Motive

"She may well be smarter but she is constrained by lack of experience and a heavy reliance on deception."

Understanding possible rationales for the observed behavior provides a more flexible and therefore adaptable framework on which to investigate suspicious activity. Somewhere between 'that is what people that age do' and 'they are stealing hubcaps' is the sweet spot.

Open to less-than-intuitive clues can spell the difference between success and failure. Especially true if those opposed to exposure are relatively sophisticated.

In the case under consideration, a drive to offset controlling behavior may have led her to taking otherwise unnecessary risks.

"Our patiently implementing a plan to hold various parties to account is gaining momentum."

"Is that what Liar's Poker is about?"

"The book or the game?"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Engineered Blinders

"I don't have a place in the frame I have chosen for your comment."

"And if one chooses to call the function, focus and further attempts to keep the discussion closed ...

"Frames designed to last do not arbitrarily restrict scope and tend to morph with experience. Nurturance is such a frame. Please feel free to substitute the word of your choice for 'designed' above."

Good design is no accident. Lasting favorable outcomes result from sustained choice, not saturation advertising. Perception is the short game.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Electric Forest

"Think of it as workstations in the sticks. The idea is to 'design green' surrounded by nature's sustainable green with as small a human 'footprint' as possible. Bandwidth, a small source of power and just enough else to live. Each workstation operator shares her/his time between living in a progressively earth friendly way and using state-of-the-art tools to make better designs based on that principle."

With this simple of the cuff description, Electric Forest would be born. The idea had been brewing in his mind's eye for decades. Though he would share it from time to time over the years, usually with one open-minded friend at a time, it remained a personal pipe dream of no particular consequence.

It is now quite apparent to many that his vision was not unique. It was in-the-soup so to speak. It only became obvious when a critical mass of its elements were shared. The pace of sharing has accelerated dramatically (as we discuss frequently here).

"Central to this theme is the idea of an identity amplifier in your pocket. Call it a phone if you must, but it is much more and as they say, 'You ain't seen nothin' yet.'"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Choice

Stand By Me

"You would be very surprised at the choice you have.", he had looked deeply into her eyes to get this silent but highly explicit reply to his query. And yes, it was difficult to translate her 'look' into text. It becomes easier with practice, though.

One wonders just what the implications of free will really are. Castenada spoke of the 'wings of intent'. It has been the theme of a myriad a great literary works. Just pondering the question elicits so much.

Humans are very immature at birth, relative to other critters. Maturation in the womb for a being so complex, not an option. A horse stands shortly after birth (with mom's help) and matures must faster than her/his human friends.

This pattern literally personifies 'punctuated equilibrium' from a certain point-of-view. Descriptions need only to describe inflection points, so-to-speak, to capture a sustained essence. The explosion of discovery ideally lasts a lifetime. We learn much of why when trying to understand the meaning of the latency between birth and an individuated person and its arguably steepest gradient, adolescence.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Real Deal

"Thanks to the interests of organizations, what nearly everyone sees is security. What everyone will likely want is a superset, the best their authentic identity has to offer. That is where vision will separate the leaders from everyone else.

"It is not just the fusion of two legacy categories, security and personal authentication. It is, in fact, a quantum leap in how our networked technology will serve us by conveniently tying authentic ID to personal devices and their networks.

"Yes, the classic security applications will come first. But, on the basis of convenience alone, the number of revolutionary new applications will explode.

"The cumbersome method of identifying a user has been the historic bottleneck to realizing what biology has 'known' for a very long time - identity rocks."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Scrutiny

"When a pattern of what appears to be official 'discretion' to overlook is too widespread, suspicion is justified. I think the term might be 'probable cause' that something irregular is occurring."

"You may recall, a short while ago when something occurred that was clearly outside of reasonable expectation, there was an effort to dismiss it as a procedural matter that should be left to those who are paid to take care of that kind of problem.

"When it happened again, and then a third time, it was pushed up the analytical hierarchy. Automatic responses could no longer handle the conflicting incoming data. Higher level attention was required.

"In retrospect, it may have been wise to not press for an explanation too soon. We have probably learned an important lesson about investigatory finesse."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Less to Remember

"... but I do have an opinion."

"If you don't understand, say so and try to explain why. The value of dialog in this regard is discovering the nature of the disconnect between the intent of a message and how it was received. More importantly, both parties can be productively engaged for the duration of the interaction."

A technology that vets, ideally in real-time, the specific veracity of parties to a discussion would be a good thing. The platform already exists and is likely a high value near term opportunity.

A question of considerable import in this context is dealing with deception. At what point in the design continuum should it be addressed?

NOTE: Some of the foregoing in this BuzzTheHill post is not fictional. Consider its appearance here as a public disclosure and as such, to the degree something novel and not obvious to those skilled in the art has been discussed herein, the specific intent was/is to put it in the PUBLIC DOMAIN.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

A Study for That

"We agree with the other side. We shouldn't be lumped in with the stupid people just because we claim to be the good guys. We went to school and believed all that self-serving hype so we would not be stupid anymore. We bought and payed for our non-stupid license."

"The value of calling out bad behavior without reference to who is responsible for a single instance is, often, strategically effective. The opposition may have to admit to something they would rather not in order to retaliate."

Changing the frame in the middle of the discussion should be rejected immediately. Conversations are better than well-funded messaging, most of the time.

Rewarding the academically entitled on condition they do not look deeper can keep a diversion alive. That is until the sell-out is adequately exposed. K street is famous in part for this activity.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Owe?

"Traffic is down but the machine is being primed. How might we improve that process?

"Search related. Trends. Relevant communication. What else?"

Finding an appropriate initial scope often had a chaotic feel to it. Long before concepts can be adequately explicit for other purposes, defining an arbitrary initial boundary nearly mandates, less rigor. Intuition and recognition are more conducive to the front end.

"Latency between value delivered and value returned. Longer means more returned because of the time value of ..."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Flood

"What?"

"I am not sure I can answer that. Very little is familiar in today's context. Yet the emotional thread is goes back decades and sometimes much longer.

"Hate has that quality. Senseless but powerful."

"And so too, its opposite. Mindful and transcendent."

Deep in the throws of infection one sees boundless energy gone awry. And therein lies a subtle truth. Energy alone has no value.

Therefore, it seems, begin to identify with meaning. It can be different one day. The process of becoming authentic has already begun.

Those of us who find ourselves highly suggestible have a unique role to play as the mission's benefits proliferate. For we can be dangerous - quite the opposite is also true.

This is dedicated to the one I love.      

NOTE: Some of the foregoing in this BuzzTheHill post is not fictional. Consider its appearance here as a public disclosure and as such, to the degree something novel and not obvious to those skilled in the art has been disclosed herein, the specific intent was/is to put it in the PUBLIC DOMAIN.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Press Leverage

"I am beginning to think a hybrid of exposing the dysfunctional system while making an example of a specific instance will be easier than merely attempting a daring rescue for which said corrupt system is already highly practiced to resist.

"There is already substantial pressure to change built up. Too many hurt. Too many gaming the system. Solution beginning to coalesce. Waiting for a catalyst."

"As we know, when the first amendment serves all the people, our system of government has been and can be again the envy of the world. It has been under serious assault by a few that feel entitled to decide for others. They are not likely to prevail though. You are viewing this with one of the most effective tools for implementing fairer distribution of control."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

HIPAA Obfuscation Tactic

Medical Monster - Oregon

"One of the big reasons they have fallen so far behind is being negligently blind to competition. Becoming used to crushing those that would challenge their hegemony has come at a substantial price.

"Heavy artillery requires very little in the way of sophisticated analysis of the target.

The skill to intelligently engage the opposition tends to atrophy over a long period of time.

"Standards in lieu of innovation seems counter-intuitive unless said standards are designed to advantage a subset of the folks affected to the detriment of the others."

One of the bigger arguments against special interests crafting legislation - a highly visible conflict-of-interest if exposed to the light of day.

"Who interprets HIPAA when there is probable cause that a crime is being committed? Is it limited to people who can afford an attorney or who can wait way too long for publicly provided counsel?"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

We Rob Banks

A flanking maneuver can turn the tide of battle. It is a centuries old tactic employed in many a conflict. One can visualize turning the battle scene inside out.

Could we be in the midst of a tide turn? One in which the Banks Rob Us into something entirely different -  as if to pull the outside, inside?

Once abstractions become highly refined and therefore reliable, transforms can be applied more reliably. This in turn, suggesting recipes for change.

At the time a pattern becomes credible, it invites reasonable speculation about possible instances. More instances, more material to detect unexpected patterns. Repeat as needed.

Any more questions?

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Meanwhile, in Plain Site

"Safe?"

"What? ... I guess I hadn't really thought about it. I was focused on something else."

Was the direction of your gaze of your own choosing? Are you sure? Master manipulators are able to control what is seen and do so without being noticed.

The frame chosen can say something about what is just outside it. The context sets the stage, so-to-speak. That too can be staged. See a pattern here?

A director is able to understand both the scene and means to produce it while the camera is rolling. The actors use mind's eye techniques to create the illusion for the audience of 'being there'. In post-production, the suspension of disbelief is enhanced even further. Message scaled to an immersive experience.

In a different venue and for a different purpose, the con-man uses some of the same techniques. With modern technology progressing so rapidly, the entire process is operating at much higher 'frequency'. Often the 'leaders' are defined by cutting-edge speed management alone.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Cool Theory

"While you were away being 'cool', something else was going on. Surprised?"

"Yeah, yeah. Connections are the new medium. Blah, blah, blah."

Suddenly, there was a spontaneous prolonged silence. The contentious conversation came to an abrupt halt. Neither blame nor credit, appropriate.

She knew in that moment something had transcended the mindless chatter. Further, asking what made it so (at least in detail) could be deferred. The event marked a milestone. The rest felt it too, soon after the silence began.

"He feared your friends were there. With good reason, I suspect."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Connected

"A key aspect of the process we have been investigating is the following: So-called 'random thoughts' are almost entirely illusion.

"Further, it is worthwhile to systematically dispel the notion of overly abundant chance through study of abstract patterns. Human behavior is a laboratory without equal in this regard."

"Attachment to 'naming' as a precursor to discovery resulted from an overwhelmed connection infrastructure?"

"I would argue that fact may have emerged recently. In response to the proliferation of ego-driven aspirations. Predation as entertainment."

It was 'just a dream'. Really? Chaos theory, a recently credible field of study, suggests there is more. Beyond what the ego would have us believe meets the mind's eye. Scale this model up and consider the implications. Google and others have.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Mapping Trust

"Secretly exporting fossil fuels should raise every red flag imaginable. Should it not? I simply cannot imagine a case where this could be justified given the dire circumstances evident.

"Mere corruption of a county government pales in comparison, much less a 'parenting issue. The fact that such a seemingly shallow ruse would be tried may indicate something very significant as we move forward."

"Most of the natural resources discussed here lately are land-locked to some degree or another ..."

She cued up the counterpoint narrative. Sharply contrasting views of liberty, security and the role of government. Within a few short minutes the competing arguments could expose those benefiting from a sustainable standoff. But somebody would have to be first, looking - second, motivated to take remedial action and third, believe it would bring about beneficial change.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Wrong Station

"For those ideas you need not deceive or threaten anybody. The capital you need will find you. If this is not what you have been hearing, find something better to listen to."

And if it has been a long time since one has experienced authenticity, encountering it might not immediately be recognized as being much different then the flood of messages claiming to be so.

Identities are a very special top-level case. Aliases, screen names and the like were an accepted standard in early versions of internet applications. The intrinsic value of authenticity emerged as the utility of the new technology proliferated.

High fidelity data has a very large natural market and now competes with the relatively low fidelity mechanism of property ownership.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Runaway

Half a century of integrity. More than a match for e=mc2.

"You are certifying that no crime has been committed? Perhaps you can have an affidavit prepared to that effect."

"Loyalty is generally considered a good thing. When it overrides integrity? Something entirely different.

"Many a successful political career has been built upon revealing when a bad choice of this type is made. It is what DA rising stars do. Discover and prosecute corruption while exposing wilfull ignorance subsidized by deceived tax-paying citizens. We are not just talking about the wealthy and powerful citizens. Instead, ALL of them."

Gathered here today to see as one alone cannot, they each chose their words carefully. A tradition handed down in many cultures the world over. Ritual without wisdom is a waste. Campfire light helps.

"Into the arms of the disguised and wicked, the victims may not know who to trust. Easily attracted to slick deception out of desperation, they feed the cancer unaware that reaching instead to their metaphorical sister or brother builds their immune response. And in the process, protecting them from predators."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Now What?

Aren't we being a bit ... over dramatic?

"If history is a guide, look for the candidate to try stalling until it is too close to the election to impact it."

"That won't work. He is not the incumbent. The intelligence agencies are reporting to the other guy."

"Maybe they aren't now, even if they were then."

"What do you mean?

"It has been a long time since the FBI director 'for life' passed away. To this day, we cannot be sure that his highly questionable actions as director have passed into insignificance."

"There is a file for that." Her dark humor was not lost on anyone in the room.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Watergate Wasn't The Burglary

Counseling

"Decades later on many scales and at differing locales, investigations still have timeless elements in common."

Remember what Deep Throat said in the parking garage? 'Follow the money'. Woodward's source. We only recently learned who it was, Mark Felt.

What has been abbreviated as Watergate (the hotel where the break-in occurred) was actually about the cover-up of something much larger. We may yet to have seen the entirety of its consequences.

Meanwhile at the local and somewhat smaller scale, is it so farfetched that the agent who risked jumping ship feeling, 'what is left to lose' has just begun to create from her own bag? Is she aware of just how big a rock is hidden just below the surface? The team is speculating on strong circumstantial evidence it is far larger than they had assumed.

Breakthroughs in leadership too have something in common.

It could be 'brilliant' or just another dream in an imaginary world of no importance. Yeah, right. Like there were just two possibilities.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Testing

Hanging ... OUT

"Hopefully, in a matter of hours we'll be ready for the next test. Aspects of our timing are, to a small degree, externally dependent. If there is no discernible change in the environment in the intervening period, the test launch will occur soon after the remaining items on the list are complete. They include identification of escalation supervisors and the debrief agenda."

In many similar situations, using a bottom-up approach while escalating when appropriate to honor the systems that have been put in place has proven workable. If that effort stalls and the issue is still valid, then a top down tactic is called for.

Predictive capacity relies heavily on dynamic updates of underlying assumptions. So, we test. Frequently.

"By the way, the long sentences exhaust me too. Hope to be fixing them soon."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Luna Logic

"If it runs away, I chase it. Maybe bark at it too.

"Then were friends." Not everything said by the licky face, waggy tail, barky dog translated well. This did though.

One does not question the sentiments of upside-down dogs.

The humans discussed their observations of the two sentient beings. The spectrum in several dimensions came as no surprise to one human. He on the quest documented so extensively in the log.

"Same thing as dancing really. Familiar protocol that allows natural interpretation to discover common ground. Another fancy word for it might be, diplomacy?"

"The function of the state department in microcosm. There is a pattern here. What shall we call it?"

"Matrimony." She was joking. Sort of.

For social critters, isolation is an experience best in moderation. Others, maybe not so much.

"The rule book says we are supposed to have fun when we spend a lot of money going to places where we don't really know anybody."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Backoff!

Back off!

"Maybe. But what about the taunting?"

"Lets come back to that.

"No visible means of support. Far from home. 'Teflon Man'. Higher purpose than protecting a wayward innocent. Privately controlled government resources.

"Quite a list, anyway you look at it."

"Yes, but is turning state's evidence in the mix? The question remains, back off from what?

At some point 'the deal' that precipitated the hullabaloo will be out in the open for all to see. And this will be so because of the coordinated efforts of so many to hide it. The leadership did not adequately calibrate certain players that they needed to deceive. Oops. 'What if all of us are caught?'"

"Oh look. We have run out of time. Lets pick up on this next time."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Radio Bigger Than Limbaugh?

"Da' Wolfman. Arr-oooo."

"Yes. It was decades ago. Many are too young to remember. The key element to the success of the medium was emergent, some would argue. Stimulating an imaginary stage in the minds of those who could only hear the presentation in real-time from far-away."

"We often read or become aware of how an engaged audience 'identifies' with a performance. This fundamental pattern is at least as ancient as humanity. Most of what we experience is mind's recursive playback of what went before, dynamically interpreted. World's best abstraction engine has an unmistakable architecture we are just beginning to deeply understand."

Among technology milestones, radio certainly deserves a spot. History will not remember the last to exploit a seminal medium any more than the radio set that slowly quit, buzzing and crackling as it faded.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Opposition's Operating Manual

"You might be wondering how they do it. I know we have been. Much of the toolbox is about adjusting perception to fit an agenda on a wide variety of scales and demographic groups."

He flipped to the next slide. It depicted graphically some key findings. One of the bullets fit well with the directed dialog just completed.

• Disposable Identities - convenient like plastic bags and just about as good for the planet.

Let the market decide (with a 'little help' from so called job-creators through the owned media). It is easier to co-opt commonly used words than to develop and name a successfully propagating meme.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Predatory Employment Network

What is a Safe House and how does it work?

"Yes, you two are responsible and you don't get to know what is going on. Its the law."

Two members benefiting from said network relate conflicting views as to whether or not a resource is available to a target of their operations. Both enjoy employment with a private sector organization serving, in part, subjects (targets) brought to them by the government.

Controllers of the network are hidden using modern cloaking techniques which are not perfect. Opponent's best opportunity to disrupt the network's operations is to expose this secrecy mechanism. People get a bit upset when they are lied to.

"Why would you spend so much time fighting city hall when all you have to do is hand your teenager over to a dysfunctional but highly profitable system and take the blame in the form of admitting that you were a really lousy parent? A few years of counseling will be over before you know it. You will be supporting the illusion that the secret agenda is good for employment and encourage the export of fossil fuels (coal, oil, LNG etc.) What is not to like?"

"Oh, I don't know. Since corruption cleanup is what I do and I love my work, why not get two noble goals accomplished doing the same thing? It is what I have been doing for nearly three years. Practice, practice, practice."

"But wait, not only will this keep these folks gainfully employed by stepping on the unfortunate, the owned media will give them credit for doing a tough job."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Stupid

"If you are so smart, what is your excuse for being monumentally stupid on this one, sweetheart?"

Hearing this, she got really mad, which hardly ever happens :-) "Spending your coming-of-age career trying to make others look stupid is … well, stupid."

And the colored girls sing, "do to do, do too to do …" Walk on the wild side.

Dumbo in tow, knew better. Gaming the system can be a dangerous way to fly, but like a Ritalin high can get you through the next final (sometimes).

"But counselors have to make money too."

"Why and from whom?", he wondered out loud.

Smoke began to emerge from those perky ears of hers. Was it another act? It was apparent by now that she had been overplaying that hand. 'Stupid is as stupid does."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Freedom's Responsibility

July 12, 2012

Love is just a four letter word?

Home is too.

And tattoo has two more letters.

But the subject is neither words or letters or even a tattoo about cosmic wisdom. Those not needing credit for mission accomplished realize that the journey is the reward. It is now a legendary formula for success of a much larger kind.

One does not need a Big Guy in the Sky to figure out that compassion of the ego-less type does not go unnoticed. More than a few suggest purely natural causes (like biological evolution) could and probably do, at least in part, explain the long observed phenomenon. To dwell on causal relationships of timeless matters misses the point and is probably a waste of spirit.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Citizen's Arrest

Banks? What banks?

"Strung out on who knows what, it is amazing what leveraging privacy penetrating allegations can have in maintaining a corruption cover-up."

"Lights on. Its where you light that first match, so-to-speak. Some would have you believe it takes a steady supply of energy and/or money. But in the scheme of things, the location of first light is most critical to illumination over time and a match does not cost much. Let me explain."

One person, in particular, provided the enabling clue. Protecting her for her courage made sense not just because of her bravery. An image of an ethical underground (for lack of a better term), has appeared.

Often referenced as having a morale compass, certain individuals show an extraordinary capacity to do the right thing even though risky in some sense to them personally.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Redemption

"You see, what the 'soup' said to me as the evening set in today was 'I want to be a parent that does the right thing, too'. And I know this can be the time to shine, hippie rock jock dad and would be athlete (haha) becomes communicator with self.

"My mom meant much for me. I was a clueless junior high school kid. She arranged for us to see a football game with 'her' and her mom. Like every girl I had a crush on, I could not look at her unless I felt bigger than life. The story of why is for a different time. A half century later, it finally begins to resonate. Like a finely tuned instrument. But I digress ..."

"That night, I did not feel bigger than the life I did not understand. Even as much as perhaps others my age. I don't know which teams played and I did not even look at her pretty face. Can you imagine what she might have been thinking? It makes me cringe … even in this new century."

Her son is the male version of what I want for my only child who looks to have lost her way for a bit. Wise persons advised just what my soup re-iterated …"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Justified Deception

"You did it first!"

"I did not. I had to take care of my family. Besides, I am an expert on family dynamics. We have built an ecosystem here. Many family wage jobs are part of it. Our actions are reasonable to protect what we have. Others can fend for themselves."

Discovery

After a few seconds of contemplation, he countered, "Or not. A sound secular argument for universal compassion suggests otherwise. Bucky called it synergy. Shakyumuni, Chenzerig. Our innate capacity to harvest our better nature has been and will be critical to our species longevity.

"That temper reared its ugly head was a mistake. It is not, however, justification for perpetuating such foolhardy behavior. As if the concept of eternal punishment has any merit whatsoever.

How would you like your avarice? Over easy? Salt and pepper?", she knew how the jury would react. The judge let it pass (at some risk). Plugging leaks can be resource intensive ... and ultimately, futile.

"You and I are the same. We suffer. We experience happiness. We change. I am betting the farm that if I help you, you in turn are likely to reciprocate. Scaled up, the logic is inescapable. The first step is one's own. Am I wrong?"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Social Networks

Memories

"The internet isn't written in pencil, Mark. It's written in ink"

Malleability of human memory is a double edged-sword. When the forces shaping it are authentic and pure, the value increases. The other edge often engenders afflictive emotion - or so it seems.

We and others have argued that identity as defined recently in the context of the connection machine (internet) is at or near the top of the abstraction pyramid.

And notable in this context is the idea that experience is recorded in great detail but sorted for later access based on our mind's reinforced abstractions. 

 It can be difficult (but not impossible) to correct less than optimal 'training' that makes access to newly available and relevant knowledge problematic.

"Old data, new paths?"

"Yes, basically. A foundation for creating wisdom. A path leading toward enlightenment."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

TeenRage Testing Labs

Runamucka

"Better a piece of technology than a sentient at least. You outta' see the other side."

"I didn't know iPhones came in red."

"Nope, me neither."

"A favorite scene from the the movie, Moonrise Kingdom was ...

Ok, Ok. There is more than one scene from that film. Is that possible? I mean favorite. Like several ... favorites."

If you have been paying attention (I am often reminded just how difficult that is when it is my writing :-), the response to this log entry serves to explain the rationale for editing in place. The 'miracle' of the pooch I call Google grows faster because it watches me, and I it (not sure yet of Google's gender).

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Mortgage

"This log has made mention of property ownership on a number of occasions. Carlin's routine late in life nailed it. In the case of real estate, this period has shown just how unscrupulous activities can be massively scaled. It has happened before.

"Today's difference, unprecedented global privatization? One is well advised to be keenly aware of the interdependence of all, imagined and material.

"Things at the latest incarnation of The Company is not as it appears?"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

The Right Thing To Do

"Just a dozen or so years since this simple Buddhist monk appeared on my radar. What a magnificent ride it has been for me. Put to music, the message of universal compassion feels truly magical."

"I don't want to confuse determination with anger any longer. Nor humility with shame. Smart is to share. To abandon wisdom for faith simply makes no sense at all. Sentients not 'laws' because we live rather than just obey."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Running Against False Choice

"… this low ranking individual trusted by top management with looking into allegations of impropriety cross-examined under oath on the witness stand in a public trial would be interesting. Very."

"Should we start allocating resources to bring this about?.", she asked. Cash preservation ranking high, this meant that the assistant and other team members would look at first steps like selective disclosure.

"Lets complete making the reports searchable and revisit that question. It may only take a couple of hours."

The silver-lining of a constrained budget is the discipline it enforces. Challenged but confident humans unencumbered with a need to deceive tend to thrive. Knowing where to look in a field of camouflage and misdirection requires patience and adaptive savvy.

Case in point, using a trusted tool already vetted rather than pyramiding risk by searching for something more convenient and/or relying on costly third party offerings. As predicted, the searchable report document became ready by the afternoon."

 "Its done. One official's name stands out among the others suggesting a good spot to start 'digging'."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Counselor

She is smarter than he would like to admit. Smarter than him at the promise in exchange for cash game. He, humiliated, acted out. Claiming the best of intentions and implicitly competent more than a bit beyond what was justified.

Welcome to a growing club. Perhaps with some considerable distance from a half century ago, history provides perspective. Turbulent times born of a war, assassinations.

Music with purpose … sky pilot.

She has not been afraid to visit the log. Its not the only thing we might learn from her. That, however, does not mean that other's experience of persuasion's double edged sword wouldn't help her navigate unchartered waters. Preferably, sans isolated ego.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Searchable

"One would gather that the famous inter-jurisdiction law-enforcement databases are far less robust than the most popular (and free) search engine on earth? What is wrong with this picture?"

Back on the radar, so-to-speak. In the clutches of the adversary, showing remarkable resilience.

One of the main reasons for avoiding anything resembling nepotism, one suspects. The potential exists for a conflict of loyalties. She has been and is pointing the way in plain sight. The simultaneous pride and fear for her safety, palpable.

Tracking the geo-location path of a single device and correlating it with the other sequential data, would be useful. Has anyone begun that work?

The publicly funded system seems rigged to avoid accountability to most citizens. Not the best situation in a supposed democracy. Yet another clue.

The implicit second amendment right to bear cyber-arms of various calibers? What if such activity virtually crosses nation-state borders?

Meanwhile transactions of a certain type kept increasing and had the general pattern:

"I am not involved."

"Involved in what?"

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Rendezvous

"A bit late for lunch isn't it?"

Like so much about this chapter, things appear odd. For a year and a half, a change of address is a critical factor of compliance with the long probation. Yet when authorities are clearly exposed to reasonable suspicion of breach, nothing happens? No reasons given. Hostility to related queriess. Other questions ignored. False accusations readily believed and recorded. What truth need anyone be afraid of, especially those charged with protecting public safety?

"Stupid Clucks (Ok, I may have got the spelling wrong on one of the words). Grandiose claims of big, dumb and spoiled it seems. The laptop with a catchy descriptive name, Sticker Computer central to the mystery. And still not sure exactly, why. Getting closer though.

"Messages from a single cell. But who was/is texting? Locations of usage available to whom and how? How much of 'dance' was show? And what is magic about a trip to Germany? Another decoy?"

Consistent patterns of deception can be a reliable source of clues if one has sufficient inductive skills.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Selling Something

Need Cash. Risk More.

"Nothing exemplifies The Gilded Age 2.0 (or is it 3.0?) quite like the US Oil and Medical Industries. Each formidable in the power it exerts over quasi-governance in these United states. Together, unstoppable … almost."

Given how Big Pharma has become internationally deployed (clever) - escaping taxation and regulation is all but routine - as previously discussed in the log.  The July 5th Germany mention, lit up the detectors like a Christmas tree.

"Motive for cover-up is consistent with recent observations. Patterns at the abstract base class level. It led us to Wichita and we did not even know at the time that location would be significant."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Modern Thuggery

Beach Drama

"... but some ethical folks at Homeland Security may see it differently. They tend to pay attention. At least until mysteriously told not to by a higher ranking individual who alternates between government and private sector jobs in our nation's capital."

Knowing certain things disclosed online would attract the attention of adaptable 'bots. It was clear to the team by now - the systemic threat of the 'champions of liberty' network justified the risk of alerting a wider jurisdiction. Funny (peculiar rather than haha) the irony of its appearing corrupted by private contractors too.)

"And you thought we should be celebrating independence by 'hanging out'", her feeble attempt at disguising her sarcasm, embarrassingly transparent."

"Who has authority where takes on a whole new meaning at the federal level, especially in a pivotal election year."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

No Visible Means

Eat your veggies.

"Who do we have to bribe to keep this secret?"

"As you know, they would not say it so bluntly. It would be in a plausibly deniable code easily obscured by manufactured drama. Especially from calibrated sources."

'Scrappers' learn faster out of necessity. A blank check can be a prescription for fatally sustained ignorance. Sugar daddy is a thug?

"Should we play the 'big, dumb and dangerous' card?"

"Give it a few hours, we may hear a few more useful echoes in the interim."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Stockholm

Who "is" she?

"A syndrome, dramatically illustrated by the real life story of Patty Hearst. Four decades later, Deja Vu?"

"Versions of identity might include:
1) awareness of self as a coherent whole
2) view of context from a unique position in space/time
3) electronic or other proxy of 1 and/or 2

"In this case, it is important not to conflate version and persona. The list should be longer, no doubt. The intent is to broach the subject of identity in our modern era.

"Eric Schmidt (now Chairman and former CEO of Google) used the word 'identity' to describe what Facebook got right, first. Look it up."

Its a 'sticky' issue in more ways than one. Nineteen like the age 17 serves to illustrate just why the subject is neither trivial nor close to being 'solved'. We might as well face facts, there are few, if any, shortcuts to the promise of subtle wisdom.

One often hopes that resolution won't take decades in the making.

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Emergent

"Memetic emergence is at a higher frequency."

"As opposed to classic evolution?"

"Yes, from a Fourier frequency domain perspective. The lay significance is that optimism has a scientific basis that can be understood by far more than those who claim the credentials to opine on the topic."

"The deductive constraint of classical scientific theory?"

"Seems that way from where I sit, yes."

© 2012 Buzz Hill

Ransom

"In essence, the idea is to extort a portion of all messaging related to interpretation of the first amendment?"

"That is pretty strong language. Is it justified?"

"Someday soon, going with him. Someday soon."

Documented petty theft distanced the perception of complicity for a company peripherally involved while simultaneously and indirectly building a case for exploitation. An initiation ritual or something more sinister? Perhaps, traumatic bonding?

As the numbers of participants expand, the truths specific to the instance start to dominate. Reality vs. perception over time. Shared perception is simply closer to reality. Two but not two. As mathematicians might say, the distribution, in its entirety, is between the two poles.

© 2012 Buzz Hill