By Sarka-Jonae Miller

August 26, 2015 (San Diego) -- “How is it possible to acquire genuine reviews for a book when most reviewers want FREE books to review? If a reviewer has a Free book have they been compromised or influenced to provide a good review? I have been approached by fellow authors requesting reviews on the understanding of you scratch my back and I will scratch yours! I have of course turned down all such requests! Over the past few weeks Amazon has started to address this issue by removing reviews that they consider to be inappropriate or not genuine or verifiable. I would be most interested in your understanding of the current and future book review process.” - Mike Wilkins

Let's first address the idea that a free book automatically means a positive review. That is not the case. Any author who has run a successful giveaway knows that you're more likely to get negative reviews than positive ones from people who download free books.

Editor’s note: This essay paints a picture of what El Monte Valley could look like in the future; Sunrise Power Link has been built; solar and sand-mining projects are planned or proposed.

By Rob Foster 

August 26, 2015 (Lakeside)--Early mornings, I like to walk outside with coffee in hand and sit down facing the morning sun. Gazing northeast the scar left from the Sunrise project are clearly seen. Sun lit power towers draped with wires and ten acres of stripped land below scenic El Capitan Mtn. SDG&E promised the ten acre site would be returned to its original undisturbed state. SDG&E destroys the ecosystem leaving an ugly scare in a matter of months. Thank you for the reminder of a broken promise.

 As I look east,  a glare catches my eyes.

August 26, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• New Rules Go Into Effect At Busy U.S.-Mexico Border Crossing (NPR)
• Update coming for La Mesa civic center area (U-T)
• Pizzaria about to wrap it up (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Regional park could boost southeastern SD (U-T)
• Police wrangle rogue reptile in East County (Fox 5)
• 14-2 Blowout! Sweetwater Valley Wins Little League World Series Game (Patch)
• San Diego City Council politics and the Ethics Commission (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Lawsuit Filed Against SeaWorld (KPBS)
• Roundtable Digs Into Coastal, Backcountry Development Controversies (KPBS)
• Iran deal puts Christians at risk in Middle East (San Diego Union-Tribune, opinion by Mark Arabo)
• Heroin Use Among San Diego County Arrestees Rise (KPBS)
• Outside Groups Seen As Crucial For Anderson In San Diego County Supervisor Race (KPBS)
• Developer and County May Seize Private Property for Lilac Hills Project (Voice of SD)
• Downing drone at beach leads to jail (U-T)

STATE

• New California Law Upholds Public Right to Record (Reason)
• Inmates use empathy to tame wild horses (Sac Bee)
•  California water prices set to rise next year: Fitch Reuters)
• California drought impact pegged at $2.7 billion (SacBee)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 26, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

General U.S. news

• Americans Recount Subduing Gunman Aboard French Train (NPR)
• Judge orders prompt release of immigrant children from detention (LA Times)
• Weary US firefighters call on Australia, New Zealand for relief (CS Monitor)
• A Shariah-approved nuclear attack {Washington Times)
• Why Obama's approval numbers are sliding (CS Monitor)
• Uber's driver screening practices fuel political debate on rider safety (LA Times)
• Ashley Madison data includes San Diego government, military email addresses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• What the secret agreement between Iran and the UN says (AP)

Presidential race

• Donald Trump and the mob (CNN)
• Straight outta Brooklyn, by way of Vermont: The Bernie Sanders Story (Tablet)
• The deceptions of Hillary Clinton (JWR)
• Former Attorney General Questions Clinton's Email Comments (NPR)
• Between eye surgeries in Haiti, Rand Paul talks 2016 challenges (Portland Press Herald)

WORLD

Middle East and Africa

• White House: Islamic State second-in-command killed in U.S. air strike (Reuters)
• U.S.-led coalition stages 26 air strikes on Islamic State (Reuters)
• Report: Turkey erects concrete wall along border with Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Iran unveils new missile with 500 km range, says seeks peace through strength (JPost)
• Islamic State militants blow up temple in ancient city of Palmyra (Reuters)
• Too soon for 'illogical' U.S. to return to Tehran: Iran  (Reuters)
• Israel to P5+1: Iran, Islamic Jihad behind rocket attack against our northern towns (JPost)
• Tens of thousands displaced by Boko Haram in two weeks in Chad (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

Europe and Asia

• Police In Macedonia Fire Stun Grenades At Refugees Who Storm Border (NPR)
• Masses of dead fish wash up on shores 6km from Tianjin blast site (Shanghaiist)
• Typhoon leaves 15 dead, 12 miners missing in Philippines (CS Monitor)
•  How Asia's melting Tian Shan glaciers could fuel conflict (CS Monitor)
• In Spain, Entire Villages Are Up For Sale — And They're Going Cheap (NPR)
• Another factory explosion rocks China. Another case of corruption exposed? (CSMonitor)
• What Greece's new elections mean for the bailout (AP)

Mexico

• Mexico sees first conviction of soldier in disappearance (AP)
• The Underage Girls Of Mexico's Sex Trade: Hope Amid The Horror (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

Photo: El Cajon Police

August 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers have collared an unusual “suspect” spotting rambling through backyards along Helix View Drive. Though a caller reporting a “possible alligator,” the roving reptile turned out to be a large iguana native to the tropics but commonly kept as pets.

August 25, 2015 (La Mesa)—On Thursday, August 27th at 8 a.m., officers from the La Mesa Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee. All community members are invited to attend. The event  is at Starbucks, 5020 Baltimore Drive La Mesa. Please contact Sergeant Brian Stoney with any questions at (619) 667-7555 bstoney@ci.la-mesa.ca.us

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2015 (Alpine) –Two men in a white minivan tried to lure a 10-year-old girl into the vehicle on Monday, August 24^th at noon, Sergeant L. Whalen with the Alpine Sheriff’s station reports.  The girl was playing in an apartment complex in the 2000 block of Arnold Way in Alpine when one of the suspects approached and  offered her a ride, saying had candy in the van. The girl ran away and hid in some bushes.

The  white van has had tinted side windows, a pink breast cancer sticker on the back door and two lumber boards on top. One suspect are described as a white man with a freckled face, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with drawstring pulled tight around his face and black sweatpants. Ther is no description of the second suspect.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

East County News Service

August 24, 2015 (San Diego) – At the California Democratic Party’s e-board meeting last weekend in Burlingame, Chairman John Burton welcomed Tom Steyer, co-founder of NextGen Climate, who gave a riveting speech on the work of the California environmental movement driving change nationwide.  “The world looks to California to see what the future will bring,” Steyer said at the Saturday luncheon. View  video of speech.

By Miriam Raftery

August 24, 2015 (Bonita) – The Sweetwater Little League team is vying for a championship in the Little League World Series.  The team won its first game in a blow-out 14-2 victory, but lost Sunday’s game, so now must score four more victories to clinch the world championship.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 24, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - When the temperature is in the 90s, even in the shade, it’s likely you reach for some water, the sunscreen and head for a cooler place.

Photo by Ion Moe/Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Brandon Kover was accompanied at Cuyamaca College’s commencement ceremony by his favorite instructor, Lindy Brazil, who helped her former student through the processional.

August 21, 2015 (El Cajon ) --A doctor told Brandon Kover’s parents soon after his birth that as the extremely rare individual born without a cerebellum – the region of the brain critical to motor movement and balance – he would be a human vegetable, unable to move or communicate.

East County News Service

Photos courtesy of Mary Moran: crowd downtown, Pastor Jim Garlow, and Rosemary Garlow

August 22, 2015 (San Diego)—Hundreds of people demonstrated outside multiple Planned Parenthood locations in San Diego as part of a nationwide  protest in over 310 cities.  Mary Moran, a local organizer, says the protests are over Planned Parenthood “harvesting and selling aborted baby parts—some organs were harvested while the baby’s heart was still beating.”

East County News Service

August 23, 2015 (Borrego Springs)--A fire in Borrego Springs over the weekend serves as a remind that in extreme heat, it’s wise not to leave reflective materials around your home.

East County  News Service

August 23, 2015 (Lakeside) – Yesterday at 5:30 a.m., 16 detectives and deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation conducted a probation compliance/directed patrol operation in the Lakeside area.  Thirteen people were arrested, including five on warrants and seven on misdemeanor crimes. Stolen property was also recovered, including a $1,500 sound system control console.