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If I ever needed a definition of what it looks like to Love another - this is the best definition, "Caring for someone without expecting a return on the investment"

@Mel&Del I've been thinking about the idea of thinking being overrated. What else can you do with your mind? I'm thinking about it... Listening to music is a good alternative. Music really is magic. It requires you to do nothing but listen, and if you enjoy what you hear, that's icing on the cake! Lately, for some reason I've been thinking how 73 years ago in1951, as a Freshman at the University of Illinois, one of the favorite songs of the little black colony of students on this large campus was a song named "For All We Know." At the end of every social event, those gathered would form a circle, grasp hands, and sing this song followed by a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne". Listening to that old favorite by Nat Cole, the years fall away and I'm swept back to the innocent carefree days of my youth. I imagine. And listen. And no thoughts are necessary. For all we know...

I don't know whether to feel sorry for you or applaud your efforts! Probably both. Being a caregiver is one of the hardest jobs. Harder than raising children. .... because atleast with children you usually see progress as they age and it makes you feel proud of your work. I honestly don't know what to say besides thank you.

OMG I've missed you, the woman formerly known as Cynique @aka Contrarian A woman I used to be in a rap group with back in the early 90s now has a YouTube channel (Stephanie Danger). She asked her followers what name we would choose for our alter ego, and I decided on Contrarian. Today, I would choose "Neutral." During these last two years, I also questioned the meaning of life after my mother underwent major heart surgery and two of my three daughters had major surgeries, one after battling stage 3 cancer. I couldn't be with my daughter (thank goodness for dads) because my brother is severely disabled - and during my mom's treatment (I almost lost her twice), I had to care for him. Everyone pulled through, and by December 2023 - I concluded no one knows an effing thing. We make this bullshish up and look for followers to cosign our beliefs. The more believers we acquire, the more it becomes our collective reality. So, thank you, Contrarian, for remaining here in this dimension. I can confidently say that part of your mission is to remind us that the majority is nothing more than a bunch of weak-minded and lazy folks who chose to follow the beaten path instead of dazzling us with their Divine creativity.

Africans do not totally dislike AfroAmericans. Africans are afraid and wary of us because they have been fed a narrative that AfroAmericans are lazy, ignorant, violent, drug abusers, etc. Unfortunately, AfroAmericans have no control over the propaganda that goes out into the world about us. As I've mentioned several times here, there are quite a few Africans in my tribe. I'm a very proud AfroAmerican man in being able to show Africans our success on several levels. I tell them to f8ck what you have heard about us...watch me. I've toured my African brothers and sisters through the streets on which I grew up to where I live in the cradle of AfroAmerican affluence. Education is priceless. It is a key to shared understanding and eliminating ignorance.

@DelanoI agree. Looks like life as we know it will eventually succumb to the technology that will subsequently eliminate humans - and ultimately itself. What remains will be the "back-to-square-one" phenomena during which a huge explosion will once again occur as the "creator" keeps on trying til it turns out right. 🗯 See ya next time. Maybe.

haha I was about to put this in:)

Hello, Fellow Writers and Readers I have been away too long. I have missed you. I will return with the continuing saga of my promotion for The Culinary Art Portfolio of Josephine E. Jones. But right now, I want you to see my first published work under my pen name: Wendy Ebo Jones. Since there are at least 300 people named Wendy Jones in North America and one other writer who shares my name --after attending an Independent Book Publishers Association webinar on the subject of making sure your work stands out, (they used the term "branding," which brings up the smell of the burning flesh of enslaved people, so I don't use it)-- I decided to differentiate myself. Why Ebo? It's a family name. Here is a link to the essay, On the Bus (approx. 500 words): https://theravensperch.com/on-the-bus-by-wendy-ebo-jones/,

College tuition is going through the atmosphere. Student loan debt is ridiculous. Non-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degrees will become less valuable especially as technology takes over jobs that do not require human hands. Folks are beginning to have the conversation that trade schools might be a better option than a 4 year degree from a college or university. STEM degrees will most likely always land a job somewhere. However, Liberal Arts and Business majors might be in trouble. Talk to young Black folks within your circle about considering a trade especially if they aren't STEM strong. Don't get it twisted....an electrician, plumber, welder, carpenter, mechanic, etc., can make just as much or more money than someone with a degree. Also, a tradesperson can still get a degree too. Especially if they plan to run a business.

Bro, I'll be lounging in this easy chair until the lights are turned out and/or I'm evicted. Despite the limited participation, there is good discussion here from all of the contributors. I find this forum to be a good mix of opinion, information, knowledge and humor too. Some music like Jazz is an acquired taste and therefore appeals to a smaller audience. McDonald's isn't the the most nutritious food but it sells because it's cheap. Same thing applies to most forms of social interaction and entertainment. Anything that requires a deeper level of thought, comprehension or expression is a heavier lift. OTOH, gossip and trash talk is usually where the goats can get it. Cheaper entertainment.

The body language of Umar and the other guy was off. They both were shaking their feet, like they were nervous or something made me a bit wary. when I was a lot younger, and you could still smoke anywhere, I would occasionally have a cigarette because it would give me a quick buzz. But now I don’t smoke at all seems like a dumb expensive habit. my mom still smokes. I brought her a pack of cigarettes the other day and they cost 15 bucks maybe more. Supposedly they text the heck out of them to discourage use. but it’s just very regressive tax. They need to ban these products as they so bad for your health. i’ve tried a variety of weed products over the years, especially after they became legal. They have had variety of effects on me from euphoria to lethargy, and no effect at all. If I could get to euphoric effect consistently, I probably would use weed more often, but I don’t so I don’t mess with the products nowadays. I drink barely regularly. I’ll have a glass of wine or two with dinner a few times a week. I’m hanging out depending on my mood I have a beer, wine or whiskey. My cocktail of choice is a Manhattan. I will occasionally have a cigar, but it is a social activity that I engage in when playing poker with the fellas and then I may only do that once a year is about the fellowship of ritual of sorts. @aka Contrarian it is always a pleasure when you post. I’m always anxious to hear what you have to say and have a special affinity for you. I’m sure if you just tag @Mel Hopkins and @Chevdove they will respond next time they are on the boards. I went away for a few days because my daughters were in town and we were hanging out. @Pioneer1 yeah I think social media was the biggest thing to impact this forum and forums in general. Like cigarettes those platforms are designed to be addictive and keep the users engaged there. People have a fixed amount of times in their lives, and social media comes at cost. Attention is a zero sum game. The more time we spend on social the less time we will spend playing outside, participating in discussion forums, reading the book, making love, etc. @frankster and @ProfD continue to make the forum interesting. If it were not for them and Pioneer, I don’t know where would be.

I'm puzzled. Why would the acronym DEI which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion be offensive to "AfroAmericans"? Aren't those conditions that aĺl marginalized minorities have a right to expect? Similarly, when did civil rights become the exclusive domain of America's black population?? Aren't other ethnicities entitled to equality in a country that calls itself a democracy??? I venture to say that the generation of Millenials and GenZers would put these same questions to the old school brigade of black malcontents who have come to personify the "dislike-for-the-unlike" syndrome that MLK identified as being at the root of racism and bigotry. These are the ones who give credence to my claim that many Blacks, themselves, are prejudiced and are not the least concerned about "liberty and justice for all." What they really want is to make America over in their image while retaining a black form of racial supremacy. Lol And this is also why I support the idea that a certain element of "AfroAmericans" who squat in America need to get their own diversity-free. melanin-infused country where, wallowing in the sameness of their blackness and corrupted by power they can, for instance, ban and deport any evolved LBGTQ nuisances wnoho have mutated into individuals daring to be different and true to themselves. Imo, it is not necessary to embrace these misfits but, coming froma background of being oppressed and discriminated against themselves, these curmudgeons are remiss in refusing to acknowledge and honor the right of the unorthodox to peacefully exist. The world is in a state of turmoil as usual and when it comes to a polarized America, the one thing that remains constant is the tribalism that divides rather than unites, - a situation that jeopardizes the common good. Moreover, in a nation where a vast majority of Americans distrust their government, it's, ironic that these same citizens have no qualms about doing whatever they can get away with in their ruthless pursuit of the materialistic Amercan dream. As for the speculation about which U.S. presidents did what for Blacks, and when did they do it - President Franklin D. Roosevelt came into office in 1933 the same year I was born. I grew up during the Depression and from what I recall and what my parents said (and Dick Gregory later joked about,) the dire economic hardship caused by the stock market crash was nothing new to the black masses who had always struggled to survive. They were lucky to be eligible for the same benefits as whites via the New Deal but they continued to be denied equal opportunities because of America's entrenched racial prejudice.( this is what eventually precipitated the March on Washington in 1963.) FDR gave lip service to racial tolerance but coddled the South, never wanting to rock the boat when it came to Jim Crowism because he needed southern political support. His wife Eleanor was his charitable good will ambassador but had little effect on national policy aside from lending her approval to the black Tuskeegee airmen. President Harry Trumen deserves credit for desegregating the armed forces after WW2 and LBJ carried out what the assassinated JFK began by signing a massive civil rights bill Into law. Bill Clinton had good intentions but his heavy handed approach blemished his record. Reagan did nothingl to benefit Blacks. Joe Biden is a man of his times, a pragmatist who shed his past ways to become a pseudo Liberal, earning points by serving as VP under a black president and subsequently choosing a woman of color to be his running mate and placing other Blacks in key positions of authority on his staff and in his cabinet. America's 2 political parties are, what they are. The Democrats supposedly represent the common man with the "lifting others as we climb" mission statement that has perennially resonated with Blacks. Republicans are more representative of Capitalism and the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps motto. No bootstraps? Tough shit. "I got mine, now you get yours," is what right wing Conservatives sneer. And so it goes. Come November, America will show its true colors.

Close on the heels of the ads featuring gold garnished sneakers bearing the Re-elect Trump brand, is a TV commercial featuring Donald tRump hawking for the modest price of $59.00, a "patriotic" Bible guaranteed to inspire God to Bless America. Holding the leather bound holy book in his raised little pudgy hand, flanked by two gigantic American flags, a salivating Donnie gives his spiel, hardly able to keep a straight face as he anticipates a flood of orders from his faithful following. What a perfect embodiment of the dire warning political pundit, Sinclair Lewis, predicted years ago. to wit: "When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag, and carrying a bible." Elsewhere in the news, Robert Kennedy has selected a female Asian Progressive as his presidential running mate. Nobody seemed more stunned than she was in her deer-in-the-headlights TV sound byte. And NBC will have to pay out a ton of money to rescind its hiring of a 2016 election denier, January 6th defender, and former Republican National Committee head. They hired her to give more balance to their news reporting, but they got so much flack from their liberal Talking Heads who thought she'd be more at home on Fox News, that NBC execs backtracked and broke her contract. She gone. Since Fani fired her stud muffin, she's back on the case. Puffy's mansion ransacked and wrecked by a crew of Feds, looking for a weapons stash. Conspiracy rumors already circulating about the Baltimore bridge collapse being a terrorist attack. 10-4, your night owl news reporter signing off...zzzzzzzzz

Has anyone considered that Majors may actually be a predator who needs an incentive to stop? I have not followed the story other than what I've read here, but why is his actual behavior not a consideration? Maybe the Black judge was trying to protect Black women?

Is it true the army had soldiers dig a ditch then refill it. I just don't see it. People used to read on the train ride to work. People have more of relationship with their phone than other people. Myself included as is evident by the forum. What do people do now? I see babies on phones. I see parents on phone and sometimes the kids on a phone. I see couples at restaurants on phones. So once people stop working do they put down their phones? In the pandemic how many people do you know that did something they wanted to do, but didn't have time? I am outside watching people walk by the only people not on a phone or carrying their phone like a pacifier for the mind. Are older people and immigrants. Even homeless beggars are I. their phones while they are asking for money. I just saw this on Facebook. I don't know if this makes your point or mine. Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope: “Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I'll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is - we're here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance at all anymore." Let's all get up and move around a bit right now... or at least dance

National Black Cheerleading Championship 2024 I've watched this entire program at least 5 times! ... It's an addiction. Every single group was insanely awesome. I've posted 4 of my favorite but again, you have to see it to believe me.... They were all incredible. This video is NOT the actual championship but preliminaries. [1] Crown Athletics won in their category. They were much more dynamic in the finals! It was crazy. The short girl with the leg brace is the captain. Towards the end, she told the group to breathe and catch their breathe. They had no break between routines. [2] William Fleming was one of my favorites but honestly, North Meck and more were just as awesome. They were in the tumbling category. [3] Chowan was another of my favorites. They were non-tumbling. [4] The Virginia Union Rah Rah--Wow! Just Wow! They won! They were non-tumbling. This the entire championship competition! IMO It's worth the time!

Niger has become the latest country in West Africa where the army has seized control, following Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Chad - all former French colonies. Since 1990, a striking 78% of the 27 coups in sub-Saharan Africa have occurred in Francophone states leading some commentators to ask whether France - or the legacy of French colonialism - is to blame? Many of the coup plotters would certainly like us to think so. Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, who was named prime minister by the military junta in Mali in September 2022, launched a scathing attack on France. Criticising "neocolonialist, condescending, paternalist and vengeful policies", Mr Maiga alleged that France had "disowned universal moral values" and stabbed Mali "in the back". Anti-French vitriol has also flourished in Burkina Faso, where the military government ended a long-standing accord that allowed French troops to operate in the country in February, giving France one month to remove its forces. In Niger, which neighbours both countries, allegations that President Mohamed Bazoum was a puppet for French interests were used to legitimise his removal from power, and five military deals with France have since been revoked by the junta led by Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani. Partly as a result, the coup was followed by popular protests and attacks on the French embassy. The historical record provides some support for these grievances. French colonial rule established political systems designed to extract valuable resources while using repressive strategies to retain control. So did British colonial rule, but what was distinctive about France's role in Africa was the extent to which it continued to engage - its critics would say meddle - in the politics and economics of its former territories after independence. Seven of the nine Francophone states in West Africa still use the CFA franc, which is pegged to the euro and guaranteed by France, as their currency, a legacy of French economic policy towards its colonies. France also forged defence agreements that saw it regularly intervene militarily on behalf of unpopular pro-French leaders to keep them in power. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66406137 Mali’s Armed Forces Just Discovered U.S Hidden Mercenaries

Tananarive Due speech transcript, not perfect - Thank you so much to the LA times - the other nominees were incredible to say this this is an honor is an understatement back in 2014 I got a phone call from the florida state attorney's office And learned that my great uncle robert stevens died in 1937 at a notorious - school for boys, a reformatory in florida and after attending a meeting there with my father freedom rider john - due jr I knew I had to write about robert stevens but i also knew that my story would need a different ending , and ghost The novel took me seven years, to write, thank you so much to my husband Steven Barnes, I love you so much, also a great writer, for keeping me on the path, my editor-, my agent donald- , my father for helping me manage the jim crow judge's chamber, my sister joanna- , and my late mother patricia - due, for her courage as a civil rights activist. If I didn't know what should happen next in my book I just had to ask what would mom had done. There are countless robert- stevens in the world. And too few of them get a happy ending. so as we face the horrors in our world, in our cities, in gaza and elsewhere. And where there's true life racism , homophobia , islamaphobia, and antisemiticsm, let us honor the courage of young people as the primary creators of change throughout history and the lesson my mother taught me , activism takes many many forms, as the late octavia a butler said, the only lasting truth is change. thank you very much

How exciting! Me too! I was going to post this pic but I see you already posted it! Morgan Price, a Fisk University gymnast, won the 2024 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships all-around title on April 12, 2024. West Chester University Athletics They do not have their own gym but hopefully they will soon!

Oh Yes! I forgot about the flooding in Dubai too! It also occurred on April 17 [i.e. April 16 @ 6:00 PM]. It is said that this area usually gets only about 4 or 5 inches of rain in a year on average. But in one day a huge amount of rainfall occurred recently. Oh yes, it is also interesting to note as well that this is the day, April 17, of the Biblical deluge. It was recorded to have happened some 4000 years ago! So, even though this sort of science is not highlighted in the western world, it would be good to regard the ancient script in how the moving stars also are tied to this historic date. The Star of Bethlehem came into our solar system on this very day about 2000 years ago! Interestingly too, and for weeks now, the incredible planet Jupiter is in the sky and nearby the comet Pons-Brooks. I believe that we are living in an amazing era and are experiencing some incredible phenomena! ============================================================================= Storm dumps heaviest rain ever recorded in desert nation of UAE, flooding roads and Dubai’s airport The state-run WAM news agency called the rain “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.” That’s before the discovery of crude oil in this energy-rich nation then part of a British protectorate known as the Trucial States. A van passes through standing water in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 16. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) https://apnews.com/article/uae-oman-rains-flooding-fatalities-7bf3881efbea998dfa4c1ed8d538217c 'Apocalyptic' Dubai floods shake picture-perfect city https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68844405 https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/dubai-rain

This is Cynique. As previously announced, my new user name is "aka Contrarian" so "A" is now me. I don't know why I'm still alive. But I am. Since I have nothing better to do, unless I sudndenly croak, I'll be hanging around here, injecting my contrary opinions from time to time. zzzzz

Novocain Can Lead to Divorce Court! This Video Short-skit I found to be hilarious! So I thought I would share it for a little humor today. I don't know what I would do if I were in this situation. I wonder how angry would a Brother get if he heard this kind of revelation from his girlfriend or wife at the dentist office. And if I heard this kind of talk , well when the phone messages came into play, that would be obvious to me that was truth serum. Careful Who You Take With You To Your Dental Appointment

Hilarious skit. That sista crushed it.

Hi Chevdove! Glad you stopped by. Always good to hear from you!

I noticed that too @Delano. On some level, that imperfection made her more human I know it’s too late to ask because you know the answer but if I didn’t say anything, would you have suspected for a split second at this was all generated by AI?

https://forums.projectliberty.io/t/dsnp-relationship-to-epub/386/2?u=rmprojectl Hi Richard, I’m definitely not an EPUB expert but it’s a really interesting question. One of the things DSNP is generally useful for is ensuring authenticity and immutability of content through specific file hashes. So one simple way that EPUB could intersect with DSNP is to allow an EPUB document to be an attachment to a DSNP post (broadcast or reply). In this case DSNP serves the role of ensuring the precise version of an EPUB can be reliably referenced (if you don’t care about precise versions, you can also use the link type in DSNP). Secondly, at Project Liberty one of the core principles that guide our work is that technology should enable people to participate in the economics of platforms and their content, while maintaining agency and control over their identity and creations. One way this could intersect with EPUB is in the area of digital rights management, that is, restricting access to content based on authorization. While most DRM schemes for EPUB operate in a centralized fashion today (Adobe ADEPT, am*zon, etc.), building a DRM scheme that incorporates DSNP identity for authorization could help create decentralized solutions where authors are not reliant on a third party gateway in order to control and benefit from distribution of their intellectual property. (In actuality, you probably need some combination of user identifier and device identifier, to maintain accountability in a scenario where one account is shared. I’m not proposing a specific scheme here, but there are definitely possibilities.) As far as accessing DSNP content through an EPUB, I’m not sure what this would look like. Since an EPUB is, in effect, a snapshot of a website, you could take any set of DNSP content and turn it into an EPUB (perhaps for a “daily digest” on a certain topic). There would need to be a service that did this data aggregation and transformation, but it would certainly be possible with DSNP much more easily than with “walled garden” social networks that restrict access to content and APIs. Hope this helps and perhaps gets some further ideas flowing. Best, Wes https://forums.projectliberty.io/t/dsnp-relationship-to-epub/386/3?u=rmprojectl Thank you Wes for the reply, For the first suggestion you made I saw the broadcast and Reply Broadcast - DSNP Specification for the broadcast, it seems you can have activity content types which has audio/video/image/link So i assume the link will be to an epub. then? It isn’t a physical attachment as much as a linked attachment. am I correct? For the second+third suggestion you made , you confirmed what I felt in the back of my head. That an entire service will need to be built to make this possible. You have helped me 100% I will try something and see.

Human greed, selfishness, jealousy, envy and hate lead to most of the problems between human beings. Agape love would resolve the problems affecting human beings. For various reasons, we're not overly interested in it. I understand the history of humanity and how we got to this point. Hopefully this makes my point more clear.

As I stated in a post above, love would solve 99% of the problems between human beings. Realistically, I also agreed with Cynique aka Contrarian. It's never gonna happen for several reasons.

Sad to hear about our brother passing away like that. He's probably at peace now. I still remember when that verdict came out back in '95. I was working in a mall and everyone in that mall were packed in Best Buys and Circuit Cities and Department stores....anywhere that had televisions. All standing around watching for the verdict. When it came down NOT GUILTY it seems like all of the Black folks in the mall started cheering and jumping up and down. I remember men picking up women and kissing them and slinging them around....lol. I remember one older sista who I didn't know grabbing me jumping up and down...titties bouncing all over me....lol A woman can do that now and it wouldn't be a problem.....but back then at that age I had to take a few minutes to go somewhere and "calm" myself down....before heading back out to work LMBAO!!!

I wonder if there will be a forum in 20 years. For those of us who live long enough and have our marbles the time will go quickly. What happens in the next 20 years will be far more interesting than any solar eclipse.

Catch a fire .....Today they say we are free only to be chained in poverty - B. Marley Constitutional Coup D’etat in Togo - Another West African Country Stands Up!

@aka Contrarian, your compass will correct. I'm claiming that you will awake tomorrow feeling like your normal self. Your time isn't up.

Great news and wishing you continued healing. I'm sure you already know that a cane can be a cool accessory. Especially when the cane complements the outfit and keeps you standing upright. Unselfish fans will realize da Bears did Justin a huge favor especially if they weren't going to build an offense around him. I was rooting for Head Coach Dawn Staley and the lady Gsmecocks to win it all. They completed an undefeated season. Of course, Caitlin Clark will end up making more money than any other female playing basketball. I hope not. I'm betting the solar eclipse will come and go like Y2K. We'll be here when you come back on Tuesday.

I need an update on how that knee is coming along especially with the meds and fermented fruit juice cocktail.

Mel I took a puff when I was a teen - and never took another puff. Sounds about right. Just from our limited interactions I figured you weren't a weed smoker...lol. Honestly, except for a few people who have posted on this site in the past...nobody on here seems like typical weed smokers to me. You can't always tell on the internet, but offline I usually can EASILY tell those who smoke weed from those who don't. Not only that..... I can nail it down to whether they smoke weed that's home grown naturally or they like smoking the shit they get from the dispensaries....lol. Extremely accurate. I've always been able to naturally leave this dimension Can you Lucid Dream?

If you mean some omnipotent being that sits around daming people who don’t follow a prescribed set rules, promises 72 virgins to those who kill infidels, etc. No, of course not. Do you?

@Pioneer1 I am trying to help grow AALBC. I try to communicate to black businesses in my local community to join on aalbc. And I have plans with my Black Games Elite group to hopefully bring greater user activity to this website. Why? as a nationalist, I like things born from black people and this site is something born from a black person. In the internet environment that is rare. So there you have it. As for offline I choose not to say. But I am very private about my offline life. Now to your question, you don't advertise it for me, you advertise it for the larger populace. Hoping to find a like mind, or maybe get help. Yes, critiques or judgements may come from other tribes in the village, but that doesn't matter. You can criticize/judge my desire to make AALBC a stronger website in any which way you want. I will discuss it but any negative judgement will not influence my goal.

Visiting day at the joint.

There are several other videos out there going into detail about the conspiracy theories and alien involvement in connection with the solar eclipse. I'm trying to get a link from my son to post.

Thank you so much, Troy. I apologize for not responding sooner. It was incredible of you to post my other books as well. I've been swamped with putting together a June book tour and I haven't checked back here in several weeks. I appreciate the support and positive feedback. Davida

I always look up things that I don't know the answer to or that I'm curious about. i don't waste time trying to remember what I never knew. I:'ve always been about expanding my mind! This is the case with most people - except for those with narrow minds who only want to reinforce what limited knowledge the have stored in their memory and are deluded enough to believe that they already know everything there is to know.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to Launch a New Single Super Currency stronger than the US$ and Euro!

Now I'm wondering if I should feel slighted that I've not been able to participate in the near death experience and jumping around in different realities games. Then again, the omniscient has good reason not to pick me.

@aka Contrarian, excellent weekly news wrap. As a correspondent, I'll add... Former POTUS Orange Julius (POJ) had his $464 million bond reduced to $175 million. NY AG Letitia James is still holding on to it as a win. Meanwhile, POJ's Truth Social hits stock market valued at $3.6 billion. IOW, there was reason to reduce the bond above. As mentioned above, POJ puts sprinkles on his fortune cake hawking a Bible. Also resurfaced is the infamous picture of him standing in front of a church during the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Robert Kennedy Jr. doesn't stand a chance of being elected POTUS. Due to a condition that affects his speaking voice, if RFK Jr. leader, his public addresses would be a painful listen. CNN caught up with Fani Willis at an event in Atlanta. She was looking good and defiantly said the train is still coming in the case against POJ. Puffy aka Diddy is definitely in a tub of hot water as the Feds hink he's involved in sex trafficking. It makes no sense to me that a billionaire would pick that as a side hustle. These raids coincide with other allegations against the music mogul. He's been skating on thin ice for decades. The Baltimore bridge collapse was an unfortunate catastrophe. It happened about 40 minutes driving from my hood.

In 2024 AD, it's not relevant where Christianity originated inasmuch as it has undergone so much modification. But, as usual, a straw man argument is trotted out, polluting this discussion, supplying answers for questions that weren't asked, blurring the issue with a lot of geographical subterfuge, while over looking the simple question I asked pioneer. Which was: why do you question the devotion of black folks to Christianity when you, yourself, are so attached to the Bible and its fables and so firm in your belief in God? Can't you figure out that the degree to which people embrace their creed is commensurate with their need to be blessed? Your motivation seems to be a need to dispute anything connected with the Bible which doesn't comply with your interpretations, in order to give the impression that you are omniscient. tsk-tsk

oh thank you @Troy I wanted day 3 and 4 typed up by now, but I am racing against the clock for a contest. but by this end of week i hope ot have all four days in for reading leisure:) thanks for the link. I will add it to my early dos literature group. You look like you can be in the whispers back then:) cool I didn't realize lawrence fishburne was a member of the whispers:)

I have not had a chance to read this yet, but UII wanted you to know that I appreciate the coverage. Since local media is missing and under resourced the events are not covered -- despite being newsworthy. Your report bring to mind the "Reports from the Field" Kalamu ya Salaam used to publish on our events. Here are The Reports from the Field of the 5th National Black Writers Conference by Kalamu ya Salaam (from April 2000). If we don't preserve the story they never happened

Thanks so much @Chevdove!

@aka Contrarian i dunno what your day to day life is like, but i find you inspirational. i think it is your sharpness of mind, wit, and intellect. You probably can’t see it, but I bet others do. I’m sure your husband did I’m @ing @Mel Hopkins and @Chevdove so that they see your message. if you have Netflix check out This is Us. I think it is an interesting series. It won’t be boring. I’ve been watching it, almost exclusively, for a couple of months now.

Are you reading anything this year? yes If Yes, what genre? Literary Fiction and Mystery/Suspense Fiction or Nonfiction? Fiction Is the format Digital, Audio, or Print (Paperback, Hardcover)? Paperback Are you consuming the material with a digital device such as an iPhone, Android, or electronic reader (kindle, PC, etc)? No. Are you reading the traditional way, such as an actual book in hand where you turn the pages? Yes Which is your favorite way to read now? Physical book followed by audio book. What is your preferred way to consume media content if you no longer read books?