Artificial Intelligence is a real world concern, for your job, for your privacy, for your sanity. But for me, it is a playground. I have used several different free AI programs to create images for various purposes. My biggest project is to combine several National Days to create one weird image that is often a … Continue reading The most ridiculous AI Mash-up so far…
“Happy Birthday Leonard” is on stage and online this weekend
My short play HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEONARD will be performed by the Fargo/Moorhead Community Theatre and they will helpfully stream it on their YOUTUBE channel. The information to access the performance is below. Remember that the showtime is Central Time is 7:30 PM. (8:30 Eastern) Included below are the live YouTube links for each evening of … Continue reading “Happy Birthday Leonard” is on stage and online this weekend
EXTREME DANGER – Avoid These At All Costs
There is a new danger lurking in the candy aisle of your local grocery store and the counter of your local convenience store. Have you seen these? They come in a variety of tempting flavors and are pure evil. Outside they are coated in crunchy Nerds candies they provide a satisfying crunch but yield easily … Continue reading EXTREME DANGER – Avoid These At All Costs
Book Review – The Wall; Rome’s Greatest Frontier
First a couple of things out of the way. Today is the legendary date of the founding of the city of Rome after Romulus and Remus were suckled by the she-wolf some 2,779 years ago. Second, I am an old white guy and stereotypically obsessed with the Roman Empire. Check and check. So I was … Continue reading Book Review – The Wall; Rome’s Greatest Frontier
Update: Reds Atop Hot Division
Quick update on my Cincinnati Reds after 22 games in the 2026 campaign. After sweeping the Twins in heroic fashion it seems that the hitting woes may fade away. Necessary for their success as the pitching has struggled to keep them afloat. As they enter a series against the Rays the Reds are atop the … Continue reading Update: Reds Atop Hot Division
National Garlic Day: Celebrating the Bold Flavor That Changed the World
Again, full disclosure, ChatGPT wrote this post. Would never hide it from you, but then you can tell the well formed format gives it away. But I added the pictures. Every year on April 19, food lovers across the country celebrate National Garlic Day, a tribute to one of the most powerful and beloved ingredients in … Continue reading National Garlic Day: Celebrating the Bold Flavor That Changed the World
National Lineman Appreciation Day
Today is National Lineman Appreciation Day and while I certainly appreciate all they do to keep the connection between my home and the electrical generating plant, I don't have much more to say about the topic. I do, however, challenge those of us of a certain age to keep from singing the "Wichita Lineman" song … Continue reading National Lineman Appreciation Day
Looking ahead to next weekend’s performances
Recently I posted that my play HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEONARD would be performed by the Fargo/Moorhead Community Theatre (on the North Dakota/Minnesota border). I just received the final schedule and the YouTube links so that you can watch them remotely if you wish. I'm looking forward to the performances. Below you will find the live YouTube links for … Continue reading Looking ahead to next weekend’s performances
Good news for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Back in January I posted about the planned cessation of publication of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by the owner Block Communications. I mourned the information as I am a big fan of newspapers and had lived in Pittsburgh in the late 90's so was also a fan of the publication. I was recently delighted to read … Continue reading Good news for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Reflections on National Titanic Remembrance Day
One hundred and fourteen years have passed since the "unsinkable" Titanic settled into its icy grave. Long enough time for it to have come through many different ways to remember it. At first, of course, the shocking loss of life - more than 1500 lives. And then the hubris of calling something unsinkable and the … Continue reading Reflections on National Titanic Remembrance Day
Book Review – 1968 by Mark Kurlansky
Mark Kurlansky is one of my favorite authors and I would highly recommend any book written by him. Recently I completed his book 1968 - The Year That Rocked The World. I am especially interested in this period because it was in that year that I became interested in politics and the wider world as … Continue reading Book Review – 1968 by Mark Kurlansky
Celebrating National Peach Cobbler Day: A Sweet Slice of Tradition
Turned again to ChatGPT to write today's post. There is clearly a standard template in use for these posts, not my usually snarky comments. I have supplied the illustrations as usual. There are few desserts that capture the essence of comfort quite like peach cobbler—and that’s exactly why National Peach Cobbler Day, celebrated each year on … Continue reading Celebrating National Peach Cobbler Day: A Sweet Slice of Tradition
Cincinnati Red add new City Connect Uniform in a Win!
For the last several years Major League Baseball has introduced alternate uniforms for most teams that tie in certain unique references to their city and alternate color schemes than the standard home whites and traveling grays. They are called City Connect Uniforms and some are silly and others are cool. In 2023 Cincinnati got a … Continue reading Cincinnati Red add new City Connect Uniform in a Win!
The Cozy Magic of Cheese Fondue: A Timeless Comfort Food
Been a bit busy lately so asked Chat GP to write a guest post inspired by National Cheese Fondue Day. I supplied the graphics. Enjoy! There’s something undeniably special about gathering around a pot of warm, melted cheese. Cheese fondue isn’t just a dish—it’s an experience. Whether you're hosting a dinner party, planning a romantic … Continue reading The Cozy Magic of Cheese Fondue: A Timeless Comfort Food
National Siblings Day
Today is National Siblings Day and I hope today you are celebrating the siblings in your lives. I happen to have two siblings, my sister Gin and my brother Ron. In celebration today a photos from the files of the three of us. Circa 1964 (From L to R) Ron, Gin, Walter Circa 1971 (From … Continue reading National Siblings Day
National Cherish an Antique Day
April 9 is National Cherish an Antique Day. Antiques are often defined as something older than fifty years. So I looked through my files for something that fits that description. Lo and behold I discovered a photo taken in April of 1960. And that antique is clearly me...
Reminder about upcoming performance
A quick reminder that my play "Happy Birthday Leonard" will be performed in Fargo, North Dakota on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 as part of the 6th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival. If you can't make it to North Dakota that weekend, I am told they will offer a live stream option. I will … Continue reading Reminder about upcoming performance
Sweeping Guide to Professional Curling League
Many of us in America look forward to the Winter Olympics every four years to get our curiosity fulfilled in what is to us the odd sport of curling. One person pushes a heavy stone along an icy course and others sweep the ice path as the rock heads for a target, possibly nudging a … Continue reading Sweeping Guide to Professional Curling League
Early Season Reds Update – so far so good
Nine games in we're doing okay. Split the two opening series but swept the Rangers in Texas. We still have spotty offense but our strong pitching is carrying us these early days. We CAN be competitive and I hope it can continue. Go Reds!
Happy Easter and another silly AI Mash-up Image
Easter, of course, flits from date to date based on lunar traditions over the years. This makes it a prime candidate for changing connections to various National Days, from which I ask an artificial intelligence image generator to create silly mash-up activities for the Easter Bunny to partake in. This year I asked the free … Continue reading Happy Easter and another silly AI Mash-up Image
Today’s Date is 4×4 so it must be Jeep Day!
You may note an obsession on this blog about "National Days." They're fun and often innocuous little diversions. Because today is April 4 (4/4 or 4x4) today is called Jeep Day. I've owned a couple of different Jeeps in my life, my favorite being a Jeep Wrangler soft top in the late 1990's. I really … Continue reading Today’s Date is 4×4 so it must be Jeep Day!
International Pillow Fight Day as an Alternative to Real Fighting
The First Friday in April is International Pillow Fighting Day. I last posted about this day during the pandemic. Now that we have active wars in Ukraine and Iran including conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, I wonder if we could find a way to substitute pillow fights instead of shooting wars. Crazy dream, I know, … Continue reading International Pillow Fight Day as an Alternative to Real Fighting
International Fact Checking Day
The day after April Fools Day is International Fact Checking Day. Todays media landscape if filled with deliberate lies, falsehoods, exaggerations, and misinformation. Yes, I listen to some social media but always try to back it up with my own research and other reading. I can't tell you who to trust (though I highly recommend … Continue reading International Fact Checking Day
April 1 is National 1 Cent Day even though we no longer make the penny. No Joke!
I'm sure you are aware of April Fools Day today. Did you also that the US Mint no longer makes the penny. After many years about the cost of producing the coin versus the value of the finished product. In November the US Mint was ordered to stop producing the penny any longer. Some retailers … Continue reading April 1 is National 1 Cent Day even though we no longer make the penny. No Joke!
Sal Stewart is MLB Player of the Week!
Major League Baseball has many awards and titles to keep our interest through the season including Player of the Week for each league. Cincinnati Rookie First Baseman and clean up hitter Sal Stewart was just awarded that honor for the National League in the first iteration of the prize in this young season. His start … Continue reading Sal Stewart is MLB Player of the Week!
Walter Thinnes 
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