Troy

@Pioneer1 you will impress me if you just accept that you misunderstood the meaning of these terms, learn from this, and move in. Like the rest of us, you are merely human and capable of making a mistake -- is it not a big deal. We all do it. It would just be plain stupid to continue trying to defend the indefensible. Wouldn't you agree? @Mel Hopkins that avatar is too cool

What does Al Gore have to do with you embracing and promoting 45's position on climate change?

@Delano this whole conversation is about the impact of Colin's kneeling -- of course it had an impact?! That is a silly question coming from out of left field. I was talking "some months ago" ago, in a completely different conversation, about his impact on police killings of unarmed Black people. Has Colin's action lead to a reduction in the incidences or new legislation to punish perpetrators? As a matter of fact, why don't YOU tell us what as changed as a result. But you won't because you have developed an irritating habit of not answering direct questions. @Mel Hopkins I just watched this video. Nike has brilliantly taken over Colin's message. I guess it is now about becoming a great athlete despite adversity. I'm sure Nike will sell a lot of over priced product as a result. Never forget -- that is their goal. NIke is selling hype and fantasy no one will become a Serena or Lebron. Commercials like this is one of the reasons so many Black boys invest way too much time trying to become a professional athletes rather than learning skills (like reading and writing) that would be more marketable and rewarding in the long run. Obviously I'm not moved by Nike's marketing hype. I appreciate I'm in the minority, but that is fine with me.

Yes, I can see that.

@Delano your question is nonsensical. @Cynique I singled ou gym shoes because you wrote: I found that to be surprising statement. @Chevdove if off the shelf nikes are better for your feet than custom made orthotics maybe you need a new podiatrist

Del my point is there are two sides to lots of issues. But that does not make both sides equal. In the climate "debate" one side's position is fringe the other side is commonly accepted. It is interesting that you and 45 embrace the same position on climate change, Trump is increasing his net worth denying man made climate change, what is you morivation?

Kaepernick is a reflection of our time. I truly have nothing against the man. I believe his heart is pure and his intentions just. However he is rendered ineffective in 2018. The original intent of his actions have been buried and everyone has co-opted his message. 45 has used it to fire up his racist and xenophobic base by perverting Colin's message on Twitter. Nike is now exploiting the optics to increase shareholder wealth All the while nothing in the Black community has changed -- other than for the worse. @Cynique have you ever lived in a community where people had the shoes stolen off their feet? Does this seems like alien behavior to you? I ask because of your statement. Which struck me: This video is in NYC in May of this year. There are MANY videos like this one. The victim in this video sneakers were apparently worth $2,000, a pair of Air Jordans. Give today's technology the shoes probably cost less to make than the $100 pair of shores a generation ago. These are just the incidences video tapes most of these crimes go unreported. WHile this young man was not murdered for his sneakers, I assure you people are mirdered each year over a pair of Nikes. I wonder if more people are killed over a pair of Nikes than are unjustifiably killed by Police each year. Again, the value and price of these shoes have NOTHING to do with their cost. The "value" of these sneakers has been manufactured, out of thin air by Nike. The resulting crimes are the result. Today Nike is using Colin to improve the effectiveness of their marketing machine. We are a long way from what ever the heck Colin was kneel about. Just Think.

Well @Chevdove I was never a fan of NIke, or any of the companies that exploit workers and actively market these over prices products. I was a kid when sneakers became thing. I think NIke was the first brand to breath the $100 barrier -- for product that cost just a few dollars to manufacture. Kids were getting robbed and killed over sneakers -- perhaps they still are. I never had the money or desire to layout that much for some sneakers but kids literally had the shoes stolen right off their feet because the shoes because so desirable --- purely because of marketing! NIke has blood on their hands -- So F-ck Nike. Have you considered custom orthotics? You can then use them with more than one pair of and they would be better suited to you feet.

Periodically sometimes, once a week, I get a "nastygram" from Google, telling me that one of more of the pages on my website will can no longer display banner advertisements provided via Google's advertising network, Adsense, because of a content policy violation. These ads are an important source of revenue for AALBC Today's email indicated that these pages would not be permitted to display ads provided through Google advertising network: Book Review: Black Silk (A Collection Of African American Erotica) by Retha Powers http://aalbc.com/books/bookreview.php?isbn13=9780739423080 "Slaves" Versus "Enslaved Africans" https://aalbc.com/tc/topic/1587-slaves-versus-enslaved-africans/ I typically do not take any action and I just let Google just stop serving ads. Google never says specifically what he problem is, and in the case of discussion forum posts and book reviews, I'm not changing the content. The pages today was very involved discussion forum post and the other was a book review. Since I'm not specifically what the problem is. The only surefire way to correct the problem would be to delete the page. Obviously, this increases the pressure for webmasters to not create content that would potentially run afoul of Googles morality police. Given that Google's Adsense is effectively the only game in town for both advertising and search, Google has a say and an impact on the content of websites. AALBC encoupasses 10's of thousands of pages, so the impact is negligible, but for smaller sites the pact can be substantial. It could be worse; in the old days (a few years ago) Google would just stop serving ads on the entire website -- even if it was just a few pages that failed to meet their policy standards! This discussion forum started here: http://www.thumperscorner.com/cgi/discus/discus.cgi There were several posts that Google did not like and they would not give me a complete list of the offending pages. As a result, I could not "clean up" the website to Google's satisfaction so Google banned the site from serving advertising. I had no recourse: they were the judge, jury and executioner -- all behind a closed door. That action did put a noticeable dent in the site's revenue. I had to abandon the old discussion forum and I created a new one here on AALBC.com. During that transition MANY of the forums active participants did not come over to the new site. I'm not saying the migration was the only reason; the change also corresponded with the rise of Facebook, but the migration necessitated by Google was absolutely a factor. Again I'm just sharing one aspect into Google adverse impact on the World Wide Web. Yes Google has improved how they treat websites who violate their policies -- by isolating individual pages rather than entire websites, but again the damage they leave in their wake is done and can never be repaired. Thomers Corner was just one websites their were of course many others...

I just added Anita's latest book to the site @JBoard. And thanks for pointing out that problem with the registration process. I'll contact you under separate cover if we decide to review this book. The Twisted Crown by Anita Bunkley Publication Date: Aug 01, 2018 List Price: $14.95 (store prices may vary) Format: Paperback Classification: Fiction Page Count: 336 ISBN13: 9780962401244 Imprint: Rinard Publishing Publisher: Rinard Publishing Parent Company: Rinard Publishing Book Description: The Twisted Crown takes readers from the bustling streets of Boston at the height of the Abolitionist movement to the war-ravaged landscape of Reconstruction-era South Carolina.

Congrats on the new book I justed added it to AALBC along with a buy link to your website: Terminus: Tales of the Black Fantastic from the ATL by Milton J. Davis Publication Date: May 12, 2018 List Price: $17.95 (store prices may vary) Format: Paperback Classification: Fiction Page Count: 244 ISBN13: 9780999278925 Imprint: MVmedia, LLC Publisher: MVmedia, LLC Parent Company: MVmedia, LLC

Because that was the website YOU referenced @Delano I should create a site called conpro and write articles discussing the "pros and cons" of things like getting your children vaccinated, restricting the rights of women to have abortions, "45" a great president, or enslaving Africans... Some things are not up for debate -- especially among lay people. Debating the pros and cons of enslaving Africans, for example, sets up a false moral equivalency for which some people can not make a distinction. Even debating issues like climate change gives the counter argument more weight that it deserves -- even if the vast majority of scientist reject the ideas. This only confuses people. So while I think you and I can agree that enslaving Africans is bad, there are some people who are on the fence on this issue and would be very easily convinced that it is a good idea with a plausible sounding counter argument. This is a problem with the internet (stupid ideas proliferate) and our education system (people are unable to distinguish stupid ideas from reasonable ones).

Seriously @Pioneer1, you wrote that a Republic was "just ONE FORM of an oligarchy." If you would just name two other forms, I think I can help you think about what the terms mean and why saying something like, "A nation can be an Oligarchy, Plutocracy, AND a Republic all at the same time" is like saying a fruit can be an apple, pomegranate, and a kiwi all at the same time. Just because you can string the words together does not mean that they will make sense. This has nothing to do with college, it is just English. As an aside, it would also be interesting to read some of the other reasons you are "GLAD" you did not go to college, I'd like to hear other reasons why you are happy to have not gotten an education. Do you feel the same way about a high school education too?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ryan H. Stewart Stewart Publiques LLC ryan@stewartpubliques.com THE TERRIE WILLIAMS AGENCY, LONG-KNOWN AS THE PREMIERE BLACK-OWNED PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM IN THE COUNTRY, IS CLOSING Terrie M.Williams New York, NY (September 5, 2018) - Terrie M. Williams, one of the country's premiere public relations professionals, whose firm has represented some of the biggest names in entertainment, sports and business, has announced that the company that bears her name will be closing in September 2018. After 40 years of being in the public eye, Williams said she is retiring to focus on personal wellness, family and travel, and the next chapter of her extraordinary life. "I'm so proud of what we have done over the last four decades, and I want to thank all those who have been so supportive of me through my successful journey," Williams said. "There are countless individuals who have inspired me, guided me, and helped me throughout my career. I owe so much to so many people, and to all of them I offer my heartfelt thanks. "Unfortunately, the time has come to bring this chapter of my life to a close." The phenomenal and inspirational success story of Terrie M.Williams began as the tale of a caring and shy young woman who "wanted to save the world." The early chapters of her life will chronicle that she was a social worker by training who earned a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University. But it was her venture into the entrepreneurial world - as the founder of The Terrie Williams Agency, one of the country's most successful public relations and communications firms - that made an enduring mark in the archives of business history. Since the Agency's launch in 1988 - superstar Eddie Murphy and jazz legend Miles Davis were her first clients - the firm handled some of the biggest names in entertainment, sports, business and politics. Those who retained the agency services over the years included Prince, Janet Jackson, Russell Simmons, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Johnnie L. Cochran, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Sally Jessy Raphael, Time Warner, HBO, AT&T, NBA and Essence Communications Partners. As an author Williams has written four successful books. Her first, The Personal Touch: What You Really Need to Succeed in Today's Fast-paced Business World (1994, Warner Books), is a perennial business bestseller. Her second book, Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for Teens (Scholastic, Inc., 2001), has been utilized in school curricula and was the catalyst to launch The Stay Strong Foundation, a national non-profit for youth. A Plentiful Harvest: Creating Balance and Harmony Through The Seven Living Virtues (Warner Books, 2002), was Terrie's undertaking to help others achieve balance in their daily lives, reconnect with their heritage, and identify the needs of their souls. Her last book, entitled Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting, (Scribner 2008) detailed the untold story of depression among African-Americans. This powerful account helped break the silence in Black communities about the debilitating impacts of the disease when it was unacknowledged and untreated. Terrie's bravery and openness about depression and mental illness led to a national mental-health advocacy campaign called "Sharing Ourselves...Healing Starts With Us," a collaboration with the Ad Council's and SAMHSA's Campaign of Mental Health Recovery." The campaign garnered $2.5 million in donated national advertising space and 11 million media impressions. Williams has also been one of the country's most highly sought-after speakers, and has shared her unique brand of success and personal development strategies with numerous Fortune 500 companies and countless organizations, including the New York University Continuing Education Program, The New School for Social Research, The National Football League, The National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League. Her success story has been featured in dozens of publications including The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Crain's New York Business, The New York Daily News and People, Adweek, Essence and Savoy magazines. The Agency's accomplishments have been used as the basis for public relations seminars and college classes, and Williams has been quoted and featured in college textbooks, industry newsletters and even novels. A sampling includes: Public Relations: A Values-Driven Approach (by David Guth and Charles Marsch); Basic Media Writing (a college text by Melvin Mencher that has featured Williams in every edition since 1989); Rogers' Rules for Businesswomen (by Henry C. Rogers); Any Way The Wind Blows (by E. Lynn Harris); Keys to Positive Thinking (by Napoleon Hill of Think & Grown Rich fame); and Show & Tell (by Nelson George). The hundreds of honors and awards Williams has received over the years include Woman's Day magazine's "50 Women On A Mission To Change The World," Ebony magazine's "Power 150" for Activism, and a Black History Makers honoree on the 2013 theGrio 100 list. Also, Terrie received The Blanton-Peale Institute and Counseling Center's Norman Vincent Peale Award for Positive Thinking, The New York Women in Communications Matrix Award in Public Relations (she was the first and only woman of color to be so honored in the 30-year history of the award); the PRSA New York Chapter's Phillip Dorf Mentoring Award; and The Citizen's Committee for the New York Marietta Tree Award for Public Service. In 1996 Williams was the first person of color honored with the Vernon C. Schranz Distinguished Lectureship at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Established in 1979, the Lectureship is recognized as one of the most preeminent honors in the public relations field. In 1998, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of The Terrie Williams Agency, Williams donated her collection of business and personal papers to Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. The donation was the center's first gift of material specific to the public relations field. The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center is the world's largest, most comprehensive repository of information and materials about and by people of African descent, housing works by such legendary figures as Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Alice Walker, James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. Terrie's success story has been built on a foundation of the countless contacts, friends, mentors and business associates that helped her rise to the pinnacle of her profession. "I have been blessed," she has said. "And I know that the best way to say thank you to all those who have done so much for me is to give something back and pass it on to those who will follow us. I always wanted to save the world," she has said with a laugh. "I couldn't do that, of course. But I hope I have my done my part and I hope I've encouraged others to do the same." ###

Fascinating. What other forms of oligarchy are there?

Yes, because I remember quite clearly how Dyson bashed Cornel West when West spoke out against Obama. Dyson did not start poppin' shit about Obama until Obmana was out of office -- when it was too late to make difference. I'm not impressed.

Good for Colin. It does not sound like it will make up for the loss revenue from his football contract but it is far more than any of us will make. Leave up to Nike to slickly capitalize on the "moment." Imagine what it would be like if NIKE were around in the 60's and co-opted the images of the civil rights leadership during the civil right movement just to sell grotesquely over priced footwear targeting people who can ill afford the buy the stuff... "Sacrificing everything" -- gimme a freaking break! We don't even know what sacrifice means today; Brother and Sisters actually risked their lives fighting injustice little more than a generation ago. We won't even get off social media for 5 minutes.

@Delano the artful dodger of direct questions. OK, let me help you bruh, the site you referenced is a bullshit site probably created by a Russian troll farm. You won't vouch for it because you have not vetted it in you desperation to find anything that contradicts the reality of man made climate change. Obviously one can find anything to support any hair brained idea they have, I just did not expect this from you -- no insult intended just profound disappointment, no so much that you tried pass this site off as some authoritative source-- when it is not, but that you simply won't admit that you did. No one is perfect man.

@Pioneer1 Man, this is a ridiculous statement. I know the masses are easily manipulated, but no one will forget the the Catholic Church's offenses because "bishop" grabbed him some grande tittie. We can remember more than one thing at the same time. I listed to video of Dyson's speech. Again I still not not feel like I missed anything. Sounded more like lines from his standup routine and a eulogy for Aretha. The rant against 45, the dig against Obama absence were uncalled for inappropriate -- That kind of rhetoric was apropo for the old Tavis Smiley State of Black America Conference . But this was clearly not a "normal" funeral.

No @Delano climate change is not simple (see how easily I answered your question). Sono while climate change is not simple, my questions are: @Delano What do you know about the website procon.org? Who is behind it, where does it get it's funding? Can you say with certainty that it is a legitimate site? Indeed legitimate enough for you to dismiss the findings of Nasa: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/ If so why?

@Pioneer1 you misunderstand the definition of the word oligarchs are not elected. Our government is actually a republic. However our country is arguably essentially an oligarchy, run by plutocrats who have paid off our elected officlas.

@Pioneer1, it is not ALL the time man, but done in jest or to make stronger point -- never intended to be taken personally ;-) At the risk of being called a homo by Pioneer, I love @Delano.

Sorry man, I'm not interested. Go argue with the vast majority of the Earth's climatologist.

Damn, @Delano, you wont (perhaps can't) answer a simple question.

In all seriousness @Delano, I'm really interested in reading your reply to this question.