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

Author Archives: simanaitissays

RENÉE’S COSÌ—AND OTHERS PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE RECALLED SEVERAL PRODUCTIONS of Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte ranging from the traditional to the A.I.-robotic. Today, we learn what star soprano Renée Fleming has in mind as a … Continue reading

July 25, 2025 · Leave a comment

RENÉE’S COSÌ—AND OTHERS PART 1

MOZART’S COSÌ FAN TUTTE HAS BEEN TRANSLATED “WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT, but the famous soprano Renée Fleming is out to correct this opera’s misogynous implications. Here, in Parts 1 and … Continue reading

July 24, 2025 · Leave a comment

CABLING ELECTRICITY UNDERSEA

“ELECTRIC POWER IS NO LONGER THE HUMDRUM INDUSTRY IT USED TO BE,” writes Stanley Reed in “How The Deep Sea Cables That Power The World Are Made,” The New York … Continue reading

July 23, 2025 · 1 Comment

OPERA—PARK AND BARK, VERISMO, BUT ALWAYS RIDING THE RAZOR EDGE OF ABSURDITY

IN HER A MAD LOVE: AN INTRODUCTION TO OPERA, Vivien Schweitzer describes “park and bark” singers as those “who mostly stand immobile, or limit themselves to stock gestures, as was … Continue reading

July 22, 2025 · 3 Comments

CBS—THE BEST, THE LAMENTABLE, THE MIDDLING PART 2

YESTERDAY IN PART 1 WE SAVORED CBS RADIO WORKSHOP and enjoyed entertaining CBS corporate suits through the R&T slalom. Today, lamentably enough, we recount CBS actions that seemingly replace freedom … Continue reading

July 21, 2025 · Leave a comment

CBS—THE BEST, THE LAMENTABLE, THE MIDDLING PART 1

I’VE KNOWN COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM, now a division of Paramount Global, at its best, its lamentable, and—first hand—its middling. Let’s briefly recount the best and middling of these and then … Continue reading

July 20, 2025 · 5 Comments

“A SILENT AND ABSOLUTELY TRACTABLE” BUGATTI

PERHAPS THIS TITLE BRINGS TO MIND THE ROYALE, the 12,760-cc  straight-eight Golden Bug only six of which left Molsheim. No, actually these tidbits are gleaned from the British Autocar Road … Continue reading

July 19, 2025 · 2 Comments

REPARTEE ON AND OFF STAGE AND SCREEN

ENOUGH WITH POLITICS; THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY of great dissing in other areas. Dr. Mardy Grothe has a fine collection in Viva La Repartee, tidbits from which are offered here … Continue reading

July 17, 2025 · Leave a comment

BAEDEKER’S CANADA 1900 PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE FIGURED IT’S TIME to learn more about Canada. And my Baedeker’s Travellers Guide, 1900, seemed a fine place to start. Here in Part 2, we’ve missed our train … Continue reading

July 16, 2025 · Leave a comment

BAEDEKER’S CANADA 1900 PART 1

WHAT WITH THE ACQUISITIONAL WEAVES of our Queens Felon, I thought it’s time to direct attention toward our friends to the north. And, you’ll not be surprised, I have a … Continue reading

July 15, 2025 · 1 Comment