In my February Power Up post, I lamented that we had been in lockdown since December 28th. A couple of days later, we received a little reprieve and after last evening's "family meeting", we've had another. We still have a curfew; we're still obliged to wear masks in public; social distancing is more than just sensible. The second wave has passed and the vaccine rollout programme is underway.

Not quite 12 months

I say all of that like this sort of rollercoaster pattern of happenings is quite normal. Yet, it's not quite a year since South Africa reported officially confirmed its first Covid-19 case. South Africa's so-called patient zero. I use that phrase adviseadly because a friend of ours was diagnosed with that Italian flu last February, suggesting that it was already amongst us - weeks earlier than 5th March 2020.

From that single, identified case, the number has grown exponentially to 1,513,393 in less than 365 days. And still counting. Just in South Africa. And not only in South Africa.

Our Hive is also infested

It seems, though, that our hive is suffering from an infestation of another variety. I have often commented that this community is simply a microcosm of the real world. Much as I'd like to believe everyone on this social blockchain is ethical and supportive, alas, that is not the case. As I discovered when I first joined the blockchain in its other iteration.

I, li'l ol' me, was phished

It happened just under a year after I had joined the blockchain but, in reality, not long into becoming really active. My blockchain journey started off very slowly. Because I effectively disappeared for about six months, so when I effectively "re-joined", I was gullible and trusting. I should have known better. I have been around a block or three and had also seen how trolls operated on other social media platforms.

But I forgot. That's what the phishers want you to do: trust all the bees in the Hive. Because, of course, we are a community and we stick together. But, actually, not all of us do. You can read the gory details - and how I dealt with it who helped me - here.

Word to the wise: when you read the post, @hivewatchers are the Hive equivalent of @steemcleaners and do a fantastic job.

The phishers didn't (hard)fork off

It seems that along with the good guys, the baddies came along with us when we Hived of from that blockchain. The value of Hive has appreciated significantly, so the crooks are back in their droves and up to their old tricks. Unsuspecting noobs are being phished and thousands of liquid HP and HBD are being stolen.

Don't fall into the trap - here's how

I "blame" my being phished on being gullible and trusting. That's only part of it. I was stupid.

I really should have known not to click on something that

• was in a comment from an unfamiliar account, i.e. from an account (or person) that I'd not seen before. That should have been a sign, but I was only too delighted to be having some engagement; and
• it seemed too good to be true. The maxim, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is, really does apply on the blockchain and on the internet.

Source: @hivewatchers
Hivewatchers are warning us that this activity is happening on a number of blockchains and not just Hive. In this post they discuss this. Please read it. If you don't, please take this advice - from them - and summarised below:

• Do not click on any links provided to you through Discord, in comments, or in any sort of message
• There is, and never will be "Hive Official News" distributed via Discord direct messages
• There are never mandatory software updates and never will be for any end-user.
• The phishing message looks like this:
  

Back to the business of the day: why we Power Up on the first of the month?

Right now, and bearing in mind that Hive - along with other alts - and notwithstanding the volatility, has generally appreciated, it makes sense to power up and build Hive as an asset and as a crypto currency. Our wallets are part of that asset; the value of my wallet has more than doubled this year because of that and this.

So, from @traciyork who quotes @streetstyle, the brain behind the original power up day -

On the first day of the month...
• ...we ask that everyone who can do so, power up any amount of HIVE they are holding on the first of the month.
• ... we ask accounts that are currently powering down to please pause the powerdown during the hours of the first of the month.
• ... we ask that those who are trading and/or selling Hive, not to do so during the hours of the first of the month (and if possible, cancel any type of sell order on any exchanges for the same hours).

To qualify for prizes

Your reputation must be above 39 and below 70.
Your total Hive Power (before the 1st) must be more than 100 and less than 8000.
You must power up at least 10 Hive on December 1st.
You must write a post about your power up on December 1st with the tag #HivePUD (International) or #HPUD (Spanish).

Helping redfish to establish a power base

Many of you will know that in celebration of my third anniversary on the blockchain, I started offering a delegations to three deserving accounts each month. After a couple of months, I increased that from 50 to 100HP per account. Over the months, for various reasons, the criteria haven't worked, so from this month, I've tweaked them.

Criteria for winning a 100HP delegation for a month

• accounts must meet the base criteria for Hive Power Up Day as set out in Traci's post

And accounts must

• be less than 6 months old
• have at least two qualifying posts since the previous power up day. Posts that qualify must have 200 words or more and exclude posts for Power Up Day, and Actifit.
  As a reminder, the reason I added the second criterion is because -
  Hive is a social blockchain: it's for socialising, ruminating and just generally hanging out.
• a reputation of less than 61
• not more than 500 HP in their accounts before they power up - both on the first of the month

If fewer than three accounts meet the criteria, the delegation will be allocated either to a curation initiative or to accounts (randomly selected) from communities that @acidyo has identified as part of @ocd's community incubation program.

March Power Up, and potentially marching to a second tune

A year ago, I was facing the possibility - and which came to pass - of losing all my work - and income. I'll not labour the point except to say that, at the time, I effectively had three jobs (or gigs) and they all went the same way we all did: into lockdown. I spent the next nine or so months eaking out the last of my credit and the nest-egg I'd built on that other blockchain, and accepting help from a friend. To say that it's been difficult, is an understatement.

Over the last six or so weeks, my fortune has changed significantly. I'm not elaborating too much and at the risk of appearing cynical and paranoid; until everything's signed and sealed, I'm keeping mum.

Let's just say, that things are sufficiently positive for the first time in over a year, that this month, I actually splashed out and used a teeny little bit of my liquid HBD to buy some Hive to power up. The bulk, of it, however, is being saved in case we have a rainy day.

My wallet before powering up

And, without further ado, my wallet after powering up: Ta-daaa!

This has to be the biggest ever power up I have ever done. It is also the final time that I will be eligible for any of the monthly prizes - according to Hiveblocks, with that power up, my rep has just hit 70, although it still shows 69 on PeakD.

Thank you

I'd like to extend my gratitude to all the folk who have contributed to my being able to do this - and there are far too many to name - for fear I'll leave someone out. Special thanks to @hivebuzz from whome I received a delegation after last month's Power Up Day.

Oh, and if I'm a little scarce this week it's because I am in a two- perhaps three-day meeting and most definitely AFK. I'll not be ignoring anybody. And, a rep of 70 notwithstanding, I plan to continue my involvement with Hive Power Up Day, and playing my little bit in supporting redfish navigate the often murky waters of the blockchain.

Happy week!

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Post Script

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• If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:
• re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I plan to add them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
• and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.
• I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised appplications. From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click on the image below to sign up -

Image: @traciyork

• I also share my occasional instagram posts to the crypto blockchain using the new, and really nifty phone app, Dapplr. On your phone, click the icon below, and give it a go.