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topics ->The fifty-fourth of the Cento series. A cento is a poem made by an author from the lines of another author's work. In the series I place my cento and a link to the other authors poem. -> Ten word story ->Superheroes or supervillains synthography -> six word horror story ->Contest 5 (and) 7 is 1 (and) 2 is 3 ->Honest Artist Challenge q&a ->self survey q&a ->creative side commercial -> Goggled Woodpecker Dates- astrology IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR: Kerner Commission ; Flickr's 20th birthday ; Amsterdam News advertising ; Ode to WInston Ford ; Davida Siwisa James tour dates ; Views on gender and sexuality from Kai Decadence ; Shakar Eye of the Midnight God U.R.L. https://rmnewsletter.over-blog.com/2023/10/06/02/2024-rmnewsletter.html

Yo bro. Life gets busy sometimes. Totally understood. Hopefully everything on your end gets sorted sooner than later. Looking forward to you having time to chop it up with the fam again.

Black Mirror was great. I did not know it was back on. Seems my NetFlix recommendation engine is not work very well. It is always pushing The Chi and other Black stuff to me...

I worked at Wang Labs over the summer.

Bravo @ProfD If we're not living through episodes of Black Mirror, I don't know what this is! I bet the show's writers probably already suggested this show! I stopped watching because it got too creepy (i.e., true to life).

I'm not surprised, LOL. We have DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) in common! We were orbiting each other and didn't even know it!

Whaddup AALBC Family! I'm in the building. I've been busy with some things going on at work as well as some personal issues in my neighborhood that I'm in the process of straightening out so not a lot of leisure time to spend online. I actually was going to post a thread here Thursday night after Trump's guilty verdict but messed around and forgot about it until this morning when I checked in and saw Troy's thread.

I'm in the house....... Just been very busy at work and some things going on in the community. Thanks for the concern for your brother!

Understood. It's all good as long as you're doing well and still around. I'll keep holding it down in this forum until brotha @Troy kicks me outta this comfy armchair or turns out the lights.

One of my favorite Bible formats. Filled with African Christian history notes that I have a hard time finding anywhere else.

@ProfD I have been here just another forum. Focused on creating, posting in the literary section when applicable. I have thoughts to governance , in the village or world en large of course but I don't think I have anything worth adding to post in the cultural forum , nor anything potent that hasn't already been said. ... Maybe I am wrong but that is my reasoning. I check into the cultural forum from time to time, read a post see if something i can add, but I usually come up with nothing.

Not sure if you are the photographer, but wonderful pictures!

The more I produce Bible studies, the more I realize the necessity of identifying my target audience and writing with them in mind. I have finally decided that the Christians I am primarily writing for are those who aren't called to a preaching or teaching ministry, but still want a more in-depth understanding of scripture. My goal is to help believers move beyond Bible basics and transition into deeper studies. My Bible art journaling studies, however, are specifically for women. I would like to know who other writers in the Christian market are writing for. Put it out there!

I am a Bible teacher focusing on grassroots theological education, which is a fancy way of saying I like to break down the scriptures for us everyday people in the pews. I call my works Off-Kilter Bible Studies. I have written three Bible journaling studies for the creative and non-traditional learner, as well as a non-fiction piece on tithing. Since I am an artist as well as an author, I lean toward my books being creatively designed. I think of Bible study as a hands-on thing. This year I have expanded into podcasting as a method of teaching the Bible. But I still love to read and write. And so I am working on yet another book.

Yep. it's been a long minute since brotha @Pioneer1 checked in and chopped it up with us. Pray that all is well with him. Hope he hasn't chosen to socially distance from the gallery. Same goes for @frankster and @richardmurray and other folks who haven't plopped down in their chairs for a while.

As the personification of white supremacy, privilege and nationalism, former POTUS Orange Julius (POJ) is picking up more steam with every grenade throw at him by the Left. However, be not dismayed if former POJ gets re-elected. The Left will have done everything it could to give the keys to the White House back to him. Former POJ does and says what the rest of them only think and wish they could do.

I just checked and see @Pioneer1 has not visited the forums since April 27. While that is not a long time, relatively speaking, it is for him. Well, I trust all is alright with my “incorrigible Brother.”

Too bad this "guilty" verdict just solidified the support of Trump's diehard following. They don't even have to come up with a valid rebuttal to his conviction;all they have to do is recite the same ol litany attributing the "guilty" verdict to Trump being a victim of a political "witch hunt" whose outcome was "rigged". There is some consolation, however, in the fact that a black District Attorney was instrumental in sending the message that "nobody is above the law"! Meanwhile, the Democrats are struggling along, stuck with a bumbling old 80-something presidential candidate, who offers little incentive to reject Trump who appeals to a sizeable portion of middle Americans who want this country to go back to being a bigoted, homophobic, misogynistic, xenophobic, gun-toting, history-denying, super patriotic bastion of religious hypocrisy. Throw in those voters tired of senseless expensive wars, inflation, and the cancel culture, and democracy's jeopardy is increased as a dictatorial crook begins to look like a tolerable alternative. Women of America and their determination to control their own bodies may be who turns the tide... The night stalking "Contrarian" has spoken. Back to the peanut gallery...

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/30/trump-trial-verdict-hush-money.html Former POTUS Orange Julius was found guilty on all 34 counts in hush money trial. Yet, Truth Social website crashed because it was flooded with campaign donations for his reelection bid. Remains to be seen whether or not he gets jail time. Doesn't stop him from running for POTUS. Let's see if the American people are silly enough to re-elect a clown with so many cases that he's running for POTUS with hands tied behind his back.

You can be black and all kinds of things politically speaking. There are Black Democrats, Nationalists, Sepratists, Marxists, Conservatives, Moderates, and Republicans. You might even call yourself a Progressive or Libertarian. But few Black people call themselves Liberal. Even if most Black people vote Democrat they would reject Liberalism. If you're a white Liberal or Black Conservative reading this you might think I'm way off base. But being a Black Democrat is not synonymous with being a Liberal. I'm a Liberal. So what does that mean ? Is it a belief in social justice, equality, and compassion ? Maybe I'm Liberal because I believe in higher taxes for rich people, spending on social programs, and abortion rights. Perhaps I'm Liberal because I value openess, reason, and science. All these things are valid. But none of them are necessarily Liberal in. Liberalism is a form of political thought devoted to the idea of individual liberty (or freedom). You should be left alone to do as you wish until you pose bodily harm to others or interfere with them doing what they want. Secondly, each person should be able to choose. They should be able to follow their own pursuits. How we understand this liberty and its limits is what politics is about. Liberals want people to be free from government and private control. For Liberals individual liberty is upheld by limits on government power, equal rights, and equal opportunity. Tolerance which basically means different people living together and disagreeing without tyranny or killing each other is also a Liberal value. What does any of this mean to me or Black people as a group ? Here's what I think : 1. We need to fight systemic racism and extreme wealth income inequality that hurt blacks collectively so that every black person is more free as an individual. 2. I believe that true liberty is found in preserving and strengthening Black institutions and also pursuing opportunities in the American mainstream. This kind of pluralism is essential to our human, social, economic, and political well-being. 3. While overcoming systemic racism is essential, we can't ignore sexism, homophobia, or transphobia that hinder black women and black LGBTQ people. All Black people must be free collectively and individually. 4. While I think the Democratic Party is better for black people than the GOP. It's far from perfect to say the least. If blacks are going to benefit from being Democrats we must constantly advocate in our own political interests. Democrats including white Liberals don't always help us. This also applies to black elected officials. 5. I have major philosophical and policy differences with Black Moderates, Conservatives, Nationalists, and Socialists. But the kind of Liberalism I believe in is a minority viewpoint among Black people. Liberalism cannot possibly always be right. That means listening and learning from other perspectives. Hopefully we can come together when possible to help ourselves as Black people. I really believe Black people want certain things all Americans want like safety, security, material comfort, health, a better life for our children, respect, a voice in our government, and a life with dignity. The continuing Black struggle for freedom and equality is consistent with Liberalism. It is part of the challenge that any Liberal politics must embrace to make this country better for all.

Have you ever thought of doing a collaborative work? @Jean2021 @Rosey Lee @DeeSiwisa @JenanFR @Dee Miller