Heartland for Hire
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Gorecki Sunday Brunch!
Standards Minnesota | Ben and Dorothy Gorecki Legacy Story
2024 Net Position Saint John’s University: $509,630,141
- Without donor restrictions: $270,634,302
- With donor restrictions: $238,995,839
2024 Net Position College of Saint Benedict: $233,981,731
- Without donor restrictions: $103,641,847
- With donor restrictions: $130,339,884
Lake Sag jump vlog with the Class of 2026. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/5OstBENEu9
— CSB+SJU (@CSBSJU) June 4, 2026
Kaurapuuro
Michigan Upper Peninsula | Finlandia Foundation National
Scandinavian Studies at the University of Michigan
15 Landmark Buildings by Architect Eero Saarinen
Air guitars, wife-carrying races, sauna games, and a midsummer bonfire? 🇫🇮🔥 Hancock, Michigan is celebrating its Finnish roots in the most entertaining way possible.https://t.co/wXonNDznnr#Michigan #FinnishHeritage #Travel #SummerFestival #BudgetTravel
— Two Scots Abroad Travel Guides (@TwoScotsAbroad) June 18, 2026
Finland, Copper, and Reindeer: Tracing Michigan’s Historical Roots to the Arctic on Two Continents
Michigan Technological University helps sustain Finnish culture in the Upper Peninsula despite Finlandia University’s 2023 closure. Located just across the Portage Waterway from Hancock’s former Finlandia campus, Michigan Tech has long been intertwined with the region’s deep Finnish heritage from 19th- and early 20th-century copper mining immigrants.
Michigan Tech accepted teach-out agreements, allowing Finlandia students to complete degrees while maintaining credits and similar tuition costs. It also gained custodianship of Finlandia’s academic records and transcripts.
The university embeds Finnish influences through its location in a historically Finnish-American community. Its archives and library resources document Finnish immigration, labor history, and ethnic identity in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Campus life reflects local traditions, including sauna culture—a hallmark of Finnish identity—that Michigan Tech students and the broader community embrace.
While the Finlandia Foundation National now stewards key assets like the Finnish American Heritage Center, archives, Folk School, and events, Michigan Tech’s proximity, student integration, research, and community role ensure ongoing educational and cultural continuity for Finnish-American traditions in Michigan.
Finlandia University | Houghton County
Meanwhile in #Helsinki
#Finland pic.twitter.com/g6NvtuvXAa
— Belen Sapag M. (@BSapag) July 9, 2024
The Buttery
Net Position 2025: £282 million
Grounds and Facilities | Virtual Tour
As with many Tudor-era buildings the result of Lady Margaret Beaufort patronage, there is no named architect. The Great Gate, the First Court, the Chapel and the surrounding ranges were designed “on the fly” by stonemasons at the job site.
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For the 2021/22 cohort alone international students generated ~£41.9bn in benefits (tuition, living expenses, visitor spending) against £4.4bn in public service costs — a £37.4bn net benefit (benefit-cost ratio ~9.4:1). This equates to ~£560 per UK resident or £466 extra per working adult annually. They cross-subsidise UK students and research (domestic fees are frozen in real terms), support jobs in university towns, and boost exports. At places like Christ’s College, ~1/3 of undergraduates are international, helping sustain operations.
Economic: The money helps universities and local economies short-term, but doesn’t fix low UK productivity, skills gaps, or stagnant wages in non-university sectors. Many internationals return home after studies (or via the Graduate route), so long-term innovation/entrepreneurship spillovers are limited. Over-reliance risks vulnerability if numbers drop (as seen with recent policy changes).
Social/Housing/NHS: Rapid growth (post-2019 surge) adds pressure on housing stock, especially in student cities — contributing to shortages and higher rents in some areas. They pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and use fewer services than averages, but the scale strains local infrastructure.
Cultural: They enrich campuses with diversity and global perspectives, but rapid inflows can challenge social cohesion, integration, or a sense of shared national identity in some communities. Public opinion is mostly positive on a person-by-person basis but, taken en-mass, England-born English are wary — on now openly hostile — toward overall migration volumes.
Universities excel at education and soft power (future global leaders with UK ties), but they are not designed as primary tools for fixing domestic policy failures like planning laws, welfare design, or skills training. These require broader government action beyond attracting “aspirational” fee-payers.
G
Lingua Franca
White House: Designating English as the Official Language of The United States
2026 National Electrical Code Article 100 Definitions Public Input Transcript (Definitions)
2026 National Electrical Code Article 100 Definitions Public Comment Transcript (Definitions)
“The English genius is essentially eclectic;
it borrows from everywhere and from every time.”
— Peter Ackroyd | 2004 Albion: the origins of the English imagination
“The Tower of Babel” 1563 | Pieter Bruegel the Elder
“Wer von Fremdsprachen nichts versteht, kennt seine eigenen nichts.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Disagree with someone and cannot persuade them? Do you need to hide your intransigence or ulterior motive? Then change the basis of discussion by changing the subject with a different definition.
This happens routinely in political discourse and rather frequently in best practice discovery and promulgation in building construction and settlement infrastructure standards[1]. Assuming all parties are negotiating in good faith resolution may lie in agreement on a common understanding of what a satisfying agreement might look like.
Admittedly, a subtle and challenging topic outside our wheelhouse[2] hence the need to improve our organization of this topic starting with today’s colloquium; with follow on sessions every month.
Starting 2025 we will organize our approach to this topic, thus:
Language 100. Survey of linguistic basics for developing codes, standards and regulations. Many vertical incumbents have developed their own style manuals
Language 200. Electrotechnical vocabulary
Language 300. Architectural and Allied trade vocabulary
Language 400. The language of government regulations; the euphemisms of politicians with influence over the built environment
Language 500. Advanced topics such as large language models or spoken dialects such as “High Michigan” — arguably, the standard American dialect where it applies to the standards listed above.
These deep differences still exist. pic.twitter.com/doxytw9Hps
— Jon Harris 🌲 (@jonharris1989) October 14, 2025
It may not be obvious how profound the choice of words and phrases have on leading practice discovery and promulgation. For example, “What is Gender” determines the number, placement and functionality of sanitary technologies in housing, hospitals and sporting. The United States has a Supreme Court justice that cannot define “woman”
As always, we will respond to public consultation opportunities wherever we can find them. Some organizations are better than this than others.
Large Language Models
Examples of Variations in Translations of Homer’s Odyssey
The Surprising Factor That Determines English Fluency
Today we limit our discussion to language changes in the catalogs of ANSI-accredited standards developers whose titles have the most influence over the interoperability of safety and sustainability technologies that create and sustain the built environment of educational settlements.
American Institute of Architects: Definitions for Building Performance
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
National Fire Protection Association
Every building construction discipline has its own parlance and terms of art.
This is enough for a one-hour session and, depending upon interest, we will schedule a breakout session outside of our normal “daily” office hours. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΕΣ
Starting 2024 and running into 2025 we will break down this topic further, starting with construction contract language — Lingua Franca 300:
Asset management applies to any organization. As such, understanding its terminology, principles, and outcomes is key to an organization’s success. ISO 55000:2024 provides an overview of #AssetManagement and its expected benefits. @isostandards https://t.co/XZsWvJJ8r4
— ANSI (@ansidotorg) September 22, 2024
Large Language Models
Electropedia: The World’s Online Electrotechnical Vocabulary
Footnotes:
(1) The United States government defines a “Green Building” as a building that has been designed, constructed, and operated in a way that reduces or eliminates negative impacts on the environment and occupants. The government has established various standards and certifications that buildings can achieve to be considered “green.”
The most widely recognized green building certification in the United States is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). To achieve LEED certification, a building must meet certain standards related to sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
In addition to the LEED certification, there are other programs and standards that can be used to measure and certify the sustainability of buildings, such as the Green Globes rating system and the Living Building Challenge.
Overall, the goal of green building is to create buildings that are not only environmentally sustainable but also healthier, more comfortable, and more efficient for occupants, while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting green building practices, the U.S. government aims to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment and move towards a more sustainable future.
(2) The U.S. Green Building Council is a conformance organization. See the discussion our ABOUT for background on incumbent stakeholders.
Language Family Tree pic.twitter.com/RREloueklh
— English Grammar (@GrammarUpdates) September 21, 2024
Summer Swoon
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Jaliyaa Coffee
Jaliyaa Coffee is a specialty mobile coffee truck and experiential catering brand stationed at Howard University in Washington, D.C. (2401 Fourth St NW). It serves as a beloved campus staple, often called “HU’s favorite,” offering ethically sourced African coffees, matcha, and signature drinks rooted in African and Arab hospitality traditions.
The name “Jaliyaa” honors Mande griots—West African storytellers who preserved culture across generations. Every cup aims to bridge Africa and the African diaspora through intentional rituals, community, and storytelling.
The truck operates weekdays (typically 9 AM–5 PM), providing premium beverages for students, events, and gatherings while also catering across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.Jaliyaa emphasizes cultural connection, quality beans, and warm hospitality, making it more than just coffee—it’s a vibrant hub for meaningful moments on Howard’s campus.
@jaliyaacoffee the best baristas ever❤️💙 #howard #habeshatiktok #foryourpage #jaliyaa #coffeelovers
@jaliyaacoffee it’s 2026 now if you haven’t had Jaliyaa yet wyd??? #howarduniversity #buisness #jaliyaa #matcha #fyp
Howard University Net Position 2025: $1.411B
"The Banjo Lesson" 1893 | Henry Ossawa Tannerhttps://t.co/MlLE3VKH1Vhttps://t.co/Vi9cxCEZB3 pic.twitter.com/epDDetBj2U
— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) June 19, 2024
Cold Brew
Seeking Donor(s): New Football Operations Center
University of Miami: Condensed Statement of Financial Position 2023 ($7.02B)
Florida: Municipal Securities Issuers
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“Red Shirt, Homosassa Florida” (1904) | Winslow Homer
The Border, DEI, Trump, Islam, BLM & the Misinterpretation of Data
Good luck on finals, Canes! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mZb2Pfynra
— University of Miami (@univmiami) April 30, 2025
Brasenose College Cold Brew
Selections from the Tatler, Spectator and Guardian
Bundy, Edgar; The Coffee House Orator; Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service
Legislation.gov.uk: Online Safety Act of 2023
Hope you are all excited for the Open Day on September 20th! Use the link here to check out what we have on at Brasenose, including when you can meet our wonderful tutors!https://t.co/7HdzEZmjxq@brasenosejcr @UniofOxford #OxOpenDays pic.twitter.com/QNWG2cFb2n
— Brasenose News (@BrasenoseNews) September 4, 2024
— JerichoCoffeeTraders (@JeriCoffTraders) June 29, 2017
We are back! Loving being back at the @EastOxMarket and our High Street café. Come and say hi! #coffeeoxford #independent #happynewyear pic.twitter.com/RRXcEkfABC
— JerichoCoffeeTraders (@JeriCoffTraders) January 7, 2017
“The Stars and Stripes Forever” John Phillip Sousa 1896
In an era of pronounced Democratic dominance in U.S. academia—where faculty political affiliations skew heavily left—John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” occupies a revealing position. Republicans continue to champion the 1896 march unreservedly as vibrant proof of American exceptionalism, military heritage, and cultural confidence, hearing in its brass and piccolo the triumphant spirit of national unity.
Democrats, shaped by academic environments that often frame traditional patriotism as bordering on nationalism or cultural hegemony, tend toward a more qualified appreciation. Many academics contextualize the piece historically as a product of Gilded Age optimism or imperial-era bravado, emphasizing its role in constructing identity rather than celebrating it outright. While still performed at public events, the march may be taught with deconstructive lenses—highlighting how such symbols can marginalize dissenting voices or overlook America’s complexities—reflecting broader campus skepticism toward uncritical flag-waving.
University of Michigan leadership shows a strong Democratic tilt, consistent with broader patterns in U.S. higher education, and reflected in donations toward anything that moves like a Democrat in the ~95% range. International students easily pick up on this bias.
Yet the music’s infectious energy resists full domestication. Even within left-leaning institutions, its enduring popularity at commencements and civic rites reveals a persistent, cross-partisan pull. Sousa’s masterpiece thus highlights academia’s influence: Democrats may intellectualize its patriotism, yet the piece quietly affirms a shared American heartbeat that theory struggles to silence. Amidst the widely diagnosed “Trump Derangement Syndrome” this Sousa magnum opus holds forth on a small sport of cultural common ground.
* The politics of sleeping (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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