The Cambridge Union is the oldest debating society in the world, as well as the largest student society in Cambridge. It remains one of the highest-ranking competitive debating chambers worldwide, and hosts a range of speakers and topical debates each term.
Since 1815 the Union has been committed to the principles of free speech and of fair, open, and honest debate. Founded at a time when the university authorities attempted to restrict these freedoms, the Union remains the centre of controversial and serious debate within the University of Cambridge.
The Union has been discussing, debating, and shaping the issues that matter for the last two hundred years. Understanding how concepts work, challenging ideas, and having a frank discussion is the bedrock upon which our society is founded. It is the responsibility of the Union to ensure that these ideals are protected and nurtured for years to come.
“It’s a fine line between Saturday night
and Sunday morning” – Jimmy Buffett
“Rather a bottle in front of me
than a frontal lobotomy” — Some guy
Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a “drink”. The amount of liquid in your glass, can, or bottle does not necessarily match up to how much alcohol is actually in your drink. Even before the United States federal government withdrew from regulating alcohol, the conversation, and degree of agreement and attitude, remains remarkably regionally specific:
Missouri University of Science & Technology: What is a Standard Drink?
University of South Alabama: What is a Standard Drink?
Stanford University Office of Alcohol Policy and Education
Other nations serve alcohol to students on campus in university owned facilities.
I didn’t know that🤔 pic.twitter.com/rMT3X2fCN0
— Alix (@AlixG_2) August 17, 2024
For anyone who cares.. I have 2866 DAYS of sobriety ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PBKAle2m4c
— 🎀 Sᴀʀᴀʜ 🎨 Aʀᴛɪsᴛ 🎀 (@SarahXArt) December 30, 2025
— Dr. Maya C. Popa (@MayaCPopa) May 26, 2023
Casual reminder that Wisconsin has more bars than grocery stores pic.twitter.com/dG8YYRkoKd
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope) March 30, 2025
not sure if anyone cares on here, but I’ve been sober 1 year today❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/q33BaYPXPx
— Sophia Chloe 🇱🇷🇬🇧 (@_Hani_945) December 27, 2025
The command issued by the character Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the television series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” finds its way into the archive of photographs of Nobel Laureates consorting with politicians at the University of Michigan and elsewhere.
American Institute of Physics Archive
…”There’s not good math explaining forget the physics of it. Math explaining the behavior of complex systems yeah and that to me is both exciting and paralyzing like we’re at very early days of understanding you know how complicated and fascinating things emerge from simple rules…” — Peter Woit [1:16:00]
Since 1936 the Brown Jug has been the ancestral trough of generations of University of Michigan students and faculty — notably. Donald Glaser (inventor of the bubble chamber) and Samuel C. C. Ting (Nobel Laureate) whose offices at Randall Laboratory were a 2-minute walk around the corner from The Brown Jug. As the lore goes, the inspiration happened whilst watching beer bubbles one ordinary TGIF Friday.
The Brown Jug is named after the Michigan vs Minnesota football trophy, which is the oldest in college football.
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“The wireless age has brought us closer together,
yet we must work to ensure that it does not divide us.”
— Guglielmo Marconi
FCC Proposes to Modify Technical Rules for Digital FM Stations
Our Office of Engineering & Technology maintains the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations, manages Experimental Licensing & Equipment Authorization programs, regulates operation of unlicensed devices, and conducts engineering & technical studies. https://t.co/MATs1ThyxL #FCC101
— FCC (@FCC) August 17, 2023
The FCC is the United States’ primary authority for communications laws, regulation and technological innovation. We provide a link to the August 3rd meeting during which time rules for Digital FM Radio and Non-Federal Spectrum Usage were discussed. Campus Security Radio, National Public Radio and Student Radio are central features of education community culture and safety and are typically available when the internet is not.
NDSU Net Position 2024: $570 M | Standards North Dakota | Capital Renewal Master Plan
College is about creating memories you’ll never forget, and NDSU’s Wellness Center offers unique ways to do just that. Canoe Battleship is your chance to team up with friends and compete to be the last canoe floating! 🛶
Ready to dive in?
📅 Sunday, Feb. 2
🕓 4 – 6 p.m.
📍… pic.twitter.com/Fcby09ouWO— North Dakota State University (@NDSU) January 31, 2025
Old Main, North Dakota Agricultural College | Milton Earl Beebe, Architect
This week, NDSU is hosting the state Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention with over 1,000 students from across North Dakota. We’re excited to have these future Bison on campus as students soon! 🤘🚜#NDSU pic.twitter.com/OoMmrpHim9
— North Dakota State University (@NDSU) June 5, 2024
“The Liberals are Coming, and They’re Bringing Fancy Coffee” https://t.co/XykfCFYZgVhttps://t.co/exHU6TR2h9
America is changed by flight from miserable Blue States to better Red States—only to import the policies that created the misery they fled from in the first place. pic.twitter.com/OaVVgrTxJr— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) October 31, 2022
This week, NDSU is hosting the state Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention with over 1,000 students from across North Dakota. We’re excited to have these future Bison on campus as students soon! 🤘🚜#NDSU pic.twitter.com/OoMmrpHim9
— North Dakota State University (@NDSU) June 5, 2024
The first elevator in the United States was installed at Harvard University in 1874. It was not a passenger elevator as we typically think of today, but rather a freight elevator used to move heavy items within a building. The installation of this elevator marked an important development in building technology and transportation within multi-story structures. It was based on the design of Elisha Otis, who is famous for inventing the safety elevator with a safety brake system that prevents the elevator from falling if the hoisting cable fails. Otis’ innovation played a pivotal role in making elevators safe and practical for everyday use, leading to their widespread adoption in buildings around the world.
International Building Code Chapter 30: Elevators and Conveying Systems
Education communities are stewards of 100’s of lifts, elevators and moving walks. At the University of Michigan, there are the better part of 1000 of them; with 19 of them in Michigan Stadium alone. The cost of building them — on the order of $50,000 to $150,000 per floor depending upon architectural styling — and the highly trained staff needed to operate, maintain and program interoperability software is another cost that requires attention. All building design and construction disciplines — architectural, mechanical and electrical have a hand in making this technology safe and sustainabile.
We start with international and nationally developed best practice literature and work our way to state level adaptations. Labor for this technology is heavily regulated.
Its a rarefied and crazy domain for the user-interest. Expertise is passionate about safety and idiosyncratic but needs to be given the life safety hazard. Today we review o pull together public consultation notices on relevant codes, standards and regulations today 11 AM/EDT.
More
NFPA 70 Article 620 Elevators, etc.
NEC Article 620 | David Herres
International Building Code Chapter 30: Elevators and Conveying Systems
Inside Higher Ed: Tragedy in an Elevator
University of Michigan Elevator Recall Control Wiring Schematic
University of Michigan Elevator Shaft Lighting Schematic
At the 1853 New York World’s Fair Elisha Otis amazed a crowd when he ordered the only rope holding the platform on which he was standing cut by an axeman. The platform fell only a few inches before coming to a halt; thus proving the safety locking mechanism he had invented will work. These elevators quickly became the type in most common usage and made vertical living possible.

Elisha Graves Otis shows his first elevator in the Crystal Palace, New York City, 1853. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
Most large research universities have 100 – 1000 elevators that are highly regulated, maintained by highly regulated service personnel and inspected by highly trained conformance operatives; thus our primary interest in state-specific regulations. We have a secondary interest in innovation in the technology generally. Many sustainability goals urged in academic circles — which include greater population density in smaller areas — are challenged by mobility issues.
From the project prospectus:
“…The main feature of these products is that they are an integral part of industrial, residential or public buildings. Consequently, they should be adaptable to the technical and architectural constraints of such buildings. They must also meet the capacity requirements imposed by the intended use of the building. These products are considered as means of transport and therefore represent an essential component of the functional life of the buildings in which they are installed. Contrary to most public means of transport, they are intended for free use and operation by their passengers, which makes the integration of safety an essential concern…”
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN ISO/TC178: Lifts, escalators and moving walks
The Association française de normalisation (AFNOR) is the global Secretariat. ANSI’s US Technical Advisory Group Administrator is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Stakeholders in US-based education communities are encouraged to communicate directly with ASME; CLICK HERE.
We maintain the work products of this committee on the standing agendas of our Mechanical, Elevator and Global colloquia; open to everyone. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.
Issue: [11-50]
Category: Mechanical, Mobility, Global
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Larry Spielvogel
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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