First Blog

I have just put up a piece on wisdom, what it is and how to get it. Find it at the link below. https://www.linkedin.com/in/g-donald-allen-420b0315/detail/recent-activity/documents/

Lessons from Afghanistan, over the centuries. A. You cannot have peace until you settle all scores?  B. First, we tear down our own world, and destroy all enemies. Then we'll talk peace.  C. We kill the Infidel in loving service to Allah.

An interesting point about our military leaders and those of any responsible country is that they are scholars of war, conflict, weapons, strategy and tactics.   They all attend a war college to learn their craft.   Almost all have read extensively on the subject.   Some are historians of their profession. Many are articulate communicators about their operations, needs, equipment, troup strength, training, and promotion practices. They are sincere professionals – whether you agree with them or not. Now contrast this with the typical politician, especially elected officials.   Few have studied politics.   Few understand much more than pre-written talking points on any topic.   Few have any training on compromise and the other crafts of legislation. Most leaders probably rely more on intuition and instinct than any form of analysis. Putting your faith in politicians is therefore a risky belief. Next contrast this with pundits and news commentators.   Now we are dipping down yet

We most often talk of the evolution that occurred.  Yet, some evolutionary steps that could have happened never did and never will. This is a story of one example. Evolution that doesn’t happen.  I thought of this years ago, but never had a really good example.  Thanks to the BBC series  Blue Planet II – Coasts , we see the story of a bachelor sea lion that  discovers a way to trap yellowfin tuna.  Normally, any sea lion could never catch the very speedy tuna. But our bachelor thought up his method to herd the tuna into the dead end of a very shallow coastal region in the Galapagos.   When it first tried, the tuna escaped though the sea lion herded them into the shallows successfully. The problem? He could herd and close the trap at the same time.  Then he recruited some “friends” and they worked together to trap the tuna with one of them closing of the escape route.  Each enjoyed their own 60 kilo tuna – big meal-deal.  The creator of this trapping tuna scheme is no doubt a sea lio

Stock market man.  Suppose I’m worth billions, and have a reputation for picking stock market winners.  What can I do without thinking too much?   A.  I could continue my work, carefully analyzing markets and companies to make my investment decisions.  Maybe too much thinking. B.  I could identify potential sectors or companies, possibly lacking in current market attention, but with some potential.   Then, I could take a huge position with millions upon millions.   The market would take this in advisement and while not really knowing why it is important, would try to pile-on, on the basis of what we’ll call a “position testimonial.”   While pundits would explain why, they and others would also buy, driving up the price even more.   My investment of $300m might increase almost overnight to $350m.  This is what you can do with huge cash reserves.  Change the perception. Change the market. Enhance your investment. This is a totally legal form of market manipulation.  No insid