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Ep: 171: Bonus: How to pivot your business and support your remote team during a crisis with Dr. Kiona
In this week's bonus episode, I welcome back with Dr.Kiona and we talk about how to pivot your online business and support your remote team in times of crisis.
Listen to find out how to find new opportunities and adapt your business to new situations and opportunities.
Listen Below:
Ep: 170: How this former corporate worker creates passive income through his online drop shipping stores with Johnny FD
Ep: 169: Bonus: Learning the Importance of the Slow Hustle during a crisis with Leo Chan
Ep. 168: How this former teacher became a successful food vlogger with Jessica Hirsch
Debbie:
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for being here for our special interview. I am super excited to talk to Dr. Kiona today. Hey Kiona. How are you?
Dr. Kiona:
Hey, I'm Good. It's sunny outside. So I'm good.
I'm so excited to talk to you today because you always have amazing and incredible tips for people and you have a really great awareness of what's happening around the world.
And, obviously, I want to talk to you about what's happening with you right now 'cause a lot of the things that you do are online and whatever tip you can give us right now is going to be super helpful for everybody.
Yeah. Well, not everything I do is online. The majority of the stuff I do is online but I do Cuba trips two weeks out of every single month. And that I cannot do online, I realized. I mean, I've seen so many, like, Condé Nast and all of these other places have digital travel experiences. I don't know if I want to visit Cuba that way so I'm like, "I can't do that."
And then, we had huge events with a Cuban government. We had huge brand partnerships set for May and all of that we had to move. So we moved back to December at the end of the year and, who knows if we can still do it. It's a so play-by-ear, so unexpected which, as you know as a business owner, is anxiety-inducing.
But it's kind of to the point where we're like, "We just have to let it go." So, basically we had to move all of our trips from April, May until later into the year. And so that's, like, half of my income that just kind of left.
So, with that, we had to make a decision, like, we gave our clients the option to:
1.) Postpone. We can move you even into 2021 and, well, keep the same price. No cancellation fee, usually we do have a move fee, but, obviously, waived all of those things.
2.) You can cancel and we will refund you all of your money except for the deposit which is around $300 – $350. Because we had to explain that with the deposit money, we were going to pay all of our employees normally.
We support 55 families in Cuba and our trucks are specifically geared toward private businesses. Because Cuba is a socialist economy or, some people call it, a communist economy, the government supports all of its employees – all of their people.
There are very little credit businesses but our tours, specifically, cater to the private sector where we support only private businesses who don't get government support. So, without our tours, without our business, they're not getting money.
And so, unlike the other agencies in Cuba, they're, like, a part of my family, they are part of me. And so, I don't even see them as employees, they have their own businesses and I just contact them. But still, we're so close that I couldn't imagine letting them flounder and then try to call them back up when I need them again.
And so, we paid out all of our employees for the month of April and the month of May but we did tell them like, "We don't know if we're gonna have enough for June and July." Because we actually didn't have any cancellations. Thank God.
So, we only had, like, a small pot of money. We didn't take any for ourselves, we were like, "Disperse it to everybody evenly." And they were super appreciative and we even top up their cell phone minutes so they can communicate or to buy bread or whatever.
It was a decision. As a small business owner, it was actually very easy to make because we're such a close-knit business and community. But to see other companies just, like, leave their employees hanging and I'm like, "You are a huge company."
As a one-woman or, with my business partner, two-women business, if we could pay our employees with not what we usually pay them but enough for them to survive for the month, why are they not doing that? And it just seems so greedy, so selfish.
I've definitely been looking at companies who aren't looking out for their people and I guess as a business owner, I would just say People do care about that. People care if you care about your employees. And so, how you react in terms and times of crisis is telling and will definitely either gain your business or lose your business in the long run.
Yeah. It's really interesting that, you're right, there's a lot of huge businesses out there that are letting go of companies and I'm, like, "Don't you have some sort of money that you put in place just in case anything happens like this?" Because I do that myself. I haven't let go of any of my assistants yet.
And in order to do that, I stop paying myself because I'm, like, "I know I have money laid away for, like, rainy days." But some of my assistants like you, Kiona, one of them lives in the Philippines and he's literally like, "Can I get my salary earlier because I literally have to feed my family?" Because all of his other income has just gone down.
So, it's really interesting because we are struggling too as business owners but I'm pretty sure that those big businesses have way more money to spare in the long run than we do. And that's such a shame to see and it's so much more money that they have than us so I don't know. It's crazy.
Like you said, as a smart businesswoman, we always stock away cash for an emergency. I don't know about you but my mom will probably be like, "Just in case you got married and your husband leaves you." And she made me watch away too many lifetime movies growing up.
But even that, I grew up and it was like, just in case, I'm left alone I have some sort of backup. And now that I have that backup, I'm grateful but also I know people who don't have the privilege to even have that backup. They literally live month-to-month like in survival mode.
And also I don't have kids. These are families with children, pregnant women and I'm like, "There's no way I would feel comfortable taking a salary when a pregnant lady can't even get her food ration." I just can't.
It's so scary but I'm just glad that we are fortunate enough to have something laid out and this is really the time. They are your community. They are people who have been helping you and making sure everything is possible. And even if you can't pay them 100% you should pay them something because it's a really hard time for everybody right now.
And honestly, I feel super fortunate that we do have some backup money and I do have some clients sale that are able to pay us and have that recurring income. And right now, I'm giving all of that recurring income to my assistants 'cause I'm like, "You guys are making everything well." Because, otherwise, you would go crazy without them.
So yeah, that's super important.
So, what are some of the things that you have put in place in order to make sure that you can make it last? So that you can actually make sure that your clients are happy and also the people that are working with you and for you are also able to get some sort of income right now.
Because everyone is struggling, especially in our industry like the travel industry – there's really nothing happening. So what have you been doing? And I know, Kiona, you are doing real estate too, so how is all of this happening?
I know like, "Oh my God. This is crazy."
Yeah. So, with my real estate, basically, I have multiple Airbnbs in the United States, but I also manage International Airbnbs. As in, like, I'm not the owner 'cause some of the people are like, "Airbnb is the devil." Well, that's only if you buy the property and you're not supporting the local community.
And so, the properties I manage internationally – I do not own. They have their own owners. I just take a fee for management and then they get customers, like, 100% of the time. So they are totally happy with that.
And actually I always offer my International clients, like, a teaching lesson. I'm like, "Okay, I can turn this whole management thing over to you once I set it up – If you would like to." That way you're managing the business 100% and literally never did want to do themselves. They always want me to do it.
Of course, why should they? They're like, "We don't want more work."
I know. They're like, "We get paid way more money than we were before. You can do it. It's fine."
So, that's what I do but our international properties there are 0% customers right now. And it kind of freaks me out for them. I mean, I just text them every week like, you're not doing money. But it's funny they're worried more about me being in America. They're like, "Your country is infested. You should save onto your own money – who knows? Please be safe.
And so, it's actually really, really sweet but it does freak me out 'cause one family that I manage, a family of eight. And they completely operate off of their International property business and I'm like, "If it has zero customers, what's going to happen?"
And the messed up thing was that Airbnb installed a 100% cancellation policy for all clients who canceled due to COVID-19, which was I believe the worst decision that could have possibly been made. Like I understand the time but also they have no idea what hosts are going through.
And so, at least even, like, a 50% worth like, "Okay, a client cancels, like, the host." And, like, not even for me, like, I had thousands of dollars that got canceled. I can survive but they really can't.
And so, I don't mean that they stop. I didn't read very, like, American-centric thinking like, "Oh, Americans are fine." But they didn't realize that their International hosts cannot survive off of 100% cancellation policy. That's so insane.
You can't override people's business models. And so, I think that they learned their lesson. They started giving 25% of the cancellation money back but it's really not enough. Lucky for them, their government isn't requiring rent. They're not requiring things. They have their own sort of a concession, so they're still surviving.
I don't know what the future holds for that business. I have no idea if they're going to get clients. Where here, in Austin, I kind of pivoted to short-term rentals to long-term rentals. So I have long-term renters and at least I'm not making as much but I'm making something.
I'm not even breaking even but I'm making enough to get by.
At least, it's not full for you. So that's a good thing.
So, I think, pivoting is really important also, but yeah real estate is tough right now especially internationally.
That's crazy. But I do have to say for real estate, in general, there are opportunities right now and in anything, right? In any type of business, if you look hard enough, there's a lot of different opportunities.
So what are you think are some great opportunities that you have come across right now, Kiona? And other things that maybe people can do in order to supplement their income because that's what we all need to do.
Yeah. So, basically I've been trying to pivot. Just making everything digital. I do a lot of travel for education in real life in Cuba. Instead, I'm trying to create downloadable digital products that people can adopt for their homeschoolers or packets they can learn at home. Whether it be for adults or kids, about trips I've taken or lessons I've taught online.
In that way, it's like easily accessible and affordable products. Like, a $9.99 product other than a $1,500 product to go travel somewhere. Instead, you could travel at home, there are PowerPoint, there are booklets, but it's actually educational from an expert. And it's really just re-adopting all of the materials I've already taken so I'm not doing anything new.
I'm just, like, really adopted one of my trips and lessons I've taught. That's what I'm doing in my business. It's just pivoting from, like, real-life education high-dollar products too. So, like, small, affordable, but can be bought in mass.
Those are really good ideas too because it's still within your brand and what you're doing. And it's also affordable for people to buy right now especially if you're really reaching for money. But you also want something that's going to take you out of what's happening right now. And I think that's why most of us are, like, watching everything on Netflix, on Amazon Prime – everything.
Because you also need to think about something else. Otherwise, we're all going to go nuts. And I love that, Kiona is also doing these awesome stories. One of them we were talking about before we did the interview.
You have really allowed people to feel like it's okay to go out some time especially if it's a hike. You're not around a lot of people, you get to be around nature. And that is really good for everyone's mental health. So I've kudos to you for that, Kiona.
Yeah. I've been trying to get people outside at least once a week. But mostly, whether it be a hike or a walk outside, as long as you're catching sun rays for, like, 5 to 15 minutes. Vitamin D is so important for our immunity and I think that that hasn't been communicated by our government which a lot of things haven't been communicated by our government.
But if we don't have baseline vitamins for our hormones, 'cause vitamin D is hormone-based, that causes depression. That causes a decrease in immunity, that causes a lot of things because, literally, you have a deficiency in a vitamin. And it's really hard to get that from your food.
So it's on you definitely have to get from, like, being outside. Just go outside, it's like a form of travel. Travel around your block or travel around your lake or whatever the case is and just get outside just to catch some rays and, like, boost your immunity- just forget about things for like an hour.
So I've been trying to do that and encourage people to do that, which actually has been really successful, like, people are sending in hikes. I'll post my hike and be like, "Okay, wherever you are in the world, post your hike so we can travel to you. And people are sending in hikes from New Zealand, England, Uruguay, Uganda.
It's amazing 'cause I'm, like, "Hey, I don't know Iowa was so pretty," or Idaho or places that I've never been. And then, I realized, "Oh, I didn't think about that place." So it gives me, like, something to look forward to and also, like, a small escape while we're at home.
So, one of my friends and I were talking about this because I'm Asian and non-white and I love to hike and she's, like, "Why? Only white people hike." I'm like, "I love to hike. No," she's like, "You don't see brown people hike. I'm like, "Yeah, that's why we need to do it more."
I'm wanting to ask you: why is it that you see more white people more than anything hiking and brown people you barely see except, like, maybe Asian people?
Yeah, that's a good point. That's a really really convoluted question, but I think that, historically, outdoor spaces haven't been safe spaces especially for generational Asian-Americans, Latinos, and black people. I mean lynching is a real issue, especially in places like Oregon where the KKK is based.
It was actually dangerous to do that, especially, like, sunset towns were a big thing in the United States. Where, like, if you were out at dusk, it was free game to, like, murder a person of color. And that wasn't that long ago.
And so, when you're taught to stay home, don't go outside, don't go into the woods because somebody could murder you. And that's passed down, like, times and laws have changed or maybe, who knows, it's time for it to really change.
But, at least, laws have changed but that generational knowledge has been like, "Don't go outside. Why are you outside? Why are you in the world? That's dangerous.
It's passed down.
Yeah, It's passed down. It takes some time to unlearn that kind of stuff. But, I don't know, I was born and raised in Hawaii so I was always outside. It's not applicable to the mainland. I could just leave my house at, like, 9 a.m. and not return home and, like, playing in palm trees instead and my mom wouldn't care.
But that's not okay here, like, she would never let me go. So I think it's just location-based but, like, special people in cities were, like, parks aren't a big thing, being outdoors isn't a part of the lifestyle. I can see that being passed down and you have to, like, consciously undo it.
And also I feel, like, the words are so unaccessible like hiking or trail running, I'm like, "I've been doing that forever."
Walking for a long time.
Yeah. Exactly.
I'm like, "Oh, we don't call it that. I don't call it that in my culture, in my home." My mom would just be like, "Let's go for a hike," I will never butt specific hiking gear or specific hiking shoes.
I have a friend too who goes hiking. It was so funny. So, one of my friends and I were in Central America, we went for a hike and she was wearing flip-flops. And she's like, "This is the most comfortable shoewear I have so I'm not going to wear sneakers 'cause I would rather, like, hike in flip-flops."
You know what? Indigenous peoples in Peru and other places around the world hike with bare feet or just sandals. It's not abnormal.
And actually, I did a walk in Mexico recently and we are visiting these walls. They look like moonstones and it was because, like, the ring of fire is underneath the water so it changes the water color. I don't know. They're really kind of cool.
But anyway, our guide was like, "Take off your shoes, you can not wear shoes on the hike," and we were like, "We're not going to the Jungle so…" And he was like, "We have forgotten to connect to the Earth. We never used to wear shoes all of the time. It's really important that your skin touches the Earth so that you understand that you're connected to it. And then, it also rejuvenates you as well,
In Hawaii, I actually didn't own a pair of shoes until I was ten, like, most of the Mainland. If you're Asian, you're always barefoot at the house so you're very comfortable with that. And maybe that's why Asians feel more comfortable going outside.
But being barefoot, I think, reminds you what you're connected to even if it's not consciously
I think, also, when I was growing up in the Philippines, there was a lot of nature and then, you either swim in the ocean or you walk in the woods, and you climb trees, that's just how it is. And yeah, we were barefoot a lot and it was actually weird to wear shoes and you didn't get used to shoes until later on. It's so strange.
But, also, I think you're right. I think people are hiking and, as you said, walking for a long time – super fancy. And, also, the fact that most of the time, with us, we use it as a way of life for a lot of people. It's, like, either for them to go to school or to work, like, it's not for leisure to just enjoy. So, yeah, it's kind of crazy.
But if you are able to hike and you're not white – do it, because we need more of you out there just to prove that shit wrong.
Yes. For sure. And, actually, it's crazy during the quarantine. Like, I hike with my friends and we always count, like, how many POC to white ratio we have out there. I don't know why I do that.
It's a game.
It's a guest. It's not scientific. But, honestly, there's been so many families out and I was like, "You know what? This is so good." I usually don't see that but I feel like they're like, "Let me get these kids outside because they're driving insane inside."
And it's kind of encouraging them to, like, reclaim their park, reclaim nature, claim, like, being outside in a space. And so, I think, that's really cool and helpful. Including myself, I've just had a picnic the other day.
We've been having picnics every Saturday where each person has their own blanket, but we never did picnics before this.
I feel like we're so much more connected to the people we love. And I have to say honestly too, I am more connected with the people that I really care about now than I was before.
And I also don't, like, put any more time with people that are just wasting my time because I'm like, "I'm already in quarantine. It's already a mess. It's already a downer for everybody so why should I put that effort in somebody that I don't really give a shit about."
Like, prioritizing now – this is it. If this were our last days, where would I want to spend it with? With who? Like, people I actually care about. So, it's kind of liberating in a way 'cause I'm like, "I have an excuse to just ignore people I don't give a shit about."
Yeah. You have now an excuse to say, " No. It's fine. I can."
Do you know what else it has taught me? How people display their fear or handle their fear and, like, the exacerbation of mental health issues. I mean, we're all having anxiety, we're all scared for various other reasons.
like, for example, I'm not actually scared of the virus itself. I'm scared of giving it to somebody else and being responsible. I'm mostly scared of people. I was talking to one of my salsa instructors and I was like, "Okay. Well, Cuba is set to open in June but do you feel comfortable interacting with American tourists?"
Because that's important to me like, "How do you feel? I don't want to, like, force you into a job that you don't want to do or if you need to protect your health." And he was like, "You know what? It's my passion. A huge part of me wants to do it just because I'm also craving connection. Another part is I have a family at home, like, am I going to bring the disease back to them?
And I totally understand that train of thought and I think that that's responsible and awesome like, "Are we going to turn into a society that's, like, scared of the next person?" Never have I ever and still don't look at the person next to me in the airplane and think like, "Oh, this person has a disease. I better get away from them." Not ever.
I'd rather, like, give them antibacterial – things that we can share. And still, like, have a conversation with them than to be, like, disgusted by them or, live in fear of getting a disease from the next person.
And so, it makes me sad that that's kind of how, like, the mentality is changing and I don't want it to go that way. So, that is my, I would say, biggest fear and that people are going to be more disgusted with each other. I mean, even with the whole Chinese virus, people in general, are disgusted with Asians
And so. I'm like, "Is this going to be a huge race war? Is it going to cause a bigger problem than the virus itself?" And that is my fear. So I think we're all feeling fear in different ways and we're seeing how people are dealing with it.
Like, for me, I'm like, "Okay, I'm either just going to lie in bed or I'm going to work until I can't think anymore." And so, I'll just start working but other people, like, I've seen so many people attack each other online, be so rude online.
I, myself, had to, like, file a police report for harassment and I'm like, "This is not normal behavior and I don't want to blame it on the person rather the situation." But ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves, our behavior, and our actions.
And it's becoming so toxic, like, unbearably toxic sometimes, especially for people like us who already have anxiety now, or already thinking about trying to take care of, like, a whole community of people. And then, you also have to deal with people's mental issues being exacerbated through this entire thing.
I think it's becoming more acceptable too. It's, like, you think it's okay for you to just troll someone and verbally abuse someone because they're doing something that you don't feel, like, is right. And I think it's becoming so much. Like, we judge people so much and then we start attacking them.
I mean you get this a lot, Kiona, even before coronavirus. But now, it's gotten to a point where that's crazy that you had to file a police report. I mean, nobody should ever have to do that. And I think we need to look at ourselves first before we start doing that to other people because I'm pretty sure you're not perfect.
Honestly, I'm like, "Mind your own business." I'm pretty sure everybody has their own demons right now. And also I've had someone do this to me, like, they're super stressed out and they start taking it out on other people.
And I'm like, "You need to stop because this is not the other person's fault. You need to calm down and really look at what's happening right now. And you need to fix you not blame it on other people."
So there's been a lot of that happening. It's really crazy.
Yeah. I mean people have so much time to just think. I'm like, "Y'all need to find something else to do with your time. I'm sorry. If you are going to go down this negative spiral of attacking creators, attacking people doing their craft, whatever the case – it's time that you explore your own creative interests and not attack those who are trying to be productive during this time."
And it's just so easy to write it online but those things are super hurtful. Like, I had lost a whole work week dealing with my situation. So, it's just like I basically think that the verbal or online attacks are becoming so easily accessible, so rampant, and so accepted. And it's making me scared. That's really making me scared.
So how do you deal with that, Kiona? Because you deal with this a lot, right? And I've said this before you've dealt with this before but what about now? How do you continuously deal with it and be mentally okay at least after a while?
I mean, I don't know, you look like you're fine but it's probably not when you're alone. But for other people who have gotten this, it's new for them, and they don't know how to deal with that, what should they do in order to get past this and still create something and still be who they are without feeling, like, there's somebody always out there telling them that what they're doing is wrong and they can't be who they are?
Yeah. For me, my support groups have got me through everything. I've been part of, like, a couple of group chats where it's a safe space. I can say things how I feel, work out my own thoughts, like, my own thoughts aren't always formed correctly and, like, they helped me kind of figure it out.
And if I did do something wrong, they would tell me. If I didn't then they're like, "No, this person is out of line." And that, like, to have a peer… And it's another thing: not everybody online is your peer, like, this is why I'm doing this and you're doing that. Do you know what I mean?
So, like, "You're not my peer, you're not a doctor, you haven't gone through 12 years of school, you haven't managed an online platform with 3 million views a week, you haven't try to create content that is, like, literally intersectional and international.
So, if that's not you then you're not my peer and I don't really need to listen to you because there's a lot of learning that goes into doing content like that."
And so, I've literally had to take myself out and be like, "Kiona is this person your peer or not? Are they coming into this conversation with as much education and not just formal education like world education? Do they have a good grasp of how the world operates not just in their one community? Are they aware of other people's struggles and what they go through and things like that?"
And if we're not coming in at the same level, like, these are not things that you need to take it to heart. And as somebody who's an empath and he doesn't really want to hurt people's feelings. it hurts me 'cause I'm like, " I don't want to make people be triggered by my content."
And then I'm like, "Okay, this person is going to be triggered regardless, whether it's my content or another person's content."
So, I think, for other people, I would just say like, "Reflect. Is this person your peer? Are they coming in at the same level as you are? Are they trying to have a conversation or are they telling you what it is?"
And at that point, it's like you make a decision to let it go, not let it occupy space in your mind or take it to your support group, Be like, "Okay, let's talk about this. What's going?" And, like, feeling compassion, love, and empathy from my support group has kept me going even though sometimes I'm like, "I'm just going to delete everything. I never want to see anybody again."
Well, also, because you have this platform where you are talking about things that are a lot of it are taboo, right? And a lot of people don't want to talk about it or they don't know how to talk about it.
And I feel, like, you have a lot of people that go into your platform especially, like, in social media they just do it so that they can get attention because they know they will. And I think they take that and they know what's happening.
So you're always hitting up people who are going to be trolling and they're just saying things just to get attention towards them. So you also, like Kiona was saying, you have to know if these people are even worth your time to be worried about 'cause otherwise it's just going to drive you nuts.
And I know a lot of creators like you, Kiona, care so much and that's why you have this voice that people are really listening to. And if you have something similar to Kiona or you're on the way to do that, it's a huge responsibility. And you have, like, hundreds of thousands of people listening to you and have opinions of their own.
And most of the time maybe they're not going to agree to it but it's that respect. I think that's the word – it's respect. Because we all have our opinion but some people just don't have that and they don't have boundaries which are really shameful.
Yeah, it really is. And I think people don't get that Instagram isn't a pair of your journal. It is a completely opinion-based platform. So everybody's gonna have their different perspective, everybody's gonna have a different opinion.
The Information I published last week might not be right today. Even with COVID-19, we've seen it played out, like, what I've published about it a month ago is not correct today. What I've published yesterday is not correct today and the beliefs I have yesterday are not the same today.
So, to whole people, like, a time in your life that you believe in this one thing but you have since evolved and grown is so toxic and unfair. Because it's, like, you need to let people grow and change and give flex to that. And I think people expect perfection from imperfect people and there's no space to get them in.
And I try to always encourage that, like, space to grow. It doesn't mean that you have to be the person to educate somebody but it does mean that you don't need to harass them. You don't need to cyberstalk them. You don't need to attack them, create fake profiles, and write them all the time or send them death threats. All of these happened to me in the past week.
It's crazy.
And you don't need to email them, contact their boss.
It's just people have been going insane during COVID-19 and, to me, is a very manic behavior and very obvious that it's, like, a mental issue. But it's hard to take that on and, like, think about if you have 3 million people listening in and a certain subpopulation of them have that and it's, like, it's a lot.
It's a lot of responsibility and I think a lot of people don't understand that you're a human being yourself and you have feelings. And those words can really hurt even though you may not show it.
I think they put you in, like, a certain level like, "Oh my gosh, shes at this level so it's probably not even going to faze her." And meanwhile, you're like, "Yes, it does," like, all of these – they add up. And it's really screwed up that you're doing this and saying this.
Think about it this way: if we were talking face-to-face, would you say this in my face? And if you can't say this in my face then you need to shut up.
Yeah, basically. And that's another thing. I looked around at my real-life community and we get along so well. The issues that we do have it's, like, communicated. There's tension but I've never just, like, yelled at somebody, harass them, going to their house, on to their job. And no one has done that to me in real life either.
Ummm… I take that back. It's not as common but when I look online, I'm like "Oh my God. This never happens in real life. So I don't know why you think it's appropriate to do this now. And what's going to happen when we do see each other in real life."
I ultimately don't know the mental state of anybody online, like, everybody is a stranger. It does freak me out where it's, like, when you get to this level of visibility. I'm, like, having to take a step back and be, like, "Is this sustainable or do I need to hire a team?"
Because this is a lot to take on and the more visible you are the more hate you're going to have to ingest which sucks 'cause it's, like, also drowns on all the positive things that happened.
And you have to deal with all of it. So it's instead of focusing on things that are actually helpful for your community, like you said, you lost a whole week when you could have done something super productive for yourself and for the following that you have.
I don't know how you do it, Kiona, it's crazy. But, you know what, they say once you get the haters that's when you know you've made it.
I guess so. What about your platform? How does it perform?
The funny thing is it's like everyone's just pretty much, like, nice. And they're like, "You're giving us all of this information where to find jobs or how to start a podcast." But the thing is: remember my platform and what I focus on is so different from yours because you take on social issues.
I don't know how you do that 'cause, like, daily, you're just like, "Oh my gosh…" I'm pretty sure you have all of this. But the other people I have are, thankfully, thank goodness, pretty good and, yeah, pretty decent human beings. So, I'm pretty thankful for that.
That's really good.
I'll be, like, crawled up in bed all day if I had to deal with what you have to deal with – that's insane.
Yeah, it's really, really difficult. Luckily, I would say the cool people who end up coming on the trips that we do have, like, real-life education, have been so sweet. Like, so beyond sweet and I'm like, "Thank God." My community also attracts this type of people and it makes me feel good.
An agency that I work through is just one woman and she was, like, literally our clients are, like, the least high maintenance, still open to learning, never complaining. Even cancellation she was like, "All my other clients cancel, all of your clients are super flexible, were like, "Yeah, just come in 2021," or whatever.
And she was, like, that should say something about you and the community that you've cultivated. And so, that makes me feel better, like, I'm not doing too much damage because if I just listen to, like, the DMs that I get or the haters that I get, it is as if I'm, like, murdering people.
So, I just have to, like, balance. Then, such great things happen, like, for example, I posted a thing about the Hmong farmers, I think it's called Mien farmers, in Seattle. They were not getting business because of COVID-19. And I posted about how they're delivering bouquets and they make $25,000.
That's amazing.
So, you actually make an impact. So, all of this comes with some baggage but not enough. You're making such a huge thing happened. I mean, Kiona, that's an incredible feat to do and people listened to your voice.
I think that the problem is that when people see that you actually make an impact, they think that they have to tear you down in order for them to be able to go further up in life and it should be the total opposite.
Yeah, for sure. And it also has checked my own envy or my own feelings. Like, for example, when I first got on Instagram, I thought it was so tacky of this one educator to ask for money and be like, "Okay, donate $5 if you like this thing." And I was like, "This is so tacky," but I had a job at that time and I don't know what her situation was.
And then now, like, my full time is how not to travel and, like, I spend so many hours researching, educating. So much money traveling finding those experts, finding those educators, paying them. And now I'm, like, completely donation-based as well or gift-based where, like, if you liked it, send a girl some coffee money.
And now, I'm getting attacked for that and I was like, "Man. That used to be me," right? Like, I never, ever, ever attacked anybody up for it, but I did think of my head like, "That's kind of tacky to ask your followers for money."
But also, like, that was so privileged of me to think and also I wasn't in her shoes and now I am. And I'm like, "Yeah, it's hard to get a corporate job if you talk about taboo subjects, or if you have your butt on Instagram or whatever."
So now, I am in that position I'm like, "You know what? Why should I start worrying about what she's doing? Why did I just worry about myself?" Like, that was a shame, shame on me. That's an example of, like, me recalibrating and being, like, "Okay, I just need to worry about my own self, my own production, and what I am creating. What anybody else is doing – great for them. That's not my business"
And so, if everybody else could take that on and be like, "You got to like what you're doing. You don't like what Kiona is doing. If you like, it sometimes, if you hate it sometimes – that's okay." But, like, It's not your business if it's going to take it to a level of hate.
Like, if you feel that strongly, negatively toward another person, I think that's, like, a self-respect time and like, "Okay. What am I missing in my life? What blind spots do I have that I feel in me that make me think so much about another person?"
And so I think that self-awareness is really lacking right now especially with people having the time.
It's crazy. But also most of the time, like, if you think something bad about someone, it usually lasts for, like, a few seconds, maybe a minute, or you'll talk to somebody about it. But you don't drag it out for, like, days and weeks and just started talking somebody there's something wrong with that.
I mean, we're all guilty of, like, talking about somebody or not liking what they say, but it's another thing when you go a step further and it's nuts. But I'm just thankful for you, Kiona, and people like you who still keep going even though you have to go through all of this.
Because you have a bigger goal, you are helping so many people out there and you're actually educating the right way. And when you do make mistakes, I see it, Kiona comes back and she admits it. Not a lot of people are willing to do that. They're afraid to do that.
So that's the thing about, Kiona, like, shell tell you what's what and if it's wrong then, shell tells you it was wrong. If she's right, she'll stick to her beliefs and that's it. I think that's the reason why people really trust you because you are really honest and to the point that way. And you don't hide what you're doing and who you are and you do what you can.
I mean, that's all we can ask for and hope for.
I think, also, as Asian creators, were, like, one of the onlies or one of the people who have, at least, a face of representation in the industry that we are. And, like, all the times I'm like, "I'm going to quit this. I hate this. Whatever," and I'm like, "There's no other Asian doing it. I need people to see my face."
And, like, what is crazy about me is people would be like, "I love your page." And then, as soon as I start talking about being Asian, they'll unfollow. They think it's disgusting, I'm like, "Okay, just take your biases," but they don't connect, like, the amazing thing that they thought was so positive with me being Asian.
it's something that makes me keep going 'cause I'm like, "I need people to see me as an Asian person showing up in this world, fighting for others, educating people, creating content." Because otherwise, I'm just going to be complaining about the content. I want to see instead of the content that I'm making.
I think it's really easy to just give up but it's very important for Asian creators to keep going because, like, no one else is doing it. No one but…
Not enough there.
Yes, not enough people at our Asian intersections are showing up. And I think it contributes to a lot of societal issues and misrepresentation of Asians and who we are, what we create, our intellect, and how we can span so many different things and being multiple things not just researchers in a lab or something.
We're creatives, were designers, were podcasters, were educators, we can be on a beach in a bikini. I mean, it's so weird to me what people think of Asian when I ask them, "What do you think of Asian people?" They'll describe all of these strange things…
The stereotypes.
Yeah. And I'm like, "You know I'm Asian, right? " and they're like, "Yeah, but…," I'm like, "No but. This is what it is to be Asian." And so it's, like, trying to fill in the gap, like, misrepresentation.
Also, I love when you do your butt shots on Instagram because, I think you mentioned this one time, it's, like, I think people think you either have to be smart or beautiful, but you can't be both or it has to be, like, a raunchy thing in order for that to be like, "Okay," but it's not.
Like, you have a doctor's degree, you're a doctor and you also have a banging body So, why can't you have both?
I know and it's crazy. Like, my Asian grandma will be like, "While you have it, show it off." She was, like, a rebel in Korea and so, she's like, "I don't have a problem my granddaughter showing her butt. Why should anybody else?" And so I'm like, "If my Korean grandma says it's fine. I don't care about what they say,"
I understand that either. I don't understand how that diminishes your intellect and how you are as a person. If you're comfortable with your body.- it makes no sense. Like, people get body shamed for being heavy, people get body shamed because they're smart and they're showing you their body.
People get body shamed because they say they're too skinny, it's like, "Come on. This is ridiculous. This is too much." But secretly they enjoy it and they want to see your butt shots. So whatever.
Oh, yeah, totally. They get the most likes. And also, I know that. I understand, like, sex sells. I understand, like, that's the only way I even have a male, well, I mean, the thing is only separated into two genders, but most of them are female and I'm like, "The males are only here for the butt shots."
But females are there for the butt shots too. They love it because it empowers them.
And I know that it gets more likes or more views or whatever because sex does sell. And so, therefore, always embed, like, a really important message in the caption knowing that it's going to get the most attention.
And so, its also, like, a strategic move and I don't understand why we aren't allowed to use that.
Well, a lot of the times people will be like, "I can't take you seriously." And, I think, I've seen those and some of your posts, "I can't take you seriously." And I'm like, "Really? You can't? Then, stop. So, why are you here?"
Exactly. And, like, that says something about you, not about me. I don't care.
Or also, even expressing it. I'm like, "What was the point of that? You could just unfollow."
Exactly. Just shut up and go. Bye!
Exactly. Like, the following is not a form of currency.
It's interesting what people will say behind closed doors or behind their laptops or phones or whatever.
But I will say that, I think, for Asian creators right now is really difficult for us. Like, I think, I don't know about you, but I definitely getting attacked at way higher rates. And I think people are using it as an excuse to be anti-Asian during this time that wasn't there before.
It was there before but it wasn't so forceful.
Yeah. Now, they think it's okay. I feel, like, people who aren't like that would never be like that even during this situation, but I feel, like, people who thought that way now they feel like it's okay for them to verbalize because people are like, "Yeah!"
So, it's disgusting. But, I have to say, I am glad that they're showing their true colors because now we know who the people are. There are no more curtains. It's all drawn out. We know who you freaking are and that's a good thing.
Yes. I like having postings, like, Asian pride post and I'll lose, like, 200 followers in one day. I'm like, "You know what? I need to post more of these because if they're gonna be anti-Asian, there's no point of them being here."
Exactly. It's true. I'm like, "I'm glad. Now we know who you are and goodbye See ya."
Thank you so much, Kiona, for being here today. If our listeners want to follow along your journey, where can I find you?
On Instagram: @hownottotravellikeabasicbitch, on Facebook: /hownottotravellikeabasicb, on Twitter: @donttravelbasic, and my website is www.hownottotravellikeabasicbitch.com.
Awesome. So you'll find her everywhere and all of her content is incredible. Thank you so much, Kiona, for being here with us. I really appreciate this and it was so nice to talk to you. Hopefully one day we can actually meet each other in person after all of this.
I know I would love that.
I'm gonna give you, like, a big hug. I'm telling everybody. I'm like, "I'm going to give everyone a hug after this is all done."
I'm like, "Yes, touch me." Thank you, Kiona, I'll talk to you soon.
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All 13 'Star Trek' Movies Ranked From Worst To Best
Scott Mendelson
I cover the film industry.
'Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,' 'Star Trek: Generations,' 'Star Trek: First Contact' and 'Star Trek'
Today marks the 30th anniversary of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The Nicolas Meyer-directed political mystery thriller was intended to both rejuvenate the franchise after the underwhelming Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and give the original cast an honorable send-off before what everyone (correctly) assumed would be new movies starring the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Since then, we got four Next Generation-specific movies from 1994 to 2002, and then the Bad Robot-produced "reboot" trilogy in 2009, 2013 and 2016.
This past September marked the 55th anniversary of the first televised episode of Star Trek. That means it's been five years since we all argued that Paramount should have held off on releasing Star Trek Beyond until September 2016 (instead of late-July 2016) to capitalize on that anniversary. It's been five years since the last theatrical Star Trek movie and five years of false starts and bluffs concerning a theoretical Star Trek 4 (or Star Trek 14 if you count them as one continuity). Anyway, to mark the occasion, I'll eventually use the usual science, math and dark magic to rank the movies (again, because I've never done so before).
As always, these rankings will not be your rankings because what fun would that be?
1998 Brent Spiner, Donna Murphy, Patrick Stewart Star In The New Movie "Star Trek: Insurrection." (Photo By Getty Images)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Budget: $70 million
Domestic Box Office: $70.2 million
Worldwide Box Office: $117.8 million
Inflation-Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $135.3 million
The core dilemma of this glorified two-part Next Generation episode is an intriguing one, essentially "prime directive" versus "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." However, the circumstances of the specific plot, 600 members of a small community essentially hording science that could eradicate illness and premature death for everyone, don't work as a parable for colonialism. The film holds up Picard's righteous absolutism as unquestionably heroic, even while a measured compromise would be ideal. Beyond that, there's a kind of lackadaisical attitude and what feels like the cast getting a wish list (Geordi gets to see with his own eyes, Riker and Troi get horny again, Picard gets a love interest, etc.). Insurrection plays like late-2000's Adam Sandler where everyone gets to vacation on the studio's dime.
Star Trek Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Domestic Box Office: $43.25 million
Worldwide Box Office: $67.3 million
Inflation-Adjusted Domestic Box Office: $67.9 million
Stuart Baird's late 2002 release was a Star Trek movie for folks who think Star Trek isn't cool. Alas, the generically action-packed and occasionally patronizing (Troi gets "mind-raped" just so Riker can righteously kill Ron Perlman's secondary bad guy) Nemesis turned off Trekkers and didn't work for general audiences who were saving their money for The Two Towers opening just five days later. That it's not the "worst" Star Trek movie is mostly because it wears its $60 million budget on its sleeve and it's never boring. The nature-versus-nurture stuff (concerning a young clone of Picard played by a very skinny Tom Hardy) is intriguing, but it's oft-charted territory for this franchise, and the film pulls a "Disney death" with Data. All in all, the Next Generation crew deserved a much grander farewell.
American actors Merritt Butrick and Robin Curtis on the set of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, directed by Leonard Nimoy. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Corbis via Getty Images
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984)
Worldwide Box Office: $87 million
It's not boring and it's not "bad," but the entire film exists just to walk back the shocking finale of its immediate predecessor. Oh, and it also walks back one of the more interesting developments of The Wrath of Khan, arbitrarily killing off Kirk's just-discovered son and negating that bit of character development. That said, the first third has a certain creepy mind-horror vibe, but once Kirk and friends steal the Enterprise and head off to the (dying) Genesis-created planet to fetch Spock's body it becomes a two-fisted action flick, closer to the whole Stagecoach in space pitch that was probably intended. Christopher Lloyd makes a fine Klingon baddie, and the production values are beyond reproach, but The Search For Spock is one of the more generic Star Trek adventures.
Domestic Box Office: $257.7 million
There's a lot to appreciate in this unapologetic "Star Trek as Star Wars" time-rewriting reboot, and it's no secret as to why it became a monster domestic smash in summer 2009. J.J. Abrams directs the hell out of this movie, the camera almost never stops, and the new cast is instantly iconic despite playing characters previously defined by an established cast. Alas, the film never slows down, while the whole "things must play out as we know they must" mentality turns this Star Trek origin story into a kind of manifest destiny propaganda. Cheer as Chris Pine's unqualified, hotheaded cowboy Kirk usurps the command in a glorified coup from Zachary Quinto's experienced, cautious egghead Spock just because the franchise as we know it demands it. Intentional or not, this admittedly rip-snorting and crowd-pleasing action-adventure played like a skewed endorsement of the 2000 presidential election.
Canadian actor William Shatner and American Leonard Nimoy on the set of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
I'm not pretend that William Shatner's infamous box office bomb is "good, actually." But, especially after almost 35 years of "Kirk stops a bad guy and saves the Earth" plots, there's a lot to admire in this unapologetic head trip of a sequel. This intimate odyssey, with Kirk, Spock and McCoy kidnapped by Spock's half-brother who wants to pilot a starship to essentially meet God, revels in the interior pain and personal pathos of its three leading men. The ensuing conflict, a rebel Klingon ship attempting to take out Kirk for glory notwithstanding, is more about a battle for the souls of our Star Trek heroes, one that counteracts the myth of Kirk as a glorified he-man cowboy. Final Frontier is not good (unfinished effects don't help), but it's an interesting bad movie.
The first half-hour of Justin Lin's Star Trek Beyond are so damn good, so concerned with the shared humanity of our newly established cast (including Kirk burning out as he turns the same age his father died at), that it's heartbreaking when the action takes over and the picture goes on autopilot. The Enterprise goes down in flames, and the crew is split up in a forest planet, but only the begrudging friendship between Spock and McCoy registers. Still, the action is beyond reproach, and the final 20 minutes snap back into gear as the core bad guy (a mostly disguised-in-makeup Idris Elba) shows his humanity and Kirk realizes the error of his thinking. The warm-hearted epilogue works as what could be a fond farewell to this newer iteration of the original crew.
DECEMBER 7: Actors George Takei, James Doohan, Grace Lee Whitney, Nichelle Nichols, Stephen Collins, DeForest Kelley, Majel Barrett, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Persis Khambatta, Walter Koenig pose for a portrait during the filming of the movie "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" which was released December 27, 1979 in the United States. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Worldwide Box Office: $139 million
Robert Wise's Star Trek: The Motion Picture remains an oddity. Its existence, 10.5 years after the show ended, was clearly inspired by the success of George Lucas' Star Wars and Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, yet its narrative and visual template is obviously fashioned more from Stanley Kubrick's slow-burn mind-melter 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film was among the most expensive ever, and you can see that in every widescreen moment of this long (especially if you watch the superior 143-minute director's cut) sci-fi epic. My fondness for it lies with its heady and grandiose ambition, in terms of raw cinema and in terms of big sci-fi ideas before the film franchise became (mostly) about killing the bad guy and saving the day. It puts the Trek in Star Trek.
No, it's not the worst Star Trek movie ever made and it's actually pretty great for most of its runtime. J.J. Abrams' second Star Trek delivers Benedict Cumberbatch as a new-universe Khan and overdoses on nostalgia in the final reel, but the film still does the work to make the climactic events make sense to the characters as they exist in this story. Kirk keeps his ego in check, or at least he uses it mostly to help others this time out, and he refreshingly realizes the grief-driven error of his "vengeance > due process" thinking well before the finale. Big, pulpy and generally exciting, the film works as both an obvious post-9/11 "drones and militarized governments are bad" parable and a "why old exploratory Trek is better than new blockbuster Trek" metaphor.
Canadian actor William Shatner with actor and director Leonard Nimoy on the set of his movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Maybe director Leonard Nimoy and friends agreed with my above-noted thoughts on Star Trek III, because they did a 180 next time out.
Leonard Nimoy's deliciously goofy fish-out-of-water comedy, a 180-degree turn from Nimoy's Search For Spock, blends the tropes of movie-Star Trek (the Earth is in peril and only the Enterprise can save the day) and Gene Roddenberry's aspirational notions (the world can only be saved by a creative and non-violent scientific solution). The crew goes back in time to 1987 San Francisco to literally save the whales, and the result is a quirky, funny and just plain delightful. It also works as a "20 years of Star Trek" memorium. It was sold (and embraced) as a Star Trek movie for novices, but the action-lite and violence-free adventure only works because it's such fun seeing these specific actors (especially co-stars James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nicols and George Takei) playing these specific characters in this ridiculous situation.
'Star Trek: Generations'
Star Trek: Generations (1994)
David Carson's frankly underrated effort is a successful blend of "stop the bad guy" (Malcom McDowell's going to blow up a planet!) and "explore existential sci-fi/fantasy concepts" (Could you willingly escape a Nexus whereby you lived out the best moments of your life?). The prologue is a terrifying and tragic event whereby Captain Kirk dies saving lives (rather than having to live with taking them), and that he "comes back" in the Nexus doing battle alongside Captain Jean-Luc Picard before dying again doesn't negate the impact of the initial in-universe demise. The rest of the film is a warmly humanist adventure with the Next Generation crew dealing with the fallout of said Nexus and working as a grand adventure for die-hard fans and merely periodic viewers. It's my favorite "odd-numbered Trek."
Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban on the set of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, directed by Nicholas Meyer. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Nicholas Meyer's metaphorical U-boat actioner, using old sets from The Motion Picture and coming it at 1/3 the cost, set the template (in terms of tone, production design, costumes and action-centric plots) for the cinematic franchise. I do find irony in many of the folks decrying the blockbuster-ization of the Bad Robot reboots holding up this clear "action spectacular" course correction from The Motion Picture as the definitive Star Trek. That said, this is still a spectacularly entertaining grudge match, with Ricardo Montalbán reprising from a first-season episode and turning Khan into the most iconic pre-Die Hard action movie villain this side of Darth Vader or Goldfinger. The Moby Dick parables aren't subtle, but they make a surprisingly small-scale and intimate outer-space chess match feel like the biggest adventure ever told.
1996 Patrick Stewart stars in the new movie "Star Trek: First Contact".
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Domestic Box Office: $92 million
Jonathan Frakes' kick-ass actioner opened 25 years ago when the Star Trek brand was at its peak mainstream popularity. Picard gets his own Ahab-like quest to destroy the Borg at all costs. That gives way to terrific action scenes and "acting with a capital A" moments for Stewart (and co-star Alfre Woodard) while Data (Brent Spiner) finds himself captured by the Borg Queen (Alice Krige). Meanwhile, much of the cast is on Earth in the days before first contact, trying to convince a now-skeptical pioneer (James Cromwell) to take his recorded place in history. This plot offers both comic relief and plenty of time on concepts more aspirational than vengeance and the ends not justifying the means. First Contact is probably the biggest Star Trek movie that still feels like a Star Trek movie.
FILM 'STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY' (Photo by Ronald Siemoneit/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)
Sygma via Getty Images
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
The Undiscovered Country ended the original franchise arguing that victory lay not in total destruction of a given side but in a brokered peace and mutually-assured survival. It offered the seemingly easy-to-digest (and all-too-logical) notion that the biggest obstacles to peace weren't one side or another but elements in both sides benefiting from continual conflict no matter the collateral cost. It ended the initial adventures of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the crew on the idea that Kirk's most heroic act wasn't discovering uncharted worlds or stopping an evil plot but forgiving those whose "kind" had murdered his own son and shaking hands with the enemy. The undiscovered country is technically (so says Shakespeare) death, but this optimistic adventure posits that it's merely genuine, authentic peace and between worlds and the salvation it would bring.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country remains my favorite Star Trek film. It's a jolting of-the-moment political drama, using the war between Klingons and humans as a metaphor for the end of the Cold War and the consequences of institutional racism without relying on a yellow highlighter. Heck, it was the first of many big blockbusters (GoldenEye and Mission: Impossible come to mind) dealing with the legacy of career "action heroes" when the lifelong enemy turned overnight into a reluctant ally. This Nicolas Meyer-directed installment is also a crackling closed-room murder mystery with several dynamite action sequences (including the initial homicides, shockingly bloody for a PG movie, and the climactic showdown against Christopher Plummer's cloaked Bird of Prey). And the epilogue, including Kirk's final course heading, still brings a tear to my eye.
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If your windshield has recently been damaged and needs to be replaced, there is no doubt you want the job done as soon as possible. Before you make the call to a professional windshield replacement service, however, you will want to be sure you ask the pros the following three questions to ensure your new windshield will be safe, secure, and that it will meet your local vehicle safety laws.
Ask your windshield replacement pros what brand of auto glass they will use for your repair.
Auto glass comes in a variety of brands, much like your tires or windshield wiper blades. And just like tires and wiper blades, your windshield should have a good quality brand of auto glass to replace the factory version originally fitted to your vehicle. So you'll want to ask your service technician what brand of auto glass they will be using. Your windshield replacement service will most likely use a high-quality OEM or OEE (original equipment manufacturer or original equipment equivalent) auto glass, and will certainly be able to help you choose the best option for your vehicle.
Ask your windshield replacement pros about the urethane they use.
The adhesives used specifically for windshields need to meet or exceed all safety standards as required by your local and provincial laws. You'll also want to inquire after the brand of urethane they use as well as the time it takes for the adhesive to cure. Quality adhesive brands that meet all safety regulations should have an approximate cure time of an hour or so. After this cure time, your vehicle is ready to drive.
Ask if they offer a windshield replacement warranty, and what the warranty will cover.
Most auto glass repair and replacement shops will offer a general warranty with your windshield replacement that will cover defects in the glass or leaky seals. However, ask your service pros how long the warranty lasts. No matter the service, you will want a minimum of one year coverage for any parts or labor, should you need to manage any small repairs after your initial windshield replacement. A professional windshield repair service will be more than happy to explain their warranty plans and help set up the perfect warranty for you.
When you contact your local windshield replacement service, remember to ask these three questions prior to any service appointments you make. The auto glass pros will provide you with this information and help you make the decisions pertaining to your windshield replacement.


PARIS – One month after President Emmanuel Macron's arrival in power, French voters must now choose lawmakers in parliamentary elections starting Sunday that may dramatically reshape the political landscape.
To win in the first round, candidates need an absolute majority and support from at least a quarter of the district's registered voters. Otherwise, all contenders who get at least 12.5 percent of the votes of registered voters advance to the second round.
In some races, three or four people will make it to the second round, though some may step aside to improve the chances of another contender. That tactic has often been used to block candidates from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Front party.
Macron, France's youngest-ever president, is seeking an absolute majority in the Assembly to be able to implement his promised pro-business labor reforms and tougher security measures.
But that still won't be enough to make it the leading opposition force, as Le Pen had hoped after her strong second-place showing in the presidential race. Le Pen herself is running for a seat in Henin-Beaumont in northern France.
Macron's new prime minister, Edouard Philippe, and 22 government members are already drafting laws but need a new parliament in place to vote on them.
If he doesn't have a majority at the National Assembly, Macron may come under pressure to reshuffle his government and choose a prime minister from the winning party, a situation called "cohabitation." That appears unlikely, given French voters' disaffection with traditional parties.


A while ago, I asked friends and readers on my Facebook page what they would like to make at home from scratch.
As I confessed in my earlier post, we've been making a lot of stuff at home these days. Things that we usually buy readymade are slowly being phased out. We didn't particularly like the price tags of some of them and didn't like the amount of chemicals and additives in the rest of them.
A lot of the responses were great, and I've started making and compiling the recipes already! Today, I'm super excited to start the series off with one of my favorite DIY recipes - classic pizza sauce - from scratch. This recipe uses fresh tomatoes. Because the ingredients are so easily available, I think this is an awesome recipe to have in your repertoire. I've already shared the recipe for the pesto sauce I use on pizzas. This is my go-to tomato sauce recipe.
This recipe isn't easy to standardize to precision though - mainly because the main ingredient is so inconsistent. One day you get flavorful, ripe tomatoes, and the next time you might have bland or super acidic ones. So, while the base recipe is the same, I will also share a little at the end about how you can adjust the taste of the sauce to make it taste just right.
Choosing tomatoes: For this recipe, you want the tomatoes to be ripe. Uniformly red, firm with a little give when pressed. As far as possible, try not to choose one which have green or yellow spots. Those just aren't ripe enough.
1. a. Blanching and peeling the tomatoes: In a large pasta pot or saucepan, bring about 1.5 liters of salted water (I used 4 tbsp rock salt) to the boil. b. While the water is heating up, wash the tomatoes and on the bottom of each tomato score an 'x' using a sharp paring knife. It doesn't need to be deep. Just deep enough that it cuts through the skin.
c. Make ready another bowl/saucepan with a similar amount of ice cold water - I used cold water with extra ice cubes added in.
d. When the water is at a rapid bubble, gently immerse the tomatoes and leave them in the bubbling water for about 30 seconds. Fish them out using a ladle or slotted spoon and cool them down instantly by plunging them into the bowl of iced water.
e. Leave them there for a minute or two. Using the 'x' mark on the bottom of each tomato, peel back the skin and the skin should slip right off with no difficulty.
f. Cut the tomatoes into halves or quarters and core the.
g. In a large blender jar, purée the tomatoes until mostly smooth. A few small chunks are fine, according to me! Set this purée aside.
2. In a large saucepan, add the oil, butter, onions and garlic. I add all these into a cold pan and then bring the heat up gently. I find this keeps the butter and the garlic from burning. Sauté these ingredients until soft and fragrant, but not brown.
3. Add the dried oregano, basil - fresh, frozen or dried,- and the red chilli flakes. Sauté until fragrant.
4. Add the puréed tomatoes, the tomato paste, sugar snd about 1/2 tsp of salt.
5. Stir well and allow to cook on a medium heat for 1-1.5 hours. I like to speed this up by using a pressure cooker and cooking it for about 30-40 minutes. Either way, you want the sauce to reduce by more than half.
6. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt. Add a dash of pepper too.
7. Adjust the thickness of the sauce. It should be a good spreading consistency. Almost ketchup-like in thickness.
8. Store in an airtight box for upto 5 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.
Adjusting the flavors: As I mentioned earlier in the post, the flavor of the sauce depends on the quality and ripeness of the tomatoes you use. So here are some adjustments you can make.
1. Too bland - add a splash of vinegar, and a little extra sugar.
2. Too tart - add a tsp or two of cocoa powder. Just dilute in a little warm water so it isn't lumpy in the sauce. The cocoa adds a richness and balances out the flavors well. If needed, add a tiny bit of sugar too.
3. Too sweet (this usually doesn't happen unless you've gone overboard on the sugar) - add a splash of vinegar, some more tomato paste and some cocoa powder as mentioned a above.
Basically, vinegar, sugar and cocoa will help you adjust the flavors to get a perfectly balanced sauce. Just taste as you go!
This recipe makes enough sauce for about 6-10 pizzas that are about 9" in diameter. Of course, this depends on how much sauce you like on your pizza.
The sauce goes well with any pizza topping and we have used it for years. The blanching process can be time consuming, and I admit that I have skipped it sometimes, but you do risk getting those annoying bits of tomato peel in your mouth. If you want a smooth, perfect pizza sauce, take that extra time to blanch the tomatoes.
Make a large batch and freeze some. You'll never be tempted to buy bottle pizza sauce again!
Yay....great idea for a new series Marsha. Waiting for the next recipe! Love the tip about cocoa powder. Would never have thought to try that!
So good to hear from you, Tripti! How are you and the kids! :) yeah I'm pretty excited about the new series. I've been cooking up a storm trying to make stuff for this series :) excited! Let me know if you have any requests and I'll add it to the list! :) the cocoa powder added a deepness and complexity the pasta and pizza sauces. I love it! I use it in chili too :) thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I love the D-I-Y idea for a series! Could you do a recipe for home made mayonnaise without egg? My family and I have turned vegetarian recently and we still haven't found a good egg-free mayo recipe that we like! If you could, that would be great! The pizza sauce is wonderful!
All good. Hope your girls are well too. I was wondering if you have good eggless icecream base recipe. Most require heavy or whipping cream which we don't get here. I find directly substituting Amul cream (only 25% fat) doesn't work so well and using only cream is way too creamy. I've had some success with recipes using condensed milk and milk powder but the overall effect is so sweet that adding flavours, caramel, cookies, etc. just overloads it with sweetness. Your rocky road icecream asks for heavy cream too...do you get heavy cream in chennai? If not what do you use?


text:
/*
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */
package io.trino.plugin.bigquery;

import com.google.common.primitives.Shorts;
import com.google.common.primitives.SignedBytes;
import io.trino.spi.TrinoException;
import io.trino.spi.block.Block;
import io.trino.spi.type.Type;
import io.trino.spi.type.VarcharType;

import javax.annotation.Nullable;

import java.time.LocalDate;
import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter;
import java.util.Base64;

import static io.trino.spi.StandardErrorCode.NOT_SUPPORTED;
import static io.trino.spi.type.BigintType.BIGINT;
import static io.trino.spi.type.BooleanType.BOOLEAN;
import static io.trino.spi.type.DateType.DATE;
import static io.trino.spi.type.DoubleType.DOUBLE;
import static io.trino.spi.type.IntegerType.INTEGER;
import static io.trino.spi.type.SmallintType.SMALLINT;
import static io.trino.spi.type.TinyintType.TINYINT;
import static io.trino.spi.type.VarbinaryType.VARBINARY;
import static java.lang.Math.toIntExact;

public final class BigQueryTypeUtils
{
    private static final DateTimeFormatter DATE_FORMATTER = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("uuuu-MM-dd");

    private BigQueryTypeUtils() {}

    @Nullable
    public static Object readNativeValue(Type type, Block block, int position)
    {
        if (block.isNull(position)) {
            return null;
        }

        // TODO https://github.com/trinodb/trino/issues/13741 Add support for decimal, time, timestamp, timestamp with time zone, geography, array, map, row type
        if (type.equals(BOOLEAN)) {
            return type.getBoolean(block, position);
        }
        if (type.equals(TINYINT)) {
            return SignedBytes.checkedCast(type.getLong(block, position));
        }
        if (type.equals(SMALLINT)) {
            return Shorts.checkedCast(type.getLong(block, position));
        }
        if (type.equals(INTEGER)) {
            return toIntExact(type.getLong(block, position));
        }
        if (type.equals(BIGINT)) {
            return type.getLong(block, position);
        }
        if (type.equals(DOUBLE)) {
            return type.getDouble(block, position);
        }
        if (type instanceof VarcharType) {
            return type.getSlice(block, position).toStringUtf8();
        }
        if (type.equals(VARBINARY)) {
            return Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(type.getSlice(block, position).getBytes());
        }
        if (type.equals(DATE)) {
            long days = type.getLong(block, position);
            return DATE_FORMATTER.format(LocalDate.ofEpochDay(days));
        }

        throw new TrinoException(NOT_SUPPORTED, "Unsupported type: " + type);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The commitment to pursue a medical degree is a long journey that begins long before you set up an account in AMCAS. We are excited that you are interested in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Please review the following information as you apply to medical school. We wish you the best in your pursuit of a medical education.
Step 1: Look at your academics.
GPA: Be sure to research the school's website to see if your GPA is close to the mean GPA accepted. If not, you may want to take additional classes to increase your cumulative GPA. This can be done through post-baccalaureate programs, or by taking additional undergraduate courses. Please note - graduate level courses will not be combined with your undergraduate GPA but can still show competency in upper level science courses and demonstrate likelihood of success based on your GPA. Visit the AAMC website on post-baccalaureate programs to learn more about the types of programs available.
Prerequisites: Have you completed all of your prerequisite coursework with grades of C or better? If you have taken AP or IB credits, you will need to check with each school to make sure that they accept those credits for meeting the pre-requisite requirements.
MCAT: Does your score meet or exceed the minimum accepted score? Meeting a school's minimum academic qualifications is the first key for admission. Be sure to apply to schools where your MCAT score falls within the range of their accepted scores. If your score is at the low end of the range, you may consider retaking the MCAT to demonstrate your academic competence. Retake it only after you have adequately prepared, however. For information about the 2015 MCAT exam, visit the AAMC site on MCAT 2015.
Worried about the cost of preparing for the MCAT? Check out Khan Academy, which has partnered with the AAMC to provide free test prep questions.
Step 2: Reflect on and evaluate your experiences.
It is important to maximize your experiences and take advantage of every opportunity to express your passion for medicine through these experiences.
The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) allows applicants to enter 15 experiences. Although in some cases, less is more, remember that you are selling yourself in this application. If you have more than 15 experiences you want to share, consider grouping multiple similar experiences (such as six shadowing opportunities, or four awards and honors) so that you can fit them all in.
Your application should reveal whether you have a true passion to be in medicine and serve others based on the things you have done to prepare for medical school.
Clinical experiences: Have you demonstrated your passion for medicine? Continue building your portfolio of working with patients by gaining additional medically-related experiences, such as physician shadowing, volunteering at a clinic or blood drive, working as an EMT or a medical scribe, or otherwise getting some hands-on medical experience. This will demonstrate your commitment and help you remember why you're tackling this application process.
Research: Are you interested in conducting research in medical school? At the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, students conduct independent research as an integral part of the curriculum. If this is something you haven't done, we suggest getting involved with a research project to demonstrate your ability and interest to do research if provided the opportunity to attend our medical school. Finding research experiences can be intimidating but we have put together a list of research opportunities as a starting point to guide you as you search for the right study.
Community involvement: Have you been an active volunteer in your community, on- or off-campus? We consider any non-medical volunteerism to be community involvement, including experiences abroad. Be sure to list these experiences on your application to help the committee get a better understanding of your passion to help others. Get involved in a cause that has personal meaning to you. Opportunities such as volunteer tutoring, nursing homes, summer camps, and soup kitchens show that you care about helping people.
Teamwork/Leadership: Were you part of clubs or groups on campus and in the community? Did you assume leadership roles within these groups? Most medical schools value demonstrated leadership. At the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, our students participate in patient-centered learning through a team-based environment.
Step 3: Be sure what you wrote is what you really wanted to say about yourself.
Personal Statement: Your personal statement is an opportunity to briefly showcase the passion you have for medicine. It should be interesting and well-written. You may also explain anything in your application that you feel may be viewed as less than positive by medical schools by reflecting on your weakness and demonstrating how it has improved. Be sure to tell us why you want to be a physician.
Secondary Essays: Your secondary essays. They should be interesting and well-written. Be sure to read the prompt carefully, and answer the question appropriately. This is your chance to bring your personality to our attention and establish yourself as a standout applicant.
Letters of Recommendation: Include letters from the entire spectrum of your experiences (such as medical professionals, research mentors, and science faculty). If you have been out of school for a few years, include employer references. When asking for letters of recommendation, be certain to ask people who are going to positively and accurately speak to your character and abilities. The better the person knows your abilities and personal strengths, the better the letter will be.
Step 4: Make sure you are prepared for interviews.
Interviews: Practice your interview skills. This could include mock interviews with friends or taking a public speaking class. At the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, we conduct Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMI). Although the MMI differs from panel or traditional interviews, you will still be interacting with several individuals, so it is important to be confident in your speaking ability.
Research the schools that are the right for you and your educational goals.
MSAR: Medical School Admission Requirements: We highly recommend that you subscribe to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) published by the AAMC. This guide is a comprehensive source of information on preparing for and applying to any allopathic medical school in the U.S. or Canada. It allows you to sort by state, private/public institutions, program type, and many other filters and will assist you in choosing the schools that best meet your goals for a medical education. It will help inform you of where you will be the most competitive applicant.
Osteopathic Medicine: Don't rule out osteopathic medical schools (DO). Learn more about being an osteopathic physician by visiting the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine website, which has a section especially for prospective applicants.
Other Medical Professions: There are many other medical professions from which to choose. If you are more interested in other professional schools such as veterinary medicine or dental school, be sure to research those options, too.


text:
DVD: Please give
Comedy-drama.
2010. 87 min.
With Catherine Keener, Rebecca Hall, Amanda Peet and Oliver Platt.
Director: Nicole Holofcener.
13NLS.
Like Woody Allen, writer/director Nicole Holofcener tends to feature highly neurotic characters in her films. In this one Catherine Keener, a regular in her movies, plays Kate, whose husband (Platt) gives her a hard time because she feels guilty about not doing enough to make a difference in other people's lives.
The couple sell expensive secondhand furniture, mostly sourced from dead people's properties, which makes Kate ill at ease.
She also feels guilty that she and her husband can't wait for their elderly neighbour to die because they've made a deal to buy her apartment once she's gone.
But the old lady shares her apartment with two granddaughters (Hall and Peet). Kate's guilt is sometimes hysterically funny and moving at other times and you have to enjoy dry, dark humour to appreciate this clever, thought-provoking flick.
Bonus: featurettes, deleted scenes.
Mature man with class and style.
Roer jou voete


I've written recently about how we've struggled with sleep, our struggles with night wakes and with sleep regressions. One thing we did struggle with for awhile was getting H to bed, but since introducing bath, book, bed routine two years ago that struggle has been minimised. So it's time for an update. No, we've not solved all our night wake issues with Baby B, but that's for another post. I've been asked by Book Trust to share ways I've made our bedtime routine work, why bath, book, bed works and to share some crafts we've been making for simple bedtimes – there's also a giveaway at the bottom of this post to win a Peppa Pig goodie bag & Book Trust books.
Here are a few of our life lessons that have made bedtime easier and filled with much less screaming.
This is based on both girls, they're both very different and somethings that do and have worked with Toddler H who is 3, don't always seem to work with Baby B who is now 10 months. Where has that time gone???! Firstly I've written previously about Toddler H's sleep, how we left her to cry at 7 months and that was a huge game changer. I've written about how we've struggled with getting her into bed, a cycle which we broke by introducing a simple routine. What routine? The routine EVERYONE tells you to implement from newborn: bath, book, bed. I can safely say, it was a game changer. Now, our only negotiation is how many books we read. That's a winner for sure!
7. Read book(s) either sat together on the floor, with her getting into bed at some point. H's Book corner is decorated with her favourite things- butterflies and owls. She also loves unicorns, but we couldn't find any in Hobbycraft when we found these shapes to decorate with 'unicorn' glitter' and she has gorgeous unicorn curtains from Next anyway.
We've found this routine really easy, it's even written on her door and on the fridge so we can refer to it if needed. It's simple, although long when written out, but means we can skip steps as there are always a few we can still do to maintain the routine.
The bathtime routine is usually very simple, and we keep thebath toys simple too. If we don't H gets far to excited and just wont get out. B is just loving splashing at the moment, and her new bunny flannel puppet which I made for her to match the one H had. It's a simple 'toy' and craft wise, really easy to make. You don't even need a sewing machine, just some terry cloths, or two flannels, some felt, and a needle and thread. All easily picked up in the supermarket or Hobbycraft in or case (we do love felt projects!).
It's also been easy to integrate with having two littles as B loves watching H's projection, and quickly learnt the routine. Now, though, we're in a phase where B just destroys H's room if we try to do bedtime together, and so we have to do them separately. Bath, and PJs are the same, and then they go to their separate rooms. On nights when hubby is not home for bedtime I leave H reading books in her room (she has a stair gate on the door) or watching her downtime TV programmes (either Paw Patrol or My Little Pony, though previously it was Peppa).
We've recently made a reading corner in H's bedroom so she has another place to have down time, both before bed and during the day. It's also quite handy for her to escape B trying to grab every book she sits and reads.
We made a dream catcher in her favourite colour, purple, to encourage happy dreams after several phases of night terrors. Aren't they horrible?!! The dream catcher was really easy to make, using the rim of a disposable party cup and embroidery thread. It's so easy to make, yet, just like the magic fairy dust for 'happy dreams' it's the simple to make concepts that often work. Our magic fairy dust is 'unicorn' glitter from Hobbycraft in a glitter shaker (also from Hobbycraft).
I also made a heart dream catcher which I absolutely love. Silver cord wrapped around a white bell heart. Simple but effective.
If you are struggling to get your little one to bed I'd thoroughly recommend the bath, book, bed routine – it's worked well for us. Book Trust have been running this campaign for 3 years now and aim to help get kids reading, and help parents gain more sleep and kids get a better night's sleep. They have a bath, book, bed pamphlet you can download on their website in collaboration with Supernanny Jo Frost.
Book Trust have very kindly given me a Peppa Pig bundle and a couple of books to giveaway (note. the books are for illustration only, and you will receive random Kids books especially chosen by Book Trust).
Do see the T&C's and also share with your friends!
My daughter is a big fan. Fantastic prize. Perfect for bedtime.
what a lovely prize thank you!
Aw, this looks like a lovely bundle!
My one year old loves Peppa but is really into his books so he would enjoy this lovely prize.
My niece loves playing Pepper Pig games on Nickjr.
My daughter would LOVE this prize bundle. Amazing give away.
This looks like such a cute bundle for bedtime!
natalie Crossan on Toddler puzzles: Orchard Toys Once Upon A Time puzzle?


text:
import colorsys
import unittest

import mock

from hueman.plugins import Colour, RGB

class TestColourPlugin(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        self.controller = mock.Mock()

    def test_colour(self):
        Colour._get_colour = mock.Mock(return_value='ff0000')
        colour = Colour()
        colour(self.controller, 'red')
        colour._get_colour.assert_called_once_with('red')
        self.controller.rgb.assert_called_once_with('ff0000')

class TestRGBPlugin(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        self.controller = mock.Mock()
        self.rgb = RGB()

    def _test_for_red(self):
        hue, _lightness, saturation = colorsys.rgb_to_hls(1.0, 0, 0)
        self.controller.hue.assert_called_once_with('{0}%'.format(hue * 100))
        self.controller.sat.assert_called_once_with('{0}%'.format(saturation * 100))

    def test_rgb_web(self):
        self.rgb(self.controller, 'ff0000')
        self._test_for_red()

    def test_rgb_web_hash(self):
        self.rgb(self.controller, '#ff0000')
        self._test_for_red()

    def test_rgb_dict_255(self):
        self.rgb(self.controller, {'r': 255, 'g': 0, 'b': 0})
        self._test_for_red()

    def test_rgb_tuple_255(self):
        self.rgb(self.controller, (255, 0, 0))
        self._test_for_red()

    def test_rgb_invalid(self):
        self.assertRaises(ValueError, self.rgb, self.controller, 'red')


The Pineville Post Office is located in the state of Missouri within McDonald County. This location serves 4,251 Pineville residents with a median income of $37,527. It's estimated that approximately 6,785 packages pass through this post office each year.


text:
Q: trying to trim and lowercase my String in rust I'm trying to trim and lowercase my String.
Currently I have
use dialoguer::Input;

let input: String = Input::new()
    .with_prompt("Guess a 5 letter word")
    .interact_text()
    .unwrap();
let guess: &str = input.as_str(); // trim and lowercase

I'm trying to transform String into a trimmed and lowercased &str but some functions are only on &str and others only on String so I'm having trouble coming up with an elegant solution.
TL;DR: End goal have guess be a trimmed and lowercase &str

A: Rust stdlib is not about elegance, but about correctness and efficiency.
In your particular case, trim() is defined as str::trim(&self) -> &str because it always returns a substring of the original string, so it does not need to copy or allocate a new string, just compute the begin and end, and do the slice.
But to_lowercase() is defined as str::to_lowercase(&self) -> String because it changes each of its characters to the lowercase equivalent, so it must allocate and fill a new String.
You may thing that if you own the string you can mutate it to lowercase in-place. But that will not work in general because there is not a 1-to-1 map between lowercase and uppercase letters. Think of, for example ß <-> SS in German.
Naturally, you may know that your string only has ASCII characters... if so you can also use str::make_ascii_lowercase(&mut self) that does the change in-place, but only for ASCII characters that do have the 1-to-1 map.
So, summing up, the more ergonomic code would be, to trim input and copy to an owned lowercase:
let guess : String = input.trim().to_lowercase();

Or if you absolutely want to avoid allocating an extra string, but you are positive that only ASCII characters matter:
let mut input = input; //you could also add the mut above
input.make_ascii_lowercase();
let guess: &str = input.trim();

A: Try this:
let s = "   aBcD ";
let s2 = s.trim().to_lowercase();
println!("[{s}], [{s2}]");

The above will work if s is &str (as in my example) or String and it will print:
[   aBcD ], [abcd]

So the last line in your code (if you insist on having guess as &str) should become:
let guess: &str = &input.trim().to_lowercase();

Otherwise if you write just:
let guess = input.trim().to_lowercase();

, guess will be of type String, as that's what to_lowercase() returns.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Sherlocks ring changes on third album
Fresh clues in the hunt for a lost civilization - Graham Hancock interview
A precious Good Friday in store for lovers of Tolkien
The Broad Acres will have more than a touch of Middle Earth about it today when hobbits, orcs and elves command the interest of fans of the world's best selling novel, Lord of the Rings.
Friday, 25th March 2016, 8:55 am
The churchyard in the village of Roos
As well as being Good Friday, March 25 is International Tolkien Reading Day, a date which marks the death of both Sauron and Barad-dûr fell in a book which has sold more than 150m copies around the world.
The three Lord of the Rings movies directed by Peter Jackson are also among the biggest grossing films of all time and, along with jackson's The Hobbit trilogy have inspired a resurgence in interest in the works of author JRR Tolkien.
Born in South Africa in 1892, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien would go on to spend a lot of time in Yorkshire, initially in the East Riding where he convalesced after suffering trench fever on the Western Front in 1916.
He was treated at the Brooklands Military Museum in Hull before being posted to Holderness, where he was joined by his wife Edith and son Christopher in a small cottage near the village of Roos.
In 1920 he became a Reader in English Language at the University of Leeds, where in conjunction with another scholar, Eric Gordon he produced what would become a definitive version of the 14th century Arthurian story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
A collection of letters, manuscripts and books owned by the two scholars was acquired by the University in 2014.
Tolkien spent five years in Leeds where he became a Professor of English before leaving to take up a post at Oxford University and go on to complete The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Like all authors, Tolkien was influenced by his own life experiences and there is considerable speculation and conjecture surrounding which aspects of his work were drawn from his time in Yorkshire.
"It's possible to identify lots of specific passages throughout Tolkien's work where it's clear he was influenced by his life in Yorkshire," said Ian Spittlehouse, a trustee of the Tolkien Society.
"The years in East Yorkshire recovering from the First World War were a very important time for him. Tolkien and Edith went out for a walk in Roos one day and stumbled across a small wood that was overgrown with cow parsley.
"It was such a striking image for Tolkien that it became a key scene which helped shape the narrative of his book, The Silmarillion.
"There are more subtle references to Yorkshire in the language Tolkien uses in all his work. He was a keen philologist (and a member of the Yorkshire Dialect Society) who had a special interest in the names of places and how dialects changed over time.
"Much of the narrative in Lord of the Rings features language drawn from the Yorkshire dialect. At the end of The Hobbit he used the word 'auction' to describe the small, messy room that one of the protagonists returns to.
"In common usage an auction is a sale by bidding but in old Yorkshire it meant a small, cluttered and untidy space."
Mr Spittlehouse, who was born in Guiseley, will take time out today on Tolkien Reading Day to reacquaint himself with an author whose appeal continued to endure with people of all ages.
"I'm off work on Friday and looking forward to pointedly reading some Tolkien," he said. "The Tolkien Society's theme this year on Tolkien Reading Day is 'Life, Death and Immortality' which, given that this is the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Somme seems apt.
"Tolkien remains both popular and relevant because his stories have a depth to them, they're not superficial fairytales where people have adventures, everything gets solved and everyone goes home to live happily ever after.
"Real life - what Tolkien referred to as the 'Primary World' - isn't like that, there are lots of levels to life just as there are lots of levels to Tolkien's stories, themes you can keep going back to.
"He also uses a richness of language that few other writers have ever emulated. There are everyday phrases mingled in with 'high language' that as a child you would only hear from the headmaster. The contrast between the two makes his world as real as the 'Primary World.'
"Not only can readers relate to it, they can believe it. Even though the stories involve marvellous characters and races, the underlying themes are human and things we can all relate to."
The Tolkien Society will meet for their annual seminar at the Hilton Hotel in Leeds on July 3 for a series of talks on the theme of Life, Death and Immortality. For more information on the Tolkien Society click here
Best bread makers - tried and tested, from Panasonic, Morphy... Recommended