In the face of economic uncertainty and questions about the fate of European solidarity, the Italians have released Standard CEI 25.12.2011, “Guidelines for festivities celebration,” to give us a smile and spread a little holiday cheer!
Created to mimic the usual format of legitimate standards, the Guideline has all the usual sections. For example, here is a translation of the scope paragraph:
In mid-2002, the Ministry of Attention (MDA) and the Ministry of
Tradition and Folklore (MDTF) expressed a desire for standardization of the rituals that accompany the event which has taken place on December 25th for many centuries now. Although over time there has been a lot of literature on the subject, the ministries concerned have felt the need to publish a standard for a safe and quality-focused celebration. This document was thus developed in the context of the recent Directive on Standards and Values and in the light of the disappearance of the same standards and values, as well as to promote the nature of the tradition of the historical and educational Santa Claus.
Please be sure to look at the entire standard, as it contains many cogent points and supportive illustrations. And use Google translate to help you out as well! The text has been very well thought out.
Our hats off to the committee that has brought us such a timely and valuable document!
There are actually few spoof standards available for review. The only other one I’ve ever come across is ASA K100.1, “American National Standard Safety Code and Requirements for Dry Martinis.” The ASA Sectional Committee on Liquids Management, 16-1, hoped the standard would be well received by all elements of the industry and that when the committee sobered up it would be in condition to consider further developments in the state of the art. I’m unsure of the outcome, as the standard was generated in 1966 and has remained stable ever since!
These standards lend a bit of fun and lightness to an area of business that is often very competitive and serious, proving that engineers have a sense of humor too.
Buon Natale! And best wishes for the New Year from us all at Document Center Inc.!