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Mixed Media: Division in Universal Experience

Mixed Media: Division in Universal Experience

Games demand our attention, but are we bad at giving it to them?

cw: mental illness (mentioned as a feature of Far Cry 3).

People approach and experience videogame play in wildly divergent ways. Researchers working with ethnographic, interview, and experimental methods find this a rare point of agreement. This study, for example, identifies contrasting attitudes to Zoo Tycoon (Vignettes 6 and 8): one player uses money cheats to better express her design sensibilities in the zoo’s layout; another treats the zoo as a business, while recognizing her own discomfort with the ethics of this behavior (e.g., selling a baby animal from an endangered species).

While videogame academics find this concept relatively uncontroversial – even banal – in practice, many people react defensively when exposed to accounts that differ from their own experience with a particular game. Alternative views can provoke argument, as (apparent) threats to our taste, interpretation, or memory. This intolerance in videogame cultures, a result of publisher interference, has wide-ranging effects: the health of critical discussion and the financial viability of experimental videogame design require that we accept the possibility of other experiences, while recognising our own as equally (and objectively) true.

In pre-release marketing, videogame publishers emphasise a media vocabulary that constrains imagined experience prior to play. Consider this Far Cry 3 press conference from 2012: “Far Cry is all about freedom. It’s all about exploration, discovery, action-adventure, an insane cast of characters, hallucinations, and not one, not two, not three, but an entire archipelago of islands for you to discover. And that’s just single player.” In a previous piece, I described pre-release materials as affirmations of familiarity; extensions of in-game tutorials. Being “taught” how to play implies correct modes of performance and attention: in Far Cry 3, performance should be “fluid”, emphasising smooth transitions between sniping to sneaking to neck-stabbing – and, if you must – to the effortless brutality of the assault rifle headshot. And, as good players, we should be attentive to the freedom and discovery of the promised archipelago. This press conference breaks from the more common advertising strategy of creating desire through social envy, inventing a purely individual fantasy instead: the desire to be the person who plays as demonstrated, and in doing so, feels the full intensity of the advertised experience. (The more recent extension, of course, is to create desire to be the person who pays: the true experience is only possible with the pre-order bonus, the Ultimate Edition, the Season Pass, and so on. “The more monotonous the present, the more the imagination must seize upon the future.”)

Advertising materials such as these are our first possible contact with the videogame. They originate from the publisher, who holds a place of financial power, and we are pollinated with their media vocabulary upon viewing. These official texts approach games as though they have transparent, easily graspable features that produce equally transparent, easily graspable experiences. Independent commentaries – reviews, Let’s Play series, pre-release footage, critique – that adopt the official vocabulary retain and reinforce these focal elements and assumptions to some degree. They root our first actual experiences with the game, and go deeper still, reifying normative positions on genre essence, game design, review policy, and so on.

Indeed, there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth at the subjectivity of professional videogame reviews (and reviewers). Lampooning “objective” reviews is effective critique, for sure, but there’s more to the topic than readers’ apparent desire for more factual review text. Adorno’s 1951 argument (p69-70) that objectivity had come to mean adherence to “the non-controversial aspect of things, their unquestioned impression” continues to hold in present mainstream videogame cultures. In 2017, these players are as unadventurous as those of 1997: although professional reviews are no longer explicitly structured as atomised evaluations of Graphics, Gameplay, Sound, and so on, expectations that these “core” elements will be plainly assessed remain. Even as the culture appeals for review text that adheres closely to facts, the selection of appropriate subject matter is codified by consensus opinion, itself a product of publisher influence. The “objective” reviews so clamoured-for are, in fact, subjective.

More importantly, the root of their subjectivity is in business, which defines the limits of experience that the official media vocabulary can express. Here, the player’s identity is left ambiguous, or implicitly defined; only the basic and non-controversial aspects of the game are expressed. The vocabulary attempts to make the game transparent, to minimise interpretation on the reader’s part, to enable its measured comparison to others within the hierarchy of a generalising universal. The reduction that allows hierarchical comparison (e.g., via numeric score) makes these experiential accounts equally untrue (and useless) to each player; they are business assets only.

The often-denigrated subjective account instead “engages the specific experience of a matter, casts off all ready-made judgments and substitutes relatedness to the object for the majority consensus of those who do not even look at it, let alone think about it”. The subjective account hence aspires to communicate experience in recognition of the inestimable number of factors upon which it depends. (This is, to varying degrees, what New Game Journalism attempts, although limited by its purpose as a buyers’ guide.) Experience is described with language that rings true to the individual alone; as a result, the subjective account circumvents the accumulated cultural morass that buries and pressurizes discussion. In this way, the opacity – the irreducibility – of the videogame experience is retained, and hence advances an objective truth. A multiplicity of experiential accounts must be encouraged and valued in mainstream videogame culture to oppose the generalized model imposed by business.

Publishers’ media vocabulary inhibits our ability to identify and analyse the specific experience of play, and over time, limits our imagination for videogames as a medium. Collective expectations can be funnelled into manageable avenues, and technological improvement is a safer investment than artistic exploration. Publishers lack incentives to fund more interesting games so long as they successfully immerse players in the arbitrary. Indeed, the dominant vocabulary leaves us unprepared – and perhaps afraid – to approach more experimental videogames; we have no words at hand to describe our experience. Games that ask players to engage beyond haptic input, for example, pose a threat to mainstream videogame culture: both because such engagement is unfamiliar and untrained, and because the culture itself has roots in the idea that games can be “correctly” played (and understood) at all. The response – in this case, mockery and hostility – arises from a fear that sincere engagement will somehow result in “failure”. The stagnant design that publishers internally enforce also increases financial risk for independent developers, imposing similar limits on their creative directions.

The dominant generalising vocabulary supports a limited range of “correct” ideas and subject matter, which obstructs identification of the specific experience and our own desire. Developers must accept these imposed bounds to draw player interest and feasibly profit from their work. It is therefore essential to refuse the imposition of standardised language and its false promise of understanding. Change in both domains – for players and developers alike – depends on our rejection of culture rooted in a generalising universal, and its reduction of people and experiences to transparencies fit for measured, hierarchical comparison. Such a culture makes communication, relation, and community impossible, breeding only intolerance. In short: the possibility of financial viability for games offering new experiences in the future requires that we accept the possibility of different experiences in games that already exist. Videogames are and will be limited to the extent that we remain unable to conceive of each player’s experience as an objective, unassailable truth.

April Tyack (@stillisles) is an Australian PhD student researching videogames and wellbeing, who otherwise spends a lot of time writing papers on unrelated topics, and should probably get around to learning Unity. Her previous writing can be found at stillisles.wordpress.com.


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Book Challenge #13 & Movie Challenge #2

Thank God for Christmas break and a new apartment with no internet. No, really. I have done so much reading and movie-watching, and it’s wonderful!

Book Challenge #13: Read a book by an author I love that I haven’t read yet

preludesnocturnesThe Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is, far and away, one of my favorite authors. I had read the first issue of The Sandman years ago, and I’ve owned the trade paperback of volume 1 but had never gotten around to reading it. Before Gaiman became famous for his novels and works of short fiction and episode-writing for Doctor Who and his marriage to Amanda Palmer, he made his name known in the comic book world with this critically-acclaimed series.

In Vol. 1, a man named Roderick Burgess acquires a grimoire that should enable him to capture Death. Instead, he ensnares Death’s little brother Dream (also known as Morpheus), whom he imprisons for about 70 years. When Dream is captured, he is no longer reigning over the dream and nightmare realms, and of course things go horribly awry.

morpheusWhen Roderick’s son Alex finally releases Dream, he immediately punishes Alex and then goes on a quest for his tools. Dream teams up with John Constantine to find a small, but powerful, bag of sand. He ventures to hell to fight a demon in order to get his helmet back. And, with a little help from old members of the Justice League of America, he finds Doctor Destiny, who has used Dream’s ruby amulet to take control of the dreamworld and attempt to bring about the apocalypse. (Also, Morpheus is kind of attractive in that 80s, early-Neil Gaiman, comic-book sort of way.)

The editor, in the introduction to vol. 1, states that this is the weakest of the collected volumes, that Gaiman was still trying to find his voice. But I still found it wonderful. It’s almost like there’s this band that you’ve loved for years, and you discover their unreleased EP that they recorded in someone’s garage, and you still think it’s wonderful. This volume of the comics is really, really good, and I know Gaiman’s voice well enough to hear it in the voices of Morpheus and his sister Death. And I’m eager to get my hands on the rest of the series now.

Movie Challenge #2: Watch a movie made more than 50 years ago

Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949)

take me outI found this on sale at B&N a year or so ago, and I’m so glad I did. It’s a musical about baseball! Frank Sinatra plays a young second baseman to Gene Kelly’s veteran shortstop on a championship baseball team in the early 1900s. In the off-season, Sinatra & Kelly do vaudeville acts, and the movie begins when they’re late for spring training in Florida. Shortly after they arrive, the teams learns that the old owner has passed away and left the team to a distant relative who wants to see the team. They immediately assume it will be an old, fat man who thinks he knows more about the game of baseball than they do. Instead, the new owner is a beautiful woman, played by Esther Williams. She immediately clashes with Gene Kelly, and young Frank immediately falls in love with her but has no game, so he doesn’t no how to talk to her about anything other than baseball.

There’s baseball and romance and bad guys betting on the game of baseball and a clambake. It’s really delightful. My friends who love musicals would love it. Also, Frank Sinatra is a skinny, young guy who looks absolutely adorable in his team sweater.

Best of 2014

I’ve never done a best-of-the-year list before, but I love reading them, and I’ve consumed a lot of really good stories this year. So here’s a list of my favorite things of the year.

Favorite Books Read

As of today, December 20, I’ve read 96 books towards my goal of 100 for the year. Eleven days to read 4 more books? No problem! But of those 96, some were fun, some were mediocre, and some were so shockingly wonderful.

woolWool by Hugh Howey

I honestly don’t know if I have enough words to praise this book! My friend Micah told me a couple of years ago to read it, and since then, two other highly respected book friends have recommended it to me, and I finally got around to it a few weeks ago (and have since read the second book in the trilogy). Howey self-published Wool several years ago, and it gained ground quickly, for good reason.

In the first novel, we’re introduced to the residents of a silo, which is a self-contained civilization. There’s a distinct class system, perfectly delineated by the levels of the silo, and everything seems to run as it should. But in the very first chapter of the book, we’re introduced to a sheriff who elects to go to a “cleaning,” in which he is put into a kind of biohazard suit and sent outside the silo to clean the windows…and then to die. Through his perspective, we learn that all is not well within the silo, but this main character is gone before he really gets to narrate any of the story. In the aftermath of his cleaning, the mayor and deputy must appoint a new sheriff, and I won’t tell you anymore because that would strip away all the joy you’ll get in reading this thought-provoking, fascinating dystopian series. The second book, Shift, isn’t as strong as the first one was, but I’m nonetheless eagerly looking forward to the conclusion to the story, Dust.

fangirlFangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Everyone loves Rainbow Rowell. With Eleanor & Park, she (deservedly) made a huge name for herself in the YA world. And as wonderful as Eleanor & Park is, her second YA novel Fangirl is far and above my favorite of all the books she’s written (and I’ve read them all this year!). Fangirl, in fact, is the only book I actually read twice this year, and I’m already itching to read it again.

Fangirl is the book I needed long ago, and probably still need now. Cath is beginning her freshman year at college and trying to balance a class load (including a Serious Writing Class) and writing Harry Potter-esque fanfiction. She struggles to maintain her relationship with her twin sister and her father, but she also struggles to define who she is and what she wants. And there’s a great guy named Levi who loves Cath because of her geeky, fangirl ways, and my gosh, doesn’t every fangirl dream of that?

A lot of my less-geeky friends didn’t enjoy Fangirl as much because Rowell blends the story of Cath with excerpts from the fictional Simon Snow stories as well as excerpts from Cath’s fanfiction. It’s such a great love story–both between Cath and Levi as well as for Cath and the worlds of fiction that she loves so much.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

I wrote about this in my last blog post about Interstellar, so I won’t summarize or reflect here. But this science fiction novel about Jesuits traveling to space in search of extraterrestrial life is one of the most profoundly moving explorations of faith I’ve ever encountered in fiction. I love it when science fiction, which is often overlooked as being trivial or unworthy, can so accurately depict issues of the human condition. This is a heavy book to read, but it’s a book that has never left me, that I’ll carry with me always.

hawkeyeThe Hawkeye comics by Matt Fraction

I LOVE HAWKEYE. I loved Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of him in The Avengers, obviously, but Matt Fraction has done incredible things with Marvel Now’s Hawkeye series. I bought a subscription to Marvel Unlimited, which allows me access to comics on my tablet, and I burned through all the Hawkeye comics available very quickly. They are funny and moving and just so wonderful. And the best thing about them is that the Hawkeye name is shared–by both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, who is part of the Young Avengers. The fact that both a male and female can share the name and the responsibility of working with the Avengers is wonderful. There is just so much right about these stories, and the artwork, relying on lots of purple illustrations, is beautiful!

Favorite Movies Watched

grootbabyFavorite Superhero Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy

I mean, really. I saw this four times (as many times as I watched The Avengers in theaters) and had to talk myself out of seeing it at least a dozen more times. It’s funny. And snarky. And super weird and sci-fi. With a great soundtrack. And Chris Pratt. And Groot. My gracious, I love this movie. And as much as I loved X-Men: Days of Future Past and Captain America: Winter Soldier (which were both better than their predecessors), Guardians was definitely my favorite superhero movie released this year.

And everyone needs more dancing baby Groot in her life.

snowpiercerFavorite Dystopian Film: Snowpiercer

All the survivors of the world after a major climate disaster are placed upon a train that continually travels and sustains the life on board. Eighteen years have passed since the disaster, and Chris Evans leads a revolution that reveals the class struggles on board the train. He begins his fight at the end of the train, where he works and lives with all the other lower-class people who must help to power the train. He fights his way through all the classes on board to the very front, where he confronts the leader of the train, played by Ed Harris. It’s violent and gripping and highly revelatory of Marxist class struggles: everything that I look for in a dystopian film. I can’t believe how good this movie is.

grand budapestFavorite Comedy: The Grand Budapest Hotel

To be fair, I don’t watch a lot of comedies, so this one was by far the easiest pick. But this was also one of my favorite movies of the whole year. It’s the first Wes Anderson movie I’ve ever watched (please don’t stone me–I’m a fan now and I’ll make up for it, I promise!), and I laughed out loud through the whole thing. Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H and Zero Moustafa as his Lobby Boy are just the kind of weird characters I wish I could find at hotels. (And the supporting cast: Tilda Swinton and Adrian Brody and Owen Wilson and all the other Wes Anderson regulars!) They fight off Nazis and steal artwork and have grand adventures, and this movie is just so wonderful and wacky and fabulous and lovely.

Favorite Classic Movie that I Should Have Watched Years Ago: 2001: A Space Odyssey2001

I really have no excuse. I’ve even owned this for two or three years. But after Interstellar, which relies heavily on imagery that reflects 2001: A Space Odyssey, I finally watched it–and loved it, of course. The monoliths and Hal 9000 and Dave the Astronaut–it’s such a pivotal, important sci-fi story, and I was riveted through the whole movie. The imagery of space travel is lovely, and the cinematography is astonishing. I mean, the scene of Frank running onboard the round spacecraft! It’s so good! I’m glad I finally watched it, if only to understand jokes about getting shoved out of an airlock.

Favorite Movie About Space: Interstellar

I love Matthew McConaughey. And time travel. And black holes. And this movie.

Favorite Animated MovieThe Lego Movie

An everyman named Emmett (voiced by Chris Pratt) is summoned to save the world from a terrible dictator. It’s a dystopian movie! And it’s funny! And cute! And, yes, it might have some feminist issues, but I had a lot of fun watching this. And Lego Batman is delightful.

Mastery of small, telling gestures: Tom Hardy as a man who goes awol in Locke.Favorite Movie Starring Tom Hardy: Locke

It was hard to choose between this one and The Drop, but ultimately, Locke has to win on the sheer basis that Tom Hardy is THE ONLY PERSON IN THE MOVIE. I mean, sure, we get the voices on the other end of the phone, but the movie is literally just Tom Hardy driving from one place to another, trying to solve a crisis at work, take responsibility for a personal problem that he has, and fix his family life. It’s hard to watch, and Tom Hardy is stellar at telling a story using his voice and facial expressions and reactions to the people on the phone. I was riveted by a movie that literally involves one guy driving down the road the whole time. Tom Hardy is a freaking genius actor, and I wish more people realized that. (Also, he’s beautiful. There’s that.)

In 2014, I saw almost as many movies as the number of books I read. And, honestly, I saw more great movies than read great books. I read books that disappointed me, or angered me, or were just intended to be light, fluffy reads. But with films, I’m drawn to superhero films, sure, but also well-made dramas and insightful, if violent, movies. And there were so many great films that I watched this year that I had a hard time narrowing it down to just these 6. I’m very eager to see what my reading/viewing habits look like in 2015.

As for reading, I found this great reading challenge on Tumblr this morning that I’m going to try. I’m thinking about revising it for a movie-watching challenge, too, for the first time, so stay tuned for that!

reading challenge

On to 2015!

Reading Roundup: Zombies, Graveyards, and Superheroes

My last reading roundup post got several comments from people thanking me for my reviews. That’s awesome, so I decided that I would post again about some more of the awesome books I’ve read recently. These three books are the three best I’ve read lately.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

I checked out this book from the library after my thesis advisor referenced it in a Twitter discussion about the Miami zombie. Weird, right? Anyway, I found this book to be a fascinating read. The premise of the novel is that it’s actually a documentary history of the zombie war, and honestly, there were times when I forgot that Brooks was writing a novel and not a work of nonfiction. I’d have to remind myself that, oh wait, the zombie war hasn’t actually happened. The book is written in a series of “interviews” with people involved in every phase of the war, from the initial reports of Patient 0, to the confusion and cover-ups, to the military plans designed to stop the zombies, to the recovery efforts. The great thing about this book is that most of the sections are short, sometimes just a page or two, sometimes up to maybe twenty pages. Either way, I could sit down, read one section, and set the book down to do something else. Usually, that’s what I had to do. The story is heavy and violent at times (as befitting the subject matter), and I don’t think I was ever able to read more than about 40 pages at a time. The only drawback I found to this book, though, was that Brooks attempts, and almost succeeds, to write in many different voices. Occasionally, I had to flip back a few pages to the beginning of the section to remind myself who was speaking and what role he/she played in the war. I’d venture to say that it’s impossible for a writer to capture so many voices well, but Brooks almost manages. I’ve heard, too, that the audiobook version is excellent because so many great people provide the voice for the different speakers (people like Alan Alda…I love him!). I have some friends who are listening to the audiobook right now, and if they like it, I might actually purchase it. Obviously, this book is not for everyone, but if you really appreciate the use of the zombie as social commentary, then I highly recommend it. Brooks really plays up the political and social ramifications of fighting a global war against zombies, and I’d argue that the book is really more about societal tension than fictional monsters.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This children’s novel by Gaiman won the Newbery Award several years ago, so it’s a shame that it’s taken me so long to read it. This last year or so, however, has been a year when I’ve really jumped into the world of science fiction and fantasy, so it’s appropriate that I’m reading so much Gaiman now.

I had a friend telling me a story on Wednesday, and she made the comment, “He was beautiful like death is beautiful. Does that make sense?” To Sarah: absolutely! Gaiman’s stories (and many other things in life, actually) are beautiful like death is beautiful. I think there is beauty in darkness just as much as in light, and The Graveyard Book is a dark, beautiful story.

In the beginning of the book, a man breaks into a house and kills a family. The only survivor (accidentally, of course) is an infant whose name is unknown. A mysterious man named Silas rescues the baby and takes him to a graveyard in town, where the baby is raised by a ghost couple, Mr. and Mrs. Owens. The baby is dubbed “Nobody Owens,” but is called “Bod.” Bod grows up in the graveyard, rarely venturing out into the land of the living and learning the ways of the graveyard (such as how to Fade to avoid capture). Silas is Bod’s caregiver when Silas is in town (and it was a lot of fun, for me, at least when I figured out why Silas leaves town so frequently). Eventually, as Bod grows older, Silas knows that Bod cannot stay in the graveyard forever, and Bod learns of his mysterious origins and of the man named Jack who killed Bod’s family and is still hunting for him.

I find the premise of growing up in a graveyard to be delightful. Highly illogical (I bet it’s hard to find food and good internet connection there), but delightful nonetheless. In Gaiman, I find that I’m very willing to suspend my disbelief, and in doing so, his stories become real and alive and bright and beautiful.

Batman: The Black Mirror by Scott Snyder (writer), Jock, and Francesco Francavilla (artists)

Two weeks ago today, I attended my first comic book convention, HeroesCon in Charlotte. It was wonderful, and the best part, easily, was attending a panel in which Snyder and Francavilla discussed writing this comic book series. (Insert fangirl moment: I’ve met two of the three creators of this wonderful book!!!) My friend Guy, who met me at the convention, brought his copy of the graphic novel, insisting that I read it. I finished on Thursday.

So many readers have declared this book to be one of the best (if not the best) Batman book. I’m not a connoisseur of Batman, having only just begun to read the series when DC rebooted their entire universe last year. (Side note: Scott Snyder is the writer of the current Batman series, and it’s phenomenal! The first seven issues have just been released in a hardcover edition called Batman: The Court of Owls. Check it out.)

I sort of did things backward with this book: sitting through an hour-long panel about the book before actually reading the book. Still, I think that actually made me appreciate it more. I knew how the story would end, and I knew what the best scenes in the book were, so I read it slowly and savored it. I picked up on a lot of foreshadowing in the book, and I peered closely at panels that I knew were important.

Okay, the premise of the story. Bruce Wayne is not Batman here; Dick Grayson has picked up the suit while Bruce is away from Gotham for a while. Dick is a different kind of Batman than Bruce is, and that distinction makes me appreciate both their characters more. Dick is working side-by-side with Commissioner Gordon on solving the mystery of who is behind an auction house that is selling off artifacts from Gotham’s greatest villains when Gordon’s son James arrives back in town. Something is wrong with James–something has always been wrong with James–but Jim has never been able to figure out exactly what. Through the rest of the events in the book, they finally discover what’s going on with James, but I won’t spoil that for you.

There are so many great things about this book. The idea of a mirror, reflecting duality with both Jim/James and Dick/James. A black mirror, reflecting the darkness of Gotham City, which is basically a character in and of itself. Also, there’s a huge, dead killer whale discovered in a bank, and that’s just crazy and cool.

Anyway, between this graphic novel and Snyder’s current run of Batman, I have become a huge fan of both Batman and Snyder. And this is a really great, literary graphic novel.

I’ve read some other books, too, in between all of these. Expect a post soon about the wonderfulness of John Green, who is one of my favorite persons on the planet. I’m in the middle of two books right now: The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bagicalupi (the companion to The Ship Breaker, which I previously reviewed) and Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), which I’m trying to push through because I feel like I need it to end soon. I also have The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore, the follow-up to I Am Number Four, which I need to read soon because A) There’s a long line of holds at the library, and B) the next book comes out in a few weeks. 1Q84 is still standing staunchly on my bookcase, waiting patiently for me. Soon.

May Books

I’m over halfway toward my goal of reading 100 books that I’d never read before this year. Yay!

42. The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan. Described as a “post-apocalyptic romance” by Scott Westerfeld, I was sure this would be one I adored. Nope. Not at all.

43. Perfect You, Elizabeth Scott.

44. The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity, Mike Carey & Peter Gross. The first five issues of a comic book series. It’s so good and literary and engrossing.

45. The Unwritten Rule, Elizabeth Scott.

46. Coraline, Neil Gaiman. This graphic novel was adapted from Gaiman’s book and illustrated by P. Craig Russell. I was creeped out by it…which was just about perfect. I want to see the film now.

47. Stealing Heaven, Elizabeth Scott. A young adult novel that went slightly against the formula. This one is about a 17-year-old whose mother steals silver from wealthy homes. They move around constantly, living a nomadic, clandestine life, until they arrive in a town called Heaven. While Dani’s mother is planning what house to strike, Dani makes friends in the town for the first time in her life. It’s a good coming-of-age story about how a girl decides her own future.

48. Superman: Red Son, Mark Millar. A graphic novel answering the question, “What if Superman had landed 12 hours later in Russia instead of Metropolis?” It’s really awesome.

49. Bloom, Elizabeth Scott

50. The Scent of Rain and Lightning, Nancy Pickard.

51. Double Fudge, Judy Blume. Published in 2002, this book was written years after the first four books featuring the Hatcher family and their neighbor Sheila Tubman–Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Superfudge, and Fudge-a-mania. It is just as delightful and funny as the previous tales.

52. Love You Hate You Miss You, Elizabeth Scott.

Grad school has begun, so I’m working on reading for that class, which means my other reading has slacked off a bit. Still, I’ll manage to get in a few first-time reads in June, I’m sure.

Welcome to the Nerd Herd

This week, I started a new hobby.

I now collect comic books.

I mean, I’ve been reading them for awhile. First, the graphic novels. My first one was actually Dave Gibbons’ The Originals in a British Novels class in college. Then Watchmen and V for Vendetta. And the Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8 comics. And other Joss Whedon spin-offs.

Now, I own some. My collecting began the beginning of this week, when Dr. Washick delivered the 26 issues of various Doctor Who storylines. One of his friends was getting rid of much of his comic book collection, and I purchased those. I have since ordered another shipment from an online comic book distributor out of Texas. And…

Today was Free Comic Book Day. I visited Borderlands and Richard’s Comics and Collectables, and I have added to my collection. Also, Richard’s is AMAZING. They have a subscription service, so I’ll be able to save money and guarantee that I get the newest issues of the comics I want. And…I bought a Lego Angel doll from there. It’s seriously awesome.

When I was paying at Richard’s, the two guys working and I started talking about Buffy. And when I confessed that I had just begun collecting comic books this week, one of them (who was wearing a costume) said, “Welcome to the Nerd Herd.”

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Home 4k Léon: The Professional releasing to Limited Edition 4k Blu-ray SteelBook

Léon: The Professional releasing to Limited Edition 4k Blu-ray SteelBook

Léon: The Professional 4k Blu-ray SteelBookLéon: The Professional (1994), also known as “The Professional” will release to a Limited Edition 4k Blu-ray SteelBook on December 1, 2020 that includes both theatrical and extended versions of the film.

The 2-disc combo edition from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is already available to pre-order from Amazon, and includes copies of the movie on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and Digital (via code redemption).

The Professional released to 4k Blu-ray a few years ago, and is also available in 4k Digital from services such as iTunes and Prime Video (including the Extended Cut). But, for SteelBook collectors and fans of the film this special edition makes a fine addition to any home theater library.

On Ultra HD Blu-ray, Léon: The Professional is presented in 2160 with HDR10 at 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Audio is provided in English Dolby Atmos / Dolby TrueHD 7.1 as well as French and Portuguese in Dolby Digital 5.1. Subtitles are offered in English SDH, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Special Features

  • Theatrical and Extended Versions
  • Cast and Crew Look Back
  • Jean Reno: The Road to Léon
  • Natalie Portman: Starting Young
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

The 4k Blu-ray SteelBook edition of Léon: The Professional has a list price of $38.99 – now $29.99. Order on Amazon

Description: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman and Danny Aiello star in LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL, a go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. Calling himself a “cleaner,” the mysterious Léon is New York’s top hitman. When his next-door neighbors are murdered, Léon becomes the unwilling guardian of the family’s sole survivor – 12-year-old Mathilda. But Mathilda doesn’t just want protection; she wants revenge. Training her in the deadly tricks of his trade, Léon helps her track the psychotic agent who murdered her family. From the electrifying opening to the fatal finale, LÉON THE PROFESSIONAL is a nonstop crescendo of action and suspense.

HD Report provides news, commentary, and information about home entertainment media and technology. HD Report has been a Google News partner since 2006, and can also be found on Twitter, Apple News, Facebook, and Microsoft's Bing News.

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EIT Health’s Wild Card 2021: Innovators Invited

EIT Health’s Wild Card 2021: Innovators Invited
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Eye and vision care and pain management are two areas that lack innovation and investment in Europe. This issue is being addressed with a new Wild Card programme launched today by EIT Heath, a community of health innovators supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU body.

You might also like: €6 Million from EIT Health to Accelerate COVID-19 Solutions

Teams and individuals across Europe are invited to showcase their innovative ideas in these two areas to try and get support from EIT Health that for Wild Card 2021 have partnered with Essilor (eye and vision care) and Boston Scientific (pain management).

In 2017, vision impairment, including blindness, was ranked as the third leading cause of years lived with disability. At least in 80% of 2.2 billion people around the world with a vision impairment, it could be prevented or cured. The Wild Card eye and vision care challenge focusses on solutions to mitigate, prevent and cure eye conditions and vision impairment.

In turn, pain and pain-related diseases were found to be the leading cause of disability and disease burden in 2016, with about 20% of adults across the world diagnosed with chronic pain each year. Wild Card is seeking to support solutions that would allow for correct assessment and treatment of pain, and support of those living with chronic pain.

Successful applicant will be guided by the experts through forming and testing their teams, and developing their business models. Those who end up on the short list will have the chance to present their solutions to a panel of industry leaders. Two winners will be granted up to €1.5 million each over 24 months to establish their companies in 2022.

According to Jorge Juan Fernández García, Director of Innovation at EIT Health, Wild Card allows EIT Health to identify those innovators whose work addresses some of the greatest health challenges in Europe. “We know that talent exists in all corners of the healthcare ecosystem, and our role is to find, coach and empower them to challenge the status quo and help us transform the lives of patients and citizens across Europe, and the world,” he says noting that this year’s programme is focussed on “areas where a clear unmet need remains”.

To find out more about the EIT Health Wild Card programme and apply, please visit wildcard.eithealth.eu.

Source and image credit: EIT Health

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Published on : Thu, 17 Dec 2020

pain management, Health Innovation, EIT Health, Chronic Pain Management, Wild Card, eye and vision care, vision impairment EIT Health’s Wild Card 2021: Innovators Invited

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How to Get Fiber When You Can't Eat Gluten

Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. In addition to promoting digestive function, a diet containing 21 to 38 grams of fiber per day promotes positive weight control and cholesterol levels, according to Because gluten is prevalent in many fiber sources, getting enough fiber can be difficult if you have celiac disease -- a disease that causes immune reactions to the protein. You can meet your fiber needs without consuming gluten. For best results, seek specified guidance from your doctor or dietitian.

Gluten-Free Whole Grains

Whole grains are grains that have not been stripped of valuable nutrient content during food processing. They provide more protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber than refined grains, such as white rice. EA Stewart, a registered dietitian with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, recommends gluten-free whole grains as an excellent source of fiber for people with celiac disease. Consuming gluten-free whole grains is also a good way for kids with the disease to avoid constipation, Stewart says. Gluten-free grain varieties include buckwheat, brown rice, wild rice, amaranth, millet, sorghum and teff. When buying gluten-free breads and cereals, choose those that list gluten-free whole grains as main ingredients. One cup of cooked brown or wild rice provides 3 to 3.5 grams of fiber.

Incorporating more legumes into your diet, such as beans, lentils and split peas, can help you meet your fiber needs. In addition to providing more fiber per serving than most other foods, legumes are naturally gluten-free and rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. One cup of cooked lentils provides 15.6 grams of fiber. One cup of baked beans provides 10.4 grams. Nutritious dishes based on legumes include lentil soup, low-fat vegetarian chili, hummus and three-bean salad.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are naturally nutrient-dense and gluten-free and provide water, which helps prevent and manage constipation. Fruits and vegetables high in fiber include raspberries, cooked carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash and prunes. One cup of fresh raspberries provides 8 grams of fiber. One cup of cooked winter squash provides 5.7 grams.

If you have difficulty meeting your fiber needs through food alone, fiber supplements can help fill in the gaps. Gluten-free fiber supplements may be made from cluster beans or chemical compounds used to treat constipation, such as methylcellulose or calcium polycarbophil. Powered psyllium husk provides another option, according to a report published in "Practical Gastroenterology" in April 2004. Psyllium husk wafers do contain gluten. To prevent unwanted side effects and ensure effectiveness, seek approval or recommendations from your dietitian or doctor. Gluten-free fiber supplements generally provide between 0.5 milligram and 3 grams of fiber per capsule or tablespoon.


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Principal Investigator: Abel Kho, MD, internist, co-executive director of Chicago Health IT Regional Extention Center (CHITREC) and director of the Center for Health Information Partnerships (CHiP), which is part of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Institute for Public Health and Medicine.

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Anita’s Daughter Best Fudgy Brownies

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1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon brewed coffee

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  1. Preheat oven to 350 grades Fahrenheit and position an oven rack in the middle part.
  2. Grease and flour an 8 1/2 inch square pan.
  3. In a large bowl, combined eggs beaten with sugar, vegetable oil and coffee.
  4. Stir in cocoa powder, all-purpose flour and baking powder.
  5. Mix all ingredients with a whisk by hand until smooth and well combined.
  6. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until crispy all around and moist from the inside.

Note: This recipe was made from scratch by my beautiful daughter for you to enjoy.daniella half pic making brownies


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Amazing Volunteers at Babcock Dig Day!

What an amazing turn of events at Babcock Elementary Preschool!

Last year, we were on the verge of scheduling Babcock’s Dig Day when the school had to pull out for a number of reasons. This year we were determined to help them build the garden they deserve, so we teamed together with Priscilla, the incredibly inspiring preschool teacher, and started to plan. Last weekend they had their Dig Day, and an amazing number of volunteers joined the event to help build custom garden beds for Babcock Elementary Preschool! These custom garden beds were designed and constructed by Brooks Taylor, another wonderful volunteer who we are so fortunate to have as a part of our team.

Thank you Priscilla, and all the Babcock volunteers for your hard work and participation. We couldn’t have made this garden a reality without you!


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It’s been said, “A woman’s work is never done.” How does this notion apply to the “work” of recovery from addiction, and what barriers can add to the challenges of that work?

Join HRI, Fellowship Hall, and the UNC Greensboro Spartan Recovery Program to learn from women living in recovery. They’ll offer insights into how professionals can best serve women impacted by addiction and recovery.

This is a training program for any professionals whose work addresses relationship and family concerns, as well as those working in the addictions and mental health fields.

The program is free, but advance registration is required. To register for this training, please visit


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Sign Language for Medical Procedures

In the audiology clinic we are familiar with patients that are among the non-speaking deaf and use sign language.  While many of us use sign language with our hearing impaired patients, others use an interpreter so that they understand the msnvarious products and how to use them and/or the audiological procedures that are conducted on them or their family members.  This could be new hearing aids, cochlear implants, hearing or balance evaluations, and many other procedures that are conducted in audiology and otolaryngology clinics worldwide.

What of other medical procedures required by people who are deaf ?  These could be births, deaths, surgical promsn1cedures, neonatal check ups, physical therapy, wellness clinics, routine physical examinations and other medical procedures that we all require from time to time.  Even if they have some hearing and speech, the deaf using sign language will find it much more difficult to understand the world of routine medicine.  What if surgery is required?  What’s a gall bladder?  Why do I need these pills?  How often do I take them?  Why do I need this injection? Even a question as simple question  as “Why do I need to take off my clothes?” can be a miscommunication.  Imagine how difficult it would be to understand what is going on, especially for those scary surgical procedures or for heart disease or cancer.

Medical Sign Language History

The history of sign language was presented by Hearing International some months ago in a series titled “The French Connection Part I, II, III”.  Probably some ofmsn2 the first medical sign language was conducted during the development of that French system of communication.

Sign language as the world knows it began in the 1750s in the streets of Paris, France with the poor deaf population.  After some time spent working with deaf street people, Abbe Charles Michel de l’Epee founded the Paris Deaf Institute in 1760, teaching the signs that were used by these street people as a language that later became American Sign Language (ASL).

It is thought that medical sign language clarifying various procedures followed in short order, most likely provided by the faculty of the Paris Deaf Institute.  On July 29, 1791, the French legislature approved government funding for the Institute and it was renamed: “Institution Nationale des Sourds-Muets à Paris.”

While there were msn3certainly other physicians that may have used sign language with their deaf patients in those early days, arguably among the earliest physicians to learn sign language was Dr. Jean Marc Gaspar Itard.  In 1800,  Itard was appointed as the physician to the Institution Natationale des Sourds-Muets and was responsible for the health of the students and faculty.  As part of the process he learned sign language to communicate while studying the functions and malfunctions of hearing. Itard devoted a great deal of his time and private fortune to the education mdof deaf and the medical study of deafness.

Upon Itard’s death in 1838, none other than Dr. Prosper Meniere was his successor and became another famous physician that learned sign language. Meniere  described the disorder that bears his name while studying deafness and attending to the health needs of the students and faculty at the institute.  That was the beginning of the medical use of sign language. Today the use is quite different in most countries.

What’s It Like Today?

Sign language differs depending upon the country involved.  American Sign Language (ASL) has developed from that taught at the “Institution Nationale des Sourds-Muets à Paris.”  Due to the influence of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc who worked at the Paris School before coming to the United States.  Other countries have their own history relative to their sign languages but it appears that, according to Harrison (2004), ASL is the language of over 2 million people, second only to Spanish and Chinese sign languages.  While there are variations in sign language most are based upon the culture with different signs for many things.

When is a Medical Interpreter for the Deaf Necessary

and Who Pays for the Service?

While not mandated in many countries, sign language communication with the deaf by msn6physicians and other professionals is mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990).  In the US, the ADA prohibits health care professionals from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disability. Generally, a health care professional discriminates on the basis of disability (and violates the law) if:

1. A sign language interpreter is necessary to ensure effective communication between a patient and health care professional,

2. The patient has requested an interpreter.

3. The health care professional refuses to provide a qualified interpreter and does not offer to provide other auxiliary aids and/or service that would result in effective communication.

However, there are two exceptions to this general rule:

  1. A health care professional does not have to provide an interpreter if doing so would result in a “fundamental alteration” of the professional’s services. Thismsn7 exception will almost never apply to a clinical situation, as a sign language interpreter would not result in a fundamental alteration of a health care professional’s services.
  2. A health care professional does not have to provide an interpreter if doing so would result in an “undue burden, i.e., significant difficulty or expense.”  In determining if the provision of an interpreter would result in an “undue burden,” the professional must consider the following:
    1. The cost of the interpreter.
    2. The professional’s overall financial resources.

Additionally, the professional may not refuse to provide and pay for an interpreter because the cost of the interpreter exceeds the professional’s fee for the office visit.

msnExample of a visit where an interpreter is probably not required:

A deaf individual goes to their physician for a bi-weekly check-up, during which a nurse records the patient’s blood pressure and weight. Exchanging notes and using gestures are likely to provide an effective means of communication at this type of check-up.

A situation where an interpreter is very necessary is offered by this example:

Upon experiencing symptoms of a mild stroke, the same patient returns to their physician for a thorough examination and battery of tests and requests that an interpreter be provided. The physician should arrange and pay for the services of a qualified interpreter, as an interpreter is likely to be necessary for effective communication, given the length and complexity of the communication involved.

In the US and some other countries, the use of interpreters for effective communication of medical information is mandated by law; in other countries, it just plainly the right thing to do!

Arizona Center for Disabilities (2011). The Duty of Health Care Professionals to Provide Sign Language Interpreters.  Americans with Disabilities Act (1991).  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Harrington, T. (2004).  American Sign Language:  Ranking by number of users.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Traynor, R. (2015).  International Giants of Otology:  Prosper Meniere.  Hearing Health and Technology Matters, LLC.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Traynor, R. (2011).  The French Connection, Part I.  Hearing Health and Technology Matters, LLC.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Traynor, R. (2011).  The French Connection, Part II.  Hearing Health and Technology Matters, LLC.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Traynor, R. (2011).  The French Connection, The Exciting Conclusion.  Hearing Health and Technology Matters, LLC.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Arkansas Registry of interpreters for the Deaf (2016).  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

ASL Services (2016).  On Site Medical Interpreting.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

Sherman, P.  (2016). WP Clip Art:  ASL Medical Procedures.  Retrieved May 9, 2016.

About Robert Traynor

Robert M. Traynor is a board certified audiologist with 45 years of clinical practice in audiology. He is a hearing industry consultant, trainer, professor, conference speaker, practice manager, and author. He has 45 years experience teaching courses and training clinicians within the field of audiology with specific emphasis in hearing and tinnitus rehabilitation. Currently, he is an adjunct professor in various university audiology programs.

  1. As a profoundly deaf person who grew up with hearing aids, I appreciate that the hearing aids help me hear sounds – even though the sounds are all garbled and voices are like 90% incomprehensible. Even though I have very bad hearing, the hearing aid helps me appreciate music and the voices that sing. Many of my deaf friends say the same thing. But when we meet an audiologist who uses ASL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE this person. I’d guess 95% of audiologist don’t bother to use ASL with us, and that’s rude and puts the deaf customer at a serious disadvantage in our ability to obtain quality audiological services and often leads to the wrong type of hearing aids selection and wrong aid sound adjustments… At a huge waste of financial cost to the deaf customer. Audiologists who do not want to use ASL with their ASL deaf/hh customers … With eyes only on the $$$ signs, have no business being in this field of work. Many of us consider it criminal conduct on their part to sell us misdiagnosed matching hearing aids that has extremely limited benefits to us. Communication is the key. Most non- signing audiologists are glad to fit profoundly deaf/hh hearing aid users with ill- matching & wrong – adjusted hearing aids, and glad to get u out the door. They do not even bother to tell you that you have the right to come back for adjustments, or even to try another hearing aid that is more correct for you. Now where is the oversight in this lucrative business when the deaf/hh customers are getting negligent and improper service? This is a terrible insult to the nation’s 38 million deaf & hard of hearing population.

    1. Douglas:

      Thanks for your comment on blog at Hearing International. You certainly have a right to be upset with the myriad of audiologists that do not use ASL in their practice. Also, as you have observed there ARE a number clinical people that are more interested in selling products than providing true rehabilitative treatment of the issues at hand. I do not understand how these people can do a good job without “getting to know ” their patient through communication. These professionals have a fiduciary responsibility to communicate with their deaf/HH patients in THEIR language that is how you get to know them so that you can do the very best job in working with them to hear at their capability. While many audiology training programs are now adding ASL sign language programs to their curriculums, this is happening at a very slow rate and these new clinicians will not be in the clinics for another few years. I apologize to you and others in the hearing impaired community that have had to tolerate this frustration and, thus, end up with the feeling that these professionals are only after your cash.
      At one time I was almost an interpreter, but moved on to other things and now I use ASL in my practice but am a bit rusty as IK do not have a lot of individuals that use ASL as their primary means of communication. Like any other language you lose it if you do not use it routinely. With that said, between my rusty signing and my patients oral capability, their tolerance of my rusty signing and their help we work to communicate usually get the job done, building a lasting relationship.
      I would first find someone that signs enough to get to know you before you do any business with them. Thanks again for taking your time to comment back to us at Hearing International.
      Bet Regards;

  2. As an audiologist who also has worked as an interpreter in a variety of situations, I agree that it is necessary to have an interpreter for any medical care! My patients who sign are comfortable with me signing for myself because of my background, but I always offer to have one available for their appointment if they prefer. Depending on written notes is a very bad idea, as many ASL users do not have good written English skills. Explaining anything complex and confirming their understanding is not easy. I have seen many medical professionals positive that their written communication was adequate, then the patient confided in me they were not sure what was going on – could I please explain it? Our job is to make communication less of an effort – please provide interpreters when needed!

    1. Donna:
      Sorry for the late reply. Sounds like you are doing a great job with your patients. I have always advocated that if you are an audiologist working with the hearing impaired, you need to know THEIR language. How else do you get to know them well enough to a good job in meeting their hearing care needs. Keep up the good work. thanks for your comments back to us at Hearing International.

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5 Best Tour Destinations in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s hidden backpacking gems – These are Top 5 must sees in Ethiopia. It’s nothing short of amazing. It has a magnificent cultural heritage, seven sites of which are included in the UNESCO world heritage list. The rocky mountains, lakes, rivers and diverse grassland ecosystem account for Ethiopia’s uniqueness.

Ethiopia’s historic sites and tourist attractions are wide ranging from natural stunning beauty to some of the most awesome man-made religious sights imaginable.

This place is cheap as chips, can keep you occupied for weeks, the food is delicious, the people friendly and the climate is tip-top – what’s not to love?! Check out the top 5 sights not to miss in this captivating country:

1) Danakil Depression

The Danakil depression shares the Eritrean border on the east of the Tigrian highlands in the North East of Ethiopia. It has been officially listed as one of the hottest and driest area on earth having an average temperature of 35+ degree Celsius. It is an impressive area of geological fascination, a place dotted with active volcanoes, hot springs, lava lake, salted basins and above all lunar landscapes. It is a vast unpopulated region that lies below the sea level, it’s the lowest point in all of Africa and the second lowest in the world (second to the Dead Sea in Jordan/Israel. Visiting here is no walk in the park, you need to book a separate tour or drive yourself and thanks to the harshness of it’s atmosphere, people have actually died here when coming unprepared – makes me wanna go even more!

2) Lalibela

UNBELIEVABLE! Why this is not one of the new wonders of the world, I’ll never know but it should be. It is a medieval settlement that lies perched in the midst of an extensive rock church complex. There are 11 incredible rock-hewn monolithic churches which were built by King Lalibela way back in the late 12th or early 13th century. The structures are noted for their artistic splendor and each of the buildings has distinctive architectural designs. The curches are actually dug into the ground, and St George’s cross has become its most famous of all sites – truly, truly breathtaking. This needs to feature on everybody’s bucket list, it’s that good.

3) Harar

It is an ancient holy city which dates back to about 1520., and the oldest Islamic city in the Continent. The city is famed for its ancient buildings and impressive city walls. Harar has approximately 99 mosques and it oozes old school islamic culture. A real highlight in Harar are the ‘wild’ hyenas though. At dusk you can see the local men attracting wild hyenas in the city. For generations these hyenas have scavanged within the city walls at night, through this they have become ‘friendly’ with a group of men who feed them and allow you to feed them, a very scary experience but one that will keep Ethiopia in your memory for a long time to come.

4) The Rift Valley

The Rift Valley is endowed with numerous hot springs, beautiful lakes, and a plethora of crazy, African wildlife. The passage has a chain of seven lakes and each of the seven lakes has unique feature of its own. For animal loves, the Rift valley is paradise – the place is crawlign with African wildlife. The hot springs here are highly recognized for their therapeutic purposes, and people come from all over the country to bathe in them – make sure you join them at some point throughout your time here!

5) The Blue Nile Falls

Another place not to be missed place in Ethiopia is the Blue Nile, the longest river in Africa. It is locally known as Tis Isat, is 400m wide and 45m deep. When the water falls into a gorge, it creates the most spectacular view, a sight to rival Niagara falls even – the Blue Nile Falls. From Bahar Dar, the Blue Nile falls takes around 90 minutes to reach – you can take a local bus and then trek another 30 mins or so, but it’s well worth the effort. This place is very cool.

This is just scratcing the surface of what Ethiopia has on offer, but with these 5 sights ticked off your list then you’ll be leaving Ethiopia with the same opinion as me! Get yourself there quick, before the tourist hordes hear about it! Happy Travels.

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Heart of Africa Tour


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Socially Distanced Pub Quiz

Tue 21st Sep
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Why get up when you can get our app? Pre-order food and drink directly via the Electric Star Pubs app and watch them magically appear at your table. The more you order the more magical it appears.

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344 Grove Road London E11 4EA


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, ,

IT’S….. 2021!

And the new page on my calendar is looking at me shrugging its shoulders, like, ‘Huh? You see a cape on this?’

I get it. There is a ubiquitous feeling of excitement and relief to see the numbers ‘2020’ in the rear view mirror (unless, of course, you’re hoping for a perfect next eye exam).

And I share the hope and excitement! I have a list as long as my arm of stuff that I hope to accomplish in the New Year, though I wouldn’t call the things on this list ‘resolutions’ so much as I would describe them in terms I borrow from my friend Kate: ‘striving for approximations.’

‘2021’ isn’t a benevolent superhero that will save us from the evil villain ‘2020.’ It’s a number on a page on the calendar—which of course is a slice of paper made from the fiber of a once-living tree combined with the muscle and know-how to create a stand-still time-keeping device. And, you know, my calendar is just a boring day planner. No pretty pictures. Maybe I should get a nice wall calendar, with mountains or puppies or something…

See how distracted my mind gets? I bet yours does that, too.

And that’s just it. I think what matters is attention. What am I paying attention to—to some far off moment when everything will be better, and to the hopes and expectations I’m pinning to that moment? Or am I paying attention to what’s happening right here, right now, in this moment—the only moment I can be sure of?

And when I *do* pay attention to the here and now, sometimes all I’ve got is, ‘I’m exhausted.’ And of course! Who isn’t exhausted right now? Last year kicked our asses. And there is still some ass-kicking in store for us. This year, next year. Today, tomorrow, every day.

What matters, moment to moment, is how we can manage our attention—to remember what is happening now, to stay connected to what cultivates gratitude and celebration in our lives, and to go easy on ourselves when we stumble. Even superheroes trip on their own capes sometimes.


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Cranberry Orange Bread

Rate This Delicious Recipe
[Total: 5   Average: 4.4/5]

Last month it was my turn to bring a snack to share at my church’s monthly MOM’S CHAIR meeting. I wanted to get in the holiday spirit but didn’t want to go all-out chocolate or gingerbread. I decided on Cranberry Orange Bread. The cranberries had just the right amount of holiday punch and the bright red color highlighted the Christmas decorations. MOM’S CHAIR is kind of like my church’s version of MOPS. Us moms get together, chat, eat yummy food, listen to encouraging speakers, and occasionally make a craft or two. The kids get to hang out with their friends in the “homeschool room,” learning new things and playing games with friends. I always come away refreshed on these Fridays. It’s just what I need to recharge. So here’s how I made this delicious cranberry orange bread:

Start by mixing 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon each of baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then throw in 2 cups of frozen cranberries and coat them in the flour mixture. This recipe works best if the berries are frozen.

Next, zest an entire orange and mix it all together. I think the combo of cranberries and oranges is just heavenly, don’t you? It’s so bright and cheery!

In a separate bowl, cream 2 eggs, 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. I pour in a smidge of vanilla extract too, about 1/2 a teaspoon. Whisk it altogether so it is nice and smooth.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just enough until there are no remnants of flour. The batter should be nice and sticky.

Level out the dough in a greased glass bread pan and bake it for 65 minutes at 400 degrees. You may want to stick a knife in the middle of the cranberry orange bread to make sure all the dough has cooked.

The edges should be brown and crispy and you should smell the tartness of the cranberries.

I have also made this recipe in muffin form, both regular and mini. This recipe should make either 12 regular size muffins or 24 minis. If you decide to bake muffins, they should bake at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes.

The group of ladies at MOM’S CHAIR really seemed to like the cranberry orange bread because there wasn’t any left! And, from personal experience of course, this bread is simply delightful warmed for a few seconds in the microwave with a little butter. And coffee! Thank God for coffee!

Here’s a pretty picture for later, just in case you want to pin the recipe for later. If you need other sweet treats or bread ideas, follow my Bangin’ Baked Goods board on Pinterest. Happy cooking ya’ll!

Cranberry Orange Bread

Heidi Davison
This cranberry orange bread has a burst of flavor! The tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the orange make a tangy treat to share. It is also a beautiful gift at Christmas time.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 5 mins
Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
Course Dessert/Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 1 loaf

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp each baking soda baking powder, and salt
  • 2 cups frozen cranberries or 1 package
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Mix all the dry ingredients.
  • Gently toss the cranberries in the flour mixture until thoroughly coated.
  • Mix in the zest of 1 orange.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, yogurt, oil and vanilla.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until there is no more flour.
  • Pour into a greased bread pan or muffin tin.
  • Bake a bread loaf for 65 minutes or until inserted knife comes out clean.
  • Bake muffins for 20-22 minutes.

Recipe makes 1 loaf, 12 regular muffins, or 24 mini muffins.

Rate This Delicious Recipe
[Total: 5   Average: 4.4/5]

Related Posts

  • Judy Lauzon says:

    Can I substitute the Frozen cranberries with frozen raspberries.

  • I found 400° was too high. I checked it at 55 min. N it was kinda burnt n raw in the middle..☹ In the past baking breads like this 350° is plenty hot enough. It’s back in the oven on 350 with a foil top 🙏🙏🙏🙏

    • It sounds like you have good intuition. I think your remedy sounds good. You may also want to move the rack to the middle of the oven.

  • 5 stars
    The recipe turned out beautifully for me! I squeezed a bit of orange juice into the dough, and I tried blood orange Greek yogurt, which imparted an even more intense orange flavor. Thanks for sharing it!

    • I’m so glad it turned out well and I love your idea of the blood orange Greek yogurt! I will have to see if they have that at my market.

  • I always use the zest an juice of an orange in my cranberry sauce.

    • Yes, that makes cranberry sauce the best! I think that is the very same reason why this bread is so delicious.

  • As soon as I saw this recipe it made my mouth water. I printed off the recipe, ran to the store and got the ingredients I didn’t have at home. I made the recipe and it is fabulous. It smelled so good baking that I couldn’t wait for it to cool, i had to have a slice of it right out of the oven and it was wonderful. I even added a little butter. I think I’ll bake a couple more and give them for gifts. It also introduced me to Greek yogurt which I discovered I liked that too. This recipe is definitely a keeper, big time. Try it!!!
    This is definitely a 5-star recipe. I tried to fill in 5 stars and it wouldn’t let me.

    • Thank you Diana for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe and that you discovered Greek yogurt! It is a wonderful substitute for anything that calls for sour cream. Have a Merry Christmas!

      • 5 stars
        Heidi, I have lost count as to how many loaves of this I have made since the first one. People have tried it and love it. Today I delivered two more loaves to friends. This is really good. Since I needed the orange zest I just squeezed the juice into the batter too, its great.

        • I love your idea of squeezing in some juice. I bet it gives it an extra punch. Thanks for the kind words!

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}


text:
Survey: Do Nonfiction or Fiction Authors Make More Money? | Episode 74

February 19, 2019

Who makes more money? Nonfiction or fiction authors? I share results from my 2018 Self Publishing Survey, along with reasons why you don't want to be jumping genres.

YouTube video:

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to watch segment on YouTube):

0:39 How many fiction and nonfiction authors participated in the survey

1:41 Who makes more? Fiction or nonfiction?

1:53 Most popular self publishing income answer for both fiction and nonfiction

2:58 Does strictly doing fiction or nonfiction make a difference in income?

3:35 Should you switch genres to make more money?

5:05 Do authors who write books to market their business make more money?

Can't wait to hear all the survey results on the podcast? Get the Thorne Self Publishing Survey 2018 Results and Analysis report on Amazon:


text:
Inside Adele’s Unsuccessful Marriage and Tangled Relationships

Adele is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and a multi-Grammy award winner known for her hit single Hello. The English singer-songwriter was born on May 5, 1988, as Adele Laurie Blue Adkins. Fiercely private, Adele’s love life has been a puzzle many of her fans would love to unravel. Many never knew she had gotten married until she mentioned it at the Grammys and has gained a reputation for guarding the details of her past relationships. One public offshoot of her romantic life, however, is the music, some of her greatest hits were inspired by her breakups.

Adele’s Marriage To Simon Konecki

For many months, no one really had a clue that Adele was romantically involved with anyone, the singer and Simon had been dating since the summer of 2011. In June 2012, she announced that they were expecting a baby. The songbird who has been so successful in concealing her personal life couldn’t help it when she publicly confirmed her then-boyfriend as her husband during her acceptance speech for the Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2017. This was after numerous speculations in early 2017 that she was married, having been spotted wearing a gold ring on her ring finger.

In typical Adele fashion, her wedding was nothing loud or dramatic, just an intimate affair that took place in front of a small selection of family and close friends at her £10 million mansion in Los Angeles.

Born on April 17, 1974, in New York, Simon joined his family to relocate to London when he was 10. He is an Old Etonian and was a contemporary of Tom Parker-Bowles and Bear Grylls. He was a director of EBS, a division of trading giant Icap, before managing teams of senior brokers at Lehman Brothers.

Konecki was married to stylist Clary Fisher from 2004 to 2008 and the duo share a daughter who was born in 2007. It was rumoured that Simon split from his wife because of Adele and divorced her while dating the songstress.

Adele and Simon have a son – Angelo James Konecki who was born on 19 October 2012.  For Adele, it’s all about family. She prioritizes her relationships over her work and had said she would pull out of any tour if her relationship with her husband or son flounders even a bit.

Adele’s weight loss journey

Why Did She And Konecki Get A Divorce?

In September of 2019, the British singer filed for divorce in a bid to end her marriage to Simon Konecki. Given how private Adele is, it would be an uphill task to figure out why exactly the marriage is coming to an end. She hasn’t discussed the divorce yet and any reported reason is most definitely suspicions. One thing is certain, expect a hit breakup song that would be inspired by her divorce, a glance at the lines will be a good insight into how things panned out between them.

Adele’s Past Relationships

A look at Adele’s lyrics will tell you she has been through tumultuous relationships. If there was ever a crown for the “Queen of Breakup Music” then Adele will be the undisputed winner, her greatest hits have become universal breakup anthems. Songs like Someone Like You, Hello, Don’t you remember and Send my Love are more than just songs, they are mostly expressions and story-lines around her love life.

Adele rarely talks about the identity of her lovers but revealed that she dated a young man who has become known as Mr 19 – named after her album titled 19. They broke up after three months together because of his infidelity, much of which inspired the songs on the album.

Adele’s next album 21 was inspired by her relationship with photographer Alex Sturrock whom she dated between 2008 and 2009. From all indications, the relationship was blissful while it lasted, the breakup as always was tough on Adele, an experience she channelled into her music.

Is She In Any Relationship?

Adele is not one to come out with a press statement about her love life, your best bet is to feed off scraps on her social media and until when she deems it fit to make an announcement.

Since her split from Simon Konecki, there have been rumours that she has been going out with rapper Skepta. Both musicians have exchanged flirtatious messages on social media, reinforcing suspicions of an ongoing relationship.

Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness, if you've found a possible error, be it factual, editorial or something that needs updating, please contact us
Ijeoma Ogbozor
Ijeoma Ogbozor
Ijeoma is a content writer by day and a creative cook at night. An Adventure and music enthusiast who is curious about everything, She enjoys reading and pays attention to details. You can find her in her downtime fantasizing about her trip into the ocean, space or neverland.

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text:
Winc May 2019 Subscription Box Review & Coupon

We received this box for our review. Hello Subscription may earn compensation via links in this post. Read the full disclosure

Winc is a wine subscription service that sends a selection of unique wines based on your personalized palate profile. When you sign-up, you Winc asks a brief series of questions so they can customize your selections to suit your tastes — things like how your take your coffee, and how much you enjoy salt, citrus, berries, and earthy flavors. You can also choose how many reds and whites you want amongst your order, as well as how much you generally like to spend per bottle ($15-$30). To get better recommendations, you can rate the wines on your account. A monthly order starts at 3 bottles a month for $39, plus $9 flat shipping rate and tax. If you order 4 or more bottles, shipping is free. Bottles start at $13 a piece, and you can add as many additional bottles as you’d like to your monthly shipment.

DEAL: Save $20 on your first boxjust use this link to subscribe. Tip – Grab 4 bottles instead of 3 to get FREE shipping!

The wines arrived in special-purpose protective packaging.

Here are my awesome new selections. I chose an even split between whites and reds. Sparkling wines and rosés are counted as white wine for selection purposes.

This month’s box includes an exclusive brochure from Winc.

The brochure is divided into 3 different cocktail recipes that include a Field Theory Sangria, Zwicker White Sangria, and Summer Water Sangria.

Everything in my May 2019 Winc box!

We got two bottles of red wines and two bottles of white wines!

Our white wine includes Au-Dela 2017 Skin Contact Tocai Fruilano and Au-De La 2018 Skin Contact Pinot Gris.

Au-Dela 2017 Skin Contact Tocai Fruilano ($31.99; $26.99 if member) It’s a medium-bodied white wine made using a skin contact-style process, just like how the red wines are made. Strong and complex, this white wine has notes of lemon, peach, pink grapefruit, and white tea.

This delectable wine goes well with fish, sushi, and even salads and fruits.

Au-De La 2018 Skin Contact Pinot Gris ($31.99; $26.99 if member) Next up is a pink-colored wine made using organically grown Pinot Gris, a grape that has a distinctly pinkish-orange hue when ripe. These grapes are then crushed, moving half of the juice to stainless steel for fermentation and the other half on skins so they pick up some of that pinkish color.

It’s best served chilled or paired with sushi, salad, cheeses, and cured meat.

For the red wines, there’s Folly Of The Beast 2017 Pinot Noir and Field Theory 2017 Aglianico.

Folly Of The Beast 2017 Pinot Noir ($18.99; $16.99 if member) If you are looking for a medium-bodied red wine, this one is an excellent choice as it features a strong fruity flavor with a blend of woody and earthy notes.

This wine also offers a smooth and lasting finish. It’s perfect to be paired with beef, lamb, cheeses, or cured meats.

Field Theory 2017 Aglianico ($33.99; $28.99 if member) Last but not the least is a wine made from handpicked grapes which were crushed and fermented using native yeast only. It boasts of allspice, red cherry, and pomegranate tasting notes.

To get the best taste, this wine is recommended to be served chilled and slowly warmed up in the glasses. The perfect wine to drink while eating pizza, pasta with red sauce, and veggies.

We also got a pack of paper straws from Winc!

The striped straws in red and white also feature Winc’s logo. These straws are perfect for wine night!

Winc is a dependable subscription when it comes to the best tasting wines. It’s perfect for discovering new winemakers, whether for wine connoisseurs or just newbies. I’m really delighted that they had a little something for all my wine cravings in just a single box, not to discount how well they packaged all the bottles as they always came to us in great condition. I am truly looking forward to seeing more wine varieties coming my way!

Do you subscribe to Winc? Which wines are your favorites? Tell us in the comments below!

Visit Winc to subscribe or find out more!

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text:
[Solved] Quests

Is there a way to import quests from one class to another? I don't want to have to create the same quest for multiple class periods.

Agreed.  I would love this feature as well.

Yes, I was able to do this by going to a new class, then going to quests. I think import was in the lower left hand corner, maybe?

Thanks, Josh! I do not know how I did not see that!

Hi everyone,

The possibility to copy quests has just been added. 😄

if you import a quest from another class- does it erase all progress on the current quest?

I like to make additions to quests/modify as necessary but don't want to erase current progress

Hi John,

Importing a quest creates a copy – the original quest and the copy of the quest aren't linked. This means importing a quest won't erase current progress, but it also means that if you makes changes to a quest, these changes won't be replicated in the other copies of the quest.

Let me know if you have further questions!

Thank you for that! I have 22 separate classes spread over three grades and that feature makes things a lot easier.

Can there be a feature added to import existing assignments into an already created quest? I have tasks within a quest that I create and add to as I go (such as daily bell ringer assignments) and I would like to create the task and be able to import just that task into quests I have for other classes.

I second Sam's request wholeheartedly.

Yes – we'll be working on adding the option to copy objectives.

I created a quest over the weekend, and made it visible for my students, but I can't seem to find it on their app.  Where is this located?  Or do I have to do another step?

Hi Matt,

Quests are not available on the mobile app – yet! In the meantime, students can use the browser on their mobile device to access Quests.

I cannot find HOW to import only a Quest from one class to the other.  All I see is to import ALL the settings from one class to another.  Help!

Hi, Jen!

Here's how to import a quest:

Open Quests in the class you want to import the quest to. If you’ve never created a quest in that particular class, simply click anywhere on the map to get started. Otherwise, click the green “+” button in the bottom right corner of the page, then click anywhere on the map to open the Quests Creation screen.

On the Quest Creation screen, click the "Import" button in the bottom left corner of the page. Next, use the dropdown menu to select the class you want to import from. The available quests will then be listed beneath the dropdown menu.

Thank you, Anne-Marie Menard, for the steps for importing quests!!! I kept looking and thought I must be in a browser that doesn't support Quests!

In the previous assignments, when you imported one from one class to another, you were able to revise one and it would also revise the other. This is helpful for me because I have more than one class working through the same curriculum.

With the new Quest assignments, I now have to go to each class's version of the assignments and make the same revision multiple times. :(

I have imported quests from one class to another however I can not change it to access the other classes Google Classroom Assignment.  Is there a way to change the tasks to link to another Google Classroom?

I was able to import a Quest from 1st hour to 2nd hour (yea!). The problem is that the 1st hour Quest has 1st hour Google Classroom assignments attached it. I don't see a way to edit 2nd hour and attach the 2nd hour Google Classroom assignment to it. When I click on View Classroom in Classcraft it goes to 1st hour Google Classroom :-/

The only work around I can figure would be to delete and recreate each Quest in each Classcraft class :-( unless I'm missing something. Other ideas...put all of my students in one Google Classroom and one Classcraft class which runs into other problems...Don't attach Quest objectives to Google Classroom.

Thanks for your feedback.  I also was thinking about just having one Google Classroom but dividing my classes in Classcraft.  What kind of problems could I expect from doing so?

Hi Jestin,

Yes, we know that's far from ideal. The dev team is currently looking into this situation, and we'll have a fix in a few weeks or so. Thanks for your patience!

Oh, yeah... I see what you mean.  I have multiple Google Classrooms, too.  I could get all my kids to join the same Google Classroom, but if kids are already connected to Classcraft through their other Google Classrooms, wouldn't they then have to re-join Classcraft?  Oof...

Yep.  Deleting and re-building.

Dear Rebecca,

You shouldn't have to rebuild classcraft.  Just when assigning assignments using quests access the new Google Classroom instead of the old.  You don't have to invite everyone in the Google Classroom to your Classcraft Classes.  Please anyone correct me if I'm wrong.

I just checked in my Classcraft classes, and I didn't have to change anything in Classcraft. I kept Classcraft as separate classes, but I had all of my students join into my 1st hour Google Classroom section. My 2nd hour Classcraft recognized when a student turned in a paper in the new mega-Google Classroom. It's still not perfect - makes it harder to transfer grades from Google to Skyward - but makes it easier in Classcraft.

Unfortunately, I quit classcraft. I just couldn't keep up with it daily. I give you all credit for having the time to create quests, give points, and follow through with rewards. I have 10 classes and around 200 students. It was overwhelming and frankly, rather clunky and not user friendly. I may revisit it again in the future and configure it differently but I doubt it. Thanks for creating this and supporting education!

Mrs. Robe -- that's true, but when copying a quest to another class, it links to the original Google Classroom, and there doesn't seem to be a way to change which Google Classroom assignment the objective points to without just deleting it and making a whole new objective.

   If you have a mega google classroom class with all your students in the same subject.  When you copy quests in Classcraft, all your classes would link to the same Mega Google Classroom.

See Jestin VanScoyoc remarks on November 26, 2017 08:32

That's the thing, Mrs. Robe, I dont' have a mega classroom -- I already have my kids in separate classes.  I thought about getting them all to join one class, but that wouldn't work either because their classcraft accounts were already pointed to different Google Classrooms.  So I rebuilt the quests *sigh*.  I still love Classcraft, but I hope they make it easier to copy quests and edit the Google Classroom assignment after copying.

Hi Rebecca -- Thank you for sharing!

You can rest assured that we are looking into ways to making the Google Classroom and Classcraft Quests integration more seamless. Now, it's just a matter of adding a little more time and elbow grease from our Dev Team to the mix. :)

Hey there... running classcraft for the past few years in my sixth grade bio class.. around 250 students divided into two semesters each.  I love all the new upgrades and greatly appreciate your constant work to improve the experience.  I too am looking to import my quest and keep the google classroom assignments in there.  Right now when I import the quest, i lose the links to the google classroom assignment and have to go in and add the links.  It's more work but you really have cut down on the work by making them able to be copied in the first place, so small price to pay. :)

Post is closed for comments.


text:
I can not use SSL/TLS for my IMAP connection.
The Error message is
stream_socket_client(): SSL operation failed with code 1. OpenSSL Error messages: error:1425F102:SSL routines:ssl_choose_client_version:unsupported protocol at /var/www/nextcloud/apps/mail/vendor/

I already have 'app.mail.verify-tls-peer' => false, in my config.php…
When I disable the IMAP-Security it works, but I dont want to use it without encryption for obvious reasons.

Running Ubuntu 20.04, Apache, NextCloud 19.0.1, PHP 7.4

Thanks for your help,

Wouldn’t it be a good start to describe IN DETAIL what settings you’ve already tried and if you try to access a self-hosted server or one of the common hosters instead of providing only an error message?! :wink:

I tried to connect to the IMAP Server of my hoster “nitrado” (, so it is neither self-hosted nor a pretty common one.
If I connect without SSL/TLS or STARTTLS to Port 143 it works fine, but I want wo use SSL/TLS like the hoster recommends and how I use it on every other device of mine.
SMTP isn’t a problem either, it works with STARTTLS.
My firewall also shouldn’t be a problem, I whitelisted 993/tcp.

In most cases there shouldn’t be a requirement to whitelist outbound connections. Nevertheless you can use the openssl command to test if a connection can be established to the IMAP server:

openssl s_client -connect  <fqdn-of-mailserver>:993

Okay thank you for the command.
When I use it it gets me the following error:

    $ openssl s_client -connect
    140137173480768:error:1425F102:SSL routines:ssl_choose_client_version:unsupported protocol:../ssl/statem/statem_lib.c:1941:
    no peer certificate available
    No client certificate CA names sent
    SSL handshake has read 58 bytes and written 317 bytes
    Verification: OK
    New, (NONE), Cipher is (NONE)
    Secure Renegotiation IS NOT supported
    Compression: NONE
    Expansion: NONE
    No ALPN negotiated
    Early data was not sent
    Verify return code: 0 (ok)

When I use it on another machine it just works:

SSL handshake has read 4948 bytes and written 502 bytes
Verification: OK
New, SSLv3, Cipher is AES256-SHA
Server public key is 2048 bit
Secure Renegotiation IS supported
Compression: NONE
Expansion: NONE
No ALPN negotiated
    Protocol  : TLSv1
    Cipher    : AES256-SHA
    Session-ID: C995D7E6B86BC315878E18F06C2CA72CE66828A3A2344D145B3C3EEA5C31A53B
    Master-Key: DD48938EFB7F46B0C839D6CCCDF6B582736797CADFB3D9BC87E4BB47848BA1272E1584B6B1E998991B7C170E3FA9EC44
    PSK identity: None
    PSK identity hint: None
    SRP username: None
    TLS session ticket lifetime hint: 7200 (seconds)
    TLS session ticket:
    0000 - 21 3a 84 71 07 36 1a 90-26 b6 45 7b 9a d0 c6 e3   !:.q.6..&.E{....
    0010 - 55 de aa 11 a9 98 82 ca-d4 9c ce 7b 7b 47 4a e9   U..........{{GJ.
    0020 - d9 c2 55 0e 7d 00 2d d5-d2 0f 36 05 6a aa b5 f9   ..U.}.-...6.j...
    0030 - 6f 2e 45 79 2e f0 31 c8-28 9c 23 4e 89 6b 7b 40   o.Ey..1.(.#N.k{@
    0040 - de 05 af c9 3f 20 1b 2b-77 af 19 4a a5 e8 09 64   ....? .+w..J...d
    0050 - 5c ae 90 14 13 8a 76 c9-17 89 8a dd 72 82 3f 38   \.....v.....r.?8
    0060 - fe 5a 39 49 8f 55 bc f1-6c c6 65 39 88 2b 48 6d   .Z9I.U..l.e9.+Hm
    0070 - 0e 80 be 40 3f 4e 79 cf-29 be 49 e9 dc 37 52 24   ...@?Ny.).I..7R$
    0080 - e1 53 84 41 7f 13 d9 81-89 df 50 d2 bf 0b ab 1b   .S.A......P.....
    0090 - 55 9e ae 9e 65 53 b6 6b-a6 ed 7a b1 30 1e 11 5e   U...eS.k..z.0..^

    Start Time: 1595954369
    Timeout   : 7200 (sec)
    Verify return code: 0 (ok)
    Extended master secret: no

So I guess its a TLS issue? On the working machine it says “TLSv1”, wich scares me a bit.
If I try to connect to for example it works with TLSv1.3. Maybe my server isnt capable of TLSv1 due to security reasons.

@jesus (first time i ever addressed jesus in public)

today i found some new feature which might be of help for you.
try the solution that this user gave here:

and hopefully it’s gonna help your case as well.

No, unfortunately this doesn’t help.
It is an TLS Problem. My server doesn’t support TLSv1 and my mail provider ONLY supports TLSv1.
Maybe I can find a way to activate TLSv1 on my machine.
Nonetheless I wrote a support ticket to my hoster so that they start using proper protocolls.

Because it is no Nextcloud problem anymore, it is okay for me if this thread gets closed.

usually there’s a special reason for devs to deactivate something… they don’t do it for fun. in this case i think it could have been for security reasons.

so maybe you’d find out that it might be not the best solution to re-enable TLSv1 but to find yourself a different emailhoster who would support TLSv2 and 3.

Which protocol can be used usually depends on how the server is configured and if the protocol is supported by the currently used software version. You should check if the latest version opf Courier-IMAP is installed and if you’ve configured it correctly. Usually everything below TLSv1.2 should be disabled by default.
BTW, the openssl command line tool knows the switches -tls1, -tls1_1, -tls1_2 and -tls1_3, which you can add to the command line to force the use of a specific protocol for testing purposes.

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.


text:
KPI in EJ 1 Angular PivotGrid

28 Sep 2017 / 2 minutes to read

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are business metric that help to figure out the progress of an enterprise in meeting its business goals.

The different indicators available in KPI are:

  • KPI Value: A physical measure or a calculated measure.
  • KPI Goal: Defines the target for the measure.
  • KPI Status: Evaluates the current status of the value compared to the goal.
  • KPI Trend: Evaluate the current trend of the value compared to the goal.

The “KpiElements” class in OLAP Base library holds the KPI name and when its object is added to an OlapReport, you can view the resultant information in PivotGrid.

<ej-pivotgrid [enableToolTip]="false""" dataSource.catalog="Adventure Works DW 2008 SE" dataSource.cube="Adventure Works" [dataSource.rows]="rows" [dataSource.columns]="columns" [dataSource.values]="values" [dataSource.filters]="filters">
    export class PivotGridComponent {
        public rows; columns; values; filters;
        constructor() {
 = "";
          this.cube = "Adventure Works";
          this.catalog = "Adventure Works DW 2008 SE";
          this.rows = [{ fieldName: "[Date].[Fiscal]" }];
          this.columns = [{ fieldName: ""[Product].[Product Categories]" }];
          this.values = [{ fieldName: "[Measures].[Internet Sales Amount]" },{ fieldName: "[Measures].[Growth in Customer Base Trend]" }], axis: "columns" }];
          this.filters = [];


text:
FAQ: How do I edit the procedure date of a claim

Any claim that is created will default the procedure date to the date the claim was created.

If you wish to change the procedure date of the claim, you can do so in the ledger. Click once to highlight the claim in the ledger, and one additional single click over the procedure date for that line item. This will open up this field to be edited. Enter the date you wish and click away for the changes to save.

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text:
The 45-degree line: what is the special characteristic of a 45-degree line and what is its slope equal to?

The special feature is:  For each value of the domain of the function, the value of the range of the function is the same.  That is to say,  Domain = Range  The slope of the line is equal to 1 since:  Tan (45) = 1  Answer:  Domain = Range  Slope = 1

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