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Category Archives: Freedom

FSA Cannibalism: terrorists eat heart of a dead Syrian soldier in the name of freedom – Video

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FSA Cannibalism: terrorists eat heart of a dead Syrian soldier in the name of freedom
The man in the video is known as Khalid al-Hamad or Abu Sakkar and he is the commander of Baba Amr brigade in Homs, the brigade is part of the Farouq brigade...

By: SchwarzeSun

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FSA Cannibalism: terrorists eat heart of a dead Syrian soldier in the name of freedom - Video

Editorial Board: Damage to press freedom likely outweighs national security gain

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WHEN THE Justice Department launched its investigation of alleged leaks of national security information by the Obama administration a year ago, we were skeptical. The history of such probes is mainly a tale of dead ends and unintended negative consequences. That this effort to criminalize a leak was launched amid an election-year uproar seemed especially inauspicious.

Our forebodings have been borne out with the revelation that federal prosecutors have undertaken a broad sweep of the Associated Presss phone records. Whatever national-security enhancement this was intended to achieve seems likely to be outweighed by the damage to press freedom and governmental transparency.

The Justice Departments apparent purpose is to track down the person or persons who told AP about the Central Intelligence Agencys disruption of a Yemen-based terrorism plot. Federal prosecutors subpoenaed records for 20 separate office, home and cellular phone lines belonging to the AP and its reporters or editors. The subpoenas covered a two-month period in the first half of 2012. Crucially, they did not follow the usual Justice Department policy, which is to give news organizations a chance to negotiate or contest such a subpoena ahead of time.

That policy is rooted in sound respect for the First Amendment. Its not legally binding in part because the Justice Department and the press have recognized a mutual interest in resolving such matters without potentially counterproductive Congressional or judicial intervention.

In a letter to AP President and CEO Gary B. Pruitt yesterday, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole explained that the department had no alternative means of gathering essential information. He also intimated that Justice had kept AP in the dark until a few days ago so as to avoid a substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who recused himself from the investigation after he was interviewed by the FBI, fleshed that assertion out at a press conference Tuesday, saying at issue is one of the top two or three most serious leaks that I have ever seen which put the American people at risk, and that is not hyperbole.

Perhaps thats so we have no independent means of verifying Mr. Holders claim, though we hope reporters are working on it. As Mr. Pruitt responded Tuesday, We held that story until the government assured us that the national security concerns had passed. Indeed, the White House was preparing to publicly announce that the bomb plot had been foiled.The usual reason for keeping a subpoena secret is that the target would otherwise try to destroy documents. In this case, AP could not have done so even if it wanted to, since the relevant records were in the possession of its phone service providers. Without even giving AP a chance to weigh in, we dont see how the department could intelligently weigh its prosecutorial needs against this broad subpoenas chilling effect on reporters and their sources

Of course, if Justice Department officials are overreacting, they arent alone. The investigation of AP began in response to Republican outrage about the purported fact that White House officials were leaking secret information and spinning it to make President Obama look good for reelection purposes. In response, the Obama administration launched the present investigation, on top of the six (mostly unsuccessful) ones it had attempted previously which, judging on costs and benefits visible to date, was probably six too many.

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Editorial Board: Damage to press freedom likely outweighs national security gain

Groundbreaking Survey Reveals the Rise of Freedom-Seeking Freelancers and Redefinition of Entrepreneurship

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REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwired - May 14, 2013) - oDesk, the world's largest online workplace, and Millennial Branding, a Gen Y consulting firm, today announced results of a new study, "Millennials and the Future of Work." The survey, conducted by independent research firm Genesis Research Associates, examines perspectives on the future of work from 3,193 freelancers worldwide, including 1,958 Millennials (19 - 30 years old). Findings reveal a desire to follow independent career paths due to the freedom and flexibility professionals say these paths provide, as well as a groundbreaking redefinition of what it means to be "an entrepreneur." For full survey results, please visit https://www.odesk.com/info/spring2013onlineworksurvey/ or see our infographic.

Key results include:

Professionals are crafting entrepreneurial, independent paths to freedomOf the freelancing Millennials surveyed, 58% of those familiar with the term "entrepreneur" classified themselves as one. Among all generations, freedom to work how they want is critical -- 89% said they'd prefer to work when and where they choose (versus in a corporate, 9 - 5 job). In fact, among those surveyed who were still at "regular" jobs, freedom was the top reason they wanted to quit. When comparing freelance work to "regular" jobs, freelancing was seen as providing more freedom to:

Karen Queller, a 24-year-old Millennial who is working online while traveling the world, is quick to urge others to follow a similar path: "I want my life to inspire other people to live how they want. People have a lot of fears that hold them back from doing what they really want and I think many people would love to travel and work at the same time."

Take note, companies, it's time to embrace independent pros -- 72% of freelancers who are still at "regular" jobs want to quit soonAmong the freelancers who were still at "regular" jobs, 72% indicated that they would like to quit their job "and work only for myself at some point in the future."

"We believe that the barriers of Industrial Age work simply don't make sense for businesses that want to get more work done, or for workers who are demanding more freedom. No one today wants to be confined to a cubicle," said Gary Swart, CEO of oDesk. "As independent professionals embrace this freedom, hours worked on oDesk have increased eightfold since 2009."

Freelancers' intent to follow through on the desire to quit and work only for themselves is high; 61% say they are likely to quit their "regular" job within two years (44% "probably will" and 17% "definitely will").

Being "an entrepreneur" has become a mindset that's critical to career successToday many of these independent professionals classify themselves as entrepreneurs (almost 60%). The survey found that being "an entrepreneur" is defined today as someone who has a certain mindset, according to 90% of the professionals surveyed (versus only 10% who chose "someone who starts a company"). When asked to define an entrepreneur, aspects of this mindset mentioned included being a "self-starter," "risk-taker," "visionary," and someone who "spots opportunity."

"This signals a major shift in our economy and how we manage our careers," said Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding and author of Promote Yourself. "Entrepreneurship is now accessible to everyone regardless of age or occupation. You don't need to own a business to be an entrepreneur, but you do need the entrepreneurial mindset to be successful in business."

Entrepreneurship is something to aspire to, especially for MillennialsWhile entrepreneurship can be challenging (47% of those familiar with the term "entrepreneur" felt "there are downsides" while 53% indicated it is "an entirely good thing"), Millennials are more likely to see it as "entirely good" (57%, compared to 47% of those from older generations). However, the benefits of being an entrepreneur outweigh the downsides (75% of all surveyed agreed). In fact, 38% would even recommend pursuing a "promising start-up opportunity" versus completing a "traditional college degree."

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Groundbreaking Survey Reveals the Rise of Freedom-Seeking Freelancers and Redefinition of Entrepreneurship

Minnesota Freedom to Marry to be Signed Into Law

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May 14, 2013 5:30pm

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is set to sign the Freedom to Marry Bill into law on the steps of the State Capitol today at 5 p.m. local time.

The bill passed by a vote of 37 to 30 in the state Senate Monday, after more than four hours of passionate yet respectful speeches on both sides. Dayton had expressed support for same-sex marriage before the bill passed and was expected to sign it.

Minnesota joins 11 other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing gay marriage, meaning that about 18 percent of the countrys population has the option to marry regardless of gender. Half of those states approved gay marriage after President Obama expressed support for it in May 2012.

Just two years ago, the Minnesota Senate and House passed a very different bill: a constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage in the state. In less than a month it passed through both chambers, landing a spot on the 2012 ballot. But voters rejected the amendment in November.

The 16-month battle leading up to its ultimate failure among Minnesotans was one of the most expensive in the state, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

The main group opposing the amendment, Minnesotans United for All Families, brought in nearly $10 million in cash donations. Minnesota for Marriage, the group leading the fight to pass the amendment, raised more than $5 million,MPRreportedthe day after the election.

The bill Dayton signs today is slightly different from those in other states, because it specified that it pertains to civil marriage, whether in same-sex or opposite-sex marriages.

This is done to emphasize that our laws and our statutes only pertain to the legal aspects of marriage, maintain that distinction so we can look to the law and know that it does not intrude on religious beliefs and practice, Minnesota State Sen. Scott Dibble said on the Senate floor Monday. It simply affirms what was already true and has always been truethat the laws that pertain to marriage are laws that only deal with civil matters and dont reach into private firmly held religious beliefs or practice.

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Minnesota Freedom to Marry to be Signed Into Law

Piggy, Freedom,

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Piggy, Freedom, Lucky-Louise
Piggy (boy) and Freedom (girl) are the Orange one #39;s and Lucky-Louise (girl) is the blackish brown one :3 I took the video with my phone, go figure.

By: PerfectMoon1526

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Piggy, Freedom,


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