A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
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The Bonifas Art Center does a lot of wonderful work for the community, supporting both art and education, and it’s starting to attract more tourism as well. The More Than a Uniform exhibit runs from September 12th through 16th—so if you’re in the area, come on down!
But along with treasure, there’s also junk in the lakes. Protecting our largest freshwater system is crucial, yet people often toss in trash without thinking—tires, plastic, and all kinds of debris. This harms the environment, weakens fish populations, and even hurts tourism. That’s why I fully support lake cleanups and fish stocking by the DNR. Honestly, I’d love to see the return of part-time commercial hook-and-line licenses. It would not only support tourism but also help boost local fresh food production—something we should have learned the importance of during COVID. And of course, most of the revenue should go right back into stocking fish and maintaining the lakes.
You can find some information at Fish Stocking DNR
Recently, I went surface diving since my friends haven’t been taking their boats out. My “treasures” this time were a spinner and a frog bait—nothing too fancy, but it still felt like a win. Plus, it was a good workout. With a wetsuit, snorkel, and fins, I jumped in and explored. The trick is to stick to spots sheltered from the waves.
You may be interested in this study. When I find junk I throw it on shore or take it with me and put in the trash. If is helpful if you do the same and clean up the parks and beaches and stuff.
Corruption is devastating for society. It robs communities not only of resources but also of possibilities—the possiblity of growing to full social and economic development. One of the best ways to understand corruption, hate, and their consequences is through a story. It is a running story that helps us gain additional insight. Take it with a grain of salt because it is focused on exploring and learning. There are many things one may agree with and there are things that people will not agree with (...that is often defined by your personal background so it is beneficial for people to reflect). The goal is to simply just think about the underlining fundamentals to what is likely to bring the most people forward and what things could hinder or slow societal development.
The Story of the Clan is a hypothetical, philosophical, and theoretical thought experiment designed to help us explore how hate and corruption can undermine entire systems. It also sheds light on how people can change that, how communities can improve these systems, and the need for new perspectives on solutions when and if things are not up to par. Along the way, we’ll touch on economic impacts, psychological motivations, financial incentives, and broader social impact. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good crime story? 🤷 Might be a future book idea to teach certain leadership values and impacts of those values hmmmmm.........
In this story, justice and moral conscience have collapsed. Bad actors spread hate-fueled rumors and exploited existing corruption networks to maximize harm against victims. Financial and social incentives encouraged these behaviors, sparking a wider corruption network that manipulated differences (race, religion, etc.) to justify coordinated aggressions and human rights violations. Perpetrators were coached and the outcomes known before even knowing the questions or the facts. This is often why people have said some are protected, immune, and above the law within these social circles.
Other disturbing behaviors soon surfaced from other victims—alleged sexual assaults of minors, financial exploitation, misuse of public resources, using positions for self-enrichment, putting kids at risk through manipulation, isolating and manipulating the sick for financial gain, and targeted hate-based actions. Human and civil rights mocked and social contracts trampled. Witnesses, victims, and whistleblowers who tried to raise concerns were instead betrayed; their complaints were funneled back to perpetrators, who placed them on secret harm lists.
To make matters worse, let us pretend a judge/decision maker with distorted social beliefs (in theory)—and personal ties to the perpetrators—used his/her position to shield and incentivize poor actors, despite clear conflicts of interest. Eventually, more victims came forward, and many complaints were found to be substantiated. Initially the victims had no recourse because of the process of dehumanization launched by the goal directed hate rumors.
This represents a worst-case scenario, where sacred institutions are misused to protect corruption and crush accountability. If such a “clan network” dominates a system, victims are left with no recourse. In such cases, outside oversight becomes essential to restore integrity and prevent abuse. However, this is not the end of the story. We can write it anyway we want. So will start to discuss improvement, reconciliation, higher moral conscious, and adaptability as people profess in deed what they profess on their lips. A positive upward economic and social outcome could be realized in our learning story.
This is, of course, a learning story. Readers may agree or disagree, or find alternative interpretations. But the broader lesson is clear: when hate and corruption become normalized, the consequences ripple across society for generations. It can impact economic outcomes and social development.
Most societies uphold oaths, social contracts, and legal protections to prevent corruption from taking root. Yet systems are run by fallible people—some of good character, some of bad. This is why the intent of law (its higher philosophy) should always outweigh the tool of law (its flawed, worldly application).
Are values subjective, or should they align with a higher moral goal?
What happens when certain harmful values are normalized? What are the economic and social consequences?
How important is it to elect officials who act with integrity and treat all people equally?
How can we ensure greater alignment between the intent of law, the application of law, and the values of society?
How do we support the many good men and women who serve their communities—while still holding “bad apples” accountable? (Make a distinction between mistakes and intent to harm).
Can communities themselves push back against corruption by embedding stronger shared values in local institutions? (Think of what happens of a group of actors is not in alignment with society's values or the official values of an institution.)
Research suggests that some forms of corruption become normalized over time, embedded into culture, norms, and expectations.
The Importance of State Capacity in Fighting Corruption- Gülise GÖKCE
(Just fyi: Reading reports like this, AI picture generation, word content reports, international affairs, etc. can be found and used online. As a small hobby business owner I can say that that there are some tools available that help.)
In global world according to the report,
For those of you would love golf and love veterans show up. This is a great organization that serves our local vets.
Come on out, support the club, and share good times. Amvets Sept 6th, 2025 Page Golf Outing (Pictures will be posted on the page.)
This morning I headed out to “catch my supper.” At least, that’s what I like to tell myself. Really, I was experimenting with some fake bait to see how well it works. Since I usually fish for just 20–30 minutes while running errands, keeping live bait in the car isn’t practical—they end up cooked, but not in a frying pan. There are some other benefits beyond being hungry if you go home empty handed.....
Hiking, fishing, swimming, or just frolicking on a beach—all of it connects us to nature. We come from it, and we often find our deepest peace in it. The mind slows, the body relaxes, and we start to sync with nature’s rhythm. Yes, there’s a rhythm to nature—you can feel it after about fifteen minutes if you allow yourself to be still. Just sit for a moment, and you’ll notice it.
Quiet spaces also inspire good ideas. You might be staring at a bobber, turning over a thought, and suddenly—bam—a eureka moment hits! Overthinking often boxes us in with over logic, but a little blank space can unlock new perspectives. Many great inventions and ideas were born this way.
This time, I stopped at the mouth of the Escanaba River, where several fishing docks make for a perfect little spot. And yes, even today, I came up with a pretty great idea—but I’ll keep that one to myself for now. 🙂
Mental Health and Recreational Angling in UK Adult Males: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| I thik I got this from our local Elks Club. Delish! |
A friend of mine swears by veganism. He completely transformed his diet, lost a significant amount of weight, and even saw major improvements in his bloodwork. While I don’t have those specific health concerns, I know I could benefit from making smarter choices about what I eat. So, I decided to experiment with a hybrid approach and track the results.
Definitions
Vegan: A completely plant-based diet that excludes all animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish, honey). People often lose weight on it because it’s lower in calories and higher in fiber. However, it requires careful planning to ensure enough protein, iron, vitamin B12, and other nutrients.
Mediterranean: Plant-forward but not fully vegan. It emphasizes vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, and fish, with moderate amounts of dairy (yogurt, cheese) while limiting red meat and processed foods. It’s one of the most studied diets, strongly linked to weight loss, heart health, and longevity.
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| I'm not in perfect shape but not in bad shape. A little more work to do. I box and other stuff sometimes for fitness. |
I cut out most meats and typical meals like steaks and burgers, replacing them with fish, fruits, and vegetables.
Weeks 1–4: I leaned mostly vegan, with only the occasional bit of fish. I didn’t stress over tiny traces of meat but generally avoided it. The results? I dropped a few pounds relatively quickly—likely from both calorie reduction and the “shock” to my system.
Weeks 5+: I incorporated more fish to maintain protein intake and muscle tone. This Mediterranean-style approach worked well too, and research supports its long-term benefits.
My Takeaway
If the goal is weight loss, starting with a vegan phase can help reset the system and reduce calories. Transitioning to Mediterranean afterward makes it easier to sustain results while protecting muscle tone and ensuring balanced nutrition. I'm not your doctor so go consult with a physician anytime your changing somthing drastically.
Method
4–6 weeks vegan to jumpstart weight loss and reset eating habits
After 6 weeks, shift to Mediterranean for a balanced, sustainable lifestyle
Good luck! And as a side note—I’m also certified as a fitness trainer and yoga instructor. If you’re ever interested in personal or virtual training, feel free to reach out. It’s a hobby I enjoy sharing. Rates are reasonable. Send me a message to the right and what you want.
You may be interested in these two studies below,
Twin research indicates that a vegan diet improves cardiovascular health-Emily Moskal