JUNKERS G-38
Passengers in today’s jumbo jets travel encapsulated in alloy tubes, but those in the 1930’s Junkers G-38 had more interesting choices: Eleven sat in upper or lower levels, four had … Continue reading
ROUND, BLACK, STICKY—AND ARTFUL
AUTOMOTIVE TIRES are said to be “round, black and sticky,” yet they’re also objet d’art, especially when portrayed by some of the world’s greatest poster artists. What’s more, Bruce Halle, … Continue reading
AUTOMOBILES AND ROOFTOPS
A FORD publicity stunt planned 50 years ago and its imminent recreation remind me of Fiat’s Lingotto facility in Turin, Italy, and the action flick, The Italian Job (the original … Continue reading
CIVILIZATION, IN A FEW WORDS
AN OP-ED piece in The New York Times, March 30, 2014, “Civilization’s Starter Kit” by astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell discussed an interesting question. It was first posed by physicist Richard Feynman: … Continue reading
MOROCCO, CIRCA 1991
THOUGH MEMORABLE, my visit to Morocco resulted in very little original source material. The press kit, expense report and passport of the era have all gone missing. I have only … Continue reading
THE DURAY MILLER—AND ETTORE’S DOHC
FORTUNES INTERTWINED for an Italian-born Alsatian, a Wisconsin-born Californian and a Cleveland kid who changed his name in tribute to a famous race driver. The personages, respectively, are Ettore Bugatti, … Continue reading
IN PRAISE OF FILM AND ITALIAN CUISINE
A MOVIE can be inspiring. Wife Dottie and I enjoyed Turner Classic Movies showing of Big Night and, the next thing I knew, I was devising a new recipe for … Continue reading
MY HOME AIR SPACE: ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
IN REAL life and on my flight simulator, my home field is John Wayne Airport, officially SNA as in Santa Ana, California. (Its KSNA designation by the International Civil Aviation … Continue reading
AN AUTONOMOUS CAR FUTURE
SCIENTISTS AT MIT, Stanford and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology have explored implications of the driverless, autonomous car. Their paper, “Toward a Systematic Approach to the Design and … Continue reading
ON ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSES
IT’S GREAT fun watching the PBS series Downton Abbey. And one of my favorite mystery movies is Gosford Park. What’s more, through friendship with Rob Walker and his wife Betty, … Continue reading
