Mel Hopkins

Thank you so much. As I mentioned earlier about remembering the ancestors' way to honor our loved one's transition, questioning our place in the world when one departs is one of those rites. Cheyenne told me that if anyone in our family had to get cancer, she felt that she was the best one to handle it. When she was eight, she told me, "Do what you desire before your heart expires." And when I say she lived - she did. When Cheyenne transitioned, I wondered who would fill her space and who would show up and bring joy to others as she did. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder why Cheyenne? Or I wonder why my father didn't survive that bullet wound. Plenty of people survive getting shot. Why do some of us have longevity and not others? I think we forgot our power. This is why these systems use us, abuse us, and drain us. We have the power to choose when we arrive when we depart, and how we live in between. I trust our timing and our agreements with ourselves. Thank you for being here.

Thank you so much.

Are you sure about that? My married heterosexual-all-man neighbor pays many folks to maintain his property. He doesn't make money by bothering with little things; time is still money. His time is better spent handling the business that pays him, and he then spreads the wealth to the community. I paid my Nigerian carpenter to re-build my closet. I could have done it, but I was working for my married heterosexual Black man research scientist client - who pays me for my content marketing skills. Skills he could easily do for himself but would rather pay me for my skills so I could eat too. Black people pay others to produce vibrant Black communities where "everybody eats, b." Places like Black Wall Street didn't grow because "manly-men" did everything for themselves. Hi @Pioneer1

Thank you, Pioneer. Yes, she's my daughter, my baby girl. She loved it here. She told me before she passed away. She also lived life - she was courageous. She was on a mission, and by the turnout at her Celebration, she touched a lot of folks with her light and life. One of her high school classmates learned of her passing and came from Seattle to Cincinnati to say fare well. He told us that when he was friendless, Cheyenne became his first friend. Cheyenne wanted to be treated by traditional medicine - and she was. However, she had to push her initial health caregiver even to test her when she told them of her symptoms. Cheyenne didn't take "no" for an answer. It was after the treatment that she realized that the treatments were inadequate - more for money and destabilizing than curing. This is what she wanted everyone to know. What I learned during her experience, as@ProfD alluded to is that many pharmaceuticals could heal and possibly even cure, but those treatments are reserved for the wealthy. Two days before Cheyenne suffered seizures, the doctors prescribed a therapy that could reach her brain, but they had to wait for her insurance provider to approve it. They did the same day she transitioned. Oddly enough, they could have prescribed the medicine before her brain surgery. - My daughter and I are not separated. The part of her who is eternal is still with me. I don't remember the skills to engage with her as I did when she was here in the flesh. I do, however, remember how my ancestors processed the transitioning of our loved ones, and it is a lot different from how Western civilization deals with the death of the body. So, while I miss her physical incarnation, her soul is boundless. I made this post because I want us to think about our health care—especially as Black people, we must reach back to our ancestral ways to maintain our health. Despite my daughter's paternity—she got her mtDNA from me—mitochondrial DNA, which comes from the mother to its offspring. The mtDNA houses ATP, also known as the God cell, that gives us life and our cells' energy. The medical establishment knows this even though lay people don't. As Prof D said, cancer has been around for millennia, we must remember the ways of our ancestors to survive.

Black people, particularly a Black woman, aren't funded!

@ProfD Hi! Thank you! Same to you! Oh Snap! I didn't even realize I hadn't made a post this year!

In October, I lost my youngest twin daughter to breast cancer. She didn't have health insurance when she found out. Still, she got health insurance through Obamacare (Affordable Care Act.) Several months after cancer treatments, she went into remission after treatments. Still, she refused radiation because there was a possibility of leaving her mentally and physically disabled. By then, the cost of her treatment was nearly a quarter of a million dollars, a poisoned and mutilated body. She lost so much, but she refused to give up her way of life. The cancer treatments didn't extinguish her light, though. She was still helping others see what a gift life was to them and how they could use it to lift others up. When the cancer returned, this time to her brain, she again chose life, submitting herself to brain surgery and another quarter of a million dollars. She came through with flying colors, and two days later, we were sitting across from each other at this beautiful restaurant. A month after her brain surgery, my dear BabyGirl was brain dead. Before the doctor removed her breathing tube, her family, friends, and her former boyfriend made it to her bedside. We had her funeral right there, and a month later, my BabyGirl's Twin sister and her best friend threw the most incredible Celebration of Life for her. We miss...I miss her terribly. However, it didn't change how I feel about the way the establishment treats cancer. It is a money-maker for the healthcare industry at the cost of lives, whether we survive for a few years or die. In January, a month after what would have been my daughter's 33rd birthday, a debt-collecting attorney for the hospital sent a bill for $300,000 to her estate. I've always given cancer treatments the side-eye. I'm not even into the SGK "pink" tober bullsh*t. I wondered what was the point of all that poison, disfigurement, mutilation, and radiation that ended with my daughter's untimely death. Btw, I don't say "eff cancer" because cancer cells are very personal - cancer is your DNA which is why no one can catch it from another. And just like you want to live, so do your cancer cells. Kill cancer cells, and you will most likely kill your noncancerous cells, too. Cancer cells are just doing what any living thing does, which exists and even thrive. Except cancer cells eventually kill their host. So, keep your cortisol low, and take your wealth and health treatment seriously. Your health, wealth, and quality of life are on the line. Below are three journalists, two of whom have tackled breast cancer differently. Ananda Lewis, by the way, decided to do nothing in the beginning and is also against mastectomy and is in stage 4 cancer -(which means cancer has spread throughout her body - death is imminent.) However, she's still here, and she did alternative therapies. These three women express many things I want to share in this post, but they deliver it way better.

@Troy Do Black Readers Prefer White Authors on Black Subject Matter? I remember a study you conducted on Black book sales where you discovered that Black subject matter books written by white authors tend to outsell those written by Black authors. Drawing from that information—and taking a bit of a leap—it almost seems like: Black readers may buy books to see how white authors perceive Black people. White readers may purchase these books to confirm what they already believe about Black people. Why the Sales Gap? Since Black readers live the Black experience daily, they may not see a strong return on investment (ROI) in reading narratives that reflect their lived reality. This idea might also explain why fewer Black users engage with this forum now that other platforms offer more tailored spaces. The Changing Landscape of Online Engagement Forum regulars here probably come from eclectic backgrounds, which has always been our strength. We bring a diversity of thought and learn from each other. However, we may be facing a challenge: We're not Gen Z or Gen Alpha, which makes it harder to attract younger users. Online engagement dynamics have shifted, and we may no longer appeal to the new crowd. Possible Solution: You may need to bring in influencers to boost forum engagement, even if it means hiring them. Reality Check: Our regular posters may have outgrown their attractiveness to newer audiences. We're primarily conservatives with a progressive slant, and we often observe and gather information without aiming to convert or engage in activism. Pioneer's Smoke Alarm Topic – A Case Study in Environmental Sociology Pioneer’s topic about smoke alarms is a prime example of a thesis-worthy environmental sociology discussion. It made me think about my own neighborhood: I live in an 800+ single-family home subdivision and walk it regularly with my pup. The only time I’ve heard a chirping smoke detector was when my next-door neighbor moved to a 10-acre property and couldn’t change the battery right away. Even though the house was empty, they still changed the battery because of the risk of property loss. Black People, Wealth, and Home Maintenance Pioneer’s observation overlooks the possibility that Black, single, or married individuals with financial means are more likely to pay someone to handle maintenance tasks, including changing smoke alarm batteries. Kevin Samuels often spoke about a specific demographic, but in reality: Black women with money don’t need a man to handle home maintenance. With platforms like Thumbtack and Angi's List available, they can easily outsource these tasks. For context, my former neighbor (single with kids and on her way to generational wealth) ensures her smoke alarms are maintained—either by doing it herself or hiring help. (For the record, I do the same.) The ROI of the Smoke Alarm Topic The smoke alarm conversation highlights an interesting point: people like to compare themselves to others. However, that curiosity alone isn’t enough to convince people to give up their PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and actively engage on a platform. Final Thoughts: Time for New Strategies? If we want to reignite engagement and attract a wider audience, it might be time to: Leverage influencers to promote the forum. Introduce fresh topics that resonate with younger generations. Consider how we can offer value that makes people willing to engage despite privacy concerns. What’s your take? Do you think bringing in influencers could help, or is there another approach we’re overlooking? This version is structured to: Encourage thoughtful responses. Highlight key insights with subheadings and bullet points. Spark engagement by ending with an open-ended question. Ready to re-energize the conversation? Let’s get the forum buzzing again! Note: I wrote my response and then I asked ChatGPT to make it more engaging for this forum. Just another suggestion on how to grow engagement

You may have missed the memo—after this last election, Black women declared they are caring for themselves and protecting each other. After 80% of Black men polled voted for VP Harris, we'll give them a plate, a place to rest, and nurturing while they are on the battlefield fighting for us. So, no matter where Cynique and I find ourselves, we will be caring for each other.

Exactly! But keep in mind President Biden won Georgia's electoral votes by a little over 11,000 popular votes.

I remember your post! Thank You @aka Contrarian ! I agree it is a strategy. It worked well in 2016. So, couple that with naive individuals registering to vote on E. Musk's website, and here we are. No matter where I land, I'm going to vote. I flew all over the world as a flight attendant from 2008-2016 and never missed a vote. There is never a reason not to vote. I mean, a 100-year-old hanging by a thread, former President Jimmy Carter, voted in this last election! So eff those 36 percenters.

I will always leave foolishness. Also, my maternal ancestors didn't arrive here the same way many African Americans did. We don't even share the same mtDNA. So, it appears that leaving/fleeing is one of my ancestors' character traits. Let's get 'em!

I may have spoken about it indirectly, but I don't think I've gone into detail. Most of my political "opinions" are formed by my experience; I rarely discuss anything from a hypothetical situation.

At last count, a little over 3 million votes separate them, and that's not by many votes since he'd been running for office since about 2014. Seriously, in the grand scheme of things, she beat his ass if you compare the time they spent campaigning. He got over 32 percent of the votes of registered voters, which isn't much since 36% of registered voters stayed home. Therefore, it appears you've found this man charismatic - More than 60 % of us did not. So, democracy is the loser here.

Okay, so 74 million and counting of us "just went with Harris," but Donald's supporters were deliberate voters? Chile, please. Maybe you forgot that we also voted for the same ticket in the primaries because, wait for it, we believe in democracy!!! We voted to help those who needed the most help in this country, but now it seems those people are beyond help. Gee Whiz Pioneer. You sound like the MAGAts that spew this same rhetorical nonsense on social media sites. The funny thing about a lot of Democrats is they will be alright no matter how bad it gets here. If it gets too bad, we'll leave. Most of us have passports and global entry. So we have the know-how, and we can do it.

When has the democratic party ever played the RIGHT game? Do you know about Birch Bay? I just learned about him yesterday. Here is his story. How the Electoral College Was Nearly Abolished in 1970 | HISTORY When the Democrats forced President Joe Biden to resign, I vowed to vote independent for the rest of my time here. They always do stupid things like that, which is why I worked with the Republican party from 2006-2008. Then President Obama came, and I gave them one more shot. In doing so, I lost my first and only political office, but I thought the Democratic party was taking a turn for the better. Welp, here we are in 2024, 16 years later, and VP Harris was right: "I'm not going back." because the Democrats are now throwing her under the bus!

Is this about the difference between out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and consciousness? If so, my daughter and I had a similar conversation. OBEs allow you to travel while still identifying with your current incarnation. On the other hand, intuitive experiences can occur through consciousness via meditation, dreams, or even the use of hallucinogens. Or perhaps I misread it, and it’s none of the above.

Dang that’s like being in purgatory!

72,925,374 votes (48.1%) As of November 13, 2024, that is the number of votes cast for Madame Vice President Harris. That number of votes is more than Obama got in 2012, More than Trump won in 2016, and More than Hillary, who won the popular vote in 2016. Harris got less than Biden during the pandemic when absentee ballots were still allowed and counted in most swing states. VP Harris got that many votes in 107 days of campaigning, even with folks voting for third-party candidates, too! Nearly 73 million people understand Harris’s platform. White women, white men, and Latino men polled for voting for Donald in the swing states. None of Donald’s policies protect them, so maybe they believe he protects their “christian” values. Perhaps they think he will bring them a better economy. Only in America can a highly qualified, exemplary professional woman do nearly the impossible and still lose the job to a less-than-mediocre, unqualified white man who is also a felon. Oh, by the way, I read Donald is giving out reparations - TO WHITE PEOPLE!!! In his July video, Trump said:

I'm thankful for what I have and wish for more. Twitter has over a half-billion microbloggers active monthly users after an estimated loss of 900,000 when the South African bought it. Threads by Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has reported 275 M monthly users as of November 3, 2024. After the 2024 Presidential election, many black people are using the platform to make plans for the next revolution. How the hell do you plan a revolution on a white-owned public platform that pays allegiance to white supremacists? Anyway, I wish AALBC was the premier microblogging site - Black people 44 Million strong in America; we still don't control or own a major communications platform. We must do better. @Troy Thank you for following your vision to create and maintain a place for us to call our digital home.

Twin, Why? What does smoking have to do with OBE? I'm receiving your friend's observations as if they are limited.

"...Teach them well and let them lead the way."

Welp, I spoke too soon. Apparently, Generative AI moves at the speed of life

Cornel West is on the ballot here in Georgia, but he is ineligible, so a vote for him would be wasted either way. If West was serious about working for the government, why hasn't he entered any other legislative race? Why does he, like Jill Stein, pop up every four years like it's ground hog day? When I tried contributing to Madame VP Harris's first campaign, she had already suspended it. I was thrilled that Biden selected her as his running mate—she is beyond the most accomplished candidate we've had besides Hillary. And if VP Harris were a man, there would be no question or contest. This is one more reason why I despise this patriarchal society the Europeans created. Early voting starts here on the 15th, and I'm already planning my white ensemble for the inauguration. I've been with HER since then Senator Harris wanted to bring back nationwide after-school programs for our children during her first presidential campaign in 2020. #VoteBlue #VoteHarrisWalz

Yes! While it appears nuanced, it is like AI speaking in AAVE (ebonics) or Jamaican Patois. These are all tasks. Most human intellect resides in performing tasks —the first level being mimicking and repetition in learning. These are the tasks AI is performing. Therefore, in addition to my first definition, I will add human intellect development tasks. Generative AI uses predictive text to respond. Once you upload a file, Gen AI provides a summary. If you request that it create a podcast, AI uses the information to generate a conversation. I know this because I go back and forth with Chat GPT. Sometimes, Chat GPT generates my request in two formats so that I can compare. With Audio Gen AI, this task becomes two versions of the same information—but the two outputs have a conversation—predicting how AI -1 will answer based on the last text output of AI -2. So, how do you define the aforementioned level of performance if you believe it's BEYOND task-oriented? Now, when AI is at the apex of performing intellectual tasks and has become cognitive, it responds to requests with an original concept not found in uploaded documents or on the Internet -then whoa. When AI is "thinking, assessing, and being aware" without input, I will find a little plot of land on uncharted territory.