Category Archives: Freedom

As she kicked off the U.S. leg of her "MDNA Tour" in Philadelphia, Madonna said she was happy to party in the USA after touring Europe for three months.

The pop icon told the crowd Tuesday night they should "never forget how lucky you are to live where you live and to have the freedom that you have." She made the comments after talking about the arrest of three members of the punk-rock female band Pussy Riot. The women were sentenced to two years in prison after performing a "punk prayer" at Moscow's Christ the Savior cathedral in which they called on the Virgin Mary to deliver Russia from its leader, Vladimir Putin.

"In my travels around the world the one thing I truly witnessed is we in America have freedom of speech, freedom of expression," the singer said.

Madonna, who toured most of Europe from June to August, has called for the Pussy Riot members to be freed. Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel also have spoken in the women's favor.

"I don't think that it's a coincidence that I'm in the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed," Madonna said at the Wells Fargo Center to nearly 20,000 fans. "We are in the land of democracy."

Russian activists recently sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended by her support for gay rights during her show in St. Petersburg. A law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna's concert on Aug. 9. (Minors also attended Madonna's U.S. show.)

When speaking about Pussy Riot, Madonna said that about 80 gay men were jailed in St. Petersburg because of their sexual orientation. She told the crowd that the arrests were unfair, and they booed in her support.

Then the 53-year-old told the U.S. audience: "Don't get fat and lazy and take that freedom for granted."

Madonna kicked off her concert late on Tuesday, apologizing to the crowd, who began to boo before she hit the stage around 10:30 p.m. EST.

"We had many changes to make from Europe to America, and I wanted the show to be perfect for you because my fans deserve it and quite frankly I deserve it," she said.

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Madonna Tells Fans Appreciate Freedom

By JARRETT GUTHRIE | Special correspondent Published: August 29, 2012 Updated: August 29, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Freedom High football player Isaac Tanner talked about the first time he stepped up as a leader. It was halftime in a basketball game, trailing by double-digits and Tanner felt compelled to step up and take control. He scored 15 second-half points and helped his team earn the win.

That was when he was eight years old. Tanner has readily stepped up to the challenge again and again and the now 17-year-old will be called upon again as the captain and starting middle linebacker for the Patriots.

No problem for the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Tanner.

"I've been a captain since my sophomore year and I've never thought you have to be a senior to be a leader," Tanner said. "It's all about the type of presence you bring and what type of leadership you have and I've gladly accepted that role."

However, the task for Tanner and first-year Patriots coach Todd Donohoe is far more than just stepping in and filling a role it's about building a tradition at a school that has yet to find one. Donohoe enters as the seventh head coach in 11 seasons and the third coach Tanner and his fellow seniors have known.

"The Culture at Freedom hasn't been built yet," Tanner said. "We are trying to establish that whole school unity of being behind the team, the whole community to behind us. With so many coaches we just haven't had any of that going for the team."

For Donohoe, the former head coach at Strawberry Crest and an assistant at Armwood, Tanner is the kind of player who makes trying to build a tradition at a school a little bit easier.

"He's a leader in and out," Donohoe said. "He's a program player who never misses a practice, is always on time and doing the right thing on top of being big as a house and one of the top linebackers in the area."

Tanner, who has offers from Elon, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Ohio and Western Kentucky, will anchor what should be the Patriots strength this season with a solid defense.

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Freedom's Tanner embraces role

FREEDOM - Last season Freedom returned to the postseason for the first time since 2004 and despite losing in Level 1 to eventual Division 4 state champ Wrightstown, expectations are higher in 2012.

In Week 1 of the football season, the Irish under a new coach, certainly met those expectations as it crushed Berlin, 52-7, in an Eastern Valley Conference game. That performance has made Freedom the FOX 11 Team of the Week.

The 52 points were the most scored by Freedom since the 2010 season finale, when Freedom scored 60 points in a win over Berlin.

Its surprising we put so many points up, but its not in a way, coach Clint Kriewaldt said. The way our kids are working together, they want to learn. They want to soak in knowledge.

Kriewaldt is a big reason for Freedoms optimism. The Shiocton High School graduate was part of the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XL team as a linebacker and he also played for the Detroit Lions.

Having a guy like that who knows that much about football, its great to have running back Bo Casper said.

Casper was part of Freedoms onslaught Friday, rushing for 174 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns. Casper was pleased with the first game.

Youre always coming in not quite sure how that first games going to go, Casper said. Were happy with the outcome of the game.

Added lineman Reed Ambrosis: It was a good game. We were projected to lose by 21 points, but we came out and showed the conference what we were going to do.

Freedom is confident it can compete in the Eastern Valley with usual penthouse teams Xavier and Waupaca. Xavier has won or shared the last three titles.

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Week 1 Team of the Week: Freedom

Four imprisoned fiends convicted in the 1988 assassination of rookie NYPD cop Edward Byrne are set to appear before their parole boards for the first time this fall to seek their freedom, The Post has learned.

The quartet of craven killers Philip Copeland, Scott Cobb, Todd Scott and David McClary shot Byrne, a 103rd Precinct patrol cop, on Feb. 26, 1988, inside his marked patrol car in Jamaica, Queens.

The thugs shot the 22-year-old Byrne five times in the head in exchange for $8,000 in blood money from their drug boss, who had been busted by officers a day earlier and offered the dough to anyone who killed a cop in retaliation.

Edward Byrne

Byrnes death made national headlines as a stark reminder of the surging tide of urban violence often associated with the distribution of crack cocaine and became a defining moment in the citys war on crime.

The crimes brutality led President Ronald Reagan to call the family to express his condolences and Vice President George H.W. Bush to carry the slain officers NYPD badge with him on the campaign trail.

Edward Byrnes merciless assassins should leave prison only in coffins, Patrolmens Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch told The Post recently, referring to the cons bid at freedom.

Carole Weaver, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Parole, said that beginning in November, each of the convicts will undergo separate interviews with parole-board commissioners at the prisons where they are now inmates.

The Byrne family have been told to show up on the morning of Oct. 5 at the West 40th Street offices of the state Division of Parole to provide victim impact statements about the pending parole bids, sources said.

Lawrence Byrne, a lawyer who is the slain officers brother, did not return calls for comment.

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Freedom bid for 1988 cop killers

Internet facilitates freedom, but it also makes violations easier. Fundamentally, it's all about an individual's responsibility towards ensuring one's freedom doesn't interfere with other's freedom

Dr. Bob Hoekstra, former CEO of Philips

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint and the state of not being subjected to or affected by something undesirable. That is what the Oxford dictionary says.

In simpler words: I am free if I can do and say what I want and others do not impact me with undesirable stuff.

In Internet terms: I can write and read the information I want and get no spam. I am in control.

Internet brings instant communication and multiplication capability of all information from all people, to all people, in all regions, in all languages and with sound and video.

That gives much more freedom to individuals, as the power to express is much enhanced.

Spectacular are the many sites where people share their knowledge freely and usefully. Wikipedia replaced expensive encyclopedia, affordable to a few only, and made one by all, for all of the same quality, free. YouTube made publication of your music and TED presentations much easier and free.

User groups share information on how to best use your apparatus and fix problems. Political sites show the programs of political parties, and compare their promises and performance.

Smartphones with camera and video capability allow every individual to be a reporter.

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Internet freedom, what does that mean?

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --LifeProof, the award-winning maker of all-protective, everyday cases for smartphones and tablets, today announced the availability of the LifeProof nuud case for iPad. Unleashing new freedom for mobile computing, the LifeProof nuud case for iPad is water, dirt, snow and shock proof, and features a totally naked screen that provides a perfect tactile response and visual clarity. The new LifeProof iPad case protects both iPad 2 and iPad Gen 3 devices.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57464-lifeproof-nuud-case-ipad-new-freedom-mobile-computing

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120827/MM62725 )

The LifeProof iPad nuud case is currently offered exclusively at all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores nationwide. It is also available online at LifeProof.com as well as BestBuy.com. LifeProof nuud iPad case is available for $149.99 and the Cover + Stand for LifeProof nuud iPad case for $29.99. A case and cover combo is also available for $159.99.

"Our customers can't get enough of the LifeProof iPhone case and we expect the same will be true for the iPad case," said Scott Moore, vice president for Best Buy's Connectivity Business Group. "We have really focused on bringing ground-breaking accessories to our customers to enhance their experiences with phones and tablets. The LifeProof nuud case for iPad is the latest example of that commitment."

The LifeProof nuud case is designed for students, road warriors, outdoor adventurers, parents, children, emergency services, the military and anyone who wants to confidently take their iPad with them everywhere, everyday, and in any kind of weather. Unlike any other case on the market, LifeProof nuud's naked screen technology places absolutely nothing between the user and the iPad, providing uncompromised visual clarity and the ultimate touch experience.

LifeProof nuud case for iPad features and protections:

Further enhancing the iPad experience, LifeProof accessories let users get the most out of their iPads. The Cover + Stand for LifeProof nuud iPad case protects the iPad when it is not in use or when on the road. It also doubles as a stand for watching movies or angling the iPad for the optimal typing angle. Other accessories soon to be released include a strap pack that contains a hand strap and over-the-shoulder strap.

"The LifeProof nuud case lets you enjoy your iPad as Apple intended it, everywhere. It delivers perfect visual clarity and an uncompromised touch experience, while giving you LifeProof confidence to enjoy your iPad at the beach, use it on construction sites or on rounds in a hospital, at school or simply let the kids be kids," said Gary Rayner, CEO of LifeProof. "LifeProof is deeply committed to the integrity of our vision to create products that excel in every dimension. We are truly excited to partner with Best Buy to launch this highly anticipated product."

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LifeProof nuud Case for iPad Unleashes New Freedom for Mobile Computing

The Republican and Democratic parties in the U.S. should take a stand for Internet "freedom" during their upcoming national conventions, a group of Internet activists urged Monday.

More than 36,000 people have signed a petition, started by 'Net activist group Demand Progress in mid-August, calling on the two major parties to add Internet freedom language to their party platforms. Demand Progress reiterated its call for Internet freedom language in the platforms on Monday, a day before the Republican convention starts in Tampa, Florida. The Democratic convention is next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"The next two weeks will determine which party is the party of the 'Net," David Segal, executive director of Demand Progress, said in an email. "Internet start-ups, civil liberties groups, and Internet users generally will be paying close attention to who really represents us."

U.S. residents are becoming more concerned about threats to Internet freedom as their dependence on the Internet grows, Segal added. "It behooves both parties to demonstrate their support for that cause -- in their platforms, and in their legislative undertakings," he said. "If they fail to do so, the swelling number of Internet-savvy voters will start to look elsewhere."

The Internet freedom language proposed by Demand Progress and other groups is fairly general, and doesn't specifically mention net neutrality, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) or the controversial cybersecurity bills debated in Congress this year. Several of the groups pushing for the Internet freedom language opposed SOPA, the Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the cybersecurity bills.

"We ... urge political parties to explicitly adopt positions that protect and foster an open Internet that equally respects the rights of ordinary users, as well as the thousands of companies and organizations who rely on this platform everyday," the supporters of the Internet freedom language said in an open letter to the two parties. "We further urge American political parties to clearly reject efforts to censor the Internet and engage in unwarranted surveillance of its users -- and to do so in writing."

Other groups advocating the Internet freedom in the party platforms include the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Mozilla, Cheezburger.com and the Free Press Action Fund.

There are some indications that both parties are considering Internet language in their platforms. On Friday, the Daily Caller published what it called a leaked Internet freedom proposal for the Republican platform.

In addition, four Democratic lawmakers, Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo and Doris Matsui, all from California, and Jared Polis of Colorado, have urged the Democratic Party to include Internet freedom language in their party's platform.

"We strongly recommend ensuring the platform includes this or similar language: 'The Democratic Party stands for global Internet freedom, the free flow of information online, a free and open Internet, and protection from online censorship and privacy violations,'" the four wrote to party leaders last Wednesday.

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Groups Want Two Major US Parties to Support Internet 'freedom'

Photo by Matt Stensland

Hannah Giles, of the American Phoenix Foundation, speaks Saturday during the Freedom Conference at The Steamboat Grand.

Steamboat Springs Freedom Conference attendees on Saturday got to hear what drove Hannah Giles to investigate corruption at an agency that was supposed to be advocating for low-income families.

Giles was a 20-year-old aspiring journalist who had landed an internship in the Washington, D.C., area during summer 2009. While out for a jog, she ran past the housing barracks for the The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN.

It hit me, Giles said. I could do an investigation. Theyre right here.

She said she had written investigative pieces that were critical of ACORN and its political ties during college, but the articles did not change the national perception of the organization.

By the time Giles had finished her jog and returned to her apartment, she said she had formulated a plan to investigate ACORN.

She joined with James O'Keefe, who along with Giles is generally described as a conservative activist. Together, at a cost of $1,500, they produced a number of undercover videos that drew national controversy and led to the organizations downfall. One of the videos was shown at the beginning of Giles speech Saturday. It showed O'Keefe, posing as a pimp, and Giles posing as a prostitute. An ACORN employee was offering them advice on how to avoid paying taxes on their prostitution ring.

ACORN lost its government and private funding and declared bankruptcy in 2009.

Today, Giles helps lead investigations for the American Phoenix Foundation. According to its website, the goal of the foundation is to recruit and train select young potential leaders to transcend the traditional media by becoming independent truth-seeking journalists who relentlessly pursue truth with courage and creativity.

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Freedom Conference speaker emphasizes truth and justice

August 25, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Florence, KY-The Florence Freedom (51-38) continued their winning ways Saturday night as they put together clutch hits late in the game for a 3-1 win against the Washington Wild Things(38-51).

It was the Freedom's seventh straight win as they remain tied for the final wild card spot with Lake Erie, and Schaumburg with just seven games left in the season.

The Wild Things took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd on an RBI single by Jovan Rosa. The Freedom then tied it in their 2nd on a leadoff solo homerun from Eddie Rodriguez. It was Rodriguez's 14th homer of the season and his seventh in his last seven games.

The game remained 1-1 until the 8th inning. Pierre LePage led off with a single against reliever Chandler Barnard. David Harris then drove a pitch to deep center field which scored LePage from first on the RBI double. Peter Fatse also contributed in the inning with an RBI single of his own to make the score 3-1. Fatse drove in his team high 65th RBI of the season.

Andres Caceres started for the Freedom and turned in a quality start. The lefty went 7 innings allowing 2 hits on 1 earned run. He also matched his career high in strikeouts with 6 as he walked 5.

Caceres earned a no decision as Matt Kline(3-3) earned the win out of relief. Kline retired the only batter he faced Darian Sandford in the 8th on a pop out to second base.

Jorge Marban nailed down his 14th save of the year and his fourth in as many games.

The Freedom will go for the series sweep Sunday night against the Wild Things. Washington will feature RHP Casey Barnes(5-7, 3.70)as the Freedom will counter with RHP Andy Clark(1-1, 1.90).

The games can be heard starting at 5:50 with Steve Jarnicki on Real Talk 1160 AM and realtalk1160.com.

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Freedom Rally in Eighth to Keep Win Streak Alive

24 August 2012 Last updated at 13:15 ET

We've come to believe that freedom is the natural human condition, which only tyrants prevent everyone from enjoying - but when a tyrant is toppled, we can't know what will come next, says John Gray.

In February 1917, a young boy was reading a Russian translation of one of the books of Jules Verne in a street in St Petersburg (at the time called Petrograd) where a bookseller had laid out his stock in the snow.

The boy heard a commotion and, looking up from the book, saw a terrified man being frog-marched down the street. The ashen-faced figure was one of the city's policemen, who were among the last functionaries of the Tsarist regime to remain loyal.

Discovered hiding on the roof of a building, he had been brought down to be taken to what he evidently feared would be his end. What happened to the man cannot be known, but his deathly white face as he was marched away made an enduring impression on the boy who witnessed the scene.

Aged seven at the time, the young boy went on to be the philosopher and historian of ideas Isaiah Berlin, who spoke of the episode repeatedly in conversations I had with him towards the end of his life. He often contrasted the mood of optimism that accompanied the February revolution with the darker atmosphere that followed the Bolshevik coup in October of the same year.

Yet the incident occurred during the first of these upheavals, and it was clear that the impact it had on him had nothing to do with any differences between the two revolutions. As noted by his biographer, the episode left Berlin with a dread of violence that stayed with him after he left Russia in 1921 with his mother and father for a life in England and right up to his death in Oxford in November 1997. But I believe there may have been a subtler effect on Berlin's thinking, which has something important to say to us today.

Not long after the start of the 21st Century, we like to tell ourselves an uplifting story in which freedom expands whenever tyranny is overthrown.

We believe that freedom and democracy are inseparable, so that when a dictator is toppled the result is not only a more accountable type of government but also greater liberty throughout society.

This belief forms the justification of the repeated attempts by Western governments to export their own political model to countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. In this simple and seemingly compelling story, freedom and democracy are a package that can be delivered anywhere in the world.

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Does democracy always equal freedom?