Evaluating Sources – Forty Years of Data Gathering and Analysis

Every day we are inundated with a deluge of new data and “perspectives.” Perspectives are a crude, often very crude, form of analysis. The average person is way too busy with the demands of the consumerist treadmill to deal with that deluge. Jobs, cars, the new iPhone 200, the 700 inch TV, the $2000 whizbang outdoor grill, demand so much attention. All so that they can spend their weekends with friends, glued to the TV watching sports games, drinking alcohol to self-medicate, and arguing over millionaire sports player’s stats. They don’t have time or the resources to learn and gain the experience to better their lives and those around them. It is also a lot of work to maintain vigilance, situational awareness, and risk management/assessment in order to be safe and secure. That’s what we have a bloated government and armed law enforcers for, right?

Take the best interest of you, your family, your close circle, and tribe/community into your sphere of management. Don’t leave your peace of mind, safety, security, liberty, or freedom in the hands of others. No one will put your needs (not wants) first, except you.

I offer this advice when you select sources of analysis:

1. Trust but regularly verify (everyone needs to trust someone)
2. Reject those who consistently offer negative analysis.
   1. Nothing is always right or always wrong.
3. Select someone who provides direct empirical data and source points for the in-depth data.
4. A genuinely skilled analyst is able to wade through the muck of negative data and decern a positive direction and plan of action to not only survive it but grow and prosper through it.

Once you have found a few of those trusted analysts, you have a baseline from which to work. Having them does not mean that you don’t need to work. The trusted analysts will provide a jumping-off point, a guide, a poke in the side for your own research. Your experience, place in life, work, etc. will give you a unique perspective. When you search and go down the rabbit hole to find, verify, or clarify data, you may find things that the source would never look at. The information that you find should be logged and then shared with others for them to refine wherever possible. You will own the data because you will be part of its development.

The fuel for the machine of self-determination and personal responsibility is wisdom.

(See the articles under the category – Forms of Reasoned Thought.)

I have linked to each relevant article in my suggested order:

True Preparedness Demands Effort

Liberty, Freedom, and Sovereignty

Reactive Response Forfeits Liberty and Freedoms

Survival, Altruism, and Self Interest

How to Handle Raw Data from Sources

Beware Pseudointellectualism

Fact Checking & Data Processing

When facts are not the whole story

Knowledge is NOT Power

Normative Data (Subjective)

Empirical Data (Objective, Verifiable, Reproducible)

Data Sharing versus Analysis

How Visual and Audible Inputs Alter Perception

Motivation, Manipulation, Coercion, and Enticement

Hegelian Dialectic -Manipulating People for Power & Profit

Civil Protest and Reasoned Civil Discourse

Why are people brutal?

Survival Is Rarely Pretty or Peaceful – Ask Nicolo Machiavelli

 

Will’s Universal Maxims – Tips for Life

 

Language – The Glue That Binds a Society

Perspectives in Leadership and Group / Cohesion Survival

The Power of Civil Dialectic and Conversation

Dunbar’s Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) - Biological Agent Connection

A CBRE expert who I have known for years was talking to me about “crazy stupid” things that preppers, survivalists, and bushcrafters do. I told him about the mushroom incident (Click here to read). Suddenly, the discussion turned to Ricin and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the possibility of a State Actor or Terror Organization.

Article Goal:

Informational

Heighten frontline operator's situational awareness to a possible risk factor. All empirical data points are useful as tools to rapidly identify threats, mitigate, and/or eradicate them with minimum negate the negative impact on the operators and those who they protect or serve.

Executive Summary:

Over the past three weeks, several highly reliable sources have provided me with empirical data as well as analysis from security professionals who have asserted that Ricin is the actual cause for many of the SARS-CoV-2 sudden, no symptom deaths occurring in the recent (May 1-11, 2020) period. They are warning that people need to be highly alert for signs of Ricin.

I cannot confirm the analysis, but I have validated the empirical data. I will present that below in the supportive data section. I am not asserting that someone is intentionally exposing SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) patients to this bioweapon.

Those working the frontlines of the response to this “crisis” are already at risk from ordinary health and safety issues. Doctors, Nurses, Police, EMS, etc. on the ground are telling me that the people at ground level are lost. They say that no one actually has been read in on any of the formal risk analysis data. Things have happened so quickly and that there is a lot of confusion. Every piece of tangible, verifiable data is essential.

In light of the early assertions that the “virus” was a bioweapon and other new claims asserting that the COD in sudden emergent cases is, in fact, Ricin, I felt that it would be irresponsible not to mention the outside possibility. Vigilance never hurt anyone. My rule is to always err on the side of caution. Since the source material is ubiquitously available in wild settings throughout the world, any idiot or state actor would be able to create the toxin. See the list of incidents involving Ricin on Wikipedia.

*** Like the virus, Ricin can be inactivated by heat above 80 degrees centigrade (176 degrees Fahrenheit). If either pathogen is on a package or item delivered to an essential location it is advised that you place the items in an environment that will deactivate the pathogen. SARS-CoV-2 is inactivated at 135 degrees Fahrenheit,

According to the CDC, it is clear that the assertion of the analysis is within the possibility. The symptoms are nearly identical to those of SARS-CoV-2. The difference is that there is no antidote for Ricin poisoning.

Cases of Ricin poisoning are rarely identified by health or law enforcement officials. The number of incidents is so rare that most health professionals have no idea of what it is.

If you listen to my radio show with another NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) weapon specialist David Jones that I did on May 17, 2016, you will see that he did not consider a biological attack to be of extreme threat. Listen to the show.

Supporting Data:

Ricin – What is it, and where does it come from?

Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans.

• If castor beans are chewed and swallowed, the released Ricin can cause injury.

• Ricin is found in three forms
  • powder
  • a mist
  • pellet
  • dissolved in water or weak acid.
• Ricin is a stable substance under normal conditions
• Ricin can be inactivated by heat above 80 degrees centigrade (176 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Castor oil is extracted from Castor beans
  • Castor beans are processed throughout the world to make castor oil.
  • Ricin is part of the waste “mash” produced when castor oil is made.
• Ricin has been used experimentally in medicine to kill cancer cells.

 

(from MedPage TODAY 4/18/2013)

“Depending on the route of exposure (such as injection or inhalation), as little as 500 µ of Ricin could be enough to kill an adult. A greater amount would be needed to cause death if Ricin were ingested.”

It takes a deliberate act to manufacture Ricin to poison people. Ricin is one of the most toxic biological agents known — a Category B bioterrorism agent and a Schedule Number 1 chemical warfare agent.

What are the symptoms of ricin poisoning?

Clinicians should be alert to illness patterns and diagnostic clues that might indicate an intentional release of Ricin.

The extent of manifestations of ricin poisoning in humans depends on the amount of Ricin to which a person was exposed, route of exposure, and extent of organ involvement.

Significant exposure to Ricin would result in a relatively rapid, progressive worsening of symptoms over approximately 4 to 36 hours. Death may occur within 36 hours of exposure. If death has not occurred by 5 days from exposure, the victim usually recovers.

Symptoms

Ingestion Exposure:
Some or all of the following symptoms may be manifest:

• • Profuse vomiting
  • Profuse diarrhea (bloody or non-bloody)
  • Severe dehydration
  • Weakness
  • Influenza-like symptoms: fever, myalgia, and arthralgia
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Hematuria (Blood in Urine)
  • Hypotension

Hypovolemic shock and multiple system organ failure may occur, leading to death.

Inhalational Exposure:

Some or all of the following symptoms may be manifest:

• • Cough, respiratory distress, bronchoconstriction
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Cyanosis
  • Nausea
  • Excessive diaphoresis
  • Weakness
  • Influenza-like symptoms: fever, myalgia, and arthralgia
  • Hypotension, respiratory failure and multisystem organ failure may occur, leading to death.

Dermal and ocular exposure by Ricin in powder or mist form can cause erythema and pain of the skin and eyes.  

Check out the rest of the article for more details and treatment.

(from CDC)

Ricin or Abrin Poisoning
TOXIC SYNDROME DESCRIPTION

Ricin and abrin are potent biological toxins that are derived from plant sources (castor beans and rosary peas, respectively). More is known about ricin toxicity; however, abrin toxicity is similar in its mechanism of action. In the body, these toxins inhibit protein synthesis leading to cell death. Clinical manifestations are dependent on the route of exposure. Ingestion typically leads to profuse vomiting and diarrhea followed by multisystem organ failure and possibly death within 36 to 72 hours of exposure. Inhalation typically leads to respiratory distress, fever, and cough followed by the development of pulmonary edema, hypotension, respiratory failure, and possibly death within 36 to 72 hours.

The amount and route of the exposure to Ricin or abrin and the premorbid condition of the person exposed will contribute to the time of onset and the severity of illness. For example, the inhalation of Ricin or abrin would be expected to lead to a quicker onset of poisoning and to cause a more rapid progression of poisoning compared with the ingestion of either of these toxins, given the same exposure amount.

(from CDC)

Signs and Symptoms of exposure

• • The major symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure and the dose received, though many organs may be affected in severe cases.
  • Initial symptoms of ricin poisoning by inhalation may occur as early as 4- 8 hours and as late as 24 hours after exposure. Following ingestion of Ricin, initial symptoms typically occur in less than 10 hours.
  • Inhalation: Within a few hours of inhaling significant amounts of Ricin, the likely symptoms would be respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), fever, cough, nausea, and tightness in the chest. Heavy sweating may follow as well as fluid building up in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This would make breathing even more difficult, and the skin might turn blue. Excess fluid in the lungs would be diagnosed by x-ray or by listening to the chest with a stethoscope. Finally, low blood pressure and respiratory failure may occur, leading to death. In cases of known exposure to Ricin, people having respiratory symptoms should seek medical care.
  • Ingestion: If someone swallows a significant amount of Ricin, he or she would likely develop vomiting and diarrhea that may become bloody. Severe dehydration may be the result, followed by low blood pressure. Other signs or symptoms may include seizures, and blood in the urine. Within several days, the person’s liver, spleen, and kidneys might stop working, and the person could die.

Check out the rest of the article for more details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biological Agent – Ricin

A CBRE expert who has been training military personnel for years was talking to me about “crazy stupid” things that preppers, survivalists, and bushcrafters do. I told him about the mushroom incident. Suddenly, the discussion turned to Ricin and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the possibility of a State Actor or Terror Organization.

Executive Summary:

Over the past three weeks, several highly reliable sources have provided me with empirical data as well as analysis from security professionals who have asserted that Ricin is the actual cause for many of the SARS-CoV-2 sudden, no symptom deaths occurring in the recent (May 1-11, 2020) period. They are warning that people need to be highly alert for signs of Ricin.

I cannot confirm the analysis, but I have validated the empirical data. I will present that below in the supportive data section. I am not asserting that someone is intentionally exposing SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) patients to this bioweapon.

Those working the frontlines of the response to this “crisis” are already at risk from ordinary health and safety issues. Doctors, Nurses, Police, EMS, etc. on the ground are telling me that the people at ground level are lost. They say that no one actually has been read in on any of the formal risk analysis data. Things have happened so quickly and that there is a lot of confusion. Every piece of tangible, verifiable data is essential.

In light of the early assertions that the “virus” was a bioweapon and other new claims asserting that the COD in sudden emergent cases is, in fact, Ricin, I felt that it would be irresponsible not to mention the outside possibility. Vigilance never hurt anyone. My rule is to always err on the side of caution. Since the source material is ubiquitously available in wild settings throughout the world, any idiot or state actor would be able to create the toxin. See the list of incidents involving Ricin on Wikipedia.

According to the CDC, it is clear that the assertion of the analysis is within the possibility. The symptoms are nearly identical to those of SARS-CoV-2. The difference is that there is no antidote for Ricin poisoning.

Cases of Ricin poisoning are rarely identified by health or law enforcement officials. The number of incidents is so rare that most health professionals have no idea of what it is.

If you listen to my radio show with another NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) weapon specialist David Jones that I did on May 17, 2016, you will see that he did not consider a biological attack to be of extreme threat. Listen to the show.

Supporting Data:

Ricin – What is it, and where does it come from?

Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans.

• If castor beans are chewed and swallowed, the released Ricin can cause injury.

• Ricin is found in three forms
  • powder
  • a mist
  • pellet
  • dissolved in water or weak acid.
• Ricin is a stable substance under normal conditions
• Ricin can be inactivated by heat above 80 degrees centigrade (176 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Castor oil is extracted from Castor beans
  • Castor beans are processed throughout the world to make castor oil.
  • Ricin is part of the waste “mash” produced when castor oil is made.
• Ricin has been used experimentally in medicine to kill cancer cells.

 

(from MedPage TODAY 4/18/2013)

“Depending on the route of exposure (such as injection or inhalation), as little as 500 µ of Ricin could be enough to kill an adult. A greater amount would be needed to cause death if Ricin were ingested.”

It takes a deliberate act to manufacture Ricin to poison people. Ricin is one of the most toxic biological agents known — a Category B bioterrorism agent and a Schedule Number 1 chemical warfare agent.

What are the symptoms of ricin poisoning?

Clinicians should be alert to illness patterns and diagnostic clues that might indicate an intentional release of Ricin.

The extent of manifestations of ricin poisoning in humans depends on the amount of Ricin to which a person was exposed, route of exposure, and extent of organ involvement.

Significant exposure to Ricin would result in a relatively rapid, progressive worsening of symptoms over approximately 4 to 36 hours. Death may occur within 36 hours of exposure. If death has not occurred by 5 days from exposure, the victim usually recovers.

Symptoms

Ingestion Exposure:
Some or all of the following symptoms may be manifest:

• • Profuse vomiting
  • Profuse diarrhea (bloody or non-bloody)
  • Severe dehydration
  • Weakness
  • Influenza-like symptoms: fever, myalgia, and arthralgia
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Hematuria (Blood in Urine)
  • Hypotension

Hypovolemic shock and multiple system organ failure may occur, leading to death.

Inhalational Exposure:

Some or all of the following symptoms may be manifest:

• • Cough, respiratory distress, bronchoconstriction
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Cyanosis
  • Nausea
  • Excessive diaphoresis
  • Weakness
  • Influenza-like symptoms: fever, myalgia, and arthralgia
  • Hypotension, respiratory failure and multisystem organ failure may occur, leading to death.

Dermal and ocular exposure by Ricin in powder or mist form can cause erythema and pain of the skin and eyes.  

Check out the rest of the article for more details and treatment.

(from CDC)

Ricin or Abrin Poisoning
TOXIC SYNDROME DESCRIPTION

Ricin and abrin are potent biological toxins that are derived from plant sources (castor beans and rosary peas, respectively). More is known about ricin toxicity; however, abrin toxicity is similar in its mechanism of action. In the body, these toxins inhibit protein synthesis leading to cell death. Clinical manifestations are dependent on the route of exposure. Ingestion typically leads to profuse vomiting and diarrhea followed by multisystem organ failure and possibly death within 36 to 72 hours of exposure. Inhalation typically leads to respiratory distress, fever, and cough followed by the development of pulmonary edema, hypotension, respiratory failure, and possibly death within 36 to 72 hours.

The amount and route of the exposure to Ricin or abrin and the premorbid condition of the person exposed will contribute to the time of onset and the severity of illness. For example, the inhalation of Ricin or abrin would be expected to lead to a quicker onset of poisoning and to cause a more rapid progression of poisoning compared with the ingestion of either of these toxins, given the same exposure amount.

(from CDC)

Signs and Symptoms of exposure

• • The major symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure and the dose received, though many organs may be affected in severe cases.
  • Initial symptoms of ricin poisoning by inhalation may occur as early as 4- 8 hours and as late as 24 hours after exposure. Following ingestion of Ricin, initial symptoms typically occur in less than 10 hours.
  • Inhalation: Within a few hours of inhaling significant amounts of Ricin, the likely symptoms would be respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), fever, cough, nausea, and tightness in the chest. Heavy sweating may follow as well as fluid building up in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This would make breathing even more difficult, and the skin might turn blue. Excess fluid in the lungs would be diagnosed by x-ray or by listening to the chest with a stethoscope. Finally, low blood pressure and respiratory failure may occur, leading to death. In cases of known exposure to Ricin, people having respiratory symptoms should seek medical care.
  • Ingestion: If someone swallows a significant amount of Ricin, he or she would likely develop vomiting and diarrhea that may become bloody. Severe dehydration may be the result, followed by low blood pressure. Other signs or symptoms may include seizures, and blood in the urine. Within several days, the person’s liver, spleen, and kidneys might stop working, and the person could die.

Check out the rest of the article for more details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data Sharing versus Analysis

Every modern form of communication, “news”, shows, social media, etc. endlessly inundate Westerners with information. It is repetitive conditioning from the minute you rise until you lay your head down at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we are not taught how to differentiate data sharing from an analysis. If you have not already read the article “Fact-Checking & Data Processing”.  You should probably read it first.

Data sharing is the presentation of information without a conclusion. In other words, data sharing lays out raw data or Information (Filtered Data) without telling you what to think of it. It leaves the analysis to the recipient. See the article “How to Handle Raw Data from Sources”

Data Analysis is the assertion of an opinion or analytical assumption of the meaning of the data. In other words, Data Analysis is the assertion of a purported expert’s opinion after reviewing the data presented.

Nearly everything that you are presented is an analysis. Most content purveyors do not want to risk you coming to a decision other than their desired one. They won’t take that chance. So, they tell you what to think. They do not present you with useful empirical data that you can use to validate them. Instead, they generally offer globs of drippy normative hyperbole to activate your emotional response.

The first sign of a reliable analysis is that the analyst provides reproducible empirical data. Empirical data; knowledge – information proved through real-world trial and experiential data. The recipient should always test the asserted conclusions utilizing both the empirical data presented and other data that the recipient finds when crosschecking.

All peer-reviewed professional research gains notoriety and respect because their peers (often who disagree) test the initial analysis of data on their own with a critical eye. The goal for a top-notch analyst is to vet their theorem enough to attain a point of REPRODUCIBILITY. Reproducibility is the hallmark of a skilled analyst. As you repeat the process of validating analyst’s work, you will rapidly learn how to spot lazy, narrow-minded, biased, or outright shills. Once you verify a few analysts who always “get it right,” you can relax a bit to trust them. An analyst proves themselves trustworthy and reliable after a series of sophisticated analyses are presented, and the recipient can validate the conclusions. You should regularly test their analysis just to assure that they are still reliable.

 

Supportive Details:

The internet, social media, and generally ubiquitous electronic communication has fueled the modern media’s insidious Yellow Journalism to new heights. The incident that I highlighted in the article, Yellow Journalism, was a landmark because it blackmailed USA President McKinley into war with Spain. As significant as that event was, it is only one of the countless others that have shaped the minds and ideologies of nations.

Writers and the media practiced Yellow Journalism against the USA’s Appalachian People during the early 1900s. They targeted them again in the late 1960s with the “rural purge” from television. CBS terminated every show in their line up that reflected rural America; Jim Nabors, Mayberry RFD, Andy Griffith, Beverly Hillbillies, and more.

See the video on YouTube, “Do You Remember The Rural Purge? CBS Showed NO MERCY to Granny!”

 

 

Liberty, Freedom, Sovereignty

The global plandemic SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has forced the conversation about Liberty, Freedom, and Sovereignty to come into the mainstream. Many of us have discussed this important topic for years. The positive side of this plandemic is that now normies are talking about our fundamental rights and freedoms. For the first time, ever, they have experienced being told NO. This is the time for us to shine. We need to stay calm, be positive, and avoid hyperbole. Help the normies see the value of defending that most valuable of possessions; our rights. We can also guide them to build their skills, understanding, and preps to sustain them now and in the future.

There is a unique window of time open. It may not last long. Take advantage. The general masses are acutely aware that they have rights that they took had taken for granted. They ceded those rights without a fight and now realize that they should have protested. This, brief, moment in time offers an opportunity to inform and guide normies to our side. The side of protecting and defending our most sacred gift, Liberty, Freedom, and Sovereignty.

Although my team already understands, it is important to stress, keep it simple, don’t overwhelm. The idea is to run the self-reliance virus in their psyche. Let them ask questions, provide solid empirical data to support what you tell them. Offer normie source points that they know who have been forced to admit the manipulation they have perpetrated on them. It may take a year, but if it is in them, as the truth emerges they will shift to a new paradigm, ours.

Building a community (tribe) is a win-win. Even if they are not part of your “tribe” the fact that they are working with a common purpose means that they won’t be a burden on you. Avoid hyperbolic Deep State and conspiracy discussions, no matter how true. Stick to the basics. You will be shocked by how quickly they will go down the rabbit hole and have endless questions for you along the way. Send them to my series on Reasoned Thought to help them learn how to vet the information they will be exposed to.

The true value of being prepared and practicing skills is that each of us, capable, standing alone, can stand not behind us but shoulder to shoulder.

 

Vet - Def: to evaluate for possible accuracy for acceptance as fact.

 

 

 

Empirical Data (Objective, Verifiable, Reproducible)

Hunt for the Objective/Empirical data, it is the foundation of accurate decisions and analysis.

EMPIRICAL DATA is generally KNOWLEDGE (see Maslow hierarchy). If correctly identified, it is reproducible even by dissenting parties.

• RAW DATA
  • Untested, unverified data presented, found, or extracted directly or indirectly.
• INFORMATION
  • Raw data verified through careful testing and review by multiple independent peers
• KNOWLEDGE
  • Information proven by multiple independent sources. It may be applied as base knowledge later to aid the understanding of more complex activities and decision making.

See the “Normative Data (Subjective)” article for the opposite data type. Normative data is almost always analysis, not data. It is commonly emotional, reflexive, and unsupported.

Most source’s data may provide varying levels of usefulness. Each additional data point can move you closer to the truth by turning your attention to things that you would not necessarily have known about or considered. The more data points that you log, the more granular your answer will be. More quality KNOWLEDGE in the data set, the better your analysis at the end. As a skilled gatherer, you must hone your skills to parse the normative from the empirical. You must rapidly test and validate the empirical data, and discard any that fails the test.

No matter what your inherent biases are, if you stick to the facts, the truth will always shine through. About ten years into my career as a professional information gatherer, my ideas about “facts” evolved. I realized that the only reliable “facts,” the evidence was derived from the compilation of an abundance of empirical data points. Those data points, not always duplicated, would inevitably establish a particular pattern of data that builds, in my mind, “a preponderance of evidence.” The empirical data, if gathered under strict methodologies, is as close as possible to unbiased “fact.”

Forty years of investigative “fact-finding” has taught me that the closest that we will come to “facts” is repeated, clearly identifiable patterns. Those patterns betray even the most carefully laid attempts to hide or obscure the truth. Those patterns also reveal a more profound truth, “intent,” “willfulness,” and premeditation. A professional information gatherer can present the totality of the empirical data and then allow others to witness the “facts” and test them on their own. They don’t fear their peers testing their conclusions, and they relish the opportunity to better themselves.

Normative Data

Normative data is subjective data, information that is not based upon tangible fact, repeatable proof, not reproducible. Feelings, emotional perceptions, and conjectures are also normative input.

The danger is that depending upon the source, many people will accept normative data as validated objective/empirical data without a question. That is why you must always verify the data, not the source. No matter how nice, honest, or forthright a person is, they are still human. They will make errors and/or fail to check their personal bias. It is not an insult to verify someone’s data. If the source is good it will validate them.

As I have noted many times, the two most destructive things in decision making are anger and fear. I might add one more, sexual attraction. If you make any decision based solely upon one of those normative “facts” “you will live to regret it, if you are lucky”.

Subjective data is based upon personal perceptions or parroted from another. Assumptions, interpretations, beliefs are subjective. You find subjective data all over print media, social media, blogs, vlogs, YouTube, etc.

Hunt for the Objective/Empirical data, it is the foundation of good decision and analysis.

 

Fact-Checking & Data Processing

 As humans, we have many means of obtaining, processing, testing, verifying and vetting information. Human communication skills allow us if we are trained, being careful and respectful, to attain a much higher level of understanding, awareness of our environment and even some of us may become enlightened.

The key to processing raw data reliably and effectively is to glean the raw data, log it and plot a course forward; a process of vetting. You can't remain at the beginning; simply excepting the data and parroting it. You must learn, absorb, and develop supporting facts and experiential data that allow you to refine your initial perceptions with logic (not emotions) and facts in order to assure your direction is accurate and reliably balanced. Thorough research prior to embarking upon a course is advisable; i.e.: make sure that what you picked on the side of the road was really a pretty flower and not poison ivy.

 

Every day there is another example that crosses my path of how people have never developed the ability to maintain a balanced perspective. Every challenge and piece of information that people are presented in life tests their skill of critical thinking. Those who have some level of skill generally have a much better experience in life than those who have not. The ability to be broadminded, not stupid, but balanced enough to know that there is more than one way to do something right, even if some are better than others can save you much aggravation and broaden your skills and knowledge. What is comfortable and possible for you is not always the same for someone else. Having the skill to understand that there are many points of view that create differing assessments of the same scene depending upon the person's perspective.