Has the ‘great resignation’ hit academia? National Innovation Needed

I came across an interesting article Has the ‘great resignation’ hit academia? It appears that many scientist and educators are leaving universities for private business that pays much more. While I do understand their reasoning one must also consider the need to retain such talent within the university systems and enhance their purpose. Without university research we are unlikely to be able to succeed in national development. 

Research is grueling work and there is often few rewards for such efforts. While sometimes research is focused on smaller things like movement of ants they also can be focused on large things like national innovation systems. Red eyed in the wee hours of the morning when you have lots of other things to do isn't easy.

The process of innovation also needs to change. More of the information and research we find should be put into public used so that it can be adapted and changed. Sticking it within a stuffy journal no one reads isn't likely to be helpful (i.e. put in journal, put in paper, put in blogs, put in etc...Just keep the journal as the main deep source that businesses/people can pay for to get the details of the study. Good for them and good for everyone else. Probably increase their revenue.). I have a DBA so its all about finding industry application (Sometimes my research seems unimportant but it does have value and my someday be important. For example, developing a pool of research funds by cluster members designed to enhance a cluster system and the development of multiple cross industry fertilizations. That can be matched with participating governments, businesses and local stakeholders to ensure certain activities are occurring. i.e. finding small investors with some capital and connecting them with real estate, grants, banks, etc... and encouraging those investments that help larger local industries through improving the longevity and livability of an area. I know I know!!! Its stupid idea unless you came from an Ivy league university or are "connected" to key members of society in some way. We then wonder why we are struggling as a nation? 🤔 )

We might also change the structure of research by 1. ensuring more funding through industry-university collaboration and 2.) developing more broad use of research. 

In the first case researchers need more money, income, resources, staff and tools. Underfunded research that must fill out volumes of paperwork for pennies isn't going to help much. It slows everything down. (I volunteer firefight and have been fighting for a grass truck for every. Red tape everywhere!) Waiting, waiting, waiting......

Secondly, we should allow the data diggers to go deep but also have a place for generalists that can apply that research across broad areas. For example, taking something that seems useless like ant movement and then applying that to the development of human neighborhoods, cities, and purchasing patterns. Innovation isn't in a silo but does need someone to make the connected between things that don't seem to relate. See Generalist vs Specialist

We talk about being an innovative nation and then live by the same social, economic, and political structures. Why not change what makes sense? Perhaps we are just stuck in our old ways all the way to second best. At some point we should probably just stop talking if we don't really want to change things when we know some tweaks are likely helpful. 🤷

Selfishness: What is Wrong with Us? (Philosophy Never Truly Wanes in Its Explanations)

I think back over the years and the people I know and I have seen very good people taken advantage of by people who are extremely selfish. When you question them everything seems to get escalated. At the end of the day all their activities bank in their favor and there are no exceptions (There never is unless they risk losing something). There is no reasoning with this level of inconsideration. It does open a can of worms about what we really value in society beyond what we say to please others; what is the essence of a man's (woman's) soul? 

Our legal structure should start thinking more about values and why its not acceptable for some people to force their will and needs on other people. Saying "no" shouldn't end in all types of atrocities. It is those people who stand up for something greater that are better for society but often they are swept aside for convenience and the loudest voices in the room. We are all too willing to accept the lower in replacement of the higher.

Takers will always be takers I guess (givers are probably always givers 🤷). You can't change that. The only thing you can do is stand up and provide support for those struggling. They must make the decision to enforce their boundaries but we should be there to help them when they do and encourage them to think about the best paths forward. Beyond simple words of encouragement our legal structure must do more to ensure we are following some basic rules in society and not giving the upper hand to the profane. 

It sounds a little jaded I guess but I suspect around 60% of people are on the self consumed side. 20% are seriously selfish and will stop at nothing to get things they want. 70% of people aren't generally selfish as long as the stakes are low and the gains are little (It seems like the percentages don't work but they sort of do because they are different ideas.). 5% of people would willingly commit genocide if they were going to be praised for it. Perhaps 10% have deeper values beyond lip service and less then 1% are moral lions. 

In our modern legal system its all about secondary things such as attorneys, social standing, money and influence (🤮). Many of our societal leaders have displayed the same selfishness with the lives of others and thus we can expect little difference from the general population that emulates these behaviors (We say we have values but people intuitively know that there is selfishness involved in most decisions. We are are hardwired to know genuine from disingenuous. Most of us don't listen to that inner value system/voice.). 

We have to change the legal structure and the type of leaders we choose to reorient our society toward pro-social outcomes and the value of human life. I scratch my head at the ignorance as some people giggle at how "idealist" I am. Yes...I'm probably a fool to think there should be basic rules and people could be better then they are. 

Such values could lead to a higher functioning society across multiple venues such as business, social cohesion, human development, international influence, and economic growth. (Depends on how you define the term fool and how much you understand the interconnected nature of society and how economics and neuroeconomic choices are related to values and perceptions both engrained and culturally learned from one generation to the next. Cottage of a Thousand Years.). 

Beyond the legal structure we should start thinking about who we are as a society and what type of leaders we want to promote. People who walk when they do bad stuff and leaders who always want to win at all costs (Even if it destroys society). It becomes a value thing (We find this in just about every society but some have the capacity to limit them through the power of institutional support.) Its a societal issue, something engrained in us, and we are unable to shake it (Why we create a legal structure in the first place when the first codes were written.). The better society we build the more likely we are going to develop positive values and greater alignment between actual value of people and their rewards.

A couple of interesting quotes that many would find worthless....

“Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live.” – Socrates

“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” – Plato

“Wait for the wisest of all counselors to judge you . . . time.” —Pericles

Bison Attacks Woman in Yellowstone Park: Avoiding a Bison Attack

 A report came out that a 25 year old woman was attacked by a bison at Yellowstone National Park. I'm not going into the gory details but let us say that she didn't make it. It is helpful to think about how wild animals not in a petting zoo are not safe to be close to unless you are experienced and understand their body language. The warnings have a purpose. 

I'm a nature lover and have spent a good portion of my time in nature. I plan on spending even more time in nature doing things like hiking, hunting and other outdoor activities. Here is the tweet below.

HEADS UP!

A 25-year-old female from Grove City, Ohio, approached a bison to within 10 feet on the morning of May 30, 2022.

Details at: https://t.co/wh2lC3YCGa pic.twitter.com/JZsp0Ox8MQ

— Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) June 1, 2022

Nature is a big part of where we need to go so it is helpful to start supporting our parks and wildlife for a healthy and stronger ecosystem. You can donate to Yellowstone National Park 

I watched this little video. It is almost the same as avoiding a bear attack. 😶

Ukrainians May Need to Change Strategies to Maximize New US Weaponry

Ukraine is being hampered by better Russia supplies, larger troop deployment and longer range artillery.  While they have done well with their smaller numbers the concentration of Russian artillery attacks appears to be punching holes in the Ukrainian defense network. While you can understand the imbalance of power there may be a few things needed in addition to longer range artillery/missiles so as to limit Russian troop strength.

1. Better weaponry that puts Russian artillery on the defense. Forces them to move pieces and protect them better because range and hiding behind troops won't be their safety zone. 

2. Create kill zones where concentration of power isn't seen until Russian troops are into those zones. Catching them off guard and slowing up movements. It can have a psychological effect if some troop formations are coming back defeated (Use the defense advantage).

3. Reach out and do limited sortie attacks on Russian positions to ensure they are expending some of their efforts in defense vs offence. If you find a hole hit it very hard and make them commit troops to its defense. One might be able to withdraw quickly without getting into major battles unless the defense breaks and you can reverse momentum.

4. As a last resort consider mercenary fighters for holding positions, distractions, and supply lines. Its risky because they don't always want to leave and there isn't as much control or professionalism. However, with the right kind of support they can be helpful. Perhaps forces managed by Ukrainian officers (unless other trusted international officers are present.)

5. Continue to create pressure on Russia economically, politically, and morally. 

6. Provide ample support supplies of food, rations, clothing, blankets, etc... to ensure high morale of Ukrainian troops. 

A couple of interesting articles.....

Those American Rockets Ukraine Has Been Begging For? They’re Perfect For Shooting Russian Artillery.

Russia says U.S. adding fuel to the fire by supplying rockets to Ukraine; fighting rages in Donbas

Just a few ideas that might be considered. This is about as strong as equipment as we can send even when we limit their capacity. So ground and artillery strategy must be coordinated to force a retraction of some troops. They shouldn't be able to commit all of their troops to the field without considering defense and there should be times when their troops are bested through kill zones. Their artillery should be forced to move around. Matched with anti tank and heavy armor they might be able to do a reversal. Typically those defending have advantages but it comes with a heavy toll to the infrastructure. 

70 Kids Helped from Sex Traffic: Silence was their Tormenter!

Homeland security recently recovered 70 children. I find it deeply saddening that people can take kids and exploit them at the age of 10 for their own benefit. Many of these kids come from deeply disturbing homes and they have no choice but to run. At the end of the day it is others who pick them up and exploit them more leaving a trail of shattered trust (They have no where to go and no where to turn.).

 When they grow up we may find many of them in prison and that is a perpetuating problem. We are so accustomed to school violence, exploitation, and targeting kids for personal gain that there are few to no rules. Rules are on the legal books but not in our collective conscious. It is all dependent on who sees, who reports, who follows up, and who believes these things are wrong. 

I have never quite understood how seemingly ( I can only say seemingly because it is not my place to judge the depths of a soul, where it has been, or its distortion.) souless people can do whatever they want without facing personal remorse. It is also souless that we often turn a blind eye to such behaviors and don't get involved when a phone call could have changed everything. For these 70 kids it might have.

 Read the article ....

HSI El Paso locates, recovers 70 missing children in multi-agency operation

I find it somewhat confusing that somewhere in our society we have deemed these behaviors "ok" by default by not saying anything. You can't tell me 70 kids disappear and no one sees anything. The parents are almost never held to account, people line up to exploit, and very few actually stand up to stop it. I think we owe our nation's kids more than silence.

This is central to law enforcement. It isn't pandering to certain politics, friends, groups, races, or religions. It is to protect and serve the population. Our children are more sacred then all the oaths we pledge. When they go after people like this I'm 100% in support of law enforcement. The intentional targeting of children here, lone gunman or "super cool" people should never be accepted in our society (Each has their own tool and solution.). It is we who decide whether to accept such behavior or not.

If you have seen something...make a call, fill out a complaint, do something. 

Requesting Supreme Court Personal Phone Records: Not a Normal Situation

There are some concerns about requesting law clerk phone numbers. Let me say that this isn't a normal situation. Someone took half written papers and dumped them into the public for political purposes (This is not a pro choice or pro life argument). That is a fundamental violation of the sacredness of the court and a serious moral hazard that undermines the institution itself. That has serious implications beyond the abortion issue that could potentially impact every American.

It is important to remember that simply choosing because one's beliefs to undermine our system and then try and manipulate the public is dangerous. This would seem similar to situations such as espionage where information is taken and misused to create harm (Some might not see it as harm depending on their values but it is a breach of trust. Keep in mind if it is another situation and argument could someone then do something similar such as gun rights, accused, citizens, etc...pick an issue.). 

The court must maintain its independence and while the intent was to influences the judges and create pressure on them it also let that information be known to other government and people's (Its not the way we handle conflict and differences.). It seems to cross a few boundaries between rule violating and leaving the country and its contentious issues open to outside manipulation/influence (It may or may not be the technical definition but the person has eyes out for sensitive information, willing to take it and use it to create chaos. Seems that way anyway.).

Now an argument has been brought up that concerns the rights of these Ivy League clerks and their rights (Their school doesn't really matter. I'm just upset I wasn't born rich or given these opportunities. Sometimes there is a feeling of entitlement that comes with them. I actually like those schools! 😬😤). While I'm not an attorney, not from an Ivy League, and/or have anything to provide beyond an opinion I would say that the focus should be focused specifically on this issue (i.e. meaning if someone didn't pay a parking ticket, cheating on their spouse, or smoking in the bathroom they should be ignored and discarded. A type of immunity for those things that are not related. Perhaps a trusted few can read them and then seal them. They only want want is directly related.)

That also brings up an issue as it relates to elitism in the country. I think we should start picking some of the clerks form non-elite schools where the vast majority of Americans attend (Its a completely different perspective when you have to struggle and make choices over limited options.). We want to ensure that the Supreme Court and those that work within it are connected to the pulse of the nation and one way to do that is to also ensure that the people who work there going forward are diversified in background, education, income and opportunity (i.e. let the best and brightest come forward and not the most "connected". Just saying.💁)

What is your opinion....

1.) Do you think it was right or wrong to take information and send it into the public?

2.) Would you trust others if you are afraid information and papers are going to be copied and taken?

3.) Would a person who violated reasonable/just rules be qualified with the nations secrets and potentially someday possibly be a supreme court judge?

4.) Does your pro choice or pro life belief impact your perception of the situation?

🤷

The article.....

Exclusive: Supreme Court leak investigation heats up as clerks are asked for phone records in unprecedented move

Early Morning Rowing: Feather or No Feather

 It wasn't as bad and I thought. It was tough getting up in the morning but people showed up just as the sun was going up. I'm a little rusty and haven't done feathering before. By the time I was finished I had the basics. More people were yelled at then me but I was sort of pushing the boat and was told to slow down a little and stay in alignment with the guy in front of me. There was someone in the bow that was moving around too much and putting their ore into the water too far so it was making the boat feel a little unstable. They didn't seem to catch on they were doing it and I'm way too new to say something. I do think the guy in the small boat next to us mentioned it.  Either way.....I didn't fall in nor did not make any major oooppps. My form was still a little off but this was the first time on an 8 man boat so whatever!!! I'm bringing my cap next time to keep the sun from beating down on me. Feather or not.

Much less cardio at the gym today. Maybe just a half hour and weights.

BTW it gets hot quick. By 8 am it was like 80 degrees. 

Boat House: Lots of early mornings.

 Keeping it on the light side. I went down to the boat house. Very cool. Lots of early early AMs coming around. The mornings are when the water is the calmest and the weather is the coolest. Sometimes in the afternoon it is 85-90 degrees and a little choppy. 

They Answered the Call: A Call For Something Greater Than Themselves (Memorial Day!)

There are some who answered the call and there are those whose ears will always be deaf. The believers in Democracy stand united against those who hope for her to fall. Whether threats be foreign or domestic it is they who have the highest honor and live by a Code of Chivalry. It is they who ring the Liberty Bell. (Other Reading. Points in History, Mount Soledad, Regan Defense, Military Warriors , Sacrifices of Society) The best and brightest have sacrificed their lives for the rest of us!

Happy Memorials Day!

Another great motivating video....

Rowing: Son and I Giving it a Go@!

My sons are college students who work part time. Its the American dream! Working and going to school. They take their classes online and have access to other community events and college activities (based in proximity to other universities). One was a competitive highschool swimmer and being 20 years old he wants to try his hand a rowing on a team.

Not a problem. Signed him up for a rowing class with other young college students to get his beak wet in the sport. If he likes it he may be able to get more serious and become increasingly competitive. It is a great outlet that keeps him focus on school and socializing with fitness oriented sports players of the same mindset. Many of his friends went off to jobs or off to the military.

Perhaps I can convince him after college to enroll as an officer. Let us see what happens!

I did a little rowing and my skills are rusty. I wasn't that good and I didn't really keep up with it but I will be down there meeting some of the rowers, coaches, and mentors. I guess with the few classes I took prior I can skip the entry level stuff (At least that is what they told me. Not sure if that is going to be any truth to that.).

Either way we will being doing a little bit together and I will practice with him. At some point I will probably get in a dinghy and be the coxswain. He is used to me yelling at him already but perhaps this time with a speaker.  😏

I watched this video to refresh on my basics......