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Category Archives: Freedom

Drug Treatment Moguls Lived in Luxury: Prosecutors

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Prosecutors say the father and son who ran one of New York's largest drug treatment programs committed fraud and spent taxpayer millions on luxury cars and vacation homes while their patients lived amid rats and bedbugs, but authorities fear shutting down their programs could put thousands of addicts on city streets.

In late October, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara asked for a civil injunction to stop Narco Freedom from continuing what he described as "an ongoing fraudulent kickback scheme." This came six days after New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman indicted owners Alan and Jason Brand on criminal charges of fraud and money laundering.

"Narco Freedom is not truly functioning as a not-for-profit corporation but is rather a corporation operated for the personal benefit of Mr. Brand," Robert A. Kent, general counsel to the state's Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), wrote in an affidavit filed as part of the state's case. The Brands strongly contest the allegations.

Read The Crime Report's Original Story on Narco Freedom

Narco Freedom receives nearly $40 million annually from Medicaid, and because of their indictment the Brands are now barred from running any Medicaid-financed operation. But their programs live on, and continue to receive Medicaid funding, because they provide methadone to 10 percent of New York City's heroin addicts and housing for hundreds of patients, many of whom are returning from jail and prison. More than 3,000 people could be left without treatment, according to court testimony and interviews, if Narco Freedom and associated businesses were shuttered.

Read The Crime Report's Version of This Story

The headquarters of Narco Freedom is a rundown, concrete slab of a building in the South Bronx, one of the poorest areas in New York City. On a recent day, patients milled outside, waiting for treatment, or for food from the truck that gives out free bagged lunches.

The Brands, however, enjoyed luxury cars, vacation homes in Florida, and generous benefit packages for which, according to state prosecutors, Narco Freedom footed the bill. Alan Brand earned $386,000 per year as CEO of Narco Freedom, among the highest salaries for an executive of a Medicaid-financed non-profit, according to a 2013 report from the U.S. House of Representatives.

Following the criminal indictment, state prosecutors froze Alan and Jason Brand's bank accounts, their sprawling homes on Long Island and properties in Florida, and seized six cars, among them a Jaguar, a Corvette and a 2013 Tesla.

This Tesla was seized by state authorities.

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Drug Treatment Moguls Lived in Luxury: Prosecutors

Creative freedom

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An image-editing software always comes in handy to airbrush blemishes away, but instead, Gerbie Pabilonia has been using it to append wings to the human body and to augment imaginings and exuberance as he transforms photographs into grand illusions.

Gerbie is an exceptional digital artist able to tread with ease the realm that separates photography and fine art. He employs a visual narrative to seduce his audience with a banquet of vivid dreams.

Through his website http://www.gerbiepabilonia.com, the artist declares his intention to entice: So that you may explore your own spirit, inspire who you are and what you want to become in this lifetime. Art can help us grow, heal our hearts, excite our senses, and inspire new ideas. Its one of the most valuable gifts to society.

A graphic designer currently based in Singapore, Gerbies passion for the arts was established at a young age as he was guided by his father. He then focused primarily on doing realistic oil paintings as well as charcoal, pastel, and watercolors.

A multitude of mediums and years after, he moved forward and started to study image-editing software as an alternative tool of artistry. Through this, he was able to marry photography and digital arts. It was then that Gerbie flourished as he discovered the rewards of freedom and personal expression through abstraction.

While Gerbie is quick to admit that his craft is tantamount to nonconformity, he is able to relate new ideas and the ability to visualize profound exhilaration and emotion. I always make you want to keep coming back for more, he says.

Since creative inspiration is magical when you have it and frustrating when you dont, Gerbie shares how he breathes life to what he does: I make sure that I dont stay locked up in front of my computer for too long. I get out, explore the world and other forms of art for inspiration. I think this balance helps to keep my creative energy fresh and exciting. This relates to new ideas and the ability to stay excited about what I do every day.

I have come to realize that I can hardly underline my ultimate goal as a visual artist. I am already greatly fulfilled when people appreciate my works and acknowledge me for sharing my techniques.

Gerbie currently heads Beyond Photography Productions with affiliates in Singapore and the Philippines. The production team caters to covering various events, campaigns, editorials, as well as seminars, private workshops, and special courses on digital art photography. On February 14 to 15, he will be conducting a two-part digital art post-processing and photography workshop in the Philippines. While on March 21 to 22, he will conduct a collaboration workshop with Manny Librodo in Singapore.

Despite his bold mix of styles, Gerbie employs a subtle and sophisticated feel to his digital artworks through a unique balance of color, composition, and texture. As he deviates from the norm, he is able to establish an exotic piece of work sustained by confidence, talent, hard work, and passion.

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Creative freedom

ED ROYCE: Support Internet's global fight for freedom

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Soheil Arabi will soon have a rope around his neck. The 30-year-old father is languishing on Irans death row. Yet Mr. Arabi did not kill anyone. He did not rape or steal. The crime Mr. Arabi committed was writing several Facebook posts that were deemed religiously offensive.

Mr. Arabis abhorrent treatment throws harsh light upon one of the defining struggles of his generation. The Internet is the newest arena for one of our oldest fights the right to free speech. The worlds freedoms are increasingly being given - and denied - online. It is a fight the Obama administration has not fought strongly enough.

While Internet usage has climbed to more than 40 percent of the worlds population, global Internet freedom has declined for the fourth year in a row, according to Freedom Houses Freedom of the Net 2014 report. Online censorship and monitoring is becoming more aggressive and sophisticated around the globe.

In Russia, Putins government has gone on the offensive, using the Internet as a weapon against democracy. It has been widely reported that Russia is financing hundreds of trolls fake online personalities who attack social media sites with misleading and false information. While the space for free speech in Russia is shrinking, the number of state-owned news websites is proliferating. The Kremlin uses these websites to create confusion and discredit authors, leaving readers wondering what is true and what is false.

Chinas Great Firewall employs thousands of people to scan the Internet, searching for information for that repressive government to block. China also uses technical methods like bandwidth throttling and keyword filtering to censor the Internet. Online libraries, text messaging applications and cloud computing services are also shut off. Right now, China is blocking information on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Sadly, even our allies in Europe are threatening Internet freedom. Earlier this year, Europes highest court issued a ruling allowing individuals to request that Google remove search results about themselves. Under this right to be forgotten, Google has removed roughly 500,000 links. Those removed links include articles about criminal convictions, investigations and botched medical procedures. A European Union group of privacy regulators is now calling on Google to expand its censorship to global sites. This offers a bleak glimpse into Internet freedom in Europe.

Internet freedom is not just an American value; it is a global value. People around the world are fighting for this freedom. In Cuba, where the Castro government restricts Internet access, people resort to downloading articles to thumb drives and sharing them with each other. In Turkey, when the government earlier this year banned YouTube and Twitter, Internet freedom advocates used outdoor graffiti to instruct people how to use virtual personal networks to circumvent government controls.

We must not let oppressive governments win we must ensure the continuity of the global Internet. The House Foreign Affairs Committee, which I chair, is fully engaged on this issue. We have held hearings on Internet freedom, championed passage of an Internet freedom resolution and pressed individual countries behind the scenes to stop Internet blocking.

I am concerned that the Obama administration has not prioritized the fight for Internet freedom and Internet governance. I plan to continue pressing the administration to develop a clear strategic plan to reverse the troubling decline in Internet freedom. U.S. efforts through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development should address the proliferation of repressive laws, reverse regulatory controls of online media and push back on increased demands on the private sector to self-censor.

We are still in the early days of the Internet. Its us up to all of us to ensure that the Internet remains free and open so that future generations may enjoy its social and economic benefits. Sir Tim Berners-Lee, credited with inventing the World Wide Web in 1989, conceived of it as a network of freedom. Lets not allow repressive regimes to use it as a web of oppression.

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ED ROYCE: Support Internet's global fight for freedom

Sonic The Hedgehog COMIC DRAMA- ”I wanna be a freedom fighter” (issue 142) – Video

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Sonic The Hedgehog COMIC DRAMA- #39; #39;I wanna be a freedom fighter #39; #39; (issue 142)
Two Comic dramas in a week! Hope you enjoy! This is basically the result of boredom and wanting to practice some voice acting since I don #39;t usually voice Sally, but I thought I #39;d give it a...

By: donniegirl12

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Sonic The Hedgehog COMIC DRAMA- ''I wanna be a freedom fighter'' (issue 142) - Video

Crowd calls for prayer and justice at Freedom Corner

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They came by the dozens, totaling upward of 300, some carrying signs bearing Together We Can and Justice for All, most wearing their Sunday best, many holding hands or raising them in supplication.

The members of the 19 churches of the Hill District Ministers Alliance turned out Sunday afternoon, the first Sunday of the new year, at the historic Freedom Corner in the Hill District to get the ear not only of elected officials but of God, said organizer Victor Grigsby, chairman of the alliance and pastor of the Central Baptist Church in the Hill District.

There was stirring talk and singing. Mostly, there was prayer.

Theres an urgency in our community. We felt a strong need to voice our concerns. We wanted to talk about injustice. We wanted to pray, as a community, Rev. Grigsby said. Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay and Cmdr. Eric Holmes attended. Im here because I support anything that brings community together [to support peace,] Cmdr. Holmes said.

Recent national incidents involving the deaths of African-American citizens during encounters with police sparked the rally for justice and against violence, which began at 1:30 p.m. with a march down Centre Avenue to Freedom Corner, where speakers took turns at the microphone.

The precipitating factors were [shootings in] Ferguson [Mo.] and Brooklyn, New York, but this is the way we wanted to begin 2015, the first Sunday in 2015, in a peaceful voicing of our concerns, Rev. Grigsby said.

Speaker after speaker asked the group to join in prayer for government leaders, for funding of programs to benefit the community, for police, for peace.

Karen Kane: kkane@post-gazette.com or at 724-772-9180.

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Crowd calls for prayer and justice at Freedom Corner

Highway Sales Freedom Truck Lease Promotion Extended Through End of January

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St. Paul, Minnesota (PRWEB) January 05, 2015

Highway Sales, Inc. has announced it is extending its FREEdom Lease promotion for professional CDL-A truck drivers through the end of January for drivers wanting to become owner operators and work with Dart Transit Company.

The FREEdom Lease provides drivers with over $6,000 in incentives when they lease a 2015 Freightliner through Highway Sales. It includes:

The FREEdom lease is a great way for a professional truck driver to become an owner operator, said Phil Marston, Vice President of Highway Sales. By starting out with no up-front truck costs and no truck payment for the first month, drivers are able to put money in their pocket on day 1. That means a successful and profitable start to their trucking business.

To qualify for the program, drivers must have a CDL-A, a minimum of 6 months driving experience, and meet Darts contract requirements.

With the up-front help and savings to owner operators, Marston said, this really is the best truck lease deal around. No other company provides owner operators with this much support. If youve been thinking about leasing a truck and becoming an owner operator, this is the perfect time to do it.

To learn more about the FREEdom Lease, please call Darts recruiting department (1-855-499-0833) or visit Darts website.

About Highway Sales & Dart

Highway Sales is a truck and finance company. Flexible terms make it easy for most professional truck drivers to qualify.

Founded in 1934, Dart is a dry van carrier with many operating choices for professional truck drivers. Dart offers Over-the-Road, Dedicated, Regional, and Short Haul options.

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Highway Sales Freedom Truck Lease Promotion Extended Through End of January

Osho- Love, Freedom and Aloneness: A Mini Book Review with some of my personal thoughts – Video

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Osho- Love, Freedom and Aloneness: A Mini Book Review with some of my personal thoughts
Greetings! I haven #39;t shared a vlog in quite a while but I really want to talk to you all about this book that honestly blew my mind and to catch you up on what I #39;ve been up to as well. Enjoy...

By: Sahasrara Aten-Ra

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Osho- Love, Freedom and Aloneness: A Mini Book Review with some of my personal thoughts - Video


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