Author Archives: Matthew Wilken

Excessive Evolution

Considering our National Security as well as our personal individual security (both are becoming more closely related) let’s ponder some ideas. Garry Kasparov (World Champion Chess player) discusses an idea about evolution versus mastering. In the United States we are constantly evolving and moving on to the new and improved thing (iPhone, changes to socialContinue reading “Excessive Evolution”

The Role of Society in Terrorism

Terrorism is much more than any physical act of violence or intimidation. It is the ensuing psychological warfare that fuels terrorists, as their goal is to ultimately elicit a response. This response can be fear, open condemnation, or a large-scale military response from a certain government. Whether we as civilians realize it or not, weContinue reading “The Role of Society in Terrorism”

Grit

Grit is defined in psychological terms as a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual’s perseverance of effort combined with the passion for a particular long-term goal or end state (a powerful motivation to achieve an objective). As things progressively get more comfortable, we lose this. The more we nestle within a blanket to keepContinue reading “Grit”

From the Notes: Our Technology is outgrowing our Intelligence

So far we have been unable to display the foresight to understand the capabilities of our tech and how it can affect us (both positively and negatively). We continue to want more and more, quicker and quicker. We are consumed with consuming the newer and “better” version of something that has just become new theContinue reading “From the Notes: Our Technology is outgrowing our Intelligence”

Did You Know? Laser Engraving Secrets

In the 1980’s the CIA used a laser engraver to send messages to assets around the world. Otherwise invisible to the naked eye, the laser engraver was able to burn a micro message into the cover of a February 1983 issue of National Geographic. A communications plan sent to a recruited Soviet Colonel (Vladimir MikhailovichContinue reading “Did You Know? Laser Engraving Secrets”

We’re Doing This To Ourselves

Up to this point, the majority of these posts have generally been a recount of information with a lack of personal input. This entry is different as I provide a small section of my personal notes over the past four years or so. Spinning off my previous post of Russian Disinformation (of which you shouldContinue reading “We’re Doing This To Ourselves”

Did You Know? Russian Disinformation

Russia Disinformation. The KGB actually had a Department D (D for Dezinformatsiya) that was organized for the strategic purpose of spreading disinformation. They forged documents of fake U.S. misdeeds and plans which were conveniently “found” by other governments and official gossip channels (similar to our news here in the U.S.). Very detailed were these fabricationsContinue reading “Did You Know? Russian Disinformation”

Fun Fact: Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar. As a British Territory (since 1713), Gibraltar sits on a small peninsula on the southern portion of Spain. It is now a popular tourist site that contains the only wild monkey population on the European continent. Interesting enough, these Barbary Macaques monkeys are not originally from this area. As their nameContinue reading “Fun Fact: Gibraltar”