Italian coffee is ritual. Espresso is served in tiny cups, sipped quickly, often at a bar counter. Variations include cappuccino (espresso with steamed milk and foam, typically a breakfast drink), macchiato (espresso “stained” with a dash of milk), and caffè latte (espresso with more steamed milk).
Italians favor single-origin or blended beans roasted to perfection, often medium to dark for rich, balanced flavors.
Coffee is a social act, enjoyed standing at bustling cafés or leisurely at home. Machines like the moka pot, a stovetop brewer, bring espresso-style coffee to households. Never order a milky coffee post-lunch—Italians consider it odd. This compact, flavorful tradition fuels Italy’s daily rhythm.
Today at the usual hour we review the standards, codes, regulations and best practice literature for the safety and sustainability of facilities for teaching skills needed for supporting families.
You could hear a pin drop in this room 📌 So focused practicing for their exam 🧑🏻🍳 pic.twitter.com/lHw20avgnL
16yrs married to this RockStar today! Something like 25+ years together… 3 awesome wild kids and whole whack of crazy experiences together! I’ve Bullshitted my way to a lot of successes but Sarah’s been the best yet!… pic.twitter.com/BLBHTtwjSC
Educated at Yale College, Somerville College, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Medical School and Columbia Law School, Amy Wax speaks to the Buckley Institute, founded by William F. Buckley (Yale 1950). Links to National Centers at Bowling Green State University, the University of Virginia and the University of Nebraska.
People grow up in a web of relationships that is already in place, supporting them as they grow. From the inside out, it includes parents, extended family and clan, neighborhood groups and civic associations, church, local and provincial governments and finally national government.
The most important decision and life’s biggest hack is picking the right partner. pic.twitter.com/MeLu5it3rn
“…O chestnut tree;, great rooted blossomer, Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bold? O body swayed to music, O brightening glance, How can we know the dancer from the dance?”
We sweep through the world’s three major time zones; updating our understanding of the literature at the technical foundation of education community safety and sustainability in those time zones 24 times per day. We generally eschew “over-coding” web pages to sustain speed, revision cadence and richness of content as peak priority. We do not provide a search facility because of copyrights of publishers and time sensitivity of almost everything we do.
Our daily colloquia are typically doing sessions; with non-USA titles receiving priority until 16:00 UTC and all other titles thereafter. We assume policy objectives are established (Safer-Simpler-Lower-Cost, Longer-Lasting). Because we necessarily get into the weeds, and because much of the content is time-sensitive and copyright protected, we usually schedule a separate time slot to hammer on technical specifics so that our response to consultations are meaningful and contribute to the goals of the standards developing organization and to the goals of stewards of education community real assets — typically the largest real asset owned by any US state and about 50 percent of its annual budget.
1. Leviathan. We track noteworthy legislative proposals in the United States 118th Congress. Not many deal specifically with education community real assets since the relevant legislation is already under administrative control of various Executive Branch Departments such as the Department of Education.
We do not advocate in legislative activity at any level. We respond to public consultations but there it ends.
We track federal legislative action because it provides a stroboscopic view of the moment — the “national conversation”– in communities that are simultaneously a business and a culture. Even though more than 90 percent of such proposals are at the mercy of the party leadership the process does enlighten the strengths and weakness of a governance system run entirely through the counties on the periphery of Washington D.C. It is impossible to solve technical problems in facilities without sensitivity to the zietgeist that has accelerated in education communities everywhere.
Michigan can 100% water and feed itself. Agriculture is its second-largest industry.
The Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences at Colorado State University prepares students to enhance individual, family, and community well-being through an interdisciplinary curriculum. The program offers two concentrations: Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Interdisciplinary FCS. The Education concentration trains students to become licensed middle or high school teachers, meeting Colorado’s teaching licensure requirements and boasting high job placement rates.
The Interdisciplinary concentration provides a broad foundation for careers in areas like counseling, advocacy, or community services, focusing on skills such as resource management, nutrition, and interpersonal relationships. Students engage in hands-on learning, including internships and student teaching, and benefit from nationally recognized faculty and professional development opportunities. The curriculum covers topics like personal finance, family systems, and wellness, equipping graduates to address real-world challenges. CSU’s program is accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and students can pursue certification through the same organization.
“One of the Family” 1880 | Frederick George Cotman
With a focus on leadership and civic engagement, the FCS degree ensures graduates are ready to make meaningful societal impacts. Scholarships and flexible online options are available, enhancing accessibility.
Neil Brown Jr. married his prom date—they’ve been together for 30 years, married for 25, and have two sons. True high school sweethearts, now in their mid-40s. Get them on a marriage podcast! They fully embraced the idea that marrying early is leveling up not “settling down.” pic.twitter.com/HAnagFEaHA
Student housing on college campuses varies widely in form—ranging from traditional dormitories to apartment-style residences, townhouses, or single-family homes leased by students. The applicability of the IRC to these housing types depends on the building’s classification and the codes adopted by the jurisdiction. Here’s how the IRC may apply:
Types of Student Housing Potentially Covered by the IRC:
Townhouse-style student housing: If campus housing is designed as townhouses (attached single-family units, each with its own entrance and not exceeding three stories), the IRC directly applies. For example, a row of townhouses built for student families or upperclassmen could fall under IRC requirements.
Single-family or duplex housing: Some campuses offer detached homes or duplexes for graduate students, faculty, or student families. These structures typically fall under the IRC’s scope.
Small-scale apartment conversions: In some cases, colleges may convert single-family homes or small multi-unit buildings (originally designed as one- or two-family dwellings) into student housing. If these buildings retain their original residential character, the IRC may govern renovations or maintenance.
Limitations of IRC Applicability:
Dormitories and larger apartment buildings: Most college dormitories and multi-unit apartment-style residences (e.g., buildings with shared corridors or multiple units per floor) are classified as Group R-2 occupancies under the International Building Code (IBC), not the IRC. The IBC applies to residential buildings with more than two dwelling units or those exceeding the IRC’s height and size limits (e.g., more than three stories). Since many campus residence halls are multi-story buildings with numerous units, they typically fall under the IBC.
Mixed-use buildings: Some student housing includes commercial or institutional spaces (e.g., dining halls, study lounges, or administrative offices). These buildings are also governed by the IBC due to their mixed-use nature.
Institutional occupancies: Certain student housing, such as supervised living facilities for students with special needs, may be classified as Group I (Institutional) occupancies under the IBC, not the IRC.
Key IRC Provisions Relevant to Student Housing: When the IRC applies to student housing (e.g., townhouses or single-family homes), it ensures safety, habitability, and efficiency through provisions such as:
Structural safety: Requirements for foundations, walls, roofs, and seismic or wind resistance, ensuring buildings can withstand environmental loads.
Fire safety: Specifications for fire-resistant construction, smoke alarms, and egress (e.g., windows and stairways), critical for student safety in densely occupied residences.
Energy efficiency: Insulation, window, and HVAC standards to reduce energy costs, which is important for sustainable campus operations.
Plumbing and electrical systems: Standards for safe water supply, sanitation, and electrical wiring to support student living needs.
Accessibility: Basic accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities, though the IRC’s accessibility provisions are less stringent than the IBC’s or federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Jurisdictional Variations:
Colleges and universities operate within local building code jurisdictions, which may adopt the IRC, IBC, or a combination with local amendments. For example, a rural campus with townhouse-style student housing might fall under a jurisdiction that enforces the IRC, while an urban campus with high-rise dorms would likely follow the IBC.
Some states or localities exempt public institutions (like state universities) from local codes, instead requiring compliance with state-specific standards or the IBC. Private colleges are typically subject to local codes.
Campuses may also need to comply with federal regulations (e.g., ADA, Fair Housing Act) or campus-specific design standards, which can supplement or override IRC requirements.
Practical Considerations for Colleges:
Cost and design: The IRC is often less stringent and costly to implement than the IBC, making it attractive for smaller-scale student housing projects like townhouses or single-family units. For budget-conscious institutions, IRC-compliant designs can be a cost-effective way to expand housing.
Student safety and density: College housing often accommodates more occupants than typical single-family homes, which may push buildings toward IBC classification. For example, a house leased to multiple students might require additional fire safety measures under the IBC or local ordinances if it’s reclassified as a boarding house or multi-unit dwelling.
Renovations and maintenance: For existing IRC-compliant buildings (e.g., older homes repurposed for student use), renovations must comply with the IRC or the International Existing Building Code (IEBC), depending on the extent of work.
Challenges and Trends:
High-density housing needs: Modern campuses often prioritize high-density residence halls to accommodate large student populations, which typically fall under the IBC. The IRC’s focus on low-rise, single-family structures makes it less relevant for these projects.
Sustainability: Colleges increasingly aim for LEED certification or net-zero energy goals. While the IRC includes energy efficiency standards, campuses may adopt stricter sustainability requirements that align with the IBC or institutional policies.
Off-campus housing: Some students live in off-campus rentals (e.g., single-family homes or small apartment buildings) that may fall under the IRC. Colleges may work with local authorities to ensure these properties meet safety standards, indirectly involving the IRC.
The International Residential Code is relevant to student housing on college campuses primarily when the housing consists of one- and two-family dwellings or townhouses not exceeding three stories, such as family housing or small-scale student residences. However, most campus housing—especially dormitories and multi-unit apartment buildings—falls under the International Building Code (IBC) due to its scale, occupancy, or design.
Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City, Taiwan
First Draft Proposals contain most of our proposals — and most new (original) content. We will keep the transcripts linked below but will migrate them to a new page starting 2025:
N.B. We are in the process of migrating electric power system research to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers bibliographic format.
Recap of the May meetings of the Industrial & Commercial Power Systems Conference in Las Vegas. The conference ended the day before the beginning of the 3-day Memorial Day weekend in the United States so we’re pressed for time; given all that happened.
We can use our last meeting’s agenda to refresh the status of the issues.
We typically break down our discussion into the topics listed below:
Codes & Standards:
While IAS/I&CPS has directed votes on the NEC; Mike is the only I&CPS member who is actually submitting proposals and responses to codes and standards developers to the more dominant SDO’s — International Code Council, ASHRAE International, UL, ASTM International, IEC & ISO. Mike maintains his offer to train the next generation of “code writers and vote getters”
Performance-based building premises feeder design has been proposed for the better part of ten NEC revision cycles. The objective of these proposals is to reduce material, labor and energy waste owed to the branch and feeder sizing rules that are prescriptive in Articles 210-235. Our work in service and lighting branch circuit design has been largely successful. A great deal of building interior power chain involves feeders — the network upstream from branch circuit panels but down stream from building service panel.
Our history of advocating for developing this approach, inspired by the NFPA 101 Guide to Alternative Approaches to Life Safety, and recounted in recent proposals for installing performance-based electrical feeder design into the International Building Code, appears in the link below:
Access to this draft paper for presentation at any conference that will receive it — NFPA, ICC or IEEE (or even ASHRAE) will be available for review at the link below:
Renovation economics, Smart contracts in electrical construction. UMich leadership in aluminum wiring statements in the NEC should be used to reduce wiring costs.
This paper details primary considerations in estimating the life cycle of a campus medium voltage distribution grid. Some colleges and universities are selling their entire power grid to private companies. Mike has been following these transactions but cannot do it alone.
Variable Architecture Multi-Island Microgrids
District energy:
Generator stator winding failures and implications upon insurance premiums. David Shipp and Sergio Panetta. Mike suggests more coverage of retro-fit and lapsed life cycle technicals for insurance companies setting premiums.
Reliability:
Bob Arno’s leadership in updating the Gold Book.
Mike will expand the sample set in Table 10-35, page 293 from the <75 data points in the 1975 survey to >1000 data points. Bob will set up meeting with Peyton at US Army Corps of Engineers.
Reliability of merchant utility distribution systems remains pretty much a local matter. The 2023 Edition of the NESC shows modest improvement in the vocabulary of reliability concepts. For the 2028 Edition Mike submitted several proposals to at least reference IEEE titles in the distribution reliability domain. It seems odd (at least to Mike) that the NESC committees do not even reference IEEE technical literature such as Bob’s Gold Book which has been active for decades. Mike will continue to propose changes in other standards catalogs — such as ASTM, ASHRAE and ICC — which may be more responsive to best practice assertions. Ultimately, improvements will require state public utility commission regulations — and we support increases in tariffs so that utilities can afford these improvements.
Mike needs help from IEEE Piscataway on standard WordPress theme limitations for the data collection platform.
Mike will update the campus power outage database.
Healthcare:
Giuseppe Parise’s recent work in Italian power grid to its hospitals, given its elevated earthquake risk. Mike’s review of Giuseppe’s paper:
Mike and David Shipp will prepare a position paper for the Harvard Healthcare Management Journal on reliability advantages of impedance grounding for the larger systems.
The Internet of Bodies
Forensics:
Giuseppe’s session was noteworthy for illuminating the similarity and differences between the Italian and US legal system in handling electrotechnology issues.
Mike will restock the committee’s library of lawsuits transactions.
Ports:
Giuseppe updates on the energy and security issues of international ports. Mike limits his time in this committee even though the State of Michigan has the most fresh water international ports in the world.
A PROPOSED GUIDE FOR THE ENERGY PLAN AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF A PORT
Other:
Proposals to the 2028 National Electrical Safety Code: Accepted Best Practice, exterior switchgear guarding, scope expansion into ICC and ASHRAE catalog,
Apparently both the Dot Standards and the Color Books will continue parallel development. Only the Gold Book is being updated; led by Bob Arno. Mike admitted confusion but reminded everyone that any references to IEEE best practice literature in the NFPA catalog, was installed Mike himself (who would like some backup help)
Mike assured Christel Hunter (General Cable) that his proposals for reducing the 180 VA per-outlet requirements, and the performance-base design allowance for building interior feeders do not violate the results of the Neher-McGrath calculation used for conductor sizing. All insulation and conducting material thermal limits are unaffected.
Other informal discussions centered on the rising cost of copper wiring and the implications for the global electrotechnical transformation involving the build out of quantum computing and autonomous vehicles. Few expressed optimism that government ambitions for the same could be met in any practical way.
Are students avoiding use of Chat GPT for energy conservation reasons? Mike will be breaking out this topic for a dedicated standards inquiry session:
About 20 percent of education settlement real assets lie in student and temporary faculty housing; some of it located in “off-campus fire protection grid” owned by Mom-and-Pop rental housing owners or large corporate student housing aggregators. Both eschew residential sprinkler systems unless mandated by local building codes.
Fire hoses, on average, use more than 8 1/2 times the water that installed sprinklers do to contain a home fire. Our new video shows how little water fire sprinklers need to save lives. Download and share today. https://t.co/Xo9FWHldITpic.twitter.com/l0jBLWAEMj
Today we slice horizontally through several vertical catalogs that interact, cross reference and are fairly dynamic in their best practice discovery and promulgation.
Plumbing and sanitation systems in educational settlements – especially those with healthcare and research enterprises are intricately linked, ensuring clean water supply, waste removal, and public health. Plumbing systems deliver potable water to dormitories, academic buildings, dining halls, and recreational facilities through a network of pipes, pumps, and valves. (Kitchens). These systems source water from municipal supplies or campus wells, often treated to meet safety standards (Backflow Prevention). Hot water heaters and pressure regulators maintain consistent supply for showers, sinks, and laboratories.
Sanitation systems, conversely, manage wastewater and sewage. They collect used water from toilets, sinks, and showers, channeling it through drainage pipes to campus treatment facilities or municipal sewer systems. Advanced campuses may employ on-site wastewater treatment plants, using processes like sedimentation and biological treatment to reduce environmental impact. Regular maintenance, including pipe cleaning and septic tank pumping, prevents blockages and contamination.
The interaction requires precise coordination. Plumbing systems must avoid cross-contamination with sanitation lines, using backflow preventers and proper pipe insulation.
Sanitation systems rely on plumbing’s water flow to transport waste efficiently. On large campuses, high demand during peak hours challenges both systems, necessitating robust infrastructure. Sustainable practices, like low-flow fixtures and greywater recycling, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and align with campus environmental goals, ensuring a hygienic and functional environment.
Join us today at 11 AM when we sort through the settled science and unsettled standards of care. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
