPRESSION—ETYMOLOGY PART 1
SOME OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S WORDS OF OPPRESSION are corruptions of previously lofty ones: diversity, equity, inclusion are paramount among these. Others are contortions of obscure legalities: misapplying the rarely … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 