From the Trenches World Report

The Guardian – by Jonathan Kaiman

The retired US basketball star Dennis Rodman is back in North Korea and the stakes are high. Rodman could influence the fate of an American political prisoner toiling in one of the country’s labour camps. Or he may start a basketball league.

One thing is certain: before Rodman leaves the “hermit kingdom” five days from now, another chapter will unfold in one of the world’s strangest friendships. Call it “absurdist diplomacy” – a notoriously erratic retired NBA player meets a despotic boy king; the two become close friends.   Continue reading “Dennis Rodman returns to North Korea to meet ‘my friend Kim’”

Yahoo News – by TOM KRISHER

DETROIT (AP) — As cars become more like PCs on wheels, what’s to stop a hacker from taking over yours?

In recent demonstrations, hackers have shown they can slam a car’s brakes at freeway speeds, jerk the steering wheel and even shut down the engine — all from their laptop computers.   Continue reading “Hackers find weaknesses in car computer systems”

III Percent Patriots – by Kerodin

Our hostess in Alabama submitted the above picture of her EDC bag.  I have no idea what she has inside, nor would I discuss it if I did…but I bet dollars to donuts a Bad Guy won’t enjoy finding out…

Patriots across America are preparing for dark times ahead.  I hope you managed to get a bit of prep work in this weekend.  When the North American Liberty Games begin again at full-speed (most of us understand the starter pistol has already fired), there will be little time for OJT, there will be very few preps available, and even movement from one AO to another is likely to be very difficult, especially if you are moving with family and defensive capabilities.   Continue reading “There is no cavalry coming – John Wayne is dead…”

Press TV – by Finian Cunningham

1913 Intel – by Matt

With Republican leaders backing a military strike on Syria, it’s all but certain that Barack Obama will win the vote in Congress, says Raf Sanchez in Washington

On Monday morning Mark Schumacher, a writer and contributor to this site, suffered an attack and was transported via ambulance to Loveless Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   He is now undergoing surgery to remove eleven feet of his intestine.  The doctors were not sure if it is a tumor or diverticulitis.  We will update this as we get more information.

Mark is a long haul truck driver who lives in his truck and has no permanent home.  We here in the Trenches are Mark’s only family.    Continue reading “Get Well Soon, Mark!”

Fox News

A full year before students around the nation submit to the new Common Core standardized tests, the federally-backed program is already causing chaos and confusion at local school board meetings, in the classroom and at the dinner table.

As critics fear Washington is poised to take control of what and how local districts teach kids, school administrators are adopting new curriculum in an effort to ensure their students outperform their peers and parents worry that their children are being used as academic guinea pigs. As the program gets closer to full implementation, a full-blown backlash is developing despite assurances from supporters that it is merely a test aimed at establishing a national standard.    Continue reading “Classroom chaos? Critics blast new Common Core education standards”

The Organic Prepper

I am often asked to read and review books in the preparedness and health genres. I have a lot of respect for anyone who can organize information and put together an informative and/or entertaining manuscript, and because of this, I can find something positive in any text.  I am honest, and I point out the places where I feel things might need to be expanded, but I also look for positives and present those too.

I had never written a totally negative book review in my life, but that was before I read The Prepper’s Cookbook:  Essential Prepping Foods and Recipes to Deliciously Survive Any Disaster.

Don’t waste your money on this cheap hack.   Continue reading “The Worst Book Review You’ll Ever Read”

Infowars – by Paul Joseph Watson

A deluge of duty military personnel as well as many veterans are taking to Twitter to express their opposition to the Obama administration’s plan to launch an attack on Syria.   Continue reading “Twitter Flooded With Active Duty Military & Veterans Opposing Attack on Syria”

Now the End Begins

Al Jazeera’s blog posted a story Monday featuring tweets from the Director of Research at the Brookings Center in Doha, Qatar, who reported that an Egyptian newspaper’s front page story claimed President Barack Obama is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“Newspaper also claims that son of MB leader threatened Obama with release of ‘papers’ revealing his MB membership,” writes Shadi Hamid of Brookings.   Continue reading “Egyptian Paper Says They Have Proof That Obama Is A Member Of The Muslim Brotherhood”