Issue #105

Letter From The Editor [by Leslie]




Welcome to the August Issue!

Once again our team of fellow OTFers have put together an amazing issue! We have reviews, gaming related articles, OTF news, and more. You will find that there is a little bit of everything in this month's issue. At least I hope you will considering we have eighteen articles this month! That's right! Eighteen articles! (Technically only seventeen if you don't count this one.)

So get yourself a cup of coffee (tea, water, or juice are acceptable too), grab a snack, and make yourself comfortable. Once you're ready? Get reading!

Enjoy and feel free to leave comments on articles! We appreciate the feedback.

See you next month!

Bridge Crew Bulletin: Mark the Date and Find Your House [by Bridge Crew]




Welcome aboard this 1997 Virtual Space Station, this is your Bridge Crew speaking!

We're in the middle of an exciting time building towards the Anniversary; there is a lot of fun in store as you've no doubt noticed from the schedule. We've got new and old events under wing; and we're ready to begin celebrating the end of our twenty-first year together! The dates (so that you can mark them in your calendars), will be the 24th-26th of August. Don't forget to check the updates board for the schedule of festivities if you haven't already.

Also take a minute and make sure you know which House you are in: get your shuffle onto the Sorting Hat before the weekend commences! To get sorted? Click here! Rumor has, by the way, if you show your house name in your tagline you might earn some house points.

In the meantime, we continue the daily business of keeping us on the go, which is not particularly interesting right now. So, instead, we'd love to see you heading into this month of celebration for a butter beer, a blood wine, a cheeky glass of Whyrren's Reserve Corellian Whiskey or a lembas bread if that's your thing, so we can chat over all the good times. Guinan might even whip up a drink special... Sonic Screwdriver anyone?

That's all for now; check back next month for more news from your local Bridge Crew!

2018 Yearbook Reminder [by Lzrman]




The Yearbook Team is looking for Visuals and Media for the 2018 Edition of Outpost10F Yearbook.

Do you have any of the following?

- Chatsaves
- Photograph of Yourself from 2018
- Meet Up Photographs


Please feel free to send it in so we can start work on the 2018 Edition of the Outpost10F Yearbook. Where can you send it? You can send it to Lzrman here.

Thank you for your help and contributions!

Please try to send in your contributions by August 12th. Anything received later than that might not make it in to the yearbook.

Promotions and Awards [by Carol]




Hey you humans, ewoks, and so on!

Just letting you know that there were no promotions or awards for the month of July! Why you might ask? Because of the Anniversary later this month! We're having a huge party and they're all part of the celebration. So look forward to that this month!

Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Navigating Life with Navi [by Carol]




This month I was lucky enough to interview the wonderful Navi! She took the time out of her super busy schedule with work and being a mom to answer some questions. If you want to know a little bit more about Navi? Check this interview out!

Click here to see what Navi has to say!

First, before we begin, let me just say thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me Navi. I know life keeps you pretty darn busy especially with a baby! So I really appreciate it.

1. How is mom life treating you and what would you say has been the biggest change since becoming a mom?

Navi: It's my pleasure to sit down and answer some questions. Provides a nice distraction from work and momming.

I love being a mom, but dang, is it hard! The coolest part about it is watching her LEARN. They do it so quickly! Her latest party tricks are yelling "DAT" as soon as she sees a cat and mimicking my mother-in-law's fingers as they "count" together. Cuteness overload. I don't mean to brag, but I think I have a smartie-pants 8-month-old. As I'm sure every parent at OTF can attest to, literally nothing in your life prepares you for the changes that you go through when you have kids. It's really funny how the tiny humans punch you in the face with perspective - a whole bunch of things that used to seem crazy important and urgent and whatnot kind of fall by the wayside, and you develop a whole new set of priorities. I'd say that's probably the biggest change in me and in my life. Well, that, and feeling like sleep and I went through a bitter divorce.

2. What is the first fandom you think that you will introduce your daughter to?

Navi: Psh, "will introduce?" This baby already watches Star Wars and Harry Potter with me! I'm a terrible mom because I let my less than 1-year-old have screen time, but oh well. XD

3. Have you started watching Disney movies with your daughter yet?

Navi: See "terrible mom" above. Yes, I absolutely have. I figure she hears all the songs, so she might as well meet the princesses who sing them. Her favorites so far are Coco and Moana. And Shrek, even though that's TOTALLY different and not even Disney.

4. Do you have a favourite Disney song to sing to her?

Navi: Ever since she was still in my belly, my song for her is "So This is Love" from Cinderella. I sing it to her ALL the time. I also frequently sing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" (which occasionally makes her cry, quite cutely), "Feed the Birds", and "Second Star to the Right". But she gets a general assortment of Disney songs, usually the princessy ones, when she needs to calm down or go to sleep, and I think I expose her to a nice mix of classics - like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Little Mermaid - and contemporaries - Moana, Frozen (bleh), Brave, Tangled, etc. I'm a Disney jukebox. :(

5. How much nerdy stuff have you gotten for your daughter's room?

Navi: Okay, to be honest, I'm like the messiest person ever, so her nursery has literally no sense of organization or decor. I had all these visions of this perfectly nerdy nursery, and NONE of them have come to fruition. See "terrible mom" for further analysis.

6. At the end of the day, work is over and your daughter is asleep, what is your favourite way to just chill?

Navi: Hang on. I can't breathe from laughing. Hold on... H-hold- waita... PHEW. Sorry. Yeah, I don't get to chill when (IF) she sleeps. If I happen to be home while she's napping (which usually happens while I'm at work), there are dishes and laundry and vacuuming and whatnot to do, and if THAT is all done (omg miracle), I try my best to take a nap. Or a shower. But she likes to stay awake until 10/11/12 at night, so when she goes to sleep for the night, it's T-minus 10 seconds 'til I'm in bed myself.

7. Do you think that you'll ever introduce your daughter to OTF? (If it's still around when she's old enough.)

Navi: It's possible, but I want to encourage her to find her own voice and her own interests. If she's a geek like me, that would be amazing, but I want her to find an online (or RL, ya know, whatever) community where she feels at home. OTF has given me some of my absolute best friends in life and was there for me during some of the toughest times I've ever experienced, and I would love for her to find that, too. Who knows? Maybe she and Hannah and Ben and Emmett and George and all of the other OTF Juniors will start their own internet colony one day! On MARS!

8. What is the one thing you miss the most about being able to come in to chat daily?

Navi: I miss having friends. Being a full-time working mom can sometimes make you feel incredibly isolated because you literally have no time to maintain relationships. I'm so thankful for the people who continue to reach out and keep those tethers attached because they know that I want them but can't find the time or energy to extend them myself. Kudos to you guys. And to those of you that I was growing closer to before I fell off the face of the earth, know that I miss you!

9. Where did you come up with the handle Navi?

Navi: When I registered, I was Navi Greenleaf. Navi is that annoying fairy in the Zelda: Ocarina of Time game, and I wanted a Zelda reference as my handle, even though it wasn't consistent with any of the fandoms OTF was all about. I'm a rebel that way. Greenleaf is the name given to Legolas in "Lord of the Rings". I mean, actually, Legolas MEANS "Green Leaves", so it was kind of funny that Galadriel called him Legolas Greenleaf. It's like Remus Lupin. Green Leaves Greenleaf, Wolf Wolf. Lol authors. Sorry, tangent... Anyway, after awhile, I decided that having a last name was kind of lame, since no one would be like "HELLO NAVI GREENLEAF" when I entered the chatroom, so I shortened it.

10. The 21st anniversary is coming up; are you excited for the celebrations to begin?

Navi: If I can actually find half a second to attend, I would love to be excited! I've always loved the anniversary celebrations. Last year was pretty awesome, but I look forward to upping the ante this year. Speaking of which, I probably have an email or two I should respond to...

11. Are there any old chatters you'd love to see come back? (Other than yourself. You can't wish for yourself to come back. Not yet. :D)

Navi: But I DO wish! Maybe someday. Anyway, I think the people I miss the most are, in no particular order, Quark, Sidne, Katelyn Richards, Eagle, Ohm, and Data. Some folks, like Sonata Form and Lee, I could also list, but I am in fairly regular contact with them outside of chat, so they don't count. Bwahaha.

Thanks for your time Navi! I really do appreciate you letting me interview you!

Navi: My pleasure! Any excuse to talk someone's ear off about momming and Disney is a good excuse to me. And I love what you and Leslie are doing with the Blue Report. I'll admit that I still read it every month even though I'm not around to chat. Keep up the good work, boss!

Did you enjoy this interview? Would you like to see anybody specific interviewed? Let me know in the comments!

Book Review: Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuval [by Leslie]




I proudly admit that I do not adhere to the old adage of, "never judge a book by it's cover." It is because of my defiance in seeing past the superficial, when it comes to actual books, that I was able to pick Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuval as my latest read. I found the simplicity of the cover, the one on the left, so aesthetically pleasing that I never once read past the first paragraph of the blurb.

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.


Not a blurb that would typically reel me in, but I was hooked on the cover and I knew I had to read it.

Read my Review here.

To be honest, there were a lot of things about this book that I shouldn't have enjoyed.

It's an epistolary novel, the primary narrative of the story consists of interviews by an unknown man that seems to have more power than the President of the United States. Whom I imagined had the voice of Jeffrey Wright from Westworld. The remainder of the narrative is through mission logs, newspaper reports, journals and personal logs. Aside, of course, for the prologue that takes you through the events of Rose eventually falling onto the hand. Having never read an epistolary novel before, definitely not on such a scale, I was sure I wouldn't enjoy the book. Roughly twenty pages in I checked ahead in the book to see if the format would go to one I was familiar with, when it was obvious I was going to stay in unfamiliar territory I had already ventured too deep to abandon the book. Thankfully.

Then there were the characters; Rose Franklin, the young girl that fell into a hole became a physicist whom was brought in to lead a team that would try to succeed where previous teams had failed. Figure out what the hand was and what it's purpose was. Kara Resnik, an U.S. military pilot that wasn't allowed to fly again because of something wrong with one of her eyes and a personality that gave a hint of Kara Thrace from Battle Star Galactica. Ryan Mitchell, Kara's unsure co-pilot who only flew one mission with her, that resulted in a crash, before joining the team. Victor Couture, a smug Canadian linguist that was brought in because he was good in his field, but not in it long enough to get bogged down by the typical linguistic expectations. Alyssa Papantoniou, a Greek geneticists with different thoughts on how the program should run. Naturally there's the nameless interviewer who guides the story along and makes sure that the reader gets the information necessary.

It's a decent cast of characters, unfortunately I couldn't invest in any one of them. Not even Couture, perhaps because he was from Quebec. It's possible that not being used to the format of epistolary writing, I couldn't connect to the characters. However, nearing the end of the book, the interviewer started to grow on me. Otherwise, it was a free for all; live or die or anything in the middle, I held no concern for their well-being. All that mattered was the story.

The story was what kept me up late reading and late from my breaks at work. It's a story that makes me want to review a novel when I haven't done a review since I was in high school. Which, I apologize if that is obvious.

I can go on forever about the characters and any development they actually showed in the novels, but the truth of the matter is that it was the Sci-Fi that I fell in love with.

Sleeping Giants is a science fiction thriller that takes you on a journey from a giant hand randomly appearing in the ground to something much more. It contained actual science in it that was simple, but at the same time not intentionally being dumbed down for the reader. Filled with suspense, political repercussions, treason, experiments and more, I look forward to finishing the rest of the Themis Files Trilogy and hopefully if I decide to do a review for the other two books, I'll have looked up how to do a proper one by then.

Thank you for reading this unnecessarily long review that was actually cut short because it's past my bed time. Feel free to let me know in the comments if I've completely scared you off from it or if I somehow... didn't.

Movie Review: Bright on Netflix [by Jadzia Jaxx]




What You Need To Know:

Movie Trailer: See it here!
IMDB Rating: 6.4
Rotten Tomatoes Rank: 26%

Synopsis:

Set in Los Angeles, a world where fantasy creatures such as orcs, elves and fairies live side by side with humans and have been coexisting since the beginning of time. This action-thriller is directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad, End of Watch, and writer of Training Day).

Two LAPD police officers from very different backgrounds are forced to work together, Dayl Ward (Will Smith) is the first human cop to work with the first Orcish police officer, Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), as his partner. When Ward is shot by an orc and Jakoby doesn’t capture the supposed shooter, he questions whether Jakoby had let his fellow orc escape. Jakoby faces prejudice from both human cops for his race and from fellow orcs for his position as a police officer.

During a patrol, Ward and Jakoby arrest a man that tells that there is a prophecy and says Ward is blessed. The magic department of the FBI interrogates this man that belongs to the terrorist Shield of Light group which protects brights so that they can prepare for the return of the Dark Lord that will destroy the world. They must work together to protect a young female elf and find the weapon, which in the wrong hands could destroy everything.


My Review:

Excellent movie; Will Smith did it again! I really enjoyed how this mystical movie had not only a contemporary cop thriller feel to it, but it also has a darkness to it with fantastical elements throughout. I loved the opening scene with the graffiti painted on the side of the buildings with sayings that we would not see in a human world. I am going to definitely watch this movie again, I feel like there were a lot of little pieces that I most likely missed the first time around. I am looking forward to the Sequel. It is unknown when the sequel will be released, but the sequel was greenlit by Netflix just days after the release of the first film.

In December 2017, it was reported that Netflix ordered a sequel. The following month Netflix confirmed the sequel was moving ahead, with Smith and Edgerton reprising their roles and Ayer directing and writing the script.

Extra Facts About Bright!

You can find many Easter Eggs and interesting facts on IMDB such as:

  • Given a budget of $90,000,000, this film was the most expensive Netflix movie investment to date.
  • The orkish "love song" that Jakoby refers to is actually "Hammer Smashed Face" by Cannibal Corpse.
  • This movie was on the 2018 Academy shortlist for possible nominations in the "Makeup and Hairstyling" category.
  • Max Landis described Bright (2017) as his "Star Wars."
  • Fogteeth is the name for an Orc clan. At the end of the movie credits, it reads copyright 2017 Fogteeth Productions.
  • Will Smith's character mentions "Shrek" in this movie. In I Am Legend (2007), Smith's character in that film quotes a scene from the Shrek (2001).
  • The scene where Jakoby grabs a large gun, leaving Ward with a small gun, and Ward protests and grabs the larger gun instead, echos Will Smith's character in Men in Black, when Agent K gives Agent J the tiny Noisy Cricket gun, to his dismay.

Netflix is the place to find Bright. If you have seen this movie, or this review interests you enough to watch Bright, please leave us a comment.

Getting Close to the Sun, Very Close [by Mashed Potatoes]


Parker Solar Probe

It's summer time (For the Northern hemisphere anyways..), and some days it feels like you're walking on the surface of the Sun with the big ball of plasma shining down on us. But of course the Sun is a lot hotter than anything on Earth. A lot hotter. And a probe is about to find out first hand as it enters the atmosphere of the Sun.

On August 6th, 2018, the Parker Solar Probe will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and get closer to the Sun than any probe has ever gone before. Within 6.1 million kilometres (3.8 million miles) of the sun.

"A lot of people don't think that's particularly close, but if I put the sun and the Earth in the end zones in a football field, the Parker Solar Probe will be on the four-yard line in the red zone, knocking on the door for a touchdown." said Nicola Fox, the project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe.

The probe is named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who is the first living researcher to receive such an honour. Eugene Parker was the first to predict the existence of the solar wind nearly 60 years ago. The probe will travel in the Sun's corona, which is the outer atmosphere of the sun.

Scientists are hoping to use the Parker Solar Probe to better understand the sun's corona, magnetic field, solar flares and solar winds. Understanding solar activity helps us better prepare for solar events like solar flares that can disrupt power grids.

"It's of fundamental importance for us to be able to predict space weather much like we predict weather here on Earth," said Alex Young, a solar scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., during a news conference Friday. "It's a very strange, unfamiliar environment for us. We're used to the idea that, if I'm standing next to a campfire and I walk away from it, it gets cooler. But this is not what happens on the sun," Young said. "As we go from the surface of the sun, which is 10,000 degrees, and quickly move up into the corona, we find ourselves quickly at millions of degrees."

Of course, all of this is well and good, but how is the craft suppose to withstand those millions of degrees? Won't it melt?

This video describes it best:

Now two other probes have visited the sun, but they were much farther away. In 1974, Helios 1 passed within 45 million kilometres of the sun's surface, and Helios 2 within 43.4 million kilometres two years later.

The spacecraft will carry a chip containing photos of Parker as well as a copy of his ground-breaking research paper from 1958.

6 Efficient Steps to Channeling Your Inner Starfleet Captain [by Carol]




Do you ever find yourself sitting there watching Star Trek and thinking, "Man. I wish I could be more like Captain Picard or Kirk?" If you do I'm here to help you! I've come up with six efficient steps to channel your inner Starfleet Captain. And, honestly, who wouldn't want to? Starfleet Captains kick-butt.

Click here to find out how to channel your inner Starfleet Captain.
Step One: Make Use of The Holodeck
Captain Picard and Janeway both used the Holodeck. From reenacting novels to escaping from the Borg the Holodeck has been a great tool for our Captains. And for those of us who don't have access to a Holodeck? I suggest taking a few minutes to read, watch television or a movie, or go outside and let your imagination soar. (Just not like a leaf on the wind.)

Step Two: Have a Signature Beverage
For Picard it was Earl Gray tea, hot. For Janeway it was coffee, black. These were trademarks of their characters and who they were as Captains. Picard was a sophisticated Captain who had elegant tastes. Janeway was a bold Captain who was always on the ball. So although it's okay to change things up having a signature beverage will make you feel more like a Starfleet Captain.



Step Three: Use Diplomacy
Being diplomatic is a huge requirement of any Starfleet officer especially a Captain. Starfleet Captains are often the first face seen in diplomatic situations and are often the ones who have to put out the fire. So if you find yourself in a tricky situation? Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and then ask yourself, "What would Picard do?" Out of all the steps here being diplomatic is the trickiest but most important one.

Step Four: Have a Second-in-Command
For Sisko it was Kira, for Picard it was Riker, for Janeway it was Chakotay, and so on. Every great Captain had a first officer that they could turn to when needed. Sometimes that first officer would be left in charge to run things when the Captain was absent. And sometimes that first officer would run in to the fire with their Captain. So having a best friend, a partner in crime, or a second-in-command is pretty essential to channeling your inner Starfleet Captain.

Step Five: Have an Awesome Chair
Captain Kirk loved his Captain's chair. Kirk, and every other Captain, were never too happy to have somebody uninvited sitting in their chair. But could you blame anyone from sitting in the Captain's chair? It was a pretty awesome chair! So get yourself an awesome looking chair!

Step Six: Boldly Go

Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before!


Need I say more? When you step out in to the world for whatever reason? Go boldly. Go explore. Go see something or someone you haven't seen in a long time. Go try some new drink or food.

Those are my six efficient steps to channeling your inner Starfleet Captain! Thanks for reading! If you give any of these steps a try or you already do them? Let me know in the comments!

Potato Facts [by Mashed Potatoes]


Different kinds of Potatoes

Everyone loves potatoes. How could anyone not? Potatoes can be used in stews, soups, breads, for breakfast, for supper, as a side dish, as part of a main course, as a snack and of course, alcohol.

But how much do you know about potatoes? Well, let's see how much you knew, and how much you're about to learn.

  • Potatoes started to evolve around 350 million years ago from the poisonous ancestor of the plant nightshade. Though it wasn't alone. The family of plants includes tobacco, chili peppers, eggplant and tomatoes.
  • The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes around 8,000 BC to 5,000 B.C.
  • In 1536, the Spanish conquered Peru and discovered the potato. They carried them back to Europe.
  • The potato is the world's fourth largest food crop, following rice, wheat, and maize.
  • In the 1840s a major outbreak of potato blight, a plant disease, swept through Europe, wiping out the potato crop in many countries. Almost one million people died from starvation or disease, one of the deadliest famines in history, in terms of the percentage of population lost. A similar famine in the United States today would kill almost 40 million people.
  • Idaho is the largest producer of potatoes, however they didn't begin growing potatoes until 1836. It wasn't until 1872 when the Russet variety was developed, that the Idaho potato industry began to flourish.
  • The potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space in October 1995.
  • In 2008 a Lebanese farmer dug up a potato that weighed nearly 25 pounds.
  • Wild potatoes are quite poisonous.
  • Potatoes contained most of the vitamins needed for sustenance.
  • Trained as a pharmacist, famous French botanist and chemist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier served in the army during the Seven Years' War and was captured by the Prussians, five times. During his multiple prison stints he ate little but potatoes, a diet that kept him in good health. His surprise at this outcome led Parmentier to become a pioneering nutritional chemist after the war ended, in 1763; he devoted the rest of his life to potatoes.
  • Most potatoes are actually clones. Farmers plant tubers, not seeds. So the resultant sprouts are clones. A genetic study shows that modern potatoes were cultivated from two wild ancestors.
  • In 2010 world production of potatoes reached incredible 324 million tons (74.8 million tons in China, 36.6 in India, 21.1 in Ukraine, 18.3 in United States and 10.2 in Germany, etc.)
  • Canada is also responsible for providing 22% of China's French fries.
  • The average American eats 29 pounds of French fries a year. That's about 77 large-size servings of McDonald's fries. And polls show that the French fry is the favorite vegetable of toddlers.
  • The town of Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, headquarters of McCain Foods, calls itself "the French fry capital of the world" and also hosts a museum about potatoes called "Potato World". It is also one of the world's largest manufacturers of frozen French fries and other potato specialties.
  • Thomas Jefferson is generally credited with introducing the French fry to America, which Jefferson originally knew as pommes de terre frites à cru en petites tranches (potatoes deep-fried while raw, in small cuttings).
  • Americans generally eat their fries with ketchup, the French prefer mustard, and the British with vinegar. The Japanese use green curry or soy sauce. Canadians serve theirs as poutine, topped with gravy and cheese curds, and Malaysians eat theirs with chili sauce. In Pennsylvania, if you order a chicken salad, it comes topped with French fries and melted cheese. The Belgians, who find the term "French fry" annoying as they claim to have invented the fry, eat theirs with mayonnaise.
  • Belgians are currently petitioning UNESCO to endorse the fry as an official icon of Belgian cultural heritage. They not only eat more fries than the French but also boast more French-fry vendors (fritkots) per capita than anywhere else in the world. And if that isn't enough, Belgium is also home to the world's first, and so far only, French Fry Museum.

Sources:
http://www.vegetablefacts.net/vegetable-history/history-of-potatoes/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-potato-changed-the-world-108470605/
https://www.potatogoodness.com/potato-fun-facts-history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_potato
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2007/05/secret-history-potato
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/people-and-culture/food/the-plate/2015/01/08/are-french-fries-truly-french/
The Complete Guide to Growing Potatoes


Did you find any of these potato facts interesting or fun? Did you already know any of these facts? Let us know in the comments!

12 Hints for Any Beginner TOR Player [by Carol]




Hey guys!

As some of you may know from a previous issue in The Blue Report that Star Wars: The Old Republic is somewhat popular around the Outpost. At least a few of the chatters can be spotted mentioning it on occassion. Last month I decided to take a look at the game and see what it's like. And I have to say? It's really fun! I would definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

Being a new player was pretty interesting. I had some help from Robert and Ray since starting to play. They've been able to show me a couple of things. While I'm grateful for the help they've provided I've learned a lot of things along the way on my own. Mostly through dying in the game haha. But I thought that for fun I would share with you a list of my 12 Hints for Any Beginner TOR Player.

Check the hints out here!
1. Scrolling in on the map will let you see all of the planets you can travel to; you're not limited to the planets where your missions are.

2. Look for gear that can be modified; that'll help you in the long run.

3. The Imperial Fleet has a lot of vendors for higher level modifications.

4. Travelling around a map can be made easier by using a taxi.

5. If you can? Get a speeder. They're handy for quicker travel in area where it's allowed and there is no taxi.

6. If you find the conversation scenes are too long? Hit the space bar. It'll jump through to the parts where you can interact.



7. If you need to check out of a conversation or start one over? Just hit the esc button.

8. Check in with your class trainer regularily. Most planets will have one so it's easy to do. Doing this will get you new and useful skills more often.

9. You don't always have to do your Heroic missions. They do help you level up but they aren't mandatory.

10. You can share heroic missions with friends in a group! Just click on the mission name and when the window pops open? Look for the share button near the bottom. Click that! It'll give your group the chance to accept the mission or not.

11. Always loot for gear! After you've slayed an enemy and they've fallen on the ground? If there's a light beam shining from the body? That means there's stuff you can loot! So get it!

12. Find people to play with! Either get your friends to play with you or join a guild. It's always more fun to do missions with other people. (Psst! OTF has guilds! Just ask in chat if you're interested in joining.)

If you decide to start playing give these hints a try! Let me know what ones you found most helpful. And if you want to play the game together sometime? Catch me in chat and I'll tell you what character I'm playing. (You can have more than one.)

Onion Bomb Recipe [by Jadzia Jaxx]




With the Summer here, many of us are going on camping trips, grilling outside or perhaps even having a camp fire in our own firepit.

This is a recipe that I most always use when we go on a camping trip and have shared it with many. My family always looks forward to having onion bombs. I usually pair it with baked potatoes, but I have to say, it can be hard to tell the difference between an onion bomb and a baked potato when you are pulling a foil pack out of the fire. It's a surprise when you open the foil pack.

These are great for breakfast when you have leftovers!! So are the potatoes too.

Enjoy!!

Instructions:
  • 2 to 3 large onions (cut in half, and use the big pieces for wraps and the smaller ones dice and add to meat mixture)
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb Jimmy Dean Regular bulk sausage
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 to 3 cloves of garlic chopped (optional)
  • A quarter cup of ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Worchester Sauce
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs or crushed saltine crackers
  • Ground pepper and salt to taste
  • You could also wrap them in bacon




Ingredients:
  • Cut onions in half to wrap the meat balls. Save the small inside pieces to dice up for meat mixture.
  • Mix ingredients all together with clean hands. Form a meat ball the size to fit between the two onion shells. The size of each meatball depends on the onions. Secure meat between the two pieces of onion.
  • Prepare foil sheets prior to making meat balls.
  • Wrap each onion ball in the foil with a twist at the top.
  • This will help you decipher between the baked potatoes and the onion bombs.
  • Place the foil balls in the hot coals.
  • Cook for about 10 minutes, flip-over, and cook another 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on packets so as not to burn in case the fire is too hot. The onion keeps the meat nice and juicy. Serve with potatoes, a salad and crusty bread.


If you give this recipe a try and like it? Let us know in the comments!

Saskatoon Ganbatte Anime Expo [by Mashed Potatoes]


Saskatoon Ganbatte Anime Expo

July 21st and 22nd in Saskatoon, Canada was an annual anime expo, Ganbatte. The expo has been going on for about 3 years now. And this was my second time going.

"Ganbatte Convention Inc. is a non profit organization focused on promoting Japanese media and arts in Saskatoon through various events in the year leading to our annual anime convention in July. We are organized by members of the local Saskatoon anime, comic, and gaming communities and are run by dedicated volunteers."

Last year we had a blast when we went. We bought wallets, hats, Pokemon bath bombs. There were lots of cosplayers as well. So this year, I was hoping for the same thing, but on a bigger scale. I was hoping that the expo would grow in size a bit. I wasn't expecting anything as big as the Calgary Fan Expo, but something slightly bigger than they did last year.

So, I was a little disappointed when it was actually smaller. Or maybe it just seemed smaller to me. We got there later in the day, around 5pm, but the place was fairly quiet. There were only a couple cosplayers, and there seemed to be fewer vendors that we were interested in. Perhaps it was due to our late start.

We did still buy a couple things, but not as much as we did last year. We have a tradition of buying a hat from each of the expos that we go to. We didn't get a hat this time. There were no hats to buy. For the second expo in a row (The first being A Taste of Animethon in Edmonton Alberta in January), we didn't get a hat.

We did buy some themed anime mystery bags though, which had some great goodies in them. So we weren't totally disappointed in the expo.

The event costs $35 per person. A little pricey for how much we were interested in. We weren't interested in any of the guests, or playing the games. We mostly like to shop. But, that being said, we are already planning to go back again next year. Hopefully next year it does grow in size, even a little bit.

We'll be heading to the Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo in Saskatoon in September, which if history repeats itself, should be great. So make sure to check that out in the October issue of The Blue Report!

A few pictures from the Expo
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Have you ever been to an anime expo? Or a convention? Let us know in the comments what you thought of the experience!

Ad: Outpost 10F's Instagram [by Carol]




Do you have an Instagram account? Do you like to see pictures from your favorite shows or movies? Do you like to hit that little heart button?

If you do? Check out Outpost 10F's Official Instagram account!


Do you have an Instagram, Twitter, Youtube channel, or Tumblr account you want advertised? Drop us a comment and we'll hook you up!

Creativerse World [by Tyler]



Gif originally from Steam.


A while ago, all of you avid Blue Report readers saw that I did a review of Creativerse.

Well, Off-Post gaming is proud to announce our very own Creativerse world!

A quick review. Creativerse is a cube-based open-world building game, a la Minecraft. In my opinion, this game is better than Minecraft, but it may be hard to stack up against the original. However, this one is great for a couple of reasons. One, running a server is great. Few options, and it's all hosted on their servers; no more hosting it on some home-brew box (been there, done that). Config is simple and intuitive. Also, this game can be as complicated or simple as you want. I think it's a great game, and the best of all? IT'S FREE ON STEAM!

If you're so inclined, get the game on Steam (again, free). Login, go through the hoops, then search for "Outpost 10F" world, it will be created by Zurazza (me). Hop in and go for it! You can get your own plots and set the rules, so no unruly-types can mess about with your land or home.

Come try it out. I highly recommend the Pro version, if you like the game enough to keep playing.

Did I mention it's free? Also, if you do decide to join, remember the most important thing: the password is "outpost".

Available on Steam here.

Doctor Who Season 11 Trailer [by Mashed Potatos]


Doctor Who Season 11

It's taken far too long.. But the wait is nearing an end. Doctor Who Season 11 is coming soon. Sometime in October, 2018. Still a ways off.. But, they were kind enough to give us a trailer. So stop reading, and watch it already!

I don't know about you, but I'm quite excited. I have no problems with the Doctor being a female. While the trailer doesn't show a lot, I think she'll fill the Doctor's shoes just fine. It looks like they have created a Doctor whose strong, and able to take care of herself. Just like the male Doctors. And Jodie Whittaker looks like she can fill the role the writers have written for her. So I'm really looking forward to seeing her as the Doctor.

I just hope the companions are up to the role. Nothing is more annoying than a companion who gets in the way. A few of the Doctors have been lucky to get decent companions, but there have been a few that have been really annoying, and who I wished would meet an unfortunate end from a Dalek or Cyberman.

Doctor Who Season 11 Sonic Screwdriver
But of course, what Doctor is complete without a Sonic Screwdriver? Oh right.. The earlier Doctors.. Well, with the new Doctors, no Doctor is complete without a Sonic Screwdriver. So of course, Jodie gets one as well. While it looks interesting, I really am hoping they tone it down a bit. It can be amusing at times, but the screwdriver is overused. Can't think of how the Doctor should get out of a situation? Just leave it for the Sonic Screwdriver.. As long as the situation doesn't involve wood that is..

What are your thoughts about the upcoming Doctor Who season? Which Doctor has been your favourite so far? Your favourite companion? Do you like the screwdrivers? Let us know!

Fandom News From The Web [by Carol]




Hey guys!

If you're not all caught up on your latest fandom news don't worry! We've got you covered! We're back this month with a variety of interesting links for Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and more. There's a little something here for everyone so sit back, click a link, and enjoy!

Warning: There might be spoilers.

Star Wars:
Clone Wars Revival Fixes Disney's First Mistake
The Clone Wars: What to Expect
What Brings Lando back in Star Wars 9
Hasbro Previews New Star Wars Figures
Star Wars MMO Director Reveals His Regret

Star Trek:
Spock to return in Star Trek Discovery season 2
Tilly's Bigger Role in Star Trek Discovery discussed
Simon Pegg talks Star Trek 4
Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 trailer will resonate with TOS fans
"Star Trek" Favorite John Billingsley Cast in "The Orville"

Miscellaneous:
Maisie Williams gets the most Arya Stark tattoo ever
Matching 50 Game of Thrones characters with each of the 50 states
DC Confirms MERA is The Deadliest Warrior in Atlantis
New 'Joker' Origin Movie Details Could Tease Another Batman Villain
All of the DC Movie & Comic References in the Shazam! Teaser Trailer
'The Gifted' Season 2 Will Include the Morlocks and Much More
Marvel finally answer a massive question about Infinity War which perfectly sets up Avengers 4
The Marvel Universe Welcomes the Fantastic Four Home in October
HOW MARVEL'S IRON FIST'S CREATORS ARE COMPLETELY REVAMPING SEASON 2
Why Supernatural Has a Reduced Episode Count in Season 14
Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is in the works
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ups Jeff Ward to series regular


Are there any fandoms you'd like us to cover? Any game news you want us to watch for? Let us know in the comments!

Help Wanted [by Leslie]




Do you love hanging out in the chat, but feel like you could be contributing to the community more? Then you've come to the right place for we have job openings that just might be the perfect fit for you!

The Shuttle Bay
The Gaming Team is looking for applicants to fill the following positions:

Team Leader
Assistant Team Leader
Member

You can apply for any of the above positions by emailing AJ and Brent. Ensure you include your chat handle and preferred method of contact in your email.

Should you wish you apply for a leadership role, also include the following information:

Position interested in
Any Relevant Experience
Statement of Interest

As either a Team Leader or member, you will have the opportunity to shape the direction and really make the Gaming Team flourish as we move forwards!

Note: If you'd like to know more about the positions before applying to them? You can always email AJ and Brent! They'll welcome the inquiry.

The Holodeck

Blue Report Contributors

Anyone wishing to be a Blue Report Contributor may e-mail Carol and Leslie.

Please include in the e-mail:

Your name
Dossier #
Type of article(s) you would like to write

The deadline for any submissions to September's issue of The Blue Report is August 30th.

POSITION OPEN:
Fandom News Link Collector


Are you good at browsing through the net for news about your favorite fandom? Do you like to get the dirt on the next big game, movie, book, or television show coming out? Do you purposefully search for spoilers? If so? Then we have a job for you!

The Blue Report is looking for one person to collect links for our Fandom News From The Web article. All you have to do is "Google" Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Westworld, Marvel, DC, Disney, and any current block buster movie releases to see whats new! While doing that collect any interesting news articles or videos with their link and hand them in on the 30th of each month to Leslie.

If this sounds good to you please send an email to Carol and Leslie.

Please include in the email your handle, dossier number, your preferred method of contact, and if you'd like to contribute to anymore articles.