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: June, 2021

TRIUMPH TR2 ROADSTER—1954

WHAT A PROVOCATIVE headline: “Tiny, Rapid 2.” The Triumph TR2 Roadster was the cover car for R&T, April 1954. Here are a few tidbits from that road test.  “The Triumph … Continue reading

June 9, 2021 · Leave a comment

ETYMOLOGY: RANSOM

WHAT WITH RANSOMWARE much in the news these days, etymology of the word “ransom” is worthy of research. Merriam-Webster defines it as “a consideration paid or demanded for the release … Continue reading

June 8, 2021 · Leave a comment

CAN YOU FEEL IT WITH ME NOW?

CELLPHONES ARE so reliable now that we rarely ask, “Can you hear me now?” However, Science magazine, April 28, 2021, reports that “New Google Effort Uses Cellphones to Detect Earthquakes,” … Continue reading

June 7, 2021 · Leave a comment

BEVS AT A CRITICAL JUNCTION

BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES have hitherto been few and far between. But environmental goals around the world are increasing BEV presence and impact.  True, these are clean-air vehicles, even with mixed … Continue reading

June 6, 2021 · 3 Comments

LET’S CELEBRATE SPAM!

I’M NOT ENCOURAGING use of the Internet sewer. Rather, I’m thinking of real Spam, the canned luncheon meat sold around the world and celebrated in a recent Voice of America … Continue reading

June 5, 2021 · 5 Comments

MERCATOR MISUNDERSTANDINGS

IF FLAT-EARTHERS were correct (they aren’t, by the way), life would be a lot easier for cartographers. As noted here at SimanaitisSays, the two-dimensional plane and three-dimensional sphere are not … Continue reading

June 4, 2021 · Leave a comment

BAMBERG TO ROME, 1926—AND VIRTUALLY 2021

WHEN I COMPLETE modeling an airplane for my Microsoft Flight Simulator, I typically fool with it a couple times on the sim, then go on to a new GMax project. … Continue reading

June 3, 2021 · 3 Comments

FLYING THE ALPS IN A SMALL PLANE—AND I MEAN SMALL PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE MARVELED at aviation pioneers challenging the mighty Alps. Today in Part 2, a young Willy Messerschmitt challenges the Versailles Treaty with the M-17, a powered aircraft of his … Continue reading

June 2, 2021 · Leave a comment

FLYING THE ALPS IN A SMALL PLANE—AND I MEAN SMALL PART 1

EVEN TODAY, FLYING the Alps can be an exhilarating experience. Imagine what it must have been like in the early days of aviation. Here today and tomorrow in Parts 1 … Continue reading

June 1, 2021 · Leave a comment