Mel Hopkins

OMG!!! Wouldn't it makes sense to take the vaccine if Operation Warp Speed is a military operation? Sort of like if we're in a war zone we'd wear Kevlar and helmets? I can't with these folks. Yep! I actually had to go to your twitter page to see the post. All your other tweets popped up in my feed. I'm done with fighting social media algorithms. I respond to twitter posts. I'm not on facebook - and I haven't figured out exactly what I want to post on Instagram or if it's even worth it. I still like readingblack.com - and I'm constantly thinking about what type of campaign would appeal to both writers and readers to get more activity there.

People don't believe COVID-19 is a thing. So if you don't think the disease is factual, then the antidote will be fake too. I stopped underestimating the power of stupid long before 45 was elected. I haven't been vaccinated yet -Since I need to sign a consent form to receive it - I'll get the one-dose JNJ vaccine. (Also, my oldest daughter works for JNJ) It appears Georgia's governor got it before he put a halt to it due to the 12 people who got clots from the shot. I recently read it's a go again - so I'll continue to look for an appointment. I've always enjoyed mathematics and science and did well in everything but chemistry. Still, I grasp the concepts. Those folks who gravitate towards conspiracies are like the people in the past who decided gods caused weather activity and diseases. Collectively, the human species hasn't evolved much in several millennia.

I have your notification on - for twitter and I DID NOT See that meme! I think Social Media might have hid it.

O, the Oprah magazine, is partly or maybe even wholly-owned by Hearst Communications. And according to the circulation report, nearly 64% of its subscribers are white.

Writing isn't necessarily about personal experiences. - I'm a veteran journalist who spends a lot of time writing about other people's experiences. The only difference is I process it through my lens. Writing and reading require active engagement. I've recently found watching foreign films and episodic television programs is also engaging. In fact, one must participate too. Not only must you pay attention you also must read the translation. I don't waste my time on anything that is low involvement. Nope, won't do it. So, @Delano change my mind.

This speaks volume of his followers. I've heard a lot of people say trump followers are into cosplay... This is interesting insight. Thank you for sharing.

@Troy You do know the chairman of the Proud Boys identifies as Afro-Cuban. According to reports, the "stop the steal" campaign leader is Ali Akbar, now known as Ali Alexander. He identifies as Black, Christian, and Arab... This group is somewhat diverse. What unites them is what behaviorists call "toxic masculinity." Many say they admire 45* and believe he's the most masculine president in history.

I found another "write 'em and forget 'em" author who signed with a Big 5 publisher and thought it meant the publisher would put in the work to sell his book. Signing with the Big 5 means you're going to get superior distribution - and better access to awards - BUT it doesn't mean they will sell and market your book. I was so disappointed to learn the book was out of print - mostly since the protagonist was a Black woman FBI agent taking on a case that was far beyond her reach. This book was optioned for a screenplay by none other than Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance! I did reach out to the author on Twitter, and he said he would sell me a copy. Now he's Ghost. Please, please indy and traditionally published writers - handled your marketing and sales. The Bottom line: It's up to you to make your book a success!

@Delano It is difficult. I appreciate critical thinkers too.

From mediabistro via Twitter How to Pitch Christina Orlando for Tor.com WHAT IS TOR.COM? Tor.com is an online magazine and community site that covers science fiction, fantasy, and all the many related subjects that interest us as readers - Pay around $75 per article

@Troy Go Engineers! We are definitely the talented tenth! Woo-hoo! Stuyvesant accepted me too. Bronx High School of Science was the highest level of public education available at the time. I didn't test high enough to get in there. Not that it mattered. Mom said, "We live in Brooklyn, you'll go to high school in Brooklyn!" My zoned high school was Wingate/Tilden but since I tested into Tech/Stuyvesant from the 8th grade. I'll never know. @Pioneer1 yes, I graduated with a B average after majoring in Electrical Engineering with a side order of English Honors, Calculus and Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Yes, I'm smart. Probably why I don't "suffer fools gladly."

Time is only relative to space. When I “died” and returned with THE ALL , there was only “now” i.e presence. As soon as my “thoughts” diverged from THE ALL - I found myself back in this dimension and bound by the laws governing this space. There’s probably no “time” here either but since we individuate - it is hard to remain PRESENT because our thoughts are everywhere at once - Also, because of our thoughts we use “time” here to at least have a semblance of “presence.” In fact, we’ve been present in Rome for quite some “time.” I used to believe nothing travels faster than the speed of thought but that’s incorrect. It is “Thought” that creates time. Without “thought” we are AT ONE

Geez @Pioneer1 so you have a theory about white folks and then you believe everyone acts accordingly? Stawp- just no. There was a troll on this board at the time and @Troy finally got him to flee! Even you said he ran away. I’m not into supremacy bullshyt no matter what ethnic group spews it. While you sometimes border on supremacy talk - you actually, at times, dig deeper - and go down the rabbit hole - and strike gold (even if I don’t agree with your find) That poster - was just your garden-variety troll and I can block/mute them on twitter but you can’t here. Unfortunately, no one shut “him/her” down -so I had to go. Now I’m just busy trying to bring my websites up to “google standards” . I’m a adsense publisher but I haven’t been posting “unique and quality” content. I check in here at least once a week - especially on #readingblack.com because I’m supposed to moderate there. So, anyway - stop telling stories about me that’s not true. You might get @Troy sued if 45* gets his way. Note: This post might look different once I return to clean it up.

This is an excellent move! I've been on a few websites that wouldn't let me self-delete - and I've changed the copy - but never did I think to use the opportunity to protest! Bravo!!!

The quoted is the only part that reminds me of the "Meet the new boss. The same as the old boss," from "Won't get fooled again" by The Who. The rest of your observation, however, is very clear.

When the colonists fought the british for their independence - they didn't change their way of life. There was no complete overthrow of government. They just broke free of their 'mother' and continued much of the same. So although they called it a 'revolution' it wasn't that at all. The U.S. constitution replaced the monarchy with a sovereign state. A sovereign state that is managed by executive, legislative and judicial branches. The power is still in the hands of the elite. The sovereign state continues to enslave some, in fact Nebraska just removed slavery as legal option for criminal punishment but I digress. The Sovereign State (USA) topples regimes and holds powers of eminent domain (fifth amendment) which is feudalism with a price tag based on what the government feels is "just". This same system applies to every territory the british colonized or the USA colonized. Yes, never is a long time but without a paradigm shift there will be no revolution.

@Delano Oh yes, this is true for the individual who is already traveling that wavelength. I “hear” the voice too and have all my life. We don’t follow the crowd. I’m tempted to say we’re outliers but we are actually “outsiders.” However, what about the group? We as a group have never broken free of the proverbial matrix. Immediately after enslavement here in the U.S. we began reinforcing the system while deciding, like you mentioned, on what type of pawn - rook, knight etc. we’d be.

OMG @Delano you've been killin' it! I was just thinking about this after finishing a book I purchased from @AALBC bookstore. The book is "Long Shot" (Hoops #1) by Kennedy Ryan. Once I finished it I came to the same conclusion, we "can only work out what type of pawn you are in life" We don't have any innovators - only people who work with what's already available and look for new uses. The King and Queen have already set us up in the industrial mode. Here we can only be apprentice-to-managers in industries, or tradespeople that build upon what is available. If we don't participate then, there's no way to earn a living. While many of us like to think we can make changes - it is not possible without upending the system - and I can assure you there will not be that kind of revolution ever. Just like the characters in the book I just read - we are trapped. As soon as we're born we're programmed to live in this society. Even the most destitute person in America is still living within the trappings of this matrix - and if they haven't given up; they are also looking to raise their profile. In fact the original poster, Guest Garland Gregory, has admitted he's conspired to keep this society intact by teaching young minds how to work with society's policies, not disrupt them. We all support the elite's society. So nope there will be no changes - just more of how to survive (or thrive) in the society we didn't create or control.

Did Hillary Clinton call black men super predators? Also did the “crime bill” specifically state to put black men in jail - or did city and state law enforcement and courts execute the law that way? Also, one thing about a rant compared to a published op-ed is the latter requires a copy-editor to check facts and clarity. This way readers won’t dismiss the narrative outright. I really wanted to learn something from this rant - but I got stuck at 60 years of voting. As a result of previously abolishing the property requirement to vote, Black men got to the right to vote in 1870. Black women got the vote 100 years ago in 1920. Also, the north didn’t have jim crow laws. Also the 14 amendment of the Bill of Rights also gives the Union (United States) a pass from paying anyone for financial loss including the former confederate states as a result of the Civil War. If this is up for debate - we will see a reparation case before the supreme court in the future. Just ask Byron Allen how that worked for him. I agree lecturing adults is useless - but we should always be willing to check and question alleged facts. This way we can arrive at a solution.

Nailed it! I started researching in the mid-nineties, and although I took a mini-break; the quest refuses to let go. And yes I agree, self-revelation is a powerful outcome! I've had my charts done in the past and it did uncover personal characteristics I kept hidden even from myself. By the way, pattern recognition and conceptual learning/thinking are two of my strengths. Maybe in my last incarnation, I worked with the stars...I remember a flight attendant telling me that she could see one of my lives as french royalty but in a dark dungeon -and something about divination. The reveal felt accurate - although I have no memory of it. Anyway, this conversation feels like we are reclaiming our birthright - thank you for the insight and the topic @Del

@Del I don't know of anyone in the U.S. who doesn't take Astrology seriously. In fact, I see it as a mainstream science (probably even more so than biology because people can relate to zodiac signs, transitioning of mars especially when its in retrograde to understanding how Sirius the dog star is prevalent in secret societies that folks believe rule the world. But anyway, I went to sleep with your comment on my mind - and because my mind was open to seeing, "Why Astrology Matters" by Michael Brooks was staring back at me when I opened up my firefox browser. An astrologer told him he was going to have two cars - and he just purchased one. It served as an omen that he purchased a lemon. I'm going to finish reading it now. But I am also interested in understanding how you use Astrology to sharpen your mind. I've mentioned to you, I thrive in chaos and if a tool can tell me of future events, then it's like kryptonite to me.

lol! Offended? I'm honored. It would be presumptuous to consider myself an initiate or a member of the mystery schools - but if someone else defines the topics as esoteric - I won't argue. It is cool that you realized that a concept that should be eyebrow raising and be skeptical about; is actually as normal as breathing. I've actually done the sleep thing too - and I always wake up about 10 minutes before wake up time. No sure why ten minutes but it works. And no I've never had trouble sleeping either. As I mentioned before I believe the subconscious is like a web-browser that we program or someone else programs for us to determine how we filter information. something as simple as reading another perspective allows us an update to see what is possible instead of impossible. As a journalist, I learned early, it wasn't my job to convince anyone of anything. I was only to make them aware that "thing" exist. So yes, consider it is always consent from me. I'm curious about the world we live in. And while I understand there is a certain risk in considering other perspectives, I welcome them. @Del ,Twin, thank you for adding emphasis to my theory - it helped me to reread what I wrote. In doing so, I got a better understanding. I don't always think about what I write. I just write and when I get stuck on how to express myself - I just stand aside and let the spirit communicate for me. So that was a message for me to contemplate too.

It’s that space-time thing @Troy. At one time in our history - the word “nice” meant ignorant. So, it’s as if you said, “Del and I play “ignorantly” in the world.” Depending on what space @Del was occupying, it allowed him to receive an offensive meaning from your words. And that is, I believe, how magic works. Occupying a space to conjure and then preparing (time) to receive. BUT the key is to be cognizant of your surrounding. So for me, Troy, you weren’t far off. I recently conjured up something and it appeared but I’d shifted and it was too late to appreciate it. Wait, that’s a lie. I could still get it but I didn’t desire to continue on the path. But that saying, about heaven opening, mountains moving - and seas parting - that’s what happens. Except if desire falls away none of it is as wondrous. I wonder if that happens to other “magus?” Btw, there is also sex magic - But I think that takes two to create.

I found my aalbc.com forum entries on muckrackdotcomforwardslashmelhyphenhopkins Now this wouldn't be a problem if I took the time to proofread, fact check (ok, I do) and format my comments- but I take a more casual approach when I post here. Further, I don't expect someone to use my aalbc comments as a sample of my published writing. BUT Muckrack dot com is also a content aggregation website that collects articles written by journalists. The LinkedIN MuckRack dot com company page states it's a public relations management platform tool offered to PR professionals who want to pitch to journalists. Now this is a great business model, as it saves time for both journalists and publicists. But aggregation websites like this make journalist the product and PR professionals as the customer. "Muck Rack is also the solution of choice for journalists, who use Muck Rack’s free, automatically updated portfolios to showcase their work and to provide information about what stories they’re looking for." ~Muck Rack on LinkedIN Yes, Muck Rack compensates writers and journalists by providing them with an online portfolio of their work - but you have to sign up for the service if you want to curate your best work. So, if I don't want my aalbc forum posts on muckrack - I would have to sign up and I'm kind of tired of all these online accounts. Anyway, all this to say, if you're a writer, check to see if your work is on muck rack. Maybe you'll welcome the exposure for your writing career AND it will give you exposure to journalist too.