Learning to Tie Firefighter Knots

Firefighting is an essential job, as people depend on firefighters to protect both life and property. Knowing how to tie knots is a necessary skill to perform effectively in the role. These knots are typically learned during training, but they can be easy to forget over time. That’s why it’s important to review them periodically to keep the knowledge fresh.

(I learned many of these knots years ago, but without regular practice, the skill fades. Reviewing them ensures the most important ones stay memorized.)

*This is for a different project. If you are interested in donating to a fire department in the Upper Peninsula of MI send me a message to the right and I will connect you to the right entity. Very good people serving their community.

The Story of the Clan: Thoughts on the Moral Conscious as it Relates to Hate and Corruption (Hypothetical Philosophical Thought Experiment)

The question of why corruption is tolerated—and in some cases well known—is a complex one with broad, far-reaching implications. There are many possible reasons, but a key factor could lay in the decline of moral conscience. If values erode and leadership quality diminishes, corruption would tend to rise. Strong, ethical leaders—often the “best and brightest”—help to limit these corrosive effects. We can learn from thought experiments and the insights we can gain from them to avoid future pitfalls.

In our hypothetical, philosophical thought experiment, we see how cross-coordination can occur across multiple levels of authority to harm out-group members while rewarding in-group or “clan” members. This may happen in legal, social, and civil domains, where corrupted actors collude to target individuals who support institutional integrity and the development of stronger societies.

In this scenario, mistreatment becomes systemic and long-term, with certain individuals “protected” by compromised officials with an incorrect lens. Exploitation may take the form of bullying, character assassination, physical aggression, and coordinated misconduct. Victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, and even honest officials can find themselves targeted by the clan network without checks and balances (unwritten social rules).

"The virtue of justice consists

in moderation, as regulated by wisdom."

Aristotle

The effects of such clannism are uneven: some gain opportunities, while others suffer harm. Within this closed “fishbowl,” it becomes evident who may be unfairly benefiting from misuse of institutional resources—and how these benefits often run counter to the community’s needs. The most effective way to preserve corruption is to discredit opponents and use institutions for personal, political, ideological, or social gain.

Rumors and orchestrated mistreatment become standard tools of the trade. Good people—those who contribute to society, serve their communities, and uphold shared values—are dehumanized to enable in-group members to exploit loopholes in the law. Meanwhile, the steady “stream” of corruption slowly erodes the very foundation of a system if it seeps long enough through the mortar.  Loyalty shifts from the broader community and national values to the narrow ideology of the group.

The study below underscores the point: a decline in morality (or “moral conscience,” as we call it) is often a precursor to greater corruption—corruption that ultimately undermines the value and purpose of institutions. We can explore this connection between social and economic aspects of corruption and its impact on the environment. Always updating and improving is part of the solution.

Why Governments Become Corrupt: The Role of Power, Education, and Moral Values

*This is a theoretical, philosopical, hypothetical thought experiment designed for learning. We will write in a positive ending. Take with a grain of salt.

The Role of Artists in Society-Foggy Sunsets

Society must change, and it must adjust—usually with a little push from artists, poets, authors, and philosophers. They have this uncanny ability to look at the world through a different lens, then hand that lens to the rest of us like, “Here, try these on.” Sometimes they help us understand deeper truths, other times they just make us question whether we’ve been looking at life upside down. Either way, they shape the way we think.

The Foggy Sunset Painting:

I’m not exactly the Picasso of our time, but I dabble in art as a sort of mental workout—like a crossword puzzle, but with more paint stains. I try to give away at least half of anything I earn from this hobby. My Foggy Sunset could be seen as a tribute to the beauty of nature, the ocean, and tropical islands. The fog? That’s the ever-changing, chaotic environment we live in. The trees stand tall, the sun still sets—there’s order in the chaos. I only thought of all that afterward, though. You’re welcome to create your own interpretation… even if yours is “This looks like the cover of a bad romance novel.” 😂

Representing social interests
The Wooded Pathway Gallery
It is a virtual gallery.
Foggy Sunset Painting

Research on Emotion and Learning and Memory

What is the Role of Artist in Society?

Foggy Sunset 8x10' acrylic painting

Buying Local Can Improve Economies: The Example of Michigan (And a Small City)

Local businesses play a vital role in retaining wealth within a community and dispersing it more broadly through local supply chains and social networks. As we learned from COVID-19 and other market disruptions, sourcing a portion of goods, food, and essential supplies from local entities strengthens supply chain diversity and resilience. It also increases incomes, tax revenue, and wealth.

Fostering entrepreneurship and growth-oriented businesses not only generates new wealth for communities but also keeps the economy regenerating. Throughout the business lifecycle, a steady stream of new enterprises is essential to introduce fresh ideas and maintain economic vitality.

Economists often refer to this as Creative Destruction—the process by which old businesses are replaced by new ones, driving innovation and growth. For example, small towns like Escanaba and Gladstone have benefited and could benefit more from additional start-ups to capitalize on their growing investment (industry and local) and tourism sectors. A typical creative destruction business journey might begin in a downtown storefront as a start-up, expand into an industrial complex, sell to national and international markets, and—perhaps decades later—eventually close, making way for the next wave of entrepreneurs.

One study found that if just 10% of products were purchased locally in Michigan, it could create 12,000 new jobs and generate $1.1 billion in economic activity. Notably, the study also provided a transparent explanation of its survey methods.

Buy Nearby MI

Daily Press-Study Supports Buying from MI. Retailers

Delta County MI Board of Commissioners Meeting (8/5/2025): Trains and UPSET

Two major points emerged from the meeting: the impact of drugs in the Upper Peninsula (UP) and the potential expansion of Amtrak service.

Amtrak – There was discussion about whether Amtrak might extend service to Escanaba. As a growing hub for tourism, business investment, and distribution—with a deep-water port and cruise ship access—such a connection could be highly beneficial. Making the business case for Amtrak will be essential, and collaboration among communities could strengthen efforts to secure expanded service. (An interesting thought.... do we have the facilities and local skill to draw additional repair or customization? Escanaba & Lake Superior Rail Road Company 💭)

UPSET – Removing drugs from our communities remains a priority. While our towns are picturesque and inviting, we must not overlook the toll drugs have taken on lives, families, and the workforce. Learn about UPSET

You may interested in some drug stats. Human Services Reports Michigan and Beyond the Bubble UP

America's Tall Ship the Eagle: Pictures and History

America’s tall ship, the Eagle, has a history stretching back to World War II and continues to serve today as a floating training laboratory for modern Coast Guard officers.

US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle Official Page

If you haven't already, consider Joining the US Coast Guard

US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle
A picture I took. I try and donate over 50%
of proceeds from the The Walking Path Gallery
for various causes and charities.

US Coast Guard Eagle Mousepad
and other items.

The Story of the Clan: Direct and Indirect Harm (Philosophical Thought Experiment)

Hate-based behaviors have a significant impact on individuals and act as a detractor to fully functioning systems and outcomes. Societies rely on coordination, and hate is a clear sign of direct discoordination. While hate is immoral, it also carries broader implications from a total-systems standpoint. When hate serves as a motivation and corruption becomes the avenue, the combination can produce a range of serious issues.

Protecting the equal weights
of justice helps all of society.
Constitutional protectors through
reflection and thoughtfulness.
The roots of justice are embedded
in the collective unconscious (In theory).

Our focus is on exploring the economic and social dimensions of hate and corruption, particularly in how their distortions—what we might call transactional distortions—can influence high-level decision-making. Such distortions may undermine the ability to address pressing environmental challenges and could ultimately have a broader impact on overall performance.

In our hypothetical, philosophical, and theoretical thought experiment, we examine a “Clan” that has warped the local justice system through social connections infused with extreme bigotry and coordinated hate. A loose association between community members exposing corruption and a broader stakeholder network of Constitutional protectors led to improvements in economic prospects and a stronger sense of community cohesion. In this example, normal patterns of hate and corruption were disrupted by good people acting in the public interest leading to system improvement.

However, official safeguards were absent and poor actors knew how to coach and exploit intentional loopholes to commit misbehaviors/crimes. Victims reported that these misbehaviors were well known to those tasked with administering justice. Witnesses, whistleblowers, and victims were placed at risk to shield and reward perpetrators while maximizing harm toward those who have not given up on the idea that public institutions should serve everyone equally. They are always faithful to what makes us an indivisible people.

Hate-related harm appears to operate on multiple levels, both direct and indirect. Direct harm includes acts such as targeted harassment, breach of contracts, and unlawful decisions. Indirect harm emerges when such behaviors become normalized in unwritten rules—where official values, such as human and civil rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, are recognized in principle but ignored in practice. In such cases, what is said and what is done often differ greatly.

The study referenced below indicates that individuals may coordinate against those they perceive as committing a symbolic offense, reflecting poor intergroup attitudes and negatively impacting employment. This helps us understand how the poor behavior of some can diminish the economic utilization of human capital. The effects are likely far broader than many assume, especially when complacency leads to disregarding victims’ rights or minimizing the seriousness of such misconduct. The symptoms can be covered through corruption but the root issues that led to such problems may remain. Commitment to collective and shared values seems low in our example.

Differentiating Between Direct and Indirect Hate Crime: Results From Poland

*This is a hypothetical, philosophical, theoretical thought experiment to explore what hate and corruption can look like. We can write in a positive ending. Take with a grain of salt.