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F ³: No Substack for Me

  Substack . Do you know what it is? Lots of cool people have them. You can generate income for your writing by charging a subscription fee if you so desire. Blogs are passé. Some ‘content creators’ have moved to podcasts, TikTok, even Instagram or Threads to get their content out into the world. And some, more serious writers perhaps, announce the creation of a Substack and invite you to subscribe. Here’s why I don’t have one.: Revealed: How Substack makes money by hosting Nazi newsletter s, Geraldine McKelvie, The Guardian (2/7/2026) It’s not a short piece but it’s worth the read. The Guardian leads off with this: Site [Substack] takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism. A more recent article from the CBC elaborates: But over the last few years, users and journalists have noted that a number of Substack newsletters promote white supremacy, Holocaust denial and neo-Nazism. An investigation by the  Guardian in...
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Recent posts

Let the Song Go On

  How are the young folks doing? Well, here’s a shoutout to some hocolocals who started here and are pursuing their dreams in the arts, notably in the field of music.  I mentioned musical theatre performers MaryKate Brouillet and Patrick Gover the other day. Both have performed regularly at Toby’s in Columbia.  Gover’s older brother Vincent is an opera singer, actor, and composer.  Sara Beth Driver  performs regularly in the area, often in Silver Spring. She’s a singer, songwriter, and  acoustic guitarist.  Marissa Zechinato , a 2026 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards finalist, has a gig tomorrow night at Cured.  Farther afield, Gallant is out on tour in Canada. I promised myself yesterday that I’d write about something today that made me happy. Seeing these kids (not kids anymore, oops) doing what they love gives me a sense of hope. Village Green/Town² Comments
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The Coffee Date

  I’m struggling with the cruelty in the world right now. To be honest, it makes it very hard for me to write. I have ideas for stories but a strong sense of “what’s the use” clouds my brain.  Oddly enough, I was in the same place a year ago: crushed by the accumulated weight of fear and hopelessness. And yet…   A Glimmer , Village Green/Town², 8/13/2026 In a time of hate Love is an act of resistance In a time of fear Faith is an act of resistance  In a time of misinformation Education is an act of resistance  In a time of poor leadership Community is an act of resistance In a time like this Joy is an act of resistance Resist. Resist. Resist. - - Loryn Brantz  Yesterday morning I sat outside of Roggenart having an iced coffee date with a dear friend and for a moment the world felt benevolent. The sky was clear and there was a gentle breeze. She gave me a book recommendation and I told her about a BBC radio show I’ve recently discovered.  There were del...
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The Little News

  The big news in Howard County is feeling rather bleak this morning. I need some time to process it.  Here’s the little news. On HCC’s Dragon Podcast channel, the current episode of Razzle Dazzle Radio features HoCoLocal performers MaryKate Brouillet and Patrick Gover. For tips on how to give your best audition for that special part in a play or musical, tune into the latest edition of Razzle Dazzle Radio. Leading local actors MaryKate Brouillet and Patrick Gover share their experiences playing lead roles at Toby's Dinner Theatre - - including Mary Kate as Regina George, the meanest of the Mean Girls cast. Patrick remembers growing up in a musical family with six siblings, starting piano lessuns at five years old, and being coached by Toby Orenstein for his role as Rocky Balboa in Rocky. With lots to learn and laughs galore, it’s a must-listen!  Bonus: it looks like their logo art was created by a real human.  Indie bookstore Queen Takes Book is hosting a fundr...
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School Year Wishes

School is coming. Even if you don’t have kids in school you are surely seeing posts online about the upcoming school year. Or perhaps you’ve noticed back to school sales when you are out and about.  Over at the Threw Mikes Eyez blog he’s contemplating his own school years. Wishing I Learned  , Threw Mikes Eyez What’s a thing you wish schools actually taught?  - - asks the daily writing prompt. Give it a look if you can. It’s a quick read and it really made me think.  One thing I honestly wished schools had taught me was how to enjoy walking. Yes, I’m serious. When I was in school there was often a big divide between academics and athletics. I was horrible at anything athletic and the big push at home was for me to excel at academics. (If you’ve read my ADHD saga you’ll know how that went.)  Arts education was my saving grace because there was so much more room for kids who, in one way or another, didn’t fit.  Reading Mike’s post make me realize how one ver...
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Unions/Reunions

  On the morning of July 29th an unexpected occurrence in the Village of Wilde Lake was reported in the Howard County Eats Facebook Group. Starbucks was closed. Here’s a close up. I filed this away in my ‘curious things I probably should follow up on’ file. When I saw this article in the Baltimore Banner it jogged my memory. Baristas at Columbia’s Wilde Lake Starbucks vote to unionize , Jess Nocera,  Baltimore Banner  In a 19-to-3 vote, the Columbia location’s workers voted to join Starbucks Workers United late last month. “Late last month.” July 29th, perhaps? Might that explain the morning closure in Wilde Lake? As an aside, I was startled to see exactly who the Banner seems to think those baristas are. Take a closer look at the photo. Caption reads: Baristas at the Wilde Lake Starbucks in Columbia have voted to unionize. (Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Banner) Friends, those are not the baristas you are looking for, unless life in retirement for former local electeds is ...
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It’s a Festival Day in the Park

  Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month today at the Chrysalis!  The event is from 3-7 pm, Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods: Join Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the Office of Human Rights and Equity, and Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods as we celebrate the diverse and vibrant heritage of the Caribbean at our 2026 Caribbean American Heritage Month (CAHM) Festival! This family-friendly event will showcase traditional Caribbean dances, children's activities, live music performances, interactive exercise classes, vendors, and delicious Caribbean cuisine. Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Caribbean. Come experience a taste of the islands! FEATURED PERFORMERS: DJ Shomari KRL Lennard Jack Jr. SocaRobics White House Studios Eclipse International Band The announcement mentions food but I have not seen a list of today’s vendors. If you have this information, let me know and I will add it in here. Saturday, August 8, 2026...
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