#OP is doing a valuable service and I am grateful for it

[perfectlyvalid49]

Important info as always.

One thing to be aware of (OP is Israeli and might not know) the Ami Horowitz video is from PragerU, a media organization that pushes a far right worldview, including climate change denial and anti-LGBTQ philosophies.

I'm not saying that the video should be completely disregarded - I absolutely believe that those college students were willing to buy in to that antisemitic nonsense, and that's important to show. But you always need to take their videos with a grain of salt and a strong eye towards their known biases.

In the US, the right is taking advantage of all the antisemitism on the left right now to try to get American Jews (a traditionally left leaning voting bloc) to switch sides. Given all of the terrible things the American right wants to do, I feel that it's necessary to point out that even if they seem friendly now, they're still pursuing policies that will hurt all of us.

Daily update post:

For the first time, Hamas trrorists admit during their interrogations, that Israel has succeeded in killing their comrades underground, in the terror tunnels, something that's much harder for the IDF to verify. As is, Israel estimates that it has killed over 9,000 terrorists during this war so far.

After the IDF exposes, maps and documents a Hamas terror tunnel, it gets blown up, so that the terrorists won't be able to easily restore it to functionality at the end of the war. Remember the terror tunnel network exposed under the Shifa hospital? Now you can take a 360 degree tour of it courtesy of the IDF!

Since unsurprisingly, Iran is blaming Israel and the US for the bombings yesterday, I will say that the most convincing take I heard about it is that ISIS committed the terrorist attack at Soleimani's funeral, a theory which apparently a US senior supports. Soleimani was thought to have played a big role in the defeat of ISIS.

I saw the director of this segment, Ami Horowitz, giving an interview about it. He said he wanted to see will people donate to the cause of attacking Jews. Not Zionists. Not Israelis. Jews. He was asked whether anyone objected or reported him to the police, but he said out of everyone he engaged in conversation, not a single person did. Out of 35 people he approached, 28 did have a conversation about it with him, and 17 agreed to donate money to his cause.

This is 25 years old Sahar Baruch.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Sahar, who was kidnapped by Hamas, died during a rescue attempt by IDF soldiers from the place where he was held. The army says that for now, it's impossible to tell how he was killed, or during which stage during this failed attempt. His grandfather was interviewed today, and was asked whether it is possible to bring their kibbutz back to life after this tragedy. He said, it is not possible, it has to be done.

These are Orin Zcharia (with her hands on the flag-covered coffin), and Chagai Luber (pic below).

Orin's daughter Eden was murdered at the Nova music festival, her body was kidnapped to Gaza, but the IDF managed to rescue and return it. Orin talked about the day the soldiers who rescued the body came to see her, saying she expected 2-3 to come visit her, despite having little free time during their break from the fighting in Gaza. 15 young soldiers showed up. Orin said how meaningful that was to her, and she thanked them for having risked their lives, to allow her daughter to be buried in a proper grave in Israel. Another person who wanted to pay his respects was Chagai. His son, Yehonatan Luber, was one of the soldiers who rescued Eden's body. Chagai got in touch with Orin, but before he had the chance to come visit, Yehonatan was killed himself. Chagai said that his son barely talked about what he did as a soldier, but that the rescue of Eden's body was an exception, he was that proud. Orin ended up coming to Chagai, to comfort him for his loss. She told him, that he should know how much it mattered, what his son did. That getting closure, by having the funeral for Eden, gave Orin the strength to be able to be there for other grieving families. That the good that his son did for Eden's family, was being paid forward...

May Sahar, Eden and Yehonatan's memories be a blessing.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[ellahmacdermott]

Op Ed: Making Friends With Time in the Cryptocurrency Space

What follows is an open letter from Jimmy Zhong, co-founder and CEO of IOST, to his team members and shared with Bitcoin Magazine with permission.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about an ultimate way of safely storing value — gold, Bitcoin, real estate and power all came to mind. That’s when I started to realize that, in essence, the concept of a “store of value” is simply an act of consensus. Power, even, is no exception.

Thousands of years ago, due to geographical and technological limitations, human beings relied on seashells as a store of value and medium of exchange. Seashells, today an unthinkable form of currency, were valuable for their rarity, but only because their value was agreed upon in a social consensus.

As mankind developed, we strived for a sturdy yet relatively rare replacement. Enter gold: chemically stable, very unreactive and unlikely to form compounds — making it hard to damage or corrode, rare in supply and difficult to cast. Together, these qualities allowed for a global consensus to form, making gold a relatively secure store of value.

Then, in 2008, with the continued development of cryptography, the first portable, rare and sovereign asset in the history of mankind was born: Bitcoin. As a species that is exploring Mars and hoping to one day go beyond Earth, humans need reliable digital assets. Bitcoin was a major step toward an era of comprehensive digitization capable of evading the risks of a centralized system. As Peter Thiel once said, “Bitcoin is a hedge against the whole world falling apart.”

It didn’t stop there. The Ethereum network went live in July of 2015 — Vitalik Buterin’s way of showing the world that there is incredible potential for blockchain technology to reshape the world we live in. Suddenly, blockchain wasn’t just about Bitcoin.

Today, applications built on blockchains are emerging, including digital signature algorithms, securitized tokens, digital rights management, crowdfunding, prediction markets, remittances, online gambling, social media platforms, financial exchanges, storage systems, distributed computation and identity systems to name a few. We have yet to see mass adoption due to a lack of basic infrastructure, and that is the most common criticism of blockchain technology. Over the last several weeks, I’ve seen a surprising number of editorials claiming that blockchain is a failed experiment.

I want to reassure you that the criticisms expressed in these articles are misguided. Just like the internet, the sheer utility of blockchain technology will force adoption in the long run. To quote the Harvard Business Review, “blockchain is not a ‘disruptive technology,’ [it is] a foundational technology.” We are building the foundation to make that future possible.

Competition in this market may seem fierce, with thousands of projects cluttering the space and echoing the claims of being an “Ethereum killer.” Truthfully, there are only a handful of competitive infrastructures aside from ETH and EOS. Most live projects either don’t function, run nodes on private servers, or are merely cheap copycats of ETH and EOS.

As for projects that have yet to go live, many make unrealistic technological claims that are unachievable in the next 10 years. At IOST, we have one of the few teams actively working to solve the scalability trilemma, perhaps the greatest problem hampering widespread blockchain adoption, and not just trying to ride the coattails of another team’s hard work. That’s something to be proud of.  

Since we launched in 2018, so many new faces have joined the Internet of Services Foundation. We now have over 80 employees spread around the world in New York, San Francisco, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Germany and Singapore.

Every one of you is making a meaningful contribution to the rise of blockchain technology, and thanks to your incredible efforts, we will be launching the IOST Mainnet in early 2019 — six months ahead of schedule! That’s unheard of in the blockchain space, and yet another reason why I am confident that, at IOST, we are building a legacy that will change the world.

We are creating the infrastructure for a decentralized economy, one that doesn’t take shortcuts or compromise on the true vision of decentralization. IOST will provide developers with a blockchain platform to develop mass-adoptable applications and contracts, which in turn will help make the world a better, fairer place.

In the past eight months, we took many detours, but we also made a lot of good decisions. The experience and lessons we take away from these experiences will be invaluable for the future.

Innovative pioneers catch the largest worms, but most pioneers must experience mockery, cold-shoulders and even dark moments. If every venture could be accomplished in a month or a year, then everyone would be a pioneer.

As an example, during Bitcoin’s 2013 price dip, Coinbase held out and expanded — they didn’t slow down after the market crash and the following two-year bear market. They remained adamant in their belief that they had made the correct choice, confident that it was simply a matter of time before revolutionary change would occur. They wanted to ride the tide, and while many felt their belts tighten during the market downturn, that didn’t impact their decision-making process. Fast forward to today, and Coinbase has reaped enormous success from their confidence in their beliefs.

I’ve met many successful investors and entrepreneurs. They all have one thing in common: Time is their friend, and they understand that given enough time the market will work to service their needs. They set their minds on a direction and work to that end. I’ve also met many bad traders and entrepreneurs. They are crushed by stress, bet against the market, constantly shift gears, and make choices that are easily swayed by the market and emotions of others.  

Life is a long journey. We often say that choice is more important than effort. We also need to understand that desire and choices only pull through with persistence. I hope we can have faith in our common choice, the future of technology, the power of market cycles; remain unwavering in the face of swaying market sentiment; make independent and clear-headed judgments; and, together, build something people truly want.

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. Dream wildly. Live differently. Love recklessly. Lead courageously.” I am grateful that you have all become part of the family in our early days and are still fighting with us in this sagging market.

Let’s build a better future together.

This is guest post by Jimmy Zhong, co-founder of IOST. Views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Bitcoin Magazine or BTC Inc.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.

from InvestmentOpportunityInCryptocurrencies via Ella Macdermott on Inoreader https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/op-ed-making-friends-time-cryptocurrency-space/

[kimwithgsmdm]

 

I got to go with the surgical assistance and hospital assistance to the hospital for day 8. I haven’t had the opportunity to go to the hospital before and wanted to see how things operated at the hospital in Vietnam as well as to take photos and videos for the team.

My impression of the hospital. WOW. What a difference it is to American hospitals (or Western) for that matter. The operating room nurses and doctors don’t wear shoes, but rather more “sanitary” sandals when they walk through the pre-op and operating areas. We have urine bags for patients who needs a catheter. In Vietnam, they use large water bottle.

At times, it’s hard not to shake your head and be ask how are they so careless and unsanitary. But again, it’s a reminder of how privileged we are in America. They don’t have endless amounts of sterile gowns and gloves like we do, where we can just get rid of it after our surgeries. Instead, they reuse the gowns and clothes but sterilize it beforehand. There really needs to be a lot of education in the hospital. Which is why it is so cool to see Dr. Vien (the medical director) work towards building a critical care program at the Cao Bang Hospital.

One of the large luggages we brought this year was a crash cart and gurneys because the hospital in Cao Bang doesn’t necessarily have those supplies. And it was so impressive seeing the SA and HA team work with those when I visited.

It was a fascinating opportunity for me to observe the surgeries. I watched two main surgeries: a uterine prolapse and a tibula plateau fracture replacement. Pictures that I will have to reevaluate posting because it was quite gorry haha. But it was such a great experience and I was very proud of my teammates who got to scrub in and assist.

Again, I am humbly reminded of the blessings I have in the US and the opportunity to work at a hospital that is advanced in its medical care.

Day 9 Our last full day of clinic!!!!! Ah, what a week it has been. Our last day of clinic was about 25 minutes away from our hotel. On my end of things there wasn’t much going on. Haha. As a committee member I learn how valuable we are off the field in planning and doing logistical stuff. But on the field, we’re just supporters and the team do it all on their own. Which they have been doing such a great job and I am proud of them. I do wish I was a bit more hands on, but it’s learning the balance of allowing the team to learn and have the experience for themselves. Nothing too crazy happened at clinic, but we did have an individual who had an acute MI and went to the hospital to meet with our HA and SA team for follow up.

Later in the evening, we had a banquet with the Cao Bang official. They welcomed and thanked us for our time of service in the Cao Bang province. Based on the reports, If I heard correctly, we served over 2,500 patients, helped over 50 patients transfer to hospitals and receive surgeries, and gifted over 500 students in the rural area with boots, winter coats, and a backpack. I am always amazed by how much GSMDM does for the people. And I LOVE IT

Though today we were told that our ministry could be in trouble. We were caught praying for patients on the field and it was reported. The cops showed up at the field. They wasn’t any direct repercussions but we were definitely being watched. Our medical director was anxious to receive a call from the VC and the future of our ministry. But thankfully he never received a call by the end of the night and it definitely has helped that we had receive a lot of support through our relationship with some political officers. 

Day 10 LAST DAY OF CLINIC! It was 5 minutes away from our hotel so it was definitely a later wake up call! (Which is always nice! Haha). We were in the city, so patients showed up on time and to be honest, a lot of them tend to come for a check up. I think that is always one of the hardest things for me on this trip is, the closer we are to the city sometimes the more annoyed I get. Because the patients are a bit more rude and they seem to act more entitled. And it is very human of me to think that I would rather be elsewhere and not there in the city. But we came to serve and so learning to check myself to allow myself to love and serve others is a lesson to always be reminded of.

We finished the day strong and left to go to storage (located at the hospital) to put away all of our clinic supplies. The beauty of going to storage is that you have to carry things up 3 flights of stairs. I’m glad that this year we had the whole team come with us and we were able to get everything into storage so quickly!

Afterwards we drove 5 hours to get to Thai Nguyen to end the mission and rest before people split on Saturday.



So Mission has ended. How do I feel?

SO RE-ENERGIZED. There is something in the beauty of serving that allows me to not feel closer to God but as well as humanity and with other people. I’m grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, build new friendships, as well as getting to know those I have been working with for the past few months. I think being in Oregon and completing school, I am definitely in a stage of life that is weird for me. I feel a bit more depressed, but the past two weeks it has been a time for me to be encouraged, passionate, and motivated again. Maybe I do just like to travel and I don’t like working, haha. But The mission is always one of the hardest work that I have to do and I am exhausted by it. But it gives me such purpose that I hope coming back to the states I can continue to follow my purpose in life and the passion that I have to serve.

I can’t wait for the next mission or at least help the upcoming new members to experience a trip that can change their lives.

Thank you to those that have been praying, supporting, and following me on this blog. It’s encouraging to know people are reading this and enjoy knowing what is happening!

I’ll post a link separately of all the videos and album of photos that we have taken over the past two weeks.

The final days   I got to go with the surgical assistance and hospital assistance to the hospital for day 8.

[trekswithchels-blog]

Why Hurricane Maria Should NOT Deter You From Visiting Puerto Rico

Trying to think of an affordable, tropical getaway? Look no further, Puerto Rico is the place to go! Worried about traveling to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the island? Don’t be! I traveled to Puerto Rico in April, 8 months after the hurricane swept through, and although the island is still experiencing many issues because of the storm it didn’t affect our vacation at all. In fact, the best thing that you can do for Puerto Rico is spend money on tourism and everyone that we met was so grateful that we were there as tourists. The Puerto Rican people were all so welcoming and hospitable that we really felt 100% welcomed. Surprisingly enough, we did come across many people that did not speak English, so you may want to brush up on some simple Spanish terms before you go.

We flew into San Juan, Puerto Rico from Newark International Airport for a mere $230 roundtrip. ROUNDTRIP! How can you say no to that price? We arrived in Puerto Rico on a Wednesday, which also happened to be my birthday (hence the reason for the trip), and hopped in a cab to our Airbnb which cost us about $20. FYI, Uber is not allowed to pick up from the airport. We decided to stay in Condado Beach, which is right next to Old San Juan, because we wanted to have the beach nearby. Our Airbnb was in an apartment building with private beach access. It was great to be able to just walk downstairs and be on the beach! The view wasn’t too shabby either.

Upon arriving we were starving and wanted to find somewhere to eat so we grabbed an Uber to Old San Juan. We decided on lunch at Senor Frog’s, which is always a fun time. We had a delicious lunch and a few drinks while we watched the giant cruise ships come in and out through the window. After lunch, we went next store to Walgreen’s to stock up on some snacks and water, which I always recommend doing and keeping in your hotel room/Airbnb for the duration of your trip. Eating out becomes very expensive while on vacation.

Afterwards, we headed back to Condado Beach and hit the beach. I highly recommend checking out Condado Beach even if you aren’t staying there. It wasn’t crowded at all and it was a truly enjoyable beach. We spent a lot of time here while we were there.

That night we wanted to go somewhere nice for my birthday dinner so we decided on the Ola Oceanfront Bistro which was right down the street at the Condado Vanderbilt hotel. The hotel was gorgeous and so was the restaurant, which was right on the ocean. We happened to be there just as the sun was setting which was absolutely breathtaking. We had great meals, enjoyed some wine and champagne, and they also brought out dessert for my birthday. The service was great and so was the food! I’d definitely go back to Ola if I am ever in Puerto Rico again.

The next day was my absolute favorite day of the trip: our boat trip to Culebra Island! I cannot stress this enough... this is a MUST-DO if you are visiting Puerto Rico. There are only two ways to reach this island: by boat or by tiny little plane. The boat option was cheaper and more enticing to us, but a lot of people choose the plane, too. We booked our tour with East Island Excursions and from start to finish they were nothing short of amazing. We paid $137 per person which included transportation to and from the marina, the boat trip, snorkeling, time at Flamenco Beach, lunch, alcoholic drinks, and a small dessert spread. Definitely well worth the money! Unfortunately, they do not do Airbnb pick ups so if you are staying at an Airbnb you’ll have to get to the nearest hotel for them to pick you up. Our shuttle driver was an absolute sweetheart and had to deal with some pretty obnoxious drunks on the way back, but he handled it like a saint. Upon arriving at the marina, we checked in and made our way onto the boat. The boat was a catamaran which had indoor and outdoor seating as well as a roof deck. We opted to sit on the outside deck the whole time to enjoy the views as we made our way out to the island. The ride was EXTREMELY rough to get out there since we were going against the current and it was a particularly rough day on the sea. When I say rough, I mean we were literally airborne at some points, so please keep this in mind if you are afraid of boats or get sea sick easily. The crew warned us that it was going to be a bumpy ride and advised if you tend to get sea sick to take Dramamine immediately. A lot of people started to feel ill, and some were just scared, but the crew was so extremely comforting and helpful. One man was even sitting next to a girl with an icepack on her neck trying to cool her down and help her feel better.

Our first stop was at the snorkeling spot, which took about 45 minutes to an hour to get to. They stop the boat, explain some safety rules to you, and give you your snorkeling gear. It is imperative that you listen to the safety rules because there are some very dangerous things around coral reefs so it’s vital that you are aware of these dangers The water and the coral reefs were both extremely beautiful and we had a blast swimming around and exploring. Personally, I refuse to do these kinds of things without my LifeProof case and LifeProof life jacket for my iPhone. The case allows me to get the phone wet without damaging my phone, but the life jacket allows the phone to float, so even if you drop it you don’t have to worry about it sinking to the bottom of the sea floor. Best. Invention. Ever.  Once we got back on the boat they had a lunch spread out, which included, salads, lunch meats and cheeses for sandwiches, and chips. 

From there, it was about another 20-minute ride to Flamenco Beach, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. IN THE WORLD. I must say that after seeing it in person I whole-heartedly agree with whoever decided that. The boat can’t pull right up to shore, so be aware that you do have to swim a little to get to shore. This means that if you don’t have a waterproof phone that you should leave it on the boat, as well as any other valuables that you bring with you. They have lifejackets available if you can’t swim. We decided to take a walk down the beach to see the old army tank at the end of the beach. The sand, the water, everything about this beach… is positively breathtaking. I have never seen a more gorgeous beach. We had about an hour and a half to enjoy the beach before having to head back to the boat. 

The ride back was much smoother and more enjoyable since we were going with the current this time. Upon returning to Condado Beach we were starving and decided to walk down Ashford Avenue and find a place to eat. We ended up at Di Zucchero, which had fabulous Italian food and even better service. Our waitress, Carla, was an absolute delight. And alas, another birthday cake.

The next day was all about exploring Old San Juan. We began our day at ChocoBar, where almost everything on the menu involves chocolate. We ordered a chocolate croissant to start off, and then had chocolate pancakes and a chocolate waffle. Even the scrambled eggs had cocoa powder on them, which was surprisingly delicious. The lunch menu even involves things like a chocolate grilled cheese. If you’re looking for something unique and tasty this is a definitely the place to check out!

From there we walked around and shopped a bit and admired some of the beautiful, colorful buildings. They make for some really great photo ops!

After shopping, we walked down the street to Castillo San Cristobal, which is an old army fort that is a part of the San Juan National Historic Site. It’s $5 per person to enter and you can explore on your own without a tour guide. There is plenty of information posted so that you can be aware of what you are seeing and learn the history behind it all. The architecture is very impressive and the history is extremely interesting. Definitely worth a visit.

While out and about during our trip, we kept being told from the locals that we had to check out a place called La Placita. The only way I can describe La Placita is like a Latin, smaller and cleaner version of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. There are tons of bars and restaurants with the streets shut down for people to walk through and you can walk around from bar to bar with a drink in your hand. People are dancing in the streets and the energy here was great. We were so glad that we heard about this and were able to check it out.

Our last day was a laidback one, since our flight was leaving late that night. We were relaxing on the beach when we heard about a pool party happening at the Serafina Hotel and decided to check that out. The hotel and the pool are both gorgeous, and it is right on the beach. The drinks were great and we ended up having such a great time here. After the party was over we went down the street to the Serafina restaurant and had a great dinner there, too. The gorgeous rainbow that appeared over the beach was just icing on the cake!

Bottom line, if you are at all hesitant about visiting Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria, please don’t be. Puerto Rico needs our support now more than ever. The power still goes out from time to time but usually doesn’t last long, and the areas that are still without power are outside of the tourist spots. As far as the “rising” crime rate, just make sure to be smart and don’t walk by yourself at night in dark areas. Stick with Ubers instead of walking. Ubers were readily available the whole time that we were there. Go give Puerto Rico the support they need and enjoy yourself while doing so! As always, if you have any questions feel free to ask, and don’t forget to check out @trekswithchels on Instagram. Happy travels and thanks for reading!

[nonbinaro]

Hey! As the mod on @splend-aros and a person who is probably responsible for a lot of those kinds of posts, I would like to start a bit of a discussion about this.

I am aro. I personally have found a lot of comfort in being assured I am "allowed" to be [such and such that is an aro issue]. To me, it is less of "its okay, you can be aro, us allos want u to feel valid uwu" and more of an acknowledgement that society has tricked us aros into thinking we aren't allowed to be the way we are. Or that being aro means you must behave or feel a certain way.

So me saying "you're allowed to be aro and like romance" or "its okay if you fulfill aro stereotypes" is an assurance that you are good, because amatonormativity was making you feel differently. Sometimes, an outside perspective encouraging you to accept yourself is what you need to be brave and find that confidence within yourself.

I very specifically try to avoid "valid" statements in my affirmations because I know how empty they feel. Slap a microlabel onto your valid post and that's it. A bot could do that (and it would probably be hilarious). This is one solution I turned to.

I understand that it could be seen as patronizing - and as an aro person and the mod of an aro affirmation blog, that is the last thing I want. So I have a couple curious questions:

Does it make a difference knowing the OP is aro? Or is the wording of "allowed" always grating?

Which do folks prefer, "valid" or "allowed" or "support"? Why? What other words could we use?

If we implement new words, how long before they start to feel fake and lip service-y? Will any stand the test of time? If they don't, is that okay? Language is ever evolving, and that's beautiful, but stability is valuable as well.

Is the problem really "attention" as OP of this post suggests? I recall previous discussions where "awareness" was also seen as iffy because it doesn't necessarily mean support.

Is this a personal decision based on the wording preferred by each individual aro person? Or is there a community wide issue here?

As should be expected with a Literature Aromantic such as myself, this waxed long and strayed from my original thoughts, but I am deeply curious as to how y'all feel about this. Also: apologies for any typos or if some parts of this post don't make sense, it's 1:00am and I'm on mobile.

Thank you for your time! And thank you @bakugow for sparking this conversation!

As much as I love aro positivity of all kinds, I can’t help but get irked when i see the positivity thats like… “You’re ALLOWED to be aro blah blah blah…” because like? The wording is fucking awful imo. Like why do I need to be “allowed” to be aro and whatever?

Like, a better way of wording it would def be “Being aro and (add whatever thing that they feel the need to give permission for here) needs more attention! Let’s give a round/Let’s show support/normalize being aro and (thing some stranger who usually isn’t even aro thinks they have a say on giving permission for here)!”

Give support, not permission.

[overthemoonandunderthesun]

WORKCATION in PARADISE. My Pearl Farm Experience

Doing something you love is one of the best feeling for me. There’s a sense of fulfillment in creating something great because you are happy with what you do. It feels like a win-win set-up that you get to enjoy what you are doing, showcasing your God-given talents and yet you are being paid. Add a working environment that is so relaxing and luxurious you forget you’re there for work. Sounds ideal right? Well, not to brag, but i have been blessed over the years with both great clients and the skills that they need. God has been so good and faithful that He connect me with the right people at the right time.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort is the newest addition to the growing list of Beachhouse Creatives clientele. I’ve worked with them ages ago but it was when I was still a full time employee. Now I am on my own, I am glad that they still remember me and the quality of my work. To be able to work and collaborate with this luxurious property is such a blessing and just so perfect with Beachhouse’s brand.

 I’ve been to Pearl Farm almost a decade ago, and now that it is under a new management, boy i tell you - A LOT HAS CHANGED! Mostly on the facilities and structures of the resort, improved services and now that it is accredited by the Department of Tourism as a five-star resort, luxurious vacation truly awaits all guests. 

First day at Pearl Farm Marina. It’s nice to be back!

Day 1

Ms. Melanie and I were welcomed by the resort’s airport representative, assisted us to the service going to Pearl Farm Marina. It is where the port is, where guests can chill and have some snacks at Café Marina while waiting for their boat going to Samal Island. As for us working, we stayed there for a night to meet the young and joyful people of Sales and Marketing team of Davao. On the first day alone i felt like i am part of a happy team that i’ve known years ago! We had meetings, worked on some beachhouse projects, and went to Anflocor office after. We went to Abreeza Mall and had lunch at Penong’s. It is like the counterpart of Mang Inasal in Manila, BUT BETTER! They have tasty and juicy grilled chicken, pork belly, seafood and other dishes. Unlimited rice perfect for those who are in a budget but have big appetite. There’s also a food hall where you can find super affordable meals. 

Meeting with the Sales and Marketing team of Davao at Café Marina

Lamiii kaayo! Masarap talaga! Yummy!!!

You can find P10.00 goodness available at the food hall! My favorite! Feels like I’m in Bangkok.

After lunch, we went to the Reservations office of Pearl Farm, just a few steps away from Penong’s. It is usually for walk-in clients and online bookings as well in Davao. You can sense the luxury resort feel as soon as you step inside the small but cozy office. 

Day 2.

We opted for the 8:30am boat schedule going to Samal Island. 45min boat ride going to the resort, just enough time to relax and enjoy the fresh air and amazing blue water. As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed with the traditional music of Kulintang, refreshing watermelon juice and cold towels. I was stunned when i saw the NEW PAROLA and boardwalk. They were renovated and it look so instagram-worthy you would want to snap right away! The blue green water and white sand accentuates the dark brown boardwalk and okir details all over the resort. Okir is the intricate leaf/vine pattern that can usually be found in Maranao, Maguindanao and other muslim-influenced artwork. It is a symbol of power and prestige for Maranaos. You will see the details beautifully applied to the walls and ceilings all over the resort! I was introduced to the staff, from Front Office to the F&B people, and saw familiar faces i’ve seen years ago. Such a warm feeling indeed. We stayed in Balay room, which is also known as Hilltop Room. A spacious room good enough for a group of 4. 

Samal Houses and Mandaya House can bee seen from afar.

Samal Suites from Parola view.

Pearl Farm’s iconic Parola. It used to be a lighthouse where ancient mariners would keep watch over their coastline. Now it is a place where they welcome guests to relax and have an incredible view of the ocean.

No filter needed. 

During the day, i had a meeting with the General Manager Mr. Mikel Villaverde, whom I’ve also worked with before. We catched up, and talked about his visions and directions for the resort. I must say i learned something that i will never forget. To put it in my own words, “when you know what you are capable of delivering, don’t be afraid to position yourself with a high value. You may lose some people or clients but it is not your market if that’s the case. That’s how you filter and set yourself apart from the rest. With hard work and consistency, all else will follow”. A really valuable lesson for a freelancer like me who’s always anxious in setting up a good price for my work. And so, he ended the meeting by upgrading me to Samal House on my last night, so i’ll be able to experience first hand what Pearl Farm brand is all about. What a way to welcome me! 

Day 3

It’s a free-day for me to go around and experience the resort as a guest. I was with Angel the whole time, the very young hard-working Marketing officer of Davao office. She accompanied me all throughout my stay for ocular and photoshoot all over the island haha! There are a lot of new facilities and renovations that i need to be familiar with again. To name a few, there’s a new gym, gorgeous spa and lounge area, infinity pool and Maranao Restaurant that were both renovated, and there’ll be new other facilities under construction, opening this year.

We started the day with a good breakfast. I am (WAS) doing intermittent fasting (before i arrived in Davao) but who can resist the wide array of breakfast choices at the Maranao Restaurant every single day? I gave in. For 4 days. (sorry not sorry!) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner - i was in heaven and have no regrets. 

Maranao Restaurant. The intricate beauty of Okir glows up at night. So elegant yet so native. Believe it or not, all bamboo materials are natural and don’t have varnish.

One of the restaurant’s specialty, Paella.

Afterwards, we chilled at the Parola area where we fed some fish. They have a very rich marine life that you can see when you go on snorkeling. Snorkeling gears and kayaks can be rented at the Aqua Sports area. 

View from the Parola Bar

The hardworking and dedicated Marketing officer of Pearl Farm, Davao - Angel. So grateful for the assistance and warm welcome!

Selfie, coz why not?

Then we went to Malipano Island, where the big Villas are situated. It is a very private area where you can enjoy white sand beach almost all to yourself. I am not in my swimming attire but i can’t resist the clear blue water so i had to dip my legs just to be refreshed! We stayed at the Malipano Villa 5 for a few hours, and i felt like royalty! The villa costs around P42,500 per night, good for 6 people - and i was able to experience it even for a few hours in exchange of doing something i love. Yea yea, what a life. :P

10min boat ride and you’ll arrive at Malipano Island!

Malipano villas are sooooooo gorgeous!!! Perfect for photoshoots!

Happy kid!

Powdery white sand, but it reminds me of Polvoron haha!

Lush greeneries and gorgeous coconut trees! Feels like I’m in Hawaii!

Okir details all over the place! After Hawaii, now i’m in Bali! 

View from the Malipano Villa 5

That resident peacock posed perfectly at the entrance of the villa. Such a showoff! haha!

View from our Samal House room. Thank you, GM! :)

It was Saturday, i got to witness the Mindanaoan Night for the first time. It’s a cultural dance performance where you get to enjoy while having sumptuous dinner. A very Filipino experience but yet the luxury feel is still there.

Such a rich cultural experience! i’m proud to be a Filipino!

Salad section is my favorite!

Day 4

It’s my last day so i made sure I get to relax before heading back to Manila. We woke up at 530am and watched the sunrise, right infront of our room. Angel and I went to the beach and the water’s sooo amazing! Not too cold but still very refreshing. We had a hearty breakfast and my last chance to stretch, breathe fresh air and say goodbye to the hospitable staff of the resort. 

Infinity Pool

Before heading back, reunion photo-op with the F&B Manager Sir Marcel and Manila Assistant Sales Manager Ms. Melanie Villar. (Saying hi to all our ex-colleagues! )

Now i am back in Manila, the real work is on my shoulders. But this time - I am refreshed, relaxed and inspired to deliver and contribute to the growth of the resort. As the saying goes, “If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play!” 

I gained new friends, few pounds and new inspirations that’ll help me create better artworks. I couldn’t thank God enough and the people behind this for letting me experience paradise while working. 

Until my next visit! 

Check their website for room rates and reservations. 

Follow them on social media @pearlfarmofficial for promos and updates

[iuniverseblog]

Claudio B. Clagluena’s new political thriller, “The Petrossian Legacy”

iUniverse author Claudio B. Clagluena discusses his exciting new thriller, The Petrossian Legacy.

  Please briefly describe your book . . .

The Petrossian Legacy is a novel, a political thriller inspired by own experience over a rather long active time as a businessman in the regions and locations described in the book.

  The narrative combines pure fiction with realistic contemporary scenarios of terrorism and renegade intelligence outfits.

  Petrossian was founded during the Turkish-Armenian war / genocide by an extremely wealthy Armenian who took his newly formed resistance and intelligence organization to East Siberia, near Khabarovsk in 1917.

  The almost outdated anti-communist intelligence firm that was operating mostly during pre-Second World War as well as the ‘cold war’ got itself into engagement while one of its retired agents uncovered electronic financial crimes that involved the IS. The circle of evil widened quickly when the aged men and women of Petrossian started to uncover a devilish design of destabilizing the fragile world peace which led to vicious attacks on the Petrossian agents back in the field.

  The story features retired agents, men and women, that found out that ‘Petrossian’ is still alive and employs well trained, deadly young agents which are determined to live up to the Petrossian dogma of justice and fairness.

  The involvement of rogue international ex black-ops that originated in the US as well as the financial and technological power of a corrupt industrial corporation combined with conspiracy on the highest level, started to pull the elderly women and men of Petrossian back into a personal defense first and later into action.

  And can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m 72 years old, semi-retired businessman.

Born March 5th, 1946 in Switzerland, ice hockey player, officer of the Swiss Army (police)

In August 1968 I was in Czechoslovakia visiting hockey friends when the Soviets ‘restored’ their evil rule. I was engaged with my friends to dismantle street signs in Prague that all ended up in the trunk of my car with Swiss plates. What could go wrong?

On August 24th I got arrested by the local police and handed over to the Soviets which brought me to Plzen (but not for the famous beer).

The officers questioning me (not interrogating) were civilized and I spent only one night in a dark room with two other people that never introduced themselves. There I met a Soviet captain who was playing ice hockey as well and on the second day of my captivity we mostly discussed hockey. One more night with the Soviets and I was free to go. Even my car was ready.

The Soviet captain (ret. Col.) with whom I maintain a friendship until today inspired me for one of the leading characters in my book.

After getting back to Switzerland I was subject to much harder interrogation and remained in the ‘suspect file’ for decades.

The incident in Prague changed my life dramatically and I decided to spend my life outside my birth place, heading for Africa. There, in Libya, I sold portable water filters to all kind of guys, including some that landed sooner or later on international wanted posters.

My business gradually developed, and I expanded to Chad and other rather dark places. These activities brought me in constant touch with intelligence firms in Libya. My connections somehow were interesting if not valuable for them and I didn’t mind sharing some information for free booze that was otherwise unavailable in the country.

In 1971 I was able to travel in Russia with the help of my friend (in my book the character ‘Fedorov’) where we visited his birth place Khabarovsk. This trip was another inspiration to the story I’m telling.

A few years later I received an offer to represent a German industrial group in Asia. I grabbed the opportunity and successfully created and developed projects in the petrochemical industry in Indonesia.

There, I met my wife who I not only love but also adore. She is the inspiration for another leading character in my book, Ketut.

After leaving the German company I ventured into the then still fledgling IT business without having a clue of it. However, my gut feeling led me into the right direction and again back to Russia, which was Russia then, not the Soviet Union.

I still live with my wife in Indonesia, which I regard as my homeland. Two sons have blessed me with six grandchildren on which I try to improvise frightening horror bed stories. They love it.

  Do you have any particular literary influences?

It was mostly people close to me that inspired me to write and create a narrative that might tie up readers of fiction that sounds and feels realistic.

I’m an ardent, enthusiastic reader of fiction and non-fiction. I have read literally thousands of books and most of them fascinate me. While writing I read which relaxes me and gives me guidance.

There is no novelist that I would adopt as my base of thoughts, however, the epic stories of Ken Follet, the sarcasm of Nelson Demille as well as the detailed accuracy of Frederick Forsyth glue me to their works.

  What is the one message you would like to convey to your readers?

If you love conspiracies in a thrilling way you will fall in love with my book(s). I try to mix pure fiction with a realistic landscape that is filled by unusual heroes, i.e. elderly men and women that are pulled into fierce self-defense and action joined by professional youth.

After this, I hope to get a message from my readers.

  Are you working on a sequel to your book?

Yes. I’m already working on the second Petrossian (title still open) that steps right into the path of the first. I left the ending of the first wide open to create a jumping board to the second.

  Are there any events, marketing ideas, or promotions planned for your book?

Unfortunately, I’m quite inexperienced in book marketing and have only now started an Instagram account. I would be more than grateful to hear and learn as how to market my book successfully.

Some of my friends have read the book (simply electronically on ‘Word’) as well as my family. I have asked for open critics! My wife tells me that she is sometimes scared to read on, my sons find it fascinating, looking at me suspiciously whether I ever had a role in the action.

  What was your favorite part of your publishing experience, overall and with iUniverse?

Well, let’s start with the less enchanting experience. I had to pay to publish such a great work?

(Laughing…my grandkids would use the term ‘lol’)

Seriously, I find the service of iUniverse simply “universal”.  The professional guidance, the personal contact (although, I live about 13.000 miles away) is something I would (and will) recommend to everybody with the same ambition as I have.

  Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Difficult for me to say since I am one myself, however, my sincere advice would be to never give up, don’t take sabbaticals during writing and creating, let the story you create develop while you write. I found out the more I write the more solutions for a scene are arising in front of my eyes. I sometimes write without a clear conception as how the chapter might or should end. But the writing, the following up, always leads me to a resolution of a ‘story dilemma’. I never stop until I have an ending for a chapter that I myself would like to read and enjoy.

  Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter. For a FREE Publishing Guide, click here!