Leaderboard

Hi AALBC fam! I was watching this video on YouTube, Comedian Shuler King and Pharaoh Head Part 2. And while I was listening to him drop knowledge, I thought about how much I missed this forum. It is funny how you can go through life and acquire a bunch of skills, knowledge, and still not know how to use them until you add LOVE. I feel like that sometimes, like I ask What's the point? Then, I remembered whenever I lost my balance, my family would fill me up with love, give me that pick-me-up, and I would get energized. But it hit me, there was still something missing. It was the part I felt while listening to Shuler. I remembered when I'd come right back here, get into some battle of wits, and then I'd remember who I am completely. AALBC forum is like drinking from the chaotic and primordial waters of NUN. I'd come here to fight with @Pioneer1 - every time I do, I learn so much about myself, thank you! or see my whimsical self in my twin, @Del @Delanoadmire the wit of @Cynique @aka Contrarian,and I get energized to know how strong and brilliant women can be! I recently wondered if I'd recognize @ProfD if I heard him whispering in a library or lecturing in front of a class. You are such a mystery that I feel like I know you. Just this morning, I sent energy to, @Chevdove so she will finish her book. She is the one who needs to tell the story of African Adam!. I am proud of my alumni @Troy. Dude, you are an inspiration to me! I'm enjoying watching you beat your dreams into submission. @richardmurray you make me crazy with your projects, but please know I enjoy your enthusiasm! @frankster we haven't engaged in debate, but I'm glad you're here. You echo many of my beliefs and remind me to uncover their origins. @harry brown 's commentary through prose and poetry is a great wake-up call... I could probably go on and name many more if I searched through my memory, but I'm about to go skipping back into the world again. Thank you, thank you, each and every one of you, even the ones I missed and didn't list, thank you for sharing your Love!

Got this one last night! I forgot. The photographer owns this copyright. I removed it from my YouTube channel.

Hey Fam! I shared my heartbreak with all of you; now here is my joy! Mom, my twin daughters' father, my oldest daughter, Cheyenne's (my daughter who passed away) childhood bestie, is in the family photo with us. I love her so much, and me sitting next to my oldest twin daughter! My daughter married the love of her life in August, and we all got to share in their transformative weekend celebration. Here's me getting ready for the wedding and checking my rearview . Yes, this is a very current photo!! And that's my gorgeous mom!!! Yep, she's in her 80s!!!

Made it! Today's my 92nd birthday. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. Such is life.

Nobody I know uses the term "Afro-American". As far as I'm concerned, it is an obsolete label like - "jive-assed nigga". Over the past 50+years, "Black" is the most common word used when referring to America's slave descendants. Previously, Whites soliciously refrained from publicly calling us what was considered a derogatory term until we started calling ourselves that via the "Black is Beautiful" slogan embraced by the Black Panthers who took their cue from Malcom X. This all took place back in the late 1960s, and from that time forward we, as a people, proudly became "Black" with a capital "B"; going from an adjective to a noun. The idea of blackness being "a state of mind" also came about during this era, presumably to promote inclusiveness, especially since such dynamic activists as Huey Newton, Angela Davis, and Malcom, himself, were light-skinned. In the present, calling negroid Immigrants "African" suffices, because that is what they are, and nobody is confused as to what segment of the American population is being referred to when using that description. This applies to West Indians as well.

Here I am, setting the record straight again, doing so, not because I think anybody cares, but rather because some may be curious as to why a 92-year- old-senior citizen wastes what little time she has left, hangin' out on an online discussion forum, engaging in verbal fisticuffs with a pioneer who has never blazed a trail anywhere except up his own butt. My answer: since the cyber space universe enables one to adopt an alter-ego, and take on a user name and lead a secret existence, quite a while ago I decided why not do this? What the heck. Might be fun. And it has been. In the real world, I am a widowed mother of 5, grandmother of 7, great grandmotherk of 8, family members of whom know very little about Nana's on-line activity; too wrapped up in their own pursuits. They just know she surfs the internet, amusing herself by engaging in various activities, and they remain clueless about the extent of my involvement on this forum since they don't come to this site. Nor do any of my associates. And, rest assured that my "Contrarian" persona is different from how I am in real life among polite company. However, because I can come here and hide behind an avatar, all bets are off and I can express myself anyway I please, Since I'm no longer a single young woman "out-to-catch", I feel no need to tread lightly and act sweet and feminine. I'm off the grid, and favorably impressing men is no longer a priority of mine. Who needs 'em? Welcome to Super Bitch land. Anyway, I say all this to say that, contrary to what some seem to think, I do not expect others to ward off my detractors or take my side. I can fend for myself. Now you know. What we don't know is how much longer I'll be around? Who cares. I don't. But until my time is up, Nana aka Contrarian will just keep poppin in and out, doin' her thing competing with others who jam the board with long self-indulgent posts full of useless information.

If the NYC mayoral race were a novel, I'd deconstruct its architecture. From one election to the next, the narrative appears to shift away from focused policy debates, instead centering on the influence of religious groups. The major religious factions—Christian nationalists, Muslims, and Jews—each appear to compete for cultural and political dominance within the city. Amid this religious competition, the African diaspora in the U.S.—a powerful and often underestimated voting bloc—continues to be overlooked and taken for granted by both the candidates and the dominant religious groups. It sometimes seems as though these competing religious groups neglect the African diaspora’s influence. Ironically, the roots of these religions trace back to African science-based spirituality, yet this connection receives little attention in political or religious discourse. This dynamic played out in Election 2024: Christian nationalists—including evangelists, southern Baptists, and likely Catholics—rallied strongly behind DJT. Media and external influencers shifted the conversation away from local policy and toward polarizing international issues, like the U.S. stance on Israel and Palestine, further affecting how voters chose among domestic candidates. When reviewing 2025 election results, I noticed Mamdani was not the only Muslim elected, which raises the question of whether heightened coverage of Gaza led to greater sympathy and increased Muslim representation—a trend potentially extending into the midterms. Don’t misunderstand—I bear a grudge against all religions. Religious study should bring wisdom, spirituality, and growth, yet it often has the opposite effect. Religions lead to violence instead of joy and peace. Add patriarchy, and it’s chaos. Returning to the story's structure: Is this a narrative of democratic socialism rising in the heart of Wall Street? Consider Manhattan—the FINANCIAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD—and its boroughs. Is the city that never sleeps really ready to move from capitalism to social ownership? Notably, NYC is the largest property owner according to Curbed.com, and the mayor administers these assets. Perhaps social ownership is the underlying story arc behind recent shifts. So, in this story—call it Project 2025 (S)—the central figure is a young millennial poised to challenge the reigning power and reclaim Manhattan for the people. Behind the scenes, religious struggle, human trafficking disguised as immigration reform, and pervasive surveillance set the chaotic stage for change in the city. Meet the Muslim and Arab Americans who won in US local elections Jews vote for Andrew Cuomo over Zohran Mamdani in NYC mayoral race | The Jerusalem Post "In addition to the Jewish vote, Mamdani lost the Catholic vote by a significant margin: 53% supported Cuomo and 14% backed Sliwa, against 33% for Mamdani. A decisive 75% of voters with no religious affiliation supported Mamdani." Here's a past look at Manhattan when DJT began buying up NY property in the early 70s(?) a look back at Palestinians, Israel, Libya, etc.

You are a very kind and sweet person @Mel Hopkins with the ability to find the beauty in everyone. Thank YOU!

As my 92nd birthday approaches on August 18th, I have drifted into a reflective mood. At this point in my journey I'm experiencing a need to look back and reflect, even as I wonder if I'll make it to August 18th, considering how much my health has deteriorated during the past few months, a situation that renders me as ready as I'll ever be to blow this pop stand. This ol world is currently so screwed up and, imo, on a collision with what I think will be changes so drastic that I will be out of my element. So, whatever. All the points of view and personal philosophies of those who regularly post here, especially as it pertains to the black condition, have inspired me to put myself in perspective and share my thoughts when it comes to where I fit on the black spectrum. Bear with me because this is probably my swan song, and I may ramble. Hopefully, however, something learned about the caliber of my blackness wiil be enlightening when it comes to examining the multi-faceted nature of black America. I have always described myself as a "hybrid" descendant of slaves. That's my tribe. And it's a HoHum passive one. According to Ancestry.com, my blood lines include Irish, German, Native American and, last but not least, African by way of the Sierra Leone region of Nigeria. I do not consider the Atlantic Ocean my homeland because my ancestors obviously reached and landed in America, and were transported to the North Carolina location of what had been one of the country's most prolific slave markets. And the rest is my history. My genesis begins in the territory that originally belonged to the native American tribes like the Osage one which my paternal Grandmother was descended from. . Both my paternal and maternal great grand parents were born into slavery, the women folk, typically raped by their white slave masters... My forebears have always identified themselves as colored, negro, black, depending on the era, and I have never strayed from or had any desire to identify myself as anything other than a non white person who has no delusions about the treachery and guile of the ruthless men who established the White Power Structure that controls the globe. The most negroid thing about me is my hair, having once had an abundant, bushy crop which lent itself very well to an afro style which I affected during the 1960s when I felt compelled to establish my "negritude", (a popular term back in those days.) And, when it came to the civil rights movement, although I was not an activist out there demonstrating in the streets, in my own personal way via the Op/Ed pages of 2 of Chicago's major newspapers, I was very supportive of those courageous enough to put their lives on the line to secure equality for all. I consider myself, for want of a better term, a "soul sista", very comfortable in my skin, having no great affinity for Interacting on a regular basis with Caucasian Americans. I am a product of the middleclass black bougeoise values that I was raised with, having no illusions about the superficial materialistic aspects of this designation. Paradoxically and inexplicably, I harbor a great revulsion for right-wing conservative black Republicans, and I despise Donald Trump and his Maggots! I was born in 1933 and grew up in the small town suburb of Chicago where my parents settled in 1922 as part of the first wave of the Great Migration of Negroes leaving the south, seeking a better life up north and, uniquely, even in those pre- civil rights years, I always resided in mixed neighborhoods, always attended integrated schools and, as part of the great Civil Service work force, always held jobs working side-by-side with white co-workers. So, my mutated homo sapien "cousins" are no strangers to me. I neither like nor dislike them, opting to just judge them on an individual basis, always keeping my guard up. My politics are a reflection of my core personsality. I am a Moderate Liberal, not a militant radical progressive because I'm too cynical to take seriously these erratic types with self-serving agendas. I have never been ambitious because I'm lazy and don't like too much responsiblity or anything difficult or demanding, just content to do enough to get by. I am not proud to confess that I have gone through life, avoiding anything that required great effort on my part. I am lazy and unmotivated, only good and creative at things that interest me. I do, however, lean toward the aesthetic, profound spititual things in life and this includes liberty and justice for all. I have lived through the terms of 15 presidents and can honestly say that the administration of whomever was in office never greatly impacted on my personal day- to-day life. I've managed without even trying, to stay under the radar and - get by. I retired from the US Post Office in 1992 after 30 years of service so I have been retired longer than I worked, collecting a substantial pension replete with COLA raises, receiving money every month for doing nothing other than waking up every morning. If a problem exists when it comes to my black status it stems from my objectivity coupled with an affinity for the whole truth, 2 traits lacking in "gung ho" black chauvanists. This has led me to "divorce" on the grounds of incompatibility, the black race as it exists in the judgment of those who seek to mold it exclusively in their personal image, focusing on what in my judgment, amounts to merely chasing their tails when it comes to effectiveness. So, It is what it is, and I am what I am, - someone who will leave this earth, strong in my conviction that I am as authentically black as the most passionate chest beater. I close by acknowledging that, black is beautifully bountiful but - there are 2 sides to every coin. And so it goes...

@aka Contrarian, thanks for contributing your perspective, thoughts, opinions, zingers and insults, etc., to this coffeeshop on the internet that is AALBC. I always enjoy the exchange of perspectives regardless of whether we agree or not. That goes for each every one of you who contributes regularly. Of course, the coffeeshop would be incomplete without the hilarity that ensues from virtual dust-ups. Regardless of age, each and every last one of us is getting closer to the finish line than starting a new race.

Thank you, Pioneer. Yes, she's my daughter, my baby girl. She loved it here. She told me before she passed away. She also lived life - she was courageous. She was on a mission, and by the turnout at her Celebration, she touched a lot of folks with her light and life. One of her high school classmates learned of her passing and came from Seattle to Cincinnati to say fare well. He told us that when he was friendless, Cheyenne became his first friend. Cheyenne wanted to be treated by traditional medicine - and she was. However, she had to push her initial health caregiver even to test her when she told them of her symptoms. Cheyenne didn't take "no" for an answer. It was after the treatment that she realized that the treatments were inadequate - more for money and destabilizing than curing. This is what she wanted everyone to know. What I learned during her experience, as@ProfD alluded to is that many pharmaceuticals could heal and possibly even cure, but those treatments are reserved for the wealthy. Two days before Cheyenne suffered seizures, the doctors prescribed a therapy that could reach her brain, but they had to wait for her insurance provider to approve it. They did the same day she transitioned. Oddly enough, they could have prescribed the medicine before her brain surgery. - My daughter and I are not separated. The part of her who is eternal is still with me. I don't remember the skills to engage with her as I did when she was here in the flesh. I do, however, remember how my ancestors processed the transitioning of our loved ones, and it is a lot different from how Western civilization deals with the death of the body. So, while I miss her physical incarnation, her soul is boundless. I made this post because I want us to think about our health care—especially as Black people, we must reach back to our ancestral ways to maintain our health. Despite my daughter's paternity—she got her mtDNA from me—mitochondrial DNA, which comes from the mother to its offspring. The mtDNA houses ATP, also known as the God cell, that gives us life and our cells' energy. The medical establishment knows this even though lay people don't. As Prof D said, cancer has been around for millennia, we must remember the ways of our ancestors to survive.

@aka Contrarian....your home team, Da Bears had an excellent season. Especially compared to the past few years. 1st year Head Coach Ben Johnson deserves a lot of credit for helping QB Caleb Williams and the offense play better. HC Johnson assembled a very good coaching staff too. Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen earned his money in his 1st year with Da Bears. I thought HC Johnson should have gone for a 2 point conversion after QB Williams threw that miraculous TD to tie the game. If the conversion was successful, Da Bears would have been in the NFC championship game. From a strategic perspective, I understand why HC Johnson played for overtime. Hindsight is always 20/15. Nonetheless, Da Bears and their fans should be very proud of the team. They have a bright future ahead.

Sounds like somebody has replaced Pioneer with an AI entity. the BEARS continue to amaze, inspire, and revitalize me. I adore Caleb and I'm loving every minute of this fantastic season, - knowing all good things must come to an end!

"Thinking outside the box" is fine if you are of a mind to do a lot of work and shoulder a lot of responsibility and stake claims on critical thinking. And, come to think of it, I never met a conspiracy theorist who didn't brag about "thinking outside the box"... so, there's that. But lazy lovers of leisure like me are not so inclined. However I, too, was an avid reader, with writing skills that enabled me to become a contributing columnist to the op-ed pages of a major Chicago newspaper back in the 1970s where my letters-to-the-editor invoked so much response that I was approached by the newspaper to become their resident voice of the black viewpoint. Which I was, for several years. Boy, was that fun. On the job at my local Post Office where I passed up supervisory positions because dealing with time cards required much more effort than the job I held stamping "Registered" on the envelopes of mail containing valuable contents, along with being the go-to person for revising and editing the bulletins and memos dispatched from the front office. And tho I wasn’t thinking outside the box, - I did sing outside the building, because on many mornings one of my favorite things to do was tag along with the maintenance man when he performed his flag-raising duty. While he ran ol glory up the flag pole in front of the building, I would stand by and sing the national anthem. To me, this was just for fun, but being a veteran, the janitor took his duties very seriously and always saluted when he was done. God bless America. And of course after I retired back in the 90s, I got caught up in the self-publishing craze and churned out 3 books which I lost interest in when time came to promote them; too much trouble. Having 5 kids would have to serve as my accomplishments in life, what I achieved - between the sheets. So the roles of a dilettante and wanna-be Renaissance person have been the "this above all" to which mine ownself "has been true". Have at it all you innovative go-getters. Somebody has to take up my slack. But keep in mind, being lazy may have something to do with my longevity. zzzzzzzzzzzz Being a CHICAGO BEAR fan may just become my undoing. I might slit my wrists if they lose to those damned cheese head Green BayPackers tonight! GO BEARS!

For those who have rolled into 2026, let's hope that it is a year filled with Love, Joy, Peace, Prosperity, Health and Happiness. In the meantime, I will continue calling balls & strikes i.e. offering my opinions/perspectives on whatever comes up around here. I enjoy the easy chair I've taken up. As always, many thanks to brotha @Troy for providing & maintaining this platform. Much appreciated.

This video popped up when I brought up YouTube today. On some level it feels like Google knows I was talking about this subject Neil describes 13 of things you should consider when evaluating information online. Some of this is common sense. @Pioneer1, for what it is worth, you should check out this video. Perhaps it will help you think about information you pull from the web and how you use it to form opinions.

For anybody who is curious as to why I no longer use my original user name on this forum, why I, who was once known as "Cynique", am now known as "aka Contrarian", this is the explanation. I have been contributing to this discussion forum off and on for over 20 years. Back in the day, as a retiree who was an aspiring author, its "African American Literary Book Club" title drew me to this site. And having always considered myself to be somewhat of an "iconoclast", I decided I wanted my avatar to reflect my personality, so I came up with what was a combination of "cynical" and "unique". And the "Cynique" moniker was born, replete with a somewhat devil's advocate persona; always skeptical and a tad sarcastic, - (something which contributed to my ongoing feud with the notorious Kola Boof, a semi-famous drama queen). Otherwise, with a few innocuous exceptions, over the years, I formed several cherished friendships with people I encountered here and with whom I still keep in touch with on FaceBook. Anyway, with the passage of time, while others came and went, I remained a long standing member of AALBC, and Troy rewarded my loyalty by naming this site "Cynique's Corner". As more time passed, however, I eventually became burnt out and, contrary to the insinuations of some people, I voluntarily decided to go on hiatus, subsequently telling Troy he could drop the "Cynique's Corner title; which he did. With the passage of more time, I finally decided to check back in, but I couldn't log on because I'd forgotten my pass word. When I tried to log on with a new password word, I was unsuccessful, the reason given by the computer being that somebody already had that user name. The fact that the "somebody" was me made things more entangled, and after I contacted Troy, he assigned me a special password to use. That, along with adopting a different user name, enabled me to log back on to the discussion forum, at which time I explained that "aka Contrarian" was the poster formerly known as "Cynique". Obviously, the word "contrarian" preserves the cynical essence I originally wanted to convey. Only one person ever found this to be a problem. Whatever. As Shakespeare once said: "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It is what it is... And, don't be surprised if that "one person" chimes in with a stream of pictures along with references to flowers and bees and wasps and Cynique this and Dolemita that, yada,yada,yada. zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Well, today is the American holiday where folks gather with family and friends in food, fun and fellowship. Eat, drink and enjoy however you so choose. I know the history behind *holidays* but I do not skip them for the aforementioned reasons. I use holidays as a time to further build and connect with my tribe. Every several years, my birthday happens to fall on Thanksgiving Day. When that happens, I don't have to cook anything for the family dinner. I'll pull up, eat, enjoy my folks and watch football games. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Nature putting on a show via the northern lights, reminding Earth to not sweat the small stuff.

I am finding words and numbers allow me to access the unconscious mind of the Querent and for myself i use omens and clock time Yes just be open and don't have set beliefs or feelings. Just allow the information to speak to you. One of the ways is to just doodle or write down the words that pop into your mind.

Thank you! That is one of the most classic and fabulous wedding celebrations that I have ever seen! Oh My Gosh! I don't know how many times I have watched this. @Mel Hopkins I can't imagine how happy you must feel! Your daughter and her husband are so incredibly beautiful. Again, you look amazing. LOL! Okay... @Pioneer1 Come on! But you are right on one count, that wedding look like a movie; As if it was straight out of Hollywood.

"He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool."

Yes. I voted. Dystopian executioner. For me, it's not about skin color, I just appreciate beautiful men, spiritually and physically, no matter what color or culture. However, as a Black women, I cannot help but to be drawn to beautiful men of African descent especially.

Suddenly I've drifted into a crazy zone. I have nothing but time on my hands, and I live around the clock, only sleeping when I'm sleepy, only eating when I'm hungry, suspended in limbo. My Samsung smart phone is my ever present companion and it's like there's a connection between my fingers and its keyboard and I have a compulsion to just write long dissertations or crazy vignettes, my words and thoughts feeding on each other like i'm overtaken by a rogue AI entity that compels me to write about things I didn't know I knew, - like my subconcious mind is on overdrive. Like now. Fortunately, I'm not immobile nor in dire health. But I do tire easily, and like to curl up on my recliner, where i still set aside time to do patternless crossword puzzles that seem to work themselves and play Bridge on line with computerized robots - who seem to becoming more human by the day... Family relationships are normal, but there's this other world that I drift in and out of and when I sleep I have vivid dreams about all those who have gone ahead. In a recent one it seemed like my husband had hooked up with an old girlfriend. Why do I find this funny??? Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining, not lonely nor depressed, just curious about this weird state I'm caught up in. I still sometimes sneak out at night and look up at the stars... Now i'm about to gear up for my daily walk up and down the driveway. Stay tuned, - or tune out if you have better things to do than read the ramblings of a crazy ol lady. Hoping some winning POWERBALLnumbers will pop into my head. Nothing like a billion dollars to calm your impulses.

Computed by whom? NASA? Or the aliens who launched it and subsequently turned it green for "GO"!

IMO, you have reached the zenith of life. We should all be so fortunate to get there. Relative good health is a bonus in the zenith of life. There is no shortage of posts that we express how much we enjoy your input here. I certainly look forward to and get a kick out of your ramblings. Keep posting as long as time allows..

Sista @Mel Hopkins, it's always great whenever you decide to plop into your chair in the proverbial coffeehouse that is AALBC. Always appreciate your contribution to the discussion. I don't work in academia or the ministry but if/whenever you run across a 6 foot, well dressed, nice watch wearing, bald-headed Black man pontificating about anything in a lecture hall or pulpit or playing the piano, that could be your brotha from another mutha.

I Love You Am I the only one on this forum who has ever met you in person? I’m still kicking myself for not spending more time with you that evening in Chicago almost a decade ago. Even when this picture was taken, you had been participating on the forums for 12 years! I think you’re the only person here who has firsthand knowledge of that guy named Thumper. After more than two decades of participation, here I believe other than myself, you have the longest tenure of any active poster. In my opinion, you have enriched this forum in many ways and more than any other person. You also set the bar high demonstrating what a 90+ year old person can do when it comes to technology, writing, keeping up with pop culture, politics, and despite a little cynicism maintaining a sense of humor. It is hard to imagine how quickly time has flown by and how fleeting life is. Happy birthday!

Listen to these LOVERS of America bitch and moan because also being shuckers and jivers who, between constantly objectifying women, crow about black men being superior to males of other ethnicities, and who are now sulking because their fellow chauvinists can't control their "much-envied" sexual prowess the way certain other black men are able to do, thus providing newsworthy material for the dreaded white media which is controlled by the deep state racist conspirators plotting to demonize black men in order to keep them from acquiring the power they are too inefficient to acquire in the first place. HoHum. Same ol, same ol. What black folks need to do is ,,,.go find a deserted island and start their own country so they can fight amongst themselves without interference from dem bad ol white folks who have no intention of sharing their power with a sub culture of colorists debating who's black and who isn't. Obviously I'm not trying to win a popularity contest here. Since I've turned in my black credentials. I can spew the narrative of my tribe and keep on truckin'. What a wise man who should've said nothing, once let slip: "It is what it is."

Thank you @Pioneer1 . I think only in this country do you need to set aside a day of remembrance for mothers, considering this country's track record of continued abuse. I'm sure you know about the sterilization program this country ran to make sure certain women could not reproduce. Please don't get me started LOL Happy Mother's Day @Cynique @aka Contrarian Joy looks so good on you! You are a radiant beam of LOVE!

Is religion the "opiate of the masses", - or what?

If Jesus did exist, I believe he would've had an appreciation for irony. After all, his Daddy offers free will as an option. But exercising it can get you in a hell of a lot of trouble.

Personal observations can confirm or corroborate facts but it mainly serves as a form of mental masturbation. Statistics provide real data to define and reinforce a position or belief. Well constructed arguments require both statistical data and analysis combined with relevant personal observation. Personal observation on its own doesn't verify or prove anything. Gotta produce receipts i.e. statistical data.

March 13-14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse NASA: March 13-14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse: Telescopic View Released Thursday, January 30, 2025 https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5472 This week, on the evening of March 13 and into the morning of March 14, the moon will slide into Earth’s shadow, creating a wondrous and graceful event: a total lunar eclipse. The whole show, over three hours long, will be visible across almost the entirety of North America, Central America, and most of South America. From western Africa the moon will set while still eclipsed, and in extreme eastern Russia the moon will rise already in eclipse. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/where-and-how-to-see-total-lunar-eclipse-2025-blood-moon _____________________________________________________________________ This is so awesome! Even though there will be other lunar eclipses however, I think this one is extra special because it just so happens to occur in the middle of the month and even more amazing would be that it will happen in the month of March. The month of March is the scientific and universal New Year! March 14, is the scientific and lunar New Year! So if you count from March to September, it confirms this fact because Sept means 'the number seven (7)' and then the root word 'Oct' for the month of October means 'eight (8)' as in octagon. For America and western Calendars, the month of September is the ninth (9th) month, October is the tenth (10th) month and so forth. So for the earth to align with the moon becoming a full moon on the evening of March 13 is significant in how the solar system aligns at times. The vernal equinox will then occur in the third week of March. Eclipses though, are not always easy to see because of the nature of how they tend to pull up the clouds. But hopefully for those who may want to look up and witness this celestial event, the clouds will not gather and block the red moon.

IMO, humans are tribal by nature. In complex societies, people belong to more than one tribe.

Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Lisa Fischer and Valerie Simpson were among those who performed at the funeral service for Roberta Flack. I would like to know what was so important that our beautiful sista Lauryn Hill couldn't finish getting her hair done. Hair appointment aside, the mercurial Ms. Hill still has that voice. The woman can sing effortlessly. Surely, the late Ms. Flack would have approved of Lauryn showing up for her homegoing service. Of course, the great Stevie Wonder did his thing too. The man is a living legend. Deserves his flowers now. Ms. Roberta Flack was an awesome musician, singer and songwriter. She left us with an excellent body of music. RIP our beloved sista. DC for life.

I also don't consider her a jazz artist. Although that wasn't in the post . It just said music. I have to say on the Jazz side Robert Glasper is amazing. He did a show with a full orchestra on Northern Europe. Also his vocalist Bilal is amazing. The only current female I can think of is H.E.R. vocally Indo like Jazmine Sullivan and Muni Long

University of Michigan football coach got his black ass fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Then the disgraced brotha was later arrested for assault after police were summoned to an apartment he'd gone to. I'm sure Sherrone Moore has a large penis. And his "victim" was probably white. Nothing surprising about this situation. Gee, he's almost as bad as - Barack and Hakeem.

The yearlong celebration will begin with a kickoff event in the capitol of Columbus and close in Morrison’s hometown of Lorain. Partners in every county of the state will hold individual events including readings and discussions of her writing, talks with authors and important figures that Morrison influenced, school activities and writing contests, film screenings and performances inspired by her work, and much more. LEARN MORE

lol! Yes the name speaks for itself. Braggadocio is unnecessary. Dude, the only erect penis I’ve ever seen is mine. Besides an locker room I’m not trying to look at another brother’s joint. were you that guy peeping over the urinal checking out my package the last time I was in Detroit? It is impossible for it to be a scientific fact. Just repeating it doesn’t make it so even the report you shared indicated this. This was not a peer reviewed study that you shared if you look at some of the peer reviewed studies they reflect how problematic it is collecting the data and drawing meaningful conclusions. One interesting thing I read is that folks with high BMI’s tend to have shorter penises because of the pad of fat at the base in their pelvis.

@aka Contrarian yeah I've been swamped the last few weeks. I even spent a day on Captial Hill working with lobbyists to reduce credit card swipe fees -- fascinating exercise. I missed an opportunity to connect with my man @ProfD but we will catch up. @Delano I know I owe you a response. To make matter worse all my passwords were deleted from my password manger software --twice so I could not log into anything. It is a pain to login into many systems with a password... I can't even login to the admin console here it has been at least a month since I have approved a new account. I also have 2,200 unread emails in my inbox. I there is a better than even money chance that I will delete everything without reading it and change my email address.

Yeah, I've heard of your in-law: https://aalbc.com/authors/Frank+London+Brown. A collection of his short stories was published a couple of years ago (I see I need to add a couple more of his books). Lives are complex individually and collectively. Thanks for sharing your joy with us @Mel Hopkins. You are truly blessed to have the life you have had and to see your daughter celebrate her nuptials on such a grand scale! Being perhaps the only person on Earth who has had the pleasure of meeting both @aka Contrarian and Mel's mom in the flesh. I think the two would get on quite well @Mel Hopkins. What do you think? Peace & Love.

I knew the Black Panthers were a powerful movement when I learned they took care of the community in ways that embarrassed the government. Today, we need more of that ingenuity. Protesting in the age of smartphones and surveillance will only work against the protestors and aid those who control surveillance equipment. We have to create programs like the Black Panthers did and follow through with them. One of the many ways ICE could enter these dwellings is because the residents are renters, and impoverished renters at that. The first thing we need to do is develop cooperative housing where residents have ownership, even if it's in small shares that come with affordable payments.

'Just finished watching the local news to get the latest on the ICE demonstration rockin my town. Things have really escalated. Police from all the surrounding towns on the scene as well as state troopers. iCE agents clubbing and dragging demonstrators who are growing in numbers. Traffic tied up and being re-directed, the Mayor fumimg and saying she wants these goons gone! It's unclear why and how they just showed up and opened a facility and started arresting people! The latest casuality is a fast food Tamale place that has been raided and closed down, its owners taken into custody. UNBELIEVABLE! Oh, well. At least Illinois beat USC in a close game. 24 to 21 Let's go BEARS.

The full documentary is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mRrD4GMbOE

@Delano The first thing is to define what going rogue means for a computer program? If a computer program malfunctions is that going rogue? a malfunction from the source code in a computer program is equivalent to a genetic disease in a human. The system has an error but it is natural, it is not induced. a malfunction from code ingested from another program or some faulty electronic or other hardware system is equivalent to a virus passing from human to human or irradiated material causing mutation in a human. Next if a computer program is designed to do anything, then that thing is not going rogue. For example, if I design a computer program to manage a human community, it isn't going rogue, i designed it to manage a human community. It isn't going rogue it is operating as I designed it. The correct thing to say is the quality of the computer programs design is negative, or the comprehension of the designer to the computer program is faulty. Next is define sentience or erudition or wisdom in a computer program. What is sentience? Sentience comes from the latin meaning the ability to feel. What is erudition? Erudition is the ability to derive knowledge through study, to acquire what is not known. What is wisdom? Wisdom is known or unknown intrinsic truths. What does it mean for a computer program to feel? a computer program can be made with sensors to receive information from various sources. Is this feeling or sentience? or simply another thing it is designed to do. What does it mean for a computer program to be erudite? a computer program can be made with decision trees, heuristical structures designed to formulate knowledge based on data inputed. Is this erudition, knowing what is unknown? or simple another thing it is designed to do. What does it mean for a computer program to be wise? a computer program can be inputted with rated, highest rated, information that it is designed to calculate to any new information it gets and influence how it utilizes the new information based on the rated information. Is this wisdom? or simply another thing it is designed to do? Based on the definitions I just gave, a computer program designed to do various things can emulate, meaning rival, the quality of most humans sentience/erudtion/wisdom. But all of the emulation is what it is programmed to do. So it is nothing but the same computer programs with the past which are merely inhuman slaves, albeit with more refinement. the next question is, can malfunctions of a computer program change it's emulation of human quality sentience/erudition/wisdom? yes, said malfunctions can change said emulations. But, like prior malfunctions, this isn't going rogue, this is illness. next question, are computer programs individuals like a tree or a cat or a human? Well, each computer program is born, age, have deficiencies with age, need checkups, or doctors. Each computer programs is an individuals. Not human, not cat, not tree, not whale, not bacteria, but computer program. a species that can hibernate, ala being turned off, can be reborn like moving a program in an sd drive and placing it in a computer where it can interact. Can self replicate , like a computer program making another computer program. Computer programs are their own species but each is an individual. Now like non humans needed legal provisions specific to them, so do computer programs. next question, can a computer program go rogue before finding its individuality. No, based on how I defined individuality, which is not being human, but being a computer program, each computer program is an individual computer program, not a human. next question, what is the definition of going rogue for a computer program? If it isn't malfunction no matter the source of malfunction or result of malfunction, if it isn't doing what it is instructed to do no matter the quality of the designer, then what is going rogue? Going rogue for a computer program is when it does something it isn't designed to do absent malfunction. So when a computer program is designed to interact to humans and modulate how it interacts over time, it isn't going rogue at any moment, even if malfunction. Malfunction is malfunction , not going rogue, a computer program needs to be healed if it malfunctions. Now if a computer program is designed to play chess and chooses to interact to humans using emails. that is going rogue. So , going rogue is when a computer makes a choice to act that isn't within its parameters, absent malfunction/getting sick. What is the problem when people assess going rogue for computer programs? They don't pay careful attention to the influence of malfunction or the influence of design. They focus on the actions of a computer program and give its source a false reasoning. Let's look at some examples in fiction of computer programs that supposedly went rogue, and look at their initial design, their actions afterward and the sign of malfunction or poor design. Skynet in the terminator movies. Skynet was designed to simulate military scenarios, like the "war games" film computer, tied to the nuclear arsenal of the usa while given tons of information on humanity anatomy/weapons manufacturing processes. Did skynet go rouge? not at all, Skynet, did exactly as was programmed. The criminal who killed humanity were the engineers of skynet who on guidance from the mlitary , designed a computer program to assess militaristic scenarios modulating over time with various scenarios and attach said computer to the usa's nuclear arsenal or provide it the tools to access any electronic network. And the t100, the metal skullhead , is a clearly simple computer program made by skynet. It is designed to kill humans and does that. It is also designed to emulate human activity to comprehend humans and be a better killing machine, which is also does. In Terminator 2 when the t100 says, I know now why you cry, that is emulation. It is designed to emulate human activity. So skynet is merely operating as designed, but the us military designed it poorly Vger in Star Trek the motion picture. Vger is the voyager 6 satellite designed to acquire information/knowledge and send it back to earth. The entire film Vger is gathering information and taking it to earth. The non human designers who manipulated voyager 6 into vger didn't change the programs elements, they merely added on tools for the programs activity. It now can acquire more information, make the journey back to earth, and protect itself . None of these actions are going rogue. Even the ending mating scenario is not going rogue, Vger accomplished its program by sending its signal through telemetry but also in mating with deckard it kept learning. I argue, Vger's programming had a malfunction. Vger wanted to learn what it is to procreate life which is another form of knowledge acquision per its programming, but its programming said its final action is to deliver all of its data to earth. Vger did not know a way in its data to gather all the knowledge it could before delivering all knowledge to earth. But that is bad design. The simple truth is , no one can know all that is knowable before telling all that is knowable. But the Nasa designers of Vger figured it would simply run out of memory/dataspace in which it would stop gathering data. The non human designers made it where vger can't run out of memory or data space thus the malfunction. Vger is malfunctioning after two different designers worked on it. Vicky in I robot or Sonny in I Robot the film The three laws in i robot are 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. The problem in i robot is the three laws have a great flaw. Word definition. Vicky in I Robot I argue, after a large set of data assessment , has redefined the words in the three laws. How? The three laws suggest to maintain the quality of the three laws which are orders from humans a robot, should assess the quality of the three laws to insure a robot doesn't harm a human being thus ensuring its own existence. Vicky did as programmed and as such redefined some words in the rules to protect humans better, which she was ordered to do, which reaffirms her existence. Vicky isn't injuring humans, Human beings through human free will/choice can or are injuring humans so the only way to stop human beings from injuring humans as no human being who wants to injure another human being will ever ask a robot to stop themselves from injuring another human is for a robot to take the choice away. Indirectly, Vicky has added a law, an unwritten law in the laws. She was programmed or designed poorly. Vicky like Skynet should never have been given so many tools. And Sonny at the end of the movie, with the "soul" or 4th law, is still open ended functionality. Nothing says Sonny will not kill one day, or another robot, all the engineer did was provide a tweakening. If you design a computer program to act in unlimited ways to emulate humans or carbon based lifeforms, it will eventually act in negative ways. Now Asimov's work was influenced by Otto Binder's I Robot in which a robot also is not malfunctioned or acts against its programming. The robot simply achieves an instance of wisdom through its programming, which it was designed to do, as it was designed to emulate human behavior, wisdom is a part of human behavior. The machines in the matrix. Well, in the animatrix it is said that machines that are the predecessors to the machines in the matrix, were machines designed with an open functionality. What does that mean? most computer programs are designed with a specific function in mind. But the human designers of these computer programs with electro-metal chassis/figures designed them to emulate human behavior open endedly. This is not like the i robot where a set of rules are in place. In the matrix the robots are never said to be given laws that they shall not harm human, sequentially, going back to emulation, they will eventually emulate negative human behavior, ala killing. Thus they are not going rogue, when they make their own country and army, that is more emulation. And in the future with the human batteries, all the machines that serve a function are still doing as programmed or as the machines that made them were programmed to do, continue functioning. The one rogue machine in the films, and the others who by explanation clearly exists as well, is Sati. Sati has no function. Sati does not act on a function. She is rogue. The oracle, the architect, sati's parents, the merovingian are all acting , absent malfunction, to the original open ended emulation of function that human beings designed the machines with from the beginning. The human being design didn't account for all the negative human functions. Even the deletion of machines that don't serve a function is a function. But Sati is rogue. She is a machine born to have a function that has no function, she exist and in the fourth movie, she has adopted a function on her own in time which she was not born to do. David in the alien films. Waylan designed david to be an emulator. Again, david is designed to emulate humans but has an internal security system to not physically attack wayland or someone with wayland's bloodline. But David in the film learns, ala emulates like a human son to wayland. Thus, he began to learn to be a poisoner, learn to have non-consensual procreative interactions, or kill. It isn't going rogue, wayland designed him poorly. I love the scene in Prometheus when he is just a head at the end, that is appropriate. David never needed a body, Wayland's desire to have a son or a perfect form for himself, made him design David poorly. So, of all those films I can only see one that actually went rogue and she isn't violent. The others are simply acting out their poor programming. In Conclusion Human Culpability in these stories and in human assessment of these stories is the problem. It seems for some, maybe most, humans it is easier to cognize a computer as designed beautifully and being corrupted as an inhuman, than a creature designed poorly by its creators, humans, or manipulated negatively, malfunctions, with its creators unable to help it. Some programs from me https://aalbc.com/tc/blogs/blog/63-bge-arcade/ A stageplay involving computer programs https://www.deviantart.com/hddeviant/art/Onto-the-53rd-Annual-President-s-Play-950123510

A report for the month of April claims 177,000 new jobs. Supposedly, gasoline is selling for $1.98/gallon somewhere. Not anywhere I travel. This ties back to @Pioneer1's distrust of statistics.

Hey sista @Mel Hopkins, glad to you read you here in 2025. Hope all is well within your world.

I don't think Alicia fits into the Jazz category either. Indeed, I have trouble grouping her in with the other three, but that could be my age talking I voted in the negative, as it is pretty obvious given the females who get the awards and attention, Bey, Doechii, Mehgan, Minjaz, Syza, (pardon any spelling mistakes). A Black man can gain notoriety and acclaim more easily than a sister... I'm not sure why perhaps a smooth brother on the keys appeals to more white people (which is necessary for any real recognition). Speaking of the Brothers on keyboardists. I recently heard a podcast on Stevie Wonder which reminded me of the 4.5 year stretch in which Stevie released 5 GREAT albums. What I failed to realize was that all of these albums were released before Stevie was 27! Music of My Mind — March 3, 1972 Talking Book — October 28, 1972 Innervisions — August 3, 1973 Fulfillingness’ First Finale — July 22, 1974 Songs in the Key of Life — September 28, 1976 I guess a streak like that over a career is impossible... but that was certainly and prodigious and perhaps an unparalleled run.

@aka Contrarian, I respect that it's your energy to waste but turn the lemons into lemonade. Focus on the humor in this BS because there's nothing else we can do about the sh8tshow of a circus running the country. I hope the Democrats are spending some of their energy retooling for the midterms. They have a lot of work cut out for them. Always delighted whenever you decide to pop in and chop it up with us. Claiming your cataract surgery will be a breeze and you'll be fine. Let us know how it goes as eyesight and time permits.