John E. Loffler, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (arrested Sept 2018) [child porn, cybersex]

Discussion in 'English-Speaking Countries and Europe' started by News Readers, Sep 22, 2018.

  1. News Readers

    News Readers The Paperboy

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    John Loffler, retired English tacher, Melbourne, Australia, arrested for cyber sex & manuacturing & selling child pornography in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Panay, Phlippines

    Accomplice: Gladys Degala, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Panay, Philippines

    Travel blog: http://onelifejourney.com (under development -- I expected it will remain "under development for a long, long time)

    Australian Expat Investor blog: http://www.austexpatinvestor.com/teaching-english-in-china/john-loffler/

    Blockchain technology blog: https://blokt.com/author/john-loffler

    Email: onelifejourneyjohn@gmail.com

    Twitter: @daqingdevil

    Phone (Philippines): +63 90 6448 1756




    Thus far I've found four Facebook profiles for Gladys/Gladyl Degala:



    Retired Australian teacher, 69, and his Filipino girlfriend, 21, who 'forced children to perform sex acts and sold the footage to paedophiles around the world' are arrested at gunpoint

    21 September 2018

    • John Loffler, 69, originally from Melbourne, moved to the Philippines in 2015
    • He is alleged to have lured kids as young as 12 with partner Gladys Degala
    • They allegedly sold the child porn to paedophiles all around the world
    A retired Australian teacher has been arrested at gunpoint on suspicion of running a vile child porn ring. John Loffler, 69, from Melbourne, moved to the Philippines in 2015 where he is alleged to have procured kids as young as 12 with Filipino partner Gladys Degala, who is now 21. The couple allegedly forced teenagers to perform sex acts on live streams and in photos and videos for paying customers in the West. Mr Loffler, a retired teacher, and Ms Degala are also alleged to have sold the child porn 'for large amounts of money' to paedophiles around the world. ...


    Loffler retired to the Philippines in 2015 after working as an English teacher in China for more than five years, according to his profile on Quora. He spent time online running a travel blog and also charging customers US$27.50 per hour for jobs on freelance website Upwork. While his partner, Gladys, had almost 1,500 followers on Facebook, where she regularly posted travel snaps. Despite their seemingly respectable appearance, the couple are alleged to have led a double-life that involved exploiting and abusing children. Superintendent Tayaba said officers used an undercover policeman posing as a customer to snare the couple.


    He added: 'Loffler came to Iloilo City sometime in 2015 and started his illegal business on cyber pornography with his partner.' 'The suspects are engaged in recruiting minors and encouraging them to have their naked photos taken. Then they will send it to their clients who are also foreigners.' Tayaba said that in their initial interview, the suspects claimed that they have already victimized about 10 female minors, aged 13-16. One of the suspects' alleged victims, a 17-year-old boy, is now in the care of social workers from IJM and the Philippines Department of Social Welfare. The search for other ...


    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ld-footage-paedophiles-arrested-gunpoint.html



    Australian, John Loffler & his Filipino whore forced teens to perform sex acts on live streams for paying customer

    A retired Australian teacher has been arrested at gunpoint on suspicion of running a vile child porn ring. John Loffler, 69, from Melbourne, moved to the Philippines in 2015 where he is alleged to have procured kids as young as 12 with Filipino partner Gladys Degala, who is now 21. The couple allegedly forced teenagers to perform sex acts on live streams and in photos and videos for paying customers in the West. Mr Loffler, a retired teacher, and Ms Degala are also alleged to have sold the child porn 'for large amounts of money' to paedophiles around the world. ...


    Continue reading...

    http://dreamindemon.com/community/t...ts-on-live-streams-for-paying-customer.98341/




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    John Loffler, Gladys Degala, Pavia Municipal Police Station, Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo Police Provincial Office, IPPO, Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking, Women and Children Protection Center in Visayas, Ungka 2, Pavia, Iloilo, Melbourne, Australia, Philippines, Iloilo City, John Tanagho, Cebu, International Justice Mission, Philippines Department of Social Welfare, WCPC-Visayas Unit Chief Romeo Perigo, Parc Regency, Tigbauan, John E. Loffler
  2. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Press release:

    Australian, partner arrested due to cybersex

    15 September 2018


    An Australian national and his Ilonggo partner were arrested Saturday due to cybersex crime.

    John Loffler, 69, and Gladys Degala, 21, are now detained at Pavia Municipal Police Station, said Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), in an interview.

    The two suspects were arrested after elements of IPPO, the Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking, the Women and Children Protection Center in Visayas and the Pavia Municipal Police Station served a search warrant against the suspects at their house in a subdivision in Ungka 2 village, Pavia,Iloilo.

    Tayaba said no victim was found during the implementation of the search warrant.

    But he said that they have recovered three laptops, four cellphones, an I-pad, identification cards and other computer storage devices.

    “We will use these as evidences for the cases that will be filed against them,” he said.

    Tayaba said they have been monitoring the illegal activity of the two suspects after they received reports from some informants.

    They have confirmed their illegal activity after they used a police decoy to transact with the suspects online.

    Tayaba said Loffler came to Iloilo City sometime in 2015 and started his illegal business on cyber pornography with his partner.

    Tayaba said that the suspects are engaged in recruiting minors and encouraging them to have their naked photos taken.

    “Then they will send it to their clients who are also foreigners,” he said.

    Citing their initial interview with Loffler, Tayaba said that the suspect claimed that they have already victimized about 10 female minors, aged 13-16.

    Tayaba said the suspects will be charged with violation of the Cyber Crime Prevention Act.

    http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1048110
     
  3. TMP

    TMP Himself

    From here, some insight perhaps into the mind of a serial child abuse & child pornographer:

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    John Loffler

    Freelance Writer and traveller currently in the Philippines.
    Writer, traveller, researcher, retired.

    English teacher - 6 years. China (5) and Portugal (1)

    Visited 21 countries lived in 4.

    Current home: Surigao (Mabua) and Tigbauan (near Iloilo)

    Aussie Home: Ararat, Victoria

    Qualifications: Diplomas - Management and Finance

    Currently: Retired, Freelance writer

    Interests: Writing, Travel, Golf (when I can), playing guitar.



    Where in the Philippines do you live?
    Answered Sep 13, 2018


    I live in Iloilo on the island of Panay. There is a suburb, Pavia, and an estate, Parc Regency - that’s where I reside now. I lived in the outer town of Tigbauan for 2 years but that meant a twice monthly run into the city which cost about 200 php to get in (share taxi) and 500 php return trip. The road conditions are rather poor, so the trip each way was an hour.

    My previous residence was in a fabulous resort, albeit the residences were less fabulous, and renting in the Philippines has its own set of rules with EVERYTHING in favour of the owner. However, it was a short walk of 50 metres to the infinity pool and bar, and another 10 metres to the beach. These will be sorely missed. Not so the management of the resort, who have been noted as No. 1 on my list of inefficient and as close to Fawlty Towers in real life one is likely to experience.

    The estate is nothing like my own country, but it’s pretty neat in other ways. Quiet, that’s a hard thing to find in the Philippines at times. It’s safe and if the resident meetings are anything to go by, there is a sense of community. The quality of the building of the house I rented would cop the word ‘uanacceptable’ back home, but I am managing okay and making adjustments. All good.

    The estate runs a shuttle service to the shopping centre about 10 times a day (or more) and at a cost of 7 php a ride, it certainly is cheap…and reliable. The walk to GT Mall, Robinsons, and City Mall is not too bad either, for a bit of exercise, rather than take a shuttle. So, it’s not far.

    Iloilo, of all the cities I have been in, Davao, CDO, Manila, Cebu and Bacolod, is my favourite. They are doing stuff here along the river and developing an area called MegaWorld that is as good as you will find in the best areas of Makati. Places to eat, drink, and belt out a few karaoke songs are plentiful. Health is well looked after with two good hospitals, and at GT Mall there is a new medical centre that promotes confidence.

    Traffic is a problem Philippines-wide, not restricted to any one place, but for a city, Iloilo seems a lot better. There are resorts, water playgrounds, farms and of course Guimaras Island a very short (10 minutes) ferry ride across the strait, and all offer places to go. You can take a bus to Roxas, Isle Gigantes and Boracay if the mood gets you. There is also Antique to the west of Iloilo and Concepcion to the east. Islands galore, playgrounds and beaches of awesome beauty.

    Friendliness? I’m a friendly guy (except when confronted with stupidity in the form of bureaucracy) so I get on with everyone, although the people that believe all music, even in the privacy of their own homes, should be played at 140 decibels, test my patience and tolerance.

    I think Davao is better for more foreigner-oriented facilities and friends, but I can see as many foreigners as I like when I visit home. Iloilo is my favourite city and Illongos are very friendly people. My next challenge is to learn the Illongo language, or at least Tagalog. I have written a couple of articles about Davao and the history that I picked up along the way, and I am interested in the origins of the many festivals. The Iloilo festival of Dinagyang is world famous and brings thousands of people here. It’s rather colourful.

    I stay clear of politics, they don’t concern me. I am both sad and appalled at the level of poverty in some areas, and as a result, I would never judge anybody that decides to do questionable things just to survive. I don’t walk in those shoes.

    Technology? Well, it lacks somewhat in the Philippines insome areas, but hey, I have 100Mbps internet speed and the vast majority of my countrymen, in a 1st World country, are downright envious. AND, I pay only $70 AUD (3000 php) a month!

    Iloilo - come and see for yourself.

    Do I have to pay for the project in freelance?
    Answered Sep 4, 2018


    As a freelancer, I try to make sure that the client has outlined a reasonable guideline for me to follow. If I don’t produce the goods, in my case freelance writing, videos or graphics, then I will discuss with the client where I got it wrong. If the client then adds a new set of requirements, then I will kindly point out that it was not as per the original request. I have had no disputes with clients adopting this method.

    With regard to payment - the freelancer is protected by the freelance website escrow system. The client actually places money into the website account as payment for the work once the freelancer has been chosen and there is agreement on the amount. If things go pear-shaped at any point and there is a dispute, the freelance website can adjudicate and deem payment must be made, or perhaps some other arrangement agreed to by both parties. The answer to your question? Yes you pay.

    I might add that moving away from the freelance website to avoid the percentage they charge the freelancer is not being clever as then there is NO protection except dependence on the good will of the client. Not a good situation to be in if the freelancer is arguing the quality of work with the client and wanting payment, right?

    Do expats from Western countries living in the Philippines hurt the Filipino economy?
    Answered Aug 22, 2018


    Hurt the economy? Quite the opposite. If we marry a Filipina we take away all the problems for the government to support her and her family. We pay their medical bills, their food and their education. Then again, I am not sure the government supports these people anyway. And it’s not always marriage, either, to a Filipina. It also applies for a GF.

    Westerners add to the economy with the amount of money we spend every month here compared to the average Filipino family. We add to the tourism by travelling to many places and letting our friends know to come and visit and experience the fabulous beaches. Let’s face it, with over 7,000 islands, it would take you 5 lifetimes to even get near to seeing everything. Tourism means dollars collected at the airport, entering and leaving, money spent at restaurants, paying for the banqa to take you island hopping, paying at the resorts so that staff get paid, tipping taxi drivers, and buying souvenirs.

    We prop up the Customs and Immigration Department with our endless visa renewals, retirement deposits, and other costs they like to put upon us.

    We boost the economy and help with the employment situation by opening businesses, hiring staff, paying taxes and all other costs associated with a business in the Philippines.

    We also help individuals that we get to know with money for medicines, doctors and helping them obtain valid ID’s so they can apply for jobs and go about their business legally. I don’t know the value of our contribution to the Philippine economy, but it’s definitely in the billions. It’s a shame that sometimes we are racially discriminated against in certain instances, rather than appreciated for our positive influence on the economy and the people. This is not to say we are the saviours of the Philippines, we are here because we love to be here, and the country is doing okay in many places and it’s a mess in other areas. Our money goes further here than back home, that’s for sure.

    To answer the question bluntly: We do a LOT for the Philippine’s economy.

    What is the worst thing someone can do to his/her lover?
    Answered Aug 14, 2018
    Originally Answered: What is the worst thing that anyone can do to his/her spouse or partner? Why?
    Control them. When you try to control another person, particularly your partner, it’s not that you’re stronger than them, psychologically, it could be quite the opposite. Maybe they are what you want to be.

    In the case of a partner, there is a strong emotional connection which makes it hard for that person to escape. “I love you. I don’t want to leave you, but stop controlling me.”

    One of the theories about a controlling person is that they can’t control themselves so they, instead, want to control the other. If one person is a sort of live-and-let live personality, they would not want to control another.

    To control your partner is eventually going to erode their confidence and damage self esteem. Years of this kind of treatment can turn a one partner into a non-thinking for them self individual, always dependent on the other for something to be done, or any change to happen.

    Don’t get mentoring mixed up with controlling, either. mentoring is more about confidence building and support. Controlling is about destroying self confidence and the support is not positive, it’s more like a crutch, a permanent one. Control and emotional blackmail go hand in hand.

    If you are the controlling type, educate yourself on ways to be aware of what you are doing, because it can be a subconscious form of behaviour. Also work on ways to stop doing it.

    Some say that physically beating your partner is worse that control. Well, consider control as mentally beating your partner, and a form of abuse that can be practised equally well by both sexes!

    What are the best way to find an English teaching job in China?
    Answered Jun 27, 2018

    Before you even think about travelling to China to teach you need to have a few requirements:

    • A university degree
    • Be under 60 years of age
    • Hold a TESOL or TEFL certificate
    • Be a native speaker of English
    1. If you have these then simply Google “Teach English in China’ and you will have a huge choice from which to select. Choose three and follow the instructions to submit your CV and then research the companies as best you can.
    2. Join LinkedIn and search for agencies that are hiring teachers for China. This may be a better option as there is more background information available.

    3. Websites - there are websites that handle CV’s from prospective English teachers, and they will give you a list of vacancies throughout China.

    Warning - Legitimate English teaching jobs require the above listed requirements. You can get a job teaching English in China with none of the above by landing in China with a tourist visa and taking your chances. Highly not recommended. The Chinese do not muck about if you are caught. Also , the school can go back on agreements and contracts because you are basically an illegal worker in that country. Lots of bad stories, don’t risk it.

    Being a native speaker has also changed a little as a requirement. If you have good English, you don’t look Asian (sorry, it’s true), and your accent is not bad, but you have the other 3 requirements, you can be offered a legitimate position.

    Fact: There are over 325 million Chinese wanting to learn English. There are not enough teachers to fill that requirement. So things can get desperate for schools, both government and private.

    This answers your question about the best way to find a teaching job in China, although word of mouth from a friend would definitely be unbeatable. If you want to get in touch, I can provide personal recommendations to a couple of schools at which I taught, and who are always wanting good English teachers.

    You can also go to http://www.echinacities.com/ and understand a bit more about China as well as chat with many expat teachers on their forum. They also advertise jobs there. Good luck.


    How can I get a wife from the Philippines?
    Answered May 27, 2018


    Unlike the other answer to this question, I am assuming that since you said ‘a’ wife, and not ‘my’ wife, you are looking for a Filipina partner.

    There are a number of online dating sites that you can join and become a member. Filipina Cupid and Cherry Blossoms are two that are highly rated. There is also a FB group called Filipinas Looking for Foreign Boyfriends and Husbands.

    Don’t let all the negative stories stop you from getting started with online dating. The majority of Filipinas on these sites are well-intentioned and are looking at a life better than they have as well as looking for love and marriage. You need to practise due diligence when chatting and don’t get scammed or conned. The longer you chat to somebody, the better you get to know them.

    After selecting 2 or 3 women that you think match what you are looking for, then make plans to visit them. You cannot commit to marrying a Filipina without understanding their culture, their family ties and their life and living conditions. And I am not talking about a flying week visit. Take your time. Court the girl. Don’t be an (expletive deleted), and don’t be crude. Be yourself.

    Are they after your money? Well, yes and no. Money will help some immediate issues with some of the girls, but those that understand and respect you will not ask for or demand money. You will know just by sharing your time with them and their families, exactly what their financial situation is.

    If you pick a woman, great. Go back to your country, continue chat and perhaps some support, but have a plan to return soon and marry her. You’re not going to find anyone more loving, devoted and loyal once you commit to a relationship.

    Then you will have to go through some of the most frustrating and bureaucratic (expletive deleted) in your life to get your wife back to your country. There are rules and regulations in your country put there for protection, but it seems different rules apply for women from SE Asian countries. Don’t give up, though. Follow the rules, don’t take shortcuts, and DON’T see a lawyer. There are other, better informed and far cheaper agencies available to help you.

    (This is pretty brief, the reality is far more complex and a lot more fun at times too.)

    How do we solve the Philippines’ baby factory problem?
    Answered May 26, 2018


    Provide free condoms to the males.

    Provide free contraceptive pills to the females.

    Improve sex education in schools.

    Provide a free TV for every household because many people are so poor that the only past time they have in the evening is (expletive deleted)! And to hell with the consequences.

    Make abortions legal (not sure if they are, but in such a religious country, probably not!).

    Do a China - make it illegal to have more than 1 child in a family. Uphold that law for at least 10 years. Go one step further with that. A couple with no income are not allowed to reproduce AT ALL! And no, I don’t know how you would police that.

    Investigate and prosecute men who have sex with minors, and incest. In one province alone in Zamboanga, 592 babies per year are born to girls aged between 10 and 14. And that’s just one province. Insanity and predatory.

    To be honest, it’s not the birthrate that is strangling this country so much as the poverty into which children are conceived and born. If you can’t feed yourself or your partner, wouldn’t it be a good idea to not have any kids? It’s just creating a vicious, desperate, unforgiving cycle of poverty and over population. If the women were on the pill and the men had access to free condoms, maybe they would be able to afford to act more responsibly. The truth is, if you can’t afford a meal of rice once a day, how can you afford to buy birth control aids?

    Are there good schools in the Philippines for a young child as I’m considering retiring there but their education is a top priority for me?
    Answered May 18, 2018


    I would not be sending my children to anything but an International School in this country. The standard of education is not good because the funding is a joke. Teachers here are paid a pittance and many of them take on a second job to supplement their income. That means that they might be late for class, or not turn up at all in preference to doing their second job. Teachers here are as dedicated as you will find in any country because teaching is a calling rather than a job.

    While I suggest an international school, I am not familiar with any, and nobody has mentioned one to me. Not many people come to the Philippines to retire and bring a young family. Most retirees here have a Filipina wife and then have kids and send those children to a local school, usually private.

    I have a 5 year old son and I send him to a private school. It’s simply a matter of you get what you pay for. His pre-school was private and it was actually terrible, to the point I have him enrolled in summer classes to catch up.

    I assisted some university students with their work at times and the standard was significantly lower than what we have in my country. I put it at Year 8 - 9 for the work I observed. Maybe that was not a good example.

    If I had a young family here, and having experienced certain levels of education in western countries, I would be looking at alternatives to schooling here, unless your kids were going to stay here through adulthood. Maybe then it doesn’t matter.

    Do AFL teams in Australia conduct training matches in artificially made wet conditions to be competent in playing in matches that has a heavy rain?
    Answered May 18, 2018


    No, they don’t. However, some training days or nights when it rains, they continue training.

    Generally speaking, there are not that many games where rain affects play too badly. There are styles of play that players must adopt when the weather is extremely wet.

    Is a degree in English Literature and Education enough for teaching English abroad?
    Answered May 7, 2018


    Yes. China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan to name a few, would welcome you with open arms. Then there’s South America. All happy to see you.

    Frankly, you are probably over qualified.

    Most Western countries require a teaching qualification, but not all.

    If you really want to know, Google English teachers wanted and you will be pleasantly surprised.

    What do you suggest people to bring with them to the Philippines?
    Answered May 7, 2018


    Money - lots of it. There’s a saying here that you can become a millionaire in the Philippines. Trouble is you came here as a billionaire. :)

    Seriously though. You need a big heart, lots of tolerance, otherwise you are going to get frustrated (like me at times), and an open mind about what you see. Do NOT bring any judgemental attitude with you. Unless you have walked in their shoes…right? Bring kindness and patience too. And sun cream. A hat.

    All good things will follow if you get to like the country, and people here will feel you like it and they will take to you.

    I am 21 year old woman is it bad to marry a man 51?
    Answered Apr 23, 2018


    Age has nothing to do with love. Then again, love doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with marriage. It’s important that you differentiate between marriage and love.

    If you said is it bad to love a man of 51 when I am 21 - the answer would be ‘No’. A few things come into play with age differences in love and marriage. For the sake of this question let’s assume you love the man.

    Philippines - nobody gives a stuff about age. It matters to absolutely no-one here about age difference. I have seen the 18 year olds living with the 70 year olds. She’s Filipina and he’s a foreigner. It’s a life changer for the girl and maybe it doesn’t start with love, but it can easily turn into that.

    China - No way. 30 years is not acceptable to the girls’ family. Unless of course he is a billionaire / millionaire.

    Thailand - It’s ok. Acceptable.

    Western Countries - not really socially acceptable, but depends on how thick-skinned the couple are.

    In reality - love and age should not matter. In society - it does.

    My advice? If you love the guy, and he loves you, nothing else matters. It’s hard enough to find love in this world, so when it suddenly appears, you need to grab it.

    Would foreigners travel to the Philippines if the crime rate is prohibitive?
    Answered Apr 2, 2018


    People still travel to Mexico and El Salvador, Honduras and Venezuela, and the crime rate there is far over and above that of the Philippines.

    People tend to listen to the bad news more than find out what’s really happening in a country. The only way you are going to find out is to visit. People travel to the USA, the UK, and Australia, and there have been crimes of varying degrees perpetrated on foreign visitors in those countries often enough.

    It’s all about being sensible about where you visit and what time of day. Even I wouldn’t walk down a dark lane way in Australia at 2 am, so I sure am not going to do that in any of the bigger cities in the Philippines.

    I have been here for 18 months now and there have been drug killings and a war in Marawi against ISIS. If you travel way down south in Mindanao, you are taking an unnecessary risk. Taking all that into account, I have not been threatened or been afraid of any situation to date. If you travel in Mindanao make sure you carry your ID. You will be stopped at military check points and that, by the way, is a good thing.

    There are so many places to visit in the Philippines that you could be here a lifetime and still only see and enjoy just a fraction. The same can be said for many other countries. If a person decides it’s too unsafe to travel, based on ‘bad’ reports that newspapers love to sensationalize, they may as well sit at home in their own country and deprive themselves of some amazing experiences.

    My suggestion? Get hold of some travel magazines or websites with travel blogs and immerse yourself in the experiences of what other people are enjoying. Weigh these reports up with crimes committed against foreigners, and you will soon realise it’s pretty safe to travel just about anywhere…just about.

    The health systems in the Philippines are at their best state. What does it imply or mean?
    Answered Mar 24, 2018


    ‘best state?’ Whoever said that is lying or has no idea. The medical and health in this country is even behind China, and I observed that to be 50 years behind Australia - for example. Unless you live in Shanghai or Beijing where you can get properly qualified medical staff.

    There is the occasional good hospital in the Philippines, but if you live away from the cities, you are in the hands of whichever god you believe in. I love the way the admin staff work within enclosed, air conditioned rooms, while the patients share unclean wards, share beds, and have to put up with the heat and humidity as well. It’s such fun seeing the patients having to scratch together some money and go outside the hospital to buy the prescribed medication as well.

    Speaking of the good hospitals, you had better have some money if you want to be looked after. My opinion of health and medical in this country is: If you fall very sick and you have no money, you’re going to die!

    Why is Garage sale absent in Filipino culture?
    Answered Feb 23, 2018


    For starters, there are not a lot of garages. Secondly, have you seen the extent to which people here go to keep others out of their property? Glass embedded in walls, spikes to kill you if you scale the fence, wire mesh so you can’t even put more than finger through, security guards and most people have a gun.

    Now, you want them to open all this up and let people in to look through all their junk laid out on tables and benches?

    It’s not going to happen!

    How do you make your girlfriend like you a bit more?
    Answered Feb 23, 2018


    Well, you say ‘GF’, so let’s assume you are in some sort of relationship strong enough to be classified as partners.

    You don’t give an age, and believe me, there is quite a bit of difference between adolescent GF and BF and adult GF and BF.

    Generally speaking, the relationship can get better when you up the ‘interest’ factor. We all have our own lives and hobbies and stress and social interaction, but when you are with your girl, be interested in HER story, her life, her thoughts. Interest in the things she does. Romantic gestures, and I am not talking about expensive weekend getaways and gifts.

    “Let’s go to the movies.”

    “How about a picnic in the park?”

    “How about a walk in the park?”

    Why are these good ideas? Because it shows that you want to spend your time with her. Not hanging out with friends, together.

    Other things of a romantic nature is small touches, contact, when you talk to each other. Looking into her eyes. Again, we are not talking kissing and sex. Just small loving gestures.

    Behave like this and not only will she be more in love with you, you will be more in love with her!
     
  4. TMP

    TMP Himself

    From here, some insight perhaps into the mind of a serial child abuse & child pornographer (continued):

    Can I donate my heart to anyone I am not interested in living?
    Answered Feb 12, 2018


    You can nominate a person, but after you are dead the surgeons and hospitals will do their own thing and look at compatibility and the waiting time of those people already in the system.

    You might know someone who needs a heart transplant, but that doesn’t mean they are the best option for your heart.

    Not interested in living? Suicide can traumatise certain organs and make them useless for transplant as well. As Euthanasia is not legal in 99.9% of places, a peaceful death assisted by somebody else might not be possible. That means doing yourself in while on your own. You might not be found in time to save the organs.

    I’d seriously reconsider the whole idea and try to find some value in what you are doing with your life and keep your organs for yourself. They are probably pretty happy where they are, and like any relocation, it can be stressful for them if they were to be transported elsewhere.

    If you need somebody to talk to there are many people out there who would love to chat to you and discuss your feelings, which are connected to your heart anyway. Give them a try. :) Take care!

    As of February 2018, what is the chance that a high speed rail could be built linking Beijing with Singapore via Laos, Thailand and Malaysia?
    Answered Feb 12, 2018


    It’s an interesting proposal. The problem is, who will pay for it? Each country its own cost? Maybe.

    Chinese High Speed Rail is already networking a lot of its own country, so extending through those other countries has a lot of appeal. Especially to travellers. The trip would be akin to the Siberian Express for an amazing train trip.

    All we need is a Chinese detective series based on the journey, we could call it something like: Murder on the Orient Express! (Sounds familiar.) :)

    Every time I see my friend, I want to kiss her. Is that love?
    Answered Feb 12, 2018

    Well, it depends on where you want to kiss her? On the lips, passionately? Then it’s more than friendship. You have strong feelings for her and an attraction. A peck on the cheek? You are just happy to see her. She is a good friend. On her hand? You must be European. That’s a normal greeting albeit rather old fashioned. (Joking there!) On the neck? You have vampire tendencies. (Also a joke!)

    Whatever you end up doing, don’t freak her out by moving in for a big pash. That could be a friendship breaker! If I were you, I’d communicate your feelings. They just might be the same as hers for you. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

    Can other people see messages or call between me and friends on messager?
    Answered Feb 12, 2018


    On Messenger - no. The only comments or chat your friends on FB can see are if you add comments to any posting.

    What do you miss from the Philippines?
    Answered Jan 26, 2018


    I have just returned from a month back in Australia after 15 months living in the Philippines. During my time in Phil I have been to Surigao, Siargao, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Guimares, Bacolod, Borocay, Basol Island, Nogas Island, and Cebu. I live in Tigbauan, spent some time in Iloilo City and also in Guimbal.

    One evening at a dinner with my family in Australia, my son asked me what it was about the Philippines I missed most. My first response was, “Not a lot.” Sure there are beautiful beaches here, but Australia has equally as good and certainly cleaner beaches. The food? Nope. I am not a great lover of the local cuisine. that doesn’t mean it’s not tasty. It just means it doesn’t tickle my palate.

    After some thought I said, “Costs.” The money it costs me to live in the Philippines is a huge attraction. $189 AUD a month for a unit in a billion dollar resort says it all. I saw people in Australia living in average homes and the cost was $300 to $500 a week!!

    While the quality of the fruit and veg in Phil is average at best, it’s cheap. The same with other foodstuffs, apart from imported. Also, living in a small provincial town like I am, there are many things that you have to do without compared to back home, but…bad luck.

    My lifestyle is far better than in Australia in some respects. So, the final answer to the question is COST. I might add that when it’s winter in Australia, I love the constant heat and sunshine here.


    The name of the tool used for making blind drill hole is _______?
    Answered Nov 10, 2017

    A CNC Milling machine.

    Which one is the correct sentence: “it is not ripened,” or “it has not ripened yet.”?
    Answered Nov 4, 2017

    The correct sentence is: It has not ripened yet. ‘Has’ and ‘ripened’ are the same tense. ‘Is’ and ‘ripened’ are different tenses.

    It is ripe.

    It has ripened.

    Is it bad that I'm flirting with a 22 year old man by text when I am only 15?
    Answered Nov 4, 2017


    Well, flirting is up to you. Taking it any further is not ‘bad’. It’s illegal. However, if your parents found your flirting texts, they have every right to have the guy arrested on suspicion grooming an underaged girl.

    Be careful.

    Which sentence is correct, 'who are you talking to?' or 'whom are you talking to?'?
    Answered Nov 4, 2017

    Between those two choices, the first one is correct. Who are you talking to?

    The second one would be right if it was written: To whom are you talking?

    The use of ‘whom’ is incorrect in the sample provided.

    Do you think Essendon will have a good year?
    Answered Nov 4, 2017

    Well, as a Collingwood supporter, i hope not. But putting allegiances aside, the Bombers had a pretty good year last season (2017) considering the supplements (expletive deleted) that killed their previous two seasons.

    They have recruited and traded well. I see them as a top 8 side again in 2018, but pretty much the same as last season. Finishing about 6th - 8th. Of course, injuries during the year play a big part in success. Sides that get through a year with minimal injuries do well. Astute coach, lots of youth, committee support. They can’t fail.

    How do you tell a very good friend of yours, that wants to date you, that you can't date him because he is too short for you without hurting his feelings?
    Answered Nov 4, 2017


    That’s funny. I would not have thought that a guy’s height had anything to do with love. Simply put, you don’t like or love him enough to want to go out with him. Why not be truthful about that. He should be able to accept that he’s not your type. I can’t see why height has to be even mentioned. And yes, it would hurt his feelings. So don’t say that.

    “Jim (or whoever), I know you are interested in me romantically, but I don’t feel that way about you. Ever so sorry. I just want us to stay friends, as we are now. I feel a lot more comfortable with our relationship being like that.”

    No mention of height, right?

    She loves me, and I love her too, but she already accepted someone who she doesn't love at all, and now she’s afraid to say so to him. What should I do
    Answered Nov 4, 2017

    Well, she had a choice and it seems ‘love’ didn’t play a big part in her decision. You don’t mention anything about the wealth of the one she accepted. That may be a reason.

    To be frank, you need to move on as best you can, even though you love her. To say she loves you and then she picks someone else suggests that her love is nowhere near your idea of what love should mean. Or at least, its importance is somewhat diminished in her eyes.

    You can walk away from this, and if she realises she’s made a huge mistake, then there might be a surprise ending. They say ‘love will find a way’. But sometimes love will find a way to create an emotional mess.

    Who is the best Australian rules footballer of all time?
    Answered Oct 21, 2017


    Rob might be pretty close to the mark. The problem with the question is that different eras had different rules, changes in players physiques and skills. So in Polly’s time you might want to look at Ian Stewart and Darryl Baldock.

    What about Barry Cable?

    Next era - Wayne Carey and Leigh Matthews

    Another era - Judd, Matera

    It’s kind of an impossible question to answer. look at the physique of a 60’s and 70’s footballer to a 2000’s footballer. A team of the 60’s wouldn’t stand a chance physically. Skill wise? It would be interesting if the older generation could get near the ball. :)

    The Brownlow medallists would give you a fair indication of the best of the best but not always.

    For sheer brilliance in the ruck and his amazing handball it might have to be Polly.

    Apologies to all the greats I haven’t mentioned.

    Is it OK for guys to stare at women?
    Answered Oct 21, 2017


    Beautiful women you mean? Or women in general? When I spot a beautiful, stunning female and she asks me what the hell am I staring at I say this:

    Have you ever been somewhere where nature is so beautiful that you can’t help but look longingly at it?

    Yes, sure

    A sunset; a beach with white sand and turquoise waters; a view into a valley from a mountain; a waterfall with crystal clear water and a rainbow in the spray?

    Yes

    Well, that’s why I am looking at you. Your beauty is something to be looked at longingly and please forgive me if it annoyed and scared you.

    Errr…ok..thanks.

    Now, I’m not sure if these words would apply to a not so beautiful person, but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

    It is just me, or has the Philippines been mostly dodged by major typhoons this year? Is there any explanation as to why this year is relatively quiet?
    Answered Oct 21, 2017

    You must be kidding. well, okay, maybe not destructive winds but I am sitting here in my unit on Panay island experiencing the third typhoon in two weeks. High winds, rain of Great Flood proportions, thunder, and lightning at times. Speaking to other friends in Surigao and Davao, et al, it’s been pretty much the same. (Not sure about Manila.)

    Maybe the oceans and seas have not got hot enough to cause a brew. Or the typhoons have been travelling around and skirting the islands. But these typhoons or extreme lows have been bad enough.

    When you meet a foreigner trying to speak in your language, should you help her/him finishing his/her sentence? Or let them try hard to finish it by themselves (even if you already know their points)?
    Answered Oct 21, 2017

    The temptation to help them finish can be overwhelming. I’m referring to me being an English speaker and not being able to speak Chinese, Tagalog, Thai or any eastern European language, or Spanish, Portuguese, but I do speak Hungarian.

    The best option is to let them finish it in their own words, and, as they have struggled with what they wanted to say, it will probably be grammatically incorrect. YOu can then say it correctly back to them, not as a correction like a school teacher, but conversationally, in a friendly manner. Their reaction usually, (in my experience), is they will smile and say: “Yes, that’s what I mean.”

    In a school teaching situation, definitely let them try, then correct and provide an explanation.

    Are there really so many easy girls in Thailand?
    Answered Oct 19, 2017


    I think you have to understand as to why they are so ‘easy’ as you put it.

    Countries in SE Asia are riddled with poverty and corruption at the highest levels. The lifestyles and living conditions of millions are pretty tough. Girls want a better life for themselves and their families. In some cases the ‘easy’ girls have one or two kids of their own and are just about driven to sell their bodies on the streets. Those that don’t sell will happily fall for a foreigner tourist in the hope that it will develop into a long term relationship. Even a few nights with a foreigner who has money can be blessed relief.

    Guys that visit Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam for example, find it easy to pick up a girl. That can be on a casual basis at a bar or through an online dating site. At times ‘easy’ can be replaced by ‘desperate’ or ‘survival’.

    In defence of both parties, thousands of relationships do develop and turn into happy endings. It’s in excess of 20,000 a year actually.

    Some advice for those that do travel overseas and can’t help falling in love. Bar girls are not necessarily there out of desperation and poverty. Working in such places for some girls is a preferred way of life. The different guys, the money, the paid for holidays, all add up to a life FAR better than what they lived in their little lean-to or basic house with family and neighbours, and very little food. So a long term relationship with a bar girl should be treated with a great deal of caution. Yes, ‘she loves you lots…!’

    Have you ever been to the Philippines? If yes, where did you go and how was your experience?
    Answered Oct 11, 2017


    I currently reside in the Philippines, but prior to that I travelled here about 6 times when I was living in China. This country is a great place to enjoy a holiday. With over 7,000 islands you can’t imagine how many beaches that means!

    Most of the luxurious, or better beach resorts, are owned by westerners who are married to Filipinas. In that respect, they know what the customer is looking for in the way of service, facilities and entertainment.

    The beaches can have either blinding white sand, yellow sand, brownd sand and black sand. There is a certain attraction with the white sand because that is what we see and perceive to be the most picturesque photos of the world’s best beaches. Places I have been to:

    MINDANAO

    Surigao - The city is so-so but the surrounding countryside is both varied and beautiful. Mostly black sand beaches in and around the city area, but Mabua, about 20 minutes by tricycle, is a spectacular pebble beach. The water there is some of the cleanest, clearest and pristine in which you’re ever likely to swim. Islands off the coast, Dinagat and Siargao have white and yellow sand beaches. Siargao is a real tourist place popular for its surfing.

    Davao - Very big city, has everything you need in the way of shopping and facilities. Great hotels, nice beaches, murderous traffic. Lots of things to do there, highly recommended. Crocodile Park, Eagle Park, Eden Nature Park, Waterfront Hotel, museum, it’s all there in Davao.

    Samal Island - a 10 minute ferry ride from Davao to the island. This place is made up of resorts and just check which one appeals before you go. Tricycles and motor bikes await you at the Samal pier to whisk you to whichever resort you have chosen. White sand beaches, crystal clear water, snorkeling, although that’s best on the other side of the island, and did you know that on Samal there is the biggest Bat Cave in the world. No, it’s not Gotham City either! Over 3 million bats are hanging around inside the cave. Stay upwind, the smell is horrendous. All that batshit. But fascinating to see and little is known about it. There is a waterfall or two to visit in the centre of the island. Organise your transport, look after your driver and you will have a great day, or two, or three.

    Butuan - Maybe it will grow on you but it didn’t do a lot for me. No beaches anywhere close to the city, you need to go to -

    Cabadbaran - small town but that’s where the black sand beaches are.

    Mati - a 3 hour drive from Davao and it’s a coastal town with beautiful beaches and resorts where you can sleep in huts that are built over the water. Awesome. White sand mostly, crystal clear water, a couple of surprisingly modern restaurants. The drive from Davao itself is worth the trip. Along that coastal drive there are many, many resorts at which you can stop and enjoy a swim in the warm, clear waters.

    LUZON

    Manila - Shithole. Traffic jams, polluted, and apart from some of the major shopping centres, not a lot of things of interest to see. Trying to get to them is a nightmare anyway. Greenbelt, Mall of Asia and the newly built Venice lookalike shopping precincts are nice places to spend the day.

    Subic - Obviously a US Naval area, but nice sand beaches with lots of entertainment along the beach front in the way of restaurants and KTV’s, Videoke, Clubs.

    Olongapo - Just another town that borders Subic. There is security crossing the bridge from here to get into Subic.

    Puerto Galera - Nice beaches, the White Beach was anyway. Lots of Ladyboys working at the beachfront bars and restaurants add a bit of interest to a night out! :) You can book a hotel online but my suggestion is to get there at a reasonable time of day and wander along the beach area and find your own. Rates are negotiable off season. Island hopping is highly recommended and bring your snorkel. Being towed along by a banqa with your head in the water riding over endless coral reefs and feeding fish with bread while in the water will be highlights of your trip there. Boat hire for all day is about 1000php, but everything is negotiable. Best to do it through the hotel, less chance of being scammed.

    CEBU

    Cebu - horrendous traffic but the place is a hive of activity. Lots of things to see. the best beaches are owned and kept private by the resorts so staying at a resort is not a bad idea. However, the number of hotels is astounding and there is definitely one to fit your budget. Historic tours and a trip out to where they make guitars are highly recommended. Hire a taxi for half a day, cost is 800 - 1200. There are some nice free beaches away from the city. The airport is on the adjoining island of Mactan, joined to Cebu by a bridge. From Cebu, you can get on ferries every hour at the port leaving for other beautiful places like Bohol. Cebu is the industrial capital of the Philippines, hence the traffic and the population.

    PANGASINAN

    Alaminos - here you will find the 100 Islands and this is a place you want to stay for at least three days. Island hopping obviously is a great way to relax. There’s an island full of bats. That’s it! Just bats hanging from the trees. Caves to swim in, giant clams and coral to snorkel over, rocks to climb to the top of the island like Governor’s Island. Nice people in the Pangasinan area too.

    Bolinao and Patar Beach - resorts with white and yellow sands. Pick anywhere you like to stop. There’s a lighthouse there as well. Hire a tricycle for a day to take you everywhere including to the floating restaurant. You get served your food on a houseboat which is being towed by a motorised banqa. If that doesn’t make your day you’re hard to please. Don’t forget the Enchanted Cave. You won’t believe where you are swimming.

    PANAY

    Iloilo - this is where I live now and the new area of the city is fabulous. Riverside walk with all the restaurants is just a great place to dine and have a relaxing evening. SM City is right there as well, and that’s as good as a shopping centre you will get in Iloilo. There is a Robinsons as well and a central SM in the main city area. The usual traffic in the older city area but they decided to make better roads on the outskirts, so the traffic is not so bad. The airport is quite large and fairly new. There is a golf course out that way too. Lots of hotels with affordable as well as luxury accommodation. I live in Tigbauan, about kms outside of Iloilo.

    Places I have been to also include: Nogas Island, Concepcion (highly recommend a trip here and you can then island hop to places like Sand Bar Island, a gem that not a lot of people know about). Guimaras Island is a very big island about 30 minutes ferry from Iloilo port. Getting around Guimaras can be tricky so either hire a car or a taxi for the day. There are so many things to see and do particularly on the other side, the far side, with island hopping and deserted beaches.

    There are a few more places I have been, too numerous to mention. There’s no doubt I have seen more than most of the locals, but that was the reason for coming here to live, right? Lots of areas in the Philippines are not well known, or popular, so you can be the only person on a beach, or the only person at a waterfall or a hidden lake. I’ve only touched on the different attractions at the places I have been to. Once the government tourist bureau gets its act together and markets the country like they do in Thailand, for instance, then more people will find coming here is a great alternative to Indonesia,Thailand, Vietnam and China.

    I hope that answers the question!

    What is freelancing and how do I get started on it?
    Answered Aug 2, 2017

    Originally Answered: What is a freelancer? How do I get a job?
    What is a freelancer? Any person that has an ability to sell is a freelancer. If you are a good writer, if you can create digital products like web design, graphic design, programming, whatever, then you can sell your skills to the highest, or as it usually is, the lowest bidder.

    How do you get a job? There are many websites on which you can register, such as Upwork, Envato Studio, Fiverr, Toptal, and a host more. It is becoming a far more popular way of earning than a 9–5 job. You nominate the hours you want to work, choose the jobs you want to do and work from home.

    However, you start at the bottom and work your way up, just as you might do in a normal type job. But your success depends on you, not a boss, not your co-workers, and not your friends. You put in the work, get a reputation and a high rating, then people come to you and you get regular clients.

    If you become good enough you can hire others to do the work or start a website like this and share your good fortune and hard work.

    Good luck.

    Which is the best place to start freelancing in digital marketing?
    Answered Jul 31, 2017


    I would suggest Envato Studio. It has a section called Envato Marketing which is a huge digital market place. You can hire a service provider on Envato to create something for you in any digital format, then go to one or more of the other Envato Market sites and sell it.

    As a freelancer, places like Upwork and Envato take a fair chunk of your earnings - 20% and 30% respectively. But if you are in demand and doing a lot of work,you simply add that amount into your quotation.

    Another suggestion is Fiverr.


    Why are donations very popular in the Philippines?
    Answered Jul 31, 2017

    I’m not sure whether the statistics would prove that the Philippines received more donations than, say, Africa. But if it is true, then there might be a couple of reasons.

    1. The Philippines is a Catholic country and people who might be asked or tempted to donate find it easier to relate to a religion more in line with their own faith.
    2. Poverty is bad in many countries, the Philippines is no exception. Many Philippines nationals have migrated to other countries, mainly the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Those countries have strong and active groups as expats. They work hard to not only send some of their money back home but would also help drive fund-raising causes within their new country.
    3. Generally speaking, there is more empathy for people here than other poorer countries who don’t get the same advertising, marketing and publicity for their fund raising causes.
    This might answer the ‘popularity’ aspect of the question, but it would be interesting to see which country actually receives the most donations.

    Would Philippines rather have a corrupt or a killer president?
    Answered Jul 27, 2017


    Why be choosy? You can have both. What they would really love is a leader who will stop corruption within all levels of government and do something about the poverty.

    The people seemed to think that killing drug pushers and users would solve some personal issues. But it just left a lot of dead people with mourning relatives, and the jails absolutely packed with prisoners, who, after being locked in there for a couple of years, may have been better of choosing to be shot.

    In his defence, Duterte’s methods, as mayor of Davao, were just what was needed there. Davao was listed as one of the safest cities in the world after he cleaned it up. Not sure if that style works for a whole country. Let’s see.

    Can police kill those foreigners who committed crimes in the Philippines?
    Answered Jul 26, 2017


    Well, police can kill anybody can’t they? Be it lawfully, by intent or by accident. A foreigner in a country where they look different, for example, a Caucasian in Asia, is usually treated defferentially. Unless of course you are committing a crime, like robbery with violence or attempted murder. Then you will be shot.
    But the question is based on committed crimes, so are we talking about the death penalty? That was done away with in the Philippines I believe.
     
  5. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore I

    17903461_1402695819792893_81268837086364435_n.jpg 19642671_1508431932552614_954055476685352318_n.jpg 19959386_1508431935885947_4314579655687308630_n.jpg 25592150_1660390340690105_6550140895225062215_n.jpg 26904801_1691168490945623_5355724841745173316_n.jpg 26992649_1691167574279048_1992510936290834918_n.jpg 29597669_1755247344537737_5269747768178563158_n.jpg 31091811_1781734248555713_6444432140518890967_n.jpg 31530670_1793162704079534_988263088522264576_n.jpg 31093441_1781735368555601_8527832318365105059_n.jpg 31781851_1793162694079535_5843088128994181120_n.jpg 31870604_1793081217421016_7125888362300309504_n.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2018
  6. TMP

    TMP Himself

    You never know what you are bringing into your neighborhood when hire John as your housesitter:

    House Sitter John Loffler

    Location: Tigbaun Iloilo, Philippines

    Age: 69

    Experience: 6 mo

    About John Loffler:

    As well as being a freelance writer, I am a minimalist traveller, English teacher, guitar player, animal lover and a believer in privacy and have a weird sense of humour. (Not in that order!)

    I live alone after my divorce 15 years ago. At my age I have seen a lot and experienced much. But always learning.

    I spend most of my time on a computer, writing, or doing some marketing.

    In my life I have painted houses, rooms and furniture. I have built patios, decks, added rooms to my home. Carried out electrical, plumbing and other repair work. I mention this to assure homeowners that I am competent enough to repair and fix when things go wrong.

    BONUS: I house sat a 3 roomed Apartelle in the Philippines. Cooked and served meals, cleaned rooms, changed bedding, gardened, paid all the bills, carried out repairs and maintenance, booked tours, picked people up from the port and airport, ferried people around the area.

    I also looked after a motel in North East Victoria, Australia (Rutherglen). This was a 15 room motel with a pool, I served breakfasts, cleaned, looked after the swimming pool, did marketing online, purchased foods and cleaning materials.

    I am meticulously clean. Always wash dishes, clean and tidy my living area. I'm not compulsive obsessive about it, but I hate mess. :)

    I DO NOT smoke, but I do enjoy a cold beer at the end of the day (just 1), and a glass of wine with my meal. I do most of my own cooking. Why? Because I'm good at it!

    I'm a friendly person, enjoy socially meeting new people.

    I am fit and active, love walking dogs and nursing cats. If you have a snake for a pet, I am not the house sitter you want. (Unless it's a small python!) Iguanas? I can take them or leave them.

    My travels have taken me to 20 different countries and I stayed AirBNB on my journeys, all owners giving me a great reference as I looked after their rooms or homes.

    I prefer to visit other countries and stay locally so that I get a better understanding of the people, the culture, the customs, all the secret places to see, and the food. I write about this prolifically (www.onelifejourney.com). The website is being upgraded, but you get the idea. I get on with everybody.

    If you're looking for somebody to look after your home maybe even better than you do (kidding!), then look no further.

    I have a few references from people whose homes I have sat. Some had dogs, some had chickens, one property even had sheep.

    Confession: I am a crazy dog lover, and dogs love me too. I had dogs all my life but travelling makes that impossible.

    Please feel free to ask me any questions. I do like long term sits, as that gives me time to settle in and enjoy life.​
     
  7. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore II

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  8. TMP

    TMP Himself

    International Justice Mission:

    Philippine Police Capture Australian National Accused of Online Crimes Against Children

    Philippine authorities arrested Australian national John Loffler and his Filipina partner after police caught the woman sending sexually explicit videos and photos of young girls online.

    Intelligence gathered by law enforcement during the investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly ran an illicit business, profiting off of the exploitation of Filipino children. The two exchanged dozens of sexually explicit videos and images of children, receiving payments from online customers. Their victims are believed to be as young as 12 years old.

    Victims of cybersex trafficking in the Philippines are often forced to preform sex acts in front of a camera—sometimes in a live-stream video—for paying customers who are often residing on the other side of the world.

    On Saturday, operatives from the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), armed with a search warrant, entered the upscale subdivision in Iloilo Province where Loffler rented a home with his 21-year-old Filipina partner. During the operation, which IJM supported, authorities seized electronics, including storage devices, allegedly used by the suspects. One of the suspects’ victims, a 17-year-old boy, is now safe in the care of social workers from IJM and the Philippines Department of Social Welfare. The search for other identified victims is ongoing.

    John Tanagho, IJM’s Field Office Director in Cebu, commended the police for the successful operation: “Some individuals think they can get away with exploiting Filipino children and selling sexually explicit materials of children online. Maybe to them, the Filipino child is not worthy of respect and dignity, but simply a means to make easy money. But law enforcement in the Philippines is relentlessly pursuing investigations against online traffickers and rescuing their victims as quickly as possible. And thanks to the diligent coordinated efforts of six government agencies, led by the WCPC, both suspects arrested today in Iloilo are now behind bars while police ready serious criminal charges.”

    WCPC-Visayas Unit Chief Romeo Perigo also urged communities to support the government in fighting this crime:

    “Let us be vigilant. Stand up and fight with us against crimes victimizing women and children. Report cybercrimes to the nearest police station. Our campaign against crime will only succeed with your help.”

    This is the first IJM-supported cybersex trafficking operation in Iloilo Province. It’s a sign of growing collaboration among Philippine agencies to protect children and combat this crime.​

    https://www.ijm.org/news/philippine...al-accused-of-online-crimes-against-children/
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2018
  9. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore III

    13507162_1108133712582440_4990474306599096331_n.jpg 16507953_1326447290751080_7075595750688524106_n.jpg 17799311_1390400954355713_55288031954051912_n.jpg 17862278_1390401491022326_1218074613738273107_n.jpg 18274977_1420188281376980_6147834050144948892_n.jpg 18557052_1438309509564857_2280511066696151180_n.jpg 18557159_1438309459564862_279053650540552132_n.jpg 20140032_1511724485556692_318475161156482023_n.jpg 20479437_1524405584288582_6392014232946620849_n.jpg 21616025_1569793923083081_4049127936075743171_n.jpg 21616187_1569794076416399_6419043892017011997_n.jpg 21687534_1569793933083080_6095303504977000082_n.jpg 21616236_1569794123083061_1701879231390744962_n.jpg 21728007_1562536183808855_6993982247101398436_n.jpg 21616285_1569793999749740_8446700578964608850_n.jpg 21731141_1562316163830857_7471230340922063517_n.jpg 21616544_1569793959749744_5038950765678895243_n.jpg 21687416_1569794169749723_698143084041627152_n.jpg 21761624_1569794209749719_6545478726863787707_n.jpg
     
  10. TMP

    TMP Himself

    From https://www.thegigeconomist.co.uk/single-post/2017/08/01/UpWork-Review:

    UpWork Review
    August 1, 2017

    John Loffler

    upload_2018-9-23_15-17-39.png

    When we mention Upwork, we are talking about one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, freelance platform in the world. The company started about 10 years ago and was initially called Elance, then Elance-oDesk before finally changing to the current name – Upwork.

    Unlike some of the other freelance platforms, Upwork is available worldwide. You can register as a client or freelancer, no matter where you are located. Upwork posts over 3 million jobs annually and turns over $1 billion. That’s serious freelancing in any currency. Initially it was all about content, writing and SEO articles but Upwork now boasts freelance work in graphic design, web design, all things internet, voice overs, translations, social media posting and marketing, video creation, virtual assistants and much more. There are virtually no restrictions to what kind of services can be offered.

    How to get started on Upwork as a freelancer

    In order to register on Upwork, you will need to create a profile and take a so called readiness test. At the beginning, you will have little to show for a portfolio, but like any construction job, get the foundations in and then start building. Clients looking for freelancers do take the time to read your profile, so make sure your details reflect your skills and expertise. A photo is a must and a video is a nice touch.

    Moreover, there are several further tests you can take to show clients what you are capable of. These tests range from language skills to more broader knowledge, such as customer service and email etiquette. These tests are optional, but sometimes having passed a specific test is set as a requirement by clients.

    Bidding for projects costs you tokens. This system is in place not to force you to buy more tokens, but to keep freelancers from sending out spam applications. The tokens you get for free are usually enough to get you started. You get 60. Most projects cost you 2 tokens. That’s 30 projects a month for which you can bid.

    There are three options on how you can get paid for a project: The full amount after concluding the project, in milestones (very useful for long-term and bigger projects) and hourly. Hourly contracts involve the Upwork Time Tracker, a software you will need to install on your device that will keep track of the hours you worked by also tacking screenshots, measuring your keyboard activity and telling your client which software you were using while working for them. On the plus side, Upwork says that using their Time Tracker guarantees that ‘an hour worked is an hour paid’.

    How to get started on Upwork as a client

    There is a basic registration process, after which you must put into place a payment system. When you post projects looking for freelancers and opt for a non-hourly contract, you will need to provide the amount upfront or have an auto payment system such as Paypal in place. This is a guaranteed form of payment and one of the key aspects of the safety of using the Upwork platform.

    The funds will only be released to the freelancer when you approve the payment and this can be done either at the very end of the project or with several milestones. For hourly contracts you will have the option to keep an eye on what your freelancers were working on while tracking the time, allowing you to raise alarm should hours be tracked that weren’t actually spent working on your project. Should you be particularly happy with a freelancer’s performance, you can also pay a bonus on top of the agreed amount.

    Freelancers that are attracted to your project posting have the option to look closely at the company details, feedback provided by freelancers, and payment record before applying to work for that business or individual. So to attract the very best freelancers, your profile, feedback and good standing are as important as those of the freelancer.

    Fees and additional services

    Fees and Services for Freelancers

    As mentioned, you can elect to pay to start your freelance career on Upwork. The best additional information you will get paying the monthly fee is being able to compare your bid with other freelancers. Furthermore, you will receive further tokens that can be used for applications.

    A few months ago, Upwork raised its service fee for new contracts from 10% to 20%. However, you will not always get charged 20%. After the first $500 earned through a client, the fee drops to 10% and then 5% once total billings with a client get above $10,000. Please do keep in mind that this applies to each client. This means that for one client you get charged 20% and another, because you exceeded $500 in total billings with that particular client, it is 10%.

    Should you manage to land a place in Upwork’s Top Rated programme by fulfilling the criteria mentioned here, not only will clients be made aware of your high-quality work, further perks, such as premium customer support, also await. As a freelancer you can also become part of an agency through which you can get work without having to apply to clients’ project postings yourself.

    Fees and Services for Clients

    It’s free to register a business and post projects onto Upwork. From a client’s point of view, the 20% that Upwork takes does not affect them financially; however, freelancers might be less willing to apply for one off, less well paid projects.

    Upwork provides a few additional services for clients. There is a service called Upwork Enterprise in which they help you find the people you want for your business or project. It’s certainly cheaper than hiring a HR Headhunter, and with a talent pool that covers the globe, a company looking for the right person is more than likely to get them through the Upwork platform. Upwork has an impressive list of companies using their services for their recruiting process.

    Payment methods

    Freelancers can be paid through Paypal or direct to their bank accounts. Should your bank account be a US account, this withdrawal method is free of charge. For bank accounts outside of the US you will have to cover the fee Upwork is charged by their bank. For Europe that would be $30. For a withdrawal request via Paypal Upwork charges $1. However, PayPal might apply further charges for receiving the funds.

    Clients can set up a bank transfer, Credit Card payment or a Paypal system that authorises automatic deductions.

    Pros and Cons for freelancers using Upwork

    Pros

    • The format of the Upwork platform is very simple to use. You see a job posted, you read the

    details, spend two tokens and apply
    • Interaction message set up between client and freelancer is quick and easy
    • The hourly rate system is simple to set up
    • The sheer amount of work is nothing short of amazing. Thousands of jobs to go through
    • No restrictions to the type of projects and skills that can be offered

    Cons

    • With international competition amongst freelancers (and depending on your skill set), clients

    often get cheap and yet good quality work
    • The 20% fee is a killer. You need to factor this Upwork cut into your rate, which might not always be possible.
    • Lack of feedback when your bid fails. You remain clueless, which means trying to work out whether it was the bid price or your lack of suitability to do the job.

    The design of the website and the immense amount of available projects for all kinds of skill sets make Upwork a joy to work with. The high fees borne by freelancers, however, make this freelance platform slightly less attractive, especially when looking for smaller one-off projects.

    Pros and Cons for clients using Upwork

    Pros

    • The sheer size and reach of Upwork means clients can source the biggest possible talent pool
    • You have the ability to set the project parameters – skill level of the freelancer and price range
    • You can really get jobs done very cheaply

    Cons

    • There doesn’t seem to be a way that you can highlight the job – importance or urgency
    • Choice also means that it will cost you time to filter through many applicants to find the right one

    Using Upwork as a client is uncomplicated and you can use the features you need without being distracted because other features keep on popping up. The Top Rated badge will help you select the crème de la crème of the freelancers amongst your choice of many.
     
  11. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore IV

    21764714_1569794179749722_3884422364539934884_n.jpg 22405608_1586982844697522_487886635402072417_n.jpg 22489714_1593894424006364_4956602030181572153_n.jpg 22490019_1593894257339714_3677494155486187768_n.jpg 21766331_1569793919749748_8725443291572745665_n.jpg 22450159_1593894220673051_6234311312900777630_n.jpg 22489739_1593894177339722_2490278431067314696_n.jpg 22490183_1594384307290709_7218077671272334408_n.jpg 22008258_1576328972429576_7520612615933855202_n.jpg 22489667_1593894444006362_5512388768354886380_n.jpg 22489753_1594385000623973_1773865720174104678_n.jpg 22490193_1594384947290645_987730760323150477_n.jpg 22365706_1586982741364199_8353045628068061265_n.jpg 22489667_1594385117290628_4204284878987149202_n.jpg 22489836_1594383977290742_5814839904213718203_n.jpg 22491446_1594384610624012_4126534792341227768_n.jpg 22366300_1586982774697529_3664031871976282416_n.jpg 22489706_1594384513957355_5724051895937141732_n.jpg 22489842_1593894247339715_7686842228920534477_n.jpg 22491457_1594384250624048_6638987361324967850_n.jpg
     
  12. TMP

    TMP Himself

    From https://www.thegigeconomist.co.uk/single-post/2018/02/13/DesignHill-Review:

    DesignHill Review
    February 12, 2018

    John Loffler

    upload_2018-9-23_15-18-30.png

    DesignHill advertises itself as the world’s largest online graphic design marketplace. The company has its origins in India, where computer specialists live by the thousands. The business started in 2014 in Delhi and over the next couple of years grew exponentially on the back of being able to supply great graphic designs for a low cost.

    The business has been able to open another office in India, but more importantly, they also opened an office in Delaware, in the USA, giving them a physical presence in North America.

    They offer all work to do with graphic design: logos, labels, banners, websites, packaging design, Facebook and Twitter pages, and t-shirts. DesignHill has nothing less than 4 stars on review websites such as TrustPilot and Sitejabber. They boast 27,000 graphic artists, logo designers and illustrators that are available 24/7.

    As you would expect, their own website is very well constructed.

    How to get started on DesignHill as a freelancer

    Once you register as a graphic designer and you submit a portfolio, you can then be contacted for a design job, or, you can enter a contest to win the job. And it’s this that makes DesignHill very different to other freelance sites.

    Once you are on the freelance list of DesignHill, you can see the client jobs. Some clients ask for a graphic designer directly, but they can also set up a competition and have as many designers who want to enter the competition submitting their designs. The client picks the design they like the best. The freelancer wins the contest, and gets paid.

    You can better your ranking on the site by winning more competitions and gaining DesignHill points.

    How to get started on DesignHill as a client

    Firstly, you register as a client which includes providing payment details. As a client wanting a design, you start by selecting from one of the 4 different plans available. The cheapest is $199, the most expensive is $1249. You deposit the amount you want to pay into escrow and you can get your design two ways:
    • Look through a few thousand designer portfolios and choose one
    • Start a competition. You fill out a form listing your requirements, and then designers who want the job submit their best designs. The competition winner gets the gig.
    Fees and additional services

    If you are not sure what you want, you can opt for a free design consultation. The costs for whatever design you want are all set. There are no additional fees charged once you have selected the design. However, there is a fee of $50 for posting the competition.

    There is no fee for designers joining DesignHill on a normal level. There are fees charged depending on the level of membership – Silver, Gold, or Diamond. The fee is $150 to go from Normal to Silver, $150 to go from Silver to Gold, and $200 to go from Gold to Diamond.

    Payment methods

    Clients, once registered with DesignHill, deposit the fee they have agreed to pay for that particular design. Payment methods include Paypal, Skrill or bank transfer.

    Freelancers are paid the same way. The successful designer is paid the agreed fee less the commission taken by DesignHill.

    Pros and Cons for freelancers using DesignHill

    Pros
    • As a designer, you can use the website to give you more opportunities and exposure. If you are good at what you do and don’t mind a bit of competition, then register with DesignHill and join the race.

    • The points you earn along the way can help towards your upgraded membership costs.
    Cons
    • If you are an average designer, making money is going to be tough going. The principle of being paid less if you’re not the very best does not apply here as there are set prices for designs. That means no negotiating to get the job.

    • To improve your ranking you have to enter as many contests as possible and complete your portfolio. There are multiple levels on the DesignHill platform and designers need to complete tasks set for each level to get recognition.

    • If you don’t pay for the higher membership levels you don’t get the same exposure as other designers who do. That will also mean a lesser percentage paid to you for the job, or a higher percentage paid to DesignHill.
    Designers don’t seem to mind the uneven playing field on which you need to perform or pay more to join to be able to get work. However, the competition idea helps to level it out – if you’re good, and competitive.

    The popularity of the site helps make it a ‘go to’ for designers. At the time of doing research, there were almost 500 people on the site looking for designers. The better your designs, the more work you will get.

    Pros and Cons for Clients using DesignHill

    Pros
    • Using the competition method is an easy way to get the design you want. You get to choose from quite a few designs submitted by a number of designers who wanted to participate in the contest. In effect, you get the best of the best.
    Cons
    • The payment of $50 to set up the competition appears to be a ‘money for jam’ strategy by DesignHill. They get the money for the competition, they get a percentage of the fee, and also charge designers membership fees for higher levels.
    The sheer number of designers (the 27,000 is debatable as another estimate was 65,000) means that clients are spoiled for choice.

    The charge for a design is questionable when you look at charges from competitive websites.

    The $50 competition charge is excessive considering the client is doing most of the work to set it up. The website is simply providing the hosting. Conversely, the competition method is a unique one and a fairly clever way to get the customer the best possible design.
     
  13. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore V

    22491480_1594384637290676_2151280218630177704_n.jpg 22491860_1594384457290694_9116376752727680998_n.jpg 22519345_1594384350624038_8071198912729149746_n.jpg 22528520_1594384393957367_8559015659522020345_n.jpg 22491537_1594384893957317_3238120543402903903_n.jpg 22491890_1594384220624051_2618819690870427543_n.jpg 22519417_1594384483957358_1346929269484083301_n.jpg 22539806_1594384420624031_1080009885188057322_n.jpg 22491555_1594383930624080_7301954168055919750_n.jpg 22491916_1594384193957387_522834469241963390_n.jpg 22519475_1594384543957352_4705918664387078593_n.jpg 22540007_1594384003957406_3828171446563051275_n.jpg 22491596_1594384803957326_2002921305936585249_n.jpg 22519208_1594384277290712_4484006052353536528_n.jpg 22528321_1593894370673036_3911977044061493717_n.jpg 22540180_1594384047290735_5131475786493884798_n.jpg 22491682_1594384367290703_1106956092856406744_n.jpg 22519224_1594385107290629_598447767648661510_n.jpg 22528432_1594384733957333_1051937526905713597_n.jpg 22549478_1594384580624015_210434795285210707_n.jpg
     
  14. TMP

    TMP Himself

    TaskRabbit Review
    December 12, 2017

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    John Loffler

    The company, TaskRabbit, has been in the making since 2008 and over the past 9 years it has evolved into a leading site that matches up freelancers with customers. Unlike others we have featured on The Gig Economist, the freelancers are more your licensed tradespersons, handypersons and general labourers, rather than computer and technical help. But having said that, you can virtually ask for anything to be done and if computer technicians register their services, then no doubt you can get that sort of work done. TaskRabbit has listed cleaners, plumbers, electricians, and people prepared to do almost anything in the way of fulfilling a request, and people to run errands for customers who may be incapacitated, busy doing other things and have the money to get somebody else to do a bit of running around for them.

    Since June 2017, TaskRabbit is available in 40 US cities, and London, and is experiencing exponential growth. A possible reason for the growth is that their CEO was once head of online sales and operations at Google. Stacey Brown-Philpot has some rather awesome credentials and experience and she may be a reason why the company is moving ahead in leaps and bounds, or should that be hops?

    TaskRabbit can be accessed from an app or by computer online and the website and app are both seamless, well put together and responsive. The important thing to understand about TaskRabbit, is that it’s basically a platform provided to match a tasker (the worker hired to do the job) with a client (the person wanting the job done). The company does not guarantee the quality of the work and does not provide any supervision.

    How to get started on TaskRabbit as a freelancer

    You do not need any qualifications to become a tasker. If you have spare time and want to make some extra money, then you can register online. TaskRabbit is not an employer. As mentioned earlier, it merely provides a matching platform. If you are a qualified tradesperson then you can be registered with TaskRabbit. The fact that you are a licensed professional is noted on your profile.

    After registering with TaskRabbit, the company would probably carry out the necessary police clearance checks, obtain references and ensure that you are fully fit, able and trustworthy to work in somebody’s home. We say ‘probably’, because the background checks that would, or should be carried out, are not fully mentioned on the website.

    You can nominate the type of work you like to do, the rate you would like to be paid, and provide a schedule of your availability. Once registered, and cleared, you can look at available work in your area and choose from them. Otherwise, you can be contacted by a customer if it’s a match.

    How to get started on TaskRabbit as a client

    When you first open TaskRabbit as a customer, a window pops up to ask you your address to ensure there is a TaskRabbit service in your area. The next screen shows you a number of task options in linked boxes. Click on the one relevant to your task and you fill in your address, some details about the work you want done, and you are then matched with a local tasker and whom you can hire to do the job. Details about the work can be discussed directly with the contractor through the TaskRabbit App.

    Fees and additional services

    There are no contact fees, or system user fees for a customer looking for somebody to do a job for them. While there seems to be a set type of task you can ask for, there is an extra window below the standard work which you can fill in: “Need something different?” it asks. That indicates that there are additional services available through the TaskRabbit platform, but they are not listed as common jobs.

    Fees and Services for Freelancers

    When registering with TaskRabbit, you must provide your credit card number and they take $20 as a registration fee.

    If you nominate an hourly rate you won’t be paid that rate because TaskRabbit deducts a service fee. That fee is a percentage of the rate. It’s unsure whether you can charge travelling time to a job. Perhaps there is a 30-minute travel allowance, although if the system algorithm was good, it should match up a customer and a tasker as being close to each other.

    Fees and Services for Clients

    It costs nothing to use the system for a customer. You would simply pay the hourly rate charged by the tasker who raises an invoice through the TaskRabbit app.

    Payment methods

    Everything with regard to payment being made by US clients, invoicing by the Tasker, and the service fee is handled through Braintree, a third-party payment processor. The credit card is not charged for 24 hours allowing the client time to review the charge for accuracy.

    There's no need for cash to change hands, as it is a cashless platform. Once the Tasker has finished the job, they'll submit the number of hours worked plus any agreed upon expenses incurred while completing the task for reimbursements. Reimbursements do not include tips.

    There is a one hour minimum on all tasks. The Tasker will not be able to invoice for any less than the one hour minimum. Once the one hour minimum has been reached, Taskers are then able to invoice for more specific timeframes in 15-minute increments (ex: 1.5 hours, 3.75 hours, etc.). The invoice is sent to the email address associated with the client account.

    The invoice is for time worked, plus a 30% service fee PLUS a 7.5% Trust and Support Fee, the reasons behind the charge can be read here.

    UK customers pay through Stripe, also a third-party processor. The same above conditions apply.

    Pros and Cons for freelancers using TaskRabbit

    Pros

    • Many of the tasks you can accept do not require any previous experience or qualifications. If you want to turn your hobby into a career or side hustle – TaskRabbit is the place to go.

    • Setting the hourly rate – when people are having an emergency, they will probably pay just about anything. Regardless of the service fee taken by TaskRabbit, you can simply add that to your hourly rate.

    • You can become an ‘Elite’ Tasker, which means you have been continuously getting approval ratings of 98% or more from the customers. Customers seem to prefer the elite tasker even though the rate is higher, mainly because good recommendations and trust play a huge part in such a personalised service.
    Cons
    • Payment is not immediate. It can take the normal 2-3 days bank transfer time for payments to reach the tasker.

    • Like all freelance work, you need to work often enough, respond to a specific number of job calls, and get some good testimonials and reviews to lift your rating. That makes you a more obvious choice for customers and you are given special high rating status on TaskRabbit which makes your name more prominent.
    If you are looking for alternative work lifestyles and are without formal qualifications, this is a perfect way to make money to live. Depending on your experience, expertise and willingness to work, you can be doing this full time or as a way to make extra money on weekends or days off. You only do the work you want to do, and can do.

    It should be mentioned that TaskRabbit provides voluntary charity work as well through its platform. They call this program TR4G (TaskRabbit For Good). It’s a great way for anyone wanting to serve the needy if they can use the system to find an outlet for their charitable work.

    Pros and Cons for Clients using TaskRabbit

    Pros
    • It’s never been easier for clients to find people online to do just about any job. The job requests by customers can be for virtually anything they might want done.

    • The system and app are easy to use, and you can get somebody fairly quickly, even for an emergency.

    • TaskRabbit provides a $1million liability insurance against damages for all work done. That’s a comforting thought.
    Cons
    • The service fee of 30% and the additional 7.5% for Trust and Support, so 37.5% extra, makes using TaskRabbit an expensive exercise.

    • The background check remains a mystery, albeit TaskRabbit says they only supply vetted and feedback-rated Taskers to customers. For a customer inviting a stranger into their home, they would want to be 100% sure of their personal safety.
    It’s sometimes hard to impossible to find people to do some really simple jobs for you when you are in a difficult situation. This is not really about getting trade jobs done, and that’s not what TaskRabbit was initially set up for.

    This is how TaskRabbit fills a big need in the community. If you arrive at the airport and find you have left your passports behind, a Tasker can be hired very quickly and save the day. If you want to go to that concert but don’t have time to stand in a line waiting, hire a Tasker. One could not call these normal, daily jobs.

    The popularity of the site is proof that there is a great niche being filled by TaskRabbit. Supplying people who can do simple but sometimes onerous tasks that, if you could find somebody else to do it, you would. Now you can!
     
  15. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore VI

    22549925_1594385037290636_7416856894214226693_n.jpg 23844462_1632308450164961_2523168391025258433_n.jpg 24131357_1632307940165012_8320005715261490343_n.jpg 27460044_1702562336472905_3282128365777755472_n.jpg 22552337_1594384130624060_1189115329083581125_n.jpg 23844936_1632308433498296_8645501666238139414_n.jpg 26196000_1668270866568719_511524276720525188_n.jpg 27539964_1702562213139584_4372608320388294972_n.jpg 22552382_1594384920623981_3034429665910049488_n.jpg 23905260_1632308026831670_8509858711547666796_n.jpg 26731497_1677332108995928_114434328932062272_n.jpg 27544714_1702562016472937_8310665148510613383_n.jpg 22552648_1594385033957303_6664066330540929641_n.jpg 24058851_1632308460164960_3245708770519491329_n.jpg 27336682_1702562143139591_9101578016813981497_n.jpg 27545018_1702562263139579_7933614973346276115_n.jpg 22552695_1594384703957336_3596321306805554404_n.jpg 24059025_1632308086831664_8107318501701884168_n.jpg 27336699_1702562176472921_4193659944024887162_n.jpg 27545241_1702562059806266_4675679602530384380_n.jpg
     
  16. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Envato Studio Review
    August 22, 2017

    upload_2018-9-23_15-45-22.png

    John Loffler

    Envato Studio started out in 2013 as a company called Microlancer and they offered freelance work based on small graphic and web design work and programming and web development jobs. Initially they had a price list so you knew how much you were paying for a job as you shopped for the freelancer that suited your needs.

    Like all good businesses that have a great idea, the concept grew as did the number of freelancers along with the number of customers. After just 12 months the name was changed to Envato Studio. The main office is located in Melbourne, Australia, and the company has built up an enviable list of designers, developers and digital talent who make themselves available to work on clients’ projects as requested. There is an Envato Network that encompasses training as well as hiring and they say that there are over 7,000,000 creative designers from which you can choose and they cover all fields of digital design.

    Sites that are part of their online presence include ThemeForest.net who specialise in website templates, and Tutsplus.com which provides people wanting a career in graphic design with online courses, some of which are free. This is all part of the Envato Network. But there’s more. Audiojungle, videohive, 3docean, photodune, codecanyon and graphicriver all form parts of the Envato Market site.

    How to get started on Envato Studio as a freelancer

    Becoming a freelancer on Envato is a little more difficult than filling in a registration form, putting up a profile, adding some portfolios and waiting for work to come in. Envato states that they recruit talent and hand pick their design workers. If you would like to register your interest in offering services they have various forms for different services.

    For example, as a graphic designer you will need a personal website or at least a portfolio, and have at least one social media link. If you are working from other freelance sites and whether you use a site to store your portfolio are other pieces of information they require.

    The other part of the form asks you in what areas you want to offer your services and then you get to write about yourself as an introduction.

    It states quite categorically that the registration form is only an expression of interest and if Envato doesn’t contact you then they either don’t require your services or you might not be as good at design work as you think you are.

    Once you are on the books, you wait for a buyer to contact you. You receive an email notification as well as the contact appearing in your ‘Jobs’ section. All the job details are there and you can choose to ‘Accept’ or ‘Reject’ the job. It’s important to remember that your ratio of rejections and acceptances affects your ratings within Envato.

    If you accept the job then it’s entered onto your timeline, you can share files with the buyer, updates, then approval.

    How to get started on Envato Studio as a client

    If you are looking for designers or anything digital to be made for you, then you simply register an account. Things like a tax file number (Australia)as well as your address are required.

    Finding a contractor / freelancer is much the same as similar sites offering services. You can look through work in their portfolios, you can contact them and discuss the job, and you can agree a rate. Your payment is made and held by Envato until you are completely satisfied with the work that was done.

    There are so many different styles of designers that finding the exact fit, while it may be a long search, will ensure that you find exactly what and who you are looking for. Your job offer can be accepted or rejected.

    Fees and additional services

    Fees and Services for Freelancers

    The normal services offered to freelancers exist - use of the website, registration of the freelancer and providing a communication platform for buyers and service providers. Envato offers a 12-point marketing program for their freelancers as well as providing a few graphics like logos and banners that can be used in advertising services.

    Being a freelancer on Envato will cost you 30% of your payment for the job done.

    Fees and Services for Clients

    After registering on the Envato site, you are free to navigate through all the different types of digital services that can be provided. The cost of getting your job done depends entirely on the negotiations with the freelancer you choose to do the job.

    The really big plus for clients registered on this site is your ability to visit all of the Envato market places and either buy or sell digital services on those sites. There are literally millions of products spread over seven additional sites that were mentioned earlier as being part of the Envato Market.

    Payment methods

    The buyer of the service pays upfront for the job once they are happy with the freelancer and the time it will take to do the work. Final payment will still need the buyer’s final approval after delivery of the project.

    Once that approval is given, the payment is transferred to the account of the freelancer after 7 days, and as long as no dispute was raised. 30% of the payment is taken by Envato. If your balance is at or above the minimum of $50, the money will be automatically transferred to you. Withdrawals are done through Paypal, Payoneer and Moneybookers. You get your money on the 7th day of the month.

    Pros and Cons for freelancers using Envato Studio

    Pros
    • The website is well made and easy to navigate. If you have done your profile properly, you will be easy to find.

    • The Envato Market makes this whole business a one stop shop, not only for the buyer but for the freelancer who can sell products on a number of websites specialising in digital designs that include audio to website templates.
    Cons
    • The 30% platform fee charged by Envato is going to hurt your earnings.

    • There’s no guarantee you can get on this site without doing some great sales talk in your profile and preparing a killer portfolio.
    Pros and Cons for clients using Envato Studio

    Pros
    • The site is easy to navigate and has broken up all the digital products into categories and sub categories.

    • The messaging and overall communication system makes it easy to discuss projects in detail with a freelancer.

    • The Envato Market is like a buried treasure of opportunity. After having something created you can then go and sell it on any of the other related sites. You can also probably find what you’re looking for on one of the other sites.
    Cons

    There don’t seem to be any obvious negative aspects for a client using Envato. However, not all disputes seem to be resolved quickly if you look at some of their hosted reviews.

    The Gig Economy is alive and well and it seems Envato does it better than most. Instead of just having a website that offers freelance services, the company has reached out a lot further into the digital services market place with some innovative ideas when setting up Envato Market. The website looks and feels good, the services being provided have a touch of class, and maybe that’s due to the strategy they have adopted of inviting service providers into their team rather than just allowing anyone and everyone to register. It’s a way to maintain a certain standard.
     
  17. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore VII

    27654602_1702562306472908_9081479418764213122_n.jpg 27751847_1711250778937394_4876547337409485101_n.jpg 27972539_1711250248937447_4472472265240370402_n.jpg 28168155_1716079598454512_9167826675985796455_n.jpg 27657459_1702561999806272_3206504206080302807_n.jpg 27752330_1711250848937387_2035795275276446889_n.jpg 28056422_1713493938713078_6236369471954160556_n.jpg 28576734_1733720160023789_3784399974923114128_n.jpg 27749898_1702562096472929_8908096847130658451_n.jpg 28871786_1732717626790709_1567231756688529275_n.jpg 27858069_1711250208937451_6296559731430091886_n.jpg 28056583_1713494322046373_8922682944488761341_n.jpg 27750605_1706822372713568_7639500019391328500_n.jpg 27867964_1713494368713035_1584419479906943956_n.jpg 28058736_1711250572270748_517673466523420833_n.jpg 28951206_1735980233131115_1512207726345952521_n.jpg 27750803_1711250628937409_4475277853167011233_n.jpg 27971696_1713493865379752_4647382231256903538_n.jpg 28167315_1717158195013319_7637341115661568735_n.jpg 29244655_1744044465658025_1443813668445163241_n.jpg
     
  18. TMP

    TMP Himself

    SnagAJob Review
    June 20, 2017

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    John Loffler

    SnagAjob has been around since 2000, and is the top-rated job placement and job matching site in the USA. It has won numerous industry awards and is the ‘go to’ website for over 300,000 American businesses which are looking for employees. The boast on the website is that they delivered 4 million job postings in the previous month!

    Before we even begin to talk about the company, let’s mutter a few ‘wows’ for the website. The home page on the website when you open it is nothing to rave about, but once you click on the ‘About Us’ and the ‘HourMinds’ you get some amazing video clips at the top third. They are certainly attention catching and you want to watch them to the end; a good way for them to keep you logged in that little bit longer!

    The company has two offices located in Virginia, one in South Carolina and another in California. The office locations are not all that relevant when the website covers the whole of the USA and all those businesses. Not only have they won the Corporate Awards but they have snagged quite a few Product Awards for their employment and personnel systems. Here are a few samples:

    Corporate awards

    • Fortune Magazine: Great Places to Work (8 times in 8 years)
    • Great Places to Work: Work-Life Balance Award

    Product awards

    • Jobs2Careers: Top ATS Software (2017)
    • “Master” status in Gartner’s FrontRunners Quadrant for Applicant Tracking Systems

    How to get started on SnagAjob as a Freelancer

    Like nearly all sites on which you are looking for work, as a prospective employee you will need to fill in a simple profile; but because the company that hires you is looking for an hourly paid employee, you will need to have some sort of a resume.

    Resumes

    You need to provide as much information as possible to prospective employers, which makes sense. They will want to know as much about you as possible before offering you a position. It’s highly advisable to include:

    • all your contact details
    • your educational qualifications
    • age (it matters for some types of work)
    • employment history
    • references
    • a little bit about yourself (this is a good space to do a self-sell job!)

    It’s really no different than going for a job interview, except that the selection process is done online.

    Don't have a resume?

    No problem. There are tools available on the site to help you quickly and competently create a resume for any position. You are directed to Myperfectresume.com where you will find templates and samples to help you create a knockout application.

    SnagAjob doesn’t just place employees for companies, it also provides:

    • training
    • scheduling
    • performance management tasks for the employer – nice added value.

    Choices

    If you like to work in a state away from home, SnagAjob has postings all over the country, but, obviously, at some stage of gaining employment, you will have to physically relocate. It’s possible to travel all around the USA working if that’s what you want to do.

    Work availability is sorted into states and cities and towns. It just depends on where the employer is situated. By entering the zipcode you will be taken to vacancies in that area .. or not, if there are no jobs, of course.

    How to get started on SnagAjob as a Client

    The first thing an employer will find out is that looking for workers on SnagAjob is NOT FREE! The starting price is $89 / month. When you think that a prospective employer has access to the personal details of some 75 million individuals, the cost is understandable. Only genuine employers are going to be forking out that amount to scour the site for workers!

    Also for that money, SnagAjob does the complete employment cycle for you. The pricing scale is like this:

    1. Starter – $89 / month
    2. Starter Plus adds a couple of services – $99 / month
    3. Growing has all the bells and whistles – $249 / month

    Looking at 2 and 3 above, a business can do their arithmetic and work out how much a HR employee would cost compared to the SnagAjob cost. There’s a huge difference! So, while the price might look high at $249 / month, that’s $3000 a year compared to a HR professional costing a business $50,000 a year.

    By the way, you can pay for a couple of months, get all the staff you want, then cease making monthly payments!

    SnagAjob also offers employers advertising packages with pop ups and banners, although these can be a bit annoying at times.

    How do you get paid?

    You get paid as a normal employee. Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, whatever system the company has as its pay structure is how you get your money. If the job is something like waiter or barperson, then there would be tips involved. You will also be part of the tax system as an employee, so tax will be taken out of your earnings.

    Pros and Cons For Freelancers

    • When you register with SnagAjob they are onto you like a terrier. Job offers, tips for securing work, ongoing education and relevant courses you can take with them, and announcements from large corporations who are looking for workers are being sent to your email inbox often.
    • You can set up your location and jobs of interest by clicking through the simple menus, and it’s advisable that you do. You don’t want to be in Minnesota and receiving job offers in New York!
    • This is not a site for freelancers wanting to work from home. However, you will be directed to Be the Boss Network which was an affiliated company with Snagajob.
    • The popularity of a website like SnagAjob means that the majority of employers will use it and that means, to you, the job seeker, that most available positions will be posted there. Having to type in your personal details and work experience on 4 or 5 sites would be a pain. Then again, if you are determined to find a job, then nothing should be put in the "too hard basket" and no stone left unturned!

    An employment agency this big doesn’t get it right all the time and even in something as personal as employment, it’s a fine line between you being a number on their data upload or a real person that needs personal attention, as you would get in a normal job application situation.

    Pros and Cons for Clients

    • You have an enormous number of potential employees to look through, and lots of choice is good.
    • You have TOO many resumes to look through. That means opting for the more expensive alternative in which SnagAjob matches the worker to your job.
    • Weigh up costs of using a hiring platform like SnagAjob or doing it yourself.
    • Be prepared for the pressure to spend more money with SnagAjob for advertising and value added services.

    Like many similar job seeking sites, it’s impossible to keep everybody happy 100% of the time. If you look at some of the reviews about SnagAjob, you will find a mixture of good and bad, some complaints, accusations of being a scam and then these are counterbalanced by glowing praise from people who used the system and gained employment.

    More on the positive side, is that most of the complaints and bad reviews are very outdated, going back 6 – 7 years or more. The conclusion you might reach from that is that SnagAjob has worked on getting everything right. A good thing about their website is that it is filled with positivity and motivational kinds of stuff rather than any doom and gloom and how hard it can be when seeking work – something you don’t need when you're looking for a job.

    Let’s face it, the old system of beating the pavement and driving, walking and cycling to job interviews looking for work is a thing of the past. Today’s technology enables you to actively search for work if you have an internet connection. You can do that at a library if you don’t have a computer. But like all computerised systems, they are only as good as the data input!
     
  19. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore VIII

    31064405_1781726938556444_4481841362395501480_n.jpg 31081479_1781727018556436_9108154226100037780_n.jpg 31092048_1781727231889748_8811643896118908679_n.jpg 31069010_1781726831889788_2979628885961074529_n.jpg 31091838_1781727501889721_4140144716218856739_n.jpg 31092057_1781726868556451_5784756878147850221_n.jpg 31070974_1781727555223049_3539985953140095761_n.jpg 31091846_1781727798556358_5424720297824020721_n.jpg 31073194_1781727105223094_4013669948585546244_n.jpg 31091953_1781726498556488_1080041830414644753_n.jpg 31081240_1781726658556472_5707389020772639889_n.jpg 31091957_1781727338556404_7416612829384978593_n.jpg
     
  20. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Gladys Degala, Cam Whore IX

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