Merry Christmas from Family Research Council
Enjoy the time with your family and community as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, and be refreshed for 2013. Standing for faith, family and freedom with you, Family Research CouncilFrom:frcblogViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:29More inNonprofits Activism
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U.S. private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management said on Tuesday it will immediately begin selling its investment in gunmaker Freedom Group in light of last week's school shooting in Connecticut.
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UPDATE 3-Cerberus to sell gunmaker Freedom Group after shootings
Why France's most famous actor has settled in Belgium.
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NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --We were shocked and deeply saddened by the events that took place at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012. We cannot comprehend the losses suffered by the families and friends of those killed by the unthinkable crimes committed that day. No words or actions can lessen the enormity of this event or make a dent in the pain that was inflicted on so many.
In 2006 affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. made a financial investment in Freedom Group. Freedom Group does not sell weapons or ammunition directly to consumers, through gun shows or otherwise. Sales are made only to federally licensed firearms dealers and distributors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We do not believe that Freedom Group or any single company or individual can prevent senseless violence or the illegal use or procurement of firearms and ammunition.
It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level. The debate essentially focuses on the balance between public safety and the scope of the Constitutional rights under the Second Amendment. As a Firm, we are investors, not statesmen or policy makers. Our role is to make investments on behalf of our clients who are comprised of the pension plans of firemen, teachers, policemen and other municipal workers and unions, endowments, and other institutions and individuals. It is not our role to take positions, or attempt to shape or influence the gun control policy debate. That is the job of our federal and state legislators.
There are, however, actions that we as a firm can take. Accordingly, we have determined to immediately engage in a formal process to sell our investment in Freedom Group. We will retain a financial advisor to design and execute a process to sell our interests in Freedom Group, and we will then return that capital to our investors. We believe that this decision allows us to meet our obligations to the investors whose interests we are entrusted to protect without being drawn into the national debate that is more properly pursued by those with the formal charter and public responsibility to do so.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities impacted by this tragic and devastating event.
About Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
Established in 1992, Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. is one of the world's leading private investment firms. Cerberus has more than US $20 billion under management invested in four primary strategies: distressed securities & assets; control and non-control private equity; commercial mid-market lending and real estate-related investments. From its headquarters in New York City and large network of affiliate and advisory offices in the US, Europe and Asia, Cerberus has the on-the-ground presence to invest in multiple sectors, through multiple investment strategies in countries around the world.
Media Contacts:
Peter Duda:
+1 (212) 445-8213
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Cerberus Capital Management Statement Regarding Freedom Group, Inc.
TAPPER: Jay, last night the president said in his speech, "are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?" When he referred to "our freedom," was he referring to gun rights? Was he referring to the difficulty that some societies have, some communities have now when it comes to committing people against their will? What exactly did he mean by "freedom"?
CARNEY: Well, I think that he meant broadly those and other issues, that, you know, we obviously have a society that is one based on laws, but it is a free society that creates a balance between the laws that we must abide and the freedoms that we enjoy.
TAPPER: So both. It -
CARNEY: I mean, again, I'm not going to get - I think that both could be encompassed within the meaning of what he said and other issues of freedoms and responsibilities more broadly. But - so I don't think - it wasn't - it wasn't a single specific meaning. I think it was broader than that.
TAPPER: OK, the president has been focused on the health care system in this country since he took office. Does he feel that the mental health care system in this country is adequate?
CARNEY: It's a - it's a very good question. And I would say that the Obama administration has taken action for the past four years to ensure that more Americans have access to mental health services. And we will continue to work with leaders across the country to help ensure people get the care and treatment they need.
As you know, the Affordable Care Act will ensure that 30 million more Americans have access to health care, including mental health services. And the law makes recommended health services available without a copay or a deductible. One of the reasons why the president explicitly talked about engaging not just with lawmakers and law enforcement officials and educators but mental health experts is because that's clearly a factor that needs to be addressed in some of these cases of horrific violence.
So what the Affordable Care Act has done - "Obamacare," if you will, has ensured that mental health services are integral and part of the services that the 30 million people who will be additional Americans who have health insurance, because of the Affordable Act - Affordable Care Act will receive and, in terms of the recommended services, receive them without a copay or a deductible.
So I think that reflects the administration's view on how important mental health services are. But when it comes to this broader - or rather, this more specific issue of mental health and the kind of violence that we saw in Newtown, I think that he believes it's important that experts in that field are part of this discussion.
TAPPER: OK, and lastly, Jay, after the Tucson shooting that left Congresswoman Gabby Giffords seriously wounded and six others dead, including a little girl, the president wrote an op-ed in 2011 in the Arizona Star, and he talked about the gun restrictions he favored.
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Freedom, Mental Health and Guns - Today's Qs for O's WH - 12/17/12
U.S. private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management said on Tuesday it will immediately begin selling its investment in gunmaker Freedom Group in light of last week's school shooting in Connecticut.
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Cerberus to sell gunmaker Freedom Group after U.S. school shooting
The private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management said on Tuesday that it would sell its investment in the gunmaker Freedom Group in response to the school shootings last week in Connecticut.
Cerberus acquired Bushmaster -- the manufacturer of the rifle used by the gunman in the Newtown attacks that killed 27 people, including 20 schoolchildren -- in 2006.
The private equity giant later merged it with other gun companies to create Freedom Group, which reported net sales of $677.3 million for the nine months that ended in September 2012, a 20 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
"It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level," Cerberus said in a news release.
The private equity firm said it had made the investments in gun manufacturers on behalf of its clients, which include pension funds and other institutional investors. Cerberus added that it was the role of legislators to shape the country's gun policy.
"We believe that this decision allows us to meet our obligations to the investors whose interests we are entrusted to protect without being drawn into the national debate that is more properly pursued by those with the formal charter and public responsibility to do so," Cerberus said.
The private equity firm said it would retain a financial adviser to sell its interests in Freedom Group, and would return the proceeds to investors. Cerberus, based in New York, was founded in 1992 by William Richter and Stephen Feinberg, and has more than $20 billion of assets under management.
Cerberus is one of several private equity firms that have holdings in gun manufacturers. Colt Defense, which was spun out of the maker of the .44-40 Colt revolver, is jointly owned by Sciens Capital Management, a fund advised by the Blackstone Group and another fund operated by Credit Suisse.
Tuesday's announcement follows a statement from the California State Teachers' Retirement System, a large pension fund, that it was reviewing its investment in Cerberus in light of the firm's holding in Freedom Group.
"At this point, our investment branch is examining the Cerberus investment to determine how best to move forward given the tragic events of last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut," a spokesman for the Californian public pension fund told Reuters on Monday.
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Fund will divest itself of Bushmaster rifle-maker and try to step out of gun control debate.
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Atheists, humanists and other nonreligious people face discrimination and persecution in many parts of the world, according 'Freedom of Thought 2012,' a report released this week by the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
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Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management is distancing itself from Friday's shooting at a Connecticut elementary school by selling the company that makes one of the weapons purportedly used in the attack.
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Cerberus to sell Freedom Group, maker of gun used in Newtown massacre
Rough Cut: Feminist Flash Mob (First Dance).wmv
Flashmob Dance on Women #39;s Global Charter for Humanity -- Equality, Justice, Freedom, Solidarity and Peace Watch the full video here: Feminist Flashmob for Women #39;s Rights [Philippines - Full Version] On the 10th December 2012, from midday to 1pm, women all over the world are mobilizing in the streets, public spaces and communities across the world: to give visibility to, and highlight, the five values in our Women #39;s Global Charter for Humanity -- equality, justice, freedom, solidarity and peace. In the Philippines, the World March of Women (WMW) conducted a flashmob to the tune of "I am Woman" at Plaza Miranda, at exactly 12 noon up to 12:15 pm. Women dancers-activists first blended with the vendors, with some holding balloons, as fortune-tellers, beggars, etc. Three dancers started clapping to the tune of the music, then seven dancers joined releasing purple balloons. They were joined by another 20 coming from the crowd, until it grew to 70. The last batch of dancers, students from the University of the Philippines --Manila made it a throng. On the last minute of the song, as steps turned to hip-hop, dancers took off their costumes, revealing white shirts which defiantly bore words "RH Now" in the face of continued delay in the Reproductive Health Bill #39;s passage in Congress. Some shirts shouted "Climate Justice!", in the face of ongoing negotiations in Doha, Qatar and the devastation of typhoon Pablo in Mindanao. Other shirts carried slogans such as "Freedom of ...From:clydiecandyViews:0 0ratingsTime:05:43More inComedy
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Salaam-e-Mehfil December 12 #39;12
In the nineteenth century, women could express themsleves, freely, only through Mushaira. In fact, even during India #39;s struggle for independnece, Mushaira by hosting #39;Inquilabi #39; poetry continued its patronage of freedom. Zee Salaam showcases home productioned Mushairas in a non conventional and unique style portraying the best available Shayars and Shayaras from length and breadth of the country.From:zeesalamViews:0 0ratingsTime:22:43More inEntertainment
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OvenBreak 2 - iPhone iPad Gameplay Video
The Gameplay Video of OvenBreak 2 by http://www.igamesview.com Connect with us for regular updates on iPhone, iPad, iPod Game reviews, news, previews, trailers, cheat codes, game play videos walkthroughs. Looking for game promotion? Yes, your game needs proper branding and you cannot certainly overlook that fact. Contact us at info@igamesview.com for game marketing advice. **************************************************************************** Facebook: http://www.facebook.com or Twitter @ iGamesView: twitter.com or YouTube: http://www.youtube.com or Google Plus: iGamesView ************************************************************* Logos and trademarks belong to respective owners. App Link: goo.gl Category: ["Games", "Racing", "Adventure"] Description RUNNING HAS NEVER BEEN THIS SWEET! Loved by millions of fans, the daring GingerBrave started a movement. New gingerbread men joined him in his quest for freedom. Together, they escaped the Witch #39;s oven at last!!! So why are they still running? Play now and find out for yourself! You #39;ll meet GingerBerry, GingerClaus, and NinjaBread. Maybe you #39;ll also rescue GingerGhost, Flowercopter, or Rare Garlic. - Help the batch of 7 deliciously daring Breakers find a new home as they run, jump, and slide to avoid obstacles! - Collect Coins, Jellies and all-new Power Jellies to run far and score high! - Choose from 12 magic Charms and 8 Boosts to combine various powers and advantages. - Compete with friends in a weekly tournament and ask for their ...From:iGamesViewViews:3 0ratingsTime:01:51More inGaming
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Axon by Geneosis - Solution - Portal 2 - Community Chamber
Attention: SPOILER ALERT! This video will show you the solution to a Portal puzzle. Don #39;t watch if if you did not tried hard enough to solve it on your own. It #39;s often worth it. Interesting chamber style. I found the cube, but was not able to get with it to the exit. i set him free to run into freedom .. Watch in 720p HD! Game: Portal 2 Game Source: store.steampowered.com Map: Axon Map Source: steamcommunity.comFrom:BlurSentinelViews:0 0ratingsTime:07:07More inGaming
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Axon by Geneosis - Solution - Portal 2 - Community Chamber - Video
President Obama Offers Love and Support For Connecticut Elementary School Shooting
NEWTOWN, Conn. mdash; He spoke for a nation in sorrow, but the slaughter of all those little boys and girls turned the commander in chief into another parent in grief, searching for answers. Alone on a spare stage after the worst day of his tenure, President Barack Obama declared Sunday he will use "whatever power" he has to prevent shootings like the Connecticut school massacre. "What choice do we have?" Obama said at an evening vigil in the shattered community of Newtown, Conn. "Are we really prepared to say that we #39;re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?" Related Obama speaks at Connecticut vigil Obama speaks at Connecticut vigil Connecticut school shooting: Gunman had hundreds of rounds of ammunition Gunman had hundreds of rounds of ammunition Chicago-area group sends comfort dogs to Newtown, Conn. Local dogs comfort Newtown survivors Photos: Heartbreak after shooting Photos: Heartbreak after shooting Photos: The victims See more stories 51% Off Food-Storage Set View Deal $80 $39 For Obama, that was an unmistakable sign that he would at least attempt to take on the explosive issue of gun control. He made clear that the deaths compelled the nation to act, and that he was the leader of a nation that was failing to keep its children safe. He spoke of a broader effort, never outlining exactly what he would push for ...From:Angela YeeViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:54More inPeople Blogs
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President Obama Offers Love and Support For Connecticut Elementary School Shooting - Video
Emotional Freedom Technique EFT for easing headaches
In this video I will show you how to use Energy EFT to help ease headaches. I do not use EFT scripts, instead by teaching you how to do EFT you learn a skill that you can apply to different situations.From:Tony LeakeViews:0 0ratingsTime:08:16More inEducation
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Emotional Freedom Technique EFT for easing headaches - Video
Rain on Their Parade - Illusion of Freedom (Live video)
Live in Barricada, Moscow, 2012.08.28From:rotpofficialViews:1 0ratingsTime:03:31More inMusic
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Rain on Their Parade - Illusion of Freedom (Live video) - Video
Assassins Creed 3 Connor #39;s Story NEW (MUSIC VIDEO) in [HD]
Assassins Creed 3 Connor #39;s Story NEW (MUSIC VIDEO) If you like this video please click LIKE button below Share with your friends !!!! ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!! "Connor: I have known true freedom. I have known a world of peace and remarkable spirit. A world which was taken from me" PEACE OUT VFrom:Prashan McCoyViews:0 0ratingsTime:04:06More inMusic
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Assassins Creed 3 Connor's Story NEW (MUSIC VIDEO) in [HD] - Video
Liz Atchley, of the Illinois Patriot Guard, arranges a memorial wreath in honor of veterans who have died at the Springdale Cemetery during the National Wreaths Across America program on Saturday.
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Income steady, debt rising as consumers prepare for holidays, FFN says.
San Mateo, Calif. (PRWEB) December 17, 2012
The good news, in some ways, is that consumer confidence is up and that optimism sometimes can have positive effects on the overall economy, said Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Financial Network (FFN). However, it is worrisome to see debt increase without accompanying boosts in income and employment.
The latest financial data released by national sources indicate that slightly lower levels of unemployment (due primarily to fewer people seeking work), slightly higher personal income, and slightly higher personal spending are accompanying higher consumer debt this quarter.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index is currently at its highest level since February 2008. Yet nearly 39 percent of respondents to the consumer confidence survey believe jobs are hard to get.
In terms of spending and debt data, at this point, we are looking at data from the fall while consumers now are entering into the largest credit card spending season of the year. Hopefully, consumers will keep a sensible rein on their wallets over the holidays, but only time will tell how they react, added Andrew Housser, FFN co-founder and CEO.
Recent financial data as reported:
1.Total consumer debt back up. After last quarters uncharacteristic year-over-year decrease in total consumer debt, total consumer debt rose again in August, September and October. In October, the most recent month on record, total consumer debt (excluding mortgage debt) increased to $2.75 trillion.
2.Revolving debt bounces up and down. Total consumer revolving debt which includes credit card debt rose in August, declined in September, and rose again in October to a total of $857 billion.
3.Non-revolving credit continues to grow. Non-revolving consumer debt which includes auto and RV loans and education loans continues to climb steadily, reaching yet another all-time high of $1.90 trillion in October. Annual growth in non-revolving credit continues to range between 7 and 9 percent.
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Freedom Financial Network Quarterly Comment: Will Confident Consumers Risk Over-Spending?