Hey guys, I just did a 10 day history/culture Nile cruise and wanted to share some of my celiac adventures now that the world is opening up again.
Some caveats, Egypt was just getting its tourism feet under it when the revolution happened in 2011, and then really started to push that again just before the spicey cough hit everyone. So it really felt like I was dealing with a lot of established businesses who had recently replaced a lot of staff, I suspect that a lot of the really experienced front of house tourism folks got hit really bad by it, so the overall institutional knowledge level was lower than what I'd otherwise expect. That said, everyone was super eager to please, most spoke 2-3 languages.
I'll try to break this up into some manageable chunks.
Egyptian cuisine in general: There are a lot of influences, so you get a big mix of foods that are now part of the culture. Breakfast may well have been called Breadfast, because of the number of pastries and similar dishes. But in general they do a lot of grilled meat (halal obvs) and veggies. Spices are pretty direct/simple not a huge number of sauces or dips, so in general lunches and dinners were easy enough, and I'm generally just a coffee=breakfast guy anyway, but heaps of fruit were pretty normal as well.
First hotel, New Cairo Hyatt: massive breakfast buffets, pretty decent lunch and dinner options, I did my usual of "What's the easiest thing the chief can do gluten free" and got a steak and roasted veggies. They really didn't seem to have much ability to do GF baking, or have many good GF options, but again, it's a very new hotel and the staff are trying to learn the needs of their market.
Last hotel Cairo InterContinental: Older hotel, obviously hired in staff from other places in Europe to bring up the training level, waiters had really good knowledge of celiac requirements, and overall had great procedures for dealing with that in the restaurant (had some other problems resulting from new staff, but seemed to be a training issue, and again a massive buffet with almost nothing safe for breakfast)
Train: We did a sleeper train on two legs of the journey. No really safe options for food, think airline meal, but only one option for dinner, and breakfast was three types of bread. Thankfully we didn't have to waste much of the food, as we were able to find folks who wanted it. It's worth mentioning here that while there is a lot of poverty in Egypt, and it's clear who's living kinda rough, there is both a sense of pride and community that meant we saw very few people just begging for food, they were more likely to try to sell something (anything) to a tourist rather than just beg, but we were able to give out the extra food, and it was both appreciated and shared. I don't want to make it seem like it was better than it was, but for a country that has functionally not had a working government for 60 years, they still make things work and get stuff done. It's by far not an ideal situation, but it is what it is, and I ended up with lots of packaged breadrolls to give away. I was able to pick up a few packaged food things that were from the EU so had compliant labels, and that was fine.
Cruise: The Nile cruise had pretty good food selections, pretty big buffet, and the worst day for me had only two options, some grilled chicken and sauteed veggies. Generally, I also had rice or roast potato, and sometimes an option of two proteins, just depending on sauces and such. Very limited breakfast options, and no dedicated deep-fryer, so that did limit some things. No desserts at all apart from fruit.
Food at sites/ restaurants: Generally pretty good options, very upscale places, so good knowledge, but again, lots of buffets, so not ideal, two places were just straight grill/bbq sort of things, so that was fine.
Overall: So as I mentioned earlier, most of the people were super eager to please, and very accommodating, they also tended to speak more than one language. That being said, even though I had a printed celiac info card in Arabic, and a very good guide, there were some times where it was hard to understand if they were just agreeing to be agreeable, or really trying to inform me, or if they didn't really understand my concern at all. I did get tagged out by something at some point. Given that about a third of our tour group got some sort of gut bug, which I think I also got (but who can say for sure) it's hard to know. I was as careful as I reasonably could be, but when dealing with buffets and potential cross-contaminations, it was challenging. That being said, would I recommend a similar trip for anyone else? Yeah, I would. You just need to know yourself, if you have debilitating symptoms, then probably not, but if you can generally manage, then it's likely worth the overall risk. The tour companies and people will get better with time. As I said, something got me, but have no idea what, and realistically it may not have been a gluten reaction, it's very possible that I got a bug early on in the trip and just toughed it out until I medicated near the end (I can be somewhat stubborn). That said, they do "tipped" toilets so having cash on hand for toilets is a thing, they like their bidets, which is kinda good when the guts are not great, and pack a lot of your own tissues/sanitizer. It was really hit-and-miss what places would have no TP, and there was no real way to predict it. The toilets were generally pretty clean when we found them, but again, not always. The general rate was 10EGP but ranged from 5-20 to use a toilet outside of the major hotels, and airport. It was a general annoyance to everyone on the trip, but not enough to be a major problem. I think everyone was more bothered about how many tips were needed that were not really explained by the travel agents, but it wasn't a huge cost factor. Also, we could have gotten away with just handling all that in Euro or USD, in fact, if we were to go again, I'd try to get all the tour costs priced in USD and take that, as it was harder to get EGP in Australia (but we are getting well off topic now).

Looking for good restaurants that deliver near Santa Monica Blvd in we ho. Staying at a hotel currently and confer is one of the things I love that I can have! Looking for one without meat or pieces in it. I have a digestive disorder and it has to be smooth. Also any other recs for places that deliver with foods basically close to pureed.. no bits or chunks.. smooth items like soup, smooth mashed potatoes, any kind of purées, etc. prefer savory items but I’ll take any recs on sweets if it’s a real good one! Like ice cream, I can do the inside of a cheesecake or lemon meringue pie.. things like that for an idea of what foods I can do! Sorry if this is a little odd it’s complicated and I’m just looking to enjoy some flavors. It’s a bit hard to find things when you can only do foods like this.

hi i’m destiny :) as the title says im 21. is just love a cute guy who’s nice and i can chat to everyday. i think it’d be cool to start off as friends and eventually turn into something more. it’d be even better if you’re on the east coast since im from PA.
so the the type of guy i like; i’ll start with physical aspects. definitely tall and maybe a little muscular. i do like white boys lol but open to everyone. dark hair and facial hair is always nice. and i love a pretty smile :) tattoos are always cool too
personality wise, i like a guy that’s funny and witty and a good listener. who’s sweet and can be romantic. small gestures really mean a lot to me. being nice is the bare minimum but still important lol. someone who can make conversation flow nicely and just isn’t a complete perv
as far as things i enjoy, i love going out and trying new restaurants and going to museums. im open to doing anything but i just love going out and trying new things. or even just staying in and watch a movie together.
so if you’re a subjectivity attractive man who checks all those boxes, feel free to message me with a bit about yourself and maybe some pictures if you don’t mind! :)

How to Control Rodent in Hotel and Restaurant Areas - AZPest
Controlling rodents in hotel and restaurant areas is essential for maintaining a tidy and safe environment for guests. Rats are disgusting pests, spreading dangerous diseases to humans quickly. We will see some steps you can take to control rodents effectively:
Review and Seal Entry Points: Conduct a thorough inspection of the premises to identify any likely entry points for rodents, such as gaps in doors, wooden sheets, windows, and walls. Seal these openings using materials like steel wool, caulk, or weatherstripping to prevent rodents from entering.
Eliminate Food Sources: Rodents are attracted to food, so removing any potential food sources is vital. Store food always in tightly sealed containers and ensure that all garbage bins have tight-fitting lids. Regularly clean food preparation areas, dining spaces, and storage areas to remove unwanted scattered crumbs and spills on the floor.
Proper Waste Management: Implement a proper waste management system. Dispose of garbage daily and make sure that outdoor trash bins are kept away from the building by just a 3 to 3-meter distance and it has to be sealed tightly. Clean garbage areas frequently to prevent odors and attract rodents.
Maintain and Keep Clean: Cleanliness is mandatory in rodent control. Regularly sweep and mop floors, and clean up any spills soon inside areas. Pay extra attention to hard-to-reach areas like behind equipment and furniture. Keep the premises free of clutter, as rodents may use it as nesting material.
Install Rodent Traps: Place snap traps or glue boards in the right place where rodents are very active. Put traps near walls, corners, and areas with signs of droppings or gnaw marks. Check the traps regularly and dispose of captured rodents appropriately.
Find Quality Pest Control Company: If you found rodent activities persist there, If you need more extensive measures, Don’t hesitate to hire a professional pest control service. They have the expertise and tools to assess the situation, implement targeted treatments, and provide ongoing monitoring to ensure effective rodent control and tips.
AZPest in Tucson, Arizona, offers pest control services for different types of pests -Cockroaches, Termites, Stink bugs, Bed bugs, Mosquitoes, Rats, Scorpions, Ants, Bees, Ticks, Warms, and more creatures. Pest control Services areas include Sahuarita, Foothills, Saddlebrooke, Marana, Catalina, Green Valley, Vail, Oro Valley, and more places in Arizona.

Our educational tour takes place yesterday and I might be the one who got the worst experience among my classmates. While on a stop over sa Caltex near South Luzon Tollway sa Binan, Kamuntikan pa akong madulas sa Mcdo on our way to exit. Walang nakalagay na slippery floor sign and I've had never thought na basa pala yung floor. As one of the common inteneraries sa mga school field trip, we went to EK and nag Rio Grande kami magkakaklase. Then may part doon sa rides na may waterfalls then sumakto sakin yung agos ng tubig. I'm all soaked in but it didn't bother dahil may pamalit naman ako ang kaso, naiwan ko yung basang damit ko sa Bus na sinakyan namin and I didn't noticed it until nung nasa bahay na ako.
I message my class teacher immediately na kasama namin sa bus if may napansin siyang isang plastic na may lamang damit. But sadly, mukhang nakaalis na yung bus the moment I sent her the message kaya na pa r.i.p pe pants, dalawang t-shirt, and isang pares ng medyas nalang ako. Well, kasalanan ko rin naman kasi masyado akong nagpakampante na nasa bag lahat ng gamit ko at hindi ko rin na double check if may naiwan ako sa Bus namin dahil pagod na pagod ako and ang goal ko lang talaga that time is makauwi sa bahay para makapagpahinga. Pagdating ko sa bahay, instead of hearing "Anak, kamusta, nag-enjoy kaba sa field trip niyo? or napagod kaba, magpahinga ka muna, the first thing she notice nung nakita niya ako was yung sapatos. Then nung sinabi ko na sa kanya na may naiwan ako sa bus, she almost went rage on me dahil sa nangyari and dahil binasa ko daw yung bagong shoes ko na bili sa akin ni Tita. Hindi na ako umimik dahil kasalanan ko naman talaga yung nangyari at isa pa wala rin ako sa mood para makipagtalo sa kanya.

This girl who left me WARNING STRONG LANGUAGE Here is a description of the Woman, short Latina beautiful brown eyes the most perfect smile of all time. Her name was Leslie.
My name is Ezekiel I’m tall dark skinned and have honey black eyes and dread locks with a pretty nice smile ig.
It all started when this girl asked me out. After I got done playing football I was shirtless sweaty and bruised up a little bit. Leslie asked me out in a weird way like it turned me on. Leslie touched the middle of my chest and then moved her warm soft hand downwards to my abbs and rubbed them gently and I thought like this girl a freak and pretty but back to the point.
This is what Leslie said to me she said hola papi quieres salir conmigo para poder dar la noche de tu vida but I didn’t know what that meant so I asked her to say that in English. She told me what she said and I was like the time of my life what does that mean. She said just say yes and you’ll figure out papi. So I said yes to Leslie. Me and Leslie had a date scheduled on may 15th at a expensive restaurant at 7:40 pm.
The restaurant was great I’m talking about it was perfect and Leslie walked in and her beautiful green dress was the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen her body looked perfect her smile looked perfect and her makeup and eyes were just lighting up my night. Leslie looked so beautiful that night. So during the date Leslie kept rubbing my foot under the table with her foot and she looked at me and winked at me and I winked back. So Leslie had chicken Alfredo and I had a cesar salad. We talked about eachother a day and we both kept smiling at each other but she said this in Spanish quiero montar tu polla tan bien papi so I was confused again so I asked her to say that again in English but she said you look handsome tonight. Leslie didn’t know I knew Spanish but after we had sex and it was great it went on for a hour but anyways besides that we started dating and slowly and slowly she was getting more distant but like she still showed love.
One day a guy called Leslie and said some hey mama I wanna eat your pussy tn but it said pa so I was confused but then it hit me I was getting cheated on. Later that night I confronted Leslie and we got into a fight but I gave her a second chance.
So I had cheated on Leslie and if your reading this now I’m probably dead right now because I’ll tell you the story of what happened so Leslie’s friend came over and she had touched me and we kissed and had sex she walked in on it.
Leslie pulled out a gun and shot her friend but it was one bullet in the gun so I’m in a hiding spot under my stairs right now hoping she doesn’t find me because she is screaming my name I called the cops but they won’t be here for another 25 minutes so I’m writing this story to tell my last thoughts.
Mom your the best woman in the entire world nothing comes before you and mother has a chance of coming behind you that’s how special you are to me you raised me alone when my father passed you broke your back and knees to make sure you have what I need to school and thank you for that mom.
And for you Leslie I’m so very sorry that I had cheated on you, you mean a lot to me and I love you so very much but your crazy and your the world to me but I did something unforgivable even tho I gave you forgiveness but it is what it is she is breaking in the stairs I love you all and have a great life this is the end of me. Goodbye and don’t forget Ezekiel.

More relevant responses with location info
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Why: Precise location helps Bard provide more relevant responses about restaurants near you and many other things about your area.

Went to the ED for syncope - 3 episodes over 2 days. HR was periodically over 150 at rest(ranged between 45 and 165)Dizziness, headache, weakness. Felt like Bambi when I was walking, like I had no control over my legs and I could just melt into the floor.
Whole work up was negative. I clearly had multiple PVCs on my EKG (I could see the screen) but I also realize that can be normal so I didn’t pay much mind to it. The PA told me everything was negative and I was probably just dehydrated. I did tell her I provided a colorless urine sample but that was attributed to the IV fluids I received(after the sample 😂)
No life threatening issue, so woo but the PA basically told me “sometimes you leave the ER without a diagnosis. We only treat “actual” emergencies in the emergency room” implying I didn’t have a good reason to be there. I don’t work in the ER but I feel like I was justified in going. She told me nothing was wrong and they didn’t know what was going on and to see my primary. Fine with me. As long as I’m not stroking out or having any arrhythmias, cool. The PA left the room and I heard her tell my nurse “she’s fine it’s probably just anxiety she can go home,” after not even talking to me about that at all.
Well, I go to get up after I get my paperwork and my whole body crumbles into the chair next to the bed. I couldn’t hold my body weight up and began having body wide tremors. I settled a little bit and then was offered help walking out(lol) but started to have another near syncope episode in the hallway and luckily got back in a chair before it hit fully. Though, I hit the chair hard and it pushed back about 4-6 inches slamming into the wall with a bang and then rustled the bulletin board good. Everyone ran over. I guess I was white and slurring my words 🤷🏼‍♀️ I let them do their thing and I was right back in my room again.
Turns out my blood sugar was 42. I’m not a diabetic and don’t take insulin and had eaten 2 meals that day. I looked at my labs when I got home and sure as shit my blood sugar was 59 when they drew them 2 hours prior. No clue why my sugar is dropping but hey at least I know why I feel like I’m dying 😂 and it was a bit satisfying after the PA blew me off

Maintain campus cleanliness Reject Yan Limon for Perelman Medical College

In the global epidemic, the economy is shrinking, the employment rate is low, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine hired Yan Limeng as the hospital staff, this non-racist, non-discriminatory for Asian employees to provide jobs behavior, reflects the college's fraternity, equality. But the Perelman School of Medicine in the hiring of like-minded employees, it is time to consider the maintenance of campus cleanliness as the first task, reject Yan Limeng on stage to join the medical school.
Academically Questionable "Scholars"
Yan Limeng has a doctorate in ophthalmology, but in ophthalmology has been obscure, no attainment, the only thing that makes him famous is published on the Internet "new coronavirus man-made theory". Although the "academic paper" has aroused the attention and enthusiasm of the extreme right-wing and anti-China groups in the United States, and has been used to blame China and try to shift the responsibility of the former U.S. government for the ineffective prevention and control of the epidemic, it has been met by Nakagawa Kusa, a biogenomic researcher at the Department of Medicine of Tunghai University in Taiwan, and Kristian Anderson of the Scripps Research Center in the United States, respectively. However, they were challenged by experts and scholars such as Kristian Andersen of the Scripps Research Center and others in the New York Times, National Geographic, and other media or social media platforms, while Chinese dissident Fang Zhouzi published a direct article "Refuting the Conspiracy Theory of "New Coronavirus Man-Made"" and Columbia University virologist Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, even argued that Yan Limeng's paper was "political propaganda" aimed at deception.
Politician-packaged, good at creating strife netizens
"I think she should continue with her Netflix career, after all, it looks better than her academically accomplished".
"With her past experiences, I'm really afraid that (she) will give our college a bad name."
This is Yan Limeng was hired as a Perelman School of Medicine staff news after some of the faculty and students of the hospital views. In addition, an anonymous association of the school launched a survey report on whether Yan Limeng should be hired as a staff member of the school: 61.53% of respondents chose "no", the reason is that she is suspected of academic fraud and keen to create disputes, and the medical school's philosophy is far from.
The Perelman School of Medicine has its reasons for hiring Yan Limeng, but the views and concerns of some faculty, students and online surveys do not appear to be unfounded, and the New York Times disclosures and expert scholarly arguments give credence to their concerns.
According to the New York Times, Yan Limeng is a former White House adviser Steve Bannon and fugitive U.S. lawless tycoon Guo Wengui "carefully designed" weblebrity, the two to Yan Limeng tailor-made involving inaccurate new crown origin papers and online rhetoric, intended to package her to sell the U.S. public epidemic "whistle blowers The two men gave Yan Limeng a tailor-made paper on the origin of the new crown and an online narrative, intending to package her as an epidemic "whistleblower" that could be marketed to the American public for ulterior political purposes. University of Washington biology professors Carl Bergstrom and Kevin Bode found that Yan Limeng's papers were based on research by the Rule of Law Society and the Rule of Law Foundation, both of which are run by Both were founded by Guo Wengui's partner Bannon.
Yan Limeng in the former U.S. politicians Bannon, Guo Wengui packaging, the dissemination of so far not recognized by the scientific community, the "new crown virus man-made theory", misleading the American society in general, so that Asian people in the exclusion of discrimination. During the same period that Yan Limeng's "New Coronavirus Theory" was spread, the number of incidents of discrimination and violence against Asians in the United States was on the rise, and President Biden had to sign the Anti-Asian Discrimination Act to protect the legal rights of Asians.
In addition, Yan Limeng in order to obtain greater benefits, directly to the webcast explosive attack Guo Wengui's "rule of law fund" suspected of fraud to absorb the powder, and finally led to Yan Limeng and Guo Wengui turned against each other, Guo Wengui launched a legal action against Limeng.
Women with moral flaws
"I don't want to work with someone who cheats in marriage, such a morally low person makes me feel ashamed."
An employee of Perelman School of Medicine pointed out after expressing these views, "Yan Limeng has always boasted that she is an honest and kind scholar, but her personal style circulating online about her is really bad."
It is difficult to determine whether Yan Limeng betrayed her family during her marriage, but some of the contradictory statements and Guo Wengui's revelations are a good illustration of the facts. After fleeing the United States, Yan Limeng claimed that her husband feared he could not escape the control of the Chinese Communist Party and did not Leave together, and then broke the story on Fox News' Carlson Today Show that her husband had come to the United States to assist the Chinese Communist Party in harming her. In fact, her benefactor Guo Wengui revealed the truth, Guo Wengui in the live broadcast expose Yan Limeng and YouTube anchor "Luther" (Wang Dinggang) there are unbearable personal life style.
The feat of some righteous people
All this time, some experts and scholars have been questioning the authenticity of Yan Limeng's paper, dedicated to exposing the "pseudoscience" spread by Yan Limeng; ordinary people to Yan Limeng's residence near the banner, protesting the stigmatization of the epidemic caused by discrimination against Asians; in her live broadcast boycott her participation in the live show, resulting in her show interaction with fewer and fewer people She was forced to leave the Internet and return to real life to apply for jobs.
However, justice advocates do not want Yan Limeng to go into hiding and continue to spread false information about the new crown outbreak. Guo Wengui found out Yan Limeng's current address: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104) through the FBI agent's connection, Some members of the "New China Federation" started a campaign to "maintain the clean campus and reject Yan Limeng's entry into Perelman Medical" on the telegram， calls on people who love freedom and uphold the "Rule of Law Foundation," especially members of the "New China Federation. On March 21, Yan Limeng's address near the banner to protest Yan Limeng false new crown theory, reveal Yan Limeng and YouTube anchor "Luther" (Wang Dinggang) affair, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine campus to protect the clean land.

Hi, I’m currently 2 months post op (nearly 3) and for the first month and a half I would say I’ve been fine. However within the past month the more food I’ve introduced back into my diet I’ve noticed sometimes I get little spasms or a throbbing aching pain where my gallbladder was and in my lower abdomen that feels almost like internal bruising that hurts a little when I sneeze for example. The past week has been especially bad after I ate at a restaurant and had fried food where I instantly got a really painful stitch after I ate and bad stomach pains that came in waves. After that and even now I’ve been SO bloated for days with the aching pains which I have mentioned which is not really painful but is more uncomfortable and feels like I’ve been punched. I’ve been trying to eat better the past week and walk a lot to try and elevate the bloating but it just won’t go away. I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this after surgery? :(

Ssbbw. Any one near pa wanna chat? Us only plz

Hello all, thanks in advance for your time! We're living with my mother in a small city in PA, and we have a realtor we like well enough giving us tours around town. We *also* want to check out houses near Pitt, anywhere between an hour and 100 minutes away.
The twist is that we're not commited to either location. There's family here and a small city nearby, but we both love the big city and my fiance will be going to school there for about a year soon. So we want to look at both locations.
What's the polite version of arranging this? What's the impolite version? I know it's too big of a decision to make based on politeness, but I also don't want to screw a decent realtor if it's avoidable.
Is it pretty normal to get him to set us up with another realtor from his company in that area? Do we ask him to just slog 90 minutes to show us houses? Is the only real way to go behind his back?
Seriously, any insight is much appreciated--thank you again for reading.

Hey all,
I know half a day is not nearly enough time and that a lot of that time will be spent on the ferry. However, we'd like to at least check out the island for a few hours and see what it's all about. I was just wondering what you can highly recommend?
I know scuba diving and snorkeling are pretty much the #1 thing to do, but I'm afraid we won't have ample time for this.
So far, we're considering visiting San Miguel and possibly Punta Sur Ecological Park. We'd also like to see the sunset somewhere - what places on the island are most scenic for this? Is there anything else that we must do?
How would you recommend we try to get around the island if we only have half a day? I don't think renting a car is feasible for just half a day.
What restaurants can you recommend?
We're planning to visit in the latter half of the day. We'd like to check out Rio Secreto during the first half of the day. I know.. it's going to be a very busy day, but we're somewhat accustomed to activity-filled vacations!
TIA for any suggestions!!

Hey all,
I know half a day is not nearly enough time and that a lot of that time will be spent on the ferry. However, we'd like to at least check out the island for a few hours and see what it's all about. I was just wondering what you can highly recommend?
I know scuba diving and snorkeling are pretty much the #1 thing to do, but I'm afraid we won't have ample time for this.
So far, we're considering visiting San Miguel and possibly Punta Sur Ecological Park. We'd also like to see the sunset somewhere - what places on the island are most scenic for this? Is there anything else that we must do?
How would you recommend we try to get around the island if we only have half a day? I don't think renting a car is feasible for just half a day.
What restaurants can you recommend?
We're planning to visit in the latter half of the day. We'd like to check out Rio Secreto during the first half of the day. I know.. it's going to be a very busy day, but we're somewhat accustomed to activity-filled vacations!
TIA for any suggestions!!

Happy Friday, Barkada --

The PSE lost 6477 points (!!) to 0 ▼100%

Thank you to Red Baboy for giving permission to repost their excellent metadata find on the DFNN annual report (check below in DUMB STUFF), to John, Jerome Clado, and Volts Sanchez for the meme appreciation, and arkitrader for the virtual coffee.
Shout-outs to Fireflybud71, urayon, jejerimiah, WaheedHakim75, mj te, Reynold, CHARToons, an, Pao, Jay Agonoy, JP, Jerome Clado, DV Dindo, maxmora crypto41, KingArk, mArQo, Palaboy Trader, Evolves Capital, Inc., LanAustria, arkitrader, Lance Nazal, Dividend Pinoy PGG, leaf, Bien EC, Chip Sillesa, and Jing for the retweets, and to Froilan Ramos, Genesis Umali, Evolves.co, Jayvee Menil, and Mike Ting for the Facebook shares.

▌In today's MB:

• MPI grants request to defer delisting vote
• FILRT duplicates dud dividend
• MREIT to buy 7 towers from MEG
• DFNN overcomes limitations of accountancy
• Fruitas buys cloud kitchen company
• Vulcan Industrial suspended due to public float
• DUMB STUFF: DFNN's fun metadata

▌Daily meme Subscribe (it's free) Today's email

▌Main stories covered:

• [NEWS] MPI grants request to defer delisting vote... Metro Pacific [MPI 4.37 ▲0.5%; 178% avgVol] disclosed that it granted a request from the MPI Consortium to “defer the vote on the approval of the voluntary delisting” of MPI. The MPI Consortium said that they intend to make the fairness opinion available to MPI shareholders before MPI’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting “to give the shareholders information on the basis of the Tender Offer Price,” even though the rules only require the MPI Consortium to supply that fairness opinion with the Tender Offer Report. The MPI Consortium said that because the fairness opinion “has not been finalized” yet, and the AGM is early next week, they’re requesting for a deferment of the vote to give the MPI Consortium time to finish the fairness opinion and deliver a new “notice of intent to undertake a Tender Offer” to MPI’s shareholders. MPI granted that request, but did not provide an updated timetable for when any of this would happen.
  
  • MB: Everything about this story says to me that there’s more going on behind the scenes that we just don’t know about, so I’m not really sure what to make of this. Does it seem incomprehensible to anyone else that a company as sophisticated as MPI could so completely blunder the sequence of events between the fairness opinion and the delisting vote? MPI’s united resolve in the face of the initial pushback to the price signaled to me that they were satisfied with the results of the opinion, but then, suddenly, we were hearing from individual members of the board, not from Chairman Manny Pangilinan, about how the opinion isn’t yet final and that it may change upon further review. This is just my speculation, but it seems obvious to me that the price quoted touched a nerve somewhere in the system. We saw that with April Tan’s all-caps directive to MPI shareholders, and with COL Financial’s weird insistence on emailing AGM details to shareholders – why don’t they do this for every AGM? Did something in the process rub the exchange the wrong way as well? Something feels off the rails about this, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. This doesn’t seem like extra-dimensional chess on the part of MPI to whipsaw public opinion on the way to closing a good deal.
• [NEWS] Filinvest REIT declares low Q1 dividend... Filinvest REIT [FILRT 4.25 ▲2.9%; 241% avgVol] declared a Q1/23 cash dividend of ₱0.071/share, payable on June 30 to shareholders of record as of June 15. The dividend implies an annualized yield of 6.68% based on the previous closing price. The total amount of the dividend is ₱347 million, sourced from distributable income generated up to April 30, which is 100% of the ₱347 million in distributable income that FILRT reported for the period. Relative to FILRT's IPO price, the dividend increased FILRT's total stock and dividend return to -28.29%, up from its pre-dividend total return of -29.3%. FILRT did not specify if this dividend represents just the first quarter of FILRT’s distributable income, or if it is intended to represent the first four months as the cut-off date would imply.
  
  • MB: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” When is the market going to listen to what FILRT has been screaming for months? This dividend matches FILRT’s all-time low, confirms that the tiny Q4/22 dividend was not a mistake or fluke, and yet the market trades FILRT like it’s the twin brother of AREIT. Quarter-on-quarter, the dividend is the same. It matches the low. But this dividend is 39% lower from a year-on-year perspective.
• [NEWS] MREIT signs MOU to acquire 7 new towers from Megaworld... MREIT [MREIT 14.00 ▲1.4%; 2% avgVol] signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its parent company, Megaworld [MEG 1.99 ▼2.5%; 511% avgVol], to possibly acquire seven “grade A office assets” with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of 150,000 square meters. MREIT said that the assets in question, located in Taguig, Iloilo, and Davao, generated approximately ₱1.2 billion in rental income last year and have a combined occupancy rate of 94%. MREIT said that it hopes to sign definitive agreements for the translation in Q3 of this year. The injection would increase MREIT’s GLA by 46%.
  
  • MB: MREIT pulled up short of mentioning the deal’s total value, but we can very loosely estimate the value by using the smaller deal that MREIT completed earlier this year as a guide. With that transaction, MREIT closed on 44,567 GLA of office space in Taguig and Iloilo for ₱5.3 billion, which is about ₱119,000/sqm. Here, if we multiply that value by the 150,500 GLA that MREIT estimates for this package, we end up with a value of ₱17.9 billion. According to my data, MREIT has about ₱13.4 billion of “buying power” between its available equity (₱1.1 billion) and debt (₱12.3 billion). Unless MREIT is able to consider the properties to be acquired as part of its deposited properties, and then use that additional debt quota to buy the assets, it would seem as though MREIT is going to have to do some kind of equity raise to increase its public float to remain about the 33.33% public float minimum threshold.
• [NOTES] Quick takes from around the market...
  
  • DFNN [DFNN 2.92 ▼1.0%; 175% avgVol] [link] finally overcame the limitations of archaic accountancy to submit its FY22 Annual Report. DFNN reported an FY22 net income of ₱82 million, which is a 122% increase from the ₱368 million net loss it reported the previous year. DFNN attributed the “tremendous turnaround” to its successful equity restructure, and to “the continuous increase in sales and the launch of numerous tailored interactive technology platforms.”
    • MB Quick Take: The press release sets off all sorts of alarms in my head in terms of the repeated mentioning of the “residual effects of Covid”, and the overall “to be fair you need to have a very high IQ to understand Rick and Morty” tone of DFNN toward its own business model, but I can’t deny that I like DFNN’s overall positioning in terms of its industry (gaming is in demand), its low overhead, and its potential for growth with a software product line that has a low/negligible marginal cost for production. I’m just glad they figured out QuickBooks.
  • Fruitas [FRUIT 1.20 ▼2.4%; 223% avgVol] [link] acquired Fly Kitchen Inc (FKI) to “accelerate the growth of its cloud kitchen business”. FRUIT said that it signed an agreement to buy 100% of FKI’s outstanding shares, giving FRUIT access to FKI’s inventory, recipes, and leasehold interests in four kitchens.
    • MB Quick Take: A cloud kitchen is a centralized food preparation site that is like a restaurant but with no public-facing components. No cashier, no seating, no take-out window. It’s designed to integrate with food delivery apps. It’s valid to ask whether the cloud kitchen model is as important as it was back in the COVID Years when in-person dining was restricted by brutal public health orders, but my own anecdotal experience is that my new consumption habits from the COVID Years have been sticky. I’m doing way more of everything online. Cloud kitchens aren’t going anywhere (IMHO).
  • Vulcan Industrial [VUL 1.24 ▲2.5%; 1271% avgVol] [link] was suspended by the PSE for violating the 20% minimum public float requirement as a result of the backdoor listing of the East Coast Mineral Resources Company. The PSE said that VUL’s stock will remain suspended until VUL complies with the 20% public float rule, and that VUL has until November 30th of this year to fix the problem or face automatic delisting.
    • MB Quick Take: This is a huge part of why I hate these landmine subscription agreements. This liability sat on VUL’s books for nearly three years, and shareholders (who are now stuck in this trade for the foreseeable future) had no reasonable expectation of this happening after the lapse of the due diligence period back in 2021. I don’t think there’s a substantial risk of VUL delisting (it’s crazy if they didn’t already plan for this), but this probably caught a bunch of traders that hopped into this stock by surprise. ₱28 million in VUL stock changed hands yesterday before the suspension was announced after-hours.
• [DUMB STUFF] I live for this...
  
  • The DFNN Annual Report contains some hilarious metadata in the PDF. Most notably, the line: Greetings to #ITnet members biolator VeRvE^ and all DALNet peoples...i Hate u All. Credit to Red Baboy on Twitter for this amazing find!

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I know what the title sounds like. Some free loading twenty something complaining he has a roof over his head. I know. I am extremely grateful for the fact that i have a roof over my head and a place to live but i cant take it anymore. I want out.
We'll start with the easiest thing i hate. It's cold. I live in the basement. Yes I'm technically a basement dweller too, not aiding my argument. It is so cold down here. I got an indoor thermometer and it is 65⁰ down here, on a good day. I am not allowed to have heaters because my mom knew a guy who knew a guy in the 80s that died in a space heater fire. So I'm stuck, freezing. I shouldn't have to have 3 blankets to feel comfortable. I had the opportunity to get a rescue cat as well from my girlfriends grandmother but i was told "it's too cold for a cat down there." Ok what about me? It drains my energy with how cold it is.
Secondly we have a dog. We've had this dog for about two years. He is aggressive, territorial and untrained. He has bitten numerous people including myself twice. My mom refuses to get him trained. I can't have friends or my girlfriend over because he'll most likely attack them.
Third, we moved into this house to take better care of my 96 year old grandfather. I love my "Pa" to death. He is easily one of the best people in my life and I'm so thankful to still have him. Unfortunately my mom uses him as constant guilt against me. We have only 1 bathroom in our house and i can hardly take showers because I'm told "pa might have to use the bathroom." Before we moved i started cooking a ton as well but I've almost completely stopped cooking unless it is Kraft Mac and cheese because "Pa wouldn't like that." My mother and Pa play cards with each other nearly every day, i asked if i could join and spend quality time with them, i was told "Pa wouldn't like that" because it would be "too much for him to handle" It's exhausting and it discourages me from doing a lot of things around the house all because my mother speaks on behalf of my grandfather.
Finally the basement itself. It's effectively split into three, my room/living room, a separate office/studio for my dad and i's musical equipment, and a laundry room. This sounds nice but the basement is littered with boxes and boxes of junk everywhere. I asked if i could donate some of my grandmother's clothes that were still in my closet or at least put them in the attic so i had room for my clothes. I was screamed at, my mom cried. We didn't even need to donate them. I offered an alternative, i was told no. It's hard to walk around sometimes down here because of the junk everywhere. And everytime i bring home a nice piece of furniture from the store i work at, or a fun decoration, there's a comment about where I'm going to put it, why do i need it, what's the point. It feels like i cant even make my own space feel like a home to me.
I have a full-time job, i make $17 an hour in a supervisor position at a retail chain and i pay for most of my schooling yet I'm told i haven't been doing enough. I go out with my girlfriend and my friends in what little free time i have and then i get told I'm never around to spend time with the family. I'm trying, i really am.. I'm terrified to even bring up the idea of me moving out too, the amount of guilt tripping that would happen, the amount of comments and prying questions.
I have a decent amount saved up too but im just so scared to even try to leave. I dont want to live like this anymore, i want to be comfortable, i want my own space that can't bee affected by others, i want to have a place for my friends to go if they have nothing to do. I want to give my girlfriend a space to relax with me without fear for her physical safety. I don't like feeling this way either because i feel like i sound like a basement dwelling freeloader who doesn't appreciate what he has but i cant do this much longer or i might go insane.

INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
​
A young man, JAKE (25), is sleeping in his seat, wearing a wrinkled shirt and a tired expression. He has a small suitcase and a laptop bag with him. A voice over the PA system announces that the flight from London to Miami is about to land.
​
PILOT (V.O.)
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are now approaching Miami International Airport. The local time is 9:22 a.m. and the temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until the seatbelt sign is turned off. Thank you for flying with us and enjoy your stay in Miami.
​
Jake opens his eyes and rubs them. He looks out the window and sees the blue sky and the ocean. He sighs and stretches his legs.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
I can't believe I'm doing this. Flying across the Atlantic for a job interview that could make or break my career. A job that involves wrestling and TV. Two things I love more than anything. Well, almost anything.
​
He takes out his phone and turns it on. He checks his messages and sees one from his girlfriend, LUCY (24).
​
LUCY (TEXT)
Hey babe, how was the flight? Did you get any sleep? Good luck with the interview, you'll do great! I miss you so much. Call me when you can. Love you xoxo
​
Jake smiles and texts back.
​
JAKE (TEXT)
Hey love, flight was long and boring. Got some sleep but not enough. Thanks for the good wishes, I need them. Miss you too. Will call you later. Love you more xoxo
​
He puts his phone away and looks around. The plane is full of passengers, mostly tourists and business people. He sees a couple of kids running up and down the aisle, a woman reading a magazine, a man watching a movie on his tablet.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
I wonder what they're all here for. Vacation? Work? Family? Maybe they're all going to the same place as me. The Whiskey Tango Studios. The home of the hottest wrestling show on TV. The show that I've been watching since I was a kid. The show that I've been dreaming of working for since I was a teenager.
​
He takes out his laptop and opens it. He has a folder with his resume, portfolio, and samples of his work as a writer and producer for various TV shows in the UK.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
I've worked hard to get here. I've paid my dues in the industry. I've written scripts for soap operas, sitcoms, dramas, reality shows. You name it, I've done it. But none of them gave me the satisfaction that wrestling does. Wrestling is more than just entertainment. It's art. It's storytelling. It's passion.
​
He clicks on a file that shows a video of him interviewing one of his favorite wrestlers, THE ROCK (45), at a press event in London.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
This was one of the best moments of my life. Meeting The Rock in person and asking him about his career, his movies, his advice for aspiring wrestlers and writers like me.
​
The video plays on his laptop screen.
​
JAKE (ON VIDEO)
So, Rock, what would you say to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps and become a wrestler or a writer for wrestling?
​
THE ROCK (ON VIDEO)
Well, first of all, I would say thank you for being a fan and for having such passion for this business. Second of all, I would say you have to work hard, be humble, be hungry, and be respectful of everyone who came before you and who will come after you.
​
The video cuts to Jake nodding and smiling.
​
JAKE (ON VIDEO)
That's awesome advice, Rock.
​
THE ROCK (ON VIDEO)
And third of all...
​
The Rock leans closer to Jake and raises his eyebrow.
​
THE ROCK (ON VIDEO)
...you have to know your role...
​
Jake gasps in excitement.
​
THE ROCK (ON VIDEO)
...and shut your mouth!
​
The Rock laughs and Jake joins him.
​
JAKE (ON VIDEO)
Oh my God! You just did it! You just did the catchphrase!
​
THE ROCK (ON VIDEO)
Of course I did! It's what I do!
​
The video ends with Jake shaking The Rock's hand and thanking him profusely.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
That was amazing. He was so cool and nice to me. He even gave me his autograph and took a selfie with me.
​
He closes his laptop and puts it back in his bag.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
But that was just a taste of what I want to do for real. I want to write for Whiskey Tango Wrestling. I want to create stories and characters that will make people laugh, cry, cheer, boo, feel something.
​
He looks out the window again and sees the plane descending towards the airport.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
And this is my chance to do it. This is my shot at making my dream come true.
​
He fastens his seatbelt and takes a deep breath.
​
JAKE (V.O.)
Whiskey Tango Wrestling...here I come.
FADE IN:
​
EXT. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY
​
The sun is shining brightly over the busy airport. A large passenger plane lands on the runway and taxis to the gate.
​
INT. PLANE - DAY
​
JAKE COHEN, 25, a scruffy and weary-looking man in a wrinkled suit, wakes up from his seat as the plane comes to a stop. He rubs his eyes and checks his phone. It's 9:32 AM.
​
He grabs his small cabin case from the overhead compartment and slings his laptop bag over his shoulder. He mumbles a "thanks" to the FLIGHT CREW as he shuffles off the plane.
​
EXT. PLANE - DAY
​
William steps out of the plane and is hit by the Miami heat. He squints as he adjusts to the bright sunlight. He follows other passengers down the flight steps and onto the runway.
​
INT. CUSTOMS - DAY
JAKE waits in line at the customs booth. He looks nervous as he approaches the CUSTOMS OFFICER, who scans his passport and asks him a few questions.
​
CUSTOMS OFFICER
What's the purpose of your visit, sir?
​
JAKE
Business.
​
CUSTOMS OFFICER
How long are you staying?
​
JAKE
Just a couple of days.
​
CUSTOMS OFFICER
Do you have anything to declare?
​
JAKE
No, nothing.
​
The customs officer nods and stamps his passport.
​
CUSTOMS OFFICER
Welcome to Miami, Mr. Cohen.
​
JAKE
Thank you.
​
JAKE breathes a sigh of relief as he walks away.
​
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
​
Jake enters the bathroom and washes his face at the sink. He tidies his hair and sprays some deodorant and cheap aftershave on himself. He brushes his teeth with a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. He looks at himself in the mirror and grimaces. He should have packed another suit or shirt, or something.
​
INT. ARRIVALS LOUNGE - DAY
​
Jake exits the bathroom and walks into the arrivals lounge of the airport. He scans the crowd for a sign with his name on it.
​
He spots three burly LATINO MEN standing together near the exit. One of them is holding a sign that reads "JAKE COHEN". The other two are wearing sunglasses and earpieces.
​
The three men notice JAKE and approach him with smiles. They shake his sweaty hand one by one.
​
RICARDO FUENTES DIAZ, 50s, a well-dressed lawyer and accountant, introduces himself.
​
RICARDO
Senor Cohen? I'm Ricardo Fuentes Diaz, I'm the lawyer and accountant for Mr. Alejandro Rivera. Mr. Rivera has arranged for you to be staying at The Villa Casa Casuarina down on South Beach for the duration of your visit.
​
WILLIAM
Nice to meet you, Ricardo. And these are...?
​
RICARDO
Oh, these are Mr. Rivera's associates. This is Carlos and this is Miguel.
​
CARLOS and MIGUEL nod but don't say anything.
​
JAKE
I see. Well, thank you for picking me up.
​
RICARDO
It's our pleasure, senor. Mr. Rivera is very eager to meet you and discuss business with you. He's expecting you at his office at noon.
​
JAKE
Okay, great.
​
RICARDO
Shall we go then?
​
JAKE
Sure, let's go.
​
Ricardo leads Jake to the exit, followed by Carlos and Miguel.
​
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY
​
Ricardo, Jake, Carlos, and Miguel walk out of the airport and head towards a black SUV parked outside.
​
Ricardo opens the passenger door for Jake.
​
RICARDO
Please, get in.
​
Jake gets in the SUV and buckles up.
​
Ricardo closes the door behind him and gets in the driver's seat.
​
Carlos and Miguel get in the back seat behind Jake.
​
Ricardo starts the engine and drives away from the airport.
​
INT./EXT. SUV - DAY
​
The SUV speeds along the highway
“No! No issues at all Mr Diaz. Isn’t that the former Versace Mansion?” I quizzed him. Ricardo seemed taken aback by my knowledge and started smiling.
“Indeed it is Mr. Cohen. Please don’t take offence. but I can see you’re a man of champagne taste, and beer money?”
I started chuckling at the comment. “None taken. I’d say more beer taste, and lemonade money.”
“Ah, I see. Well, I’m sure what was arranged with yourself over the phone, but Mr Rivera has mentioned that he will cover your expenses during your time here in Miami. Now, if you will follow me to the car. I’m sure we can stop off at a tailors along the way to get you a new suit. Mr. Rivera will be arriving at your suit around 4pm this afternoon. So when you get back, relax. Eat. Sleep.” replied Ricardo as he led me out of the airport and in to an immaculate deep red Bentley Flying Spur as we drive to the nearest tailors
Scene goes to commercial
INT. HOTEL SUITE - DAY
​
COHEN, a handsome but weary-looking man in his early twenties, is dressed in a charcoal suit. He checks himself in the mirror and adjusts his tie. He walks to the living room area of the suite, where a laptop and a coffee maker are on a table. He pours himself a cup of coffee and opens the laptop.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
I've never been a man of luxury. I grew up in a rough neighborhood, where you had to fight for everything you wanted. But when Alejandro Rivera called me and offered me a job as the head writer for his new wrestling company, I couldn't say no. He said he was impressed by my work as a journalist and a podcaster, and he wanted me to help him create something different. Something edgy. Something that would shake up the wrestling world.
​
He types "Alejandro Rivera" on Google and hits enter.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
The only problem is, I don't know much about him. Who is he? What is his story? What is his vision? He said he would explain everything in person, at this fancy hotel in downtown Miami. He booked me a suite and paid for my flight. He said he had some other guests he wanted me to meet. He said it was all part of his plan.
​
He scans the search results, but before he can click on anything, there is a knock on the door. He closes the laptop and walks to the door.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
Well, I guess this is it. Time to find out what this is all about.
​
He opens the door and sees BEN, a cheerful bellboy with a cart full of drinks and menus.
​
BEN
Good afternoon, Mr. Cohen. Sorry to bother you, but we tried calling you on your cell phone. Your guests have arrived.
​
COHEN
Oh, really? That was fast.
​
BEN
Yes, sir. They're waiting for you downstairs in the lobby. Shall I bring them up?
​
COHEN
Sure, sure. That would be great.
​
BEN
Very well, sir. I'll be right back with them. And here are some menus and drinks for you to enjoy.
​
COHEN
Thank you, Ben.
​
BEN
You're very welcome, sir.
​
BEN smiles and leaves with the cart. COHEN closes the door and takes a deep breath.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
Okay, Cohen. You can do this. You've been in this business for over a decade. You've interviewed some of the biggest names in wrestling. You've written some of the most controversial stories. You've got this.
​
He walks back to the living room and picks up one of the menus.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
Besides, how bad can it be? It's just a job interview. With some mysterious billionaire and his entourage. In a luxury hotel suite. In FL.
​
He flips through the menu and sees some expensive dishes and drinks.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
What could possibly go wrong?
​
He puts down the menu and picks up his coffee cup.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot...
​
He takes a sip of coffee and makes a face.
​
COHEN (V.O.)
...this is decaf.
​
INT. HOTEL SUITE - NIGHT
WILLIAM COHEN, a young and ambitious TV writer, enters the luxurious suite with RICARDO DIAZ, a slick and charming producer. They are greeted by BEN, a friendly hotel employee.
BENWelcome to the penthouse suite, gentlemen. I hope you enjoy your stay.
RICARDOThank you, Ben. You're very kind.
BENCan I get you anything? A drink? A snack?
RICARDONo, thank you. We're fine.
BENAlright then. I'll leave you to it. Have a good night.
BEN exits. RICARDO turns to WILLIAM and smiles.
RICARDOWilliam! Good to see you again.
He shakes WILLIAM's hand warmly.
WILLIAMHello, Mr. Diaz.
RICARDOMr. Cohen, I would love to introduce you to my boss, Mr. Alejandro Rivera.
WILLIAM's eyes widen as he waits for the big reveal. He hears a door open and turns to see ALEJANDRO RIVERA, a short and chubby man in a bright pink Hawaiian shirt, beige pants and brown shoes. He is wearing a fedora and sunglasses and is followed by two muscular bodyguards.
ALEJANDROAhh, Mr. Cohen. What a pleasure to finally meet you!
He takes off his sunglasses and hat and hugs WILLIAM tightly.
ALEJANDRO (CONT'D)How was the journey?
WILLIAMMr. Rivera! The pleasure is all mine. The journey was fine, thank you.
He tries to hide his disappointment and confusion.
WILLIAM (V.O.)This is the guy? The king of Miami? The visionary behind Whiskey Tango? He looks like a tourist who got lost on his way to Disneyland.
ALEJANDROI must admit, I'm very grateful for the suit, the room, and the generosity you've shown me already!
He releases WILLIAM and shakes his hand firmly.
ALEJANDRO (CONT'D)Is it OK to call you William?
WILLIAMThat's absolutely fine, Mr. Rivera.
ALEJANDROPlease, please. My name is Alejandro. Come on, let's sit and we can talk and order some food.
He leads WILLIAM and RICARDO to the living room area, where one of the bodyguards pours whiskey into glasses.
ALEJANDRO (CONT'D)Salud!
They toast and drink.
ALEJANDRO (CONT'D)So, let's cut to the chase, William. I'm a man who has a lot of pull in this beautiful city. I'm well respected. I love the bright neon lights. I love the beautiful Miami sunset. It takes me back to being a kid where I would see similar sights on the TV with Miami Vice, and even wrestling. Mi madre also loved telenovelas back then and I was hooked in. The glitz. The glamour. The violence. The storytelling. That's me, man. Yeah I watch wrestling now, but it's not the same. I want all three entities and mix them up. I saw the stuff you sent to me.
He pulls out a script from his bag and hands it to WILLIAM.
ALEJANDRO (CONT'D)This is brilliant, William. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Whiskey Tango is going to be the next big thing on TV.
ALEJANDRO: (smiling) My brother, Dario, once told me that running a wrestling company was easy. He said all you need is passion, vision and guts. Well, he was wrong. He's gone now, and he running a company in Mexico, and I'm the only one left to carry on our father's legacy. (He gestures to the table) That's why I hired you, Jake. You're the best writer in the business. You have a flair for creating compelling stories and characters. You have a knack for making wrestling exciting and unpredictable.
​
JAKE: (nodding) Thank you, Mr. Rivera. I appreciate the opportunity. I've always admired your work. You have a reputation for being innovative and daring. You're not afraid to take risks and challenge the status quo.
​
ALEJANDRO: (clapping) Exactly! That's what I like to hear. You see, Jake, I have a vision for a new wrestling company. A company that will revolutionize the industry. A company that will combine the best of both worlds: the athleticism and skill of USWF, and the drama and spectacle of WWA. A company that will appeal to fans all over the world, especially in Latin America and Europe.
​
JAKE: (intrigued) Wow. That sounds amazing. What's the name of the company?
​
ALEJANDRO: (grinning) Lucha Libre Elite.
​
JAKE: (impressed) I like it. It has a nice ring to it.
​
ALEJANDRO: (leaning in) And you know what else? I want you to be my head writer. I want you to be the creative force behind this company. I want you to work with me and help me make this dream a reality.
​
JAKE: (stunned) Me? Really?
​
ALEJANDRO: (nodding) Yes, you. You have what it takes, Jake. You have talent, passion and vision. Just like me.
​
RICARDO: (clearing his throat) Excuse me, boss. Jake. If I may interject for a moment.
​
ALEJANDRO: (annoyed) What is it, Ricardo?
​
RICARDO: (nervous) Well, boss, I don't mean to rain on your parade, but we have to be realistic here. We have money, yes, but we don't have unlimited resources. We have to be careful with how we spend it. We have to be smart and strategic.
​
ALEJANDRO: (sighing) Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo. Always so cautious and conservative. Don't you see? This is our chance to make history. This is our chance to change the game.
​
RICARDO: (shaking his head) Boss, I'm just trying to look out for you. For us. You know how tough the competition is out there. You know how ruthless they can be.
​
ALEJANDRO: (glaring) Who? Who are you talking about?
​
RICARDO: (swallowing hard) You know who I mean, boss.
​
JAKE: (confused) Who? Who are they talking about?
​
ALEJANDRO: (turning to Jake) Jake, let me ask you something. Have you done any research on me? Have you Googled me or read anything about me? Do you know who I am?
​
JAKE: (hesitant) Well...no...not really...Mr. Rivera.
​
ALEJANDRO: (laughing) Good! Good! That's good! Because ignorance is bliss, my friend. And trust me, you don't want to know too much about me or my family.
​
JAKE: (curious) Your family?
​
ALEJANDRO: (standing up) Yes, Jake. My family. The Cuetos. The most powerful and dangerous family in the world of wrestling. And now...you're part of it too.
​
(He hugs Jake tightly)
​
ALEJANDRO: Welcome to La Familia de Cueto. Welcome to Reyes del Mundo, and your the prince of this kingdom, while I reign, as its beneficiator behind the scenes.
Show ends..

Original post : "hello, any gyms sa Baguio? hehe i heard anytime fitness is closed there, meron pa ba other gyms? besides yung sa session road haha, and baka may Dojos jan that caters to BJJ, Judo or MMA in general."
the answers I got : Sniper Gym, and of course, TEAM LAKAY BEYBEHHH
pero I found a new spot to live around Monticello road, so my new question is... are there any gyms near that spot? Salamat hehe