From the Trenches World Report

The Wall Street Journal – by Erica E. Phillips

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—A man opened fire in the streets here Friday in a rampage that also included a house fire, leaving seven dead, including the suspect, and several others injured, police said.

The series of violent events culminated at Santa Monica College, where the suspect was shot and killed by police. Students at the two-year college were escorted from the campus by SWAT officers who swarmed the area, just a few miles from where President Barack Obama was speaking at a fundraising event.   Continue reading “Seven Dead in California Rampage”

Sure, then they’ll take their guns.

NORML – by Paul Armentano

Democrat Gov. John Kitzhaber on Thursday signed legislation, Senate Bill 281, into law to allow patients with post-traumatic stress to be eligible to engage in the therapeutic use of cannabis.

The new Oregon law expands the state’s existing medical marijuana program, initially enacted by voters in 1998, to include post-traumatic stress as a state-qualified illness for which marijuana may be recommended.   Continue reading “Oregon: Governor Signs Measure to Expand State’s Medical Cannabis Program to Include Patients With Post Traumatic Stress”

Before It’s News – by Mort Amsel

The Russian president saw his opportunity to pluck the fruits of Moscow’s success in backing the Syrian-Hizballah forces’ advances in major battles against rebels, notably at al Qusayr, and position Russian troops face to face with the Israeli army. They would constitute a barrier against any military intervention being mounted against the Assad regime from Israel.

UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Hak said: “The UN would welcome Russia’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts in the region.”   Continue reading “Putin Offers Russian Peacekeepers In The Golan Heights”

Breitbart – by Mike Flynn

A new Fox News poll shows Obama’s disapproval rating among registered voters has spiked to 51%, up from 45% last month. The poll shows an 8-point swing against Obama since April. Another shocking finding, undoubtedly linked to recent scandals, is that 68% of voters think the federal government is “out of control.”

Last month, 47% of voters approved of the job Obama was doing, while 45% disapproved. Disapproval of Obama has jumped 6 points since the latest scandal revelations. Among Independents, only 40% approve of Obama, while 52% disapprove. At this time 4 years ago, 60% of voters approved of Obama and only 30% disapproved.    Continue reading “Poll: Obama Approval Drops, 68% Think Government ‘Out of Control’”

No Lawyers, Only Guns and Money – by John Richardson

The House of Representatives passed an amendment to HR 2217 – the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014 – that forbids DHS from purchasing any more ammunition until they report to Congress on their previous ammunition purchases. The amendment passed Tuesday with a bi-partisan majority of 234-192. The amendment was proposed, I’m happy to report, by my Congressman, Rep. Mark Meadows (D-NC11).   Continue reading “Make Them Buy Their Ammo At Walmart”

Guardian – by Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill

Barack Obama has ordered his senior national security and intelligence officials to draw up a list of potential overseas targets for US cyber-attacks, a top secret presidential directive obtained by the Guardian reveals.

The 18-page Presidential Policy Directive 20, issued in October last year but never published, states that what it calls Offensive Cyber Effects Operations (OCEO) “can offer unique and unconventional capabilities to advance US national objectives around the world with little or no warning to the adversary or target and with potential effects ranging from subtle to severely damaging”.   Continue reading “Obama orders US to draw up overseas target list for cyber-attacks”

Mail.com

IOTO, Japan (AP) — Iwo Jima is a training site like no other. The rugged volcanic crag was one of the most iconic battlegrounds of World War II, and is so isolated and barren it has almost never been inhabited by anyone other than military troops. But from the perspective of U.S. Navy fighter pilots who regularly train on the island’s one functioning airstrip, it is unique in another way.

If a plane finds itself in serious trouble and for some reason that lone airstrip on the island isn’t viable, the only alternative is to eject and ditch in the Pacific. It’s a problem that the U.S. Navy, which is now conducting training on the island to prepare pilots for deployment to the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, has been trying to fix for nearly 25 years.   Continue reading “Amid safety fears, US Navy jets train on Iwo Jima”

Mail.com

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona sheriff who led the way for local police across the country to take up immigration enforcement is reconsidering his crackdowns — and other law enforcement officials who followed his lead are expected to eventually back away, too.

Joe Arpaio, the sheriff for metropolitan Phoenix, has temporarily suspended all his immigration efforts after a federal judge concluded two weeks ago that the sheriff’s office had racially profiled Latinos in its patrols, Arpaio spokesman Brandon Jones told The Associated Press.   Continue reading “Ariz. sheriff suspends immigration efforts”

Silver Doctors

I have been a broker for 20 years. Recently the major broker dealer I work for asked me and my clients to leave due to too high of a concentration in physical metals.

I am now in the process of moving my clients and metals to a new custodian. Here is where things get interesting: Every transfer is being rejected multiple times for the any reason the old major broker dealer can come up with.    Continue reading “20 Year Metals Trader: Every Metals Transfer Request from Major Broker is Being Rejected Multiple Times!”

Liberty Crier – by binaryloop

In the wake of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado passed some of the strictest gun control measures in the country.

But in recent months, an overwhelming 55 of the state’s 62 county sheriffs have joined a lawsuit aiming to block the measures.   Continue reading “‘We’re Not Going To Tolerate It’: Colorado Sheriffs Unite to Block ‘Unenforceable’ Gun Control Laws”

It may be very un-American of me to say this, but I never liked baseball. I could never sit through two innings, let alone pay attention to an entire game. I don’t care what anyone’s batting average is, or how many strikeouts any pitcher has, and I never did, but when I was a kid, I had an awesome collection of baseball cards.

If you’re wondering why a kid who doesn’t like baseball would collect baseball cards, it’s because I was an aspiring businessman, and baseball cards are the “fiat currency” of America’s young boys. They’re not only traded for other baseball cards, but they can also buy other toys, and favors (goods and services), and also provide a youngster with the prestige of great wealth.   Continue reading “Money”

RT News

At least three people have been wounded in a shooting in the Santa Monica College area, California. The school is on lockdown and students are advised to stay away from the campus.

A “fully armed” suspect has opened fire at cars and a bus in the area, local police said. Witnesses reported hearing at least one shotgun blast and several handgun shots.   Continue reading “Multiple victims as gunman opens fire near Santa Monica College, school on lockdown”

Huffington Post – by JULIE PACE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Seeking a fresh start to a complex relationship, President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are retreating to a sprawling desert estate for two days of talks on high-stakes issues, including cybersecurity and North Korea’s nuclear threats.

Obama’s efforts to press Xi to halt China’s alleged hacking against the U.S. could be overshadowed by revelations that Obama’s own administration has been secretly seizing phone records from millions of Americans.   Continue reading “Obama, Xi Jinping Meeting In California”

Huffington Post – by MICHAEL R. BLOOD

LOS ANGELES — The troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant on the California coast is closing after an epic 16-month battle over whether the twin reactors could be safely restarted with millions of people living nearby, officials announced Friday.

Operator Southern California Edison said in a statement it will retire the twin reactors because of uncertainty about the future of the plant, which faced a tangle of regulatory hurdles, investigations and mounting political opposition. With the reactors idle, the company has spent more than $500 million on repairs and replacement power.   Continue reading “San Onofre Power Plant Closing After Epic 16-Month Battle”