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

BEATRIX POTTER, GENTLEWOMAN AND CONSIDERABLY MORE PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE ENCOUNTERED Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter’s pal who has delighted children (and their parents) since 1902. Today in Part 2, Beatrix confronts resistance from her own parents, but thrives … Continue reading

May 19, 2021 · Leave a comment

A GENTLEWOMAN AND CONSIDERABLY MORE PART 1

THE NAME BEATRIX POTTER is familiar to me because of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902, a favorite children’s book to this day. I encountered her again while browsing through … Continue reading

May 18, 2021 · Leave a comment

1954 FRENCH GRAND PRIX—AND MERCEDES DOMINATION

WHAT WITH LEWIS HAMILTON’S winning ways, we’re accustomed these days to Mercedes-Benz domination of Formula One. Indeed, nor is this a first time for this German firm. It and Auto … Continue reading

May 17, 2021 · Leave a comment

THUMBS UP! AND OVER

AN OPPOSABLE THUMB optimizes interaction with the other four digits of a hand (or foot—gorillas have opposable big toes too). Humans have opposable thumbs, as do most other primates. Cats, … Continue reading

May 16, 2021 · Leave a comment

SAMUEL F. B. MORSE, — .. -..- . -.. / — . … … .- –. . … PART 2

YESTERDAY IN PART 1, we celebrated artist Samuel B. Morse with the coded title “mixed messages.” Today, in Part 2, we celebrate Morse’s technical prowess, but lament others of his … Continue reading

May 15, 2021 · 1 Comment

SAMUEL F.B. MORSE, — .. -..- . -.. / — . … … .- –. . … PART 1

MORSECODE.WORLD PROVIDED a portion of the title above, reading “mixed messages.” And if ever there was a person deserving such an epitaph, it’s Samuel F.B. Morse. Here in Parts 1 … Continue reading

May 14, 2021 · Leave a comment

A VIRTUAL PORSCHE

WHAT WITH THE modest odometer reading on my 2012 Honda Crosstour (not yet 25,000), I’m not quite in the market for a battery electric vehicle. On the other hand, a … Continue reading

May 13, 2021 · 1 Comment

CELEBRATING PASTA ENGINEERING

HERE’S A WIN-WIN for science, for the environment, and for cuisine: a pasta that changes shape from flat to fancy as it cooks. At first glance, this may seem like … Continue reading

May 12, 2021 · Leave a comment

SHIPPING TIDBITS

THE ARTICLE “Gargantuanisation,” by John Lancaster, in the London Review of Books, April 22, 2021, is a review of Laleh Khalili’s Sinews of War and Trade: Shipping and Capitalism in … Continue reading

May 11, 2021 · 3 Comments

T. REX TALLY

DINOSAURS DOMINATED THE world’s land masses for 185 million years, from some 250 million years ago to around 65 million years ago. How many dinosaurs existed? Charles R. Marshall and … Continue reading

May 10, 2021 · 1 Comment