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
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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
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
International “Talk Like A Pirate” Day
This is the 25th anniversary of Talk Like a Pirate Day so don't be surprised if someone suggests you walk the plank today. Brush up your pirate lingo to fit in with the cool kids (or more likely us aging boomers trying desperately to be cool). Aaaargh Matey! Shiver me timbers, I am no longer … Continue reading International “Talk Like A Pirate” Day
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
On This Day: Road Runner Rules
On September 17, 1949 Warner Brothers introduced a new cartoon named "Fast and Furry-ous" with new characters created by Chuck Jones. It included the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and the ever resourceful ACME Corporation. You've seen so many of them. But did you know that Mr. Jones had a nine rule formula that guided … Continue reading On This Day: Road Runner Rules
Welcome Krispy Kreme to Times Square
I love standing under a waterfall and letting it stream over me. The doughnut chain Krispy Kreme is scheduled to open a flagship store in Times Square here in New York City today. The shop will feature the world's largest "Hot Now" sign and a giant glaze waterfall in the window. If you see a … Continue reading Welcome Krispy Kreme to Times Square
National Biscuits and Gravy Week
Biscuits and sausage gravy is one of my favorite breakfasts. Eating out I often find it too watery or too gelatinous. I know the exact mouth feel I desire for this dish and so like to prepare it at home. Here is my recipe if you want to try it. I like to use my … Continue reading National Biscuits and Gravy Week
It’s that time again for everything Pumpkin Spice
As fall approaches corporate American puts pumpkin spice flavoring into lattes, donuts, and anything that has no legs to run and hide. Some of us (like me) like those spices in pumpkin pie but in little else. Others can't get enough. To help you get your quota here is a simple recipe you can mix … Continue reading It’s that time again for everything Pumpkin Spice
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
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)
Recent Sous Vide Recipe Upgrades
If you are serious about food and have not bought a Sous Vide machine, you should really consider it. I use the Joulle brand by ChefSteps (and like it a lot) but there are many on the market. Essentially any Sous Vide device is simply a water recirculator with a precise water heater. You put … Continue reading Recent Sous Vide Recipe Upgrades
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
Double Whammy Special Day
Today is a very special day - International Bacon Day! But even better - it is the 65th Anniversary of the opening of the very first Waffle House restaurant. What a very special day. Hungry yet? As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
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
Very Special Birthday Wishes to my Mother!
Yep, it's that day again. Happy Birthday Mom! She's looking great, here's a recent picture of her. Perhaps "recent" is a relative term and she is certainly my closest relative! Actually a more recent and more fun picture of us together came a couple of years ago when I traveled to Florida to celebrate her … Continue reading Very Special Birthday Wishes to my Mother!
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!
Throwback Thursday #1
Many blogs use this topic and I am joining them. I promise you that I will not use it every Thursday, but from time to time as I find some old photos as I dig through things, I'll dump them here. These photos are from when I was in my 20's and doing magic shows … Continue reading Throwback Thursday #1
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
National Sponge Cake Day and a disappointment
Of course, I knew that the sponges used since antiquity were harvested from the sea and had unique properties to absorb and hold water, helping for millennia to clean up around the house. And, of course, I knew that when humans were able to create artificial sponges using polyester and polyurethane, cleaning duties became much … Continue reading National Sponge Cake Day and a disappointment
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
On This Date – Artillery Added to Orchestras
Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a talented and innovative composer who looked at the orchestra talent list and said, and I quote, "Hmm, we have strings and woodwinds and brass and percussion. I will add artillery." And so cannons found their way onto stage when he premiered his 1812 Overture on August 20, 1882. It has long … Continue reading On This Date – Artillery Added to Orchestras
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
