Freedom High baseball team holds off Northampton in season opener

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The Freedom baseball team spent 20 minutes on its field Saturday. Cold, windy conditions and grass that still hadn't dried out forced the Patriots to cut short their final workout of the week.

Freedom returned to its home field Monday, with Saturday's run-through accounting for all the preseason work it managed outside on a baseball diamond. Patriots coach Nick D'Amico couldn't have asked for much more from his players than what they delivered in their season opener.

Five solid innings and a two-run home run from John Yocum helped Freedom play with a lead most of the day against Northampton. The Patriots escaped with a 5-4 win when the Konkrete Kids left the bases loaded in the seventh inning of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference opener for both teams.

Freedom's success started with the work of Yocum. One of two sophomores on the Patriots' roster, he limited Northampton to four hits and two runs in his five innings.

D'Amico planned to hold Yocum to 80 pitches but allowed him to start the fifth inning while already pushing that number. Yocum responded with one of his best frames, retiring Northampton's 2-3-4 hitters on nine pitches to preserve a 4-2 lead.

"It felt great," Yocum said. "There's nothing else like it. I love being on the mound, and it felt great to get back out there."

Yocum pitched his final inning with a lead thanks to his bat. After TJ Czerwinski (2-for-3, double) led off the third inning with a first-pitch single, Yocum followed with a two-run, opposite-field home run over the right-field fence.

The gusty wind gave Yocum's homer added distance, but D'Amico and Northampton coach Mick Sugra both said they believed the ball would have cleared the fence without the wind. When it landed, the Patriots held a 4-1 lead.

Northampton scraped together a second run against Yocum in the fourth inning, but Yocum limited the damage by striking out leadoff hitter Jon Miller with the bases loaded. Yocum finished with seven strikeouts.

Like Freedom and most Lehigh Valley teams this spring, Northampton has spent little time practicing in places other than gyms and parking lots. Sugra said Monday marked the first time his pitchers faced live hitting outside, so he planned to limit them to around 40 pitches.

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Freedom High baseball team holds off Northampton in season opener

Unpacking Indianas Religious Freedom Law

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After a firestorm of criticism aimed at a new religious-freedom law,Indiana legislative leaders are heading back to the drawing boardto clarify the law so that it cant result in discrimination, including denial of services to gays and lesbians.

Supporters of gay rights have denounced the law, which sets a legal framework for people to challenge government laws that hinder their practice of religion. Some have argued that the law would allow businesses, like bakers and florists and others that cater to weddings, to decline to work with gays and lesbians.

Does the law as already passedmake it easier for businesses or individuals to discriminate against gays and lesbians?

Lets try to unpack this.

I. The Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act

The Indiana law and similar laws adopted by 19 states are modeled on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a 1993 federal law introduced in the House by then Rep. Chuck Schumer and signed by then-President Bill Clinton.

The RFRA essentially said laws that substantially burden a persons exercise of religion shall not stand, unless the government can show that the burden is necessary in order to further a compelling governmental interest and that achieving that interest is done in the least restrictive way possible. That legal standard is known as strict scrutiny.

Legal experts say that the federal law was enacted in response to a1990 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court calledEmployment Division v. Smith. The court upheldOregons refusal to give unemployment benefits to two Native Americans fired from their jobs at a rehab clinic after it was found they had smoked peyote in a religious ceremony. In that case, the court did not apply strict scrutiny.

In other words, the original federal RFRA had little to do with gays and lesbians. It has more with shoring up protections for those less widely practiced religions whose unusual rituals, like smoking peyote during ceremonies, might otherwise be rendered illegal.

II. State Religious Freedom Restoration Acts

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Unpacking Indianas Religious Freedom Law

Chemtrails Geoengineering Eugenics Evolution through the Stars – Video

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Chemtrails Geoengineering Eugenics Evolution through the Stars
http://www.frederickwust.com/ http://frederickwust.wordpress.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/frederickwust https://www.facebook.com/groups/chemtrailsla/ The Seven Plagues are raining down...

By: Frederick Wst Jr.

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Chemtrails Geoengineering Eugenics Evolution through the Stars - Video

NC Senator wants compensation for victims of county-ordered sterilization

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RALEIGH, NC (WECT) - More people may have been forcibly sterilized in North Carolina than originally estimated. A Charlotte-area lawmaker is proposing compensation for people who were involuntarily sterilized by orders of their county, and not necessarily by the now-defunct Eugenics Board.

Sen. Jeff Jackson (D-Mecklenberg) introduced a bill (SB 532) to have victims forcibly sterilized under orders of a county eligible under the state's Eugenics Compensation Program. The Eugenics Program in North Carolina ran from 1929 to 1974, when the state ordered mandatory sterilization of thousands of individuals, many considered feeble-minded or mentally retarded by the Eugenics Board. Estimated say more than 7,600 people were forcibly sterilized before the program ended.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission confirmed 220 victims of state-ordered sterilization, and in October 2014 sent checks of $20,000 to those individuals. Those victims are due to receive a second compensation payment in 2015, after appeals are decided on any pending claims. Sen. Jackson's bill would make victims sterilized under a county's authority eligible to receive a payment at that time.

There are victims who were sterilized on order of the county, working in coordination with the state, Sen. Jackson said. People came to me with some instances of this taking place. They applied to the Industrial Commission and were turned down.

Jackson estimated there to be less than 100 victims in this situation.

Bob Bollinger, an attorney in Charlotte, is representing several of these victims.

We found quite a few people got sterilized at the instigation of the local welfare department, but they had no paperwork with the (state) Eugenics Board, said Bollinger.

Bollinger recounted one case of a 28-year-old woman with four children. She was receiving welfare after her husband had left the family. The local welfare department said she needed to be sterilized. According to Bollinger, officials even sent a worker to take the woman to the hospital for the procedure. These are the kind of cases that Sen. Jackson's amendment is trying to help, said Bollinger.

Sen. Jackson said getting lawmakers in the General Assembly to support and pass his bill will be a difficult task. Many (lawmakers) are reluctant to revisit this issue because of how heated it became last time, said Sen. Jackson, who is serving his first full term after being selected in 2014 to serve out the remainder of Sen. Dan Clodfelter's term. This is something that you have to rally support for. This will take some time.

To read Senate Bill 532 click here:http://bit.ly/1xPLD5E

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NC Senator wants compensation for victims of county-ordered sterilization

A New Startup Incubator For Chicago’s Music Ecosystem – Forbes

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A new startup incubator aimed at helping to create an all-in-one creative ecosystem for the music industry: Thats the mission of a space called 2112 in Chicago, slated to launch in June. Its also set up as an L3C.

The 20,000-square foot incubator will be housed in a super-sized 160,000-square foot studio complex called Fort Knox Studios. Located in an old industrial park, the building was once occupied by a television-set factory. Co-owners Kent Nielsen and Dan Mahoney, musicians and former entrepreneurs, opened the place up three years ago as a venue where bands could practice and managers, entertainment lawyers and others could work, all in the same creative environment. It now includes 92 rehearsal suites and office space for booking agents and others in the business end of things, according to Scott Fetters, 2112s director.

What Fort Knoxs founders felt was missing, however, was a space for nurturing music, film and creative technology startups. So they decided to turn some of their enormous property into an incubator, providing cheap office space, as well as access to mentors and programs, such as an artist in residency program, through which a musician can build an entire teammanager, lawyers and so onwith incubator tenants.

An aerial view of Fort Knox

Also, incubator tenants will have access to capital, and thats where the L3C or low-profit, limited liability structure comes in. The corporate status, which is aimed at social enterprises, will allow 2112 to act as a fiscal sponsor for membersthat is, to receive grants on behalf of members. And that could open the door to public sector partnerships, according to Fetters.

More about the L3C: Among other features, it potentially is a way to attract Program Related Investment (PRI) capital from foundations. Its also different from the Benefit Corporation, which is another corporate form for social enterprises.

Other funding for 2112 startups will come from partnerships with crowdfunding platforms, as well as private investors. Fetters also is working with Illinois Small Business Advocacy Council to schedule a pitch session for investors; that would specifically be a forum for what Fetters calls creative tech companies. And eventually the hope is to put together an internal fund for financing startups. Also, there will be a digital platform through which companies can connect with a pool of investors.

Like most incubators, as opposed to accelerators, startups dont have to stay for a set time frame. But there will be regular reviews to make sure tenants are progressing.

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A New Startup Incubator For Chicago's Music Ecosystem - Forbes

Solus Group Offering Exclusive Discount on Eco-Friendly Forklift Battery Equipment

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St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) March 31, 2015

From April 6 through 30, Solus Group, an online supplier of material handling and warehouse equipment, will be holding a special sale on one of its newest items, the Wastewater Recycling System, for more eco-friendly forklift battery washing.

Jennifer Taylor, Marketing Manager, says this automated, single structure system allows warehouses to recycle and reuse the dirty, contaminated water that is created whenever a forklift battery undergoes a routine washing.

"The machine intakes the toxic water, and out comes an environmentally-friendly waste byproduct along with reusable water that companies can reuse for washing their forklift batteries," Taylor explains. "The machine neutralizes the water so its no longer harmful, and its byproduct is certified landfill friendly for standard trash disposal."

Solus Group offers two different models of BHS' Wastewater Recycling System product, the WRS-1 and WRS-2. The first model is built with a blue protective casing around it, while the second model does not have this self-contained unit; both models function similarly and perform the same key duties.

All forklift batteries require regular washing and watering to ensure they function properly -- and during these processes, chemicals and acid buildup from the forklift battery ultimately contaminate the water.

"Theres a lot of corrosive materials that end up on the outside of the battery that can be harmful not only to personnel, but also to the battery itself -- which are expensive to replace," Taylor says. "This eco-friendly product will do all the work for you in terms of cleaning up the chemical water and recycling it, so one doesn't have to pay extra money to have an outside company come and take it away and recycle it for you."

Taylor says Solus Group's customers can benefit in plenty of ways by investing in a Wastewater Recycling System. In addition to ensuring one's enterprise follows all codes, regulations and laws, this system has financial benefits, as well.

"This is a great product that people can use onsite; warehouses and distribution centers can use this, as well as cold storage facilities and forklift battery rental companies that often rent out their batteries," Taylor says. "The return on investment can be substantial, and now its on sale. It is an afordable way to stay in compliance with local regulations."

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HEELS ON WHEELS: 2015 LEXUS RX 450h REVIEW +VIDEO

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HEELS ON WHEELS By Katrina Ramser San Francisco Bureau The Auto Channel

INTRO TO THE LEXUS RX 450h VEHICLE The mid-size Lexus RX 450h crossover is the hybrid version of the 350, revolutionizing the segment with an eco-luxurious edge for soccer moms and the like. Loaded from head to taillights, everyday include a power liftgate, a sliding and reclining rear seat, and a dual-screen rear entertainment system and a real-life fuel economy tested to deliver 27.8 mile-per-gallon combined with all-wheel drive.

I drove a 2015 Lexus RX 450h with the standard Atkinson-cycle 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with a lighter electric motor for an output of 295 horsepower. Standard equipment on the RX 450h includes: wood interior trim; dual-zone climate control; ten-way power front seats; leather upholstery; 10-way power drivers seat; wood interior trim; power tilt-and-telescopic steering column; steering wheel with mounted controls; a 12-speaker premium audio system with iTunes Tagging and Internet Radio; Bluetooth; a cargo area tonneau cover; a rearview camera display; eighteen-inch wheels; and power tailgate. Total vehicle price without options came to $48,845.

Not much changes for the RX models there is some new Siri Eyes Free technology that lets you call contacts, select and play music from iTunes, and get turn-by-turn navigation. Main rivals to the Lexus RX 450h are the Audi Q5 Hybrid, Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, as well as the Volkswagen Touareg diesel and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 350 Blue Tec, if youre open to expanding all alternative fuel options.

HEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA

Stylish But Comfortable Results: The RX 450h continues to possess a high-class look inside and out, with the center console layout streamlined and contoured but less impressive brands can compete and I can attest the RXs interior isnt as suave next to a top-of-the-line Nissan Murano with its NASA-inspired zero gravity seats when the two vehicles sat in my driveway between test drives. Optional equipment included a $1,915 navigation system, a $3,060 Premium Package (upgraded leather-trim and bamboo inlay interior, some safety technology, moonroof and roof rails), a $995 Mark Levinson audio system, $700 nineteen-inch wheels Ill stop there, but it added $10k to the price. There is a sportier gasoline version the RX 350 F Sport with a more aggressive grille, rear bumper, fenders and larger wheels, which makes the model versatile.

Reliability & Safety Factor: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2015 Lexus RX 450h ratings of Good in all categories. With all-wheel drive, the vehicle earns an overall 5-Star rating with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Optional safety technology includes the Blind Spot Monitor System and adaptive cruise control with a pre-collision warning system.

Cost Issues: The 2015 Lexus RX 450h starts at $47,620 with my test drive priced at $57,405 with options. As I mentioned, I was pretty impressed with the interior of the redesigned Nissan Murano, which costs $43,070 fully loaded.

Activity & Performance Ability: Like its 100% gasoline sister, the Lexus RX 450h is an enjoyably smooth ride with commanding acceleration on any mountain grain or city incline matched with forceful brakes. The real performance highlight is that it retains said fuel economy (or close enough to it). But to really tap into the pleasure of this vehicle, be expected to cough up the dough for the many premium packages. There is plenty of cargo room to store all baby necessities and weekend luggage.

The Green Concern: EPA-estimated fuel economy results with the hybrid system are 30-city and 28-highway for a combined claim of 29 miles-per-gallon with the all-wheel drive. I was able to retain about 27.8 miles-per-gallon with heavy highway driving.

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Mazinkaiser SKL's Kawagoe Helms Cyborg 009's New 50th Anniversary Anime

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The official website of the late manga creator Shotaro Ishinomori announced on Tuesday that director Jun Kawagoe is helming a new Cyborg 009 anime project. The project celebrates the 50th anniversary since Ishinomori's original Cyborg 009 manga was first serialized in 1964. The website also revealed a visual for the project.

Jun Kawagoe previously directed the 52-episode Cyborg 009 The Cyborg Soldier television anime series, which began in 2001 and ended in 2002. Ishinomori's official website teases:

Ishinomori first launched the Cyborg 009 manga in the Weekly Shonen King magazine in 1964, and the series remained unfinished due to his death in 1998. Three Cyborg 009 television anime series adapting his manga premiered in 1968, 1979, and 2001. Four theatrical anime film adaptations also debuted in 1966, 1967, 1980, and 2012. Kenji Kamiyama directed the latest film in the franchise, 009 Re:Cyborg, in 2012. Mamoru Oshii also directed his own 3D short of Cyborg 009 in 2010 with sponsor Panasonic.

Source: animeanime.jp

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Mazinkaiser SKL's Kawagoe Helms Cyborg 009's New 50th Anniversary Anime

'Cyborg' posts pic of 'Brazilian curves,' unsure she can make 135 with 'Brazilian bootay'

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Cristiane Justinomight not have scientific evidence that its impossible for her to make 135 pounds, but shes offering up some visual evidence if youre interested in giving her the eyeball test.

Justino (13-1), of course, is the current Invicta FC featherweight champion. Shes also generally considered one of the only women on the planet with a shot at beating UFC womens bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey(11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC).

Of course, the two women currently compete in different weight classes, and Rowdy has made it clear shes not interested in doing any favors for the Brazilian slugger and moving up a division for what would unquestionably be the biggest fight in the history of womens MMA.

Instead, UFC officials have made it clear that if Justino wants the chance to challenge Rousey, shell need to make 135 pounds in a fight outside of the promotion. At that point, shell be welcomed into the octagon for a showdown with the champ.

But the 5-foot-8 Justino has also made it clear shes not certain its physically possible for her to get that low, leaving some doubt as to whether that matchup will ever actually happen.

Justino is currently working with performance nutrition consultant George Lockhart in hopes of making the cut down to bantamweight. Time will tell whether or not the efforts net the intended result.In the meantime, Justino seems content to keep her brazilian bootay, at least for spring break.

Justino is expected to compete again this summer under the Invicta FC banner. Meanwhile, Rousey returns to action on Aug. 1, when she meets Bethe Correia in the main event of UFC 190.

For more on the UFCs upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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'Cyborg' posts pic of 'Brazilian curves,' unsure she can make 135 with 'Brazilian bootay'

To Sell Is Not To Sell – Presented by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches – Video

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To Sell Is Not To Sell - Presented by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches
Dwayne Wilson of Florida Job Corps/Cornerstone Solutions gives his testimonial on To Sell Is Not To Sell, a Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches workshop held quarterly in our chamber...

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To Sell Is Not To Sell - Presented by The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches - Video

MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES SABANG PHILIPPINES WHITE SAND BEACHES STARRING LUCKY LUCY MICHAEL FAZIO – Video

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MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES SABANG PHILIPPINES WHITE SAND BEACHES STARRING LUCKY LUCY MICHAEL FAZIO
Symphony No. 5 (by Beethoven)BeethovenClassical SHARE ALL MY VIDEOS all are 100% public and when you push their SHARE BUTTON [[ Which Is the Curly Arrow }} on the bottom left in Google ...

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MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES SABANG PHILIPPINES WHITE SAND BEACHES STARRING LUCKY LUCY MICHAEL FAZIO - Video