Year: 2011

Newer Doctrines for Newer Wars

On the Memorial Day, some thoughts on the convergence of revolutions in technology and war fare-

 

War – 

War is an openly declared state of organized conflict, typified by extreme aggression, societal disruption, and high mortality

1) Disrupting command and control objects is the primary stage of attack. Evading detection of your own command and control objects while retaining secure channels of communication with redundant lines of control is the primary stage of defense.

2) Pre emptive strikes are in. Reactive all out wars are out. Countries will no longer “declare war” before going to war. They already dont.

3) Commando /Special Forces/Terror strikes /Guerrilla warfare weapons, tactics and technology will have a big demand. So will be specialist trainers.

4) Improving the predictability of your own detect and destroy mechanisms, and disrupting the predictability of enemy detect and react mechanisms will be hugely in- even more than commissioning one more submarine and one more aircraft type.

5) Countries will revert to ancient tribal paradigms in fast shifting alliances for economics as well as geo politics. Very stupidly religion can be  factor in warfare even in the 21 st century.

 

6) Number of Kills per Weapons fired will converge to a constant .  Risks of secondary collateral damage will need to have a higher weight-age because they spur more retal attacks. Fewer prisoner of wars, higher KIA/ MIA ratio.

7) Fewer civilian casualties than all previous wars. This includes fewer civilian casualties even in nuclear war than previous nuclear scenarios.

8) War is a business. It will not be allowed to disrupt global supply chains for more than 2-3 weeks (or inventory replenishment of critical goods and /or services). commodities will lead to wars explicitly, especially since nuclear energy is discredited and carbon energy is diminishing. Expect synchronization with financial derivatives activity. War futures anyone.

9) The Geneva Convention is overdue for an update. Call it Geneva Convention 3.0 United Nations will remain critical to preventing or hastening global conflicts (remember the league of extra ordinary nations .)

10) Economic weapons, climate changing weapons, and sky weapons will emerge. Expect newer kinds of gun powder to be invented. Cyber weapons and hackers will be in demand . Thats the only bright spot.

Happy Memorial Day.

 

Enjoy that freedom to eat an barbecue- it was paid for in more blood than you will ever care to know.

 

I need more data to make a decision

Paper money, extreme macro
Image by kevindooley via Flickr

I need more data

To take a decision

Keep your panties on

We need more precision

It is the owners money

That pays for your bills

You can go elsewhere

If you want primal egoistic thrills

 

People are precious

Money comes and goes

The Older you get

The lesser greed shows

 

Is this too much information

To overload your comprehension

Analysis led to paralysis

But time wont wait for your permission

 

We need better models

We need them now

The cost of delayed decisions

can hurt us and how

 

We will pay thousands

of dollars in annual fees

To earn or save millions of dollars

Now, If you please

 

Still here, but slightly offended

By coming straight to the truth

Every body swings and misses

From Barry Bonds to Babe Ruth

 

Data is all around you

and so is all the money

You keep ignoring decision management

and you will lose your shirt, honey.

 

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Kill Barack Obama

Then President of the United States of America...
Image via Wikipedia

From

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/718/usc_sec_18_00000871—-000-.html

§ 871. Threats against President and successors to the Presidency

(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(b) The terms “President-elect” and “Vice President-elect” as used in this section shall mean such persons as are the apparent successful candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, respectively, as ascertained from the results of the general elections held to determine the electors of President and Vice President in accordance with title 3, United States Code, sections 1 and 2. The phrase “other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President” as used in this section shall mean the person next in the order of succession to act as President in accordance with title 3, United States Code, sections 19 and 20.
From the new experiment at Google Co Relate (assumptions it will take a long time to actually create a plot or conspiracy to kill the President because of his security cover) this uses the internet to actually find people who are searching for ways to kill the beloved leader of the free world. Includes state by state intensity- and expect these people to be the first to ask for ….MORE privacy (my ass)

 

 

Viva Americana- Old Eyes Version

Here is a newer version of Viva Americana, based on the feedback loop.You can click on the picture (in this as well as the older to read) version to get a higher zoom level.

The Monk who Danced

P dance
Image via Wikipedia

Some monks pray

Some monks dance

Some monks drink

All monks hope for a second chance

 

I have played all

kinds of funny games

Been to all kinds of places

Called all unkind names

 

The thrill of the chase

The prospect of romance

is rarely expressed in thudding crashes

More often expressed in dance

 

Here comes tango

There goes hip hop

Ballroom dancing for the propah

Disco dancing for the lower crop

 

This monk got grace

It helps he has style

For very soon he will start sweating

Because he has not practiced in a while

 

While the forbidden and elusive

Pleasures of the flesh are often the downfall

Of talented men who began to crawl

Dancing never killed anyone

and no one got killed dancing.

 

The wars the fights and the peacock struts

Have continued since mankind begun

Choose your arena, choose your weapon

Dancing shoes or the barrel of a gun.

 

Music heals what people hurt

Poetry steals what movies covet

Paintings end up hugging stony walls

But dancing above all is in the moment

 

Transitory like a flutter of a piano sheet

Dance now or forever hold your feet.

 

Related-

http://www.themonkwholovestodance.com/

http://www.gakkaionline.net/Myths/Dancing.html

 

 

 

 

 

Interview with Rob La Gesse Chief Disruption Officer Rackspace

Here is an interview with Rob La Gesse ,Chief Disruption Officer ,Rackspace Hosting.
Ajay- Describe your career  journey from not finishing college to writing software to your present projects?
Rob- I joined the Navy right out of High School. I had neither the money for college, or a real desire for it. I had several roles in the Navy, to include a Combat Medic station with the US Marine Corps and eventually becoming a Neonatal Respiratory Therapist.

After the Navy I worked as a Respiratory Therapist, a roofer, and I repaired print shop equipment. Basically whatever it took to make a buck or two.  Eventually I started selling computers.  That led me to running a multi-line dial-up BBS and I taught myself how to program.  Eventually that led to a job with a small engineering company where we developed WiFi.

After the WiFi project I started consulting on my own.  I used Rackspace to host my clients, and eventually they hired me.  I’ve been here almost three years and have held several roles. I currently manage Social Media, building 43 and am involved in several other projects such as the Rackspace Startup Program.

Ajay-  What is building43 all about ?

Rob- Building43 is a web site devoted to telling the stories behind technology startups. Basically, after we hired Robert Scoble and Rocky Barbanica we were figuring out how best we could work with them to both highlight Rackspace and customers.  That idea expanded beyond customers to highlighting anyone doing something incredible in the technology industry – mostly software startups.  We’ve had interviews with people like Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and Founder of FaceBook.  We’ve broken some news on the site, but it isn’t really a news site. It is a story telling site.

Rackspace has met some amazing new customers through the relationships that started with an interview.

Ajay-  How is life as Robert Scoble’s boss. Is he an easy guy to work with? Does he have super powers while he types?

Rob- Robert isn’t much different to manage than the rest of my employees. He is a person – no super powers.  But he does establish a unique perspective on things because he gets to see so much new technology early.  Often earlier than almost anyone else. It helps him to spot trends that others might not be seeing yet.
Ajay – Hosting companies are so so many. What makes Rackspace special for different kinds of customers?
Rob- I think what we do better than anyone is add that human touch – the people really care about your business.  We are a company that is focused on building one of the greatest service companies on the planet.  We sell support.  Hosting is secondary to service. Our motto is Fanatic Support®

and we actually look for people focused on delivering amazing customer experiences during our interviewing and hiring practices. People that find a personal sense of pride and reward by helping others should apply at
Rackspace.  We are hiring like crazy!

Ajay – Where do you see technology and the internet 5 years down the line? (we will visit the answers in 5 years 🙂 )?
Rob- I think the shift to Cloud computing is going to be dramatic.  I think in five years we will be much further down that path.  The scaling, cost-effectiveness, and on-demand nature of the Cloud are just too compelling for companies not to embrace. This changes business in fundamental ways – lower capital expenses, no need for in house IT staff, etc will save companies a lot of money and let them focus more on their core businesses. Computing will become another utility.  I also think mobile use of computing will be much more common than it is today.  And it is VERY common today.  Phones will replace car keys and credit cards (they already are). This too will drive use of Cloud computing  because we all want our data wherever we are – on whatever computing device we happen tobe using.
Ajay- GoDaddy CEO shoots elephants. What do you do in your  spare time, if any.
Rob- Well, I don’t hunt.  We do shoot a lot of video though! I enjoy playing poker, specifically Texas Hold ’em.  It is a very people oriented game, and people are my passion.

Brief Biography- (in his own words from http://www.lagesse.org/about/)

My technical background includes working on the development of WiFi, writing wireless applications for the Apple Newton, mentoring/managing several software-based start-ups, running software quality assurance teams and more. In 2008 I joined Rackspace as an employee – a “Racker”.  I was previously a 7 year customer and the company impressed me. My initial role was as Director of Software Development for the Rackspace Cloud.  It was soon evident that I was better suited to a customer facing role since I LOVE talking to customers. I am currently the Director of Customer Development Chief Disruption Officer.  I manage building43 and enjoy working with Robert Scoble and Rocky Barbanica to make that happen.  The org chart says they work for me.  Reality tells me the opposite :)

Go take a look – I’m proud of what we are building there (pardon the pun!).

I do a lot of other stuff at Rackspace – mostly because they let me!  I love a company that lets me try. Rackspace does that.Going further back, I have been a Mayor (in Hawaii). I have written successful shareware software. I have managed employees all over the world. I have been all over the world. I have also done roofing, repaired high end print-shop equipment, been a Neonatal Respiratory Therapist, done CPR on a boat, in a plane, and in a hardware store (and of course in hospitals).

I have treated jumpers from the Golden Gate Bridge – and helped save a few. I have lived in Illinois (Kankakee), California (San Diego, San Francisco and Novato), Texas (Corpus Christi and San Antonio), Florida (Pensacola and Palm Bay), Hawaii (Honolulu/Fort Shafter) and several other places for shorter durations.

For the last 8+ years I have been a single parent – and have done an amazing job (yes, I am a proud papa) thanks to having great kids.  They are both in College now – something I did NOT manage to accomplish. I love doing anything someone thinks I am not qualified to do.

I can be contacted at rob (at) lagesse (dot) org

you can follow Rob at http://twitter.com/kr8tr

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