Monthly Archives: May 2012

So much for the First Amendment: Free speech may require your real name in NY

Posted: May 23, 2012 at 4:11 am

How important is free speech? Or, rather, how important is anonymous free speech? For New York-based websites, that's not an entirely abstract question, as new state legislation threatens the ability for anonymous commenters to remain anonymous if challenged.

If youve spent any amount of time online in the last well, forever, you may have uncovered the core truth of the Internet: Anonymity can turn people into inconsiderate idiots. But if proposed legislation in the New York State Senate and Assembly passes, that will no longer be the case for sites based in NYC. Is this the kind of idea that will raise the level of Internet discourse, or plunge the web into a dystopian Big Brother-esque hell where no-one can say what they want?

The legislation, officially known as the Internet Protection Act, requires a web site administrator upon request [to] remove any comments posted on his or her web site by an anonymous poster unless such protestor agrees to attach his or her name to the post and confirms that his or her IP address, legal name, and home address are accurate, with administrators also being required to have a contact number or e-mail address posted for such removal requests, clearly visible in any sections where comments are posted.

According to Republican State Assemblyman Jim Conte, who is sponsoring the legislation, the Act seeks to combat cyber-bullying by allowing the victim of an anonymous Website posting to request that the post by removed if the anonymous source is unwilling to attach his or her name to it. In addition to combating cyber-bullying, Conte explains, the Act will also help small business fight well, Yelp, it seems: [T]he bill also prevents people from posting anonymous criticism of local businesses. Too often, rival businesses will post negative and false posts to hurt their competition. With more and more people turning to online reviews, it is important to ensure that the posted information, good or bad, is from actual customers and not rival competitors.

But thats not all! Finally, Conte explains, the legislation will help cut down on the types of mean-spirited and baseless political attacks that add nothing to the real debate and merely seek to falsely tarnish the opponents reputation by using the anonymity of the Web. The reduction in such mean anonymous attacks will, according to co-sponsor (and fellow Republican) Senator Thomas OMara, help lend some accountability to the internet age.

Unsurprisingly, not everyone agrees: This statute would essentially destroy the ability to speak anonymously online on sites in New York, says the Center for Democracy and Technologys Kevin Bankston, who also points out that the Act essentially amounts to what he calls a hecklers veto to anybody who disagrees with or doesnt like what an anonymous poster said. And, somewhat ironically, an anonymous hecklers veto nowhere in the legislation does it require that those complaining about anonymous comments have to provide their own legal name, IP address or home address.

State Assemblyman Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) hopes that the legislation which has yet to be voted upon will not only pass, but become a model for similar federal, nationwide, legislation. Theres got to be a starting point, he says. If we dont start somewhere, its not going to spread. A lot of times New York does lead the way for the nation.

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So much for the First Amendment: Free speech may require your real name in NY

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Race, Art, Free Speech: Portrait Of South African President Vandalized

Posted: at 4:11 am

Enlarge Jerome Delay/AP

The controversial portrait of South African President Jacob Zuma painted by Brett Murray stands defaced at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday.

The controversial portrait of South African President Jacob Zuma painted by Brett Murray stands defaced at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday.

A story that had already been controversial just received another dose of scandal: Two men showed up at an art gallery in South Africa and vandalized a painting of the country's president.

How controversial is The Spear? President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress were suing to have the painting and the pictures of it published in a newspaper removed.

As The Los Angeles Times reports, the painting "depicted Zuma posed like Soviet leader V.I. Lenin, with his pants unzipped and genitals exposed."

The Times adds:

"[Brett] Murray called the work 'an attempt at humorous satire of political power and patriarchy within the context of other artworks in the exhibition'.

"The painting ignited a storm in South Africa, with the ANC and its political allies calling the painting racist while artists and the Freedom of Expression Institute decried the ruling party's efforts to suppress the work."

As Reuters reports in its story, opinion about the painting is divided along racial lines, but that is complicated by the fact that Murray, who is white, made his name as an artist by criticizing the apartheid government that ruled until 1994.

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Race, Art, Free Speech: Portrait Of South African President Vandalized

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Free-speech group to seek review of new community-college rules

Posted: at 4:10 am

Originally published May 21, 2012 at 5:45 PM | Page modified May 22, 2012 at 12:10 PM

New rules governing free speech on Seattle Community College campuses contain far fewer restrictions than an earlier proposal, but some faculty members and students still believe the rules violate the First Amendment.

The newly formed Faculty for Free Speech will petition the state Attorney General's Office for a legal analysis and review of the rule, said faculty member Laurel Holliday, who is a member of the free-speech group. The community-college district's board of trustees passed the new rules Thursday.

At issue is a change to the administrative code that governs free speech on North, Central and South Seattle Community College campuses.

An earlier draft would have restricted the locations of protests and the size and number of signs, among other things. The rule proposal drew hundreds of faculty and students to speak out in opposition.

The rule that passed doesn't include those restrictions, but it contains a trespassing section that allows campus security to remove nonstudents who are being disruptive, limits free speech to the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and prohibits camping.

Seattle Community College District Chancellor Jill Wakefield said the district responded to faculty and student concerns by paring down the rules and focusing on prohibiting camping. As part of that, the colleges needed to establish hours of operation, as well as due-process rules for anyone charged with trespassing, she said.

Holliday said faculty and students believe the trespassing section makes it too easy for protesters to be expelled from campus for vaguely defined reasons and that the 10 p.m. ending time for protests, especially for Seattle Central Community College's urban campus, is too early.

The central campus' student council opposed the measure, as did the American Federation of Teachers, the union that represents faculty members in the Seattle Community College District.

Seattle Central's Capitol Hill campus played host to Occupy Seattle for two months last fall. The rule change is not in reaction to Occupy Seattle, college administrators have said, but rather to an incident in which students complained that they felt harassed by supporters of political candidate Lyndon LaRouche.

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Freedom Communications sells Texas papers

Posted: May 20, 2012 at 3:12 am

Freedom Communications Inc. in Irvine today announced the sale of its Texas newspapers to AIM Media Texas LLC. Freedom owns The Orange County Register.

Terms of the Texas deal were not disclosed. Freedom said the sale is expected to close in 30 days.

Freedom Communications Inc. is based in Irvine.

CINDY YAMANAKA, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The papers sold include The Brownsville Herald, El Nuevo Heraldo, The Harlingen Valley Morning Star, The Monitor in McAllen, The Odessa American and The Mid Valley Town Crier in Weslaco.

"The attractiveness of these properties is entirely due to their strong performance and the hard work of their associates," said Mitch Stern, Freedom's chief executive. "The sale furthers our goal of providing value to our shareholders while at the same time increasing the financial strength of Freedom."

It was Freedom's second announcement of a sale of a group of regional papers in as many days.

On Thursday, Freedom said it sold its four Midwestern papers to an affiliate of Versa Capital Management LLC, a Philadelphia-based private equity

Freedom has been in the process of selling off its properties since exiting bankruptcy reorganization in April 2010.

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Freedom Group, Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2012 Financial Results Conference Call

Posted: at 3:12 am

MADISON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedom Group, Inc., the worlds leading designer and manufacturer of firearms, ammunition and related products, announces that it has released its first quarter fiscal 2012 financial results. A copy of the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 is posted on http://www.freedom-group.com in the investor information section.

Ron Kolka, the Companys Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss the financial results of the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, and answer questions from the investor audience. Interested parties may participate by dialing 1-888-211-9951 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-913-312-0832 (International), and providing the conference ID number: 5568842.

A telephonic replay will be available beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, and will last through May 29, 2012. The replay may be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-858-384-5517 (International) and providing the same conference ID number listed above.

About Freedom Group, Inc.

Freedom Group, Inc., headquartered in Madison, N.C., is the worlds leading innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of firearms, ammunition, and related products for the hunting, shooting sports, law enforcement, and military markets. As one of the largest manufacturers in the world of firearms and ammunition, we have some of the most globally recognized brands including Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, Dakota Arms, LC Smith, Parker, AAC, Barnes Bullets, EOTAC, INTC and Mountain Khaki.For more information download the Freedom Group Brochure, located on http://www.freedom-group.com.

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Freedom Communications Announces Sale of Its Texas Newspapers to AIM Media Texas, LLC

Posted: at 3:11 am

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedom Communications announced today that it has reached agreement to sell its Texas print and online newspaper publishing assets, The Brownsville Herald, El Nuevo Heraldo, The Harlingen Valley Morning Star, The Monitor in McAllen, The Odessa American and The Mid Valley Town Crier in Weslaco, to AIM Media Texas, LLC.

Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close within the next 30 days, were not disclosed. In conjunction with the transaction, AIM announced that all Freedom employees at these publications in Texas will continue in their respective jobs and positions with the new company.

The attractiveness of these properties is entirely due to their strong performance and the hard work of their associates, said Freedom CEO Mitch Stern. The sale furthers our goal of providing value to our shareholders while at the same time increasing the financial strength of Freedom.

The papers will be in good hands. The leadership of AIM Media Texas has an intimate understanding of the Texas media landscape and is acutely aware of the key role newspapers play in the lives of the communities they serve, said Mark McEachen, Freedom EVP, COO and CFO. They share our view that a newspaper must be strong in its dedication to localism by providing accurate and timely information and by serving as an active steward of the values of the community.

Freedom Communications is one of the most respected and admired publishing organizations in the United States, said Jeremy L. Halbreich, Chairman and CEO of AIM and the former Chairman and CEO of Sun-Times Media LLC, former Founder, Chairman, President and CEO of American Consolidated Media, and former President and General Manager of The Dallas Morning News. I have had the pleasure and good fortune of knowing many of the family members, Board members and senior executives at Freedom and so we are very flattered to have this opportunity to become directly involved with these important, high-quality, local journalism organizations, he added.

About Freedom Communications

Freedom Communications, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications and interactive businesses. The Companys print portfolio includes approximately 100 publications, including 24 daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, plus ancillary magazines and other specialty publications. The Companys news, information and entertainment websites and mobile applications complement its print properties. For more information, visit http://www.freedom.com.

About AIM Media Texas, LLC

AIM Media Texas is an acquisition entity formed by Halbreich for the purpose of purchasing the print and online publishing assets in Texas from Freedom Communications. The new operating companys headquarters will be in McAllen, Tex., and it will be managed by AIM Media Texas Management of Dallas, Tex. where Halbreich serves as Chairman and CEO and William R. (Rick) Starks serves as President and COO.

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Jones' late jumper lifts Connecticut Sun over Liberty in WNBA opener

Posted: at 3:11 am

NEW YORK Asjha Jones made a tiebreaking jumper with 31 seconds remaining and the Connecticut Sun went on to a 78-73 victory over the New York Liberty in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

Tina Charles had 19 points and 13 rebounds to help the Sun spoil the Liberty's one-game homecoming to Madison Square Garden. Allison Hightower scored 13 points, Asjha Jones had 12 and Renee Montgomery added 11.

Cappie Pondexter led New York with 19 points, Plenette Pierson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kara Braxton scored 13.

The Liberty are in the midst of a three-year stretch playing their home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. However, the game was moved to the Garden because the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils played an NHL playoff game at the Prudential Center earlier in the day.

After Jones' go-ahead jumper with put the Sun ahead 73-71, Pondexter missed a layup with 19.9 seconds remaining. Danielle McCray made a free throw with 15.1 to go to push the lead to three. On the Liberty's ensuing possession, Leilani Mitchell was called for an offensive foul away from the ball with 7.6 seconds left.

Montgomery made two free throws a second later to seal the win.

Charles tied it at 65 with 4:32 to go, then made a go-ahead layup 36 seconds later to put Connecticut ahead with its first lead since late in the first quarter.

After Pondexter and Braxton made layups 26 seconds apart to put New York back ahead, Charles' hook shot tied it again with 2:51 to go. She was fouled on the play but missed the ensuing free throw.

With the score tied at 71, Essence Carson missed two free throws with 1:44 to go. Braxton got the rebound on the second miss, but the Liberty failed to take advantage of the second chance.

The Sun scored the first eight points of the third quarter to tie the score at 41 on Hightower's 3-pointer with just more than 2 minutes gone in the period.

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Liberty Wins NCAA Greensboro Golf Regional

Posted: at 3:11 am

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Liberty fought off a hard-charging Florida team to claim the wire-to-wire team win at the NCAA Greensboro Golf Regional at the Grandover Resort's East Course on Saturday. Three players tied for medalist honors, with Campbell's Vaita Guillaume winning a one-hole playoff to earn an NCAA Championship bid.

Liberty, Florida, Auburn, Lamar and Tulsa also advanced to the NCAA Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on May 29-June 3, as the top five teams and the top individual not on one of those teams earned bids.

Guillaume (70-71-72), SMU's Matt Schovee (67-70-75) and Liberty's Robert Karlsson (70-69-74) each finished atop the leaderboard with scores of 3-under 213. With Karlsson already going to the NCAA Championship with Liberty's win, Guillaume and Schovee headed to the 10th hole for a sudden-death playoff.

Schovee bogeyed the par-4 hole, while Guillaume sank a short par putt to clinch his trip to California. The playoff loss was especially cruel for Schovee, who held sole possession of the individual lead after of the first two rounds and seemed assured a trip to the NCAA Championship as SMU was in second as a team entering the final round.

The Mustangs, who were six strokes back of Liberty entering the final round, picked an awful time for their worst round of the tournament, however, shooting a 13-over 301 to fall out of contention and leave Schovee on the outside looking in.

The race for the team title was just as dramatic, as Liberty and Florida were neck-and-neck with the Gators in hot pursuit all day. The Flames pulled away late as all four players who counted toward the team score carded birdies on the par-5 18th. Florida's Michael Furci closed his day in fine fashion with an eagle-3 on the hole, but it was not enough as Florida's rally fell just short.

Liberty finished with a 4-over 868 (283-293-292) for the tournament, while Florida was three shots back at 871 (299-287-285). For the second straight day, the Gators had the best round, at 3-under, while Auburn turned in a 2-under 286 to finish third at 284 (296-292-286).

The tournament was hosted by UNCG and the Greensboro Sports Commission.

UNCG/WFMY News 2 Sports

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Liberty fall to Connecticut Sun in season opener, 78-73

Posted: at 3:11 am

NEW YORK Every time New York went ahead and stretched its lead, Connecticut came back and tied it. Then the Sun went ahead in the final minute and spoiled the Liberty's one-game homecoming to Madison Square Garden.

Asjha Jones made a tiebreaking jumper with 31 seconds remaining and the Sun went on to a 78-73 victory over the Liberty in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

Tina Charles had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Connecticut. Allison Hightower scored 13 points, Jones finished with 12 and Renee Montgomery added 11.

"We came out with a lot of aggression," Charles said. "There were times we were down seven, but we were able to get it back. Coach (Mike Thibault) had different lineups out there and everybody just came together collectively and we handled ourselves well on the court."

Connecticut trailed by five early in the second quarter, then by nine in the final minute of the period, by seven at the end of the third. The Sun rallied to tie the score each time.

Connecticut, 15-2 at home last season, struggled to a 6-11 record on the road while failing to hold late leads. Earlier in the week, Thibault said the next step in his team's development was to play better in the fourth quarter. They did that in the opener.

"Just us coming back, that was maturity," said Charles, the 2010 rookie of the year. "Us playing together going on our third year, and that's just mental toughness not letting the game go, not getting down on ourselves, not pouting, just being real mature, and knowing we could get back."

Cappie Pondexter led New York with 19 points, Plenette Pierson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kara Braxton scored 13.

The Liberty were outscored 27-15 in the fourth quarter, outrebounded 9-5 and outshot 56 percent (10 for 18) to 43 percent (8 for 14). They had no steals and the Sun turned the ball over just once in the period.

"We got to play better. We got to improve from where we are tonight," New York coach John Whisenant said. "We got static (in the fourth quarter). ... We weren't efficient. Not efficient around executing our offense and we weren't getting turnovers from our defense."

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Liberty fall to Connecticut Sun in season opener, 78-73

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Jones hits late jumper, Sun beat Liberty 78-73

Posted: at 3:11 am

NEW YORK (AP) Every time New York went ahead and stretched its lead, Connecticut came back and tied it. Then the Sun went ahead in the final minute and spoiled the Liberty's one-game homecoming to Madison Square Garden.

Asjha Jones made a tiebreaking jumper with 31 seconds remaining and the Sun went on to a 78-73 victory over the Liberty in the season opener for both teams Saturday.

Tina Charles had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Connecticut. Allison Hightower scored 13 points, Jones finished with 12 and Renee Montgomery added 11.

''We came out with a lot of aggression,'' Charles said. ''There were times we were down seven, but we were able to get it back. Coach (Mike Thibault) had different lineups out there and everybody just came together collectively and we handled ourselves well on the court.''

Connecticut trailed by five early in the second quarter, then by nine in the final minute of the period, by seven at the end of the third. The Sun rallied to tie the score each time.

Connecticut, 15-2 at home last season, struggled to a 6-11 record on the road while failing to hold late leads. Earlier in the week, Thibault said the next step in his team's development was to play better in the fourth quarter. They did that in the opener.

''Just us coming back, that was maturity,'' said Charles, the 2010 rookie of the year. ''Us playing together going on our third year, and that's just mental toughness - not letting the game go, not getting down on ourselves, not pouting, just being real mature, and knowing we could get back.''

Cappie Pondexter led New York with 19 points, Plenette Pierson had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Kara Braxton scored 13.

The Liberty were outscored 27-15 in the fourth quarter, outrebounded 9-5 and outshot 56 percent (10 for 18) to 43 percent (8 for 14). They had no steals and the Sun turned the ball over just once in the period.

''We got to play better. We got to improve from where we are tonight,'' New York coach John Whisenant said. ''We got static (in the fourth quarter). ... We weren't efficient. Not efficient around executing our offense and we weren't getting turnovers from our defense.''

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Jones hits late jumper, Sun beat Liberty 78-73

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