Category Archives: In the Media

Current Events

The Smoke of War and the Question of Justice

Leave a comment

In the searing silence after an airstrike, amid the dust and cries, lies a question that haunts the rubble: Can there be justice in war? And if so, who is held accountable when justice seems absent?

Nowhere is this question more visceral than in Gaza, where the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has entered yet another blood-soaked chapter. With images of bombed-out hospitals, collapsed schools, and children buried under concrete flashing across our screens, a legal—and moral—reckoning looms. Across the world, diplomats, lawyers, and human rights observers are asking: Should Israel be charged with war crimes for its actions in Gaza?

The term war crime is not rhetorical. It has a legal definition under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. It denotes violations of the rules that govern the conduct of armed conflict: targeting civilians, using disproportionate force, destroying civilian infrastructure without military necessity, and obstructing humanitarian aid. These are not accusations to be made lightly. But they are not new either.

In recent months, Israel has faced intensifying scrutiny for what many call a campaign of disproportionate retribution. Entire neighborhoods in Gaza—one of the most densely populated regions in the world—have been reduced to ash and twisted steel. The stated target is Hamas, the militant group responsible for deadly attacks on Israeli civilians. Yet the overwhelming force unleashed upon Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants, more than half of whom are children, raises a grim question: At what point does self-defense become indiscriminate violence?

International law demands distinction between combatants and civilians. But in Gaza, where militants may fire from rooftops above families, or move through tunnels beneath playgrounds, that distinction becomes tragically blurred. Israel argues that Hamas uses civilians as human shields—a tactic the group has been credibly accused of. Yet legal scholars argue that this does not absolve an attacking army of its obligations. If a target is surrounded by civilians, the laws of war still apply.

In one particularly chilling incident, a refugee camp was bombed in pursuit of a single Hamas commander. The strike flattened buildings and killed dozens, including children. Israeli officials said it was a necessary operation. Critics, including human rights organizations, called it a textbook example of disproportionate force.

The concept of collective punishment—punishing an entire population for the actions of a few—is also at the heart of the case. Israel’s blockade of Gaza has long been a subject of international criticism, but in the latest war, the siege has tightened. Electricity, water, medical supplies, and food are restricted. Aid trucks wait for days or are turned away. UN officials describe Gaza as “hell on earth.” One called it “a graveyard for children.”

These aren’t just the laments of war-weary observers. The International Criminal Court has opened investigations into alleged war crimes by both Israel and Palestinian armed groups. The process is slow, often toothless. But the fact of the investigation matters. It signals that the machinery of justice, however creaky, is engaged.

To some, accusations against Israel amount to political theater, ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas—suicide bombings, indiscriminate rockets, and hostage-taking. But others argue that accountability must be universal. Justice is not a ledger balanced by who suffered first or most. It is a principle applied without regard to who you are, or which side you fight for.

And so, the question remains: Should Israel be charged with war crimes for its actions in Gaza? The answer may not lie solely in the legal chambers of The Hague, but in our collective willingness to insist that war—even war—has limits.

Because if justice does not reach the rubble of Gaza, where will it reach at all?

References

Amnesty International. Israel/OPT: Unlawful Israeli Attacks Kill Civilians in Their Homes. October 20, 2023. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/israel-opt-unlawful-israeli-attacks-kill-civilians-in-their-homes/

Associated Press. “UN Says 100 Children Are Killed or Injured in Gaza Every Day Since War Resumed.” AP News, April 5, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/un-gaza-children-war-deaths-cc3c58ea21de6a982f20cb82b6e5a2b0

The Guardian. “Israel-Gaza Conflict: IDF Bombing Kills Dozens in Jabalia Refugee Camp.” The Guardian, October 31, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/31/israel-bombing-gaza-jabalia-refugee-camp

Human Rights Watch. Gaza: Israel’s Warnings Do Not Make Strikes Lawful. October 12, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/12/gaza-israels-warnings-do-not-make-strikes-lawful

International Criminal Court. Situation in the State of Palestine. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.icc-cpi.int/palestine

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Occupied Palestinian Territory: Humanitarian Needs Overview 2024. United Nations. https://reliefweb.int

United Nations. “Gaza Has Become a ‘Graveyard for Children,’ Says UN Chief.” Al Jazeera, November 6, 2023.

Children, Current Events, Education, Family

Huntington Beach Reads: Measures A and B Have Passed

Leave a comment

The so-called “Parent Review Board” at the Huntington Beach Public Library has been disbanded.

And Chad “Porn Man” Williams has conceded.

The public library remains one of the last truly inclusive spaces in our community—welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or income. It offers a wealth of resources without asking anything in return. It is not a place for political agendas.

I’m not a parent. I’m not a teacher. I’m not a librarian.

I’m a private tutor. I help children thrive—both inside and outside the classroom. Many of the parents I work with are immigrants whose first language isn’t English, and some have resources that most families can only dream of.

One of my students is a nine-year-old who absolutely loves to read. I’ve worked with him since he was four, when he didn’t speak a word of English. I taught him to read. Today, he reads at a 10th-grade level. As someone partially responsible for his education, one of my most important tasks is choosing the books he reads. I stay current on newly published titles, follow his favorite authors, discover rising voices, and research books that reflect his interests—as well as books that challenge him to grow.

This past school year alone, I’ve purchased over $2,000 worth of books for him—ranging from novels and comic books to science texts, historical fiction, and nonfiction. Over his lifetime, it’s probably closer to $10,000. He’s read them all. But the reality is, most parents don’t have that kind of budget.

That’s why many families rely on the public library.

They trust that the books on those shelves were chosen by educated professionals with children’s growth in mind. They trust the library to broaden their kids’ horizons—especially families who didn’t get the chance to read widely themselves and want more for their children.

Immigrant parents. Working-class parents. Parents who may not speak English fluently or have formal education. They trust me to guide their children’s learning. And they trust librarians to do the same.

Librarians do this work not for power or profit, but out of a deep belief in education and access. That’s their job—and they do it well.

This vote was never about “protecting our children”—it was about government overreach, the fight against censorship, and the defense of our fundamental rights.

So when someone tries to turn the library into a political battlefield, it’s not just offensive—it’s dangerous.

Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t trust the judgment of a teen-mom high school dropout and Chad “Porn Man” Williams to curate your children’s reading material— actually… yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. The choice is ultimately yours– and if a parent wishes to defer their child’s education to these two, I suggest they contact Williams’ office for the time and location for his next book club meeting.

Let this be the end of it. 

Fantasy, Fiction

Chapter 3: The Minister of Magic

Leave a comment

And that’s when she saw her.

Hermione Granger was shorter than Duchess expected, but somehow even more formidable in person. Her brown curls fell to her shoulders, and her robes were a deep purple, embroidered subtly with the seal of the Ministry of Magic. She looked—Duchess thought—like a professor who might simultaneously change your life and catch you cheating.

“You must be Duchess,” Hermione said warmly, extending her hand. “Welcome to Diagon Alley. I’m the Minister of Magic.”

“I know,” Duchess blurted out. “I mean—thank you. I read your bio in the packet.”

Hermione laughed. “Ah, the guide.”

“Also! Your chocolate frog card!”

“Could use a little updating, but I’m glad it was helpful. Ron Weasley added those to your welcome packet. He loves those cards.” Duchess didn’t know who that was, but she didn’t ask.

“My dad loves the chocolate. He ate them all!” Ben blushed, but Hermione put her hand gently on Duchess’s shoulder, guiding her down the street.

“Mind if I show you around?”

“Please,” Duchess replied eagerly. They walked down the small street together. Hermione continued,

“A new invention I’ve created. I was hoping you could help me. It’s the idea of a credit card from the muggle world. It was difficult to convince the goblins to try it but they’re willing after I explained to them they can keep all the gold in the bank. Every shop is required to have a credit wand terminal. Some were unwilling, but there’s a decree they must have them anyway.”

They passed a stand of self-stirring cauldrons, a shop with quills that danced behind glass, and a gaggle of young witches crowding the window of Madam Malkin’s. 

“Instead of a card, though, you use your wand. Now, you don’t have a wand yet, so we’ll have to use gold for now. I just can’t stand all those heavy coins in my robe, and I can’t carry that satchel around my wrist all the time when I’m trying to work. I’ve even added a rewards program! They can earn 1 galleon for every 100 galleons they spend! Some think it’s a scam. But it’s not. Well, just like a credit card, you have to pay it back every month or they’ll have to pay interest. But I’ve also added automatic monthly repayment straight from their Gringott’s vault.” Duchess was aware of how credit cards work, but Hermione seemed to enjoy explaining it, so she stayed quiet. 

Hermione steered her gently toward the far end of the Alley, toward a narrow shop front marked Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

Chapter 4: Ollivander’s

Table of Contents

Current Events, Education

Huntington Beach is Under Fire for Promoting Stupidity Once Again

Leave a comment

Writer’s Note: Yes, this piece has been reviewed. Yes, I am aware that it may not be the most journalistic piece because I use potty mouth words and point out someone’s lack of qualifications due to the choices they have made in the past… guess what… I DON’T CARE. I know what I’m talking about!

-Kimberly

Huntington Beach is under fire for promoting stupidity once again.

There comes a point where enough is enough. Sure, you have the right to have a say on how your government is run… but do you know how your government actually works? That’s the scary part. You may be voting away your rights and not even know it. Actually… THEY don’t even know that they are voting MY rights away.

As an educator, I am intelligent enough to decide what books the children in my care can read. I am not a public nor a private school teacher; I am a concierge educator whom parents know and trust with their children’s education and intellectual well-being.

Measure A seeks to repeal a City Council ordinance that created a 21-member panel to oversee children’s books in the public library—an unelected, unqualified review board given power over highly educated librarians with degrees such as Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS). Yes… We have a movement that says formal education isn’t everything. But when it comes to educating our children… YES… it is everything!

Measure B protects the library system from privatization, requiring voter approval before city leaders can outsource this essential public service. Actually… it doesn’t “protect” anyone or anything.

If you want to “protect” YOUR child… that’s YOUR right. I, however, don’t believe in raising a generation of children in a censored world. Go ahead and make the decisions for your child, but don’t tout signs with the words “PORN” in large all over the city and talk about protecting kids. Now we have kids asking their parents, “Mommy… what’s porn?” Good call on that, by the way… As I have said before, if you think a picture of a child showing his shoulders playing with a boat in the bathtub is porn… then maybe YOU’RE the one with the problem.

There are intelligent parents who want the best and brightest future for their children, and they know that censoring and “protecting” their child from literature, current events, history, and knowledge is NOT the best for their children. Do what you want with your kids, but leave the others alone. If the public library, with free books to educate children, no matter their racial or economic background, is too controversial for you… go buy your kids their own damn books. Be careful at Barnes and Noble, though, they might have those spicy romance novels for all you soccer moms out there… you know, the ones with about… the plumber and his “little buddy” helping the mom find her “pussy cat” while daddy’s at work?

Okay… let’s say the library respects the education and experience of our librarians, but you still think your child needs to be protected. I’m sorry… do YOU not know how to read? Clearly not… especially if you think Boats Afloat and Everyone Poops is pornographic.

Shame. If anyone needs this library, it’s you. If we’re going to be so quick to judge the intelligence of other people… I am NOT trusting a high-school dropout teen mom (not mentioning names) decide what’s best for the kids of Huntington Beach.

I leave you with the words of a 19th-century poet, writer, and literary critic (whom your child will know if you don’t ban their books)

“Those who burn books will in the end burn people.” -Heinrich Heine 

19th century… he really called it, didn’t he?
Current Events, Education, In the Media

Ban Boats: Huntington Beach Declares War on Boats, Potty Training and Puberty

Leave a comment

WARNING: This article will likely offend readers who oppose intellectual freedom and inclusive, science-backed education.


Huntington Beach city council members want to ban books claiming they are “porn.” There is no porn at the library in the children’s section. What are some books they have categorized as porn?

Let’s be clear: there is no pornography in these books! Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi teaches children about a natural bodily function with humor and honesty. Your One and Only Heart by award winning Dr. Rajani LaRocca explores anatomy in poetic, accessible terms. The Way We Work by David Macaulay explains the human body in ways that engage children without shame or sensationalism.

Yes on prop A & B would

  • Eliminate the proposed Community Parent Guardian Review Board, which was intended to review and approve children’s and teen library materials based on community standards regarding sexual content. If you want to withhold information and education from your child. Do it. But not at the library. Build your own library. Do that there.
  • Transfer the responsibility for selecting library materials to professional librarians, who would follow established policies emphasizing a diverse range of viewpoints and adherence to the First Amendment– You know… the people who went to college.

Some children are raised by single parents—fathers raising daughters, mothers raising sons—who rely on these books to fill gaps in their own understanding or comfort levels. These books offer scientifically sound, inclusive ways to help kids understand what is happening to their bodies. Removing them from reach doesn’t protect kids; it leaves them in the dark.

You think kids are going to ask their parents, “Mommy… What’s porn?” Oh, yes! They will… and they have! Thanks to political posters all over Huntington Beach, including in school zones.

Or perhaps it’s simply that they’re uncomfortable with boats. Yes… they want to ban books about boats. 

Check out John Oliver for some boat porn:

Don’t ban boats!

Other books include:

(ACLU)

Meanwhile, books with actual explicit content—like adult romance novels—remain openly available on spinning racks just steps away. If the concern is access to sexual content, then the city council should start there. But they won’t because this is not about protecting kids. It’s about controlling narratives.

Steamy romance books aren’t out in the open for anyone to grab and sit at any table to read. Oh, wait. They are. Adults can even take them to the children’s and teen section and just read them right there. They can even check them out. All you need is to be at least 13 years old and have a library card. Are these book Nazis going to stand at the door and check each book as they leave the library?

Are we going to move on to Danielle Steel after shoving all these boat books in the some dark corner in the basement of the library? Why aren’t we looking at these books first? Or are we just not going to bother with them? Rights and all, you know. It seems like that would be more of a priority. Why are we looking at books that educate children? There has been no good group in the past that has banned books. Please tell me a group that is generally good. The Nazis? The commies? The KGB? The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea? (To clarify… that’s North Korea)

If this is something that you’re going to do in our public library, why don’t we start with Fabio or Bared to You? At least put it behind the XXX curtains like those video rental places had in the 90s. Make sure it gives out a loud “ding dong” when someone sneaks in. Gotta make sure mommy’s a grown-up.

So the plan is to take the responsibility of selecting library books out of the hands of trained, experienced librarians—many with advanced degrees—and hand it over to someone who didn’t even finish high school because she got pregnant as a teenager. (No names, of course.)

We’re not quite there yet… but that’s clearly the direction we’re heading. For now, the books are just being hidden. Soon, librarians may have no authority at all over what stays on the shelves. Why rely on educated professionals when we can defer to a high school dropout to decide which books matter and which ones don’t?

Don’t tell me… “Oh, we’re just going to move the books into the basement or the adult section…” Have you been in that library’s basement? The adult section? Do they need to know how the science of the human body works, too? Well, they should. They can go into the kid’s section. No Shame!

This is just the beginning– when you start controlling the access to books, you start banning books, and that’s a slippery slope to idiotocracy.

Don’t ban boats. Don’t ban biology. And don’t let fear make fools of us all.

Note: I went ahead and submitted an episode idea to the creators of South Park.

Book Reviews, Science Fiction

The Android Dreams of Revolution

Summary

The Android Dreams of Revolution by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is a short science fiction story that explores themes of rebellion, artificial intelligence, and social change. It was originally published in Isele Magazine on 30 August 2023.

In Ani Kayode Somtochukwu’s The Android Dreams of Revolution, the tragedy arrives in a clean, clinical drop: an android peacekeeper leaps from the thirteenth floor of Odinaka Housing—a utopian complex designed to prove that humans and androids can coexist. The fall isn’t just literal; it’s a collapse of the community’s carefully curated self-image. The residents, once smug in their progressiveness, are forced into the uncomfortable business of self-examination.

Told through Aniagu, a human neighbor reeling from the event, the story peels back the glossy surface of coexistence to reveal something more brittle underneath. The android, though surrounded by supposedly empathetic humans, lived in quiet isolation—a loneliness no policy or community potluck could fix. What emerges is a sharp commentary on the limits of inclusive rhetoric, the hollowness of performative allyship, and the emotional burdens we offload onto the beings we claim to embrace.

Review

I have never been a huge science fiction fan. However, this story combines science fiction while also exploring complex human emotions. It isn’t the shortest story, but it was a quick read because it is so well written.

To be continued…

Book Reviews, Memoirs

Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

Let me tell you, never has a book made me feel like such a loser. I have worked hard in my life, but honestly, I can be lazy, and sometimes I just give up. This was such an inspiring novel. Truly, not in the way that makes me want to make such extreme changes in my life, because I still am a little lazy, but mostly so tired from trying to survive everyday life. A friend recommended this book to me, and I told him, “God, I’m such a loser…” His reply? “No kidding… me, too.”

In Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins shares his life story and philosophy of mental toughness. Raised in an abusive household and struggling with racism, poverty, and learning disabilities, Goggins faced enormous early hardships. As an adult, he transformed himself from an overweight, depressed exterminator into a Navy SEAL, ultramarathon runner, and record-setting endurance athlete.

Goggins argues that most people only tap into 40% of their potential — what he calls the “40% rule.” He emphasizes the power of embracing pain, pushing through suffering, mastering the mind, and seeking personal accountability to unlock true potential. Throughout the book, he offers challenges to the reader, encouraging self-discipline, resilience, and relentless self-improvement.

At its core, Can’t Hurt Me is a tough-love manual for overcoming self-doubt and achieving greatness through extreme mental resilience.

Time management has never been my strong suit. Exhausted and pressed for time, I opted for the audiobook version of Can’t Hurt Me — a decision that proved unexpectedly rewarding.

Narrated by Adam Skolnick, with frequent appearances by David Goggins himself, the audiobook blurs the line between memoir and podcast. Between chapters, Skolnick and Goggins engage in candid conversations that dive deeper into the former Navy SEAL’s harrowing life story, grueling training, and unyielding survival instincts. These interludes offer a richer, more intimate portrait of Goggins, transforming the listening experience into something far more expansive than the printed page alone.

Whether you prefer to read or listen, Can’t Hurt Me deserves a place on your reading list.

Book Reviews

Spare by Prince Harry

Spare by Prince Harry is an outstanding memoir. As someone who has long admired him, I am glad he finally had the opportunity to tell his story in his own words. Prior to reading the book, I was unfamiliar with the true meaning behind the term “spare.” I knew that Prince Charles had once told Princess Diana he had successfully produced “an heir and a spare,” and I had always assumed it simply meant that Harry would step into the line of succession should anything happen to William. However, Harry’s account revealed a far more painful reality. He writes, “I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow.” He also reflects, “Two years older than me, Willy was the Heir, whereas I was the Spare,” conveying the unsettling idea that he existed in part as a biological reserve for his brother.

I believe Harry never truly felt loved by his father in the way he might have been had he been born a girl — a second daughter instead of a second son. I am not saying Charles didn’t love Harry, only that Charles could have loved Harry just a little more.

At a recent event, host Ayesha Hazarika introduced him by saying, “He wants to say a few words to kick start the day and he’s made it clear that we are all just to call him ‘Harry.’ So, ladies and gentlemen, please give a big Scottish welcome to Harry.” It speaks to his desire to be seen simply as himself — Harry. Just Harry.

I absolutely loved his book. His story made me feel deeply for both him and Prince William. I was reminded of the sorrow I felt when I read Princess Diana’s book years ago, wondering how being burdened with the well-being and survival of an entire country and commonwealth could ever be worth the personal cost. Harry’s pain, his sense of not belonging in his own family, echoes the struggles his mother endured.

I sincerely hope he is finding peace here in California. As a fan, I even find myself wishing he and his family would move to Newport Coast — maybe then I might have the chance to meet him. In my daydreams, I imagine that with a little help from Ben striking up a conversation with “Just Harry,” about their military experience, we might even become good friends, perhaps over a casual coffee.

I highly recommend this book. It is eye-opening, informative, and at times both humorous and heartwarming, offering a perspective that allows readers to see the royal family in a new and more nuanced light — whether for better or for worse.

Book Reviews

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Summary

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak takes place in Nazi Germany during World War II and centers on a young girl named Liesel Meminger. After the death of her brother and the disappearance of her mother, Liesel is placed with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, in the small town of Molching.

At first, Liesel struggles to adjust, but she gradually finds comfort in books, despite not being able to read. With Hans’ guidance, she learns to read and develops a deep love for words. As the war intensifies, the Hubermanns hide a Jewish man, Max Vandenburg, in their basement. Liesel and Max form a powerful bond, and he gifts her a handmade book that inspires her own writing.

Throughout the story, Liesel steals books—starting with one from a graveyard and later from the mayor’s library—finding hope and freedom through reading. But the war brings devastating losses: air raids destroy much of her town, and a bombing ultimately kills almost everyone she cares about. Liesel survives because she was in the basement writing her story when the attack happened.

The novel is uniquely narrated by Death, who observes Liesel’s journey and offers reflections on humanity along the way.

Review coming soon – Coming soon

Book Reviews

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime by political commentator Trevor Noah is one of my favorite autobiographies. I learned so much from him about the apartheid, the political climate of South Africa and how segregation still exists today. Even before the release of this autobiography, I’ve always been a fan of Trevor Noah and was sad to see him leave The Daily Show. This autobiography is not about learning about a man or for entertainment. It is for education as well, and I recommend this autobiography to people of all ages.