Auto Extrication for Firefighters: B Post Blowout or Full Side Removal (Firefighting Techniques)

Watching videos like these helps build practical, hands-on knowledge. From time to time, firefighters must extract victims from vehicles, and the Jaws of Life are a critical tool in those situations. Because vehicle designs vary widely, knowing how and where to cut can make a significant difference in how safely and efficiently someone is extricated. The more you learn, the more you know, the more help you are and the more lives saved.

I especially like this video because it demonstrates how to remove an entire side of a vehicle when necessary. This approach can be essential when the door frame has been crushed and standard openings no longer function as intended. While some people have extensive experience with these tools, it’s important for more individuals to learn how to use them effectively.

Consider getting involved with your local fire department. One department is bucking the trend of declining participation and has attracted many young volunteers, while others continue to struggle with recruitment. IIt could be a model. If you’re interested in supporting a fire department in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in obtaining an updated electric set of Jaws of Life, please reach out to the right and I will point you in the right direction. Donations are tax-deductible.

Ethical Leadership and Institutional Performance (Example 1: The Clan and Example 2: Organizational Performance)

 Leadership and sound judgment play a critical role in the development and performance of organizations and institutions. Every organization operates with defined goals and directives, often formalized in a mission statement. That mission should serve as the guiding framework for decision-making at every level. The quality of leadership—and its genuine commitment to that mission—has a direct impact on employee performance and organizational outcomes.

Joe recommends
a few good books
for those who want to 
develop leadership traits
and build strong organizations
 and institutions.

It is worth considering whether poor employee performance often reflects a lack of leadership commitment to the stated mission. This applies equally to private companies and public institutions, including those responsible for justice. Where there is a deep, shared commitment to core values, performance tends to be higher. Where that commitment is weak or inconsistent, performance usually suffers.

Consider two examples.

Example One:
An organization needs to compete in the global market but consistently misses its growth projections due to poor leadership and nepotism among elite circles. Favoritism and unethical behavior send mixed signals, leaving employees uncertain about expectations and priorities. In such an environment, it becomes difficult for individuals to act in ways that advance the organization’s mission. Establishing clear expectations, reinforcing ethical standards, and rewarding merit-based performance aligned with the mission would likely improve outcomes.

Example Two:
In a more serious philosophical thought experiment, good officials are forced to work alongside corrupt ones, creating a fragmented and dysfunctional environment. A change in leadership begins to shift attitudes, gradually restoring trust and improving performance for everyone. In this example, a “clan court” held biased views, arbitrarily dismissed human and civil rights, and engaged in backroom agreements that intentionally harmed victims, witnesses and whistleblowers while enriching in-group members. These implicit values shaped an environment in which corruption, bias, and extremism were normalized as long as the targets were dehumanized enough. They were unable to muster the moral conscious to correct wrongdoing.

Representing decorative values.
They sparkle in front of others
but just don't drop one because
they are made of glass.

This is why the phrase “walk the talk” matters. A mission statement must be more than lip service. While the relationship between leadership values and performance is not always immediately visible, it can be studied, measured, and understood. Unwritten norms often override written policies, and sustained leadership commitment is essential for long-term success. Without it, some individuals will inevitably come to believe they are above the mission and above ethical accountability (Some actually may be).

Such individuals will always exist, which is why leadership selection must prioritize ethical integrity and genuine commitment to the organization’s mission. Generally you also also need some levels of checks-and-balances. In both examples, improved performance followed changes in leadership and a realignment of processes around core values.

Mission statements should never be decorative. If they exist merely to look good, like ornaments on a tree, they fail their purpose. Organizations must either appoint leaders who are truly committed to those missions or revise the missions themselves if they no longer reflect meaningful or relevant goals.

The Paradox of Trust: How Leadership, Commitment, and Inertia Shape Sustainability Behavior in the Workplace

Feel free to discard or find your own examples. 

Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert (San Diego)

It was once said, 
"Music is a moral law.
It gives a soul to the universe,
wings to the mind, flight to the imagination,
 a charm to sadness, and life to everything."
Plato

I attended the Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert at the Jacobs Music Center, and as always, the sound was far better live. The arts are something society truly needs more of. Music and dance take years of dedicated practice, and they connect us deeply to our human nature.

The choreography was strong, and there was a spectacular fouetté solo that really stood out. The Jacobs Music Center is spectacular in its design. 

You can find more information on the Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert on their website.

More broadly, connecting to our historical and cultural roots matters. Every culture has its own forms of dance and artistic expression, developed within social settings for a reason. Understanding their deeper purpose helps us appreciate how humans have long used art to express, relate, and connect with one another.

San Diego Symphony

Imagining the Middle: Can a Third Party Improve Decision-Making?

 Let us consider a third option from a philosophical standpoint. Imagine a hypothetical “Feather Party”—a party that does not currently exist and is best understood as a mental exercise rather than a proposal. The idea is whether a third party, loosely aligned with independent voters, could increase the number of elected officials who do not lean strongly to the right or left, but instead operate closer to the middle. The central question is whether such a party would meaningfully improve decision-making or simply result in wasted votes? It is ok.....argue, counter argue, keep, discard, etc.....or even choose not to think about it at all. But.....

A picture representing
voting what you believe
by your own values.
The feather represents
independent voters 
and their presence.
Illustrative.

If you look at today’s political landscape, many debates are framed as direct opposites. Yet opposing arguments do not always produce the best outcomes. It also can impact the how policies influence institutions or choices on where and how resources are spent. This is not an argument for or against any existing party, but rather for the potential influence of an independent voting bloc—one large enough to tip decisions in either direction and potentially introduce more balance into the process that helps further democratic purpose. In this framework, loyalty to a party label becomes less important than alignment with principles and practical outcomes (You join the party for its decision making matrix and its core universal values.). A party designed to minimize special interest and focus more on understanding what everyday people want. 

I’m not an expert on political parties, so this is meant as an open discussion (I just like to mentally mull ideas.). Some may dismiss the idea outright, labeling it impractical or ineffective—and that’s fine. Ideas can be tested, noted, and discarded if they don’t hold up. This is just a mental exercise and often they are intended to not be perfect so you have to do your own work in thinking (vs. letting others think for you.) Some might argue that the concept makes sense, especially for those who want greater focus on the middle class and the needs of everyday people, without having those concerns overly filtered through movers and shakers. A lean party that offers general guidance to independent voters and independent officials could, in theory, have a positive impact (or not 🤔).

(Sorry, the goal is to encourage one to think about it but not necessarily come to a conclusion unless that is their conclusion.)

There are also clear drawbacks to consider. A third party could split votes from the two major parties, or a group holding, say, 15% of the vote could wield disproportionate influence by tipping policy outcomes. That influence would likely be centered on what the party believes reflects middle-class priorities, shared values, and the needs of the next generation (Assuming they know so they would need a way of processing general sentiment). Political arguments are rarely all-or-nothing, so such a party would need to allow for variation while maintaining general alignment around core principles.

Ultimately, this idea may be good or bad—and reasonable people can disagree. It is a debate and a discussion, not a conclusion. The point is not to declare a definitive answer, but to explore whether it would help in ensuring that the average person’s voice is more fully represented. There is no single “right” conclusion here. The concept of an independent voting bloc introduces both meaningful possibilities and legitimate concerns. In the end, it’s up to each individual to weigh those factors and form their own opinion. No difference if one is for or against. 

A few things I saw below during a quick search. It actually doesn't seem that hard. Legal experts and philosophers each have their own challenges. One compromises the big picture for the details and the other compromises the details for the big picture. Where philosophy and practicality meet you might have a good idea....or maybe not. 😶 Either way vote your conscious.

FEC Party

Political Party Forms

2026 and Beyond: Turning Vision Into Action

Isaac knows that if 
he wants to build his snowshoe
custom shop in 2026
he will need to set some goals. 
With a little capital he
is looking for some small
shop space downtown Escanaba.
He invented a simple way
to bend wood and knows
he can get real leather 
locally. His method
is unique and he wants
to create his start-up and
export. Maybe list on
Amazon and eBay.

2026 is approaching quickly. Each new year brings an opportunity to try new things, create something meaningful, and pursue new horizons. It all begins with you—knowing what you want, taking the first steps in that direction, identifying what’s required, and staying committed until you reach your goals.

The specific goals themselves matter less than having a clear sense of direction and the discipline to work toward them every day. Grit is often the defining factor between success and failure. If you truly want to find a way forward, you will find one. Just start walking in that direction.

Motivation depends on whether your goals genuinely matter to you. Society, friends, work, and culture may suggest what you should want, but ultimately your goals must hold personal value. You have to be willing to stretch yourself and reach as far as necessary to achieve them. (This is why employers should match personal and professional goals as much as possible.)

Those goals can take many forms—starting a business, finishing school, improving your health, or pursuing something entirely different. Everything begins with a vision or yourself or what you want to accomplish. Once you can see what success looks like, you can begin taking deliberate steps toward making it real. Additional tips and guidance follow below in this interesting article.

8 Tips for Achieving Goals

Creating Stronger Systems Encourages the Achievement of Societal Goals (The Story of the Clan: Hate & Corruption)

 What we learn from thought experiments is how systems might function under different scenarios, pressures and conditions. Corruption can be understood as the misuse of resources for illicit gain, while hate divides society and diminishes the rights and dignity of others. The Story of the Clan was designed as a philosophical thought experiment to explore how these forces operate across a range of circumstances in a hypothetical situation—from extreme levels of hate to systemic misuse of power and resources.

A group discussing the central
roots of society.
“What is the essence of life?
To serve others and to do good.”
Aristotle

In the story, the community experiences a decline in both population and economic health. This mirrors what often occurs in places that are poorly aligned with market realities or governed by decision-making that stray from the foundational principles of a healthy economy. When these failures were successfully challenged and new leadership and ideas emerged, the result was improved social well-being and a stronger sense of community. Over time, this renewal encouraged broader-based investment and development—more inclusive than what had existed before.

The story also illustrates how both official and unofficial rules shape the way corruption and hate are handled. In this case, religious minorities were openly targeted, children were harmed, victims were told they deserved mistreatment because of their beliefs, an inner social network spread intentionally false rumors to damage credibility, employment was blocked because of those rumors, and parents were publically mocked by this group for trying to protect their families. Some of the associated members were involved in other misbehaviors in other areas and investigations into those were sidelined. Witnesses and whistleblowers were subjected to fabricated, hate-driven accusations. Ultimately, the system failed to function as expected, creating two classes of citizenship and eroding basic trust in institutions. Giving perpetrators the right to make decisions over others that at their root are illegal, violations of human rights, and grotesquely entitled (They judged the victims from their ethno-centric, religious, political perspective in a demeaning and intentionally harmful way that was more reflective of their issues.). The roots of partial collectivization apparent in the process and the outcome.

These events were not unprecedented within the story. Patterns of tolerated misconduct and group-based wrongdoing had become normalized in some social groups. They have done this for years and take a type of pleasure in spreading false information about others with no respect for other's boundaries. Good officials had to navigate and work around more corrupted ones. The local judge knew these things were an issue but failed to act and in some ways made a backroom deal with those causing the problem. While victimization can be a subjective concept, there is value in examining how openly embraced wrongdoing exposes systemic weaknesses. Failure, when confronted honestly, can lead to improvement—and those improvements can positively affect both social cohesion and economic health. In theory and practice, the two are deeply intertwined; one cannot fully exist without the other. Where you might get small spurts of growth they eventually equalize. 

The story also offers a silver lining by illustrating how such wrongdoing can be challenged. When individuals openly confronted corruption and spoke out against hate, meaningful change followed. It may not be popular but it is necessary. Many involved were both victims and witnesses, and whistleblowers learned that unwritten rules often carry more power than formal ones. Still, ethical officials and community members recognized that long-standing “above the law” behavior was corrosive. It was the collective action of the community that ultimately restored purpose where institutions had deliberately fallen short. They did not solve everything but they moved the needle and installed a higher moral conscious and expectation. 

What this story ultimately teaches us is the importance of placing people in leadership who genuinely understand and uphold shared societal values. One might call this the best and brightest over the most connected. The most connected sometimes have obligations that are not in direct alignment with society or their needs (hence, they were chosen and vetted for those positions for a reason.). There will always be individuals and groups willing to undermine institutions for personal gain and mistreat others if left unchecked. Such behavior imposes real costs on society. When checks and balances are weak or wrongdoing goes uncorrected, social trust and economic stability suffer. It is therefore in our collective best interest to encourage decision-making rooted in shared values—because doing so strengthens institutional trust, social cohesion, and economic exchange.

As a side note those that do challenge wrongdoing have much more value and concern over a healthy society when compared to those who engaged in misbehaviors or silently accept the "rules of the road". Religion, race and other superficial differences have nothing to do with one's true value in society. In a merit based system, which is what any society should strive, those who use such superficial differences are basing their values on things that have little association with performance or their positive impact. People who engage in or allow hate and corruption are not truly doing their duty nor are they helping society. Societies are built from underlining values that creates expectations and it is always important to maintain those values even if some may feel they are not of particular importance. It just is what it is. As you move into the new year think of your values. Think of how your beliefs and votes help to better ensure the right kind of people are entrusted in positions of authority. We all own the future together, don't let anyone tell you different.

*This is a thought experiment so feel to change up the elements and come to whatever conclusion you desire. 

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan Discusses Federal Reserve, AI Jobs and Tariffs

If you’re interested in business, it’s worth paying attention to executives from leading companies, as they analyze markets and economic conditions on a daily basis. In this video, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan discusses several important topics of the day within an interview.

A few key points stood out:

• Independent Federal Reserve: Markets operate with the expectation that the Federal Reserve remains independent, which is critical for stability and confidence.

• AI and Jobs: Young people, in particular, should learn about AI, as it will increasingly become part of their working lives.

• Tariffs: Some tariff-related issues are likely to ease over time.

Overall, the discussion offers useful insights into how major institutions are thinking about economic policy, technology, and the broader business environment.