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by ethics officer

Strategies for an Apocalypse World

December 29, 2011 in Apocalypse World

All the media headlines about terrorism, global warming and conflicts in the Middle East, coupled with the publicity surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar, seem to point to the imminence of an apocalypse world. While some of our focus at the Save the Pearls headquarters is to diffuse the hype, we also want the population to be prepared for anything. For all we know, a romantic apocalypse could indicate the beginning of the end.

A friendly Coal I know who is an expert in apocalypse world safety was nice enough to share some helpful strategies with us. Put these into effect immediately!

1) Get in prime physical shape. This is an obvious advantage for finding an adventure romance, but it’s going to be a prerequisite for survival. You’re going to need to be able to stay up for hours on end, travel by foot, run lengthy distances and possibly fight off otherworldly creatures.

2) Find a mate quick. Not only is this critical for Pearls, but it will improve your chances of survival. While it’s always fun to be involved in adventure romance, this will be a whole other level of getting to know one another, so it’s best to already have your relationship established. If you’re currently single, create online profiles on the save the pearls site and get out there and meet others who are trying to find a mate. Make yourself as attractive as possible, go on dates as much as possible, and read books and blog posts on how to have a successful relationship.

3) Get acquainted with weaponry. Stockpile as many guns, knives, hatchets and machetes as possible—and learn how to use them like a pro. Take safety classes as well as combat classes so that you can master the arts and give yourself the best chances possible of surviving in an apocalypse world. You may even want to take up some bad a&$ form of martial arts such as Jiu Jitsu, Karate or Judo to improve your physical health and improve your chances in the case of hand to hand combat.

Source: monstersandcritics.com

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by eden

Fantasy romance—is honesty key?

December 29, 2011 in Eden's Posts

Is honesty crucial for having a successful fantasy romance? People have told me that without it, a relationship is destined to fail. In young adult books, there’s always some sort of repercussion or punishment for not telling the truth. Yet aren’t there some things that can be excluded to save another’s feelings? Aren’t there some small details that you can hide from your partner if they don’t ask? Does your perfect mate really need to know everything—I mean, does Jamal really need to see me apply my Midnight Luster or know that I have to wear three coats of it?

Isn’t keeping the fantasy romance alive more important than your mate knowing every single detail about you? There’s something about mystery that makes someone hotter. I’m beginning to think that while it’s important to be honest about some things, being too open can massacre love. While honesty is literally about telling the truth when asked a question, openness falls under the TMI category (too much information!). Constantly spitting out the truth when no one’s asking can ruin some of the relationship’s fantasy and adventure.

The protagonists in young adult books often end up in successful relationships, though in the beginning they may be hiding a secret. While lying about something can possibly ruin even the strongest fantasy romance, so can offering TMI. It may be good to share all your feelings with your perfect mate, yet will intimacy really be lost if you tell them about all of your exes? There may be some truth to that the old adage, “What you don’t know doesn’t hurt you.” Is it worth it more to keep the fantasy and adventure alive in your relationship or should you tell all? Clearly, one choice sounds more fun than the other. Let me know what you guys think!

Source: cmichellestyles.com

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by eden

Fantasy romance… should this be my solstice goal?

December 24, 2011 in Apocalypse World

I’m blown away by all the responses to my last post about the solstice. I had so many emails asking whether my goal is to find a new fantasy romance or work out the one I have with Jamal. Lol, what about the more important things, like my campaign to save the pearls?

Clearly, this campaign and helping my father succeed with his experiment are my ultimate goals.  Yet I’m also focused on saving myself from a romantic apocalypse. Who wouldn’t be? And it looks like the only way to do so is to keep things going with Jamal and hope that he finally commits or once again get back in the game, trying to find a mate—which sounds so gross!

I’ve been trying to maintain our fantasy romance, but honestly, it’s getting tougher by the day. He’s got the upper hand, since he’s a coal and all. I feel like the whole honeymoon period must be wearing off—before, all I could think about was him and I had no issues with him whatsoever. I was blind to his flaws and just wanted to make him happy. Now I’m starting to feel uncomfortable with some of the things I see him doing and my trust is fading.

At first, every time we saw each other, there was an overwhelming feeling of fantasy romance—it was almost tangible. The spark and chemistry that made me feel so alive—the kind of thing you read about in young adult books. Yet I’m starting to realize that you can’t force those feelings. If they fade, you’ve got to accept it—or maybe they were never really there in the first place. After all, I’m a pearl and he’s a coal. Could we really ever have a future?

So in answer to everyone’s question—my priority is still the save the pearls campaign.  If, at the same time, I can save myself from a romantic apocalypse, then that’s pure awesomeness.

The only other goal I set this solstice is to continue to get my story out there—I’ve got to get the rest out there before it’s too late. Whether it’s disguised as fodder for young adult books or accepted as a memoir doesn’t matter to me. The pearls know the truth, and the more people who get exposed to it, the greater our chance of survival.

 

Source: StJohnweddings.com

 

 

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by ethics officer

Is the Apocalypse World upon us?

December 22, 2011 in Apocalypse World

Since the solstice is upon us, many are talking about all the signs and rumors around the future existence of an apocalypse world. While I agree that we should prepare for the worst, at the same time, some of these rumors have no basis and others simply stem from a paranoid mentality. Many cite the Gulf oil spill, the tsunami in Japan, various earthquakes throughout the world and the uprisings in the Middle East as indicators of the end of the world. In reality, science shows us that these natural disasters are exactly that, and not the result of the anger of the gods above. This is not science fiction and fantasy—this is a real world we live in, and if we have anything to worry about, it’s The Heat or the inability to find a mate.

Many others, especially those who spend their days buried in  young adult fantasy books, refer to the “Mayan prediction of the 2012 apocalypse.” They cite the Mayan’s ability to predict future events, but there is no physical evidence of the 2012 prediction—they simply had a calendar system that ended in 2012. The Mayans never said the world would end that year, and modern day Mayans show irritation at this widespread rumor. Again, more fodder for science fiction and fantasy books.

In terms of other “signs” of an apocalypse world referred to by proponents of this rumor, oil spills happen often—according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, approximately one billion gallons of oil spills into oceans each year. While devastating, natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis have occurred for thousands of years. And we’re still here, aren’t we?

While they may not be written about in the oh-so-popular young adult fantasy books, uprisings in the Middle East have gone on since the beginning of time.

Whether or not 2012 brings “the end,” via the Heat, the Uni-Gov or the apocalypse of 2012, people are capitalizing on it. There’s been a flood of films, young adult books, survival kits and more to hit the marketplace. It sounds like a hoax and a half to this Ethics Officer! The only real threat of an apocalypse we really have to worry about is the one caused by the Heat or what the Uni-Gov has in store for Pearls. Instead of falling for the hype, my advice is to spend your time trying to find a mate or a way to permanently protect yourself from the heat.

Source: Belieftnet.com

 

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by eden

Will the Winter Solstice bring me fantasy and adventure?

December 22, 2011 in Eden's Posts

I’m excited about the winter solstice. While to some, it’s just the shortest day and longest night of the year, or the first day of winter, for me it’s a time to reflect on the past year and make my goals for 2012. It’s a time to make wishes and lay out a plan to bring them to reality. While my obvious goal is to save the pearls, I also want the next year to bring me all the fantasy and adventure possible—for as long as I’m still here anyway.

The days getting longer represents a message of hope—before long, the end of the cold, darkest season will be here. Instead of thinking about the impending romantic apocalypse, you can start hoping and planning for dreams to come true. It’s a time to hibernate, but not in a depressive way—instead, it’s a time to go inward and reflect.

The darkness comes and it goes—over the next few days, I’m going to think about everything that I really want and see how I can make it all happen. While my obvious priority is to save the pearls, there are other things I am dreaming of—but it would all be turned upside down if we find ourselves in an apocalypse world. In the next few days, I am going to state my goals, rest and re-energize myself for the coming months and year. I’m going to follow pagan footsteps and meditate on how I will bring fantasy and adventure into my life in a good way. While my overall theme is to avoid a romantic apocalypse, I am going to reach even higher. What will you wish for this solstice?

If you’re wishing for love and are wondering if it really exists, check out this blog post on fantasy romance.

Source: Earthrites.org

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by ethics officer

Addiction to Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

December 21, 2011 in Apocalypse World

Lately I’ve noticed that all people can talk about are the latest science fiction and fantasy books and films—conventions overflow with people dressed up in costumes that pay homage to their favorite stars, fans are lined up outside ready to wait as long as it takes to get tickets to the latest films and books, and these genres of books have topped the bestseller list for what seems like ages. Why are people so obsessed with this arena when they really should be focused on ensuring their survival in an apocalypse world?

Obviously, science fiction and fantasy books provides an escape from our harsh reality. One of the basic premises of both, with any kind of art for these genres, is irrationality. For example, young adult fantasy books tend to be set in places that transcend the boundaries of the world as we know it. Readers establish relationships with the characters that take precedence over the ones in their real life. They relate and devour sequel after sequel until the character arc is complete.

Readers and moviegoers often read fiction to live vicariously through others, with the goal of entertainment and escape. Even in apocalypse world novels and dystopian books, the settings can still serve as a source of hope, a mission statement for our own belief that we will escape The Heat or whatever else the Uni-Gov has in store for us.

Or perhaps this obsession with the genre, whether experienced through young adult fantasy novels, films or video games, is due to the lack of rational individuals in our society. The Keirsey Temperament website states, “Rationals are very scarce, comprising as little as five to seven percent of the population.” Scary prospect—if that is true, we may find ourselves living out the plots of our favorite apocalypse world novels if there are no rational individuals left to save us from ourselves.

Source: thenextweb.com

 

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by eden

Fantasy romance… does it really exist?

December 15, 2011 in Eden's Posts

This whole fantasy romance thing with Jamal has been like a roller coaster lately. I’m not really sure how much I can trust him. He’s been acting very moody and seems more interested in what my dad’s doing than I am. Instead of asking how my day was, he always asks how my dad’s experiment to save the pearls is going. It’s super annoying. Plus, I saw him talking to my evil coworker when he thought I wasn’t around—and it seemed like they were flirting. Hmmm.

I’m in such a difficult spot right now. I need to find a mate before my 18th birthday, because if I don’t, we all know what happens—I’m a goner. Unless, of course, the whole experiment to save the pearls works. It’s hard for me to put all my eggs in that basket, though, even though my dad’s the one conducting the experiment. I’ve been trying to have faith that this whole fantasy romance thing with Jamal is going to work, but now I’m getting nervous. Like I said, I’m not sure I can trust him, and isn’t that a crucial element of a relationship? This is my first real one, so all I have to go by is what I’ve read about love in young adult books. The chemistry and attraction is there, but is that really enough to motivate him to mate with me?

A part of me feels like I should just get back out there and try to find a mate fast. Yet the other part of me, the one ruled by my heart, tells me I should just believe and go with this thing I have with Jamal. But in this day and age, does fantasy romance really exist? Or is just a myth, a thing of the past, a fictional dream ingrained in our heads from reading too many romance novels and young adult books? What do you guys think?

Source: Blog.80millionmoviesfree.com

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by ethics officer

The benefits of young adult books

December 14, 2011 in Apocalypse World

As a society on the brink of becoming an apocalypse world, you’re probably wondering who has time for young adult books? Or why would we bother when there are life and death circumstances looming over our heads?

In actuality, young adult books aka YA fiction, offer more than just a respite from reality. For example, young adult fantasy is one of the most evolving genres in existence. While the demographic is ages 12-18, the readership is actually much wider, including middle aged men and women. The themes that young adult books revolve around are relatable to readers of all ages—relationships, sexuality, drug abuse, change, and transition.  The content tends to be edgier than other genres—at times, even controversial due to mature content.

While young adult books are often criticized for a lack of structure and moral content, there are myriad benefits to this type of fiction. The stories and characters can teach readers important life lessons and positively influence them during difficult times of transition. When you feel that an author or their characters have shared similar challenges and emotions, it helps you to understand that you’re not alone and that others empathize with your situation.

While the young adult fantasy novels that we’ve seen catapult to success over the last few years have paranormal and supernatural elements that make them unrealistic, they are still relatable and can help readers evolve. While there aren’t really wizards, vampires and werewolves among us, we can still understand the need to fit in, recover from a lost love or find a mate. Readers of all ages, but especially teenagers, face difficulties with self discovery and social issues—when they follow young adult fantasy characters through similar circumstances, they experience a sense of comfort.

As we all try to navigate the issues of an imminent apocalypse world and fulfill our need to find a mate, we can gain important insight from the protagonists in young adult books. Whether they’re also trying to save the pearls or are simply escaping issues in their own minds, readers everywhere can stand to benefit from books from this time-tested genre.

Source: Vladstudio.com

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by eden

PEARL-y whites in an Apocalypse World

December 13, 2011 in Eden's Posts

I feel like I’m on a roll with my girl’s guide to the apocalypse, lol. So this week, let’s think about what to do about our pearly whites when we find ourselves in the midst of an apocalypse world—seeing as they’re pretty important. I mean, I don’t think we’ll have blenders and smoothies at our disposal, so we probably want to keep as many as we can.

In science fiction and fantasy books, we never see anyone caring for their choppers, so I’m winging this one—with a little help from my dentist. First off, he always tells me, “Only floss the teeth you want to keep.” Soooo, load up on the floss! I’m talking stockpile. The containers are so small, it shouldn’t be too difficult to have floss on hand at all times.

If you’re trying to find or cultivate an adventure romance, you’ll definitely want to prioritize toothbrushes and toothpaste in your survival kit. Yet that stuff can only last so long, so my dentist gave me a few ideas for when we run out. I’ll warn you, his ideas are not pretty and actually make me think romantic apocalypse, but here goes… while swilling your saliva around and licking your teeth can help prevent tartar build-up, you need something much more abrasive. A powdered pumice stone can be helpful, and plant sap is a great, albeit not as refreshing, substitute for toothpaste.

A reusable piece of fine string can be a great for flossing. The most important thing is to remove food particles from your teeth after eating to reduce bacteria. Be gentle—this is an area where you may want to dedicate a little time, so you don’t damage whatever teeth you do have left. Kissing someone with a virtual meal left in their mouth sounds like a direct path to a romantic apocalypse to me.

In all the science fiction and fantasy films I’ve watched, everyone looks perfect. Clearly, there are no standard guidelines for this, so send me any ideas you have! For now, it’s probably best to get your teeth professionally cleaned as often as recommended and get your dentist check-ups in. The better we take care of our teeth now, the better our chance of keeping some of them later—and the more teeth we have later, the greater our chances for maintaining an adventure romance. Wow, this does not sound fun!!

Source: Home-air-purifier-expert.com

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by eden

Creating the perfect adventure romance

December 10, 2011 in Apocalypse World

We’ve received a lot of emails lately with members asking how to turn their stale relationship into the adventure romance of their dreams. This is a great question—we turned to some of our dating and mating experts to see what tips they had for creating the kind of relationship that will sustain a lifetime in an apocalypse world.

First off, all men crave adventure, so it’s important for women to make them feel like they don’t have to give up their adventurous side when they settle down. In fact, you want to inspire and encourage your mate to do adventurous things, with and without you. If you can add elements of fantasy and adventure into the relationship, neither one of you will get bored.

This doesn’t mean you have to climb Mount Everest and run marathons—though that could be cool—it’s about being willing to get out of your comfort zone. It can be as simple as trying exotic foods, going on road trips, getting couples massages or taking a surprise vacation. Think about when you read about romance in young adult books—the protagonist’s life always is an adventure, and they usually end up with the one they want, don’t they?

Just being open to new experiences is sexy and shows that you’re confident and fearless. That alone is enough to spice up a relationship with all the fantasy and adventure you need. It may have to be when we find ourselves in an apocalypse world, as we won’t have access to luxuries like vacations or massages. By becoming adventurous now, you’ll have the tools you need to stir the pot with some adventure when your resources are more limited.

Even if you’re single at the moment, start upping your adventurous ante now, so that when you find a mate, he’ll see that side of you and be ready to cross mountains and rivers to be with you. Observe friends who are in satisfying relationships, read young adult books to see what the protagonists do, and stretch the boundaries of your comfort zone every chance you get.

 

Source: Yolopt.com

 

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