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

Category Archives: Just Trippin’

ABOUT ENGLAND

A BOOK is a wonderful gift, often because of unexpected things to which it leads. Georgina, a dear English friend, gifted us with a book that, according to its cover … Continue reading

July 27, 2013 · 2 Comments

MRS. THORNE AND ORSON WELLES

AN ODD synergy exists between a wealthy Chicago woman, Mrs. James Ward Thorne, and the theater/film/radio great, Orson Welles. It’s all the more curious in that Welles has been called … Continue reading

July 26, 2013 · 2 Comments

東京ディズニーシー

TRAVELING INTO Tokyo from Narita International Airport, when the train or bus ran along Tokyo Bay, I passed an active volcano on the left. It’s no cause for concern because … Continue reading

July 23, 2013 · Leave a comment

OWLS HEAD TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

WHAT A perfect time to visit Owls Head, Maine, and its Transportation Museum (http://www.ohtm.org)! The museum offers a real variety for enthusiasts of motion, with 50 cars, 28 aircraft, 14 bicycles, … Continue reading

July 22, 2013 · 2 Comments

MY BOBSLEDS

BOBSLEDDING WOULD be my ideal sport. Run for only a short distance, hop into the bobsled, go like hell and have gravity scare the bejesus out of me. Plus, I … Continue reading

July 12, 2013 · 1 Comment

GAMING NOISE

“I WON! I won!” Or maybe not. Artfully engineered responses from games—and gambling hardware—are designed to encourage continued play through what researchers call “losses disguised as wins.” This concept is … Continue reading

July 11, 2013 · Leave a comment

THE ALPS: MOUNTAINS OF PROMINENCE

THE ALPS are more impressive than the Rockies. True, both have neat scenery, wonderful roads and great touring. But in the Rockies, you’re already starting from a mile high. It’s … Continue reading

July 10, 2013 · Leave a comment

AESTHETICS OF JAPAN

IT SEEMS to me there are contrasting sides to Japanese aesthetics. The same fellow who appreciates the simplicity of rocks in carefully raked sand also derives pleasure from art forms … Continue reading

July 7, 2013 · 2 Comments

SINSHEIM AUTO & TECHNIK

THE SOUTHWESTERN German town of Sinsheim is about 50 miles northwest of Stuttgart, 22 miles southeast of Hockenheim’s Formula 1 circuit. In May 1999, I had been visiting the university … Continue reading

July 5, 2013 · 5 Comments

MARIENPLATZ

ONE OF my favorite European cities is Munich, in the south of Germany, not far from the Alps. Among other things that endear it to me, it’s the home of … Continue reading

June 12, 2013 · 1 Comment