Unemployment Caims For Week Ending October 17th, 2026-Discussing the Value of Local Businesses in Employment

The unemployment insurance situation showed mild improvement this week, marked by a slight decrease in claims. As economic and social discussions continue, it is worth considering, strictly as a discussion point, what might happen if the economy rebalanced to foster significantly more small businesses within local communities. Such a shift could potentially broaden the economic base while encouraging localized hiring, allowing residents to work for employers with whom they already share a connection.

(Illustrative Only)
Sam know Todd
needed a little help
so he offered him a
job that may
not pay well
but could lead to full
time employment
in the future.
When people know
each other
they take care of each
other. 
Support community
business to possibly
increase local revenue
and employment. 
We only say 
possible because
there are no absolutes.

(We are also not considering increased tax revenues because these little family shops don't get big tax breaks but they do employ their community members and neighbors while fostering greater interest and activity in an area.)

Securing a job at a large enterprise offers a vastly different dynamic than joining a small enterprise where an individual might already be known as a neighbor or customer. Fostering local commerce in this way could help raise employment levels while generating natural, organic community growth. While this remains theoretical, it offers a constructive avenue for consideration as policymakers and society think about future economic development.

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

• The advance seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 6,000 to 194,000 during the week ending October 17, 2026.

• The 4-week moving average for initial claims decreased by 1,000 to 197,750 from the previous week's revised average.

• The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.1 percent for the week ending October 10, 2026, with a total insured unemployment level of 1,728,000.

• Unadjusted actual initial claims under state programs totaled 172,390 for the week ending October 17, marking a decrease of 19,321 from the prior week.

• States with the highest insured unemployment rates for the week ending October 3 included New Jersey (2.0), Washington (1.8), California (1.7), and Massachusetts (1.7).

U.S. Department of Labor. (2026). Unemployment insurance weekly claims [Data report]. https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf

The New American Dream: Why More People Are Forgoing Traditional Jobs to Build Their Own Businesses (2026)

 More people are launching businesses today than ever before, driven by economic necessity and a shifting labor landscape. A primary catalyst behind this entrepreneurial surge is generational disparity. Younger generations face a vastly different economic reality than their predecessors. Decades ago, expanding opportunities made standard employment paths a reliable route to middle-class stability. Today, those traditional avenues offer fewer guarantees, leaving many workers to seek financial security on their own terms.

(Illustrative Only)
This couple
might have considered
Escanaba's Ludington
Street with its new pavement, 
business community, tourism, 
and lifestyle for the 
to raise their kids. 

This trend is further fueled by a widening wealth gap. For many communities, small business ownership offers a double-barreled solution: it breathes vital capital into local downtowns while providing founders a pathway toward individual financial agency.

Yet, independence comes at a cost. Acquiring self-determination through business ownership requires relentless dedication. A startup is an all-consuming commitment—a 24/7 endeavor requiring daily sacrifices and sustained resilience. While the rewards include complete autonomy over one's career trajectory and uncapped earning potential, the owner alone bears the underlying financial risks.

For prospective founders without deep prior industry expertise, market veterans advise starting lean. The safest entry point is a venture requiring low initial capital investment. By keeping upfront costs minimal, entrepreneurs can master their trade, refine operations, and reinvest profits incrementally as revenue grows.

Ultimately, while the financial risks are personal, the potential returns—both for individual founders and the communities they serve—continue to make entrepreneurship a compelling choice for a new generation.

New Year, New Business Formation: Startup Trends for 2026

• New business applications remain historically strong entering 2026, driven by elevated entrepreneurial intent among Gen Z and Millennials.

• AI-native businesses, sustainability projects, digital health and wellness, e-learning, and remote-first models represent the primary growth sectors for modern startups.

• Actual median startup costs are significantly lower than prospective founders estimate, making digital-first entity formation and operational setups highly accessible.

• Choosing between an LLC or a C corporation directly affects personal liability protection, tax obligations, and the ability to secure venture capital investment.

• Transitioning a side hustle into a formally registered business requires electing a legal structure, appointing a registered agent, obtaining an EIN, and setting up dedicated business finances.

• Distributed and remote-first operations often generate multi-state compliance obligations that necessitate foreign qualification in additional jurisdictions.

InCorp Services. (2026, August 24). New year, new business formation: Startup trends for 2026. InCorp Knowledge Base. https://www.incorp.com/resources/knowledge-base/startup-trends-2026

Why Can't They Be Just Like Us? (The hypothetical Feather Party)

That conversation at the club recently captures a frustration that resonates with a lot of people today. The idea that everyday citizens—with all their diverse backgrounds, mill workers and doctors alike—often manage to hash out practical solutions through conversation, while national politics feels trapped in a cycle of partisanship and special-interest funding, touches on a very real tension in modern democracy.

(Illustative Only)
Common Sense
from 
Common People.
We are good,
we are kind,
we want what
is best for others,
for our children,
and we work
out our differences
to ensure that happens.
We are a force of good
and truth.
Most of all
we cherish each
others lives, sorrows,
and joy. 
We are 'The People'

Why can't they be just like us? ...a question that rose to the top of conversation.

The hypothetical "Feather Party" thought experiment highlights a classic democratic ideal: that the ultimate safeguard of a society is the common sense, shared decency, and long-term perspective of everyday people who have to live with the consequences of political decisions. When people feel that the system is driven more by fundraising, party loyalty, foreign interests, special interests, and elite networks than by local realities, it’s natural to wonder what politics would look like if it were built from the ground up by independent thinkers who answer only to their communities.

Democracy should be ground up and not top down. Our forefathers and mothers warned us of this. (Whether it is or isn't is not the point, this is a discussion on possibilities.)

At the same time, turning that kind of philosophical idea into a functioning political reality comes with its own unique set of challenges. Independent movements often face huge structural hurdles—like ballot access laws, primary systems, and the sheer cost of modern campaigning—not to mention the challenge of building a unified legislative agenda when members have fundamentally different ideas about how to achieve society's best interests. Still, the underlying sentiment—that a healthy democracy relies on leaders who are connected to the everyday experiences of ordinary people—is a cornerstone of political debate.

If we can sit around and treat each other with kindness and maintain our loyalties and values why can't they? Vote your conscious for the best and brightest and not the most "vetted". Our future depends on it. 

*The hypothetical feather party is a philosophical learning discussion so take with a grain of salt and feel free to accept, reject or change. As long as you own it and your vote. 

Americans Prize Party Loyalty Over Democratic Principles

• Only 3.5% of U.S. voters would vote against their preferred candidate to punish them for undemocratic behavior.

• High political polarization causes voters to prioritize party goals over democratic norms.

• Candidates in most congressional districts can break democratic rules without losing enough votes to lose an election.

• Standard surveys overestimate real-world support for democracy because they ignore the political cost of voting across party lines.

Graham, M., & Svolik, M. (2020, August 11). Study: Americans prize party loyalty over democratic principles. Yale News. https://news.yale.edu/2020/08/11/study-americans-prize-party-loyalty-over-democratic-principles

Working on the Starting Block Dive (Swim Coaching)

 Coaching Update & Athlete Progress

I’m currently refining some fine-tune coaching techniques to help our swimmers level up—specifically focusing on dive mechanics.

(Illustrative Only)
The old fashion
way of learning
to swim. Days
Of the past.

Right now, we are working on optimizing block entries. A few of our athletes are entering the pool in slightly too much of an "L-shape," which creates unnecessary splash and drag. The hope is to help them adjust their entry angle to create a smaller footprint, maximize streamlined momentum, and find that "sweet spot"—not too shallow, and not so deep that momentum is wasted. We’re also perfecting their underwater transition: timing precisely when to initiate dolphin or flutter kicks and managing the exact distance before surfacing.

The dedicated focus is already paying off! Reviewing stats from last weekend’s meet, my athletes shaved 2 to 4 seconds off their times. In competitive swimming, cutting multiple seconds is a huge achievement, and seeing this kind of rapid progress is incredible.

Find your feet, take your mark, go!!!

I'm a certified fitness instructor, yoga trainer, firefighter, lifeguard, and play multiple sports so if you have interest in some fitness coaching/training let me know in the message box to the right. Likewise, if you would like to donate or support our team, let me know and I will gladly connect you with the right point of contact. 

Homemade BBQ Chicken (Cabin and Boat Cooking)

For those who love to cook, I thought this was a fun and interesting experiment. I recently made my own barbecue sauce because I had some chicken on hand.

(Illustrative Only) 

When you're cooking in a cabin or on a boat, you don't always have a fully stocked kitchen, so you stick to the basics and what works. Following traditional methods makes sense because they were developed over time by people outdoors who didn't have modern amenities. In many ways, I prefer keeping my cabin less updated—not just because it fits the rustic decor, but because I enjoy living with a bit of simplicity (It is not exactely roughing it but once I get a little money together to buy some acreage for my wooded hobby farm-as a current plan-I may put a trailer or winter tent out there while working on it and stay in my house just outside of town. Sort of glamping if I want to spend the night working on the property. There is going to be a lot of clearing, digging, building, etc. to set it up over a number years. Hopefully most of it hand done so when I pass it on to the next and after generation they can say "gramps built that by hand".).

Onto building supper.......

For the quick barbecue sauce, I used:

• Ketchup as the base

• A little pepper for kick

• A touch of honey for sweetness

• A little chili sauce

• A splash of Worcestershire sauce

• Garlic salt to taste

• A squeeze of fresh lemon for brightness

I mixed everything together, smeared it all over a whole half-chicken, and let it marinate for 24 hours so the skin and meat could fully soak up the flavors.

The next day, you can cook it in the oven, in a pan, or on the grill. Next time, I’m thinking about making the same marinated sauce and trying it over a burn barrel for smoking. As long as you use clean wood, a mesh top, and some tin foil, you can actually smoke-cook that chicken right over the fire. I imagine that smoky flavor combined with the spiced marinade would be incredible.

Looking for Wellness or Fitness Guidance? Eating well is a massive part of overall health—studies even show that nutrition can be more important than working out alone, though both are crucial.

As a licensed fitness trainer, yoga instructor, coach, firefighter, and athlete, I love helping people reach their goals. If you need any virtual coaching or advice, feel free to send me a message!

It is 35 Degrees Out and We are Still Horse Riding

It’s 35° out this morning, but I’m not foal-ing around—we had to get out on the trail! ❄️🐴

To be neigh-borly, full disclosure: these aren’t my horses. Owning one is a bit un-bridled for my wallet, so I just lease my buddy Ranger. He’s an un-stall-able partner, and honestly, I’d buy him in a heartbeat if his owners would pony up a sale price.

Lately, I’ve been trying to hold my horses during the canter. Balance is everything—especially when playing horseback sports or prepping for mounted hunting. Lean too far forward or back, and you're just stirrup-ing up trouble and bouncing out of the seat!

Delta County is packed with historic farms and fantastic riding trails. If you’re moving into the area, don’t rein it in—our equestrian community is super welcoming, and you'll make friends on stable ground in no time.

If you’ve been stuck at your desk all day, take this as your sign to saddle up and get outside!

And if you want to get your body in shape for riding, don't worry, I won't hold you back! Between being a personal trainer, yoga instructor, and firefighter, I can help you build the core, hip flexibility, and leg strength you need. Giddy-up into my DMs for virtual coaching! 🤠💪

A few good tips from this video....

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)-Housing as an Economic Indicator

(Illustrative Only)

There was a time

when we didn't need

a complex maze of

construction codes for

simple structures

that seem to cater to construction

companies more than

individual builders. 

These two might 

have been able to 

build a house for 

under $10 grand

and another $15 grand

for a little forest. 

Just fyi on

housing economics. 

How the Fed studies and

 understands housing’s key

 role in the economy

Housing remains an important indicator of the nation’s economic health, reflecting not only the strength of the housing market but also the financial well-being of American families. Changes in home sales, construction activity, and housing affordability can offer insight into how households are managing rising costs and broader economic pressures.

The recent dip in housing market activity aligns with other economic indicators suggesting a shift in overall economic performance. Inflation, mortgage rates, construction costs, and the rising price of single-family homes continue to influence the housing market, making homeownership increasingly challenging for many families.

Economic policy may also play a role in these trends. While oversight and regulation can help maintain stability, excessive management of economic systems may create unintended consequences that affect growth and performance. Understanding these factors is important when evaluating the causes of changes in the housing market.

Ultimately, improving economic performance and addressing the nation’s debt remain important considerations for long-term stability. Housing affordability and construction costs should remain central to this discussion, as changes in the market directly affect the average family and their ability to achieve and maintain homeownership.

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)

• Measures U.S. homebuilder confidence in the single-family housing market.
• Evaluates current home sales, expected sales over the next six months, and prospective buyer traffic.
• Uses a 0–100 scale; scores above 50 indicate optimism, while scores below 50 indicate pessimism.
• Builder confidence is influenced by mortgage rates, construction costs, inflation, and housing affordability.
• Helps predict housing market trends and changes in residential construction.

National Association of Home Builders. (n.d.). NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/housing-economics/indices/housing-market-index