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

ERTÉ, MARION DAVIES, AND WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST

A COIN TOSS linked Art Deco artist Erté with publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst. One result of the coin toss was a movie, The Restless Sex, all but forgotten—and for … Continue reading

February 20, 2021 · Leave a comment

ENTERTAINING ENGLISH HISTORY

SURE, WE HAVE our George Washington cutting down that apple tree and proving the law of gravity by throwing an apple across the Potomac. (Or do I have this wrong?) … Continue reading

February 19, 2021 · 3 Comments

ISADORE SINGER—BRIDGE BUILDER

IN THE NEW York Times, February 14, 2021, Julie Rehmeyer observed the passing, at age 96, of mathematician Isadore Singer. The article caught my eye when she wrote that Singer … Continue reading

February 18, 2021 · Leave a comment

PUSILLANIMOUS, CRAVEN, DASTARDLY: ETYMOLOGIES, WITH EXAMPLES   PART 2

THIS ALL STARTED with my seeking descriptions of certain U.S. Senators participating in the Trump sequel to his first impeachment. The nickel word “pusillanimous” came to mind in Part 1; … Continue reading

February 17, 2021 · 3 Comments

PUSILLANIMOUS, CRAVEN, DASTARDLY: ETYMOLOGIES, WITH EXAMPLES   PART 1

I WAS AT a loss for words while I listened to Senator Mitch McConnell and other Republicans during this past week’s impeachment hearings. But then three words came to mind: … Continue reading

February 16, 2021 · 5 Comments

FERRARI 166MM—ASK THE MAN WHO BOUGHT ONE (OR TWO)

LOTS OF FERRARIS have appeared here at SimanaitisSays: the cars of Enzo, Casablanca‘s Blue Parrot owner Signor Ferrari, and the charming “Amati, Io Viso Dire” of composer Benedetto Ferrari.  But … Continue reading

February 15, 2021 · 5 Comments

HAS THE ELEPHANT GONE BATSHIT??   PART 2

YESTERDAY AND TODAY, I share tidbits from the American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life and its January 2021 American Perspectives Survey. To provide balance of findings from this … Continue reading

February 14, 2021 · 2 Comments

HAS THE ELEPHANT GONE BATSHIT??   PART 1

I PONDERED MY wording for this title, but given a hit TV show parodizing the same word, I decided to keep it. The American Enterprise Institute is a respected conservative … Continue reading

February 13, 2021 · Leave a comment

THE ONLINE AD BUBBLE

HAVE YOU BOUGHT anything because of online advertising? I don’t believe I have. Ever. You know the kind of ad I have in mind: those ubiquitous online comeons that are … Continue reading

February 12, 2021 · 3 Comments

THE LRB ON KISSINGER    PART 2

YESTERDAY, DAVID RUNCIMAN’S article in London Review of Books offered tidbits about Henry Kissinger, whose years of Realpolitik had significant influence on the world. Today’s Part 2 continues, with Kissinger … Continue reading

February 11, 2021 · Leave a comment