The Mentalist

10 December, 2013 | Worth to Watch | 13 seen

The Mentalist is an American drama television series that ran from September 23, 2008, until February 18, 2015, broadcasting 151 episodes over seven seasons, on CBS.

The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also its executive producer. The show follows former "psychic" Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), who is a consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), using the highly developed observational skills he previously employed to "read" people's minds.

The series follows Patrick Jane, an independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based in Sacramento, California. Although not an officer of the law, he uses his skills from his former career as a successful, yet admittedly fraudulent, psychic medium to help a team of CBI agents solve murders. The real reason for Jane's involvement with law enforcement is to track down the serial killer known as Red John, who was responsible for the brutal murders of his wife, Angela Ruskin Jane, and his daughter, Charlotte Anne Jane.

Found these TV-series on IMDB. Since the rating was 8.0, decided to give a try, and no regrets. Have finished to watch already the first season.

The first season of The Mentalist received mostly positive reviews, with critics being divided on the procedural format, but praising the performance of Simon Baker. On Rotten Tomatoes, season one had an overall rating of 53% from 19 critics, with the consensus saying, "The setup and episodic storytelling is far from original, but The Mentalist distinguishes itself from other procedurals mostly due to the talents of Simon Baker."

On Metacritic, season one has a score of 65/100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Robert Bianco of USA Today felt the pilot episode lacked in originality, but praised Baker, saying, "The Mentalist may be a copy, but it's a well-done copy sparked by an actor who has come into his own as a TV star."

Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe said, "the CBS show has very little dramatic heft or distinction, but it's wily and brisk enough to engage you for an hour." Gilbert also praised the chemistry between Baker and Tunney, but criticized the crime cases, feeling they were predictable and at times uninteresting.

Mary McNamara of The Los Angeles Times praised Baker as "virtually irresistible" and said, "...psychological sleight of hand can't fill an hour every week. For that you need complicated, interesting crimes and complicated, interesting characters solving them. The Mentalist seems prepared to deliver just that."

Image hover effects - how to change background on mouse over

5 December, 2013 | Drupal Development | 36 seen

Today I faced again some interesting thing to create - on hover image to change the background and display text over it

Here is how it looks:

On the left side, you can see the default image, while on the right side with mouse over. To achieve such behavior in Drupal is pretty simple, a little bit CSS and you are done.

Here is my view with div tags and Drupal fields:

And here is CSS:

Easy, right? 

Drupal pathauto + transliteration

4 December, 2013 | Drupal Development | 56 seen

Are you writing in different language than English, languages like Russian, Greek, Georgian, Hebrew or maybe Latvian? You find it's not attractive URL generated? In this article you will learn how to fix this using Drupal CMS and a neat module - Transliteration.

Take a look at these screenshots:

Here is Latvian URL in Chrome:

Chrome handles special characters nicely.

The same URL in Mozilla Firefox:

First problems detected - special characters have been converted to %C%4 - not nice.

And here is IE:

Yes, IE cannot handle them either,

The good news are - the URL will be shown nice in Google search in all browsers: Take a look at this screen made on IE.

In case you are concerned taht your URL looks ugly on Google, don't - everything is fine. But if you still find it unattractive how your language is outputted in Drupal install Drupal Transliteration module.

• Download Transliteration module
• Extract to sites/all/modules
• Enable

After you have enabled transliteration module - you can configure it here - admin/config/media/file-system/transliteration

Now - if you have pathauto already enabled (and I guess you do) - you should go to admin/config/search/path/settings and make some adjustments:

You must check box next to Transliterate prior to creating alias.

Still, if you want your existing path to be transliterated you must delete existing path and generate new ones:

• Delete: admin/config/search/path/delete_bulk
• Update: admin/config/search/path/update_bulk

And here is the result with transliterated path in IE:

Building a Drupal site from scratch - Complete series

3 December, 2013 | Drupal Development | 10 seen

<p>Some time has passed away, since I started my tutorial how to build a Drupal site from scratch. I'm making this post to list all series</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-1-planin… a Drupal site from scratch - part 1 - planing</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-2-applyi… a Drupal site from scratch - part 2 - Applying a subtheme</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-3-better… a Drupal site from scratch - part 3 - Better administration</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-4-creati… a Drupal site from scratch - part 4 - Creating views</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-5-custom… a Drupal site from scratch - part 5 - Custom fronpage</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-6-workin… a Drupal site from scratch - part 6 - Working with blocks</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-7-themin… a Drupal site from scratch - part 7 - Theming views</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-8-themin… a Drupal site from scratch - part 8 - Theming subtheme CSS</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-9-adding… a Drupal site from scratch - part 9 - adding menu</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-10-views… a Drupal site from scratch - part 10 - Views exposed filters</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-11-themi… a Drupal site from scratch - part 11 - Theming subpage page.tpl.php</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-12-worki… a Drupal site from scratch - part 12 - Working with image styles</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/building-drupal-site-scratch-part-13-worki… a Drupal site from scratch - part 13 - working with node display</a>&nbsp;</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I know, probably it's not the bet series, and the lit may be extended my some twenty and more articles, but the list will give an insight of Drupal power. I may in future add some more articles to this list. But for know, please use this article for referencing all series. Or you may follow on <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/topics/drupal">Drupal topic</a> as well.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Blog statistics November 2013

1 December, 2013 | Blogging | 6 seen

Second month, since I started this blog has passed away. As started on November, I'm sharing results of my blog statistics in month of November.

Top 10 posts according to Google Analytics:

• Estonia to catch up Scandinavia in next 10-15 years 
• Armenia, then, now - future 
• CIS, Baltics and Georgia GDP 2018 
• Ukraine vs Poland by GDP 1990-2012 
• Views lode more pager with Ajax for Drupal 
• Will Ukraine sign Association agreement? Doubt that! 
• Baltic's vs Caucasus by GDP 2012 
• Blog statistics October 2013 
• Drupal 7 override page.tpl.php for specific content type 
• Drupal views archive page 

Drupal: Sending Confirmation Emails from Your Webform

30 November, 2013 | Drupal Development | 22 seen

Today, I encountered a problem that at first seemed like a pain, but in the end, turned out to be simpler than I thought. I needed to send a confirmation email to the submitter of a webform, letting them know that their email had been received, along with some plain text instructions.

A while back, I wrote about how to add a contact form to Drupal, and today I want to share with you how to send a confirmation email to the submitter.

This is the screenshot for webform I have on my site. As you can see, I have a field called - Your email. Now if we go to E-mails tab, we can add some componet to send confirmation mesagge to value of email field:

Click next to Component value, and choose from dropdown your email field. Next click Add.

Now change E-mail to address value, to Component yiur e-mail field. Add some customization and message. And you are done. Save your form. And next time, someone will leave a message to your webform. He/she will recieve confimation e-mail as well. Simple, right?

The Eastern Partnership Summit and Ukraine's Decision to Not Sign the Association Agreement with the EU (2013)

29 November, 2013 | Emerging Markets | 9 seen

As I previously wrote, Ukraine has made the controversial decision to not sign the association agreement with the European Union (EU) at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

The issue of signing the agreement had been a topic of much speculation and intrigue, with Ukrainian representatives giving mixed signals about their stance on European integration.

The Eastern Partnership is a project that aims to bring the EU and its six Eastern neighbors, including Ukraine, closer together. The summit was held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and was attended by leaders from the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries.

Despite the Ukrainian government's initial stance on the matter, many were hopeful that the association agreement would be signed on November 29th. However, the signing did not come to fruition. This decision not to sign the agreement has been met with disappointment and concern from both the EU and Ukraine's citizens.

The association agreement was seen as a crucial step towards closer ties between Ukraine and the EU, and its rejection marks a setback for the Eastern Partnership project as a whole. The agreement would have brought about political and economic reforms in Ukraine, and would have facilitated closer cooperation with the EU in areas such as trade, investment, and energy.

The EU has expressed its disappointment with Ukraine's decision, but has stated that it remains committed to supporting the country's efforts towards reforms and closer ties with the bloc. Many EU officials have emphasized that the door remains open for Ukraine to sign the agreement in the future, should they choose to do so.

On the other hand, some have criticized the EU for not doing enough to support Ukraine during this critical time. The EU has been seen as slow to respond to the situation in Ukraine, and many believe that it could have done more to encourage the country to sign the agreement.

The situation in Ukraine remains fluid, and the country's future direction remains uncertain. The rejection of the association agreement has raised questions about the country's commitment to reforms and closer ties with the EU, and has led to concerns about its future stability and prosperity.

As the world watches developments in Ukraine, it remains to be seen what the future will hold for the country and its relationship with the EU. Despite the disappointment of the failed agreement, many believe that Ukraine still has the potential to become a leader in the region, and to play a key role in shaping the future of Europe.

In conclusion, the decision by Ukraine not to sign the association agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius is a significant moment in the country's history. The rejection of the agreement marks a setback for the Eastern Partnership project and for Ukraine's aspirations towards closer ties with the EU. However, the EU has stated that it remains committed to supporting Ukraine and that the door remains open for the country to sign the agreement in the future. The situation in Ukraine is fluid, and the country's future direction remains uncertain. But despite the challenges ahead, many believe that Ukraine has the potential to play a key role in shaping the future of Europe.

Simplifying Drupal View Editing with Contextual Links

28 November, 2013 | Drupal Development | 7 seen

I have been working with Drupal since its 6th release, and one of the reasons I love it is due to Views. In all the websites I've built using Drupal, Views make up 80% of the site structure. I am familiar with what each View does and where to find it.

However, I have always been puzzled by the presence of direct edit links for both Views and blocks in the theme region. At first, I thought it was related to the version of Views, but later on, I realized that this was not the case. Despite my knowledge of the Views I had built, I did not pay much attention to this as I did not need the edit link in the theme.

Today, I encountered a project where Views were built by someone else and the number of Views was over 300. This confusion led me to the solution.

If you are in the same boat as I was, you'll be amused to know that it is a feature provided by the Drupal core module - Contextual Links. It is so simple - just turn it on and both your Views and blocks will have the added convenience of an edit link.

Europe, What's Next? - A Journey to Estonia (2014)

27 November, 2013 | Documentaries | 1 seen

I had the pleasure of watching a captivating documentary by Deutsche Welle about Estonia, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Baltic states.

The film takes us on a journey through Estonia, exploring its diverse landscape and meeting the people who call it home. From the former fisherwoman who has turned her passion into a thriving business to the power station employee who remains wary of the integration of the Russian population, this film offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Estonian people.

Watch on Youtube

How To Upgrade Drupal 6 to Drupal 7: Step by Step

26 November, 2013 | Drupal Development | 15 seen

Before proceeding with the upgrade, it's important to make a backup of your Drupal 6 site. This includes both the database and the files. This will ensure that you have a restore point in case anything goes wrong during the upgrade process.

Once you have made a backup, it's time to put your Drupal 6 site into maintenance mode. This will ensure that no users can access the site while you are upgrading. To do this, go to the site maintenance page (admin/settings/site-maintenance), select "Off-line" and save the configuration. If you have defined a custom maintenance theme in your settings.php file, it is recommended to comment it out before proceeding.

Next, disable all non-core modules. This is to ensure that any conflicts that may arise during the upgrade process can be easily identified and resolved. To disable modules, go to the module administration page (admin/modules) and uncheck the boxes next to the non-core modules.

After disabling the modules, delete the old Drupal 6 files. This will make sure that you have a clean slate to work with. Once you have deleted the files, it's time to run the upgrade. To do this, download the latest version of Drupal 7 and extract the files to your server. Overwrite the existing files with the new Drupal 7 files.

Finally, run the update script. This script will update your Drupal 6 database to Drupal 7. The update script can be found in the update.php file in the root directory of your Drupal site. To run the update, simply navigate to the update.php file in your browser (e.g. www.yoursite.com/update.php). Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the upgrade process.

In conclusion, upgrading Drupal 6 to Drupal 7 is a multi-step process that requires careful planning and preparation. By following these steps, you can ensure that your upgrade is successful and that your site continues to run smoothly.

A Journey through Latvia (2014)

25 November, 2013 | Documentaries | 8 seen

Latvia, a small republic located in north-eastern Europe, has been the subject of a new documentary made by Deutsche Welle.

The documentary crew visited Latvia more than a decade ago and has now returned to see how the country and its people have changed. In this film, the team meets and interviews the people they talked to before and hears their stories of how they've been getting along in the past decade.

The film begins with the team visiting a brick factory in Cēsis where they speak with the manager of the factory. The manager talks about the challenges they face in running a business in Latvia, as well as the opportunities that the country presents. He also shares his vision for the future of his factory and how he sees it growing and expanding in the coming years.

Next, the documentary crew travels to Renda where they visit an organic farm. They meet a worker on the farm who shares his experiences of working in agriculture in Latvia. He talks about the difficulties of working on a farm, but also the rewards that come from growing and producing food for the local community. He also talks about the importance of preserving the natural environment and the role of organic farming in achieving this goal.

The final stop for the documentary crew is in Kuldīga where they meet a former student who has since found a job. She talks about her experiences as a student in Latvia and how she found her current job. She also shares her thoughts on the future of the country and what she thinks is necessary for it to continue to grow and prosper.

"Discovering Latvia: A Decade Later" provides a fascinating insight into the lives of people living in Latvia. It highlights the challenges they face, the opportunities available to them, and their hopes and dreams for the future. Through the voices of the manager, the worker, and the former student, the film offers a unique perspective on what it's like to live and work in this small republic in north-eastern Europe.

Watch on YouTube

Nginx URL Redirection: From Non-WWW to WWW

24 November, 2013 | Servers | 35 seen

Nginx is a popular web server used to host websites and applications. One of the common tasks in Nginx configuration is redirecting non-www URLs to their www counterparts. This is known as a "www redirect". The purpose of this redirect is to standardize the URL format, improve search engine optimization, and provide a consistent user experience. In this article, we will go over how to set up an Nginx redirect to www using Nginx configuration.

Before we begin, it's important to note that this article assumes that you have access to the Nginx configuration files on your server. You will need to edit these files to set up the redirect. If you don't have access to the Nginx configuration files, you should consult your hosting provider or system administrator for assistance.

Step 1: Access the Nginx Configuration Files

To set up the Nginx redirect to www, you'll need to access the Nginx configuration files on your server. These files are typically located in the /etc/nginx/ directory.

Step 2: Create a Server Block for Non-www URLs

Once you have access to the Nginx configuration files, you'll need to create a server block for non-www URLs. The server block is a section of the Nginx configuration file that specifies how Nginx should respond to incoming requests.

To create the server block, open the Nginx configuration file in a text editor and add the following code:

server { listen 80; server_name example.com; return 301 $scheme://www.example.com$request_uri; }

In this code, you'll need to replace "example.com" with your own domain name. The "listen 80" directive tells Nginx to listen on port 80, which is the default port for HTTP traffic. The "return 301" directive tells Nginx to respond with a 301 redirect, which is a permanent redirect.

Step 3: Create a Server Block for www URLs

Next, you'll need to create a separate server block for www URLs. This server block will be used to serve your website or application.

To create the server block, add the following code to the Nginx configuration file:

server { listen 80; server_name www.example.com; # Add your website or application configuration here }

Again, you'll need to replace "example.com" with your own domain name. The "listen 80" directive and "server_name" directive are the same as in the previous server block.

Step 4: Test the Nginx Redirect to www

Finally, you'll need to test the Nginx redirect to www to make sure it's working correctly. To do this, you can use a tool like "curl" to make a request to your website or application and check the response.

To test the Nginx redirect to www, run the following command in a terminal:

curl -I http://example.com

If the redirect is working correctly, you should see a response that looks like this:

HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently Server: nginx/1.x.x Date: Mon, dd MMM YYYY HH:mm:ss GMT Content-Type: text/html Content-Length: xx Connection: keep-alive Location: http://www.example.com/

;

In this response, the "Location" header is the URL

Configuring Nginx to Display 404 Page for Unconfigured Domains and Server IP Address

23 November, 2013 | Servers | 29 seen

In today's digital age, it is crucial for website owners to have a properly configured web server.

This not only ensures a smooth and seamless user experience but also protects the website from potential security threats.

One common issue that website owners face is incorrectly indexed links in search engines like Google. In this article, we will provide a simple guide on how to configure Nginx to display a 404 page for unconfigured domains and your server's IP address.

The first step in this process is to create a dummy or default domain folder. This folder will serve as a redirect for all incorrect requests made to the website. To create this folder, open the terminal and enter the following commands:

sudo mkdir -p /srv/www/default sudo usermod -a -G www-data admin sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /srv/www sudo chmod -R 775 /srv/www

Once the dummy domain folder has been created, the next step is to configure Nginx server blocks for this folder. Open the Nginx configuration file by entering the following command in the terminal:

sudo nano /usr/local/nginx/sites-available/default

In the Nginx configuration file, paste the following code:

server{ listen 80 default; root /srv/www/default; }

Next, enable the domain by creating a symbolic link between the available and enabled folders in Nginx:

sudo ln -s /usr/local/nginx/sites-available/default /usr/local/nginx/sites-enabled/default

The final step is to create a basic HTML index.html file and upload it to the /srv/www/default folder. This file will display the content that will be shown when accessing the server's IP address or an unconfigured domain.

After uploading the index.html file, restart Nginx by entering the following commands in the terminal:

sudo /etc/init.d/nginx stop sudo /etc/init.d/nginx start

Now, try accessing the server's IP address in a web browser. You should see the content from the index.html file that you created.

In conclusion, configuring Nginx to display a 404 page for unconfigured domains and server IP addresses is a simple process that can help to protect your website from potential security threats and ensure a smooth user experience.

The Power of Nginx: A Comprehensive Guide to Nginx Web Server

22 November, 2013 | Servers | 18 seen

Nginx (pronounced "engine x") is a high-performance web server and reverse proxy server. It is a free and open-source software that was first released in 2004. Since then, it has gained a lot of popularity and has become one of the most widely used web servers in the world, powering many of the largest websites and web applications.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at what Nginx is, how it works, and why it's so popular.

What is Nginx?

Nginx is a web server that was designed to address some of the limitations of the Apache web server. It uses an event-driven, asynchronous, and non-blocking approach to handle client requests, which allows it to handle a large number of requests with minimal resource consumption.

Nginx is also a reverse proxy server, which means it can be used to route incoming requests to different web servers based on a variety of criteria. This allows Nginx to act as a load balancer and distribute traffic across multiple servers, which can help improve the performance and availability of web applications.

How does Nginx work?

Nginx uses a modular architecture that allows it to be highly customizable and adaptable to a variety of use cases. The core of Nginx is made up of a small, efficient code base that handles the basic functions of a web server, such as serving static files and handling HTTP requests.

Nginx's functionality can be extended through the use of modules, which are essentially add-ons that provide additional features and capabilities. There are many third-party modules available for Nginx, as well as an extensive set of modules that are included with the core distribution.

One of the key features of Nginx is its ability to handle a large number of concurrent connections with minimal resource consumption. This is achieved through its event-driven, non-blocking approach to handling client requests. When a request comes in, Nginx adds it to a queue and processes it asynchronously, without tying up system resources. This allows Nginx to handle a large number of requests without incurring the performance overhead that can occur with traditional web servers like Apache.

Why is Nginx so popular?

Nginx has become incredibly popular over the past decade, and for good reason. There are several factors that have contributed to its widespread adoption, including:

In conclusion, Nginx is a high-performance web server and reverse proxy server that has become incredibly popular over the past decade. Its ability to handle a large number of concurrent connections with minimal resource consumption, its scalability and customizability, and its reliability and security features have made it a popular choice for many of the largest websites and web applications in the world. Whether you're a developer, system administrator, or website owner, Nginx is definitely worth considering as a web server for your next project.

The New India: A Fascinating Documentary on India's Rise and Struggle (2013)

21 November, 2013 | Documentaries | 22 seen

Despite being released in 2013, The New India, a documentary from BBC, remains an intriguing look into India's evolution. The film explores how India is becoming a major world economy, potentially rising to third place in just one generation. However, it also highlights the ongoing challenges the country faces, including issues such as poverty, caste systems, and religious tensions between Muslims and Hindus.

If you've never been to India, this documentary provides an excellent opportunity to gain insight into the country's complex reality. Watch The New India on YouTube and discover the country's vibrant culture and history, as well as its ongoing journey towards a brighter future.

India is one of the most diverse countries in the world, with a rich history and culture that dates back thousands of years. Despite its diversity and cultural richness, India has struggled with a number of social, economic, and political challenges throughout its history.

One of the biggest challenges India has faced is poverty. According to recent estimates, over 270 million people in India live below the poverty line, which is defined as an income of less than $1.90 per day. This is a significant problem that has persisted for decades, despite India's economic growth and development.

The documentary "The New India" explores how India's economic growth is changing the country, with the potential to lift millions out of poverty. The film looks at how India's economic transformation is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, workers, and investors, and how the country is positioning itself to be a major player in the global economy.

However, the documentary also highlights the challenges that come with economic growth. One of the biggest challenges is the growing divide between the rich and poor, which can exacerbate social and economic inequalities. The documentary also explores how India's rapid economic growth is having an impact on the environment, with concerns over pollution, deforestation, and climate change.

In addition to economic challenges, India also faces social and political challenges. The caste system, which is a traditional system of social hierarchy, remains a significant issue in India. Despite laws against discrimination, the caste system continues to shape the social and economic opportunities of millions of Indians, particularly those from lower castes.

Religious conflict is another significant issue in India, with tensions between Hindus and Muslims having a long history in the country. The documentary explores how India's secular government has tried to manage these tensions, but also highlights incidents of violence and discrimination against religious minorities.

Overall, "The New India" provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities facing India today. While India's economic growth is a cause for celebration, the film also highlights the ongoing social and political challenges that the country faces. It is a thought-provoking and informative documentary that is well worth watching for anyone interested in India and its future.