The Benefits of Swimming in Open Water and the Ocean

Open water swimming is becoming an increasingly popular way to combine exercise, outdoor recreation, and exploration. While the activity offers several health and wellness benefits, swimmers should also understand the potential risks and environmental responsibilities that come with swimming in natural waters.

(Illustrative Only)
A Yellowtail.
If only it was this clear. :)

Recently, I have been getting more involved in spearfishing in Michigan. Likewise I occassionally swim the ocean in California. I have always enjoyed fishing, although I certainly would not consider myself the world's greatest fisherman. I have even started reading a book about fishing lures, so we will see if that improves my skills! What I particularly enjoy about open water activities is the opportunity to combine several interests at once.

When I swim in open water, I put on my flippers, wet suit, take my camera, and explore what I can find beneath the surface. Photography gives me another reason to observe the environment and discover things I might otherwise miss. At the same time, swimming provides an excellent cardiovascular workout and helps develop overall muscle strength and tone. It also engages stabilizer muscles that may not receive as much attention during other forms of exercise.

The benefits extend beyond physical fitness. Spending time in nature has long been associated with improved mood and mental well-being. Open water swimming provides an opportunity to exercise while also getting outside, experiencing nature, and exploring an environment that is very different from a traditional gym.

Research supports many of these perceived benefits while also recognizing that open water swimming comes with certain risks. One important consideration is the potential impact on the environment. Swimmers need to understand the conditions and regulations of the area where they swim and make an effort to minimize their environmental impact. Being mindful of wildlife, vegetation, water quality, and other swimmers helps ensure that these natural environments remain healthy and accessible.

You can't really see anything in the but likely a Yellow Tail Ocean Perch/Rockfish. 

For me, open water swimming is more than just exercise. It combines fitness, nature, exploration, photography, and recreation into one activity. As a fitness instructor, yoga instructor, and someone who enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, I appreciate the opportunity to help others discover ways to stay active and connected with the outdoors.

If you would like a little virtual help with fitness, movement, or developing an active lifestyle, send me a message to the right.

Open Water Swimming, Health, Wellbeing, and Environmental Impacts

• The study examined the perceived health, wellbeing, and environmental benefits and risks of open water swimming using a national online survey of 717 Scottish swimmers.
• Mental wellbeing was identified as the most important perceived benefit by participants in nearly every age group, while swimmers over age 65 placed greater emphasis on physical health benefits.
• The findings suggest that open water swimming provides opportunities for physical activity, connection with nature, social interaction, and improved mental wellbeing.
• Lake swimmers expressed greater concern about potential environmental damage associated with the increasing popularity of open water swimming than participants who primarily swam in rivers or the sea.
• Overall, participants viewed the environmental risks as relatively limited, and the researchers concluded that understanding both benefits and risks can help develop safer, healthier, and more sustainable opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Oliver, D. M., McDougall, C. W., Robertson, T., Grant, B., Hanley, N., & Quilliam, R. S. (2023). Self-reported benefits and risks of open water swimming to health, wellbeing and the environment: Cross-sectional evidence from a survey of Scottish swimmers. PLOS ONE, 18(8), e0290834. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290834

The hypothetical Feather Party Discusses Two Forms of Capitalism and Socialism

If you sort of watch the news lately, you can see that there has been increasing interest in socialism as a concept.. What we're doing here is discussing these issues through a hypothetical Feather Party, which is essentially a learning party designed for illustrative purposes. Rejecting it is absolutely is ok because it doesn't exist. It is built around independent candidates who use certain decision matrix to try to create as much connection with the average person as possible while reducing some of the traditional vetting, money influence, and other barriers. The goal is to introduce a wider variety of ideas, thoughts, and opinions into the discussion. Having new perspectives within any management or decision-making group can be valuable because it encourages new ways of thinking and that can lead to innovation and development (Innovation can be social as well.).

There has also been growing interest in discussing third parties. However, this discussion is not about advocating for any particular party—or for or against parties in general. Instead, it's about considering what the potential impacts of different political and economic systems might be. How might a third party reduce/increase partisanship, improving/hinder decision making around core values, and create greater/lower economic and social outcomes.

Let's say, hypothetically, that there are three systems that a Western society might consider. There are actually many more, but for purposes of discussion, let's look at capitalism, socialism, and different forms of capitalism within that broader spectrum. There are an increasing number socialist candidates winning primaries so the discussion is an important one. 

Capitalism isn't simply one thing. There are many interpretations of what capitalism means, just as there are many interpretations of socialism. These systems can be viewed along a continuum, ranging from relatively free markets to more managed or regulated markets. Each approach has potential benefits and drawbacks, which is one reason societies make different choices about how they structure their economies.

When we discuss concentrated capitalism, we're talking about a system in which wealth and economic power become increasingly concentrated among fewer people or organizations. Broad-based capitalism, by contrast, refers to the idea that wealth and economic opportunity are generated and circulated more broadly throughout the population while still relying primarily on free-market principles.

So, there's no need to establish a simple right-or-wrong answer here. Each person is entitled to their own opinion as long as they reflected on it, and the alternatives, and made a conscious decision. Instead, let's use the hypothetical Feather Party to ask: Which approaches might work well, under what circumstances, and what potential consequences could they have?

We can consider how different systems might affect entrepreneurship, long-term competitiveness, economic opportunity, innovation, and other aspects of society. Ultimately, those are questions for you to think about and evaluate based on your own perspective.

For reference I asked AI, "What is broad-based capitalism versus concentrated capitalism and socialism?" I didn't expect it to come up with such a clear explanation of broad-based capitalism, but it did. So it's interesting to look at these concepts side by side. (With AI make sure you look outside of it to find other resources because you can get mislead by the algorithmic process. It has to use programing so that programming is limited. Generative AI might be different. I'm not the expert. However one might tweak teh explanation by AI to be more of a balanced economy.)

Ultimately, this is about increasing awareness and encouraging thoughtful consideration so that you can better define what you believe. You can support any political party, no party, or a third party. That's entirely up to you. The purpose here is simply to encourage us to concentrate on the ideas and think critically about their potential effects.

There isn't necessarily a single right or wrong answer. There are choices that may be more helpful or less helpful depending on the objectives, circumstances, and perspectives involved. That's why, at the end of an allegory or thought experiment, we often use the phrase: There is no right or wrong answer; there are only helpful and unhelpful ones. What is considered helpful or unhelpful ultimately depends on your perspective and the outcomes you value.

*The hypothetical Feather Party is a learning discussion on what a third party of loosely affiliated independents might look like. There is no right or wrong opinion but only helpful and unhelpful ones. Take with a grain of salt. 

What AI pulled to the question below.....

Concentrated Capitalism

Private power: Wealth and business ownership rest in the hands of a small group of people or large corporations.
Focus: Maximizing profit, market competition, and fast economic growth.
Result: High potential for wealth gaps and extreme income inequality. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Broad-Based Capitalism

Shared power: Ownership of stock, property, and businesses is spread out across a large portion of the population.
Focus: Expanding the middle class so more workers share in the financial gains of the economy.
Result: More widespread financial security while keeping the core foundations of private enterprise and free markets. [1, 2, 3]

Socialism

Public control: The community or the government owns the major means of production (like factories, land, and large systems).
Focus: Meeting basic human needs and creating economic equality rather than chasing private profit.
Result: Heavy public services and reduced market competition, funded often through higher taxes. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

U.S. Import and Export Prices-July 2026 (Todd Tries to Raise the Value of His Widgets)

 You can see that import and export prices are pretty mixed. Petroleum is cheaper this month, although prices are still higher than they were a year ago. That is a little bit of positive news and provides some relief at the pump, which can have a broader impact on economic development because energy is a major input factor.

(Illustrative Only)

Todd knows that 
if he can take
lower price resources
and produce high 
value products locally
he can increase 
local wealth. 

Some lower imput 
prices are beneficial
and some are detrimental
but you have to be strategic
about the type of industries
you want to foster. 

Economic Hubs

Interactivity

Perpetual Sustainable
Develoment

There are also other forms of energy that we could develop domestically, such as solar and hydrogen, although those technologies and industries are still developing. We also have our own petroleum industry, which has additional capacity for development.

From an economic development perspective, cheaper imports of raw materials and supplies that can be converted into higher-value products and then sold in the market would be ideal. Ultimately, it depends on what is being imported and exported, the value of those goods, and the quantities involved.

This data provides only a snapshot of pricing. To understand the broader economic picture, we would also want to examine the ability to create higher-value products throughout the supply chain. That is where the real opportunities for economic development can emerge.

U.S. Import and Export Prices Show Mixed Movement in July 2026

• U.S. import prices decreased 0.4% in July 2026, following a 0.3% decline in June. The decline was primarily driven by lower fuel prices.
• Import fuel prices fell 7.2% in July, with petroleum and petroleum product prices declining 7.5%. However, import fuel prices remained 25.2% higher than a year earlier.
• Nonfuel import prices increased 0.4% in July and were 4.5% higher than a year earlier, indicating continued cost pressures for imported goods despite lower energy prices.
• U.S. export prices declined 1.3% in July after falling 0.7% in June. Despite the monthly decline, export prices were 8.2% higher than they were one year earlier.
• The data show that international price pressures remain significant. Import prices from China increased 0.8% in July, while export prices to Japan increased 0.2% and were up 10.4% over the previous year.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026, August 18). U.S. import and export price indexes—July 2026. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ximpim.nr0.htm

US Industrial Production Moderate but Growing July 2026 (A Good Entrepreneurial Idea and the Tommyknockers)

 Manufacturing is the ability of a country to develop and foster economic growth through its manufacturing sector. Ideas are invented and products are developed, often through significant research and development. Other times, innovation can happen much more simply. Someone might be working in their kitchen, experimenting with something, and suddenly come up with a great idea. That is part of how innovation works.

(Illustrative Only)

Tovo heads to
start his mining
robot business
where he creates prototypes
on mainstreet. He figured
that if there are some
restrictions on foreign 
robots he could 
build them and scale
locally at the industrial
center using many
locally sourced materials.
On US2 

He is not neglectful
of giving back
to the Tommnyknockers.
(Can you see them in the woods?)
😟😏

As a side note: I should
try and create stories within
stories to sort of increase
cognitive reach.

The next challenge is taking that idea and scaling it. This is where manufacturing becomes important. Once a product has been developed and tested, the country needs the capacity to manufacture it efficiently and at scale. Having that manufacturing capacity is an important component of economic development.

The current manufacturing report is not bad. Manufacturing is growing, although not particularly quickly. Business equipment is an especially important area because producing business equipment places a country in the center of supply chains and can create significant economic value.

Capacity utilization has also increased, but it remains below its long-term average. This generally indicates that there is excess manufacturing capacity available. In other words, manufacturers could potentially produce more if there were sufficient demand for their products.

That leads to a broader question: How do we get other countries and customers to purchase our products? Cost and manufacturing capacity are only part of the equation. Geopolitical relationships, international trade policies, product quality, and brand reputation also influence whether customers will buy those products.

Overall, the manufacturing picture appears relatively stable. The issue is not necessarily whether we have the capacity to manufacture products. The larger challenge is whether we can manufacture them competitively and develop new customers and markets willing to buy them.

U.S. Industrial Production Shows Continued Moderate Growth

• U.S. industrial production increased 0.2% in July 2026, following a 0.3% increase in June. Total industrial production was 1.1% higher than in July 2025.
• Manufacturing production also increased 0.2% in July. Manufacturing excluding motor vehicles and parts performed somewhat better, increasing 0.4%.
• Business equipment production was a strong area of growth, rising 0.8% in July and 6.6% over the previous year, suggesting continued investment in productive capacity.
• Capacity utilization edged up to 76.3% for total industry and 76.0% for manufacturing. However, both remained below their long-run averages, indicating that substantial productive capacity remains available.
• The results present a mixed but generally stable manufacturing picture. Durable-goods production increased 0.7%, while nondurable-goods production declined 0.4%; mining and utilities also posted modest increases.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2026, August 18). Industrial production and capacity utilization—G.17. https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g17/current/default.htm

The Most Talented (Best & Brightest) vs. The Self Oriented (Most Connected) in Hiring (We Love to Judge)

People love to judge. They love to judge each other, judge themselves, and judge society. We are essentially designed to evaluate our environment and determine what is helpful versus unhelpful, who we can trust, and which situations are beneficial or harmful. We live in a socially constructed world, so people are constantly evaluating one another.

(Illustrative Only)

The board can't figure out
why they are losing money
and non competitive. 

They decided the solution was to hire
their friends John and Sally
from their expensive golf club to
right size the company. 
(btw I like golf but being funny.
I just suck at it.🙃)

Tom and Lucy
were rejected because
they were not the
"right fit" for 
the organization.
They took a few
of their ideas though
and didn't pay for them.😉

Even after the VIP fast pass to
the top, the company
still is losing money. 
Go figure! 🤷

The problem arises when we apply these judgments to management, leadership selection, government officials, political candidates, nonprofit leaders, or virtually any organization. We often associate assertiveness with a higher position in the social hierarchy. We assume that someone who is more assertive must somehow have greater value, competence, or leadership ability.

There are situations where assertiveness is valuable, particularly when someone has a clear mission or purpose that benefits the organization or the broader community. But more often than we might like to admit, assertiveness can simply reflect self-interest. Some people are demanding because they are primarily focused on getting what they want, and they have little concern for how their behavior affects everyone else. They have little reflection of the consequences of their decisions or the authority entrusted in them.

When we put people like that into positions of authority, they can have a corrosive effect on decision-making and organizational outcomes. We have all seen situations where the wrong person was promoted because they were well connected, knew the right people, or were simply demanding enough to get noticed. A few years later, the organization discovers that this person has created chaos, damaged morale, and driven away some of its best and brightest performers for an organization. The pattern at times repeats without learning.

Authority can legitimize dysfunction. Once someone is given a position of power, they have the ability to make decisions that affect other people and, unfortunately, spread their own dysfunction throughout the organization. A self-oriented and pushy person who is in a position of authority will certainly misuse that authority to get what they want even if that runs counter to the purpoe of that position or the mission of the organization. 

That brings us to the difference between the most connected or most demanding person and the best and brightest. The best and brightest often have talent, ability, and sound judgment. They are thoughtful. They don't necessarily need to force their opinions on everyone else. They can be clear about their positions, confident in their decisions, and willing to explain their reasoning without resorting to intimidation or bullying.

Of course, there will always be people who resist good conscious and helpful outcomes. Sometimes leaders have to make difficult decisions and move forward. But organizations are generally better served when they gravitate toward thoughtful, capable people rather than simply rewarding the loudest, most aggressive, or most demanding individuals.

If you consistently gravitate toward narcissistic or highly dysfunctional personalities simply because they are assertive, you should expect additional chaos. Leadership selection isn't just about the person being selected. It is also about the people doing the selecting. Further it is about the people in the organization and the stakeholders.

People who elect leaders, hire managers, or place individuals into positions of authority have a responsibility for those decisions. They have responsibilities to the organization, to the people who work there, and, in many cases, to society. If they are careless about who they put into positions of power—or allow ideology, personal connections, or aggressive personalities to override sound judgment—the consequences can affect everyone.

So be wise about who you put in positions of authority. Be wise about who you elect. Be thoughtful about how you make decisions. The most demanding, the most ability to create narratives, the most ability to deflect responsibility may look good on sound bits but often weaken an organization over time.

Don't mistake aggression for leadership or rudeness for strength. Some people are simply selfish and demanding, and if they are consistently rewarded with positions of authority, they can create chaos wherever they go. Are you sure that is the type you want running your organization? Managing your money or resources? Fulfilling a mission or working with customers?

Ultimately, the people we choose to lead us matter. And those responsible for making those choices need to understand that they are not simply selecting an individual—they are shaping the culture, decisions, and outcomes of the organization or society that follows. Its future is dependent on the choices we make today. Are you sure you want the most aggressive, connected and self oriented in a position of importance that affects you?

 Social Hierarchy, Status, and the Evaluation of Assertiveness and Ability

• Social evaluation is often organized around two broad dimensions: how well people get along with others and how effectively they pursue goals. This study focuses on the vertical dimension, particularly assertiveness and ability.
• The researchers examined whether a person’s position in a social hierarchy affects how they evaluate others, using legitimacy beliefs and relative status as indicators of hierarchical position.
• Across four studies, higher-legitimacy and higher-status judges tended to see greater overlap between assertiveness and ability when evaluating social targets.
• Lower-status or lower-legitimacy judges differentiated more strongly between being assertive and being capable, suggesting that social position can influence how people interpret the characteristics of others.
• The findings demonstrate that judgments of competence and status are not completely objective; they can be shaped by the evaluator’s own position within a hierarchy. This has implications for understanding leadership, workplace evaluations, stereotyping, and organizational power relationships.

Yzerbyt, V., Barbedor, J., Carrier, A., & Rohmer, O. (2022). The facets of social hierarchy: How judges’ legitimacy beliefs and relative status shape their evaluation of assertiveness and ability. International Review of Social Psychology, 35(1), Article 18, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.5334/irsp.695

My Boat Beef and Chicken Sliders

Boat-camp cooking takes a little effort. The other day, I made some sliders. There were some beef ribs at the store, along with some chicken legs that I had, so I cooked them up on the grill, seasoned them, and made my own buns with yeast, salt, flour, water, and a little sugar to get the yeast moving. Pretty simple, but they turned out really well. I added some lettuce, cheese, tomato, and onions. I made about four and saved a couple for later.

My sliders

What I like about cooking is that it's enjoyable, and you get to eat what you make. You don't always have the time to cook, but when you do, you get to see tangible results. You're also not eating out as much because, when I cook, I usually make extra. I mostly cook for myself, although occasionally I'll cook for a friend. I always save one meal for later, so there's usually something sitting in the cooler in case I get hungry or need a meal for the next day.

Once you learn the basics of different types of food—how bread works, how tortillas work, how to make soups and pies, or even how to make sausage—everything else is really just practice and taking your time.

I'm still working on making tortilla chips. I think I might finally have a good batch figured out. I want them to look more like the store-bought ones because mine tend to come out too thick. So I'm experimenting. I learned that baking them a little first seems to help, and then frying them afterward makes a big difference.

It's really just a matter of continuing to learn and keep working at it. And, of course, there's something satisfying about eating fresh food every day and knowing exactly what went into it.

I also have a fitness trainer's license and a yoga instructor's license. I've never really used either professionally; they've mostly been hobbies. But I'd love the opportunity to put them to use. If you're interested in virtual help, send me a message to the right.

New York Manufacturing Activity Fairly Strong in August 2026

Think about how manufacturing grows and develops. This was a recent economic release that I’ve been watching as new economic data comes out. It’s actually fairly positive. Even though the data is specific to New York, it provides an interesting snapshot of manufacturing conditions.

New orders are continuing to rise, employment is improving modestly, and manufacturers remain somewhat optimistic about the future. Inflation is still an issue, particularly with input costs, and supply availability continues to be a concern. Overall, though, the report is pretty good and certainly not negative.

The survey doesn’t really explain why these changes are happening or what factors are driving them, but it still provides some useful information about current manufacturing conditions. It’s worth keeping an eye on as we look at the broader economy.

New York Manufacturing Activity Strengthens in August 2026

• Manufacturing activity in New York State grew strongly in August, with the Empire State Manufacturing Survey’s general business conditions index rising five points to 20.6, its highest level in more than four years.
• New orders and shipments continued to increase, while unfilled orders rose substantially and delivery times lengthened, suggesting stronger demand but increasing pressure on production and logistics.
• Employment conditions improved modestly. The employee index was 9.3 and the average workweek index increased to 6.9, indicating gains in employment and hours worked.
• Inflationary pressures remained significant. The prices-paid index increased to 58.6, while the prices-received index declined to 22.7, indicating that input costs were rising faster than manufacturers’ selling prices.
• Manufacturers remained optimistic about the next six months, with the future business conditions index increasing to 32.1. Firms expected stronger orders, shipments, and employment, although supply availability and elevated prices remained concerns.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (2026, August). Empire State Manufacturing Survey: August 2026. https://www.newyorkfed.org/survey/empire/empiresurvey_overview.html