Wilberforce University is the first private Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the U.S., founded in 1856 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, making it the first institution of higher learning founded, owned, and operated by African Americans. While not the absolute first HBCU overall (that distinction belongs to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania), Wilberforce was the first private one and holds the unique distinction as the first to graduate Black students with accredited bachelor’s degrees in 1857, preceding Lincoln.
William Wilberforce (1759–1833) is the first name in the abolitionist movement in the Anglosphere; with Abraham Lincoln to follow. Accordingly, the first Historically Black College and University in the United States is named after him. Driven by his evangelical Christian faith, Wilberforce took up the cause in 1787 to abolish the British transatlantic slave trade which routinely faced resistance from African rulers in Lagos (modern Nigeria) and the; among them and the Kingdom of Dahomey (modern Benin).
§
§
Why is William Wilberforce often ignored in American history books?
William Wilberforce, the British MP who led the decades-long parliamentary campaign that resulted in the 1807 abolition of the British slave trade (and later full emancipation in 1833), is frequently overlooked in American history textbooks and education. We remind the education industry in the United States that the spark for ending slavery everywhere in the world originated with the Holy Trinity Church on Clapham Common in South London.
This omission stems primarily from national focus: U.S. history curricula emphasize domestic events and figures in the fight against American slavery. The narrative centers on the U.S. Constitution’s compromises, the Missouri Compromise, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, John Brown, and especially Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. British abolition, while influential and inspirational to American abolitionists, is seen as foreign history.
Additionally, the American story is framed as a uniquely national struggle involving internal conflict, sectionalism, and civil war—rather than parliamentary reform led by an evangelical Christian in another country. Some historians note a broader “forgetfulness” about the transatlantic abolition movement after the Civil War, as America focused on reconciliation and downplayed slavery’s moral dimensions.
Wilberforce’s heroic role is sidelined because American education prioritizes homegrown heroes and the violent path to emancipation in the United States over Britain’s earlier, legislative success.
“Road to Versailles at Louveciennes” 1869 Camille Pissarro
Heat tracing is a process used to maintain or raise the temperature of pipes and vessels in order to prevent freezing, maintain process temperature, or ensure that products remain fluid and flow through the system properly. Without electric heat tracing; much of the earth would be uninhabitable.
Heat tracing works by using an electric heating cable or tape that is wrapped around the pipe or vessel, and then insulated to help retain the heat. The heating cable is connected to a power source and temperature control system that maintains the desired temperature by regulating the amount of heat output from the cable. Heat tracing is commonly used in industrial applications where temperature control is critical, such as in chemical plants, refineries, and oil and gas facilities.
There are several types of heat tracing, including electric heat tracing, steam tracing, and hot water tracing, each of which have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The selection of the appropriate type of heat tracing depends on the specific application and the required temperature range, as well as factors such as cost, maintenance, and safety considerations.
It is a surprisingly large domain with market-makers in every dimension of safety and sustainability; all of whom are bound by state and federal regulations.
Join us at 16:00 UTC with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
— The Catholic University of America (@CatholicUniv) January 14, 2025
There have been several recent innovations that have made it possible for construction activity to continue through cold winter months. Some of the most notable ones include:
Heated Job Site Trailers: These trailers are equipped with heating systems that keep workers warm and comfortable while they take breaks or work on plans. This helps to keep morale up and prevent cold-related health issues.
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs): ICFs are prefabricated blocks made of foam insulation that are stacked together to form the walls of a building. The foam insulation provides an extra layer of insulation to keep the building warm during cold winter months.
Warm-Mix Asphalt (WMA): WMA is a type of asphalt that is designed to be used in colder temperatures than traditional hot-mix asphalt. This allows road construction crews to work through the winter months without having to worry about the asphalt cooling and becoming unusable.
Pneumatic Heaters: These heaters are used to warm up the ground before concrete is poured. This helps to prevent the concrete from freezing and becoming damaged during the winter months.
Electrically Heated Mats: These mats are placed on the ground to prevent snow and ice from accumulating. This helps to make the job site safer and easier to work on during the winter months.
Overall, these innovations have made it possible for construction crews to work through the winter months more comfortably and safely, which has helped to keep projects on schedule and minimize delays.
This content is accessible to paid subscribers. To view it please enter your password below or send mike@standardsmichigan.com a request for subscription details.
Switzerland has some unique ways of making and serving coffee. One notable tradition is the “Schümli-Pflümli,” a Swiss coffee drink that combines coffee with plum schnapps and whipped cream.
Here are a few other Swiss coffee specialties:
Café Crème: A popular Swiss coffee, it’s a large coffee similar to an Americano but typically served with a layer of crema on top.
Kaffee fertig: This is a coffee with added Schnaps or Kirsch (a type of cherry brandy), served hot and often enjoyed in the winter.
Luzerner Kafi: A regional specialty from Lucerne, this is a coffee with Schnaps and sugar, sometimes with a bit of whipped cream.
Zuger Kirschtorte Coffee: Inspired by the famous cherry cake from Zug, this coffee includes cherry liqueur and is often served with a small piece of the cake or similar dessert.
These coffee traditions highlight Switzerland’s blend of coffee culture with local flavors and ingredients.
— John Cabot University (@JohnCabotRome) June 12, 2024
🐰 🐰 Hey friends! Don’t forget to shout “Rabbit, rabbit!” today for a month of good vibes. But have you ever wondered where this bouncy tradition came from? https://t.co/8PGn9Qhdyopic.twitter.com/adAGShnwk7
— The Farmers’ Almanac (@FarmersAlmanac) July 31, 2024
January 25th Joint Meeting of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and FERC: Docket No. AD06-6-000. Given the close coupling of electric and natural gas supply with respect to power reliability, the mind boggles at the hostility of the Biden Administration to natural gas anywhere on earth. Natural gas is critical to generation plant black start capabilities and hospitals, among others.
A selection of the presentations:
“Long Term Reliability Assessment” – Presented by Mark Lauby, Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer, NERC
“Grid Reliability Overview & Updates” – Presented by David Ortiz, Director of the Office of Electric Reliability
“Status of Standards and Implementation for Cold Weather Preparedness and Applicability to Nuclear Plants” – Presented by David Huff, Electrical Engineer, Office of Electric Reliability
“Gas-Electric Coordination Since Winter Storm Uri” – Presented by Heather Polzin, Reliability Enforcement Counsel, Office of Enforcement
“Overview of Power Reactor Activities” – Presented by Andrea Kock, Deputy Office Director for Engineering, NRR
“Grid Reliability Updates” – Presented by Jason Paige, Chief, Long-Term Operations and Modernization Branch, Division of Engineering and External Hazards, NRR
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