Category Archives: Freedom

It was a 1980s theme night at Consol Energy Park Friday, and when the Florence Freedoms Davis Harris stepped into the batters box in the top of the seventh inning, a picture of Rocky Balboa, the fictional pugilistic character made famous by actor Sylvester Stallone, was displayed on the large video board in right centerfield.

It was indeed appropriate because Harris would deliver a knockout punch to the Wild Things.

Harris, who at the time was 0-for-11 in the series, smacked a two-run RBI that was the key hit in a four-run inning that send Florence to a 5-3 victory and sweep of the three-game series.

It was a good series for us, Florence manager Fran Riordan said. We played very good defense, had good starts from our pitchers and our bullpen made some good pitches when we had to.

Harris hit came one batter after Florence scored the games first run, breaking up a pitchers duel between the Wild Things Jhonny Montoya (1-1) and Freedom lefty Andres Caceres (3-1).

Both starters were fun to watch tonight, Riordan said. Montoya threw strikes with two pitches and got outs with his changeup. Caceres covered both sides of the plate.

With both pitchers dominating, about the only excitement in the first six innings came when Washington third baseman Taylor Oldham lost a single and was called out for using an illegal bat in the first inning. Oldham, the Wild Things No. 3 hitter, singled to apparently put runners on first and second with one out.

However, Riordan came out of the visitors dugout and pointed out to home plate umpire Kirk Domanick that the barrel of Oldhams bat was smugged with reddish-brown paint, which Riordan said was illegal and came from rubbing the bat against a railing when the teams played in Florence.

Domaniclk and base umpire DW Brown looked at the bat, and though the paint mark had nothing to do with the flight of the baseball on the hit, ruled that Oldham was out and Washingtons Will Arnold had to return to first base. Brown also confiscated the bat and took it to the umpires room.

Riordan said that under normal circumstances, he would not have mentioned anything about the bat to the umpires.

Originally posted here:
Freedom defeat Things for sweep

NEW YORK Roman Catholic groups on Thursday embarked on a two-week campaign of prayer vigils, rallies and other events to draw attention to what they consider government attacks on religious freedom.

Called the "Fortnight for Freedom," bishops organized the education campaign during liturgical feasts for martyred defenders of the faith. Independent advocacy groups such as CatholicVote.org and Women Speak For Themselves, have joined the effort with TV ads, videos, Facebook appeals and petition drives.

While the religious freedom campaign includes protests against state laws and policies, the bishops' immediate target is the mandate President Barack Obama announced in January that most employers provide health insurance that covers birth control. Federal officials said the rule was critical to women's health by helping them space out pregnancies.

Critics have accused the bishops of organizing the campaign as a partisan assault on Obama in an election year. But church leaders insist they have no partisan agenda and blame the timing on when federal officials approved the rule.

"In only the past few years, we've experienced rampant disregard for religious beliefs in this country," wrote New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, in an e-book released for the "Fortnight" effort. Among the examples he cites are approval for embryonic stem cell research, legal justification for torturing prisoners and support for same-sex marriage.

"We can see that there is a loss here of a sense of truth and objective moral norms_rules of conduct that apply always, to everyone, everywhere_an infringement of religious liberty and an 'eclipse of the sense of God and of man,'" wrote Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Opponents are unconvinced. "This bishops' project isn't about religious freedom it's about privilege," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "They are asking for preferential treatment from the government, and if they are successful, it would undercut the rights of millions of Americans."

The "Fortnight for Freedom" schedule kicked off Thursday night with a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore, celebrated by Baltimore Archbishop William Lori. Local activities are planned across the country leading up to Independence Day.

The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., plans Masses and repeat screenings of the film "A Man for All Seasons," about Sir Thomas More, the 16th-century martyr whose feast day is this week. The Kansas Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's bishops, plans a June 29 religious freedom rally at the Statehouse in Topeka. The Archdiocese of Detroit plans Masses and lectures by religious liberty experts in English and Spanish. The Archdiocese of Denver has asked Catholics to fast on the two Fridays during the initiative.

Lori leads the bishops' new religious freedom committee. The panel was formed last September in response to what church leaders viewed as inadequate religious exemptions in many state laws that authorized gay marriage and mandated contraception coverage in employers' health insurance or prescription drug plans.

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Catholic bishops enlist parishioners in religious freedom fight that critics call partisan

STUART, FL--(Marketwire -06/21/12)- While America celebrates the Fourth of July as the day the country declared its independence, freedom also rings at Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina, where they're pledging to free guests from high travel fees and delight them with a deal that's as sizzling as a sparkler.

Guests of the AAA Three Diamond resort, located in the heart of southeast Florida's Treasure Coast, will go "fourth" this year with Hutchinson Island Marriott's "'FREEdom" vacation package. Promising patron's liberty (one free-night stay) and happiness (additional nightly rates starting from $149), the offer includes a complimentary night stay on the eve of July 4th for guests of the Treasure Coast resort staying a minimum of four nights between the dates of July 1 and July 7.

Fourth of July travelers will be further ignited with glory as they experience an old fashioned, all-American celebration in downtown Stuart, where Independence Day festivities that include live music, family activities and a fireworks show over the St. Lucie River are scheduled to take place. These events, offering free admission, start at 4 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

With a sizzling holiday Stuart, FL hotel deal in a laidback, humble beach-side town, vacationers can enjoy it all, from "free" to shining sea.

For reservations visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pbiir-hutchinson-island-marriott-beach-resort-and-marina/ and use the rate code HL1 or call 1-800-775-5946 and mention the package. The promotional offer is valid for reservations on a minimum 4-night-stay, July 1 - July 7, 2012. Rates are per room, per night and based on availability at the time of reservations.

About Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & MarinaAs an exclusive island oasis at the heart of southeast Florida's Treasure Coast, the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina, a AAA Three Diamond hotel in Stuart, FL, is a 200-acre retreat flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal waterway. Set in a serene, coastal-chic environment, it offers unspoiled beaches and deluxe accommodations, including 70 oceanfront Sandpiper Beach Villas. Its unique amenities include an executive 18-hole golf course; a 77-slip marina; recreational activities and water sports in South Florida, such as deep-sea and river fishing, jet skiing, tennis, kayaking and biking; four dining options; three outdoor pools; and over 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting facilities.

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Fourth of July Freedom

June 20, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom FLORENCE, KY - This summer at the Florence Freedom, every Sunday home game will feature a give-a-way families will want. The July schedule features six such Sundays (two day/night doubleheaders), each with cool give-a-ways. However, two stand above the rest as the Freedom continue their 2012 bobblehead series.

On Sunday, July 1 at both the 1:05 pm and 6:05 pm games, fans will have the chance to receive a collector's edition Wally the Watertower bobblehead presented by AdvancePierre Foods. Fans will recognize Wally for his striking resemblance to the landmark Florence Y'ALL water tower.

Come early as these "bobbletowers" won't last long! The first 1,000 fans for both the day and night games will receive a "voucher" as they enter the gates (one voucher for every two tickets). Those vouchers can be redeemed during the top of the fourth inning for the bobbleheads.

Then on Sunday, July 29, for the 6:05 pm game, celebrate this past season's college basketball championship and future number one over all basketball pick by getting your hands on the "Fear the Brow" bobblehead presented by Schulz and Sons Jewelers.

Kentucky fans will want to get here early as only the first 1,500 fans will receive a voucher (same as listed before, two tickets equals on voucher). The vouchers will then be redeemed at the Schulz and Sons Jewelers' booth, located on the third base side of the concourse, during the top of the fourth inning for the bobble.

Please notice that these bobbleheads were switched from their originally planned give-a-way dates to accommodate fan's interests.

Two save $2 on reserved tickets for these give-a-ways dates, or any 2012 Freedom game, fans should sign up to join the eFlock newsletter on Florencefreedom.com or call 859-594-HITS (4487). The Freedom are a part of the Independent Frontier League and play their home games at the Home of the Florence Freedom located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky.

Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board... Digg this story Add to Del.icio.us

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom Bobbleheads 'Tower' Above Any Other

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

An epidemic has swept across America, threatening the well-being of its most vulnerable residents, according to Save the Children, who launched today its Freedom from Poverty campaign to give a voice to the 16 million children bearing the brunt of the U.S. poverty crisis.

Artist ambassadors Jennifer Garner, Julianne Moore and American Idol judge Randy Jackson have already signed the Freedom from Poverty pledge, whose aim is to have 15,000 signatures from supporters by campaigns end on August 14.

Today, one in four kids is living in poverty. But it doesn't have to stay that way, said Randy Jackson, who supported Save the Childrens post-Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans, La. We all have to do our part to help turn around the childhood poverty crisis and make sure that every kid gets a fair start in life."

The goal of the Freedom from Poverty campaign is to shine a light on this crisis impacting a quarter of children across the United States who know all too well what it means to go without.

Living in poverty can mean having little or no food on the table, no safe place to sleep at night, no electricity or running water, said Carolyn Miles, Save the Childrens President and CEO. Poverty also means not having books to read and falling 18 months behind ones peers by age four, never catching up. It means being trapped in the cycle of poverty for life.

In addition to raising awareness of this hidden crisis, Save the Children works to break the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of children by ensuring they have the resources they need. Through initiatives like U.S. child sponsorship, children gain access to a quality education, books, computers, after-school learning, physical activities and healthy snacks.

From the foothills of Kentucky to the deserts of Arizona, U.S. sponsorship supports proven programs that are changing the future of children who are all too often forgotten. Children like Tracie Hays

My sponsors helped inspire me to achieve success. They encouraged me to go to school, try hard and do well so that doors would open in my future, said Hays, who benefited from Save the Childrens sponsorship program as a child growing up in poverty-stricken rural Kentucky. Hays went on to graduate from high school with honors, receive a full college scholarship and complete a masters degree in education.

To learn more about Save the Childrens Freedom from Poverty campaign and the U.S. Sponsorship program, visit: http://www.savethechildren.org/freedom. Text READ to 69866 to take the Freedom from Poverty Pledge.

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Save the Children Takes Stand Against Childhood Poverty, Launches Freedom from Poverty Campaign

Enlarge David Redfern/Redferns

Gary Bartz performs at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival. The saxophonist is often cited as a messenger of black empowerment in music.

Gary Bartz performs at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival. The saxophonist is often cited as a messenger of black empowerment in music.

Today, June 19, is a holiday known as Juneteenth the oldest commemoration of slavery's end. Though the Emancipation Proclamation declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states on Jan. 1, 1863, it was only on June 19, 1865 (months after Confederate forces had surrendered) that Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, to spread news of the war's end, and to enforce the proclamation in Texas. The date has since been noted in Texas and across the country as a celebration of African-American freedom and history, especially since the Civil Rights movement.

Jazz has always been one of the most important musical narratives of the African-American journey toward freedom in America. Emancipation did not mean equality for ex-slaves, and jazz, whose call to improvisation models the principles of freedom, has often documented the ongoing pursuit. Indeed, this year jazz musicians and educators Dr. Ronald Myers and Dr. Larry Ridley are illuminating African-American history within jazz by organizing a national Juneteenth jazz concert series.

Earlier this year, I spoke with pianist Jason Moran and bassist Christian McBride about how the "message in the music" charged social movements across the country. Artists such as Nina Simone, Sonny Rollins and Charles Mingus anchored our discussions of what it meant to use one's craft as a means to evoke change, and what it means to be part of a continuum toward total emancipation. See what they and their fellow jazz luminaries have to impart: Here are five recordings, picked by five musicians, which represent the triumphs and tribulations within the freedom struggle.

Jason Moran, pianist: "I showed 45 minutes of [an episode of the PBS series] Eyes on the Prize [to my students]. It was the episode when they discuss the Little Rock Nine in Arkansas and Governor Faubus and ... how crazy he was. After watching it and listening to Mingus' song, a student said, 'Well, now it makes a lot more sense.' This is an entire segment of the population whose life was dealing with stuff like this. And we're just watching an edited excerpt of people's everyday lives. Everything is not just about a chord or a melody ... it wasn't about that. It was therapy. People were using the music as therapy."

Click here for more from this interview.

Christian McBride, bassist: "Duke [Ellington] was always somehow able to express and convey the feelings of black folk without being angry. You could feel the sadness, pain, angst, but it was always done through this filter, this lens of triumph in the end ... or hope. I think that's what separated Duke from the rest of the pack. [On] this album specifically, you've got Mahalia Jackson, and these are two titans, arguably at the peak of their powers, collaborating together. When you talk about fusion, I can think of no greater example of one of the earliest collaborations of jazz and gospel."

More here:
Five Jazz Songs That Speak Of The Freedom Struggle

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CHARLOTTE -- A national organization said they hope to stop the summer brain-drain by keeping kids in school.

The Freedom School Partners is a six-week educational enrichment program designed to help kids not only maintain what they learned the past school year, but help them learn more. Monday was the first day of this summer program at 25 sites around Mecklenburg County.

Parents said they might be more excited than their kids.

"This morning I woke up so early because I was so excited about having them here. I was like, oh you know! They thought I was going to work and I was like, 'Oh, I'm not going to work, you're going to school!'" said Alicia Brewton, whose two sons are attending the Providence Day Freedom School.

Chanting and cheering, the kids are engaged, empowered and educated through the program.

"I'm at home and I know it'd be much funner for them to be with somebody else, in a different learning style than I am, because I'm just drilling. I'm like, hey, read this book, do this, do that, so they will probably love it here, said Brewton.

Freedom Schools serve children who are most at risk of summer learning loss, but are least able to afford the opportunity of quality summer learning.

"Freedom School helps meet that challenge with literacy and self-esteem and fun and engagement for children who have the most to lose in the summer, said Mary Nell McPherson, Executive Director of Freedom School Partners.

Studies have shown the program is effective.

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Freedom School program enriches summer learning for students

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -06/18/12)- The Harper Government is moving forward on its long-standing commitment to give Western Canadian wheat and barley farmers marketing freedom. Today, a panel of three judges ruled in the Harper Government's favour and overturned the declaration issued by Federal Court Justice Douglas Campbell on December 7th, 2011.

"We are very pleased that the declaration has been overturned as we always expected it would be," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Today's decision reinforces our belief that we must focus on the future opportunities that marketing freedom affords Western farmers, instead of trying to turn back the clock."

The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act will end the monopoly of the CWB as of August 1, 2012 and give Western Canadian farmers the ability to sell their wheat, durum and barley to the buyer of their choice, including a voluntary CWB.

"Marketing Freedom is good for Western grain farmers and good for all Canadians, " said Minister Ritz. "As we have always said marketing freedom will build a stronger economy by attracting investment, encouraging innovation and creating value-added jobs."

The Harper Government's top priority remains the economy. Modernizing grain policy in Canada will allow the Western Canadian grain industry to fully contribute to Canada's economic growth and long term prosperity.

Read more here:
Harper Government Moving Forward on Marketing Freedom

Once you enter a private workplace, freedom of speech protections technically go out the windowwhether you are a business owner or employee. However, your employees can, and will still voice their opinions on everything from President Obamas stance on immigration to the L.A. Kings Stanley Cup victory.

So as a business owner, how do you strike the right balance of expression and protection for your workers and your company?

Carolyn Hughes, vice president of People for SimplyHired.com, said the rule of thumb for her company is that the minute a persons freedom of speech becomes offensive to others in the workplace, it must be curbed.

At that moment you have crossed the line, Hughes said. And your response should be more values-driven than rules-driven.

That being said, an employers response to this issue should be to address complaints or actions in a way that speaks to your companys values. Its not necessarily having set rules in place about what can and cannot be said or done in your business.

We have respectful workplace policies, Hughes said. We expect all employees to use their best judgment.

When a worker does violate this policy, Hughes said the result rarely ends in that person being terminated. Stepping in to discuss the violation is a common practice and good protection for your business in terms of harassment lawsuits, she said. This respectful workplace policy should be outlined in your employee handbook, and distributed to workers on day one of their employment.

Polly Wright, senior consultant for HR Consultants, Inc., said its important to allow your own views as well as those of your employees to creep into your companys culture. The smaller a company is, the more flexibility it has in terms of establishing a culture.

This can even contribute to your employees understanding of the value of the organization, Wright said. But there is a difference between expressing your opinions, and forcing those opinions on someone else.

Both business owners and employees should gauge their behavior and expressions on those around them, Wright said. See if others are expressing themselves similarly, and also consider your colleagues reactions.

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Freedom of Speech and Your Office

If sometimes it seems like the two candidates for president are speaking different languages, the reason is simple:

They are.

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney use distinct vocabularies. Each has a campaign glossary of sorts to define himself, criticize the other guy, highlight opposing economic philosophies.

Fair shot or economic freedom? The nation's welfare or class warfare? You're-on-your-own economics or the heavy hand of government?

The president has tried to cast himself as the champion of the middle class. He claims Romney wants to perpetuate failed economic policies that favor the rich and privileged business interests over everyday workers. Obama regularly denounces tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires and frequently talks about the importance of "playing by the rules."

Romney has portrayed himself as Mr. Turnaround, the hands-on guy whose 25 years in the private sector give him the ideal resume to revive an economy he contends has gone from bad to worse under the president. His speeches are filled with patriotic references to the Founding Fathers and regular mentions of "free enterprise" and "prosperity."

"In a lot of ways, it's the standard party line Democrat, working-class rhetoric, Republican, business class," says Mitchell McKinney, professor of communication at the University of Missouri.

"Both are playing to the base. ... Obama has to address those disparities in the economy without seeming that he is anti-business, anti-capitalist. ... Romney wants to tout the making of money and successful working of the capitalist system but not highlight in any way the downside. In that sense they both have fine lines they're trying to walk."

Both men have tripped on their own rhetoric.

There was Obama's recent retreat from his assertion that "the private sector is doing fine" and Romney's declaration that "corporations are people." In coming months, McKinney says, the candidates, surrogates and big-money political groups will repeat certain words and phrases "so America comes to accept their narrative as reality. Clearly, words do matter."

Read more from the original source:
Fair shot, freedom, class warfare: Economic glossary of campaign '12 shows big divide