Book Review: Haunted & Mysterious Australia

 Haunted & Mysterious Australia

Bunyips, yowies, phantoms and other strange phenomena

Author:                          Tim the Yowie Man

Publisher:                      New Holland Publishers

Type:                              Soft Cover

Pages:                             189

Genre:                            non-fiction

Published:                     (First: 2006) This edition: 2017

ISBN:                             9781742579436

 The first thing you will notice in this large book is the big colorful photos, but fear not, this isn't just a picture book, it also devotes most of the page to text describing the mystery in common language. Its refreshing to see such vibrant pictures in a book like this.

 There is a map of Australia in the front of the book which shows the location of the phenomenon and on which page you'll find it. 

 Tim the Yowie Man takes a logical but skeptical look at a lot of different Australian mysteries including; spooklights, ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a fishman, fairy, crop circles, haunted shipwrecks, lake monsters, poltergeists, vanishing lakes, ghosts, yowies, out of place animals, standing stones, haunted cars, surviving prehistoric creatures, UFO's, a levitating beer glass, sacred sites, mysterious geological formations, geoglyphs, cryptids, rock art, ghost ships, and haunted buildings among other subjects.

 I really like that this book is written from an Australian perspective, and it was interesting to see Tim the Yowie Man's own clearly marked encounter within it. Its also really refreshing to see stories that i have not heard of before alongside the famous ones.

 There is a bibliography in the back and a really interesting list of Australian ghost tours. 

 This is an excellent book and one worth having on every bookshelf. The only criticism i could have against this book is that the page numbers are a little bit difficult to read. If your at all interested in Cryptozoology, Paranormal activity, history or Australian culture you have to grab yourself a copy of this book.

FULL SCORE

Book Review: The ghosts of toowong cemetery

 The ghosts of Toowong cemetery

Brisbane's Necropolis

Author:                          Jack Sim

Publisher:                      Jack Sim

Type:                              Soft Cover

Pages:                             40

Genre:                            Non-Fiction

Published:                      2012

ISBN:                              9780975796023

 This is a small book with no spine. It was actually given to me by a friend. There are numerous black and white photographs.  The text is of good size and clear. The book even has a map of all the locations in the cemetery in the back!

 The book deals with the areas of Toowong Cemetery that are haunted or have had paranormal activity reported there.  Some of the uncanny goings on includes strange lights, disembodied voices, found bodies, Nazi- vandalism, moving statues, vampires, ghostly apparitions, haunted celebrity graves, grim reaper sightings, witchcraft, mysterious blood, wailing women, and death parades.

 The cemetery is also home to a spook hill one of many found around the world. You know the story park your car at the bottom of the hill and wait as unseen forces will push your car up the hill, defying gravity and the rules of the living. 

 Each place is given much explanation, with history and legends well explained. Unfortunately the cemetery is locked up at night but there are tours that have access. 

 One company Brisbane Ghost Tours was established by the author of this book. 

  This is a really good book, excellent for anyone interested in ghosts, the and paranormal of course. But just as interesting for those interested in the history of Brisbane in particular and Australia in general.

Do not do revenge porn

How not to fight unwanted pics

 

 A friend sent me this pic taken of their local free newspaper. They were shocked as the article seemed to be advocating and encouraging its users to do revenge porn. I tracked down the full article here.

What is Revenge Porn:

 Revenge porn is the distribution of nude or otherwise adult private images without the owners consent. These images can but do not necessarily have to have been originally freely shared or necessarily distributed after a break up. Indeed any sharing of sexually explicit material to humiliate or intimidate can be considered revenge porn.

Is it Legal?

 While there is no current national revenge porn crime in Australia at the time of writing this.  There are national laws against using a device to harass, cause offence or menace, as the right wing in Australia do this all the time, it obviously isn't usually enforced. Some states do have other laws that might apply if you did take the articles advice. 

 Victoria has laws against distributing intimate images without consent. 

 Western Australia can place restraining orders that disallow the distribution of intimate images. 

 South Australia it is a crime to distribute such images.

  Should i send Nudes?

Short answer is probably not, but think about it first. Read the recipients profile, ask your self some questions;
1. Are you legal age?

2. Does the recipient want to see this?

3. Is the recipient legal age?

4. Do you trust the recipient?

5. Is the pic/clip flattering?

6. Are you okay with the chance it could be leaked, hacked or redistributed?

7. Is the recipient at a location that looking at this would be appropriate?

8. Is the pic you?

9. Do you have permission to distribute this?

10. Do you really want to send it?

If you answer no to any of these questions, don't send it!

How should you Fight Unwanted Pics? 

 Firstly do not under any circumstances redistribute intimate or sexual images or clips you have without the persons express permission, and even then get them to distribute them themselves.

 If you receive a nude you don't like just delete it, and block or report the person if that seems like an appropriate response.

 You could let them know that the pic wasn't appreciated, or just wasn't flattering even, ouch! 

 Just chill, i get unsolicited nudes all the time, yer it can be annoying, but i try to think of it as the person has reached out and trusted me with a look at their most private parts, that changes my attitude. 

 I am still unlikely to go on a date with a guy that instead of saying hello just sends me a pic of his junk but i also know that the guys and girls that do that must be being rewarded for it or they wouldn't do it right? 

 Honestly asking for nudes is kind of a turn off for me, i want dinner and a movie first man.

 If you are underage and you are being sent (or asked for) nudes definitely contact the authority!

 If your nudes are being spread definitely get legal advice as i am not a lawyer.

Fact Check laws 

Alternatives to nudes

Breakdown of laws

Book Review; Atlas of Cursed Places.

Atlas of Cursed Places

A travel guide to dangerous and frightful destinations

Author:                          Oliver Le Carrer

Publisher:                      Black Dog & Leventhal

Type:                              Hard Cover

Pages:                             142

Genre:                            non-fiction (mostly, see below)

Published:                      2015

ISBN:                              9781631910005

 The book itself is really nice looking, its hardcover and is well made.  It has many beautiful maps, but no drawings or sketches of the buildings described sadly. 

 The introduction is a little off putting and i started to worry what i am in for with this one. It kind of implied that the biblical genesis is actual history. And insinuates that  billion people (that's almost everyone on earth) is judo-christian. It also strangely tries to separate the paranormal and supernatural from religion, which is really weird, whats more supernatural than magic and the Gods?

 But please do plow through this, the book isn't really trying to indoctrinate the innocent reader into any one religion, as later on it gives other Gods almost as much historical reality. It seems the meaning can sometimes be muddied by flowery prose.

 The book does use the antiquated BC/AD which doesn't add to its credibility, but is a common enough mistake to not effect the score too much. 

 The book looks at some interesting places like, islands, castles, villages, forests, tombs, cemeteries, marshlands, and delves into some haunted locations and the homes of some cryptids. Each entry has a few pages of information and at least one map of where the subject is located.

 Some of the most interesting places for me were, the Pine Barrens, Amityville, The Suicide Forrest, The Bermuda Triangle, and Eilean Mor Lighthouse. 

 As an example the book looks at Nuremburg and tells how a former SS Nazi barracks has become home to the High Commission for Refugees there.

 But on page 92 i read something incredibly distressing. The location is Nauru, and the last paragraph notes that it- 

"leased part of its modest surface area to Australia as a reception center for illegal immigrants." 

 I was shocked, i read those words again and again as tears came to my eyes. 

 Because i know that the reception refuges face on Nauru is not a nice one. Any person that arrives in Australia by boat is captured, and relocated to one of Australians off shore prison camps like Nauru. These poor men, women and children are not processed, our far right wing government (and center right opposition) have refused to ever allow any of them to resettle in Australia. These prison camps are designed as a punishment for trying to seek asylum in Australian, and as a deterrent from other refuges from attempting to do the same.

 Remember that these are not illegal immigrants, these are refugees seeking asylum in Australia, fleeing war, famine and terrorism.

 In these prison camps on Nauru and Manus islands, refuges face isolation, torture, lack of medical care, hopelessness, rape, assault, murder, and child abuse. As a result of the horrors they have fled and those inflicted upon them by indefinite incarceration without crime, charge or trial some of these poor people have self harmed and even committed suicide in order to free themselves from the unending horror.

 Please don't take my word for it, follow the links. Another disturbing aspect of this is that the ministers responsible for this horror are often promoted, and given even more power.

 While contacting the Coalition and Labor governments might help the only real solution is to vote Green in Australia as they are the only  party (of reasonable size) that have an even remotely humane refugee policy. 

A history of Nauru

Nauru human rights abuse 

Dutton promoted despite failure

Women on Nauru

Australian Human Rights Commission

The Greens Refugee Plan

 Okay, so in light of this horrific lack of research on the author, fact checker, and editors part it may surprise you to know that i do actually recommend this book. It is a nice looking book and is an interesting read. But the Nauru part is a great example of the need to check your sources, and to get your information from more than one source. It would be a good way to teach children the importance of this ability and it seems the ability to discern fact from lie (alternate fact) is more and more necessary as we know that the fascism of the Right gains power through ignorance.

 Please seek help if you need to talk about the horrors that refugees are facing at the hands of the Australian government.

Book Review: Colouring the Rainbow

Colouring the Rainbow

Blak Queer and Trans Perspectives

Life Stories and Essays by First Nations People of Australia

Editor:                          Dino Hodge

Publisher:                     Wakefield Press

Type:                              Soft Cover

Pages:                             252

Genre:                            non-fiction

Published:                      2015

ISBN:                              9781743053935

 This book is exactly as described on the cover, we have stories and essays about being both Aboriginal and Queer. 
 While some of the essays delve a little too deeply into "UNI-speak" for me personally, i still found them interesting reads. 

 The real gems here though are the true life stories, we see Australians fighting for basic human rights in our modern world while struggling to keep their inherent spirituality. 
We hear of people who survived horrific accounts of homophobia / transphobia, in isolated outback town. 
We hear gut wrenching stories of bullying, violence, discrimination and the depression and suicide that this can cause. Reading this it reminds me jut how important the Safe Schools program is, and how instead of being scraped it should become mandatory in all schools. Surely the fact that the vocal opponents of Safe Schools  do not want LGBTQ children to survive until adulthood, is a perfect example of why Safe Schools is so needed. Sorry i digress.

 We also find within tales of acceptance, and did you know that before invasion/colonisation at least some tribes accepted LGBTQ people as they recognised the natural diversity of human sexuality. If you want to talk about traditional marriage in Australia you would have to start here.

 We hear how at least one contributor is trying to make amends for their own homophobic behavior, which they adopted at school as a way to protect themselves, yet another example of the need for Safe Schools.

 One poor soul even drew the reportedly malicious attentions of the, (legally confirmed) racist and  homophobic (by his own words) Andrew Bolt. you may remember Andrew Bolt from his recent major hussy-fit after he (by his own admission) violently "assaulted" someone for merely playing a prank on him. Andrew Bolt's defenders are saying that Bolt should escape charges because Bolt's homophobia runs so deep that the mere physical contact with glitter enrages him into hysterical violent attacks.
I should note that as of this writing charges of assault have yet to be applied to him, and i believe he is trying to play the victim in this encounter, it seems apparent that the mainstream media are quite willing to side with him.
 But that event was only recent and is not related to the matter in this book, it would appear Andrew Bolt has a long history of seemingly attacking minority's while being a very sensitive snowflake himself. 

 Please for your own safety do not try and enlighten Andrew Bolt by sprinkling glitter about him or his person. In fact its best not to glitter anyone against their wishes, no matter how disgusting they are.

 

 The book has an extensive notes section, glossary, bibliography and index. I would highly recommend this book if your interested in Australian history, LGBTQ issue, or Aboriginal Australians.
 Every commentator on Aboriginal, or LGBTQ issues in Australia should read this book before next opening their mouths, or putting finger to keys.

 Why does the media consult homophobes about LGBT issues and racists about Aboriginal issues? It just seems ass-backwards to me, why don't we instead see the opinions of scholars and the people these issues actually effect. It would be like the media getting the opinion of the Nazi groups every time a local Jewish school held a fete, no one wants or needs their opinion!

                                         Helpful Links:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community Website. 

NAIDOC Week

ACON Aids council of NSW

QuAC QLD Aids council

Open Doors Youth Service

Beyond Blue 

Australian Pride Network

Book Review: Burrunjor

 BURRUNJOR

 The Search For Australia's Living Tyrannosaurus 

Author:                           Rex & Heather Gilroy

Publisher:                         URU Publications

Type:                                 Soft Cover

Pages:                                336

Genre:                               non-fiction

Published:                        2011

ISBN:                              9780987226204
                                         9781326839390 

 This book explores the fascinating fact that people, often through no fault of their own, continue to encounter large reptilian beasts in the outback and rugged bush of Australia.

 The book itself is well made, it is resplendent with black and white photos and drawing thorough. One criticism i have of some of the photos is that rock art and foot prints seem to have been outlined. While i understand this is so they appear easier in print, i can also see some "skeptics" scoffing that the evidence was just drawn on in chalk. While i am sure this is not the case, it is a shame that maybe two pictures couldn't be included for some of them, one with outlines and one with out for comparison.

 Speaking of evidence we have examples of whiteness testimony, and remember one witness claiming you did a crime in court is enough to get you killed even in some democracy's. I don't think any of these witnesses had any benefit in coming forward, in fact most were ridiculed by friends and family when they told of their harrowing encounters.
 We are shown tracks many of them have been measured, photographed, sketched and even cast in plaster. I should note that these tracks match no accepted extant animal species in Australia, or the world for that matter. And it should also be noted that these tracks are not fossilized! Meaning they are from recent footfall of some unknown animal. 
 Evidence of kills that could only have been from a large carnivore have been discovered, in some cases witnesses have caught the culprit in the act. Some of the poor animals have been prize winning cattle, not something any farmer is going to kill on a lark.
 In a similar vein the beast has been seen destroying property, I can attest to the difficulty in dealing with an insurance claim for a natural disaster, i cant imagine the insurer being any less helpful, but i recon blaming property damage on a creature thought to be extinct might get you there.

 Now for those who, due to a woeful misunderstanding of scientific method, believe that such a creature can not exist because it has not been declared extant by established science, a common theme will emerge upon reading any Cryptozoology book. When witnesses go to establishment scientists they are often ridiculed, scientific institutions in Australia have a long history of "losing" evidence, and so called "skeptics" professional or not, have a bad habit of making unfounded claims without looking at or considering the available evidence. The witness only "obligation" is to provide whatever evidence they have, then it is up to "the scientist" to investigate that evidence.

 So enough of my ranting lets get back to this book. The forward entices the reader into exploring the subject of tyrannosaur like beasts that have been sighted within Australia (and New Guinea) from way back in the Aboriginal Dreamtime to at least the publish date of this book.

 The book looks at what the beast could be and how it might have come to still be roaming the Australian bush. It should be noted that this book appears on some whack-a-doodle young earth websites. These donkeys seem to think, by some fantastic leaps of acrobatic style logic,  that any existing prehistoric creature somehow proves their particular brand of religion. For the record this book does not in any way support a "young earth" fallacy, the book even shows some fossilized prints and skeletons. It also does not support any unscientific anti-evolutionary nonsense. 
 Rex Gilroy has been an avid explorer of Australian mysteries since 1957, he is known as the father of Australian Cryptozoology and associating him and his work with such anti-science does a disservice to him and to the whole scientific field.

 I can recommend this book to anyone interested in Australia, history, Aboriginal culture, dinosaurs, and Cryptozoology.

Also