From the Trenches World Report

Computer World – by Robert L. Mitchell

Privacy is under attack from all quarters, but even today, there are things you can do to protect your personal data. Here are some tips.

Who says privacy is dead? While it’s true that marketers, the government, data aggregators and others are gathering and analyzing more data than ever about every individual, you can still exert some control over what’s out there, who’s tracking you and what they do with that information.   Continue reading “The paranoid’s survival guide, part 1: How to protect your personal data”

Washington’s Blog

New Ooga Booga No Longer Effective … So Government Switches Back to Tried-And-True Old-Timey Ooga-Booga

Preface: I’m not siding with Putin on the Ukrainian dispute. I don’t like Communism.  I was born in the U.S. and have lived here all of my life.  I hate Stalin with a passion – a man who killed countless protesters, and sent numerous others away to insane asylums – and have railed against the “useful idiots” who naively supported the Soviets. I also think that Putin is a corrupt kleptocrat.  I’m just pointing out that the U.S. Government is completely overreacting and fear-mongering. This is taking place on the other side of the world, and doesn’t effect America’s national security (although we may have heavily invested in the outcome).   Continue reading “The Americans’ Fear of Islamic Terrorists Has Worn Off, So the Government Pulls Out the EVIL RUSSIAN Card Again”

Truth Dig – by William Pfaff

What did Washington expect to gain from a successful coup d’état in Ukraine? It gained little enough from the “Orange Revolution” in 2005, that first put Viktor Yuschenko and Yulia Tymoshenko into power in independent Ukraine. Their power produced rivalry, as well as a return of corruption to national government (the Orange Revolution, so-called, was itself inspired by popular protests against corruption in the preceding government of Viktor Yanukovych, causing his ouster). Yanukovych, of course, returned to power in 2010 (with 48 percent of the vote), after which Yulia Tymoshenko was conveniently charged and imprisoned on corruption charges.    Continue reading “What Happens Now in Ukraine?”

Natural Society – by Elizabeth Renter

In an about-face, two California organizations who previously opposed any state-level efforts to regulate medical marijuana are now backing a bill that would create the basis of state licensing and regulation while limiting doctors who can prescribe pot. According to the Fresno Bee, SB 1262 has the backing of  the League of California Cities and the California Police Chiefs Association. And while their support of any marijuana measure is progress, this bill is not likely to gain support of marijuana advocacy groups.   Continue reading “California Bill Would License Medical Pot Dispensaries but Limit Patient Access”

Golden Age of Gaia – by Stephen Cook

Stephen: There’s not a photo of her to be found anywhere on the internet,. Nor any info (well, not in English anyway). My gut is though, that she has an open heart  and will use some of that fortune to help those struggling. Her father, pictured at right, recently donated HKD$1,000,000 to  to The Community Chest of Hong Kong to help those in need, which is wonderful to hear. But oh, what many of us could do to have even a portion of that abundance to help build a world that works for everyone, eh?   Continue reading “24-Year-Old Hong Kong Chinese Woman is World’s Youngest Billionaire”

Citizen Link – by Bethany Monk

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will allow a German homeschooling family, who has long been seeking asylum in the U.S., to stay in the country. This comes just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the family’s case.

“This is an incredible victory that I can only credit to Almighty God,” said Michael Farris, chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). “I also want to thank those who spoke up on this issue.”   Continue reading “Department of Homeland Security: German Homeschooling Family Can Stay”

The Independent

Video Rebel’s Blog

This is Myles Eckert of Toledo, Ohio. He is 8 years old. He is hugging the gravestone of his father who died in Iraq when he was 5 weeks old. He never saw his father. He learns of his father through his medals, ID tags, wedding ring, photos and family stories. Myles had wanted to go to the cemetery to talk to the man he never knew. At her son’s request, his mother stayed in the car so he could be alone to talk. His mother took this photo. His father died because our politicians and our news media were willing to believe lies fed to us by Israel.   Continue reading “An 8 Year-Old Boy In Ohio Hugs The Gravestone Of His Father Who Died In Iraq.”

The American Conservative – by PATRICK J. BUCHANAN

With Vladimir Putin’s dispatch of Russian troops into Crimea, our war hawks are breathing fire. Russophobia is rampant and the op-ed pages are ablaze here. Barack Obama should tune them out, and reflect on how Cold War presidents dealt with far graver clashes with Moscow.

When Red Army tank divisions crushed the Hungarian freedom fighters in 1956, killing 50,000, Eisenhower did not lift a finger. When Khrushchev built the Berlin Wall, JFK went to Berlin and gave a speech. When Warsaw Pact troops crushed the Prague Spring in 1968, LBJ did nothing. When, Moscow ordered Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski to smash Solidarity, Ronald Reagan refused to put Warsaw in default. These presidents saw no vital U.S. interest imperiled in these Soviet actions, however brutal. They sensed that time was on our side in the Cold War. And history has proven them right.   Continue reading “Resist the War Party on Crimea”

The Complete Patient – by David Gumpert

I have found myself thinking a lot about last week’s courtroom antics of Harold Martin, the Michigan assistant attorney general, which have been viewed more than 1,000 times already on YouTube.  While it’s tempting to simply label Martin as unprofessional and less than competent, I think there was much more to it than that. I explore some of the less obvious messages in an Open Letter to Martin.    Continue reading “Hidden Message in MI AG’s Court Shenanigans: Baker Hog Case Far from Over”

Daily Slave

An incredibly bizarre story has emerged from China.  According to various media reports a slashing rampage has allegedly left 29 people killed and over 100 wounded at a train station located in Southern China.  Several individuals wearing masks and wielding knives were allegedly responsible for the attacks.  Police were said to have shot and killed 4 of the attackers increasing the death toll to 33.  Based upon the information that has been released so far, this whole event appears to be a staged hoax.   Continue reading “Knife Attack Rampage at Chinese Train Station Appears to be Another Staged Hoax”