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Why Is There A Rise in COVID-19 Cases Amidst The Vaccination Drive?

Jul 01, 2020

Right when India was starting to smell victory against the deadly COVID-19 disease, the virus has struck back with a new strain, which in a way has derailed the ambitious vaccination drive of the Indian government.

The virus has restarted spreading its wings across India, and this time, the victims and culprits (spreaders of the virus) are the same people.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already confirmed that the new strain of the coronavirus is even more contagious than the previous one, and at the same time, people in India have started to take it less seriously.

What the government has to say?

To investigate and figure out ways to stop the second wave of COVID-19, the central government formed a panel, which in its report, said, “The main reason behind the second wave is the superspreader events like weddings, elections and social gatherings, and people being unwilling to keep following the social distancing norms.

Niti Ayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul has suggested not to show any laxity in our fight against COVID-19, as breaking the chain of transmission should be our utmost priority at the moment. He also emphasized that vaccines are a major tool in our mission but we can not afford to give up on the containment and surveillance methods that we have been following for so long.

What’s the actual COVID-19 situation in India?

In the last 24 hours ending at 8 AM Monday, India recorded the highest ever 1,03,558 new COVID-19 cases. These cases have taken India’s total to 1,25,89,067, out of which 9.07 lakh are currently active, while 1.17 crore has recovered successfully. In the last 24 hours, a total of 478 deaths have been reported, taking the toll up to 1.65 lakh.

Maharashtra, the business capital of the country, is the worst affected state right now with over 3.36 lakh active cases. The state recorded 31,643 cases on Monday itself. To curb the resurgence of the virus, the state is likely to release new work norms by April 1. The decision on a full lockdown will be taken in a meeting headed by the Chief Minister of the state.

In a strange occurrence, eight states of the country accounted for 84.5 percent of the total 68,020 fresh cases recorded on Monday. Delhi also recorded more than 1,900 cases on Monday, breaking its past three-month record.

Why should we be worried?

India’s indigenous vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield – have been performing well, but looking at the huge population of our country, it is impossible to immunize everyone in a short span of time. Till now, India has managed to vaccinate only six crore people, which is just 4.43 percent of the 135.5 crore population of the country.

More shockingly, only 0.5 percent of people in India had received both doses of vaccines by March 18, 2021. If Indian authorities maintain the same pace of vaccination, they would be able to vaccinate 70% of the population in the next 10.8 years.

Hence, it becomes essential for the people of the country to maintain the social distancing norms specified by the authorities, so that the government doesn’t have to use their time, manpower and focus on stopping the spread of the virus, instead of speeding up the inoculation drive.

How can we help the government?

Any government can not succeed against the deadly virus if the people of the country do not contribute their bit to the mission. Hence, getting vaccinated timely should be our top priority, and until we are not inoculated, we must follow the social distancing norms.

To stop the resurgence of COVID-19 in India, people must ensure that they are following all the protocols set by their local authorities, and also step forward to get themselves immunized against the disease. We must stop the spread of misinformation and myths related to the disease and vaccines. Moreover, people should also ignore attending social gatherings to stay safe.

ORDER VITAMIN-C to increase immunity

Use Sanitiers! Its Not Over Yet

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Seeko v1.0.10 – Community Site Builder with BuddyPress[Nulled][Free Download]

Seeko is a fast and a ready to use platform to create functional community websites.You can build your site visually using Elementor plugin and we also have a cutting edge Front-end Header builder. All theme settings can be change while you see the effects right away on your site using WordPress customiser.

Our theme includes a one of a kind search and filtering system which is a must in any community site. You can now search members and groups and define your fields to appear in the search form. Coming up search and filter for posts and post types.

Easy to customize:

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Fast & light theme:

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Sell memberships, earn money

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BuddyPress features

  • Beautiful User Interface
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  • Micro interactions
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  • Allow members to upload images, video, audio

Developer friendly:

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  • Highly customisable

Extra Features:

  • SEO Optimised
  • Multi Language
  • Google Fonts
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  • Maintenance mode
  • Unlimited Sidebars
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  • Seeko Theme core
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  • Stax Header Builder
  • Seeko Pro Search
  • Posts Like
  • Ajax Login & Facebook login/register
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That Witch! An Excerpt from ‘Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen’

I always forget that, in the popular imagination, the copy editor is a bit of a witch, and it surprises me when someone is afraid of me. Not long ago, a young editorial assistant getting her first tour of The New Yorker offices paused at my door to be introduced, and when she heard I was a copy editor she jumped back, as if I might poke her with a red-hot hyphen or force-feed her a pound of commas. Relax, I wanted to say. I don’t make a habit of correcting people in conversation or in print — unless it’s for publication and they ask for it, or I’m getting paid. We copy editors sometimes get a reputation for wanting to redirect the flow, change the course of the missile, have our way with a piece of prose. The image of the copy editor is of someone who favors a rigid consistency, a mean person who enjoys pointing out other people’s errors, a lowly person who is just starting out on her career in publishing and is eager to make an impression, or, at worst, a bitter, thwarted person who wanted to be a writer and instead got stuck dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s and otherwise advancing the careers of other writers. I suppose I have been all of these.

But good writers have a reason for doing things the way they do them, and if you tinker with their work, taking it upon yourself to neutralize a slightly eccentric usage or zap a comma or sharpen the emphasis of something that the writer was deliberately keeping obscure, you are not helping. In my experience, the really great writers enjoy the editorial process. They weigh queries, and they accept or reject them for good reasons. They are not defensive. The whole point of having things read before publication is to test their effect on a general reader. You want to make sure when you go out there that the tag on the back of your collar isn’t poking up — unless, of course, you are deliberately wearing your clothes inside out.

When the opening chapters of Philip Roth’s I Married a Communist ran in The New Yorker, I got to OK it. It was immaculate, partly because we were working from the galleys of the book: copy editors at Farrar, Straus and Giroux had already been over it, and, once a piece is in that form, authors, agents, and editors are reluctant to change a ligature. I went over it, giving it all I had: sometimes copy departments at publishing houses miss something, just as we sometimes miss something. As it happens, I noticed a small inconsistency in a passage that was quoted from a children’s history book. It was a long quotation, set off in small type, and it was repeated at the end, with some slight variation. I marked it and gave my proof to the fiction editor, Bill Buford. Later, Bill’s assistant came bounding up the stairs and delivered to me a color Xerox of the first page of my proof, on which Buford had written in blue, “Of Mary Norris, Roth said: ‘Who is this woman? And will she come live with me?’”

Up to that point, I’d read only Goodbye, Columbus and Portnoy’s Complaint. Helen Stark, who was in charge of The New Yorker’s editorial library, had been all atwitter when The Ghost Writer ran in the magazine — she saved it for herself to index. Now I bought the audiobook of I Married a Communist and listened to it on a drive back from Ohio. It was read by the actor Ron Silver, and I almost went off the road during an ecstatic passage where the stars were furnaces: furnace of Ira, furnace of Eve. It seemed so warm and passionate. The book was funny, too: the hero is forced to schlep his girlfriend’s daughter’s harp all over town, and I had a harpist in the family, so I knew what a pain the harp was — there is nothing heavenly about a working harp. I subsequently had a year of Roth: Patrimony, The Facts (“Reader, I married her”), all the Zuckerman books. When Exit Ghost came out, I went back and read The Ghost Writer. I was on a trip to Amsterdam and saw Anne Frank’s house and reread her diary while staying in a hotel on the spot of one that burned down during the war. I was so sorry when I ran out of Roth to read.

I did speak with Roth on the phone once, closing a piece about Saul Bellow, and saw him at a New Yorker Christmas party. I have been smitten ever since the proposition on the page proof. I suppose all he wanted was a housekeeper, someone to keep track of the details. But if he should ever read this I just want to say I’m still available.

Excerpted from Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris. Copyright © 2015 by Mary Norris. With permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Connect with us

Edible Agroforestry: Designing Your Own Food Forest

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Backyard Abundance, an environmental education non-profit organization, has released an open-source document on how to create your own “food forest” through what is called, Edible Agroforestry.

Backyard Abundance says this about their pdf document “Edible Agroforestry Design”

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Agroforestry is the combination of crops (plants, animals, fungi) and trees in forest-inspired agricultural systems that benefit human communities through a greater connection to landscapes, improved stewardship of resources, and enhanced economic opportunities.

Current edible agroforestry research is extensive, but specific planting layouts are sparse and typically focus on only a handful of species and techniques. Without design examples of best-practices, growers are confronted with a huge barrier of time, money, and risk associated with researching planting configurations, estimating implementation costs and payback, and experimenting with planting techniques.

The “Edible Agroforestry Designs” document provides design templates of edible agroforestry practices to aid growers with the design, implementation, and management of environmentally-beneficial ecosystems that support personal income and community needs.

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Biden to Ban Menthol Cigarettes, Citing Health Impact on Youth and Black People

Elias Marat

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The Biden administration is reportedly planning to propose an immediate ban on menthol cigarettes, a product that has long been targeted by anti-smoking advocates and critics who claim that the tobacco industry has aggressively marketed to Black people in the U.S.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the administration could announce a ban on menthol and other flavored cigarettes as soon as this week.

Roughly 85 percent of Black smokers use such menthol brands as Newport and Kool, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Research has also found that menthol cigarettes are easier to become addicted to and harder to quit than unflavored tobacco products, along with other small cigars popular with young people and African Americans.

Civil rights advocates claim that the decision should be greeted by Black communities and people of color who have been marketed to by what they describe as the predatory tobacco industry.

Black smokers generally smoke far less than white smokers, but suffer a disproportionate amount of deaths due to tobacco-linked diseases like heart attack, stroke, and other causes.

Anti-smoking advocates like Matthew L. Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, also greeted the move to cut out products that appeal to children and young adults.

“Menthol cigarettes are the No. 1 cause of youth smoking in the United States,” he said. “Eliminating menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars used by so many kids will do more in the long run to reduce tobacco-related disease than any action the federal government has ever taken.”

However, groups including the American Civil Liberties Group (ACLU) has opposed the move, citing the likelihood that such an action could lead to criminal penalties arising from the enforcement of a ban hitting communities of color hardest.

In a letter to administration officials, the ACLU and other groups including the Drug Policy Alliance said that while the ban is “no doubt well-intentioned” it would also have “serious racial justice implications.”

“Such a ban will trigger criminal penalties, which will disproportionately impact people of color, as well as prioritize criminalization over public health and harm reduction,” the letter explained. “A ban will also lead to unconstitutional policing and other negative interactions with local law enforcement.”

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Pollution Is Making Human Penises Shrink and Causing a Collapse of Fertility, Scientists Say

Elias Marat

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With many still scoffing at the idea of rampant pollution posing a threat to humanity, a new study could drastically change the conversation: the chemicals across our environment could be the cause of shrinking human penises.

According to a new book by Dr. Shanna H. Swan, conditions in the modern world are quickly altering the reproductive development of humans and posing a threat to our future as a species.

The argument is laid out in her new book Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race.

The book discusses how pollution is not only leading to skyrocketing erectile dysfunction rates and fertility decline, but also an expansion in the number of babies born with small penises.

While it may seem like good fodder for jokes, the research could portend a grim future for humanity’s ability to survive.

Swan co-authored a study in 2017 that found sperm counts had precipitously fallen in Western countries by 59 percent between 1973 and 2011. In her latest book, Swan blames chemicals for this crisis in the making.

“Chemicals in our environment and unhealthy lifestyle practices in our modern world are disrupting our hormonal balance, causing various degrees of reproductive havoc,” she wrote in the new book.

“In some parts of the world, the average twentysomething woman today is less fertile than her grandmother was at 35,” she also wrote, noting that men could have only half the sperm count of their grandfathers.

Swan blames the disruption on phthalates, the chemicals used in plastic manufacturing that also have an impact on how the crucial hormone endocrine is produced

However, experts note that the proper implementation of pollution reduction measures could help humanity prevent the collapse of human fertility.

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Visualizing The World’s Deadliest Pandemics By Population Impact

Elijah Cohen

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Humanity has been battling against disease for centuries.

And while most contagious outbreaks have never reached full-blown pandemic status, Visual Capitalist’s Carmen Ang notes that there have been several times throughout history when a disease has caused mass devastation.

Here’s a look at the world’s deadliest pandemics to date, viewed from the lens of the impact they had on the global population at the time.

Editor’s note: The above graphic was created in response to a popular request from users after viewing our popular history of pandemics infographic initially released a year ago.

Death Toll, by Percent of Population

In the mid-1300s, a plague known as the Black Death claimed the lives of roughly 200 million people – more than 50% of the global population at that time.

Here’s how the death toll by population stacks up for other significant pandemics, including COVID-19 so far.

The specific cause of the Black Death is still up for debate. Many experts claim the 14th-century pandemic was caused by a bubonic plague, meaning there was no human-to-human transmission, while others argue it was possibly pneumonic.

Interestingly, the plague still exists today – however, it’s significantly less deadly, thanks to modern antibiotics.

History Repeats, But at Least We Keep Learning

While we clearly haven’t eradicated infection diseases from our lives entirely, we’ve at least come a long way in our understanding of what causes illness in the first place.

In ancient times, people believed gods and spirits caused diseases and widespread destruction. But by the 19th century, a scientist named Louis Pasteur (based on findings by Robert Koch) discovered germ theory – the idea that small organisms caused disease.

What will we discover next, and how will it impact our response to disease in the future?

Like this? Check out the full-length article The History of Pandemics

Republished from ZH with permission.

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Why I’m still single

I was married once. Technically for 12 years. We divorced 8 years ago. And I’m still single. I am 48 years old.

When my marriage was breaking up I fully believed that I would remarry in about 2 years. I have dated, but did not have a real relationship with a man until just 6 months ago. I was completely single for 7 and a half years.

I love my boyfriend but don’t see us getting married. We may be together, but not marry. I have no idea. Why did it take me 7 and a half years to find a boyfriend?

I have bipolar II. And ADHD. And anxiety. I am self aware enough to know that I am not always easy to be around. Although I take meds, I still can have sudden mood swings or just get extremely emotional.

I never know what wil trigger it. It maybe a scene in a movie. It maybe someone saying something to me that hurts my feelings. I can burst into tears or yell. Usually, I’m very laid back and not so sensitive. I really am. Sometimes I will just snap.

So I have trouble with romantic relationships. Many times, I have met a perfectly good man and impulsively dismissed him because of a text that he sent that I didn’t like. Then later upon reflection I’ll regret my rash dismissal of him.

Other times I’ll meet a guy, like him, but he end up dismissing me. I’ll be very hurt. Then I’ll realize I’d done or said something very over-dramatic. Or angry. Or crazy. Most men don’t want to date a woman who is normal most of the time, then without warning or reason, behaves in a very bipolar way.

Finally, last New Year’s Eve I met Shannon. He is so incredibly laid back that he’s usually okay with my erratic behavior. Oh we fight. Then we make up. We love each other. He just “gets” me. I don’t have to fake it around him.

I believe that people who have mental illnesses generally have more relationship problems than others because our “normal” partners just don’t understand us. And let’s face it, people tend to run from someone who can be moody, irrational, impulsive…

So long ago, I accepted the fact that I may not ever remarry. I may grow old alone. The thought of that does make me feel sad. I hope I don’t grow old alone. But if it happens, it happens. I honestly enjoy being alone. I have lots of friends. I’ll be okay.


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Tech - Sep 2017

BMW X7 SUV hints to a full sized X5 big brother.

Ahead of the Frankfurt Motorshow later this month leaked images of  BMW’s X7 IPerformance SUV concept, have come to light giving some interesting perspective to their new 7-series based full sized SUV. Due to arrive in international markets next year, the X7 will likely be based on a version BMW’s CLAR modular platform that underpins the current 7 Series.

The Key indications to the X7 production model are the simplicity through which the design is carried through, which allow for ques, typical of BMW design language to be very clear and apparent yet in effect still feel new. The clever design of the vehicle doesn’t hide the fact that this is no small car and the overall size and dimensions will not be overly friendly to the concept of the Undercover parking lot or Parrell parking in the CBD.

Interior Design

The concept makes use of the typical extravagance that is the very notion of a ‘concept car’ interior, but the main points to understand is the level of simplicity and the high-quality materials to be used. The use of light and space are used to conceal the cavernous exterior proportions rather well. This is through the large panoramic roof and the use of clever mood- lights that help add light to the cabin and give it the same effect as looking up at the sky light on a summers evening – or in fact the ceiling of a 7 Series, from which the system was undoubtedly lifted.

Infotainment will be handled through a driver focused 12.3 Inch Screen that serves as an instrument cluster and a smaller one that the centre console. Rear seat entertainment includes an additional two screens likely optional fair but an effective addition gives the SUV’s Child hauling destiny.  The usual mix of high-quality woods and metals is used to make up the cabin but the largest and most interesting is the number of seats totalling 6, and in fact suggesting to the 7 that will likely be available on the production model.

BMW X7 Availability in South Africa

Early production models will hit international markets as early as 2018, with no confirmed dates as to when we will receive the X7, but we should get the bruiser at some point in 2018.

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Awards for Excellence

The Awards For Excellence aim to recognise, promote and reward exceptional student commitment.

The Mullany Fund awards prizes to outstanding students of Physiotherapy at the University of the West of England, and of Medicine at Swansea University.

Below we've included testimonials from some of our winners, together with a list celebrating the winning recipients since the inception of the awards.

Steph Evans, 2019 winner

I graduated from UWE Bristol in July with a First Class Honours in Physiotherapy, and was awarded the Mullany Prize for Excellence .. I want to say that I think the work that the Mullany Fund does for physiotherapy and medicine students throughout the UK is inspirational. As an individual I have not always had a tremendous amount of self-confidence, especially in the region of education…However, receiving the Mullany Prize for Excellence has truly helped to develop my self-confidence and esteem in regard to my clinical skills. For this I wish to thank you so very much for creating Mullany Prize for Excellence so other physiotherapy students, as well as myself, can have an award which recognises our hard work and for contributing to others throughout our time at university.'

Zara Murphy, 2018 winner

'I was completely shocked but absolitely honoured to receive the award for my work throughout uni. We are very thankful to the family who donated the present.'

Victoria Baldy - 2017 winner

”I would like to say how honoured I am to have been presented with this prestigious Award. Throughout my three years at university I always strived to do my best and inspire others, and to be recognised is overwhelming….Receiving this Award has encouraged me to continue to achieve, inspire others and develop my learning through my career to the best of my ability.”

Lehrah Salisbury - 2016 winner

”I was honoured to learn of my selection for this Award and I am deeply appreciative of your generosity and support..I feel fortunate to have been involved in the development and changes within the physiotherapy program.”

Elliot Goodyer - 2013 winner

“It is overwhelming to be recognised for my efforts. This gesture has inspired me to continue to try my hardest and achieve the best I can.”

Awards for Excellence recipients

2019 - Steph Evans

2016 - Lehrah Salisbury

2013 - Elliot Goodyer

2010 - Katie Hurst / Eleanor Forrest

2018 - Zara Murphy

2015 - Jennifer Greet

2012 - Claire Stables

2009 - Nathan West

2017 - Victoria Baldy

2014 - Faye Goodwin

2011 - Chris Jones


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Episode 31

The Unsolved Murder of The Haunted Mansion’s Yale Gracey

Apple Podcasts
On Jensen and Holes: The Murder Squad this week we covered unsolved Halloween crimes. The first being the unsolved murder of Disney inventor Yale Gracey.

Gracey developed many of the illusions we still love today at Disneyland. He created the fire special effect on Pirates of the Caribbean, the pixie dust effect on Space Mountain and many of the illusions in the Haunted Mansion.

But on September 5, 1983 at 2:30 AM someone took Gracey and his creativity away from the world. Yale Gracey and his wife were asleep in their cabana at Bel Air Bay Club on Pacific Coast Highway when an intruder came in. The offender shot both Yale and his wife. Yale was killed but his wife survived. The working theory is the offender was a transient looking for money or drugs. This has never been confirmed and the case remains unsolved.

Marvin Brandland:
In October of 1982 Marvin and Ethel Brandland were at home giving out candy to trick-or-treaters in Fort Dodge, Iowa. They opened the door to see an older person with a pillow case over their head. The person said, "Trick or Treat. Give me your money or I’ll shoot."

Ethel and Marvin both thought it was a joke at first. Ethel even tried to lift the pillow case. The offender then pulled a gun and directed the couple to the basement where their safe was. At this point, Marvin reached for the gun. The man shot Marvin in the throat. Then he removed the pillow case and ran.

Ethel gave a description of the offender to law enforcement.
She said he had blondish hair and blue eyes. He was about 5 feet 8 inches tall and between the ages of 16 to 20 years old.

In 2010, law enforcement submitted the pillow case for DNA but there wasn't a large enough sample to try for a match. The case remains unsolved.

Cindy Song:
21-year-old Cindy Song got dressed up for a Halloween party in 2001. The Penn State student attended the Player's Night Club Halloween party in State College, Pennsylvania. She was dressed as a bunny in a pink sleeveless shirt with a rabbit design on it, white tennis skirt, brown leather suede knee-high boots, bunny ears and tail.

Cindy left the club at 2 AM and then went to a friend's house. Her friend drove her home around 4 AM to State College Park Apartments on Clinton Avenue. Based on evidence found inside her apartment, Cindy made it inside. Her eyelashes she worn for Halloween along with her backpack and phone. But her keys and purse were missing.

Hugo Marcus Selenski confessed that he and Michael Jason Kerkowski Junior killed Cindy Song. Selenski claimed he then killed Kerkowski for keeping a trophy from the murder. Selenski's confession has never been corroborated. Cindy Song still remains missing.

Karen Swift:
Karen Swift went to a Halloween party at Farms Country Club in Dyersburg, Tennessee on October 29, 2011. According to witness, the 44-year-old fitness instructor and mother of four had an altercation with another woman at the party.

Her husband David told authorities Karen came home and tucked her daughter into bed that night. But for unknown reasons, she left the house and didn't return. At 5AM a hunter spotted Karen's 2004 Nissan Murano with a flat tire on the side of road less than a quarter mile from her home.

There was no sign of Karen for over a month. On December 11th, two men discovered Karen's remains under kudzu near the Dyer County cemetery. Her cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the head. Karen Swift's murder is still unsolved.

This week we covered a variety of cases. We are looking for any information on each of them: imagineer Yale Gracey's murder; Marvin Brandland's murder; Karen Swift's murder; and the missing person case of Cindy Song.

If you have any information about these cases, please contact us.

1. Do not name names publicly. Send everything to the police or to this page and we will forward to the police.
2. Do not post side by side photos.
3. Do not contact any family members.
4. Do not doxx each other and be civil. We all want to the same thing.

As tips come in, Jensen and Holes will work to verify them. If they look good, we will publish them here to try and get us closer to their names.


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Episode 33

November 11, 2019   Tags: , , ,
Apple Podcasts
Eva Taylor:
73-year-old Eva Taylor went shopping with a friend during the morning and early afternoon of April 17th, 1974. After returning home, she and her friend caught up some. After her friend left she began reading her new book.

Eva talked to her daughter Joyce around 9:30 PM that night. She told her about the book: Captains and the Kings. Joyce assumed her mom would stay up and read like usual until midnight or so and then go to bed.

Based on the evidence at her home, it appears she did just that.

The next afternoon, Eva Taylor's neighbor noticed that there was no movement in her home. She tried to reach her by going over to the home and then by the phone. When she wasn't able to reach her, she called Eva's daughter Joyce.

Joyce and her husband came over to the house to check on Eva. Once inside the house, they called out to no answer. Joyce went through the kitchen and was on her way to the garage, when her husband called out.

Eva was still tucked into bed. She had been bludgeoned to death, most likely with a pipe. Her desk was in disarray. Some of her jewelry was missing: a dinner ring with one large diamond in the center with numerous smaller diamonds surrounding, wedding ring set- with one large diamond and several smaller diamonds on each side, the other with 4 to 6 small diamonds in line style, and a ring with single amethyst stone.

There was no sign of forced entry, but her sliding patio door was ajar two to three inches.

Law enforcement canvassed the neighborhood. Perhaps the best lead was from a teenager who saw a man running at full speed away from the area. He described the man as 18-24 years old, blond to light brown hair collar length but not long. He said he was approximately 6 feet, medium to thin build. The teen also described his clothes as a short sleeve white t-shirt, blue pants and white tennis shoes. Below is a map where the teen observed the man:

Eva Taylor's case remains unsolved to this day. But five years later, the Golden State Killer committed murders less than a mile from Eva Taylor's home. He had one failed attempt in October 1, 1979. Then GSK murdered Dr. Robert Offerman and Dr. Debra Alexandria Manning on December 30th, 1979. Two years after that he murdered Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez on July 27th, 1981.

Evidence has not directly linked the Golden State Killer to Eva Taylor's murder, but it is certainly a possibility.

We are looking for any information about Eva Taylor's murder. If you have any information about these cases, please contact us.

1. Do not name names publicly. Send everything to the police or to this page and we will forward to the police.
2. Do not post side by side photos.
3. Do not contact any family members.
4. Do not doxx each other and be civil. We all want to the same thing.

As tips come in, Jensen and Holes will work to verify them. If they look good, we will publish them here to try and get us closer to their names.


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First Conversation – Reflections

filed under: Decolonisation, White Privilege

There were many powerful outcomes and challenges from the first ‘Many Tribes Many People’ conversation held last Thursday. The most immediate for me was hearing about the endless conversations that Aboriginal people have been invited into since colonisation that have rarely served them. Instead their cultural information and knowledge has been stolen and exploited, or it is to satisfy the curiosity of white people, or information is gathered so that they can be managed by others under the banner of ‘deciding what is best for them’. Rarely has anything eventuated from these conversations for the benefit of Aboriginal people and their culture.

That Aboriginal people have not been listened to and have not benefited from these conversations is evident by the terrible health, social, legal and cultural issues they face. To hear that an Aboriginal nation to the North East of Perth has one remaining Elder who has the original language, and the subsequent loss of cultural knowledge and wisdom, was just one example of many.
This challenges us in developing these conversations. John Mogridge and I have already established some things that we feel are necessary. They include:

  • Not to bring structures into the conversations that have their origins in hierarchal power based systems.
  • Everyone participating is of equal value and worth
  • Everyone has the right to be heard
  • We are all on a healing journey together
  • A belief that we can find a way forward that benefits all involved

The challenge for me personally is coming to terms with being a white person of colonial decent with all of the privilege that offers and understanding ‘how I have been conditioned to think’ is part of the problem. Hearing how Aboriginal people are tired of being invited into conversations that do not serve them is understandable and brought that home for me. On reflection I believe it exists in white colonial culture as well. I am also over conversations that do not serve me but are simply information gathering exercises by others, or held to placate my concerns so that I think something is happening about the issues I have raised. In fact I was over them a very long time ago.

What I am saying is this is an issue for us all and to hear and support Aboriginal people we must address this within the culture we are part of, and how it impacts on us as well. How often have you been invited into conversations such as these, and has the ineffectiveness of them led to feelings of disempowerment and frustration with loss of trust in governance structures as it has for me? I for one see this repeatedly in our politics where we are offered vote buying promises that do not eventuate when elected. Perhaps this is a strategy of the Colonist doctrine that is now manifested in exploitive capitalism, education, health service, aged care, politics and more.

Another feature of the Colonist doctrine is one of adopt their beliefs and practices if you want to enjoy the immense privilege and benefits offered; although you can settle for lesser privilege if you simply comply and do not rock the boat. It is made clear that if you speak out against the destructive and exploitive use of power that drives colonisation in all of its modern day manifestations you will lose your privileges. If you do not cease at that point and comply you will be labelled, marginalised, penalised, medicated, locked up and more. Is it a loss of privilege and the fear of penalty that keeps us quiet and stops us from acting? I think so and there are many examples to remind us of that. Take a look at plight of the Aboriginal people of Australia who have refused or been unable to comply. They have met the full brunt of strategies such as these.

What does this mean for my continued involvement in these conversations? I am not sure about you but for me it includes the following:

  • Understanding that I participate in the system that is creating the problem for Aboriginal people and many others
  • Understanding that I enjoy privilege as a participant in this system
  • Understanding I have inherited a mind heavily conditioned to think in a particular way
  • Understanding that if I am to hear aboriginal people fully I must find my way out of this mind and join them in their world view rather than expecting them to join me in mine.
  • Overcoming my fear of speaking up and taking action, or belief that it is pointless and ineffective. For my Aboriginal friends and all others who have suffered from the doctrine of colonisation including us, our nature family and Mother Earth – I must find an effective way to have a voice and act.

The last point is big for me. What will it mean if I am fully visible in my opposition to the exploitive and destructive use of power for the benefit of the ‘few’ that is dominant in the world today. As I said earlier, there are abundant examples of what happens to people who do this and I am not interested in being a martyr. When we react out of emotions (anger/rage in particular) they know how to deal with that. After all they have had hundreds, if not thousands of years, to work that out. You are discredited or invalidated, and if this does not silence you, then disempowered by marginalisation, labeling, medication, and eventually imprisonment. No wonder our institutions have a highly disproportionate population of aboriginal and other disadvantaged people who have been excluded from privilege.

However there is something I have learnt in my explorations that is very useful for me and provides a way forward. Rather than waiting for our leaders to act to put this right, or trying to convince/force them to act, it is time to join with others and support each other to live the lives we know to be authentic and right. This starts with explorative conversations to untangle the dynamics of colonisation and how it has impacted all of us. Conversations where we meet as equals and share our experience so that we can work it out and support each other in our healing journeys and desire for a better world. A world that becomes visible when we escape the limitations of conditioned ways of thinking and are empowered to act for the betterment of all.

I look forward to the next conversation on June 21st 6pm. Join us if you wish.

These conversations are happening in many forms and if you wish to participate check out the events page on this website. You will find talks, conversations, nature connection events, experiential learning, training and more. All with the common purpose of moving beyond the thinking and dynamics that keep us trapped in conflict and destruction so as to find a better way.


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Best Buy: 15% off eShop cards with Pokemon Sun/Moon Pre-order

Electronic retail chain Best Buy is holding a special deal for eShop cards when you pre-order a copy of Pokémon Sun or Moon. All you need to do is select whether you’ll get Sun or Moon, then, choose the eShop credit amount you want where it’ll then apply the 15% for the card.

If you are looking for a quick chance to get a eShop card on sale, this is the time to act since they typically never go on sale compared to physical media of games. Thanks CAG for the heads up.

Best Buy Cyber Monday: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Select 3DS Games

Kirby: Planet Robobot - Nintendo 3DS - Larger Front

Best Buy is going all in with it’s Cyber Monday in July deals. At the gaming spectrum of things, you can get this offer of buying One select 3DS games and get the other for 50% off. The select game list actually offers some decent games for purchase. This also stacks up with Gamers Club Unlocked, knocking the price down to $31.99 for games that cost $39.99 (20% discount)

Games like Fire Emblem: Birthright, Kirby Planet Robobot, Pokemon Omega Ruby, and many more are included. Be sure to click here for all the 39 titles to select from. If your intrested in Gamers Club Unlocked discount, you can find more information here.

Gaming Has Never Been So Delicious… Pre-order Xenoblade Chronicles X at Best Buy And Get $10 For Pizza

What a time it is to alive! Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, something else just pops out of nowhere to surprise us. This time, you’ll get 10 smackaroos for pre-ordering and purchasing your copy of Xenoblade Chronicles X at Best Buy. Yes, you read that right… money for pizza.

In all honestly, this just gives the gamers who were planning to pick this game up will not only be able to enjoy this huge JRPG, but also fight hunger at the same time. Win-win for everybody, right? You can find more information on the sponsors website.

You’re going to get Xenoblade Chronicles X at Best Buy anyway. Why not get $10 in free e-Pizza cash, too?

Attention: Game night is now on. If it sounds too good to be true, don’t worry, it’s not.

Here’s how to make it happen.

1. Pre-order Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U (excluding Collector’s Edition) by Dec. 3, 2015. Make sure to purchase it by Dec. 10. Limit one pre-order per person. Limited quantities and no rain checks.

2. One code for $10 in e-Pizza cash per game will be provided and must be entered at by Jan. 14, 2016, to receive a virtual prepaid MasterCard valid for $10 toward purchasing pizza.

4. Cards are valid through Jan. 31 anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Cards are not reloadable or redeemable for cash and aren’t for resale. No cash back will be given, and any remaining balance after the redemption period are forfeited

amiibo Figures Are Having Tremendous Success at Best Buy; Neck to Neck With Disney Infinity

It’s evident that amiibo figures are selling of the shelves right now. With some figures being scarce; such as Villager and Wii Fit Trainer being extremely difficult to come across to in stores in North America. We know have confirmation that amiibo is at war with it’s competitors.

Coming from the retailer Best Buy, amiibo has outlasted Skylanders by 8% rise of increase and is tied with Disney Infinity of total sales in the retailer. This data is coming from Consulgamer with these data charts.

Amiibo sales at Best Buy

Nintendo has previously confirmed that amiibo has sold over 710,000 figures in over three weeks during it’s most recent NPD report. Entering a market with tough competition, the future of amiibo was unknown, but at this rate, the future seems bright over the time. Of course, Nintendo needs to release amiibo figures that will entice the consumers to feel the ‘need’ of buying it. How impressed has amiibo left you? Which figures would you like to be added in the future? Let us know in the comment section below.

Meta Knight Amiibo announced as an exclusive to Best Buy

It’s official. The Meta Knight Amiibo will be sold exclusively by Best Buy officially by store. Don’t expect to find this figurine at any other store in the US, because you’ll be out of luck.

Meta Knight isn’t the only exclusive figure to the store, since Shulk will be exclusive to GameStop when it releases. Are you willing to make a trip to Best Buy for the Meta Knight Amiibo? Let us know in the comment section below.

Double the Pokemon, Double the savings. Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire 2 game pack bundle announced

Get ready North America Pokemon trainers! Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire launches in less than a month! Planning to go competitive with a friend or a sibling? Secure 2 copies of each game with this bundle. Via Press Release, Nintedo has announced a double pack for the games, containing one copy of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire each. The pack will go on sale on November 21 for the price of $79.98. Each copy of the game includes 100 potions in the game, redeemable a download code included in the box.

The Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Dual Pack launches on Nov. 21, exclusively at Best ...

The bundle pack will be sold exclusively at Best Buy and through Amazon’s online website. Here’s the details Nintendo gave:

Fans who want to pick up both the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire games when they launch for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on Nov. 21 now have access to a special offer. The Dual Pack launches on Nov. 21, exclusively at Best Buy retail stores, on or on at a suggested retail price of $79.98. Separately, each game sells at a suggested retail price of $39.99. The Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Dual Pack includes both games, letting players experience both adventures (not to mention the ability to capture both Legendary Pokémon).

The Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Dual Pack launches on Nov. 21, exclusively at Best Buy retail stores, on or on at a suggested retail price of $79.98. (Photo: Business Wire)

Best Buy lists Smash Bros. for Wii U controller bundle for a October 24th release date

20140724-122452-44692033.jpg Best Buy has listed on their website for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for an October 24th release date, the one that contains the physical copy of the game and the GameCube controller for a price of a $100.

As of now, no official release date has been given by Nintendo themselves. Just remember that Best Buy is a retailer that has a past for leaking release dates earlier than they were announced officially. So take this with a grain of salt.

Best Buy says GameCube controller will be supported with titles besides Smash Bros. Wii U

20140716-234424-85464495.jpg According to the latest listing from Best Buy’s online website, it states that the GameCube controller will be supported with games besides Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Here’s what the website pinpointed the details how it would work via the adapter and the controller:

•Play a variety of games on your Wii U using your classic GameCube controller
•Enjoy your favorite titles, including Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with the familiar GameCube controls you know and love
•Invite your pals to join in the fun by connecting up to four original GameCube or WaveBird controllers to your Wii U

So if you have your old reliable Wave Bird lying around in your house, dust it off, as it will be usable according to the latest listing.

The way it’s worded makes it seem that games from the Wii generation that supported the GameCube controller will be usable via Wii Mode, which was essential to many gamers who used it on Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

What games could take incentive in the GameCube controller usage with Wii U games? Big runner-ups will be Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World.

Could this mean developers can hop back onto the Wii U for a system to develop games on with a more traditional controller? Possibly, only time will tell. Will you be getting the GameCube Adapter?

Buy One Get One free game offer at Best Buy

20140713-140521-50721102.jpg A superb offer will be available for 3DS owners to double dip on a offer you can’t miss out on. Customers will be able to get in on the Buy One Get One Free offer starting this upcoming Sunday. The game’s you can get only apply to 1st party or Nintendo published games.

The games you can get include:
Pokemon X
•Pokemon Y
•Kirby: Triple Deluxe
•Yoshi’s New Island
•Tomodachi Life
•The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
• Mario Golf: World Tour
•Mario Party: Island Tour
•Disney Magical World

This deal alert comes from Wario64, whom works for the videogame deal website CAG. Are you planning on picking up any games? Let us know in the comment section below!

Nintendo announces E3 plans, Smash Bros. Invitational planned

In a very early, sneaky announcement, Nintendo has revealed what they plan to do this year at E3. Let’s start by talking about the negative first. Nintendo will not have a live show at the Nokia theater, but instead will do a stream like last year, via Nintendo Direct. Now that that’s put aside, lets talk about the good stuff. And I can guarantee you, it certainly is good.

We can expect many changes. Not everything will be announced at one single briefing or presentation. As stated by the video, their will be announcements all week. We can expect to see Reggie Films-Aime (President and COO of Nintendo of America), the Treehouse translation team, and most likely (but not confirmed, Satoru Iwata) in Los Angeles. Fans will be able to watch the presentation(s) through stream. The stream will take place on June 10th 9 AM Pacific Time.

Treehouse team E3 appearance -The Treehouse team won’t only be there for appearance, they’ll be giving attendees live in-game depth demos and unscripted codes in their booths also. This is where you can expect many journalists to record their in game demo’s at E3. Best of all, even if you can’t attend E3, you can still watch the demos being played every hour in E3, from opening to closing time.

Smash Bros appearance at Best Buy- A Smash Bros. Invitational is planned at Best Buy’s across North America this year. Just like 2013, demos will be playable at select Best Buy’s and will have to wait in long lines, but it will be worth it. As the new Smash Bros games look superb. Now official word has been said whether the 3DS and/or Wii U version will be at Best Buy, leaving fans a little bit with a cliffhanger. Let’s just hope Microsoft employee doesn’t sneak into the scene of the battle again!


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The Importance of Knowing Your Own Taste: Ways to Avoid the HYPE and HATE Train

There are lots and lots of reasons to be clear about what you want in life and reading. For starters, there’s considerably less pain and more to gain. It’s a great way to find more joy, meaning and happiness. And it’s a strong way to avoid following the crowd off a cliff and into a great big steaming pile of cow dung (which you could’ve smelt from the top of that cliff if you’d only listened to your nose).

Cos yeah, we’ve all been there (figuratively speaking). We’ve all picked up that book we damn well knew we didn’t want to read; we’ve all taken someone else’s word to avoid something we later enjoyed. Then we’ve kicked ourselves for time wasted. We’ve all thought why did I listen/not listen to the hype just then. And of course, no one is fully immune to the nebulous methods of marketing gurus, but being clear on what you do actually want is a good way not to get swayed in either direction. It’s a good way to know whether to hop on that bandwagon… and it’s also a good way to steer clear of the cancellation fanatics too. Knowing your own taste is about being comfortable in your own skin (so that hopefully you don’t go all Buffalo Bill on your enemies).

The great thing about knowing your own taste is you don’t have to avoid different points of view… not that it would work anyway. Amazingly, you can’t socially distance yourself from every single differing opinion (much as some people would like to try) which is why it’s probably healthier to just take it in small doses 😉 And luckily, there’s this tried and tested method of just listening to people with different views/perspectives/tastes. I often read and watch reviews from people who don’t have the same opinions to me- and you know what? Doesn’t hurt a bit! Sometimes I learn something, sometimes I find something new to read… and sometimes nothing happens at all and I go on my merry way.

Because part of being a sentient human/primate is knowing not to take every word other people say as gospel. It’s only if we know ourselves that we can understand another point of view. That’s why if you know your own taste, you won’t have any trouble identifying where opinions overlap and where they diverge. It really is that simple.

Plus, there’s the added bonus that it might just make you a better reviewer. I know we all like to pretend that our word is final, but taste is subjective! And that means knowing where other people might not agree with us. I, for one, have always been pretty clear that I like prose on the more flowery side (or as I like to put it, I’m firmly on the Fitzgerald side of the Hemmingway-Fitzgerald Divide). I also care less about world building than some other fantasy fans. Etcetera etcetera. Point is: it’s good to know when not to trust reviewers.

So, don’t just listen to me! Go with your gut. Pick up that book no one but you seems interested in. Read whatever *you* want to read (and then put it down again if it turns out it wasn’t for you 😉).

Oh and just by chance, as I was finishing writing this post, this helpful video popped up in my subs:

Just some food for thought! What do you think? Do you think knowing your own taste helps you avoid the hype/hate train? Let me know in the comments!

Misconceptions of Negative Reviews

thoughts orangutan

A few weeks ago, I saw something that has become the norm online: a famous author (who shall remain unnamed) saying why people shouldn’t write negative reviews. Now, not only is *criticising criticism pretty hypocritical*, it also comes across as someone with a fair amount of power trying to stifle conversation- and let’s just say I don’t approve. But going beyond this individual’s fame and success, there are a lot of people who hold similar views. Personally, I don’t have a problem with people choosing to only do positive reviews, but I think negative reviews get a bad rap. Sometimes I just think people don’t understand why people do them and assume motives that aren’t there. So, I thought I’d break down where I reckon these misconceptions are coming from:

meanMisconception #1: Critical reviewers are MEAN. Well, that could be true, who knows? 😉 Just kidding- I think this assumption is reading wayyy too much into things. Beyond the fact it’s probably not a good idea to psychoanalyse strangers on the internet, I also think that it’s not taking into consideration that people are different and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some reviewers are blunter than others, some are snarkier, some are funnier- because that’s their personality. Not to go all Big Five Personality on y’all, but (and I can’t believe I have to point this out) being more agreeable (for instance) doesn’t make you inherently a better person. For goodness sakes- you don’t have to like everyone’s way of doing things, yet I think we can all agree that how you review isn’t the next Great Moral Debate!

the devil hocus pocusMisconception #2: We want to upset authors. Also known as the “reviews are meant to help you improve” idea. Ermmm no. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: reviews are for READERS! That means whether the review is positive or negative, it’s not designed for the author. Frankly, I’m too shy to @ authors when I’m being entirely positive- but I definitely would never do that if I had even a smidge of criticism there.

never happyMisconception #3: We’re hard to please… okay this one is totally possible. And I did see a really great video about critical reviews, which suggested there’s a possibility you’re reading the wrong books for you 😉 HOWEVER, while this could be true, most reviewers will have a mixed bag. I know I do. And the thing is, even positive reviews can hold criticism- which leads me onto…

throw booksMisconception #4: We don’t love books. Pahahaha- so because we don’t like your book, we can’t like any books?! I mean, this is just plain silly. Why dedicate hours and hours to a passion if we secretly don’t like it? Really though, this feeds into the idea that we can read *everything* *all the time*- which is daft. Encouraging people to read endlessly is preposterous. So much so that even positive reviews should point out the downsides- and vice versa. For instance, while some people are put off by slow books, I’ll be perfectly happy to give it a try. Even when I’m gushing, I don’t aim for mindless POSITIVITY- for me it’s primarily about getting people to be able to find the right book for them. Sure, this isn’t always possible, but it’s worth a try!

stop reading
Almost didn’t put this meme in cos it personally offends me!

Misconception #5: Negative reviews are to stop you reading! Again, negative reviews are often pretty nuanced. They’re written to explain why someone may/may not want to read something; they’re not explicitly designed to deprive other people of pleasure. A great review helps readers make informed decisions (see above about not having the time to read everything ever written). BTW people who read reviews also aren’t braindead- *SHOCKER* readers are smart and can make up their own minds whether to trust the reviewer thank-you-very-much! As someone who watched and read reviews long before I got into doing it myself, I think it’s safe to say I know how to read a review without losing my sense of self. It’s quite possible to see a negative review and say “I’m going to read it anyway!” Which brings me onto…

im-right-youre-wrongMisconception #6: We think WHAT WE SAY GOES! We’re not gods or always right (that’s why I did a post about how not to review). Reviews are biased, they’re not objective. You don’t have to listen to them all the time and you can come away thinking something completely different.

Misconception #7: We’re playing 4D chess… Cos right now there is this idea that you will get ALL THE VIEWS if you get a little snarky. While I don’t deny this can be the case for some people, I’d say I have the same stats on negative and positive pieces. Plus, this is a good opportunity to come full circle in the piece and say PEOPLE ARE A BIT MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. You can’t just bottle up people’s reasons for doing things in simple “oh they’re just looking for attention” terms. I for one didn’t start my blog for just one reason (and I can tell you when I started attention wasn’t even a remote possibility on my radar). So I think it’s time to finish off my piece with some age old wisdom:

when you assume

And with that I’d like to know what you think- do you reckon people have misconceptions about negative reviews? Or do you think any of these are spot on? Let me know in the comments!

I’ve been doing this nearly four years and I’ve received a lot of advice in that time- some of which has even been good 😉 Nonetheless, thanks to all the bad advice, I now think I also have a good idea of how not to approach a book blogger. So, I’ve compiled a “useful” list, for all those not in the know, of all the best ways to make a reviewer irate.

NB *please note, this is all in good fun, take this satirical piece seriously at your own peril* 😉

im-right-youre-wrongCorrect the reviewer on their opinions because their opinion is wrong and yours is right and soon they’ll understand that. Don’t be constructive and give reasons for your disapproval- it’s preferable if you use ad hominems like “you’re thick as pig shit” or more pretentious terms if you can manage it. Remember you can use a thesaurus on the internet and it doesn’t matter if your insults make sense- just try to find the longest word possible (like floccinaucinihilipilification or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious… although that second one’s more of a compliment 😉 )

pretending to readWhen you critique a review, don’t bother to actually read the review– remember your opinion is valuable and the reviewer is bound to listen to you, even if your suggestion makes no sense in the context eg “in the future you could write what genre it is” in a review that states as much in the first line- this will leave the baffled reviewer reading and rereading their work, trying to figure out what the hell you meant- which is what you want!

angry inside outAsk the reviewer why people are reading their review– make sure you say this in an as aggressive tone as possible- preferably in ALL CAPS example: I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE READ THIS TRASH!

I'm offendedGet insulted on behalf of the author for negative reviews– particularly if the author is a millionaire. Remember to take any criticism levied extremely personally- cos your hero’s honour is at stake and you must defend it! If they knew you existed, said author would probably thank you (or, you know, not).

angry catCritique the blogger’s layout– cos why not- if it’s offensive to your eye then it must be bad and if you don’t like the images they used, they have to know about it dammit.

you need to shut up.gifAnd my favourite: if you don’t like what a blogger has to say- harass them on twitter. This will not only show the world that you’re a *good person* but is a great way to change someone’s mind (also mind you don’t listen to any counter arguments they offer because you are a GOOD PERSON and they are a BAD PERSON). I have to add that this is an incredibly convincing tactic, cos I’m sure “YOU’RE WRONG, I KNOW YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE BETTER THAN YOU DO!” has convinced many people in history (particularly when coming from strangers).

Annnd *ouch*, I think I’m feeling the sting of my own sarcasm after that. What do you think of this list? Have you any other “helpful” criticisms to levy at book bloggers? Don’t be shy! And Happy April Fool’s!

Reviews are for READERS

So I spent a lot of time last week talking about writing and trying to encourage writers, which almost makes me feel like I neglected the reader-y side of my blog. But *have no fear* ranty monkey is here to talk about why I think reading and reviews!

rant orangutan.png

You see, like many other people on the blogosphere I’ve noticed an ongoing problem of a certain type of author (#notall) that goes after reviewers when they get a negative review. This is obviously something that’s existed longer than I’ve been around, yet I specifically saw a video recently (that I won’t share because it names the author in question) where a vlogger described a horrible incident of an author harassing them for their 3* review. Now I’m sure I don’t have to state the obvious, but I will anyway: THIS IS NOT ON.

Still the encroachment on what reviewers do goes further than this unfortunately. Because I also see a fair number of authors, every so often, pre-emptively telling would-be readers of their work how they ought to review. Which is also NOT ON. Ultimately I hold with the view: your platform, your rules. I do not see how someone else is entitled to tell others what to do on their own site. Particularly when it comes to opinion pieces like reviews- gah! The nerve!

Personally I have my own unspoken rules of how I like to run my blog and I see a lot of other reviewers make different choices. And whether they want to discuss certain aspects of a book, leave out negative reviews or only review certain kinds of books is *completely* up to them! It’s certainly not up to the author to determine what makes a satisfactory review.

And I say this not because I think people should avoid advice or never try to improve what they do- we’re all learning things all the time- but because I am seriously sceptical about whether someone who asks for reviews to be tailored for the author’s benefit are really looking out for the reviewer’s best interests. I do not think it is right to tell readers off for not giving a book a high enough rating, or not stating how the writer can improve, or heaven forbid “not getting it” (whatever that means)- dude, it’s not for your benefit. Most of us are trying to write reviews to help out fellow readers.

Sure, you’re welcome to write each and every review as a love/hate letter to the author– that’s your prerogative. In my experience though, most critics aren’t doing that. What motivates me personally, aside from enjoying chats about *BOOKS*, is knowing that I can help fellow bookworms out from under their crushing TBRs to figure out what they *need* to read a book and what they might want to skip. That’s why even if I gush over a book, I try to tell people what it is they can expect and point out that other people might not like it. Some of my favourite books of the year fall into this category- and that’s okay! Everyone has different tastes and is entitled to their opinion.

It’s kind of unbelievable that some authors use reviews as their personal critique anyway. I mean, it is supposed to be a finished product. I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but the time for critique should be a little earlier than the publication stage. Once it’s entered the market, it’s fair game. Especially if people have parted with time and money.

None of this is to say that authors can’t get something out of reviews. My personal view is that if a review helps an author I like then that’s *fantastic*- I obviously want all the authors I respect to have a long and illustrious career (if nothing else than for the selfish reason that I want to read *all* their future books). And guess what? People still go onto read books that are negatively received. In fact, I’ve gone out and read books I’ve seen people slate (morbid curiosity/monkey-brained masochism- call it what you will). In my experience, what actually puts readers off is whiny authors who moan about reviews.

throw books

And believe me, I get that writers poured a lot of work into it. I’m perfectly sympathetic to that. However, here’s the rub: reviewers put a lot of effort into their platforms too. No one has a monopoly on importance or conscientiousness here.

Contrary to what some writers might think, reviewers can’t control if they liked or disliked a book. Nor are they “out to get” anyone or likely to have personal vendettas against (often unknown) authors. Yet what reviewers do depend on is their ability to critique a book on its merit– and to start meddling with that undermines the whole process.

So I’ll say for the record: my reviews are for readers. Writers who think otherwise can kindly back away- I have bananas and I’m not afraid to use them!

How about you? Do you think reviews are for readers or authors? Let me know in the comments!

Why Not Five Stars?

all the stars.gif
To infinity and beyond!

(Or rather- why not 5 bananas?)

I’ve been doing this a while and one question I’ve had a few times when I post a 4 banana review is: why didn’t you give this 5 bananas?

Now of course I could do some soul-searching, tear my hair out because AM-I-BEING-MAJORLY-UNCLEAR and wonder WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH MY REVIEWS… but in all honesty, this is a very fair question and I can be totally calm about answering it (*freakout was for theatrical affect only… mostly*). Because sometimes it may not be totally obvious why a book- that on the surface level seems near perfect- didn’t get five stars from me. And, honestly there’s good reasons for that (I hope- otherwise it’s back to the drawing board and the aforementioned angsty soul-searching 😉 )

scooby doo mysteryThere was something missing– and sometimes it’s hard to articulate just what that *something* was… because, well, it was missing. So I don’t know what it was, do I? It’s a mystery to me…

confused_lion_kingSometimes I might have been thrown by a handful of comments that niggled away at me– like woodworm or termites or maybe something less serious (the bug imagery’s a bit extreme for a 4* tbh) and even though I tried to brush it aside it’s ended up riddling the book with doubt about how much I liked it. Now it’s pretty rare that I won’t say if this was the case, but there are times when I’d have to go into a whole lot of political theory and I seriously can’t be bothered because aghh it was one comment (okay, yes I do have these freakishly strong reactions to random lines in books, but I can occasionally curb my inner nitpick- not often, just sometimes)

whateverMaybe it just wasn’t unique enough. I’m sure as readers we all have tons of stories lodged into the back of our minds- the more we read, the harder it becomes for a book to clinch that coveted OMG spot, just by virtue of the fact that we can compare it to so many other stories.

can't get comfortableOr maybe my experience reading it wasn’t tucked up in the perfect spot with pleasant-yet-not-overbearing instrumental music lulling me into a state of calm… Okay I don’t actually need that to enjoy a book- still sometimes I can be tired and distracted and a book needs to do *a lot* of work in order to WOW me. (FYI this is the one I’d ask author’s, on my site or others, to assume is the reason every time 😉 )

banana gifSo, okay, it wasn’t perfect– but hey, there’s nothing wrong with that! I said this in my post about negative reviews and it’s worth repeating: it’s a scale. Just cos something didn’t scream THIS-IS-PERFECTION to me doesn’t mean it wasn’t great- especially since according to my very well thought out rating system, four stars is still awesome sauce with a side of bananas. Speaking of screaming…

chill slothIt didn’t make me squeal gleefully. Yes, this is an actual requirement for 5 bananas. I’m a squealer. Not just over books, I think I must have squealed a gazillion times in cutesy tv shows like Once Upon A Time which I’m back watching again… but I digress. Basically the book might be objectively brilliant, but if it didn’t push me into the stratosphere it’s not going to get top marks from me. I’m probably looking something like this sloth though…

tasteGenre bias? And yes the question mark is deliberate, cos I’m not sure about this one. I mean it’s not consciously done anyway. Looking at my book ratings though, I can see there is a clear bias in what books are more likely to get the best ratings. Fantasy and classics are just more likely to produce the aforementioned squeals… whereas contemporary and non-fiction draws the short straw. I have given a couple of books in my less-favoured genres 5 bananas before, but it’s super rare. Yet I feel like this is fair, because at ultimately the whole point of ratings is to showcase taste. So if my personal preference for certain genres is what pushes up my ratings for certain books, then I’m okay with that.

So what do you think? Do you sometimes have trouble articulating why a book didn’t deserve all the bananas/stars? If not- can you teach me some tricks so I don’t get asked this again? 😉 And do you have your own reasons why a book might not be classed as *perfection*? Let me know in the comments!

Is it worth analysing and reviewing non-fiction?

You know how sometimes real life and the blogosphere collide? Well recently someone told me that they didn’t think I should review non-fiction books. Now my first reaction was something like this…

shocked face.png

But then when I cooled down a bit, I actually came up with an argument as to why it’s just as important to review non-fiction as fiction…

To answer the question I posed- the short answer is YES! I mean, I started my blog to tell the truth- to be honest about my feelings regarding books in a way I often couldn’t be in real life. Part of that might be to recommend books and part of that is to discuss the way a book touched me- and for so many books what can really strike me is the ideas it holds inside. So what would be the point if we could not talk about the ideas in non-fiction? Why limit myself?

Well, for a lot of people, it is the fear of being called arrogant if we happen to disagree with greater thinkers than ourselves. BUT- and I shouldn’t really have to point this out- just because someone disagrees with another person doesn’t mean they think they’re better than them- just that, in the words of John Mill, “mankind are not infallible”. Moreover- how limiting would it be to the progress of human thought if you could never disagree? Disagreement is the very essence of finding truth and having a healthy debate (Also “how dare you disagree with my favourite philosopher you arrogant prick” is not an argument or a refutation, just sayin’ 😉 ).

Non-fiction creates a discussion and encourages the spread of ideas. So much of it is crying out to be shared, discussed and argued with. A lot of these thinkers did not want people blindly listening to them or obeying them like lemmings running off a cliff…

lemmings running off a cliff.gif

Of course, there are different ways of looking at and writing about non-fiction. I’ve personally found the more philosophical a book, the more room for thought there is in my post about it. And that is so exciting to me! It keeps me on my toes and makes for more diverse types of reviews.

For me, and for many of you, book blogging is a part of our journey as readers. We evolve with the things we read with the things we read and if we can’t or don’t feel comfortable arguing back or discussing ideas then we may as well pack the whole thing in.

Quite simply, when I talk about ideas I learn about them. As fun as it is to be a passive reader, it is very rewarding to actually have to think while I read from time to time. And knowing that I have to write about it afterwards really helps me stay focused. I learn so much when I decide to read and review something non-fiction. I won’t be stopping any time soon.

So what do *you* think? Should we discuss and review non-fiction just as much as fiction? Let me know in the comments!

Reading Between the Lines Is Not A Thing

*Warning: I’m talking about one of my biggest pet peeves- this may get ranty*

Hi all! So I’m gonna start by laying all my cards on the table. In my last post I admitted to committing the cardinal reading sin of just assuming a character was gay. While this is a somewhat popular theory around the book, I didn’t bother to back up my point, cos I know that while I was reading this was something that I just felt rather than based on any textual logic. Admittedly we all do this from time to time- and as long as we accept that these are fanfic-y assumptions we have made and not actual facts, we can all go along with our lives quite swimmingly.

just keep swimming.gif

The problem, for me, arises when people present what is actually a very flimsy opinion as fact. I cannot tell you how many times someone has said “well I just think so-and-so was secretly in love with so-and-so” and when I ask for evidence of this they just say “read between the lines!”

No, just no. That is not how analysis works. I’m gonna come right out and say this: there is no such thing as reading between the lines. I mean if you step back and think about it, what is actually in the blank space between the lines, except maybe a few scrawled notes we may have made? (yes I’m guilty of writing in books- it’s not sacrilege if you’ve ever been an English Lit student!) As self-referential as we may like to be, it is hardly good academic practice to say: “well I think so-and-so was in love with so-and-so- because that’s what I wrote in my notes!” Good analysis actually requires going back to the source material and showing that this is the case.

Remember what your primary school teacher said about how, when you construct an argument, “you can say anything as long as you can back it up”. Well- we need to go back to that- with an emphasis on that last part! Because at some point, when you make a claim, someone will say “prove it”.

More than that, we need to remember that sometimes the evidence is weighted in the other direction and an interpretation can be wrong. Because sometimes, someone can show evidence to the contrary that fits the story better. And also, to be absolutely clear, the absence of evidence is not evidence! (No matter how hard someone tries to convince me that, say, Mr Rochester is a zombie, I’m guessing that I will remain unconvinced). It’s obviously fine to have parallel convictions about what a book means, but sometimes opinions contradict each other and- this may come as a shock to some people- only one person is right.

And that’s a good thing- that’s the whole purpose of debate! We are actually trying to reach some sort of conclusion! When someone says: “I don’t agree with that interpretation, where’s the evidence for that?” it’s ridiculous to just throw up your hands and say “read between the lines!” Because that is not an argument. And if you say that, don’t expect me to take you seriously.

Okay- phew- glad to get that off my chest! What do you think? Are you open to more vague interpretations or are you more finicky about these things like me? And do you have any reading pet peeves that make your blood boil?

“I don’t care, I didn’t write it”

Alrighty I know I said I was gonna post up my Q&A next, but I haven’t had the time to compile it yet. Feel free to leave more questions- I’m leaving it open for a little longer 🙂 In the meantime, I thought I’d share some thoughts I had a while ago about people not liking the same books as you, cos I was inspired by a comment from The Reading Rebel on my Emma post.

So what’s with the title I hear you ask? Well that’s basically my mantra when it comes to people’s opinions if they disagree with me about books I loved/hated. Honestly, I don’t see why it should affect me. I’m confident enough in my own opinions to defend them. Even if that book is trash- I can still determine what I liked about it. Very often, I give a higher rating to a book if it made me cry. Does that mean it was a great work of fiction? Nope. (I mean, this is coming from the girl who cried over the Sainsbury’s Christmas ad last year- it’s not *that* hard to make me cry). So if I like a trashy book, then so be it. Heck- I could like the next Fifty Shades of Grey– and it wouldn’t matter to me if I was the only person on the planet that did (although that’s somewhat unlikely, but you get the idea).

It’s not an affront to me personally if you hate something I loved. And why should it be? We’re all entitled to our opinions and someone disliking something I like isn’t going to take away my enjoyment. (Unless of course you’re standing directly behind me shouting those opinions- cos that would just be annoying).

Now obviously, this would be an entirely different story if I did write it. Because most of the time, the only feedback most authors want is “OMG I want to marry your book and have its babies!” Which I can totally understand (while obviously not condoning authors that throw a hissy fit when someone doesn’t like their work- I can see why a lot of authors completely ignore all book reviews of their work). What I don’t understand is people that take it as a personal affront when someone criticises or even insults a book or author they admire. It’s a ridiculous stance to take because these things are *not an extension of you*. It really doesn’t matter if everyone likes it or if you’re the only one that does.

Just stand by your opinion. Because for all you know, one day they could be the next Van Gogh. I mean, people didn’t like John Donne for centuries- does that mean he suddenly went from bad to good? For crying out loud, even Shakespeare’s popularity has gone through phases! So stick to your guns- it doesn’t matter who agrees with you and who doesn’t.

And in the words of Jerry Seinfeld if someone says they don’t like a book you like, just say:

Now- after all that- this is the best time to make your voice heard. Agree or, heaven forbid, disagree? Let me know in the comments below!


text:
a quick stop at geelong

there’s really not much to say as it was just a quick side trip to grab lunch before heading back on the road to continue our trip to the twelve apostles but i gotta say, geelong is actually a very nice place!

and these photos are making me sentimental. it’s very rare for my family to all be together in one continent so i really want to preserve the photos here as much as i can.

geelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australia

my dad’s so cheeky. in a lot of the pictures, i notice he’s always teasing raven and it makes me smile to look at him looking at her with such joy. he dotes on her.

almost every day, he calls me on viber to ask if i can jump on skype so he can see raven, and vice versa, so she “wouldn’t forget his face.”

at one point, he asked me about raven’s temperament and what she’s like as soon as she wakes up because he was trying to figure out what kind of baby raven is based on “secrets of the baby whisperer,” this secondhand book he bought for 39 pesos which became his preoccupation for a while. joked about considering venturing into another career path: baby consultant.

he was really serious about imparting the knowledge he learned from the book. took screenshot photos of pages he deemed worthy of a read and sent it to our family group chat on viber. he was even willing to mail me the book itself and spend probably a thousand pesos to do so. not very practical, in my opinion, so i politely declined. and besides, it’s so much more fun when he shares lessons from the book with me. it makes me laugh when he tries to sound like he’s suddenly an expert on babies.

angel baby.

according to him, that’s the kind of baby raven is, based on her general disposition and as outlined in the book. i couldn’t agree more. jeff and i are so blessed to have such an easygoing baby.

but the one thing he said that struck me the most?

i try my best to remember that all the time. sure, she may be “just a baby” but i totally get my dad’s message, for some reason. i guess it helps that power tripping isn’t exactly my style either.

live and let live.

although as a parent, i do believe it has to be balanced with discipline, as well. easier said than done, i suppose. good luck to me.

geelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australia

lunch was at this restaurant in the middle of the pier called wah wah gee. their food was really good but the waiting took ages! i mean, how long does it take to order another serving of rice? unless, of course, they cooked another cup from scratch.

don’t get me wrong. the food was great but we wasted a lot of time there just waiting for our orders to arrive.

good thing the view outside complemented the beautiful weather so we did what any tourist would, given the circumstance:

geelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australiageelong, victoria, australia

*raven at 8 months old

7 thoughts on “a quick stop at geelong

  1. Raven does sound like and easy-going kid…like she never bothers you and Jeff at all! I’ve been to Geelong a few times and love it when the weather’s sunny, like the weather you had there. Lol, I didn’t know that place took long to serve food. Maybe they do cook from scratch as you said and that takes time. Or maybe people don’t usually order rice and it’s an Asian thing lol 😊

    1. they even have filipino spring rolls on their menu! that was definitely a first for me. as far as i know, there is only one filo restaurant somewhere north in the city. i’ve never been there so reading a filipino dish on a menu was quite a novelty for me. so, yeah, as far as i’m concerned, if they have a filo dish in there, there’s gotta be some ready-to-serve rice somewhere in their kitchen! hahaha.

      or maybe we were just so hungry. but then again, it’s rice, for crying out loud! vietnamese restaurants have them by the bucket! =D

      1. Really, I didn’t know there were like literally no Filo restaurants in the city but now that you say it, yeah :/ Rice all the way with Filo, and with Chinese too. But I must say I prefer noodles 😀

  2. Such a sweet and beautiful post ! Your Dad’s expertise made me smile, it’s so great ! And you are all absolutely beautiful ❤

    1. he is. kahibaw na jud baya ka siya jud akong weakness.

      and, yeah, the photos turned out to be really nice. we got lucky it was a sunny day too otherwise, it would’ve been “meh.”

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