Trowel Trades

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Trowel Trades

March 3, 2025
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Bricklayers, sometimes known as masons, are skilled craftsmen that must be physically fit, have a high level of mathematical skill and a love for precision and detail.

 

Bricklaying standards are guidelines and specifications that ensure the quality and safety of bricklaying work. These standards are often established by industry organizations, regulatory bodies, or national building codes. While specific standards may vary by region, some core bricklaying standards include:

Building Codes: Compliance with local building codes is essential. These codes provide regulations for construction practices, including specifications for masonry work. Bricklayers must adhere to the building codes relevant to the specific location of the construction project.

ASTM International Standards: ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) develops and publishes technical standards for various industries, including construction. ASTM standards related to bricklaying cover materials, testing procedures, and construction practices.

Masonry Construction Standards: Organizations like the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) in the United States publish standards specifically focused on masonry construction. These standards address topics such as mortar, grout, reinforcement, and structural design considerations.

Quality Control: Standards related to quality control in bricklaying include specifications for mortar mixtures, proper curing of masonry, and guidelines for inspecting finished work. Adherence to these standards helps ensure the durability and longevity of the masonry construction.

Safety Standards: Occupational safety standards, such as those outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, are critical for protecting workers on construction sites. These standards cover aspects like fall protection, scaffolding safety, and the proper use of personal protective equipment.

Brick and Block Standards: Standards related to the dimensions, composition, and properties of bricks and concrete blocks are important for achieving structural integrity. These standards specify characteristics such as compressive strength, absorption, and dimensional tolerances.

Construction Tolerances: Tolerances dictate acceptable variations in dimensions and alignments in bricklaying work. These standards help ensure that the finished structure meets design specifications and industry-accepted tolerances.

Testing and Inspection: Standards related to the testing and inspection of masonry work help verify that construction meets specified requirements. This includes procedures for mortar testing, grout testing, and overall quality inspections.

It’s important for bricklayers and construction professionals to be aware of and follow these standards to guarantee the safety, quality, and compliance of their work. Additionally, staying informed about updates to industry standards is crucial as they may evolve over time to reflect advancements in materials, techniques, and safety practices.

St. Olaf College | Dakota County Minnesota

International Building Code Chapter 21: Masonry

Weekend Recap

March 3, 2025
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French Baguette & Cowboy Coffee

March 2, 2025
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Standards Kentucky

Napoleon Bonaparte changed the specification for the traditional round bread so that his soldiers could more easily march with food. Chef Woehrle from the National Center for Hospitality Studies in Jefferson County Kentucky demonstrates how to do it.

Cowboy Coffee

History of Western Civilization Told Through the Acoustics of its Worship Spaces

March 2, 2025
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Abstract.  Insights into the history and future of western civilization are found by applying information theory to the acoustical communication channel (ACC) of its worship spaces. Properties of the ACC have both influenced and reflected the choice of message coding (e.g., speech or music) at various times. Speech coding is efficient for acoustically dry ACCs, but hopeless for highly time-dispersive ACCs. Music coding is appropriate for time dispersive (reverberant) ACCs. The ACCs of synagogues, early Christian house churches, and many Protestant churches are relatively acoustically “dry” and thus well suited to spoken liturgies.

The spoken liturgy, dominant in synagogues, was carried over to early Christian churches, but became unworkable in Constantinian cathedrals and was largely replaced with a musical liturgy. After a millennium, the cathedral acoustic was altered to suit the doctrinal needs of reformation churches with its renewed emphasis on the spoken word. Worship forms continue to change, and the changes are reflected in the properties of the ACC. The pulpits of electronic churches may be evolving into radio and television performance spaces and naves into worshipers’ living rooms.

CLICK IMAGE

Evensong “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”

Sacred Spaces

National Youth Choir of Scotland “Love Divine”

City Chickens 101

March 2, 2025
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Standards Utah

Utah State University Net Position 2023: $1.829B


Utah State University Extension

There are a few campuses in the USA and UK where chickens are allowed to roam freely, often as part of educational programs or sustainability initiatives.

In the USA, some examples include:

University of California, Davis: The campus has a farm that includes free-range chickens as part of its agricultural programs.
Bard College: They have a farm that features free-range chickens, contributing to their sustainable agriculture practices.

In the UK, examples include:

University of Edinburgh: They have had initiatives where chickens roam freely as part of urban farming projects.
Kingston University: Their campus has included chickens in community gardening efforts.
These programs often emphasize sustainability, education, and the benefits of local food production.

Small scale chicken farming, as in residential and even in educational settlements, are regulated at the local level by municipalities, cities, or counties. Local ordinances vary widely with some common elements including:

  1. Zoning Laws: These laws determine whether residential areas can keep chickens and in what capacity. Some areas may prohibit chickens entirely, while others may allow a limited number.
  2. Permit Requirements: Some localities require residents to obtain a permit to keep chickens.
  3. Coop Specifications: Regulations may include specific requirements for chicken coops, such as size, location, and sanitation standards.
  4. Noise and Nuisance Laws: Rules may be in place to manage noise and odors, ensuring that chickens do not become a nuisance to neighbors.
  5. Health and Safety Codes: These codes can cover the cleanliness of the area where chickens are kept, as well as guidelines for feeding and waste disposal to prevent attracting pests or creating health hazards.

Related:

Animal domestication

Learning from the Wild Things

Protecting Animals When Disaster Strikes

Animal Safety

Fruit Smoothie

March 1, 2025
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West Virginia University Financial Statement 2022 | $1.178M

The WVU Extension is a primary outreach division of West Virginia University. With offices in each of the state’s 55 counties, Extension faculty and staff develop and deliver programs in leadership development, rural and community-based economic development, youth development, workforce development, and health education.

Ingredients

3 cups frozen strawberries or other frozen fruit
1 banana
1 cup yogurt (plain or vanilla)
1 handful spinach or kale
2 cups of milk

Directions

Wash fresh produce.
Collect and measure all ingredients before starting recipe.
Add the fruit, yogurt and greens to the blender.
Pour the milk into the blender.
Blend 30 to 45 second until smooth.
Refrigerate leftovers within two hours, and finish within two days.

Nutrition information per serving (recipe makes six one-cup servings):
Calories — 120; fat — 2g; carbohydrates — 21g; fiber — 2g; protein — 5g

Geoffrey Hinton & Joel Hellermark

This conversation was recorded in April 2024 at the Royal Institute of Great Britain in London. An edited version was premiered at Sana AI Summit on May 15 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Geoffrey Hinton has been called “the godfather of AI” and is considered one of the most prominent thought leaders on the emergence of artificial intelligence. He has served as a faculty member at Carnegie-Mellon and a fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. He is now Emeritus Professor at the University of Toronto. In 2023, Geoffrey left his position at Google so that he could speak freely about AI’s impact on humankind.

Coffee & Bears

March 1, 2025
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Standards Montana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Campus Dining

‘A Love Letter to Montana’: UM Celebrates Opening of New Dining Hall, The Lodge


Standards Montana

RE: Blue State Diaspora to Red State College Towns:

‘Howling Huskie’ coffee shop

March 1, 2025
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Irish Breakfast

March 1, 2025
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Maple Nut Latte

March 1, 2025
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Standards Vermont

Annual 2023 Net Position Statement: $774,788,000 (Page 15)

Ingredients:

2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy like almond, oat, or cashew)
2 tbsp maple syrup (adjust to taste)
¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
¼ tsp nut extract (hazelnut, walnut, or almond)
Whipped cream (optional, for topping)
Chopped nuts or nutmeg (optional garnish)

Instructions:

Brew the espresso and pour it into a large mug.
Heat the milk in a saucepan or microwave, then froth it using a whisk, frother, or blender until foamy.
Mix the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and nut extract into the espresso.
Pour the frothed milk over the espresso mixture.
Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with chopped nuts or nutmeg if desired.

The Maple Nut Latte is likely inspired by Vermont’s famous maple syrup industry. Vermont is the largest producer of pure maple syrup in the U.S., and maple-flavored food and drinks are a big part of the state’s culinary identity.


Historically, Vermont was one of the most Republican states in the country. It consistently voted Republican in presidential elections from the party’s founding in the mid-1800s until 1988.  Starting in the 1960s and 1970s, Vermont saw an influx of urban progressives from places like New York and Massachusetts seeking escape from the liberal Democrat hellholes they voted for.

Many were part of the back-to-the-land movement, bringing left-leaning political views.  Despite Vermont’s deep-blue status at the federal level, the state still elects moderate Republicans at the state level, such as Governor Phil Scott, who is popular for his bipartisan and pragmatic leadership.

 

The “Sugaring” Season

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