On October 14, 1935, a dedication ceremony was held for the brand new Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan. It turns 85 years young today and looks amazing for its age! Nestled on a ridge between Inwood and Hudson Heights it has stunning views of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge. It is home … Continue reading On This Date: Fort Tryon Park Dedication Ceremony!
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No Schadenfreude Zone
The news that President and First Lady Trump were infected with the Coronavirus has set the world on its ear. While I am not a fan of Trump's policies or comportment or pronouncements or - just about anything - neither do I feel Schadenfreude. Schadenfreude is one of those wonderfully compound German words that perfectly … Continue reading No Schadenfreude Zone
October is National Sarcasm Awareness Month. Pay Attention! Be Aware!
Do I really need to say anything further? Really? As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
#NationalPunctuationDay
In a time of social media, where punctuation is evolving and seemingly random, it is good to remember how simple punctuation marks can change the meaning of a phrase, create misunderstandings, and seemingly encourage run-on sentences. Take this sentence for example: I'm giving up drinking for a month. This sentiment can be utterly altered by … Continue reading #NationalPunctuationDay
Autumnal Equinox 2020
This post is being uploaded at the exact moment of the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, Eastern coast of the United States: September 22, 2020 at 9:30 AM. At this moment the sun is directly over the equator. Day and night are the exact same length. Summer departs and fall begins. Life hangs perfectly … Continue reading Autumnal Equinox 2020
National Hug Your Boss Day
I'm usually a big fan of National Days but this one makes me queasy. When was this created - in the Mad Men era? I mean, this is just creepy and I recommend for once you do not embrace this National Day or your Boss for that matter. Especially if your Boss is Harvey Weinstein. … Continue reading National Hug Your Boss Day
Throwback Thursday #2 – Getting Around
I had a lot of interest in the first Throwback Thursday I did a couple of weeks ago and have some more old time photos in my slide show. Loosely wrapped around transport - here you can find me with my old Ford Bronco II, my old Jeep Wrangler, in my canoe, even tilling my … Continue reading Throwback Thursday #2 – Getting Around
Footnotes #25 – the final one!
Today marks the one year anniversary of when I went into surgery to address Severe Septic Shock brought on when a wound on my broken ankle was infected with an antibiotic resistant pathogen. I would have two more surgeries in the next eight days as the surgeons struggled to keep me alive. Since I am … Continue reading Footnotes #25 – the final one!
Monday
Monday Monday As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
World Emoji Day
Isn't it amazing? After four millennia of civilized progress we have evolved into extraordinary sophistication and language progress. Or maybe not... As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
Here we go again with another Manhattanhenge
If you happen to be on the island of Manhattan this evening you will see the setting sun framed perfectly in the concrete canyons lining our cross streets. You can find many previous posts on this site explaining the science but the real thrill is the experience. Get to a crosstown street and today you … Continue reading Here we go again with another Manhattanhenge
National Social Media Day
Today's National Day celebrates the rise of social media in our lives. The good news is that social media provides a platform and outlet for everyone without limit. The bad news is that social media provides a platform for everyone without filter. I'm old enough to remember the days when there were three television networks … Continue reading National Social Media Day
Results and Future of the Quarantine Beard
As New York City moves into Phase 2 of reopening, barber shops finally got back to business. About time. I'd gone three months without a beard trim (as an experiment) and it was bad. It started off as a trim goatee but as time went on, I decided to let it go, because, hey, very … Continue reading Results and Future of the Quarantine Beard
Welcome Summer Solstice
This post is being published at the exact moment of the 2020 northern hemisphere summer solstice. Welcome to a new season and a new tilt on the old earth. May it bring good fortune, new outlooks and better times. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
Playwright pitch for “The Rally”
I've never tried to pitch an idea for a new play on my blog. So I'm hoping that lots of my readers are theatre or film producers. You are, right? I'm guessing this would work better as a cinema release than a theater script. The setup: Imagine a time when a populist politician has won … Continue reading Playwright pitch for “The Rally”
I needed to stand up and be counted
I went down to the demonstrationTo get my fair share of abuseSinging, "We're gonna vent our frustrationIf we don't we're gonna blow a fifty-amp fuse""You Can't Always Get What You Want" - The Rolling Stones Because of my health issues, I have avoided crowds up until this point. After Monday's threat (or promise) to unleash … Continue reading I needed to stand up and be counted
An ancient curse: May you live in interesting times
I usually pursue trivial topics in this silly blog. National Days. Food. National Food Days. That sort of things. Sorry to digress but I must address what is happening now. Mob violence has been a threat to the authorities throughout time. The Romans famously used "Bread and Circuses" to keep the peace. Since the 1960's … Continue reading An ancient curse: May you live in interesting times
New York Fashion Face Masks
New York now requires everyone to wear a mask when they are in public and can't safely socially distance. To be safe (considering my own susceptibility after my recent health issues) I have been wearing a mask and gloves in an abundance of caution. Here is an N95 mask I had laying about from a … Continue reading New York Fashion Face Masks
More reflections on New York in Lockdown
New York is downright eerie right about now. Streets are downright empty but the air is filled with the sounds of sirens, echoing off our concrete canyons. In my upper Manhattan neighborhood people are out and walking but keeping respectful distances and most wearing mouth coverings of some kind. Grocery stores limit the number of … Continue reading More reflections on New York in Lockdown
Happy Spring 2020
The Spring Equinox happened last night at ten till midnight. That means that this morning, Friday, March 20, 2020, is the first sunrise of the spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) as this post is published. We need a new season and we need to get outside even as we shelter in place. Keep your social … Continue reading Happy Spring 2020
Manhattan wildlife
Our fair island is not well known for for four legged furry creatures unless you consider the countless dogs people own and the occasional Pizza Rat ™. But our neighborhood (Hudson Heights) is high atop a ridge and surrounded on three sides by forest (or for what passes as forest in New York City). So … Continue reading Manhattan wildlife
The Great New York Subway Seating Debate
If you regularly ride the New York City Subway this is a very important topic. As I depend on the A Train, this is essential. Since the following was posted on Twitter on New Year's Eve day ... ...I have seen lots of discussion but I am mystified. The only acceptable answer is #1. It … Continue reading The Great New York Subway Seating Debate
Happy New Year – the Decade question
Happy New Year and welcome to 2020. You may have heard some arguing whether it is the start of a new decade or it is not. Here is the simple answer. TECHNICALLY it is not. The system of our year numbering, though imposed retroactively, in a flawed manner and adjusted several times, there was no … Continue reading Happy New Year – the Decade question
I want my symbols back
Sometimes it is easiest to use a shortcut hand symbol to react to something. The good old thumbs down or thumbs up sign is reputed to go all the way back to the Roman Empire in gladiator contests. Thus it is recognized universally. After Trump used it reflexively during his campaign it became inextricably tied … Continue reading I want my symbols back
National Pharmacy Technician Day
The third Tuesday of October is National Pharmacy Technician Day. Not only am I dealing with lots of pharmacy stuff during my recuperation, I have a pharmacy connection in my history. There was a Thinnes Pharmacy in the Westwood neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1922 to 1977. My grandfather John L. Thinnes purchased a business … Continue reading National Pharmacy Technician Day
