America's leading authority on Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Gary Gagliardi, shared the ancient Chinese thinker's principles of strategy and how they can apply to many aspects of a person's life today. Sun Tzu wrote his text 2,500 years ago as a reaction against the more passive Confucianism and Taoism, Gagliardi explained, yet many of his ideas embraced avoiding outright conflict in order to achieve maximum success.

For instance, his use of the word "battle" translated as "meeting a challenge," and didn't necessarily indicate fighting. And holding the right information was more valuable than force, Sun Tzu wrote.

In using these techniques as a way of life, Gagliardi said they could be broken down into knowledge, vision, action and positioning. One could use information to make small rather than big steps in a new direction. And from this new position a person could take advantage of opportunities that arise. The use of surprise is also useful, he said, as it creates momentum towards a desired goal.

Dirty Bomb Alert

First half-hour guest Douglas Hagmann of the Northeast Intelligence Network commented on the recent alert about a possible dirty bomb in Boston. Some parts of the story don't add up, he said, yet he believes this kind of threat is very real.

'Angel Light' Invention

2nd half-hour guest, inventor Troy Hurtubise shared details about the 'Angel of Light,' a device he built that allegedly sees through walls. The 14 ft. long machine, which he said he constructed using "black market" parts, runs on various properties of light and electromagnetism and uses plasma chambers and inert gases, he detailed.

In addition to making solid walls appear transparent, Angel Light can render anything electronic inoperable, including a plane flying at a high altitude, Hurtubise said. The device also has a negative "Hyde effect," he added, which causes those who come in contact with machine when it's running to become ill.

Bumper Music

Bumper music from Wednesday January 19, 2005