Lock the Door
- Home Page 24
Meatloaf…
(Illinois) State Universities Retirement System 2025 Financial Report
Meatloaf is traced back to ancient times when people started combining ground meat with other ingredients for a more economical and substantial meal.
Colonial America: The concept of mixing ground meat with breadcrumbs or grains dates back to medieval Europe. When settlers arrived in North America, they adapted these techniques to the ingredients available to them, such as native grains and game meats.
19th Century: As meat grinders became more widely available in the 19th century, the preparation of ground meat dishes became easier. Meatloaf gained popularity during this time, with regional variations emerging across the United States. Families would incorporate various seasonings, herbs, and fillers based on local ingredients and preferences.
World War II and Post-War Era: Meatloaf became even more popular during World War II and the post-war era due to its affordability and versatility. Families could stretch a small amount of meat by combining it with breadcrumbs, rice, or oats, making it an economical choice during times of rationing.
1950s and 1960s: Meatloaf reached its peak of popularity in the mid-20th century, becoming a staple of American home cooking. The dish was often featured in cookbooks and advertisements, showcasing its versatility and ease of preparation.
Over time, meatloaf recipes have evolved with regional and personal preferences. Some variations include using different meats (beef, pork, veal, or a combination), adding vegetables, experimenting with various seasonings, and glazing with sauces.
Ingredients:
Celery, chopped fine, 1 & 1/2 oz.
Yellow onions, chopped fine, 2 & 3/4 oz.
Ground beef, 2 lbs.
Eggs, 2 whole
Ketchup, 2 & 1/3 Tbsp.
Mustard, 2 3/8 tsp.
Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/8 tsp.
Italian seasoning, 5/8 tsp.
Bread crumbs, plain, 3 & 1/2 oz.
Kosher salt, 3/8 tsp.
Black pepper, 1/4 tsp.
Topping
Ketchup, 1 & 1/2 oz.
Water, 2 3/8 tsp.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Place ground beef in mixing bowl. Add eggs and combine.
Add ketchup (2 & 1/3 Tbsp.), mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, onions, celery, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine. Meatloaf should be firm. If mixture is not, add more bread crumbs.
Place meatloaf in a loaf pan. Make sure it is spread evenly.
Bake for about 45 minutes, uncovered. Remove from oven.
Combine ketchup (1 & 1/2 oz.) and water. Spread over meatloaf.
Return to oven for another 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.
Let the meatloaf rest for 30 minutes prior to cutting.
Gearing up for exams 🔋 pic.twitter.com/Ry40CxtRs3
— Illinois State (@IllinoisStateU) February 25, 2025
Autumn on campus ate this season 🫰 Watch campus from a birds-eye view in the fall ➡️ https://t.co/CbtB03NanF pic.twitter.com/E1G3Hr3Cr7
— Illinois State (@IllinoisStateU) November 27, 2024
Coterminus
The River Thames with St. Paul’s Cathedral on Lord Mayor’s Day
Today we examine standards, codes and regulations that inform how educational settlement essential works interacts with host community infrastructure. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Joint Use of Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Facilities and Equipment
Land Measurement
In the United States, land surveying is regulated by various professional organizations and government agencies, and there are several technical standards that must be followed to ensure accuracy and consistency in land surveying.
The best practice for land surveying is set by the “Manual of Surveying Instructions” published by an administrative division of the United States Department of the Interior responsible for managing public lands in the United States. The manual provides detailed guidance on the procedures and techniques for conducting various types of land surveys, including public land surveys, mineral surveys, and cadastral surveys.
George Washington, Surveyor of Western Virginia
Manual of Surveying Instructions
Another important set of model standards for land surveying is the Minimum Standards for Property Boundary Surveys* published by the National Society of Professional Surveyors. These standards provide guidance on the procedures and techniques for conducting property boundary surveys, including the use of appropriate surveying equipment, the preparation of surveying maps and plats, and the documentation of surveying results.  Land surveyors in the United States are also required to adhere to state and local laws and regulations governing land surveying, as well as ethical standards established by professional organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers.
* Local variants
California: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
Michigan: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 granted each state 30,000 acres of federal land for each member of Congress from that state to establish colleges that would teach agriculture, engineering, and military tactics. This legislation led to the establishment of many public universities, including the Texas A&M University, the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University.
Americas Infrastructure Report Card
United States Infrastructure: C
Schools: D+
Energy: D+
Broadband: C+
America earned a better infrastructure grade. Its schools did not. For the education industry, the enduring problem is the stewardship of aging buildings, utility systems and supporting infrastructure.
ASCE Standards Catalog | Standards Open for Public Comment
The #InfrastructureReportCard doesn’t just tell us where we stand – it helps us get to where we need to be.
Read 5 key takeaways you should know about ASCE’s 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure: https://t.co/LrnxBB5Jto. pic.twitter.com/rwrESHDLow
— ASCE Headquarters (@ASCETweets) March 27, 2025
Joint Use of Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Facilities and Equipment
Telephone, telegraph, and power lines over the streets of New York City 1888
Guide for the Joint Use of Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Facilities and Equipment
Abstract:Â This guide identifies the mechanisms and an analytic approach for developing consistent rules, agreements, and/or methodologies for the evaluation and inter-entity cooperation managing pole attachments on utility infrastructure that can contain both electric supply as well as communications wireline and wireless facilities.
The common safety codes and accepted good industry practices for joint use are referenced, including items such as clearances and strength/loading requirements, appropriate work rules during installation, maintenance and restoration, and general guidelines. The considerations within this guide can be used to help perform a detailed assessment of attachment installations where communications antennas and related wireline and wireless equipment are to be co-located on joint use structures.
Scope: This guide provides recommendations for the development of consistent guides, agreements, and/or methodologies for the evaluation and inter-company cooperation on managing pole attachments on Electric Utility infrastructure.
Reaction: September 10 Open Meeting
FERC HOMEÂ | US DOE HOME |Â MPSC HOME | NERC HOME
Presentation & Report | The 2026 Summer Energy Market and Electric Reliability Assessment
CIP-014-4 strengthens the physical-security framework for transmission stations, substations and associated primary control centers whose loss through physical attack could cause instability, uncontrolled separation or cascading within an Interconnection. The revised standard tightens risk-assessment timelines, clarifies applicability and strengthens independent verification and oversight.
University cogeneration: Large campus cogenerating plants do not become subject to CIP-014-4 simply because it operates in parallel with the utility grid. The standard is directed principally at qualifying Transmission Owners and Transmission Operators and the critical transmission facilities identified through the prescribed risk assessment. When the plant gets to about 75 MVA and is connected at greater than 100 kV ( a fairly common “service” interconnect voltage, the NERC registration, the ownership boundary and the topology of the high-voltage interconnection all become consequential. The University of Michigan and MIT plants — the largest in the USA — lie on the boundary
Practical implication: Large research universities with interconnected cogeneration should nevertheless examine the physical security of the campus–utility interface: high-voltage substations, switchyards, protection and control systems, communications, black-start capability and operating arrangements with the serving utility. A campus facility outside CIP-014-4 may still affect — or depend upon — a transmission facility that is inside it. Resilience therefore becomes a shared engineering problem even where regulatory responsibility does not.
Presentation & Report | The 2026 Summer Energy Market and Electric Reliability Assessment
University district energy systems are significant stakeholders in bulk electrical transmission reliability because large educational settlements behave much like small cities. Hospitals, laboratories, data centers, residence halls, athletic facilities and central utility plants create substantial, concentrated electrical loads whose interruption may have consequences extending beyond ordinary commercial outages.
Many universities also operate combined heat and power plants, generators, thermal storage, microgrids and other distributed energy resources. These assets can reduce transmission demand, support local resilience and, where market and interconnection arrangements permit, participate in demand response or other grid-support activities. Conversely, disturbances on the bulk transmission system can disrupt campus generation, utility distribution and critical research or clinical operations.
Universities therefore occupy both sides of the reliability equation: they are dependent loads and potential reliability resources. Transmission planning, protection, restoration priorities, interconnection requirements and emergency operating procedures can directly affect the continuity, cost and resilience of university district energy systems.
Key point for us: FERC directed NERC on computational/large loads (E-1, RD26-7-000) — Ordered the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to develop and submit new or modified Reliability Standards addressing reliability risks from integrating computational loads (e.g., data centers) into the Bulk-Power System, plus revisions to its Rules of Procedure (including registry criteria for such loads). Filings due by December 31, 2026.
Relata:
1992 National census for district heating, cooling and cogeneration |Â (Download)
The Commission voted on a series of mostly consent agenda items focused on electric reliability, market rules, compliance, infrastructure, and related matters. Some of them are relevant to large, sometimes privatized, campus power systems:
Major initiative to accelerate large-load interconnections. The Commission’s headline action was the issuance of six “show cause” orders directing every jurisdictional RTO/ISO (except Texas/ERCOT) to justify or reform how they connect very large electric loads, particularly AI data centers. The objective is to reduce delays while protecting grid reliability and ensuring that costs are appropriately assigned.
Large customers expected to bear infrastructure costs. FERC made clear that new large loads should generally pay for the transmission and distribution upgrades needed to serve them, rather than shifting those costs onto existing retail customers. This principle is expected to influence future tariff filings nationwide
Encouragement of customer-owned generation. The Commission encouraged tariff structures that would allow large customers to supply some or all of their own electricity—such as on-site generation, microgrids, or other behind-the-meter resources—to reduce impacts on the bulk power system.
MISO emergency demand-resource improvements. The Commission conditionally accepted tariff revisions from MISO that improve the visibility, dispatch, and operation of demand-side resources during grid emergencies beginning with the 2028–2029 planning year. This strengthens reliability during extreme system conditions.
A clear policy shift toward speed-to-power. The June meeting signaled perhaps the strongest policy emphasis in years on rapidly connecting new electric demand while maintaining reliability. The Commission characterized the integration of very large loads—especially AI-related facilities—as a national priority and indicated that existing interconnection practices may no longer be adequate
For universities, research campuses, hospitals, semiconductor manufacturers, and data center developers, the June 2026 meeting represents a significant shift in federal policy. Rather than treating large-load requests as exceptional cases, FERC is moving toward standardized, faster interconnection procedures coupled with clearer cost-allocation rules. Institutions planning major campus expansions or new energy-intensive facilities should monitor the forthcoming tariff revisions from their regional transmission organizations, as these changes could substantially affect project schedules, interconnection costs, and opportunities to incorporate on-site generation or microgrids.
Power transformers and distribution transformers will face supply deficits of 30% and 10% in 2025
March 19, 2026
Key Reliability & Cybersecurity Actions. FERC approved important updates to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards. These included modernized rules for virtualization (allowing secure use of virtual machines), enhanced security management controls for low-impact cyber systems (CIP-003-11), and refinements to the definition of “control center” to better protect high-risk assets. The changes aim to strengthen the bulk-power system against rising cyber threats and extreme weather while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.
Electric Rate and Complaint Resolutions. The Commission resolved several long-running rate complaints, including setting a base return on equity (ROE) of 9.57% for New England Transmission Owners. It addressed complaints involving spot market sales exceeding price caps in the WECC region and cost allocation issues in MISO related to DOE emergency orders. Several tariff revisions and generator interconnection filings were also accepted.
Other Actions. FERC modernized Electric Quarterly Report (EQR) filing requirements, authorized multiple asset transactions and dispositions, and approved several natural gas pipeline, storage, and abandonment projects. A presentation on the 2025 State of the Markets Report was also delivered.
FERC’s involvement in CHP plants at universities and hospitals depends on and how the facility interacts with the bulk electric power system and wholesale markets. In many cases, FERC’s role is indirect—but it can become significant under certain conditions. We cover this topic separately in our periodic US Department of Energy Combined Heat & Power eCATALOG
Next Open Meeting: May 21. Keep in mind that much “bandwidth” is devoted to administrative issues; the technical specifics of primary interest to us referenced in case dockets that are referenced here: FERC Online
December 18. The public meetings are dominated by administrative procedures and mutual admiration. Technical issues that require in-depth, expert-level understanding of complex laws, rules, guidelines, and precedents beyond surface-level awareness appear deeper into the FERC website. There you will generally find:
- Nuanced interpretation of statutes and agency decisions
- Awareness of historical context and evolving policies
- Insight into how rules interact with technical, economic, and operational realities
- Impacts of changes and navigate compliance strategically
As interest and time allows we can pick through technical specifics regarding FERC oversight of interstate electricity with the IEEE colleagues.
Ω
Ω
Midwest Energy Communications: What’s On a Utility Pole?
2029 National Electrical Code Panel 15
The University of Michigan has supported the voice of the United States education facility industry since 1993 — the second longest tenure of any voice in the United States. That voice has survived several organizational changes but remains intact and will continue its Safer-Simpler-Lower Cost-Longer Lasting priorities on Code Panel 3 in the 2029 Edition.
Today, during our customary “Open Door” teleconference we will examine the technical concepts under the purview of Code Panel 15; among them:
Article 120 Part VI
Article 517 Health Care Facilities
Article 518 Assembly Occupancies
Article 520 Theaters…and Performance Areas
Article 522 Control Systems for Permanent Amusement Attractions
Article 525 Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs and Similar Events
Article 530 Motion Picture and Television Studios
Article 540 Motion Picture Projection Rooms
IEEE-IAS/PES JTCC Representative: Daleep Mohla
Public Input on the 2029 Edition will be received until April 9, 2026.
- Since the lifespan of educational buildings make the building core and shell susceptible to multiple changes not typically associated with commercial buildings, additional pathways should be placed in areas where the core and shell components of the facility are likely to re-main for extended periods of time
- It is recommended that all areas of an educational building have wireless coverage unless prohibited
Pecan Pie
University of George Financial Report 2022 | $2.1B
If you find yourself eating a pecan pie tomorrow, odds are it was grown in Georgia! pic.twitter.com/0FiKTlCAQi
— UGA (@universityofga) November 24, 2021
University of Georgia: Cranberry Pecan Pie
The popularity of Georgia pecan pie can be attributed to several factors:
- Abundance of Pecans: Georgia, particularly in the southern region of the United States, has a favorable climate for pecan trees. Pecans have been grown in Georgia for centuries, and the state has a long history of pecan cultivation. With such abundance, pecans became a staple ingredient in many traditional Southern recipes, including pecan pie.
- Southern Culinary Tradition: Southern cuisine, known for its comfort foods and indulgent desserts, heavily features pecans in various recipes. Pecan pie is a classic Southern dessert that has been passed down through generations, becoming deeply ingrained in the culinary heritage of the region. Georgia, as a quintessential Southern state, plays a significant role in promoting and preserving these culinary traditions.
- Cultural Significance: Pecan pie is not only a delicious dessert but also holds cultural significance in the South. It is often served during holidays and family gatherings, evoking feelings of warmth, nostalgia, and tradition. The act of sharing a slice of pecan pie with loved ones is a cherished tradition for many families in Georgia and throughout the South.
Work Study
Today at the usual hour we sort through the college jobs of well-known Americans such as Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Barack Obama and James Wright, the president of Dartmouth College who worked as a janitor, night watchman, bartender, factory worker and miner—with links to electrical apprenticeships contributing to the artificial intelligence data-center zeitgeist.
Snow College | Sanpete County Utah
University of Minnesota: Norman Borlaug
| American | College | College-Era Work |
|---|---|---|
| Herbert Hoover | Stanford University | Delivered newspapers and started a student laundry service to help meet living expenses. |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | Southwest Texas State Teachers College | Picked up trash, cut weeds, raked rocks, mopped buildings and later worked in the college president’s office. |
| Ronald Reagan | Eureka College | Washed dishes in a dormitory and also worked as a lifeguard and athletic coach. |
| Gerald Ford | University of Michigan | Waited tables at University Hospital, receiving meals as part of the arrangement during the Depression. |
| Richard Nixon | Whittier College / Duke Law School | Worked in the family grocery business and later held library work while attending law school. |
| Pat Nixon | University of Southern California | Worked in banking and hospital jobs while saving for and attending college. |
| Barack Obama | Occidental College / Columbia University | Held summer and college-era jobs including construction work in New York and retail work in Hawaii. |
| Patricia Tallman | Carnegie Mellon University | Worked professionally in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera productions while earning her degree. |
| James Wright | University of Wisconsin–Platteville | Worked as a janitor, night watchman, bartender, factory worker and miner before later becoming president of Dartmouth College. |
Iowa State University
Electrifying America & Building the Workforce Behind It
Leveling the Playing Field:Â Pre-Apprenticeships Open Doors to the Middle Class
Funding and Administration
U.S. Department of Education — Federal Student Aid — administers and funds the Federal Work-Study Program. Participating institutions receive federal allocations for eligible students.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid — FAFSA — establishes student eligibility for Federal Work-Study and other federal student-aid programs.
- Participating Colleges and Universities —
receive Federal Work-Study allocations, determine individual student awards and ordinarily provide a nonfederal share of student wages through campus financial-aid and student-employment offices. - Off-Campus Public Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations —
may employ Federal Work-Study students through agreements with participating colleges and universities, particularly for community-service employment.
U.S. Department of Labor — Wage and Hour Division — does not fund Federal Work-Study but regulates applicable wage, hour and employment requirements.
MI Student Aid — provides Michigan students and families with state-level financial-aid guidance and information concerning federal work-study and other college-aid programs.
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
Standards Michigan Group, LLC
455 East Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 300
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA
888-748-3670
DIRECTIONS
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |