Troy

Carey in some ways I actually agree with you... I was in the subway yesterday (ohh I hate the subway but the weather was crap and I had to get downtown) and I watched these too kids around 10 years of age, obviously brothers. They were 100% in engaged in their PSP's the whole time I was on the train. This might sound like hyperbole but it seemed kinda sad. These kids were in the own separate little worlds. Then I thought about how I never see kids playing outside any more. No games of tag, no jumping rope, I just envisioned kids teethered to xboxes and game boys all day. Not talking or playing with each other unless it was through technology. But technology has also given the individual access to information and in some sense power. My every livelyhood would have been impossible to envision even 10 years ago and is the result of this new fangled technology. Honestly I don't get twitter either, but I'm on it because I need to make sure I down with any technology so many people find important. It is more of a business decision than a personal one. I think I told this story once before, but I think it illustrates your sentiments: I was at dinner with an accomplish author and about 5 other people. The accomplished author, a professor, can agurably be described as brilliant. She sat next to me and every few minutes or so she would bow her head and start typing something into her cell phone. After I while I asked, "What are you doing?". "Oh, I'm just twittering", she said looking up and smiling apologetically. Feigning ignorance, I asked, "Twitter? What is that?" She went on to provide a realtiely lame description of Twitter to me. I said, "I really don't get it. Why do you find it so engrossing?" "Well it is really something to do, you know, when you aren't really doing anything" "Oh, like now?", I said as I looked around the table full of people engrossed in lively conversation. I'm about 8 years older than this author. As far as technology is concerned 8 years is an eternity. Just 5 years ago there was no Youtube, facebook and defitnely no Twiiter. She also sees no problem sitting in a restaurant simultaneously twittering away (actually saying tweeting the fact that she was eating dinner with us) and talking to the people she was sitting physically sitting with. I find that behavior slightly rude; but I'm from a different generation, technologywise. I think my oldest daughter would be happy if it was possible to surgetically implant her ipod into her brain. I often wonder what they would happen if we lost electricaly for a month or so. Would some of us just snap? I find that many people I grew up my age and older, do not have email. Some say, "Yeah, I need to get a computer". Part of me thinks why bother; paying for internet access, dealing with PC problems, learning to use software. I wanna say, "Man, don't worry about it you are probably better off just sitting here (metaphorically) sipping your wine and kicking it with your homies.

Carey, face it, is a new world. I mean for a guy your age you are remarkably technically savvy, but at some point it will catch up to you -- to us all. You probably prefer LP's, longing for the days where you could read liner notes and look at album art (maybe even separate the seeds). You miss the heft a the old phones and probably the actual process of rotary dialing -- whose idea was it to have so many phone companies, right? There was an article in the paper today about an underutilized cell phone app -- voice calling. Most young people find texting to be more efficent than speaking. Twitter actually extends this functinality for younger people on that wave length. No need to get all bent out of shape man. If you don't get it and can't figure it out just ignore it. There are still folks who listen to music on LP's and it works for them. They are perfectly content letting the young folks deal with the technology and software required for managing and playing digital music files.

I always ignore these emails as I don't have time to probe for additional information to provide a reasonable response to such a broad and open ended question. I've updated my FAQ to deal with these types of questions, but I still get a bunch of these types of emails. One side of me just wants to say, "Young lady/man everyone has a story to tell, but most people will not be interested in yours unless you are a celebrity or it involves a lot of sex; a combination of both is best [brace yourselves for the forthcoming Tiger Woods Story]. I would suggest taking a writing class or enrolloing in a writers workkshop. I'm assuming the person has no training in writing (actually determining this would take even more time). I see the writer did not bother to proof the email before sending it to me. Normally I don't care too much about typos in emails, but in this case it raises a red flag. If someone asks a specific question I'm more likely to reply. Unfirtunately, these types of questions are more typical. What would you do?

My name is ______________ I am a 27 year old woman from _______Tx. My hoppy is writing and I love it I have been writing since I was 10. I have begun to write a book about my life as well as a book of over 100 poems. I have no idea what to do with my writing. I do know that I have a story to tell and I believe that people will want to hear. Is it just a hobby or is there more to come like hidden talent. I have no idea how to even get anyone to read it or for me to even start out on my own. Can you please help me and tell me what I should do.

At an event where several of Malcolm X's closest associates related stories their relationship with Malcolm; one of the elders said that Malcolm X "truly believed that Elijah Muhammad was divine". I guess I should have known that but I never really thought about it. It also explains why was so disillusioned. Perhaps is the same form of disillusionment Black folk will see in Obama...

Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton enegage in a heated discussion about what was said after meeting with Barack Obama http://bit.ly/al_tavis

Cynique I see you need that delete functionality I'll get to it... Chris you left out the possibility, or rather you are assuming that Obama is actually trying to make a difference. (Gosh, when did I become so cynical ). Have you considered it is all just smoke and mirrors to help us ignore the fact we are sending more troops in battle and spending even more money on the effort? Perhaps WE are crazy thinking anything can change with the current system. The current system is just not setup to benefit the average Joe. Now if you got some real money -- you are golden. Your vote is meaning less. Even if you get the guy you want into office, they usually don't do what they say they will do. Sure they'll feign an effort, but they'll blame something or someone else for their inevitable failure. They still get paid homesomely, for life, so there is little consequence other than some negative media coverage. I wish I had a job like that...

Xeon, none of this offends me. But this type of "reporting" on the private behavior of some kids in my mind is hardly newsworthy. It is meant to get folks riled up for the goal of selling newspapers. That is all. This party is inconsequential. That photo is priceless! It really is amazing how far some white folks will go to have a good time. That kid who painted his body black -- that is just too much! Judging by the look on that girl he is grinding on I'm sure he scored that night! Looks like she thinks she is dancing with a real brother . I suspect these types of kids will be more likely end up painting their bellies, the colors of their home team, and attending over priced football games, rather than sitting on some judical bench or being a captian of industry. ________________ Admittedly, this might sound hypocritical. I but if that was MY daughter in the photo I would be lets just say more than concerned

Today’s Wall Street Journal in an interesting article titled; ”Obesity? Big Feet? Blame Darwin”, sites a 2009 Gallup poll which found 44% of Americans believe that God created human beings, in their present form, within the past 10,000 years. 'nuff said

Cynique, I'm working on setting up folks to delete posts. It my take me a few days or more or less, but I'm on it is my list of things to do...

One of the reviewers liken Clifton's poetic voide to that of Langston Hughes I agree, accessible yet deceptive simple (imho) http://aalbc.com/authors/lucille_clifton.html

GRITtv: Hosted by Esther Armah this episode features Karen Hunter, Rosalind McLymont, Akiba Solomon talking about media covergae of Black folks (Should we abolish Black History Month, is the media lazy, and is Precious precious?). An excellent program! http://bit.ly/grittv

Xeon, why is this news? Seriously why do you even care about this. I'm not saying you should not have posted this, but I'm interested in understanding why you even care what some children are doing off campus no less. I would have been up in there playing dominoes and knocking out a 40 myself, a little NWA, Snoop Dogg playing in the background -- sounds like fun (sans the drive bys, and harrassment by the LAPD)!

Ok ABM, I'll conceed that there was no court trial (that I know of) which presented evidence and sworn testimony regarding the beat downs of Denise and on that basis are different. Again, I'm not saying Bill did not change his ways (we don't know). All I saying is that leaving the marriage to Denise and the abuse out of the documentary, given everything esle that was covered, was a mistake and very telling. Again, I saw Michael Jackson's this is it were there was EVIDENCE about his bad behavior with little biys. However I had NO problem with the film because it was a film about his final concernt, and it was positioned as such. Now if they do a documentary about his LIFE and leave out the problems with little boys I would have a problem with such a documenatry. I guess ABM, you would be happy with Jackson 5 video clips, huh?

Cynique, over the last few years your opiion regarding Obama has been consistent and time is showing accurate. As you know I just wanted a brother to get chance at the helm. Even in hindsight I still would not change my opinion. That said, it has become increasingly obvious that the president is beholden to the people who got him in the office. These people should not be confused with the Black folks of modest means (like myself) who contributed their pennies and cast their votes. Obama recieved a ton of money from Wall Street folks (more so than Hillary). So when we learn about a Wall Street bailout it should come as no surprise. Indeed, if we looked at the Wall Street people in high positions in governement it is really a case of the foxes watching the hen house. Liberals and most Black folks are too caught up in having a Black man in the white house to be concerned about the shit that is going down -- at our expense. bunnnie0203, I hear what you are saying, but I think the premise is flawed: True Obama came into a mess. However the idea that Obama's goal is to make it better for all American is untrue. His first priority, are the rich folks that got him in the office. If a few poor folks benefit as a result that is cool, but that is not the prioirty despite how Obama expresses it. Xeon, it does not matter what those rednecks think. They, like us, are disenfranshised, but are too distracted by their own racism to see this...

Ruth-Miriam Garnett I will share this poem on our Lucille Clifon page -- thanks!

I've been locked out of the discussion baords for about a week. I noticed that the window that displays the URL would show the IP address, instead of "aalbc.com". It was one of those things that I said I would get around to fixing when I got a chance (that get aroun to list is very long and is constantly reprioritized). I then noticed that google was indexing the site and showing the IP address which no one would recognize as AALBC.com. Well I decided that I should push fixing the ip address problem higher up in the queue of things to do. So I figured out how to get aalbc.com to persists in the address window, but that broke the connect via faecbook feature. Of course I did not notice the connection right away. Actually I ignored the problem for a few days, retrying preiodically, thinking it would just fix itself or just go away. It did not. I asked one of my real life buddies to try to connect to the site using his facebook account and he exprienced the same problem. Now the new problem is far worse than the orginal problem I was trying to fix! Well I fixed the facebook problem, and it just occurred to me this problem was an interesting metaphor for life in general. Seemingly unrelated things may actually be inextricably connectedProblems ususally don't go away by themselves, you can just ignore them moreYou can't always count on people pointing out something that is obviously wrong, unless you ask

At the end of the day. Obama has demonstrated that he is no different than the rest of 'em. However do you actually think he is worse than Dubya? Health care is ony dead because the gov't (actually we) is so far in the hole there is no money to pay for it. Indications are we will be struggling to maintain health care for our seniors by the time I'm ready for the benefit. The hundred of thousand plus I paid into social security appears to be lost. But none of this is Obama's fault... Besides do you think anyone else would have actually done much better given the financial crisis we are in and the 2 wars we are currently engaged in. It was obvious we could not just pick up and live either theater. So Obama says that is what he will do and you believed him. Come on, it was obvious to a grade schooler than would not happen. I am surprised that Gitmo was not closed (not that I cared too much about that one). I don't think Obama is as clueless as you two say he is. I think he said what needed to say, promising the impossible, to get elected. Now folks are faced with the reality of Obama being no different than any other politician are disappointed. It is just curious how much more disaapointed some folks are, as if to say: see, we gave one of you Negro's a chance and look what happened! The New York cover as on point:

ABM who said anything about serial abuser?! All I'm saying is that I very seriously doubt, given all of the so called "allegations" that Bill did not hit Denise. I doubt it so much so I'd call it a fact. Now you can give homeboy the benefit of the doubt. But I do not. Just as I do not believe all of Michael Jackson's interactions with young boys were appropriate. So since you apparently doubt any of the "allegations" are true, you have not interest in them. Since I believe the allegations to be true I feel the completely ignoring the marriage and the so called alleged abuse was a serious omission from a documentary of that man's life. Besides, even Bill will say that music his not his entire life, so if you only want to watch a documentary of his life that is limited to his "wondrous MUSIC" then you are missing the actually man. It would be like defining you by your wonderous posts on Thumpers corner. Also "if" Bill hit Denise, even once in anger; then Denise WAS injured emotionally, spirtually and probably physcially. It is a very bad thing for a "man" to hit his wife. Cynique: Williams, Nicholas, Richards, we knew what you meant.

Since NOBODY said anything negative about the new format I rolled with it. This board was up for at least 1/2 a year; I solicited feedback and it was all essentially positive. That said, I hear y'all. The biggest issue I find with the new software is that when you first connect it really is not clear what you can do, or even what you should do. There is an implicit assumption that one would have a clue what is going on and is familiar enough with the technology to just jump in an get going. Yeah, it just takes some getting used to.&nbsp; Keep in mind that old software was in use for 8 years and was really showing it's age. Technology years are like dog years! Using any piece of software for 8 years is almost unheard of I did not upgrade the software for the heck of it. I upgraded because I had to. The old software had deficiencies that were addressed by modern software. Even the ability to add new users was hampered by spam bots.&nbsp;&nbsp; The last discussion baord software change,&nbsp;in 2002, was for the same exact reason. Microsoft, the first dicsssion baord software vendor, simply abandoned the application (they are known to do this). The next software vendor Discusware had not upgraded their software in about 4 years and they had essentially no support. This vendor appears to be much better. However I know one day they too may go out of business or abandon this application. At which time I'll be forced look for new software again or implement whatever has taken the place of dicssuon baord software.&nbsp; <BR><BR>It is part of the game and why few even bother to play, for the long haul. Similarly, the main reason for the AALBC.com website upgrade was to change the underlying technology used to build the website. This change would mean nothing to a visitor, but was actually quite significant (actually traumatic for me) The old board had the benefit (at least upon initial inspection) of enabling you to see, very quickly, what was going on:&nbsp; what are&nbsp;new converations, where the new posts were made, who posted last, etc. This new board is actually so feature rich even I discover new things occasionally.&nbsp; But I realize those feature lend to the complexity and subtract from the "intimacy". I also realize some people will never learn to set their VCR clock either.&nbsp; There is a trade off between features and ease of use. Given what I know about most of the users of the old board, they are generally quite technically saavy. I'm was pretty confident they would be able to adapt to the new format. The only question is would they want to...&nbsp; I hope they will. I also hope some new blood would invigorate the conversation as well. Time will tell. Again, once you get used to the new format it is not so bad, you might even realize how much better it is... Actually if you use the Low Fi version you may like that better as it is much more similiar to the old board click here to check it out. No one person make a discussion board but I for one enjoy your voices I hope you two can handle the change and continue to contribute your sage wisdom and nonesense... Seriously if you, or anyone, has specific suggestions for improving the baord -- Maybe there is something I can do. Drop me an email or post your suggestion here. Chris, Cynique let me know what you think about the low-fi version. This is the format I use when I access the boards with my cell phone. Peace, Troy

This is a really good program hosted by ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Pat Tucker -- I'm actually listening to the program's archives as we speak. I was previously interviewed.

Complete List of Titles Sold on AALBC.com in 2009 Purple Panties: An Eroticanoir.com Anthology is the best selling book of any type on AALBC.com<LI>Eric Jerome Dickey's Sleeping With The Enemy the best selling Kindle eBook<LI>2,186 different titles were sold on AALBC.com for the year (all formats are treated equally for the purposes are of counting)<LI>The more than 99% of the titles were written by Black authors<LI>Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans is the best selling non-fiction Book (and has been every year since 2006)<LI>Click to see a list of the bestselling 25 fiction and non-fiction titles for 2009

Shoot Google knows everything about me from what kind of porn I like to what I brought my kids for Christmas. Honestly, I don't have a problem with homeland security recording my movements to PROTECT me. 911 attacked only missed on the order of yards. I do however I get a little antsy when some for profit entity is using the data soley to enrich themselves. Yeah I know our government usually abuses information and Google might be a company out to do great good, but there must be controls over how this data is used. Of course there are things we can do to change this. The question is really; is anyone up to doing what it takes to bring about this change? Of course the answer is no -- assuming the average person was aware or cared enough...

I was using google maps to get driving directions the other day. The directions had little icons that looked like cameras next to each step in the directions. I clicked the one next to my address and saw a crystal clear phot of my house: I the little whte control at the top left hand side of the image allows you to control your perspective. i decided to look around. I turned to my left and saw my car: Again a very sharp photo. Interestingly the license plate was obsured but you can easily determine the make and model. I did an about face and traveled down the block and saw my neighbor with his grandson: Pretty cool huh? I'm not so sure yet. Google will only get better at this as the technology improves and Google continues to garner more wealth. How long will it be before they make real time access to out streets and neighborhoods Would that be cool too? Supposed I did not want anyone to "discover" my car in front of that address? Maybe I don't want a photo of me and my child on-line for anyone with a PC and internet connection to see. Is anyone even thinking about these issues?

As usual the lady from The great prairie state of Illinois speaks with wisdom and clarity. When is this moive gonna be on Netfix I anxious to see if and create a well informed decision. Capree, I'd be very surprised to learn if white folks bother to go see Good Hair in meaningful numbers. Shoot it was tough enough getting Blakc folks to show up. I watched it on DVD, but it did not hold my interest enough for me to watch it to the end...