Mel Hopkins

No president including President Biden makes or raises rates. THE FEDERAL RESERVE controls the rate hikes Here is the background. https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/structure-federal-reserve-board.htm#:~:text=The Board of Governors--,positions by the U.S. Senate. "The Board of Governors--located in Washington, D.C.--is the governing body of the Federal Reserve System. It is run by seven members, or "governors," who are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed in their positions by the U.S. Senate. The Board of Governors guides the operation of the Federal Reserve System to promote the goals and fulfill the responsibilities given to the Federal Reserve by the Federal Reserve Act. All of the members of the Board serve on the FOMC, which is the body within the Federal Reserve that sets monetary policy. Board Appointment Each member of the Board of Governors is appointed for a 14-year term; the terms are staggered so that one term expires on January 31 of each even-numbered year. After serving a full 14-year term, a Board member may not be reappointed. If a Board member leaves the Board before his or her term expires, however, the person nominated and confirmed to serve the remainder of the term may later be appointed to a full 14-year term. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Board are also appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, but serve only four-year terms. They may be reappointed to additional four-year terms. The nominees to these posts must already be members of the Board or must be simultaneously appointed to the Board."

Oh snap! There you are...

@Cynique determination or free will? I believe it’s both. Which is why we carve out time to reflect during our journey. The weird thing is we’ve spent about two years dormant. The Global pandemic gave us all a moment to reset and reflect. I spent those years reviewing my journey. But here’s the thing, I don’t believe in linear time. When I “died” or “transitioned” I came back because I told THE ALL I had something to do. It was almost like I remembered when I rejoined “The All. Then I skedaddled. The highest level of creation is “ Kuumba. It is the Swahili word (bantu etymology) for “divine creation” meaning create something out of nothing. So maybe determinism is nothing more than choosing to create our journey before we arrive in this dimension. Some of us remember exactly what we came here to do - and begin when we are infants (old souls). Some of us forget - and we follow bread crumbs that we’ve left ourselves. Maybe one of your projects is to create a new project - while you’re in your corporeal state. Please don’t! You share a rare perspective that shows what’s behind the curtain!

Truthdotcom! I live in my head most of the time! So peaceful here I’ve been so naive! Like I wrote I live in my head. So, let’s look at the proliferation of guns and technology as an untapped market. You mentioned people come here and send money home. What if their fam is in Ukraine, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea? It may not be easy to get weapons there.., but anyone can get weapons here. We don’t even need a license. Voila.. all of sudden that $63 B industry is worth a lot more off the books. The U.S. doesn’t even have dirty their rep by getting involved with arming other countries anymore. We’ve become unwitting independent contractors.

@Troy I do appreciate that the average news reader lacks interest in verifying what they read. I get it. What I don’t understand is why they consume what they don’t care about. Late last week a family member tried to engage me with the news of Japan’s former prime minister’s assassination. I stopped them. I don’t have the bandwidth to invest time into getting myself up to speed. I don’t follow politics outside of the U.S. If it doesn’t originate here …I won’t mess with it. I followed China (PRC) when I was flying for United because it was my reserve Line of Flying. Their policy was my need to know. I wasn’t trying to be anyone’s international incident lol! Seriously though, i’ll never let anyone off the hook for not following up on what they read. I have no patience for ignorance.

There is some truth to this - but Associated Press, Owned and Operated Networks, Network Affiliates, and Independents have a symbiotic relationship. They feed each other. I've had a few AP credits when I reported for CBS affiliate and IHeart Media (Formerly known as Clear Channel). But there's also CBS Newspath and CNN Newsource, to name two with whom I've shared stories. And then there are also independent feeds that provide packages to the stations and print publishers. Sometimes reporters get lazy and run as is without fact-checking. News reporting always comes down to one fundamental challenge "FACT CHECKING. " Some publishers do better, and some don't want to pay for additional time and personnel.

Jennifer Lewis and my mother are one in the same lol. It's kind of scary.

Yes, I think I'm getting more clarity into your system. I seek to understand your creation. Communicating the benefits of someone's product/creation is what I've done in my career. So, last night (my last night), when I realized I turned to you for validation of my knowledge of finance - It hit me. You embody facts, figures, dates, movement, longitude, latitude, and more beyond my scope of intuition. I relate your inherent skills to the earliest known mathematicians in Africa (Swaziland) ... http://www.taneter.org/math.html. Is this realistic? Not a clue, but I don't need proof to trust my intuition. I just trust it. I channeled the post I wrote. It began as a trigger right here in this forum. Troy said something was unknowable...and I went into a trance, and that's what I wrote. So, yes, I feel you're correct. Thank you again for bringing clarity. .

I used to call myself a "day-trader" but I was actually just shopping, holding and then selling when I felt the bottom was about to drop out. I like your term better "Small Investor". I just started buying private equity shares. Now, I want to learn to find out if I can make that my new business.

Oh, this tidbit of information came from a research I used when I was working on a story about "statelessness." There's a whole lot of information available on the 'whys.' I found out because I was invested in the story I was working on. Also, if you want to spend some time on the topic, use the search term expats on YouTube you'll find former Americans sharing their stories.

1.7 million since January 2021 have migrated mostly "due to deteriorating political, economic and humanitarian conditions in several countries, particularly in Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Haiti." It appears very few migrate here from countries with stable economies and less violence. In the last 20 years, the amount of Americans leaving the US has doubled according one Insurance website -the US doesn't keep records of those who give up their citizenship, but Aetna reports a minimum of 9 million have left. https://www.aetnainternational.com/en/about-us/explore/living-abroad/culture-lifestyle/where-are-Americans-emigrating-to-and-why.html https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/counting-uncountable-overseas-americans https://cis.org/Report/ForeignBorn-Population-Hit-Record-47-Million-April-2022

Here's the lens I'm looking through right now: Time is circular or sometimes represented as an infinity symbol. Therefore, I'm receiving your reply that Time Markers are immensely personal. TM is like breadcrumbs I've left on the path as I move through the circle of Time. And since I've partnered with Google's solution for measuring how many visitors are on the point at any given moment, it provides messages. Those messages led me back to that post I wrote five years ago. And it feels like I left myself a note to follow a specific path at this TIME. So, this makes sense to me. - I've laid the foundation to build awareness for my project -(I've breathed life into it). Now others realize my vision. And they are resurrecting/ "resuscitating" it. Wow - Just Wow.

@ProfD, yes! In fact, I called on this part of @Delano's "essence" to help me with my cursory finance knowledge. I've kept my debt at 0 for the last few quarters. If I can't afford it, I don't buy it. It was hard not to see the signs. Also Google's CEO said they are slowing hiring. I bet this is in response to the Consumer Price Index report released today. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of major corporations follow them. Gas prices are down now so that's not factored into the report but rent is rising -- so those who are paying rent are feeling the pinch. Sadly, local governments were too slow to act on rent gouging properties...My municipal government put an ordinance on the books to prevent hedge funds from buying up single homes trapping families into a cycle of renting without a chance to own. As I always say, VOTE, because all politics is local. Don't you mean, "I AM A Taxi Driver"... Ok that's just creepy. And I can tell you're out of your depth both financially and grammatically - you've just used a subjective personal pronoun as the subject of a sentence that referenced someone outside of yourself. Do you get a script to post these messages.

Actually it borders on it. Unknowable” post 2017 https://melhopkins.com/2017/03/03/the-unknowable-got-you-under-a-spell/ 1 - Google Maps July 12, 2022 @ 1:00 AM EDT said my photos had 8000 views 2 - Google Search Impact - 20 clicks in 28 days July 11, 2022 circa 12:29 AM EDT Besides using Google products and platform - I feel there’s a message too. Thank You!

@Chevdove The State Department has a rating for other countries but they don’t rate the U.S. So one day I did a search to find out how other countries rank they U.S. and found The U.S. ranked as one top 15 dangerous countries in the world. In fact, there are a bunch of youtube channels hosted by expats. Most people who can afford to leave the U.S. have left. But yes this is how highly developed countries and even emerging markets see the U.S. - They see our hypocrisy and call it out.

2017 and Google have made several are appearances in my life this month. @Delano Can you shed some light? Ok here’s some background - Google sent me a message about visitors finding my work on various platforms. They are also visiting one post that I wrote back in 2017. The creepy thing is they’ve been visiting this one post since December 2021.

@Pioneer1 You know that’s right! I would be a “Shirley Chisolm” candidate who fights for freedom. I’d also work to make folks get the “eff out of Black people’s way. Do you know how far we would be if the powers that be would stop putting up literal and figurative roadblocks to prevent our progress. Also, from where I sit, it doesn’t seem like people want to be “free.” Many people want to be “led” or need a “leader. I’m not a leader - I’m an organizer. But thanks to Stacey Abrams I see that can work too. Having said all that - the true power in politics is what you and I do -actually what we all do here support and work with movements that we believe in like helping @Troy with #readingblack.com This is where real policy is born.

@Delano Twin, check me if I’m wrong. But finance experts report the drivers of inflation is too much money chasing too few goods, a hot job market- (unemployment rate is 3.6 and US economy added 372000 jobs, high wages (hourly earnings rose 10 cents to $32.08 according to the July Jobs report) the strong dollar causing certain markets to rally AND gas prices are down. - @daniellegfny do you actually follow financial markets? Because if you did, you know now is the time to get rid of personal credit debt. The fed’s rate hike is to cool the economy and prevent a recession. Living above our means makes it difficult for any American to live comfortably. We are not in a recession -and inflation is tied to the consumer market. Biden can’t control our consumerism - no president can but at least he is working to keep folks employed. By the way, as with most republican presidents, 45 created the least amount jobs than any other president in recent history. If you’re self-employed, you may not care about employment numbers. But remember, unless you’re a multimillionaire living off investments, you also need a strong jobs market In order to get paid too.

Not in any Georgia polls thank goodness LOL! These are the same folks who left the presidential part of the ballot empty -so not to vote for 45. I'm working on a crowdfunding campaign for digital technology products.

I hate when that happens LOL! I'm working on a campaign - and it's crunch time

@Troy I'm wondering if you know inside information on Apple's pricing structure. Apple sells digital books for less, they have an open digital format, and if they offer better royalties than am*zon. (APPLE: You'll earn 70% royalties on all of your ebook titles, regardless of price point, with no hidden fees or exclusivity requirements. Payments are made within 45 days following the end of each month.) then more readers /writers would be better off purchasing/publishing through Apple. Do you have any insight to the contrary?

I’m not surprised. But the books are also less expensive. I would like to know why?If you have any insight as to why, please share.

Twin, two proverbs I live by. “the more I learn the less I know” ”You always learn a lot more when you lose than when you win”

Complacency: The space between the rock and the hard place. Shirley Chisholm, U.S. Representative, NY - 12th District, 1969-1983, ahead of time and on time!

Yep sadly Texas will have a new face for their “welfare queen” meme. Washington Post ran an article about a Texas (white-looking) teen who recently gave birth to twins. She says she missed the heart beat bill deadline and didn’t/ couldn’t leave the state for an abortion. Her boyfriend/ baby-father makes $9.75 an hour to support them and she stays home with the babies. He was a “surfer dude” but that life is over. He is the financial supporter of the family. (Texas does have a wic program.) But even if he leaves he’s also stuck with the 7-figure bill. nope. It’s all yours.