Dropping a quick note about the opening weekend of my play BLOODLETTING IN THESE HILLS on Friday, August 1 at the Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, North Carolina. I will be pretty busy the next several days so will pop back in after the weekend. Meanwhile I have scheduled a couple of unrelated posts to keep … Continue reading BLOODLETTING IN THESE HILLS opens in two days on August 1
History
An Excessively Silly Art Show
Celebrating National Tax Day, I intend to tax your patience. It has been a little more than a year since I started doing my A.I. Mash-ups. These are Images created by an Artificial Intelligence program after I direct it to combine multiple unrelated National Day themes that just happen to occur on the same day. … Continue reading An Excessively Silly Art Show
And now a historical useless piece of art…
I'm on a roll with these Artificial Intelligence Image Creator Mash-Ups of Coinciding National Days. Because April 13 is National Peach Cobbler Day, National Thomas Jefferson Day and National Scrabble Day I have combined them in my patented silly art work. (Remember I said it was historical, not hysterical.)
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
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
Special 3 Day Throwback on a 60th Birthday Part 2
And now Part 2 of my salute on the 60th birthday of the New York State Theater (renamed David H. Koch Theater) at Lincoln Center that I managed in the early years of this century. Yesterday we saw a couple of early construction photos from 1964. Above is the architectural photo of the finished building … Continue reading Special 3 Day Throwback on a 60th Birthday Part 2
the Ides of March are back again
A slightly reworded post of several years ago... The story of the assassination of Julius Caesar is familiar worldwide as it has been featured in art and plays and popular culture in the ensuing two millennia since it happened. It is part of the collective history most of us know. But I have a question … Continue reading the Ides of March are back again
On this date – the Longest Shootout in FBI History…
On the shore of Lake Weir, in the small town of Oklawaha in Central Florida, near where I currently reside, is a most amazing house. This simple wood frame home was the site of the longest gun battle in FBI history on this date, January 16, 1935. It is remarkable because it is in much the same … Continue reading On this date – the Longest Shootout in FBI History…
A Tour of the “Ma” Barker House
Tucked away in a clearing of the forest at the Carney Island Recreation & Conservation Area is a local Marion County gem that is hard to find and not very well known. It is known as the Bradford-Barker House and was the center of the longest shootout in FBI history. Want to know more? So … Continue reading A Tour of the “Ma” Barker House
National Set A Good Example Day
We all influence other people by the example we set with everything we do. We need to remember that as we go about our daily life and make decisions that affect other people. The example we set can sometimes have a greater impact than the results of the decision itself. Remember that as you go … Continue reading National Set A Good Example Day
Welcome Winter Solstice – Yule be glad you read this post!
The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere means each following day will get longer going forward. Did you ever wonder how our forebears in northern central Europe kept that Yule log burning for so long in the dark of winter? The story is fascinating. The Yule log was a whole tree meant … Continue reading Welcome Winter Solstice – Yule be glad you read this post!
Personal Memories on the 20th Anniversary of the Attacks of September 11, 2001
Whenever we reach a round number anniversary of a notable event the media pulls out all the stops in their coverage and special editions. I have written previously of my experiences on that date in New York City and will, briefly, here again today. But even before I moved to the Big Apple I often … Continue reading Personal Memories on the 20th Anniversary of the Attacks of September 11, 2001
Throwback Thursday – When in Rome, do as the hippies do…
In high school I was required to take a language course. I honestly wasn't interested in learning another language, heck, I can barely speak English. But then I learned if I selected Latin I would have to also study Roman and Greek history. That sold me. I love history, always have. And all these years … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – When in Rome, do as the hippies do…
Happy American Independence Day
May you have a very festive and very safe American Independence Day. Celebrate our country and our republic during these difficult and trying times. This nation has seen and overcome tougher days and we will rise from these challenges. Treasure our system of government and don't let the insurrectionists get you down. Patriotism belongs to … Continue reading Happy American Independence Day
Eureka! – I have discovered International Bath Day!
International Bath Day is celebrated every year on June 14 because it is classically considered the day of Archimedes' greatest discovery. I remember that day well. Let me explain. Archimedes (we called him Archie, but that's a story for another day) was a pretty smart fella and an innovative mathematician. He got the whole measurement … Continue reading Eureka! – I have discovered International Bath Day!
Beware the Ides of March
The story of the assassination of Julius Caesar is familiar worldwide as it has been featured in art and plays and popular culture in the ensuing two millennia since it happened. It is part of the collective history most of us know. But I have a question I have never seen answered. Roman historian Suetonius … Continue reading Beware the Ides of March
Martin Luther King Day 2021
In times more fractured since the 60's (not sure if that means 1960's or 1860's), the day commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. arrives with more pertinent lessons than ever. You will find much good writing about his life and lessons. Why not take some time to read lessons by him? I have several in my … Continue reading Martin Luther King Day 2021
Sedition Edition
I tend to use this blog for lightweight topics such as food, theatre and silly National Day commemorations. But sometimes, well sometimes, I need to address more serious topics. From the Oxford English Dictionary: seditionsedition /sɪˈdɪʃ(ə)n /▸ noun [mass noun] conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a government.– ORIGIN late Middle … Continue reading Sedition Edition
November 22, 1963
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy shocked the nation and quickly led to a conspiracy industry that still thrives today. To mark the occasion I have read three disparate books over the last few months and offer quick mini-reviews of each. Sinatra and the Jack Pack by Michael Sheridan is a breezy read of … Continue reading November 22, 1963
Book Review: Longitude…
The full title of this book is "Longitude: The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time" by Dava Sobel. A long title for a relatively short book. Ms. Sobel has written a fascinating and very readable book. First remember that before GPS and satellite guidance sailors had … Continue reading Book Review: Longitude…
Friday the 13th 2020
Today is Friday, November 13, 2020. A Friday the 13th in 2020. I'm not superstitious. Nope, not me. After all, the 13th day of a month falling on a Friday is a statistically normal phenomenon. It happens two or three times each year. It is just a coincidence, not an omen. 2020 has already had … Continue reading Friday the 13th 2020
It is difficult to be a writer in today’s world
I'm working on several projects at the moment. But I have a nagging fear how they will be received. Let's imagine I am writing about a sitting president who sends his personal attorney to give a press conference disputing election results in Pennsylvania. And for the sake of argument, perhaps this sitting president sends a … Continue reading It is difficult to be a writer in today’s world
V O T E
Today, November 3, 2020, is Election Day. If you do not vote you are not permitted to complain about the results for the next four years. If I am not mistaken this is a federal law. Hopefully one day our government will treat this day with the respect it deserves and make it a federal … Continue reading V O T E
On this Date 1956: Pan Am Flight #6
My brain is full of useless information. Sometimes I find more utterly trivial stories to add to the pile. On October 16, 1956 there was an astounding water landing in the Pacific Ocean that made headlines because it was the first forced water ditching where all crew and passengers survived. It was Pan Am Flight … Continue reading On this Date 1956: Pan Am Flight #6
What Shall We Call Today?
For a long time the second Monday in October has been celebrated as Columbus Day here in the United States. As we have gained a better understanding of the truth and impact on peoples of the Americas that Columbus "discovered" many states have also incorporated the term Indigenous Peoples Day for the holiday. If, like … Continue reading What Shall We Call Today?
Walter Thinnes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.