1. Discover causes in the world
2. Infer causes of novel input
3. Make predictions
4. Direct behavior

This is close to a concept created by theorist John Boyd: the OODA loop. At its simplest level, the OODA loop is a repeating sequence of Observe - Orient - Decide - Act. This can be represented simply for Wall Street types:

Or you can use the Boyd version for adults:

• Observation is discovering causes in the world through the reception of input.
• Orientation is inferring causes of novel input.
• Decision is implicitly making predictions about the future by choosing one future behavior over other potential behaviors.
• Action is directed behavior.

The loop proceeds in a repeating cycle. The OODA loop is a cycle of adaptation. Information comes in. Orientation conducts analysis and deduction on the evidence, which involves tearing information apart, going from the outside in and filtering the results through genetic, cultural, and experiential lenses. Then it synthesizes the information in a new configuration through induction. This synthesis is compressed into a prediction, the hypothesis, which is subjected to testing through action. The results of the test are then fed back into observation and the cycle continues. The cycle of adaptions eventually conforms to the reality of the external environment. This is the scientific method in Boyd's model.

The OODA is a good way to model iterative adaptive processes. The OODA loop is conventionally viewed as a matter of adaptation through speed, "getting inside an opponent's OODA loop", a race between opposing OODA loops with the winner being the one who cycles through his OODA loop faster. Boyd saw it as more of a matter of disrupting the opponent's OODA loop, cutting them off from the external environment, creating a closed system that will be consumed by its own entropy.

A key part of an iterative process is the decision, the prediction. This is the center of planning, making a family of predictions about the future, usually arranged in a particular sequence. However, the important part, according to Boyd's model, isn't decisions or predictions. The most important step in the sequence is orientation, where information is filtered through an analysis/synthesis process, previous experience, culture, and genetic predisposition. Orientation is what produces the results that decision rules on. Not only that, Boyd's version can bypass decision and go straight from orientation to observation in a short-circuited OO loop.

A key part of using OODA loops is realizing that there are usually multiple OODA loops operating in parallel at different levels of adaption. I find a 5-level adaption cycle model useful:

The five adaption cycles in this model are:

1. Cultural - adaption through the prioritization of goals.
2. Political - adaption through the division of power between goals.
3. Strategic - adaption through the integration of goals and power.
4. Operational - adaption through the arrangement of goals and power in time and space.
5. Tactical - adaptation through the direct interaction of goals and power with the external environment consisting of friction (anything non-living that obstructs adaption) and The Other (anything living that obstructs adaptation).

And these are just adaption cycles on human timescales. An additional cycle is the biological cycle, the OODA loop of evolutionary adaptation.

Keeping each level separate is a good way for the purpose of analysis and synthesis to ensure that the result of a lower priority loop does not compromise the operation of a higher level loop and to properly prioritize what goes where. This difference and interaction is best demonstrated by Thomas Kuhn's idea of a paradigm shift. Most adaptions within a current paradigm are small scale adaptions that optimize (better adapt) the paradigm. Eventually, these small scale adaptions build up until they add up to a total systemic adaptation and the paradigm undergoes a total transformation.. The pattern of minor interative adaptions then resumes. Similary, changes in lower priority levels of adaptations can add up and cascade up the stack until they change all higher levels. This can also happen with higher levels trickling down as well.

The devil lies in the details.

[Goo is] like water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.

So [with goo], the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; [goo] works out [its] victory in relation to the foe whom [it] is facing.

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in [goo] there are no constant conditions.

- Sun Tzu, The Art of [Goo]

Goo is reactive. Adaptation happens after a problem reveals its hand. Goo is organic, emergent, and flexible.

Preemptive systems trend towards the Platonic and Newtonian, a mechanistic, clockwork universe populated with ideal forms. This is natural, since the Platonic and Newtonian, with their clean, rounded-off edges, fit better in the head. The brain can't swallow the size and wildness of the universe. So it must scrunch the universe down to size, which means information, some of it important, will be lost. This creates gaps in understanding the world where Black Swans sneak in.

Into the gap.

It is gooey and gushy and edible. I enjoy it a lot. I like putting granola in it so when I gush it around it isn't all gushy. It is also an excellent breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Sorry for sporadic posting. I have had a lot of work lately. Things should lighten up after my show opens.

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Rick Davis, John McCain's campaign manager, has remained the treasurer and a corporate director of his lobbying firm this year, despite repeated statements by campaign officials that he had ended his relationship with the firm in 2006, according to corporate records.

I'm sorry, but McCain and his motley crew are such pathological liars that it pales in comparison to the worst horror we've seen on TV.   There is no end to the constant lying.   Which I don't get since most American people do not understand what a lobbyist is or what they do.  He should have stuck with the American poeple are stupid and told the truth.

Enough said.

Our Troops Don't Get a Time-Out for the Financial Crisis

by:  Jon Soltz from VetVoice.org

So, because there's a financial crisis, Senator McCain cannot take 90 minutes to address how he will face challenges around the world, including how and when he will send American troops to fight, and possibly die.

Wow.  Troops would sure love that luxury.

Unfortunately, though, insurgents in Iraq don't stop shooting at us, or setting IEDs, because our Commander in Chief needs a breather to figure out Wall Street.

Al Qaeda in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region don't send our troops notes that read, "Hey, I hear you guys are tied up with Wall Street.  Your President needs to concentrate on other things, so we'll give you a break.  So, to make things easier on you, here's our coordinates."

Nor do our troops get a few days to figure out how to hold onto an area we've secured, if there's an unexpected attack.  Sometimes we need to deal with multiple flare-ups at once in any warzone.  We'd sure love a time-out, but sadly, the world isn't such a nice place that it gives us that kind of pity.

When you're Commander in Chief, I don't think there'd be a worse signal to send to our troops in harm's way than to say, "Hey, hold on guys.  I know you're getting killed over there, but I have to get a time-out here to deal with Wall Street."

If troops need to multi-task without a break, is it so wrong that we demand that a potential President-in-waiting prove that he can manage a financial crisis, and still address crises around the world for 90 minutes?  And, if a potential President-to-be can't manage that, is it wrong to think that maybe he ought not just suspend a debate and the campaign, but move aside and get out of the race?

Just something to think about.

Enough said.

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I take it the urgency to get back to Washington is more rhetorical than fact.  Considering McCain's getting to Washington will only happen after a few things he needs to do (favorable interviews?).  The fun part was watching the GOP pundits on TV (CNN and MSNBC) voice what's going on.  I could only laugh at how stupid the republicans think the American people are.  One after another they talked about McCain is showing that he is a maverick (more like wimp!), this is true McCain (chicken McCain!), this is McCain showing he wants to deal with the situation (yea, since he has not voted in congress since April!), blah, blah, blah.

Mean time while McCain is thinking of the American people's economic welfare and rushing back to Washington to save the economy, let's look at his first stop on his way to the airport.

His first stop was to the cosmetic chair for the Katie Couric show (he paid that cosmetic artist $5,000 for his facial enhancement).  I guess Washington and the economy could wait.  Back to reality thought, the GOP pundits are pressing hard how McCain is doing this for the good of the people who needs him.  Because as president he will not be multitasking, he will be handling one thing at a time at all times.  I can only say God (are who ever you believe in) help us if two things is going on at one time.

While McCain is out carousing he made sure that when Bush delivered his speech to the public (you know the one not worth listening to), he invited Obama to have a discussion with him and McCain in Washington tomorrow to deal with this financial crisis.  Obama agreed, why not the debate is not until Friday.  Forgive me when I point out the obvious, Bush is the president why the hell is he calling on either candidate to resolve the issue?  Whatever happened to do your job?  Or can we just call this the collusion that it is.  But McCain takes it one step further because now he wants to postpone the VP debate as well?  WTF?

What ever happen to sending his second string to continue campaigning?  I'm just saying, since Barbie is ready; especially, since after the UN visit she is geared up with foreign policy experience, isn't she suppose to keep the show going?  Mississippi spent over $5.5 million to pull this debate off.  Considering these economic times, why is McCain blowing their money off?

Well Obama rejected McCain's original proposal that the debate be canceled and issued this statement (a previous post has the video):

Barack Obama rejected the proposal -- put forward by John McCain today -- that the two presidential candidates leave the campaign trail, delay Friday's debate, and return to Washington to work on a bailout package for the economy,

"Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time," he said, "it is not necessary for us to think we can do only one thing and suspend everything else."

Most democrats came out today to state that most of the details of the agreement is being hammered out and they foresee a vote taking place real soon.  Sen. Reid put it best:

It would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation's economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.

"If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now."

The only hold out is a small branch of conservatives republicans.  So why does McCain need to be there?

I firmly believe McCain's sliding polls, Barbie not being ready, no policies, no answers, lack of economic knowledge, campaign staff members getting paid by major corporations and constant lies are catching up with him and now he wants a time out, with the hope that the economic situation will have blown over and then when he debates Obama he will not have to speak on a subject he knows absolutely nothing about.  Damn the American people.  What does he care if 86% of the American public want to see a debate?  This is McCain's world and we are just little squirrles to be stepped on or pushed aside.

Enough said.

I'd be upset to. How do you say, blowing you off (ha). Get him Dave!

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The question begs to be asked, then why is McCain lying?

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Of course, I only get messages via my email not necessarily the internet.   Unless I perform a Google search looking for "lies about Obama."  The internet is not going to give them to me.

I could say Fox just sounds ignorant, but why bother. Judge for yourself.

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Enough said.

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Now let's look at some facts. Carly was fired from HP and at that time she was respected by no one; especially, the 20,000 people she had fired.  She's so important that McCain has taken her off the campaign circuit and banned her from any further interviews.

The double speak express just keep going and going.

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I really think she has a tendency to get over looked in most story lines, but when it comes to orphans this one shines above the rest.  Some call her a Downgrade Dazzler, I call her sparkles...no wait, I call her a female who can literally blow your ass up into kibbles and bits. (check the pretty colors)

Her most memorable moment for me at least was when she packed her bags and left the X Mansion to go join Generation X under the supervision of ice princess Emma "tits" Frost and Sean "shrill cast" Cassidy a.k.a. the Irish mutant Banshee.  

While with Gen X it was all "When I was an X Man.." this and "Wolverine taught me how to do..." that. She would soon realize that much like the second generation of X Men back in the day, (Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Thunder Bird, Banshee, Sunfire etc..) this was a new day, and all previous battles aside, new badies wouldn't give a flying fuck Forge how many experience points you accrued on the way.

Currently Jubes is taggin' along with the Ultimate version of Alpha flight. Seems the entire team is hopped up on the equivalent of the goo that made Capn' America bulging a super soldier. They seem to be baddies as well and are causing quite a bit of trouble for the X Men.

SPOILER ALERT:

Its (The 'GOO' called Banshee) made from Logan's DNA at the labs of Moira MacTaggert (god i hate her face). Wolvie went and destroyed it all...hopefully. 

Catch Jubilee's character develop, (also hopefully) in Ultimate X Men!

If McCain and hie dumb old side kick Barbie Palin win then the level of America's stupidity will know no bounds.  Once again we will allow ourselves to be lured down the path of right wingnuts with their blind moralistic view.  Fortunately, that old man and his ignorant sidekick will not see a win this November.  Death and destruction is just not we are about anymore.  We are about strength with wisdom and not shooting from the hip.

Enough said.