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

“JUST BECAUSE I’M A LIBRARIAN DOESN’T MEAN I HAVE TO DRESS AS ONE”—BELLE DA COSTA GREENE

THE LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS, JUNE 26, 2025, BLURBS Francesca Wade’s “The Best-Paid Woman in NYC.” Wade is reviewing two books, Belle Da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy and Becoming … Continue reading

July 4, 2025 · Leave a comment

ALFA ROMEO CORSA SPERIMENTALE “BALENA” PART 2

YESTERDAY IN PART 1, CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR’S MICK WALSH introduced us to a one-off Alfa Romeo, his article reminding me why Classic & Sports Car is a favorite motoring … Continue reading

July 3, 2025 · Leave a comment

ALFA ROMEO CORSA SPERIMENTALE “BALENA” PART 1  

HERE’S YET ANOTHER REASON WHY CLASSIC & SPORTS CAR is a favorite automotive magazine: Mick Walsh’s online article about the Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B Corsa Sperimentale. Argentine enthusiasts nicknamed the car … Continue reading

July 2, 2025 · 3 Comments

TRUMP’S SCIENCE AND FeS2

IRON PYRITE, FeS2, OF COURSE, IS “FOOL’S GOLD.” And a recent editorial in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Science magazine describes the phoniness of Trump’s Executive Order … Continue reading

July 1, 2025 · 1 Comment

COMPLEXITIES OF CAFE COMPLIANCE FEES PART 2

YESTERDAY WE BEGAN ANALYZING Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and their encouraging average mpgs from 13.5 to more than double that today. In Part 2 we continue—and close with a … Continue reading

June 30, 2025 · 4 Comments

COMPLEXITIES OF CAFE COMPLIANCE FEES PART 1

HEADLINES IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 26, 2025, are provocative: “Republicans Propose a New Way to Scrap Fuel Economy Rules: No Fines.” Brad Plumer and Jack Ewing report, “For … Continue reading

June 29, 2025 · 2 Comments

SEE THAT AGAIN

KATRINA MILLER WRITES IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, June 26, 2025, “The Best Illusion of the Year contest offers researchers, and participants, an opportunity to explore the gaps and limits … Continue reading

June 28, 2025 · Leave a comment

GRANDE SEMAINE D’AVIATION DE LA CHAMPAGNE, 1909

IT WAS LESS THAN SIX YEARS after the Wright Bros. first flew ever so tentatively at Kitty Hawk that the world celebrated heavier-than-air craft at the Grande Semaine d’Aviation de … Continue reading

June 27, 2025 · 2 Comments

CARS OF THE STARS REDUX AGAIN

THE 1934 FLICK THE GAY DIVORCEE DESERVES an award among car enthusiasts: Not only does it feature three of the era’s classic automobiles, but one of them was actually owned … Continue reading

June 26, 2025 · 1 Comment

WHAT IS CLASSICAL MUSIC?

COMPOSER/CONDUCTOR MATTHEW AUCOIN ASKS “Do You Actually Know What Classical Music Is? Does Anyone?,” The Atlantic, April 15, 2025. This captures my eye because I include classical among my musical … Continue reading

June 25, 2025 · Leave a comment