Troy

"There are certain things that DO offend me and make me angry but I try not to broadcast them publicly so as not to let people know what buttons to push." Precisely, Pioneer. You never struck me as someone who would make this tactical error here, or in the real world. Next time you see your lesbian student, ask her if she was offended by Hibbert's No Homo comment and, more importantly, if he deserved to be fined 75 large for the infraction. Also Pioneer back in 2005 someone created an account under the name of a journalist, Lola Ogunnaike and began posing as her even using here photo. Now this type of activity is wrong and potentially damaging. Even though at the time I did not know who she was and there were certainly more famous people posting here. Other than rare instances like that I don't think anyone ELSE can say something that will damage YOUR reputation with anyone that matters. Unless you are running for political office -- then all bets are off :-)

This question makes me thing about a video I just posted here: near the end the woman emphasizes being yourself. Sure we all know this but how many actually try to do this. But that does pose a dilemma. We should all try to be our true selves, but suppose that person is just bad. If I'm a pedophile should I try to change my nature? Most of us are capable to doing things that would hurt others, if left to our own devices. We must try to avoid doing these bad things; striking a balance between being your true self and fitting into a civilized world. In our world we have to figure all this out and make money too -- no easy feat. Or we could just go live, by ourselves, in the woods somewhere. Del changing something based upon whether it works or not is the definition of improvement ;-)

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"Pioneer has apparently decided that anybody who is not black is white" That logic works for me! Seriously I can remember thinking that way. Then I encountered a much larger world. My next lesson was to learn Black people are vastly different from each other. So much so, that many Black people have white friends that they have more in common with than they have with members of their own family.

Wow Cynique it would have never occurred to me that you, being relatively active on-line never heard of Google+. What a reality check. I know Google will have issues with getting people to actually use Google+, it did not dawn on me that there were people unaware of it's existence Facebook is annoying. Facebook presents ads in such a way that it is not clear you are looking an advertisement. Eventually all social platforms go route of MySpace... riddled with ads, reckless spammers and people who self promote beyond all reason. People ultimately move onto the next shiny thing to repeat the process. I have a particular fondness for newspapers now.

Look what the publisher was nice enough to share!

Kam interviewed Mike Tyson this past April one of the publicity still shows Mike pretending to bite actor Charlie Sheen on the ear. After watching the videos above, and reliving the memories, this does not seen funny at all.

There will be an interview with the author George Willis at the L Lounge in Harlem, Thursday June 20th at 4:00PM. Stop by and say hello :-)

Sadly, this is reminiscent of the scene from Django Oprah's interview with Tyson and Holyfield

The Bite Fight: Tyson, Holyfield and the Night That Changed Boxing Forever By George Willis, Foreword by Mike Tyson An unparalleled account of the infamous bite felt ‘round the world June 28, 1997 - Months following the first brutal showdown between Holyfield and Tyson - the two are back at the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield had been an underdog in that first fight with the odds against him 25:1. "Iron" Mike Tyson, the defending WBA heavyweight champion, had planned to capture a huge purse and move on to more riches. Instead, Holyfield demolished Tyson. No one could have predicted what happened in the rematch. An intimate look at the infamous disqualification of the "Baddest Man on the Planet," The Bite Fight: Tyson, Holyfield and the Night that Changed Boxing Forever (Triumph Books, June 2013) by George Willis, with a foreword by Mike Tyson, examines the sensational events surrounding the legendary clash. More than 100 interviews-including with the famed fighters themselves-offer a behind-the-scenes look at the bout's past and present. The Bite Fight is the untold story of one of the most shocking moments in the history of boxing, covering: Willis includes anecdotes that give fans insights into these two men's personalities and mental states throughout their careers, on the night of the fight and in the years to follow Biographies of the two fighters, who had similar upbringings and were trained by personalities as intense as their own. Tyson and Holyfield's bids for Olympic Gold in the 1984 Games where the two met at training camp and sparred for the first time. Accounts from matches leading up to the historic fight, including Holyfield vs. Bowe and Tyson vs. Spinks. A detailed account of fight night, the near riot in the MGM Grand casino, what happened to Holyfield's chewed off ear and his own biting history. Celebrating the bout's 16-year anniversary in June 2013, Tyson and Holyfield are forever linked by the memorable fight. Generations recognize the bout as a landmark moment in both pop culture and sports history. The Bite Fight is a must-read look behind the scenes for all diehard boxing and sports fans alike. About the Author: George Willis is an award-winning sports columnist for the New York Post and a former journalist with the New York Times, Newsday, and the Commercial Appeal in Memphis. A native of Las Cruces, New Mexico, he lives in New Jersey. CONTACT: Josh Williams ∙ Independent Publishers Group ∙ 312.568.5404 ∙ jwilliams@ipgbook.com ###

Each morning with a cup of coffee I skim the newspaper, read my email from the previous day and review and reacting to activity on my social media and these discussion boards. Today I got started around 5:30AM and will probably finish these activities around 10 AM before starting the "real work" of AALBC.com. Normally these thing take about two hours today was a little longer because I've placed various versions of this article on Facebook, and Google+ This morning on Facebook I noticed my wall had a "suggested post" an euphemism for a paid ad I suppose. I also had to block a couple of "people" spamming my fan page. I previously blocked people from posting on my wall, but I still have to contend with spammers posting ads in my comments. And I'm really disliking the ads that pop up prompting you do buy a gift for someone right after wishing them a happy birthday. In the meantime, Google+ revamped their platform. I have to admit the revamped Google+ offers some real "pluses" over Facebook. Better features, cleaner more appealing design. Even the new banner was cleverly implemented. But at the risk of sounding overly cynical, I just can't image regular folks (people without a business to promote) using both Google and Facebook. Indeed there appears to be some social media fatigue -- at least in my peer group. Older folks seems to have gotten everything they can get out of Facebook. They have; reconnected with all their old classmates; seen enough photos; been assaulted by enough ads, eventually learning to ignore then (even though Facebook is now inserting them right into conversations); victimized by evil spammers; overwhelmed by aggressive self promoters; doled out enough "sympathy likes" to those who need them and those who are merely attention starved; grown tired of wading though everyone else's minutia while ignoring their own; and even marginally amused themselves with a game or two until bored. I can't see very many folks (especially folks my age, 50+) leaving Facebook, overcoming a new learning curve, reacquiring friends or finding new ones, only to ultimately repeat the same crap they are already engaging in on Facebook. What is also interesting is the almost complete absence of widespread conversation about MySpace I've had a Myspace account forever but I never use it. Does anyone here use MySpace? Some of you may know I have a love/hate relationship with Google. Some things Goolge does really well. Others not so well. They continue to struggle with search. They are unable to (perhaps unwilling) to prevent results from favoring entities with loads of money or who use "Black Hat" tactics. This has had the result of really worsening the internet experience as web-surfers simply never discover independent website -- and indy websites are what made the internet great -- giving us alternatives to corporations. But I digress... The biggest benefit of Goggle+ is the complete adsence of banner ads, sponsored links, and spam. It is not clear to me how much longer Google+ can continue without shoving ads in our faces? Attempts to monetize social media through paid placement is the very thing that worsens the experience. Indeed, I'd argue it is the very thing that has worsened the entire internet experience. If Facebook, Google+ and all these social media platforms are so valuable to people, why don't they simply charge a fee and get rid of ALL the paid/sponsored/promoted content? Which platform do you prefer, Facebook, Google+ or MySpace? Do you use all three or two if so, do you intent do so indefinitely.

Since I could not find the offending post I assume it has been deleted. I would not have deleted it -- for I would have left that up to Cynique. I was just curious to read what got Pioneer so bend out of shape. Pioneer, I never suspected that anything anyone could write here would prompt this reaction from you. You seemed to have all the characteristics that make one ideal for these types of conversations a sense of humor, thick skin (not afraid of criticism or the occasional insult), defined opinions and the willingness to express them publicly. I was surprised by your demand. The problem with issuing demands, an ultimatums really, is that people don't like getting them. I can't image anyone simply saying "I'm sorry", then doing everything you requested, based upon the way you made your "request". Now I'm not trying to dismiss your reaction to being compared to Hitler. But you and I both know Cynique was engaging in hyperbole -- we all do it Anyone who comes here and reads that knows that you are not a Hitler -- Cynique, doesn't even believe you are a Hitler (at least I hope not). Pioneer, and trust me on this, people will use YOUR words to judge you, not Cynique's. Now if Cynique were Oprah it would be a different story ;-) I hope you two can work this out, as lately y'all are the primary reason I or any of the remaining lurkers read the boards. Unfortunately conversations, debates -- arguments even -- with a known set of folks, you can get to know, over a long period of time is not easy to find. I don't often get to have conversations on subjects like homosexuality, religion, race, or even books :-) in the real world. I don't get to think as long or have the advantage or look up a fact before expressing myself. I don't have the ability to present supporting information so easily. I don't get to challenge my own ideas by play devils advocate or taking a view point a more extreme than one I personally hold. Even the idea of talking about such subjects as homosexuality, religion, These types of forums (especially the Black ones), plentiful 10 years ago, are dying out today. Social media is a poor substitute. It is an era coming to an end...

I know so called Hispanics who consider themselves white, though to me they look Black to me. I thought Kim Kardashian was white. But what do I know? Comparing people with different national origins, language, cultures and "race" together as if there is no overlap is misleading and obviously confusing given this exchange. Yeah it is interesting to read that both White and Black people feel they are being put out of existence in the US -- often blaming each other?!

Pioneer Sprong never said that hell was an "invention of the church". The question was posed by the interviewer Sprong's response was, "...the Church fired their furnaces hotter than anybody else." More on reading the bible. My grandfather was a baptist minister for much of his life. He was illiterate. Again the whole idea of people actually reading and studying the bible is relatively new. Also how can you can study the bible and at the same time eschew everything else that is not the bible -- this seems ludicrous to me. But this is a tactic many Christians employ, since everything not the bible is a lie, or the work of the Devil. How can you "study" anything in isolation, without consider opposing view points? I like the quote, "Maybe salvation needs to me conveyed in terms of enhancing your humanity rather than rescuing you from it". If we could manage to do that we would spend zero time hating gay people, white people, or people of other religions.

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I was announced today that for the first time in history of the US more white people are dying than being born. Here is a Ceerios commercial featuring an interracial couple. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYofm5d5Xdw And another from Blockbuster Video A reaction to the Blockbuster video commercial is show below (taken from Youtube). General Mills decided to disable comments on Youtube - WHIMPS! They are "bold" enough to air a commercial, they feel "reflects the consumer" but can't tolerate the reaction from those same consumers -- they care so much about. Plan for White geNOcide that “anti-racists” implement: Flood EVERY & ONLY White countries with MILLIONS of non-Whites Force integrate these immigrants into White communities. This is done with the aid of Federal Laws Push interracial relationships night and day in the media & newspaper advertisements, in ONLY White countries Anyone that objects is called the r-word! Then, inform the Whites of their inevitable brown future Anti-Racist is a code for anti-White -------- Trolling around white sites for a minute I could have just replaced "White" with "Black" and felt at home. It seems white folks feel as though the are under assault as well. One day some genius will put 2 and 2 together and learn we are ALL under assault and it has nothing to do with the artificial term well cal "race".

I attended this event it was great. The love and admiration for both Coates (publisher of BCP) and Walter Mosley was palpable The event just reinforced why I will always respect and admire Walter Mosley: In the mid 1990’s Walter DECIDED he would support an independently owned Black Press. Walter, who can publish with major publisher, has published three books with Black Classic Press over the years. The first book GONE FISHING’ sold almost 100,000 copies. This video from the event describes their relationship This video also features; the Mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (I'm in a shot with her below); author Walter Mosley; and BCP publishers, W. Paul Coates and Natalie Stokes-Peters

"...keeping the seat warm for the next puppet elected selected to maintain the agendas of corporate American and the military industrial complex" 'Nuff Said, though "corporate America" and "military industrial complex" are redundant.

Pioneer interesting. Cynique, John Shelby Spong's video (I someone I never heard of previous), completely describes my view on religion -- though he articulates for better than I ever could. For one reason he seems to come from a position of compassion -- something I can learn more about.

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