By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

When President Trump commented on President Biden’s push to factor-in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in his regime at the National Association of Black Journalists’ appearance recently, he was widely criticized for essentially indicating race was the reason for her appointment.  Interestingly enough, Biden made the following public comments in May 2024.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: “They’re trying to erase Black history. We’re going to write Black history because it’s American history.

It’s American history. Together, we make history, not erase it.

To me, the values of diversity, equality, inclusion are literally — and this is not kidding — the core strengths of America. That’s why I’m proud to have the most diverse administration in history that taps into the full talents of our country. And it starts at the top with the Vice President.”

So, who’s trying to erase history?  If the shoe fits, wear it!

Summer is in full swing, and the water is the place to be! Though there are many ways to enjoy Michigan’s waterways – swimming, fishing, paddling, boating and more – the Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to ensure that your first priority is safety in and around the water.

“Michigan’s waters, from the Great Lakes to our inland lakes, can be deceptively dangerous,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “With several drownings already reported on inland lakes and the Great Lakes this season, this underscores the importance of practicing and reviewing water safety each and every time you’re on the water.”

Although most tips apply to all situations in and on the water, there are a few distinctions between general water safety, Great Lakes beach safety and boating safety.

General water safety tips

• Before leaving home for any beach outing, check local weather reports and lake conditions.
• Always swim with a buddy or an observer on shore, regardless of swimming abilities.
• When near the water, keep small children in a U.S, Coast Guard-approved life jacket, even when playing on shore in the sand. Always watch and never turn your back to children in or near the water.
• Have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device readily available in case you or another swimmer needs help.
• When visiting a state park, swim in buoyed swim areas. These areas are equipped with additional safety features, such as buoys or markers that identify water depth less than 5 feet (inspected approximately every two weeks), a beach flag warning system (found in buoyed swim areas in state parks along the Great Lakes) and rescue equipment. It’s important to remember that not all state parks have designated swim areas.
• Avoid swimming near the outlets of rivers – either upstream from the outlet or where there are “no swimming” signs – because these currents can be extremely hazardous. Swimmers can be quickly swept out into the Great Lakes.
• Swimming near moored or anchored boats? Boats coming and going can create turbulent water strong enough to exhaust even strong swimmers.
• Especially in the spring and fall, please be cautious of cold-water temperatures. Sudden immersion and/or sustained time in cold water can cause cold shock, making it hard to breathe and increasing your risk of drowning.
• Keep in mind that DNR staff start removing swim buoys, beach warning flags and other visual markers that denote buoyed swim beaches at state parks along the Great Lakes after Labor Day.
• Please be aware that there are no beach guards in state parks. Visitors must swim at their own risk and are asked to always prioritize safety.

Great Lakes beach safety tips Read more

REDARC, a leader in power management systems and towing for over 45 years, proudly announces the launch of the Tow-Pro Trail Kits. These new additions to the Tow-Pro lineup offer a complete off-the-shelf solution for brake controller installation, streamlining the process with a plug-and-play kit.

The Tow-Pro Trail Kits are designed to simplify purchasing a brake controller for specific vehicles. Each kit includes a Tow-Pro Trail brake controller, remote control knob, vehicle-specific wiring harness, mounting bracket, and a switch insert. The remote head integrates seamlessly into the dashboard, ensuring a factory look while eliminating knee knocking and preventing airbag interference. These kits are compatible with select models from Jeep, Nissan, Ram, Ford, and Toyota. Read more

Outdoor enthusiasts have enjoyed Millennium Outdoors’ state-of-the-art seating technology for decades, with comfortable, lightweight, and portable seats at an affordable price. Today, Millennium Sportsline Stadium Seats continues the company’s commitment to superior design and excellence by providing a spectacular seating experience far superior to hard bleacher surfaces. The Stadium Seat easily attaches to any bench-style surface, comfortably suspending the user for unparalleled seating at sporting events, ceremonies, or wherever sitting on traditional benches isn’t the preferred option.

Each Stadium Seat is constructed of durable ComfortMAX fabric that’s highly breathable and naturally circulates air to keep users cool and comfortable. The fabric is also weather-resistant and dries quickly, making it ideal for use in all weather conditions. The Stadium Seat also uses a sturdy, powder-coated aluminum frame that effortlessly supports users up to 400 pounds. An adjustable backrest provides ultimate comfort and support, making the seat the perfect choice for long sits.

At just 5.6 pounds, the Stadium Seat is lightweight and quickly folds down to just 20 x 17 x 7 inches, making it perfectly portable and a cinch to transport over long distances. It also has an adjustable carrying strap for shoulder transport and storage in numerous locations.

An adjustable seat strap with a buckle lets users firmly secure the Stadium Seat to almost any bench surface Its advanced attachment design prevents flipping, tipping, or sliding, giving spectators ultra-secure seating over bleacher surfaces. The seat comes in four colors: red, blue, grey, and black, and it can even be customized to display the logo of any business, club, or religious organization. For spectators looking to stay cool and comfortable during hot summer months, the Stadium Seat is hard to beat!

Millennium Sportsline® Custom Stadium Seat

• Available in colors Red, Black, Blue, and Grey
• 1-Year Warranty
• MSRP: $99.99

Call or visit millenniumsportsline.com to inquire about personalized Stadium Seats with a custom logo.

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

— Declaration of Independence, 1776

By Glen Wunderlich

The government workforce has grown at a steady pace over the years

Ever wonder why the liberal Democrats never mention this factor in their highly touted overall job growth statistics?  It’s to deceive Americans about the health of the economy.

Also, when they spout off about higher wages, it’s because employers are attempting to keep employees happy versus the ever-increasing inflation.  And, just where does this leave senior citizens?  Losing the value of their savings, as the dollar is devalued.  Cost of living increases in Social Security are paltry compared to the cost of goods and services.

As of April 2024, there were 23.3 million people on government payrolls, which made up 14.7% of the total payrolls in the economy. Local governments employed close to 64% of these people, followed by state governments (23.4%) and the federal government (12.9%). Since the beginning of the new millennium, the government workforce has been increasing steadily—13.3% over the years. This rate of increase may be lower than the corresponding growth in the overall private sector (22.5%), but it is still higher than the growth in key sectors like wholesale trade, retail trade, and manufacturing (where payrolls have decreased).

The above statistical source: 28 JUNE 2024, Deloitte Global Economics Research Center