Leaderboard

Today's my 84th birthday. I'm amazed that I'm still around. Grateful that i can separate life from living. One i observe, the other i do. One day at a time.

@Cynique happy birthday! You have been a gift to so many. I'm grateful for every minute you spend with us. If I make it to Chitown for Third World Press' 50 anniversary maybe we can connect. When you look uy at the solar eclipse on Monday know that I'll be thinking about you :-) Here is to many more birthdays.

I have two main interests since grammar school. Numbers/logic and mythology/symbolism/occult. The two branches are quite similar. Issac Newton was a scientist and a magician. It is no longer fashionable to be a serious thinker and be a magician. Although there have been a few recent exceptions. Albert Einsten comes to mind. The esoteric is an integral part of my goal to think in a full circle. I am dedicated to learning, knowing and acceptance. Understanding isn't as important. For instance I know that fixed thinkers frustrate me. I need not know why. This is a page from my Book of Numbers. Its a project that i embarked on in 1997. A freind made the suggestion to include timing in my readings. So many research projects, a few hundred books, classes and thousands of hours later, there is still my work to be done. It's amazing to sit with a stranger and assist them on understanding themselves and their situatuons. The feedback has been amazing.

I'm upgrading the website in a big way over the next few months. If I get it done in the next 6 months I'll be happy, indeed the success of this upgrade will almost certainly determine the future of AALBC.com. I don't mean from a technical perspective, I mean from a business perspective. Is there enough demand for a website dedicated to promoting Black literature, to provide a 1/2 way decent living? Over the last few years this has become increasingly difficult. Some of the changes I have in mind, include more interactivity, a customized CMS, fully mobile ready (to make Google happy), as well as a ton of content spanning almost 2 decades. The site will not fail because of technical execution. This is not the first major site overhaul. I performed three website overhauls prior to this to this one, and many incremental updates but this one will be the biggest Check out some screenshots from over the years. Currently I'm building out the book database which will drive the presentation of book information through the website. My first target is our bestsellers list. Currently I use the Amazon widget to present our book information (see current list). I've always hated that tool because it is not very flexible and Amazon controls the data, but it is much faster to publish our bestsellers list than hand coding each and every list the way I did before implementing the Amazon tool (see early bestseller list). In fact, one of the reasons I started publishing the bestsellers list every two months, rather than monthly, was because it took so long to create the page. The power list website, which I rebuilt last year iis completely database driven, and I learned a lot from that experience, the AALBC.com implementation will be superior. I also have to upgrade my php code as I'm using code that has been depreciated, so the site will be better on many levels. The site will also be fully compliant with HTML5 and CSS3. So while creating new bestsellers lists will be faster, easier, and utilizing superior code. This is all under the hood type stuff visitors don't care anything about. What visitors do care about is what will the site does, what information it conveys and how it looks. Which really is the main reason I created this post. Are there any features you'd like to see on a bestsellers list? Please share you ideas here and I'll work them in. Here is a new page, very rough and in the early stages. I'm experimenting with presentation as the database is built out. Again I'm looking for ideas: http://75.103.68.29/books/bestsellers.php Thanks for your help!

Mel I need a publicist. All of the fixed expenses required to run the website are much less than what a good publicists costs. If I actually had the money that would be one of the first professionals I would hire. I think a good publicist could craft that sermon you say I need to appeal to the indie published author. Sure, I could sell my car and hire a publicist. So no, a publicist is not that important to me. I'm not willing to bet that hiring one is worth going without a car and risking not not being able to afford another one as a result of their efforts. "Need" is not the best word. Perhaps not willing to make the tradeoff (sacrifices) describes it better. I also need someone to do some of the basic research required for the website. I need someone to handle sales. Most of my transactions are done online. But I could sell much more if I had someone to pitch the services. I'm not even talking about cold calling I'm talking about following up on phone inquiries I can't follow up on. I also need an editor too much of my copy contains typos. Sure I fix them eventually but it would be better if they did not exist in first place. Shoot, I need someone to moderate Thumper's Corner. As you can imagine, I perform all of the tasks above, and get by, so I think I understand what you mean by "need." I've been doing this 20 years--obviously I don't "need" a publicist. I'm understanding you? If that is what you are saying, I agree, but I sure can use use one ;-) Every author needs to promote and advertise. J. K. Rowling advertises for the same reason Coke and McDonald's does. Again NY Times bestselling authors and their publishers use AALBC. If you are trying to reach readers of Black literature I think AALBC.com is better than Facebook. At least I have not seen any evidence that it is--and I'm looking. But Facebook is selling something I can't compete with. Facebook appeals to some authors for the same reason some want to be authors; If that makes sense. I'm going to publish reviews of your book you might not like. You already know from these discussion forums your ideas will be challenged here. Facebook, on the other hand, will make sure everyone wishes you happy birthday and feed you things to reenforce your world view. I'm working with a company that will contract the service of another company that touts its ability to effectively promote content on Facebook. The strategy they intend to use is nothing I have not heard, or tried, before but it will be great to have the additional data points. Of course if they are successful, I'll be the first to promote the company!

Actually if you ask me you have to wonder why Frazier agreed to work with 45 to begin with. I know an argument is to effect policy and make change from within. But I can't think of a instance when that tactic has ever worked for us. Originally, I had no problem with people like Jim Brown and other Black folks going to meet with 45. In hindsight, I see that was a pointless waste of time. Nothing will change for the collective benefit of the United States until 45 is out of office. One has to wonder why "sisters" like Omarosa (45's director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison) hang on? I guess it is just as simple as a perverse need for fame, money, and power--regardless of the cost.

And he wasn't even the first man to leave the council. Tesla's Elon Musk left in June because as he said, "Climate Change is Real"....LOL

@Troy, No, I wouldn't give 500 square of my house to anyone because are people are full of sh*t. I can't even trust them not to lie to themselves. What I would do, is what I have done every day of my life. I DO NOT SUPPORT people, institutions or entities that ensure someone will be homeless, incarcerated or beat down . To be candid.. If you can't tell by now, I don't support most bullsh*t thinking or bullsh*t activities that folks participate in that have an adverse effect on our society. I don't wait until its fashionable - I live my life in a way that people or other living things aren't crushed under the weight of my decisions. Case in point, I've just learned about godaddy and their game-hunting CEO now I'm looking to extract myself from using their services. Peter Thiel founder of paypal - isn't someone I want to do business with so now I'm looking for another company (oh wait I see that's going to take me a minute) ... Those are the latest on my list - show me who you are and how you harm and you can forget about me supplying you anything. This is why I'm not impressed by anyone running around trying to take down monuments and undo what they participated in to build up over the years. Why do you think I spend so much of my time working for FREE with people who are helping themselves - because I believe in focusing on those who are looking to make a change. If we don't like results society is handing us just STOP PROPPING IT UP!

Yes, this appears to be the case with the majority of author websites. They write books so why would their individual websites attract several thousand visitors a day? If their websites were attracting several thousand visitors a day - why would they need AALBC? This is the point I'm making... find out why they would need AALBC - determine how AALBC can remove the pain-point. Facebook is providing them something they need. THIS! Yes... You found how to ease one of the pain-points!!! The self-published author with no audience is the one for your congregation - This is the group that is searching for a church home... You just have to prepare a sermon to communicate to them, the services and support (a la carte ) they would get from aalbc.com as if they were under a publishing house.

I wish for you MANY MANY MANY MORE!!! <3

Yes Mel you are right authors are indeed at different stages, and aalbc cannot help every author at every stage equally. I disagree with the premise that if an author is not using AALBC then they don't need it. For example, I have never used the services of a publicist. However, that does not mean that I don't need one. I don't use one because I can't afford one. The site suffers as a result. Many authors I encounter, perhaps most, cannot afford to advertise. they have spent all their resources on producing their books and unless the ad results in more sales than the cost of the ad it is difficult for them to justify the expense of advertising--even for branding. To address the issue of cost I've made available a number of very low-cost options (less than $50 bucks), But these are not as effective as the higher-priced ads run over a longer period of time. There are a few things to consider when looking at your traffic from Facebook; if you generally don't have a lot of traffic say less than a couple hundred unique visitors a day a day then Facebook might make up a more significant portion of your traffic. But if you have several thousand visitors a day the same level of traffic from Facebook is of no real consequence. Most of my traffic for example comes from search. The beauty of SEO is that the more you focus on the web site's content the better off you are. I also get more traffic from other sites then I do from Facebook. Now we are talking about hundreds of sites sending a handful of visitors a day. But that beats the hundreds of visitors that come to my website from Facebook each day. Also the fact of the matter is many authors promote Facebook far more actively then they do their own websites and they engage on Facebook daily. Indeed the entire culture promotes Facebook. Today it is not uncommon for me to have to visit Facebook when looking for information about authors--and these are authors with websites! So it's not a matter of authors promoting Facebook, Facebook is winning and search. In many cases Facebook deserves to win because they have better content then the other site does-- seriously! In addition to that many authors use Facebook as their primary web presence. So all of these factors and more combine to make Facebook a much better draw of traffic than any other, website especially for websites with low levels of traffic. In order to address this I have begun promoting a free service which allows authors to register a domain name and direct it to their AALBC profile page. I just got tired of people sending me links to their Facebook page or their Amazon profile page. Last week a couple of authors did this but I also noticed they had domain names registered that were not pointing anywhere so I offered to direct those domains to their aalbc profile, which is obviously better than going to some default Go Daddy page. Both authors immediately took advantage of the offer so I made it an official service. Not only does this result and potentially more traffic to aalbc it gives the author a proper website. And more traffic to aalbc means potentially more traffic to the other profile pages. Do you see what I mean? there's a residual effect that benefits all the authors not just the one. Still if the author does not promote their own domain hosted on aalbc they greatly diminish any potential benefit. As you mentioned different authors are at different stages. A midlist or extremely successful author published by a major house will always fare better then an unknown self-published author, whether they actively engage on Facebook or aalbc. There is a little I can do to change that dynamic. However I do believe that a stronger aalbc would benefit the self-published author more than Facebook, who is about as powerful as you can get. There are a number of New York Times best selling authors who advertise every book they publish on the site. Authors who are that successful advertise on aalbc because they know the platform can let a great number of people know about their books. The authors who don't need to worry about name recognition benefit from the site by using it to alert readers about new books. I argue any best-selling author interested in connecting with their fan base could benefit from aalbc. Again it's not a technical issue it's just one of informing the author of what's available and helping them understand how they can benefit from the services. Now of course a great publicist can do a better job then I, but you already know that story :-)

"Welcome to post-racial amerika! Electing Donald Trump opened up a Pandora's box full of bigotry just waiting to be unleashed. America's only salvation lies in the hands of white people of good will who are willing to fight for the common good. Blacks can't turn things around without allies from the ranks of responsible whites in positions of authority. On the other hand, black people have to stop being their own worst enemy, especially in their inner cities where they sow the seeds of self-destruction through what results from the "baby mama/baby daddy" dead-end lifestyle." Brilliant! I could not have articulated it better. Seeing the contorted and twisted faces of these embittered and angry white men with their sieg heil salutes is sickening. And to think there is no shortage of people defending these racist nimrods. Their desire for total ethnic cleansing, removal of anyone that does not look like them, extermination of Jews and gay people and subjugation of women, should be a wake up call for this nation.

SMH. 29 year-old Colin Kaepernick didn't just decide to demonstrate after years of seeing discrimination! He led a naive, privileged life as the bi-racial child adopted by a white couple who are reportedly disappointed by his knee bending gesture. Kaepernick was just recently encouraged by his woman-of-color girlfriend to embrace his black side and recognize what blacks have gone through, and to show solidarity with his people. This man you are exalting had to wait until he was up in his 60s to publicly speak out against racism, only doing so as an obligatory act, mindful of his role as CEO of a company he didn't want associated with some one who didn't reject white supremacy. There's nothing unusual or courageous about a prominent black man like him condemning racism. And there were plenty of people on the "reject-Trump's-apologizing-for-Nazis" bandwagon when Frazier expediently scrambled aboard. Get real. This man obviously has great business acumen but there's nothing extraordinary or influential about his taking a stand.

“I've gotten more wisdom and have truth from his teachings that has been VERIFIED and PROVEN to my satisfaction than I've gotten from text books of White so-called "science". Really? That’s interesting. Can you detail what exactly what the Elijah Muhammad Institute of Technology and Science teach you that clearly demonstrated the inferiority and fallacy of “so-called white science”? Can you give us details about the flaws of white science that was exposed at EMITS? Was it physics? Chemistry? Engineering? Medicine? And for the record -I never knew science was race based. The same mathematical conclusions and computations used by the Chinese, Arabs, Aztecs, Egyptians, et al, were the same. And if memory serves me correct, all the chemistry, physics and math used by all people –regardless of race or ethnicity yield the same results. I’ve never heard of "non-white science" (whatever that means) and math proving totally contradictory findings to so-called "white science". I’m very interested in your documentation and verifiable data. Please enlighten me…. “Elijah Muhammad was teaching back in the 30s that the White race were genetically weaker than Black people years before White scientists either knew or admitted to such with thier recessive genes and alleles.” Whites are genetically inferior to black people? Really? You sound like the black version of William Shockley or Arthur Jenson. Interesting. But just exactly how are they inferior? Intellectually? Biologically? Physically? What studies and research was done at EMITS that can prove this? And when were these studies done? Please provide scholarly research references. I would really like to read them. I’ll wait for your response….

Oh I get your question now. It is actually in our own self-interest to do more for others. In a world where everyone is free to maximize their own potential, we all benefit. A rising tide lifts all boats that sort of thing. Mel would you shave 500 square feet off your house in exchange for never having to lock the front door? That 500 square feet can go toward someone who is homeless. We can reduce crime by simply ensuring that people's basic needs are met. Think about all of the great discoveries that will never happen because so many in our population cannot afford an education. Many of the most successful people who we think we can emulate did not have to pay for college Colin Powell did not have to pay to go to City College. When we started college we could borrow enough to attend. Today many students can't even borrow enough go. Even if they could the quality of the education has gone down a great deal employers do not value it as much so the graduates fare less well. Having large numbers of uneducated or poorly educated people does not serve our culture or Society.

I finally listened, your voice is so sexy, if i ever do a read for a female character, you will be one of the fertile ones:) @Mel Hopkins

@Cynique , thank you for sharing I think I had a similar for reaction. When I thought of what I wrote about compassion... I realized I'd gone searching for compassion because I was mean to others. But at the same time, I have (or had) this need for people to like me. But then I realized I'm hard on others because I'm so hard on myself. I beat myself up for falling short of my personal goals. I got it twisted. Whereas I thought I was learning compassion for others, it hit me that I needed to learn to be compassionate with myself. I think that is the key to being naturally easy with others.

Exactly. This is why I ask "WHY" should we care. If we don't care about each other now. "Or even try very hard to care" What is the impetus to care. And clearly pain and suffering isn't enough. It's not like we all don't know what you've mentioned already exist. We've existed this way for the last 2, 017 years. Probably more if I add in Before Common Era - But only the strong survive... So while I read your words, and was almost tempted to put a like on it - my other side says there has to be a reason why we should care ...and pain and suffering ain't it. We know there's a lot of pain and suffering -and that hasn't moved us to do anything before?. So there has to be another reason to care...THE WHY is what I want to know. I have a feeling, though, it has nothing to do with equity or making people comfortable. We've built and contributed to this society and we sure didn't care enough to make sure it wouldn't be one that crushes the spirit. Sure there a lot people sitting in prison but they didn't just get rounded up one day like it was an internment camp. Incarcerating a large number of society happens when no one cares. I know one black man who isn't in there thanks to me... I don't run away from jury duty. I get called regularly because I VOTE in every election. But I digress. We're at the precipice, and now some are crying "we will not be replaced" while others are looking for "women to save them", while others are looking for "us to support each other." I think the real reason "Why" is because there's a huge shift underway -and there's a lot of uncertainty, people are scared shitless and NOW they want support.

@Cynique ok this one got a me a bit... Since it's one of the virtue I thought I needed to work on (got up this morning and thought to myself I'm kind of mean so why fake it LOL) So, why do you believe you need feel sympathy?

Got a chance to see the movie the other day...... I have to say that it was an EXCELLENT movie. Much of it took me back to my childhood growing up in Detroit in the 70s and how Black people looked and carried themselves at that time. Kathryn did a good job. It could have been considered a "Black movie" easily because the main characters were Black and the movie is basically told from a Black experience so I'm not sure what the critics are talking about. The movie touches on: Police brutality Black criminality Racism on the police department The history of Black people leaving the South to work in the industrialized North Damn..... It even showed a history of The Dramatics singing group!!! It reminded me a little of American Gangster the way it took you back to Black life during that time period in detail. I kept thinking about my Father, Uncles, and friends of the family and other Black men who I grew up with at that time who are no longer around who would have LOVED this movie. I don't know about the national audience but there were scenes in that movie that that really hit home to me and other Black people around my age who grew up hearing older adults tell us how it was back in that time period.....and now we see it on screen. Especially how the police behaved and how White prostitutes would come in Black neighborhoods and get Black men in trouble. In my opinion it took too long to make this movie, it should have been made 20 or 30 years ago. I still believe a BLACK director should have made it...but hey....it was so good it really didn't matter. Well....yes it did because I saw a few racial subliminal messages in the film...lol. But overall to me it was a good LONG film. I personally think it was better than Get Out....about as good as Django Unchained.

They should have used a HOT AIR balloon instead of a sail...lol.

The total number of voting age Americans who did not vote is much higher than the number who voted for Trump or Clinton. That is the true majority opinion. Whether you believe that all people are capable of greatness or not. The country generates too much wealth for the average people to be living the way they do. Black or white, male or female, we all should be doing a better job of supporting each other.

Well you can see the output of my passion. However, the site itself is actually not the passion in and of itself. The underlying passion is striving for freedom, not just for myself but for anyone who wants it. Cynique, it would seem illogical for all religions to be "true." They certainly all can't be true. Most contradict each other and none of the world's major religions have been around very long--just a fraction of the time that Sapiens have walked the Earth. But I don't think of it that way. Religions are all man made, but most I imagine started out attempting to enlighten people. As you've pondered I believe the divine is within ourselves and there is more than one way to access it. Different religion whether it is islam or buddhism are different ways of accessing it. Del's numerology is another way, thought he may not think of it that way. The God we seek is within each of us, all matter, and all time. Luke 17:21 says, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Now depending upon the translation you use the words are slightly different than what I've quoted--so different in fact, the the meaning is different. However, this quote taken out of content is probably the main idea of the whole book It just that the versions we have today the leaders preaching the words don't do a very good job helping us discover this...

@Pioneer1 Well, Kaepernick is an athlete who did his thing in the arena of his expertise which, incidentally, commanded a large audience. And, unlike Kenneth Frazier, Colin didn't wait for a specific event to prod him into taking a public stand. He just quietly did his thing. And what waves will Frazier's gesture make, other than to make himself look good? He's not even getting that much publicity. The "average" person doesn't even recognize his name. I didn't. I'm unimpressed. Frazier really hasn't accomplished any more than Kaepernick and he risked nothing by denouncing racism, just like all the CEOs on the council who followed suit because, like Frazier, none of them want to be involved with anything that would damage their precious corporate image and their bottom lines. Furthermore, Kaepernick's taking the knee proved to be prophetic, and on point, putting him in the vanguard of a movement gaining momentum in post-racial America where White Nationals are making a mockery of the national anthem, with their Nazi banners and high regard for men who fought to keep slavery and advance white supremacy. What's-his-name is just a member of the bandwagon everybody is jumping on, in order to distance themselves from an ignorant fool. I also have my suspicions about this guy being appointed to this council by Trump which could mean he was a supporter of #45 or at least a rich Republican conservative. Not the type of negro i personally admire.

I had a thought about beliefs. Lets say everyone is right. Most people that are religious or spiritual suspend logic. Maybe their situation is not one that invokes sympathy. Which comes back to agency. I feel sorry for Trump because he will have a very public fall. But he has earned it. And he will get what he deserves. Charlie Sheen being HIV+ doesn't warrant sympathy that he received. Since he continued to have unorotected sex after he knew he was positive. There a hero worship and hes just doing what boys do so its okay. Not to me.

I'm devoted to seeking the truth, whether it makes me uncomfortable or not. One truth i have learned early on is that the truth is evasive and that constancy is a marker for the real truth. I've also learned that seeking the truth calls for honesty on the part of the seeker and this creates internal conflict and mixed emotions. The one thing that continues to stump me is whether religious beliefs are true. Now more than ever, because i am daily bombarded with religious memes and prayer requests and testimonies on FaceBook. I don't have a problem accepting that there is a higher intelligence and an almighty force of nature. Whether or not this power can be reduced to being a man who inspired other men to write a book of myth and fables, is something i'm luke warm about . That's because the world shows very little benefit from religion because it is too often at the core of so much conflict, not to mention how much evil thrives. Plus, the bible is so contradictory, alternating between forgiving and punishing, between overlooking some despicable acts and damning others, while portraying god as an egomaniac, condemning the free thinkers that he, himself, has created, relegating them to hell-fire for not accepting Jesus as his son. I do find a little truth in the observation about the only thing being wrong with Christianity , is Christians. Buddhism holds some appeal for me, however, because it more about getting in touch with your inner spirit. Yet, millions are totally invested in religion, afflicted by blind faith. Although i do not consider myself a hard core atheist, leaning more toward Humanism or Pantheism, FaceBook has also introduced me to Atheism, and i must admit, its logic impresses me. I do think its true that most people need something to believe in and to turn to for comfort during a time of need, A simple phrase, like "it's god's will", apparently helps to bring closure for many. I ponder whether it could be true that humans are not only star children but are divine themselves, only needing to discover that what they attribute to a higher source is something they have extricated from their inner power. in seeking the truth, i am a little troubled about what conclusions i've come to about my own race and, in truth, some of these ideas undoubtedly have to do with my being assimilated and brainwashed by white values. But i can truthfully say that i have never had to do a lot of soul searching when it comes to whether or not i would rather be white. My answer is simply no. And that's the truth. I wish i could be a little less discriminating in my compassion. i don't always feel sorry for people who probably deserve sympathy. "This above all, to thine ownself be true", is my mantra.

Yes there are indeed a great many Black folks on TV now. Interestingly I don't watch any of the programming. I may try Queen Sugar, based upon Natalie Brazille's novel, I hear that show is good. I don't know how many more white people now see us as human as a result of more Black folks being portrayed on the small screen. But I'm sure it is more than if would be otherwise. I think Black people are in a better place than we would be otherwise.

Well, no surprise. Trump has given all of them a green light. They feel emboldened and now have a free pass to act out their Aryan Teutonic fantasies.....