National Balloon Ascension Day. Celebrated on January 9th, this day commemorates the first balloon flight in the United States, which took place in 1793. Balloons Around the World Day. Observed on October 1st, this day encourages people to spread joy by sharing balloons and balloon art globally. Hot Air Balloon Day. Celebrated on June 5th, this day honors the history and impact of hot air balloons on travel and leisure.
ISO 8124 – Safety of Toys: Sets global safety standards for toys, including balloons, which are classified as toys for children. Covers choking hazard warnings, small parts testing, and labeling requirements.
EN 71 (Europe): European Union safety standards for toys, including balloons. EN 71-1 specifically deals with mechanical and physical properties, such as (1) Thickness of material to prevent bursting under pressure, (2) Testing for small parts to prevent choking hazards.
ASTM F963 (United States): American safety standard for toys, including requirements for labeling, flammability, and material safety.
We follow the construction spend rate of the US education industry; using the US Census Bureau Construction Spending figures released the first day of every month. (We encourage our colleagues in the education facilities industry to respond to Census Bureau-retained data gathering contractors in order to contribute to the accuracy of the report.)
We will scan noteworthy releases of tax advantage financial instruments that finance this construction.
Burke Homecoming Dance was held Saturday, September 20. We recognized our Homecoming Court and Homecoming Royalty and we DANCED! #WeAreBurke 🖤💛🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/XRWPhYfnKO
👑 Presenting your 2025 HUHS Homecoming Court! The King & Queen will be crowned at the Homecoming Dance on Sat, Oct 4. 🎉 This year’s theme: Glow in the Dark 🚌 Don’t miss the Homecoming Parade – Fri, Oct 3 @ 1:30pm in downtown Hartford! 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/407gb0XijJ
Innovation – Standardization – Commoditization run along a continuum. Today we unpack some of the ideas that hasten (and prohibit) leading practice discovery; how quickly goods and services become a “human right”; why all of this is relevant to education communities and why some believe that commoditization is a myth.
From the Wikipedia
In business literature, commoditization is defined as the process by which goods that have economic value and are distinguishable in terms of attributes (uniqueness or brand) end up becoming simple commodities in the eyes of the market or consumers. It is the movement of a market from differentiated to undifferentiated price competition and from monopolistic competition to perfect competition. Hence, the key effect of commoditization is that the pricing power of the manufacturer or brand owner is weakened: when products become more similar from a buyer’s point of view, they will tend to buy the cheapest.
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 … ⬇️
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
For 58 years, 7-Eleven has been protecting its iconic semi-frozen soft drink, the Slurpee. But it doesn’t stop there. The store has more than 200 registered trademarks to protect its goods and services, including “Oh thank Heaven for 7-Eleven” in 1978 and “Brainfreeze” in 1993. pic.twitter.com/b9bkkcijGg
Wonder what it takes to build a modular school structure? Students at Richard Bulpitt Elementary are getting the opportunity to see it in the works. The first-ever modular expansion project in @LangleySchools is underway. You can read more about from @LangleyTimes. pic.twitter.com/cSOrIikXqf
Today we review the literature informing building construction metalwork; including metalworks research laboratories and fine art studios. Click in with the login in credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Swiss inception 🧀 🇨🇭:The Country of Switzerland (Schweiz) vs the Canton of Schwyz vs the District of Schwyz vs the Municipality of Schwyz. OR: The Schwyz in the Schwyz in the Schwyz in the Schweiz. Source: https://t.co/qdX34QX3NYpic.twitter.com/NCazjiFUBr
“Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people.
Let your memory be your travel bag.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (From “The Gulag Archipelago”)
Today we explain our collaboration with other education settlements in the US and other nations. We conform to participation requirements set by ANSI US Technical Advisory Groups to the International Organization for Standardization but we also have liaison with other universities in the European Union who conform to the participation requirements of their own national standards bodies.
Today we scan of redlines of titles open for public consultation in the mechanical engineering domain as it is understood in building construction disciplines. After architectural elements, mechanical systems in new building construction encompass a variety of components and technologies that are designed to ensure the comfort, safety, and functionality of the building’s occupants. These systems are crucial for maintaining indoor environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and air quality. Here are some key mechanical system elements commonly found in new building construction:
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning):
Heating: Furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, or electric heaters are used to provide warmth in cold seasons.
Ventilation: Systems that circulate fresh air, remove indoor pollutants, and regulate humidity.
Air Conditioning: Cooling systems, such as central air conditioners or ductless mini-split units, maintain comfortable temperatures during hot weather.
Ductwork: A network of ducts and pipes used to distribute heated or cooled air throughout the building. These ducts also serve to facilitate ventilation and air filtration.
Plumbing Systems: Water supply and wastewater removal systems, including pipes, fixtures, pumps, and water heaters for hot water supply.
Elevators and Escalators: Vertical transportation systems that move people and goods between different floors of the building.
Noise Control: Sound insulation and acoustic design are essential for ensuring a comfortable and quiet indoor environment, especially in commercial or multi-family residential buildings.
Building Automation and Smart Technologies: Integration of smart devices and sensors for energy management, security, and convenience, including lighting, blinds, and security systems. These are computer-based systems that monitor and control various building systems, including HVAC, lighting, security, and access control, to optimize energy usage and maintain comfort.
Plumbing and Sanitary Systems: Sanitary systems manage wastewater disposal and sewage, while plumbing systems provide clean water for domestic use.
Environmental Controls: Systems for managing indoor air quality, including air purification, humidity control, and pollutant filtration.
These mechanical system elements work in conjunction to create a comfortable, safe, and energy-efficient building environment. The design and integration of these systems are critical to the overall functionality and sustainability of modern building projects.
Many of the characteristics listed above are covered in separate colloquia. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our homepage.
Lightning flash density – 12 hourly averages over the year (NASA OTD/LIS) This shows that lightning is much more frequent in summer than in winter, and from noon to midnight compared to midnight to noon.
https://youtu.be/zisnPchVYKs
https://standardsmichigan.com/rain-2/
Good-quality cycling infrastructure makes cycling attractive in all weather conditions. The Dutch🇳🇱 aren’t made of sugar!
(🎞️ by Carl Sveen—winner of the Most Dutch Picture 2025 of the Summer School Planning the Cycling City) pic.twitter.com/bYUipg5F1W
— Urban Cycling Institute 🚲 (@fietsprofessor) July 13, 2025
“Composition in red, yellow, blue and black” (1921) / Piet Mondrian
Status check on open source consensus products — and practical applications — evolving around distributed ledger technologies for financing, planning, design, operation & maintenance of the #WiseCampus.
Status check on standards action that guide laboratory safety and sustainability in all building disciplines. There are about ten standards developers in this space and they do not all move in a coordinated manner among themselves; much less from state-to-state. Anyone is welcomed to join this teleconference with the login information below. For an agenda, please join our mailing list.
There are written fine arts standards that have been developed by various organizations and educational bodies. These standards provide a framework for what students should know and be able to do in the arts at different grade levels. Here are a few examples of fine arts standards:
National Core Arts Standards: The National Core Arts Standards were developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and outline what students should know and be able to do in dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts at different grade levels.
State Fine Arts Standards: Many states have their own fine arts standards that are aligned with the National Core Arts Standards but may be tailored to reflect the unique needs and priorities of the state; e.g., State of Ohio Fine Art Standards
International Baccalaureate Arts Standards: The International Baccalaureate (IB) program offers arts standards as part of their curriculum framework for the arts. These standards are designed to develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills in the arts.
Today at 15:00 UTC we drill into the technical specifics that contribute to the safety and sustainability of spaces used for the teaching, practice and
display of the fine arts. These occupancies are typically at greater risk than classrooms because they usually contain volatile fluids for artistic painting
or biologic specimen preservation, kilns for pottery, fabrics and related machinery for teaching fashion design and practice.
Last night my twins had their first Homecoming dance. While we were taking photos with each of their lovely dates, I squeezed these in.
I would also like to once again say that I am 3 entire SDs above the average height for American women, you just can’t tell in family pics. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1WWpAEpvYF
Burt Bacharach’s A House Is Not a Home, composed in 1964 with lyrics by Hal David, is an American standard due to its timeless melody, emotional depth, and widespread influence. First recorded by Dionne Warwick, its lush orchestration and sophisticated chord progressions exemplify Bacharach’s signature style, blending pop, jazz, and soul. The song’s poignant lyrics about love and loss resonate universally, elevating it beyond its era. Its versatility is evident in covers by artists like Luther Vandross and Barbra Streisand, cementing its place in the Great American Songbook.
The song’s enduring presence in film, television, and live performances underscores its cultural significance. Bacharach’s innovative composition, paired with David’s heartfelt storytelling, creates a piece that transcends generations, embodying the emotional and musical qualities of a standard. Its lasting impact and universal appeal solidify A House Is Not a Home as an American classic.
Born Delloreese Patricia Early in Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood on July 6, 1931, Della Reese grew up in a working-class family with a steelworker father and cook mother. She began singing gospel in church at age six, honing her blues-jazz style amid economic hardship. After her mother’s 1949 death, she dropped out of Wayne State University to support her ailing father, taking odd jobs like truck driving before leaving home over family discord. Performing in local clubs, she shortened her name and toured with Mahalia Jackson as a teen, launching her career.
By the 1960s, signed to RCA Victor after Jubilee success, Reese transitioned to pop standards. She recorded Burt Bacharach’s “A House Is Not a Home” on her 1967 ABC album On Strings of Blue, infusing it with soulful depth; conveying a sense that she has a deep understanding of heartbreak.
What a Wonderful World! | Ho Charlotte Sie Wing, 13, China
Review of all consensus, consortia and open source codes, standards and regulations regarding energy production and conservation relevant to the education facility industry.
Faculty and staff in the education industry in all nations provide basic research, application research in energy technologies. The “cities-within-cities” we call the #SmartCampus” also provide crucibles for new testing new technologies as well as provide energy load for utilities operating under all ownership regimes.
Send bella@standardsmichigan.com an email for an advance agenda.
Today we pick through a few tax-free bond offerings that finance education community construction with a eye toward reducing construction cost and life-cycle maintenance through building codes and standards. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
https://standardsmichigan.com/tax-free-bonds/
Once median household income is adjusted for cost of living, Utah emerges as the wealthiest state in the nation and Mississippi yet again ranks last. Source: https://t.co/AN3JZqtNnFpic.twitter.com/kv8U3LZlvh
Today we run a status check on public consultations released by ANSI-accredited and finance industry consortia whose involvement affects the cost of US education communities. Ahead of quarterly county elections we examine a few tax-free bond referenda on ballots across the US for insight into the money flow through education communities.
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
