ALWAYS ON
Poutine
What first appeared as a fringe item on mobile kitchens in 1950s rural Québec can now be found everywhere from fine dining menus at top restaurants to fast-food chains. It has become a symbol of Québécois and Canadian cuisine and culture. In some US restaurants a variant of this hearstopping mix of fries, gravy and cheese is called "Disco Fries".
Illumination 400
Today we pull together all codes and standards that make pathway and outdoor event lighting systems safe and sustainable. Best practice discovery is tracking in the NFPA National Electrical Code and the IEEE National Electrical Safety Code -- both titles receiving public input within the next 45 days.
Education, Health & Sport Essential Works
We explain the re-naming of the IEEE IAS subcommittee devoted to professional practice in the second largest building construction market in the world. With link to the founding paper by Mike Anthony and Jim Harvey, University of Michigan.
An introduction to the IEC
Next General Meeting: November 16-20 Hamburg. Link to Jack Sheldon, IEC Standardization Strategy Manager, presenting the history and work of the IEC to students of the 'Master in Standardization, Social Regulation and Sustainable Development' of the Université de Genève.
Quadrivium: Autumn
Educational settlements should be magical places. The stack informing the beauty of these "cities-within-cities" changes 100 to 1000 times per day globally. We monitor the action continuously to formulate response to public consultations. Topics appear on our CALENDAR and explored every day at 15:00 UTC.
Bulletin Board
Curated list of open consultations and calls for information from state, federal and global agencies.
Nighttime Walk
21 January 2026: The 16th annual Campus Safety Lighting Walk has UC Davis Police, staff members from utilities/facilities management, the custodial and grounds teams, and students fanning out across campus — looking for lighting issues that could compromise safety. With links to other State of California student night time safety escort services.
Current Issues & Recent Research
We are tooling up for the NFPA 2029 National Electrical Code Technical Committee Meetings in September and the IEEE Industrial Applications Society Meetings in October.
Outdoor Lighting Design Guide
The purpose of this Guide is to provide CSU campuses with guidelines for outdoor lighting design to provide a safe and comfortable nighttime environment for students and visitors, maximize energy efficiency, and improve campus aesthetics. Issues related to public safety must also be considered, on a case-by-case basis, when applying the design techniques presented in this guideline.