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: February, 2021

THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE AND MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF C.F. HALL    PART 1

I BOUGHT CAPTAIN C.F. Hall’s Life with the Esquimaux, 1865, for three reasons: It would be the oldest book in my collection. For its time, it was richly illustrated. And … Continue reading

February 8, 2021 · Leave a comment

THE FIRST HUMANIST PLAYWRIGHT

SHAKESPEARE: THE INVENTION of the Human, 1998, is a classic book by Harold Bloom, 1930–2019, who is oft cited as “the most influential English-language critic of the late 20th century.” … Continue reading

February 7, 2021 · Leave a comment

PARLIAMO ITALIANO

ON THE LONG shot that you might be dining (likely these days outdoors) at  an Italian restaurant, here are culinary translational tidbits gleaned from a little guidebook. It’s more than … Continue reading

February 6, 2021 · 3 Comments

SCIENCE TIDBITS: FASCINATING, TIMELY, CONSEQUENTIAL

SCIENCE MAGAZINE, PUBLISHED weekly by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, often includes tidbits of one sort or another. Some are arcane, others as timely as today’s headlines … Continue reading

February 4, 2021 · 1 Comment

THE DROOD CAPER

CALL ME DATCHERY. Others call me Dick, or sleuth, or shamus. I’m white-haired, whiskered, wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool … Continue reading

February 3, 2021 · Leave a comment

ON REMARKABLE DIARIES

I’VE NEVER KEPT a diary. As one of Wife Dottie’s relatives said (while flipping the car’s rearview mirror out of the way), “What’s past is past….” On the other hand, … Continue reading

February 2, 2021 · Leave a comment

CAN SCIENCE BE IRRATIONAL?

IT SOUNDS CONTRADICTORY to say that science can be less than rational. However, a book review in Science magazine, published weekly by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, … Continue reading

February 1, 2021 · 1 Comment