Rosy's scrawled book recommendation: The Wonder Weeks by Hetty van de Rijt, Ph.D and Frans Plooij, Ph.D

The Wonder Weeks
Hetty van de Rijt, Ph.D
Frans Plooij, Ph.D

Blurb

Your Baby's Developing Mind: What a Wonder-ful World!

In The Wonder Weeks, you'll discover the specific dates during their first 14 months when all babies take eight major developmental leaps. And you'll learn how to help your baby through the eight great "fussy phases" that mark these leaps within a week or two. 

Wonder week by wonder week, you'll see how your baby's mind is developing. Now you will know which games and toys are best for your baby during each key week and how to encourage each leap forward. Calendars, charts, and checklists help you track your baby's progress-- and finally make sense of his fussy behaviour.

This is a baby book like no other. It will be your indispensable guide to the crucial "wonder weeks" of your baby's first year.

Publisher

Rodale Books

ISBN

9781579546458

Rosy's scrawlings on The Wonder Weeks

I'm writing this as a new mum with a 7 week old (tomorrow). You might think that I've had little use for this book yet, considering the age of my bub, but you'd be terribly wrong. This book has been the most helpful for me, and through me my husband, in knowing what's coming and keeping cool through the roughest times. While other baby care books spend all or most of their time on things like changing nappies and medical advice and methods of dealing with crying, this book has been the only one I've come across that's told me specifically why my bub might be acting as he does. And knowing why makes all the difference. It elevates my ability to relate from brand spanking new mum with no clue what to do but wrap, attempt to soothe and cry it out to responding to my bub's problems more directly. This started with knowing before he was even born just how he might experience the world. I also had a practical experience lesson during the pethidine drug trip I had to have for the pain that was making me want to throw up (I was c-ed for pre-eclampsia and his head not dropping and as it turned out this was an excellent thing as the cord was around his neck too). While under I heard light and saw music (which happened to be a Fats Waller track that was playing) and when in the recovery room I thought to myself that this must be a touch of the synesthesia that is mentioned to be the newborn's world before the first 'great' leap. The book and my drug trip helped me no end, I have to say. I could understand why my bub was the little dependent bundle he was and not just for the lack of knowledge and know-how. Understanding just what is and what changes and what is to come lets me and my hubby work out what we'd like to do in response before we're backs to the wall, fighting off the flood of screams, soiled nappies, snatched hair, sleepless nights, feeding problems and whatever else that comes along. Because, if you're new to this too, I can already say that the calm definitely comes before the storm and what you know as routine is nothing (or rather usable for that day and maybe, if you're lucky, a day or two to come). Chaos be a bub but The Wonder Weeks gives you a lot of very useful information to steer your collective life by. Instead of always feeling a step or many behind your bub's mood swings and mental changes you can now see those rough times ahead, have all your contingency plans ready, know when it is a good idea or bad to have your bub in someone else's care (mine becomes clingy and easily disturbed when he's otherwise unswayed by much and happy to adventure into other people's arms), know when it might be best not to go to that whatever as while it might be difficult at home it will be ten times more so away from home, when your bub is crying for new experiences rather than pain or tiredness, what sort of experiences might be wanted and so on. Some of the information may seem obvious, other bits you'll never have known or considered and more may be slightly different or N/A (as they say) to what you experience. And the times the growth spurts occur may vary too but if you read ahead this won't be an issue. My advice. As soon as your bub has passed a stage, read about the next and begin bracing yourself. Make that comfy spot on the couch, build yourself a castle, get as much organised beforehand as you can and settle in to being at your bub's moody whims for a while. Soon enough the calm will come and you can read on to the next step while you reclaim part of your life back again.

The Wonder Weeks is written for someone mostly mentally cooked (addle brained) but without condescending them. The layout is spacious, with lots of gaps, breaks in the text and large font for tired eyes. Still, the information is to the point and smoothly delivered. As mentioned, your experiences may vary but this book rarely guides you in how to as it focuses more on why and what. How you deal with the situation is largely left to you, which, I must say, suits my temperament as a new mum perfectly. I like to be able to figure it out myself and do things my way rather than always follow someone else's word. Why? Because me, my bub, my hubby, my surrounds, my supplies, my previous and post routines and my lifelines are all different to anyone else's. Obviously I need to get through my way. This makes The Wonder Weeks a far more useful baby book than most.

There are also notes from mothers (at least a few from fathers could have been included, especially father's on their own - the entire baby care industry and even parent health is very oriented towards mothers to the exclusion of fathers) that may come in handy for balancing your emotions and thoughts. For those who worry, self-analyse and generally tear themselves and their partners (if present) apart for it these notes may help bring a little peace. You aren't alone in your concerns and sometimes just knowing that and reading about what others have done to overcome certain problems will help. If, on the other hand, you're more headstrong, accepting of your own faults and/or have a little inner calm these notes can be skipped or read for the solutions as you please. No way of doing things is a problem although best not tear yourself and your partner (if present) apart as you are your bub's lifeline and best not lose your cool so much you harm your bub. If you think that's about to happen then follow all the normal advice and step away to get someone else's help. Every book and experienced parent and baby care pro will tell you that and that piece of advice is one to follow absolutely.

I'd recommend this book to: every new and some more experienced mums, dads and grandparents. I can even imagine this will come in handy to early childhood workers, older siblings helping to or in charge of minding their younger siblings and anyone else in close contact with a baby for a significant period of time.

Rosy's scrawled manga recommendation: Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou by Yamauchi Yasunobu

Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
Yamauchi Yasunobu

Blurb
High school boys are really simple and curious creatures. They want one and only one thing: girls. But they haven’t got a clue about them. Male teenagers are dumbfounded by the girls’ thought process, actions, appearance and everything in between. They spend countless hours amongst themselves discussing and arguing their theories which are usually completely off base. If only they had the courage to ask them instead of screwing around and talking about nonsensical things, they might get somewhere.

Alternative names
男子高中生的日常
男子高校生の日常
Daily Lives of High School Boys
Danshi Kōkōsei no Nichijō
Danshi Kokosei no Nichio

Status

Completed

Manga reader sites (free)

Manga Here, Manga Fox, Manga Reader

Rosy's scrawlings on Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou

This manga, mostly known to me by the title Daily Lives of High School Boys, is unusual in its construction. The manga is more like a comic strip in structure, following the short adventures and conversations of three high school boys and later three high school girls. The boys are the first to reveal their idiosyncrasies and idiocy. They spend their time playing role play games, wearing girl's underwear, gossiping and wondering just how a high school boy is supposed to get a girlfriend, not to mention what makes a man cool. Dotted in amongst these stories are ones of awkward 'conversations' about the wind, meant to impress but the timidity and fear of the high school boy's mind is revealed in full. There's much to laugh at in Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou and the girls are just as worthy of being laughed at as the boys. The girls, however, keep creating challenges and battles in order to find out who is the strongest, exchange fierce words with enemies and beat up the unruly boys. All while wondering at the boys' strangeness and at times wondering how they can get a boyfriend.

Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou is a long series of comic-strip-like comedies of errors that snatch your attention yet allow you to read the stories at any speed you like. The humour is light and the insights into high school boys and girls amusingly accurate even if they are rather playful. There is a slow culmination of events but it is quite possible to read the strips individually and even start the stories at a random spot, although character introduction and relationship may need to be caught up on.
The art of Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou is made up, by and large of a lot of close up stills. The wild action is limited unless the story is, for example, about role play or wearing female underwear (which usually leads to the boys being beaten up by disgruntled females missing said underwear). This leaves many panels focusing on expressions and stances to convey the variety of thoughts and emotions the characters experience. This may seem minimalist for a manga but the illustration style matches the short strip structure of Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou.

I'd recommend this manga to: those who like stories that offer little slices of life, short comic strips, anything comedy of errors and the lives of high school boys and girls.

Notes on manga reader sites
The quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.
I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.
Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

Allergy free rhubarb and apple pudding recipe

Ingredients

• Melted Nuttlex or olive oil spray, to grease
• 500g rhubarb, trimmed, washed, cut into 2.5cm pieces
• 500g granny smith apples, peeled, cored, chopped
• 2 tbsps lemon juice
• ¾ cup caster sugar
• 125g Nuttlex
• ⅔ cup goat’s milk
• 2 tsps Orgran No Egg whisked with 100mls water until thick
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1¼ cups Orgran self-raising flour
• Icing sugar, to dust

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• Lightly grease a 2 litre ovenproof baking dish.
• Place the rhubarb, apple, lemon juice and ¼ cup of the sugar in the prepared dish and stir to combine.
• Cover the dish with aluminium foil.
• Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until tender.
• In a large bowl, beat the Nuttlex and ½ cup of sugar in a large bowl until pale and creamy.
• Add the flour, milk, No Egg mixture and vanilla.
• Beat until all the ingredients are just combined.
• Spoon the mixture over the rhubarb and apple.
• Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Dust the pudding with icing sugar.

Allergy free buttered popcorn recipe

Ingredients

• 2 large tbsps lactose free butter
• 100g (approx.) unpopped popcorn kernels
• 1-2 tsps salt (optional)

Method

• Add half the butter to a wok and turn the heat to medium- high.
• Add the popcorn kernels as the butter begins to melt.
• Place a splatter guard over the top of the wok.
• Before the popcorn starts popping stir the kernels a few times to ensure the butter evenly coats the kernels.
• When the butter bubbles and steams begin rolling the popcorn about the bottom of the pan as much as possible.
• When a third-half the kernels have popped, drop the remaining butter into the wok and continue rolling the popcorn to distribute the melting butter.
• Keep the popcorn, popped and unpopped, in motion until the popping decreases significantly then remove the wok from the heat.
• Pour the popcorn in a bowl and discard any unpopped or burnt kernels.
• Sprinkle over the salt, as desired.

Rosy's scrawled manga recommendation: Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara

Mushishi
Yuki Urushibara

Blurb
Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and skill to save those plagued by mushi . . . perhaps.

Alternative names
Mushi-shi

Status
Ongoing

Manga reader sites (free)
Manga Reader, Manga Fox

Rosy's scrawlings on Mushishi
Mushishi is a strange manga for a few reasons. I should say that it stands out rather than being strange, but either description will do. Mushishi is a slow paced, thoughtful and almost free of action. Ginko is a wanderer who tends to walk in and out of small villages, working on a variety of problems caused by mushi. The mushi themselves are almost intangible lifeforms that aren't normally sensed in any way by people but occasionally they cause illnesses or strange abilities, with many a drawback for humans. Ginko is one who wanders because not only can he sense them but he draws them to him. Staying in any place for too long means risking a build up of mushi and a catastrophe of unknown proportions. These storyline restrictions makes Mushishi unusual as the mood, if not the general plot, is almost the antithesis of popular manga styles, which tend to be fast paced and filled with extraordinary action sequences.
The mushi of Mushishi are interesting life forms. They appear like bacterial ghosts and sometimes take the form of humans or beasts that dwell in a slightly different reality or realm. The mushi are what Ginko spends his life dealing with while others with similar abilities to his own tend to kill them. Ginko is a calm force even within the story's world, his laid back and somewhat distanced nature giving him a perspective on life that almost no other shares. All life is worth saving, wherever possible, and so he strives to find a balance for all.
Otherwise, Mushishi  is constructed of short episodes taking place in different towns and villages. The stories are all rather timeless except through the scattered stories that explore Ginko's past. There's a sense of isolation in each story that heightens the ghostly presence of the mushi, making Mushishi a ghost story with a difference.
The art of Mushishi has a sketchy, scratching style that's smoothed over with extensive shading. The landscape looms large and is often haunting for the snow, rough dwellings, dense forests and scraggly trees. Ginko is eternally smoking a cigarette and studying his surrounds with his one eye. The art has a stillness and calm that is strikingly different from most mangas and is a pleasure to read for it.

I'd recommend this manga to: those who like slow paced thoughtful stories, ghost stories, the "tree of life", philosophy and the wanderers life.

Notes on manga reader sites
The quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.
I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.
Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

Best quotes from Romeo and Juliet for tattooing

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet."

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?"

"Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good night till it be morrow."

"Thus with a kiss I die."

"This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,

May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet."

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep; the more I give to thee,

The more I have, for both are infinite.” 

“Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold, sick and healthy, asleep and awake- its everything except what it is!"

“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” 

“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.” 

“Oh, I am fortune's fool!” 

"What else is love? It’s a wise form of madness."

“My only love sprung from my only hate.”

“Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.”

“One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun

Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.”

“He that hath the steerage of my course,

Direct my sail.”

“What must be shall be.”

“Ready to go but never to return.”

“How much salt water thrown away in waste

To season love, that of it doth not taste.”

“Thou canst not speak of thou dost not feel.”

"Life, living, all is Death’s.”

“What's in a name?”

Rosy's scrawled manga recommendation: Black Lagoon by Rei Hiroe

Black Lagoon
Rei Hiroe

Blurb
The story follows a team of mercenaries known as Lagoon Company, who smuggle goods in and around the seas of Southeast Asia. Their base of operations is located in the fictional city of Roanapur in Thailand, and they transport goods in the PT boat Black Lagoon. Lagoon Company does business with various clients, but has a particularly friendly relationship with the Russian crime syndicate Hotel Moscow. The team takes on a variety of missions - which may involve violent firefights, hand-to-hand combat, and nautical battles - in various Southeast Asian locations.

Alternative names
Burakku Laguun
ブラックラグーン
ブラック・ラグーン

黑礁

Status
Ongoing

Manga reader sites (free)
Manga Reader, Manga Fox, Manga Here

Rosy's scrawlings on Black Lagoon
This is yet another manga I learnt about from the social network grapevine. It came up a few times over the last year or two but I hadn't gotten around to reading. There was one failed attempt to but I must have been in the wrong mood, dropping it after about a chapter. This was a mistake, I admit, but then, the first chapter or so are a little lukewarm compared to those that come. What follows though, will have you hooked both for the ludicrous amounts of guns, blood and explosions, the roughness of the various women, the strange array of characters and the fast pace of the world in which Lagoon Company operates.
It is hard to describe Black Lagoon as it is a story that has many twists and turns, a wide range of characters to track and a series of connected mini stories. The best of stories often have such features and often require the commenter to begin rabbiting endlessly in order to explain the story, so it is no surprise that describing Black Lagoon has me facing the same issue. Suffice it to say that there's a group of misfits making an often violent living as traders/deliverers in a city ruled by equally or more violent groups such as the mafia, ex-Russian soldiers come crime syndicate, The Church Of Violence weapons traders (nuns with guns) and the CIA and other American secret service interlopers. The entire world they work within is corrupt and they fit right in, for one reason or another. Respectable lives for each of the crew members was either lost or never had and they each enjoy their life of violence far too much. The main pair of characters to follow are Revy Two Hand (a woman with severe attitude and a love for guns), and Rock the salary man from Japan who found himself at the mercy of Lagoon Company as one of the packages they traded in. Although saved by Revy, Rock still holds on to a more hopeful view of life. Revy, on the other hand is learning to put up with such optimism, at most. Together they fight for survival and sometimes a better outcome, but nothing much more except for pay.
The art of Black lagoon is a little unengaging for the first chapter or so, probably feeding the mild disinterest I felt with the first attempt. But soon enough the style settles into one that is bold and full of character. There's occasionally a very pretty or cute manga aspect to the illustrations but these generally focus on the younger characters. The action is fast paced and smooth, pushing the story forward and providing much that is visually interesting.  Otherwise, the only strange point is that everyone seems to always wear a set costume.

I'd recommend this manga to: those who love action with extreme violence, gun fights, stories involving the criminal and secret intelligence worlds and those who like to see their nuns and maids sporting big guns and bazookas of the explosive nature. Given the even mix of male and female leads this will appeal to men and women who fit the above but I wouldn't suggest this manga to the young and young at heart.

Notes on manga reader sites
The quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.
I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.
Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

Allergy free red lentil burgers recipe

Ingredients

• 375g red lentils, soaked for 45 minutes and drained
• 3 cups water
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, finely grated
• 1 zucchini, finely grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tomato, finely chopped 
• 6 large tbsps Orgran all purpose flour or rice flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp Orgran No Egg
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard, curry powder or ground cumin, to taste
• Rice or corn crumbs, to coat
• Olive oil, for cooking

Method

• Put the soaked lentils in a saucepan with 3 cups water and bring to the boil. 
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until soft then drain them well.
• Put the lentils and onion in a food processer and blend until roughly chopped.
• Add all the ingredients except the rice crumbs to a large bowl, mixing until evenly combined.
• If you like lentil burgers with a smooth texture, process all the ingredients except the crumbs and oil until smooth.
• Cover a plate with rice or corn crumbs.
• Form the lentil mixture into patties and coat each with rice or corn crumbs.
• Pan fry in olive oil for 2-3 minutes each side over a medium-high heat or cook on the barbeque.
• If you don’t use all the lentil mixture in one go, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, using some at a time.

Allergy free hearty chicken soup recipe

Ingredients
Soup stock base

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2cm fresh ginger, peeled, finely grated
• Tips of 5 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 celery stick, chopped
• 8 cups cold water
• ¾ tsp chilli powder, to taste (optional)
• 1 double chicken breast, trimmed

Extras

• 2 potatoes, cubed
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 corn, kernels removed
• 1 leek, halved and sliced
• 1-2 cups water (optional)
• 2 tsps allergy free soy sauce replacer

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium-low heat.
• Cook the onion, garlic, ginger and rosemary until the onion is soft.
• Add the celery, water and chilli powder, stirring to combine.
• Then carefully drop in the chicken.
• Bring the mixture to the boil.
• Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer the mixture for 1 hour.
• Allow the mixture to cool and remove and discard any unwanted fat from surface.
• Remove the chicken, shred and return it to the pot.
• Bring the stock to the boil over a high heat.
• Reduce the heat to medium.
• Stir in the potato, corn, carrot and leek.
• If there isn’t enough stock to cook the vegetables, add 1-2 cups water.
• Simmer for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
• Stir in the soy sauce replacer.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Rosy's scrawled manga recommendation: One Piece by Oda Eiichiro

One Piece
Oda Eiichiro

Blurb
Gold Roger was known as the Pirate King, the strongest and most infamous being to have sailed the Grand Line. The capture and death of Roger by the World Government brought a change throughout the world. His last words before his death revealed the location of the greatest treasure in the world, One Piece. It was this revelation that brought about the Grand Age of Pirates, men who dreamed of finding One Piece (which promises an unlimited amount of riches and fame), and quite possibly the most coveted of titles for the person who found it, the title of the Pirate King.
Enter Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy who defies the standard definition of a pirate. Rather than the popular persona of a wicked, hardened, toothless pirate who ransacks villages for fun, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is one of pure wonder; the thought of an exciting adventure and meeting new and intriguing people, along with finding One Piece. Following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Luffy and his crew travel across the Grand Line, experiencing crazy adventures, unveiling dark mysteries and battling strong enemies, all in order to reach One Piece.

Alternative names
ワンピース
海贼王
원피스
One Piece
Đảo hải tặc
Één stuk
All'Arrembaggio
Jeden Kawałek
O piesă
Ντρέικ
ون بيس ، قطعة واحدة 
Bir Parça
Isang piraso
Budak Getah
วัน พีซ

Status
Ongoing

Manga reader sites (free)
Manga Fox

Rosy's scrawlings on One Piece
This is one of the most enjoyable mangas I've ever read. It is pure, light-hearted and full of fun. There's a range of characters fighting a range of personal issues, with enemies becoming friends and friends becoming enemies or at least combatants. All within the quick paced and unpredictable world of pirates and sea monsters. The story is one revolving around a giant treasure hunt but it is the varied desires, struggles and goals of each character that is most important and what adds depth and heart to the story.
The story follows Luffy, with his name in translation occasionally changing, as he goes from being a very young boy desiring of being a pirate to a young man gathering his pirate crew, setting out to the Grand Line and doing battle with various opponents. Of the crew he gathers there's a thief wanting to rescue her village, a swordsman wanting to become the best in the world, a chef who wants to find the utopian bright blue (I think it is called - something blue, anyway) and so on. Everyone wants something different but they all band together with Luffy, one who has eaten a Devil's Fruit that gives him the stretchy powers of rubber because Luffy accepts their goals, helps them unequivocally and brings a blast of life, fun and freedom to their lives. Luffy is the embodiment of a freedom and adventure loving pirate, no more, no less.
The manga is made of short instalments of a giant adventure, reducing the reading drag long volumes can create. The action is quick and the characters strange and varied, although many identify as pirates, islanders or marines. The sea voyages are broken up by island landings, fights between pirates, boat chases, monster attacks and even a wild storm or two. Like many a manga there's more than a few face-offs between enemies but they are far less structured and often reflect the sneaky nature of the more violent and nasty pirates. On top of this, the Devil's Fruit that Luffy ate wasn't the only one. Others with strange powers abound, often being marines or pirates themselves. 
The art of One Piece is mostly made up of light lines and lots of white but darkness and shadows are introduced not through shading but with solid black, creating enormous depth on occasion. There's plenty of texture and an emphasis on the odd and comical. Expressions and physical features are often far from realistic and only add to the unique nature of the art. Overall, the art is as enjoyable as the story, both being light and bright as well as coloured with heavier issues.

I'd recommend this manga to: everyone male and female, young and old.

Notes on manga reader sites
The quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.
I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.
Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

Allergy free chicken with garlic stir-fry recipe

Ingredients

• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 
¼ cup allergy free soy sauce replacer

• ¼ cup water plus a dash more
• 
¼ cup honey
• 
2 tbsps olive oil, divided

• 1 tbsp corn flour
• 
¼ tsp pepper, to taste

• ¼ tsp chilli flakes, to taste

• 1 double chicken breast, sliced

• ½ cup broccoli florets
• ½ red capsicum, sliced
• 1 carrot, finely sliced
• 1-2 shallots, finely sliced, garnish



Method

• Combine the garlic, soy sauce replacer, water, honey, ½ the oil, corn flour, pepper and chilli in a large bowl.
• Stir the sliced chicken into the marinade and mix to coat.
• Cover the chicken and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• 
In a wok, heat the remaining oil over a medium-high heat.
• 
Add the chicken and stir-fry until just cooked through.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the wok to a plate.
• Add the broccoli and a dash of water to the wok and stir fry until bright green.
• Add the capsicum and carrot to the wok and stir fry for 2 minutes more.
• Add the reserved marinade and continue to cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds until the marinade has thickened.
• Quickly return the chicken to the wok and stir through.
• Serve immediately with a garnish of shallots.

10 differences between serial killer fiction and reality

The best of the best fictional serial killers are written and sometimes acted well enough to escape some, but rarely all, of the below problems. Fiction just can't reflect the true horror of reality in the case of serial killers, no matter how much they make you, the audience member, squirm.

1. In fiction, there isn't enough shock in the discovery of hidden horrors.

2. In fiction, the serial killer is glorified.

3. The extended efforts everyone makes to try to understand why is, for the most part, absent from fiction.

4. In fiction, the slow development of the killer and his crimes is cast aside for sudden gory awakenings.

5. The mix of victim and killer often present in the serial killer's personality and experience is underplayed or non-existent in fiction.

6. The serial killer's often overpowering, disturbing personality and misfit nature is ignored in fiction for the killer's ability to blend in and appear normal.


7. The serial killer's dysfunctional psychology is underplayed in fiction for a functional pattern of behaviour that leads to a repetition of kills.

8. The unplanned and rather opportunistic nature of many of the real serial killer's kills is lost for a pattern and a comprehensible reason to kill.

9. The lasting filth and bodily remains surrounding a serial killer is often left out of the fiction for a focus on initial gore and a clean disposal that justifies why everyone around them didn't notice.

10. The physical appearance of the real serial killer is often far less attractive, though frequently normal enough, than those of fictional killers.

Allergy free Japanese ginger chicken recipe

Ingredients

• 1 double chicken breast or 1kg chicken thighs, deboned
• 2 tbsps allergy free soy sauce replacer
• 2 tbsps sake or dry sherry
• 2 tbsps honey
• 2cm fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 tbsps water
• 1-2 shallots, sliced
• Sesame seeds (optional)

Method

• Cut the chicken up into bite-sized pieces.
• In a large bowl, whisk the soy sauce replacer, sake, honey and ginger together.
• Add the chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat a wok over a medium heat until hot.
• Add the oil then swirl to coat.
• Fry the chicken in batches of only one layer until the chicken chunks form nice brown crusts.
• When the chicken has browned on one side, flip it over and brown the other side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
• Once all the chicken is browned, wipe up any extra oil in the wok with a paper towel.
• Add the remaining marinade to the wok along with the water.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over a medium-high heat.
• Return all the chicken to the pan.
• Stir, until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the chicken has a shiny coating of sauce.
• Serve with rice and garnish with shallots and sesame seeds.

Allergy free basic chicken bolognaise recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1-2 sticks celery, finely chopped or diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 500g chicken mince
• 3 tomatoes, chopped and pureed
• 4 tbsps tomato paste.
• 2 tbsps white wine
• Dried basil, oregano and/or marjoram, small pinches recommended, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

• In a saucepan over a medium-high heat, cook the onion, celery and garlic in the olive oil until the onion has softened.
• Add the chicken mince and cook until broken up and cooked through.
• Stir through the pureed tomato, tomato paste and white wine.
• Season to taste with herbs and salt and pepper.
• Simmer on medium for 10 minutes or until reduced and thick.
• Serve on Orgran spaghetti or noodles with some grated lactose free cheese, if desired.

Allergy free chicken nachos recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tsps ground coriander seeds
• 1 tsp ground cumin seeds
• 2 tsps smoked paprika
• ½ tsp chilli powder (optional)
• 500g chicken mince
• 400g diced tomatoes
• 420g refried beans
• 1 red capsicum, finely chopped (optional)
• ½ cup chicken stock made from a Massel vegetarian chicken ultracube
• 200g corn chips

Suggested toppings

• Grated lactose free cheese (optional)
• 1-2 avocados
• ½-1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ cup tomato salsa

Method

• Preheat the oven to 200°C.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat.
• Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is soft.
• Add the coriander, cumin, paprika and chilli and cook, stirring, until aromatic.
• Increase the heat to high and add the mince.
• Cook, stirring, to break up the mince, until the mince is cooked through.
• Add the tomatoes, refried beans, capsicum and stock.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until the mixture thickens.
• Arrange corn chips and nachos mince on ovenproof plates.
• Sprinkle over some cheese, as much as desired, and bake until the cheese melts.
• If not including cheese, bake for up to 10 minutes so the chips are hot and crisp.
• Meanwhile, use a fork to mash the avocados and lemon juice together.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Top the nachos with avocado and tomato salsa.

Best quotes from The Doctor for tattooing

“As we learn about each other, so we learn about ourselves.”

“Dreams are important... never underestimate them.”

“I always like to do the unexpected, it takes people by surprise.”

“You can tell them I came and went like a summer cloud.”

“I think you'll find that I'm qualified to deal with practically everything, if I choose.”

“Small though it is, the human brain can be quite effective when used properly.”

“Rest is for the weary, sleep is for the dead.”

“I was trying to help. Surely even a blockhead like you can see that!”

“Don't worry. I always leave things until the last moment.”

“To the rational mind, nothing is inexplicable; only unexplained.”

“This is a situation that requires tact and finesse. Fortunately, I am blessed with both.”

“Unless we are prepared to sacrifice our lives for the good of all, then evil and anarchy will spread like the plague.”

“Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing can be eternal.”

“Crush the lesser races. Conquer the galaxy. Incredible power, unlimited rice pudding, et cetera, et cetera.”

“Anybody remotely interesting is mad, in some way or another.”

“I had to face my fear. That was more important than just going on living.”

“Just be your natural horrid self.”

“Like Alice, I try to believe three impossible things before breakfast.”

“Maybe I am getting too young for this sort of thing.”

“One good, solid hope's worth a cartload of certainty.”

“There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.”

“We're all basically primeval slime with ideas above its station.”

“Shh. I'm wondering.”

“Now drop your weapons or I'll kill him with this deadly jelly baby.”

“Would you like a jelly baby?”

“I don't take orders from anyone.”

“Never be certain of anything. It's a sign of weakness.”

“Time and tide melts the snowman.”

“The best way to find out where you are from is find out where you are going and work backwards.”

“A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting.”

“First things first, but not necessarily in that order.”

“What's wrong with being childish? I like being childish.”

“Oh, don't listen to me... I never do.”

“All of time and space; everywhere and anywhere; every star that ever was. Where do you want to start?”

“Everything has its time and everything dies.”

“Do what I do. Hold tight and pretend it's a plan!”

“Every lonely monster needs a companion.”