CATCHING A RUM RUNNER BY VIEWING A SUNFLOWER
THE FOG LIFTS MOMENTARILY. You and your Coast Guard crew spot a Rum Runner some distance off. The fog descends immediately and the Rum Runner heads off at its known … Continue reading
BACH IN A MINUTE
I’M HAVING A BALL learning more about the history of music. But not from the work of just any musicologist. Rather, it’s from a favorite author, actor and one-of-a-kind, Stephen … Continue reading
COME ON-A BAUHAUS
IT’S ALWAYS RISKY paraphrasing old song titles, but it seemed too good to pass up “Come On-A My House” by singer Rosemary Clooney, George’s aunt. In truth, I’m early in … Continue reading
BELGIUM AND HOLLAND, C. 1905
I’VE NOT OFTEN VISITED the Low Countries, as the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are sometimes called. On the other hand, my infrequent visits have been enhanced by armchair travel provided … Continue reading
“DO PUT DOWN THE REVOLVER”
THIS WONDERFUL TITLE appeared in the London Review of Books, August 14, 2016, in a book review written by Rosemary Hill, whose other work in LRB I’ve enjoyed. I’m sure … Continue reading
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIMANAITISSAYS!
THIS ITEM BEGINS the fifth year of SimanaitisSays. Once more, I thank you for your readership and interactions. Indeed, celebrating this camaraderie, I recall several notable items of the past … Continue reading
A 1953 TIME CAPSULE—BUGATTI LORE AND MORE
ETTORE BUGATTI, Le Patron, died in 1947, the same year that Road and Track published its first issue. In November 1953, the magazine was six years old when it chose to … Continue reading
FRIENDLY BORDERS
LIZ ALDERMAN’S STORY in The New York Times, August 8, 2016, is titled “Put One Foot Wrong in This Town and You’ve Left the Country.” She was writing about Baarle, … Continue reading
AVOCADO UNDER MY SKIN
THE MIND—and sometimes a good pun—is a terrible thing to waste. So is an avocado. We’ve been enjoying avocados of the Hass variety here in southern California. No surprise, as … Continue reading
THE LRB ON BREXIT
THE BREXIT REFERENDUM asked voters in the United Kingdom whether to Remain in or Leave the European Union, and “Leave” gathered more votes. But, as described in essays in the London … Continue reading
