Live Views of Earth from the International Space Station

When the link comes back up you can watch live views of earth to get a better view of what we look like from space. Images are from the High Definition Earth-Viewing (HDEV) experiment on the International Space Station.

April 17th & 18th 2020 New-Deal Era Art & Music Restoration Fund Raising

New Deal Era mural found on Beaver Island. When I first heard of this last summer I was going to try and come out and help. The item was stored on the Island for many years and was recently re discovered. It is in the process of being restored. Support and be involved in projects that enrich our understand of culture and history.

Closing Technology Labor Gaps with Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act

Congress recently passed the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act and it will likely have an impact on available talent for the science and technology fields as well future university focus. The bill tries to help veterans find new technology and science training opportunities in fast growing and high paying careers. As the economy shifts to an Information Age a need to fuel innovating industries with updated and life long learning opportunities emerges.

What does the bill do?

The bill seeks to gap fill some of the shortages of STEM qualified people in the workforce by promoting and encouraging STEM study among veterans.

Why was it needed?

The technology industry is dying for talented employees and scientists to help push their industries forward. Considering the shortage of such workers in the U.S. and the heavy reliance on recruiting from overseas it makes sense to give veterans new skills to fill these holes. Its connecting a need and resource in the market (low levels of available talent and high quality potential candidates).

Veterans in STEM Careers Act indicates, "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

employment in occupations related to STEM was projected to grow 
to more than 10 million between 2016 and 2026.\1\ In addition, 
in the next 5 years, between 1 million and 1.5 million members 
of the U.S. Armed Forces will leave the military, according to 
the Department of Defense. By a large margin, veterans cite 
finding employment as their most important need when returning 
home."

Taking a fairly large block of people who are transitioning into jobs and helping them blossom makes sense. They are prime for retraining and putting to use their knowledge and skills for national growth. There are new and emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, military capabilities, data security, cyber warfare, technology industries and much more. The broad based applicability of such knowledge is helpful in maintaining national competitive advantages and shoring up those areas that are weak.

and it intends to.....

Address the participation of veterans in STEM 
        fields, including by making veterans eligible for 
        certain NSF programs.
   Direct NSF to (1) encourage veterans to study and 
        pursue careers in STEM and computer science in 
        coordination with other Federal agencies that serve 
        veterans, and (2) submit a plan to Congress for 
        enhancing veterans outreach.
   Require the National Science Board to provide in its 
        biennial report on indicators of the state of science 
        and engineering in the United States any available and 
        relevant data on veterans in science and engineering 
        careers or education programs.
   Require NSF to consider the ability of an 
        institution of higher education to recruit veterans in 
        those institutions' applications to participate in the 
        Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, NSF 
        fellowships and masters fellowships for mathematics and 
        science teachers, computer and network security 
        capacity building grants, and traineeship grants 
        leading to a doctorate degree in computer and network 
        security research.
   Establish or designate a working group in the Office 
        of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to coordinate 
        and develop Federal programs and policies for 
        transitioning and training veterans and military 
        spouses for STEM careers.
   Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to 
        conduct a study on the academic success rates of 
        student veterans pursuing STEM degrees and barriers 
        faced by such students in that pursuit.

You can see from the bill there is an attempt to push up sciences in general as well as encourage science academics to produce worthwhile outcomes. In addition, there is additional emphasis on supporting Doctorates in these fields (U.S. has current shortage). Much of the bill also begins to collect and consolidate information and willful coordination among the actors that recruit, teach, and employ veterans. At its core it formalizes a path that improves the market through helping veterans improve their market position and quality of life.

Serving one's nation can be done in many ways. Military veterans have already shown they are willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect their nation and her ideals. They are equally likely to take up new career training and education opportunities that lead to greater employability down the road. The market is changing and the need to encourage adaptations in the labor pool is also needed to meet the needs of a Data Era.

Universities might also want to consider their responsibility in preparing graduates to take on new fields. It isn't only about getting them a degree and pushing them out into industry. Those days have changed. Institutions of higher learning will need to consider how to continue to serve their stakeholders by helping students become life long learners that come back over and over to update their abilities. The bill may help veterans specifically but also can influence the place STEM has in university programs.

SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 17

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/425/text

Humpback Whale Caught in Fishing Net Video-The Need for Biodegradable Products

The whale is a majestic animal that reflects closely our abilities to clean up the ocean and improve upon our environment. Watching this video you can see how beautiful a creature it is as it swims under water and leaps into the air (I've seen dolphins out there). In this case the netting is stuck to the face causing the animal distress. To my boating friends I would say keep an eye out for this whale and if you see it call the Coast Guard. Sounds like a good discussion this week for my sailing club. You can consider trailing at a significant and safe distance to guide authorities.

I'm a little engaged in the boating community and from what I have experienced about the personalities involved they love seeing these animals survive and thrive in their natural habitats. Once I called Sea World to inform them of an injured Sea Lion limping around in the bay. They do a great job coming out and taking a look at injured sea animals. Sometimes you can send them a videos to look at so they can assess the injury remotely. In the case of my hurt friend it looked as though it was all fat injured and to keep an eye on him.

It does open up the question of the products we use and how they impact our environment. Personally, I believe that as our climate puts pressure on us we will continue to adapt and use cleaner sources of energy, biodegradable products like nets that breakdown after their natural use lifetime, solar power, etc..... We can't really make that happen until the market creates more demand for those products and industry finds cheaper ways to manufacture them (There is a huge market waiting for solutions on a global scale).

As an example, there is a restaurant in Ocean Beach that uses paper straws. Awesome idea but they are not as functional as the damaging plastic ones.  Once a company can produce a straw that functions as good as the plastic ones and are still biodegradable and sell at a comparable price they will have a lot of eager customers in this new generation. It would be irresponsible to not switch with everything being equal. 

Aligning Curriculum to Industry Needs for Market Ready Graduates

There is much debate in higher education where we plan to go to ensure our curriculum is meeting marketing growth opportunities. We presented these findings to colleagues in the industry at IACBE. On a national scale if we were to create a way of aligning education to industry needs, while not neglecting the mind broadening purpose of higher education, I think it would improve overall supply of technical and intellectual skills available within the market. Greater pools of talent can better match growth opportunities as companies look for qualified workers.
 

Rock Climbing for Upper Body Strength

Rock climbing is something I have been getting into lately. There is a goal in my mind  to achieve 5 years down the road.  A mound of stops from A to Z due to the extreme conditions like oxygen depletion and freezing wind that can knock you off of a mountain. In my experience, setting goals is one of the best ways to get in shape. In this case my upper body strength will need to improve for extended periods of exertion. I cannot think of a better sport for muscle building than rock climbing.

From a technique standpoint you can see that this person has experience and skill. He is trying to get as flat as possible against the wall in an effort to limit energy waste and falling. Indoor rock climbing gyms are great places to practice as you start easy and build to higher levels. The video shows the climber getting stuck and unable to reach the next level where he can secure a better grip and leverage.

The amount of body strength needed is amazing. Legs are your primary and your arms are your secondary support. There is almost no way to use only upper body strength for that long of a time. Even when you are experienced the body reaches its limit as seen by his muscle shake. Can't get much of a better body workout than this.

On my list within the next year is Ice Climbing in Munising Michigan. I may need this skill set if I plan on achieving my goal. If you are interested in checking out ice climbing you can read about it HERE. 

Program To Connect Veterans to STEM Fields Passes Congress

The “Supporting Veterans in Stem Careers Act” is an attempt to connect veterans to higher paying science oriented careers. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. You can read more about the history of the bill as it moved through Congress HERE. It is an attempt to provide opportunities for veterans who are trying to obtain jobs with high-paying growth fields (something like 30%) where workers are in shortage but also where future opportunities are likely (At least from current market projections). 

You may also want to read the transcripts. "Business leaders have expressed concern that the STEM skills shortage will impact their ability to develop new technologies and to grow their companies" the report said (U.S. Congress, January 27, 2020). We are trying to transition into a new data technology era and it seems like a positive way to help veterans continue to serve their country in new ways. These are the types of people who have the courage to learn new skills and apply them to national growth through meaningful careers. 
Transcripts of the event Here and the actual Bill Here.


SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 17 (House of Representatives - January 27, 2020). Retrieved https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2020/01/27/house-section/article/H550-1

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell Provides Semi-Annual Economic Outlook February 2020

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell provides a semi-annual report to Congress today highlighting key aspects of the economy (02/11/2019). I didn't have a chance to dig into the meaning of the report but can say that it looks fairly positive from his perspective. There is more needed in improving access to opportunities for people currently struggling to move up the economic ladder. Perhaps some of that improvement will come through a willingness of companies to hire less skilled labor and train them for higher performance. This might improve transition to a high skilled economy while helping people take steps to improve the market value of their labor.


You can read about his report HERE

Federal Reserve. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System before the Committee on Financial Services U.S. House of Representatives February 11, 2020. Washington D.C.: Jerome Powell. Retrieved https://financialservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hhrg-116-ba00-wstate-powellj-20200211.pdf

Your Personality Based on Your Coffee Type

Thousands of times I walked through offices and never once thought about how the coffee type one drinks says something about their personality. The type of products we pick are often a reflective of our needs and self-image. The video does mention a survey but didn't see a referral to where you can find more information on the study. Next time you see someone making coffee you might think about how their personality is associated with how they like their coffee. 😬

GR Tourism Industry Worried About Future-Discusses Impact of Pure Michigan

More discussion on Pure Michigan and tourism within the state. This video provides a perspective from Grand Rapids.