ARG! HONORIS CAUSA
PH.D., OF COURSE, MEANS Doctor of Philosophy. And adding the Latin phrase honoris causa, “for the sake of honor,” means that the degree is awarded in recognition of one’s life … Continue reading
ETYMOLOGY: EIGENGRAU—AND OTHER STUFF HERE AND THERE
I LEARNED AN OPTICAL TERM from the WordDaily website that jogged my memory in other ways: The word “eigengrau” defines “the dark gray color seen by the eyes in perfect … Continue reading
CELEBRATING THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
I MISSED ITS OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY, but the Hollywood Sign turned 100 on October 31, 2023. Gee, this calls for some (belated) research. For instance, the sign has its own website, … Continue reading
SERIES HYBRIDS: GOOD ENOUGH FOR LOCOMOTIVES; PICKUP TRUCKS TOO?
THOUGH WE CALL THEM “DIESELS,” railway locomotive wheels are actually spun by electricity produced by diesel-powered generators. That is, they’re “series” hybrids. This is contrasted with automotive “parallel” hybrids like … Continue reading
GRACE HOPPER FORCED COMPUTERS TO SPEAK ENGLISH, SORTA PART 2
YESTERDAY NICE NEWS INTRODUCED US TO mathematician Grace Hopper. Today in Part 2, we follow her career in the pioneer days of computers and at the nexus of academe and … Continue reading
GRACE HOPPER FORCED COMPUTERS TO SPEAK ENGLISH, SORTA PART 1
NICE NEWS (A WEBSITE THAT DISTRIBUTES JUST THAT) recently, December 8, 2023, had a fascinating item about computer scientist/Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. Quite appropriately, Hopper was known as “Queen of … Continue reading
VSCCA LE MANS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
VINTAGE SPORTS CAR, THE MEMBER PUBLICATION of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America, celebrates Le Mans in its Number 2 2023 issue and also with its 2024 calendar. Editor … Continue reading
LUNA LUNA LA
WHAT A PERFECT ADDITION TO THE LOS ANGELES ARTS DISTRICT! “Luna Luna Forgotten Fantasy” is being installed in a 60,000-sq.-ft. warehouse at 1601 E. 6th Street, to be opened later … Continue reading
BUSBY BERKELEY—TAKING THE CAMERA TO PLACES IT’D NEVER BEEN
DAVID THOMSON PUT IT WELL in The New Biographical Dictionary of Film: “It is a delicious irony that as the cinema institutionalized its own morality—in the early 1930s—it promoted a … Continue reading
ALLARD PALM BEACH—GRENDEL’S KID SISTER
IT WAS LIKE BEOWULF’S GRENDEL having a sweet kid sister. (The Allard J2X has already appeared here at SimanaitisSays.) Above, the Allard J2X, 1951–1954. Image by cutaway artist extraordinaire Yoshihiro … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 