Village Green/Town²

  Recently a friend posed this question on Facebook: Question for you all: What does it mean to be a true American patriot? It made me uncomfortable. I countered: What would you say is the opposite of a true American patriot? I have such a hard time worth the word patriot because of how it has been poisoned by the Right. I have become so conflicted that I can’t even put it into words. So then I wondered what the opposite of patriot is.   I suppose I was asking what qualities would indicate that someone was not patriotic.  To be fair, that wasn’t the question they were asking.  So, what is patriotism? Merriam Webster defines it as: love for or devotion to one's country. That’s it. Pretty simple, isn’t it? So, what is “American” patriotism?  It depends on what you love and what aspects of this country you are devoted to, I guess. I came up with this answer: The simplest definition for me would be that an American patriot is someone who believes that life, ...

  Here we go. From WBAL TV Weather:  Suggestions from the good folks from the Capital Weather Gang: Staying safe in the heat wave , Dan Stillman, Capital Weather  Extreme heat kills more people in the United States than any other weather hazard, according to National Weather Service data. Somewhat closer to home, this notice at the top of the Howard County Libraries web site: During extreme heat, our library branches are cooling centers. Click this link for a list of additional cooling centers: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/community-sustainability/warming-and-cooling-center-information The link takes you to this map on HoCoGov. While you’re over at the library website you might as well check out what they’ve got going on this summer. Right now the May/June program guide is up but that will be changing over soon. Howard County Library System Program Guide: May/June Did you know that HCLS is interested in your library stories? This link will tell you what you need to kno...

A tip of the hat to local Redditors who have alerted me to the following sightings in our area. As a local social media platform, Reddit isn’t perfect, but, it sure beats Nextdoor by a mile! From r/columbia, yesterday:  Watch your feet while hiking. Saw this little guy on Wincopin Trail today.  It was identified as a juvenile Eastern Copperhead in the thread. No, the photographer was not this close. They zoomed in to get the image. The post was entitled “Snake Season.” Do snakes have a season? Why do I not know this? From r/ellicottcity, a few days ago… Recently spotted a bear this morning while taking our foster dog for a walk down our long driveway. This was our neighbor's home so I alerted them since I know they like to leave their garage open. I had to pull my dog away since I'm sure it wanted to...engage the bear. I saw a post made on this sub-Reddit about 5 year ago, so if anyone was wondering - yes, the bear is still here LOL. Secure your trash, keep your garages closed...

  " Hyperlocal" is an adjective used to describe something as being "limited to a very small geographical area" and, in particular, to anything "extremely or excessively local". It is applied in particular with regard to media output aimed at narrowly focused populations.It has otherwise been described as "information oriented around a well-defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of the population in that community" - - Wikipedia In recent hyperlocal news: The snow plow tracker is a lie. I don't believe that Oakland Mills Road has been plowed in the last four hours (June 20th, 10am) My favorite response: I just drove by it. Can affirm that it's totally clear of snow. Great work HoCo! ***** Big, if true! Spirit Halloween store sighting in Columbia, Maryland. Hickory Ridge? Kings Contrivance? You tell me.  ***** In the “Location is Everything” department: I’m hearing that Pollo Campero, the third competitor in...

Me: It's feeling like a no blog day. I'll keep you posted. Mike: It's early, don't give up hope. Thanks, Mike. I needed that. Mike is, to my knowledge, the only other HoCo Blogger who writes seven days a week. So, if he says that: he knows. ***** The truth is, I find myself overwhelmed (again) by the general hopelessness of the country. It’s hard to make myself write about interesting local things when a little voice keeps telling me it’s all pointless. Why go anywhere? Why do anything? You see my problem. I also seem to be suffering from a case of the Get Off My Lawn virus, if there is such a thing. And it’s clearly giving me writer’s block to some degree. In order to excorcise it, I’m going to allow myself to rage about one current pet peeve.  Feel free to push back. Or share one of your own. Here goes: Having an event? Great!  Tell me where it is. Don’t make me click to find out. I am not going to invest one scintilla* of effort to head in your direction if you can’t...

  Yesterday I felt like I was running on fumes. I went on Facebook and asked:  Anyone out there feeling inspired this morning? Results were mostly no. Two were enthusiastically yes. For those of you who like to analyze* the numerical breakdown:  9 responses in total 2 yes 5 no 1 I don’t know yet, just woke up 1 a little  This one tugged at my heart strings: A little - - did you need some shared? Today’s not much better, I’m sorry to say. I love to be whimsical on Fridays and I’m just about fresh out. I’m full of heavy thoughts, not to mention assorted complaints. I’m going to spare you those. Here’s a thought for your day: I am so grateful for all the folks who don’t have much and still respond to their neighbors: I have a little - - did you need some shared?  Have a wonderful Friday. If you have any whimsy, please send some my way. Village Green/Town² Comments *Small sample size. Results not statistically significant.