Our Flag Means Death (Teaser)

https://theawesomer.com/photos/2022/01/our_flag_means_death_t.jpg

Our Flag Means Death (Teaser)

Link

Rhys Darby (Murray from Flight of the Conchords) stars in this high-seas comedy adventure series about a wealthy man who abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate. Taika Waititi, the busiest man in Hollywood, does double duty as Executive Producer and performs as Blackbeard. Premieres 3.2022 on HBO Max.

The Awesomer

Amazon reveals title and trailer for new ‘Lord of the Rings’ series coming to Prime Video

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Are you ready to head back to Middle Earth? Amazon Studios revealed the title and trailer Wednesday for its highly anticipated prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” series, called “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”

The series will debut on Prime Video on Sept. 2.

“The Rings of Power” is set in the Second Age of Middle Earth, thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.”

The series “will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness,” Amazon said in its YouTube description for the trailer.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tweeted an image of himself holding a big slab of wood with the series title on it. “Can’t wait for you to see it,” he wrote.

IGN has behind-the-scenes details on how the title sequence was created, and it wasn’t with CGI, but rather with molten metal and a “hunk of reclaimed redwood.”

Amazon first announced that it had acquired the rights to adapt Tolkien’s work in 2017.

“’The Lord of the Rings’ is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen,” Sharon Tal Yguado, head of Scripted Series for Amazon Studios, said in a statement at the time. 

Tolkien’s book series was named Amazon customers’ favorite book of the millennium in 1999. Director Peter Jackson’s theatrical adaptations included “The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001); “The Two Towers” (2002); and “The Return of the King” (2003). The films grossed nearly $6 billion worldwide and won a combined 17 Academy Awards, including Best Picture for “King.”

GeekWire

Holosun’s New RML Gives You Small, Lightweight Red or Green Laser Aiming Capability

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Holosun RML Rail Mounted Laser
Holosun’s new RML Rail Mounted Laser

Next Post Coming Soon…▶

Holosun just introduced their new RML Rail Mounted Laser. It’s tiny and affordable and will come in both red and green laser versions. The RML will come in five models with MSRPs ranging from $105 to $162 and is expected to hit stores in March or April.

Here’s their press release . . .

Lasers are becoming invaluable to verify an accurate and effective aim, especially in low-light environments. Pistols and rifles fixed with lasers have been shown to improve fast target acquisition. With the growth of red dot optics, lasers have fast been growing in the industry as an alternative to mounted optics. Not only does this help to improve users’ response time, but it also makes a potential Point of Impact clear.

Holosun RML Rail Mounted Laser
Holosun is known for optics and lasers. This year, Holosun releases the RML (Rail-Mounted Laser). The RML comes in at a very manageable 1.97″×1.18″×0.91″ and 1.3 ounces. Made with a durable polymer housing, the RML is IPX8 rated for water and dust resistance. Additionally, Holosun tests each unit to 2,000G shock resistance. This guarantees that the RML is suited for use in extreme environments.

The RML is available in either a red or green laser version, both of which are class 3R and <5mW output power. The RML package includes one CR1/3N lithium battery. The laser can be adjusted by 4MOA per click and can travel a total of +/-60 MOA. The rate of travel makes it ideal for a primary or even secondary zero, providing an alternate distance point of aim from iron sights or a pistol mounted optic.

Holosun RML Rail Mounted Laser
With many features, it is easy to see why the RML is a strong contender. Holosun has made it easy to utilize the laser in multiple roles with multiple color options. For the hiker who carries a defensive pistol, the uniformed officer that relies on an alternate color laser and red dot, and everything in between, the RML fills their needs.

Specifications:

  • 520nm Green or 635nm Red, class 3R laser
  • Cr1/3N removable battery
  • Durable Polymer housing
  • 4 MOA adjustment per click
  • +/- 60 MOA laser W&E travel range
  • IPX8 water & dust resistance
  • 2000G vibration resistance
  • Dimensions: 1.97×1.18×0.91
  • Weight: 1.8oz

 

Next Post Coming Soon…▶

The Truth About Guns

10 Fun Linux Command-Line Programs You Should Try When Bored

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The Linux terminal is a powerful utility. You can use it to control the whole system, crafting and typing commands as you go about doing your everyday tasks. But it can quickly become overwhelming to keep staring at a command line and carry on with your work.

Lucky for you, the terminal is also a source of fun. You can play around with commands, listen to music, and even play games. Although expecting a great deal of entertainment from a window full of commands would be carrying it too far, you can find utilities to bind some time when bored.

Here are some fun and entertaining commands every Linux user should try at least once.

1. CMatrix

Starting off the list with a fun tool every Linux user loves, CMatrix is a command-line utility that generates the classic “The Matrix” animation from the popular movie franchise of the same name. You can expect to see some great animations in different colors that you also get to customize.

Albeit CMatrix uses regular fonts instead of the original Japanese characters, you’ll definitely enjoy every moment you spend with the tool. Either use it as your desktop screensaver or include the program in your window manager rice screenshots, the choice is yours. You can even go to the extremes and set up a CMatrix server on a laptop that runs the program 24/7.

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To install Cmatrix on Debian-based distros like Ubuntu:

sudo apt install cmatrix

On Arch Linux and its derivatives:

sudo pacman -S cmatrix

On RHEL-based distros like Fedora:

sudo dnf install cmatrix

2. cowsay

What does the cow say? Definitely, not just “moo.”

cowsay is an ASCII-art-based command-line utility that displays the specified input with a neat ASCII cow art. While there’s not much to this program, you can use it as a Bash prompt by invoking the program with random quotes whenever you launch a terminal instance.

cowsay "Mooooo"

To install cowsay on Debian and Ubuntu:

sudo apt install cowsay

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S cowsay

On Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL:

sudo dnf install cowsay

3. sl

Everyone loves trains, especially steam locomotives. The Linux utility sl brings your favorite steam locomotive to your desk, using the terminal of course.

Running the sl command is very simple.

sl

Installing sl on Ubuntu and Debian is easy.

sudo apt install sl

Similarly, on Arch-based distributions:

sudo pacman -S sl

On Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL:

sudo dnf install sl

4. FIGlet

Have you ever seen a Linux terminal with beautifully crafted ASCII art at the top? You can achieve the same results using FIGlet, a command-line tool that converts user input into ASCII banners.

Unlike some other ASCII art generators, FIGlet doesn’t have a character limit, which is what sets it apart. You can create ASCII arts of unlimited length with the tool, although the characters might break if you supply lengthier strings.

FIGlet uses the following command syntax:

figlet "Your string here"

You can install FIGlet on Debian/Ubuntu using:

sudo apt install figlet

To install FIGlet on Arch-based distributions:

sudo pacman -S figlet

On Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL:

sudo dnf install figlet

5. fortune

Want to read a quote? Maybe something funny, or perhaps an educational message? The excitement is there every time you run fortune, as you don’t know what’s going to hit you next. fortune is a Linux utility that returns random messages and quotes on execution.

fortune

It’s easy to get engrossed in the command, reading the entertaining (mostly funny) quotes that fortune outputs. The best thing about the tool? You can pipe it with cowsay and similar programs to produce an engaging Bash prompt for yourself.

cowsay | fortune

To install fortune on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install fortune

On Arch Linux and similar distributions:

sudo pacman -S fortune-mod

Installing fortune on RHEL-based distros like Fedora and CentOS is easy as well.

sudo dnf install fortune-mod

6. xeyes

If you are someone who likes to have a pair of eyes on you every time you need to get something done, xeyes might be the best Linux tool for you. Literally, xeyes brings a pair of eyes to your desktop. The best part? The eyeballs move depending on your mouse pointer’s position.

Launching the program is easy. Simply type xeyes in the terminal and hit Enter. By default, the position of the eyes will be the top left, but you can easily change it using the -geometry flag.

On Ubuntu and Debian-based distros, you can install xeyes with APT.

sudo apt install x11-apps

To install xeyes on Arch-based distros:

sudo pacman -S xorg-xeyes

On Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL:

sudo dnf install xeyes

7. aafire

Want to make your Linux desktop lit? You need aafire. It is a terminal-based utility that starts an ASCII art fire right inside your terminal. Although you won’t physically feel the heat aafire brings to the table, it’s definitely a “cool” Linux program to have on your system.

To install aafire on Ubuntu and Debian:

sudo apt install libaa-bin

On Arch Linux and its derivatives:

sudo pacman -S aalib

On Fedora, CentOS, and other RHEL-based distros:

sudo dnf install aalib

8. espeak

Have you ever wanted your Linux desktop to speak, exactly what you want it to? espeak is a text-to-speech utility that converts a specified string to speech and returns the output in real-time. You can play around with espeak by invoking the command with song lyrics or movie dialogues.

For the test run, you can try specifying a basic string first. Don’t forget to turn up your desktop’s speaker volume.

espeak "Hello World"

You can also change the amplitude, word gap and play around with the voices with espeak. Writers can use this tool to transform their words into speech, making it a perfect tool to assess the content quality.

On Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install espeak

You can install espeak on Arch Linux from the AUR.

yay -S espeak

On Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL:

sudo dnf install espeak

9. asciiquarium

For those who wish to own an aquarium someday, here’s your chance. As the name aptly suggests, asciiquarium creates a virtual aquarium inside your terminal using ASCII characters.

The fishes and the plants are colorized and that’s what makes them come to life, leaving the dull terminal screen behind. You also get to see ducks swimming in the water occasionally.

To install asciiquarium on Ubuntu and Debian:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ytvwld/asciiquarium
sudo apt install asciiquarium

On Arch-based distributions:

sudo pacman -S asciiquarium

Installing asciiquarium on RHEL-based distros is also easy.

sudo dnf install asciiquarium

10. rig

Want to quickly generate a fake identity for some reason? rig is what you need. Being a command-line utility, it returns output in an easy-to-read manner, for both users and computers. You can implement the functionality of rig in scripts, to test functions that require user information in bulk.

To install rig on Ubuntu and Debian:

sudo apt install rig

On Arch-based distributions:

yay -S rig

On RHEL-based distros like Fedora and CentOS:

sudo dnf install rig

Having Fun With the Linux Command Line

All the tools mentioned in the above list will guarantee you a moment of fun amidst the busy life that we’re all living. You can either install these utilities to simply play around with, or you can make something productive out of them by using them in your code.

Whatever the practical applications are, Linux programs always deliver what you expect them to. There are several other software and applications that every Linux user should know about.

The Best Linux Software and Apps

Whether you’re new to Linux or you’re a seasoned user, here are the best Linux software and apps you should be using today.

Read Next

About The Author

Deepesh Sharma
(108 Articles Published)

Deepesh is the Junior Editor for Linux at MUO. He writes informational guides on Linux, aiming to provide a blissful experience to all newcomers. Not sure about movies, but if you want to talk about technology, he’s your guy.

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MUO – Feed

Define a Route Group Controller in Laravel 8.80

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The Laravel team released 8.80 with the ability to define a route group controller, render a string with the Blade compiler, PHPRedis serialization and compression config support, and the latest changes in the v8.x branch.

Specify a Route Group Controller

Luke Downing contributed the ability to define a controller for a route group, meaning you don’t have to repeat which controller a route uses if the group uses the same controller:

1Route::controller(PlacementController::class)

2 ->prefix('placements')

3 ->as('placements.')

4 ->group(function () {

5 Route::get('', 'index')->name('index');

6 Route::get('/bills', 'bills')->name('bills');

7 Route::get('/bills/{bill}/invoice/pdf', 'invoice')->name('pdf.invoice');

8 });

Render a String With Blade

Jason Beggs contributed a Blade::render() method that uses the Blade compiler to convert a string of Blade templating into a rendered string:

1// Returns 'Hello, Claire'

2Blade::render('Hello, ', ['name' => 'Claire']);

3 

4// Returns 'Foo '

5Blade::render('@if($foo) Foo @else Bar @endif', ['foo' => true]);

6 

7// It even supports components :)

8// Returns 'Hello, Taylor'

9Blade::render('<x-test name="Taylor" />');

PHPRedis Serialization and Compression Config Support

Petr Levtonov contributed the ability to configure PHPRedis serialization and compression options instead of needing to overwrite the service provider or define a custom driver.

The PR introduced the following serialization options:

  • NONE
  • PHP
  • JSON
  • IGBINARY
  • MSGPACK

And the following compressor options:

These options are now documented in the Redis – Laravel documentation.

Release Notes

You can see the complete list of new features and updates below and the diff between 8.79.0 and 8.80.0 on GitHub. The following release notes are directly from the changelog:

v8.80.0

Added

  • Allow enums as entity_type in morphs (#40375)
  • Added support for specifying a route group controller (#40276)
  • Added phpredis serialization and compression config support (#40282)
  • Added a BladeCompiler::render() method to render a string with Blade (#40425)
  • Added a method to sort keys in a collection using a callback (#40458)

Changed

  • Convert “/” in -e parameter to “” in Illuminate/Foundation/Console/ListenerMakeCommand (#40383)

Fixed

  • Throws an error upon make:policy if no model class is configured (#40348)
  • Fix forwarded call with named arguments in Illuminate/Filesystem/FilesystemAdapter (#40421)
  • Fix ‘strstr’ function usage based on its signature (#40457)

Laravel News

A comprehensive guide on how to design future-proof controllers: Part 1

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Introduction

When you are still in that learning phase with any technology, your focus is to make your app work, but I think the exponential progress starts coming when you begin to ask yourself “How can I make this better?”. One simple principle that you can immediately apply to your existing or new codebase for cleaner and more maintainable code is the Separation of Concerns principle.

Most of the server-side codebases I have come across have controllers that contain code specifying the real-world business rules on how data can be created, stored, and changed on the system. If you want to learn how to build controllers that are clean, concise, and easily maintainable, then this series is for you.

What you will learn after reading this article

  1. You will have a solid understanding of the Separation of concerns principle

  2. You will be able to identify the major steps involved in the lifecycle of a request on the server-side

  3. You will understand the role of the controller on the server side. This will ensure that the lines of code present in your controller functions are the ones that absolutely need to be in the controller

Prerequisites

  1. Understanding of client-server architecture
  2. Familiarity with model-view-controller architecture
  3. A basic understanding of Object-Oriented Programming

With all that out of the way, let’s move 🚀

Understanding Separation of concerns

What is a concern?

A concern is a section of a feature or software that handles a particular functionality in the system. A good example of a concern in a well-designed backend system is request validation, which means there is a part of the code that accepts the data coming from the client to make sure all the information is valid or at least in the right format before sending it to the other parts of the system.

What does the term Separation of concerns mean?

Since we know what a concern is, understanding the idea behind the Separation of concerns will not be difficult. Separation of concerns promotes the idea of building software in such a way that our code should be broken down into separate components or layers such that each layer handles a specific concern. An example is a feature that retrieves data from the database and then formats the data based on the client’s request. Placing both logic in the same function is a really bad idea since retrieving data from the database is a specific concern, then formatting the retrieved data is another concern.

Lifecycle of a request on the server

I have worked on building many backend systems that provide services to clients and many of them usually follow a similar pattern with 3 major steps which are mainly.

  1. Request validation: This refers to the part of your code that ensures that the data sent by a client is in a valid and acceptable format. A simple example is making sure that a value sent from the client as an email is actually a valid email address.
  2. Business logic execution: This is the section of your codebase that contains the code that enforces real-world business rules. Let’s use an app that allows a customer to transfer money from one account to another. A valid business rule is that you cannot transfer an amount that is greater than your current balance. For this app to work properly, there has to be a section of your code that compares the amount you are trying to transfer and your current balance and makes sure the business rule is obeyed. That is what we refer to as business logic.
  3. Response formatting and return:This refers to the section of your codebase responsible for making sure the data returned to the client after business logic execution is properly formatted and well presented. eg JSON, XML

Backend receives request.png

I have come across a lot of codebases that perform these three steps using a single function or method, where line 10 to 15 handles request validation, line 16 to 55 handles all the business logic with long if-else statements, loops, etc, then line 56-74 formats the response based on certain conditions, and finally, line 75 returns the data to the client. That’s about 65 lines of code in a single function! That is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode when a new engineer joins the team or when you come back to add more changes to the code.

Understanding the role of the controller in the backend request lifecycle

Imagine we have 3 tasks involving the same feature.

  1. Fix a bug in request validation
  2. Change the way data is retrieved from the database (use Eloquent ORM instead of raw queries)
  3. Add extra meta-data to the response returned to the client

If our controllers are designed in a way where each method contains all these three major steps involved in fulfilling a request on the server-side, then the flow looks something like the image below

Backend receives request 1.png

Handling these tasks become a nightmare because everyone in the team will be modifying the same function, and good luck merging all these changes without the need to resolve merge conflicts 🙄.

So, what exactly should the controller do?

The controller should serve as a delegator, meaning that the controller accepts a request with the associated data from the client, then the controller should assign the different tasks involved in fulfilling the client’s request to different parts of the codebase, then finally, the controller sends a proper response (success or failure) to the client depending on the result of the executed code.
I have illustrated this using the image below.

controller delegator.png

If our controllers are built this way, making changes will be incredibly easy, bugs will be easy to trace and the responsibility of each class and other classes it depends on to fulfill its tasks will be immediately visible even to someone looking at the code for the first time.

There is more juicy stuff to come 😋

Like I said at the beginning of the article, this is going to be a series because there is a lot of information to digest and I want to make sure you can remember a lot after reading each article. I want to separate the concerns you know 😂, so that this article does not become massive like the controllers we will be refactoring starting from the next part. If you didn’t get that joke, then maybe next time.

In the next article, Part 2. We will be refactoring a controller function with a specific focus on the Request validation concern. We will build a Request validator class and abstract all the logic involved in validating the client’s request away from the controller. I will be using Laravel in the rest of the series.

Quick Recap

  1. Separation of concerns is simply a concept that promotes the idea that you should always look at your code to identify the different functionalities involved, and think of how you can break down the code into smaller components for clarity, easy debugging, and maintenance among other benefits.
  2. All the logic involved in fulfilling a client’s request on the server-side should not be in a single location, like a controller.
  3. The controllers should serve as classes that delegate tasks to other parts of the codebase and get’s back a response from those other parts. Depending on the response received by the controller, the controller decides if the response to send back to the client should be a success or failure response.
  4. More code might be involved when trying to break down a feature into smaller components but remember, it pays off in the long run.

It’s a wrap 🎉

I sincerely hope that you have learned something, no matter how small, after reading this. If you did, kindly drop a thumbs up.

Thanks for sticking with me till the end. If you have any suggestions or feedback, kindly drop them in the comment section. Enjoy the rest of your day…bye 😊.

Laravel News Links

A Star Trek: Voyager Fan Built a Replica Tricorder That’s Better Than Any Prop Hollywood Has Ever Made

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Despite the show’s finale airing almost 20 years ag,o the technology in Star Trek: Voyager (and even TNG) still looks convincingly futuristic, and we’d happily trade our folding smartphones like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 or the Surface Duo 2 for this incredible recreation of one of Voyager’s tricorders.

Producing a sci-fi TV series based on one of the most beloved franchises of all time isn’t cheap. You not only have to build standing sets recreating the interior of a giant starship, there’s also alien worlds to construct, loads of special effects, and mountains of futuristic props for the cast to interact with. According to Hackaday, For Star Trek: Voyager, the second follow-up to the wildly successful Star Trek: The Next Generation, there were plans to introduce an updated design for the ubiquitous tricorder—a futuristic PDA that can do almost anything a script requires of it—but concept sketches were replaced with hand-me-down props from TNG to keep costs down.

At least one Star Trek: Voyager fan felt that was a great injustice, but instead of voicing their concerns during a Q&A session at a Star Trek convention, they set out to build the Voyager Tricorder, as they call it, in real life. The first version that YouTuber Mangy_Dog (a UI designer who’s also skilled at electronics) took over a year to build was impressively capable and looked straight out of the 24th century. But when a friend commissioned a replica of the tricorder for themselves, Mangy_Dog took the opportunity to thoroughly update the prop inside and out, and while it took several years to complete, the results look even better than anything Hollywood has ever delivered.

Mangy_Dog has delved into the design and engineering process behind the Voyager Tricord V2 build in three videos. The first video goes into some of the challenges of the hardware itself, including custom PCBs and problems with sourcing high-quality displays, while the second video delves into the custom user interface and animations created for the prop, which are all generated and rendered on the fly, instead of just being pre-rendered videos played back on queue. The third video goes much deeper into the internal hardware including the custom PCB created for the project and the extensive code that powers it.

In addition to LCD displays displaying what appear to be Starfleet standard user interfaces, the Voyager Tricorder V2 includes countless touch-sensitive buttons used to switch modes or activate secret features after a long press. There’s also blinking, flashing, and pulsing LEDs all over the device, making it look like the tricorder is actually scanning and interacting with its environment, when in reality the only thing this replica tricorder can actually do is make other Star Trek fans incredibly envious.


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Gizmodo

10 Ways to Get Rid of Anxiety Before a Job Interview

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You’re on your way to an important job interview and suddenly your hands start sweating, your heart rate skyrockets, and your mouth is drier than the Sahara Desert. It’s completely normal to be a nervous wreck before a big moment in your life, like an interview, and the anxiety you’re feeling means that you want to do well.

However, anxiety can also trip you up and prevent you from having a successful interview. If you’re struggling to calm your nerves, try these 10 helpful tips.

1. Be Prepared

When people don’t know what to expect in a situation, they become nervous. That’s why there’s always so much stress and nervousness surrounding job interviews. If you prepare for the interview beforehand, you’ll be able to handle your nerves a lot better.

Preparing can be anything from researching the company, rehearsing answers to important questions, or coming up with some questions of your own. By doing your research and being prepared, you’ll know what to expect and get rid of that anxiety.

Related: Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

2. Plan Your Day

Your day will go a lot smoother if you plan it around the interview. To ensure you’re not rushed, anxious, and stressed out the entire day, schedule your interview to be held in the morning.

Once you’ve planned out your day to avoid unnecessary stress, like traffic, make sure you get enough sleep the night before and stick to the timetable the next day. By doing this, you’ll feel more productive and the job interview anxiety will fade away.

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3. Eat Breakfast

If you’d like your interview to go positively, you need to start the day on a positive note, so why not eat a great meal? Choose your favorite breakfast food, whether it’s something healthy like a smoothie or comfort food like bacon and eggs.

As long as you eat something that you enjoy before the interview, you’ll have the energy to do a good job, and you won’t have to worry about a growling stomach.

4. Positive Self-Talk

The way you speak to yourself will affect your actions, so it’s always best to avoid negative thoughts and focus more on the positive ones. Embracing positive self-talk before an interview can be the difference between getting the job and being rejected, so instead of thinking negatively about the interview, turn it into a positive experience.

It’s important to concentrate on being excited about going for a job interview. After all, you’re not going to get every job you apply for, but you can learn from the experience.

5. Listen to Music

Before going to a job interview, listen to your favorite uplifting music, whatever pumps you up, be it Taylor Swift or Beyonce. Can’t find your favorite song? Simply download it before the big interview by using one of these music download apps for Android and iPhone. Listening to music not only enhances your mindset, but also does wonders for your confidence.

Plus, putting on your favorite soundtrack can distract you from feeling the nerves as the interview draws nearer. Fill your ears with excitement and energy to get you in the right mood before your interview, and the anxiety will disappear. Maybe you can even dance away the nerves.

6. Do Some Exercise

Doing some exercise before an important job interview can do wonders in terms of getting rid of anxiety and stress. Whether you just take a brisk walk around the block, go for a lengthy jog, or do some yoga in your living room, it’ll release positive endorphins and calm your nerves.

Even just a short stroll can clear your head, plus, you’ll get a healthy dose of fresh air and vitamin D.

Related: Free Fitness Apps to Build an Exercise Habit of Regular Workouts

7. Plan Something Post-Interview

According to science, negative emotions, like anxiety and stress, can be reduced if you’re anticipating a positive event. This is why planning to treat yourself after an interview is so important.

Think of something you’d be eager to get an interview done for. Is it lunch out with a friend? Your favorite movie? A visit to the beauty salon? Whatever you choose to do post-interview, prepare to do it once you’re done with your interview, so you have something exciting to look forward to.

8. Try the STOP Technique

The STOP Technique is a mindfulness trick to calm you down during a stressful situation. Here’s how it works:

S: Stop. Stop whatever you’re doing, and pause.

T: Take. Take a few deep breaths, and follow your breath in and out of your nose.

O: Observe. Observe what’s happening inside and outside of your body, mind, and emotions.

P: Proceed. Proceed to do what you were doing or change course depending on what you observed.

This technique is vital if you’re feeling overwhelmed before an interview because it allows you to stop and take control, and not allow the stress and anxiety to overcome you.

9. Call a Loved One

There is nothing that will help you get rid of pre-interview anxiety more than a few words with a caring friend or family member. Sometimes, because we’re so nervous, we get wrapped up in negative thoughts. That’s why it’s best to turn to our loved ones, who will shower us with positive words.

Fundamentally, if you cannot give yourself enough positive self-talk to boost your confidence before the interview, turn to your loved ones to do it for you.

10. Breathe

Is your breathing shallow or shaky? If you do feel like you’re getting overcome with anxiety, don’t panic. Breathe in slowly through your mouth and out through your nose a couple of times. This simple breathing exercise will help you to calm your nerves and feel less jittery.

By using an easy breathing technique to control your breathing, you can regain your focus on the interview and get your head back in the game.

Tackle That Interview Anxiety Head-On

It’s impossible not to feel a level of anxiety and nervousness before a job interview, and even though anxiety can sometimes be motivational and give you a boost of energy, it can also cause your interview to go bad.

So use these helpful tips to stay calm and collected, and if that overwhelming feeling comes over you, stop, breathe, and center yourself. You can do it!

6 Unique Ways to Stand Out in a Job Interview

When it comes to a job interview in a competitive field or a hard to get position, it’s often the unique ways that’ll make you stand out. Here’s how!

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About The Author

Christine Romans
(6 Articles Published)

Christine is a content creator with over five years of experience writing about tech as well as a ridiculously wide range of other topics. She is a proud home cook, plant mom, and self-proclaimed wine taster.

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Pandas DataFrame Missing Data Handling – isna(), isnull(), notna(), notnull(), pad() and replace()

https://www.youtube.com/embed/r9Gaauyf1Qk?feature=oembed

The Pandas DataFrame/Series has several methods to handle Missing Data. When applied to a DataFrame/Series, these methods evaluate and modify the missing elements.

This is Part 12 of the DataFrame methods series:

  • Part 1 focuses on the DataFrame methods abs(), all(), any(), clip(), corr(), and corrwith().
  • Part 2 focuses on the DataFrame methods count(), cov(), cummax(), cummin(), cumprod(), cumsum().
  • Part 3 focuses on the DataFrame methods describe(), diff(), eval(), kurtosis().
  • Part 4 focuses on the DataFrame methods mad(), min(), max(), mean(), median(), and mode().
  • Part 5 focuses on the DataFrame methods pct_change(), quantile(), rank(), round(), prod(), and product().
  • Part 6 focuses on the DataFrame methods add_prefix(), add_suffix(), and align().
  • Part 7 focuses on the DataFrame methods at_time(), between_time(), drop(), drop_duplicates() and duplicated().
  • Part 8 focuses on the DataFrame methods equals(), filter(), first(), last(), head(), and tail()
  • Part 9 focuses on the DataFrame methods equals(), filter(), first(), last(), head(), and tail()
  • Part 10 focuses on the DataFrame methods reset_index(), sample(), set_axis(), set_index(), take(), and truncate()
  • Part 11 focuses on the DataFrame methods backfill(), bfill(), fillna(), dropna(), and interpolate()
  • Part 12 focuses on the DataFrame methods isna(), isnull(), notna(), notnull(), pad() and replace()

Getting Started

Remember to add the Required Starter Code to the top of each code snippet. This snippet will allow the code in this article to run error-free.

Required Starter Code

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np 

Before any data manipulation can occur, two new libraries will require installation.

  • The pandas library enables access to/from a DataFrame.
  • The numpy library supports multi-dimensional arrays and matrices in addition to a collection of mathematical functions.

To install these libraries, navigate to an IDE terminal. At the command prompt ($), execute the code below. For the terminal used in this example, the command prompt is a dollar sign ($). Your terminal prompt may be different.

$ pip install pandas

Hit the <Enter> key on the keyboard to start the installation process.

$ pip install numpy

Hit the <Enter> key on the keyboard to start the installation process.

Feel free to check out the correct ways of installing those libraries here:

If the installations were successful, a message displays in the terminal indicating the same.

DataFrame isna() & Dataframe isnull()

The DataFrame isna() and isnull() methods return Boolean (True/False) values in the same shape as the DataFrame/Series passed. If any empty values are of the following type, they will resolve to True.

  • None
  • NaN
  • NaT
  • NA

All other values (valid data) will resolve to False.

💡 Note: Any empty strings or numpy.inf are not considered empty unless use_inf_as_na is set to True.

The syntax for these methods is as follows:

DataFrame.isna()
DataFrame.isnull()

Parameters:

These methods contain no parameters.

For this example, three (3) temperatures over three (3) days for Anchorage, Alaska save to a DataFrame. Unfortunately, some temperatures did not accurately record.

The code below returns a new DataFrame containing True values in the same position as the missing temperatures and False in the remainder.

Code – isna():

df_temps = pd.DataFrame({'Day-1':  [np.nan, 11, 12], 
                         'Day-2':  [13, 14, pd.NaT],
                         'Day-3':  [None, 15, 16]},
                         index=['Morning', 'Noon', 'Evening'])
print(df_temps)

result = df_temps.isna()
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a dictionary of lists and saves it to df_temps.
  • Line [2] outputs the DataFrame to the terminal.
  • Line [3] uses isna() to set the empty values (np.nan, pd.NaT, None) to True and the remainder (valid values) to False. This output saves to the result variable.
  • Line [4] outputs the result to the terminal.

Output:

original df_temps

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    NaN    13 NaN   
Noon      11.0    14 15.0
Evening   12.0   NaT   16.0

result

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    True False True
Noon      False False False
Evening   False True False

Code – isnull():

df_temps = pd.DataFrame({'Day-1':  [np.nan, 11, 12], 
                   'Day-2':  [13, 14, pd.NaT],
                   'Day-3':  [None, 15, 16]},
                   index=['Morning', 'Noon', 'Evening'])
print(df_temps)

result = df_temps.isnull()
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a dictionary of lists and saves it to df_temps.
  • Line [2] outputs the DataFrame to the terminal.
  • Line [3] uses isnull() to set the empty values (np.nan, pd.NaT, None) to True and the remainder (valid values) to False. This output saves to the result variable.
  • Line [4] outputs the result to the terminal.

Output:

original df_temps

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    NaN    13 NaN   
Noon      11.0    14 15.0
Evening   12.0   NaT   16.0

result

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    True False True
Noon      False False False
Evening   False True False

💡 Note: The isnull() method is an alias of the isna() method. The output from both examples is identical.

DataFrame notna() & notnull()

The DataFrame notna() and notnull() methods return Boolean (True/False) values. These values returned are in the same shape as the DataFrame/Series passed. If any empty values are of the following type, they will resolve to False.

  • None
  • NaN
  • NaT
  • NA

All other values that are not of the above type (valid data) will resolve to True.

The syntax for these methods is as follows:

DataFrame.notna()
DataFrame.notnull()

Parameters:

These methods contain no parameters.

For this example, three (3) temperatures over three (3) days for Anchorage, Alaska save to a DataFrame. Unfortunately, some temperatures did not accurately record.

The code below returns a new DataFrame containing True values in the same position as the missing temperatures and False in the remainder.

Code – notna():

df_temps = pd.DataFrame({'Day-1':  [np.nan, 11, 12], 
                   'Day-2':  [13, 14, pd.NaT],
                   'Day-3':  [None, 15, 16]},
                   index=['Morning', 'Noon', 'Evening'])
print(df_temps)

result = df_temps.notna()
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a dictionary of lists and saves it to df_temps.
  • Line [2] outputs the DataFrame to the terminal.
  • Line [3] uses notna() to set the empty values (np.nan, pd.NaT, None) to False and the remainder (valid values) to True. This output saves to the result variable.
  • Line [4] outputs the result to the terminal.

Output:

original df_temps

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    NaN    13 NaN   
Noon      11.0    14 15.0
Evening   12.0   NaT   16.0

result

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    False True False
Noon      True True True
Evening   True False True

Code – notnull():

df_temps = pd.DataFrame({'Day-1':  [np.nan, 11, 12], 
                   'Day-2':  [13, 14, pd.NaT],
                   'Day-3':  [None, 15, 16]},
                   index=['Morning', 'Noon', 'Evening'])
print(df_temps)

result = df_temps.notnull()
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a dictionary of lists and saves it to df_temps.
  • Line [2] outputs the DataFrame to the terminal.
  • Line [3] uses notnull() to set the empty values (np.nan, pd.NaT, None) to False and the remainder (valid values) to True. This output saves to the result variable.
  • Line [4] outputs the result to the terminal.

Output:

original df_temps

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    NaN    13 NaN   
Noon      11.0    14 15.0
Evening   12.0   NaT   16.0

result

  Day-1 Day-2  Day-3
Morning    False True False
Noon      True True True
Evening   True False True

💡 Note: The notnull() method is an alias of the notna() method. The output from both examples is identical.

DataFrame pad()

The pad() method is an alias for DataFrame/Series fillna() with the parameter method set to 'ffill'. Click here for details.

DataFrame replace()

The replace() method substitutes values in a DataFrame/Series with a different value assigned. This operation is performed dynamically on the object passed.

💡 Note: The .loc/.iloc methods are slightly different from replace() as they require a specific location in order to change the said value(s).

The syntax for this method is as follows:

DataFrame.replace(to_replace=None, value=None, 
                  inplace=False, limit=None, 
                  regex=False, method='pad')
Parameter Description
to_replace Determines how to locate values to replace. The following parameters are:
– Numeric, String, or Regex.
– List of Strings, Regex, or Numeric.
– Dictionary: a Dictionary, DataFrame Dictionary, or Nested Dictionary
Each one must exactly match the to_replace parameter to cause any change.
value The value to replace any values that match.
inplace If set to True, the changes apply to the original DataFrame/Series. If False, the changes apply to a new DataFrame/Series. By default, False.
limit The maximum number of elements to backward/forward fill.
regex A regex expression to match. Matches resolve to the value parameter.
method The available options for this method are pad, ffill, bfill, or None. Specify the replacement method to use.

Possible Errors Raised:

Error When Does It Occur?
AssertionError If regex is not a Boolean (True/False), or the to_replace parameter is None.
TypeError If to_replace is not in a valid format, such as:
– Not scalar, an array, a dictionary, or is None.
– If to_replace is a dictionary and the value parameter is not a list.
– If multiple Booleans or date objects and to_replace fails to match the value parameter.
ValueError Any error returns if a list/ndarray and value are not the same length.

The examples below show how versatile the replace() method is. We recommend you spend some time reviewing the code and output.

In this example, we have five (5) grades for a student. Notice that one (1) grade is a failing grade. To rectify this, run the following code:

Code – Example 1

grades = pd.Series([55, 64, 52, 76, 49])
print(grades)

result = grades.replace(49, 51)
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a Series of Lists and saves it to grades.
  • Line [2] modifies the failing grade of 49 to a passing grade of 51. The output saves to result.
  • Line [3] outputs the result to the terminal.

Output:

O 55
1 64
2 52
3 76
4 51
dtype: int64

This example shows a DataFrame of three (3) product lines for Rivers Clothing. They want the price of 11.35 changed to 12.95. Run the code below to change the pricing.

Code – Example 2:

df = pd.DataFrame({'Tops':     [10.12, 12.23, 11.35],
                   'Tanks':    [11.35, 13.45, 14.98],
                   'Sweats':  [11.35, 21.85, 35.75]})

result = df.replace(11.35, 12.95)
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a dictionary of lists and saves it to df.
  • Line [2] replaces the value 11.35 to 12.95 for each occurrence. The output saves to result.
  • Line [3] outputs the result to the terminal.

Output:

  Tops Tanks Sweats
0 10.12  12.95  12.95
1 12.23  13.45   21.85
2 12.95  14.98   35.75

Code – Example 3:

This example shows a DataFrame with two (2) teams. Each team contains three (3) members. This code removes one (1) member from each team and replaces it with quit.

df = pd.DataFrame({'Team-1': ['Barb', 'Todd', 'Taylor'],
                   'Team-2': ['Arch', 'Bart', 'Alex']})

result = df.replace(to_replace=r'^Bar.$', value='quit', regex=True)
print(result)
  • Line [1] creates a Dictionary of Lists and saves it to df.
  • Line [2] replaces any values that start with Bar and contain one (1) additional character (.). This match changed to the word quit. The output saves to result.
  • Line [3] outputs the result to the terminal.

Finxter