text:
"I am surrounded, they are outside, I don't want them to take me and parade me, conduct the airstrike, they will make a mockery of me and this uniform. I want to die with dignity and take all these bastards with me. Please my last wish, conduct the airstrike, they will kill me either way. This is the end commander, thank you, tell my family and my country I love them. Tell them I was brave and I fought until I could no longer. Please take care of my family, avenge my death, goodbye commander, tell my family I love them" Alexander Prokhorenko |
"This is for our guys" Roman Filipov |
[This analysis was written for the Unz Review]
We are currently living the most dangerous days in human history. You think that this is hyperbole?
Think again.
We are risking a nuclear Armageddon
The first thing to realize is that this is not, repeat, not about Syria or chemical weapons, not in Salsbury, not in Douma. That kind of nonsense is just "mental prolefeed" for the mentally deficient, politically blinded or otherwise zombified ideological drones who, from the Maine, to the Gulf of Tonkin, to NATO's Gladio bombing of the Bologna train-station, to the best and greatest of them all – 9/11 of course – will just believe anything "their" (as they believe) side tells them. The truth is that the AngloZionists are the prime proliferators of chemical weapons in history (and the prime murderers of Arabs and Muslims too!). So their crocodile tears are just that – crocodile tears, even if their propaganda machine says otherwise.
Does anybody seriously believe that Trump, May, Macron or Netanyahu would be willing to risk an apocalyptic thermonuclear war which could kill several hundred million people in just a few hours because Assad has used chemical weapons on tens, hundreds or even thousands of innocent Syrian civilians (assuming, just for argument's sake, that this accusation is founded)? Since when do the AngloZionist care about Arabs?! This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!
For those who would say that speaking of "several hundred million people" killed is hyperbole, I would recommend looking up past western plans to "solve the Russian problem" including:
- Plan Totality (1945): earmarked 20 Soviet cities for obliteration in a first strike: Moscow, Gorki, Kuybyshev, Sverdlovsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Saratov, Kazan, Leningrad, Baku, Tashkent, Chelyabinsk, Nizhny Tagil, Magnitogorsk, Molotov, Tbilisi, Stalinsk, Grozny, Irkutsk, and Yaroslavl.
- Operation Unthinkable (1945) assumed a surprise attack by up to 47 British and American divisions in the area of Dresden, in the middle of Soviet lines. This represented almost a half of roughly 100 divisions (ca. 2.5 million men) available to the British, American and Canadian headquarters at that time. (…) The majority of any offensive operation would have been undertaken by American and British forces, as well as Polish forces and up to 100,000 German Wehrmacht soldiers.
- Operation Dropshot (1949): included mission profiles that would have used 300 nuclear bombs and 29,000 high-explosive bombs on 200 targets in 100 cities and towns to wipe out 85% of the Soviet Union's industrial potential at a single stroke. Between 75 and 100 of the 300 nuclear weapons were targeted to destroy Soviet combat aircraft on the ground.
Articles like this one, this one, and this one are also good pointers (these are all estimates, of course, nobody knows for sure; all that matters is an approximate orders of magnitude).
By the way, I am not suggesting that at this point in time the AngloZionists would want to deliberately start a thermonuclear war with Russia. What I am suggesting is that there is a very simple and basic asymmetry between the Russian and AngloZionist forces in the Middle-East which could lead to such an outcome regardless of original intentions. Here is how:
How are we risking a nuclear Armageddon?
Step one: the AngloZionists strike Syria hard enough to force the Russians to retaliate.
Step two: now outraged by the Russian response, the AngloZionists retaliate against the Russian forces in Syria.
At this point it is crucial to remember that while the Russians have better equipment and far better soldiers than their "western" opponents (the examples of Alexander Prokhorenko or Roman Filipov will tell you all you need to know about how Russians in Syria fight, especially compared to the kind of personnel deployed by the US and NATO), the CENTCOM+NATO+Israel+KSA have an immense numerical advantage. It does not matter how effective the Russian air defenses or (tiny) air superiority aircraft force is when it can simply be overwhelmed by numbers. All the Empire needs to do is first fire a large number of dumb old Tomahawk cruise missiles, let the Russian use their stores of air defense missiles and then follow-up with their more advanced weapons. The truth is that if the Empire wanted to, it could even establish a no-fly zone over Syria and completely wipe-out the Russian task force. Sure, there would be losses on both sides, the Russians would fight heroically, but they would lose. Unless, of course, they got help from the Motherland, specifically in the form of cruise missile attacks from the Black Sea Fleet, the Caspian Flotilla, the aircraft stationed in southern Russia (Crimea) or even in Iran. Russia also strike with land and sea based missiles. So Russia does have the capability to strike at numerous lucrative (and more or less defenseless) US and "coalition" targets throughout the Middle-East. But what would be the consequences of that?
Step three: Russian strikes on CENTCOM targets would force the Empire to fight back and strike at Russian Navy ships and, even worse, at military installations in Russia proper.
Step four: US/NATO attacks on Russian territory would inevitably trigger a Russian response on the USA itself.
That response would be initially conventional, but as the losses on both sides would mount, the use of nuclear weapons would be almost inevitable.
Yes, in theory, at any time during this escalatory cycle both sides could decide to de-escalate. In theory. But in the real world, I don't see that happening nor have I ever seen any model which would convincingly explain how such a de-escalation could happen (especially with the exceptionally low-quality type of narcissistic and psychopathic individuals in command in the USA – think Trump or Bolton here – and all their "we are the best and biggest and greatest" pseudo-patriotic nonsense).
I am not predicting that this is what will actually happen, but I am saying that this is the risk the AngloZionist Empire is willing to take in order to achieve.. what exactly? What is worth taking such a risk?
I think that the UK Minister of Defense put it best: the AngloZionists want Russia to "go away and shut up".
Why we are risking a nuclear Armageddon (go away and shut up!)
"Go away and shut up" has been the dream of all western leaders since at least a millennium (interspersed and strengthened by regular (and failed) attempts at conquering and/or converting the Russians). Just think how frustrating it has been for a civilization which has established colonies worldwide, including in the farthest regions of our planet, to have this unconquerable nation right next door which was not only refusing to submit, but which would regularly defeat them on the battlefield even when they all joined forces lead by their "best and brightest" leaders (Napoleon, Hitler and… Trump?). Just imagine how a civilization centered on, and run by, bankers would go crazy realizing that immense riches were literally "right next door" but that those who lived on that land would, for some unfathomable reason, refuse to let them exploit it! The very existence of a "Russian Russia" is an affront to all the real (as opposed to official) western values and that is simply not something the leaders of the Empire are willing to tolerate. Hence Syria, hence the Ukraine, hence all the silly accusations of "novichok" cum buckwheat attacks. These are all expressions of the same policy
- Paint Russia as some kind of Mordor and create yet another "grand coalition" against her
- Force Russia to submit to the AngloZionist Hegemony
- Defeat Russia politically, economically or militarily
These are objectives for which it is worth risking it all, especially when your own Empire is collapsing and time is not on your side. What we are witnessing since at least 2015 is yet another western Crusade against Russia, a kind of holy war waged in the name of everything the West holds sacred (money, power, hegemonic world domination, secularism, etc.) against everything it abhors (sovereignty, independence, spirituality, traditions).
The simple truth is this: were it not for the Russian military capabilities, the West would have wiped Russia "off the map" long ago, and replaced it with something like a number of "mini-Poland's" ruled by a liberal comprador elite just like the one currently in charge of the EU. The desperate scream "go away and shut up" is just the expression of having this "western dream" frustrated by the power of the Russian armed forces and the unity of the Russian people behind their current leader. But even the admittedly frustrating existence of Russia is not a sufficient reason to risk it all; there is much more at stake here.
Russia as the tip of a much larger iceberg
Due to geographical, historical, cultural, religious and military factors, Russia is today the objective leader of the worldwide resistance to Empire, at least in moral, psychological and political terms. But that does not mean that she is "anti-USA", not at all. For one thing, Russia does absolutely not run or control the worldwide resistance to Empire. In fact, to a superficial analysis, Russia often looks pretty much alone in her stance (as shown by the recent Chinese behavior at the UN Security Council). The truth is that other countries who want an end to the AngloZionist hegemony have absolutely no incentive to join Russia on top of the US "shit list" and expose themselves to the wrath of the Hegemon, especially not when Russia seems to be more than willing to bear the brunt of the Empire's hatred. Besides, like all large and powerful countries, Russia lacks real friends and most countries are more than happy to demand that Russia fix all their problems (as shown by the constant stream of accusations that Russia has not done enough in this or that part of the planet). And yet all these countries are not exactly standing in line to show solidarity with Russia when she might need it. So when I say that Russia leads the resistance I am not suggesting that she does that the way the USA runs NATO or some "coalition of the willing". Russia simply leads by the fact that she does not "go away" or, even more so, does not "shut up".
Russia is the only country on the planet, with the possible exception of Iran, which openly and unapologetically dares to denounce the Empire's hypocrisy and which is willing to back her words with military power if needed. The DPRK is a unique and local case. As for the various Bolivarian countries and movements in Latin America, they are currently being defeated by the Empire. In theory, the Muslim world definitely has the potential to play a bigger role in the resistance to the Empire, but the Wahabi-virus injected into the Muslim world by the USA+KSA+Israel has, at least so far, prevented the emergence of a successful and truly Islamic model besides the one of the Islamic Republic of Iran (hence the demonization of the latter by the AngloZionists).
And yet …
The Empire is in the process of losing the entire Middle-East. Not so much because of some brilliant and Machiavellian Russian or Iranian policies, but more as a courtesy of its own infinitely arrogant, stupid and self-defeating policies. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein will probably go down in history as one of the dumbest political decisions ever (Bolton was behind that one too, by the way). That was an entirely self-inflicted catastrophe. As was the almost equally disastrous invasion of Afghanistan. Another self-inflicted disaster for the AngloZionists was their support for the US/EU led coup in the Ukraine, which not only resulted in a calamity which the Europeans will have to pay for for many decades to come (think of it as a big Somalia on the EU's doorstep) but also did an amazing job uniting the Russian people behind their leaders and reduced the pro-Western feelings in the Russian public opinion to something in the range of 2-5 percent at the most. "Getting" the Ukraine sure would not have been worth "losing" Russia.
Then there is China which the USA has grossly mismanaged since the so-called Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996 when Clinton militarily threatened China (see here for details) and with whom Trump has now launched a trade war in order to MAGA (good luck with that!).
In contrast, all the real "action" is now centered around the OBOR project in which China and Russia play the main role and in which the Anglosphere will play no role at all. Add the Petro-Yuan to the equation and you have the emergence of a new Eurasian model which threatens to make the entire Empire simply irrelevant.
And then there is Turkey (2nd most powerful NATO member state). And Pakistan for that matter. Or Afghanistan. Or Iraq. Or Yemen. Everywhere the Empire is in full retreat leaving only chaos behind.
The truth is that Russia would never be a credible threat to the AngloZionist Hegemony if it was not for the innumerable self-inflicted disasters the Empire has been absorbing year after year after year. In reality, Russia is no threat to anybody at all. And even China would not be a threat to the Empire if the latter was not so arrogant, so over-stretched, so ignorant, reckless and incompetent in its actions. Let me just give one simple, but stark, example: not only does the USA not have anything remotely resembling a consistent foreign policy, it does not even have any ministry of foreign affairs. The Department of State does not deal with diplomacy simply because the US leaders don't believe in diplomacy as a concept. All the DoS does is issue threats, sanctions, ultimatums, make demands, deliver score-cards (on human rights and the like, of all things!) and explain to the public why the USA is almost constantly at war with somebody. That is not "diplomacy" and the likes of Nikki Haley are not diplomats. In fact, the USA has no use for International Law either, hence the self-same Nikki Haley openly declaring at a UNSC meeting that the USA is willing to ignore the decisions of the UNSC and act in complete violation of the UN Charter. Simply put: thugs have no need for any diplomacy. They don't understand the concept.
Just like their Israeli masters and mentors, the US Americans have convinced themselves that all they need to be successful on the international scene is to either threaten the use of force or actually use force. Which works great (or so it seems) in Gaza or Grenada, but when dealing with China, Russia or Iran, this monomaniacal approach rapidly shows its limitations, especially when your force is really limited to shooting missiles from afar or murdering civilians (neither the USA nor Israel nor, for that matter, the KSA has a credible "boots on the ground" capability, hence their reliance on proxies).
The Empire is failing, fast, and for all the talk about "Animal Assad" or "Rocket Man" being in need of AngloZionist punishment, the stakes are the survival of Hegemony imposed upon mankind at the end of WWII and, again, at the end of the Cold War, and the future of our planet. There cannot be one World Hegemon and a multipolar world order regulated by international law. It's an either-or situation. And in that sense, this is all much bigger than Syria or even Russia.
From Douma to Donetsk?
There is still a chance that the AngloZionists will decide to strike Syria symbolically, as they did last year following the previous chemical false flag in Khan Sheikhoun (Trump has now probably tweeted himself into a corner which makes some kind of attack almost inevitable). Should that happen though, we should not celebrate too soon as this will just be a minor course change, the 21st-century anti-Russia Crusade will continue, most likely in the form of a Ukronazi attack on the Donbass.
Quick reminder: the purpose of such an attack will not be to reconquer and then ethnically cleanse the Donbass, but to force the Russian Federation to prevent such an outcome by openly intervening. Such a Russian intervention will, of course, quickly stop the war and crush the Ukronazi forces, but at that point the tensions in Europe will go through the roof, meaning that NATO will (finally!) find a halfway credible mission for itself, the Germans will have to give up on North Stream II, Poland and the Baltic statelets will make money by becoming the East European version of Okinawa and the Anglo powers (US/UK) will firmly reestablish control over the EU, Brexit notwithstanding. Furthermore, Russia will become the target of a total economic war, including an energy blockade (the US will be more than happy to impose its overpriced gas on the Europeans), a disconnection from SWIFT, a seizure of Russian assets, a ban on Russian financial operations in the EU, etc. That could be risky, of course, especially with a trade war with China also taking place, but these are just options. What is certain is that as long as Putin or anybody like him remains in power in Russia, the Congress will continue to slap sanctions after sanctions after sanctions on Russia. In fact, during most of her history, even before the Revolution, Russia was under one type of western sanctions or another. There is absolutely nothing new here and, as I like to remind people these days, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, especially with maniacal regimes and leaders.
Besides, as I have already mentioned in the past, and unlike the current confrontation in Syria, a war in the Ukraine is a very safe bet for the Empire. First, when the goal is the defeat of "your" side, almost any military adventure is pretty safe. Second, once the Russians are in Novorussia, they will "own it", meaning that they will have to carry the huge financial burden of rebuilding it. Third, such a Russian presence would consolidate and even boost the Ukie nationalists who, by the way, will have a golden opportunity to blame everything they did wrong over the past 4 years on the Russians. Fourth, any such operation will get a lot of the worst and most rabid Ukronazi killed and that will remove a potential problem from the Poroshenko-types the US much prefers to deal with. Finally, as I said, this will give NATO a sacred mission to "defend Europe against a revanchist Russian rogue state" thereby crushing any European hopes for even a modest degree of independence from the Anglosphere. And the worst case? The worst case would be if the Novorussians can stop the Ukronazi attack without overt Russian intervention. But even if that happens and even if the Novorussians launch some kind of counter-offensive liberating Mariupol or Slaviansk, these are irrelevant losses from the point of view of the Empire which sees both Russians and Ukrainians as cannon fodder. Just as the Empire wants Arabs and Muslims to kill each other on Israel's behalf in the Middle-East, so does the Empire want nothing more than to see Ukrainians and Russians kill each other in maximal numbers and for as long as possible.
[Sidebar: Some might suggest here that the Novorussians could not only defeat the Ukronazi forces but also liberate the rest of the Ukraine, including Kiev. I find that exceedingly unlikely. Here is why: First, all the hurrah-patriotic nonsense notwithstanding, there are very good and objective reasons why the Novorussians could not liberate Mariupol the first time around (there was a major risk of Ukrainian envelopment for the Novorussian force) or why it took them so long to retake control of the Donetsk airport: during most of their existence, Novorussian forces were composed of a mix of different types of units which, for all their personal courage, were simply not capable of operational-level offensives. They were limited to tactical-level engagements which, even when successful, do not necessarily lead to operational-level developments. There seems to have been major changes made in the command structure of the Novorussian forces. The liberation of the Donetsk airport and, even more so, the Debaltsevo "cauldron" were joint DNR-LNR efforts, but even if, as I suspect, the Novorussians are now capable of operational-level counter-offensives, this is still not what it would take to liberate Kiev. Furthermore, as one Novorussian officer commented, "the further West we go, the less we are seen as liberators and the more as occupiers". Last but not least, Russia will not allow the Novorussians to liberate most of the Ukraine even if they could do so, because then Russia would have to pay for the staggering costs of trying to fix this massive "European Somalia", and that is a task far beyond her current means. For all the East-European hallucinations about some Russian invasion, Russia has neither the desire nor even the means to invade anybody. The painful reality is this: the Ukrainians will pay a dear price for their Russophobic delusions and most of the bill to fix that mess will have to be paid by the rest of Europe. They created that nightmare, let them fix it now.]
Conclusion: back to Syria
None of the above should distract us from what is by far the biggest danger currently facing us all – the risks of a US-Russian war in Syria. In fact, this reality seems to be slowly dawning even on the most obtuse of presstitutes who are now worrying about a spill-over effect. No, not in Europe or the USA, but on Israel, of course. Still, the fact that there are folks who understand that Israel might not survive a superpower clash on its doorstep is a good thing. Maybe the Israel lobby in the USA, or a least the part of it which cares for Israel (many/most only pretend to), will be more vocal than all the silent Anglo shabbos-goyim who don't seem to be able to muster even a minimal amount of self-preservation instinct? Bibi Netanyahu felt the need to call Putin after the Israeli ambassador to Russia was read the riot act by Russian officials following the (admittedly rather lame) Israeli airstrike on the T-4 Syrian air force base. Not much of a hope, I admit..
This is not about good guys versus bad guys anymore. It's about sane versus insane. I think that we can safely place Trump, Bolton, Haley and the rest of them in the "terminally delusional" camp. But what about the top US generals? I asked two well-informed friends, and they both told me that there is probably nobody above the rank of Colonel with enough courage left to object to the Neocon's insanity, even if that means WWIII. Again, not much hope here either…
There is a sura (Al-Anfal 8:30) of the Qur'an which Sheikh Imran Hosein often mentions which I want to quote here: And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners. And since we are talking about Syria where Iran and Hezbollah are targets as much (or more) as the Russians, it is also fitting here to quote a very popular Shia slogan which calls to remember that the battle against oppression must be fought ceaselessly and everywhere: "Every Day Is Ashura and Every Land Is Karbala". And, of course, there are the words of Christ Himself: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt 10:28).
Such religious references will, no doubt, irritate the many "enlightened" westerners for whom such language reeks of obscurantism, fanaticism, and bigotry. But in Russia or the Middle-East, such references are very much part of the national or religious ethos. To illustrate my point I want to quote from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's "Divine Victory Speech" spoken in 2006 following the crushing victory by a relatively small Hezbollah force of the combined might of the Israeli ground, air and naval forces:
We are today celebrating a big strategic, historic, and divine victory. How can the human mind imagine that a few thousand of your Lebanese resistance sons – if I wanted, I would give the exact number – held out for 23 days in a land exposed to the skies against the strongest air force in the Middle East, which had an air bridge transporting smart bombs from America, through Britain, to Israel; against 40,000 officers and soldiers – four brigades of elite forces, three reserve army divisions; against the strongest tank in the world; and against the strongest army in the region? How could only a few thousand people hold out and fight under such harsh conditions, and [how could] their fighting force the naval warships out of our territorial waters? By the way, the army and the resistance are capable of protecting the territorial waters from being desecrated by any Zionist. [Applause] [And how could their fighting] also lead to the destruction of the Mirkava tanks, which are an object of pride for the Israeli industry; damage Israeli helicopters day and night; and turn the elite brigades – I am not exaggerating, and you can watch and read the Israeli media – into rats frightened by your sons? [How did this happen] while you were relinquished by the Arabs and the world and in light of the political (human solidarity was profound though) division around you? How could this group of mujahidin defeat this army without the support and assistance of Almighty God? This resistance experience, which should be conveyed to the world, depends – on the moral and spiritual level – on faith, certainty, reliance [on God], and readiness to make sacrifices. It also depends on reason, planning, organization, armament, and, as is said, on taking all possible protective procedures. We are neither a disorganized and sophistic resistance, nor a resistance pulled to the ground that sees before it nothing but soil, nor a resistance of chaos. The pious, God-reliant, loving, and knowledgeable resistance is also the conscious, wise, trained, and equipped resistance that has plans. This is the secret of the victory we are today celebrating, brothers and sisters.
These words could also be used to describe the relatively small Russian task force in Syria. In fact, there are numerous parallels which could be made between Hezbollah's role and position in the Middle-East and Russia's role and position in the world. And while both are well-trained, well-armed and well-commanded, it is their spiritual power which will decide the outcome of the wars waged against them by the Hegemony. AngloZionist secularists will never understand that – they just can't – and that will bring their inevitable downfall. The only question is the price mankind will have to pay to have that last Empire finally bite the dust.
The Saker


text: Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe LONDON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A 50-foot-tall rubber duck created by a gaming website was floated down the River Thames in an attempt to spread laughter in London. Barbara Windsor of website Jackpotjoy said the duck was floated down the river Wednesday morning as part of the website's "Fundation" campaign to boost the average times Britons laugh each day from 7.2 to 15, The Sun reported Wednesday. Advertisement Windsor said, "2012 really has been the year of the River Thames with the Jubilee Pageant, the floating Olympic rings and David Beckham jetting into the ceremony via speedboat." "We decided to round off the year with the giant duck and it certainly cheered everyone up ... no-one could suppress a smile as they saw it sailing past," she said. Read More Vandals 'barbecue' giant rubber duck Atlantic rubber duck onslaught coming

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Written by Ian McEnteggart
ISO 527-4 is an international testing standard for determining the tensile properties of fiber-reinforced plastic composites. ISO 527-4 covers test conditions for isotropic and orthotropic non-unidirectional composites and refers to ISO 527-1. This guide is designed to introduce you to the basic elements of an ISO 527-4 tensile test, including an overview of the equipment, software, and samples needed. However, anyone planning to conduct testing to ISO 527-4 should not consider this guide an adequate substitute for reading the full standard.
An ISO 527-4 test is performed by applying a tensile force to a specimen and measuring various properties of the specimen under stress. it is conducted on a universal testing machine (also called a tensile testing machine) at a fixed crosshead speed which depends on the geometry of the specimen and test type chosen. ISO 527-4 measures the following tensile properties:
- Poisson's ratio - the ratio of the change in transverse to axial strain between 0.05% and 0.25% strain
- Modulus of elasticity - the slope of the specimen's stress/strain response, usually determined between 0.05% and 0.25% strain
- Tensile strain at tensile strength - the tensile strain corresponding to the tensile strength
- Tensile strength - the maximum stress applied during the test (usually the stress at break)
Is ISO 527-4 the Right Standard for You?
A wide range of different tests are required in order to fully characterize anisotropic and heterogeneous composite materials. ISO 527-4 is one of the most basic tests performed on composite materials and is widely used to assess, qualify, and certify their tensile properties. ISO 527-4 can be used for composites with both continuous and discontinuous fiber reinforcements, while ISO 527-5 is intended for testing unidirectional continuous-fiber composites. Plastics reinforced by particles or short fibers can be tested to ISO 527-2. Pre-configured test methods for all of these standards, along with many more, can be found in Instron's Bluehill® Universal testing software.
SpecimensISO 527-4 defines three types of test specimen. Type 1B specimens are a molded "dog-bone" type suitable for testing short fiber reinforced materials with a thermoplastic matrix. Type 2 specimens are rectangular with a constant cross-section and are suitable for testing continuous fiber materials with thermoset and thermoplastic matrices. Type 3 specimens are similar to Type 2 specimens with the addition of end tabs, which are common in composite testing in order to prevent the specimen from being damaged by the grips.
Specimen MeasurementAll specimens must be measured before testing in accordance with ISO 16012 or ISO 23529. Most typical micrometers should be suitable for performing these measurements. In order for the test system to display stress measurements rather than just force measurements, operators will be asked to input the cross-sectional area (thickness and width) of the specimen, because stress is calculated by dividing the applied force by the specimen's cross-sectional area (this is shown in units of Psi, Pa, kPa, GPa, etc). While the thickness and width of rigid specimens require different measurement accuracies, it is common to use the same measuring device for both. Either cylindrical or rectangular micrometer tips can be used, assuming they meet the dimensions required by ISO 16012.
The Automatic Specimen Measuring Device feature in Bluehill Universal allows operators to connect up to two devices (micrometers or calipers) to the testing software. Measurement data will be uploaded directly into the testing software, eliminating the chance of input errors and increasing test efficiency.
Materials Testing System
ISO 527-4 may be performed on a table top or floor model universal testing machine such as Instron's 6800 Series systems. A 100 or 250 kN system is usually required when testing carbon fiber composites, though a 30 kN or 50 kN table model system may be sufficient for testing glass fiber composites.
Strain Measurement
A number of different devices are available for measuring strain during ISO 527-4 testing. When used with suitable instrumentation, bonded electrical resistance strain gauges provide a method of determining the strain below the active area (typically a few mm²) of the gauge. Strain gauges usually consist of a thin metal foil grid on an organic backing, and can be used for testing at a wide range of temperatures from cryogenic to over 200°C. Strain gauges require conditioning in order to generate a useful electrical signal, and an easy-to-use adapter is available with the standard electronics of an Instron test machine.
A range of extensometer options are also available depending on the needs of your laboratory. The simplest type is a clip-on device which must be clipped directly onto the specimen at the beginning of each test and removed before the specimen breaks. The fixed gauge length 2630 series clip-on extensometer is suitable for the measurement of axial strain. A biaxial clip-on extensometer is available for tests that require the measurement of both axial and transverse strain for the determination of Poisson's ratio.
The AutoX750 is an extensometer that automatically attaches to the specimen without interference by the test operator. This is useful in labs with high throughput needs, as it eliminates the time-consuming need for manual manipulation by the operator and also provides more consistent placement on a large number of specimens. Consistent placement results in more repeatable modulus values.
Composite materials are often destined for use in the aerospace industry and therefore must be resilient to extreme temperature conditions. To simulate these conditions, ISO 527-4 tests can be performed inside a temperature chamber where LN2 or CO2 are used to either heat or cool the chamber to application-specific temperatures. Strain gauges or clip-on extensometers can be used up to a maximum temperature of 200°C. A non-contacting Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE2) can also be used, which has the advantage of being placed outside of the temperature chamber. The AVE2 does not physically touch the specimen and therefore does not need to be removed from the specimen before failure. This eliminates the need for the test operator to open and close the chamber door during testing.
Test ChamberTemperature chambers use forced air convection and resistive heating elements to achieve high temperatures and liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide cooling to achieve low temperatures. The Instron range of 3119-600 series environmental chambers provides extensive temperature testing capabilities for evaluating material properties under non-ambient testing conditions. A full range of complementary grips, pullrods and extensometers is available.
ISO 527-4 tests are conducted at a constant crosshead speed. The prescribed test speed depends on the specimen type and the type of testing being performed. For example, tests being done for routine quality control can be run at faster speeds (5 and 10 mm/min) than those being used for qualification (2 mm/min).
Calculations and ResultsWhen presenting test results, it is important to ensure that the measurement terms are properly defined in order to ensure compliance with ISO 527-4 and facilitate data comparison between different laboratories.
Tensile Stress/Tensile Strength: Tensile stress is determined by dividing the force at a given point by the average specimen area. The tensile strength of a specimen is the maximum tensile stress achieved before failure.
Tensile Strain/Tensile Strain at Failure: Tensile strain is the engineering strain measured by the strain measuring device (strain gauge or extensometer). The tensile failure strain is the strain corresponding to the tensile strength.
Modulus: Modulus is defined as the slope of the stress-strain response between 0.05% and 0.25% strain unless alternative values are given in the material specification. Because the modulus calculation starts at 0.05% strain, it is extremely important that appropriate pre-stresses are applied to the material to remove any slack or compressive forces induced from gripping the specimen. It shall not exceed 0.05% strain or 1% of the tensile strength of the material.
Poisson's Ratio: Poisson's ratio is determined by taking the ratio of the change in transverse strain to the change in axial strain over the same axial strain range used to determine modulus (0.05% to 0.25%).


text:
Our Cotton Crinkle Hijabs are fabricated from a soft woven viscose and cotton blend, perfect for your everyday hijabs that can be endlessly styled. Featured in a lovely medium neutral hue with a peachy undertone, our Cotton Crinkle Hijab in Soft Peach will pair well with almost any outfit! A gorgeous hijab for any skin tone! Style it with or without pins, drape it loose, or wrap it snug, these airy hijabs will be comfortable anyway!
Don't have time for ironing or pinning up your hijab? This hijab collection is made for our ladies on the go! Whether you are a student, professional, or a mom, these easy breezy hijabs are the perfect choice for you! With their flattering crinkle texture, non-slip fabric, and airy flow, these cotton hijabs stay in place with minimal effort.
Hijab Dimensions
Length: 180 cm or 71 inches
Width: 90 cm or 35 inches
Fabric: Cotton Viscose
Care: To keep your hijab looking its best, we recommend that you:
- Hand wash or machine wash on a delicate cycle in cold water
- Use a mild detergent and avoid bleach or fabric softener
- Hang or lay flat to dry, or tumble dry on a low heat setting
- Iron on a low heat setting, or steam to remove any wrinkles
- To remove any stains or spots, gently blot the affected area with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then rinse and hang to dry.
Shipping Region | Minimum Order Amount | Shipping Cost | Transit Time | USA-wide | $80 USD | Free | 2-7 business days |
USA-wide | Under $80 USD | $4.99 USD | 2-7 business days |
Package Tracking and Insurance: Rest assured, all our packages are tracked and insured for your peace of mind.
Customs Duty:
- United States: No Customs Duty for orders under $800 in the US.
For more information, please review our Shipping Policy.
There is a reason very single hijabi has worn one of these. They are a hassle-free bargain that tends to last you few seasons.
Cotton Crinkle Hijabs are the perfect option for new hijabis. Here are a few reasons why:
- Inexpensive: You get to experiment a lot without feeling bad about damaging them
- Hassle-free: They are very lightweight and soft. This is perfect for beginners as it won't bother you throughout your day.
- Longevity: They surprisingly last a decent amount of time.
- Low maintenance: Their wrinkle texture means you never have to iron them.
To wear a cotton crinkle hijab, you can try the following method:
- Drape the hijab over your head, with one end longer than the other and simply wrap it around. Secure it in place with pins or hijab magnets, and consider wearing an undercap to help keep the hijab in place.
Cotton crinkle hijabs are versatile and can be worn in many different ways, so don't be afraid to try out different styles and techniques to find what works best for you.
Wearing an undercap is not necessary with cotton crinkle hijabs, but it can help to keep the hijab in place and provide an additional layer of coverage.
Our Cotton Crinkle hijabs are 180 x 90 cm in size, or approximately 70.9 x 35 inches
The size of the hijabs is meant to strike a balance between coverage and comfort, making them suitable for a wide range of activities and occasions.
We'll be happy to assist you!
Simply shoot us an email at email@example.com or chat with us in the bottom right corner of the page.


text:
Marketers on Twitter are warming to Vine, and it appears that consumers are too. TechCrunch recently pointed out that Vine climbed past Instagram on the Google Play charts to take the mantle as the top social application, and has also noted that Vine shares on Twitter have surpassed Instagram shares. Now, new data from Socialbakers indicates that tweets containing Vine uploads have a 0.031% engagement rate, not far behind tweeted YouTube videos' rate of 0.048%. Socialbakers calls the results "surprising" and even "amazing" considering that Vine is so new – it was only just introduced to Android, having previously only been available to iPhone and iPad users. (The Socialbakers data is based only on iPhone and iPad engagement.) Now, Facebook is reportedly exploring video for Instagram.
In research released last month, Unruly Media shared some other findings about Vine (some of which may by now be obsolete given Vine's growth trajectory, but interesting nonetheless). Based on data from more than 10 million Vines collected during a 1-month period, Unruly Media found that:
- 5 tweets per second contained a Vine link;
- Weekends were the most popular time to share Vines, by a sizable margin;
- Most Vine activity occurred between 10-11AM EDT; and
- Branded content accounted for 4% of the top 100 Vines tracked, compared to only 1% of content in the Unruly Viral Video Chart Top 100 Most Shared Videos that was branded.
About the Data: The Socialbakers data is based on an analysis of more than 30,000 tweets containing YouTube and Vine links posted over a 1-month period by selected brand profiles. The time period was May 5-June 5, 2013.
Socialbakers' formula for Twitter engagement rate is based on replies, retweets, and favorites. The formula is listed below:
Twitter Average Tweet ER = ((Replies + Retweets + Favorites on a given day / # of tweets made by profile on a given day) / Total Followers on a given day) x 100


text:
Most entrepreneurs believe they are "different," but they can't quite understand how. They usually explain it by insisting that they are driven to follow their passion, need to be their own boss, want to get rich quick, or want to change the world. I now believe that the roots of the difference may go back more than 10,000 years, when hunting and farming became two different lifestyles.
The classic book, "Hunting in a Farmer's World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur," by serial entrepreneur and business coach John F. Dini, tied together several threads I have often seen in my own experience of mentoring and helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Dini makes the case that entrepreneurs are hunters, while the rest of us (large majority) are farmers.
This is not a statement of good or bad, right or wrong, but just an explanation of why some people see and do things one way, and others do it another way. In business, entrepreneurs hunt for new innovative solutions to problems, new ways of beating competitors, new markets, and new customers. Farmers are the management that comes after the hunt, to build repeatable processes, do seasonal planning, and make sure all employees are well-fed and trained.
All this made more sense to me as Dini defined the types of entrepreneurs into four categories. Within each of these types, I can easily highlight strengths and weaknesses that we both see every day in startups:
- Technicians. The good news is that technicians are entrepreneurs who have previously learned a skill or job so well that they can do it without a manager. The bad news is they may not be good at managing people, or even managing basic business. Technicians can become true hunters when they learn to provide for both employees and family.
- Inheritors. These are former employees who find themselves thrust into owning a business, due to family ties or evolution. Unfortunately, most inheritors have been farmers for too long, or never had hunting instincts. The best ones learn to be hunters, or revert to that mode, allowing their business to grow and change with the requirements.
- Acquirers. Entrepreneurs who are willing to acquire an existing business, and believe they can make it a better business than previous owners, are clearly hunters. Farmer acquirers, who want to manage a proven opportunity, with no change, buy a franchise. Hunter franchisees move on quickly, or end up owning the entire franchise system.
- Creators. These are the ultimate hunters. They build businesses as their lifestyle, not as a job. They love the continuous hunt, for investment capital, resources, talent, and new markets. Only a few of these slide into farming, as the company grows in employees and products. The remainder usually exit within five years, to start the process over again.
In addition to the right type, there are clearly traits that every aspiring entrepreneur should recognize as critical for business success and happiness:
- Creativity. Hunters thrive on the challenge of the unknown. They look at every situation as a puzzle that has an answer. Success at any level always brings a new set of problems. Hunters live for solutions and change. Farmers live for repeatable processes, minimal risk, and predictable results to feed the family.
- Tenacity. Hunters never quit. There are no defeats, only setbacks. Success is always just a little further down the road. "Never" is not an option. If a solution doesn't work, there is always another, then another, and another. Farmers are easily frustrated by setbacks, and count on "leadership from the top" to give them new fields for growth.
- Business sense. Hunters need "street smarts." If you are looking to create a business, you better have a strong "gut feeling" or "third eye" for business that goes beyond the usual five senses. Farmers have a narrower view of what is required, to optimize quality production, customer satisfaction, or close a sale.
There once was a time in mankind's history when almost everyone was a hunter, for survival. Our civilization has evolved now almost to the other extreme, where the vast majority of the people in business are farmers (managers and employees). For those of you who have the hunter gene, or the yearning to learn, the time has never been riper to be an entrepreneur. How long has it been since you have taken a hard look in the mirror?


text:
Have you ever made candied orange peels? I think they are sometimes called Orangettes. I've never had them before but have always thought they looked lovely and delicious and they are. A friend pinned a photo of them on Pinterest the other day and I quickly checked out the links. The link took me to a great blog called Closet Cooking (cooking in a closet sized kitchen) written by Kevin in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and there you will find an excellent tutorial on how to make these delicious Christmas treats!
Here is the recipe.
Candied Orange Peel
3 navel oranges,
2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup sugar (to be used to "sugar" the peels after they have been cooked and drained.)
1. Cut the top and bottom from the orange.
2. Cut the peel each orange into 4 vertical pieces and remove from orange in one piece.
3. Cut the peel into thin strips.
4. Bring a pot of water to boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook the peels in boiling water for 15 minutes, drain and rinse.
5. Bring the water and sugar to a boil over medium heat in a sauce pan.
6. Add the peel, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the peels are tender, about 45 minutes.
7. Drain and toss the peels in the sugar. Note: You want to drain the orange peels well. If you just throw them straight from the syrup into the sugar, the sugar will clump up. (Tip: Save the syrup and use it in ice tea.)
8. Place the peels on a cooling rack and let them sit until the coating is dry, anywhere from 24-48 hours.
Here are my orange peels drying on a baking rack after I sugared them.
And here they are. Everyone in my family very cautiously sampled them and each one's head started bobbing up in down as a smile spread across their face. "These are good!"
I hear you can also make candied peels out of lemon, limes, and grapefruit! I think lemons might be my next project!
And before I go, I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. If you can believe it, we still don't have a tree and I am leaving tomorrow morning to Tennessee for the weekend with my daughter Kelsey to attend a dear friend's daughter's wedding shower! I have so much to do that my head is spinning!! It'll all get done somehow….it always does. I am convinced that Christmas wouldn't happen without the women and Moms in this world!!
Merry Christmas!!


text:
Who's Afraid of Toe Overlap?
I don't think there is an answer to this question that rings true for everyone, but I will try to cover multiple sides of the argument.
An argument for "no": Chances are that you already have a bike with toe overlap and simply haven't noticed. Try it: make a slow, sharp U-turn on a quiet street or in a parking lot, and pay attention to whether your toe can potentially hit the wheel as you are making the turn. The overlap is more drastic on some bikes than on others, but most smaller-frame production bicycles have it to some degree. The reason many cyclists remain blissfully unaware of it, is that we rarely cycle at speeds slow enough for the wheel to turn so sharply as to cause the overlap. So while the overlap is a theoretical possibility, it is not usually a threat.
An argument for "yes": Cyclists do occasionally make turns slow enough to cause toe overlap. Instances when that might happen include the aforementioned U-turns, as well as slow turns in urban traffic. In addition, beginner cyclists tend to go slower than experienced cyclists - making them more vulnerable to toe overlap.
An argument for "no": Some in the bicycle industry will argue that toe overlap is not so much a "problem" as a reality, and it is the cyclist's responsibility to learn to deal with it. Even on bikes with dramatic toe overlap, and even when those bikes are fixed gear (i.e. coasting through a turn is not an option), there is a way to time your pedal strokes so that your toe does not hit the turned wheel. There are formulas and instructions for this. Over time, it becomes "second nature."
An argument for "yes": What is "second nature" to some, may not be to others, even over time. There are some experienced cyclists who've had bad falls as a result of toe overlap. The bottom line is, that if your bike has toe overlap, and if you actually manage to hit the front wheel with your toe as a result (or get your toe jammed in there, which also happens), you could have a bad fall while trying to execute a turn. Therefore, at least in theory, a bike with toe overlap is more accident prone, than a bike without. Some would argue that this in itself makes it a "problem" and not just a "feature" of the bike.
In theory, a few things can be done by the framebuilder or manufacturer to create small size frames without toe overlap. The problem is, that all of these changes have consequences that can be perceived as drawbacks. For example:
Smaller wheel size: Toe overlap can usually be eliminated on a small frame by fitting the bike with proportionally smaller wheels. For instance: 650B instead of the typical 700C on a roadbike, or 26" instead of the typical 28" on a roadster-type bicycle. The reason this is seldom done on production bikes, is that it is more costly for a manufacturer to design different sized frames around different wheels. Additionally, cyclists themselves tend to have an aversion to smaller wheels, due to a commonly held belief that larger wheels are faster. This makes smaller wheeled bikes less popular, despite their no-TCO advantage.
Changes in frame geometry: Toe overlap can also be eliminated by a number of changes to frame geometry. The simplest method is to make the the top tube a bit longer and the seat tube a bit steeper, which will create more space between the front wheel and the crankset without changing the way a bicycle handles too much. However, a longer top tube means that you will either be too stretched out on the bike, or will need a super-short stem. And a steep seat tube means that you may either be uncomfortable with the aggressive angle, or will need to find a seat post with considerable set-back. If you prefer a relaxed seat tube angle and a reasonable top tube length, then the other options are more complicated, as they involve messing with the bicycle's handling: Making the head tube slacker and increasing the fork rake will reduce toe overlap as well, but it could make the bicycle less responsive, which many cyclists would find undesirable. I don't want to turn this into a lesson in frame geometry, but suffice to say that some would prefer to deal with the toe overlap, rather than make either of these changes to their bike.
It is hard to find a definitive answer to the questions of whether toe overlap is a problem, and of how to eliminate it. Different frame builders, bicycle fitters, and other industry spokespersons will tell you different things, and they may all sound perfectly convincing and reasonable while you are listening to them... until you hear the other guy's argument for the opposite, and it will sound equally convincing and reasonable.
My personal view is that toe overlap is a problem if you consider it a problem. And if you do, then I don't think it's right for anybody in the bicycle industry to try and persuade you otherwise in order to sell you a bike. Ultimately, it should be up to the cyclist to decide and for the framebuilder, or salesperson, to accommodate.


text:
And by doubles, we mean a two-for-one: shirtless AND tattooed.
Farmers Classic semifinalist Alex Bogomolov, Jr. showed TSF some love before his match-up against Ernests Gulbis yesterday. Alex was on the Grandstand court playing points with a decent-hittin' tween. BTW: Gulbis won that match 6-2, 7-6 (4).
We already logged his right shoulder tat, and this is our first the Chinese characters on his left shoulder.
More: Two more images after the cut…
(photos by TSF)


text:
At the beginning of the year I participated in The Nester's 2011 Home Goals Party. I am guessing many of you did too. You may remember instead of making a laundry list of things to buy and projects to complete around my house, I choose to create seven simple goals which focused on appreciating my surroundings and using what I already had to its fullest potential.
Since half the year is gone, I thought it would be a good time to revisit these goals to see how I am doing. More importantly, I also hope to inspire you to do the same!
Here is my list with an update of my progress:
Plan my garden before planting
I am happy to say this goal has been achieved. Instead of randomly buying plants as in years past, we have designated sections of the garden for herbs, vegetables, and ornamentals. It was worth the small amount of planning and I will continue to plan before planting from now on.
Use the herbs I plant
This one is in the "kind of category." I have used some basil and a small amount of the oregano. The dill, cilantro, thyme and parsley, however, have been neglected. Time to get cooking!
Be a tourist in my own town
This is the goal on which I have made the least progress. I hope to remedy this during the coming summer months by taking advantage of all the local things my home town has to offer.
Organize and clean out
I have been doing a pretty good job. I started the year off with a bang by cleaning out a lot of unused items but have slowly let things return to normal. I need to regain my enthusiasm and continue where I left off.
Learn how to use my sewing machine attachments
I have played around with some of the attachments but as you can see from the picture above I definitely have a ways to go. I have to admit it has been fun seeing all the different stitches this old machine can sew!
Learn how to use my camera settings
My photo taking skills have improved as I have moved beyond the auto setting and I am now playing with the aperture setting. Next on the list is learning how to adjust the shutter speed.
Continue to remember a house is just a house. It is the people who live inside and the friends who come to visit which are most important.
I consider this to be my most important goal of the year. I try to remind myself daily to remember what is truly most special in my life.
There you have it. Overall I believe I am doing well but have room for improvement. Luckily there is still time as there are as many months ahead in 2011 as have already past.
So, how about you? How are you doing on your 2011 goals? I would love to hear the goals you have accomplished and the ones you need to start focusing on. Thanks for sharing!


text:
Many workers use their personally owned smartphones and other computers for job tasks, but a new survey shows a big percentage are doing so without their employer's knowledge.
Market research firm Gartner surveyed 4,300 U.S. consumers in June who work at large companies (with more than 1,000 employees) and found 40% used personally owned smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktops as a primary or supplemental business device.
That 40% might not be unusual, but more surprisingly, Gartner found that 45% of workers not required to use a personal device for work were doing so without their employer's knowledge.
"Almost half [are using their device] without their employer's awareness," said Gartner analyst Amanda Sabia in an interview.
"Are those without employer's awareness violating a rule? That would depend on the employer," Sabia added. "The point is that some CIOs are underestimating [the number of] employees using their devices and should be prepared for this."
The Gartner survey found the most popular personally owned device used for work was a desktop computer, at 42%, closely followed by a smartphone, at 40%, a laptop, at 36%, and a tablet, at 26%.
"The lines between work and play are becoming more and more blurred as employees choose to use their own device for work purposes whether sanctioned by an employer or not," Sabia said. "Devices once bought for personal use are increasingly used for work."
Technology manufacturers and wireless service providers could do more to respond to the bring-your-own-device trend, Sabia said. The survey found that the primary use of a smartphone, after making calls and texting, was to get maps and directions.
"Smartphone vendors should focus on ensuring ease of integration of a smartphone with in-car sound and media systems for hands-free and real-time operation of these [mapping and directions] functions," Sabia added.
The survey asked a wide range of questions beyond BYOD concerns. Another finding was that 32% of respondents plan to buy a smartphone in the next 12 months, while 23% want to buy a laptop or notebook, 20% plan to buy a tablet and 14% a desktop PC.
Also, about 80% of respondents said they had downloaded a mobile app. Of that number, three-fourths of the apps were free, and one-fourth were paid.
Nick Ingelbrect, a Gartner analyst, noted that the app industry has struggled to make money on its products, but the survey results should provide encouragement. The app market is maturing, and consumers are more discerning, but will pay for apps that they find valuable, he said.
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.


text:
1.) What is really in the MariaDB JDBC driver and how exactly does it differ from the drizzle JDBC driver? What, if any, relation is there to Connector/J code? There is a JIRA project but it contains only four bugs, hence is not very informative. The launchpad bzr history shows detailed check-ins but not overall intent.
2.) Why relicense from BSD to LGPL? I have checked the class headers and so far as attributions are concerned everything seems to be done quite properly. However, the license change appears to prevent those of us currently using the drizzle JDBC driver from transferring code changes back to the drizzle driver. If so, that seems a little unneighborly.
Here is some background on the relationship between the drivers. The MariaDB JDBC client is a fork of the BSD-licensed drizzle JDBC driver originally developed by Marcus Eriksson, who continues to maintain the code. According to the bzr change history the code forked after rev 253, which was 24 April 2011. There are still many similarities in the Java classes. For instance, a number of classes in the org.mariadb.jdbc.internal.common package differ by little other than licensing headers and package names. The MariaDB code is now up to rev 375 and includes substantial changes that appear to be designed to bring the MariaDB JDBC driver closer to the capabilities of the MySQL Connector/J driver.
At Continuent we have a lively interest in the drizzle JDBC driver, as we adopted it for Tungsten Replicator some time ago. The code had fewer bugs than Connector/J, which was attractive. More importantly, Marcus kindly accepted a patch from my colleague Stephane Giron (working as a Continuent employee) that made it easy for us to send queries using binary data rather than the usual Unicode data required by the JDBC standard. This fix allows Tungsten to replicate codesets and binary data correctly. We have since contributed a few other patches. Our modest contribution in part reflects the quality of the base code.
While waiting for answers I would like to commend Marcus as well as other drizzle contributors for their work. We are particularly indebted to Marcus for starting and continuing the drizzle JDBC project. Tungsten Replicator users have applied many trillions of transactions using the drizzle driver. If the MariaDB JDBC driver gains wide acceptance, the rest of the MySQL community owes Marcus Eriksson substantial thanks as well.


text:
Under Activist Pressure, Darden to Separate Struggling Red Lobster
Caving to activist shareholder pressure, Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI) unveiled plans on Thursday to spin off or sell its Red Lobster chain as quarterly profits tumbled by a worse-than-expected 42%.
However, activist Barington Capital was dissatisfied by the announcement, calling it "incomplete and inadequate."
Shares of the largest U.S. full-service restaurant operator tumbled 6% Thursday, trimming their subpar 2013 gain to just 10%.
In addition to the Red Lobster news, Darden announced plans to increase cost savings, reduce unit growth and boost returns to shareholders.
The separation decision comes two months after activist Barington publicly pressed Darden to address its underperformance by separating Red Lobster and Olive Garden from its higher-growth brands like Capital Grille.
Darden said no final decision on the form of separation of Red Lobster has been announced. The company expects to execute a tax-free spin-off of Red Lobster to its shareholders, but said it "may also consider" selling the brand.
The restaurant giant believes the spinoff will allow executives to focus on Red Lobster's needs and more closely tailor their strategies to the needs of their guests.
"While we are highly confident the future is bright for both Red Lobster and Darden excluding Red Lobster, we also recognize that the operating priorities, capital requirements, sales and earnings growth prospects, and volatility profiles of the two parts of the business are increasingly divergent," Darden CEO Clarence Otis said in a statement.
New York-based Barington, which owns more than 2% of Darden, had called for a more comprehensive separation to enable executives to focus on the divergent brands. Barington also wants Darden to place its real-estate assets into a REIT.
In a statement, Barington CEO James Mitarotonda called the announcement "a first step toward improving focus and operating execution," but said the plan "fails to address significant additional opportunities to enhance long-term shareholder value."
"We believe that Darden can and should be doing more to improve value for its shareholders," Mitarotonda said.
Darden tapped former Red Lobster president Kim Lopdrup to serve as the brand's new CEO following the separation. Lopdrup is currently president of Darden's specialty restaurant group.
"As a stand-alone company, we will be free to focus in a more single-minded manner on the many current and prospective guests who find what Red Lobster brings to the marketplace highly relevant," Lopdrup said.
Moody's placed Darden's credit rating on review for a downgrade on Thursday, citing the challenging outlook to improve Olive Garden, which will now make up a larger chunk of the "less-diversified and smaller" company's earnings.
Darden said it plans to cut unit growth and forgo acquisitions, primarily by suspending unit growth at Olive Garden.
The company also plans to boost cost savings, now projecting savings of at least $60 million annually, up from $50 million previously. Barington had called for more aggressive moves to save $150 million a year.
Meanwhile, Darden said it earned $19.8 million, or 15 cents a share, last quarter, compared with a profit of $33.6 million, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts had called for EPS of 20 cents.
Revenue fell 4.6% to $2.05 billion, compared with the Street's view of $2.07 billion. Same-restaurant sales fell 4.5% at Red Lobster and 0.6% at Olive Garden.
Management also dimmed its forecast for full-year U.S. same-restaurant sales for Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, projecting a decline of 1% to 2%. Previously it called for flat sales or a 1% rise.
Darden confirmed it has hired Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) as its financial advisor tied to the separation announcement.
Orlando-based Darden fell 4.97% to $50.29 in recent trading Thursday afternoon.


text:
LED Neurons
[Alexandra Olivier] put up an art installation at Wellesley College that looks like a bunch of neurons built out of LEDs. The neurons are connected to a couple PIR sensors and 'fire' whenever movement is detected. The result is a lot like being inside a brain. Fitting, then, that the installation is called Social Synapses.
Last year's big toy was always evil, though
Last year, [Andrew] had to fight the throngs of shoppers to get the must have toy of the season, a Zhu Zhu pet. Since these robotic hamster things have spent the last 11 months in the back of a closet, it seems reasonable to make them evil. They're still not as evil as a demonic Furby….
So we call it a bifocal, right?
There's an old photography trick for a really hacky macro setup – just turn the lens around. Well, what if you wanted automatic metering and flash control? Simple, just electrically reverse the lens. Bonus points for being able to use the lens regularly as well.
Control all the bands
Well here's something cool: an all-in-one USB 315mhz, 433mhz, and 868mhz transceiver. What can you do with it? Well, [codeninja] can control the outdoor lights for two of his neighbors, open gates and doors, crash his weather station, and just about anything else in those bands. It's pretty much like war driving for important stuff nobody cares about.
So this is our favorite holiday now
There's a Dutch tradition to play Sinterklaas and make someone a present. [Jenor] decided to build an antique-looking DC voltmeter with a pair of vacuum tubes. The tubes don't work anymore, but the heaters still provide a nice warm glow. It's a bit large to be regularly used as a piece of test equipment, but it really does look awesome. Very steampunkey, and it's the though that counts anyway.


text:
Disclosure – the accounting space is an area I follow closely and one in which I have spent time consulting with a host of different vendors. Full details on my disclosure page but suffice it to say I have consulted to a number of companies covered in this post – in particular MYOB, Intuit and Xero
On my first ever trip to the Bay area, six or so years ago, I attended the, now defunct, Office 2.0 conference. At the event I moderated a panel looking at what Accounting 2.0 actually meant and the value it could drive. The panel was a who's who of the space and included folks from bill.com, Mint, FreshBooks and Wesabi. As an aside it's interesting to see where those companies are today – both Mint and FreshBooks are still around and growing well while remaining independent. Mint was famously acquired by Intuit while Wesabi has sadly departed.
During the panel, Mike McDerment, founder and CEO of FreshBooks eloquently articulated their rationale for remaining laser-focused on being purely about invoicing and not jumping into the full cloud accounting space. It is a strategy that I've been dubious about ever since FreshBooks launched – I believe invoicing is only on part of the broader financial system requirements of an SMB and to miss out the other integral elements (accounts payable, general ledger etc) was somewhat of a half baked concept.
I always figured that the company knew best and their rampant growth was an indication that they were right, and my ideas were flawed. Bear in mind that FreshBooks boasts of customers in 120 countries, has built a 90 person company and has more paying customers in the US than any other accounting/invoicing application apart from QuickBooks.
News from an open letter to the FreshBooks community from McDerment recently changed all that. In the letter, McDerment told of a fundamental change within the company, a move to changing the way they describe what they do from being Cloud Invoicing, to Cloud Accounting. McDerment notes that over the last few years the company has slowly introduced more non-invoicing specific functionality – expense tracking, profit and loss reporting etc. He reflects on the fact that many FreshBooks customers are using the product as their "accounting system" and hence the company is now articulating what they do as accounting software.
Semantics or a Fundamental Shift?
While some might suggest that this is just marketing spin, designed to offset the increasing threat of full-blown SMB accounting solution Xero, I believe that there is more to this announcement than simply branding. FreshBooks has built out a very rich level of functionality for invoicing, but it has discovered, I believe, that SMBs want to tick off all the boxes of their accounting requirements from one vendor. While this is something of a departure from a company that has long been an advocate of the best of breed style of SMB software (FreshBooks is a foundation member of The Small Business Web, an affiliation of software vendors selling to SMBs who all adhere to a viewpoint about integrations and point solutions), it is a logical one. Businesses don't want to have to invoice in one application but to go into another application to reconcile their bank accounts or provide their data to their accountant – they want to do all of that in one application, with one user interface and experience.
Reassessing the Accounting Landscape
Cloud accounting for SMBs is a largely untapped potential market, particularly in the US. While Xero is the biggest global vendor, with 100000 customers it is an important, but tiny player when compared to the desktop behemoths, MYOB, Sage and Intuit who together account for around six million business customers. No one has yet really got to scale in this space. Enter now FreshBooks who can boast that five million companies have used their product over the time of their existence. While FreshBooks has a massive free user base, and clearly a large number of those five million have dropped off, it's fair to say that in terms of mindshare, FreshBooks beats Xero hands-down. What Xero does have, is a strong channel and partner strategy with accountants, and this is something that FreshBooks are starting to talk about now. In his letter McDerment stated that;
While FreshBooks will always be designed for you, the business owner, we are going to make it easy for you to work with your accountant, and make it easy for your accountant to work with FreshBooks. So while your FreshBooks account won't have all the advanced features that accountants need at their fingertips, and it won't be mired in accounting jargon that's confusing and complicated for you, we're going to build bridges between your FreshBooks account and the complex tools your accountant needs.
That's an aspirational message, but a difficult one to deliver. Accountants are notoriously conservative and at the same time concerned about threats to their traditional revenue. This is something that Xero has battled over the years and generally managed to obviate through their very strong messaging about accountants being their route to market and trusted partners – indeed, while Xero surely has a direct sales strategy for part of its operation, this is somewhat understated and the accounting partners sit front and center.
Not so FreshBooks who haven't needed strong ties into accounting practices – a move to full accounting changes this and FreshBooks will need to carefully balance their self-service, SMB-led uptake, with the concerns of accounting partners who are undeniably something of a gatekeeper when it comes to choosing software for SMBs.
Crystal Ball Gazing
The space just got a little more interesting. In the US Intuit has largely been asleep at the wheel and doesn't have an overarching compelling cloud story. While the Intuit Partner Platform is interesting, it hasn't seemed to set the world on fire. Xero on the other hand is still an unknown in the US. It has reached a global figure of 100000 customers which is impressive, but US growth and go-to-market is still largely unknown, especially so considering how fragmented the US market is and the fact that Xero follows a strong strategy of using accountants as a sales channel.
And now FreshBooks ponies up and seeks to translate its massive customer base (both paid and free) into something much bigger. So does intuit acquire FreshBooks in order to both gain a compelling Cloud solution and counter the threat from Xero? Perhaps – Intuit has, after all, shown a history of acquiring companies to further their product portfolio. Note though that FreshBooks is well funded and firmly entrenched. A land-and-expand strategy which sees them remain independent but leverage their footprint in the invoicing space to become the new uber-accounting vendor is also plausible.
And what does it mean for Xero? The fledgling in the US market? Well in many ways it is positive, FreshBooks now helps it to articulate the benefits of Cloud accounting and does so in a more direct-sales model which isn't overly threatening to Xero's channel strategy.
Time will tell – stay tuned for updates!


text:
B.C.'s coast will be seeing heavy rain and strong wind this weekend, according to a special weather statement from Environment Canada.
The national weather agency said in its bulletin Thursday that an "atmospheric river" will take aim at northern Vancouver Island and the central coast beginning early Saturday, delivering heavy rain until mid-day Sunday.
In the areas expected to be hit hardest – particularly west Vancouver Island – rainfall amounts in excess of 100 millimetres are likely to fall.
"Mountainous regions further south including the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and the North Shore Mountains will also see significant rainfall, potentially exceeding the rainfall warning criteria of 50 millimetres in 24 hours," Environment Canada said.
Batten down the hatches! It's going to be a wet weekend for the whole BC Coast courtesy of a Pineapple Express. The heaviest rain is expected to fall between Tofino and Bella Bella.
— ECCC Weather British Columbia (@ECCCWeatherBC) November 14, 2019
A Special Weather Statement is now in effect: https://t.co/Bg50S4j5lp #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/W8LcXOElPn
In addition to the heavy rain, strong winds will also accompany the moisture-laden system. In some areas along the shores, wind gusts are forecast to reach 90 kilometres per hour starting Saturday.
High runoff and rising river levels are likely through to Monday, the weather agency said.
Drivers are being urged to use caution while on roads, and those close to larger rivers and streams should watch for for alerts from the BC River Forecast Centre.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


text:
Paul Kléber Monod, Solomon's Secret Arts: The Occult in the Age of Enlightenment (New Haven CT: Yale University Press, 2013). 430 s.
Since 2013, 1700-tal publishes all content online, currently with a one-year delay after the printed version is distributed.
Copyright on any content in 1700-tal is retained by the author(s).
Authors grant 1700-tal a license to publish their contributions in print and online or any other medium and to identify itself as the original publisher.
Authors give 1700-tal the right to distribute their contributions freely under a Creative Commons Attribution License. This implies that any third party has the right to use the contribution freely, provided that its original author(s), citation details and publisher are identified.
For more information on the Creative Commons Attribution License see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Authors have the right to self-archive their contribution in its final form (publisher's PDF) as soon as the printed version has been distributed.


text:
Cornwall Green Party is the local branch of The Green Party of England and Wales covering all Parliamentary constituencies in Cornwall.
The Green Party is the only major political party in the UK that is committed fully to a life based on democracy and justice within the planet's limits.
The Green Party has always dared to be different - and we've always known the power of good ideas.
Unlike others, we know that our planet has environmental limits, we understand that not everyone wants to live to work, that inequality is not just unfair, but damaging to everyone in society. And we have the bold solutions which allow us to offer inspiration in this age of uncertainty.


text:
Twitter is a valuable tool for people to exchange timely bits of information, whether it be a momentous news event, a personal story, or a random thought. We want everyone in the world to have the opportunity to engage in this important exchange, so we're calling on the help of real people to translate our site into their own language.
Current languages:
Afrikaans, Albanian, Arabic, Basque, Belarusian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (UK), Farsi/Persian, Filipino, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Kurdish (Central), Kurdish (Northern), Latin, Latvian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese and Welsh.
Why isn't my language shown or available yet?
If your language is not available, you can be sure we're working towards making it available soon. We want to have a version of Twitter for everyone! We regularly announce which languages we need help with, so check out @translator to keep up with the latest news. You can submit a language request, by using the request form.
Translation Feedback:
What has been approved and why:
Translation Feedback is a translator-focused section on the Translation Center, where translators can learn why their submitted strings were not approved.
What strings appear here?
Translated strings that you submitted which were not approved by a language moderator or voted for by other translators.
Can you give me an example of how feedback is provided?
The feedback feature allows you to see translations you submitted which were not approved by moderators (as well as the original English phrase). The tool will also show you which phrase the moderator ultimately chose and why.
If you submitted a correct translation which was later approved, the feedback tool will show you a "Well done!" message.
Can I get more specific feedback?
Sure! Sometimes a moderator may add the reason why they approved a particular phrase and not yours. This additional feedback will help you improve your translations in the long run. You can also ask questions about approved/not approved phrases within your language specific sub-forum in the Translation Center forums.
Community, reporting bugs, and feature requests:
Get involved – participate in forums
- We have a bustling community in our Translation Center forums. You can speak with other translators and moderators from generic topics to language-specific topics.
- You can also track bugs, request new features, and participate in exclusive projects.
- Simply click the Forum tab at the top of the Translation Center or go to https://translate.twitter.com/forum
How do I report a bug or file a feature request?
- If you would like to report a bug or file a feature request or any issue with the Translation Center, please use click the Report bug tab at the top of the Translation Center. Alternatively, you can go to the Translation Support Form directly.
- Have questions? Visit our getting started guide in the Twitter Translation Center
Translator levels and badges:
What is a translator badge and how do I get one?
- We hand out translator badges on your Twitter profile for translation work you have completed in the Twitter Translation Center.
- When you are ranked among the top 60% of your language's translators, you'll be awarded the Translator badge. Your badge will remain featured on your Twitter profile as long as you remain active within the Translation Center.
- Submitting quality translations, voting for other quality translations, and having translations approved by language moderators count towards getting a higher translator's rank. You can follow @translator for updates on badges and new languages.
- If you don't have a badge yet and you are an avid translator, fear not! Your badge might only be a word away!
- Signing up for the Twitter Translation Center does not automatically add a badge to your profile.
What are Top Translators?
On the translation homepage, we show the top translators for each language. An algorithm selects people who provide the best quality translations, voting and have had translations approved by moderators.
Why is my badge gone?
- To keep your badge, you need to stay within top 60% of your language's translators and continue translating and voting in the Twitter Translation Center. If you don't stay active in the Translation Center, your badge may be removed due to inactivity.
- If you believe your badge has been removed in error, please contact us via the Translation Support Form.
I was blocked from the Translation Center, what can I do?
- Blocking in the Translation Center is permanent. At this moment we do not unblock accounts; please be careful and avoid abusive conduct in the Translation Center.
- We block users who demonstrate abusive behavior in the Translation Center such as:
- Submitting machine translations (directly from Google Translate or others)
- Submitting offensive language or random strings
- Submitting multiple strings in English, or in other languages
- Adding extra characters to submit your translation
- Translating to a different language than the one specified in your settings
- Harassing other members of the community
- Using multiple accounts to vote on your or other translations.
- Violating the Twitter Rules
For more information on Multi Channel Network's and Twitter Help please check back weekly or subscribe here.


text:
Police are recommending criminal charges against a Grand Forks man who hosted a backyard party featuring live bands at his property near the American border Saturday, Oct. 10.
Grand Forks RCMP were called to the party between 7:30 and 8 p.m., after neighbours called 9-1-1 to complain about loud music they said had been playing for hours.
According to Cpl. Breadon Thomas, police returned about 90 minutes later, finding "around 60 people" in front of a stage on the accused's property. A band was playing loud music, despite clear instructions by police to shut down the party.
RELATED: 3 more COVID-19 cases in Interior Health, cluster outbreak in Merritt
Thomas said the crowd wasn't socially distanced and people weren't wearing masks. A binder left out for guests' contact-tracing information had been left empty, he added.
The homeowner was given two $230 tickets. The first for "refusing to comply" with police, the second for allegedly violating the COVID-related Measures Act, which limits outdoor gatherings to 50 people.
Thomas withheld the man's name pending charges by Crown prosecutors, but homeowner Brody Peterson told The Gazette that he intends to fight both tickets.
Speaking from his home on Friday, Oct. 15, Peterson weighed his outdoor "house warming" against a notoriously crowded house party that netted a $2,300 fine by Victoria police in August.
"I'm not some punk kid in Victoria having an apartment party. This is a big outdoor space," he said, pointing to his backyard.
READ MORE: VicPD issues $2,300 violation ticket to host of large party in one-bedroom suite
Peterson said he'd invited up to 25 friends and family members to celebrate his recent home purchase.
"It wasn't advertised. No one was charged to come here. No bands were paid. It wasn't a 'rock concert.' It just wasn't like that."
Guests were told to come in and out of his backyard through separately designated gates, he said. People were offered hand sanitizer and masks, but Peterson said people felt uncomfortable giving their contact information after police arrived.
He said he refused to break up the party when told by police because he was worried people drinking on his property weren't fit to drive.
"They just wanted everyone to go home, and I said, 'Well, I don't think we should scramble everyone. If people are under the influence, we need to find them safe ways of getting home: I'll call every taxi in town and find every designated driver here.'"
Sound engineer Tom Plotnikoff said he'd set up stage amplifiers that were roughly as powerful as a bar room karaoke set.
"I'm sure some of the COVID protocols weren't followed," he said, noting between six and 10 people were "moshing" near the stage toward the end of the night. There was "no rowdiness" at the party, but Plotnikoff qualified that Peterson's "good intentions" were perhaps marred by "poor execution."
Peterson's neighbours were generally upset. The Gazette spoke to around a dozen people at eight nearby addresses, most of whom said they weren't told about the party.
The consensus was that the noise didn't stop until around 11:30 p.m., roughly half an hour past the noise bylaw cut-off.
Peterson said the music was turned off by 11 p.m.
"One thing I do regret is not telling absolutely everyone in this neighbourhood that I was going to throw a party," he said.
Peterson has one month to pay or dispute his tickets.
On Oct. 16, Interior Health stated there are currently 28 COVID-19 cases active and in isolation. Two people are in hospital. No one is in ICU.
This brings the total number of cases in the health region, since the start of the pandemic, to 590.
No criminal charges have been laid against Peterson as of Monday, Oct. 19.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Ogden City has been working on several new initiatives as part of the city's "Make Ogden" plan that was adopted in 2020 – establishing a 25-year vision to guide growth and development of downtown Ogden. "The primary purposes of the Make Ogden Downtown Master Plan are to increase the City's capacity to build sustainable vitality going forward, and to enhance the attractiveness of downtown by increasing the number of jobs, housing options, pedestrian activity, public transportation, one-of-a kind stores/restaurants/venues, and the overall downtown experience – all powerful economic factors that will improve the lives of residents and bolster the City's financial health and prosperity," stated Ogden mayor, Mike Caldwell. Key projects related to "Episode 1" of Make Ogden have already started, including:
Speaking about the WonderBlock development, Brandon Cooper, Director of Community and Economic Development for Ogden City stated: "This unique development proposes a mixed-use, lifestyle centric, experience led project located in the heart of Downtown Ogden connecting directly to Historic 25th Street. The project will be a combination of residential dwellings, retail, office services, food and beverage, as well as hospitality." Cooper also indicated that "All of the project elements will be connected via attractive public spaces that will support special events – creating a unique sense of place that will draw people throughout the region to our awesome downtown." The "About WonderBlock" section of this article provides additional project details, as well as the project webpage at: www.ogdencity.com/wonderblock.
WonderBlock Concept Rendering -- Ogden City Community & Economic Development
In anticipation of the upcoming positive developments in downtown Ogden, including WonderBlock and other key projects as outlined in the Make Ogden Downtown Master Plan, a recently completed parking study for downtown Ogden has indicated that the city's current parking capacity is adequate in some areas but strained beyond capacity in high-demand areas. Particularly along 25th Street and Kiesel Avenue in The Junction area it appears that visitors and potential customers may even avoid trips to those areas – and some businesses are expressing frustration that parking is not easy for customers to find and it is therefore hurting their business success. The parking study also calculated the impact of future parking needs based on proposed new development and has projected that current parking capacity will be completely overwhelmed by the positive addition of new residences, employees, customers and visitors to downtown. Additional detail from the parking study can be found at www.ogdencity.com/GoParkOgden.
Additional parking structures and investments to improve existing parking facilities are indeed planned as part of the WonderBlock development and in support of other downtown developments. Supportive parking structures as recommended in the parking study, with easy access to pedestrians and residential/commercial/retail areas, are significant investments in the future development of downtown Ogden. The preference is to avoid the need to increase property taxes for all residences/businesses to fund the investment in public parking infrastructure (some citizens do not even have/use automobiles for transportation). As an alternative, the parking study recommends a pay parking system across the downtown area in order to generate the revenue to build and support parking improvements via parking fees paid by just those using the parking – including many visitors to our downtown from other communities. The parking study also indicated that a paid parking system will also help manage limited parking spaces more effectively – encouraging short-term use and public transit use, resulting in increased parking availability near existing downtown retail shops and restaurants for customers. Regarding a new downtown parking management system, Brandon Cooper stated that "Ogden City Community and Economic Development expects that the new parking system will help create a more vibrant, connected, walkable downtown – improving access to existing business and supporting the growth of new residential and commercial development – and enhancing the overall attractiveness of downtown Ogden as a place to visit, live, work and enjoy." The "About the Parking Study and Proposed Downtown Managed Parking System" section and the "New and Existing Public Parking Structures" section of this article provides additional project details, as well as the project webpage at: www.ogdencity.com/GoParkOgden.
As Ogden City Community and Economic Development works on the implementation details related to a managed paid parking system downtown to be proposed for consideration by the City Council, business owners and citizens are being asked to provide feedback regarding ways to make the new parking system operate successfully. The web page, www.ogdencity.com/GoParkOgden provides a summary of the work that has been done thus far regarding parking plans, including the recently completed Parking Study, the Make Ogden Downtown Master Plan, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions. The site also provides a feedback link for ideas and comments.
In addition to the online information, an upcoming community open house event will provide an opportunity to view proposed development and parking plans, as well as ask questions. The City Council is hosting a Fact-Finding Session and Open House on Tuesday, November 15 on the third floor of the Municipal Building regarding the WonderBlock development and the proposed Downtown Paid Parking Management System. A formal presentation will be made in the Council Chambers at 4:00 pm, followed by an open house from 4:45 to 5:30 pm where residents may interact with city staff and Council members to discuss the proposal and provide comments. It is expected that the development and financing plans for WonderBlock and the proposed Paid Parking Management System, will be formally considered at upcoming City Council Meetings (dates yet to be determined), where public comments/input will also be encouraged.
Ogden holds within its downtown core an assemblage of historic, cultural, recreational, and natural assets that are unmatched along the Wasatch Front. Make Ogden is a master plan that envisions capitalizing on those assets through transformative infill of vacant and underutilized parcels to build a thriving Downtown that improves the lives of residents and bolsters the City's financial health and prosperity. The plan establishes a 25-year vision for the growth of downtown Ogden through a series of catalytic projects in key locations around the Central Business District, which will occur in "episodes" or phases in which the City investment in the public realm, coupled with developer incentives, will attract private investment to increase land values, density and walkability. Infill and development within the core of the city will be supported through social equity parameters, with a focus on keeping downtown affordable and accessible to current and future residents. Chief among the recommendations of the plan is developing parcels that currently do not contribute meaningful tax revenue to the community. Key outcomes include: 38% increase in walkability, 92% increase in job density, 476% increase in housing density, 175% increase in taxable value per acre. In Episode 1 of Make Ogden, there is a strong emphasis on increasing the supply and variety of housing types in downtown Ogden – within easy walking distance to Historic 25th Street – to appeal to a diversity of residents. The WonderBlock project will help fulfill a portion of that emphasis. Additional information about Make Ogden, including the complete Make Ogden Downtown Master Plan, is available for review at https://ut-ogden.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/17312/Final-Ogden-Downtown-Master-Plan.
Ogden City RDA Investment
(max. par bond not to exceed $75 M**)
Total Development Investment
Federal/State Grants
Retained Tax Increment (TIF)
(WonderBlock new tax revenue)
Bus. Depot Ogden Lease Rev. Contribution
(return from previous City investment)
Total Ogden RDA Capital Investment
** PAR bond values, includes both project construction costs and financing costs – which may vary depending on market interest rates.
*** Per partnership agreement, the City RDA will be due a portion of property sales proceeds after 10 years up to 100% of investment contribution.
* Estimate may vary depending on final bond interest rate.
Additional information about the WonderBlock development is available for review at www.ogdencity.com/wonderblock.
Ogden City MBA Investment:
(max. par bond not to exceed $85 M*)
* PAR bond values, includes both project construction costs and financing costs – which may vary depending on market interest rates.
Additional information about Ogden's proposed downtown parking plan, including the complete parking study and answers to various typical questions and the opportunity to provide feedback, is available at www.ogdencity.com/GoParkOgden.
Ogden's Redevelopment Agency (RDA) was created to encourage private investment in blighted areas of the community or areas with a demonstrated need for economic development. Members of the Ogden City Council also serve as the Ogden Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Board of Commissioners, and the mayor serves as the Executive Director. The Commission approves the RDA budget, programs and policies as well as large projects. Priority development activity within targeted areas, known as "project areas," may be eligible for financial assistance provided by the RDA. Project areas are usually less than 100 acres in size and take between three and six months to establish. Once a project area is created, the agency may assist in the acquisition of property or in the development of the site. The agency has the ability, with approval of a committee comprised of representatives of various taxing entities, to receive a portion of the property tax revenue (referred to as "tax increment") paid on new improvements constructed in the project area. This allows the agency to financially assist in the development of projects. Providing financial assistance is limited to those projects that the agency determines are important in building the community and helping to reach its development goals.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a value capture revenue tool typically implemented by government entities that uses taxes on future gains in real estate values to pay for new infrastructure improvements. In the case of the WonderBlock development, the base value of the existing vacant land is very low compared to the taxable value once the property is privately owned and improved. The incremental difference in property tax revenues will be retained by the city each year and used to pay the annual bond payments/or contribute to the developer the financing required to facilitate the project. Once the initial financing is satisfied, the resulting increased property taxes on the property return to the existing division of taxes to the various taxing authorities (schools, county, etc.). TIF is not a new tax or an increase in taxes for citizens.
To request more information regarding the Make Ogden Downtown Master Plan, the WonderBlock Development, or the Downtown Paid Parking Management System proposal, please contact Ogden City Community and Economic Development via email at email@example.com or via phone at 801-629-8910.