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Mel Hopkins

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Everything posted by Mel Hopkins

  1. Maybe. I've interviewed you on a few occasions. Or it's just the reporter in me.
  2. Former President JC did get elected to lead. But I agree he is a rare air man and the problems he’s willing to solve - are too difficult to assemble a large following. I’m still tripping over his willingness to go into a nuclear reactor. Carter also tackled affordable housing - and joined habitat for humanity in the 80s to put together a annual home building program that offers different levels of involvement. That’s strong leadership there to get folks from around the world to build homes for people they don’t know. Good food for thought here @Delano
  3. Ding, Ding, Ding! Powerful observation! We have so many leaders today - and all start out by responding to the will of the people. Celebrities rarely become leaders - leaders sometime become celebrities. For example, Beyonce became a leader not because she could sing but because her journey mirrored the millennial woman’s journey. The songs she chose amplified what some women (all ethnicities and ages) were experiencing but had a hard time articulating. She sang their trials and provided solutions. “Put a ring on it” Beyonce led many young women to consider marriage while promoting the nuclear family. Troy Johnson became a leader not because he reads books - but because he decided books by and for black people needed a platform to get the recognition they deserved. Lawd knows publishing companies weren’t doing it. Today, Troy leads many people to consider black books first! True leaders are rarely in front of a group. Leaders center themselves in a group that has problems no one is addressing. Leaders organize a group that already exist and provides them direction. Bravo @richardmurray You nailed it!
  4. I'm familiar with and use "dialogue," - meaning conversation between two or more. It also means "exchange," which is better suited. I moderate for this forum but it is our discussion. So, for clarity, and the benefit of our members, since I didn't understand your question or the context. I looked it up before I responded. It appears Multilog/multilogue is a nontraditional word. Written like this, MultiLog appears to have a specific definition in computer technology. It's an interesting concept related to multiple logging applications and tracking user actions. However, I'm not sure the MultiLog program will help independent authors incorporate 5G wireless technology or D2D communication into the bookselling model. I'd like for us, #readingblack members, to explore the latter, how to use 5G and D2D in bookselling. As I mentioned in another thread here,- since Verizon partnered with Malik Books, there may be a way for independent authors to use the technology. In answer to your question, we can post most media types in this forum, video included.
  5. What do you mean, "go on your lulu, to start this thing rolling with you." I did publish my first book and an updated short story via lulu.com [ https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/melhopkins ]. I'm looking for content to post on readingblack.com Technology and I think you've seen my blog on here marketing is a four-letter word I also post on my portfolio website, melhopkins.com occasionally but I'm not writing a novel or even nonfiction at this time.
  6. as Chris Tucker said, "And you know this, Man!" If I ever plan a trip down under...and I'm not blowing smoke - I'm messaging before I make the travel plans!
  7. 2021 - Print book retail sales increased but publisher’s weekly also reports people are also reading/listening to digital books. digital content sales increased when bookstores were on lockdown but once they opened again digital returned to the previous years’ rate. [Forbes “Sales are up nearly 9% for Print Books - But who’s reading them” Jan 7, 2022 and Statista] And people are buying print books based on digital promotion. So one thing that remain constant is book marketing gets folks to buy print books. But like you, I’ll also share my habits. In 2021, I purchased about 8 books. I bought 3 of one title through am*zon unfortunately. My friend published exclusively on am*zon so I couldn’t get it through any other seller. I bought 3 hardcovers through Penguin Random House 2 hardcover backlist through abe books. I only started to read one of the books I purchased last year. I read everyday but I read more digital content than I read print books. It appears my habits reflect the statistics.
  8. This should thrill “pro-life” conservatives. It appears the goal of this grant is to save lives. “All lives matter” right? “In a first-of-its-kind federal grant to be distributed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of HHS, dozens of organizations across the country would be able to spend the money over three years on a preapproved list of resources, including referrals to treatment, infectious-disease testing kits, condoms, and vaccinations for hepatitis A and B. Also on the list: “safe smoking kits.” Typically, such kits include a rubber mouthpiece to prevent cuts and burns, brass screens to filter contaminants and disinfectant wipes, according to Harm Reduction International.”
  9. I don't know. Purpose gives me meaning -and meaning is purposeful. So, knowing a purpose is what I'd like out of life. However, I like what @richardmurray shared - it was simple not easy - but very satisfying. He said, a human's purpose is to live on this planet." So if that's the purpose -I say "Hell Yeah!"
  10. To know what purpose the human species serves. It appears every other species are caretakers of this planet - and accomplishes their role in the ecosystem. I'd like to know the human's purpose.
  11. Coming Soon: We discuss how 5G wireless communication technology and device-to-device (D2D) communications will help independent authors produce, promote, and sell their books directly to their readers. Share how you're using computer technology to accomplish your business goals too.
  12. I miss you too! And in typical “me” fashion - I’m still putting together the files and links from the research I promised to send to you. The main reason I got side track is because I found a PhD Kenyan woman who hosts a blog that is adding primary source data! I will do my best to send what I have -including the link to her blog!
  13. I’m so glad @Del tagged me or I would have missed this deliciousness! Blessed Be for your wit @Cynique! It is beautiful! Happy New Year!!! I miss you all too and yes @Pioneer1 You all challenge me and broaden my perspective! Thank You! Happy New Year!
  14. I don't even watch comedy on Netflix …In fact the last comedian I probably listened to was Eddie Murphy. BUT with all the 'faux" controversy I had to watch. Wow Dave Chappelle's THE CLOSER sent a message I definitely needed to hear! And by the way @Pioneer1 I finally know your real identity lol
  15. Troy, I’m extremely curious about new technology - I pitched the crypto story to EBONY/ JET. I’m not sure it was on their radar - but I found a way to make it easy to understand. And they commissioned it. https://melhopkinssite.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/coin-collector-by-mel-hopkins.pdf Here’s some info from the IRS Virtual currency that has an equivalent value in real currency, or that acts as a substitute for real currency, is referred to as “convertible” virtual currency. Bitcoin is one example of a convertible virtual currency. Bitcoin can be digitally traded between users and can be purchased for, or exchanged into, U.S. dollars, Euros, and other real or virtual currencies. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies I earned about $30 in cryptocurrency just by taking short 5 -10 minute classes in the selected “coins.” I just checked and found I have about $20 worth of crypto-classes waiting in my account. These founders really want others to be educated crypto-collectors.
  16. the limit is 21 million bitcoin in circulation - when that number is reached there is no more reward. The incentive shifts. There are reports that incentives could come from other avenues such as transactions fees Read the white paper. I linked to the Bitcoin founder’s paper here on the site. NOTE: Not to be confused with trading value - I am talking about mining. The FBI just recently caught a ransomware gang because every transaction is PUBLIC - I think you mean the bitcoin owner is anonymous - But that doesn’t mean much when the IRS and FBI can determine who got paid. “The blockchain—bitcoin’s historical ledger of all transactions—is publicly viewable at all times by anyone, so that there can’t be any under-the-table cash transactions. Software firms such as Chainalysis and Elliptic have supported federal investigators with a suite of analysis tools intended to help trace criminals and tax cheats, including those who try to obscure the bitcoin trail through dozens of successive transactions.”. WSJ “Untraceable Bitcoin Is a Myth” How could the FBI recover $2.3 million of the pipeline ransom? It isn’t a mystery. By Ezra Galston June 16, 2021 12:27 pm ET
  17. This just makes me more curious about what you tapped into!
  18. Yep! I did a deep dive and wrote an article on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency for EBONY magazine (2018) I’m sure I linked to the original bitcoin white paper. Also you must report every cryptocurrency trade when you file income taxes. Aside: The weird part is cryptocurrency volatility. It can be a loss or a gain by the time you file. So that serves up some type of conundrum. But anyway, you must report. It’s now law. Even if you have a wallet and key, The Bitcoin ledger or any cryptocurrency ledger still keeps a record of transactions. So, if officials wanted to do some digging there’s a record. Speaking of which, the true value of bitcoin is its tamper-proof blockchain. Which brings us mining. Some reports indicate it cost about 9 years worth of household electricity to mine bitcoin. The thing is we don’t produce our own electricity - so I can only imagine that Con Ed officials will report what’s going on at that “wild house” at the corner of the block. Also, there’s a limit to how many bitcoins will be mined - (read the white paper) Somebody is going to be left holding a crazy-a electricity bill and equipment with no way to pay for it. Yes, conjecture but it only makes sense.
  19. Yep! Just yesterday I got the GoDaddy block firewall. After I posted my latest topic I went back to change the font size and correct syntax and BAM GoDaddy said NOPE. So I left it alone.
  20. We don't disagree here . The most difficult part of living, is CHANGING A MINDSET.
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