Daily Archives: June 9, 2021

New Jersey Pro-Life Organizations Rally Against Reproductive Freedom Act at Noon on June 9that Trentons War Memorial Building

TRENTON, NJ (June 8) A coalition of New Jersey pro-life organizations, physicians, clergy and activists has scheduled a protest against the pending Reproductive Freedom Act legislation for Wednesday, June 9. The event will run from noon to 2 p.m. at the Trenton War Memorial Building. Organizers are inviting everyone to attend. It will be the first major event of the 2021 race for New Jersey Governor. Phil Murphy has called on the legislature topass the bill before June 30.

Yet ascant 15% of people surveyed want abortion permitted at any time during pregnancy, according to a2021 Marist poll. Only seven countriesin the world, including North Korea, China, and Vietnam, allow abortion after 20 weeks of an unborn babys development. Yet the Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA) asserts a right to abortion without any restriction related to gestation meaning that a baby, ready to be delivered, could instead be aborted at that moment. Fewer than one in five people support spending our tax dollars on abortions, the Marist poll found.

The RFA would block parental notification, allow non-physicians to perform dangerous abortions, and force medical workers to provide abortion services, even if doing so violated their personal religious or conscience objections.

The so-called Reproductive Freedom Act is a feature of Governor Murphys move New Jersey forward reelection campaign. Our state already ranks #2 among 50 states and Washington D.C. for the percentage of pregnancies that dreadfully end in abortion. It seems our Governor will not be satisfied until we shamefully hold the title as the #1 abortion state in America.Shawn Hyland, Executive Director Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey

Evidence is mounting that New Jersey intends to become the Garden State for the harvesting of fetal tissue, saidDr. Kathleen Ruddy, a retired surgeon. In fact, this appears to be the driving force, the motive, and the objective of Governor Murphys abortion bill.

The Reproductive Freedom Act (A-4848 / S-3030) would use public taxpayer funds to pay for abortion services to anyone, coming from any state. It would subsidize human trafficking by paying for the abortions of their slaves and potentially subjecting them to forced sterilization, according toRev. Greg Quinlanof The Center For Garden State Families.

Experts note that the Black community is disproportionately the target of abortions, and that abortion accounts for 61 percent of Black deaths in America. So this is black genocide, saidRev. Clenard Childressof Montclair.

S3030/A4848 is perversely laser-focused on barbarically destroying the lives of infants, both before and after they are born. We ask all New Jerseyans to contact their legislators and demand that they reject this disgraceful, inhumane infanticide bill, saidMarie Tasy, Executive Director of New Jersey Right to Life.

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New Jersey Pro-Life Organizations Rally Against Reproductive Freedom Act at Noon on June 9th at Trenton's War Memorial Building - InsiderNJ

Daniel ODonnell got hurt several times as a high school athlete and became intrigued by how the physical therapists helped him heal.

From that exposure the interest grew and grew,' he said.

He specialized in the field at Florida International University, graduating in 1982. The longtime Clearwater practitioner is currently director of physical therapy at Therapy & Sports Center. His bio states that hes one of 37 physical therapists in Florida who are certified in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.

ODonnell, 64, talked with the Tampa Bay Times about getting muscles, bones, joints and tendons to function properly.

What is the McKenzie Method?

The McKenzie Method is a method of assessment. Thats basically what it is. What weve had problems with in physical therapy is our methods that we used, that we learned to assess musculoskeletal problems. What we typically learn and get exposed to hasnt had a good effect on outcomes because the assessment process has been relatively unreliable or essentially invalid. So what Robin McKenzie did was, he created an assessment process of repeated movements and positions by which a valid and reliable conclusion can be made by the assessment and therefore an appropriate treatment and a better outcome.

So, traditional methods of diagnosing a patients problems can result in using corrective measures that may be opposite of what should be done?

Thats exactly right. And its been proven that thats what happens.

Are all physical therapists starting to adopt the McKenzie Method?

It is gradually becoming embraced, at least in the milieu that I work in, outpatient physical therapy, only because the outcomes are being proven and their statistics are showing that this is a more accurate and more expedient and cost-effective way.

What are the main problems you see that people have?

All of health care is 20 percent of our basic economy in the United States, and 20 percent of that 20 percent is musculoskeletal disorders, which is joint, muscle, bone and any dysfunction that envelopes those parts of the anatomy. ...

We see everything, from post-surgical rehabilitation to injury that doesnt require surgery at various levels, to some of it is just prevention. Someone has a premonition that theyve got something and not quite sure what they may be dealing with, they go to a physical therapist and that can be assessed and a preventative or even maintenance strategy can be applied.

You work with a lot of people who are recovering from hip and knee replacement surgery. Whats the harder one to recover from?

Knee replacement is the most significant time, discomfort and effort at recovery.

It would seem that hip replacement recovery would be more difficult.

Its not. Its a bigger, deeper joint that doesnt require that much rehab and it is much less uncomfortable, and secondary problems are much less. The new hips where they do the front approach to the new hips, and not every orthopedist does this, but the new approach is really sweet. It has a very low chance of dislocating after surgery. It is very low on the level of pain after surgery. People need much less recovery time and recovery effort.

Why is that?

Its called a total hip arthroplasty, anterior approach. That means instead of going from the back or from the side and having to cut some of the muscles of the hip, that isnt done. More, its moving those structures to the side and being able to put the appliance in without too much soft tissue injury.

Why is recovering from knee replacement harder?

Its difficult because the structure of the joint is such that you get the whole joint, the top of the joint, the bottom of the joint and behind your knee cap, all those things are replaced. And when they are replaced some of the ligaments have to be sacrificed. They have to be removed just like the osteoarthritis is removed from the joint. The appliance is attached to the bone on the top and bottom of the joint and behind the knee cap, and then the process of regaining motion, which is pretty difficult for most people, and then regaining strength so as to have a good functional outcome is time-consuming and can be uncomfortable.

Is jogging bad for your joints?

No, jogging is not bad for you. And we can look at this from a global view and say that, really, no exercise is bad for you if its done well and at a level that the individual is capable of receiving it.

But do joggers and runners have to warm up?

A sprinter needs a significant warm-up. A jogger doesnt need that much warm-up. The first half mile can do as a warm-up. But where people get injured is when they try to do something theyre unfamiliar with or they do something with bad technique, or they increase what they can do well but their increases are too significant for the soft tissue, the connective tissue ... to be able to support it. And then that tissue can break down and become injured

Obviously, the higher the level of the athlete, regardless of the sport, the more the warm-up becomes important.

Are there any exercises that are more risky than others?

Yes. One of the high risks is weight-lifting and especially the faster lifts, which are the Olympic lifts, the clean and jerk. Those typically get a bad rap, and they are extremely effective and safe if done properly. You really need a good coach when youre doing those things. And if thats in place, then theyre completely safe. But if its not, people can hurt themselves.

Its the magnitude of weight and the speed at which they have to move it that requires them to be able to do that, and oftentimes when someone gets interested in that, they come in with not necessarily an injury but an inadequacy in motion, and then that throws the lift off and then they just cant do it properly until they fix the motion problem.

Does slow-moving weight-lifting normally offer more benefit?

Yes, especially in acute injury, especially when youre dealing with tendons. Initially, youre going to move slowly, youre going to try to eliminate momentum, and then the holding it at the apex of the maneuver for several seconds, that gives the soft tissue the stimulus it needs to get stronger.

Do you see a change in mood in people over the time they are in physical therapy?

One of the absolute best things about being involved in physical therapy is you get to see that evolution in mood from the initial day of fear, concern, some anxiety, and then it gets better and better and better until the day of discharge, when people feel very comfortable and are quite happy to have overcome their problem.

Link:

Clearwater physical therapist helps patients regain motion and freedom - Tampa Bay Times

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An Ontario Superior Court judge ruled today that the Ford Conservatives expansion of the Election Finances Act to limit political advertising by unions, advocacy organizations, and concerned citizens is unconstitutional. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario welcomed the ruling, calling it an important victory for freedom of expression and association that bolsters the democratic process in Ontario.

The only way we can truly come out of the pandemic stronger and better as a province is by being able to hear from the very people and organizations that have been on the ground getting us through COVID-19, said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario. This decision ensures that those of us who arent political parties - like unions, community organizations, and provincial issue-based coalitions - and who cant assume that our announcements or press events will be aired on multiple television stations, can still get our message out. It means Ontarians will continue to be able to access a range of opinions on issues that matter to us all and make truly informed decisions ahead of elections.

Bill 254 would have meant that third parties, like CUPE Ontario, would see limits to political advertising, which includes issue-based campaign ads that are considered to be closely identified with a political party or a candidate. The Bill doubled the period of restricted advertising and, according to CUPE Ontario, could potentially make collaboration on issues up to challenge one out of every four years.

The union, representing 280,000 public sector workers, raised their concerns about the Bill before todays decision.

This is wrong. It is undemocratic. It is unconstitutional, Hahn warned the government during committee hearings in March. The effect of all this will be to create a chill on legitimate and constitutionally protected speech and advocacy.

The Ford Conservatives claim that theyre just really concerned about big money in elections is just patently false, said Hahn today. The real effect of such a measure would have been to keep us from raising critical issues. It would have been an obstacle to talking about the countless ways in which the Tories have failed us all over the last year, to reminding our communities of the cuts the Conservatives started before the pandemic, and to describing what we need to do to keep Ontarians safe and to collectively make Ontario the best possible province it could be in the future.

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A Victory for Freedom of Expression and Association: CUPE Ontario Applauds Judge's Decision That Ford's Election Advertising Bill Is Unconstitutional...

The Longboat Key Town Commission approved plans to resume the annual Freedom Festival celebration and parade.

Commissioners voted 7-0 on Monday afternoon to waive the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerces $100 permit fee. Atemporary road closure is also plannedfor Bay Isles Road on Sunday, July 4.

Im very excited that we can now move forward and start to plan for the parade and for all the other things for the kids, Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren said.

Last year, the towns Independence Day festivities got canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This years parade is set to close Bay Isles Road from 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Sunday, July 4. Festivities at Bicentennial Park right next to Town Hall would host festivities from 7 a.m. to noon.

During Mondays Town Commission meeting, At-Large Commissioner BJ Bishop asked Mayor Ken Schneier to remove the measure from the consent agenda so commissioners could discuss the logistics of the parade.

I wish that our assistant police person were here to talk about what specific things were going to do to ensure that the traffic in and out of All Angels Episcopal Church is not compromised because they meet at both 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sundays, Bishop said. Obviously, the parade route runs in conflict with people being able to get to church.

Interim Police Chief George Turner and Deputy Police Chief Frank Rubino were not in attendance during Mondays Town Commission meeting.

Loefgren said she has had conversations with Rubino about this years parade plans.

Public Works Director Isaac Brownman, whose department is the one that reviews permits for public forums, said the town is working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Longboat Key Police Department.

With the parade being 15 minutes, theres a couple of options there, Brownman said.

Fourth of July has been on a Sunday in the past. The year 2010 marked the last time Independence Day fell on a Sunday.

A lot of information will be forthcoming, especially about the parade, Loefgren said. I would like to have people know that the parade this year will be honoring our local heroes through the COVID crisis.

Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi is due to serve as one of the grand marshals of Freedom Fest.

Loefgren said she planned to select two other grand marshals: One who works in healthcare and someone from the Publix store at the Shoppes of Bay Isles.

This is a big deal even though its a small hometown parade, but I would like to honor our people, Loefgren said. Ive got to make sure [the] Rotary [Club] will do the Hot Diggity Dog Contest now that weve been approved. The kids and the dogs are the whole reason to do it.

Loefgren said Cannons Marina owner David Miller is again planning to offer$500 to the best float in the parade.

Id like the whole parade to be really bigger than ever this year, Loefgren said. The same amount of time 15 minutes, but more floats.

Originally posted here:

Freedom Fest celebration and parade is on in Longboat Key - YourObserver.com

Bobbie Shirley has been an employee at the Freedom Hall Civic Center almost as long as the venue has been open.

Initially starting as a clerk at the swimming pool in July 1975, Shirley worked at the center for more than 45 years before retiring this year as the venues director, a position she stepped into last year after former director Lisa Chamness retired. Before that, she filled multiple roles at Freedom Hall, which first opened its doors in 1974.

The Johnson City Commission issued a proclamation in her honor at a meeting in May.

Freedom Hall will not be the same without you, Commissioner Jenny Brock told Shirley at the time. Ive always known ... that if you wanted any information about Freedom Hall, or the history of Freedom Hall, you were the person who has it all.

When she first took a job at the center, Shirley had just graduated from high school and was looking for extra money. Before that, Shirley had volunteered at Freedom Hall as an usher for the first event at the civic center, a performance by comedian Bob Hope, in 1974.

Since officially joining the payroll, Shirley has worked in the venues ticket booth, at the concessions stand, as the administrative secretary and as the box office manager.

Shes also witnessed, and helped organize, hundreds of performances at the venue, a list that includes rock icons like Aerosmith, country music legends like John Prine and adrenaline-soaked spectacles like WWE wrestling. For Shirley, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Jones and Kenny Rogers were particular standouts. Depending on the act, she explained, planning events at the center can take anywhere from six to eight months or even a year.

But the best part about working at Freedom Hall isnt necessarily all the stars, Shirley said.

Its everybody that you work with, she noted.

The time shes invested at the center has allowed Shirley to develop strong bonds with co-workers, promoters and performers. Shes even watched some performers grow up.

You see people over and over again, Shirley said. You develop good friendships.

Shirley has also gathered a mountain of memorabilia over the years, a collection that includes mugs, tickets, photos, backstage passes, drumsticks, guitar picks and shot glasses. She usually tries to buy an item from every show at Freedom Hall and is more inclined to get something if she likes the artist.

Im trying to get smaller things now, she quipped.

Over the years, Freedom Hall has also encountered more competition. When it first opened, Shirley estimated, the civic center was one of dozens of buildings that size. Now, its one of hundreds.

We are not a tier-one market anymore, she said. Now, shows they do bigger cities. An artist can get a song on the radio and become an overnight sensation and then they pick and choose where they go to.

The center is, however, still plenty capable of drawing large acts.

Freedom Hall is a great place to see events, Shirley said. The acoustics are wonderful in here, and theres not a bad seat in the house.

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Freedom Hall veteran Bobbie Shirley retires after more than 45 years - Johnson City Press (subscription)

On the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring, the state of free press in the MENA region is as tenuous as ever.

Reporters continue to work in hostile environments ten years after what many had hoped to be a revolutionary movement and a peaceful uprising against oppressive regimes across the Middle East and North Africa.

On June 2, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) hosted a virtual conversation with journalists to discuss the current state of press freedom in the MENA region, what can be done to combat threats and how global collaborations like ICIJs FinCEN Files, Luanda Leaks and Panama Papers help free press thrive. From access to information and censorship, to investigating corruption and threats against female journalists, we look back on the changes over the decade and why hope for the region remains.

The roundtable discussion featured Jelena Cosic, ICIJs training manager and Eastern Europe partnership coordinator, ICIJ member Alia Ibrahim, co-founder and CEO of Daraj.com, ICIJ member Malek Khadhraoui, executive director of Inkyfada and Saja Mortada, investigative journalist with the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ).

When you support ICIJ, youre supporting a network of journalists who work together to make sure the worlds most important stories get told.Make a donation todayto join our community of ICIJ Insiders, and youll receive exclusive early access to content, to events like this, and more.Donate now.

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Watch: Press freedom in the Middle East, 10 years after the Arab Spring - ICIJ - ICIJ.org

Pub bosses have appealed for the easing of COVID restrictions across the UK, saying the delayed Euro 2020 football championship offers the perfect opportunity to help the industry and beyond recover.

The chief executives of Young's and Greene King were among those to speak out amid jitters that the final step on the roadmap for England to exit COVID-19 rules - currently pencilled in for 21 June - is under threat from a resurgence in cases, led by the Delta (or Indian) variant.

The hospitality sector as a whole is expecting a boost to business as summer weather takes hold after over a year of stop-start disruption to business.

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The Euros, which begin on Friday, involve Wales, Scotland and England.

It is hoped that fans in the home nations will be able to enjoy unrestricted access to big screens both inside and outside pubs and bars as the tournament plays out across 11 countries - with the semi-finals and final to be played at London's Wembley Stadium.

The crowds have the potential to be much larger than would normally be the case because none of those overseas host countries are on the so-called green list, which would allow travel without quarantine requirements.

Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News on Tuesday to urge caution on breaks abroad, saying his advice would be to "holiday at home".

Figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) earlier showed fewer than a quarter of pub owners were "highly confident" that they would survive the next three months - given the uncertainties ahead.

The ale economy survey, compiled in early May, suggested only 24% of companies were extremely optimistic about the future, with more than 55% of all staff still on furlough.

Almost 10,000 licensed premises were reported to have closed permanently last year - a figure certain to have risen because of continued disruption in 2021.

The industry is campaigning for additional taxpayer aid to help boost employment and the wider economic recovery at a time when it is unclear what regulations they will face in the coming weeks.

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Greene King boss Nick Mackenzie said: "There is a real risk that restrictions may remain in place, meaning that pubs will be unable to trade profitably as crucial financial support falls away.

"If that happens, the impact on pubs will be huge and it's going to be a real struggle for many to survive.

"The reality is that we can't continue in this limbo indefinitely.

"We are relying on the Euros and the summer to begin rebuilding and without the ability to do that, it is imperative that the government continues to provide support to save the sector, especially by extending the business rates holiday and removing the cap which will affect so many businesses."

His counterpart at Young's, Patrick Dardis, added: "If the government continues to make decisions at very short noticeand not engage properly with businesses, uncertainty will prevail and confidence will deteriorate."

He said of England's restrictions: "Having delivered against the four criteria for reopening, there is no reason that Freedom Day should be delayed beyond June 21.

"We need strong leadership from the government to save jobs and ensure the UK's economic recovery continues."

Read more here:

COVID-19: Pub bosses cheer for Euro 2020-driven recovery as 'Freedom Day' hangs in the balance - Sky News