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

R&T AND OTHER ART

THE GREAT GARAGE SORTING OF ’22 revealed a bunch of posters among its treasures to be retained. In fact, there’s a file on my iMac’s desktop labeled, prosaically enough, “Posters.” … Continue reading

May 28, 2023 · Leave a comment

“ALRIGHT, MESSR. MERRIAM AND WEBSTER, I’M READY FOR MY CLOSEUP”

MOVIES GIVE RISE TO INTERESTING ETYMOLOGIES, as described May 12, 2023 at wordgenius.com. Here are tidbits about words originating “in Old Hollywood.” Not Mr. DeMille This Time. First, the title … Continue reading

May 27, 2023 · 1 Comment

MY CLASSICAL EDUCATION   PART 2

THIS ALL STARTED with Opera News’s celebration of Daffy Duck, which jogged my memory of being educated about classic music through Looney Tunes cartoons. Today in Part 2, we continue … Continue reading

May 26, 2023 · 1 Comment

MY CLASSICAL EDUCATION   PART 1

OCCASIONALLY DURING MY YOUTH, THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA would have children’s concerts. However, my education and love of classical music came not from these privileged trips to Severance Hall, but from … Continue reading

May 25, 2023 · 1 Comment

CAN IT! BUT KEEP THE OPENER

I RECENTLY CAME UPON an interesting item, coincidentally enough at the Interesting Facts website: “Canned Food Was Invented Before the Can Opener.”  This, in turn, led me into follow up … Continue reading

May 24, 2023 · 1 Comment

WIND AND THE U.K.

ESME STALLARD WRITES in BBC NEWS, May 11, 2023, “Wind is Main Source of UK Electricity for the First Time.” This is part of a trend noted in our country: … Continue reading

May 23, 2023 · Leave a comment

FRED ASTAIRE AND DANCING PARTNER PRINCESS GRACIE ALLEN PART 2

YESTERDAY, COMEDIENNE GRACIE ALLEN hoofed it admirably with Fred Astaire in A Lady in Distress. Today in Part 2 Gracie dreams of being a Princess, most appropriately on November 20, … Continue reading

May 22, 2023 · Leave a comment

FRED ASTAIRE AND DANCING PARTNER PRINCESS GRACIE ALLEN PART 1

I’VE LONG ENJOYED the SiriusXM “Radio Classics” pair of George Burns and Gracie Allen. Her Presidential Campaign of 1940 was one of its highpoints. I’ve also enjoyed the Turner Classic … Continue reading

May 21, 2023 · Leave a comment

AN EXCEPTIONAL CAR, SORTA

AFTER 33 YEARS OF DRIVING the world’s most exotic cars, my current car continues to be exceptional, by several measures at least. This 2012 Honda Crosstour is some 2.6 years … Continue reading

May 17, 2023 · 2 Comments

1954 SUNBEAM ALPINE—DESTINED FOR STARDOM

IN MARCH 1954, R&T MADE quite the prediction: “For comfort-loving Americans who want a certain amount of snob-appeal in their automobile… the Alpine will probably outsell all of its competitors … Continue reading

May 16, 2023 · 1 Comment