Jambalaya’s foodway traces a path from Spain to the American South. Spanish settlers in the 18th century tried recreating paella. They substituted scarce saffron with local tomatoes, creating a one-pot rice dish. French influences added techniques like roux and andouille sausage, while West African culinary traditions—via enslaved people skilled in rice cultivation and one-pot stews akin to jollof—contributed hearty methods and ingredients.
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Some places just feel like home. From the big-time SEC experience to the even bigger opportunities, here’s what makes Mississippi State unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/rUjxUnq6FM
MSU President Mark E. Keenum enjoyed lunch with Student Association President Keegan Figueroa this week at the renovated Perry Food Hall. It was an enriching, collaborative time discussing topics important to the university’s student body. pic.twitter.com/N85pCyS7MU
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. @isostandardshttps://t.co/XZsWvJJ8r4
(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.
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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.
For over 1,000 years, our people have gathered to celebrate light, life, and tradition.
We’re proud to pass this heritage on to our children. pic.twitter.com/8goBccL6ts
Like many folk traditions of saying “Rabbit, rabbit” to your colleagues on the first day of the month has an unclear origin and has several variations and interpretations. We use it a reason to explore university research into food sources; the proper business of education communities everywhere. In one version of the tradition, saying “Rabbit, rabbit” or “White rabbit” as the first words upon waking on the first day of the month is believed to bring good luck for the rest of that month. It is thought to ensure good fortune, happiness, and general positivity throughout the coming weeks.
The specific origins and reasons behind this tradition are difficult to trace, as superstitions often evolve and are passed down through generations. It’s worth noting that this practice is not universally known or followed, and its popularity may vary among different regions and communities. Ultimately, the saying “Rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of the month is an example of a charming and whimsical superstition that some individuals enjoy participating in as a fun way to start the month on a positive note.
Today, an open agenda. Whatever anyone wants to talk about. We do this once every month. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
In 2017, we visited the American Cemetery in Normandy, France. Never forget the sacrifice.
I learned that the French take the sand from Omaha Beach & scrub the letters of all 9,386 graves of soldiers who died then. This maintains the names on the crosses. pic.twitter.com/0zULlXeDuy
— 🌴♥️🇺🇸Dixie ♥️s America & Trump🇺🇸♥️🌴 (@DixiDarlen) May 25, 2024
The IEEE P3119 draft standard is designed to help strengthen AI procurement approaches, using due diligence to ensure that agencies are critically evaluating the AI services and tools they acquire.https://t.co/ujVJxZqjEm@InstituteIEEE
— IEEE Standards Association | IEEE SA (@IEEESA) May 19, 2024
— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) May 25, 2024
The word #standard is commonly used in daily language, so much so that people do not always reflect on its definition. Learn how ASTM International’s Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees (aka “Green Book”) defines them. #standards See https://t.co/oSBmwh1lbXpic.twitter.com/ynk87XDr7D
— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) May 18, 2024
🏆 We applaud the brilliant minds shortlisted for the 2024 IEEE PES Power Engineering Education Committee (PEEC) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award!
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
