There are discussions of racism in Michigan. It is a good discussion in so long as it universalizes the Justice System, includes people of all backgrounds to create a true capitalistic society, and seeks to eradicate bigotry. When I say capitalistic I mean that race and religion don't impact a person's income and opportunities and doesn't influence how justice is served from one community to another. The bigger goal should be a single society where we see ourselves as part of the same nation that creates universal opportunities for success that draws everyone together. Thinking of ourselves as separate communities is no longer helpful as we should be one people with different seasonings.
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Governor Whitmer Discusses State Financial Issues and Racism
The state has financial issues highlighted by COVID and a need to look at racism in society. Let me add that should include bigotry of any type. Finances are a problem for Michigan but also for the entire nation. I'm not sure how we will pay for all of these needs on state and federal levels. I'm wondering if printing more money and its impact on the value of the dollar through inflation. I'm curious how this will work out. I think there are opportunities to reallocate money but to actually create new wealth is a much more complex process. My opinion is economic clusters that spur innovation, new businesses, infrastructure changes, adjusting to create relevant education, review of legislation, and encouraging investment can change the landscape for a higher competitive position in the future.
The Need for New Legislation: Dishonoring Vets at Honor Flights
There are differences between disputes and coordinated criminal behavior. When boundaries are violated, especially as they relate to children, you must enforce those boundaries for the protection of everyone involved. However, sometimes people don't accept that and will increase their aggression in order to show, prove, or otherwise damage and control their target. While they increase their tactics it is important to stay calm and understand the psychological motivations behind the behavior as taking the highest route will be to your benefit.
What I have learned is that hate has no boundaries. It doesn't matter where you are, whether you served your country, or in what context. Discrediting and damaging is a discount of life.
I've been writing about this for a while so I can't go into detail in each aspect without being redundant. Let me say that I have two children and both were in ROTC at one point and at least one wanted to go into the military. My children are mixed race and black while the perpetrators are white; but it goes beyond that. It wasn't only the race that was the main issue but also potential financial crimes, aggressive behavior, and serious lack of civility that led to the request to respect the boundaries of children and the family.
When dealing with narcissistic type behaviors such requests do not go well and are often grounds for an immediate escalation of aggressive behavior. Both children were quickly ostracized but the one who has a pleasing mild personality was quickly targeted for further bullying. So a clean break was needed as growing fear of more aggressive and potentially violent behavior could erupt.
When someone wants to damage you for control purposes, fear of having bad behavior exposed, and due to mental health issues you have to be diligent. It wasn't one person but a group of individuals that blindly followed the lead of one of their members without questioning the motives or accuracy of the information. Thus, what could have been an easy situation to navigate quickly spread into a dangerous situation.
I'm in pretty good shape and have engaged in martial arts and self-defense for a long time but I'm wise and avoid conflict and create as much distance for myself and my children as possible. Tough isn't physical in most cases. It is a mental game where one understands themselves, has no need for inflated egos, and learns to control their emotions (EQ) for the best possible outcomes.
I understood what was happening and maintained my cool to highly provocative behaviors, even to voice discontent, was going to be used to cause further damage. There is a point to be made here. The perpetrators have a close law enforcement friend within their group whom I believe coached them on how to get someone arrested. I still believe that if I didn't develop the ability to be calm under stress and threat things would have turned out different.
I had to dig deep every time I saw my child react and turn away every time the perpetrators provoked conflict. At the honor flight I was volunteering as a firefighter and one after one the perpetrators drove by in a sequence of cars sticking their middle finger at me giggling and laughing. The goal was to embarrass, discount, and create public humiliation. At that point I thought about how more important this distance is at that time and how else to protect my family.
Stories are not so simple are they? There is history and there are lots of different things that go on in any group dynamic. What I can say is that it appears there are personalities involved that lack any sense of right or wrong. As long as their friends blindly supported them there was no wrong. That support is easy to gain if people don't think or ask questions. That is even easier if someone is exploiting perceived racial and religious differences to rally a biased base.
My personality and history pales based on these other discriminatory behaviors. Not a single person could say I have ever done anything to them in this community or that all the way through my childhood and adult life I wasn't polite and friendly. Serving my country or getting an education or helping my community means nothing. Misguided pubic opinion from local bullies count? I take exception to that and I think others should as well.
I believe the perpetrators felt that people who are different than them are lower in some way and that having close friends in law enforcement creates a level of immunity for their behavior. I wonder if this is true? Is it possible to do what you want if you look a certain way, have a particular race, or have the right connections? Not sure...but I think our system should be more universalized than this. We can't compete as a nation if our institutions have separate rules for different people.
So I think there is a need for new laws that help protect people from coordinated adult harassment and bullying based on perceived racial and religious differences. I would like to move beyond that and say that it shouldn't matter what the reason is because such behaviors are a violation of human rights. There are likely existing laws in place but if we sort of apply them in one spot and not another that creates a moral and ethical problem. We as a nation need leaders who can think about how our laws are being applied and what their fundamental purpose. If it is to protect one group over another then we should be willing to accept that large swaths of our country will be unhappy. Couldn't it all be avoided if we were a wiser and more fair minded people?
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Isaias Teaches Us a Lesson About The Need for New Adaptable Power Infrastructure
I'm reading the article entitled, "Isaias Severs Power To Millions—Here’s How To Prepare For Future Power Outages" by Dennis Mersereau in Forbes today and I'm thinking about the need to develop new power grid infrastructure to not only protect against extreme weather but also against foreign manipulation and intrusion. Adaptability is the term I would like to use as existing sequential wiring systems are prone to knocking out entire areas as though we are still lighting the existing bulbs by Thomas Edison through some type of Tesla experiment!
It might be time to rethink and redraw our power grid.
If we plan on powering new industries for national growth while becoming more able to "weather" global warming we we need to use the term "adaptable" more often. Such a system has multiple ways of drawing power into the grid not only from different forms of electric generation but also can distribute that electricity through a neighborhood by multiple inputs.
The advantage of such a system is that if parts of the power grid go out there could be other inputs into a neighborhood that reroute to keep the power on. That automatic rerouting offers consistency and redundancy. Homes and businesses are not receiving electricity through a single cable line because they are part of a larger adaptive network with multiple inputs and outputs.
We can also say that with the development of multiple new sources such as solar on homes, ocean currents, windmills, power plants, etc... we should have different ways of receiving and distributing power. If all of the power in sources go out in a neighborhood perhaps we could continue to power through solar in the area leaving some electricity available with minimal use.
I'm just thinking "out of the box" for a moment about how networks work and the ability to plug in new technologies. We will find that as we move to 5 G and model the electricity grid off of the Internet we will likely see this adaptability increase.
Mersereau, D. (August 4th, 2020). Isaias Severs Power To Millions—Here’s How To Prepare For Future Power Outages, Forbes. Retrieved https://www.forbes.com/sites/dennismersereau/2020/08/04/isaias-severs-power-to-millions-heres-how-to-prepare-for-future-power-outages/#664c08dc1063
New Auto Insurance Cost Reduction Update by MI. Senator Ed McBroom
New auto insurance rules take effect for policies renewing on or after July 1st, 2020. There is a complex interplay between our car insurance and our health coverage. In many ways we may be paying more then we need to for both of the coverage. The new law changes this so that you can select the coverage that is most beneficial for you. If you have other insurance, like medical coverage, that covers you in accidents you may choose a different selection.
This is a legislation that saves money for people while still allowing consumers to have more choice.
It does something a little more. It also reduces discrimination in policies. Insurance often charged based on education, zip code, occupation, sex, marital status and home ownership, etc. to make decisions. This often had an adverse impact on certain populations that may not fit these "white picket fence" suburban criteria. Trust me...I used to live in the Detroit area and the cost of minimum insurance was about what I pay now for full coverage.
Senator McBroom is from the U.P. of Michigan and represents the 38th District. You can find additinal information HERE. The U.P. is a rural eco-tourist area that is becoming ripe for investment and business development.
When Republicans and Democrats work together to create bi-partisan legislation it often turns out much better. This is an example. The following was taken from a press release...lots of great details.....
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Executive Order on Federal Contractors and Hiring American Workers
The recent Presidential Executive Order on hiring American workers for Federal contracting jobs. I'm not an expert on this issue so I can't say much other than in general. It takes time to review and analyze the multiple impacts of any change. I can say where it makes sense and where it is reasonable to do so companies have a responsibility to hire American workers. We are moving into a new world and while globalization is going to be increasingly important we must do our best to ensure our economy comes back and employs the most amount of people possible. It should be noted that some of the money spent on these contractors will be American taxpayer money so it would make sense to maximize American employment.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the executive branch to create opportunities for United States workers to compete for jobs, including jobs created through Federal contracts. These opportunities, particularly in regions where the Federal Government remains the largest employer, are especially critical during the economic dislocation caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. When employers trade American jobs for temporary foreign labor, for example, it reduces opportunities for United States workers in a manner inconsistent with the role guest-worker programs are meant to play in the Nation’s economy.
Sec. 2. Review of Contracting and Hiring Practices. (a) The head of each executive department and agency (agency) that enters into contracts shall review, to the extent practicable, performance of contracts (including subcontracts) awarded by the agency in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to assess:
(i) whether contractors (including subcontractors) used temporary foreign labor for contracts performed in the United States, and, if so, the nature of the work performed by temporary foreign labor on such contracts; whether opportunities for United States workers were affected by such hiring; and any potential effects on the national security caused by such hiring; and
(ii) whether contractors (including subcontractors) performed in foreign countries services previously performed in the United States, and, if so, whether opportunities for United States workers were affected by such offshoring; whether affected United States workers were eligible for assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program authorized by the Trade Act of 1974; and any potential effects on the national security caused by such offshoring.
(b) The head of each agency that enters into contracts shall assess any negative impact of contractors’ and subcontractors’ temporary foreign labor hiring practices or offshoring practices on the economy and efficiency of Federal procurement and on the national security, and propose action, if necessary and as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to improve the economy and efficiency of Federal procurement and protect the national security.
(c) The head of each agency shall, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, review the employment policies of the agency to assess the agency’s compliance with Executive Order 11935 of September 2, 1976 (Citizenship Requirements for Federal Employment), and section 704 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116-93.
(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget summarizing the results of the reviews required by subsections (a) through (c) of this section; recommending, if necessary, corrective actions that may be taken by the agency and timeframes to implement such actions; and proposing any Presidential actions that may be appropriate.
Sec. 3. Measures to Prevent Adverse Effects on United States Workers. Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Secretaries of Labor and Homeland Security shall take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to protect United States workers from any adverse effects on wages and working conditions caused by the employment of H-1B visa holders at job sites (including third-party job sites), including measures to ensure that all employers of H-1B visa holders, including secondary employers, adhere to the requirements of section 212(n)
(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)).
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 3, 2020.
The following press release was taken from HERE.
Executive Order on Aligning Federal Contracting and Hiring Practices With the Interests of American Workers
Issued on: August 3, 2020By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the executive branch to create opportunities for United States workers to compete for jobs, including jobs created through Federal contracts. These opportunities, particularly in regions where the Federal Government remains the largest employer, are especially critical during the economic dislocation caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. When employers trade American jobs for temporary foreign labor, for example, it reduces opportunities for United States workers in a manner inconsistent with the role guest-worker programs are meant to play in the Nation’s economy.
Sec. 2. Review of Contracting and Hiring Practices. (a) The head of each executive department and agency (agency) that enters into contracts shall review, to the extent practicable, performance of contracts (including subcontracts) awarded by the agency in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to assess:
(i) whether contractors (including subcontractors) used temporary foreign labor for contracts performed in the United States, and, if so, the nature of the work performed by temporary foreign labor on such contracts; whether opportunities for United States workers were affected by such hiring; and any potential effects on the national security caused by such hiring; and
(ii) whether contractors (including subcontractors) performed in foreign countries services previously performed in the United States, and, if so, whether opportunities for United States workers were affected by such offshoring; whether affected United States workers were eligible for assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program authorized by the Trade Act of 1974; and any potential effects on the national security caused by such offshoring.
(b) The head of each agency that enters into contracts shall assess any negative impact of contractors’ and subcontractors’ temporary foreign labor hiring practices or offshoring practices on the economy and efficiency of Federal procurement and on the national security, and propose action, if necessary and as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to improve the economy and efficiency of Federal procurement and protect the national security.
(c) The head of each agency shall, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, review the employment policies of the agency to assess the agency’s compliance with Executive Order 11935 of September 2, 1976 (Citizenship Requirements for Federal Employment), and section 704 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116-93.
(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget summarizing the results of the reviews required by subsections (a) through (c) of this section; recommending, if necessary, corrective actions that may be taken by the agency and timeframes to implement such actions; and proposing any Presidential actions that may be appropriate.
Sec. 3. Measures to Prevent Adverse Effects on United States Workers. Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Secretaries of Labor and Homeland Security shall take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to protect United States workers from any adverse effects on wages and working conditions caused by the employment of H-1B visa holders at job sites (including third-party job sites), including measures to ensure that all employers of H-1B visa holders, including secondary employers, adhere to the requirements of section 212(n)
(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)).
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 3, 2020.
Diving a Green Private Quarry-Michigan Outdoors
Michigan is one of the most beautiful places in the country. The Upper Peninsula has everything from diving to downhill skiing. In this case a few friends and I went out and dived a private quarry. It was once used to obtain raw materials to build magnificent buildings in other places like Detroit. Times change and the quarry was eventually filled in and people purchased the property. They still let us go out there no charge. :)
Grants by The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Can Improve Outdoor Recreation for Delta County and Rest of Michigan
Politics is politics and there are times when good legislation comes around and we should provide support. It doesn't matter who proposed it and whether or not it is Republican or Democrat. When ideas bubble that are to the benefit of the people and make sense we should accept that as good legislation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed this legislation on Friday and it makes sense as people need more exercise and a healthy respect for the great outdoors.
COVID has changed our perception of life and the outdoors. Environmentalism and protecting the environment has become increasingly important as we question the benefits of cement forests. If you notice major cities were ghost towns during the initial stages of the pandemic which made outdoor recreation even more important. We also have come to learn in recent times the psychological, physical and environmental benefits of having lots of green around.
Places like Delta County have an opportunity to capitalize on their outdoor location through eco-tourism and greater public awareness of the area's benefits. Local administrators may want to explore some of the financial resources and local needs to see where improvement can be made. When money is available and it appears to have benefit for a lot of people we should take advantage of that. Escanaba and Gladstone can be eco-tourist destinations in a way that improves local lives but can also enhance opportunities through its geographic location for distribution and micro-tourism manufacturing.
Act 451
NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND
Criteria: Applications are evaluated on established criteria such as natural resource access and conservation, proximity to population clusters, applicant's committed matching funds, applicant's financial need, and priority projects of the Trust Fund Board (e.g., trails, regional significance, public access to lakes and rivers, wildlife habitat, hunting access)
Deadline: April 1, of the year of application.
Timeline of Approval: 12 to 18 months after the application deadline
Amount: $15,000 to $300,000. No Limitations on land purchases.
Legislation: Act 451 Part 19
Program Manager: Program Manager: Jon Mayes, 517-284-5954, MayesJ@Michigan.gov, or Grants Management Staff
Forms and Information and Stuff: HERE
Bennett, Courtney (August 3rd, 2020). Gov. Whitmer approves $28 million in outdoor recreation development. Mid Michigan Now. https://nbc25news.com/news/local/gov-whitmer-approves-28-million-in-outdoor-recreation-development
DNR. Natural Resources Trust Fund. Retrieved August 4th, https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_81684_79209_81657---,00.html?utm_campaign=whitmer%20approves%20trust%20fund%20grants&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery
Monday, August 3, 2020
Trump Press Release August 3rd, 2020-Telehealth & Rural Hospital
Telehealth was a big part of the discussion today. If there is one thing that COVID taught us is that our general health is important. We have also struggled with high medical costs throughout the country. Telehelath offers opportunities to reduce cost by focusing more on preventative maintenance. In most cases doctors talk to patients and can check issues for basic check-ups online. Patients with serious issues may need to go it. It may also be helpful if people occasionally go in for physical inspections.
Rural healthcare has been an issue for some time. Hospitals in the country like OSF St. Francis Hospital have issues as they relate to financing. COVID placed financial stress on them. Furthermore, they have a higher elderly population that don't have access to public transportation. Telehealth and strengthening our rural hospitals makes a difference places like Escanaba and Gladstone. Our elderly population will have greater access to the healthcare they need.
The following was taken from https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-improving-rural-health-telehealth-access/
Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access
Tik Tok Marks Big Data and Risks of Information
The world of big data is upon us and companies like Tik Tok are now part of that new world. The youth across the globe are using handheld portable cell phones that carry with them 20 and 30 applications each. Their data is being tracked 24/7 and with enough processing power and information one could see movement of people throughout society, what they are buying and who they are talking to. The only difference is that no one has collected all of that data and we shouldn't make it easy for governments to do that.
That will mean better data protection, storing data bases in various paces, technology like block chain, deleting data if its not being used, encryption, and including data protection in treaties and business deals. Just like we discovered governments are seeking to steal information on COVID vaccines they also want to know about consumer behavior in society.
Worse then unethical behavior for business purposes is unethical behavior by governments that want to use such information for nebulous purposes. Collecting and cross analyzing this data leaves one with a great amount of knowledge about people, their buying habits and their communities. When you apply modern psychological theory you could likely determine their motives as well.
Turning High Potential Gifted Employees and Officers into "Game Changers"
Developing high potential gifted employees and young officers to maximize their skills and abilities is an important and difficult task that leads to increased performance for the whole organization. As the nation struggles against new global challenges it will need to create and develop stronger methods of raising human capital in ways the can innovate their environment. The selection of High Potential employees and officers to develop them through appropriate creative enhancement models leads to excellence throughout networked institutions.
The development of creative high potential employees for civilian and military purposes has advantages for the nation. First, this population can develop and create new ways of thinking and solving complex problems that lead to environmental mastery. Whether you are in industry or in the military the use of creativity to solve complex and fluid problems with multiple players is important if we hope to create levels of business and military superiority. Our enemies don't stop innovating so we will need to innovate faster and further and that can happen through the gifted population.
Let me give you one civilian and one military example. In the Civilian Case you may have a company that needs to find a new product to corner the market and better serve their customer based while in the Military case new technologies are needed to better integrate complex battle scenarios in a way that leads to stronger coordination of resources. Creative individuals can think beyond typical linear methods to explore multiple avenues at once to find new products and application of those products in different scenarios.
Let's consider how an institution selects high potential candidates....
Selecting High Potential Employees and Officers:
Highly capable employees have a few characteristics companies and military organizations look for when seeking to select a small percentage of their talent pool for advanced training (Ready, et. al, 2020). Out of that number a rare few may be exceptional and understanding what to look for when making selections is important:
- Delivers results that are credible and not at the expense of others.
- Master new expertise beyond technical knowledge.
- Behavior and demeanor in the workplace
- A drive to excel beyond the average.
- A consistent learner seeking out new knowledge and information.
- An enterprising spirit.
Highly driven employees with high potentiality are relatively rare and when a company finds one they may want to work with them to make greater change. That can be difficult if they do not know how to discover highly gifted employees and don't know how to turn potentiality into reality. Thus, greater understanding of giftedness/genius and performance is needed for maximum national development.
How to Foster the Creative Potential with the APT Model:
Once we select an employee or two we then need to understand the best ways of improving their knowledge base in a way that leads to creative activity and new innovative development. That is not an easy task as one must know how much knowledge they need to put concepts and ideas together to create novel solutions, products, and services. Different layers of information matched with motivation, intelligence and the environment create the right atmosphere.
Helping employees/officers develop their skills through appropriate enhancement models occurs when we can blend divergent thinking and specific functional knowledge to create greater awareness. It is a little like general knowledge and specific knowledge except one is about exploring options and the other provide specific application of new ideas. .
In the development of genius employees and officers we will want to encourage divergent thinking that explores major possibilities and then moves to covergent thinking that reconstructs this knowledge into useful frameworks. Creative individuals explore and understand information through multiple ways of exploring and that leads to novel solutions.
Creativity without practical application is fun but doesn't transform the lay of the land, military functioning, or the fundamental structure of the industries. Thus we must help move creative thinking to focused solution based results if we are to capitalize on them fully. That requires us to think about grooming and developing individuals to think in new ways to develop practical creativity.
Some organizations have done well developing practical creativity by using the Amusement Park Theoretical (APT) model of creativity. APT includes four domains such as Initial requirements, general thematic areas, domains, and micro-domains. Each of the categories has requirements in order of people to be successful:
Initial Requirements.To meet the initial requirements candidates should have the intelligence and motivation to engage in creative productions.
General Thematic. General thematic areas require general intelligence and motivation in the fields of say math, art and science.
Domains. These are domains of knowledge and ability. For example, a person may have be able to work within the domain of journalism but not poetry based on his/her personality and abilities.
Micro-Domains. When one has focused on a particular area for some time (i.e. a specific aspect of economics that may be much more narrow than the field in which they are trained) they create what is called micro-domain knowledge that differentiates them from others.
Success of taking high potential gifted employees and officers requires that there is a level of motivation, a proper environment and intelligence. Such traits often differentiate this groups from other groups because of the long-term focus that leads to actual performance. High potential employees/officers must have the ability to learn and display their knowledge in order to have practical performance. Thus a functioning "game changers" are groomed over time as they improve their skills and abilities in ways that have practical value for society. National development can be encouraged with higher levels of growth through enhanced human potential.
Baer, J. & Kaufman, J. (2005). Bridging generality and specificity: the Amusement Park Theoritical (APT) Mode of Creativity. Roeper Review, 27 (3).
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