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

BENEFITS OF SPACE TOURISM     PART 1

SPACE TOURISM ALREADY EXISTS. AAAS Science, June 14, 2024, reports, “In 2021, four passengers, including billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman, rode into space on a SpaceX rocket, orbiting Earth for 3 days … Continue reading

June 26, 2024 · 1 Comment

ETYMOLOGY: SYNCRETIZE

THE WORD GENIUS WEBSITE offers an interesting word in “syncretize.” It’s a verb, originating from Latin in the 17th century, meaning “an attempt to amalgamate or reconcile (differing things, especially … Continue reading

June 25, 2024 · Leave a comment

BIRD FLU—YET ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR HUMANITY?

THE BIRD FLU VIRUS H5N1 has been  spreading around the world for two decades now. However, current assessments are that most of us have little need to worry. Those who … Continue reading

June 24, 2024 · 1 Comment

A MOGGIE CELEBRATION   PART 2

WE CONTINUE YESTERDAY’S CELEBRATION OF MY FAVORITE sports car as detailed in my favorite car magazine, Classic & Sports Car. Today in Part 2, we pick up with C&SC’s Senior … Continue reading

June 23, 2024 · 1 Comment

A MOGGIE CELEBRATION   PART 1 

HURRAH FOR MY FAVORITE car magazine celebrating my favorite sports car! The June 2024 issue of Classic & Sports Car observes that “In the past five years, the Morgan Motor … Continue reading

June 22, 2024 · 3 Comments

CONGRESSIONAL GOOFING AROUND WITH GOF   PART 2

YESTERDAY WE  BEGAN SHARING A DIALOGUE of two scientists commenting at AAAS’s Community Forum about the virological term “gain of function.” Today we continue this knowledgable commentary from Drs. Robert … Continue reading

June 21, 2024 · Leave a comment

CONGRESSIONAL GOOFING AROUND WITH GOF PART 1

THERE’S A POLITICIZING OF SCIENCE THESE DAYS. Lamentable but not surprising, given the current dysfunction of our national legislative body.  As a case in point, Republicans are keen on convincing … Continue reading

June 20, 2024 · 4 Comments

PUR SANG TIDBITS      PART 2

YESTERDAY WE ENJOYED SEVERAL TIDBITS from Pur Sang, a publication of the American Bugatti Club. Today in Part 2, we focus on fascinating applications of the differential: one in Bugatti … Continue reading

June 19, 2024 · 1 Comment

PUR SANG TIDBITS    PART 1

MY COLLECTION OF MAGAZINES includes several of Pur Sang published by the American Bugatti Club. In fact, correspondence in its Thirty-Fifth Anniversary issue, 1960-1995, Winter 1995, prompted “Venice Grand Prix” … Continue reading

June 18, 2024 · 4 Comments

THE CASE OF THE KERNLESS “f” AND MISFIT “?”

SOME BOOK REVIEWS ARE JUST AS MUCH as I want to know. Others, like Gill Partington’s “Every Watermark and Stain,” London Review of Books, June 20, 2024, encourage me to … Continue reading

June 17, 2024 · Leave a comment