I believe we all have different reasons for being here. My interests use OSINT to identify victims and traffickers and general research into cyber-related fields. I find a lot of great info on LinkedIn (that's how I found 'We Fight Monsters'!). If you're interested in learning more about OSINT and it's applications two of the best accounts to follow are Ubikron (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ubikron/) and OSINT Experts Society (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13047129/). Both have plenty of resources and regularly post items of interest.

I wanted to share some of my thoughts that I have been thinking about lately. Life has a way of testing the edges of who we are. Not in the moments when the world is watching…but in the quiet hours when no one sees the fight inside you. Silence, rebellion of thought, shadows mistaken for truth, the weight of vice, fear, chains, and walking alone on the fog-covered road — they all point to the same truth: Personal development isn’t a hobby. It’s a battle. A long one. A lonely one. And most people never step into that arena. Over the years, in war, in policing, in leadership, and in the work I do with Project Sapient, I’ve learned something simple but uncomfortable: - When you decide to think for yourself, the world labels you a rebel. - When you choose the truth, you become a threat. - When you outgrow your cage, you become “difficult.” - When you walk ahead, you’re treated as if you’re beneath. But that’s the path! Growth requires silence in the face of those who don’t value your words. It requires the courage to trust your own mind in a world that rarely uses theirs. It requires standing in the light while also staying comfortable in the shadows. It requires owning your vices instead of hiding them behind the crowd. It requires releasing what controls you — even if it leaves you standing alone. And it requires the strength to walk the long road into the unknown… without applause, without validation, without a map. Here’s the truth I keep coming back to: A man is forged in the dark. Character is built where no one applauds. And the freedom you seek is always on the other side of the chains you fear letting go of. If you’re on that road — keep going. Most people won’t understand you. Some will doubt you. Others will mock the path you chose. But growth was never meant to be understood. It was meant to be earned. Stay disciplined. Stay awake. Stay dangerous. Stay sovereign over your own mind. Forward. Always.

Build It Now, Stay Steady When It Matters Most As we face the possibility of upcoming homeland plotting by terrorist groups, psychological readiness is your foundation. These skills help you stay calm, think clearly, and support each other in any crisis, whether it’s an attack, a natural disaster, or life suddenly going off the rails. If you’ve spent the past year building emergency plans, running drills, and practicing “what if” scenarios, you’re exactly where you need to be. Keep going. You’re not just preparing, you’re building real resilience for yourself, your family, and your community when it matters most. Here’s what we can do next to prepare and stay resilient. Educate Without Fear: When we talk to others about preparedness, the tone matters. The goal is not fear-based. The goal is to give them information, tools, and then most importantly, confidence. Within your family, for example, controlling the narrative means framing the conversation around what you can control, even during something as overwhelming as a terrorist attack. Replace fear-driven talk with practical direction. Use clear, strong language: “Here’s what we do if X happens,” or “We’re safe right now, let’s stick to our plan.” Walk each member of your family through actionable steps: getting to shelter, locking down a workspace, identifying exits, staying put until it’s safe to move. When people have rehearsed actions, their bodies and minds switch into those patterns automatically, even under extreme stress. Helping Children Cope: Children can and do process events very differently, and they depend heavily on the adults around them to set the emotional tone. Keep discussions age appropriate and grounded in the calmest way possible. Do not expose them to graphic news footage or frightening speculation. It overwhelms them and provides no useful information. Instead, focus on safety: who they stay with, where they go, how adults will protect them. Small gestures like holding a hand, offering a hug, sitting beside them all have a very real grounding effect. Use simple, straightforward language: “We have a plan. We know what to do. You’re safe with me.” That sense of predictable structure is what helps kids stay emotionally balanced during and after a crisis.

Most civilians walk through life in Condition White—heads down, distracted, unaware of what’s unfolding around them. The amount of times I’ve had to respond to a robbery because the victim wasn’t paying attention is a very large number. The common theme is, “I was looking at my phone.” Or “I was listening to music.” Victims has skyrocketed as a result of modern day cell phones. People watching TikTok videos, YouTube, etc. Awareness has truly taken a hit as a result. You don’t need to live paranoid. But you do need to live aware. Colonel Jeff Cooper’s Color Code is one of the simplest and most effective systems ever created for understanding awareness levels. It wasn’t designed for fear—it was designed for clarity, readiness, and survival. Here’s how civilians can use it in everyday life: Condition White — Unaware This is when you’re buried in your phone, zoned out, or mentally “off the clock.” In public, this is the most dangerous state to live in. You’re not scanning. You’re not noticing behavior. You’re not registering exits, threats, or even social cues. You’re simply there—and if something happens, you’re behind the curve. Condition Yellow — Relaxed Awareness (The Goal) This is the state civilians should live in anytime they’re in public. You’re relaxed, calm… but switched on. Your eyes are up. Your mind is open. You’re aware of who’s around you, what looks normal, and what doesn’t. Not paranoid. Not tense. Just present. Think of Yellow as: “Nothing’s wrong… but I’m ready if it is.” Master this, and most problems never reach you. Condition Orange — Focused Attention Something caught your eye. A behavior, a movement, a situation that doesn’t look right. Not a threat yet… But something worth evaluating. A person loitering near cars. Someone pacing outside a store. A couple arguing in a way that’s escalating. A vehicle doing slow laps through a neighborhood. In Orange, you form a simple plan: If X happens, I’ll do Y. That alone puts you miles ahead of danger.