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
Links
First Manhattanhenge of 2021 is tomorrow morning
I've covered Manhattanhenge many times on this blog in the past. You can search the blog to find out the scientific detail but essentially it is the dates where the rising or setting sun perfectly aligns with the cross streets of Manhattan. Tomorrow is a rising sun date so set your alarm to be able … Continue reading First Manhattanhenge of 2021 is tomorrow morning
One of my short plays is in the 10th Annual Barrington Stage 10×10 Festival
I am thrilled to announce that my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" will be included in the Barrington Stage Company 10x10 New Play Festival. Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, Massachusetts is a major regional theatre of great renown. I couldn't be more happy. The festival will be streamed which means even if you are not close … Continue reading One of my short plays is in the 10th Annual Barrington Stage 10×10 Festival
Happy New Year 2021
May you have a happy and loving and prosperous New Year. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
The last day of 2020
I do not know of anyone who will not be happy to have 2020 behind us. It has been a year of pain and struggle and stupidity in measures heretofore unknown. Manmade dates are somewhat arbitrary in the scheme of the Creator. But this year has been a compacted, concentrated, dumpster fire of an event. … Continue reading The last day of 2020
Bacon Day! Bacon Day! Bacon Day!
Today is Bacon Day and I don't mean Kevin. Enjoy your bacon all year long and share it on social media today with the hashtag #BaconDay. Bacon improves anything and is my favorite food group. Some people choose not to eat bacon and I respect that. It just means more bacon left for me! Happy … Continue reading Bacon Day! Bacon Day! Bacon Day!
Merry Christmas 2020
Merry Christmas. May you and your family celebrate this very special day in the spirit of the season and not in gutter this year has become. May we find a better 2021. We need it more than ever. Merry Christmas. As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
Throwback Thursday – My Evergreen Express inspiration
For this Throwback Thursday post - a Christmas memory. I was part of the team that opened the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples Florida in 1989 (it has since been rebranded as Artis-Naples). It is still my favorite theatre of all times and enjoys strong support (including lots of contributions from wealthy individuals … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – My Evergreen Express inspiration
Winter Solstice 2020
Our ancestors were not distracted by streaming services and smart phones. They were much more focused on natural phenomenons. They charted stars and measured closely the rising and setting sun. Before they understood the tilting of the earth on its axis they knew. The winter solstice was the longest night and shortest day of the … Continue reading Winter Solstice 2020
The single redeeming feature of COVID-19
2020 has been a pretty horrific year. Hundreds of thousands of Americans dying, cities and live audience events shut down and economic stresses not seen in decades. And yet, I have found one significant bright spot in this most difficult of times. SantaCon has been cancelled. If you are not aware, this misguided event is … Continue reading The single redeeming feature of COVID-19
I still miss John Lennon
Forty years ago today John Lennon was shot as he returned to his home at The Dakota building in Manhattan as he returned from a recording session. It is a loss I still feel strongly today. John's focus on peace, love and unity were cruelly taken away from the world. Today my playlist will be … Continue reading I still miss John Lennon
National Cotton Candy Day
The spun sugar treat we call Cotton Candy was invented centuries ago but was popularized at the 1904 Worlds fair marketed as Fairy Floss. It has been raising glucose levels ever since at carnivals, circuses and ballparks ever since. In the 1950's a home version was introduced to send your children into sugar shock and … Continue reading National Cotton Candy Day
National Roof Over Your Head Day
Today is #RoofOverYourHeadDay and is intended to remind us to be grateful for what you have, starting with the simple things like a roof over your head. So many struggle because of the hard times this country and the world find themselves in. While I have my own challenges in this department, I am grateful … Continue reading National Roof Over Your Head Day
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
My newest short play will have a performance in February 2021!
A few weeks ago I noted that my new play "2020 - A Perfect Year for Magical Thinking" was a finalist for The Old Library Theatre's 10th Annual One Act Play Festival in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. My script was one of a dozen plays selected from 107 submitted. The producer made those twelve scripts … Continue reading My newest short play will have a performance in February 2021!
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…
National Princess Day
For decades, nay centuries, little girls have been encouraged to dream of and dress up as little princesses. It was extremely unrealistic that any of them would ever meet a prince, let alone live a storybook life. Along the way it taught them to give up agency and wait to be rescued. Various animation houses … Continue reading National Princess Day
No Knead to celebrate National Home Bread Day
During recent lockdowns some people reveled in discovering sourdough bread and banana bread recipes. You can find many sourdough and banana bread recipes on this blog. But maybe you are one of the many people who find bread too challenging and have no need to knead. Good news, here is a recipe for No-Knead Bread. … Continue reading No Knead to celebrate National Home Bread Day
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
National Parents as Teachers Day as never before imagined
Back in 2001, when this National Day was established, it was imagined as a resource for parents augmenting the teaching of their children. Sort of a PTA outreach service. During this pandemic it has become so much more and parents have taken over an entire new role in this difficult age. Thanks to all of … Continue reading National Parents as Teachers Day as never before imagined
Believe it or not, today is National Stress Awareness Day
I know you are all calm and balanced and just fine today, but just for fun, know that this is National Stress Awareness Day. What in the world would you be stressed about? Maybe a national election? Or maybe a pandemic reaching record levels of infection heading into a winter flu season? If for some … Continue reading Believe it or not, today is National Stress Awareness Day
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
My newest short play is a finalist in New Jersey
I am thrilled to announce that my (very recently completed) short play 2020 - A PERFECT YEAR FOR MAGICAL THINKING has been selected as a finalist for the Old Library Theatre's 10th Annual One Act Play Festival in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. There were 107 plays submitted and 12 were selected as finalists. By late … Continue reading My newest short play is a finalist in New Jersey
Good and Bad News for the Autumnal Time Change
The end of Daylight Savings Time means you should have set your clocks back one hour last night. The good news is you get an extra hour of sleep. The bad news is the year 2020 just got one hour longer. Good luck to you and stay safe out there. As always you can find … Continue reading Good and Bad News for the Autumnal Time Change
