Dry Ice Factory

The University of Washington has a new online degree program called Integrated Social Sciences. One of my jobs is to create major and degree codes, and so today the adviser of the program emailed me to ask if it was okay to use ISS for their major code, even if it might be confused with International Student Services. Here's what I said:

If you guys are okay with possible confusion with International Student Services, the International Space Station, and whatever else uses those initials that’s fine by me. You’re right that I can’t create a code until you’ve gotten FCAS approval, but in the meantime if the International Space Station asks me for a major code of ISS, I’ll tell them sorry, it’s already reserved.

And here was her reply:

You know, Randy, I wasn’t worried about the International Space Station … until now. The other day I drove past our local gravel yard. The reader board out front exhorted me: “Time to start thinking about drainage problems.” Before that I wasn’t really thinking about drainage problems. When the International Space Station makes a fiery re entry into the earth’s atmosphere, I’m hoping it lands on the gravel yard.

Thank you for preserving the ISS major code from territorial poachers from outer space.