Mark Kemp
@mkempnc.bsky.social
Writer/editor guy at @ourstatemag; music geek; swimmer.
Every time “All I Want for Christmas is You” drifts through the grocery store, my partner, Tandra, groans.
When “Jingle Bells” comes on, the 17-year-old chimes in: “Doesn’t that song have racist roots?”
If your family is "all jingled out," this is the soundtrack for your holiday festivities.
When “Jingle Bells” comes on, the 17-year-old chimes in: “Doesn’t that song have racist roots?”
If your family is "all jingled out," this is the soundtrack for your holiday festivities.
30 Holiday Songs from Around the World for Folks Who Are All 'Jingled' Out
I spent 20 hours digging for global gems and curiosities so you don't have to endure the grocery store loop ever again.
kempm.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Every time “All I Want for Christmas is You” drifts through the grocery store, my partner, Tandra, groans.
When “Jingle Bells” comes on, the 17-year-old chimes in: “Doesn’t that song have racist roots?”
If your family is "all jingled out," this is the soundtrack for your holiday festivities.
When “Jingle Bells” comes on, the 17-year-old chimes in: “Doesn’t that song have racist roots?”
If your family is "all jingled out," this is the soundtrack for your holiday festivities.
The second edition of my new Common Threads Substack is on how I learned to stop worrying and love the K-pop. Join our family for a Stray Kids concert in Atlanta.
Mark Kemp (@opted1)
The second edition of my Common Threads Substack is on how I learned to stop worrying and love the K-pop. Join our family for a Stray Kids concert in Atlanta.
substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The second edition of my new Common Threads Substack is on how I learned to stop worrying and love the K-pop. Join our family for a Stray Kids concert in Atlanta.
Hey everybody: Please join me on my new Substack adventure, Common Threads. See you there!
New Day Rising
What are you gonna do with the rest of your life?
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Hey everybody: Please join me on my new Substack adventure, Common Threads. See you there!
How much A.I. is involved in the stories we repost on social media? The heartwarming celebrity fables are obvious. But are some of the “brilliant” pieces of political commentary also largely the work of A.I.? I looked at the case of one viral writer. #bricefanger #ai
A.O.: Artificial Opinions - Mark Kemp
Have we graduated from A.I.-generated stories about compassionate celebrities to A.I.-enhanced political commentary? We’ve all seen those feel-good, A.I.-generated Facebook fables about aging classic ...
dailykemp.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
How much A.I. is involved in the stories we repost on social media? The heartwarming celebrity fables are obvious. But are some of the “brilliant” pieces of political commentary also largely the work of A.I.? I looked at the case of one viral writer. #bricefanger #ai
Looks like "free speech" advocate Mark Zuckerberg is now in the "extreme censorship" business. #freespeech #censorship #facebook #meta #socialmedia #hipocrisy
Opinion | The Tell-All Book That Facebook Doesn’t Want You to Read (Gift Article)
The “free speech” champion Mark Zuckerberg tries to shut up a critic.
www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Looks like "free speech" advocate Mark Zuckerberg is now in the "extreme censorship" business. #freespeech #censorship #facebook #meta #socialmedia #hipocrisy
What time is it? Time to get tix for Rhiannon Giddens’ DC show.
Welcome to the Blueskies,,,, Rhiannon Giddens,,, and get her tix for the newly located DC show 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
The Anthem tickets: www.ticketmaster.com/event/150062...
February 26, 2025 at 10:25 AM
What time is it? Time to get tix for Rhiannon Giddens’ DC show.
Reposted by Mark Kemp
Rep Tom Suozzi: “Very simple. Putin is a dictator. Zelenskyy is not.” What’s so hard to understand about that?
February 25, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Rep Tom Suozzi: “Very simple. Putin is a dictator. Zelenskyy is not.” What’s so hard to understand about that?
Reposted by Mark Kemp
Think of this man as you close your eyes. Not DJT. Goodnight 🌙💙
January 21, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Think of this man as you close your eyes. Not DJT. Goodnight 🌙💙
Reposted by Mark Kemp
Today, honor a King, not a Felon. #mlkday2025
January 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Today, honor a King, not a Felon. #mlkday2025
Reposted by Mark Kemp
Today is *not* a “peaceful transfer of power.” It’s the completion of a violent coup attempt that began this morning four years ago. Yes, Trump won the ‘24 election; but he was only able to run because we failed to fully confront the fact of that violent coup attempt.
January 6, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Today is *not* a “peaceful transfer of power.” It’s the completion of a violent coup attempt that began this morning four years ago. Yes, Trump won the ‘24 election; but he was only able to run because we failed to fully confront the fact of that violent coup attempt.
That time Bob Dylan quoted Lynyrd Skynyrd in describing President Jimmy Carter’s character. #simpleman #ripjimmycarter
Barbara Sobel (Milo’s Mom) (@barbaraj.sobel) on Threads
Bob Dylan on Jimmy Carter
www.threads.net
December 30, 2024 at 1:44 PM
That time Bob Dylan quoted Lynyrd Skynyrd in describing President Jimmy Carter’s character. #simpleman #ripjimmycarter
Check out the video supplement to my January 2025 “Storytellers” column in Our State magazine on an eastern North Carolina gospel music dynasty. #gospelmusic #ncgospel #ncmusic #faithandharmony #ourstatemagazine
This Gospel Group is Forging New Paths While Staying True to Their Roots
YouTube video by Our State Magazine
youtu.be
December 29, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Check out the video supplement to my January 2025 “Storytellers” column in Our State magazine on an eastern North Carolina gospel music dynasty. #gospelmusic #ncgospel #ncmusic #faithandharmony #ourstatemagazine
Reposted by Mark Kemp
HOW TO READ A NORTH CAROLINA BEACH author Orrin H. Pilkey, Warrior in a Fight to Save Imperiled Beaches, Dies at 90—via @nytimes.com
Orrin H. Pilkey, Warrior in a Fight to Save Imperiled Beaches, Dies at 90
An eminent geologist, he argued against putting condos and hotels on vulnerable coastal landscapes. Environmentalists applauded; many others didn’t.
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2024 at 8:38 PM
HOW TO READ A NORTH CAROLINA BEACH author Orrin H. Pilkey, Warrior in a Fight to Save Imperiled Beaches, Dies at 90—via @nytimes.com
My top 10 favorite albums of 2024 (without commentary).
December 4, 2024 at 4:32 PM
My top 10 favorite albums of 2024 (without commentary).
Reposted by Mark Kemp
The Guardian will no longer post its content to X
Why the Guardian is no longer posting on X
We will stop posting from our official editorial accounts on the platform, but X users can still share our articles
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2024 at 12:36 PM
The Guardian will no longer post its content to X
I’m here on Bluesky. Guess I should post something. How about this: A celebration of Native American Heritage Month from the November issue of Our State mag. #NativeCulture #IndigenousAmericans #AmericanIndians #MilitaryVeterans #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum | Our State
In Jacksonville, the Onslow Veterans Pow Wow connects Native American service members to their heritage — and honors veterans from all backgrounds.
www.ourstate.com
November 14, 2024 at 6:31 AM
I’m here on Bluesky. Guess I should post something. How about this: A celebration of Native American Heritage Month from the November issue of Our State mag. #NativeCulture #IndigenousAmericans #AmericanIndians #MilitaryVeterans #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth