It's Not Too Late for April 14 Valentine Day

 

We still did manual drawings in uni, no computer, all hand drawn on humongous papers. I didn't have a drawing table, but fortunately, I could use the communal ones on my campus, which also meant I spent days and nights there preparing my final presentation each semester with a bunch of other classmates who also didn't have drawing tables or those who preferred companions during those sleepless nights. The schedule got crazier the closer we were to graduation.

It was miserable yet memorable; we haunted the campus when everyone was sleeping. A musical-talented classmate brought a drum set, and every time he was on the brink of the lullaby, he would start playing it like a zombie, hands moving, head shaking dramatically, eyes closed. Mumbling sounds of cassette tapes in terrible conditions were heard from one corner, playing the same songs over and over again. I remember trying to pry my eyes open to the tune of I Will Survive by Cake. Some fell asleep on common tables (because it would be a disaster to sleep on the drawing and ruin it!), some on uncomfortable benches, and some on the floor. They covered it with drawing paper; desperate times called for desperate measures. In the morning, freshly arrived rich classmates with their fancy private tables at home, junior students, and lecturers could catch us with pillow hairs and puffy faces in our pajamas. Some 'residents' would drag their feet to the bathroom, holding a small bucket filled with toiletries and towel draped over their shoulders. I was lucky to stay in a nearby hostel, so I didn't have to rely on university's facilities.

My hostel consisted of students from different faculties and majors; I had no one from the same major except one good friend. It was quite rare for others to have long study nights. Still, they were well aware of our 'hellish' time of the year since they would see us with panda eyes, carrying rolls of papers or a bag full of stationery, dragging our feet and limping to one side because we sat too long, and mumbling, "Brainnnnnsssss..." There were two Korean students (rarity!) in my hostel at that time, Kim and Lee, who were in the uni studying our language. We had developed friendships with them since my friend and I usually hung around the common area to do homework together (other subjects, yes, our major was hellish!). Sometimes, they asked us to help with their assignments, but most times, they just wanted to converse to familiarize themselves with the language.

Back to miserable nights on campus, while the sleepiest time was usually around 2 am, the hours leading to midnight were the time when the stomach started to rebel and demand sacrifice. Food from street vendors outside was the best for the odd timing. However, we didn't always have time or the budget to go out, especially for prolonged periods of late nights. Most times, we had to settle with 'almost there' instant noodles cooked with 'almost hot' water from our 'almost proper' budget kettles. Those kettles were very questionable because I was electrocuted once, but that is a story for another day.

One night, April 14, 1999 (if I remember correctly), Kim and Lee showed up at our studio. I didn't even know how they navigated the area since there were six other majors/main clusters in our faculty, but at least they knew where our faculty was. And with them, luxurious Korean noodles with some other delicious Korean snacks. Everything was a luxury compared to limp noodles. They brought enough for them and us, so with the envy of other zombies, we feasted, and they regaled us with a tale.

I don't know if this story is culturally accurate, but at least this was what they told us. Also, a disclaimer: we communicated in broken languages from both sides.

In Korea, females give chocolate to males on Valentine's Day. However, it doesn't stop there; the males then return the favor with white chocolate on March 14. I believe that is why it's called White Day. Then, on April 14, which is regarded as Black Day, for anyone who doesn't get anything, it is an 'obligation' to eat this specific Korean noodle, thick with generous black gravy, and I won't attempt to spell the name. It was a mess, and only after we had eaten the noodle, they told us the story. I was unsure if eating the noodles was some kind of F you or punishment, but it was done in good humor; at least, that was the impression I got from Kim and Lee. They happily told us they didn't want to suffer alone since it was supposed to be fun humiliation. All of us shared big laughs with our charming blackened teeth.

April 14 is an anti-Valentine Day, so if February 14 or March 14 are not your days, this is the Black Day granted to you.

Enjoy the delicious Korean black noodles while drowning in your tears or indulging in your freedom!

 

Note: In my university, there were many faculties with their specific study, like economics, engineering, social politics, etc. Each faculty had its own area, and some, like mine, had various majors under its umbrella, and each major had its own cluster of buildings and public space. It was a huge university and almost always deserted at night except for some occasional stupid student meetings; it was pretty dark with many haunted tales and an actual murder during my time, but those are stories for another day. Ha! There was a small 'village' near my faculty that accommodated hostels and small-budget diners for students who stayed away from home. Many of them operated until midnight.

Free Thermos (For Me!)

 

For me.

I am sorry, this is not a free gift announcement. Instead, it's a post about me boasting about my free thermos. Or the opposite.

It’s February, and I hope the new year has been kind to you so far.

It has been fantastic for me, maybe not to others' standards, but I don't need to live up to those, and I have just got a free thermos! 

You know the threat of AI replacing us is real; it has been for a long time. They 'write,' they do backflips, they make stuff, they are great in accuracy and precision engineering, and they are out there in medical fields and space. However, I always wonder how stupid they are sometimes, especially when dealing with frustrated humans, or maybe that is intentional.

 

Whenever my mom stays with me, we always go for morning walks before breakfast. I ordered a tiny thermos, half the size of my palm because she needs to take her medications before meals. It's troublesome to carry mine because it's too big and I carry way too many other things. My dog needs his drink, too, and our stray friends identify my face with kibbles and treats.

Anyway, the thermos was sent from China (where most of the goods come from in our online marketplace here, we have local sellers from other countries, but it only makes up for a small percentage with much less variety. Amazon is not common, and shipping cost is a killer), from a 'shop' that seems like a consolidation of many sellers because it has everything and dominates the market. If I ordered five things from them, they would come in five packets at different times. I had never had any problem before, but this time, I was looking at the flat, card-sized box delivered to my home after a week plus (normal delivery time from there), trying to remember what I ordered.

It was weirder when I opened it; I didn't even recognize what it was supposed to be! Inside a tin box with a glass window was a mixture of gold and silver geometric shapes, assembled into a round disc and another piece of a golden curved triangle. When I checked my order, it was my 'thermos.' Anyway, I didn't order anything else. So, I took the picture, feeling a bit furious because those two were not even comparable in terms of functions and looks. I told them they sent the wrong thing and asked for a return/refund while grumbling to myself about the hassle of repacking and going to the post office, having to wait longer for refund approval, and the hassle of looking for another one.

To their credit, they refunded me straightaway at that very moment, so I looked for the return instructions and where I should send it back. I got a message in my inbox (automated) saying that I didn't have to send back the wrong item. (Although I didn't want it, it was nice that I didn't need to go through all the hassles). I opened the tin box, and now it's clear the thing was some luxurious-looking fidget spinner, with the triangle as the holder, like a tiny super-fast Ferris wheel. I don't know what to do with it, so it still rests inside my cabinet.

Then, two days later, another package arrived, and I was also dumbfounded. I didn't order anything, but it was my name and written there outside the packaging: thermos. The thermos that I ordered. There must have been some mishap between the seller and the shop system. I couldn't help but think about someone with a small business losing their income because of this mistake since the order was, in fact, correct, but the system just sent me something else under the same order, which I then mistook for the wrong delivery. So, I chatted with the seller (but it, unfortunately, went to the shop, there was no other contact), explaining the situation and asked for a solution to refund them the money, or maybe I would purchase another one, but they didn't need to send me the stuff. But the reply was automated, and they only responded to keywords (probably refund) and kept giving me instructions on how to get a refund. I changed the wording and asked to speak to an actual person, but they replied with standard 'how may I help you' blabla and asked me to explain the situation. It went into an unbreakable circle like this, and until now, I can't get any answer other than the refund process, finding another contact, or talking to an actual person.

Well, I am a mediocre person. I am not out there doing good works or charity, but I was raised from a small business's earnings; I tried to do a small business and failed, and I know how hard it is and how little income means. The shop might be a disgustingly rich corporation, but I somehow believe it has small businesses under its wing, which, unfortunately, have no way to control the situation. Most likely, the loss of this is passed to the sellers. Somewhere out there, maybe, a customer would complain about not receiving their Ferris Wheel, a seller would get nothing from the thermos, and maybe they would even get some 'rating punishment' because of complaints. In contrast, the corporation got away with its errors. I am the winner here; I got my money back, a free thermos, and a free Ferris Wheel, but it doesn't feel that good.

So, why does AI get so advanced, but the level of customer service remains idiotic? I 'stay' in two places, and I must admit in this case it's much better to live in a third-world country because anytime I call customer service, I get a human with a waiting time of less than a few minutes. Although the frustration could remain the same because they usually don't provide real solutions and it always feels like talking to the wall. Maybe it's all intentional; customer service is a service that frustrates us so much that we give up trying to get a solution. Bingo.

Anyway, others keep their newsletters short, but I always blabber too much. You are the strong ones.

Thank you for being here.

REVIEW: Jigsaw: Powder Keg (David Alyn Gordon)

This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read.

I like the uniqueness of the first of its series, but unlike this one, it was at least contained in a certain theme. While this one is fast-paced with a lot of action, it confuses the hell out of me. I like reading books in nonlinear timelines, and although the timelines here are undoubtedly challenging to follow, as they span thousands of years, I don’t have any problem with that.

Even when I can’t get into the importance of what they are doing, this is not a deal breaker. The concept is similar to the first book; most of the time, it is to ensure that history goes the way it is. However, I believe the stories can be told better if there are more emphases on what if it doesn’t? Would it be really that bad? It’s hard to root for the characters and what they are doing without more justifications.

The characters. I feel nothing about them. So many names were thrown out there without any refresher about their previous stories until we got closer to the end in bits and pieces. It would be great to have some summaries of the earlier stories because they are really hard to follow. And some of them have multiple names.

However, most of all, the hardest factor for me to digest is the ambition of combining so many things that usually don’t and imho, still don’t go well together. It’s science fiction, with teleportation and time travel; it’s also historical fiction, and this is the heaviest theme of all. But then, there is a vampire (what?), a werewolf, a Gollum. What? And then I read about celestial beings and almost lost it.

I haven’t read other books in the series besides the first, so I give it the benefit of the doubt that the transitions and combinations of all these mixtures are smoother. While this book is not for me, I admire the author’s creativity and willingness for pushing the boundaries.

3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Darklands Paranormal (Marco Santucci)

 

This is the second book of the paranormal investigation series by Marco Santucci and also the second book in this genre that I have ever read. Unlike the first book, which feels much more personal, this one follows Marco and his partner, Scott and their visits and investigations to various places, with stories of their encounters with other beings. Scott has a knack for snapping pictures of them, while Marco has his recordings. There are QR codes throughout the book that readers can scan to hear the audio. I didn’t scan any of those simply because I prefer not to listen to them personally, but I think those are exciting and awesome additions.

While undoubtedly there are many intriguing and chilling scenes, I prefer the first book because it feels much more personal. The feel, the emotion, and the experience are raw and intimate. This book feels more like narration or a collection of short tales, mainly because it’s jumpy from scene to scene. While it’s not easy for me to enjoy it as a book, it’s reasonable because of the nature of the investigations, and even though I wish for more answers, it’s understandable too that many events are left to the imagination and our own analysis. I learn more about the other side from the first book.

While there are many opportunity setbacks, there are also many opportunities for the team to develop and share their hard work with the world. The book's last quarter is the most enjoyable to read as I follow their most exciting finds and imagine the thrill of walking through the trails. I admire their passion and dedication and wish them all the best. This book is definitely a precious find for paranormal fans out there.

4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: A Darker Shade of Sorcery (William Collins)

The good thing about fantasy books is that everything can be up to the imagination. You can find everything in this book, I mean, everything: orcs, gargoyles, vampires, demons, elves, wizards, zombies, ghosts, modern life, other realms, too many to mention. While I applaud the author’s creativity, it also feels a bit overwhelmed and, at times, thrown together in a lump. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s also a good way not to have explanations for many things. Maybe I shouldn’t wonder if a ghost is fighting with the zombie of himself.

There are also tropes and predictable plotlines common for young readers and this genre. Still, this is the first book that opens up opportunities for many other, hopefully more unique storylines. Having said that, this book has its own distinctiveness and is very well written. Many of the characters are distinguishable and well-developed, even with a lot of names; most of the time, I can follow who and who. The descriptions and feels of the settings are powerful; it’s easy to visualize them, and it helps to immerse me into the stories.

While there are some dragged-out scenes, I enjoy reading this book. It would be both tedious and great to turn this into something visual like an illustration book or a movie. While this book builds up the world, the subsequent ones will reap what it sows. Based on this book, some side characters like Sintian and Lok will most likely have bigger roles, and it would be interesting to see both main characters return to Earth and face whatever is coming for them.

4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: All The Life I Could Not Speak (Shubelle John Baptiste)

This book could help kids or even adults struggling in difficult social situations, regardless of where you are in the spectrum. I relate to most situations and wish I had read something like this.

The illustrations are wonderful. I am sure it's much nicer to hold this book in its physical format. In my opinion, the language is a bit too complex and mouthful at times for a children's book, but on the plus side, it doesn't simplify the situations and is most likely more acceptable to a wide range of readers.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful book, a wonderful gift, and I could see a child clinging to this book and growing up with it, feeling understood as they flip every page.

4 of 5 stars

REVIEW: The Haight (Peter Moreira)

The Haight is a murder investigation book that is more than murder investigations. The book is fast-paced, and we are introduced to many characters; almost all of them are fleshed out well with their distinctive traits. Although many names are thrown around, I don't have difficulty remembering them because they are not just names.

The story follows the main character, Jimmy Spracklin, to a case that is easily overlooked as suicide, but things are not what it seems. Besides the case, we learn about Jimmy's personal life, which relates closely to the case as we go deeper. His political views about the real troubles happening in the world during that time are well documented without disrupting the main storyline. I find all the details interesting and believable. The revelation of the case and the domestic trouble feels natural with the character's prowess and shortcomings. The only thing I find lacking is the supposed intelligence of Marie's character. The intelligence is mentioned a lot by Andy's character that it draws my attention to it, but I see none of it displayed in her actions or thinking. Yes, we are not privy to her view actively, but from the way she reacts to everything happening around her, I don't see anything that proves that statement. It would be fine if not for the repeated mentions.

Overall, this is a good read. It's a very decent and interesting murder mystery. I like the main characters and the setting. As the title says, there is more to them in other books.

4.5 rounded up