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: Sci-Tech

OL’ BLUE-EYES, JACK BENNY, ME, AND THOSE SIMILARLY ENDOWED

GEE, I NEVER REALIZED how rare blue eyes are. We make up only eight percent of the world’s population, according to AucklandEye. Here are other tidbits gleaned from this source, … Continue reading

May 29, 2023 · 2 Comments

CAN IT! BUT KEEP THE OPENER

I RECENTLY CAME UPON an interesting item, coincidentally enough at the Interesting Facts website: “Canned Food Was Invented Before the Can Opener.”  This, in turn, led me into follow up … Continue reading

May 24, 2023 · 3 Comments

WIND AND THE U.K.

ESME STALLARD WRITES in BBC NEWS, May 11, 2023, “Wind is Main Source of UK Electricity for the First Time.” This is part of a trend noted in our country: … Continue reading

May 23, 2023 · Leave a comment

FORMULA 1 PROPULSION EXPERTISE

MODERN FORMULA 1 is anything but traditional Formula Libre. In 1934–1937, for instance, regulations did little more than limit car weight to a maximum 750 kg (roughly 1650 lb). By … Continue reading

May 15, 2023 · 1 Comment

ON PURE SCIENCE

WE USTA JOKE, SORTA, that applied mathematics was done only behind a locked office door. Pure mathematics reigned. Two recent findings suggest that pure science is still alive and well. … Continue reading

May 9, 2023 · Leave a comment

BALTO AND KENWOOD—HERO OF NOME, GODDOG OF INNES IRELAND, RESPECTIVELY

“IN 1925,” ELIZABETH PENNISI RECOUNTS IN AAAS Science, April 27, 2023, “a sled dog named Balto made headlines around the world when he braved fierce winds, a raging blizzard, and … Continue reading

May 8, 2023 · Leave a comment

ON CHATBOTS AND OTHER HALLUCINATORS

KNOWING JUST A TAD ABOUT LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS, I’m not surprised that they occasionally “hallucinate.” That is, spout out erroneous stuff. I’ve known other B.S. artists all my life. Here … Continue reading

May 3, 2023 · Leave a comment

PARROTS ZOOM VIRTUALLY

PARROTS LOVE TO FLOCK TOGETHER as part of their social, cognitive, and emotional needs. Yet, as reported by Sarah Kuta in Smithsonian Magazine, April 24, 2023, “… when kept as … Continue reading

April 28, 2023 · Leave a comment

HEADS—RED AND GRAY

TALK ABOUT KARMA (with no pun intended): I write about the Ferrari Testa Rossa and then read that “Redheaded People May Require More Anesthesia.” This in turn led to a … Continue reading

April 27, 2023 · 1 Comment

LET ME SLEEP ON IT—BIPHASICALLY

“5 Interesting Facts (and Myths) About Sleep,” at the Interesting Facts website described that medieval peasants slept better than we do.  (Artificial light makes sleep less natural today.) In giving … Continue reading

April 14, 2023 · 2 Comments