The Producers in Escanaba-Theater and Arts Impacts Your Mood and the Local Economy

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Another production is hitting the stage from Players De Noc, this time at the Bay College Theater (There was a fire a while back in the other theater and they are working on restoring it.)! The cast and crew have worked their tails off to make this happen, so it’d be awesome if you came out to support them. But this isn’t just about “supporting your local theater” (though that’s already a good enough reason). Theater has some long-term perks: it helps youth and others express themselves, builds relationships among actors and crew, and—bonus—can actually boost the local economy.

What...artsy fartsy and the economy? Esky-nomics,

Yes, you read that right. Theater can be good for the economy and tourism. People love to travel, engage in new experiences, check out local arts, and explore interesting places. Tourism in Escanaba and Delta County is growing, which is starting to create jobs and boost revenue. 

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Jeff thinks these...

"Little old ladies
are awesome!

Bravo he yells,
bravo! He
gave thema standing
ovation.

He feels great after
the show. 
Better than coffee!

He bought the sweater
from a store on Ludington St.
Cool businesses and
activities popping 
up all the time.

He saw this
older lady
looking at him
gestering to help
her with something
she got caught in her eye.
Maybe lint or something.🙃

According to the article below in some places people often spend around $50 extra on top of their tickets—maybe grabbing dinner, buying a snazzy new outfit, or making a whole night out of it. Tourists? That’s a whole other story. They stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and spend like it’s going out of style. So theater isn’t just culture—it’s economic development in action.

But here’s the kicker: this show isn’t just good for your community—it’s hilarious. You’re going to laugh so hard your cheeks might hurt, and science (yep, actual research) says that laughing makes you happier, more optimistic, and even encourages spending on fun stuff. So really, by buying a ticket, you’re investing in your mood, your local economy, and your quality of life.

Life can be serious. But maybe, just maybe, we can take a step back, laugh at it a little, and enjoy ourselves. And this is the perfect place to start. The sets are gorgeous, the performances are sharp, and some scenes… well, let’s just say I laughed until I cried.

(Illustrative Only)

Betsy realized how
much fun these ladies
are having and decided
to frequent the
theater more often 
when touring the 
Great Lakes.

She would like to
see more information
on tours and arts
in the area.

She winked a couple
times at a guy
with a nice sweater on
but not sure if he understood.
😬🙃

Don’t miss it. This is a one-and-done deal—so come see it, enjoy it, laugh, and maybe even leave a few extra bucks behind in the community while you’re at it.

The Tickets and Summary of the Show-The Producers!

Tickets are selling quickly, and Players is ready to close the season with a hit. Mel Brooks transformed his 1968 cult-classic comedy into the award-winning musical The Producers, and the cast has been hard at work bringing it to life.

The story follows a desperate Broadway producer and his anxious accountant as they scheme to profit from the worst show ever made. Their plan? Stage a widely inappropriate show, swindle their sweet elderly investors, and hope it all collapses. Naturally, chaos, mishaps, and plenty of laughs ensue.

Show Dates:
March 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee: March 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes early.

Tickets:
Available online or at the Bonifas Arts Center front desk (Tue–Sat).
All performances held at the Bay College Besse Theater.

Support Players De Noc with 50/50 tickets before the show and $1 souvenir buttons during intermission—cash encouraged.

Recommended for ages 13+ due to some mature content. Bring the "checkie" if you want to donate to the Players de Noc Theater.

More info & tickets: https://playersdenocinc.ludus.com/index.php

Facebook Players de Noc

You may also be interested in Bonifas Fine Arts Center

Economic Impact of Tourism in Delta County

Visitor spending in Delta County has shown notable growth over recent years—from roughly $92.8 million in 2021 to $119 million in 2024, which is nearly a 30% increase over three years (Daily Press, Micheau, Data from MEDC Oct. 4, 2025 from).

btw....household income may have rose in 2024 as well locally from a number of reasons of which tourism, arts and sense of community could be a couple of softer influecing factors. Investment, new businesses, etc. are others. 

Economic Value of Arts in One City:

You may be interested in this article The Economic Power of Arts as it describes the additional benefits the art sector may have per trip from visitors. While this informaton relates to Philodelphia it is beneficial to see how some of the benefits of ticket sales and visitors may impact local development.

• Arts attendees in Greater Philadelphia spend about $49 locally beyond tickets; overnight visitors spend about $235 per trip.

• Nationwide, arts and cultural industries contributed an estimated $1.17 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023.

• The U.S. holds a trade surplus of nearly $37 billion in arts and culture goods and services.

• The arts also provide community connection, cultural understanding, well-being, and educational benefits beyond their economic value.

Self Defense for Fuller Fitness and Self Mastery

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Older guy teaching a younger
guy that even just
a finger can be a self defense
tool against even
the strongest person 
 if you know
the soft spots. 

Self-defense is about 
self-mastery not 
ego and bronse. Be
humble, be kind,
be wise, and
learn to de escalate
while holding your ground.

Engaging in self-defense is an important part of overall fitness. We often think of fitness as going to the gym, getting on a bike, or stepping onto a treadmill—but full, functional fitness is much broader. Traditional gym routines often work the same muscle groups repeatedly, while self-defense and martial arts provide varied movement, coordination, flexibility, and functional strength.

I’ve practiced different forms of martial arts for around two decades; maybe a little more. I’m not someone who trains every day, but I weave martial arts into my workouts and visit the dojo from time to time to practice with people I’ve known for years.

Martial arts and self-defense range from simple to complex. Many people choose a specific style and move through structured ranks, working toward belts. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s a meaningful path. Others prefer mixed martial arts, drawing from multiple systems to build a more flexible approach. The key advantage in starting with the basics is discovering which style fits you. Different bodies, personalities, and learning styles excel in different forms.

Despite what you see in movies or long choreographed sequences, most real self-defense is simple and happens in the first 10–15 seconds. It relies on fundamentals: blocking, striking, recognizing soft spots, reacting quickly, and holding your body correctly. Even small amounts of muscle memory—like instinctively raising a defensive guard or using a quick reversal when grabbed—can end an altercation before it escalates.

But the most important part of self-defense is knowing how not to use it. True mastery is the ability to walk away. It’s recognizing that someone else’s anger or chaos is not a reflection of you. Those who lack control—quick tempers, aggression, constant conflict—are the ones easily manipulated and prone to mistakes. Real mastery is internal: staying in charge of your emotions, choosing the right timing, and knowing when disengagement is the smartest option.

Self-defense is a blend of physical capability, confidence, fitness, and self-mastery.

I’m a licensed fitness trainer and open to doing more virtual training. If you’d like tips, a custom routine, or a basic nutrition plan, feel free to send me a message—I’d be happy to help.

You may be interestedin this article below,

6 Benefits Of Learning Self-Defense Through Martial Arts

A Few Nautical Pictures

 Here are a few nautical-themed pieces from my gallery. If you’re interested in any of them, feel free to send me a message. You can make an offer, or I can quote a price based on printing costs. Since the theme focuses on boats and ships, I thought it made sense to share these selections.

I enjoy posting my work so others can see it, and I hope you enjoy browsing through the images. If anything catches your eye, just let me know.

Start of India

Fishing Dock

Sailing Rigging

Bay of Boats

Hate and Narratives Can Distort Perceptions Online (The Story of the Clan)

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True north values
can lead society
through the forest of
windy paths
and competing interests.

We the People Constitution

Let’s think about a hypothetical story called the Story of the Clan to understand how hate and corruption take root. The point is to remind us that society works best when everyone follows the same basic rules and respects the same rights. Those values apply to every person, no matter their race, religion, politics, or background. We all have value and don't let people tell you that you don't.

People who don’t accept those universal values and the inherent value of others often see the world through a narrow lens. Typically they have something to gain by creating limited narratives (Money, influence, benefits, psychological pleasure, power, etc.) Over time, this mindset along with negative focused narratives leads them to dehumanize others. When that becomes normalized in certain groups, embedded false ideas and harmful patterns develop. We start judging people by symbols or labels instead of actions and principles. Two seperate standards form and they are not based on merit. Sometimes if you hold a candle to the violators of others rights one may see the deeper distortions within (The Mirror Theory). 

Lesson: Self and group interest often leads to narrow perspectives and narratives.

Strong communities depend on people who stay committed to core values—doing what is right and respecting others, even when it’s hard. They create social expectations around shared positive values. Not everyone does this, even if they claim to. That’s why shared rhetoric can become extreme and distort decision-making not only for themselves but also for others (The purpose of such projected hate). It is about influencing the masses and not necessarily that which helps everyone. 

Lesson: Communities are created by shared perspective and goals.

In our philosophical learning allegory, The Clan targeted people simply for having different opinions, religion, political perspective, friend networks, and financial self interest (The incentives can be any.). They violated rights, harmed others, and stopped only when they realized they were being exposed—showing they knew it was wrong and didn't have the remorse to see a higher path. They did their best to harm and put the consequences on the victims (Indicating a lack of qualifications for their roles in upholding agreed upon social contracts.).

Lesson: Morality and ethics are unlikely check and balance on hate and hate narratives.

This leaves two possible paths (Not necessarily neglecting the middle). One path is doing the right thing and reinforcing shared values. The other path is ignoring those values thereby creating subjectivity. History shows that the principles we rely on—human dignity, equality, and accountability—were built during the Enlightenment. They were about uplifting people while the darker ages were about putting down people. Narratives are part of that perception and outcomes.

Lesson: Always try and choose the higher more noble path because society needs as many good people as possible that have wisdom and a high level of personal development.

The study below discusses how harmful narratives spread. People can use their influence to push ideas that gain momentum, much like marketing. These ideas shape choices, behavior, and how we treat others, whether online or in daily life. We can send good, bad or messages in between. Be conscious of the story you share with others and ensure they reflect your values and were thought about. In other words, don't be a blind flying monkey for someone elses values that may not be beneficial for society, your honor or for your soul.

Lesson: Consciously think about what values you would like to spread and share. They will define you.

That’s why we need a “true north” moral compass. Individuals and communities must continually return to core values and pass them on. No person or institution should be allowed to undermine them.

Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.- Confucius

Exposure to hate in online and traditional media: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of this exposure on individuals and communities

• The study reviews how exposure to hate content in online and traditional media affects people and communities.

• It includes 55 studies with 101 measurable effects published up to December 2021.

• The review examines effects on attitudes, relationships between groups, behavior, and psychological well-being.

• Exposure to hate content is linked to more negative views and stereotypes about targeted groups.

• It reduces trust between different social groups.

• It is associated with higher victimization, more hate speech, and some increased offline violence.

• People exposed to hate content often show more hateful behavior in online comments.

• Exposure is linked to lower psychological well-being, including more depression and less life satisfaction.

• There was no clear evidence that exposure increases support for hate content or political violence.

• There were too few studies to analyze effects on political beliefs.

• Authors conclude that hate exposure in media has several negative impacts and more research is needed, especially on political outcomes.

Madriaza, P., Hassan, G., Brouillette-Alarie, S., Mounchingam, A. N., Durocher-Corfa, L., Borokhovski, E., Pickup, D., & Paillé, S. (2025). Exposure to hate in online and traditional media: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of this exposure on individuals and communities. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 21(1), e70018. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.70018

*This is a philosphical, hypothetical, thought experiment so take with a grain of salt. We will write in a positive ending but are exploring some of the darker side of hate and corruption. Feel free to change the narratives, elements, and your conclusions. There is no right or wrong but only that you have taken a moment to think about it. 

Protein Muffins Recipe (Camp Cooking)

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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

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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.