Book Feature: Distorted Purposes + Exclusive Interview with Author Morgan Douglas

After reading Dan Brown's Deception Point, I fell in love with suspense thrillers and science fiction books. This is why we got excited to hear about the latest book, Distorted Purposes. 

This is about a sudden mass shapeshifting event that happened around the world. Where human beings were instantly transformed into indistinguishable blank figures.  The story starts by describing this phenomenon happening in the small fictional college town of Calbury, Pennsylvania. Where a group of individuals was spared this fate for reasons unknown to them as they set out to find answers to this problem. What Grace, Danny, Jacklyn, Henry, and Cam uncovered was a heinous plan devised by two government officials who finally brought everyone back to their regular selves after being discovered. Using the People Morphing Plan they extorted world leaders by the threat of changing them back into “bubble figures,” via an enhanced computer. The goal was to manipulate humankind into making positive strides in various human rights and other issues such as climate change. None of this could stop two thieves from stealing the blueprints to the technology though.

This thrilling book is the debut album of Author Morgan Douglas from Portland, Oregon. 

Today, we are blessed with this opportunity to have this exclusive interview with her. 

1. Can you share with us something about the book that isn't in the blurb?

The people who fall victim to the mass shapeshifting event are still sentient despite the fact that they are blank figures. They are able to communicate to others in their vicinity via electrical frequencies.

2. What inspired the idea for your latest book?

During my last year in college, I went to a class discussion after being up all night at the hospital. I was so tired that I am not sure if I just temporarily fell asleep or just daydreamed the image of a human-like figure emerging from the ground and sitting in a desk chair.

3. How long did it take you to complete the book?

It actually took me 2 years to finish writing the book.

4. What part of the book was most challenging to write and why?

I find the middle section of the book the most challenging to write because I had to reveal the reasoning behind this People Morphing Plan. Coming up with an explanation and providing the moving parts of this was the most time-consuming part.

5. What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

I hope my readers will find a sense of adventure and joy in reading a book with this bizarre concept.

6. If you’re planning a sequel or writing the next book, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?

I am currently working on a sequel. After one of the two thieves decides to take drastic measures to experiment with the technology blueprints that they stole and replicated. Manipulation of this device as a way to threaten to use it if their demands for money are not met does not work at first. They do however get the money they want but at the cost of starting a war.

7. Where can they buy your books or find out more about you?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Distorted-Purposes-Morgan-Douglas/dp/B09G9LSKSB 

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1585911880 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/distorted-purposes-morgan-douglas/1140163255 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/distorted-purposes

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Thank you, Author Morgan, for agreeing to this interview. We are happy to learn more about you and your book and we are looking forward to its sequel. 

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Here's how: https://www.mymetrolifestyle.com/p/do-you-want-to-promote-your-book.html

BDO Reminds Clients to Ignore and Delete “Deactivation” Emails

Happy Singles Day! Are you done shopping? I am so happy and excited as there are so many great deals and offers available. Honestly, it's so hard to resist when you can complete your purchases with just a few clicks. 

Anyway, as we make more digital and online transactions, we'd like to encourage you to be responsible and careful as well. 

BDO Unibank reminds clients that they will NEVER send a warning message about account deactivation as banks do not deactivate accounts via email, text, or call. Moreover, they will never urge clients to click on links that lead to websites asking for personal information to verify their identity and prevent account deactivation.

BDO continues to advise its clients to do the following steps to outsmart scam messages:

Check the email sender’s address. Scammers can change the sender name but not the email address. If the email sender’s address doesn’t end with @bdo.com.ph, it’s a scam email.

Double-check a link before clicking on it. Using a computer, clients can point their mouse cursor at the link to reveal the website address. Using a mobile device, clients can “long press” a link to see a preview of the web page it goes to. Remember, BDO will never send links to a web page asking for confidential information.

Be wary of the message. Scammers alarm clients by informing them of an unauthorized transaction using their bank account. They will include details such as the total amount as well as the date and place of purchase. BDO assures clients that it will never send this kind of message via text message and email.

BDO encourages clients to report suspicious incidents to ReportPhish@bdo.com.ph or get in touch with its representatives by logging in Messenger and looking for BDO Customer Care with the blue verified checkmark from Facebook. Clients may also call its hotline at 8631-8000 or email BDO at customercare@bdo.com.ph.

Shopee Launches 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, its Biggest Sale of the Year, with Unbeatable deals and Nonstop Fun

The 11.11 Big Christmas Sale becomes the ultimate holiday shopping destination with promos such as ₱1 Deals, free shipping with no minimum spend, 10% off daily vouchers, and giveaways worth over ₱12,000,000

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, kicks off its annual 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, the most anticipated shopping festival in the region. The 11.11 Big Christmas Sale headlines a year where more people and businesses use the platform to connect with each other. In fact, the number of sellers and brands on Shopee surged by 60% in 2021, while 1 in 3 shoppers at its recent 9.9 event was new to the platform.

The 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, which ushers in the year’s busiest shopping season, presents Shopee’s greatest selection of deals, fun, and entertainment for everyone. To add to the festive mood, users can look forward to the widest variety of discounted products from over 25 categories and unbeatable promos such as ₱1 Deals, free shipping with no minimum spend, and 10% off daily. With such an irresistible line-up, the number of new buyers on Shopee is expected to peak further during 11.11. Brands and local MSMEs stand to benefit from the increased traffic, supercharging business growth and scaling their online presence.

International superstar Jackie Chan also returns with a fun commercial for the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. After his 9.9 commercial met with viral success by garnering 435 million views online, the action-packed sequel sparked excitement for all users as well. Fans can catch the commercial here: https://shp.ee/64cba9b

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Christmas holds a special place in Filipinos’ hearts. During this season of giving, Shopee Philippines hopes to make this year’s festivities even more memorable for both our users and sellers. As the holidays approach, we aim to bring more joy to shoppers and help them save more on things they love by curating the best deals. We’ve also pioneered efforts to expand our digital ecosystem to help more consumers, businesses, and communities access and benefit from e-commerce. We invite everyone to join us in making this the biggest and most impactful 11.11.”

1. Biggest growth opportunities for businesses

The 11.11 Big Christmas Sale will act as a springboard to accelerate growth for businesses on Shopee. In 2021, more than 8 million new local shops opened on Shopee. With a growing base of shoppers and more marketing tools provided by Shopee, 11.11 will give brands and MSMEs greater visibility to maximize demand. Businesses with an offline presence can also participate in 11.11 through ShopeePay and Shopee’s digital products feature.

• Exclusive deals from leading brands on Shopee Mall: Shoppers can look forward to exclusive deals from top brands such as Xiaomi, POCO, realme, Samsung, Nokia, Vivo, DJI, PerySmith, Deerma, Coocaa Home, and Bata Philippines.

• More offline deals from brands: Brands also stand to generate more in-store traffic through promotions from ShopeePay. Users can turn to ‘Deals Near Me’ to check for special in-store deals from brands such as Puregold, National Bookstore, Fully Booked, Power Mac Center, The Generics Pharmacy, Family Mart, Lawson, Olympic Village, Shoe Salon, Potato Corner, Mary Grace, Bonchon, Papa John’s, Siomai House, and Fruitas Group of Companies.

 

2. Upsized variety, deals, and entertainment for the holidays

Shopee is committed to helping more shoppers access the benefits of e-commerce, especially during the busiest shopping time of the year. To encourage more people to try shopping online, Shopee introduced initiatives such as special welcome gifts and vouchers for new shoppers, with over 5 million welcome gifts across the region redeemed since the start of the year. Throughout 11.11, shoppers can look forward to an unbeatable range of more rewards and deals: 

• Rewards for first-time shoppers: As they start their e-commerce journey, new and first-time Shopee users can look forward to a free welcome package, bills cashback, free shipping, 100% off vouchers, and ₱1 deals with their first purchase. 

• Gift guides for easy holiday shopping: Users can enjoy a quick and easy holiday shopping experience with Shopee’s Christmas in our Carts gift guides. They can get discounts up to 90% off on a wide range of branded gifts and bundles, from the latest gadgets to luxurious personal care items. They can also check out Shopee Mall for 10% off Mall vouchers, special deals on holiday gifts, and vouchers from their favorite brands.  

• Bigger deals across different categories: Shoppers can discover the best deals on everything they need at 11.11 Big Sale. Highlights include 1-for-1 Deals, Early Platform Voucher Hunt, and Mega Midnight Sale, covering the widest range of product categories. They can also look out for themed sales such as the Big Sports & Outdoors Sale on November 4, Big Fashion Sale on November 5, Big Groceries & Pet Care Sale on November 6, Big Mommy & Babies Sale on November 7, Big Shopee Mall Sale on November 8, Big Electronics Sale on November 9, and Big Vouchers Sale on November 10.  

• Exclusive Shopee Mall discounts from the biggest roster of brands: At the 11.11 Midnight Mall Exclusive Sale from 12MN to 2AM, shoppers can enjoy huge price drops and exclusive bundle deals. Throughout the sale, brand sukis can also enjoy discounts up to 90% off on leading brands in the country:  

• Secure and convenient shopping with ShopeePay: Users can shop with greater security and enjoy better deals when they pay with ShopeePay. They can also now enjoy a free, instant, and more convenient way to cash in from their bank apps via InstaPay. Until November 7, users can cash in via InstaPay and get up to ₱25 cashback. 

The 11.11 Big Christmas Sale will also spark more joy with the big finale on November 11:

 

 

• 11.11 Big Christmas Sale TV Special: NCT 127, one of today’s hottest K-pop boy bands, will delight Filipino audiences with their chart-topping hits at the 11.11 TV show on November 11, 9:30-11:30pm on GMA 7 and Shopee Live. Filipinos can also look forward to appearances from top local celebrities such as Jessy Mendiola, Aira Bermudez, Rocco Nacino, Klea Pineda, Andre Paras, and Gil Cuerva. Lastly, viewers stand a chance to win prizes and giveaways worth over  ₱12,000,000, including two new house & lots and a brand-new car.

For more information about Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale.

 

#NeverForget: How to Take Care of your Brain and Memory

Ever since I have read the novel, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, one of my greatest fears is the loss of memory. If you are not familiar with the book or the movie,  The Notebook depicts Allie (one of the main characters) as having complete memory loss of her past. She suffers from Alzheimer's dementia which is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure and it gradually worsens over time. 

Sometimes I can't help to think that everyday we are all trying to be the best version of ourselves, live life to the fullest, and be with our loved ones, but what if one day we forget everything? What if we suddenly can't recognize our family and friends anymore? What if we don't even know who we are or we can't even recall our name? 

Honestly, these thoughts scare me. The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease aren't fully determined and as mentioned there is no cure; thus, it is important that we take care of our brain and memory. 

Here are four (4) practical tips that can help take care of our brain and memory:

1. Eat Right 

Having the proper nutrition is important in keeping our brains healthy. Experts recommend eating oily fish rich in Omega-3 such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines since these can help improve the neurons in our brain and provide better cognition abilities. 

Eggs are also a good source of choline which is known to help reduce inflammation and help promote brain functions such as maintaining memory. 

If you are a chocolate lover like me, you are in for a treat since dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which is also important for brain health.

Berries, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are also found beneficial for brain health and functions. Fruits and vegetables such as avocado, kale, and broccoli are also said to be good for the brain. 

Aside from these recommendations, we should also learn to stay away from food that is considered harmful. This includes sugary drinks, highly processed food, instant noodles, microwave popcorn, aspartame (which is usually present in chewing gums), and of course, alcohol.

2. Exercise 

Exercise such as walking, running, or swimming is highly recommended to keep your brain healthy. These aerobic exercises can help increase a person's heart rate which means that the body will pump more blood/ oxygen to the brain. 

Experts also say that exercise can help increase our focus as well as help sharpen our minds.

3. Sleep 

Studies show that sleep deprivation and memory loss are closely related since sleep is crucial in consolidating memory. This means that without sleep, one will have a hard time making a memory "stick." 

Lack of sleep also leads to poor focus and performance. It affects fine motor skills and even judgment. No wonder medical experts consider having quality sleep a top priority.  

If you are having problems getting one, try making a routine. Sleep and wake up at the same time each day. 

Avoid alcohol or caffeine before going to bed. 

Blue light emitted from our gadgets/ mobile phones is also said to affect our quality of sleep. Try to avoid using them before going to bed. 

4. Stay Mentally Active 

"Use your brain or else you will lose your brain."

This famous saying is quite accurate. Brain exercises are very important across all age groups. If you are not sure what brain exercises entail, these are simply activities that you can do on a daily basis such as answering puzzles, playing cards, and doing some mind games. 

The best part? You can even do this online. There are many free websites like www.solitaire.org where you can have these fun and exciting brain exercises. This has been one of my go-to websites when I have some free time or when I am not so busy and I wanted to relax. 

Aside from card games, they also have the hidden objects game - a personal favorite. 

Zuma legend which is super popular in the 90s, Mahjong and many more are also available. There are many options available that can suit your interest.  

Anyway, that's it for now! Never forget what is important to us. Let us start taking care of our brain and memory in these 4 practical ways.