A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
This picture really isn't up to selling quality because of the ships but if you like the color and want it send me a message to the right and I would be willing to sell it. Sometimes people have unique interests so what I might not think is great another might feel is just fine.
I like the colors so if one were to paint this seeing how the horizon, with the pink on part of the cloud and the reflecton on the water is important.
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| Pink Lights on a Bay of Ships |
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(Illustrative Only) Cindy and Carlos are part of the hypothetical Feather Party which doesn't currently exist. It is a party for independent thinkers who do not work with special interest and cap donations so they can best serve the people without the unnecessary influences and pressures. Just for discussion. All decisions are run through an agreed upon decision making matrix that each member uses to assess their own thoughts. They bounce around ideas and debates and require no agreement. Cindy wants reform now and can't believe how much foot dragging has occured on the natural desire to improve systems over the past decade. The Country was built for liberty and justice and this is unfair. Carlos thinks it would be difficult to send the bill back for another Congressional vote and feels its not the place to open a broader discussion on civil rights and enforcement. He would like to send that through on a separate reform package. He will wait to vote |
There is ongoing debate about whether Department of Homeland Security funding should be included in the final version of the bill or removed altogether. This discussion stems from both recent developments and issues that have been under consideration for some time. While this post does not aim to resolve or debate that question directly, it is important to be aware of the bill itself and the arguments surrounding it.
Ultimately, addressing this issue requires thoughtful consideration of funding priorities and overall government performance. That judgment is up to each individual to make, but it cannot be an informed decision without first understanding what the bill contains and the purpose it is intended to serve.
Summary off HR7148: H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, is legislation introduced during the 119th Congress to fund federal government operations for the full fiscal year. The bill allocates comprehensive funding to multiple departments, including Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Transportation. Passed by the House on January 22, 2026, the act is designed to bolster national defense and incorporates several policy provisions, including reforms targeting Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).
Government Budget Appropriations
H.R.7148 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 |
| Illustrative The value of friends. |
Organizational culture is built from more than just policies, procedures, and official positions or responsibilities. There is a softer side to organizational development and performance that includes core values and beliefs that gradually become embedded in the culture of an organization. Some companies adopt an entrepreneurial culture, some power-oriented culture, others collaboration, etc. and each approach has its benefits and drawbacks. Much of this cultural direction stems from the personalities of key influencers within the organization.
These influencers may hold formal positions of authority, or they may simply be unofficial social network figures who, despite not having high-ranking roles, significantly shape how others think, feel and act. Over time, these influences contribute to the formation of a culture that becomes an underlying set of assumptions about how the organization functions. This culture is just as important as formal policies and procedures, and one could even argue that it is more important.
Organizational culture can be measured, tested, and traced, allowing leaders to intentionally engage in organizational development efforts that support both long-term and short-term growth. This is why it is critical to hire executives and leaders whose core values align with the organization’s mission statement and who act primarily in support of that mission. When leaders demonstrate this alignment, they build trust, and trust fosters commitment. Commitment leads to engagement, and engagement ultimately drives performance (The social side of performance).
Culture forms the underlying assumptions behind that commitment and establishes the informal rules that guide motivated behavior. Therefore, it is vitally important for organizations to think about the cultures they are developing and how the formal and informal informational paths lead to tangible outcomes.
The Influence of Core Values and Organizational Culture on Employees’Productivity
The Story of the Clan: The Purpose of Core Values
This is a strong hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment illustrating what a complete failure of justice might look like. Such failures often emerge within insular social networks or cult-like groups that hold extreme views or misunderstand the broader environment. These conditions are reinforced when members socialize exclusively with one another and when effective checks and balances are absent or weak throughout the system. Organizations are influenced by actors and defaults can become domino oriented without commitment to essential shared values. They and their immunized clan court network want you to believe you are less than and rights that don't benefit them are not worth supporting. None of this was by accident.
In this scenario, certain individuals had a long history of bullying others and misusing official tax funded authority for in-group gain. Through employment ties and personal networks, they were able to warp local institutions to target people for financial benefit, personal vendettas, or simply because those individuals did not fit their narrow worldview. For many, their social identity remained frozen in the dynamics of high school, as well as underdeveloped perceptions of value, never maturing beyond it. They were bullies and bigots decades ago, and they remained so years later. Complaints were simply ignored by clan aligned officials therby creating a second class citizen status they won't correct. Illegal and criminal behavior normalized.
The courts knew that for years the victims were being persecuted at a level that not only indicated they didn't have our social contracts in high regard but struck directly against the core purpose of the nation. They knew and they incentivized it. Victim rights were openly discarded to shield hate groupos. If we consider the 5 years ago when the targeting started and the displays of court sponsored hate through back deals and false investigations we find it to be a precursor metric. Human and civil rights mocked and wave after wave of hate encouraged. Kids were damaged, community members harmed, elderly manipulated, and corruption further embedded. The group bragged about their crimes with a level of judicial collusion. They believed in a future where if they had their way the vast majority of society would not be welcome nor would they have basic rights. Trust declines by poor intent and performance.
The most important concern in this thought experiment is not the specific actors involved. They are the smallest part of the equation. Wherever extreme partisanship, racial or religious bias, and distorted notions of social worthiness (dehumanization), similar problems can arise. A clear indication of default. The beginning of collectivization apparent and this is why one of the victims is standing for generational trusts and oaths that protect fundamental rights and foster rights of recourse. They have no support but still persist. The deeper failure lies the root assumptions of the choices thereby putting the collusive network on trial. Protect and serve an in-group is not what the system was designed to do. They followed the same process we saw in third world justice systems.
As a thought experiment you can adjust the key points around and come to any conclusion you desire. What should be forthcoming is the root awareness of your own value system. Who is and who is not worth basic rights and is that by merit or some other factor like race, politics, friends, religion, or other?
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| Birdrock Flowers |
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| The curved sunset |
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| (Illustrative Only) Representing Veteran Stoic Lessons for Executives, Leaders, Business Owners. etc. |
Some may argue that philosophy has little to do with military or veteran development, but it is closely connected to understanding human nature under pressure in a broad environment. The article discussed philosophy and Stoicism, which was especially thought-provoking. As people develop, their emotional reactivity tends to decrease while their strategic thinking improves. This is where true mastery begins. Win or lose you did your part and were positively impactful.
At this stage, individuals learn to choose their responses making them a key strategic player. They act in ways that are most helpful to their unit, community, society, or organization. Developing this ability requires consistent challenge, adaptation, and overcoming adversity. Taking a moment to step back and think through options often leads to better outcomes. Acting impulsively, on the other hand, often leads to mistakes.
These ideas also apply to business ownership and executive development. This is one reason veterans are often strong candidates for leadership and development roles within organizations. Statistically, many have also succeeded in business by creating new opportunities for themselves. In many cases this persistence in the face of challenge and the ability to step back and make a strategic choice has long term benefits for personal and organizational development.
Over time, lessons learned across different situations help develop the ability to pause, evaluate options, create a strategy, and then execute it. Those who have served not only observe large organizations in action but often face situations that force them to challenge assumptions and adapt to new realities. Through this, they come to understand the edges and possibilities of personal development.
For those who master these challenges, they have learned a lesson in real life that most others can only view from a book, podcast or theory; even though they may not always know. This is a lesson many people struggle to successfully navigate throughout their lives. No executive grooming program can tap the worm at the core on that level. You understand when you can think "Impossibility is a paper tiger" crumple it up and threw it in the trash can where it belongs. Each challenge is a lesson and a chance to improve so choose to adapt willingly and come out stronger on the other side.
Stoicism and Military Leadership: Why Calm Command Still MattersTraining means pushing yourself until you reach a certain limit in order to foster growth. When you do this day in and day out, especially while playing a variety of sports, you’ll eventually start feeling tired—not just for a single day, but over several days in a row. That ongoing fatigue is typically a sign of overtraining.
During periods of overtraining, you may feel lethargic and low on energy. This happens because your body is essentially in a state of inflammation. While some inflammation is part of the growth process, failing to give your body enough time to recover can increase the risk of injury.
After about a month and a few weeks of heavy training and daily sports, I personally started to feel overtrained and lethargic. That’s usually the point where your body is telling you to scale back—to go lighter, reduce volume, and do less for five days or maybe a week. This recovery period gives your body a chance to catch up.
Once your body has had time to recover, it often comes back stronger than before. The small tears in muscle tissue have healed, and that healing process is what leads to improved strength and performance. I’ve included an article below that explains what deloading is and why it matters.
I’m also a licensed fitness trainer and yoga instructor, among other qualifications. If you’re looking for guidance, coaching, or someone to help keep you on the right path, feel free to send me a message and we can set something up.
The Science of Deload Weeks: Why Focusing on Rest Is Key to Fitness Gains