Should We Try Something New in U.S. Military Ship Building?

China has stronger capacity then we do building ships and we haven't yet made the commitement to strengthen our full industrial base. There are good ideas out there that can might be able to increase innovation (theoretically) and provide another location to build small and midsize ships (at least support it if nothing else). The issue isn't that we can't build the ships but haven't come up with a good strategy on how to make that happen. 

To me, creating innovative clusters that fosters the development of needed industries rapidly is important. Its a theory that has been floating around (pun intended) for a while but the fish haven't bitten (another good pun). Also there are locations that such theories could be tested because they have a deep sea port, rail, airport, complementary ship manufacturing nearby (this cluster might have slightly differen skills), metal stamping, an older base with import capacity up the road, and a high quality of life that can attract engineers and designers (not to mention entrepreneurs that can seed new product lines). 

Even if you don't build large ships there are smaller amphibious opportunities that would make sense with robotics, AI, and other new technologies. Build the ships or build the things they will carry. Either way build baby build!

If you haven't noticed while I'm a critic of many things I'm not a critic of our military (differentiating enhancement vs. criticism). They do the best in developing people that I have seen and they act with honor (only a few other institutions have a strong honor code.). Something others should learn from them. Anway... let us see if we take the steps toward revamping the industry. 

Dwarfed by China in shipbuilding, US looks to build its defense base

Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting 12/3/2024: Change, Aiports, Veterans and Plasma!

This meeting was a little more interesting than most as it moves through emerging technologies, airports, veterans and change. The discussions moved into depth and explored ways in which you can change some of the meetings and participants to support certain functions. Some of these issues are pretty important and you can watch a small town reorient to the market and find greater footing. Some of these opportunities like trash, airports, energy, etc. could set whole new courses in addition to previous investments in the wood industry and uptick in tourism.

-Airport adjustments. There was some discussion on making the airport larger and more of an import for tourism and larger planes. It looks like there will need to create some adjustments legs in that growth.

-Help for Veterans and others. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education

-Green Energy Plasma Gasification. No cost, emerging technology, global market need, etc.. Looking at Delta County because of the deep water ports and rail system. Discussion on energy but this might be able to be mitigated by solar and renewable energy which has been discussed in other venue. Some discussion on MIT research. Penwin Industries Iron Mountain

Things are changing and you can sort of sense that. I'm not sure if I'm qualified to have opinion. (So far this board seems to be moving forward. There are others out there who feel I should not have an opinion and have no clue what I'm talking about. Even a little rude about it.)  I would say that building the best community you can with reasonable economic and quality of life growth is possible with discussions like these. Its about the small changes and adjustments that leads to long term strategic positioning in the market (I'm not sure if that makes any sense but it does to me.)

The Mental Models of Decision Making-Alternatives and Long-Term Choices

 Mental models describe the world around us and sometimes they are accurate and sometimes they are inaccurate. Much of that depends on intelligence as well as emotions. Intelligence allows you to differentiate the factors that go into decision making while emotion allows you to create trajectory/motivation. Both lead to a mental model. This is why IQ and EQ are related for long term success (Depending if the environment allows that or not). 

Let me give you two examples of which one is business and the other more everyday stuff. 

1. Business Example: A business wants to grow but needs resources. Other business owners are spending alot of their money to look successful. They brag, buy expensive things, compare, etc. Their decisions and choices on what type of business to start are based in their capacity to understand the market as well as their emotions on dealing with their success and failures within that market. Long-term it is those who can understand how their emotions impact their choices and who have the intelligence to make decisions based in evidence and strategy for the long term that are most likely to succeed.

2. Everyday Example: You start dating someone and they expect that you don't hang out with certain friends of the opposite sex despite having been friends with them for years. The person has pushed their insecurities onto the other person and is willing to stretch some of the truth to manipulate and justify those feelings. Instead of getting into a boundary battle you just sort of bow out politely knowing that things are deeper than you understand. The other person feels rejected and starts getting people involved and you respond with silence on the topic (people are going to think what they want...that is life so get used to it.) While you can't control others emotions you can do what is best.

It might not seem like it but the choices we make are part of who we are and they come to define us. Our IQ allows us to understand the different pieces of the environment. Over the years you have built a way of looking at these things and the weaknesses other people and yourself hold. The short term choices become less of a concern when compared to the long term outcomes. 

The models we create of our environment allow us to predict the environment. When we are more accurate we will make better decisions. Hard work equals reward/no reward, honest equals integrity/no integrity, spending resources wisely leads to success/non success, etc.. Thus, using strategy based on updatable models and checking in with how one feels about those choices helps us make short term decisions that lead to stronger long term results.

Whether you are working with business or personal matters we use models to understand our environment and our IQ and EQ mitigate some of our choices. 

2 Mental Models For Intelligent Decision Making—By A Psychologist

Dehumanization and Normalization of Instrumental Aggression

Dehumanization is dangerous and where it has been accepted as normalized practice to achieve goals like money, social infuence, and other objectives you will find coassociated corruption and other misbehaviors. However, awareness of the problem doesn't always bring forward solutions when there are clear differences between the perpetrators and the victims. 

I came across the experiment below and have been exploring the concept of dehumanization. To better understand I utilized a thought experiment of a socially connected group with influence over some institutions raging against religious, political, and racial affiliations. Most people are good but collectively they have taken on some bad behaviors to please each other's sense of superiority and moral rightness (deflection of perpetrator responsibility).

What the thought experiment found was that dehumanization is normal in some groups and generally is non-enforceable when there are differences between decision makers and victims. This is why we have seen in history and in some places wholesale abuse of populations to ensure that certain people benefit. Justice and backstops in these places were limited and quickly folded to the narrative (part of the normalization and legalization of hate process). 

We can look back in history to find these examples and they do show up from time to time on a larger scale. What we haven't found is a way to draw people together and limit its effects. Sometimes laws are used more as a tool for poor perceptions (technicalities) versus their designed intent (justice). It is helpful to understand the underlining mechanics to help populations around the world who have been dehumanized by hate. 

Despite that most people are good but are caught in those narratives and look to each other for guidance on how to treat some members of society. While we can't do much to change that we can understand and in our own small way use critical thinking to encourage a slightly better world. Will it have impact? Well dehumaniation continues on in societies around the globe. We can try and teach about a better way but that only works when others are willing to learn.

I wonder if there is any advantage to accepting hate, stop bringing forward a counter truth no one listens to or defend yourself from toxic souls by what has been normalized? Accept in full spirit what you are and what others want you yo be.  Embrace open arms different laws and social rules for different people. There might be a type of power in acceptance.  🤔

Dehumanization and Instrumental Aggression

Understanding the Gifted and How to Maximize Their Contributions?

Understanding the gifted and how they think is very different than understanding the general population. You can consider reading the Three Ring Conception of Giftedness that includes intelligence, task commitment and creativity as aspect of giftedness. The depth of capacity to understand is higher but also comes with deeper awareness of the environment (Its benefits and disparities). 

I have been thinking about this population lately and how we can take their fruits they produce and put it to good use while respecting their right to develop. The environment seems to limit their opportunities for contribution. That also could mean lost knowledge on a widespread scale. 

How does one maximize the benefits of the gifted? What role does the environment play?

Escanaba Christmas Parade 2024: Each Year More Fun and More Cheer!

Escanaba Christmas Parade gets bigger and bigger and better and better every year! This is a town where you can really feel the Christmas Spirit! Considering it's a few weeks before Christmas you might want to take a mini vacation and enjoy the festivities. 

Don't forget to donate to Toys for Tots. Daily Press Toys for Tots

Police, Firefighter and EMT Recruitment

Police, Firefighter and EMT recruitment is difficult and it is helpful to think of ways to attract new candidates so to encourage the most positive influence on society. Its important to keep institutions staffed with the most qualified people we can find and thus thinking about ways to attract that diverse talent is important. Serving one's community and nation can take many different forms (military services is one of the highest instutions but law enforcement, EMT, firefighter and volunteering are also imporant. Heck! Even writers/poets, artists, and critics have a place in it all! If your going to create then create good stuff.). Engaging full staffing and functioning of police, firefighter and EMT work has a direct impact on the lives they serve (It's a tough job and it can take its toll on people.). Finding ways to attract the quality talent such institutions need will lead to adaptability and development in the long run.

We are also going through a transition in the country and some of our institutions. This is the time for people with ideas to get involved. I like to talk about the best and brightest and ensuring those with the skills to do this work are exposed to the opportunity to put those skills to practical use for the public and for themselves. We need to develop additional pathways for people to get involved.

Much of the development is going to be about sharing these postitions to potentials widely and others about changing perceptions. Qualified candidates can be limited. Few have all the answers but one thing is pretty certain...we need to start rethinking some of our approaches so we can help such institutions flourish (i.e. exceed public expectations).

You can get a pretty good understanding of the current labor market and employment at BLS Economic News Releases. Labor market pressures have eased a little but the difficulties of recruitment is likely to continue. This could mean that there may be a slightly larger pool of available workforce but taking the cream from the top is a different matter. 

I have heard that there are people who are interviewing for positions but don't come to those interviews prepared, dressed descent, and ready to take on these important roles. The quality of candidate might be an issue sometimes so we might need to consider finding new recruitment strategies. Good qualty candidates, diverse backgrounds, and high commitment to community outcomes. Attract people who want to help others.

A few ideas:

-Create a list of places to post job openings. Spread broadly and organically if possible. Create a community affair out of it so people can encourage the young and others to get involved. (Since I talk about Escanaba you can see that they have some open positions so feel free to apply or share among your networks that are interested in working in this field.)

-Contact colleges and see if future graduates are interested in the positions.

-Build a mini course to find out who wants to learn about these jobs (i.e. free/cheap basic skills training that introduces young people from the public to needed skills on being safe but might also introduce to them policing, firefighting, EMT as a possible course.)

-While you might not always be able to pay more you can improve working conditions, perks, benefits, etc. (Maybe the community could create a first responders dinner/club card where local businesses provide 10%+ off to active public servants. Seems like a silly idea but it also introduces these public servants to their community at the check-out counter, restaurants, activies. That could lead to stronger relationships, community support, etc. Its a way for the community to say "thank you" knowing that such people put themselves at risk for others. Ideas are just ideas but sometimes they lead somewhere.) 

-I like the idea of recruiting veterans. They have the ability to stay calm under pressure, been in harm's way, and can understand the command structure. They are also familiar with the type of training. 

BLS Information

Take a look at the BLS and the information they provide because this will give you a lot of information on the occupational requirements. 

Police and Investigator BLS Description

$74,910 per year
$36.02 per hour
4% (As fast as average)

Firefighter BLS Description

4% (As fast as average)
$57,120 per year
$27.46 per hour

EMT and Paramedic BLS Description  

6% (Faster than average)
$44,780 per year
$21.53 per hour