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Stefan

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Everything posted by Stefan

  1. There are actually 15 Black billionaires, according to Forbes. Most gained their fortunes through their personal talent and their uncanny ability to leverage this in a White-dominated world. Each year, Forbes compiles a list of the world’s billionaires using a snapshot of financial information such as the latest stock prices, exchange rates, assets and other data. Nine of these Black billionaires are Africa-American, according to Forbes. This includes the newest Black billionaire, Rhianna. I sincerely doubt you can connect each through commonality, such as savvy investments, ability to shop economically and the ubiquitous claim that the rich "know how to save money." I also doubt many of them buy into or continually endorse such risky investments such as unregulated Cryptocurrency markets. Now, if they were offered money to lie to the public in a commercial or an ad, then that's something else.
  2. Because I was such a fast writer and editor, I used to walk into my top editors' offices and ask for more work. So, they assigned me to edit Corporate Bankruptcy stories. And man, did I learn a lot. In a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, the debtor, or the bankrupt company, is protected from its creditors. They can't remove anything or sue the company for its assets. If the company keeps its assets, it's often referred to as a Debtor in Possession. But this is determined by a Chapter 11 judge. Normally, banks and other financial lenders are considered secured creditors. This means if the company's reorganization plan is later approved by a judge, these folks get paid first. They may not get all of their money back, but they will get something. Now, stockholders or other investors are unsecured creditors. The rank on the same bottom step as employees who are owed wages. These may also include companies that provided services, such as computer suppliers, utilities, transport companies and apparel. Usually what happens when there is not enough money left over after paying the lawyers and secured creditors is that unsecured creditors get pennies on the dollar even if they are collectively owed millions. If things go really bad for them, a former colleague f mine loved to write: They "are wiped out." They get nothing. This is why investors in Coinbase are considered unsecured creditors. Now you know why Donald Trump filed for Chapter 11 four times. He got away without paying his workers, his contractors, his rent, his furniture and fixture providers and these include all of his liquor suppliers. Unless they got pennies on the dollar. They were all unsecured creditors. By the way, a Chapter 7 is a liquidation. Which means the company that is bankrupt will either sell or auction off all of its assets, including lighting fixtures, to raise money. Companies that are going out of business will usually do this. Chapter 13 is for individuals who file bankruptcy to reorganize their debts. In case anyone is wondering is there are successful corporate reorganizations, there are scores of them every year. One of the most successful that I know is a company called Marvel Comics. Its comic book sales were doing so badly and the company kept borrowing to keep itself afloat that the financial situation became untenable. So, Marvel filed for Chapter 11. And its reorganization plan, which had to convince Marvel's secured creditors so it could emerge from Chapter 11 and be a profitable company, Marvel said it would use its many comic book characters, Spiderman, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Dr. Strange, The Avengers, Black Panther and others and feature them in full length movies. The secured creditors bought into the plan. And we know what happened. Marvel made millions. So, there is light at the end of Chapter 11. You just got to have the right Reorganization Plan, the right lawyers and pick the right Bankruptcy Court, which are the same as Federal District Courts.
  3. @Mel Hopkins We men have this insane, but unique, ability to sidestep and ignore the dilemma and problems of being a woman. Mel Hopkins patiently explained that the loss of woman's Right to Choose what happens to her own body would entail. She mentioned the loss of privacy. Even I skipped over that and I apologize to Ms. Hopkins. The power of these Right Wing wackos to peer into our private lives and possibly all our communications is something none of us should discount. So, it does not matter how you may feel personally about a Woman's Right to Choose. But you should be completely mesmerized about the threat to your privacy. I hope Ms. Hopkins continues advising us about this. This is no joke, friends.
  4. I believe Crypto should be left alone for the time being. The ones who continue touting it as a financial panacea without clearly pointing out the risks are part of a huge credibility problem.
  5. Brace yourselves for a series "our thoughts and prayers" statements. Another young White dude, imbued with White Supremacist ideology, allegedly just shot up a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket, killing 10 people. Apparently, the suspect is just 18, allegedly. According to authorities, the assailant is said to hit 13 individuals, 11 of whom are Black. He is also believed to have drove for hours to get to this supermarket, in a mostly Black neighborhood. I won't post a link. Since the situation is fluid and a lot more I am certain will be revealed. But pay attention to this: What charges will this guy be hit with? Because I predicted that the Black subway shooter would be charged with federal terrorism charges. And I was right. I am curious if people like this accused shooter is part of a loose affiliation of White Supremacist terrorists, who are connected though the Internet or Dark Web. If this is true, they may be assigning and choosing their targets unhindered.
  6. White Supremacy is not always directed against only Black people. In northern California, a retired Sikh man was harassed by his young White female neighbor who wrote “SAND N (word)” in chalk in front his house. Earlier she had followed him as drove to a local market and accused him of running over her dog. He didn’t. The man, who cares for his 92-year mother, tried in vain to file charges against her. Sheriffs showed up, but not take his complaint seriously. He is now suing. https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article261297657.html A White Michigan has finally been charged charged with hate crimes after he allegedly intimidated supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement by leaving handwritten notes and nooses around his community, according to the Department of Justice. These incidents occurred in June and July 2020, when protests around the world erupted following the murder of George Floyd. The Wheels of Justice grind slowly. But I’m happy they grind at all. https://www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1095164156/michigan-man-hate-crimes-black-lives-matter We can add the following to the spate of loony White teachers who carelessly attempt to reach the centuries of Black suffering under Chattel Slavery. Some have taken to ordering classes of their students to pick seeds out of cotton, put on restraints, to be subject to mock Slave auctions, or telling pupils Black Slaves were not whipped, or that the N-word means ignorant. What is worse, some teachers, demand their students they write letters or essays describing how they felt to be a Slave or a Master. Here's a case from Rochester, New York. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2022/04/29/rcsd-teacher-patrick-rausch-accused-of-making-black-students-pick-cotton-rochester-ny/9586774002/ This type of crap goes on all the time. time. Yeah, I know few want to be apprised of it.
  7. It was always an issue for the cautious.
  8. @Troy Not all racist incidents are reported or if they are, they may not be newsworthy. And I never stop reading. I peruse several Websites and interact with many. You seem to enjoy making accusations of those who have a different mindset. That's quite common. ProfD said it best. I have no interest in siding with those who want to soft pedal the threats all Black people face. Some are our wounds are self-inflicted, such as the Will Smith-Chris Rock incident. It just surprises me that others don't find it amusing that Ginni Thomas married a man who dislikes Black people as much as she apparently does. And I do not look for racial news. It just occurs and re-occurs because of folks who are lionized by certain ones on here: Racist Republicans. Not everything is publicized. Micro-aggressions against our people abound. Calling out Racism is most tiring and irksome. Which is why so many among us don't care that some do it.
  9. The amount of energy necessary for crypto mining is unbelievable. No wonder China has banned Crypto. Investors are taking a bath because of Crypto. New York's Mayor Eric Adams, an early Crypto enthusiast, lost more than $5,800. One more time, read what an economic expert's view the latest developments. "It was supposed to be a financial revolution. Instead, crypto has become an environmentally disastrous gift to con artists." - David A. Banks is the director of globalization studies at the University at Albany, SUNY. I would not term crypto cheerleaders as con artists. But crypto definitely is a risky investment and some boosters never offer facts or reassurances. I would label some ardent crypto backers naive. Here is Mr. Banks' take: The Cryptocurrency Dream is Fading Fast
  10. @Troy I am aware of the growing hatred against Black people and I am unafraid to post about it. But disdain against Black writers is only part of the tsunami of hate and disrespect Black people are contending with. I'd rather not focus on only one part of it and choose to tackle this issue head on because this abuse effects our entire Race. Except for those with dark skin who heartily endorse it. I’m going to stay on topic. White Supremacy is real and it’s getting much worse, week by week. Georgia sheriff deputies pulled over a bus carrying a mostly Black Women's Lacrosse team from Delaware State University. They subjected the bus occupants to a search for illegal drugs. The deputies claimed they were looking for weed. But what they were really looking for is another incident that racist Whites could highlight as to why none of us should ever be trusted. This deputies even rifled through personal items. Think this happens to mostly White female Lacrosse teams? Black Women's Lacrosse team pulled over and searched for drugs
  11. Someone explain to RichardMurray that when engaging an attorney, many will usually accept a percentage of what they believe might be coming to you in lieu of an upfront payment.
  12. There may never be a complete Black Agenda because Black people in the U.S. are not a political monolith. We do not need free colleges unless similar funding is provided for trade schools. And if this is cost-efficient, the limit should be two years. Not everybody wants to go to college and not everybody should. Who’s going to do the maintenance and upkeep in countless buildings and facilities? Who’s going to repair your vehicles? Manage retail stores? Drive the trucks that ultimately deliver goods? Do the construction of your homes and businesses? Manage the warehouses and other storage facilities? One does not need a college degree for those tasks. Many are simply deluding themselves when they insist that a college education will save most of us. The escalating cost of a four-year college degree negates any suggestion that it could be free. And the blaming of former President Barack Obama continues. Just what don’t some of you get? Barack Obama was elected to be President of the United States. Not Black America. He was more a symbol who was blessed with an ability for soaring oratory and the most in the world loved him. Contrast Obama with the clown who followed him. How many of you can give a speech as Obama did? Garner millions of Whites to listen to you and then vote for you when they really had no idea of who you were and what you stood for? Obama couldn’t do half the things he wanted as POTUS with the racist obstructionists in Congress opposing his every move. But some Blacks blame him for their ills anyway. I credit Obama for winning twice and saving the country from a Depression. He did the best he could. Trump did little but insult everyone who didn’t kiss his azz. Trump wanted to fire Patriot missiles into Mexico to destroy cartel cocaine labs and thought China was creating hurricanes that Beijing could aim at the U.S. Such brainy brilliance from a dude who labeled nations in Black Africa a "chithole countries." Trump’s tariffs on China are being paid by you and I, our families and friends. His downplaying Covid-19 led to untold suffering. No wonder Trump supports Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. All bullies enjoy hurting people. Putin is lying when he claims the invasion of Ukraine is to rid that country of Nazis. Because the Nazis are in the U.S. Most simply call themselves Republicans. ObamaCare is a joke? Not to the millions who gained healthcare who never had any before. Why are so many of you quick to denounce your own? Is your healthcare plan perfect? If you believe you have a super idea, then run for office and promote it. Black People need better access to quality healthcare and mental health care. We need our Voting Rights restored because we lost them more than eight and a half years ago. We need our women protected. And our children should be able to learn our History and Herstory. As always, the question is how to do we accomplish this? Not through internecine warfare.
  13. I don't care how many classes, seminars or free food becomes available to lure folks into patched up Crypto snake oil tents. The future of Crypto is about as murky as the chances of Putin conquering Ukraine and rest of former Warsaw Pact nations without the use of nuclear weapons or having Klingons and Romulans as allies. Or Global Warming suddenly disappearing because the Right Wing wants to continue ignoring it. Crypto markets have been heading south for weeks and it's clear now that the demand for NFT's has crashed so badly, you can barely find it in the basement. Ah, but don't take it from me: The NFT market is, shall we say ... in free fall?
  14. This is likely because many do not know how. It is intellectually dishonest to point to one, two or even a small group of Black professional entertainers, athletes and others who are either saavy or popular enough to make their own demands stick. Talented elites from the Black Community are still viewed as anachronisms by most in the U.S. There is much being made of Angela Bassett earning between $450,000 to $500,000 per episode on her hit TV series "911." But scores of White actors have already pulled down $1 million of more for each episode on their shows. We're poor catcj-ups. And how long does a professional Black Athlete remain healthy and super productive? It's certainly not forever. And put aside their physicality for a moment. What about all the psychological and racist minefields they must negotiate or tip toe through during their career? It helps to have a media/legal and financial consultant or adviser one can call on. Blacks waste an inordinate amount of time, effort and emotion following the travails of celebrities or the famous. It may be fun to speculate about sports stars, entertainers and the moneyed. But unless you're a pundit, you're not being paid for it.
  15. Abortion is a Women's Issue - Period. Men need to stay out of it. The most sickening part of the Abortion debate in the U.S. is the claim by White Conservatives and Evangelicals and many ill-informed and misogynist Black men that curbing this oft-used medical procedure will help the Black Community. Which is hogwash. If Conservatives and Evangelicals want to assist the Black Community, then treat and fund Black Community Healthcare in the same manner as their own communities. 1) Let Blacks vote without hesitation, the same way Whites can 2) Fund Women's HealthCare, from Gynecology, Pre-Natal, Pre-Birth, Post Birth, Pre-School and then actual Schooling. Do this with the same percentage of funding that is provided Whites and other ethnic groups. 3) Provide adequate money for Child Care, reasonable accommodations for the Disabled and those otherwise requiring assistance. 4) Teaching young men and young women proper Birth Control will help the Black Community. Again, this is a financing issue. 5) Make sure that Black Mental Health issues have adequate funding, support and resources. This is just a start.
  16. @Troy Your disdain for Goodreads and Wikipedia seems motivated by self-interest. You do run a book selling Website.
  17. @Troy The reason I don't waste money on news websites is because I am retired and use my funds for other items I need. But you notice, I still manage to find information. I didn't bother reading your entire response. It seems you still think I make chit up. Which is hilarious. You admire Wikipedia? Any student of mine who cited Wikipedia as source got a "F" for that assignment. Until they rewrote it within two weeks. I always offered alternative research Websites beforehand, such as britannica dot com and grolier dot com. I think Grolier morphed into encyclopedia dot com. I exposed grimy Wikipedia on Facebook as perennial plagiarizers and racist phonies when Naomi Osaka won the U.S. Open in 2018, defeating Serena Williams. Not only did that crappy Website tried to mislead the world by publishing a bio that made it seem that Naomi was purely Japanese by dropping her Haitian heritage, it used a photo that was taken with either a close up flash or lightened with photography software to make her resemble a Japanese woman. I am still emailing dumb writers who refuse to acknowledge Naomi is part of our people. Even though she was born in Japan, she she was raised in the U.S. does not hide the fact she is half-Haitian. Anybody who uses Wikipedia is a lazy as Republicans are cruel. And while I'm on the subject of GOP cruelty, I trust everyone realizes that Texas Governor Greg Abbott is now pushing for the elimination of public schooling. He claims this will eliminate the possibility of undocumented Mexicans from attending school and perhaps, learning English, Math, Science, Digital Talents and other subjects. I find Abbott's reasoning disingenuous. What the GOP really wants is a return to 1820 when Blacks were denied the right to a full education, pay for farm work and of course, full citizenship. Abbott's move is a trial balloon. I am curious how many who support Abbott, DeSantis, Trump, et al, will support it.
  18. You want answers to your questions, get your ace contributors on the case: Nels, richardmurray, daniellefgny and whoever else thinks Republicans are super great. Because I don't. I simply punched in the former principal's name in a Google search box and clicked "news." Those insulting terms in the NY Post story terms are not pejoratives I would ever employ in a news story that the news buying customers would see. But if you notice, the header on the Post story referred to Nina Lopez as being a "Hero Principal." The state of Journalism at some organizations these days is a joke. Few follow up questions. No explanations. Just needless rubbish and accusations with little confirmation. And worse, one source news stories or none at all. Most of the best news reportage is behind pay walls and I refuse to pay real dollars to obtain it. Since some on here actually believe I am always lying and phonying up chit, here is your link to the Black Enterprise piece on the principal in question. I told you a long time ago, I am a fluid writer and damn good editor. I also included two other news links. Unlike some on here, there is no need for me to craft untruths or attempt to deceive. https://www.blackenterprise.com/tag/nadia-lopez/ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ex-principal-nadia-lopez-asked-181537347.html https://madamenoire.com/1313779/ex-principal-nadia-lopez-asked-to-leave-school-she-founded-for-making-unauthorized-visits/
  19. Troy, If you grew up in New York City, then you would know that this paper, founded by Alexander Hamilton, was not always Right Wing. It was pretty Left Wing in 60's and 70's. It became decidedly pro-Republican after Rupert Murdoch bought it in the late 1970's. Since Obama's election and now, Biden, it has cemented itself as a constant source of celebrity drivel and anti-Black crime stories. I actually edited a couple of reporters who ended up there. The news story about former principal Nadia Lopez is true. I don't post bullchit. A similar news story on her travails made the content of Black Enterprise.
  20. With Congress ignoring the concerns of Blacks, the poor and the struggling, there's no guarantee the Crown Bill will pass. We no longer have a guaranteed Right to Vote. That was taken away from us in September 2013. I am well aware there are continuing racist incidents in the U.S. And I am also mindful that so many don't want to acknowledge this. Here is the latest eyebrow raising dumbness: A Brooklyn, N.Y., principal, dubbed a hero by students and the news media, had to resign in 2021 because of a serious illness. She kept in touch with a few folks at the school which she founded. When she went back to visit recently, she was treated as a leper. Black principal banned from school she founded
  21. There's no more White Supremacy? Here, read this bullcrap and learn how these Republican dildo heads are slowly strangling our initiatives, individuals and overall advancement. Our young people can't even wear their hair the way they want anymore because it bothers some Conservatives. Black teen banned from school because his hair is braided
  22. White Supremacy is not just what is dished out to Black people, it also means what White people are not subjected to and what they can get away with. Take Madison Cawthorn, for example. This wheelchair bound North Carolina Republican thinks speed limits, obeying license and registration rules and rules banning guns from restricted areas (such as airports) are merely suggestions. No wonder he has a bevy of challengers for his 11th District seat. I realize that no one could access this Charlotte Observer news story: Here is the gist of it. pretty long list of the Rep. Cawthorn's runs-ins with law and his light punishment. Think a Black man could so all of this and still walk this earth uninjured? Cawthorn's lack of respect for the law: TRAFFIC TICKETS ▪ Oct. 13, 2011 - Henderson County, NC: speeding. Case disposed. ▪ Jan. 25, 2012 - Pleaded guilty to a lesser speed and paid fine of $40. ▪ Feb. 27, 2016 - Henderson County, NC: speeding and expired registration card/tag. Case disposed. ▪ May 18, 2016 - Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of failure to wear seat belt in rear seat and paid fine of $75. The expired registration card/tag charge was dismissed. ▪ April 21, 2016 - South Carolina: speeding ticket for going more than 25 mph over the speed limit. Pleaded down to a 10-miles-over violation in July 2016. ▪ Oct. 7, 2016 - Virginia: Ticket for following too close. Case resolved Jan. 27, 2017. FIREARMS AND WEAPONS INCIDENTS In addition to the traffic violations, Cawthorn has also been involved in several incidents related to weapons. ▪ Jan. 6, 2021, Washington, D.C.: Cawthorn claimed he went to Congress armed, The Asheville Citizen-Times reported, on the day a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol building to attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. ▪ Feb. 13, 2021 – Asheville, N.C.: Airport security stopped Cawthorn for attempting to board a plane with a Glock 9 mm handgun and a loaded magazine, The News & Observer previously reported. Cawthorn was not charged, and security held onto the weapon for him to pick up when he got back from his flight. ▪ 2021 - Multiple incidents: As Cawthorn visited school facilities around the state, he was accused of bringing a knife to at least four of those visits. There are several state laws with various levels of crimes related to knives on school property, the Citizen-Times reported, but Cawthorn has not been charged with any crimes for the incidents. ▪ April 26, 2022 - Charlotte: Cawthorn was again accused of trying to go through airport security with a loaded gun, this time at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers took away his gun and issued him a citation, The Charlotte Observer reported, since it’s a violation of city ordinances to have a loaded gun at the airport. Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article260599597.html#storylink=cpy
  23. Texas again, folks. This where a group of students at Vidor High School chanted the N-word and made fun of Black people. School administrators promised suspensions and yada, yada, yada. Yeah, we'll see. The link is pretty long, but I tried to place it in the link box. Chanting the N-word in high school
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