A blog that explores life and society. Mostly pieces on business, economics, arts and other interests. A place to showcase activities and explore ideas.
Driving around with friends enjoying the natural wonders of the UP before the Packer-Lions game. This land is known for its beauty.
Escanaba is a centrally located place with beaches hiking trails, fishing spots and many more places.
In the winter there is approximately 5 ski hills within an hour and half. Cross country skiing and snowshoe trails.
A few of these I placed in my gallery if your interested in purchasing.
The Walking Path Gallery (Painting and Photos)-Price below.
Improved transportation and shipping make a significant difference. Recently, I ordered an item on Amazon that normally takes five or six days to arrive in a rural area like this, but it showed up in just two days. It was a pleasant surprise to find it sitting on the porch so quickly.
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| (Illustrative Only) Are there ways to enhance local entrepreneurial start-ups and export more products out of the area? Thinking tourism, local manufacturing, custom products, craft culture, Native American arts, etc. A topic for mental exploration. |
Local producers aiming to grow—or even export—need to find ways to integrate their products into these distribution and fulfillment systems, whether through Amazon or other platforms, so their items can be listed and sold efficiently. It is important to get your local business online to sell out of the area; storefronts for foot traffic and virtually for growth expansion.
For overseas shipping, local businesses might need to batch their shipments together to reach international markets. While these are initial conceptual ideas that require further review to see how they work in practice, exploring these distribution channels is an essential first step for local growth.
U.P.’s first Amazon warehouse opens, promising faster deliveries across regionThe Impact of Logistics on Global Economic Development: A Comprehensive Review
Better transportation networks help connect emerging markets to international trade.
Efficient supply chains reduce costs, making products cheaper for consumers.
Logistics investments create jobs in transportation, warehousing, and technology.
Improved distribution helps deliver goods to remote areas and reduces economic gaps.
New technology like AI and automation makes global trade faster and greener.
Khalid, S. (2024). The impact of logistics on global economic development: A comprehensive review. ResearchGate.
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| (Illustrative Only) Ishmaiel knows people are struggling so he isn't going to pass on the costs. He has two hands and two feet so he will make it work. When he sees families struggling he gives them discounts or he trades the kids cleaning and shinning a couple of pumpkins for a free one. Support local businesses. |
University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers
The Index of Consumer Sentiment remained relatively steady in October 2026 at 48.0, registering only a fractional decrease from September but remaining down about 10.4 percent compared to the previous year.
The current economic conditions subindex dropped 8.3 percent, driven entirely by a sharp decline in buying conditions for durable goods due to higher interest rates and affordability concerns.
Year-ahead inflation expectations ticked up slightly to 4.7 percent, and long-run inflation expectations increased to 3.5 percent, both reaching their highest readings since May.
The survey platform, administered by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, continuously tracks consumer confidence, financial attitudes, and spending expectations.
University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. (2026). Surveys of consumers. Institute for Social Research.
The study seems to indicate that art is a social medium that can spark social change. That’s certainly possible. My art isn't necessarily focused on social impact, though—it’s an expression, and I love doing it as a hobby. I encourage others to try it, too. It’s helpful in many ways, and it can help challenge assumptions because it connects directly with people's feelings.
Anyways, welcome to my art gallery. If you like the writing and the art, feel free to show your support or buy a piece! I write and create because I believe it’s helpful for people, but selling a piece makes it even more rewarding and helps fund future work.
While making money isn't the primary goal, selling the art keeps the creative process alive and sustainable. Check it out, and thanks for looking around!
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Art Gallery (Painting and Photos)
$60 for photos (Rights to Use or Printing)
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Aesthetic Revolution: How Art Shapes Social Worlds
Art influences real-world human attitudes, social behaviors, and broad societal change.
The paper combines quantitative studies to examine art's moral, civic, and social impacts.
Impacts are evaluated across civic engagement, gender equality, intergroup relations, and environmentalism.
Viewing art can shift social norms and expand empathy, though some media may reinforce social divides.
Future research must clarify long-term impacts, harmful potential, and overarching psychological mechanisms.
Stamkou, E., & Keltner, D. (2026). Aesthetic revolution: How art shapes social worlds. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 20(e70135).
The latest U.S. Leading Economic Index shows an economy maintaining a steady course, holding virtually unchanged and signaling near-term stability rather than a sharp shift up or down.
While the metric offers a key glimpse into where the market is heading, economists emphasize that it should be evaluated alongside broader economic data. A look into the report’s underlying components reveals mixed signals across key sectors: manufacturing showed signs of improvement, driven by an uptick in weekly working hours, but those gains were tempered by a notable drop in consumer expectations.
Overall, the index paints a picture of resilience rather than rapid growth, pointing to a balanced and stable economic backdrop in the months ahead.
US Leading Economic Indicators
The index was unchanged in September 2026 at 99.6, following a 0.1 percent drop in August.
The index grew 0.6 percent from March to September 2026, recovering from a 1.1 percent fall in the previous six months.
Five of the ten underlying metrics rose, driven by favorable interest rate spreads and longer weekly manufacturing hours.
A sharp drop in consumer expectations offset those gains.
The matching coincident index shows current economic activity remains stable.
The Conference Board. (2026). US leading indicators.
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| (Illustrative Only) When asked what Jack would do for families. "I just want people to get their potatoes to the market and explore their spirtual dimensions freely". Filling ruts and potholes one at a time. Eventually, you will have a pretty good trail; assuming you put your back into it. Jack just says what he believes. Years in the woods gave him independence. 🙃 |
An independent voter might also hope for more time spent explaining positive action plans. A candidate with a detailed vision might focus heavily on sharing their own solutions, helping voters clearly understand how their proposed policies would work in practice.
Finally, an observer might look for signs of collaboration, knowing that passing lasting legislation in a divided government requires finding common ground. Showing a willingness to build consensus across party lines might demonstrate how a leader plans to deliver real results for everyone.
This is part of a hypothetical thought experiment on the 'hypothetical Feather Party' that creates a type of third lens where independent voters loosely collaborate vote without party-line expectations. i.e. a party that is kind of not a party. One might encourage free expression and exploration of ideas beyond party loyalties.
"Society is one word, but many things"-John Dewey
Here are some transcripts for review.
Sumary of Transcript
Michigan U.S. Senate debate featuring candidates Mike Rogers (R) and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (D)
High cost of living, gas prices, grocery inflation, and candidate plans to lower costs for Michigan families
Impact of trade policies, tariffs, and manufacturing job growth vs. corporate influence
U.S. foreign policy toward Iran, national security threats, and the economic impact of regional conflict
Border security strategies, ICE enforcement methods, and legal immigration reform
Healthcare policy options, drug pricing legislation, and potential reforms to the Affordable Care Act versus Medicare for All
According to the report, U.S. business activity continues to expand at near five-year high levels, indicating sustained economic momentum. However, persistent cost pressures remain a factor, prompting companies to raise selling prices and passing higher costs onto consumers. These overall findings align closely with broader economic indicators and reports.
Watching the market....
S&P Global Flash US PMI: Business activity holds close to five-year high
Flash US Composite PMI Output Index dropped slightly to 57.6 in October, marking a two-month low while remaining in robust growth territory.
US business activity expansion stayed close to five-year highs, supported by strong domestic demand, robust employment growth, and an uptick in export orders.
Cost pressures intensified due to rising oil prices, energy costs, and material shortages, leading supplier delivery times to lengthen significantly.
Selling prices across goods and services increased at their sharpest rate since August 2022, signaling continued consumer price inflation.
S&P Global Market Intelligence. (2026, October 23). S&P Global Flash US PMI: Business activity holds close to five-year high, but selling prices rise at sharpest rate since August 2022.
