MANNING UP—1947 STYLE
EARLIER THIS YEAR, SIMANAITISSAYS WAS “Skeptical of Superman??” in the Man of Steel peddling costume jewelry to fellows and girls. Geez—but guys wearing charm bracelets? Image of Superman appearing in … Continue reading
DON’T FORGET THE SYMPHONIC SNEEZE
THERE ARE FASCINATING SOUNDS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC: the Anvil Chorus in Verdi’s Il Travatore, 18 anvils in Wagner’s Das Rhinegold, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with its bells ringing and cannon fire, … Continue reading
THE SMITHSONIAN’S QUANDARY
IN 1829, ENGLISH SCIENTIST JAMES SMITHSON bequeathed his estate to the United States to establish an institution for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Smithsonian Institution followed in 1846 … Continue reading
SCOTUS AND GERRYMANDERING
LIKE PONTIUS PILATE, CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN G. ROBERTS has washed his hands on a matter affecting humanity. As described by David Daley in “Trump Isn’t the Only One to Blame … Continue reading
FACTS, OPINIONS—AN AUTHORITARIAN’S “REALITY” PART 2
YESTERDAY, WE BEGAN DESCRIBING “Trump’s Efforts to Control Information Echo an Authoritarian Playbook,” by Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times. We continue this today in … Continue reading
FACTS, OPINIONS, AND AN AUTHORITARIAN’S “REALITY” PART 1
PETER BAKER, CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT for The New York Times, absolutely nails it in “Trump’s Efforts to Control Information Echo an Authoritarian Playbook,” August 3, 2025. Here, in Parts … Continue reading
PROTECTIONISM VERSUS THE PROTECTION RACKET
ONCE AGAIN, MY WATCHING ’30s and ’40s GANGSTER FLICKS helps me recognize actions of our Queens Felon. Protectionism, Its Pros and Cons. Wikipedia defines “protectionism” as the economic policy of … Continue reading
BAH EPA AND TRUMP; HURRAH EDMONTON AND BEN & JERRY’S
IN ITS UTTERLY ASININE DISMANTLING of environmental protection, Trump’s EPA “Wants to Eliminate Regulation for Greenhouse Gases,” NPR, July 29, 2025. Jeff Brady reports, “The Trump administration announced its plan … Continue reading
A PETTY GANGSTER PART 2
YESTERDAY IN PART 1, WE FOUND TRUMP, unlike movie gangsters, displaying pettiness in many of his actions. We continue this theme today with other verifications, including Trump’s own. From His … Continue reading
A PETTY GANGSTER PART 1
THANKS TO TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES, MY VIEWING of ’30s and ’40s gangster flicks leaves definitive impressions of the genre’s bad guys. Movie gangsters were cruel, conniving, and ruthless. However, rarely if … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 