Colonel John Boyd's approach to tactical decision making: the OODA Loop

Colonel Boyd was a fighter pilot, who served in the United States Air Force during World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The OODA Loop was originally known as the “Boyd cycle.” OODA loops are denoscriptions of tactical air-to-air engagement, means of adjusting strategies in constant coevolution with one’s strategic environment, and metaphors for life itself. "...without OODA Loops... we will find it impossible to comprehend, shape, adapt to, and in turn be shaped by an unfolding, evolving reality that is uncertain, ever changing, and unpredictable" (Boyd, 1995). The process of observation, orientation, decision, action represents what takes place during the command and control (C&C) process.

1. Observe (Information Gathering)
2. Orientate (Filter & comprehend the information)
3. Decide (Make the best possible decision based on the filtered information)
4. Act (Take action / react)

Boyd, J. (1995). The Essence of Winning and Losing.

Roman Bronze Hand of Sabazios, 3rd Century AD
Bronze hands characterized by three raised fingers (thumb, index and middle finger) were offered to the Phrygian deity Sabazios, whose cult developed in Rome during the Empire. They often display a multitude of attributes (a bust of Mercury, a pine cone, a vase, a serpent, a lizard, etc. but the symbolism of these objects is not well known. Hands such as these were designed to stand in sanctuaries or were attached to poles for processional use.

"What does "German" mean? Are there German people? Some have thought they could and should deny it. Was there once a German people? Can there still be a German people today or in the future? Does it still exist today, or does it make sense to want to be "German" again? This has also been denied by some as untimely. The term "German" is much older than the state-geographical term "Germany" and extends far beyond the German Empire in terms of time and space... The meaning of the word historically handed down to us as "German" does not coincide with any state concept but probably with the concept of "people" and "country." In Carolingian times, "German" denoted the entirety of the Germanic languages... "German" is called "Thiudisk" in Old Saxon, Old West Frisian "Tyoesch," Latin-Sated Old High German (8th & 9th cent) "Theodiscus." This is the "völkische," i.e., "Germanic language" of the Thiudisca Liudi (Old Saxons), the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Lombards, Goths, etc."

Wirth, H. (1934). "What is German?"

"...we have preserved much “fuel” which might give rise to a clash, which might unleash a Third World War – but now a Third World War – it only can be, and if it happens, it will have to be a war of nuclear missiles, because giants are colliding – the Soviet Union and the United States of America, having powerful economies and a great number of thermonuclear weapons, then of course once they clash no one wants to accept their defeat without the use of all their resources which they have created as of today. Accordingly, this will be a terrible war, and this war will not only be local in the sense of some territory. No, it will be a world war."

"If there is a war – and the US President has spoken in the name of their allies, referring to them and hoping for their support – this means that not only the US, but also the countries in NATO will be in a state of war with us... But the US might fight against us only if the European countries, their allies, also want a war..."

N. Khrushchev, 1 August 1961

Darchinger, J. H. (1958). The ruins of the Reichstag building in Berlin

The Germans in Bulgaria in the time of the alliance between Tsar Boris and Hitler

According to a Bulgarian civilian who lived though WW2, "The Germans were very disciplined. Well dressed and mannered, they kept to themselves. Their uniform was spotless and their boots were shined. Early in the morning around 5am they would wash up and do laundry near the river in ice cold water. They seemed to be made of iron."

Photo: German tanks and Bulgarian women in National Clothing, April 1941.

"God is love devoid of the ape-nature... Dear ladies, tell me honestly, whose wives would you be today if noble men, if god-like Siegfrieds, had not torn you away from the Sodomite monsters, if they had not put you in warm nests, if they had not defended you — sword in hand — throughout thousands and thousands of years against Slavs, Mongols, Moors and Turks? Choose between us and those sons of Sodom, have yourselves sexually serviced on the mound of corpses of your husbands who fell in battle — as so many of your mothers' mothers did! Take them to your husbands' houses, so they can make harem slaves of you, so you can become the mother of a brood of lascivious, bloodthirsty beasts, who know no motherly or wifely love! ...Everywhere and always we must protect the institution of marriage, for it is the secure refuge of the race..."

Lanz von Liebenfels, J. (1905). Theozoology, or the Science of the Sodomite Apelings

WW1

#Art Millais, J. E. (1864). Leisure Hours [Oil on Canvas]

Swedish volunteers burn out Soviet pillboxes near the town of Ganko. Finland, August 29, 1941.

"For us women, to be German meant, and still means, always to be strong... Overcoming oneself, and life, leads to strength. And that also leads to clarity. Since many Germans must still learn to understand this, all of our efforts will also involve struggle, struggle with each other. In all this, however, we must be strong and cheerful people.

We enter the new year as Germans. That means we want to be alert and untiring, because we want to support each other in everything our nation faces. We do not want to compromise from weakness, but be comrades one to another who can demand the utmost of each other, because we are willing to give it ourselves. Then the work of German men and women will together form the self-aware and proud Germans that we need, since our people must live! With this will, we all return to work!"

Scholtz-Klink, G. (1936). To Be German is to Be Strong

Apion to his father and lord Epimachos: Many good wishes!
First of all I hope you are in good health and that things are going well for you and my sister and her daughter and my brother. I thank the Lord Serapis [an Egyptian god] for saving me right off when I was in danger at sea. When I arrived at Misenum [the Roman war harbor, near Naples], I received three gold pieces from the Emperor [Trajan?] as road money, and I’m doing just fine. Please write me a line, my lord father, about your own well-being, second about that of my brother and sister, and third so that I may devotedly greet your hand, because you brought me up well and I may therefore hope for rapid promotion, the gods willing. Give my regards to Capiton [some friend] and my brother and sister and Serenilla [a family slave?] and my friends. I’m sending you my little portrait through Euktemon. My [new]Roman name is Antonius Maximus.
All my best!

Grigory Rasputin, a family friend of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II is killed on 30.12.1916. The photo was taken on September 2, 1908. Rasputin is 39 years old here.

Credit: Yuri

Let those who have, keep, let those who have not, strive to attain, a high standard of cultivation and scholarship. Yet let us remember that these stand second to certain other things. There is need of a sound body, and even more of a sound mind. But above mind and above body stands character—the sum of those qualities which we mean when we speak of a man’s force and courage, of his good faith and sense of honor. I believe in exercise for the body, always provided that we keep in mind that physical development is a means and not an end. Self-restraint, self-mastery, common sense, the power of accepting individual responsibility and yet of acting in conjunction with others, courage and resolution—these are the qualities which mark a masterful people. Without them no people can control itself, or save itself from being controlled from the outside.
-Theodore Roosevelt April 23,1910
>A very Prosperious New Years to all the 7000 subscribers from the Admins

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give them to the poor; come and follow me!" Firstly Christ explained the causes which break man's connection with the heavenly realm. With the second commandment He explained the actions which restore the broken link...

Today's people complain of suffering and misery, looking for a way to get rid of it. They can only achieve this if they change their mind. Old thoughts must be replaced by new ones. Thinking right, in a new way, one understands that what caused him suffering yesterday can bring him joy today. That he has lost his property or his social status does not frighten him. His wealth, his dignity depend on him. He has the conditions to be rich, strong, and healthy...

Christ says: "Go into your secret room and pray to God, Who sees in secret." The secret room is the temple of the human soul. To enter the temple of one's soul means to reject from oneself all anger and resentment, all hatred and envy.

Dunov. P. (1917). Salvation

Church in Norway
~ 800 years old