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Wood by Design - ALPI spa
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Welcome to our presentation, wood by design.
Today we will be explaining:
What decorative surfaces in reconstituted wood veneer are.
In terms of manufacturing cycle and application and how raw materials are transformed in reconstituted wood veneer, and exploring the process from tree trunk to square trunk, the sustainability and certifications achieved. We will focus on the coordinated products in reconstituted wood veneer available for the market.
The correct use and application and a final view of the collaboration with designers and a portfolio of joint projects.
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ALPI was the first company in the world to industrialise the manufacturing process and it is still the leader in the production of decorative surfaces in reconstituted wood veneer. From a humble carpentry workshop with founder Pietro Alpi in 1919 and spanning three generations, the ALPI family remain at the helm of the company today. The carpentry workshop progressed to an industrial firm, specialising in the production of prefabricated panels and wooden surfaces for the still nascent furniture sector which began in the 1950s.
In 1961 the product ALPI lignum was introduced. It is the first composite veneer and still the brands most representative item. A true revolution made possible by extraordinary technological research and an extensive background in cabinetmaking, providing major investments in research and development and constant analysis and understanding of the market, and always in search of new stylistic and product trends.
Today ALPI is headed by Vittorio Alpi, grandson of the founder. With industrial facilities of 180,000 square meters in Italy and 346,1500 square meters in Africa. The production capacity is over 30 million square metres per year for capillary distribution in over 60 countries. Africa represents an important chapter in the history of ALPI as the main source for raw material. Thanks to the intuition of Valerio ALPI of building a barge as a floating processing plant, which from the port of Ravenna was towed to Africa. Starting in 1975 ALPI began operating firstly in Cameroon and then in the Ivory Coast.
Today the company holds licences for the management of 500,000 hectares of African forest. Ensuring the growth of local communities in terms of economics and infrastructure, thus combining the core business with activities of social and environmental sustainability. The synergy between the African facilities and the mother company in Mode Ileana is very close. The production process can be customised for every single project, the product comes to life based on the aesthetic and performance needs of the client, the field of application and the required technologies.
ALPI through its technical consulting services accompanies clients in every phase from design to post sales service, offering complete assistance step by step. The four strongpoints in ALPI's strategy are:
Eco responsibility; that is environment and social responsibility.
Quality; in terms of high quality of raw materials and direct control of the entire supply and production chain. Maintaining technological innovation through the culture of craftsmanship.
Design; the collaboration with designers extends the range of articles available.
Customization; maximum customization to fit standards at the project and fulfilled client's expectations.
Thanks to the vision of Vittorio ALPI the profound synergy with the world of design from the 1980s onwards, has led to prestigious collaborations over the years, with outstanding names in international design including Piero Lissoni the art director since 2015. Martino Gamper based in London. Ettore Sottsass and Atelier Mendini from Milan. Gamfratesi that work in Copenhagen.
Front design from Stock Holme. The Campana brothers from Brazil. And Kengo Kuma from Japan.
From wood to wood.
The raw materials used and transformed in reconstituted wood veneer are popular, basswood and ayous, certified eco sustainable woods.
The high quality of products comes from the direct control of the entire supply and production chain from the log to the finished product, through forestry management that guarantees legal and sustainable origin of wood, and total product traceability.
Ayous comes from Cameroon and it is a spontaneous tropical forest wood. Here is a summary of the criteria for sustainable tropical forest management:
Selective cutting, only a few trees per hectare are selected for harvesting.
Respect for the natural growth rate, 30 years with a rotative harvesting plan allowing the regrowth of the woody forest capital before the next cut.
Waste minimization, whole harvested trees are used part for timber part for peeled veneer.
Protection of the surrounding forests, lying vegetation and the soil using trucks with rubber wheels avoiding track laying vehicles.
Protection of water sources, avoiding deviation of creeks and small rivers.
Minimaliisng disturbance, keeping in mind that animals like gorillas live in the forest.
Maintaining the rights and benefits of local populations in terms of their education and health assistance, but also respect of the holy areas and cemeteries, avoiding any forest operation.
Poplar is an agricultural renewable wood that grows in northern Italy farms. Basswood comes from forests from North America and East Europe. The pictures that follow show peeled ayous, Poplar and Bass wood. On the left you see the raw veneers and on the right the same veneer after bleaching. The bleaching process is the first step in transformation and allows maximum yield on the utilization of wooden sheets. The manufacturing cycle of reconstituted wood veneer is called the squaring of the wood. The process of the transformation of a tree's cylindric trunk to a square engineered trunk. Peeling, dyeing, gluing, pressing, saw, slicing cut is the production sequence of reconstituted wood veneer. To transform raw peeled veneer into infinite varieties and decorative effects.
Peeling the bark of the log is removed. The trunk is peeled and same size thin leaves of wood a clipped.
Dyeing the wood leaves are dyed by immersion. The final colour of the wood is defined. Gluing and pressing the wood leaves are glued and overlaid to create a final squared trunk. The trunk is shaped in curved moulds that determine the wood grain.
Saw the squared trunk is disassembled and assembled in order to define the final vein of the wood and colour according to the designers need.
Slicing cut, the squared trunk is sliced into decorative wood leaves. Each leaf is consistent for colour, vein and dimension.
Sustainability and certifications covers both environmental and social responsibility. Sustainability is guaranteed by a complete transparency of the entire process. Constantly focusing on excellence in the use of natural resources. Only the reconstituted wood veneer made with certified sustainable sources, directly controlled for maximum respect of environmental biodiversity is certified. Maximum care for Environmental Protection includes an advanced industrial water purification system and provide safety in the workplace.
Furthermore the direct management of Equatorial forests is a major social responsibility for companies that care about the environment. Social responsibility means protecting projects and plans for the safeguarding and benefits of local populations that are implemented and supported constantly.
Available certifications are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), which guarantees sourcing from properly and responsibly managed forests, in keeping with rigorous environmental, social and economic standards. OLB Origine et Légalité du Bois, which certifies the legality and traceability of forestry operations and the industrial wood processing in the Cameroon. Poplar origin certification issued by SGS guarantees renewability and the concrete commitment of the company in responsible management of raw materials. Also using local agricultural resources.
The commitment to ecology and sustainability is confirmed offering a solution to the problem of formaldehyde emission that has been a concern for many years in the wooden products. The most environmentally responsible reconstituted wood veneers are in compliance with formaldehyde emission allowed by E1 standard. They are available with two more levels of formaldehyde emissions below the E 1 standard such as B E low emission, with a formaldehyde emission level equal to a fraction of the E1 standard. Zero F version with zero added formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a preservative that naturally occurs in wood and it must be taken into consideration that traces will occur.
The use of environmentally responsible reconstituted wood veneers and non-toxic heavy metal free dyes water based and eco-friendly as used in the textile industry contributes to the achievement of LEED credits.
Reconstituted wood products available for the market are:
raw decorative surfaces,
prefinished decorative surfaces.
Raw decorative surfaces are made with real wood, engineered, non-printed and designable. The advantages are:
Uniformity of colours and patterns overtime
Absence of the natural wood defects (knots and colour variation),
Standardised sizes for the industry.
Significant reduction of production waste 5% instead of 30% of the natural wood.
Their usage sectors are various:
Sufaces for finishings
Surfaces and facings for interior architecture,
Hotels, multi-apartment and residential complexes,
Shops, retail outlets, offices, public spaces,
Window and door frames, internal use,
Wall panelling, acoustic panelling,
surfaces and facings for the interiors of yachts and cruise ships,
Application of raw decorative surfaces follows three steps.
veneering, it can be glued on wood backings like MDF, plywood, chipboard, honeycomb, using urea glues, vinyl glues or hot melt resins. Each support is potentially suitable subject to application and performance tests.
sanding, it must be sanded in order to prepare and clean the surface for the third step that is varnish application.
varnishing, the varnishing process uses a suitable finish that protects and preserves the veneer surface from chemical and physical deterioration (like photo degradation and decay), and also mechanical degradation (like scratches dents etcetera).
Prefinished decorative wooden surfaces are clear coated finish and high wearing resistance finish. Both products are ready for application to any type of support. Coordinated edge banding supported by ABS are available in rolls. A test needs to be undertaken to determine the overall finished product fire rating in order to satisfy the relevant regulatory requirements.
Prefinished products advantages are:
Ready to use, the handiness of prefinished veneer in high quality showing the beauty of the wood,
Guaranteed results, it represents the best result in terms of finish quality.
Instructions for maintenance.
They are easy to clean with a damp natural fibre cloth dipped in distilled water. If necessary, add non-abrasive neutral detergent. Never use acetone, alcohol or varnish solvent on it. Store the sheets horizontally face to face in an environment with temperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity between 40% and 60%. Put the sheets on a pallet never laid directly on the floor, protect sheets from light dust moisture with non-transparent dark coverings. Sheets should always be handled by two people.
Here you have a summary display of the products application stages. Raw decorative surfaces need to be veneered on wood backing, sanded and then varnished; while prefinished decorative surfaces need only to be veneered. Designers and architects through the years have chosen reconstituted wood veneer as a solution and instrument for designing textures and decorative effects for their projects. The inspiration is natural wood or other textures. Designers define trends and fashions of colours shades and designs. For Piero Lissoni the Xilo collection is inspired by natural Woods.
Soolon in ancient Greek means wood. The future trend forward is fruit trees with warm tones of colours between pink and red. The special interpretation of cherry wood shows the force of its colours. In three contemporary gradually shaded tones, ranging from the pink blush cherry to the honey cherry up to the Amber of Sienna cherry. Two types of grain striped and flamed permit greater design freedom in the combination of different hues and textures. Walnut shows the warm enveloping Brown tone of Canaletto Walnut The actual trend for Woods. Balanced chromatic range of four colours in a sequence from pale to dark, white, sand, grey and black. For this model the inspiration comes from the texture of the wooden floor of the velodromes for track cycling.
Piero Lissoni has created a light delicate slated design by selecting four types of Woods, obtaining four variations, natural, brown, mocha and sand. A geometric texture please on the combination of natural tones and colour accents for dynamic compositional effects. An exciting challenge that led Martino Gamper to gradually interpret the wood by dissecting and re composing it. A concept of game.
Inspired by the rain and the clouds and impressionistic vision of nature focusing on instance of life through the artistic approach of ukiyo-e. Filtered by the fluid minimalist language typical of the conceptual work of designers Gam Fratesi one captures the impalpable light essence of rainfall through a stylised representation of water drops. The other transforms clouds into a graphic sign on a black background. Inspired by pointillisme, a re-edition of the first wood made by the Atelier Mendini in 1991, one coloured solar and one in different shades of lunar grey. Tre primitivi are 3 pieces of furniture designed by Alessandro Mendini and named after the main characters of "Without colours" in Italo Calvino's cosmi comics, realised with the reconstituted wood veneer inspired by pointillisme.
Inspired by the sushi collection created in 2002 by the Campana brothers. An oneiric interpretation of the immense creativity of the Brazilian duo, charged with thoughts, poetry, energy and colour. Two chromatic versions brown and slate grey, with contrasting details in gold and silver. The Campana brothers get inspired by Piaçava the Brazilian name of a native coconut balm. These strong fibres are used to build the roof of huts. As well as by Pirarucu one of the world's largest freshwater fish species typical of the Amazon River. The name comes from the Tupi language meaning fish- Pira and red- arucu, referring to the colour of its scales which are mostly silver but become reddish towards the tail.
Kengo Kuma is inspired by tree barks. The bark of the maritime pine tree a thick substance split by deep cracks with segments of irregular form varying from warm reddish tones to cold shades of light Grey. The bark of the Japanese Cedar tree that varies from red to brown also in terms of the alterations that happen as the tree grows.
In the section closer to the roots the bark appears smooth becoming more furrowed and vertically split towards the top of the tree. Front design creates two tones pattern generating an optical illusion of movement like a drapery. Another reconstituted wood veneer created by the duo from Sweden is based on an antique pattern of a reticular structure applying four different colours joined by the traditional inlay technique to create the illusion of a Tri dimensional grid.
Inspired by textiles Matteo Ronnie has taken a sartorial approach the utterly novel textures of this reconstituted wood cannot be found in nature. But are inspired by the classic weaves of menswear fabrics. Twill, pinstripe, corduroy and herringbone.
An innovative pattern by Ettore Sottsass was born in the 1980s first used in the 1985 Memphis collection and then for later works. It recaptures the colours of natural Woods accentuating their value and exalting their texture through the distinct markings of the veining. Evoking the unusual and irreverent language of the master.
Reconnection interface is the different design approach of two designers. The innovative wood pattern realised by Ettore Sottsass in 1985 with the interpretation of Martino Gamper. Martino Gamper worked directly on the solid wood cutting it with different angles to realise 3 new veins that differ from Sottsass's original. He subsequently reconnected and reassembled the pieces to create a new pattern for the models on display.
Examples of application of Reconstituted Wood Veneer
Examples of application of reconstituted wood veneer used to enhance the design project follow in the next pictures. This is a piece of furniture by Cassina called Hayama designed by Patricia Urquiola a grey reconstituted burl is used. Tabletops with a reconstituted wood veneer inspired by burl and by marquetry technique realised for a hotel in Venice.
In the Elle decor Grand Hotel Milano, designed by the architectural firm Neri and Hu based in Shanghai. A reconstituted wood veneer inspired by Walnut wood was specified.
In the Hilton Hotel in Como, Italy, the designers Limonta Cazzaniga architects specified dark reconstituted wood veneer for corridors and cabinets.
Aranda Lasch specifies grey reconstituted wood veneer for a sophisticated wall display of bags.
This is a private apartment designed by Atelier Zero Studio using a reconstituted wood veneer inspired by light Walnut.
In this yacht Piero Lissoni specified alight reconstituted wood veneer for ceiling steps and wall panelling. Reconstituted wood veneer is exclusively used in automotive interiors. A custom bright reconstituted wood veneer has been created for a collection of drums by Sonor.
Solid reconstituted wood is used to fabricate unique pencils. Asplund Pavillion was built for the 16th international architecture exhibition of the Venice Biennale at Isola Di San Giorgio designed by Mep studio. Francesco Magnani and Traudy Pelzel. It is conceived as the introduction to the pavilion of the Holy See called Vatican Chapels to exhibit original drawings by Gunnar Asplund for the Woodland Chapel. The pavilion embodies the essence of traditional Scandinavian wooden constructions.
Stave churches, the structure 11 meters long and 8 metres high is shaped as a prismatic crystal form entirely cladded in solid reconstituted wood. Experimental material for the external facings of the construction were engineered and manufactured for this purpose. 9,000 wood shingles were created to clad the pavilion to enhance the external image of the building. The interior is faced in reconstituted wood veneer striped white to create a muted intimate atmosphere.
Today we have discussed decorative surfaces in reconstituted wood veneer into terms of manufacturing cycle and applications. Raw materials transformed in reconstituted wood veneer, the production process from tree trunk to a square trunk, sustainability and certifications, coordinated products available for the market, the correct use, application and design project references.
The following video displays all points previously explained. Video.
"Is a naturally occurring raw material that is renewable, has always been indispensable to man. There are imitations of wood moulded products that recreate its colours and effects that are in reality synthetic and non-natural materials. Traditional wood in its specific essences is a resource that should be controlled in order to avoid waste and to protect types of wood that are becoming increasingly rare. Have you heard about ALPI? We are an Italian company founded in 1919. We produce reconstituted wood which we guarantee comes from eco responsible origins and is traceable and sustainable. We offer a wide range of product from classic rare and luxurious to those more creative in their design.
Our quality guarantees resistance to light and consistency in representation and colour. We provide specific solutions for niche companies as well as production capacity and customization for the demands of larger brands. Our wood comes from Italian Poplar plantations and basswood trees from European and American forests. The fast growing timber is cut when it has matured in order to leave space for new growth thus maintaining a consistent natural balance. Our use on the other hand comes from Equatorial forest in the Congo basin ALPI maintains forestry concessions stretching for around 500,000 hectares, we take this commitment very seriously because we believe that working in a rainforest brings great responsibility. The forest must be treated with respect for the people that live in it and for the floor and fauna.
We invest plenty of resources to make sure this happens. Usage occurs at a withdrawal rate allowing for a renewal capacity that is ongoing in small areas divided in accordance with the precise adjustment plan. These are then left to rest for 30 years so that they can be rebuilt. This sivy cultural management suitable for tropical environment guarantees the renewal of the forest and its sustainable use also providing a contribution to the economic growth of developing countries. We have also obtained certifications that bear witness to the traceability and sustainability of our wood. TFT assists us with implementing ongoing improvements in the management of the forests and relationships with local people in order to safeguard culture and traditions. We can guarantee that ALPI wood provides all this because we are committed to the responsible and direct management of the entire production chain in terms of maintaining biodiversity and protecting people. How is ALPI reconstituted wood produced?
The trunks of popular lime and R use are flaked and immersed in water soluble colour tanks the dyes are completely non-toxic free from heavy metals and are also used in the clothing industry. We rigorously comply with regulations on non-toxic paint. Laws that do not exist in every country. This is also why it is important to be aware of the origins of a product. Once it is dry the wood is reconstituted by overlapping and sticking the dyed flakes. The various coloured predictions allow for realistic or novelty textures to be obtained depending on the requirements of the market or the client. The flakes are reassembled and pressed to make the reconstituted wood which is then cut and tested. Choosing reconstituted would safeguards rare species and its use produces very little waste as the defects typical of traditional types of wood are not present. ALPI reconstituted wood is a product that originates from responsible and direct management of the production chain while respecting nature and its equilibrium. It is created in both classical and innovative tailor made designs which are used by designers' architects and interior designers. It is also particularly popular with those who love Italian design. It is real wood but it has evolved and is even better because it is consistent and stable. It is perfect both for industrial use and small production."
Thank you for your time today.
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Alex started his career at a major US bank extending credit to private equity firms to finance leveraged buyouts. After earning an MBA, he was recruited by one of the world's leading private equity firms to work in London and Frankfurt. He spent 16 years executing buyouts, consolidating industries and pursuing add-on acquisitions. He served on the boards of billion euro enterprises and actively participated in major strategic and financial decisions. He later joined a younger diversified investment firm to build their private equity practice. In 2017, he co-founded Conduction Capital with his partner Felix.
Alex studied German and Economics at Northwestern University and business administration at The Tuck School at Dartmouth College. When he's not reading annual reports, he enjoys playing jazz piano and writing film scripts.
Felix started his career in New York at a large event-driven long/short hedge fund. He invested across the capital structure in equity and credit. He primarily spent his time within the TMT sector and covered European large and mid-caps. Following that, he joined a newly found Frankfurt-based private equity and credit firm as one of the first employees. In this role, he travelled across German-speaking Europe and visited countless factories and production sites to get to know the companies and their management teams first-hand. In 2017, he co-founded Conduction Capital with his partner Alex.
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eNow launches first all-electric system for Transport Refrigeration Unit
eNow's solar powered system for a Transportation Refrigeration Unit cuts emissions and maintenance costs.
eNow has taken a creative and leading role in adapting electric power to commercial trucks by becoming the first alt fuel company to market a zero-emissions power system for a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU).
The electric TRU, dubbed Rayfrigeration, replaces a small diesel engine that's commonly used to power a TRU. Batteries charged by a roof-mounted solar panel are used in place of the engine.
"The Rayfrigeration product is an important step forward in reducing emissions while maintaining the highest levels of efficiency and customer satisfaction for companies delivering perishable goods," said Jeff Flath, president and CEO of eNow. "eNow's solar technology is powerful, reliable, and efficient, and more than up to the task of providing emissions-free energy for critical tasks such refrigeration of fresh foods, even the most challenging conditions. We are proud to be a part of this important project."
Following five months of testing, eNow reports impressive reductions in emissions: a 98 percent drop in nitrous oxide, an 86 percent decline in carbon dioxide, and a 97 percent drop in particulate matter. During that time, battery life remained impressive.
"In actual operation, during the 5-month event, we have not reached any time limits for TRU operation," said Bob Doane, vice-president of technology for eNow. "The average daily run time at this point is 7.7 hours a day, and the solar system still has plenty of capacity at the end of the day. We will continue to test the system in the coming months."
Overall system weight and payload capacity are similar to a truck with a conventional system, Doane said. Fuel mileage has also been on par with a conventional truck.
The Rayfrigeration TRU is the first-to-market battery powered unit for commercial use and was tested on a Challenge Dairy Class 7 truck delivering fresh dairy products throughout Fresno, Calif.
In addition to virtually eliminating conventional TRU emissions, the Rayfrigeration unit is projected to reduce operations and maintenance costs by up to 90 percent over a diesel-powered TRU.
Cost savings are achieved through the elimination of diesel fuel, the elimination of maintenance costs for the diesel APU engine, and an increase in battery life (reducing replacement costs) which eNow says is owed to consistent charge maintenance by its 1800 Watt solar panel.
Designed to support medium-temperature refrigeration applications, the Rayfrigeration system employs two forms of energy storage: eutectic medium (cold plates) and a high-capacity auxiliary battery system. The cold plates and auxiliary batteries are initially charged from utility power delivered to the vehicle when plugged in overnight.
When the truck is operated on a delivery route, power is provided by eNow's solar photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on the truck's roof. eNow joined Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, Emerson Climate Technologies, and Challenge Dairy Products, Inc. in the summer-long trial that took place in California's San Joaquin Valley.
The eNow team calculated that average emissions of CO2 over a four-day week with an average delivery day of 7.7 hours was reduced from 2,525 lbs. a week to 159 lbs. Nitrous oxide emissions were reduced from 7162 grams to 1. This is after adjusting for the emissions from the power plant supplying grid electricity that was used overnight. Emissions from solar are zero.
The Rayfrigeration solar-charging technology is now available through eNow, which currently has more than 4,000 solar systems operating nationwide on Class 8 trucks, buses, emergency and utility vehicles, supporting applications as diverse as heating and cooling, liftgates, wheelchair lifts, safety lights, telematics, and other transportation applications. Upon completion of its testing period, Challenge Dairy plans to transition its entire fleet of distribution trucks to solar-powered TRUs.
During an event held October 11—officially declared "Rayfrigeration Day" in the City of Fresno, California—eNow joined Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, Emerson Climate Technologies, Challenge Dairy, and government agencies to celebrate the ongoing successful demonstration of California's first zero-emissions TRU.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and EPA District 9 funded part of the Rayfrigeration initiative through the Technology Advancement Program that encourages innovation through the development of new emission reduction technologies.

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The opposition's legal affairs spokesman will not contest his northern Sydney seat of Epping at the next election.
He will stand down as a member of the opposition frontbench immediately. The 52-year-old former barrister, who is one of the hardest-working opposition MPs, said he had decided he could not commit to another four years in state parliament. I'll certainly miss the chainsaw voice of Mr Tink with his points of order
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Check out our article about dynamic glass.
Paul: Hello everyone, welcome back to the "Everything Building Envelope Podcast." Today we're going to be talking about dynamic glass, which is an emerging technology that I think is of interest to a lot of the listeners. I'd like to welcome our guest, Jeff Riley. Welcome, Jeff.
Paul: Jeff is a Sales Executive in Florida with View Dynamic Glass. So he knows a lot about this. Jeff, could you tell the listeners a little bit about yourself?
Jeff: Sure. I've been in commercial real estate in some capacity since 2004. I worked for owner and operator, developer of a multi-family office, worked in property management, worked for CBRE, largest brokerage in the world. And I've been working as a Sales Executive with View Glass, and kind of blown away with my experience there. So I'm excited to tell your listeners about it.
Paul: Great. So tell us a little bit about View Glass and also about View Dynamic Glass.
Jeff: Sure. So View Glass manufactures smart windows that tint electronically in response to the weather and the position of the sun. You can think of it like transition lenses for building. So we eliminate the need for interior blinds. We remove the functional need for exterior sun shade. We help reduce utility costs by about 20%. We shrink HVAC systems. We bring a whole bunch of leads or well-points in your project. We're also one of the most economical ways to earn lead-points, if you're thinking in terms of dollars per point. The product itself is electrochromic glass, which has been around for a decade. It's actually in the rear view mirror of your car, but View Glass was the first company to mass produce it for use in commercial real estate.
What makes our glass really unique is the software system we use called "Intelligence." Each individual window is programmed to tint just before the sun reaches it. So we know where that sun is gonna be on June 10th, 2045, in Miami, Florida at 10:00 AM. So we know that the windows on the east side of the building will need to be at Tint Level 4, which is our darkest tint. We're getting ready to tint the windows in the south as the sun moves across the horizon. But on the north and west sides we're at Tint Level 1, letting everyone enjoy the view and bringing in as much healthy daylight as possible.
We manufacture everything at our plant in Olive Branch, Mississippi, about 20 minutes from Memphis. It's an 800,000 square foot massive facility that will blow you away if you get the chance to see it in person. I believe we have the largest clean room in the world in our factory, and a bunch of other really cool stuff that I can't talk about because they are trade secrets. We've got some great clients, including a few Fortune 500 companies. If there's one thing that they all have in common is that they are risk averse. So our company and our product have been vetted up, down, left, right, any way you can think of. And we've been selected by Delta, FedEx, Nestle, Ford, Overstock.com, Oracle, Google, Apple, Wells Fargo.
We've done convention centers, sporting arenas, and airports, including Levi's Stadium where the San Fransisco 49er's play, the Charlotte and San Fransisco airports. In hospitality space we've got Hilton, Marriott, Starwood. In house care, my favorite is probably the Humber River Hospital in Toronto. It's the first all digital hospital in North America. We've got many more there. College campuses, we've got Duke, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Clemson, University of Texas, to name just a handful. We've got installations from Alaska down to Miami and hundreds more in the works.
Paul: Wow. So obviously this isn't a fringe product, and this is obviously working its way into the mainstream. Let me ask you how the glass itself gets incorporated into a building. So you guys make the glass but not the frames, right?
Jeff: Yeah, we can work with just about any framing system. So punch out a current wall, we haven't really run into any challenges where we haven't been able to meet the architectural design requirement.
Paul: Does the glass come in different configurations? I mean can you get it in a laminated glass unit or an insulated glass unit or…?
Jeff: IGU is…eac insulated glass unit, we use double pane. There are some exceptions, but generally it's double pane. We have a few different color options. Most people choose clear. We've had a slight bluish tint, and it's a darker tint from the inside, which most people like. But we haven't really had any… there aren't many things that we haven't been able to accomplish. We can do laminated glass, so we can meet Miani-Dade hurricane code requirements.
Paul: You said, let's see if I pronounce this right, electrochromatic? Is that what it is?
Jeff: Electrochromic. A lot of people have [inaudible 00:05:04].
Paul: Electrochromic? Close, close. So is that a film that's on the glass? Or it's a coating obviously, what exactly is it?
Jeff: So it's a coating that goes on the interior of the exterior pane of glass. And it's an incredibly thin, I think it's only five microns thick. That's one-fifth of a human hair. So the background, you know, the company is based in Silicon Valley so these are semi-chip conductor guys by training. So the thing that sort of does the math is a semi-conductor chip. So it's an incredible amount of technology. We've got 500 plus patents out there in the works. So the glass itself isn't anything special, it's the coating that goes on the glass. And we just have metal oxides which have opposing properties, and we send an electronic charge through them. We can transition ions from one side to the other. And so it's clear on one side, dark on the other side, and we have a couple pit stops along the way, Tint Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Paul: So you mentioned that the glass can be programmed to change properties as the times of the days change and solar exposure changes. So does it, I'm guessing it needs to be integrated with some sort of control system to basically tell it what to do. Is that a good way to say it?
Jeff: Yes, and that's something that we provide. So we provide the software system that will run the entire operation. But we do have two additional overrides. So we've got a weather sensor on the roof that's looking for cloud cover, and it feeds into daily or hourly weather updates.
Paul: So the glass changes properties depending on the solar exposure and the time of the day and whatnot. How does that work as far as what the system does, and how does the system work within the infrastructure of the building?
Jeff: Sure, so we've got a software system which we provide and program and can update remotely, if you ever want to make any changes or if we have a new version of the software, that can all be uploaded remotely. That's something we configure for each individual project. There's also a weather sensor on the roof so we can detect when there's cloud cover. And we have weather feeds, which tell us whether this is a passing cloud, or if it's going to be cloudy all day. And if it's cloudy all day, we'll clear the glass, so people are enjoying as much natural light as possible. And we also have an iPhone app or wall controls, so you can manually change the glass from different tint levels.
Most common use would be if you wanted to do a PowerPoint presentation, normally you'd close the blinds and turn off the lights. Instead you press a button on the wall to tint the glass. And that can actually be connected into Outlook to have it done automatically ahead of that. But each individual IGU has what we call Pig Tail. It's a little cord that allows power to flow to the window. And each Pig Tail connects up with a trunk line which runs around the perimeter of the building. And a trunk line feeds into a control panel, which usually goes into the utility room. So that can be locked and secured, usually at the same place where you have your modem and IT equipment. So all that's sort of self-contained.
Paul: So I just have to say, it really sounds great that you can program it, not only for weather patterns, but for real time weather that's going on outside. And then like you were saying, if you need to darken the room for an audio/visual presentation or something like that, that sounds like, you know, technology at its finest.
Jeff: Yeah, thank you. I happen to agree. I'm a little biased but I agree.
Paul: Let me ask you this, are there interior applications for this technology as well?
Jeff: Nope, just exterior. Some people hear the phrase "electrochromic glass" and they think about that switchable privacy glass which kinda turns to a milky white, and that's just for interiors. Likewise, our product is just for exteriors.
Paul: Okay. So I mean we talked about this a little bit, but lets sort of run through it again. What are the benefits to the occupants?
Jeff: So the tangible benefits that start on day one are the ongoing energy savings. The money saved from not purchasing any interior blinds, and the continuous views o the outside world. There's a wow factor walking into one of our buildings where it's wall to wall, floor to ceiling, just glass wherever you look. The intangible benefits, which are harder to quantify, but more valuable in the long term, in my opinion, come from health and wellness, productivity and recruiting retention. And we've got some great independent studies up on our website that show the remarkable benefits of natural light. How people that have access to natural light take fewer sick days, they use less pain medication in a health care environment, and are 6-15% more productive when they have access to natural light.
So if you were moving to a new building, and you had your first pick, you could pick any office you want, you're gonna to pick the corner office, right? You just feel physically better when you have those views and natural light. And you might think 6-15% increase in productivity is unrealistic. Think about what 1% would do for most companies. The single largest expense for nearly every company is payroll, so if you can make your people just 1% more productive, less time adjusting the blinds or getting up to get water, then upgrading your windows pays for itself in spades.
And on that same note, recruiting and retention, the war for talent is a big issue. Ask anyone who works in the consulting or commercial real estate business, and they'll tell you companies are doing everything they can to recruit millennials as the baby boomers start to retire. And we're talking a major, major demographic shift. And if you can create an environment where people feel happy and healthy and valued like they do at Overstock.com, it makes the job of recruiting much, much easier. They actually have buses bring in MBA students, local universities bring buses of MBA students to see Overstock.com's headquarters and to show students what it looks like when a company invests in its people and their environment. Tell me the CEO and HR folks don't love that, MBAs being delivered to their front door.
And likewise look at WeWork, which is now valued at almost 20 billion dollars. They didn't invent co-working, it's been around for decades. All they did was create a better environment, and people are drawn to WeWork offices like a magnet. So it's unbelievable. But that's the type of environment that we help create.
Paul: So I mean you and I, obviously, and I know a lot of our listeners, we pay attention to things like the windows and day lighting and stuff like that. Can the average user tell that this is going on while they're building, or is it sort of passive where it's just optimizing the environment and maybe they don't even notice it?
Jeff: It's more of the latter. You know, the first week in any installation, people are sort of fixated on the glass and how the glass is transitioning behind them while they work. So they're talking on the phone but looking out the window and watching the glass transition through different states. Then after the first week, it just sort of happens in the background and you forget it's even there. So it's very, very user friendly, self-sufficient, kind of the same way you don't notice the air conditioner turning on and off, it just works. Our glass works in the same way.
Paul: So I know you've touched on this along they way also, but owners and developers like it? Now when I think of owners and developers, no offense to anybody, but they're very focused on money, as well they should be. They've got budgets and pro formas and things like that. So you've obviously, to make the sale, to get over the, I'm assuming it's more expensive than regular glass? I mean, maybe I'm wrong. And you've got to obviously get over that hurdle. But what are the benefits to owners and developers?
Jeff: Sure. I think you hit the nail right on the head. For owners and developers, they're looking at us in terms of ROI, which really means NOI. Will your glass drive NOI? Because that's how buildings are valued, just NOI, net operating income and cap rate. And the answer is yes, and we actually provide a double-bump to NOI, because we can impact both top-line revenue growth with faster lease-it times and improved vacancy, which allow you to start pushing rates, and the reduction in costs, because your utility bill on average will be about 20% less. That's heating, cooling and lighting.
The University of Washington did a study on one of our buildings that was retrofitted in Seattle with View Glass, and the energy savings came out to 17.7%, about $28,000 per year added to the NOI. So if that building sells at a five or six cap, that's somewhere between $460,000-$560,000 in added value, and that's half a million bucks. And that's in Seattle. You know, there's not a lot of sunshine in Seattle, so think about what the numbers would look like here in Florida. So just on energy savings alone, when you translate it into NOI, which drives the building value at a 20x multiple in most Class A CBDs, we often pay for our self out of the gate.
And another way we add substantial value is since we do such a great job controlling heat and glare, in our darkest tint level which is Tint Level 4. We've got a heat gain coefficient .09, or not .9, .09. So we're essentially blocking all the heat even in direct sunlight. So that means you're able to use all of the space inside your office. In most buildings, the space around the perimeter of the building and by the windows is only used for file cabinets or walkways, because within eight feet of the windows, it gets too hot and uncomfortable. You know, interior architects will step back eight feet away before they put the first cubicle.
So you even may have an office or a conference room in your old building which is too hot to use at certain times of the day. The new guy, the new professor, gets stuck with that office. But in buildings with View Glass it's all usable, and it's not just regular space, but it's actually the best space in the building, the area with the best use, and there's a lot of it. If you're talking eight feet around the east, south, and west sides of the building on each floor. That means that an occupant, even if you're paying top of market rent, you're getting a better deal, because you're getting more usable space, more bang for your buck, and the flexibility to expand as your business grows. So you don't need to find another 5,000 square feet to lease in three years because your company is growing or because your college has enrolled more students than expected, than you can just move desks around in your existing location.
Paul: Nice. Let me ask you this, you mentioned retrofit. So what's involved with retrofitting an existing building with View Glass?
Jeff: Sure. So it's not much more complicated than any time you're pulling out on an older building, replacing single pane with double pane. The difference is that because each of our ICUs requires a Pig Tail, an electrical current, and that you need to run sort of a big, almost an extension cord around the perimeter, that's an additional cost, you know, labor cost, the blazer cost, that needs to be accounted for. So blazers generally like us because they can charge a couple percentage points more to work with our glass, because it takes…they learn it pretty quickly, but they can charge a mild premium for it. And we have a low voltage electrician, which plugs everything in, which will plug everything and to make sure it's connected.
Paul: Does that wire have to be like inside the wall or could you do something with, say, put it behind a baseboard or something like that?
Jeff: Yeah. We've gone up above. We've gone below. And actually Overstock left it all exposed, because they loved our glass so much they wanted to, when they're giving tours they want to be able to point out, "Here, check out our windows. Here's how they work. We get these beautiful views of mountains all day. And look at the cords above. Each individual window has its own special configuration, almost like its own IP address." And actually that also allows us to do some pretty cool things like, on college campuses especially, that we can spell out letters using, if you think of each window as a pixel, so we've got some kind of cool creative school spirit type stuff happening.
Paul: Like the football game where everybody holds up different color placards?
Jeff: Yeah, yeah. Exactly, yep, or in Seattle, you can spell out the "12" for the 12th man, because that's kind of the Seattle Seahawk's rallying cry. So we've got buildings that can spell that out.
Paul: Yeah, is it possible to retrofit this glass into an existing frame? Has anybody done that?
Jeff: We can't really drill, you need to drill a hole to account for the Pig Tails so we can make sure we get the wiring in. So there's a little bit of extra attention required, but it is possible.
Paul: Yeah, because, you know, sometimes, when you look at retrofits, there's a big difference if you can keep..and you can't always do this, I mean most of the time you can't, but if you can keep an existing frame, improve it, and put the glass in, obviously, it cuts down on schedule time, dirt, dust, all that. So it seems like that would be a good benefit if you could do that.
Paul: So let's run through what some of the, I know you mentioned a lot of installations, but what are some of the applications and what kind of projects are fits for View Glass?
Jeff: Any larger building, preferably 100,000 square feet and up, which you might call Class A, or a building that's pursing a lead or a well certification. So View Glass, you're right talking about the cost earlier. We did the premium product, it's an iPhone and not everyone has an iPhone budget. The markets where we've had the strongest demand are health care, office, college campuses, and airports and convention centers. And we're starting to get more involved in high end hotels and high-rise residential. We don't do single family, which is something nearly everyone asks for, because once they see it in person, they want it. And I always feel bad saying no, but I take it as a compliment that they like our windows so much that they want it for their families.
So if you meet those kind of broad criteria, we're probably close enough in cost, once you account for our offset, to be interesting. And that's just on cost, that's not including the upside in having our glass in as a unique amenity to kind of differentiate your product.
Paul: You had mentioned at the beginning that it was an inexpensive way to get, or cost effective, I can't remember what the exact word was, to get lead points.
Jeff: Because we can contribute points in several different categories. So the lead scorecard, there's different categories and you add all the points up that you can achieve in each category and that's how you get to silver, gold or platinum status. And we bring kind of a basket of points, especially if we're in at the basis of design. So you can start off pretty strong if you're going after a specific lead certification, and then you can kind of cherry-pick which additional products you want to use, low-flow water or LED lighting, to get to the status you want to get to.
Paul: So it takes you out of some categories you might otherwise be in, I guess?
Jeff: Yeah, it's just we've got an unusually broad reach for a single product.
Paul: Can we talk a little bit more about cost? It sounds like it should be super-expensive. I know that's one of the benefits is that it, in the big picture, it's really not. Can you expand on that a little bit? Like what is the cost and the ROI again?
Jeff: Sure, sure, and you hit a floor. No developer is gonna give us the time of day unless they think they are going to get a positive ROI with our glass. And the reason we got 300 plus installations completed, another 300 in the works, and I'd probably guess another thousand or so in discussions, because we deliver a positive ROI, simply by driving NOI, especially if you think of us as an amenity. You know, developers spend money on an art sculpture in the lobby, or a rooftop bar or a nice gym. No one is calculating ROI on their gym equipment, right? You invest in those things to make your product more appealing. But those are amenities only used by some people.
Every occupant will experience the windows. CDRE did a study to see what building attributes people pay more for, and access to natural light was number one. And not just say they will pay more for, but actually pay for. I mean people love having a view, they love having natural light, and we essentially allow people to, developers to, double down on that sort of proven investment. So in terms of cost, we are roughly two to three times as much as your typical high-performance low-lead glass. So if all we were was a window, no one would ever pick us, right? That's a big price difference. But much like an iPhone is not just a phone, it's also a digital camera and a GPS and a portable computer.
We're not just windows. We are windows plus interior blinds, plus exterior sun shade, plus a smaller HVAC system, plus smaller ongoing utility charges, plus happier, healthier occupants, and a whole bunch of lead points that you'd have to pay for elsewhere. So when you include all of our offsets and benefits, you meet the general criteria I mentioned earlier, you're kind of large-scale Class A type products, we're usually compelling. You know, our investors include Harbor, TIA, JP Morgan, USA Day, Citi, GE, blue chip investors. And they are only going to invest in companies that deliver genuine value to their customers. So they've seen us, vetted us, talked with our customers directly, and they agree, yeah, this is a product that deliver positive ROI, deliver what we promised and then some.
Paul: So not to mention, you know, that glass is only one part of the window system. You've got framing, installation, all that other stuff. So when you say it's two or three times more expensive, it's probably not really, when you talk about what you're spending on your windows there may be some offsets. It's only the glass, it's not…you know, silicone costs the same, whether it's your stuff or somebody else's. What's the warranty that comes with View Glass?
Jeff: We meet the standard warranty with other high performance loaded glass of 10 years and we have a 5 year warranty on the electronic components. Apple and Sony which are kind of the gold standard in electronics offer 1 year so we went to 5. We also have the option to extend those, both of those, both the electronics and the windows beyond that, depending on what the individual project's, sort of, preferences are and that can be extended in an upfront pricing or that can be used as, you know viewed as a service which is sort of a subscription model which can be used in cam charges. So there's a few creative ways to extend the warranty for those that are interested.
Paul: Just made me think, what's the oldest, or what's the longest running installation, I don't know if it's with you guys. I don't even know if you have competitors actually. I'm guessing you probably do. But what's the longest running application of this product currently in service?
Jeff: So I would say just under a decade. So the company itself had a predecessor company called SolaDyne. And so we've got sort of older installations under same people, just different name. But what might be more interesting is electrochromic glass, which like I mentioned, it's the same glass that's in the rear view mirror of your car, has AOCM testing standards. So it goes through kind of, I call it a hell chamber, it's where they have high heat, high humidity, high UV exposure, and they cycle our glass through enough times to simulate a 30-year lifespan. And since our product has, it's all inorganic, meaning it doesn't degrade due to the weather, we passed 30-year lifespan simulation with zero degradation. First and only company to be able to do that. And we actually paid them to run it again.
So we ran it for a 60-year simulated lifespan, zero degradation. So the product itself is gonna last longer than the functional use of the building, in many cases, which is kinda nice to know.
Paul: So the only opportunities, or the repair and upgrade options along the way, would be with the electronics, not with the glass itself?
Jeff: Right, and then the software. You know, the more buildings we have in service, the better we can operate our windows. So we're learning through feedback and experience from, and we've got installations out in Hawaii and installations up in Boston, and each one is a little bit different. So we're learning that, you know, maybe Tint Level 2 should be just a shade lighter, and people seem to like it a little bit better. So we can remotely make that change and upload it so everyone has sort of the latest and greatest experience.
Paul: Very cool. Like a Tesla.
Paul: So what do you see as the future of View Glass?
Jeff: Good question. I think on a big picture level, there are three megatrends in commercial real estate. You've got health and wellness, sustainability, and connectivity, sort of smart building. And View kind of sits at the intersection of those three megatrends. So in my opinion the future is very, very bright for us. On the West Coast where we're headquartered, everyone knows us, and so we're kind of popping up in new buildings left and right. And here in Florida I've got more than 50 projects that I'm working on, but we're still making our way up the learning curve. But when, I know you had Ray Crawford on here a couple months ago, but when a veteran guy like Ray Crawford who leads Crawford Trading, the number one blazer in Florida, says he wants to work with us, you know, that's a good sign that we're here to say.
If you look at the new building codes and kind of the big picture macro-trend, I don't think there's going to be a Class A building in any sector that's going to be coming out of the ground in two or three years time that doesn't have View Glass.
Paul: Yeah, so the future is bright.
Jeff: Yeah, future is bright. I'm very happy to be in this industry, with this product, at this time.
Paul: So if someone wants to find out more about View Glass, where should they go? And if they want to contact you, how do they do that?
Jeff: Sure, so my email is jeff.riley@viewglass.com, Riley, R-I-L-E-Y. I'm also on LinkedIn. You can follow us on Twitter, the handle is ViewGlass. Also follow us on LinkedIn. And we got, you know, folks across the country, across Canada, Europe, so wherever you might be, we have local folks on the ground that I'm happy to connect you with, you know, make sure that we're seeing that View Glass can provide value to you.
Paul: Well, Jeff, really interesting, and it's an exciting product. Let me just ask you one last question, do you guys call it a product or a technology or both, or how do you position it?
Jeff: Yeah, I mean it really depends on who we're talking with. Because we talk with blazers, architects, GCs, developers, tenants, so we use both terms. So no, we don't get too picky there.
Paul: I think I like technology. I'm a technology fan. So, anyway, really interesting technology, and thank you for sharing it with us, and thank you for coming on the podcast.
Jeff: Thanks for having me in. I really enjoyed it.
Paul: Really interesting topic today and I'd like to thank everyone for listening to the "Everything Building Envelope Podcast." And with that, this is Paul Beer saying so long until next time.


Well, after four years and the passing away of Robert Jordan, the new Wheel of Time book came out a few weeks ago. Anybody reading it?
After several years of off again, on again reading, I'm about halfway through book 6. I've got a way to go before I'm ready for the last one. Actually, I heard the "last" book is actually gonna be 2 or 3 books.
Where would y'all rank this series with Lord of the Rings? I've read LOTR every year for about 10 years now. I've been looking for another series to try out.
In some ways there's a lot of the "mythology" and general story line of LOTR and a lot of other fantasy books I've read. I'd say WOT is definitely more sprawling, with more characters and story lines to follow. I think in general the character development is good....at least it keeps me coming back. The story seems to be more slow moving, but there are plenty of action moments. I found it to be a great time killer after my heart attack, when all I could do was sit on the couch and read for hours at a time. Highly recommended flor winter reading beside the wood stove.....oh, wait, you're in TX...OK, by the air conditioner!
I'm actually reading "The Gathering Storm" right now.
So far, so good. Much better than books 6-11, which were just painfully dull and empty.
Science Fiction and Fantasy is my thing when it comes to reading, but for some reason I've never found the time for this series. I'm well aware of it - several friends in the past raved about it and I worked in a bookstore during college. Maybe it was the size of each volume, or just the number of them - anything more than 6 six books and you've probably lost me. I also have a lot less time to read nowdays, with a young family. I can barely get BYO finished before the next issue arrives.
I bought it specifically because it was 12+ volumes of around 1K pages each. I figured that I wouldn't have to wonder about what to read for a long time!
I do love my SF reading (that's 'speculative fiction', folks, and includes fantasy, science fiction, and alternate history / historical fiction), but I was never able to relly get into Jordan. Different strokes, I suppose.
Now, George R.R. Martin and SM Stirling, on the other hand, have a way of keeping me waiting with great anticipation for YEARS for the next installment.
Wheel of Time books 1-5 are so engaging, it's unbelievable. Once I started reading, it was almost as addicting as homebrewing.
Books 6-11... the best use for them is in bathroom... when you're out of toilet paper. That's my opinion, at least.
12 - so far so good, as I said before.
I started reading the WoT back in about 2000. They were so engaging. The characters were deep, the story fresh, and the world was fleshed out and brought to life in a way that many SF/Fantasy authors fail to do. Then Robert Jordan, God rest his soul, realized that his books were all best sellers and that with every passing volume the size of his bank account grew by exponential numbers. It was 'round about book 6, Lord of Chaos, that he started spending colossal amounts of time describing the events of characters that did not have any relevance to the story. Then around book 7 and 8 he started spending several pages describing the inlay on someones boot, or the floral pattern on someone's shawl, or they way someone mouth was set just so--as if he had forgotten that we, the constant reader, had an ability to visualize what people looked like, how they were dressed, and what their expressions would be given a certain situation. That all culminated in book 10, the Crossroad of Twilight, the entirety of which is spent describing the clothes, facial expressions, and general attitudes of characters we did not care about and had little or no bearing on the story. Not to mention that not a goddamn thing happens ( I would strongly recommend reading a summary of book 10 on wikipedia or some such, because the time you will spend agonizing over the 850 page volume could be spent doing something much more engrossing and worth while...like home brewing!) I'm in book 11 now and so far things have taken a turn for the better. I hope it carries through into the final volume. Mr. Jordan left Sanderson a mess, with plots and sub-plots (and sub-sub-plots), and I hope he's up to the challenge. I would hate to have wasted 10 years of my life for a lousy ending.
I've been looking for another book series to read and this sounds like a good one. Perhaps I should start with books 1-5 and call it a day. Like many other series, the first books in the series are the best such as the "Mission Earth" series and the Patrick O'Brien "Master and Commander" series. Both of those turned into painfully, mind-numbing boring books.
If you're going to read the series, I would say buckle down and read it all. There will be times when you wonder why you're doing it...but persevere. This thing is going to end and when it does, you'll be glad you read it. I may complain about the books a lot ( I think I had a smart alec think to say every couple of pages during book 10) but I'll be glad to say I completed it.
For a fun thing though, I saw this on Amazon.
Although this may be a bad idea. You'd be permanently pissed and never make it though any book beyond book 7!
If you are looking for a good series, DO NOT pass up Lonesome Dove. This is the series that actually got me reading. Seriously.
I just got done with "Wild Fire", by Nelson DeMille. Pretty good read, and right now I am halfway thorough Tsar, by Ted Bell. I've got 3 more lined up after that. Been on a roll lately. I hit the discount stores, and snag the overstocks for 2 & 3 bucks. Beats 25-30 at Boarders.
I've read the first two Lonesome Dove books. Are there more? That miniseries is my favorite of all time.
Lonesome Dove, Comanche Moon, Dead Man's Walk, and Streets of Laredo. In that order IIRC.


text:
KRUMBCO
Creative Nothings
krumbinesBRAIN (2016)
LEGO Videos
Orlando Sentinel Videos
Caffeine: A Feature Film
God Hates Zombies Question Mark
I know, I know, the first thing you think of when you look at this picture is: did Robin Williams and Zach Galifianakis have a baby?
But what irks the piss out of me about this picture is the blatant disregard for any kind of intellectual-slash-religious tolerance. I mean, did you even notice the sign the guy was carrying? It's hard to spot with Robin and Zach's lovechild lurking in the corner there, but right in the middle of the picture there's a sign that says "GOD HATES ZOMBIES".
I thought God loved everything that he created. And if everything was created by God, than -- ipso facto -- GOD LOVES ZOMBIES.
In your face, racist zombie-haters.
ZOMBICON: a thorn in the side of zombie awareness?
Source: Zombicon.com
Zombicon. The label given to a gaudy publicity stunt in Southwest Florida, not dissimilar to "zombiecons" throughout the world (note the absence of the "e"). People who participate in and support these events may claim that they are doing it in the spirit of celebration of the horror genre's most beloved offspring.
But what's really happening here is that hordes of people dress up as the undead and unwittingly mock the legitimate lifestyle of the living impaired. And I know what you're thinking: "if it's a lifestyle we're talking about, well, the gays do it all the time". Right. Gay people have their parades, events, and daytime talkshows, making it okay for others to participate. But when have you EVER seen an actual member of the living impaired participate in these so called zombie "celebrations"? Yeah, I think you see where I'm going with this.
The problem with Zombicon is that it -- like so many other aspects of modern society -- denigrates our undead brothers and sisters by perpetuating unfair and unrealistic stereotypes. The living impaired aren't all mindless, brain-hungry automatons! They are as diverse and interesting as you and I! And as long people continue to trivialize this growing cornerstone of our society, we will continue to feed the eventual apocalyptic uprising of the disgruntled and subjugated ranks of the undead.
THE ZOMBIE BLOG
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All photos on this blog are attributed to the Flickr user that uploaded them (unless otherwise noted). Click the photo to go to the original Flickr page.
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All content © 2009-2018 Jordan Krumbine (unless otherwise noted)


text:
// Copyright (c) 2013 Pieter Wuille
// Distributed under the MIT/X11 software license, see the accompanying
// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.

#ifndef _SECP256K1_GROUP_
#define _SECP256K1_GROUP_

#include "num.h"
#include "field.h"

/** A group element of the secp256k1 curve, in affine coordinates. */
typedef struct {
    secp256k1_fe_t x;
    secp256k1_fe_t y;
    int infinity; // whether this represents the point at infinity
} secp256k1_ge_t;

/** A group element of the secp256k1 curve, in jacobian coordinates. */
typedef struct {
    secp256k1_fe_t x; // actual X: x/z^2
    secp256k1_fe_t y; // actual Y: y/z^3
    secp256k1_fe_t z;
    int infinity; // whether this represents the point at infinity
} secp256k1_gej_t;

/** Global constants related to the group */
typedef struct {
    secp256k1_num_t order; // the order of the curve (= order of its generator)
    secp256k1_num_t half_order; // half the order of the curve (= order of its generator)
    secp256k1_ge_t g; // the generator point

#ifdef USE_ENDOMORPHISM
    // constants related to secp256k1's efficiently computable endomorphism
    secp256k1_fe_t beta;
    secp256k1_num_t lambda, a1b2, b1, a2;
#endif
} secp256k1_ge_consts_t;

static const secp256k1_ge_consts_t *secp256k1_ge_consts = NULL;

/** Initialize the group module. */
void static secp256k1_ge_start(void);

/** De-initialize the group module. */
void static secp256k1_ge_stop(void);

/** Set a group element equal to the point at infinity */
void static secp256k1_ge_set_infinity(secp256k1_ge_t *r);

/** Set a group element equal to the point with given X and Y coordinates */
void static secp256k1_ge_set_xy(secp256k1_ge_t *r, const secp256k1_fe_t *x, const secp256k1_fe_t *y);

/** Set a group element (affine) equal to the point with the given X coordinate, and given oddness
 *  for Y. Return value indicates whether the result is valid. */
int  static secp256k1_ge_set_xo(secp256k1_ge_t *r, const secp256k1_fe_t *x, int odd);

/** Check whether a group element is the point at infinity. */
int  static secp256k1_ge_is_infinity(const secp256k1_ge_t *a);

/** Check whether a group element is valid (i.e., on the curve). */
int  static secp256k1_ge_is_valid(const secp256k1_ge_t *a);

void static secp256k1_ge_neg(secp256k1_ge_t *r, const secp256k1_ge_t *a);

/** Get a hex representation of a point. *rlen will be overwritten with the real length. */
void static secp256k1_ge_get_hex(char *r, int *rlen, const secp256k1_ge_t *a);

/** Set a group element equal to another which is given in jacobian coordinates */
void static secp256k1_ge_set_gej(secp256k1_ge_t *r, secp256k1_gej_t *a);

/** Set a group element (jacobian) equal to the point at infinity. */
void static secp256k1_gej_set_infinity(secp256k1_gej_t *r);

/** Set a group element (jacobian) equal to the point with given X and Y coordinates. */
void static secp256k1_gej_set_xy(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_fe_t *x, const secp256k1_fe_t *y);

/** Set a group element (jacobian) equal to another which is given in affine coordinates. */
void static secp256k1_gej_set_ge(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_ge_t *a);

/** Get the X coordinate of a group element (jacobian). */
void static secp256k1_gej_get_x(secp256k1_fe_t *r, const secp256k1_gej_t *a);

/** Set r equal to the inverse of a (i.e., mirrored around the X axis) */
void static secp256k1_gej_neg(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_gej_t *a);

/** Check whether a group element is the point at infinity. */
int  static secp256k1_gej_is_infinity(const secp256k1_gej_t *a);

/** Set r equal to the double of a. */
void static secp256k1_gej_double(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_gej_t *a);

/** Set r equal to the sum of a and b. */
void static secp256k1_gej_add(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_gej_t *a, const secp256k1_gej_t *b);

/** Set r equal to the sum of a and b (with b given in affine coordinates). This is more efficient
    than secp256k1_gej_add. */
void static secp256k1_gej_add_ge(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_gej_t *a, const secp256k1_ge_t *b);

/** Get a hex representation of a point. *rlen will be overwritten with the real length. */
void static secp256k1_gej_get_hex(char *r, int *rlen, const secp256k1_gej_t *a);

#ifdef USE_ENDOMORPHISM
/** Set r to be equal to lambda times a, where lambda is chosen in a way such that this is very fast. */
void static secp256k1_gej_mul_lambda(secp256k1_gej_t *r, const secp256k1_gej_t *a);

/** Find r1 and r2 such that r1+r2*lambda = a, and r1 and r2 are maximum 128 bits long (given that a is
    not more than 256 bits). */
void static secp256k1_gej_split_exp(secp256k1_num_t *r1, secp256k1_num_t *r2, const secp256k1_num_t *a);
#endif

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Success is intentional. There are a multitude of habits that come together to help someone achieve success on a daily level. Can you incorporate some of these ideas into your daily life? How could these thoughts help you to be better?
"1. They don't rationalize or trivialize failure — and stop themselves when they are tempted to make excuses.
2. They have an off switch. They know how to enjoy the moment, relax, and enjoy what they have in their life already.
3. They don't confuse their job with their identity.
4. They are more interested in getting things done than they are in doing things that are easy.
5. They make every effort to finish what they start — even when it costs them more than seems reasonable.
6. They practice what they preach.
7. They are comfortable with new and different, even though it's scary at times.
8. They work to stay in shape personally — eating smart and exercising.
9. They are vigorously effective — stay busy, productive and thinking ahead.
10. They associate themselves with like-minded people.
11. They understand the importance of building great teams and win-win relationships.
12. They are ambitious and driven — they want to be awesome and work to achieve it.
13. They always find a way to maximize their strengths and get more out of their performance.
14. They have clarity about what they want and don't want for their life.
15. They innovate new ideas rather than imitate what everyone else is doing.
16. They fight procrastination and refuse to wait for the "right time" to get started.
17. They are life-long readers and learners and leaders.
18. They are always educating themselves, asking questions, and reading about success.
19. They are positive people – while still being pragmatic and down-to-earth. They find the good in circumstances around them.
20. They do what needs to be done regardless of how they feel that moment.
21. They find opportunities where others see problems.
22. They learn lessons from situations where others just make excuses.
23. They are focused on finding a solution.
24. They do hard work step-by-step-by-step to create their own success instead of hoping to get lucky.
25. They are not controlled or limited by the fear they feel.
26. They ask better questions. They refuse to let negative thoughts define their emotional state.
27. They don't waste time complaining about things that are outside of their own control.
28. They don't blame other people for their own actions and results.
29. They don't keep stopping and starting.
30. They take smart risks – financial, emotional, spiritual, and physical.
31. They deal with problems and challenges quickly and efficiently.
32. They don't believe in, or wait for fate, destiny, chance, luck, or someone else to better their life.
33. They take action before they have to.
34. They are effective at being aware of and managing their emotions.
35. They work consciously at being a good communicator.
36. They do things others won't.
37. They become exceptional by choice.
38. They know what moves them in their core and build their life around being true to that.
39. They develop life fitness instead of aiming for balance.
40. They are careful to develop discipline and self-control.
42. They aren't scared to do what no one else is doing.
43. They do not derive their sense of worth from how affluent or attractive they are.
44. They take pleasure in helping others achieve success.
45. They are humble and quick to admit mistakes — and then apologize.
46. They don't invest emotional energy into things they have no control over.
47. They don't need constant approval to keep putting in hard work.
48. They set high standards for themselves.
49. They work hard and put in consistent effort to achieve daily momentum.
50. They are incredibly resilient. Trying again — and again — to achieve meaningful progress.
51. They are open to feedback from others and use what they learn to improve.


4 Foam Armor & Prop Crafting eBooks at a discounted price!
Open the door to crafting stunning high-quality armor and props with this new bundle. One purchase, four books! All books in PDF format. If you would like the physical print versions, you can grab them here.
Foamsmith 2 is a deep look into the tools, materials, and techniques you'll need to know about to make your own incredible foam prop weapons!
If you want to make your own incredible props and costumes, but don't know where to start, this book is for you! This beginner's guide, written by prop making wizard Bill Doran, covers all of the basics on materials and tools that you'll need to get started.
We've all been there. You need to build costume armor and for some reason, you've only got a week (or less) to get it finished. That's OK! Armed with the knowledge in the Foamsmith series, plus the tips and tricks in this handy digital tome, you'll be ready to make the best decisions to get fantastic armor done in as little time as possible!


The CAST research seminar is a forum for academic debate, organized around 1 or sometimes 2 papers. The paper(s) are typically draft journal articles or book chapters and the discussion directed to help preparing the text for publication. The research seminars will be conducted on the basis of the assumption that the papers have been read by the participants, and therefore they will not be presented (although possibly summarised). These seminars are primarily for invited researchers. However, if you wish to participate in one of the coming seminars please contact the paper giver. In contrast to the Inspirational Workshops, the research seminars will allow the full, necessary usage of specialised terminology according to subject matter and disciplinary audience for the publication.
For further information on future Research Seminars please contact our student assistants.
Research Seminar: "Assembling EU cybersecurity governance spaces"
Research seminar: "Societal disputes going digital: ICT as intermediaries in conflict communication"
Small States in International Alliances: From Pawns to Power-Brokers?
Post.doc. Kira Vrist Røn and Associate Professor Adam Diderichsen, Aalborg University, presented their paper: "Intelligence Ethics".
Research Seminar: "Speech Act Theories of Securitization: Illocutionary Insistence and Political Performativity"
Research Seminar: "National Intelligence – Between Transparency and Introspection"
Cancelled! Research Seminar: "Route causes of conflict: Pathways of nonviolent and violent escalation"
Research Seminar: "What NATO knows: Expertise between technoscience and practical experience"
Research Seminar: "Denmark and the international counter-piracy agenda"
CAST Research Seminar with Ulrik Trolle Smed (BA.scient.pol), Lars Bangert Struwe (Ministry of Defense) & Professor MSO Anders Wivel: "Denmark and the international counter-piracy agenda"
For registration- or more information about CAST Research Seminars, go to events.
Research Seminar: "Visions of Order: Regional and World Orders in Ahmet Davutoglu's Thought"
Research Seminar: "International Pecking Orders: The Politics and Practice of Multilateral Diplomacy"
Research Seminar: "Bursts! Theoretical Fashions in the Study of International Relations - A Bibliometric Analysis"
Research Seminar: "Western democracy-promotion and postcolonial subjectivity: Competing figures of the (resisting) postcolonial subject"
Research Seminar: "Pioneers of Humanitarianism - Implementers of Peace: the rise of the transnational humanitarian".
Research Seminar: "Deterence, Ontological Security and Israeli Military Actions in Lebanon and Gaza"
Research Seminar: "Translations of security"; and "Politicians, security politics and the political game"
Cosmological Politics of Tolerance, Peace and Passivity in Pakistan".
The article "Assembling Suspicion" was presented by Professor Jef Huysmans from the Open University at the CAST research seminar 14 December 2011.
State peace and social peace - what's the difference?


text:
Nait 5
Used or New
Nait 5 News
Founded in 1924 by Cecil Kimber, MG has a long and varied history. Originally renowned for its classic British sports cars such as the MGA, the MGB and the Midget, the company was absorbed into British Leyland in the 1960s and later became part of the MG Rover Group. Following MG Rover's collapse in 2005, the brand remained dormant; however, in 2011 the marque returned with a new model, the MG 6.
The MG F (and its successor, the MG TF) are two of the most popular MG cars on the used market. A mid-engined two-seater convertible, the MG F was renowned for its good looks, decent performance and sports car handling. Launched in 1995, the MG F was replaced by the TF in 2002 and went out of production in 2005. Production was resumed in 2007, following Nanjing Auto's buyout of MG; however, production finally ended in 2011.
MG was also renowned for selling rebadged and tuned versions of the popular Rover cars of the time. The ZR (based on the Rover 25), the ZS (based on the Rover 45) and the ZT (based on the Rover 75) were all sold between 2001 and the company's closure in 2005 and remain popular used buys.
The MG 6 was launched in 2010 and is based on the Chinese Roewe 500, itself based on the old Rover 75. The MG 6 struggles to compete with the established names in the medium family car market; however, it suffers from weak residuals, making it a good second-hand choice.To find a great deal on a used MG near where you are, look no further than CarDealerLocator.co.uk.
Why buy a depreciating second hand car when you can Lease the new car of your dreams!
Me and my used Peugeot 2008
Chevrolet Lacetti Review
My Favourite Coupes
The Ideal family car
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For the past several decades, the question of the age of the Earth has been a very divisive one among Christians. Many people (known as "Young-Earth Creationists") believe that the only valid interpretation of the Bible indicates that the Earth is 10,000 years old or less, and they also claim to have scientific evidence that supports this view of the Earth. At the same time, there are many others who believe that scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the claim that the Earth is about 4.6 billion years old, while the Universe as a whole is 10 to 20 billion years old. Many people in this latter category affirm the intimate involvement of God in this process of creation.
Comment: Matthew Tiscareno's site has a ton of organized material on the young vs old earth debate. Mr. Tiscareno is Research Associate in the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University. He comes from an old earth perspective. This would be a good place to quickly reference some "this proves" item you hear and at least get the other side of a story.


Gobi, the Bactrian camel at the Riverview Park and Zoo, has unexpectedly died at the age of 10.
Gobi, who had previously been in good health, was found to be very ill when animal care staff arrived at the zoo on Saturday morning (March 23).
Although the zoo's consulting veterinarian and animal health team provided Gobi with treatment and care through the day, he passed away overnight on Saturday night.
Gobi's remains have been sent to the animal health laboratory at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph for determination of the cause of death.
"Although he could be challenging to manage at times, Park and Zoo employees had formed a close bond with Gobi," the media release states.
Gobi's death at 10 years old was unexpected. The normal lifespan of a Bactrian camel is 15 to 20 years in the wild, and 20 to 30 years in captivity.
Bactrian camels are native to Mongolia and China (Gobi was named after the Gobi Desert in northern China and southern Mongolia).
They are a critically endangered species, with fewer than 1,000 Bactrian camels left in the wild. Their population has been reduced by hunting (they compete with agricultural livestock for food) and because of mining and pipeline development through their habitat.


text:
Home Lifestyle Irish writer on meeting the mother who was forced to give him...
Irish writer on meeting the mother who was forced to give him away
Angela Nurse
Nik Quaife's Irish mother had to give him up for adoption as a baby. He was brought up by an English mother. Here he tells how the two women eventually met and got on well together.
I have two mums: Mary, my Irish birth mother who, in 1973, gave me up for what she hoped would be a better life, and Pat, my English mother who adopted and raised me. When they met for the first time, Pat told Mary, "I'm so happy to meet you. I'll never compete with you for our son." Mary, hugging Pat, repeated what she'd said to me the day we reunited, "A stone that's been in my shoe for 24 years is finally after lifting."
Theirs is an awkward algebra. Having had me to herself, Pat learned to share me with Mary, who can never recover the lost years. Despite that, and being from different sides of the Irish sea, the two women have much in common.
Each initially childless —one out of shame, the other from illness— only five years separates them in age. They are equally superstitious. Mary, a devout Catholic, sprinkled a few drops of Holy Water over me every time I left the house and Pat, more attuned to the secular spirits, likes to place a pink crystal in my suitcase to protect my aura while travelling.
Mary died recently. The last time they saw each other was my 40th birthday party, an event to which I'd invited all members of my very large, very modern family. At the start of the evening, Mum and I were waiting for Mary to arrive. Getting out of her car, Mary nervously smoothed the front of her dress. Looking towards the 100 or so people gathered—all the relatives and friends who had known her son far longer than she, as well as my future husband—she couldn't have imagined when giving me away, that she'd return as one of two guests-of-honour to her first-born's 40th.
We stepped forward to greet her and the two women leaned in to kiss one another hello. Eager to defuse any nerves I took their hands and reassured them like a good mummy's boy—with a proud smile and a gentle squeeze—that "We. Have. This." But, just as my event-planner's mind was taking over—plotting who I'd introduce Mary to first and the fastest way to get them, and me, a stiff drink—I noticed them squeezing back. I relaxed my grip. Inhaled. I was an adult son holding both of his mothers' hands at the same time. I closed my eyes, enjoying the symmetry of being joined to the two women I called Mum; women who at different times in different places had born and nursed, comforted and consoled me. In that instant, I accepted their maternal concern for me was greater than any I could have for them.
I was complete, in a way I'd not felt before.
Opening my eyes, I saw the smiling faces of siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins friends and my father taking the measure of our sacred, unusual geometry. Comparing adopted mum to birth mum, with me in the middle of the triangle, perhaps they were questioning who I resembled more? Was I Mary's nature? Pat's nurture? Or a combination? Something less easily solved?
If I'd died at that moment, it wouldn't have mattered. I saw everyone I knew finally bear witness to who I really was. Two ends of a circle were now joined. At the pit of my stomach swam the giddy chill one feels having crested a rollercoaster.
I could have stayed cradled there forever.
Nik is a communications consultant and writer based between New York and Dublin.
This is an excerpt from his story, first published in The Irish Times.
For more from Nik, or to comment on his article, visit Nik Quaife .
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