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Michael R. Pompeo
Secretary of State
Indo-Pacific Business Forum
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Washington, DC
July 30, 2018
SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning, everyone. It's great to be with you. Thank you, Tom, for the kind introduction. Thanks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for having me here and hosting this important Indo-Pacific Business Forum as well. I'm glad to see, too, many American business leaders with us here today. I did this for a long time – people forget that's what I did for a living before I lost my mind and ran for Congress.
I know there's also folks from State Department here and from the administration. I also see a number of ambassadors for – that are stationed here and those from foreign capitals. Thank you all for being here and for partnering with the United States and our businesses as we pursue prosperity for all people across the world.
I also want to thank my colleagues Secretary Ross, Secretary Perry, Administrator Green, Ambassador Gerrish, Ray Washburne, too, at OPIC, a good friend of mine from my business days. Your president helps – your presence helps solidify our economic approach to the Indo-Pacific as a truly whole-of-government mission.
I wanted to come here this morning to talk about the Trump administration's strategy for advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, and why U.S. business engagement is at the center of it – it's a staple of our mission to promote peace, stability, and prosperity.
President Trump first outlined his vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific at the APEC CEO Summit in Vietnam just last year. The National Security Strategy also detailed that vision. Make no mistake, the Indo-Pacific, which stretches from the United States west coast to the west coast of India, is a subject of great importance to American foreign policy. As I will detail in a bit, this region is one of the greatest engines of future global – of the future global economy, and it already is today. And the American people and the whole world have a stake in the Indo-Pacific's peace and prosperity. It's why the Indo-Pacific must be free and open.
And for those of you who might not be familiar with our terminology of "free and open," I want to just spend a minute talking about what it is this administration means when it uses that language.
When we say "free" Indo-Pacific, it means we all want all nations, every nation, to be able to protect their sovereignty from coercion by other countries. At the national level, "free" means good governance and the assurance that citizens can enjoy their fundamental rights and liberties.
When we say "open" in the Indo-Pacific, it means we want all nations to enjoy open access to seas and airways. We want the peaceful resolution of territorial and maritime disputes. This is key for international peace and for each country's attainment of its own national aims.
Economically, "open" means fair and reciprocal trade, open investment environments, transparent agreements between nations, and improved connectivity to drive regional ties – because these are the paths for sustainable growth in the region.
The U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific is deeply rooted. The State Department, which I represent, established a consular presence in Kolkata – then called Calcutta – in 1794.
American entrepreneurs, whom most of you in this room represent, have been trading and investing in the Indo-Pacific even longer than that. And I won't give you a full history today, but I will note how the United States has played a foundational role in enabling the growth, development, and wealth we see across the entire Indo-Pacific today.
The great theme of our engagement is this: Where America goes, we seek partnership, not domination. After World War II we worked with Japan to forge a great alliance and stimulate an economic boom. South Korea in the '50s was ravaged by conflict. American assistance and investment in railways, ports, and other infrastructure helped create a foundation for our South Korean friends to recover, thrive, and build one of the world's most prosperous economies – one that is now strong enough to aid other countries in their development.
In the '60s, we grew partnerships to address basic developmental needs. We supported transformational agricultural efforts, such as the Green Revolution, which forever improved farming of wheat and rice worldwide – and nowhere more than in the Indo-Pacific. We helped Hong Kong, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian economies rise from the '70s onward. In Taiwan, economic development went hand-in-hand with creating an open, democratic society that blossomed into a high-tech powerhouse. And America was proud to support foundational institutions like ASEAN, APEC, and the Asian Development Bank, among others.
Thanks to this history of economic and commercial engagements, America's relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific today are characterized by mutual trust and respect. American friendship is welcomed, and American businesses are recognized for their ingenuity, their reliability, and their honesty.
Today no country does more two-way trade in the Indo-Pacific than the United States. In Southeast Asia, the U.S. is the single largest source of cumulative foreign investment – larger than China, Japan and the European Union.
Open a map of the Indo-Pacific today, and it is dotted with U.S. public and private efforts to foster self-reliance, build institutions, and promote private sector growth.
In the Philippines, Dallas-based Texas Instruments opened a factory in 1979 that helped the country turn into a crucial part of the global semiconductor supply chain. In Malaysia, General Electric first invested in a sales and service center in 1975. Today GE has over 1,300 employees in the country, from Kuala Lumpur to Sarawak. With Malaysians recently having elected a new government, I want them and their leaders to know that America stands ready, as we always do for partners around the region, to deepen commercial, government, people-to-people ties – all based on our shared democratic values. I'll travel there in the week ahead.
Chevron was the first company ever granted oil-exploration rights in Thailand, and in 1973 it discovered the first hydrocarbons in Thai waters. This gave birth to a major local industry. Today Chevron is Thailand's top natural gas and crude oil producer, and its investments support more than 200,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Chevron's "Enjoy Science Project" trains local teachers in science, technology, engineering, and math to strengthen Thailand's intellectual capital and help Chevron make greater returns on its investment. Chevron's Thailand unit even provided equipment and technical advice for the recent rescue of those courageous boys and their coach who were trapped in a flooded cave.
U.S. companies literally help Indo-Pacific partner nations reach for the stars. SpaceX, one of America's most innovative firms, recently launched Bangladesh's first-ever indigenous communications satellite.
Now, to be clear, the U.S. Government doesn't tell American companies what to do. But we help build environments that foster good, productive capitalism. We help American firms succeed so that local communities can flourish, and bilateral partnerships can grow.
That's why the United States supports educational efforts such as Fulbright University Vietnam and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. This is the same kind of commitment we showed in the past when we helped establish the first Indian Institute of Technology, along with 14 regional engineering colleges and eight agricultural universities all across India.
Development finance is also important. Our Overseas Private Investment Corporation has a portfolio of 3.9 billion invested in the Indo-Pacific alongside American firms in industries from energy to healthcare to banking. For every dollar that OPIC has invested, the private sector has invested $2.76. In Indonesia, OPIC has teamed up with USAID and Colorado-based UPC Renewables to develop the country's first utility-scale wind farm, to provide clean, affordable, reliable power to 70,000 Indonesian households.
And our Millennium Challenge Corporation has granted $2.1 billion since 2004 to promote development and good governance in Indo-Pacific nations. Right now MCC is spending 500 million to build hundreds of kilometers of electricity transmission lines in Nepal and realize that country's energy potential.
And today, at this Indo-Pacific Business Forum, I am proud to announce that MCC has signed a $350 million compact with the Government of Mongolia to develop new, long-term sources of water supply. In addition to helping Mongolia fulfill a critical human need, this will position the country to attract new investment and stimulate private sector-led growth. I know that the Mongolian foreign minister had intended to be here today, but he was unfortunately called away for business.
This MCC program will benefit both Mongolia, the region, and the world.
I could go on much longer and give you more examples. American companies have been a force for prosperity and good throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Our good faith as a partner is evident in our support of economic development that honors local autonomy and national sovereignty. The United States does not invest for political influence, but rather practices partnership economics.
The successes of the past and present are just a prelude to what I expect will come in the future. I am here to say emphatically that the Trump administration is committed to expanding our economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. We seek to capitalize on opportunities in accordance with the principles of freedom and openness.
As President Trump said in Vietnam last year, the Indo-Pacific is "a beautiful constellation of nations, each its own bright star, satellites to none – and each one a people, a culture, a way of life, a home." To burn the brightest, this constellation needs the fuel of innovation and sustainable growth. This is what our Indo-Pacific strategy will promote. We believe in strategic partnerships, not strategic dependency.
As President Trump said last year, "We want you to be strong, prosperous, and self-reliant, rooted in your history, and reaching out toward the future." Today I echo that message. I speak for President Trump when I say every nation and business can have confidence that the United States will continue to create the conditions for mutual prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific.
It is clearly in America's strategic interest to deepen engagement in the region. More than one-third of the global population is there. Four of the world's six largest economies are there as well, in China, Japan, and India – and of course, the United States. The ten countries of the ASEAN community are the fastest-growing economic zone in the world and are major buyers of U.S. products. President Trump will strike while the iron is hot, because there are clear economic benefits at hand for the American people.
Our Indo-Pacific vision excludes no nation. We seek to work with anyone to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, so long as that cooperation adheres to the highest standards that our citizens demand. The United States is committed to growing our presence in the region because we want Americans and all people of the Indo-Pacific to share in the economic growth of 2020, 2030, 2040, and beyond.
I know some are wondering about America's role in the region in light of President Trump's decision to pull out of TPP. While we work with our partners to craft better and higher-standard bilateral trade agreements, our companies are continuing to advance U.S. economic interests by growing their presence in the region. For example, the number of U.S. companies in Singapore has increased 10% over just the past two years.
Finally, we remain committed to economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific because of the national security benefits for the American people and our partners. As President Trump's National Security Strategy states, "Economic security is national security."
It's clear a big part of America's international economic future is in this region. So just as the United States made foundational contributions in the past, today I am announcing $113 million in new U.S. initiatives to support foundational areas of the future: digital economy, energy, and infrastructure. These funds represent just a down payment on a new era in U.S. economic commitment to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Our strategy seeks to catalyze American businesses to do what they do best. President Trump also expects our commitment to generate greater support for a free and open Indo-Pacific from all countries that share our vision of a region rooted in sovereignty, the rule of law, and sustainable prosperity.
The first initiative is the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership. This will start with a $25 million dollar initial investment to improve partner countries' digital connectivity and expand opportunities for U.S. technology exports. The U.S. will support communications infrastructure development through technical assistance and public-private partnerships; promote market-driven digital regulatory policies; and build partners' cybersecurity capacity to address common threats. We do this because we recognize the tremendous economic and social benefits that come with an open, secure, and reliable internet.
The second initiative is called Asia EDGE. It stands for Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy. Energy is of course the lifeblood of a modern economy. Through Asia EDGE, we will invest nearly $50 million this year alone to help Indo-Pacific partners import, produce, move, store, and deploy their energy resources. America's energy bounty includes vast natural resources, world-leading private firms, sophisticated development-financial tools, and peerless technical expertise. We will draw on all of these to grow sustainable and secure energy markets throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Third, next, infrastructure. The United States is committed to connectivity that advances national sovereignty, regional integration, and trust. This occurs when infrastructure is physically secure, financially viable, and socially responsible.
So today the U.S. is launching an Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network to boost the development of infrastructure done right. This whole-of-government initiative, seeded with nearly $30 million dollars, establishes a new interagency body to coordinate, strengthen, and share U.S. tools for project scouting, financing, and technical assistance. It also establishes a new Indo-Pacific Transaction Advisory Fund to help partners access private legal and financial advisory services.
In each of these areas – digital economy, energy, and infrastructure – we look forward to working with allies and partners. We also look forward to leveraging the new and modernized tools and improved programming from the BUILD Act that recently passed the House and is now before the Senate. This is a big one. Under the House bill, the U.S. government's development finance capacity would more than double to $60 billion dollars.
Let me say another word about money. President Trump – and I know most of you in this room don't like to waste a single penny – and this investment is not waste. Nor is it about giving money away. This is a strategic investment in the most competitive part of the world for years to come.
We are proud to support the BUILD Act, and to allocate $113 million dollars in immediate new funds to expand economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Later this week, I will make further announcements on security assistance.
But we also know government spending alone can never address the Indo-Pacific's needs. According to the Asian Development Bank, developing countries in the region will need $26 trillion for infrastructure by the year 2030. No government nor combination of governments has that kind of money. Only the private sector does. And only if countries make themselves welcoming to private investment will those trillions of dollars get off the sidelines, into their economies, and into productive enterprises that bring jobs and prosperity to their peoples. For that to happen, Indo-Pacific leaders must prioritize transparency, anti-corruption, and responsible financing.
The U.S. government's Indo-Pacific initiatives will be shaped by these values and buttressed by partnerships with American companies. This will reflect American values in the high standards, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law.
With American companies, citizens around the world know that what you see is what you get: honest contracts, honest terms, and no need for off-the-books mischief. Integrity in business practices is an essential pillar of our Indo-Pacific economic vision, and it is what each country in the region needs.
As I close today I want everyone to understand something: this is a commitment. I personally pledge as the Secretary of State that I will engage with you. I will engage with Congress and our foreign counterparts. So will our Ambassadors and other U.S. officials. I was delighted to make my first trip to Vietnam a few weeks ago, and there will be many more trips to the region even yet this year.
One such trip starts on Wednesday of this week. I will travel to Malaysia, to Singapore, and then on to Indonesia for the weekend. I look forward to discussing everything that I've shared with you today with political and business leaders in the region. ASEAN is literally at the center of the Indo-Pacific, and it plays a central role in the Indo-Pacific vision that America is presenting. This is one reason that out of the $113 million will come a package of U.S. support for important regional institutions, like ASEAN and our ASEAN Connect initiative, APEC, the Lower Mekong Initiative, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. More on that later this week.
The Trump administration has a clear vision for the Indo-Pacific in the 21st century. It is an American vision that is deeply engaged in the region's economic, political, cultural, and security affairs. Like so many of our Asian allies and friends, our country fought for its own independence from an empire that expected deference. We thus have never and will never seek domination in the Indo-Pacific, and we will oppose any country that does.
Rather, we aspire to a regional order, independent nations that can defend their people and compete fairly in the international marketplace. We stand ready to enhance the security of our partners and to assist them in developing their economies and societies in ways that ensure human dignity. We will help them. We will help them keep their people free from coercion or great power domination.
And today I want to close by inviting any nation and any business that wants those values enshrined in this region to partner with the United States Government. A free and open Indo-Pacific is America's chosen course – and we hope that it will be yours too. Thank you, God bless you, and have a great day. (Applause.)


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Ricoh has released a new firmware update for its GR Digital III camera. The new firmware provides the following enhanced functions:
- Noise reduction performance enhancement
The MAX setting has been added to the noise reduction settings. When MAX is specified, the image data's noise distribution is analyzed and the optimum processing is done for each region of the image, thereby increasing image quality in low-light scenes. - Auto bracketing setting change
When shooting with auto bracketing it is possible to specify exposure variations of up to 2.0 EV. In addition, the change sequence can be specified for each shot. - Image trimming
An image displayed in playback can be trimmed and saved as a separate file. It is also possible to trim an image's proportions to aspect ratio 1:1 (square). - Two "incandescent lamp" settings for white balance
There used to be just the "incandescent lamp" setting for white balance, but now there are two settings: "incandescent lamp 1" and "incandescent lamp 2." Compared to "incandescent lamp 1," "incandescent lamp 2" gives the image a slightly more reddish cast so it is the equivalent of the old "incandescent lamp" setting. - Auto shutter speed shift function
In cases where the image will be overexposed or underexposed when in shutter speed priority mode, if this setting is on, the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to give a suitable exposure.
Additional information, download and installation instructions are available on Ricoh's GR Digital III firmware website.

subset: commoncrawl


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§ 416.412. Amount of benefits; eligible couple.
The benefit under this part for an eligible couple (including couples where one or both members of the couple are receiving benefits payable under the § 416.212 provisions), neither of whom is subject to suspension of benefits based on § 416.1325 or reduction of benefits based on § 416.414 nor is a qualified individual (as defined in § 416.221) shall be payable at the rate of $8,460 per year ($705 per month), effective for the period beginning January 1, 1996. This rate is the result of a 2.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (see § 416.405) to the December 1995 rate. For the period January 1, through December 31, 1995, the rate payable, as increased by the 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment, was $8,224 per year ($687 per month). For the period January 1, through December 31, 1994, the rate payable, as increased by the 2.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, was $8,028 per year ($669 per month). The monthly rate is reduced by the amount of the couple's income which is not excluded pursuant to subpart K of this part.
[61 FR 10278, Mar. 13, 1996]


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Scaling Sensu - Overview
In this article we'll provide brief overviews of the various ways that you can scale your Sensu deployment, from scaling individual components, to scaling across regions.
Sensu Components
A typical Sensu deployment consists of four pieces:
There can be variation when it comes to the message bus and data store components, but using Redis as the data store and RabbitMQ as the message bus is the most common (and supported) way of deploying those components.
Sensu Server
The sensu-server
process is the workhorse of any deployment. It performs a number of tasks including check scheduling and publishing, monitoring clients via keepalives, and event processing. To scale this component, add the desired number of Sensu servers and point them at your RabbitMQ instance where they'll do their own internal leader election.
Sensu API
The sensu-api
component is a stateless HTTP frontend. It can be scaled with traditional HTTP load-balancing strategies (HAproxy, Nginx, etc.). Configure each additional API instance to point to your Redis instance, and add the API instance to your load balancing pool.
Redis can be scaled out in several different ways. Using Redis Sentinel is the primarily supported way of scaling Redis. You can read more about installing and configuring Sentinel in our Redis reference documentation.
RabbitMQ can be used in a clustered configuration for Sensu. You can read more about configuring RabbitMQ clusters in our RabbitMQ reference documentation.
Scaling Sensu at a Single Site
Each Sensu component can be scaled independently at a single site, whether you need to ensure that Redis is highly available or you need to scale out the number of consumers (sensu-server
instances) to keep your RabbitMQ queue depth to manageable levels. We'll put all of these elements together in the next guide.
Scaling Sensu Across Multiple Sites
Every distributed system, Sensu included, must take into account special considerations when scaling across multiple sites (datacenters) where the networking (WAN) will be unreliable.
For the purpose of this documentation each site will be referred to as a "datacenter".
Strategy 1: Isolated Clusters Aggregated by Uchiwa
This strategy involves building isolated, independent Sensu server/clusters at each datacenter, and then using Uchiwa's multi-datacenter configuration option to get an aggregate view of the events and clients.
- WAN instability does not lead to flapping Sensu checks
- Sensu operation continues un-interrupted during a WAN outage
- The overall architecture is easier to understand and troubleshoot
- WAN outages mean a whole datacenter can go dark and not set off alerts (cross-datacenter checks are therefore essential)
- WAN instability can lead to a lack of visibility as Uchiwa may not be able to connect to the remote Sensu APIs
- Requires all the Sensu infrastructure in every datacenter
Strategy 2: Centralized Sensu and Distributed RabbitMQ
Sensu clients only need to connect to a RabbitMQ server to submit events. One scaling strategy is to centralize the Sensu infrastructure in one location, and have remote sites only have a remote RabbitMQ broker, which in turn forwards events to the central cluster.
This is done either by the RabbitMQ Federation plugin or via the Shovel plugin. (See a comparison here)
NOTE: This is picking availability and partition tolerance over consistency with RabbitMQ.
- Fewer infrastructure components necessary at remote datacenters
- All Sensu server alerts originate from a single source
- WAN instability can result in floods of client keepalive alerts. (The Sensu Enterprise check dependencies filter can help with this.)
- Increased RabbitMQ configuration complexity
- All clients appear to be in the same datacenter in Uchiwa
Strategy 3: Centralized Sensu and Directly Connected Clients
All Sensu clients execute checks locally. Their only interaction with Sensu servers is to push events onto RabbitMQ. Therefore, remote clients can connect directly to a remote RabbitMQ broker over the WAN.
- Very simple architecture, no additional infrastructure needed at remote sites
- Centralized alert handling
- Keepalive failures are now indistinguishable from WAN instability
- Lots of remote clients means lots of TCP connections over the WAN
- All clients appear to be in the same datacenter in Uchiwa


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I know, I know, posting Twitter conversations is the new posting pictures of your cat, but if you'll indulge me one more time, I think some of you will be glad you did:
@levarburton: The Angels have demonstrated genuine character tonite... Unlike the Dodgers who simply punked out!!!
@wilw: @levarburton The Dodgers were as lame and disappointing in the playoffs as the Ferengi were in season one of TNG. THIS IS A TRUE FACT.
@levarburton: @wilw LMAO!!! Genuine spit take.! Seriously...there's Pepsi all over the couch!!!!
One of my biggest, most lasting regrets from the TNG years is that I wasn't closer to the rest of the cast. I mean, we all liked each other, and we had a great time working together, but I couldn't hang out with them after work, because they were adults and I was a kid (and I doubt any of them would have been interested in playing 40K or Car Wars with me while we listened to Boingo, anyway). One of the many things I love about Twitter is that it gave me a chance to reconnect with LeVar and Brent, at a time in our lives when we can relate to each other the way I always wanted to. Technology is awesome.


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After she arrives at her country home for a romantic weekend getaway, things don't go exactly as planned for high-powered Manhattan lawyer Louise. First, her husband of 13 years, Ian, tells her that he's leaving her for a younger woman. Then, one thing leads to another, and pretty soon Ian finds himself held captive by an oddly cool Louise who explains that she won't release him until he professes his love for her and commits to working on their marriage. And that's when things REALLY start to go wrong. The unexpected arrival of an opportunistic young gardener and Ian's impatient mistress only serve to complicate the crisis even further, while somehow forcing Louise and Ian to reckon with their past and realistically deal with their future. (Source)
Download: 480p, 720p, 1080p
MP4 Encode: 1080p
Find more trailers and clips on our homepage.


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Related links:
Teleconnections: Changes in Weather Linked Together
Changes in the atmosphere in one area of the world can affect weather over 1000 miles away. Scientists are trying to sort out these relationships, called teleconnections, to better understand and predict weather patterns worldwide.
Teleconnection patterns are caused by changes in atmospheric circulation and pressure over broad areas of the Earth. The changes may last from a few weeks to many months. Teleconnection patterns happen because of natural variability in the atmosphere, yet they may be changing as Earths climate changes.
There are a number of different teleconnection patterns. Here are two examples:
El Niño
El Niño is a major teleconnection pattern created by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) changes to the atmosphere and ocean. During El Niño events the pattern of atmospheric circulation changes sending cold and dry air into places that typically have warm and moist air. Changes in sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean also affect the atmosphere and weather.
These changes in the tropical Pacific cause weather variations around the world. Indonesia and Southern Africa become warmer and drier than usual - thus, much more prone to drought. Southern Alaska can become warmer than usual while the U.S. Gulf Coast can be cooler and more rainy than usual. The amount of clouds in one area could lead to changes in precipitation elsewhere.
El Niño even has an impact as far away as West Antarctica. There is evidence from ice cores that during the strong El Niño event from 1939-1942 temperatures in West Antarctica were 5-7 C (9-13 F) warmer than normal. West Antarctica's climate is influenced by atmospheric and oceanic changes thousands of miles to the north," says David Schneider, scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research who studied the history of West Antarcticas climate using ice cores.
The North Atlantic Oscillation
A teleconnection pattern with roots in the Atlantic causes odd weather throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This pattern is governed by the intensity of a low pressure system over Iceland and a high pressure system in the subtropical Atlantic called the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). During the Northern Hemisphere winter of 1995-96 this pattern caused cold and snowy weather in eastern North America, bitter cold in Northern Europe, and wet weather in southern Europe and northern Africa.


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Kanye West Gives Kim Kardashian Same Ring He Gave Ex, Alexis
Just when you think you couldn't possibly despise Kanye West anymore than you did when he donned a Confederate Flag bomber while shopping at Barneys, you find out he may have given Kim Kardashian the same ring he gave his ex, Alexis. OK, before we jump off the deep end, let's take a look at the evidence and evaluate the similarities:
GLAMOUR.com first posted the article, noting that both rocks were designed by Lorraine Schwartz. The only big difference between the rings are the location of the prongs. Kanye admitted that he swapped out Kim's ring only hours before he proposed. We hate to think he'd be that tacky to recycle rings, but then again, he is that tacky at other times.
UP NEXT: Lady Gaga To Perform In Space
PM BUZZ: Kanye Recycled Kim's Ring?; Will Smith Caught Cheating?; Idris Elba Off The Market & More… was originally published on hellobeautiful.com


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"You were fighting every day
So hard to hide the pain.
I know you never said goodbye,
I had so much left to say.
One last song,
given to an Angel's son."
-Sevendust, Angel's Son
I never said goodbye. It's taken me 14 years to realize it. I remember so much and so little about that night. Certain memories stand out like a bad dream on a loop that I can't pause. I remember sounds. The shrill ringing of a phone. The sound of my breath. Raspy. Shallow. The inexplicable calm in my mother's voice. "You need to come." I stayed calm until I hung up the phone. Then I lost it. I didn't want to go. I can't do it. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I pulled on my pants. I was frantic and stalling at the same time. I want him to save me. Tell me I don't have to go. Tell me it's all some sick cruel joke. He took my hands and steadied them. "You have to go. You have to do this." I nod quickly, more times than necessary. I manage to find the keys. "Are you ok?" he calls out. I nod one more time and shut the door behind me. If I talk, if I hesitate, I'll break. I must move forward or I'll crumble. I remember the sound of the keys. Clanging like a frantic jester in my trembling hand. My teeth chattering. Nerves had taken over my body and I was shaking. I remember the audacity of a beautiful night. Warm. Breezy. In defiant contrast with everything I was feeling. I don't remember driving there. Mom met me on the sidewalk to the house. She'd come out to give me the details. To let me know what I was going to see. Dear god, I just saw him two days ago, what could have changed in 48 hours? I tried to follow her into the house, but collapsed into her arms overcome with fear and anguish. I collapsed. I knew I was supposed to be strong for her, but I couldn't help myself. I was ashamed, but I succumbed. I let her guide my limp body into the house. She sat me on a chair and comforted me. She comforted me. I knew this wasn't the way it was supposed to go, but I felt more out of control than I'd ever felt in my life. When I finally calmed down and the sobbing subsided I went into the living room to see my brother. He was asleep, but not asleep. I realized quickly that the last time I saw him, only 2 days ago, was the last time I would have a coherent conversation with him. And what did we talk about? I don't even know. Probably some bullshit. Probably me trying to be stupid and make him laugh. Did he know? While I was rattling off stupid one-liners, did he know that it would be the last time we would really talk? Was he annoyed with my oblivious idiocy? Did he want to scream at me or shake me and tell me to shut the fuck up? To be real? Did he want me to say goodbye? I'll never know. I'll never know if my self preservation robbed him of a real moment, of getting to say goodbye to me. He was always so protective, he wouldn't want to upset me. He would have put my needs ahead of his. He would have hidden his disappointment. And now I'll never know. That night passed like a dream. I remember some things so clearly. I remember feeling the most desperate panic I've ever felt in my life. I wanted to leave, to escape. My mind was screaming inside my head while the world moved in slow motion. I remember disbelief. I had been so hopeful. So optimistic. And still we were here. I remember worrying that he was suffering. I was so intensely scared that he was suffering and couldn't tell us. I remember feeling guilt. Guilt because I laid on the floor and closed my eyes and drifted in and out of a tortured sleep. Guilt because my sister sat by his side the entire night. Not budging. Guilt because she was having to be the strong one and I reverted to a scared little girl who just wanted to shove her thumb in her mouth and rock back and forth. The details of that night and the next morning are sacred. We were all there. My parents. My sister. Her husband. Me. Joe. We all were there for a moment that is indescribable. It was beautiful and wrenching and I'll never be able to put into words watching someone precious die. I think we all knew it – that moment. And I still didn't say goodbye. I held up afterwards. We all did. The house felt obscenely quiet. We were all in shock. I went through the motions. We all did. I still had wedding stuff to attend to. I still had to plan for the happiest day of my life that was to follow, only ten short days, after the worst day of my life. Planning seemed so superficial. So stupid. I didn't care. I didn't want a wedding anymore. I would have been happy with a signature on a piece of paper to make it legal. But my family wouldn't have it. They convinced me that the wedding had to happen. I had to do it because it's what he would have wanted. He knew, even before I really knew. He knew that Joe was the one. He told my parents, after I'd brought Joe home the first time,"That's the guy she's going to marry" So of course I had to keep on keeping on with the wedding. He would have been pissed if I'd canceled the biggest party of my life. But now, all these years later, I realize I never said goodbye. All these years later, when that realization hit me, it was like someone had cut my legs off. How did I sit by his side for hours upon hours, knowing it was goodbye, yet never saying goodbye? Was it selfishness? Was it denial? I have been told I should write a goodbye letter. The mere mention of that left me open and seething. A wound, this particular wound, that I didn't even know was there for fourteen years, was now bleeding. I operate between two worlds. In one world I go about my business and tell myself that I'll see him soon. He's traveling. He's busy. That's why I miss him. This is feasible. The other world is on a more spiritual level. I know he's gone, but I know he's here. He's with me. I know he was with me when I walked down the aisle on my wedding day. I can tell you the exact moment he showed up during the births of my three children. There have been times, random times, when I hear his favorite song and I know he's with me. I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I have felt him here with me when I'm writing about him. I still don't want to say goodbye. But maybe I'm still being scared and selfish. Maybe saying goodbye is the right thing to do. So here goes… How do you say goodbye to someone when you don't want to let them go? I don't want you to go. I know I can't put a cap on this, I can't fold this up and put it in a box. But I do want you to know some things. Your life was a gift to us all. You brought laughter. You brought art. You brought joy. You made us, this hodgepodge family a real family. You gave each of us a part of you. Your smile that could light up a room. Your laughter that could soften the hardest of souls. Your humor that could cut through any moment and bring sweet relief of laughter. You could make me laugh when I didn't want to laugh. And is there really anything better than that? Is there any greater gift? I want to hold on so tight, my jaw clenched in tight determination, but I also need to release. I am not going to tell you goodbye. I just don't believe in it. But I will tell you all the things I wanted to say so badly. All the things I kept to myself because you weren't giving up and I didn't want you to think I was too. I want to tell you that I love you. I want to tell you how much better you made my life, everyone's life. I can't imagine a world without you, so I just imagine you're still in it. I miss you. I miss you so bad I feel it in every bone. I hope you're good. I hope you are happy. But I'm not saying goodbye. I'll never say goodbye.


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Maybe you're an aspiring carpenter, or maybe just someone who has extra time on their hands. Whatever the case, there's nothing like creating something from nothing with your own two hands. Wood carving is an activity that provides just the creative outlet you need to satisfy you when you're feeling restless or bored. But you can't just use any knife to cut any wood. Most wood carvers use soft, porous woods like basswood, aspen or walnut. They also have knives made specifically for woodcutting, with different shapes and sizes to make sculpting easier.
Shop this article: BeaverCraft Wood-Carving Gouge Chisel, BeaverCraft Spoon Carving Hook Knife and BeaverCraft Cut-Resistant Tape
BeaverCraft Wood-Carving Gouge Chisel
What you need to know: The gouge chisel is basically an ice cream scoop for wood shavings. You'll use it to create smooth, rounded, concave surfaces.
What you'll love: The quality and construction of this chisel is superb, and it won't break no matter the pressure you put on it. It glides through wood like butter and will make sculpting things like bowls, cups and spoons easy.
What you should consider: Even though it looks safe, the chisel itself is very sharp and can cut you if you don't take steps to protect your hands. This is only for push cuts. If you start hammering at it with a mallet, you might break it.
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BeaverCraft Spoon Carving Hook Knife
What you need to know: The spoon knife is another knife with a curved edge made for scooping out wood chips and smoothing the insides of rounded surfaces.
What you'll love: The cutting edge is sharp and durable; it won't bend or break with the pressure you put on it.
What you should consider: Some customers reported that the blade arrived dull. Others also reported breakage, but they were using hardwood.
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What you need to know: The high-quality whittling knife by BeaverCraft comes with a leather sheath for easy storage and has a wide range of uses.
What you'll love: It's good for general woodworking, from adding detail to smoothing edges. This knife is durable enough to cut through hardwood. It's an all-purpose knife with a long blade for deep cuts or shaving away at large areas.
What you should consider: Some customers reported receiving a knife that had rusted, but the company replaced them.
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What you need to know: This hook knife is good for quick, accurate cuts, perfect for carving bowls.
What you'll love: The steel is very sharp and the handle is nice and thick. It fits well in your hand and will last a long time. The best thing is it's inexpensive.
What you should consider: Customers report that it's very sharp but can dull easily over time. Consider investing in a sharpening kit.
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What you need to know: This knife is excellent for chip carving and decorating the surfaces of what you create. Use it to gently emboss surfaces or cut patterns into the wood.
What you'll love: This durable knife is excellent for delicate cutting and intricate work. It maintains its sharpness well, but comes with a strop so you can keep it maintained and pristine.
What you should consider: It's a small knife for beginner woodcarvers with a large ergonomic handle. Some customers have reported that it arrived dull, but it comes with a strop for sharpening.
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BeaverCraft Cut-Resistant Tape
What you need to know: The knives for woodcutting are razor sharp out of necessity, which makes it easy to slip and accidentally give yourself a new scar. To prevent that, take the steps to ensure your safety.
What you'll love: Protective finger tape won't get in the way of your dexterity or make your hands sweaty. The padded tape is like a thick second skin that works to keep your fingers intact.
What you should consider: You should wrap it around your fingers a few times for adequate coverage.
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BeaverCraft Basswood Carving Blocks
What you need to know: Basswood is the raw material that most beginning woodcarvers use. The soft wood has a light color and is great for sculpting figures or even making functional things like spoons, forks and cups.
What you'll love: These wooden blocks are blemish-free and have a uniform, tight grain. The wood isn't rough at all, making it really easy to cut.
What you should consider: Some customers report occasionally receiving wood that's dried unevenly, making it more difficult to cut in some areas.
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Sam Bramlett writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.


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Ten Million Electric Miles and Counting: By Jove, It Does Work in the Real World
Tesla Roadsters in over thirty countries have driven more than ten million real-world miles. That's 500,000 gallons of fuel that didn't burn and over 5.3 million pounds of averted carbon dioxide emissions. The credit goes to approximately 1,500 Roadster owners around the world who drive their electric vehicles in all conditions; they're an enthusiastic group who often talk and blog about their experiences.
Tesla is committed to building the best cars in the world. And in doing so, catalyzing change in a very traditional industry by convincing drivers that EVs can match and surpass automobiles run by combustion. That's not an easy task. But the Roadster has changed a lot of minds.
Of course, not everyone is enthusiastic. We also hear from vocal EV detractors. As with all new, disruptive technologies, there are plenty of misconceptions, rumors, and lies. We try to forcefully correct those before they get out of hand, and believe the industry is better for it. In that vein, with some reluctance, Tesla served the BBC's Top Gear with a lawsuit yesterday for libel and malicious falsehood. It is the only recourse we have; our repeated attempts to contact the BBC, over the course of months, were ignored.
About two years ago, Top Gear ran a segment containing false and exaggerated criticisms of the Roadster. In the episode, two Roadsters are depicted as suffering several critical "breakdowns" during track driving. The show's script, written before the cars were tested, has host Jeremy Clarkson concluding the segment by saying, "in the real world, it doesn't seem to work."
At the time, we were good sports. Tesla was a young start-up company, having delivered 140 cars to customers in the United States. Those early adopters knew what they were driving, and were not affected by the show's lies. Tesla concentrated on building and delivering revolutionary cars.
Yet the show continues to air. According to Wikipedia, Top Gear has 350 million viewers worldwide. The programme's lies are repeatedly and consistently re-broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers on BBC channels and web sites, on other TV channels via syndication; the show is available on the Internet, and is for sale on DVD around the world.
Today, we continue to field questions and explain the serious misconceptions created by the show. Many of us have heard: I know this car, the one that broke down on Top Gear. Despite the show's buffoonery, Clarkson's words are taken as truth, not only about the Roadster, but about EVs.
Over the last several months, we have written to the BBC, asking them to stop repeating the serious and damaging lies on the show. Specifically:
- The Roadster's true range is only 55 miles per charge. Clarkson says: "Although Tesla say it will do 200 miles we worked out that on our track it would run out after just 55 miles."
Fact: The Roadster has been certified under UN ECE R101, the EU regulation for measuring electric vehicle range, at 211 miles. All ECE R101 tests are witnessed and certified by a neutral third party approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, in Tesla's case, the Department of Road Transport – Netherlands. Of course, a car driven aggressively will get reduced mileage, regardless of whether its fueled by petrol or electricity, as Top Gear found. At the other end of the spectrum, through mindful driving, a Tesla owner achieved an astounding 313 miles on a single charge. To let either of these extremes represent real-world range is an incomplete analysis.
- One of the Roadsters ran out of charge and had to be pushed into the Top Gear hangar by four men.
Fact: Neither Roadster ran out of charge during Top Gear's tests, or even came close. We know because the Roadster records basic operating information. The show fails to mention that neither Roadster ever went below twenty-five percent charge. Why stage the stunt of pushing it into the hangar?
- The Roadster's brakes broke, rendering the car not drivable.
Fact: During Top Gear's drive on the test track, the fuse for the braking system's electric vacuum pump failed. But the brakes were operational and safe. The result was like driving a car without the convenient power brakes to which we've grown accustomed. Tesla's brakes, both with and without the fuse, must pass all UN ECE safety tests, and they do.
- Neither Roadster provided to Top Gear was available for test driving due to these problems.
Fact: At all times, there was at least one Roadster at the ready.
If the episode had been broadcast in 2008, and not rebroadcast repeatedly to hundreds of millions of new viewers all over the globe, Tesla would not have sued. We're not doing this for money. As the world leader in EV technology, Tesla owes it to the public to stop Top Gear's disinformation campaign and provide the truth. Top Gear scripted how the show would end before they ever got into the car. Meanwhile, the show continues to seriously misinform its fans.
Despite the lies, we move forward with our commitment to building the best cars in the world. In two years, the Roadster has delighted early adopters and won over skeptics worldwide. It has demonstrated Tesla's technology in spectacular fashion. Most importantly, as our owners will attest, it is a real world vehicle that has paved the way for EVs to come.
More information can be found here.


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Volume 17 Issue 10 ISSN 1923-7162 |
Welcome to Dave's Shop Talk's Home Improvement Newsletter of questions from our members on their construction projects, a Tip of the Month and a home remodeling article, both from our website at https://daveosborne.com.
To install a downspout onto a gutter, drill the appropriate sized hole first and install a thimble which attaches to the gutter, as well as the down spout.
To get rid of the smell of smoke in a house, vinegar works wonders on odors. Setting out small pans reduces odors very well. Another good idea is cotton balls soaked in vanilla extract.
It is time to winter proof your home.
Before Winter sets in with all its fury, check out the following list to keep your home warm, cozy and secure.
Bundle up, get outside and enjoy the great outdoors in the wintertime.
(taken from our website: DaveOsborne.com)
There are two main reasons why we excavate (dig a hole) for the concrete foundation of our house. We need to protect the concrete foundation from the forces of nature, freezing and thawing being the major ones. Runoff water and protection from pests the others. The depth of frost is available for just about anywhere we plan on building on our planet. To prevent our concrete foundation from lifting we dig a hole deep enough so that the bottom of the concrete footing is below the depth of frost line. The soil under this concrete footing should be undisturbed soil or rock containing no top soil, organic or vegetable matter. The top of the concrete foundation wall should extend up above the grade to at least 8". This keeps our wooden framed house above the elements including surface runoff and above the pests that live in the soil ready to devour our home or at least enter it. To help in the layout of the excavation and concrete foundation we make use of a handy tool called the batter board.
To layout a large area like the house foundation for a complicated house, a carpenter depends on batter boards.
A batter board simply consists of 2x4 stakes driven into the ground with a 2x4 ledger nailed to it about 2' above the ground. The stakes should be braced back to another short stake nailed close to the ground to prevent any movement. On the ledger is driven a nail which holds a line made of string or wire, which marks the outside edge of the house foundation wall, be it concrete or masonry. From the wire (rebar tie wire is a good choice) a plumb bob is hung to transfer the line from the height of the wire to the level of the ground or bottom of the foundation excavation. Depending on the depth of foundation excavation, we normally allow 3 or 4 feet beyond the concrete foundation wall to the edge of the back slope of the foundation excavation. This allows us room to work in forming the concrete footings and concrete walls and later on installing the perimeter drain and piping of the down spouts from the rain gutters.
Most jurisdictions require a survey of the house lot before the approval of house plans. Surveyors will drive iron pins in the ground to mark the property lines. These iron pins are easily found by looking for a white wooden post driven in beside the pin. The white posts may disappear in time, but the iron pin should still be in place. The surveyor will find these or drive in new ones and draw up a Plot or Site Plan with the property lines shown.
For each property line there is a setback, a distance from the property line in which the house can be built. These vary from side to side and front to back of the property depending on your jurisdiction and location of lot, either in the city or the country. This information is readily available at your town hall. On a simple box house, a surveyor will usually stake the corners of the house foundation walls right inside the trench for you, This practice virtually eliminates the need for batter boards, except for the more complicated floor designs. I've even persuaded my surveyor to shoot lines right on the batter boards to ensure the lines were square and at the proper set backs.
Mark out the excavation area, allowing for the extra room, with temporary 1x2 stakes or paint a line on the soil with a brightly colored spray paint. Make sure the batter boards are placed outside this excavation area so you can use the same ones to layout the concrete footings. It is important to note that batter boards should be installed at roughly the same elevation, on a level lot, enabling the measuring of diagonals to ensure the building layout is true and square.
House plans usually don't give elevations of the building lot, unless drawn up by an architect. The height of the top of the forms is usually decided by the house framer or builder who is putting in the house foundation. His concern is to have the building lot fit the house plan, according to the height of the existing grade and if the existing grade will be the same as the finished, permanent grade. This is one thing—as a new homeowner—to discuss with your house builder. If an architect is hired to draw up the house plans, he usually oversees the building of the house as well. The homeowner then discusses existing grade and permanent grade with the architect.
Usually concrete footings are 6" thick and 16" wide running continuously around the perimeter of the house. Cross footings of the same size may be shown on the Foundation Plan for the house. These are concrete footings for wood framed house walls supporting a bearing wall in a basement or floor joists in a crawlspace. Since our concrete and masonry walls are 8" thick, the concrete footing extends 4" past the house wall line on each side. This is to stabilize the house wall as well as to add more surface area to bear the wall and house on the soil beneath it.
Some jurisdictions require the use of rebar in the concrete footings and walls, others don't seem to bother. Concrete has a strange property when it is reinforced with steel, it takes on the properties of steel. It becomes elastic like steel and has the tensile strength of steel, rather than a block of concrete which is brittle and not very cohesive. Required or not, I usually place rebar in my concrete footings and walls. rebar is made from recycled steel, so the cost is not that high. The diameter of the bars is designated in eighths of an inch. In the concrete footings place two #4 rebar (4/8 or 1/2") spaced out, running the length of the concrete footings. Use rebar tie wire to tie the cross pieces together in the corners, as well as to join lengths of rebar together. Rebar comes in 20 foot lengths so not many splices are needed. If you need to extend the length of the rebar, the two pieces need to overlap each other. Overlaps for #4 rebar should be at least 15" with two ties.
The concrete footing forms are made from 2x6 lumber with a 1x3 cleat on the top and on the bottom of the concrete form, which keep the concrete from pushing the sides of the concrete form apart when the concrete is poured. The cleats are spaced about 3' apart and the bottom ones are buried in the concrete. Movement to the side is restrained by 1x3 stakes driven into the soil. The concrete footings are not leveled if the excavation is fairly level. Rebar is placed into the concrete footing and hung from the cleats about 3" off the soil. The concrete footings can be poured at this stage, in which case a key is formed along the top of the concrete footing to allow the concrete wall to be poured into the key. The vertical rebar, if any, would be in place before the concrete is poured. Generally, if the concrete wall is only 2' high, no vertical rebar is required. Two horizontal rebar are required within 6" of the top and bottom. For a 3' to 4' high concrete wall, both vertical rebar and horizontal rebar are required at 18" on center (o.c.). For 4' to 6' high concrete walls both rebar should be placed at 16" o.c. and for 6' to 8' high concrete walls the rebar should be every 12" o.c. Over 8' high concrete walls, better check with an engineer or building inspector.
If the site requires the use of a concrete pump, the concrete footings and walls can be poured together. The cleats on top of the concrete footing will hold the bottom plates of the concrete wall forms. The location of the concrete wall is marked on each end of the concrete footing on top of the cleats, 3/4" is allowed for the concrete wall form plywood. A line is snapped between the two ends and the 2x4 bottom plate is nailed in position along the line. Both plates can be laid out and fastened at the same time, leaving a distance of 9 1/2" between plates for an 8" concrete wall.
Depending on the height of the concrete wall from the concrete footings, a decision should be made to order the concrete forms. Draw up a little sketch and take it to the concrete form rental outlet. Here you will receive the necessary plywood and concrete form ties and tie bars to complete the work.
If the exterior sheathing on the concrete walls of the house are 3/4" boards, these can be used as concrete forms, as well. In my area we use 1x8 re-sawn boards that are less costly than renting concrete forms, but more involved in labour. In this case the concrete tie bars will go vertically every 16" in place of studs.
With plywood concrete forms the tie bars go horizontally every 16". The ezze snap ties go in a 16"x16" pattern. With the 1x8 boards the concrete ties lay in between the boards starting on top of the bottom board and continuing up every other board.
Usually when you rent the plywood concrete forms the plywood is pre-drilled out for the snapties. Since the plywood concrete forms are pre-drilled, the snap ties can be inserted after the plywood concrete form walls are up.
2x4 studs are used every 8' to help tie the concrete forms together and hold the plywood or boards in place. If the concrete tie bars are installed in the horizontal position, the studs are eliminated and a horizontal top plate is used to hold the plywood together. Every 8' or so, a brace is nailed to a vertical stud or toe-nailed to the top plate. The brace is usually 8' long and is staked to the ground to prevent the form wall from moving and keep it straight when pouring the concrete.
For straightening the concrete form wall, a string line is run along the inside of the outside form wall. To keep the string away from the concrete form wall, insert a piece of 3/4" cleat or stake at each end. Carry a third piece with you while checking the line. Have a partner move the brace back or forth until the distance between the string and the concrete form wall equals the thickness of the 3/4" piece.
Once the outside concrete form wall is up and fairly straight, braced to keep it from falling down, the top of the concrete form wall is marked with points shot on with a builder's level. This is a very accurate way of making sure the top of the concrete form wall is level. Years ago we used to use a see through plastic garden hose filled with water. Since water finds its own level, a worker would hold one end of the garden hose near the top of the wall while the other would walk around the forms placing level marks at the top of the bubble. This worked great unless the worker tripped and lost some water out of the hose. We would then have to start over. It also was time consuming for the movement of water to settle down inside the hose. Spend an extra couple of bucks and rent or borrow a builder's level.
Lines are snapped between level lines all around the top of the concrete form walls. A 1x2 levelling strip is fastened to the line, with the strip below the line. This strip becomes a useful aid to levelling off the fresh concrete with a float.
When the concrete forms are stripped the pour strip leaves a 3/4" x 1 1/2" depression. Any block outs should now be put in place. A block out is a wooden form built to keep the concrete out of a certain area of the wall or footing, When the concrete forms are stripped or removed, the block out is removed leaving a hole or pocket formed by the cement. Plumbing pipes, electrical wires, etc. can be inserted through these holes after the concrete is poured and the mechanical trades appear on the job site at a later date.
Rebar is now installed in the wall. Here are some guidelines:
Concrete footings should always have rebar—two continuous lengths of rebar spaced out evenly about 3" above the soil.
For a 2' high wall no vertical rebar is required, one horizontal rebar within 6" of the top and one horizontal rebar within 6" of the bottom.
For 2' to 4' high walls place vertical and horizontal rebar every 18", within 6" of top and bottom.
For 4' to 6' high walls place vertical and horizontal rebar every 16", within 6" of top and bottom.
For 6' to 8' high walls place vertical and horizontal rebar every 12", within 6" of top and bottom.
For over 8' high walls check with your local authority having jurisdiction or an engineer.
To tie the rebar in place on the concrete form wall, nail a 3" nail into the form wall, leaving about 1 1/2" projecting. Tie the rebar to this nail to keep it away from the concrete form as well as straight and plumb. The vertical rebar should have a 90 degree bend on it to be tied onto the concrete footing rebar. The horizontal rebar can lay on the snapties and be tied to the vertical rebar.
The other side of the concrete wall form is then placed. The tie bars are slipped into the oval holes in the snap ties. Try to keep the tie bars opposite each other to ensure that the snap ties are square across the concrete form. This ensures that the concrete wall will be 8" when the form is filled with concrete and the concrete dries. Usually we put a spreader across the concrete form at the top to keep the concrete wall at 8".
At the end or change of height of the concrete wall form we put in a bulkhead. This is a 2x6, 2x8 or 2x10 ripped down to fit the thickness of the concrete wall. Make it loose, like 7 7/8" or it will be tough pushing the bar through the snap tie. Another option for bulkheads is to make them with a 2x4 on each side of the inside of the concrete form with a ripping of plywood between, to hold the concrete back. You'll notice that the snap tie has a notch on each end on one side. This is to be able to grab the snap tie with a hammer to pry the snap tie out of the concrete form a bit to help ease the installation of the tie bar through its hole.
When all the snap ties have been secured with tie bars, check that the concrete form wall is straight and strong. Once the concrete is poured it is too late to push the form wall around or take any kinks out.
On concrete day get as many hands as possible to help. Get the anchor bolts ready to be placed in the finished concrete. Get enough concrete trowels for everyone. Even a 1x6 board about 10" long is good, nail a 1x2 handle on it. Talk to the pump operator if this is new to you, a concrete wall over 4' should be filled in layers, not right to the top.
When the concrete form wall is filled with concrete, have a helper go before the finisher and get the excess out of the concrete form wall or fill in to the approximate level, the top of the concrete pour strip. In my experience of forming and pouring concrete in heavy construction, working on industrial buildings, bridges, etc. we always are required to vibrate the concrete as it is filling up the concrete form. In residential construction more times than not they don't use a concrete vibrator (see it at Amazon). If the concrete walls are high, will be exposed later, or you just want a good job, rent a concrete vibrator. It is very easy to operate. Just turn it on and let it flow down the concrete form wall by itself. Immediately, you will notice that the concrete level goes down, as well. The vibrator actually compresses the concrete, filling in any voids. There are a couple of things to know before operating the vibrator. Concrete is extremely heavy, about 150 pounds per cubic foot with rebar. This means that every 18" in height in an 8" wall weighs 150 lbs. Just ask someone who has wheeled much concrete! So you don't want to leave the concrete vibrator in the wall too long. You could break the concrete forms if the wall is full and you vibrate right to the bottom every time. So vibrate only the fresh concrete layer you are pouring, going into the existing concrete layer just to provide good bonding. And the other thing to watch when vibrating is the air bubbles coming out. Air is entrained in concrete for freezing and thawing purposes, we don't want to lose it. Don't leave the vibrator in the concrete bubbling away. If using a concrete vibrator insert it into the concrete quickly, let it do its job and pull it out and move on. The concrete vibrator is cooled by the concrete so don't turn it on and leave it running in the dirt or on top of a scaffold, it will burn out.
When the concrete finisher has completed smoothing off the top of the form wall to the correct level, now is the time to insert the anchor bolts. (See it on Amazon.com.) These are placed in the center of the sill plate that will be installed later. This sill plate will be a 2x6 so make sure the anchor bolts are centered for either a 2x6 sill or wall plate or possibly a 2x4 wall plate. The bolts are required to be placed every 6'. Some jurisdictions require closer spacing. My engineer wanted our 8' concrete walls to have anchor bolts every 2'. What's the cost of adding a few anchor bolts to the price of a new house? The top of an 8' concrete wall is braced by the floor joists, against the backfill. So don't go cheap on the bolts. The bottom of the concrete wall is braced by the concrete slab as shown on this drawing.
After a long and stressful day of pouring concrete and finishing the concrete foundation a good rest is well in order. I like to leave my concrete forms on for a couple of days, depending on the weather. I love it when I can pour a concrete foundation on a Friday and leave it until Monday to start stripping the concrete forms. After a couple of days the concrete is still soft or green as we call it. Be very careful removing the concrete forms. Start with the braces. I like to take my old hammer and remove any ridges left on the top of the concrete wall by the concrete trowels or floats. While the helpers are removing the concrete forms and pulling the nails out and scraping any concrete off, I start laying out the sill plates or wall bottom plates. Holes for the anchor bolts are drilled in the plates and the sill gasket is stapled on the bottom. If the bottom or sill plate is pressure treated, no gasket is required. I prefer a gasket since it not only keeps the wood plate from being in contact with the concrete (so it won't rot), it fills small voids keeping the cold air out.
As soon as the outside concrete forms are stripped and the concrete footing forms are removed, we can concentrate on the perimeter drainage piping and waterproofing the concrete foundation wall. I'll be discussing this phase of building our house in the next article of this series.
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