Hey!
This Substack is an extension of writing I’ve been doing on my Facebook page since the tail end of the 2020 Presidential campaign. That was me deciding that, rather than larding that timeline with article after article after article, I would instead basically self-aggregate stories that caught my eye, source quickly using my experience as a research writing teacher at two local Chicago-area universities, add a sly note or two as a guy who writes comedy and produces a sketch-comedy-and-history podcast about the American Presidents (more on that in the weeks to come!) and post them to everyone except beloved family members whose political views … don’t exactly fall in line with mine, shall we say.
I am NOT a journalist. I am NOT a pundit. I am NOT a standup. I’m just venting to make sure I don’t throw literal bricks through literal windows.
Anyway, turns out I’ve got a bit of an audience on Facebook, so along with my daily updates I’ve added some elements (historical events, birthdates of famous people, etc.) and will transmit “Special Updates” which seem to be appreciated by people (and are appreciated by me). And enough of them have said “Y’know, we’d give you a tip or two if you gave us the chance!” that I explored that … and thus this Substack.
So this will be where I’ll post those updates. As it builds and I get used to posting here, I’ll let it evolve. It’s fun, it gives me a chance to write daily (more or less), it’s a coping mechanism (see “bricks” above), and if others find it amusing or it adds to various conversations, cool. I promise to not post scurrilous rumors or offend enough racists that I get banned (as happened to me on Twitter) (true story, may tell it in the future) (and no, not even the billionaire weirdo that owns the site now will let me back on). I’ll leave the tip jar out soon if you are inclined to do so.
And that’s the explanation!
Now on to the updates and whatever else A Substack from A Guy Named Joe turns into. (WHEEEE!)