"If you're not having fun, you're not learning. There's a pleasure in finding things out."
- Richard FeynmanA good story can make a campfire that much eerier. A good story can flip a conversation at a party from completely awkward to wonderful. Andrew Stanton: The clues to a great story A good story can glue your nose to a book. And, on screen, a good story can rivet generation after generation.
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So, uh, how do you tell one?
Andrew Stanton, the Pixar writer and director behind both Toy Story and WALL-E, has many ideas, and he shared his expertise in his TED Talk, The clues to a great story. Below, see his golden rules of storytelling visualized by Karin Hueck and Rafael Quick of the Brazilian culture and science magazine Superinteressante.
Each month, the magazine’s editors take a TED Talk and give it to their graphic wizards to interpret in any way they see fit. Here, a reimagining of Stanton’s talk on stories. Via the Ugly Duckling. Just click the image to see a larger version.
(See also the first infographic in this series, illustrating David Blaine’s experiment to hold his breath for an astonishing 17 minutes. And the great take on the talk in which “eyeborg” wearer Neil Harbisson explains how he hears color. And the hows and whys of effective altruism, in this visual interpretation of Peter Singer’s TED Talk.)
Are Russian Spy Agencies Trying to Stoke Anti-US Sentiment in Mexico? According to the FBI, They Are
“The time has come to show the United States that it is under threat from a country of 130 million inhabitants that is finally waking up.” Russia is trying to poison bilateral relations between the Mexico and the US by taking advantage of Mexico’s ruling party Morena’s innate anti-Americanism. That is the conclusion of an […]
I note that Michael Howard in that passage did not even dare to name GCHQ, the British signals intelligence and cybersecurity organization where I started my career in 1969. I was told when still at university about their fast stream cadet programme without being expected to know officially beforehand that GCHQ was an intelligence agency or even to know of the wartime existence and triumphs of Bletchley Park. There were almost no academic sources that I could have consulted to enlighten me.
David Kahn had published in the US in 1966 his
groundbreaking book, Codebreakers: The Story of Secret Writing but we now know
that without his knowledge his publisher (Macmillan) had sent a copy of the
draft to the US National Security Agency (NSA) who tried unsuccessfully to
suppress it, but they did succeed – at GCHQ's insistence – in removing
references to NSA’s relationship with GCHQ as its long-term partner in UKUSA.
Only during a briefing given to the small number of candidates who had survived
the ordeal of the stiff GCHQ entry examination, just before the final
interviews in the summer of 1969, were the veils of secrecy lifted, slowly one
by one, with exhortations at each stage encouraging withdrawal if any of us
were experiencing doubts about what we were learning of the real work of the
organisation we were seeking to join.
In Praise of Intelligence Studies
Balancing National Security and Privacy: Examining the Use of Commercially
Available Information in OSINT Practices
Open
source intelligence (OSINT) researchers utilize specialized tools to access
vast amounts of data from multiple sources simultaneously. These tools,
equipped with (paid) modules, allow users to tap into aggregated data sets
containing commercially available information, such as location data from
mobile phone users. The utilization of commercially available information from
OSINT tools by intelligence and security services impacts fundamental rights
and freedoms; more specifically, the right to personal data protection. Drawing
from prior experience working on this topic within a Dutch oversight committee
on the intelligence and security services and international developments in
OSINT practice, insights are provided on this new OSINT practice and the responses
of oversight authorities. Rather than advocating for a categorical ban, a more
refined approach to process commercially available information from OSINT tools
is suggested. Building on the work of a Dutch oversight authority and the work
of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, four
recommendations are provided to intelligence and security services to
responsibly handle commercially available information in OSINT practices.
Assumptions in intelligence analysis
This
paper critiques the definitions of assumptions in intelligence analysis,
highlighting their lack of clarity and precision. It proposes more specific
definitions for assumption, presumption, and implicit assumption, emphasizing
the overlooked importance of presumptions. The paper aims to enhance the
understanding of assumptions among intelligence analysts, improving their
ability to identify and work with various types of assumptions. The discussion
includes an examination of the circularity and confusion in existing
definitions, the importance of recognizing different types of assumptions, and
the need for precise terminology in training. Additionally, the paper delves
into background assumptions, the role of presumptions in gap closing, and the
Toulmin method applied to working with assumptions.
Rethinking Thought: A Practitioner’s Guide to Critical Thinking in
Intelligence Analysis by Akshata Kumavat and Randall Stickley
Rethinking Thought: A Practitioner’s
Guide to Critical Thinking in Intelligence Analysis" is a groundbreaking
resource for anyone involved in national defense, homeland security, or law
enforcement. Intelligence analysis demands more than just processing data – it
requires sharp critical thinking skills, adaptability, and, above all, the
ability to reason without bias. This book delves into the core principles of
critical thinking, teaching analysts how to navigate ever-changing threat
environments while maintaining objectivity. The authors explore the pervasive
issue of cognitive bias, providing readers with practical strategies to
identify and remove it from their analysis. Whether you are working in the
high-stakes world of national security or day-to-day law enforcement
operations, mastering the art of unbiased thinking is crucial. "Rethinking
Thought" offers a clear roadmap for analysts to enhance their reasoning
abilities, improve analytical accuracy, and cultivate ethical decision-making.
It’s not just about understanding what critical thinking is, but also how to
apply it in real-world intelligence scenarios.
By
recognizing and addressing mental blind spots, this book equips you to overcome
common challenges in analysis and presents tools to refine your thought
processes. With a focus on practical application, it helps build confidence,
mental agility, and mastery in thought – traits every intelligence professional
needs to succeed. If you’re ready to take your analytical skills to the next
level, this book is an essential guide to becoming a more effective,
clear-minded, and ethical intelligence professional
