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!
History
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?
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
73rd Anniversary of the Computer Bug (sorta)
To be fair the term "debugging" a system predates the computer age, but on September 9, 1947 a famous incident occurred that is memorialized in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Technicians detected an issue in the operation of one of the large calculating computers of the day. They traced the problem to a … Continue reading 73rd Anniversary of the Computer Bug (sorta)
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
On This Date: Henry Hudson gets to Manhattan
There is some debate as to the precise date that Henry Hudson sailed into New York Harbor in 1609, but that should be expected as he had been at sea a while and had not recently synchronized his iPhone. It is not appropriate to say he "discovered" Manhattan as there happened to be residents here … Continue reading On This Date: Henry Hudson gets to Manhattan
On This Date: Bad Times for Rome
In 79 C.E. the volcano Vesuvius blew its top and covered the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, capturing many of their citizens in flight and preserving details of Roman life indelibly for millennia. Excavations began in the 1800s and are continuing even now. Because contemporaneous accounts seldom dwell on everyday life we have leaned much … Continue reading On This Date: Bad Times for Rome
On This Day – Rock and Roll milestones
Quite a special day in the history of rock and roll as in 1965 the Beatles played before 60,000 people in Shea Stadium in New York City, essentially launching stadium style concerts. And on August 15, 1969 was the first day of the Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, New York. While music festivals had been … Continue reading On This Day – Rock and Roll milestones
National Presidential Joke Day
Today's National Day is celebrated because of President Ronald Reagan's joke during a sound check (on August 11, 1984) when he said “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” Some were amused, others were outraged but sound check chatter … Continue reading National Presidential Joke Day
National Veep Day
We mark National Veep Day today as we observe the anniversary in 1974 when the last time a US Vice President got promoted because of Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution. Yes, when Gerald Ford took over after Richard Nixon resigned. It was the ninth time it has happened in our country, … Continue reading National Veep Day
International Peace Month
August is International Peace Month. I think we can all get behind this. I mean, who doesn't wish for World Peace? Or, however you spell it, I call for World Peas. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
In Memoriam – John Lewis
It was a great loss to the world when Civil Rights Icon John Lewis passed away Friday night. He was called to the movement early in life and accomplished more than nearly any other man in that pursuit during his 80 year lifespan. He was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington and the … Continue reading In Memoriam – John Lewis
Walter Thinnes 
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