Monthly Archives: September 2013

Liberty and Edmonton Public Libraries

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EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Sep 11, 2013) -

Editor's note: There is one photo associated with this press release.

Liberty is proud to announce that they have committed to security installations at seven Edmonton Public Libraries, utilizing the very latest in security hardware and software, including remote access.

Liberty has already completed installations at the Jasper Place, Castledowns, and Sprucewood branches. Each installation includes intrusion systems, card access and cameras. Liberty is in the process of completing phase two of installation at Stanley A. Milner library. When completed the Milner project will be Liberty's largest library installation. The first phase encompassed three floors, utilizing 32 cameras, as well as door contacts and security. The Strathcona, Riverbend and Woodcroft branches have been committed to and will be installed in the near future.

"We are proud to partner with the Edmonton Public Libraries," said Russell Keddie, Managing Partner at Liberty. "We hope that by bringing them the latest in technology we will not only keep their employees and clients secure, but allow them to save time and money by remotely accessing and managing each of their sites from a single platform."

"All our library installations, especially Stanley A. Milner, will greatly benefit not only the employees but also the patrons of the library," said Jeff Leonard, Commercial Project/Safety Manager at Liberty. "Our cameras and access control systems will help the library monitor their physical assets and also ensure the safety of everyone who visits the library."

Liberty helps protect people, homes and business in markets across Canada leveraging the very latest in technology for life safety, property protection, video surveillance, CCTV & access control. Through innovation and the application of new technologies, Liberty strives to simplify and empower the lives of those around them. Liberty's dedication to quality installations and exceptional customer service ensures you receive superior alarm and security products that are extremely reliable and easy to use. Learn more about Liberty and their home security and business alarm systems at http://www.libertysecurity.ca.

Edmonton Public Library's (EPL) mission is simply to share! With 17 branches across Edmonton, EPL is Edmonton's largest lender of all kinds of information and entertainment, sharing stores, ideas and experiences across the city. EPL strengthens neighborhoods and communities by going beyond traditional boundaries, fostering collaborative relationships to build relevant and responsive library services. EPL works collaboratively with organizations, providing space for non-library programs, which meet the needs of communities/individuals using the library. Learn more about EPL's vision at http://www.epl.ca.

Simple | Safe | Smart

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Liberty and Edmonton Public Libraries

'Big tent' Libertarian values in Republican party at the highest level in a decade

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In polite circles, theyre called Libertarian leaning Republicans who are borrowing a few pages from the Libertarian Party playbook, primarily to widen the voter appeal of the Grand Old Party as 2014 and 2016 approach.

Now there are some numbers on it. A FreedomWorks poll released Wednesday reveals fiscal issues and the role of government take top priority across the GOP voter base. The findings note that big-tent libertarian values within the Republican Party and the American voter population at large are at the highest level in a decade.

The survey found that 41 percent of Republicans say they have such values. The greater concern is whether social conservatives and the Libertarian leaners can get along - but thats another story.

Meanwhile, on the laundry list of voter concerns, the pollsters says that voters fret about increasing government power - including the U.S. engagement in overseas conflicts, citizen surveillance, the IRS matter, and of course the incoming Affordable Care Act and the endless federal debt.

We are seeing a realignment of the GOP, and a return to the fiscal policy priorities that fueled the last Republican midterm sweep. Its 2009 all over again, only this time combined with a growing distrust of an executive branch plagued with scandal, says Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, a sizable grassroots group of liberty minded folk nationwide.

Other key findings of the wide ranging poll include:

81 one percent of Republican voters oppose a debt ceiling increase.

66 percent of Republicans want their lawmakers to stick to principles.

51 percent say the U.S. should not take the lead role in solving international conflicts.

61 percent of U.S. voters overall say the economic policies coming out of Washington are hurting rather than helping.

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'Big tent' Libertarian values in Republican party at the highest level in a decade

Poll: Republicans go libertarian

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A new poll confirms a libertarian renaissance in 2013.

FreedomWorks commissioned a national survey of registered voters last month, shared first with POLITICO, that finds 78 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents self-identify as fiscally conservative and socially moderate.

Its not that Republicans are suddenly self-identifying as libertarians and devouring Ayn Rand novels, but more that they seem to be embracing underlying libertarian priorities and views about the role of government.

(PHOTOS: Libertarianism goes mainstream)

The GOP dominated politics for a generation with a coalition of libertarians, social conservatives and defense hawks that Ronald Reagan successfully cobbled together in 1980. The tea party-affiliated FreedomWorks argues in a 23-page report that the so-called three-legged stool has become lopsided.

The poll asked Republican voters what they are most interested in: 40 percent said individual freedom through lower taxes and reducing the size and scope of government, 27 percent picked traditional values and 18 percent chose a strong national defense.

Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway, who ran the poll, said shes seeing a spike in voters who feel the government is too expensive, invasive and expansive.

The perfect storm is being created between the NSA, the IRS, the implementation of Obamacare and now Syria, she said. People are looking at the government more suspiciously. Theyre looking with deeper scrutiny and reasonable suspicion.

(Also on POLITICO: Libertarianism goes mainstream)

FreedomWorks, which is among the groups leading the controversial push to defund the federal health care law even if it risks a government shutdown, argues that GOP voters have limited appetite for grand bargains that would raise taxes. Two-thirds of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they want their member of Congress to keep their promises and stick to principles as opposed to compromise in a bipartisan way to get things done.

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Poll: Republicans go libertarian

China warns Japan over Diaoyu Islands comments

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Published: Sept. 11, 2013 at 6:04 AM

BEIJING, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- China has warned Japan to avoid provocative action over a clutch of uninhabited Islands in the latest war of words concerning the disputed East China Sea territory.

China's Foreign Ministry expressed "grave concern" over comments by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga that Tokyo may station officials on the islands, known as Senkaku to the Japanese and Diaoyu in China.

China maintains the islands are its territory although they and the waters close around them have been under Japanese control for about 40 years.

China's official Xinhua News Agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei as saying China won't tolerate actions that violate its territorial sovereignty.

Hong urged Japan to "stop all provocative actions that undermine China's sovereignty" and "eliminate obstacles for improving bilateral relations."

Tension between Beijing and Tokyo has been high since Japan bought three of the five uninhabited islands from their private Japanese owner in September 2012.

The islands lie about 100 miles north of Japan's Ishigaki Island and about 115 miles northeast of Taiwan.

At the end of World War II the islands were under U.S. jurisdiction as part of the captured Japanese island of Okinawa. Japan has administered them since 1972 when Okinawa was returned to Japan.

The Japanese Cabinet secretary's comments come as seven Chinese patrol ships entered waters around the islands this week -- the latest of many incursions in the area, the Japanese coast guard said.

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China warns Japan over Diaoyu Islands comments

4 tips for savvy health care shopping

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Your employer and President Barack Obama are imploring you to become a better health care consumer. They want everyone to take a more active role in his or her care because it's vital to help slow the seemingly perpetual rise of health care expenses.

A growing number of companies offer high-deductible health plans that make their employees pay more for care out of pocket.

Some workers also are finding that the cost of their coverage now is tied to the quality of their health or whether they smoke.

President Obama's health care overhaul promises to provide insurance coverage to millions of Americans. But the uninsured first have to figure out which plan suits them best.

Becoming a better health care consumer shouldn't require prodding because it can put more money in your pocket and keep big medical bills at bay. Here are four key principles to keep in mind.

Numbers matter

Many companies now provide biometric screening to their employees, and it's not a bad idea to take them up on the offer. This involves measuring variables such as body weight, cholesterol and blood pressure that can tell you whether you're at risk for developing heart disease or other problems.

Companies do this in part because they want their workers to nip health problems before they become full-blown and costly medical emergencies such as a heart attack or diabetes. That means finding the right cholesterol drug or figuring out an exercise plan that helps you drop a few pounds and leave the cardiac risk zone.

Businesses frequently hire outside firms to coordinate these tests, so your boss won't know your individual test results, but the company may get data showing the averages for those covered under their plans.

Knowledge pays

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4 tips for savvy health care shopping

Coventry Health Care of Illinois and SwedishAmerican Health System Collaborate to Form High-Performance Network

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ROCKFORD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Coventry Health Care of Illinois, Inc. and SwedishAmerican Health System are pleased to announced a new high-performance network in Rockford, IL.

The new product, Carelink from Coventry: A SwedishAmerican Partnership, is effective September 1, 2013. The goal of this collaboration is to improve quality of care and lower overall health care costs. This partnership shows a commitment to delivering more value to the patient, no matter what his or her health care needs may be.

SwedishAmerican is collaborating with its physicians, Coventry and employer groups to implement a model of care that aids people when they are sick, and also focuses on keeping them healthy and out of the hospital unless they are acutely sick or injured, said Dr. Bill Gorski, President and CEO of SwedishAmerican. We are creating a physician-directed team approach to foster more accountability across the continuum of care, from the patient to the physician and all health care staff in between. Our primary goal is to help the health care team manage and improve the health and well-being of the patient.

Jered Wilson, Vice President of Network Development for Coventry, said, We are excited to expand our partnership with SwedishAmerican to offer the Rockford community access to a new health care delivery model. We believe our members will receive an enhanced level of coordinated care that will result in better health outcomes. Together with SwedishAmerican, we want to improve the health of our communities.

High-performance network model drives focus on more coordinated care

A high-performance network collaboration is a group of health care providers who assume responsibility for the quality and cost of care for a group of patients.

Richard Walsh, Executive Vice President and COO of SwedishAmerican, said, One of our goals is to provide physicians with better predictors of their patients health risks earlier in life. By implementing behavior interventions early, we can improve health and outcomes long term. We will also provide tools to help physicians better manage patients with multiple chronic conditions who need immediate interventions. Such resources and tools can be used to more efficiently manage a growing patient population, maintain patient health and focus on those patients who need their doctors guidance the most.

Coventry is working with health care organizations throughout the state to develop products and services that support value-driven, patient-centered care. For more information on this specific high-performance network, please visit http://www.chcillinois.com > Health Care Solutions > Our Products > Carelink from Coventry.

About SwedishAmerican Health System

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Coventry Health Care of Illinois and SwedishAmerican Health System Collaborate to Form High-Performance Network

Changes to health care under the law, at a glance

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An overview of some of the key changes to health care services under the Affordable Care Act:

ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS

Under the law, health insurers must cover 10 essential benefits. This will make health plans more costly, but also more comprehensive. Starting next year, the rules will apply to all plans offered to individuals or through the small-group market to employers with 50 or fewer workers. The essential-benefits requirement does not apply to plans offered by larger employers, which typically offer most of these, already.

The covered benefits are: ambulatory patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitative services and devices; laboratory services; management of chronic diseases, and preventive and wellness services; and pediatric services, including dental and vision care.

People will be able to pick from insurance plans with differing levels of coverage and varying costs for co-pays and premiums. But insurers will have to cover a certain percentage of the services' cost.

"Most of the important services people need are covered, though there may be a slight variation (from state to state)," says Jennifer Tolbert, director of state health reform for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

DENTAL-VISION

Need a teeth-cleaning or eye exam? You still could be reaching into your own wallet to cover the cost even after the Affordable Care Act takes full effect next year. Dental and vision care is considered an essential benefit for children aged 18 and younger whose parents or guardians get insurance through the individual or small-group plans. The law does not mandate this coverage for adults, but some states could choose to have them covered.

Still, getting dental coverage for children and teenagers might be a bit complicated depending on where you live. States can choose to offer those items as stand-alone plans, and federal subsidies would not help pay for the costs.

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

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Changes to health care under the law, at a glance

11/12 The Devastating Implications of Futurism (A New Look at the Blessed Hope) Bohr – Video

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11/12 The Devastating Implications of Futurism (A New Look at the Blessed Hope) Bohr
http://www.SecretsUnsealed.org Titles 1. Prophecy #39;s Time Frame 2. The Little Horn that Changed God #39;s Times 3. Protestants Are No More 4. Israel and the Palestinians...

By: Mrand79

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11/12 The Devastating Implications of Futurism (A New Look at the Blessed Hope) Bohr - Video

The Tigrex’s Roar – Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Walkthrough [Gameplay/Commentary] – Ep.36 – Video

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The Tigrex #39;s Roar - Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Walkthrough [Gameplay/Commentary] - Ep.36
Remember to leave a like and a comment if you enjoyed the video - I #39;d really appreciate it :)! Time to bow some Tigrex! My Twitter - https://twitter.com/MHSk...

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The Tigrex's Roar - Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Walkthrough [Gameplay/Commentary] - Ep.36 - Video

Snowden nominated for EU's freedom of thought prize

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Published: Sept. 11, 2013 at 3:18 PM

BRUSSELS, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Members of the European Parliament believe fugitive U.S. secrets leaker Edward Snowden should be honored for his freedom of thought, an official said Wednesday.

Christian Engstrom, a member of the Swedish Pirate Party that was one of the groups that nominated Snowden, said Snowden should receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought because of his "heroic" actions in revealing the U.S.'s extensive intelligence-gathering operations, RIA Novosti reported.

The former U.S. National Security Agency contractor is "paying a heavy personal price," Engstrom said in a personal blog. "Governments that dare to offer him asylum are threatened with dire consequences by the U.S. government."

He noted it was "a painful irony" Snowden had been granted asylum in Russia, "a country with democratic problems and authoritarian tendencies."

Alexander Sidyakin, a member of the Russian parliament's lower house, proposed Snowden for the prize in July.

The European United Left/Nordic Green Left also nominated Snowden. "Whistle-blowers cannot be treated like criminals. They must have our protection," the group said on its website in June.

The Sakharov Prize is given to individuals or organizations for their work in the defense of human rights and freedom of thought. Past recipients include former South African president Nelson Mandela, Chinese dissident Hu Jia and Reporters Without Borders.

A monetary award of $66,471 accompanies the prize.

The winner will be named in October.

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Snowden nominated for EU's freedom of thought prize

Golden Gate Fields notes: Cost of Freedom reaches million-dollar mark in style

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Barbara D. Livingston

Cost of Freedom, now 10, won the Grade 1 Ancient Title in 2008.

Trainer Genaro Vallejo may have gone against the grain when he put down $12,500 to claim the 10-year-old Cost of Freedom at Golden Gate Fields on April 6 for Battle Born Racing and Nick Ferrara.

The Cees Tizzy gelding won his second straight race that day but went to the sidelines for 11 weeks before a last-place finish for $16,000 at Pleasanton on June 29. That was followed by a fifth-place finish as the even-money favorite under Russell Baze in an $8,000 turf sprint at Santa Rosa.

Cost of Freedom was less than $800 away from becoming a million-dollar earner before those two races and was $291 away when he took on four rivals in a $10,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.

If he could beat one horse, he would become a millionaire, but he did better than that. He won the race and got to pose in the winners circle as a millionaire.

That was awesome, said Vallejo about reaching the milestone with a victory.

Cost of Freedom won the Grade 1 Ancient Title in 2008, and after his two lackluster tries, some people wondered if maybe he should be retired. But Vallejo figured Cost of Freedom needed a shot on Golden Gates Tapeta surface to regain his form.

Hes a synthetic horse, Vallejo said. In that turf race, he got hit by a rock early, and Russell just kept him safe after that.

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Golden Gate Fields notes: Cost of Freedom reaches million-dollar mark in style

Football: Freedom-Woodbridge works its way toward challenging Battlefield

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Battlefield and Freedom-Woodbridge first opened their doors on the same day in 2004.

But thats where the similarities between the schools end at least where football is concerned.

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When Battlefield (1-1) won the Div. 6 state title in 2010, the Eagles were busy going 1-9. In fact, the team has never won more than four games in a season.

But those were your older brothers Eagles.

Heading into Thursdays matchup with the Bobcats, Freedom is undefeated 2-0 after back-to-back victories over Osbourn Park and Osbourn.

Its definitely not the Freedom team of old, and they deserve a lot of credit for what theyre doing there, Battlefield Coach Mark Cox said.

All that senior running back Mike Gibson has done is shoulder the brunt of Freedoms offense. Gibson rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles season-opener victory at Osbourn Park. He added a workmanlike output of 66 yards on 24 carries against Osbourn Friday.

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Football: Freedom-Woodbridge works its way toward challenging Battlefield

FREEDOM ENERGY – Elaborates on the Air Quality Evaluation

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FORT WAYNE, IN, September 11, 2013 (Accesswire) -- Freedom Energy Holdings, Inc. (FDMF) today wanted to elaborate on the earlier announcement that FISHBECK, THOMPSON, CARR & HUBER, INC. (FTCH) completed an air quality evaluation that has been submitted to the Air Quality Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

In the previous release it was stated "According to the evaluation, the pilot process is eligible for an exemption from Michigan air permitting requirements pursuant to Michigan's pilot processes exemption (Michigan Air Pollution Control Rule 336.1283(1)(a)). The emissions from the exempt pilot process were also calculated as part of the evaluation and it was determined that none of the exclusions from air permit exemptions listed in Rule 336.1278 apply to the process equipment."

In plain words the "ELAS" project does not have any air quality issues and therefore qualifies under the Michigan environmental regulations for an exemption. Final approval has been requested from the Michigan DEQ and the approval is anticipated any day. Current regulation regarding the processing of asphalt shingles does not cover the new and groundbreaking technology involved with "ELAS". Thus far the only "approved" processing is grinding for use in asphalt road paving. "ELAS" will expand the market for recycled asphalt shingles, therefore eliminating the bottleneck that currently exists.

The process of working with the DEQ has been a very good learning experience. We have found the staff to be very cooperative and thorough. The strict process to gain approval is a result of the early efforts to "recycle" asphalt shingles; only to find the shingles easier to collect than to recycle. The foundational work from this process has set the stage for a more rapid expansion and national rollout once the pilot plant is up and operational. Strategic negotiations are ongoing with interested parties for licensing and expansion plans.

"ELAS" is a patent pending process that utilizes the patent pending technology SR-139. Construction of the first plant has begun and if all goes as planned, we hope to be in production by early fall. The opportunities are great and once we have perfected the mechanical engineering and worked out any bugs in the first plant, we plan to offer the technology and process on a commercialized basis.

I look forward to bringing updates regarding this opportunity in the very near future.

ABOUT FISHBECK, THOMPSON, CARR & HUBER, INC

FISHBECK, THOMPSON, CARR & HUBER, INC. Serving clients since 1956, FTCH is a full service civil engineering, environmental, architectural/engineering and construction management firm with over 330 employees. With offices in Michigan and Ohio, FTCH is one of the Top 500 Design Firms in the U.S. as ranked in Engineering News-Record. More information about FTC&H can be found at http://www.ftch.com

ABOUT FREEDOM ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC:

Freedom Energy Holdings, Inc. (FDMF.PK) is a publicly traded company that specializes in the identification and development of technologies with commercial applications in the energy industry sector. Research has shown a completely new product SR-139 to be effective at breaking down asphalt shingles allowing the extraction and recovery of hydrocarbons. The company's original primary focus was the commercial development of its proprietary, heavy oil technology. KC 9000(R), a breakthrough technology, provides an effective system to enable heavy oil deposits to flow at ambient temperatures.

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FREEDOM ENERGY – Elaborates on the Air Quality Evaluation

'Cyborg Astrobiologist' Helps Rovers Seek Aliens

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Sending an exploratory rover to another planet is riddled with challenges, among them, what to investigate and what to ignore. Take the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on Mars for example. Ground control scientists decide where the rovers should go and what they should investigate but commands sent via radio signals from Earth can take up to 20 minutes to reach Mars, depending on where the rover is relative to Earth.

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Patrick McGuire from the Freie Universitt, Berlin, has a way to speed up extra-planetary exploration. His Cyborg Astrobiologist program teaches robots whats worth looking and what to leave behind. Future rovers and probes could use it to check out otherwise ordinary-looking rocks for signs of life.

The program will be based on a huge database of images of geological features on Earth, the reasoning behind it being that rocks and such out there are similar to those down here. A rover would snap images of its surroundings and then compare those images to the ones in the database. If the computer program found something unusual or something that looked like a living organism on Earth such as lichen the rover would investigate more closely.

McGuire and his colleagues have tested the system in landscapes similar to Martian ones, such as around coalbeds and gypsum cliffs as well on sandstone, limestone and mudstone.

Some of those rocks were partly covered with lichen. Lichens are particularly important when seeking out alien life; its one of the few living things that could conceivably survive in a Martian environment. Anything that lives on marks is likely to look and act like lichens or algae mats.

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Thus far, matching images with similar features in images from the database seems to have worked pretty well. McGuire said in a press release that the computer program agreed with human geologists that it was looking at a lichen nine out of ten times.

McGuire presented his results at the European Planetary Science Congress in London.

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'Cyborg Astrobiologist' Helps Rovers Seek Aliens