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Homeland Insecurity: After Boston, Weighing Liberty vs. Security

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Photo-Illustration by Ji Lee for TIME. Statue of Liberty: Tetra Images / Getty Images, Cameras: iStockphoto, Background: Martin Llad

The contest between liberty and security has been with America since its founding. It has been fought on the public stage by every President from George Washington to Barack Obama. Each generation, from those facing rebellion in the 1860s to those pushing back against government intrusions a century later, has debated where to strike a balance. But in the dark world of 21stcentury law enforcement, where terrorist threats can hide behind our most cherished freedoms, the battle sometimes takes place in government documents so obscure that they escape public notice.

Take the case of the FBIs Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide. In October 2011, Obamas Justice Department, mindful of increasing signs of homegrown terrorism, quietly granted FBI agents new powers that disturbed civil libertarians. Federal agents could now data-mine vast stores of information about individuals without making a reviewable record of their actions. They could conduct extensive physical surveillance of suspects without firm evidence of criminal or terrorist activity. They could interview people under false pretenses. They even had wider freedom to rummage through the trash of potential sources.

(MORE:A Dead Militant in Dagestan: Did This Slain Jihadi Meet Tamerlan Tsarnaev?)

But the new guidelines also featured added restrictions on an especially sensitive area of FBI counterterrorism work: mosques. Under the new rules, agents could no longer enter a religious organization without special new approvalin some cases directly from FBI headquarters. Moreover, according to still-classified sections of the new rules made available to Time, any plan to go undercover in a place of worshipa tactic employed by the bureau after Sept.11, 2001, that drew protests from Muslim Americans and at least one lawsuit from a California mosquewould now need special approval from a newly established oversight body at Department of Justice headquarters called the Sensitive Operations Review Committee, or SORC.

On January 18, 15 months after those guidelines were issued and just a few days before Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday, a young immigrant from the Russian region of Dagestan, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, stood up in his mosque in Cambridge, Mass., and confronted his imam when the religious leader extolled Kings greatness. Tamerlan yelled that the preacher was a nonbeliever and was contaminating his followers minds. The congregation shouted Tamerlan down and hounded him out the door. The FBI didnt learn about the episode, or the fact that Tamerlan had been posting radical Islamic videos on his YouTube page, until after three people were dead on Boylston Street.

Theres no telling whether closer monitoring of Tamerlans mosque might have stopped him. But the Tsarnaev case raises, once again, hard questions about how we want to apply the Bill of Rights and the postCivil War guarantees of equal protection in our time. Where is the limit to what Washington should do in the name of our security? Do Americans want undercover agents spying on their prayers? What aspect of privacy might we give up in the interest of better security? Perhaps the FBI agents who were alerted to Tamerlans radical turn by Russian intelligence in 2011 should have monitored his Internet activity long enough to spot his terrorist sympathies. Should Americans let the government sniff through their communications? According to a new Time/CNN/ORC International poll, nearly twice as many Americans are concerned about a loss of civil liberties as are worried about a weakening of anti-terror policies.

(MORE: Exclusive: Imam of Mosque Visited by Bombing Suspect Speaks to TIME)

It is still unclear whether Tamerlan Tsarnaev, whose body is being released to his relatives, and his younger brother Dzhokhar, now in custody, were self-radicalized and acted independentlyor whether they acted at the behest of an ideological mentor or foreign organization. Congress and U.S. intelligence agencies are now studying whether warning signs were tragically missed. But it seems increasingly clear that the activities of the Tsarnaev brothers and many other would-be homegrown terrorists can be detected not through travel records and financial transactions but only through the more opaque realm of online activities and religious attitudes.

With al-Qaeda weakened abroad but self-taught, wi-fi-empowered jihadis increasingly a threat at home, balancing freedom and security is an old problem well have to get used to once again.

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Homeland Insecurity: After Boston, Weighing Liberty vs. Security

Liberty Mutual earnings drop more than 30 percent

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Liberty Mutual Insurances first-quarter earnings sank 30.7 percent, due largely to a $130 million loss tied to Venezuelas recent devaluation of its currency in an effort to shore up its own finances.

The Boston-based insurers net income fell by $141 million to $318 million for the three months that ended March 31.

Revenue climbed 3 percent to $9.14 billion from $8.88 billion in the same period of 2012.

CEO David H. Long said the companys improved results, with pre-tax operating income up $79 million to $656 million, were masked by the impact of the Venezuelan currency devaluation, which will be substantially offset during the remainder of the year.

More importantly, our decision to grow where we can do so profitably, and to raise prices or contract in under-performing lines, is gaining traction, Long said in a statement. This pricing, profitability and selective growth momentum should continue for the foreseeable future as we adhere to the same disciplined strategy.

Liberty Mutual is the third largest property and casualty insurer in the United States based on 2012 direct written premiums.

Its net written premiums totaled $8.59 billion for the quarter, a 6.4 percent increase from last year.

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Liberty Mutual earnings drop more than 30 percent

Liberty University Cinematic Arts Students Work alongside Film Professionals in Major Movie Project

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Lynchburg, VA (PRWEB) May 02, 2013

Downtown Lynchburg, Va., and Liberty Universitys campus were bustling as they provided various movie set locations for the Liberty University Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Centers first full-length motion picture. Shooting wrapped up Friday after about a month of filming.

The project, called Letting Go, is in collaboration with EchoLight Studios, a world class Christian film studio, who Liberty recently partnered with in a five-year, multimillion-dollar agreement. Letting Go is the first of five Liberty movies that will be financed, produced, and distributed worldwide by EchoLight.

Our goal at the Liberty cinema program is to build Hollywood East right here in Lynchburg, Va., said alumnus Scotty Curlee, assistant professor of cinematic arts. We want to create industry here so that when our students graduate they can certainly go to Hollywood, New York, London, and Paris but if they want to stay here in Lynchburg and make movies they can.

Right now, the new film school plans to create one full-length feature film per year but the goal is to eventually make two movies per year, Curlee said.

It is all about developing our talent and getting our students to the level where their skill sets are meeting and exceeding industry standards.

For Libertys 31 current film students in the major, Letting Go gives them an opportunity to get a professional credit for their resum and on the Internet Movie Database before graduation. They get the added benefits of working with and learning from industry professionals. In addition to some professional actors, the movie features veterans as its director and producer.

Students are assuming many of the roles behind the scenes, including operating camera and sound equipment. Many Liberty students portrayed extras in the film and two staff members, Jill Acosta, cinematic arts administrative assistant, and Chris Nelson, assistant professor in Libertys Department of Theatre Arts, played supporting roles.

Unique to Libertys film school is that our students learn to make feature films by making (them) and gaining professional credits while in school, said Stephan Schultze, executive director of Cinematic Arts. These projects engage students in roles they would need to work for years in the industry (before) finally getting their chance.

He said the professionals they hired to work alongside the students said they would hire these students right now and that they are as good now as many professionals (they) have worked with.

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Liberty University Cinematic Arts Students Work alongside Film Professionals in Major Movie Project

Liberty Mutual Insurance Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively LMHC or the Company) today reported net income of $318 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, a decrease of $141 million from the same period in 2012.

First quarter operating results improved over the prior year quarter with pre-tax operating income up $79 million to $656 million, said David H. Long, President and CEO of Liberty Mutual Insurance. The improvement was masked by the immediate impact of the Venezuelan currency devaluation, which will be substantially offset over the remainder of the year. More importantly, our decision to grow where we can do so profitably, and to raise prices or contract in underperforming lines is gaining traction as evidenced by a 2.6 point reduction in combined ratio to 98.3%.

This pricing, profitability, and selective growth momentum should continue for the foreseeable future as we adhere to the same disciplined strategy.

First Quarter Highlights

A Catastrophes include all current accident year catastrophe losses excluding losses related to the Companys external reinsurance assumed lines except for the 2012 tornadoes and other severe storms in the U.S. Catastrophe losses, where applicable, include the impact of accelerated earned catastrophe premiums and earned reinstatement premiums. B Net incurred losses attributable to prior years is defined as incurred losses attributable to prior years (including prior year losses related to natural catastrophes and prior year catastrophe reinstatement premium) including both earned premium attributable to prior years and amortization of retroactive reinsurance gains.

Financial Condition as of March 31, 2013

Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012:

Three Months Ended March 31,

$793

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Liberty Mutual Insurance Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

Softball: Liberty ready to embrace 'unsung' role as playoffs near

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Jeff Smith, The Oregonian, April 30, 2013 7:38 p.m.

Liberty senior first baseman Sierra LaMotte connects for a single in the Falcons' game against St. Helens on Friday. - (Jeff Smith/The Oregonian)

In three games last week, the Liberty softball team outscored two opponents 29-1 in consecutive victories and then lost 4-0.

Guess which game Falcons coach Nolan Meeuwsen enjoyed the most?

"I'd rather play in 4-0 games on either end of it than play in a 17-0 game," Meeuwsen said. "The 17-0 games dont do much for us. But this was a well-played game on both sides."

Meeuwsen was speaking after the Falcons 4-0 loss to St. Helens on Friday in a Northwest Oregon Conference softball game at Liberty High School.

Earlier in the week, Liberty (11-9, 5-4 NWOC) rolled eighth-place Milwaukie 17-0 in five innings and beat seventh-place Parkrose 12-1. But Meeuwsen said his team improved more by experiencing a competitive game Friday against the second-place Lions (14-4, 7-2).

Liberty and St. Helens were tied 0-0 after four crisp innings before the Lions got a run in the fifth to take the lead.

It was a back-and-forth battle, Meeuwsen said. We had runners in scoring position several times tonight and couldnt get the right hit at the right time. We just couldnt capitalize when we needed to.

But I do think this game is going to help us become a better team for the next five games in league and in the play-in game and then in the playoffs.

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Softball: Liberty ready to embrace 'unsung' role as playoffs near

Homeland Insecurity: After Boston, The Struggle Between Liberty and Security

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Photo-Illustration by Ji Lee for TIME. Statue of Liberty: Tetra Images / Getty Images, Cameras: iStockphoto, Background: Martin Llad

The contest between liberty and security has been with America since its founding. It has been fought on the public stage by every President from George Washington to Barack Obama. Each generation, from those facing rebellion in the 1860s to those pushing back against government intrusions a century later, has debated where to strike a balance. But in the dark world of 21stcentury law enforcement, where terrorist threats can hide behind our most cherished freedoms, the battle sometimes takes place in government documents so obscure that they escape public notice.

Take the case of the FBIs Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide. In October 2011, Obamas Justice Department, mindful of increasing signs of homegrown terrorism, quietly granted FBI agents new powers that disturbed civil libertarians. Federal agents could now data-mine vast stores of information about individuals without making a reviewable record of their actions. They could conduct extensive physical surveillance of suspects without firm evidence of criminal or terrorist activity. They could interview people under false pretenses. They even had wider freedom to rummage through the trash of potential sources.

(MORE:A Dead Militant in Dagestan: Did This Slain Jihadi Meet Tamerlan Tsarnaev?)

But the new guidelines also featured added restrictions on an especially sensitive area of FBI counterterrorism work: mosques. Under the new rules, agents could no longer enter a religious organization without special new approvalin some cases directly from FBI headquarters. Moreover, according to still-classified sections of the new rules made available to Time, any plan to go undercover in a place of worshipa tactic employed by the bureau after Sept.11, 2001, that drew protests from Muslim Americans and at least one lawsuit from a California mosquewould now need special approval from a newly established oversight body at Department of Justice headquarters called the Sensitive Operations Review Committee, or SORC.

On January 18, 15 months after those guidelines were issued and just a few days before Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday, a young immigrant from the Russian region of Dagestan, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, stood up in his mosque in Cambridge, Mass., and confronted his imam when the religious leader extolled Kings greatness. Tamerlan yelled that the preacher was a nonbeliever and was contaminating his followers minds. The congregation shouted Tamerlan down and hounded him out the door. The FBI didnt learn about the episode, or the fact that Tamerlan had been posting radical Islamic videos on his YouTube page, until after three people were dead on Boylston Street.

Theres no telling whether closer monitoring of Tamerlans mosque might have stopped him. But the Tsarnaev case raises, once again, hard questions about how we want to apply the Bill of Rights and the postCivil War guarantees of equal protection in our time. Where is the limit to what Washington should do in the name of our security? Do Americans want undercover agents spying on their prayers? What aspect of privacy might we give up in the interest of better security? Perhaps the FBI agents who were alerted to Tamerlans radical turn by Russian intelligence in 2011 should have monitored his Internet activity long enough to spot his terrorist sympathies. Should Americans let the government sniff through their communications? According to a new Time/CNN/ORC International poll, nearly twice as many Americans are concerned about a loss of civil liberties as are worried about a weakening of anti-terror policies.

(MORE: Exclusive: Imam of Mosque Visited by Bombing Suspect Speaks to TIME)

It is still unclear whether Tamerlan Tsarnaev, whose body is being released to his relatives, and his younger brother Dzhokhar, now in custody, were self-radicalized and acted independentlyor whether they acted at the behest of an ideological mentor or foreign organization. Congress and U.S. intelligence agencies are now studying whether warning signs were tragically missed. But it seems increasingly clear that the activities of the Tsarnaev brothers and many other would-be homegrown terrorists can be detected not through travel records and financial transactions but only through the more opaque realm of online activities and religious attitudes.

With al-Qaeda weakened abroad but self-taught, wi-fi-empowered jihadis increasingly a threat at home, balancing freedom and security is an old problem well have to get used to once again.

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Homeland Insecurity: After Boston, The Struggle Between Liberty and Security

Liberty Creek(R) Vineyards Donates to Operation Gratitude, Brings Power of Country Music to Troops Overseas

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MODESTO, CA--(Marketwired - May 01, 2013) - Liberty Creek Vineyards is bringing country music and a reminder of the comforts of home to US military members serving overseas through "Tunes for Troops," a program run in conjunction with Operation Gratitude. A donation from Liberty Creek will enable Operation Gratitude to include country music compilation CDs in their care packages. Liberty Creek kicks off this patriotic program May 1st, and it will run through July 31st, 2013.

Consumers can show their support by visiting LibertyCreekWine.com and entering the unique code found on specially tagged bottles of Liberty Creek Wine. Liberty Creek will express its appreciation by donating $1.00 per code to Operation Gratitude, up to $10,000. Operation Gratitude will use this donation to provide the special country music compilation CDs for our troops.

"At Liberty Creek Vineyards, we are very proud of our American roots, and we are privileged to be able to honor the troops who are out there defending our country," says Michael Shastid, Brand Marketing Specialist, Liberty Creek Vineyards. "Operation Gratitude's unending support for US troops over the years has been remarkable, and this partnership has provided the perfect opportunity for us to express our thanks."

Operation Gratitude sends care packages and letters personally addressed to U.S. Service Members and wounded warriors, and believes music makes the packages even more meaningful.

"Music can be a powerful motivator, and we have seen first-hand how it can boost morale and lift the spirits of our service men and women," says Carolyn Blashek, Founder of Operation Gratitude. "We are grateful for Liberty Creek's support of "Tunes for Troops" as we seek to provide some degree of comfort to those troops who are far from home."

For more information about Liberty Creek Wine and their program to support Operation Gratitude, please visit http://www.LibertyCreekWine.com.

About Liberty Creek Wine

The heritage of Liberty Creek Vineyards is rooted in the rich soils of California, where our grapes are carefully selected for their quality and authentic varietal character. Liberty Creek offers nine great-tasting and affordable wines in a vibrant, fruit-forward portfolio: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel, Sweet Red, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and New Moscato and Pink Moscato. We support those who find value in tradition, yet stay true to themselves!

For more information about Liberty Creek, please visit http://www.LibertyCreekWine.com.

About Operation Gratitude

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Liberty Creek(R) Vineyards Donates to Operation Gratitude, Brings Power of Country Music to Troops Overseas

Raspberry Pi

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Raspberry Pi WebSphere Liberty Profile controlled car
Video of a remote controlled car where the radio receiver has been replaced with a raspberry pi and a PWM controller board. The Car has its own WiFi network ...

By: WASdev

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Raspberry Pi

Liberty in Books: The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure with John Allison – Video

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Liberty in Books: The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure with John Allison
The primary cause for the 2008-09 financial crisis, and for our ongoing economic woes, is government policy. Financial services is the most regulated industr...

By: feeseminars

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Liberty in Books: The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure with John Allison - Video

First Liberty Power Further Progress Towards Fencemaker Production

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LAS VEGAS, April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- First Liberty Power Corp. (FLPC), an innovative and diversified mine exploration and development company focused on bringing to market "Mined in America" strategic industrial minerals, is pleased to announce additional progress towards achieving the goal of near term mining on the Fencemaker property.

This week's Pathways of Progress update has First Liberty Power's partner at Fencemaker, James Vogan, Director of Stockpile Reserves LLC (SRL), initiating the transition of the Fencemaker property's Notice of Intent to a Plan of Operations as required by the federal U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This is a crucial step towards launching the mining operation early this summer.

Mr. Vogan explained, "Reclamation work at the site from the drilling program last summer is nearly completed, pending final inspection. Together with the recent completion of our next stage funding, and upon approval of the Plan of Operations, we will then be in a position to bring in Small Mine Development (SMD - http://www.undergroundmining.com) as early as the 2nd week of May to begin the process of securing the existing mine adit and drift the precursor step for undertaking underground mining activities. Starting today, our emphasis will be on implementing the Plan of Operations with the BLM to ensure all safety as well as other requirements are in full compliance."

Bob Reynolds, FLPC VP Operation concluded, "First Liberty and SRL continue to work closely to identify the necessary work requirements as well as finalize the timetables and costs, with all energies are directed this week towards initiating mining activities at Fencemaker. With the closing today of our one half million financing, the Company and its shareholders are one step closer to that first blast of stibnite (Antimony) ore."

First Liberty Power will continue to use its Pathways of Progress program to inform and update on all operational advances on our mining and financial progress.

ABOUT FIRST LIBERTY POWER CORPORATION: First Liberty Power Corporation (FLPC) is an innovative and diversified mine exploration and development company focused on bringing to market "Mined in America" strategic industrial minerals. Our corporate philosophy is driven by a dedication to Pathways of Progress, our program of best corporate practices designed to drive us rapidly towards mine production & milling, to the greatest benefit of FLPC shareholders, investors and mining partners, while ensuring safety, environmental integrity, and good governance. Presently, FLPC has interests in four properties: the Fencemaker Antimony project in Nevada, the Lida Valley and Smoky Valley Lithium Brine projects in Nevada, and the San Juan Vanadium / Uranium project in Utah. http://www.firstlibertypower.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current report contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future plans of the company, the prospects for our mineral properties, and our ability to raise necessary working capital.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the SEC.

Contact: Robert Reynolds (800) 709-1196

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First Liberty Power Further Progress Towards Fencemaker Production

GTA IV RCMP Clan – Liberty City RCMP vs Semi Trucks :) – FUNNY! – Video

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GTA IV RCMP Clan - Liberty City RCMP vs Semi Trucks 🙂 - FUNNY!
The patrol... Wasn #39;t very serious 😛 Most of it took place in the Semi Serious Patrol Channel! All the clips are from late night patrols where we had a couple of members role play as civilians....

By: XxRaNgErScOpExX1

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GTA IV RCMP Clan - Liberty City RCMP vs Semi Trucks 🙂 - FUNNY! - Video


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