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
COVID-19
Hoping my Reds don’t Break my Heart
We are down to the last week of this shortened baseball season. My Cincinnati Reds have gotten hot when they need it most and have reached .500 and are in the group who would be in the playoffs if the season ends today. But there are six games left to go and my Redlegs must … Continue reading Hoping my Reds don’t Break my Heart
National Read a Book Day
Reading books have been one of my favorite pastimes since I was a kid. I have not always had a chance to read regularly but the pandemic has slowed things down enough to provide an opening. While I have a large library of books, some of which are still on my reading list, my favorite … Continue reading National Read a Book Day
Mask Huffing
In New York City most people wear masks. Just yesterday I passed a New York street yelling match of one aggrieved non-mask wearer being heckled by others with covered mouths. His uncovered mouth was spewing very foul words and, who knows, maybe some virus to boot. The New York Times had a very interesting street … Continue reading Mask Huffing
National Fajita Day and a Recipe to try at home!
We often imagine those sizzling fajita platters being carried through your favorite Mexican restaurant but with the limited dining options because of the pandemic, consider serving it at home with the recipe below. I recently tried it out myself and it went really well. ===============BEEF FAJITAS INGREDIENTS: MEAT and MARINADE 1/4 cup fresh lime juice4 … Continue reading National Fajita Day and a Recipe to try at home!
Good and Bad for the Reds so far…
My Cincinnati Reds aren't out of it yet. That's the good news. In this shortened season they are 9-11 and about a third of the way through. Translated to a regular season they would be about 24-30 at the end of May. They need to pick it up but just had the weekend games postponed … Continue reading Good and Bad for the Reds so far…
National Roller Coaster Day
We celebrate this national day because on this date in 1898 Edwin Prescott filed a patent for his new roller coaster ride. It is fortuitous that it coincides with Northern Hemisphere Summer when amusement parks welcome roller coaster enthusiasts. The ride quickly became a sensation but was necessarily constructed mostly of wood in the early … Continue reading National Roller Coaster Day
National Fresh Breath Day
Today's national day highlighting oral hygiene takes on an entirely different focus since we are all adorned with masks to battle the coronavirus. All of you are finally trapped into smelling the bad breath you formerly shared with all of us. Hopefully you will learn your lesson by the time we can ditch the masks … Continue reading National Fresh Breath Day
National Farmer’s Market Week
The first full week of August is National Farmer's Market Week. If you have one in your area it is a good idea to shop there. The produce is locally produced, fresh, often organic and pesticide free. You are helping to support your local economy instead of big agribusiness and you reduce your carbon footprint … Continue reading National Farmer’s Market Week
National Talk in an Elevator Day
National Talk in an Elevator Day was established in a simpler era to encourage strangers riding in a vertical travel metal box to stop ignoring your compatriots and chatter a bit. In most cases this was met with stony silence or renewed focus on the smartphones held in front of us. This is what elevator … Continue reading National Talk in an Elevator Day
National Drive Thru Day
Today's National Day is very much based in the motor age and Drive Thru windows have been around for less than a century. I imagine a horse and buggy pulling up and yelling into a speaking tube to order. "Aye sir," he is told, "trot up to the first window and pay the maiden there … Continue reading National Drive Thru Day
Baseball 2020 Style is Here!
I'm old-fashioned. I love baseball. I have missed it so. Tonight is a long delayed Opening Day because of the Coronavirus Crisis. The season is trimmed from 162 games to only 60. Teams will play in empty stadiums and only regional teams and with special rules. This season will certainly carry an asterisk. No problem. … Continue reading Baseball 2020 Style is Here!
When will theater return?
When New York and the the world went into shutdown in mid-March, it seemed impossible that live theater could resume anytime soon. Broadway will certainly not be back very soon as 2021 is the earliest projected date and many shows are setting March and April openings, though these are still subject to change. There is … Continue reading When will theater return?
Ramble on Independence Day
Happy 4th of July, Happy American Independence Day. This is a nation still being born. The Founding Fathers had a fascinating concept that is still not fully realized. We're getting there but it is slow going, especially for citizens who still do not benefit from all the grand ideas. I have faith we'll get there, … Continue reading Ramble on Independence Day
2020 MLB finally getting underway – Go Reds!
After an interruption from a particularly nasty virus Major League Baseball gets underway today in an abbreviated season. Schedule adjustments and rule changes abound to squeeze in a semblance of a season as training will be held at home stadiums and Opening Day will happen on July 23. There is good and bad news for … Continue reading 2020 MLB finally getting underway – Go Reds!
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
Fireworks of the New New York
Who knew I would be nostalgic for the overnight wail of ambulance sirens through the empty streets of New York during the height of the pandemic. In those days it was predictable and, while spooky, became almost soothing as it was predictable over time. Those sounds have faded away as we as a city finally … Continue reading Fireworks of the New New York
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”
A Ramble on re-opening, protests and the steps forward
New York City today begins phase one of the re-opening after three months of stay at home orders. It will be a slow process with only a few people going back to work and very limited businesses starting up again. We are eager to get moving but it will be tense judging how mass transit … Continue reading A Ramble on re-opening, protests and the steps forward
National Drive-In Movie Theater Day
On this day in 1933 the very first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. In the early 1950's there were more than 4,000 across America. That has steadily decreased since then until they are an oddity today. But they are enjoying a bit of a resurgence in interest as COVID-19 has closed indoor … Continue reading National Drive-In Movie Theater Day
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
Social Distancing Sunset Manhattanhenge tomorrow
It is here again, (tomorrow, Thursday, May 28, 2020) that date when the setting sun aligns exactly with the east-west streets of the main grid in Manhattan. It has to do with the tilting of the earth on its axis that create our seasons. I've written about this before and you are welcome to look … Continue reading Social Distancing Sunset Manhattanhenge tomorrow
Wear a Mask PSA competition
Here in the state of New York we are required to wear a mask in public to stop the spread and protect other people. Governor Cuomo established a competition for New Yorkers to create a public service announcement to get the message across. More than 600 videos were submitted and the public gets to choose … Continue reading Wear a Mask PSA competition
Happy National Solitaire Day
During stay at home orders like we are working through in New York City one is always looking for things to wile away the lonely hours. The card game known as Klondike or any form of playing card Solitaire is one solution. But most people today are more familiar with the version found on your … Continue reading Happy National Solitaire Day
Fortune favors the streaming
If you are looking to find something interesting to stream during the lockdown you may find this interesting. Do you like history? Do you like all things Rome? Do you like quality museum exhibits? Then you will really enjoy the limited time streaming of a tour of the exhibit featuring items from the excavations of … Continue reading Fortune favors the streaming
Walter Thinnes 
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