A PLATE OF THAT HAUTE CUISINE, MACK
THERE’S A DIRECT LINE from peasant fare to bourgeoise cooking to haute cuisine. There are also fascinating societal aspects, as described by Ligaya Mishan in The Humble Beginnings of Today’s … Continue reading
NUTS, THINKING ECOLOGICALLY
AAAS SCIENCE MAGAZINE, November 26, 2021, reports that “Researchers Probe Climate as a Cause of Banner Nut Years.” The magazine’s Elizabeth Pennisi writes, “New database could help solve the mystery … Continue reading
AUDITORY FAUX PAS
THE INTERESTINGFACTS.COM, December 6, 2021, describes a linguistic term new to me: “A mondegreen,” says the website, “occurs when there’s a communication hiccup between the syllables you hear and the … Continue reading
ZORA, M. BUGATTI (AND, TRIVIALLY, ME) PART 2
I SUSPECT ZORA ARKUS-DUNTOV’S R&T article in January 1992 evolved from conversations I had with this famed engineer at the 1990 Monterey Historics. Zora had wonderful tales to relate, and … Continue reading
MEDIEVAL CHURCHING
NICHOLAS ORME SPECIALIZES in the religious and social history of England. He has written a recent book on Going to Church In Medieval England, has a BBC History Podcast on … Continue reading
ELIZABETHAN NOIR
THE WORDS “SHAMUS,” “gumshoe,” and “P.I.” didn’t exist in Elizabethan England, but it did have “watchmen,” men on the streets of London to counter suspicious activity from nightfall to sunrise. … Continue reading
THOUGHTS ON CONTAINER SHIPS
I WAS ADMIRING a southern California sunset—and stopped counting when I reached 35 giant container ships in view. A recent White House statement, November 10, 2021, said that fully 40 … Continue reading
RINOIMBY?
RECENTLY I READ the other meaning for “WEIRD,” namely describing us as “Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democratic.” I do not apologize for this designation; we earned it fair and square. … Continue reading
THE DUESENBERG W-24—GO COMPLEX OR STAY HOME
I LIKE COMPLEX POWERPLANTS. The W-12 Napier Lion, for instance, is a trio of four cylinders arranged broad-arrow fashion and powering the Napier-Railton. Another is even more elaborate: the Duesenberg … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 
ZORA, M. BUGATTI, AND (TRIVIALLY) ME PART 1
THE SUBHEAD READS “The Spiritual Father of the Corvette Meets le Patron du Pur Sang.” In composing this subhead, I knew that everyone would recognize the two people: Zora Arkus-Duntov … Continue reading →