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by Chafrika

Prepping for a real or romantic apocalypse—the safe house

April 12, 2012 in Urban Fantasy

As we move through 2012 and the masses obsess over a zombie takeover, the end of the world or a romantic apocalypse, recommendations and schools of thought are basically erupting out of the woodwork. There are zombie survival panels, shows like Doomsday Preppers, and in essence, even we have succumbed with our creation of the Save the Pearls movement.

Source: zombiesandtoys.blogspot.com

While fans of Zombieland, The Walking Dead and post apocalyptic books dream of surviving a zombie apocalypse, it seems like many manufacturers are getting savvy and taking advantage of the vast marketing opportunities. Everyone has an idea of the best place to go, the best weapons to stockpile, and how to best slay a zombie. Yet in the meantime, why not take a cue from Doomsday Preppers and use the time we have now to prepare for the supposed END?

Just like everything in life, for truly successful survival, one must be prepared. Instead of burying your nose in fantasy and adventure books, take this time to put those key skills you learned in girl scouts or boy scouts to use. From what I’ve garnered from all these “survival” guides, the most important thing, across apocalypse causes, is to secure a location where you will be safe and protected—in other words, a safe house.

As you should know from watching zombie films and reading post apocalyptic books, the last thing you want in the case of THE END is to be on the run. Those with a place to go have a significantly greater chance of surviving, as opposed to those on the streets, left to scavenge for food, exposed to the elements, and fend off the undead, terrorists or the Uni-Gov.

The necessity for a safe house is such a well-known concept that there have actually been Zombie Apocalypse Safe House competitions for several years now. Teams of architects who clearly have a penchant for fantasy and adventure books and films strive to create the ultimate safety zone. In Warsaw, Poland, a team of engineers created their aptly named Safe House, a building that turns into an impregnable concrete cube at the touch of a few buttons. Versions have been constructed across the entire gamut of possibilities— from compact extending shells that can be carried on your back complete with potable water systems to entire fortified neighborhoods complete with electrified lawns and zip lines.

Anyone harboring apocalyptic thoughts should take a look at some of these fascinating monstrosities designed to keep threats away. These disaster-proof, self-supporting designs boast everything from independent ecosystems, solar panels and greenhouses to rainwater collectors, built-in weapons arsenals and canals.

Whether you choose to turn your house or basement into your safe house, or team up with your entire community to create an ominous bunker, either way, if you want to survive a terrorist, zombie or romantic apocalypse, you better start working on your zone.

 

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by ethics officer

Nostradamus— Urban fantasy at its best

March 28, 2012 in Urban Fantasy

Perhaps it’s the current preoccupation with young adult books, maybe it’s the end of the Mayan calendar hoopla, or we can chalk it up to all the hype surrounding planetary alignments, magnetic pole shifts and birds dropping out of the sky. No matter the cause, people can’t seem to ignore the rumors and misconceptions about 2012. Meanwhile, Pearls keep disappearing and it’s hard to keep people focused on the real question at hand—how to save the pearls.

Proponents of urban fantasy would have us believe that it all stems from the predictions of Nostradamus.  Best known for his book Les Propheties (“The Prophecies”), written in 1555, Nostradamus was a French apothecary and reputed seer who moved out of medicine and into the occult after a trip to Italy. He wrote his first annual almanac in 1550 and gained notoriety amongst the rich and noble, who flocked to him for horoscopes and psychic advice. Unlike true astrologers, Nostradamus had clients supply him with their birth charts—it’s recorded that when he tried to calculate them himself, there were many errors. Sounds like these almanacs were more like their own brand of fantasy and adventure stories of that time.

Les Propheties was Nostradamus’ written project consisting of one thousand mainly French quatrains—these make up the mostly undated prophecies that made him famous. Undated prophecies sound like quite an anomaly to me, which is why I chalk them up to nothing more than urban fantasy and fiction. The publication of this book attracted a following that credits him with predicting many major world events—again, if they’re without dates, it would be like one of us predicting an earthquake in California. We know it may happen, but exactly when is difficult for us to divine. Les Propheties received a mixed reaction when it was published—some people thought Nostradamus was insane, a phony or a servant of evil, while many of the prominent and elite thought the book contained spiritually inspired prophecies.

Feeling threatened by religious fanatics, Nostradamus created a method of hiding his meaning through the use of “Virgilianized” syntax, word games and a mixture of other languages including Latin, Italian, Greek and Provençal. Since the quatrains were written in Middle French, this led to many problems in the translations, resulting in vagueries, metaphors and allusion. Some are so vague that you can conclude they make absolutely no sense, or that they provide justification for any event. Many academic sources maintain that the associations made between world events and his predictions are the result of these mistranslations or misinterpretations.

An example of a glaring inaccuracy is Nostradamus famously predicted prosperity for King Henry II of France just two years before his death in a jousting accident. He might as well have written a fantasy and adventure novel depicting a long life for the king.

Those who believe in the prophecy of 2012 usually fail to identify the quatrain where this prediction is made. In fact, his followers tend to look for matches to events in his quatrains after the events occur. They may as well focus on fantasy and adventure novels, as Nostradamus never directly mentions December 21, 2012.

If after researching Nostradamus, you still want to believe the hype about his prediction of an apocalyptic event in 2012, then you’ll need to ignore the fact that his quatrains extend well beyond 2012—as in all the way to 3790. Clearly, if all of those predictions are correct, then the world cannot possibly end this year.

My suggestion? Go back to reading young adult books in your free time and focus your attention on ways to save the pearls.

Source: Mayanpredictions.net

 

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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

Girl’s Survival Guide for the Apocalypse World

November 29, 2011 in Eden's Posts

Let’s face it—there are so many solutions we’ve gotta come up with like right away. We’re going to have to adapt to an apocalypse world in many more ways than guys do. And if you’re lucky enough to find a mate, it’s going to be even tougher. Trying to keep the fantasy romance alive in your relationship will be tough, if not impossible. Sounds like we’ve got some serious brainstorming to do at our next Save the Pearls meeting.

Obviously, we’re weaker and smaller than most dudes. On top of that, we’re high maintenance—we’ve got a lot more physical issues to learn to live with. For starters, what about body hair? While guys welcome a vacation from shaving and sometimes even look hot with a beard, girls don’t get too psyched about having hairy legs and armpits—except for the hippie chicks anyway. Thought I’m starting to think “hippies” are just fictional characters from science fiction and fantasy novels.

Source: Cryptomundo.com

There are rumors that laser hair removal can permanently remove hair—that sounds perfect for protecting the shelf life of your fantasy romance. I’ve also heard that intense pulsed light (IPL) is cheap and fast, but not as effective as laser. You could always get one of those old school epilator things now, as they’ll be very hard to find in an apocalypse world. Plus, you won’t really be able to use it much, as there’ll be way more important use for your batteries.

A Save the Pearls member is selling these tiny pairs of scissors that you trim away the heaviest areas of hair. This might do the job to keep the fantasy and adventure alive in your relationship.

Ultimately, it would be rad if guys would just learn to love us for who we are, oblivious to our hairiness. I mean, look how hair they are.

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by ethics officer

Why do we fall out of love??

September 13, 2011 in Apocalypse World

You’re head over heels—you found that fantasy romance you always dreamt of. After months of browsing online dating profiles, you thought you found the one, the perfect mate you were going to spend the rest of your life with. It was as if your life was the plot of one of the best Harlequin romance novels. Then all of a sudden, it was over. What happened?

Bottom line: love doesn’t always last. Despite your best efforts to keep the adventure romance going, it may just not be meant to be. The question is, can you do anything to stop love from ending? We asked some experts why the young adult fantasy ends and how we fall out of love.

Fear. Often times, we’re in a relationship with who we think is the perfect mate—and then we cause our own romantic apocalypse. When intimacy gets too scary, we may unconsciously push an open, loving, emotionally available partner away by diminishing their worth in our own heads and to them. This happens when we know deep inside that we’re very vulnerable with this person and our defense mechanisms kick in to sabotage it. If you find yourself killing the young adult romance before it’s had the chance to grow, be aware. If you have to, talk to a therapist or counselor. When you find a mate, be open with your feelings and when this feeling comes up, share with them how you are trying to deal with this fear. Don’t go creating a bunch of new online dating profiles either. Try to work through this issue now instead, because it will just keep rearing its ugly head.

Lack of communication. Regular communication is essential to having that amazing relationship that has all the makings of Harlequin romance novels. When you’re dating and mating, you must discuss your issues and be able to voice your complaints in a productive way. The earlier the better—it’s becomes more difficult to face issues later on. We’re not talking about fighting or playing the blame game—it’s about keeping your adventure romance on track by letting your partner know when you’re upset or which behaviors annoy you.

When we’re trying to find a mate, we tend to pit our on our best front. Once you’re immersed in that young adult fantasy romance, you may let your guard down and show new sides of yourself that surprise your partner. This is why it’s always best to be yourself from the get go, and that includes being honest about your likes and dislikes. Forget about being “right” all the time—focus instead on keeping the fantasy romance alive, being thoughtful and careful about how you behave towards each other and communicating effectively and sympathetically.

Change. Eden Newman shared a story with us about how one of the potential mates in one of her interracial relationships seemed like the perfect match for dating and mating. Then, after many months, he shared with her that while he was okay with interracial dating, he was not okay with having children with her.

Over time, people can change—or more often, they become who they really are. In addition, they can change their mind based on their experience in their young adult romance or long-term relationship, especially when it comes to interracial relationships. The man that Eden Newman was dating may have just decided that it wasn’t for him, after realizing the problems they encountered dating in a world where she was working on the save the pearls campaign and he was not behind it. They came from two different worlds and he simply decided that this young adult fantasy romance wasn’t for him. Thus began Eden’s personal romantic apocalypse.

People may decide they no longer love their career. They may want to throw away that amazing medical career to become an artist. People evolve and their circumstances change and that may ultimately affect their relationship. The most important thing is to know the difference between your young adult fantasy and who your partner really is at their core. Whether you’re interracial dating, in a homosexual relationship or there is a sizeable age difference, the parties involved are always going to be susceptible to change. Life is about changing and growing.

So keep working on your mate-rate, educate yourself about successful relationships, and learn to be open to all of the elements of love. Most importantly, be aware that not every relationship is meant to last forever and sometimes they will transcend to beautiful, lifelong friendships. Either way, seize the day, enjoy the journey… and help us save the pearls!

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by ethics officer

Improving Your Mate-Rate

September 9, 2011 in Apocalypse World

I love it when people try to tell you that attractiveness doesn’t matter when you’re trying to find a mate. Perhaps that’s true in the world of Harlequin romance novels, but not in a world where you need to save the pearls, lol. When you’re dating and mating, or at least trying to, one of the most essential elements of finding the perfect mate is your level of attractiveness, or mate-rate, as we like to call it.

Unfortunately, looks matter, and with technological advances and the media savvy world we live in, image has become increasingly important. From our wardrobe and looks to our level of fitness, charisma and ability to hold a conversation, we’re always being noticed or judged—especially when others are browsing our online dating profiles. It’s as if a romantic apocalypse is upon us and if we don’t project ourselves in the most positive light possible, we’ll never manifest the young adult fantasy romance we’ve been dreaming of.

While perfection is elusive, the basis of attracting the perfect mate begins with physical attraction. Most of us are not just looking to become friends with someone—we’re looking for the butterflies, the young adult fantasy that takes us by storm and makes us forget anyone else ever existed. Respect and friendship are important components of relationships, but there has to be a strong attraction and some bit of chemistry for a fantasy romance to occur.

One of the best ways to improve your mate-rate and obtain that adventure romance is to improve your looks. This means getting in the best physical shape of your life—working out regularly and always striving to take your fitness to the next level. This isn’t just key to attracting others when you’re dating and mating—it boost your flow of endorphins so that you’re happier and more confident, and therefore, more attractive. As Eden Newman points out, Pearls have it harder than most others, especially if they’re involved in interracial relationships. So it’s time to get that workout regimen going and get yourself in the best possible shape if you want to find a mate.

In addition to getting your workout on, grooming is another key aspect in obtaining the young adult fantasy romance of your dreams. In young adult fiction and Harlequin romance novels, they describe the heroine’s beauty in the first chapter. Follow suit by finding a stylish yet flattering haircut, getting lessons in skincare and makeup application, and follow the basic tenets of good grooming: manicures, pedicures, monthly facials, waxing, etc. This type of pampering makes you look and feel better. Plus, taking care of yourself makes you happier and more confident, and that much closer to finding your fantasy romance.

If you’re creating online dating profiles, make sure your profile pic is taken when you look your very best and that it reflects your personality. This is especially important when you’re seeking interracial dating prospects, as reflecting your personality in a photo will give the viewer more insight into who you are, when cultural differences may detract during the initial attraction phase. What is key, however, is that you don’t underplay the reality of what you look like in your pictures. Keep it real, but your very best real.

Make up for where you’re lacking in the physical department with personality. Many people find comedians very attractive due to their stage presence and personality. I’m not saying to prep your own stand-up routine or repertoire of jokes, but if you want to find that young adult romance, you’ve got to use your personality and highlight your best assets. Most importantly, identify your passions and pursue them—it will show your depth, you’ll be happier because you’re pursuing them, and it will translate into… you guessed it, attractiveness!

If you’re looking for an interracial romance, show your daredevil, thrill-seeking side. If you’re a bookworm who likes to bury your nose in the latest young adult romance books or graphic novels, be honest about that. This will help you attract someone with the same interests, which can lead to a successful, compatible relationship. If you’re interested in pursuing interracial relationships, then be upfront about that and honest about what you bring to the table. If you love to champion causes like homelessness, cancer prevention or the Save the Pearls campaign, share all your passions with your potential partner.

If you want advice or have questions about interracial dating, avoiding the romantic apocalypse or you just want to learn more about Eden Newman, send us an email at info@savethepearls.com! We look forward to hearing from you!

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by eden

Back on my game

September 8, 2011 in Eden's Posts

So I was feeling down for a little bit after hearing about the latest Pearl disappearance (still haven’t heard anything new, by the way), which led me to beating myself up a little bit. I lost track of the Save the Pearls campaign because I had butterflies ion my stomach because I thought I found the perfect mate. It seemed like my own fantasy romance was about to unfold, and since we have no other choice as Pearls than to find a mate, I got a little focused on my own plight. Plus, it’s fun. I want the whole love story, the ones they write about in Harlequin romance novels and young adult romance books. (Okay, so I read Harlequin romance novels when I was younger, that’s all I could find on the bookshelf my mom left behind!) Anyway, I’m back on my game. I can’t help but check out all the new online dating profiles (Hello, Charmer171 and Thai!! And that’s just for starters) because I do need to find the perfect mate so that I can avoid the romantic apocalypse I’m facing. But I am going to do everything I can, I will Save the Pearls! Mark my words!

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by ethics officer

Know Your Limit

September 6, 2011 in Apocalypse World

An important element of dating is to know when it’s time to move on. Despite all that you’ve read in Harlequin romance novels and young adult fantasy fiction, some relationships are just not meant to work out. When you’re dating and mating, it’s key to identify when to throw in the towel and to be able to tell the difference between young adult fantasy from reality!

Let’s start with the chase—every good adventure romance needs an element of pursuit. When you’re looking for the perfect mate, you want to make sure you’re not calling and contacting the other person more than they’re reaching out to you. Women especially need to be on alert, as men aren’t necessarily going to tell them that they don’t think they are the perfect mate or that they’re no longer interested. Avoid your own personal romantic apocalypse by letting yourself get chased every now and then.

Another red flag to look for in your young adult fantasy romance is making excuses for the other’s behavior. When someone hasn’t called in days, it’s probably not because they got in a car accident, contracted pneumonia or have reached a critical juncture in the Save the Pearls campaign—it’s a sign that they’re just not feeling it anymore. Never make excuses or rationalize bad or indifferent behavior—your perfect mate is not going to make you wonder what they’re doing or how they feel about you. Remember, this is your personal adventure romance, when you’re trying to find a mate you have to embrace risk and be open to change. Don’t block out someone’s bad behavior by focusing on their good qualities. You’re dating and mating for a reason, and if this one doesn’t work out, you need to jump back on the horse and try again. There will be someone else! Start browsing online dating profiles, be open to interracial relationships and know that this one guy is not your romantic apocalypse.

When you’re trying to find a mate, it’s easy to mistake a passionate encounter with love.  Remember, life is not made up of Harlequin romance novels—this is real, and as much as one night may seem like the young adult fantasy romance you’ve been waiting for, it’s not always the case.  Don’t mistake dating for a game of winning someone over—Eden Newman learned this the hard way when she expected a quick encounter in her interracial dating experience as the young adult romance she was dying for it to be. One-sided love cannot transform a purely physical thing into the fantasy romance of a lifetime. Don’t settle for someone who is not certain about you—stand your ground and you will find what you’re looking for.

To browse online dating profiles, learn more about interracial dating and interracial relationships, and follow Eden Newman in her quest to Save the Pearls, visit SavethePearls.com. We’re all hoping she finds the young adult romance that she’s looking for!

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by eden

What if the clock wasn’t ticking??

August 30, 2011 in Eden's Posts

If you haven’t seen the article yet, check out this post:
http://www.thenewworldchronicle.com/2011/08/23/male-pearl-missing-the-search-continues/

I’ve been so focused on finding the perfect mate and getting my own fantasy romance started that
I let my focus on the Save the Pearls campaign slip. Just when I let my mind wander
for a second, there were more disappearances. I hate that I let it slip because
I was focused on my little adventure romance and reading my YA novels. UGH! How
come this always happens? Is it across the board or is just women who do this?
It’s like, you get a little taste of love and forget everything else that’s
going on, the important things. Unfortunately, we’re put in this position where
they make finding the perfect mate is a priority. When it’s life or death, it’s
hard to not think about it all time. I used to scoff at the young adult fantasy
romance novels I read when I was younger, I never thought I’d be browsing online
dating profiles—I never cared. Yet now, with the idea of a sort of romantic
apocalypse always in the back of my mind, the quest is all-consuming.

If the clock wasn’t ticking, I wouldn’t even be thinking about finding love at all. Or would
I?

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by eden

Be realistic

August 18, 2011 in Eden's Posts

Okay, today, the boy I’ve been vibing made it clear that he’s vibing me back. Our eye contact was insane—it felt like he was seeing right into my mind, like he could read every thought I had. I felt almost… naked. He is so hot! We talked for a few minutes in the hallway, when no one else was around (of course). A coal can’t be seen talking to someone like me… like that. He was just inches away from my face, and I could tell he was feeling it. I’m trying to stay open to others and to just focus on the Save the Pearls campaign and not think I’m the main character in some adventure romance novel (my father always says, “Eden Newman, you’re not the star of some young adult fantasy romance. Be realistic). I don’t want to get my hopes up too much, either—interracial dating and mating is seriously frowned upon. But It’s hard to stay grounded in reality, when I’m certain this guy’s vibing me too. xox Eden Newman

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