November 1st Fundraiser for Orphaned and Abandoned

If you’re interested in supporting a meaningful cause, consider attending the November 1st fundraiser in honor of Día de los Muertos at Estancia La Jolla Hotel. The event will benefit orphaned children in Baja California, who face unique challenges and lifelong struggles with loss. I’ve had the opportunity to visit them before through the Corazon de Vida organization, and while I would like to go more often, the timing of the trips has not always aligned.

You can find the ticket information below.

I also have a fundraiser page available if you’d like to contribute directly with a donation. M.Abel Fundraiser Page

Noche de Gala Fundraiser Nov. 1st. Tickets

Industries with Employment Decreases from 2000 to 2024

An empty pubisher chair

Industries are constantly evolving, and examining how they change over time provides valuable insight into broader economic trends. These shifts can reveal the strengths, weaknesses, and adjustments taking place within society.

Sources such as Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases are useful indicators, but they represent only one piece of the puzzle. To fully understand emerging trends, it is important to combine that data with other information and observations of broader environmental developments.

A quick review suggests that many changes occurring today are technology-driven. As technology advances, it reshapes industries and, in turn, employment opportunities within them. Some of the sectors currently experiencing notable shifts include:

• Publishing and photography

• Leather products

• Circuit board and computer manufacturing

• Telecommunications

For individuals working in these industries, these trends suggest that change is ongoing, making it important to adapt and learn new skills. Likewise, for students entering or leaving college, understanding these patterns can provide useful guidance when considering future career paths and employment prospects.

Industries with employment decreases from 2000 to 2024

 

The Story of the Clan: Philosophy and Intentional Harms

Certain values should
transcend time and
misapplication.

It is important for society to continually reflect on values, as it is those values that guide progress and raise the quality of life for its members. Shared values are essential. The Story of the Clan is a hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment meant to explore how values function within a specific narrative. It is designed for learning purposes and should be taken with a grain of salt. Feel free to reflect on your own values.

The Story of the Clan: The story centers on what hate and corruption look like in a closed system. Hate provided the motivation, while corruption offered the path. People were targeted and intentionally harmed in order to reward in-group members. In this learning story, the technicalities of the law were manipulated to undermine the higher institutional purpose that was supposed to be rooted in democratic philosophy. With systemic dehumanization in place, victims had no recourse or path to correction. A break in social contracts, direct rejection of certain oaths and undermining of long-term societal values.

The narrative is designed to create a moral dilemma: doing good for all versus doing good for a privileged in-group. It raises the question of whether loyalty should lie with universal principles or with social position. Broader lessons also emerge, including the impact on economic health and quality of life. One cannot justify intentional harm in one instance while still claiming fidelity to broad moral structures. Justifying in one place means there was or will be justifying in other places.

As we focus on what benefits society most—through enduring moral truths and beliefs that transcend time—we strengthen our resolve to uphold founding principles. Such values carry historical and philosophical weight. Therefore, the pressing decisions of the present (the “trees”) should be evaluated in the context of long-term societal health (the “forest”).

The quote below captures this idea well: the structures we build may appear strong, but it is our ideas and beliefs that endure. Structures can eventually disappear but certain founding values will live on as long as people are willing to believe and support those values. Those who came before us sacrificed for lasting values, and so our decisions should align with their long-term historical and philosophical purpose.

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."-Pericles (495-429 BC), statesman, general who started the construction of the Acropolis in Athens.

The study below discussions intentional versus unintentional harm. Unintentional harm is different and often an accident while intentional harm is specific to certain out-group members. Those who engage in in intentional harm often have other goals and motivations. Intentional harm is a tool to some other end.

Intentional Harms Are Worse, Even When They’re Not

The Tuna Ship Picture: Voices of Tuna Fisheries

The picture below was taken a few years ago and are tuna ships in San Diego. Tuna Photographic Print and The Walking Path Gallery.

I like to read about history and furthered an economic theory thinking about the commercial fishing industry. You can listen to the stories on the site and gain an understanding of how this industry grew and existed. The lives and famlies it impacted.

Voices of Tuna Fisheries

Delta County MI Board of Commissioners Meeting (9/16/2025): Building Projects, FOIA, Veterans and Much More......(Sustainable Growth)

Delta County is on the move, continuing to invest in the growth and development of its community. In this video, you’ll learn about building projects, FOIA reviews, new veteran positions (go vets!), airport expansion, and contract discussions. Lots of other things so if you are a local resident, own a business, potential investor or just a lover of good governance then stay tuned and see some of the positive things they are doing. 

I found this particularly interesting because it highlights how focusing on the bigger picture and openly discussing opportunities can lead to even more possibilities. Strong governance at both the city and county levels fosters better coordination around a shared vision and raises awareness of how our choices impact society.

Local Economy: Strengthening Communities with Sustainable Growth

Market Demographics and Market Entry Strategies

Global marketing creates opportunities for businesses to expand into new markets, but success requires a strong understanding of local laws, regulations, and cultural norms. Companies seeking to sell products overseas must conduct thorough analyses to understand both the environment and the entry methods best suited to their goals. Effective strategies should be grounded in objective information and supported by experienced insight.

Key considerations in global marketing include culture, distribution, and communication. Each country presents unique challenges and opportunities, making international business both complex and rewarding. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from offering their products or services abroad, but they must approach this expansion wisely.

For small businesses, leveraging existing systems or partnerships is often the most practical path, while larger companies may choose to establish their own distribution networks. For example, if I produce a product as a small business owner, I would likely consider local delivery options or virtual marketplaces that allow me to reach customers without being physically present.

Take Escanaba as a hypothetical case. If local producers—both small and large—wanted to enter European or Asian markets, they could collaborate through an association to share resources and reduce risks (In Theory). Such a partnership could conduct joint market research, develop shared marketing campaigns, and use existing distribution networks to place products on store shelves abroad or on the loading docks of companies..

Ultimately, entering a new market requires extensive research into both current and potential customers. Businesses may also rely on others’ research but should always perform their own strategic analysis. Understanding the potential market is only the first step—it must be followed by a solid plan detailing how customers will receive products and how payments will be managed.

The following piece provides a comprehensive overview of marketing demographics, a critical foundation for any global strategy.

The Power of Market Segmentation in Market Entry Strategies

Clearing the Clutter: Peace of Mind and Tidy Quarters

Over time, people inevitably accumulate a great many possessions, often more than they truly need. Without periodic effort to reduce and reorganize, it is easy to become overwhelmed by this excess. On a boat, where space is particularly limited, the importance of maintaining order becomes even more apparent. Effective management requires regular cleaning, updating, and the removal of unnecessary items. There are numerous benefits to decluttering.

Not really my boat

Admittedly, I have not kept up with this as consistently as I should. While recovering from a recent cold, I resolved to use the time productively and address the state of my boat. This time, I committed to undertaking a thorough review of its contents, discarding items that no longer serve a purpose. My golf clubs, for example, remain, but the large, cumbersome golf bag is being retired. Ideally, such a process should occur at least once a year, with ongoing maintenance in between.

The benefits of this practice extend beyond physical organization. A clean and orderly environment supports both productivity and mental clarity. When tools and supplies are easily accessible, it reduces stress and saves valuable time.

Perhaps the greatest advantage, however, is the sense of satisfaction that comes from inhabiting a well-kept space. While I do not consider myself excessively fastidious, I prefer surroundings that are both tidy and aesthetically pleasing, as they allow me to work more effectively.

This recent effort began with the galley and continued into the head. In the process, I rediscovered several misplaced items and recognized that a fresh coat of paint may soon be in order. Though the work is ongoing, the progress made has provided a genuine sense of accomplishment—an encouraging reminder of the value of maintaining order.

Here is some research on decluttering,

The Mental Benefits of Decluttering