Protein Muffins Recipe (Camp Cooking)

(Illustrative Only)

Making camp protein muffins

Protein bars can get expensive—sometimes $8 or $9 for a small box, or around $3 each if you buy them individually. Many are loaded with sugar and ingredients you may not want. Making your own can be a healthier option. You might not reach the extremely high protein levels of commercial bars, but those often rely on artificial additives anyway. A homemade bar with a balanced 1:2 protein-to-calorie ratio is still pretty solid, especially when the other ingredients are wholesome.

For this batch, I used oats, protein powder, a little flour, baking soda, eggs, honey, and maple syrup. I added a small amount of brown sugar, plus vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. I didn’t include peanut butter this time, but next time I might mix in blueberries or raspberries for extra flavor and moisture.

I combined everything into a batter, sprayed a muffin pan, and baked them at about 350°F for around 20 minutes, checking until they browned slightly. They turned out well. Adding fruit would make them juicier with natural flavor.

Each one can be wrapped individually so you can take them on the go, just like store-bought protein bars. These come out to roughly 250 calories with about 15 grams of protein each—pretty reasonable for a homemade option.

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats

• 1 cup protein powder (vanilla or chocolate; whey or plant)

• 1 cup milk (any kind)

• 2 large eggs

• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

• A little brown sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp salt

• Add some extra stuff like chocolate chip or fruits. 

Fiscal Responsibility and the Risks of Rising National Debt

(Illustrative Only)

These two are working 
on a formula to reduce national
debt and improve the economy.

Nadia is the quantitative brain
and Max is the qualitative
brain and together they 
can see the pieces and the
impact of reducing debt. 
Perpetual Sustainable Development

They are both from the hypothetical
Feather Party that doesn't exist
at this time, is made up of
loose independents who decide by 
an agreed upon decision making
matrix, don't work with
special interests, cap donations,
and doesn't allow for
party-line votes. Their
goal is to create a greater
connection to average people,
foster intellectual development for
scientists/philosphers, encourage
adaptation of new ideas and tip
votes based on rooted
societal values. It is
a philsophical discussion
by nature. They
owe their loyalty to no one
but the Constitution, the people,
their communities
and their own conscious.

Public debt, in general, has negative implications, similar to excessive debt at the household level. High levels of debt can be detrimental not only for individuals but also for society as a whole. Entities, like households and organizations, often face the temptation to spend excessively without adequately considering revenue streams. It is therefore essential to periodically evaluate expenditures and income, identifying opportunities to increase revenue. While some spending can function as an investment that generates future returns, other expenditures may not yield economic benefits.

Societal expenditures are not purely financial; they often reflect the need to improve citizens’ quality of life. Under appropriate circumstances, such investments can stimulate economic growth. Each proposed expenditure requires careful analysis to determine its potential impact. Empirical research indicates that rising national debt eventually introduces economic risk and can slow long-term growth. This underscores the importance of responsible budgeting and fiscal planning.

Debt can serve a functional role when it provides liquidity, similar to having readily available assets in a household. However, borrowing to meet regular obligations, without sufficient revenue or reserves to cover unexpected costs, creates dependency on debt and increases financial vulnerability. Unanticipated expenditures—such as infrastructure needs, conflicts, or natural disasters—can exacerbate debt levels, making it difficult to reduce overall obligations.

Addressing these challenges requires a framework of short-, medium-, and long-term fiscal responsibility. Governments must strategically allocate resources to areas that generate widespread societal benefits. Equally important is minimizing misallocation, corruption, or misuse of public funds. Effective leadership involves ensuring that revenue, derived from taxpayers, is invested appropriately and transparently. Mechanisms must be in place to correct mismanagement so that public resources are used as intended.

The Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth

• The article reviews 40 empirical studies from 2010–2020 on how public debt levels relate to economic growth.

• Most research finds that higher public debt is associated with slower economic growth.

• Some studies show a nonlinear effect where moderate debt can be neutral or slightly positive, but high debt harms growth.

• There is no single universal debt threshold; it varies by country, development level, and institutional quality.

• 36 of the 40 studies report a statistically significant negative effect of public debt on growth.

• Strong institutions or sound policy can help reduce the negative impact of debt on growth.

Salmon, J. (2021). The impact of public debt on economic growth. Cato Journal, Fall 2021. Cato Institute. https://www.cato.org/cato-journal/fall-2021/impact-public-debt-economic-growth?

Firefighter Hose and Training Tips (Video)

Learning about firefighting is important because you never know when you might need those skills. For full-time, part-time, or volunteer firefighters, watching videos like this helps build knowledge and understanding. I do some on-call, part-time firefighting, and while you can’t make every call because of other commitments, it’s still important to keep training. I plan on doing more soon, and in the meantime, I keep watching and learning—because that’s how we improve.

We also have some younger people joining, so it’s valuable to pass that knowledge along. Everyone brings their own strengths based on what they’ve read, trained on, and practiced, and building a shared base of knowledge makes the whole group stronger. Our crew works well together.

In this video, I really liked the way they moved the hoses with their leg—tucking and pulling them forward is something I definitely want to try. Their forced-entry techniques were also impressive.

If you’re interested in donating to a firefighting department in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that serves several rural communities and continues to grow despite national trends, feel free to send me a message. I’d be happy to connect you with the right people who can accept tax-deductible donations for equipment, training, and other needs.

Heading Into 2026: Concerns, Reality, and Smart Money Choices

The other day, I came across an article discussing the challenges many Americans are facing with prices and the general lack of optimism. I looked into the data behind it, and it appears much of it came from this survey. The survey was conducted in December, about three months ago, so some things may have shifted slightly since then, though probably not dramatically.

Overall, the results show that people are feeling somewhat pessimistic. Many say the economy isn’t really working for them, rising prices are a concern, and the cost of living is becoming more expensive. About a quarter of respondents reported that their expenses exceed their income, healthcare costs continue to climb, and some believe we’re already in a recession.

At the same time, the economy hasn't collapsed. Things appear relatively stable for now. Inflation remains a concern, and the job market has slowed, but people don’t seem to be having widespread difficulty finding work. It’s sluggish, but we’ve seen worse. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold. COVID shifted economic projections a few years ago, and we learned that forecasts aren’t always as accurate as we hope.

As we head into 2026, a little hope doesn’t hurt. The best advice is to be smart with your money. Cut back on unnecessary expenses. Remember that companies will try to sell you anything they can, but that doesn’t mean it’s in your best interest. Saving even small amounts can add up. Invest a little at a time if you’re able. Pay down credit cards as quickly as possible—the interest rates are outrageous. I know that’s easier said than done, especially for the working class, but the struggle is real, and I understand why people are concerned because I'm cut from the same middle class cloth.

Still, I’m cautiously optimistic about a few things. Hang in there.

2026 Economic Outlook, December 2025

• Most Americans feel pessimistic about the 2026 economy.
• Many say the economy is not working well for them personally.
• Rising prices and cost of living are the top concerns.
• About seven in ten say their local cost of living is not affordable.
• More people say their finances got worse this year than improved.
• About one-quarter report their expenses exceed their income.
• Over half worry about affording healthcare in 2026.
• A slim majority believe the U.S. is in a recession.
• More Americans think the Democratic Party would handle the economy better than the Republican Party.

Seagulls on the Beach Painting

 This painting is called Seagulls on the Beach. I’ve been experimenting with different styles lately, and a bit more sketching has really helped improve the overall quality. Painting is a hobby for me, but if you like this piece, feel free to send me a message in the comment box to the right and I’ll be happy to make an offer.

It’s a relaxing, coastal scene that could look great in an office, a living room, or a beach house. You might really enjoy this one.

Dehumanization, Partisanship, and the Mind (Story of the Clan)

(Illustrative Only)

Dehumanization is a dangerous force in any society. It has existed throughout human history, rooted in our tendency to group people, label them, and then treat some differently. Once we do that, it becomes easier to justify behaviors that would normally be unacceptable and/or illegal.

Partisan politics can make this worse. Parties create categories, expectations, and pressure. Ideally, people would vote based on their own beliefs, debate ideas openly, and work toward real consensus. But party pressure often pushes people to support individuals, actions, or legislation simply because their group expects it—not because they freely agree. Instead of bottom-up decision-making, it becomes top-down.

The philosophical Story of the Clan illustrates this problem. In the allegory, hate and corruption were tolerated as long as they targeted people that had been dehumanized. Actions that would never be taken against people of one group suddenly became acceptable. Once people learned to justify those actions through rumors and mistreatment, they struggled to stop or correct them. The depth of systemic breakdown clear. 

This leads us back to the purpose of law. Law is meant to be universal—it cannot violate constitutional rights. Not legally anyway. Yet the way we apply law is where inequality appears. People may say they believe in equality publically, yet unconsciously treat groups differently because of learned biases tied to race, religion, politics, or identity. Without awareness, these biases push the outgroup to be treated unfairly therby robbing them and society of full development. 

Lesson: Once we categories we can treat differently.

This happens in politics, disagreements over opinions, and even in areas connected to freedom of speech or religion. Without critical thinking, we repeat these mistakes again and again. This a major reason why certain choices are made, agreed upon, enacted and then historically regretted as the full scope of hate becomes apparent. Most not allowed to propose alternatives or voice their opinion leading to collective delusions and group think. The victims must eat the cost of other's choices.

Let us dig a little deeper....

The study below is useful because it looks at free word associations—how quickly our minds connect words and ideas without conscious thought. This reveals the hidden assumptions we carry from culture, personality, upbringing, social groups and political identity. When people consume only self-selected information, those assumptions harden, creating deeper justifications for harmful behavior through more group think.

The consequences are real: lost human potential, unequal treatment, and people being pushed out of opportunities or having rights eroded. Top performance can't be achieved without broad stakeholders. The best and brightest from any race, religion, politics, etc. should be encouraged without unfair restriction or mistreatment. It is our primary purpose and values that count and not the superficial difference or parties. Without wisdom one might loose their best and brightest and weaken the whole.

The study is worth reading. It offers insight into how our minds form these automatic connections—and how becoming aware of them is the first step toward fairness.

Lesson: Once you become aware of your bias and can acknowledge that bias is part of human nature you can overcome them and make better decisions.

Imagined otherness fuels blatant dehumanization of outgroups

• The article introduces imagined otherness, the idea that people think another group sees the world very differently from a typical human, which increases dehumanization.

• Researchers studied Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. to see how this perceived difference in worldview relates to dehumanizing the other group.

• In a study with 771 participants, the more someone believed the other party’s thinking differed from a typical person’s, the more they dehumanized them, beyond simple dislike.

• A second experiment showed a causal effect: prompting people to see the other group’s worldview as very different led to higher dehumanization.

• The findings show that imagining another group’s mindset as fundamentally different can reduce how human they seem, helping explain dehumanization in political and social conflicts.

van Loon, A., Goldberg, A., & Srivastava, S. B. (2024). Imagined otherness fuels blatant dehumanization of outgroups. Communications Psychology, 2(1), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00087-4

*This is a philosphical, hypothetical, thought experiment that one can change the elements, debate and come to their own conclusion. Take with a grain of salt.

Freezer Archaeology: The Pie Edition (Camp Cooking)

(Illustrative Only)
Andy Jones embarked on 
an archeological dig in
his freezer and found 
blueberries. 

I found some blueberries hiding in the back of my freezer—probably from a decade when people still said “YOLO.” I figured I should either use them or give them a proper Viking funeral, so into a pot they went. I tossed in a little pectin, some lemon juice, white sugar, a splash of brown sugar, and a bit of cinnamon. Warmed it up, mixed it around, and cooked it until it stopped looking confused.

Then I grabbed another bowl and did the pie-crust thing: flour, cold butter (a stick or two, depending on how brave you feel), a pinch of salt, and a little brown sugar. Rolled it into two balls—one for the crust, one for the fancy lattice on top that says camp chef all over it.

Threw the whole operation into the oven at about 350° for maybe 30–40 minutes—basically until the crust looked cooked but not like it had just escaped from a wildfire. Pulled it out, let it cool, and boom: blueberry pie. Super simple. Honestly, I’m not sure why I used to think cooking was some mystical art. Now I just look at the portions online, wing it, and if it turns out weird, I know exactly which questionable decision caused it.

I had a slice last night—tasted pretty darn good. I’m gonna give some to my neighbor. Someone at the shuffleboard tournament last night even said, “I wish I was your neighbor,” which I’m pretty sure means my camp cooking has officially achieved local celebrity status. My bread did!