CHARLES H. CRAWFORD, A LOS ANGELES AL CAPONE PART 2
FAILURE OF California’s Julian Petroleum Company, aka “Julian Pete,” caught up Charles H. Crawford, Los Angeles politician/saloon owner in 1930. Allegedly, he paid $75,000 to hush up exposure of his … Continue reading
CHARLES H. CRAWFORD, THE LOS ANGELES AL CAPONE PART 1
IN MY continuing recognition of scalawags, political and otherwise, I offer Charles H. Crawford, who in the 1920s was the Los Angeles version of Chicago’s Al Capone. The tale has … Continue reading
FUEL CELLS FORGOTTEN? YET AGAIN?
WHAT WITH everyone but the guy next door promising to build only “electrified” cars, it’s surprising to me that only a few of the world’s automakers are seeing promise in … Continue reading
BOOK SMART, HEAD DUMB
MY MOTHER, rest her soul, used to say that I was “book smart, but head dumb.” I am not surprised to learn, based on a new book on the matter, … Continue reading
HOLMES AND THE ARTS PART 2
SHERLOCK HOLMES’ artistic streak surfaced regularly, and not just when he idly bowed his Stradivarius while pondering a consulting detective conundrum. Yesterday here, Michael Hardwick’s The Guide to Sherlock Holmes … Continue reading
HOLMES AND THE ARTS PART 1
SHERLOCK HOLMES is remembered for his cold unassailable logic. However, the world’s greatest consulting detective also had an artistic side. Indeed, name another shamus who played his own Stradivarius. What … Continue reading
STEFANO ZANNOWICH—A GENUINE RASCAL PART 2
WHEN WE left the Montenegrin Serb royal impersonator Stefano Zannowich yesterday here, it was 1773 and he had just composed Pigmalione. Let’s not credit Zannowich with inspiring the 1956 Broadway … Continue reading
STEFANO ZANNOWICH—A GENUINE RASCAL PART 1
WHAT WITH two-bit, four-bit, and six-bit rascals populating Washington, D.C. these days, it’s comforting to learn about a genuine, first-class, international rascal of the highest order. Indeed, his rascality calls … Continue reading
CELEBRATING THE BOEING 747
AFTER 48 YEARS of service, the Boeing 747 is being replaced by newer, more efficient wide-body aircraft. The 747 is a glorious example of aeronautical engineering and, for crew and … Continue reading
THE GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA
THE INTERNET used to be likened to the wild and woolly west. Less so today, perhaps; but a Great Firewall has limited China’s access to the worldwide web. I learned … Continue reading
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