Troy

I'm gonna go, grab a glass of wine, plop myself in front of a big screen and watch this video Good night y'all

@HICKSON, can you do me a favor and post biographical information about Jason and Amin. I'll update the book page to reflect more infomtion about the authors and add any other books they may have published: https://aalbc.com/books/bookinfo.php?isbn13=9780974298221

I believe if could happen in the book world to @CDBurns Sneakers are a lot more popular and sexy than books (to many people). I'd be willing to bet the average Brother owns more pairs of sneakers than hardcover novels (man that sounds so cynical, and it felt bad to write it, but seriously I would not be surprised if it were true). Historically I could not attract the content the way huff post could, but this is changing and the new site will probably make this even easier. I have also been able to take my content in repurpose it in new ways that I was impossible with the old site. My event page is is more popular than ever -- same content, but now it is in a database so it is easier to maintain and can be greatly expanded. I've spend the two years upgrading the site and now there is a light at the end of the tunnel --- checkout the revised version of your page: http://chrisdburns.com/ I just, this instant, put this in production -- The Enhanced AUthor Profile pages are the first pages to be upgraded. I still have a lot of work to do converting page types but once they are done I can change literally thousands of pages on one shot -- this would have been inconceivable before I started the upgrade. Oh once I can get past this upgrade and focus solely on content watch out baby!

My daughter sent me one of herself. I did not know how she made it I just assumed Snapchat, cause they are always doing this type of thing on that platform. WHat is the name of the app?

I have not listened to this yet, but I'm sure TED pulled the video for a reason. Sometimes people say things that are just wrong and I suspect TED was trying stop the dissemination of bad information. Unfortunately once something has been published it never goes away... TED does not seem to be in the business of censorship, indeed just the opposite.

The closest thing that I saw to the Harlem Book fair was the Liemert Park Village Book Fair, in LA. Would you believe the first time I went the City of Los Angeles gave me a one of those proclimiation things -- it was really cool. INow I'll give you one guess who also presented with one? @zaji (everyone) You should come to our annual Black Pack Party. It is held wherew ever Book Expo is held. @Cynique attended one in Chicagoland. The next one with be in NYC on May 30th.

Hey @zaji I missed replying to the wine invitation You know I'm there, You still live in the country? Still hosting those gatherings? @Cynique, wait, what? You mean you are only just now arriving to that conclusion about me

{deep sigh} @Pioneer1, Racism is real. The claims being made by so called Black people are perfectly valid. However, the foundation for the claims made by racist, like white superiority, are baseless. I no longer think you are trying to be obtuse, sorry about that.

@zaji, I know you understand the problem with the fair. The decline is very unfortunate. Even the decline of QBR magazine (another page that has to be upgraded) is a shame. If you saw the early issues you would be very impressed (maybe even surprised). People who who only attended the fair for the first time in the last few years have no clue what it was or what it could have been. Do ya'll attend any other book fairs?

@Pioneer1, of course the "claims" of racists are fictitious; that does not mean racism does not exist. Are you deliberately being obtuse? @Delano, is this an example of Pioneer's superior logic?

I did not know what the word Clairesentience meant until just now. Yes @Delano, sounds like that would cover it and be much better than telepathy are there people who can really do this?

Has this situation happened in real life? Sound like either a horrific or very sad story. I just can't see this situation ending well...

There is an old saying. "Words don't have meaning; people do." I don't know where is comes from, but it is true IMHO. I don't even think telepathy would be any better. How people perceive is a function of the individual. The only way to truly communicate the pain of childbirth is to experience it. However, I doubt every woman experiences childbirth the same exact way. If sharing the same exact experience in not perceived the same universally, had can anything be community universally through the written word -- or even telepathy? I think getting rid of television is a worthy goal for some people. Similarly I think getting rid of the large corporate run social platforms is probably a good idea for most people too. But this all or nothing approach is heavy handed... ... because I also think social media and TV are great things . In the right hands, used wisely, both can provide tremendous socal benefit, like a good bottle of wine. Used in excess wine, like TV and social media, has and will continue to create great societal harm. This is the state we are in today, so I just presume that we ditch all of it and err on the side of caution (provided we keep the wine around).

I never use the word "unthaw" it is just confusing. I simply say thaw. I never use the work "flat." It is a British word. I don't get the other two.

The Coldest Winter Ever was a classic that helped spawn the Urban Fiction genre. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Yes at @CDBurns, that would be helpful. I have been working with a video production company who have committed resources to develop video content for Black books. The Primary platform is The Tea, who have a YouTube channel. They produce high quality videos and are trying to build their audience. The are a cadre of others who create Black book video content on Youtube as well. Collectively they call themselves "Book Tubers." I've been trying to figure out way for all of us to strengthen our network.

Thanks for the mansplaintion Del. this was already covered

@Del, it is not about doubting everything it is about doubt everything except what you want to believe. The analogous question would be; Is there much difference in believing the words of others except what you want to believe or doubting everything except what you want to believe? The answer is no.

{sigh} OK. @zaji, how many races do you believe exist and why?

Race is fiction. Racism is real.

OK thanks I know the that Blogger author Marc Polite. I left a comment on the site, but I did not reveal the real reason for the event's decline -- and won't in a public forum.

I can't entertain stereotypes -- indeed they are racist. Hey @Mel Hopkins, can you make a graphic of a bald headed brown skinned man lying prostrate from exasperation. Like the woman you posted recently?

Hummm @zaji, you probably missed the numerous times I wrote that I used to believe in the concept of race. Just because i asked you to consider an alternative point of voice does nt mean I have not done it myself. I'm not sure why you would draw that conclusion, but to make it plain I have considered the your perspective, but have now abandoned it because the science tells us otherwise. Zaji, scientists are not "divided" over this issue. The science is quite clear. I'm not sure what you read in that article that suggest that there is a test for "race," but I read them: The skin color test article does not even use the word race. Obviously, and as discussed, skin color is insufficient to determine one's so called race The guy using DNA to predict a suspect's race is doing what ancestry and 23 and Me do: tell you where your ancestors came from most recently. But this speaks to geography does not tell you what one looks like. You know some people with African ancestry can actually pass for white? Sure one can made a prediction, but none of the articles said there was a gene for race. Why? Because there isn't one, other than the combinations of genes that make us part of the human race. It is also interesting when I relate a scientific fact that someone disagrees with they often say that it is 'my" position. Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just relating information. Again, my position is not based upon my research and experimentation, I believe what you believed once, but I became aware of the science and I have updated my perspective (i.e. I learned). I'm not sure why you say science has "fluctuated." The tools required to make a determination are relatively new. Shoot, the human genome was sequenced after I started AALBC.com. Scientists has learned a lot, unfortunately this knowledge continues to be rejected by so many people. But I get it; believing in multiple human races fits your world view and changing that is hard. Finally, you say you take the side of "truth." I find that statement confusing, because you have demonstrated a willingness to reject the truth. @Pioneer1, your reaction was predictable I guess you either did not read or comprehend what Leonce wrote. I shared volumes of information with you about the subject. Last year I shared a documentary. It is obvious you are not changing your view, I guess that would force to you dispense with all those racial stereotypes you've assembled over the years.

I swear to God I was just about to write I can't have the conversation anymore, then I read @leonceg reaction. Thanks for that. But I'm afraid it will not make a difference (I have never observed @Pioneer1 change his mind on any subject, but perhaps it will give @zaji, who is a bit more thoughtful something to consider. I'm glad that you presented the information in the manner that you have -- thanks again.