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“Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It’ll be spring soon. And the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they’ll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields… and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?” — Sam Gamgee (J.R.R. Tolkien (from ‘The Return of the King’ 1955)
📢 Have you heard? Cal Poly has once again been named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars! Learn more about the three impressive faculty that are taking their expertise global 🌎
* Why is the Net Position number so elusive in college and university financial statements? Short answer: So goes the nature of non-profit organizations. More.
“With this weekly post we want to introduce you into the culinary range of the English speaking world. Each week we present you an iconic dish and give you information around its origin, preparation and eating habits. This week we are visiting the Big Apple – New York. Bagels can be regarded as a true American melting-pot meal.” — von Nadja Wostiera (Language graduate and blog author)
This beautiful map was created by Charles Joseph Minard a round 1860s. He is one of the fathers of modern infographics. Here he visualises the vast German migration streams heading to the US via Hamburg and Bremen. Looking at it, it’s no surprise that so many North Americans… pic.twitter.com/rpRRXzan5k
— Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) May 31, 2026
Duke University Chapel arose from James B. Duke’s conviction that spiritual life should occupy a visible place at the center of a great university. In 1925, while surveying the wooded site of the future West Campus with President William Preston Few, Duke selected its highest point for a chapel—a “great towering church” intended to influence generations of students. His broader philanthropy supplied the financial foundation for Duke University and its new campus; the Chapel itself ultimately cost about $2.2 million.
Designed by the Philadelphia firm of Horace Trumbauer, principally through chief designer Julian Abele, the Chapel is an American interpretation of English Gothic architecture rather than a copy of any particular church. Its 210-foot tower establishes it as the visual and symbolic center of West Campus. The cornerstone was laid in October 1930, construction continued for more than two years and the building was formally dedicated in 1935.
Today the Chapel operates as an interdenominational Christian institution supporting worship, preaching, sacred music and community ministries. Its stewardship is also a substantial facilities undertaking. Duke invested $19.2 million in its 2015–16 restoration, addressing the limestone ceiling and roof while upgrading HVAC, electrical and audiovisual systems and refurbishing stained glass and woodwork—an example of the continuing maintenance required to preserve monumental university architecture for daily use.
UAL is Europe’s largest specialist university for art, design, fashion, communication, and performing arts. It ranks 2nd globally in Art and Design (QS World University Rankings 2023). Formed in 2004 from historic colleges dating back to the 19th century, UAL is a collegiate federation of six renowned institutions:
Camberwell College of Arts
Central Saint Martins (famous for alumni like Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney)
Chelsea College of Arts
London College of Communication
London College of Fashion
Wimbledon College of Arts
With over 18,000 students from more than 130 countries, UAL offers pre-degree to postgraduate courses, fostering innovation through professional practitioners as tutors. Its graduates dominate creative industries, including Turner Prize winners and British Designer of the Year recipients. Campuses span London, immersing students in the world’s creative capital…’
Thank you to our friends at @BECU for a generous $10,000 #GivingTuesday donation to support EWU student success! If you would like to help us ensure Eastern students remain Eagle Strong, please give online at https://t.co/MEhLdEm5J9 by midnight tonight. pic.twitter.com/TljlUooxfx
The NPADC is a team competition for law students to develop skills in drafting patent applications, focusing on U.S. patent law. Teams receive a hypothetical invention statement, conduct prior art searches, draft specifications and claims, and present their work to judges, including patent examiners and practitioners. For 2025, the invention was an extra-uterine system for supporting premature fetuses, indicating the complexity of tasks involved
There is no publicly available timetable for the 2027 National Patent Application Drafting Competition (NPADC) from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as of the latest available information. The USPTO typically releases detailed schedules for the NPADC closer to the competition year, often in the fall of the preceding year (e.g., October or November 2025 for the 2026 competition).
After months of hard work, the top five teams met at USPTO headquarters today for the final round of the 2025 National Patent Application Drafting Competition. 🏆 And the winners are … ⬇️
Thomas Jefferson was the leader in founding the United States Patent Office. Jefferson was a strong supporter of the patent system and believed that it was essential for promoting innovation and progress in the United States. As the first Secretary of State Jefferson was responsible for implementing the country’s patent system.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution reads as follows:
“The Congress shall have Power To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”
In 1790, Jefferson drafted the first Patent Act, which established the procedures for applying for and granting patents. The act also created the United States Patent Office as a government agency to oversee the patent system. Jefferson appointed the first Patent Board, which was responsible for reviewing patent applications and making recommendations to the Secretary of State.
Jefferson was deeply involved in the early development of the Patent Office and was instrumental in shaping its policies and procedures. He believed that the patent system should be accessible to all inventors, regardless of their social or economic status, and he worked to streamline the patent application process to make it more efficient and user-friendly.
In recognition of his contributions to the development of the patent system, Jefferson is often referred to as the “Father of American Innovation.”
This clause grants Congress the authority to establish a system of patents and copyrights to protect the intellectual property of inventors and authors. The purpose of this system is to encourage innovation and creativity by providing inventors and authors with a temporary monopoly on their creations, allowing them to profit from their work and invest in future projects. The clause also emphasizes the importance of promoting the progress of science and the useful arts, reflecting the belief of the founders that the development of new technologies and inventions was essential for the growth and prosperity of the United States.
Over the years, the Patent Office has played a crucial role in the development of the United States as a technological leader, granting patents for inventions ranging from the telephone and the light bulb to the airplane and the computer. Today, the Patent Office is part of the United States Department of Commerce and is responsible for examining patent applications and issuing patents to inventors and companies.
Congratulations to the winners of this year’s National Patent Application Drafting Competition – Khailee, Bree, Rita, and Maria from @gwlaw, and thank you to all participants! Learn more about the competition: https://t.co/gB64fnXaM6pic.twitter.com/FWqak6Mr1m
From creating a race car safety device that protects drivers from injury to revolutionizing chemotherapy, Spartans have contributed to more than 3,300 inventions. #SpartansWillpic.twitter.com/dchCs0BFBx
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
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
