The AALBC.com Blog has been migrated back to where it belongs!

Please visit my new Blog at: http://aalbc.com/blog

Earlier in the year Google changed their policy forcing me to migrate my Blog from my server to their servers.  Taking not only my traffic, but requiring a URL change -- not good. 

I understand there was some type of support issue for Google.  Plus given all the other stuff Google provides -- most importantly for me search, adsense, youtube I can't complain too much :-)

At anyrate, the change forced me to evaluate other blogging software.  Turns out WordPress not only allowed me to host my own Blog it was much more feature rich!  I'm actually happy I made the switch.  I was able to even import all of my my old blog posts post.



So long Blogger!

Is Erykah Badu's New Striptease Video: Publicity Stunt or Deep Message?

Is Erykah Badu's New Striptease Video: Publicity Stunt or Deep Message?

What do you think?  If you've listened to the CD what do you think of the music?

This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://aalbc.blogspot.com/.
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Google is forcing me to transferring my Blogs to their servers

I have until May 1st to migrate my Blogs from my server to Google's.  Google has provided a migration tool to help the effort, but I've been unable to get it to work because Google's servers are too busy!@?*&!!


One of the most challenging things about managing a web presence is one's vulnerability to third parties.  Companies go out of business or drop products and services; which leaves businesses in a lurch trying to find alternatives.


I've been hosting my Blogger Blogs on my website for years:  http://aalbc.com/blog and http://aalbc.com/aalbcreviews 


I HAVE to get this done.  My http://aalbc.com/aalbcreviews blog drives an XML feed which services my IPhone Application.  Of course I'm sure Google does not consider all of the down-line dependencies of the services they provide: Broken links, XML feeds, applications, etc, when they eliminate services.


But I can't complain too much, Blogger is "free" and Google more than makes of for it as far as I'm concerned with Adsense.


Wish me luck! 

A New AALBC.com Fan Page

I just creeated a Facebook Fan page for AALBC.com
http://bit.ly/aalbcfanpage

AALBC.com has changed a lot over the last 13 years.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how an experiment started 13 years ago turned into my livelihood today.  While AALBC.com will not likely a publicly traded company or become a household name like Facebook or Google.  It is special to me and a lot of other people.

I used to code web sites, by hand, writing HTML.  After Microsoft released the web development application called FrontPage in 1996; I started a business, building web pages for others.  In October of 1997 I decided to build my own website.  The screen shot of the "Under Construction" homepage is below:

AALBC.com Homepage October 23, 1997

In 2006 Microsoft discontinued FrontPage.  However I continued using it until 2009 when it became obvious I needed to rebuild the site to eliminate the dependency on FrontPage and take advantage of newer technologies.  The changes were actually quite extensive; though the casual visitor would probably not notice as most of the changes were "under the hood".  A recent screen shot is shown below:

AALBC.com Homepage January 26, 2010

AALBC.com is constantly under going changes while constantly growing.  This is the most challenging part of maintaining the AALBC.com website.  While I hope I make it took easy, I assure you it is not :-)

Click here to see a set of screen shots the AALBC.com homepage from 1997 until 2010. 

Troy's Really Cool African Adventure

Kenya
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133389&id=620627049&l=acae84f3a9

Ghana
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=132006&id=620627049&l=f445874931

Nigeria
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129908&id=620627049&l=9182e0a9bc

Troy at the National Black Book Club Conference

This past August I participated in the National Black Book Club Conference. It was by 3rd time attending and 2rd time taking an active roll. Below is a 6 minute video highlighting some of my activities from the 2009 affair.

If you are part of a book club and have never attended this event I'd encourage you to do so. It is like attending an family reunion with only the friendly, smart, and literate family members :-)

Visit http://www.nationalbookclubconference.com/ for more information

African-American Literary Industry Giants Gather in NYC

Book Expo America Recap
by Kam Williams
http://reviews.aalbc.com/book_expo_america_recap.htm

Book Expo America, publishing’s premier annual convention, was held this year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City from May 29th to the 31st. On Saturday afternoon, black literary giants representing every area of the industry gathered inside the hall’s African-American Pavilion for a reception sponsored by publishers Tony and Yvonne Rose of Amber Communications Group. The event’s award program was hosted by ravishing Renaissance woman Heather Covington, CEO of Disilgold.com.

Mother’s Day Stories

Mother’s Day Stories: A Lifetime of Appreciation in a Few Words The Defenders Online
http://tinyurl.com/troy-mom

I have a tribute to my mom here along with several well-known writers including: Martha Southgate, Jill Nelson, Tananarive Due, Bernice McFadden, Errol Louis, William Jelani Cobb, and the Reverend Al Sharpton.