Fittingly I will keep this edition of ON THIS DATE brief... On this date in 1922 the first edition of Reader's Digest Magazine was issued. That is all.
Author: walterthinnes
Back after a time away and finally on dialysis!
Sorry I have been away from the blog for so long. Recently I referenced an illness and if you are interested, I am ready to bring you up to date. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure, which means my kidneys were not functioning correctly and fading fast. This means that … Continue reading Back after a time away and finally on dialysis!
A Throwback Thursday In Memoriam – The Amazing Kreskin
I am a faithful reader of the New York Times Obituary column, because they provide a concise historical insight to a person of consequence. Usually a great read. And sometimes I discover more about someone that had an impact on my life or I met on my travels. I try to note those in my … Continue reading A Throwback Thursday In Memoriam – The Amazing Kreskin
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa and my Apolo-post
Just a quick note on this mash-up of Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa in this year of mash-ups. Sorry I haven't posted much in the recent months. Two reasons. I am facing some significant health issues that our creaky health system is having troubles addressing in an efficient manner. Perhaps more on that another day. I … Continue reading Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa and my Apolo-post
‘SPY BIRDS’ is a finalist
I wrote SPY BIRDS earlier this year as a tongue in cheek modern spy tale of international intrigue and double crossing secret agents. The ten-minute play has two male and one female roles. SHORT+SWEET is an international group of short works festivals that spans several continents. It specializes in ten-minute plays and short film festivals. … Continue reading ‘SPY BIRDS’ is a finalist
2024 Baseball Post Season
Well, here we are again. That glorious battle for a World Series trophy. After a disappointing year when my Cincinnati Reds looked so talented but flopped so badly, I am disappointed. Indeed, I now believe in a new rallying cry for Redlegs... But I always enjoy the struggles of the best teams in my favorite … Continue reading 2024 Baseball Post Season
Throwback Thursday In Memoriam – Pete Rose; the Dreams and the Distractions
As is natural, as a young boy growing up in Cincinnati in the 60's and 70's my favorite baseball team was (and is) the Cincinnati Reds and my favorite baseball player was (and is) Peter Edward Rose. All that said, as I grew older (and disputably wiser) he is not my favorite human being. There … Continue reading Throwback Thursday In Memoriam – Pete Rose; the Dreams and the Distractions
Finally – a word from the mountain
About a week ago I got word that my full length script BLOODLETTING IN THESE HILLS had won the Appalachian Playwriting Festival at the Parkway Playhouse in the lovely mountain town of Burnsville, North Carolina. I would have loved to linger and breathe the clear, cool mountain air but jumped on my motorcycle to hurry … Continue reading Finally – a word from the mountain
And the winner of the Appalachian Playwriting Festival is … ME!
Pictured from left to right: Bottom row: Director Erika Tyner, Playwright Walter Thinnes; Top row: Addison Amos (stage directions), Tom Harrison (Quinn), Austin Dakota Whitehead (Joshua), Lily Bartleson (Anna), Olivia Woodford (Lillian), Alan Steele (Caleb) The Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, North Carolina has announced that the winner of their Appalachian Playwriting Festival, based on the … Continue reading And the winner of the Appalachian Playwriting Festival is … ME!
Yet Another Quick Wordle update
Yes, I can be a bit of a nerd. As a writer I am obsessed with words and I start each day with games from the New York Times to get the old brain ticking. First among them is Wordle (which is also available to be played by non-subscribers).It is a word guessing game that … Continue reading Yet Another Quick Wordle update
In Memoriam – James Earl Jones
While it is true that people die everyday, it is not everyday that we lose a giant such as James Earl Jones. A great man in size, in voice, in talent, and in our memories. He passed away yesterday at 93 years of age. Of course, I have seen many of his films and reveled … Continue reading In Memoriam – James Earl Jones
Burnsville Bound
In just two short weeks I will find myself among the good people of Burnsville, North Carolina. In this charming mountain town the Parkway Playhouse is presenting the Appalachian Playwriting Festival. My full-length play BLOODLETTING IN THESE HILLS was selected as one of three scripts to get a reading in the festival. I'm looking forward … Continue reading Burnsville Bound
Throwback Thursday; A V-J Day Relic
For today's Throwback Thursday, I have a fascinating relic from my collection. When I was younger I collected old books, not just because of their age, but if I am interested in them. I have no more room to house them and so no longer seek them out, but back in the day I would … Continue reading Throwback Thursday; A V-J Day Relic
Hang Loose and Celebrate: It’s National Hammock Day!
Hey there, fellow relaxation enthusiasts! Mark your calendars and grab your favorite beverage, because today, July 22nd,is a momentous occasion – it's National Hammock Day! That's right, a whole day dedicated to the art of swinging gently between two trees (or sturdy posts) and forgetting about the world's worries. It's a time to ditch the stress, embrace the sway, and celebrate the simple joy … Continue reading Hang Loose and Celebrate: It’s National Hammock Day!
Only in Florida – Hitching a Ride: And my A.I. Mashup to match…
Just a quickie Florida oddity today. A nature photographer caught the following image of a raccoon hitching a ride on an alligator. This is a real photo: Of course, I couldn't resist creating a version using Google Gemini to include in my Artificial Intelligence Mash-up Series! Enjoy...
My Uneven 2024 Cincinnati Reds at the All Star Break are making me Kinda Blue
Here we are at the nominal season halfway point and my beloved Cincinnati Reds are still mired deep near the bottom of our division. They have been sometimes spectacular (like when they swept the Yankees in the Bronx) and sometimes abysmal (like when they got swept by the sputtering Tigers on the very next series). … Continue reading My Uneven 2024 Cincinnati Reds at the All Star Break are making me Kinda Blue
Happy Adoption Day to Josephine
Today is the adoption date of a very special friend of mine. I took my 2014 Can-Am Spyder RT home on this day, July 11, 2015. She and I have been very close ever since. The Bombardier Recreational Products company named her paint company "Cognac." My favorite Cognac is Courvoisier and it features an image … Continue reading Happy Adoption Day to Josephine
National Patches Day
Today, June 24, is National Patches Day. You're familiar with patches to mend clothing and to signify scouting accomplishments on their sashes. For me, it means a huge collection of favorites, events and accomplishments on my ceremonial motorcycle vest. More than half the weight of the garment is the patches and pins I have collected … Continue reading National Patches Day
The Birthday of the Ferris Wheel
We hardly give it a second thought as you can find a Ferris Wheel in every amusement park and county fair. Much more tame than the other attractions and often dismissed by teens looking for thrill rides. But it was a sensation when it was first opened to the public 131 years ago on this … Continue reading The Birthday of the Ferris Wheel
A Summer A.I. Image Mashup
Okay, I admit it. One reason I do these mashups of various National Days is to easily fill blog posts without doing a lot of research. That and I always get a cute weird anthropomorphic image in about two seconds of computing time. Ah, the quick and easy result of new artificial intelligence image creators. … Continue reading A Summer A.I. Image Mashup
An A.I. Mashup for a crocodile!
June 17 is not only International Croc Day, but also National Root Beer Day and National Apple Strudel Day. Feed them all into the Google Gemini Artificial Intelligence Image Generator and this is what you might get...
Are Tonight’s TONY AWARDS Relevant?
Tonight's broadcast of the TONY Awards on CBS and Paramount + are recognized as the ultimate awards for live theater in the country. But they are limited to about a total of about 40 theaters in a narrow strip of land on a narrow island at the center of New York City. When I lived … Continue reading Are Tonight’s TONY AWARDS Relevant?
An A.I. Mashup for my favorite drink!
The third Thursday of June is National Martini Day while June 15 is also National Lobster Day and National Nature Photography Day. You know what that means. Time to use the Google Gemini Artificial Intelligence Image Generator to create a National Day Mashup. What could be more natural than a lobster taking a photograph of … Continue reading An A.I. Mashup for my favorite drink!
My play is now a podcast
Some of you may recall a new short play I wrote a few months ago working with the Pulp Stage in Portland, Oregon. They required that I use no stage directions, achieving any information and development entirely through dialogue. Their focus is on supernatural and paranormal topics and have a good team to help develop … Continue reading My play is now a podcast
Throwback Thursday – My Old Garden
June 13 is National Weed Your Garden Day. While I do not have old photos of me weeding a garden, I DO have a photo of me using a rented tiller to prepare my garden back in circa 1997. Had a good crop of tomatoes, peppers and peas that year, but a marmot got most … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – My Old Garden
Walter Thinnes 
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