Monday, May 17, 2021

Retired US Navy Chief Discusses UFO Findings. Congressional Hearing Coming Next Week

This UFO video is interesting. I'm not a UFO guy but of course there is such a thing as aliens and when we explore space more will find more new things we may not be familiar with (Hold judgement 😬). We might find "aliens", life supporting planets, new minerals, etc... The question is in what form? Most would think at a minimum at bacterial or microbial level but we can't be 100% sure until we get out there (or ask one of these things who/what they are?). We must either be 1.) New Earth based technology and/or 2.) Alien in nature. 

The space race is on and it will be important or the U.S. to innovate faster than its competitors and that may require new ways of doing things to enhance development. This technology, whether ours or someone else, could become more widespread and something to develop because we know it exists (Personally I think the triangle shape provides equalized air pressure and minimum air resistance for 360 degree movement. That wouldn't explain the propulsion so that would be something new and likely much more natural and not fossil fuel based or we would have a type of vapor trail emission. It almost like it is using some kind of natural propulsion system through particle attraction-front/repulsion-back. i.e. energizing a side of the triangle through an integrated battery/solar receptor that minimizes density through dispersion of crystals. Honestly I have no idea...I'm just making things up. πŸ€£πŸ‘½ Come on no one knows what these things are yet. LOL πŸ€“ :) What we can say is that if this technology is foreign or alien it hasn't made any effort as of yet to disrupt our lives. What we can say is whoever it appears via the videos that it has advanced propulsion technology (via modern physics) and keep their distance. 

I'm always open to scientific explanation and possibilities until they have been negated in some way through consistent rebuff. Thus I agree with these two speakers that if all and all is true....its something we should get better at understanding of before making judgements. Someone should really design a study to look at all the previous videos, find a pattern in the behavior, and prepare to have better zoom capable video available. With 18K low orbit satellites to be launched in the next few years this will likely give us a better perspective of what going on at various points on the planet (macro view).

Pictures and Video of Pacific Beach Sunset at Pier

 Pictures of Pacific Beach. Beautiful place to explore the beach life. 



Sunday, May 16, 2021

Kayaking and Canoeing in the Western U.P. of Michigan

 Lots of great things to do in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Kayaking season is coming and the weather will be getting warmer. 

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Delta County Firefighters are Motivated by a Sense of Community

Fires can have a devastating effect on families and communities that last longer than when it takes embers to cool. Property damage is one thing but losing loved ones puts the topic on a whole different level. Those who volunteer don't just show up to the parades looking bright and shiny; they also drop everything in their lives to respond to fires, car accidents, and other critical events. In the evenings, while most of us are engrossed in our favorite tv show, a firefighter will have their pagers within arm's length just in case they are called to duty. 


Why do they volunteer even though they may be yawning and rubbing their eyes in the morning? Racing to pummels of smoke in the midnight air to help their communities isn't something most are excited about. It is because these dedicated Americans choose to think beyond themselves to serve their communities in a meaningful way.


Despite the diligence of the firefighting crew, they are often asked to do more with smaller and smaller budgets. Rural fire departments have fewer resources than those in populated areas and must rely on the goodwill of the business community and individual charity to keep their operations functioning. In many cases, communities have no other alternative than to rely on highly trained volunteer firefighters that seek to step above self interest (See Values or Duty)


Volunteer Firefighter Contributions?


Firefighters in Delta County MI.

People believe that firefighting in the United States is conducted primarily by full-time firefighters with fully funded departments. According to the National Firefighters Association out of 1,115,000 firefighters of which 745,000 (67%) were volunteer and 370,000 (33%) were full-time (
NFPA, 2020). The training is the same in Michigan, and sometimes it can be difficult to attract volunteers to get through the courses and gain the experience needed when things get difficult. There is a significant time investment by firefighters.


It makes sense to use full-time firefighters in urban areas because of the demand and cost justifications. However, in rural communities where the geographic regions are large, firefighters must be prepared for all types of emergency contingencies. Volunteers need substantial training and commit significant time to training and staying up-to-date. For example, the volunteers in Delta County, Michigan train often work in environments like the national forest, a speeding highway, homes, urban businesses and/or snow-covered farm fields. 


Why Do They Volunteer?


Volunteer firefighting contribute with a smile on their face. As a dedicated crew, they do a lot with very limited resources. Despite the challenges and danger, they drop everything they are doing and rush headlong back to engulfing flames to save lives and protect property. Why?


The study assessed firefighter intentions and found that they were motivated by "leadership, attitudinal commitment, a strong sense of affiliation, altruism, and a sense of community" (Haski-Leventhal & McLeigh, 2009, pg. 1).


Volunteer firefighters care about their community and want to help out where they can. Certainly, firefighters gain a little recognition by their activities, but it is the inner satisfaction of helping others makes all the difference. They support their communities, and the communities should support and encourage this type of volunteering, among others. It's more than just setting an example for others, it is about walk the talk


The Fire Picture!


Resources are important for any organization, and when they are in scarce supply for first responders, it can create situations difficult situations. Any help from corporations, individuals, or other entities can go a long way in making a difference in the lives of people who rely on these institutions. Delta County Michigan is rural and relies heavily on volunteer help to protect vital infrastructure, property and people. 


When structure fires break out, it often takes all the resources in the area to respond, work as a team and overcome. For example, the picture shows a historic building erected 1881 swallowed in flames while a truck from Ensign Twp. feeds the larger pumper from Escanaba Twp with water! Responding departments include Nahma Township Fire DepartmentEnsign Twp. Fire DepartentEscanaba Township Fire Department, Thompson Township Fire Department, Masonville Twp Fire Dept. and Tri-Start EMS. There are many ways a person can engage in their community and volunteer firefighting is just one.


Author: Dr. Murad Abel


Haski-Leventhal, & McLeigh, . (2009) Firefighters Volunteering Beyond Their Duty: An Essential Asset in Rural Communities. Journal of Rural and Community Development, (4) 2, pg 1. https://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/article/view/400


NFPA (February, 2020). U.S. fire department profile. https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Emergency-Responders/US-fire-department-profile


Photo of a Wooden Ship

A picture of a ship with the ocean in the background you might enjoy. I think if I were to take this photo again I might consider trying to get more of the mast in the picture. While this was done with a cell phone camera it does offer an opportunity to sort of "spot check" a picture and then go back with a more professional camera under ideal conditions (sky, light, waves, etc..). Cell phone technology is likely to continue to grow and develop making cell pictures of higher quality. I'm still waiting on someone to invent a professional camera and cell phone combination. Sometimes you get the best shots when you don't have a camera!

Using Art Commercially

Someone asked if I would paint this picture on canvas for them and I might try to do it for them at some point in the near future. Right now I'm working on testing whether or not custom logos and art will sell well on a mallet head as "special editions". Perhaps I could take an outline of this ship and put it on a mallet headπŸ€” Of course special editions improve branding through uniqueness that can't be copied easily but also allows you to raise money for a special cause or purpose. The other thing that special offerings do is raise the overall value/revenue that can be drawn from a product when that customization is specific and limited (If everyone did it and it was the same its not really customization anymore).

Thinking about this custom idea and manufacturing. A single idea idea can build into product lines, gear, clothing etc... Not saying Escanaba Polo Mallet Co. would be able to do that but it is a business designed to understand road blocks to other businesses trying to emerge on a global market. From a curiosity stand point is possible to turn custom work into a bigger good works business (Teaching others while doing it yourself approach.)? As of yet its a very small start-up and more towards exploring ideas than actually capitalizing on them fully. (FYI---If you want to donate to the orphans through a non-profit check out HERE)


Here is the picture from the side......





Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Consumer Price Index (CPI) Rises in the U.S. April 2021

The Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS) recently released April's Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers that point to increasing inflation. While CIP rose 3.2% over the year the auto industry rose 10% in April. A rising CPI means we will pay more for products and services (specifically imported goods). It can also impact our cost of living and how much we pay for loans, credit cards, mortgages, etc... Furthermore, sometimes inflation can impact exchange rates and in turn influence import and export flow. (I'm not an expert in this area but like to sort of understand how the market is impacted and influenced by changes in the economy and policy.)

In case your curious this is how you calculate CPI. You can learn more HERE.

CPI= Cost of Market Basket in Base Year / Cost of Market Basket in Given Year ×100

You can take a look the BLS inflation calculator HERE and see that $1 in April 2020 is $1.56 meaning your money is worth less (That really isn't the whole story because any number of things can happen in the digital world.) Apparently, inflation can depreciate the U.S. dollar and adjust the currency exchange rate in a way that makes U.S. products cheaper. I think the U.S. has struggled to find ways to counter deflated Yen that makes Chinese exports cheaper (HERE)? 🀷 

What Happened?

In April, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis; rising 4.2 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.9 percent in April (SA); up 3.0 percent over the year (NSA).

What is CPI?


The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services. The CPI reflects spending patterns for each of two population groups: all urban consumers and urban wage earners and clerical workers. The all urban consumer group represents about 93 percent of the total U.S. population. You can get into the details of the definitions HERE.

You can gain additional information on CPI for Michigan HERE.



CPI April 2021 by Dr. Murad Abel on Scribd

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Pictures of Pacific Beach Early in the Morning

Pacific Beach has an awesome walkway along the coast that stretches for miles. In the morning, when the surfers are coming in and the tourists haven't rolled out of bed, you will find a different kind of atmosphere. Early in the morning is when the locals are jogging, getting coffee, and getting ready. You can tell they are locals simply by the clothing they wear and the activities they engage in. 

I thought you might like the picture. My personal opinion is it appears a little gloomy. Maybe with some sun it would be better.  😊