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Kokkekaffe

Constitution Day Breakfast for Employees

Standards Norway  | University of Oslo Statement of Cash Flows: NOK (000) 677 989 

UiO Research Archive:

Coffee and cardiovascular disease: From epidemiological to etiological perspective | Ulsaker, Hilde

“The Strange Death of Europe” | Douglas Murray

 

Check Your Privilege

In the late 1960s, the discovery of massive North Sea oil reserves transformed Norway from a modest fishing, shipping, and hydroelectric economy into one of the world’s richest nations. Oil revenues funded an expansive welfare state and created the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund.  This “outsized good fortune” should temper any sense of moral or cultural superiority some Norwegians express toward America. Striking oil is no guarantee of success — see Venezuela or Nigeria. Norway also benefited from American technology, open markets, and capital.

The United States further provided critical security: liberating Norway in WWII and leading NATO during the Cold War, allowing Norway to focus on welfare rather than heavy defense.  No student debt!  Arrogance ignores contingency. Norway’s success rests on oil rents, a small homogeneous population, high trust, and luck — not inherent superiority. America’s innovations and security role helped create the global order that enabled such fortunes in Norway specifically and Western Europe generally. Recall the American role in the destruction of the German heavy water refinement plants in November 1943 (The Heroes of Telemark) which bears an uncanny resemblance to the present USA Operation Epic Fury in Iran.

Gratitude and humility suit these discussions better than condescension.

 

 

Norge

Rømmegrøt

Sticky Fingers

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Playgrounds

…”Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams…”

 

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District Schools | Ontario

Outdoor play facilities for school children are governed by several key codes and standards to ensure safety and accessibility. The European Standard EN 1176 outlines safety requirements for playground equipment, covering design, installation, and maintenance to minimize risks like entrapment and falls.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 mandates risk assessments and safe environments, while the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 (revised 1984) ensures playgrounds are reasonably safe for users.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 holds manufacturers liable for defective equipment. The Children Act 1989 requires facilities to be suitable and safe. Ofsted emphasizes stimulating, inclusive, and varied play environments that promote physical and mental health, encouraging year-round outdoor learning. Compliance with these standards, alongside regular inspections (e.g., TÜV certification), ensures safe, durable, and engaging playgrounds that foster children’s development while minimizing injury risks.

Today at the usual hour we update our understanding of the technical literature that supports making these facilities safe, sustainable and enjoyable.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Playground Equipment

ASTM Playground Standards

Fences & Zoning

Bleachers, Folding Seating & Grandstands

Outdoor Power Equipment

Sichere Kinderspielplätze mit Standards

Sports, Recreational Facilities & Equipment

Architect students building a playground

Om SIS

 

Sweden

$2.85 Million Bronx School Playground

Project Details from the Fordham Article

  • Size: The schoolyard is 46,000 square feet (roughly 1.05 acres). That’s a large area serving nearly 1,000 students from PS 306X and MS 331 (Bronx School of Young Leaders), plus community access outside school hours.
  • Features installed (full transformation from cracked asphalt):
    • Turf field (for soccer/football)
    • Running track
    • Full basketball court
    • Volleyball court
    • Play equipment for younger kids
    • Fitness equipment for older students/community
    • Outdoor classroom
    • Gazebo
    • Game tables, benches, etc.
  • Partners: Fordham University (fundraising/design support via its Center for Educational Partnerships), Trust for Public Land, NYC Department of Environmental Protection (oversaw design/construction), city council funding, and student input on the design.
  • Timeline: Partnership started ~2015; groundbreaking ~2021 (initially reported around $2–2.2 million); opened October 2024.

This wasn’t just slapping in some swings — it was a comprehensive green infrastructure + multi-use recreational space upgrade in an urban area with high construction/labor costs.Cost Context in NYC

  • Per square foot: Roughly $62 per sq ft ($2.85M ÷ 46,000 sq ft). This includes demolition of old asphalt, new drainage/green elements (often tied to flood resilience via DEP), high-quality synthetic turf, safety surfacing, site prep, permitting, and oversight in a dense city.
  • Comparable NYC examples:
    • A similar South Bronx school playground makeover was announced at $2.4 million (recent, 2025).
    • Other Bronx schoolyard conversions have been funded in the $2 million range for substantial upgrades.
    • Broader NYC school construction/renovation costs run high (hundreds of dollars per sq ft for buildings; playgrounds are cheaper but still elevated due to union labor, regulations, and urban logistics).
  • National benchmarks for commercial/school playgrounds are often $15–35+ per sq ft for equipment + surfacing alone, but that excludes full-site work, turf fields, tracks, and NYC-specific premiums (permits, environmental compliance, inflation from 2021–2024).

Public projects like this frequently include soft costs (design, community engagement, fundraising overhead) and aim for durability + multi-purpose use (recess, PE, after-school, neighborhood park). The involvement of Trust for Public Land often adds green/climate-resilient elements that increase upfront cost but provide long-term benefits (e.g., heat island reduction, stormwater management).Was it “extremely high”?It’s toward the higher end for schoolyard revitalizations, and NYC public spending is notoriously expensive overall. Early reports pegged it closer to $2–2.2M, so the final $2.85M reflects scope creep, inflation, or added features during planning. However, there’s no public reporting of controversy, audits, or criticism labeling it as wasteful or overrun in a scandalous way — coverage focused on the positive community impact.

Seems high. Factors like NYC’s high cost of living/labor, bureaucratic layers, and turning a barren lot into a genuine community asset drive it up. Simpler asphalt repairs or basic equipment would cost far less, but this was a full redesign.

 

 

Gallery: Playgrounds

Playground Equipment

 

ASTM International develops most of the best practice titles for  sports and recreation equipment and facilities;  among them:

Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Turf Playing Systems as Measured in the Field

Standard Specification for Competition Wrestling Mats

Standard Specification for Athletic Performance Properties of Indoor Sports Floor Systems

Standard Guide for ASTM Standards on Playground Surfacing

Specification for Loose-Fill Rubber for Use as a Playground Safety Surface under and around Playground

Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems under and around Playground

Specification for Playground Surface Impact Testing in a Lab at a Specified Test Height.

Notice the product orientation.  ASTM’s business model is built upon conformity and compliance activity, supported by market incumbents such as manufacturer and insurance interests; but — as an ANSI accredited standards developer — it opens its standards-setting process to all stakeholders; including in one of the largest markets for these products.

We are happy to represent any user-interest at any of the ASTM International meetings; assuming our costs are covered.  Feel free to contact Sanne Anthony either by email or phone for more information.  In the intervening time, we will track action in the ASTM catalog an maintain relevant titles in this product category on several standing agendas — Sports, Kindergarten and Recreation.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.

Issue: [18-82]

Category: Daycare, Sport, Kindergarten

More:

Public Playground Safety

East Somerville Community School

Posted  March 5, 2018

 

ASTM has released two documents for public review — one a new standard, the other a revision of an existing standard — that should interest K-12 school systems which are stewards of recreational facilities :

NEW STANDARD: ASTM WK59245-201x, Test Method for Determining Impact Attenuation of Playground Surfaces within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment as Tested in the Field

REVISION: ASTM F1292-201x, Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment (revision of ANSI/ASTM F1292-2017)

Comments are due April 23rd.   You may obtain a free review copy by setting up a (free) stakeholder account at ASTM Technical Committee page or by communicating with Corice Leonard, (610) 832-9744, cleonard@astm.org or accreditation@astm.org.  Send comments to Corice (with a copy to psa@ansi.org).

The ASTM International Committee F08 on Sports  Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities also meets again May 21-24th in San Diego.  We keep all ASTM documents that affect the revenue and cost structure of the education industry on the standing agenda of our weekly Open Door teleconferences to which everyone is welcomed.  

 

Issue: [18-82]

Category; Athletics & Recreation

Link to ANSI Announcement

 

 

 

Split Pea Soup & Ham

Oklahoma Commercial Kitchen Requirements

Ingredients:

1 pound dried split peas, rinsed and picked over
1 ham hock, ham bone, or 1 pound diced ham
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: thyme, parsley, or other herbs for flavor

Instructions:

Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the split peas under cold water and pick out any debris. Chop the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic.

Sauté aromatic vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.

Add split peas and broth: Add the rinsed split peas to the pot, along with the ham hock, ham bone, or diced ham. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Add bay leaves and any other herbs you’re using.

Simmer the soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup has thickened, about 1 to 1.5 hours. If using a ham hock or bone, remove it from the soup once the meat is falling off the bone; shred the meat and return it to the pot.

Season to taste: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Adjust any other seasonings to your liking.

Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy hot. Optionally, you can garnish with chopped fresh parsley or a drizzle of olive oil.



Tips:
You can customize the soup by adding other vegetables like potatoes or leeks.
For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Split pea soup tends to thicken as it sits, so you may need to add more broth or water when reheating leftovers.

Standards Oklahoma


EA Café

University of Detroit Net Position $367,257 (000) | Strategic Plan 2025-2029

Entrepreneurship Association

Four students stand around the EA Cafe coffee cart inside of the Engineering Building.

Archdiocese of Detroit

We want our young people to learn how to make a living in challenges of their time. The EA Café is a student-run coffee cart operated by the Entrepreneurship Association on the McNichols Campus. Launched in 2023 as a hands-on class project, it has quickly become a popular spot offering coffee, flavored lattes, and other beverages to students, faculty, and staff.  The café functions as a real-world learning laboratory. EA students manage every aspect — purchasing supplies, preparing drinks, customer service, marketing, and finances. The movable cart is typically set up in high-traffic locations such as the Engineering Building and campus events. Beyond providing convenient study fuel, the EA Café represents UDM’s strong commitment to experiential learning and student entrepreneurship.

Detroit (meaning “strait”, a narrow passage of water toward Lac Érié ) was founded in 1701 by French explorer and military officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. This was the first permanent European settlement in what is now Wayne County Southeast Michigan and one of the earliest above tidewater in North America.  Before the French arrived, the area was inhabited by Native American tribes (Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, and others).  Relations between these tribes and the newcomers from Europe were a mix of alliances, trade, intermarriage, and violence.*   

Detroit remained under French control until 1760 (when the British took it during the French and Indian War).  Many French families stayed even after that.  Detroit still has strong French roots — street names, family surnames, and neighborhoods like Grosse Pointe  and Ecorse trace back to those early French settlers.  European immigrants to Southeast Michigan — drawn by economic opportunities enabled by the American founding documents (personal responsibility, religious tolerance, limited government, fiscal conservatism) — came in waves for the better part of 150 years.

  1. Poland — Largest group by WWI era, especially in Hamtramck.
  2. Germany — Early dominant group (1830s–1880s peak). (Indian Village)
  3. Italy — Major wave 1890s–1910s. (Little Italy)
  4. Ireland — Significant 19th-century arrivals (Corktown).
  5. United Kingdom — Steady skilled immigration. (East English Village)
  6. Hungary — Large early 20th-century influx. (Delray)
  7. Greece — Established Greektown.
  8. Romania — One of the largest Romanian communities in the U.S. (St. George Orthodox Church)
  9. Russia — Eastern European wave. (Russian Town Detroit)russian detroit, russian speaking detroit, russian michigan

Canadians across the river (City of Windsor, and much of Southwest Ontario) trace their English origins to Yorkshire, Cumberland, Devon & Cornwall, Highland Scots and all of Ireland.  Many Dutch, driven out of New York City, traveled past Detroit and settled in Kent County Western Michigan.

* Deliberately overlooked by Revisionists in the legacy US public school system: ancestral violence among the Native American tribes themselves. Cadillac invited multiple tribes in the Southeast Michigan and Ohio region to settle near Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit for protection against Iroquois invaders from Western New York.

The Detroit Decision and “White Flight”

No photo description available.

How Detroit Lost Its Way

The Most Drastic Transformation of Any American City

Families Cannot Stand the Gorilla Grip the Democratic Party (Rashida Talib & Shri Thanedar & Debbie Dingell) Has on Southeast Michigan So They Have Fled To The Suburbs

St. Catherine of Siena Academy | Oakland County Michigan

 

 

“American” as the Global Standard Language

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