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

Monthly Archives: September, 2013

B20: DO I FEEL LUCKY?

WHEN B20 biodiesel is discussed, I am reminded of Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood’s character, saying to the punk, “You’ve got to ask yourself a question, ‘Do I feel lucky?’” This, … Continue reading

September 20, 2013 · Leave a comment

ENGLISH CLUBLAND

NEITHER SHERLOCK Holmes nor his brother Mycroft were English Clubland sorts. True, Mycroft was a Founder of the Diogenes Club, an establishment said to have “the most unsociable and unclubbable … Continue reading

September 19, 2013 · 4 Comments

WHY “THE FAT LADY” IS FAT

AS THEY say, “The opera ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings.” And, with evidence of two wonderful cookbooks in my collection, I believe I know why the fat lady … Continue reading

September 18, 2013 · Leave a comment

CARRIER OPPS, 100 YEARS AGO

IT WAS less than a decade after the Wright Bros. first flew that an aeroplane took off from and landed on a ship. These aviation firsts were accomplished by the … Continue reading

September 17, 2013 · 1 Comment

CARS AND THE ‘BURBS

SOME OF those into social engineering delight in disparaging the automobile and its suburban environment. From whatever their view—a luxury midtown loft?—they want to shame us out of the ’burbs … Continue reading

September 16, 2013 · 1 Comment

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET

JAPANESE BREAKFAST is the best breakfast in the world. It’ll have steamed rice, nori (dried seaweed, for dipping in a tad of soy sauce and making little rice rolls), miso … Continue reading

September 15, 2013 · Leave a comment

PORSCHE GOLD

IT’S FRANKFURT Show time, and it was 50 years ago at this venue that Porsche introduced its 911 sports car. Amazing; a car in current production celebrating its Golden Anniversary. … Continue reading

September 14, 2013 · Leave a comment

COPLAND AND CULTURE

COMPOSER AARON Copland had a profound effect on American culture—and vice versa. Yesterday I shared mini reviews of some of my favorite Copland music (www.wp.me/p2ETap-1wz). Today, it’s a book review. … Continue reading

September 13, 2013 · 3 Comments

MY FAVORITE COPLAND

AARON COPLAND is the most American of American classical composers. I celebrate him here with several mini reviews of music I love. Tomorrow, I recommend a most artful book on … Continue reading

September 12, 2013 · Leave a comment

YOUR CHEATIN’ BUILDING

TALL BUILDINGS are evidently of the “guy” gender, because so many of them lie about their height. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (http://www.ctbuh.org) has reported that the … Continue reading

September 11, 2013 · 1 Comment