US Trade Deficit Increases August 2026 (Raymond Thinks Clusters and Hubs For His Business)

The United States should continue to focus on strengthening trade by producing more goods domestically and increasing exports, while recognizing that imports will remain an important part of the economy. The country will still need supplies and products that are more efficiently produced elsewhere, which can be exchanged for American goods and services. The balance would be better if the value of what we produce is worth more than what we import 

(Illustrative Only)
Rayond is 
thining about how if
he partners with
a few other businesses
for basic supplies and
coordinate on skills
they can make 
a wood product cluster.
The Economic Hub

For mental exercise...
Would something
like this work in 
Delta County?

At the same time, U.S. manufacturers must remain competitive. Advances in technology provide significant opportunities to improve productivity and expand domestic production, although they may also create new challenges that will become clearer over time.

For the most part, the goal should be to encourage manufacturing, improve efficiency and strengthen regional industry clusters. By investing in the fundamentals that allow businesses to work together more effectively, communities can increase production, create stronger supply chains and build a more competitive manufacturing base.

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, August 2026

• The U.S. trade deficit increased to $105.6 billion in August 2026, up $12.7 billion from the revised July deficit of $92.8 billion.
• Exports increased by $4.5 billion to $315.2 billion, while imports increased by $17.2 billion to $420.8 billion.
• The goods deficit increased by $12.8 billion to $136.6 billion, while the services surplus was $31.0 billion.

  

  (source)

• Exports increased in areas such as industrial supplies and materials, nonmonetary gold, crude oil, and semiconductors.
• The year-to-date goods and services deficit was $138.2 billion, or 19.9%, lower than the same period in 2025, with exports up 11.8% and imports up 4.4%.

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026, October 6). U.S. international trade in goods and services, August 2026. https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-august-2026

The Hypothetical Feather Party: Encouraging Maximum Participation

The Hypothetical Feather Party is a philosophical experiment: What would a truly independent third party look like, and what values would it stand for?

At its core, the Feather Party would bring together people who believe in independent thinking, shared basic principles, and a thoughtful approach to decision-making. Its ultimate goal would be to reduce the extreme partisanship that has increasingly divided our political system and undermines the rights of a significant portion of society.

Today, the political extremes often have disproportionate influence, while the rest of us—people who must live with the decisions being made—can feel increasingly powerless. The enormous amount of money involved in elections has made this problem worse. The average person does not have the same influence they once had.

A healthier democracy must recognize that people come from different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, religions, and life experiences. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate fully in society and to make their opinions known to their elected leaders.

The Feather Party would encourage people to speak up about the issues that matter to them. Healthy representation depends on hearing from as many members of society as possible—not just those with wealth, connections, or political influence.

The longer we fail to enact meaningful reforms that limit the influence of big money and foreign interests in elections, the more likely we are to see large portions of society marginalized for the benefit of a small number of people. The Allegory of the Clan helps us formalize and understanding on how that happens.

We have a responsibility to encourage maximum participation in our democracy. When more people participate, the entire system becomes healthier and more representative.

The Feather Party would not tell you to vote for one party or another. It would encourage you to think independently about your own values and then vote accordingly.

There should be no blind loyalty to a political party. It is antithetical to free thought and decision making. A sign of moral weakness for the advocates of strict adherence. It reduces adaptability when a small portion of society does what is in their interest.

Political parties become dangerous when they demand that people stop thinking for themselves—especially when their positions are shaped by wealthy donors, powerful interests, or rigid ideological boundaries. Democracy works best from the bottom up, not the top down.

Many of society's problems can be transformed into strengths if we have the right people willing and able to address them. That requires voters to look beyond party labels and connections and choose people based on their character, competence, judgment, and ability to serve the public.

The goal should be simple:

Choose the best people for the job—not the most connected, the wealthiest, or the most politically entrenched.

That is the spirit of the Hypothetical Feather Party. As a thought experiment we can learn much.

Materialists Perceive Their High Socioeconomic Status as Justice

The study examined socioeconomic status and political participation.

Higher perceived socioeconomic status was linked to greater political participation.

Perceived social justice partly explained this relationship.

Materialism strengthened the connection between socioeconomic status and perceived justice.

The findings suggest that social status, beliefs about fairness, and materialism influence political engagement.

Zhao, Z., Zhao, Q., Tao, S., & Du, W. (2025). Materialists perceive their high socioeconomic status as justice: Associations with increased political participation. PLOS ONE, 20(5), e0324680. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324680

S&P Gobal US Services PMI for Sepember 2026 Rises on Strong Business Demand

Growing momentum in the business services sector is providing fresh optimism for the broader economy, driven by four consecutive months of accelerating activity and a surge in new orders.

Industry confidence has strengthened significantly in recent weeks as client demand holds firm. According to the latest market data, service providers are seeing their strongest operational growth in months, signaling robust underlying economic health despite persistent broader challenges.

A key factor underpinning the sector's gains is a steady influx of new business, which has allowed companies to expand capacity and take on additional workloads. While input costs remain elevated across the board, businesses have managed to navigate the inflationary backdrop by successfully passing price increases along to end consumers, stabilizing margins and keeping the current expansion on track.

S&P Global US Services PMI - Activity surges higher as new order growth hits four-and-a-half year high

• The headline S&P Global US Services Business Activity Index rose to 58.8 in September 2026 from 56.5 in August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly rise and the fastest rate of expansion since July 2021.

• New orders expanded rapidly, reaching their highest growth rate in four and a half years, driven primarily by strong domestic demand alongside a continued increase in new export business.

• Service providers increased their hiring to meet growing workloads, resulting in the fastest rate of job creation recorded since June 2022.

• Outstanding business accumulated for the 19th consecutive month, hitting its sharpest rate of increase in nearly four and a half years despite additional workforce capacity.

• Input cost inflation accelerated significantly due to higher gas, transportation, and labor costs, causing companies to raise selling prices at the second-fastest pace in over a year.

S&P Global. (2026, October 5). S&P Global US Services PMI: Activity surges higher as new order growth hits four-and-a-half year high [Press release]. https://www.pmi.spglobal.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/213d82a351294021a2ee4c21ea92f8cd

Hobby Farming: Straw Used as Mulch-Buy Local

 I’m continuing to work on my garden and get it ready for fall. I recently bought a few bales of straw from a local farmer. Two will be used for decoration and then worked into the garden as mulch in the spring. Another will be used as mulch now, followed by a cover crop.

Illustrative only

Straw can help suppress weeds, add organic material, improve soil structure and aeration, and moderate soil temperature and moisture. I’m trying to buy from local farmers and businesses whenever possible. With so many concerns about policies and economic trends that have hurt downtowns, local businesses, and communities, I think buying local is one small way we can help.

That also ties into the idea of hobby farming. There’s a lot of land around here that used to be farmed but isn’t anymore because smaller farmers have been squeezed out of the market. (That doesn't mean cutting trees. Responsible people plant more than they cut beause the world needs more green.) I’ve thought that when I retire, I’d like to save enough to buy 10 to 20 acres and build a house and hobby farm on it.

I know people who have built their own homes using some pretty interesting techniques. One person showed me a house made largely with cedar logs and firewood mixed with cement, sand, and other materials to create really unique walls. I might consider something similar someday (He said there are four other houses in the area like that and he would take me on a tour.)

The article below also got me thinking about finding crops that are easy to grow and don’t require a lot of watering or constant attention. I had several crops growing last year, but the weeds kept coming back. The yeild wasn't as high as desired. Hopefully, the straw mulch will help reduce some of that work.

Anyway, I thought you might find the article below interesting, especially the discussion of using straw in the garden.

I have a couple
of these for fun
and experimentation
purposes 

Using Straw Mulch in the Garden

• Straw is an effective organic mulch for vegetable gardens because it helps retain soil moisture and reduces evaporation.
• Straw suppresses weeds by blocking sunlight from reaching the soil surface, reducing weed growth and garden maintenance.
• As straw decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil, helping improve soil structure, water-holding capacity, and biological activity.
• Straw helps moderate soil temperatures by insulating the soil from extreme heat and cold.
• For best results, use weed-free straw and apply mulch about 2–4 inches deep, keeping it away from plant stems to reduce potential pest and disease problems.

University of Minnesota Extension. (2026). Mulching for soil and garden health. University of Minnesota. https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-minnesota/mulching-for-soil-and-garden-health

An Analysis of The Allegory of the Clan and It's Importance for Preserving Liberty

 Taken as a hypothetical philosophical exercise, the central lesson of The Allegory of the Clan is that constitutional principles are not self-enforcing. A society can proclaim religious liberty and equal protection while institutions simultaneously tolerate discrimination, corruption, intimidation, or unequal access to justice.

The strongest version of the allegory seems to raise several connected duties:

• Protect equal citizenship. Religious or racial identity cannot become a legitimate basis for dehumanization or denial of rights.

• Confront institutional wrongdoing. If officials, judges, politicians, or other authorities participate in misconduct, accountability cannot depend solely on those same institutions policing themselves. We have seen the failures of self monitoring policies in other countries and in history through horrific collective outcomes.

• Protect whistleblowers and witnesses. A system in which people fear retaliation for exposing wrongdoing will naturally conceal abuses. Failure to reform ould be by intent and by insider unwritten value systems.

• Preserve meaningful remedies for victims. Rights are hollow if victims are systematically prevented from obtaining review, compensation, or other lawful forms of redress.

• Reject collective blame. Even when hostility is allegedly encouraged by foreign actors or political movements, individuals should not be treated as guilty merely because of their religion, race, ancestry, or association with a broader group. Leads if allowed to go too far to segregation, second class citizens and in some cases genocide.

• Use checks and balances. Removing people from positions of authority can sometimes be necessary, but it should occur through lawful, evidence-based procedures rather than becoming another form of arbitrary power.

• Remember historical continuity. The progression from slavery through reconstruction, segregation, and the expansion of civil rights illustrates why formal declarations of equality need continuing institutional protection. We already fought a civil war over these rights.

There is also an important distinction in the allegory between vengeance and accountability. “Doing what is right” does not mean reversing the injustice by inflicting injustice on the people who committed it. It means establishing procedures capable of determining what happened, protecting those harmed, holding responsible individuals accountable proportionately, and preventing the abuse from recurring.

That makes the allegory ultimately less about one particular group and more about a recurring constitutional problem: What happens when the institutions entrusted with protecting liberty become participants in its violation?

Its answer would be that democratic legitimacy requires more than good intentions. It requires independent oversight, due process, equal protection, transparency, meaningful remedies, and institutions strong enough to constrain people who abuse public power.

As a hypothetical thought experiment, you can accept, reject, change around the elements and discard if necessary. As long as you took the time to think about it and think about the type of person you are and what values you believe in and pass to your grandchildren. What oaths mean something to you, and which ones can be discarded? Let us encourage and foster what is good and reject and challenge, what is wrong and illegal.

Escanaba City Council Regular Meeting (October 1, 2026): Zoning, Housing and Homelessness

The meeting sparked an important discussion about homelessness and the resources available to those in need. The issue remains complex, with a variety of perspectives and challenges that make quick conclusions difficult. Rather than rushing to judgment, it is important to consider the different viewpoints presented and take time to better understand the broader issues surrounding homelessness and community assistance. 

There are of course many other important things going on and topics covered. 

Summary of Oct. 1 2026 Escanaba Agenda

Escanaba City Council Meeting Minutes and Zoning Discussion

• The Escanaba City Council addressed municipal business, including event approvals, hiring for alley paving, and MDOT project funding.

• The council evaluated Ordinance No. 1328 to rezone 113 S 10th Street from Commercial E to Residence C for a transitional housing project operated by Hope on the Horizon 906.

• Staff recommended denying the rezoning due to potential inconsistencies with downtown revitalization goals and the Master Plan.

• Community feedback was mixed, with supporters emphasizing homelessness needs and service access, while opponents and nearby business owners raised concerns about neighborhood impact, property values, and location suitability.

• The Planning Commission ultimately noted that the property's intended use could potentially be handled via alternative zoning mechanisms, leading to a recommendation against the rezoning request.

Escanaba City Council. (2026). City council meeting agenda and minutes (Media No. 31006). City of Escanaba. https://www.escanaba.org/media/31006

YouTube Transcript Summary

Here is a summary of the main points discussed during the City of Escanaba City Council regular meeting regarding the proposed rezoning of 113 South 10th Street for transitional housing:

• Call to Order and Administrative Updates: Mayor Mark Ammel called the meeting to order, noting the absence of Council Member Moore. The council approved agenda adjustments, notably removing new business item number one regarding DDA music plans, and corrected previous meeting minutes (changing a street reference from 11th Street to 13th Street for a special event application) [02:25].

• Public Comment and Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 1328: The majority of the meeting centered around a public hearing for Ordinance No. 1328 (the rezoning of 113 South 10th Street from "E Commercial" to "C Multifamily" to establish transitional housing) [22:00].

• Arguments in Support:

  • Supporters, including various residents and community members, emphasized the critical need for a transitional living center to help unhoused individuals and families find stability, jobs, and permanent housing.

  • Advocates noted that the building has been vacant for nine years and that the proposed facility would operate under strict "high barrier" rules (including zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol) similar to successful models in neighboring towns like Marinette.

  • Proponents cited the city's master plan, arguing that supporting diverse housing options and infill development aligns with local guidelines.

• Arguments in Opposition:

  • Opponents, including downtown business owners, nearby residents, and representatives from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), raised concerns about removing limited commercial property and tax-base land for residential use.

  • Concerns were expressed regarding the location's proximity to downtown businesses and potential negative impacts on surrounding property values, safety, and tourism.

  • Some community members questioned whether other alternative locations or existing social services were already sufficient and asked for clearer details regarding the target population and ongoing operational oversight.

City of Escanaba. (2026, October 2). City Council regular meeting Thursday, October 1, 2026 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx8AzZY61TU

Autumn Photography: probably would look good in a lobby.

 Photography can be a lot of fun because you can do it just about anywhere. The chances of making a big sale or selling a lot of art, however, often have more to do with marketing than skill. You can't sell something that nobody likes, but at the same time, you could be a Picasso painter or an exceptional photographer and still live in poverty your entire life. Then, conveniently, after you die, your work becomes incredibly valuable. Unfortunately, that's not a particularly useful business plan while you're alive.

Apple Farm

There are those who create and those who sell, and occasionally, someone is lucky enough to be good at both. My problem is that I create fairly mediocre art, and I put almost no time into selling it. So clearly, my strategy needs some work. Perhaps I should make better art—or, even more radically, actually try to sell the stuff.

The photograph below is of several different gorges, and I think they have a particularly festive fall and autumn feel. I could actually see one of these prints looking pretty good on somebody's wall. I'm even debating whether I should print one for my own wall, which would make me both the artist and the customer. That's what I call a guaranteed sale.

If you're a hotel, I think these photographs could also look fantastic in a lobby this fall. At the very least, they'll give your guests something to look at while they're waiting for the front desk to find their reservation.

If you're interested in making a purchase, let me know. I have a contact form to the right, and I promise not to use any high-pressure sales tactics. Mostly because I don't know how.

Art Gallery (Painting and Photos)

$70 Purchase Painting Pay Pal

$60 for photos (Rights to Use or Printing)

Art Gallery eBay (Paintings)