The Human Centered Approach to Technology

Human capital is essential for societal development, which requires drawing everyone into full engagement and leadership that practices genuine values rather than empty lip service. Building a truly inclusive society demands tolerance across differences in religion, race, and political perspectives.

​While technology can enhance human potential, it relies heavily on education and background—without which individuals risk being displaced by automation. Those with education and specialized skills carry a responsibility to guide thoughtful technology use, balancing pure profit motives with human-centered choices.

​Technology implementation ultimately mirrors the values of those making the decisions. Self-serving leaders tend to deploy it exploitatively, while community-minded leaders use it to support and uplift society. That is a choice you need to make and your leadership style.

​To maximize benefits and minimize harm, organizations must evaluate whether technology adoption genuinely serves both the business and its workforce. Historically, tech shifts have prioritized top-level financial gain; maintaining sustainable growth requires wiser, ethical choices that put human well-being first. At least in theory. 

When Judges Do Not Undo the Harm: The Allegory of the Clan Thought Experiment and Restoring Justice to the Land

(Illustrative Only)
Choose your leaders, 
judges and officials 
wisely because
our futures and the
futures of your families
depends on the choices today.
Elections are not
a game. If you want
change, this is how you
do it.
Stand for integrity 
and justice. 

Let us further our hypothetical thought experiment called the Allegory of the Clan. It is designed after Plato's Allegory of the Cave where deeper reflection leads to insight and that insight can lead to healthy adaptations. There is no right or wrong, specific opinion, etc. but only the generation of thought and the exploration of possibility. A philosophical exercise of paths. It is through that understand we can learn whether we accept one logic, another or reject them both in this process of personal enlightenment. Think of things that might support or not support certain ideas. Through that process you begin to define your personal values. It is absolutely ok to disagree and many people do. However, are these your values or did you import them from somewhere or someone else?

Take a moment to read the following and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions to understand where they come from.

The Thought Experiment: Should Judges Uphold the Constitution and What Might Be the Cost of Political, Financial, Social or Ideological Distortions?

At their core, courts exist to uphold the Constitution. They are meant to make sure our legal system reflects our shared values, protects our freedoms, and treats everyone fairly under the law. But this fundamental promise can break down when external forces—like political pressure, prejudice, self interest and radical ideologies—enter the courtroom. When judges allow corruption or personal bias to sway their decisions, the rule of law gives way to legal gamesmanship, clever technicalities, and courtroom politics. Wrongdoing, manipulation, self-enrichment, extreme hate and corruption are shielded through narratives that seem to consistent undermine the victims. From our the beginning, revolutions, civil wars, social human rights movements, and into modern freedom of speech and religious liberty issues there have been many good people doing the right thing as well as those embracing corruption and abuse of others. Sometimes, it is judges who perpetuate collective hate by failing to stand for what is right, just and legal. This is why they often don't give justice and feel no concen over institutional trust levels as long those within their political verticle lines are happy. This may also be why we may want to elect the judges of the highest caliber beyond the parties.

When or if the legal system breaks down, the human cost is real and immediate. In the worst cases, victims of wrongdoing face intimidation, harassment, elderly manipulated, children put at risk and there are deliberate stalling tactics designed to run out the clock on justice. The goal in this example being to undermine the victims more than to fulfill their duties with integrity. Corrupt or incompetent leadership creates a two-tiered system where powerful insiders are protected while ordinary people are left vulnerable. Worse then vulnerable. They are collectively dehumanized. In history and in society there have been times where it was intentional to enrich and promote some at the expense of others (backrom deals and years of ignoring complaints). It is not fair to victims,  officials,  officers, or the people who rely on the system. We owe to the victims and we owe to the good officials. 

Except......

Degrees of difference between decision makers and victims increase the likelihood of intentional injustice. In corruption cases, courts prioritize protecting themselves from liability over doing what is right. They shield bad actors, excuse malicious behavior, and end up blaming the very victims who came to them for help and also came to help them (...the mirror of perception.). Worse if the victims had to do the job of the justice system to protect others and were blocked intentionally from any recourse in a clear sign of coordinated undermining of certain central values codified in our very purposes for starting. There are other victis out there the judge has harmed and yet there is no recourse in the system. It makes little to no difference the feedback when officials intentionally violate the basic rights of others to help people most similar to themselves. Criminal is not the right word here. 

This problem is even worse in closed systems that are already dealing with serious abuse, financial corruption, religious extremism, or bias against marginalized groups. Polls and public perception are just one indication that some level of reform might be well received. That reform is unlikely to be effective if similar party line perceptions block the fruitation of innovative solutions. So if you are a margninalized people it would not be out of the question to say that at the end of the day you have few to no rights that can't be swept away. Good people are harmed, patriotism undermined, and the system misused because of the quality of people we put into positions of authority. Criminal is not the word here.

Circling wagons or embracing a higher moral conscious are choices of performance and outcome.  If they feel no guilt over their choices and fail to correct wrongdoing then it is what it is and that future is risky for everyone.

A few ideas in theory that could help,

• Elect and Appoint Principled Leaders: We need public servants who are genuinely committed to equal justice under the law, not partisan agents driven by political agendas.

• Protect the Vulnerable and the Truth-Tellers: Credible allegations must be fully investigated, and whistleblowers must be protected rather than targeted.

• End Institutional Cover-Ups: Protecting corrupt individuals to save face or avoid lawsuits destroys public trust. Wrongdoers must be removed and held accountable.

• Support Honest Public Servants: Communities need to actively back ethical judges and officials who are trying to do the right thing.

• Undo the Intentional Harm: When courts enrich wrongdoing, corruption, coordinated hate, manipulation, rumor spreading, harming others and bigotries without eventually doing the right thing they made a choice to undermine us all.

We cannot afford to give a free pass to bullying, deceit, or the exploitation of vulnerable people—especially when that behavior is enabled by judges or officials who care more about their social and political networks than their sworn oaths. Good, honest management will always serve the public better than rigid ideology and prejudice. 

Legal systems have the capacity to heal and self-correct, but only if their people accountability, celebrate principled leadership, and leave behind a fairer justice system for future generations. While victim dumping, embracing illegal behaviors, false narratives and misuse of authority may be initially successful in their technicalities they ensure the entire society and all the good people in it are harmed in the long run. The choices we make today, yesterday, and tomorrow, will determine who we are at our root. History does and will repeat itself as those who choose a higher standards must remove those who embrace the lower standard in order to preserve the generational promises. The best, easiest, and most helpful way is through voting, preparing the next generation for their duties, sharing your experiences as a second class citizen (if your in the out-group), and voting your conscious. These are your sacred duties. 

*This is part of the Allegory of the Clan a hypothetical learning story so take with a grain of salt. How do you feel?

Below is an interesting article. When something is presented it is not agreement or disagreement but only an opportunity to ponder a new piece or idea. 

Impartial Justice: Money in Judicial Electoral Campaigns and the Impacts on the Independence of State Courts

• Federal judges have lifetime appointments, but state judicial selection methods vary by state.
• States select judges using appointments, partisan elections, non-partisan elections, or merit systems.
• Campaign spending in state judicial elections has skyrocketed into tens of millions of dollars.
• High campaign costs force judicial candidates to accept money from lawyers and special interest groups.
• Large contributions create the appearance of bias and damage public trust in judicial impartiality.
• Major rulings, such as the Dobbs decision, have further increased campaign fundraising in judicial races.
• Adopting merit-based selection systems would help minimize the corrupting influence of money in courts.

Mattox, S. (2025, February 17). Impartial justice: Money in judicial electoral campaigns and the impacts on the independence of state courts. Richmond Public Interest Law Review. https://pilr.richmond.edu/2025/02/17/impartial-justice-money-in-judicial-electoral-campaigns-and-the-impacts-on-the-independence-of-state-courts/

Planting Lettuce Leaves Experiment (Hobby Farm)

 I planted lettuce under grow lights and heat lamps to gauge growth speed, finding it takes roughly 30 days for baby greens and another 15 to 20 days for full heads.

(Illusrtrative Only)
One potential image
of a hobby farm.
I'm playing with raised
beds now. Which
crops work best. 
If I do this, I will
have some type
of scaling of
a similar concept. 
4 acres ish of field.
Some raised beds
and some normal
field would work.

I want to structure a realistic schedule for a future hobby farm to manage a spring crop and a fall crop while taking time off midsummer without losing harvests.

(I'm just thinking about a hobby farm in the future but this information is good for my gardening as well. )

I am looking to narrow this down to two or three low-maintenance crops:

• Lettuce: Fast 30-to-50-day window; ideal for spring and fall succession.

• Snow Peas: Quick growers that function as both food and nitrogen-fixing green manure to roll over into the soil.

• Potatoes: Potential option, though my initial trials failed due to poor seed stock rather than technique. Certified seed potatoes would help resolve this.

• Corn: Under consideration, but requires steady moisture and nutrients during midsummer pollination.

• Tomatoes: Ruled out as too labor-intensive and demanding for an untended summer window.

By utilizing fast-maturing spring greens and snow peas, terminating or crimping the peas to protect and build soil during midsummer, and replanting cold-tolerant crops in late summer, a multi-crop rotation works smoothly around summer travel.

Lettuce Growth Stages: 6 Stages Explained in Detail

Federal Reserve FOMC Maintains 3.75 -4%: What Does Interest Rate do to GDP?

Interest rates are always top of mind for business leaders and politicians. The Federal Reserve recently voted 10–2 to keep the target federal funds rate steady at 3.75% to 4%. Even so, those two dissenting votes show that support for raising rates is building.

Right now, the underlying economy is doing well. Growth is expanding, consumer spending and investment are holding up, productivity is up, and the workforce remains stable. With things on solid ground, there’s no urgent pressure to cut rates—leaving holding steady or hiking rates as the most realistic paths forward.

(Illustrative Only)
Meanwhile
deep in the forest...
Does interest rates
impact production?
Nut production
in Hiawatha Forest

Sorry just being silly.

The stakes around these decisions are huge because interest rates act as a macro throttle: a 1% rate cut expands GDP by 0.8% within a year, while a 1% hike pulls it back by 0.6%

Key Statistics on GDP Growth & Interest Rate Cuts

• Impact of Rate Cuts on GDP: Historical Federal Reserve data shows that a 1% cut in interest rates is capable of boosting GDP growth by approximately 0.5% to 0.8% within a span of a year.

• Impact of Rate Hikes: Conversely, rate hikes of the same magnitude (1%) typically reduce GDP growth by around 0.6% due to restrained consumption and investment.

Rosenberg Research. (2025, May 23). The impact of interest rates on the economy. Rosenberg Research. https://www.rosenbergresearch.com/2025/05/23/the-impact-of-interest-rates-on-the-economy/

Reading the interest rates allows one to better grasp how decisions were made. 

Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement on Interest Rates and Economic Conditions

• The Federal Open Market Committee voted 10 to 2 to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-3/4 to 4 percent.

• Board members Lisa D. Cook and Beth M. Hammack dissented from the decision, preferring a 1/4 percentage point rate increase.

• Economic activity continues to expand at a strong pace, supported by resilient domestic spending, strong productivity growth, and robust capital investment.

• Job gains have matched workforce growth, leaving the unemployment rate little changed, though inflation remains elevated.

• The central bank intends to evaluate incoming information to determine the appropriate policy stance for returning inflation to its 2 percent goal.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2026, October 28). Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20261028a.htm

*If you like these articles consider supporting them through buying art, advertising space or simply just buy me a cup of coffee. 

September 2026 Trade Deficit Moving In Wrong Direction: Could the Trade Balance Be Helped by Small Business?

The ongoing trade deficit remains a key concern, showing that current economic strategies are not delivering the desired results. This issue is not a recent development from the last four years, but rather a long-term trend that has persisted for decades.

(Illustrative Only)
This family
loads their products
on a boat an that
heads for Detroit
and Chicago where
it is shipped out. 
One might wonder
what start-ups
in Delta County
might have a good
chance of exporting
with the right direction
and help. 

Looking at broader historical trends, the decline of small businesses and family farms during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s coincided with a growing concentration of wealth and a reduced capacity for domestic exports. The financial incentive to relocate operations overseas to lower costs undermined local economies. Previously, strong small businesses supported vibrant downtowns, local manufacturing, and family-owned enterprises, all of which fostered balanced regional economic health.

While not a definitive answer, this pattern suggests that as economic power concentrates among fewer large entities, overall national capacity may suffer. Although individual corporations expand their reach, broader economic growth could prove stronger and more resilient with a healthier balance across small, medium, and large businesses. 

It just depends on whose theories we follow. What one can say is that small business is back on the rise while the reasons are not fully known but some studies indicate it is a backlash against this over concentration. Part of a more natural adaptation. 

There is no right or wrong but only a discussion. 

U.S. Advance Economic Indicators Report: September 2026

• The advance goods trade deficit widened to $134.9 billion in September, representing an increase of $2.8 billion (or 2.1 percent) from the August deficit of $132.1 billion.

• Advance goods exports for September increased by 2.6 percent to reach a five-month high, driven by a 12.8 percent rebound in foods, feeds, and beverages, while automotive exports declined by 5.6 percent.

• Advance goods imports for September rose by 2.4 percent to a record high, led by a 7.5 percent increase in capital goods imports, while industrial supplies and materials imports decreased by 6.0 percent.

• Preliminary wholesale inventories for September were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,011.5 billion, reflecting ongoing month-over-month shifts in commercial stock levels.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Advance economic indicators report: September 2026 (Report No. 2609). U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.census.gov/econ/indicators/2026/advance_report2609.pdf

Getting that Swim Coach Uniform-Successful Coaching Behaviors

Finally got my swim coach uniform for meets, which was nice! It says, "Raised on the Great Lakes, trained in a pool." That’s a great touch, and honestly, pretty accurate. A lot of us grew up on the Great Lakes—swimming, fishing, and falling in love with the water. I still spend as much time on the water as I can.

(Illustrative)

Be one with the
duck!

Floating, gliding,
and paddeling 
all help when
swimming.

So, what actually makes an effective coach? (I've shared a resource below if you're interested.)

To me, an effective coach:

• Delivers actionable feedback: Helps athletes recognize their own areas for growth so they can take ownership of their development.

• Balances positivity with constructive critique: Shares critique in a way that is easy to digest and actually encourages growth.

• Sets clear boundaries: Maintains focus, respect, and structure on the deck.

• Instills true sportsmanship: Sportsmanship is a real indicator of character, and unfortunately, it's something too many coaches and athletes overlook today.

This study has some good ideas as well, 

Successful Coaching Behaviors: Challenges and Opportunities in Relationships

• Health and wellness coaching utilizes motivational strategies and trusting relationships to help individuals achieve long-term physical, psychological, and social well-being.

• Key foundational frameworks include motivational interviewing, the transtheoretical model of change, self-determination theory, the social ecological model, and positive psychology.

• Successful client-coach relationships are driven by shared cultural and demographic characteristics, equal power dynamics, mutual respect, and approachable, non-judgmental coaching qualities.

• Effective communication relies on client-centered dialogue, asking permission before sharing knowledge, utilizing open-ended questions, and focusing on intrinsic, self-created goals.

• When client-coach relationships become stagnant or incompatible due to mismatched personalities or shifting client needs, coaches can utilize lateral referrals to redirect clients to alternative professionals to maintain continuity of care.

Watkins, D., Rock, M., Vaughan, E. M., Kirschmann, J. M., & Johnston, C. A. (2025). Successful coaching behaviors: Challenges and opportunities in relationships. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 19(6), 832–836. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251327917

*If you like these free articles feel free to share, buy an art product, advertise or donate. I'll get a cup of coffee. 

Making Pumpkin Pie and Fritters (Cabin and Boat Cooking)

 I was carving up pumpkins the other day because I figured since I bought a couple, I could scrape enough out to make a pie. Turns out I couldn't! So I cheated: the next time I went to the grocery store, I just bought canned pumpkin puree.

I put the puree in a pot, threw in some white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, a touch of lemon, and a couple of eggs, evaporated milk and whipped it all together. Then I poured it into a pie shell and baked it around 350°–370°F, keeping an eye on it until the crust was a nice golden brown. After that, I pulled it off the rack and let it cool. I can make my own pie shell. 

(Illustrative Only)
Sometimes it
is ok to cheat while
cooking

People think cooking is super hard, but it’s really not. Sure, if you’re trying to enter a competition, that’s a different story. But if you’re just camp cooking, cooking off a boat, or making a quick meal at home, you don’t need to overcomplicate things. Besides, how do you even have Halloween without pumpkin pie? 

I don't eat much of it myself, but I love slicing it up and passing it out to folks along the way. Most of the time they love it. Occasionally someone gives it a funny look because it’s a bit rustic, but who cares? It’s all about the process.

That’s what you do with extra pumpkins—make pie! Around here in the Upper Peninsula, we’ve got pumpkins everywhere, and plenty of people grow them. It got me thinking about my future hobby farm and whether I should put in a patch of my own. I’m looking for low-maintenance crops. While I get the basics of farming, I’m still pretty green, and this is just for fun. 

Ideally, I’d love a small setup—maybe three or four acres (3 to 4 for crops another 10 for hunting, a couple acres for sheep or horses, and a couple for the house and pond. At least in my wish list).—just so I can throw on my overalls, head down to the local farmers' market with whatever I harvested, make my $50 or $300, and tell everyone I’m out here farming.

We’ve actually got a lot of great, affordable farmland up here. If you’re looking to start an organic farm, raise sheep or cattle, or set up a horse farm, there are some wonderful small properties available. We really love seeing those spots go to actual families who want to bring their kids, settle down, and build a great life here in the U.P.