A Drew Moment

Drew was enjoying the cultural show at the Paradise resort when the lovely dancer decided to pick him out of the front row for a spin on the dance floor. He handled it pretty well. (Pictures courtesy of Gary.)

Taste of Maldives

Here is one reason why Drew likes it here. This is the custom-made eggplant, tomato and garlic pizza from the Palm Deck. We were laughing so hard when we realized he has come halfway around the world to order the same pizza that he gets from the Old World deli. He has also been eating mushrooms and veggie omelets. Apart from missing ham and avoiding any type of rice, he really likes the food. I think he has even gained a pound or two!
However, we are now boycotting this restaurant if we don't have a Maldivian to go with us. The service is slow, they get the order wrong, and then screw up the bill.

Family Time

One of the fun things about this trip is that Cathy and I are here with our kids and the Maldivians are introducing us to their families as well. Zayan, the 11 year old son of news director Abdullah Rameez, wants to be a businessman like Andrew and loves to play video games like Laura. As you can see, they hit it off right away!

Alcohol Permit

We are pretty used to getting along without alcohol in Male, but our hosts wanted us to feel at home and went to a lot of trouble to get us an alcohol permit for our personal use. However, since none of them drink alcohol, no one knew what we were supposed to do with the permit. It took some serious investigative reporting to figure it out. I went to the duty free at the airport (the only liquor store we have seeen in the whole country) and was told that we needed to visit an office in Male, place an order, return the next day to pay, then go back to the airport and pick up the order.


The office was over a pool hall, then we took the dhoni over to the airport and walked down a dusty trail to an obscure trailer where there were Maldivians apparently buying alcohol to be taken to resorts. After about 30 minutes of waiting, while they obtained the bottles from the duty free shop in the terminal, we had to do the whole trip in reverse.

You get a taste of what it must have been like during Prohibition! Each person over 1s permitted three liters per month, or four bottles of wine.

No Smorking!

You should not even think about smorking when you are on a dhoni!

Not the Bible

You know how there is always a Bible in US hotel rooms? Well, in Maldives it's a copy of the Holy Quran. We were too busy with resort activities to catch up on our reading.

More resort pictures

I try to keep the resort postings to a miminum on the official blog so it won't look like we are goofing off too much. Here are some shots of our "welcome" drink which was a Maldivian mocktail. The drinking tab can get pretty high here, with a double vodka and tonic going for $16. Better to stick to the beer ($4.50 on tap) and wine ($6). A big bottle of water is $3. Yes, you have to pay in dollars.
We knew that our room and boat transportation was complimentary, so we didn't mind spending a few bucks on drinks and resort activities. Little did we know that the Maldivians would eventually pick up the entire tab. We still don't know who exactly to thank, since several people had a hand in making the reservation.

We left a nice tip for Blue, the manager who took good care of us the entire time.

In the Field

Andrew is getting better at working with his Maldivian colleagues in the field. He went to the tsunami camp and helped me out by shooting pictures for the blog, then we went into the "town" on Hulhulmale for a business story on the small shops there. Of course, we stopped for lunch and then Andrew did his standup. Good TV only happens on a full stomach.

This week he also did packages on a new airline that is flying to Male nonstop from Bangladesh and the continued popularity of motorcyles in Maldives despite the high price of gas.

Teamwork

Andrew as a team player, holding Laura's makeup mirror while working on the English newscast with JD.

Too Ghetto for Male?

We were hanging our wash out on the balcony and I think the classy Nalahiya Hotel decided it was a little too ghetto for them. They festooned the balcony with toilet paper and left a plastic clothes drying tree in the apartment for us to use. I guess the Maldives wasn't ready for Drew's underwear on display. Here's Andrew working on his blog at the kitchen table while the clothes are drying.

Signs You Might Like

First, an idea for Bill when he retires: Here's a building automation control company that dares to ask "Who is your cooling people?" At the very least he could help improve their English.

Also, a special sign for Mr. Ed, a phone company that is offering to help you "make a buddy," and not just once but twice. They also promise a "bill" that never changes.

Words of Encouragement

The new trainees are mostly 17 and 18 year olds who have completed their "O" level, our equivalent of tenth grade. It was encouraging to them -- and to me -- when the Minister of Legal Reform, Information and Arts spent time at the station for a q and a session about the role of independent journalists as Maldives adopts a new constitution and holds its first multiparty presidential election. He also took time to shake hands with each of these young people and encourage them to serve as role models for others. He spoke bluntly about one problem we've had: female reporters posting sexy pictures of themselves on the internet. Two were fired and one case was referred to the police for criminal prosecution.In the politically charged environment of the Maldives, I have agreed not to post anything about Minister Nasheed on the public blog. However, TVM falls within the minister's portfolio and he was just being a good boss, welcoming the newest employees and motivating those who have been here for a while.

West Park View

While the dust was still settling from the diplomatic credentials story, Noora took Cathy and me to lunch at one of the few places where you can sit on the water, West Park restaurant. There are only two really good restaurants within walking distance of TVM and we get tired of going to the same two places, so this was a nice change. However, the slow Maldivian service combined with the cab ride made this a two and half hour lunch!

Hitching a Ride

It is easy to forget that we are on an island because the capital city of Male is one of the most crowded places on earth. We can go all day without really seeing the water. So every now and then our training team takes the ferry to the airport island to have dinner. While we were eating, a huge storm blew in and the ferry traffic between the islands was stopped for a while. We were standing in the rain when we saw a boat getting ready to leave the dock and jumped on.

It was the shuttle boat for the immigration workers at the airport! They were really nice and allowed us to hitch a ride. Otherwise, we might have been stranded at the airport. I hope they won't get in trouble for their kindness.

What I can't post on the other blog

Regarding Diplomatic Credentials: I think my position on this issue has been misrepresented, so this post is just to set the record straight and be clear. Background: As new diplomats come and go in the Maldives, they routinely meet the president to present their credentials. Earlier this year, this ritual was upgraded to an elaborate outdoor ceremony with a uniformed honor guard and a brass band. It's interesting video that absolutely should be shown on television. Especially when TVM remembers to turn up the natural sound so we can hear the band! The problem: The official video of the ceremony, shot by the VIP crew and not news crews, usually includes a press release which includes lavish praising of President Gayoom. Here's an example that was actually read by an anchor on the English news: "The diplomats congratulated the president's achievements in implementing the democratic reform agenda and wished him further success. They also applauded the important role that President Gayoom has played in promoting awareness on environmental issues in the global arena." The Dhivehi version was MUCH longer. The problem is that we don't know exactly what the diplomats (from Indonesia, the Ukraine and Libya) said because they were never given an opportunity to speak with reporters. The president's press office is simply putting words in their mouths. The routine pleasanteries associated with a diplomatic ceremony of this type are elevated to the level of official recognition, and seem somewhat out of touch with reality. Only yesterday the British state minister was calling on Maldives to hurry up with the pace of reform, and an NGO issued a report saying most people don't believe the election will be fair. But in the world of the VIP crew, the press release implies that three separate countries are endorsing Gayoom's presidency and its "achievements." Newscasters are compelled to read this stuff, which would never make air in a more mature democracy with a more vigorous press. The video further contributes to the impression of an imperial presidency. My strong recommendation is that TVM avoid airing this type of story, especially during the election season. Reading this self-congratulatory stuff from the president's office undermines the very real effort TVM is making to be free and fair. TVM has chosen not to follow my recommendation and outside observers can draw their own conclusions.
Update: This post was removed from the other blog because it prompted a nasty round of text messages from our boss, the minister of information. I was bluntly instructed not to make any further posts criticizing the president's press office. Now that the election is drawing near, emotions are running high. However, the real reason not to run this story is the fact that the coverage agreement requires that whenever we show the president as head of state, we have to give all the opposing parties a chance to respond. The credentials story was a mere formality that wasn't worth chasing after eight parties to get a soundbite, even if we had the crews to do so. Better not to run it at all, rather than give the parties and opportunity to say that TVM is violating the equal coverage agreement. I didn't want to blog that because it would be a red flag for criticism when TVM is still learning the ropes. So I sent it privately in an email to Nasheed and everything is fine now, as he understands I have no motive except making the election coverage free and fair.

Laundry Day

We did our first load of wash. Drew thought it was pretty funny that there are no clothes dryers and his shorts and underwear were displayed on our balcony for all to see. We are on the 8th floor this time and the only bad thing is that the restaurant is right over our heads. They start moving the chairs around at 6 am.

Andrew on TVM

Andrew is becoming quite the star because the cameramen love to feature any "white" visitors in their cutaway shots. Here he is at the Labor Minister's news conference with TVM reporter Hassan Ziyau. The Maldivian reporters have been very kind about showing him the ropes.

First day on the job...

... in a tie. Andrew looked great and did some nice work on his first day as a reporter for TVM. He covered two news conferences, one on the donation of medical supplies by the Pakistani medical association and another one on the efforts by independent NGOs to launch a voter education drive. Good job Andrew. And the tie knot looks really good. The interns met the rest of the team at the morning story meeting.

Unforgettable July 4th

We got down to business with our first visist in the TVM newsroom on Thursday, our first day in the capital city of Male. Our serious program to improve political coverage begins Sunday.
But first, a one-day trip to a resort. This time it was the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort. Although it has the reputation of a surfing destination, we had a great time snorkeling, swimming, eating and having a cocktail or two because alcohol is strictly forbidden in the rest of Maldives. No time for a dive trip: strict regulations require a checkout dive and waiting a day. However, we had a blast using one of the over-the-water bungalows for a day. The turquoise water and blue sky created postcard views everywhere. We even saw a small reef shark and a couple of rays swimming right up to the bungalow.

Singapore stop

In addition to the regular posts on the main Terry Anzur Coaching blog, we'll be posting the fun stuff on this blog that's intended for family and friends in the US.

It takes three days to get here and we stayed awake in Singapore by taking advantage of all the free tours of the city, soaking up colonial atmosphere at the Raffles hotel and taking the free boat ride and discovering the underground network of shopping malls and restaurants.

Tacky Tour Groups

And now a special message for all the tacky tour groups who are experiencing Paris in their own special way. Do you think you could take a minute to appreciate the art that is on display? Maybe teach your kids a thing or two about great painters and artists like Leonardo da Vinci? It was absolutely painful to watch tourists jostling for their pose next to the painting and having their bored kids recite "it's the Mona Lisa thingey" to the video camera. They might as well have been next to a picture of Britney Spears. I doubt they even bothered to look at the painting and probably only care that they got their picture taken next to it.

Worse, their obnoxious behavior makes it impossible for art lovers to really experience the presence of genius. There are lots of places in Europe where photography is not allowed. This should be one of them.
Hey people! Take your kid's picture outside the Louvre at the pyramid to prove you were there, and then spend some time actually looking at a few of the masterpieces inside.

European Tour 2008

The crazy Anzur Clement family hit the road in Spain and Portugal with a stopoff in Paris on the way home. Andrew and I are now heading to Maldives to coach the national TV station for election coverage.

But first, a look at some of the vacation highlights:

Sagrada Familia and the amazing architechture of Gaudi in Barcelona...

An Indiana Jones

experience at the Monasterio la Piedra, a ruined monastery that is now a hotel and a private park filled with waterfalls and grottos.

Staying in a former archbishop's palace that is now a Hilton Hotel in Toledo. How many hotels have their own private art museum?

Walking the medieval walls of Avila...

Enjoying a sangria break in Salamanca's Plaza Mayor.

Touring the cellars in Porto and sampling LOTS of port... then relaxing on the beautiful Atlantic coast near the medieval walled town of Obidos.

The long uphill climb in Sintra to a Moorish fort and the storybook castle of Pena...

Catching Eurocup fever in the square near our apartment in the Alfama district of Lisbon.

And two mother-son days in Paris, including a bicycle trip to Versailles and the grand tour of all my favorite spots from Stanford-in France days....priceless!

A New Blog!

I created "More Terry Anzur Coaching" because I feared that the original blog had been eaten by spam-seeking robots. Now that they've burped up the original, this blog will live on as a "members-only" site.

Words of Wisdom for other Bloggers

Before I get back to the business of talent coaching, a few words of wisdom for anyone blogging their heart out on blogger.com: It is still the easiest free site I have found for beginning bloggers, but you have to read their terms of service agreement carefully and realize that even if you don't violate it, you can still be blocked with no easy way to appeal.
1. If you are asked to type in word verification when posting, appeal immediately. It's possibly the first and only sign your blog has been flagged as spam and eventually will disappear. Google did not send me an email or anything else.
2. Realize that your blog can disappear at any time. Save a backup copy of all your posts.
3. Once my blog was gone, I found the appeal forms to be a complete waste of time.
4. The blogger discussion "help" groups were an even bigger waste of time. They tell you to wait four business days and then get on a "spreadsheet." Yeah, right.
5. One site was kind of helpful. http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/
6. I'm sure the people who work at Google are nice folks who mean well. But good luck getting in touch with one of them. The 'bots don't like being overruled.
7. I'm in favor of banning spam. I don't need any Viagra, thanks. But a huge company like Google must have the resources to respond to appeals on false postitives. It would have taken a real person two seconds to verify that my blog was not spam.
Which brings me to my final point. I hear that Google now wants to be the keeper of the nation's health records. Great! What if the 'bots decide I'm deceased, or mix me up with the OTHER Terry Anzur who has some horrible disease? Welcome to the brave new world where content only exists to generate revenue for corporations who could care less about the real people on the other side of the computer screen. Be very afraid.

Stanford to the Rescue

Realizing that this blog wasn't the only "false positive" in Google's spam detection system, I thought I might freelance an article on the problem. I called Google's press line which was answered by... a robot! The automated voice recognition system promised to transcribe the message and decide if I was a real journalist. Never got a response. Google must have not even bothered to google me! (In case you didn't know, Google owns blogger.com and allows people to make money on their blogs with google ad sense.) I asked a friend who is a web techno-journalist to contact one of his sources at Google. The person's response might as well have come from a robot: "We think blog spam is a serious problem and we have spam detection software to try to eliminate it. We're aware that false-positive matches sometimes happen, and when they do, we have a process in place so that we can quickly review a blog that has been marked as spam. If we determine that the blog is not spam, we work to quickly restore the blog. We're always innovating to improve our products and services and are working on making this process even better in the future." Finally, through the Stanford Alumni Association inCircle web site, I contacted a recent grad who was listed as working in customer support at Google. This guy is my hero. He answered my email and... got my blog restored. I now have a backup hard copy of all the posts and a backup blog... just in case the 'bots decide to eat my blog again. BTW, my Stanford source says there was no trace of any of the appeal forms that I filled out.

Battling the 'Bots

I should have realized there was a problem when Blogger started asking me to type in one of those scrambled sets of letters each time I posted. I figured it was just normal security because I was posting from overseas in Southeast Asia. Little did I know it was the first indication that Google's robots had decided my blog was SPAM.
After speaking at RTNDA in mid-April, I took a few weeks off from blogging so I could take care of other clients and negotiate the contract for a return visit to Maldives. When I signed on in mid-May, I discovered that the Terry Anzur Coaching Blog had been removed from blogger.com. The Bots had spoken and I was spam. The only option given was to click on a form to ask for an appeal.
Nothing happened with the form I sent in on May 18, so I started clicking around the "Help" site, which was no help at all. It only linked me to other blocked bloggers who had been banned by the bots. Some of the stories were heartbreaking. One person was blogging for a terminally ill child. A lawyer was threatening to sue to get his blog back. One guy was so frustrated that he drove to Google's headquarters in Mountain View CA and taped a letter to the front door.
I joined a discussion group and found one or two "blogger employees" who allowed you to list their blog on their "spreadsheet." Still, no way to contact a real person about getting my blog back. I filed another appeal on May 26. Nothing.
It was as if someone had died. Gone were my dreams of a book or even a movie: Team Terry and the Teenagers of TV Maldives take on the old system and win one for freedom and democracy in the Muslim world, led by a news director, CEO and Minister who put their jobs on the line. I still had the photos, but now the story would have to be reconstructed from memory. The 175 posts and photos on my now-extinct blog were GONE. Worse, potential clients had been reading the blog as proof of performance. I'll never know how many clients went away while the blog was down. Read on to find out how this month-long ordeal finally ended... and the wisdom I can now pass along to other bloggers battling the 'bots.

Google Ate My Blog!

Hi Folks,
If you made it to this site, congratulations. I've put up this new blog as a temporary measure while I try to find out what happened to my regular blog. Stay tuned for updates, and for information on my tv talent coaching services, please visit http://terryanzur.com/.