Daily Archives: June 5, 2012

Freedom Fighter P. Bhaskaran Passes Away

Posted: June 5, 2012 at 1:12 pm

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 26 February 2007 P. Bhaksaran, the veteran filmmaker, poet, lyricist and freedom fighter, died here yesterday afternoon at the age of 83. He leaves behind his wife and four children. He was suffering from acute Alzheimers disease and was taking rest at his city home. Yesterday morning he developed chest pain. He was taken to a hospital but passed away soon.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Bhaskarans demise was a great loss to the cultural sphere. Several leaders, including former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran and state ministers, were among the early visitors to his house as the news spread.

A freedom fighter who attracted youngsters to the freedom movement and later to the communist party through his popular poetry and songs, he was imprisoned for six months during the British rule.

Author of several books, he has directed some 50 films including Neelakkuyil, the first neorealistic film in Malayalam that won the Presidents medal in 1954. He was also chairman of the Asianet, the first private television channel in Malayalam.

Bhaskaran, who dominated Malayalam cinema along with Vayalar Ramavarma as top-notch lyricist for long, had penned hundreds of songs known for their romantic charm and soft lyrical touch most of which are hugely popular still.

He was instrumental in freeing Malayalam film music from the influence of the Hindi and Tamil playback styles in the 1950s, by writing simple and lucid lines set to original music by veteran directors. Still, many of his widely appreciated scores are hailed for their ghazal touch. Bhaskarans vintage numbers, most of them composed by K. Raghavan and M.S. Baburaj, form part of the Malayali nostalgia.

His songs in the 1960s launched careers of top singers including K.J. Jesudas and Jayachandran, and made S. Janaki one of the most favorite female voices in Malayalam.

Hailing from Kodungallur in Thrissur district in Kerala, Bhaskarans early writings were inspired by the freedom struggle and the leftist agitations to create an egalitarian society. One of his early popular poems was Vayalar Garjikkunnu, penned as a literary tribute to the revolutionaries of the Punnapra-Vayalar peasant uprising.

Later, he distanced himself from the communist party and its ideology and his subsequent poems are known for their humanism and romanticism.

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Freedom Fighter P. Bhaskaran Passes Away

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USS Liberty Memorial Service Renews Calls of a Government Cover-Up

Posted: at 1:12 pm

USS Liberty underway in the Chesapeake Bay on July 29, 1967, upon her return from the Mediterranean Sea.

Forty-five years ago, the USS Liberty was attacked in international waters by Israeli jet fighters and torpedo boats.

The attack killed 34 members of the crew, and wounded 174 more on board. Both U.S. and Israeli governments conducted inquiries about the incident, and decided the attack was a result of Israeli confusion about who the USS Liberty was.

Many veterans don't agree.

This Friday, a USS Liberty memorial service will be held at the graves of the Liberty victims at Arlington Cemetery, in part to remember, but also to accuse.

A Facebook page for the event asks supporters to sign a petition calling for a renewed investigation of the attack. The petition suggests a U.S. government cover up, noting that the U.S. initially dispatched aircraft to aid the wounded USS Liberty, but say they were later recalled.

The page also points supporters to reports on the incident from USS Liberty veterans, including a draft letter to Congress asking for a better investigation.

"They were ordered to be abandoned by two flights of Sixth Fleet rescue aircraft," alleges the letter. "Until these facts are acknowledged.... any attempt to honor those who were killed in service to the United States on the USS Liberty is incomplete."

This past Memorial Day, Sen. John McCain was heckled about the Liberty attack while speaking to a crowd in California. "What about the cover-up for Israel of the USS Liberty?!" the heckler shouted. He was promptly escorted out by Secret Service.

In 2004, documents on U.S. foreign policy during the USS Liberty incident were declassified and published in a trilogy. At the time, Harriet Schwar, editor of the trilogy, told the State Department her staff found no evidence the U.S. knew about Israel's orders to attack the USS Liberty.

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Green Automotive to Join Forces with Liberty Electric Cars Limited

Posted: at 1:12 pm

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Green Automotive Company (OTC:GACR) announced today that it has entered into detailed discussions with Liberty Electric Cars Limited (www.liberty-ecars.com), a UK-based developer of Electric Drive Trains, unique Battery Management Systems and provider of full support programs for all types of Electric vehicles. These discussions will lead to Liberty technology being used to convert conventional internal combustion engine driven vehicles into zero emission electric vehicles. Liberty, formed in 2006, was the first company in the world to successfully convert the Range Rover into a high speed pure electric 4x4 capable of 200 miles on a single charge and driven by 4 individual motors. The Liberty Electric Range Rover was hailed as the worlds best luxury EV in 2010 and provided the most telling example of the companys capabilities. Libertys expertise will serve as Green Automotives foundation for its expansion into the European Electric Vehicle market as well as provide the technology for the conversion activities planned for the North American market.

As I disclosed in several of our past public announcements, and in greater detail in our First Quarter March 31, 2012 Information and Disclosure Statement filed with OTCMarkets.com, said Fred Luke, President of Green Automotive Company, we have elected to not make the Companys primary business that of importing, performing the homologation, and then competing against a host of others now entering the market of retailing Electric Passenger Vehicles. Putting the last 2 years of import and homologation knowledge in the proper prospective, it is clear to us that our fastest and least expensive path to revenues from the Electric Vehicle (EV) will be to focus on the conversion of conventional internal combustion engine-driven vehicles of all types, particularly Mass-Transit and passenger vehicles which have already passed the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) tests, to make them into zero emission vehicles.

According to Mr. Luke, this move comes following disappointing test results during the homologation program and failing negotiations with Zotye for as to the Zotye Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). It was determined by management and our independent engineers, at Roush Industries, said Mr. Luke, that the Zotye SUV would struggle to pass the stringent crash tests required by the DOT, FMVSS and NIHSTA, without substantial expenditure and time. At which time the Company began seeking alternatives to replace the Zotye vehicles with automobiles that the Company could bring to market in a more expeditious and efficient manner.

On January 17, 2012 the Company announced that it signed a Letter of Intent pursuant to which it would join forces with Niyato Industries in an effort to accelerate the plans of both companies to bring domestically manufactured Electric Passenger Vehicles to the US market this year. However, Fords announcement that it would be rolling out its own line of EVs, beginning with the Focus and Fusion http://inhabitat.com/ford-announces-2012-ford-focus-electric-will-get-extra-2500-in-tax-credits-in-california/ made it very difficult for us to justify going any further with the Green Automotive-Niyato joint venture. In the process of due diligence on Niyato, the Companys management determined that it was not in its best interest to continue with Niyato as Niyato did not appear to have the immediate manufacturing facility for the proposed conversion of the vehicles it represented to have under contract to convert to EVs, nor did it have a prototype upon which to develop reasonable manufacturing costs, and it appeared to be under-capitalized to finance its plans, requiring the Green Automotive to provide the necessary capital.

Taking into consideration the costly and time consuming (24 to 36 months) efforts to move the Zotye Vehicles through the stringent import tests required by the DOT and NIHSTA, and the capital position of Niyato, negotiations with Niyato were put on hold and alternate solutions were sought.

The first of the Companys new partnership targets was Liberty Electric Cars Limited, a UK-based conversion and EV support company which currently designs, develops, manufactures and markets electric vehicle drive trains for use in its own converted vehicles and for sale to OEMs for incorporation into their production. Their focus is on larger platforms from 4x4 through to commercial vehicles, where they operate in a niche market with few competitors. Liberty Electric Cars Limited also supplies after sales support, training, and upgrades for electric vehicle users throughout Europe and Middle East.

Liberty, through its E-Tech division, is involved in a number of advanced research programs for developing next generation EV solutions, many in partnership with Tier 1 automotive manufacturers. The E-Tech engineering team can count over 2,500,000 miles of EV expertise, and were the first people to design and build a ground up electric truck. In addition, they own the UKs largest EV retail company, which has sold over 1400 electric vehicles and they supply, through their E-Care division, a comprehensive after-market EV support program throughout Europe for electric trucks and cars.

Their clients include such high profile names as UPS, Fed-ex, Navistar, Veolia, Tesco and many more.

In November 2010 Liberty entered and successfully completed the Royal Automobile Club's first annual "Future Car Challenge" where 2 Liberty Pure Electric Range Rovers drove from Brighton to London, with 5 people in each car including a film crew in one, ending with an exciting public display on Regent Street in the centre of London. In addition to Libertys expertise in engineering solutions for electric vehicles, and providing the most comprehensive after market program for electric cars and trucks, Liberty also offers a range of exciting electric transport solutions.

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Green Automotive to Join Forces with Liberty Electric Cars Limited

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Warner to Mount 'Liberty,' Show of Firsts

Posted: at 1:12 pm

By RICKY CAMPBELL Register Citizen Staff

TORRINGTON Liberty, an upcoming musical at the Warner Theatre premiering on June 30, is a production of firsts and everyone involved isnt just content with that, but theyre rather excited.

Liberty will showcase the story of an immigrant girl coming from Paris, gathering outside influences ideals of what liberty is to them, and integrating their multiple thoughts into her own development. Its the first time the musical will see the light of day in its entirety, the first time its lead actress will be the focal point in her young career and its the first time Liberty will have the opportunity to push its cast and crew to their ultimate goal: a New York City stage.

On Thursday, cast and crew members of Liberty introduced themselves to Warner staffers, city officials and the public. After explaining the musicals premise, fine details and an opening, teasing number from its lead actress, Liberty cast members hit the stage for their first weekend of rehearsals.

The crew will spend their Thursdays through Saturdays leading up to the June 30 world premiere on the Torrington Main Street theatres stage, practicing their lines and developing their characters. When the show leaves the Warner Theatre after its final performance on July 12, the production, aiming for brighter lights and bigger venues, can look to Torrington as its jumping off point.

For some, it could be the initial catapult to a career under the lights.

For a first gig, this isnt too shabby, lead actress Madeline Brewer said with a smile Thursday following the warm welcome. Brewer, 20, graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York a week ago. Outside of her hometown theater in Pitman, New Jersey, Brewer said shes never landed the lead role.

On June 30, 2012, that will change for Brewer as she becomes the first actress to ever don the copper-turned-green wardrobe of Liberty an immigrant girl from France trying to make a life in 19th century America.

Liberty will hit the stage for the first time, creating a new draw, officials believe, for the different demographics of show-goers.

Youre building a relationship here and that relationship is with the Warner family, Warner Theatre Executive Director John Bonanni said to the group. When you leave, youre going to find yourself missing this place.

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Warner to Mount 'Liberty,' Show of Firsts

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LIBERTY Dental Plan Introduces New Executive for Government Programs

Posted: at 1:12 pm

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

LIBERTY Dental Plan (LIBERTY) is pleased to announced that Dave Meadows, a healthcare industry veteran, is joining the companys operations as Senior Vice President of Government Programs.

We are excited and honored to welcome Dave to our executive management, said Amir Neshat, CEO and founder of the Irvine-based dental benefits administrator. As LIBERTY continues to expand its business within the market of government sponsored plan we anticipate Daves knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our successfully delivering the highest quality of dental benefits to our members in government sponsored programs.

With over 19 years of specialized expertise in state health programs, Meadows will manage operations out of the greater Sacramento area by providing his experienced input on facilitating and developing public plans that will best serve populations for California and LIBERTYS national partners. His extensive career includes a term as Vice President of State Health Programs for Health Net, and time spent working directly for the California State Department as a Supervising Examiner responsible for financial regulation of contracting Health Care Service Plans. Meadows presently serves as a Board Member for the California Association of Dental Plans (CADP) and the California Department of Managed Health Cares Financial Solvency Standards Board.

Im thrilled to be joining such a dynamic company that has demonstrated its leadership in providing dental coverage to the government programs sector, said Meadows. Im excited about the opportunity we have to work on innovative, cost effective ways to continually improve the access and availability government program beneficiaries have to quality dental care.

About LIBERTY Dental Plan

LIBERTY Dental Plan specializes in commercial and government sponsored dental programs, providing services to managed care organizations, state governments, labor unions, large group employers, municipalities, and individuals. With a vast majority of its membership enrolled in government sponsored programs, LIBERTY is recognized as a specialist in administering dental care for Medicaid, SCHIP and Medicare beneficiaries. LIBERTY has a proven record of successfully increasing the utilization of quality dental care for multiple programs, ensuring that a larger portion of premiums are appropriated directly to care.

LIBERTY Dental Plan is also recognized as an industry leader in the area of Dental Disease Management. A member of The Care Continuum Alliance (carecontinuum.org), LIBERTY shares their commitment to promote high quality standards for and definitions of key components of wellness, disease, case management where appropriate, and care coordination programs as well as support services and materials.

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American Liberty Petroleum Corp. Provides Progress Update for Nevada-Based Cortez Operation

Posted: at 1:12 pm

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

American Liberty Petroleum Corp. (OTCBB: OREO) (herein after "American Liberty" and/or "the Company") is pleased to provide a summary of the Company's recent progress on the Cortez Operation. The operation is located on the 3,840-acre Cortez lease in Gabbs Valley, Nye County, Nevada, and includes two wells: Cobble Cuesta 1-12 and Paradise 2-12.

In early May 2012, work resumed on the Paradise 2-12 well, including a fluid level test that indicated a 1920' fluid column in the well bore above the pump. Following the application of hot water and a new proprietary chemical formula treatment, the well produced additional fluid consisting of an oil/water mix. In total, approximately 29 barrels of crude was shipped to Foreland's Eagle Springs Refinery in neighboring White Pine County, representing the Company's second sale to Foreland. The BLM was also notified of the sale in order that the Company might secure "held by production" status on the Cortez lease.

The Company has continued to work with oil and gas consulting services firm Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. ("NSAI") to gather information toward determining next steps in the development of the Cortez operation. In particular, the Company is currently considering options that include:

1) Deepening the Cobble Cuesta 1-12 well

2) Deepening the Paradise 2-12 well

3) Drilling a new well based on information gained to date

4) Performing more seismic surveying prior to further exploration activities

NSAI is assisting the Company's assessment of all possible options by reviewing and evaluating the geological information currently available, and is providing American Liberty with their recommendations of the technical alternatives associated with each of the options, taking care to point out both the merits and potential challenges of each.

As of May 29, 2012, the Company had received an Authority For Expenditure (AFE) to re-enter the Cobble Cuesta 1-12 well, and an AFE to drill a new well in the Cortez lease. The AFEs act as budgetary documents that list the estimated expenses associated with the development activity in question: in the case of the well re-entry, an oil/gas well/re-enter with intermediate casing at 6000' and production casing at 8500', including perforate casing and frac; in the case of the new well, an oil/gas well with surface casing at 850', intermediate casing at 6000', and production casing at 8500', including perforate casing and frac.

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American Liberty Petroleum Corp. Provides Progress Update for Nevada-Based Cortez Operation

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Office talk not always free speech

Posted: at 1:10 pm

Employers often have to deal with disgruntled employees who regularly complain about their supervisor or others and about business issues.

In a recent case that arose within the context of state employment, an employee regularly complained about his supervisor and issued a memorandum to a superior official requesting that the department in which he worked be transferred out of the jurisdiction of that supervisor.

This memorandum proved to be the last straw. The employee was called in and given the option of resigning or being terminated. The employee elected to resign and later filed suit claiming that his free speech rights had been violated, that he was a whistle-blower under the Indiana statute and that he was wrongfully discharged under Indiana common law.

On the free speech guarantee, despite the fact the individual was a state employee, the court could not agree that his speech was protected under Article I, Section 9, of the Indiana Constitution simply because it was addressed to the state. The employee was clearly acting within the scope of his employment because he requested an improvement in his employment situation. This is a private interest. So free speech was not at issue.

On the whistle-blower issue, the employee did not exhaust the internal administrative remedies and chose to resign rather than be terminated. Hence, no claim.

The court reaffirmed that Indiana follows the doctrine of employment at-will under which employment may be terminated by either party at-will, with or without reason. None of the three exceptions applied in this case.

There was no "adequate independent consideration" for employment, no public policy exception existed and no promise had been made on which the employee relied to his detriment to impute an employment contract.

This case not only reaffirms Indiana's employment at-will doctrine but it also points out that even in public employment, an employee does not necessarily have a free speech right to criticize a supervisor or the way the department is organized solely for personal interests.

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Office talk not always free speech

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Supreme Court rules for Secret Service in Cheney free speech case

Posted: at 1:10 pm

WASHINGTON -- The US Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that two Secret Service agents are immune from a lawsuit filed by a Colorado man they arrested after he accosted then-Vice President Dick Cheney.

The high court held the agents were entitled to "qualified immunity" because it was not "clearly established" that they were violating Steven Howards' free speech rights when they took him into custody.

"This Court has never recognized a First Amendment right to be free from a retaliatory arrest that is supported by probable cause; nor was such a right otherwise clearly established at the time of Howards' arrest," Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the court's opinion.

Secret Service agents Gus Reichle and Dan Doyle arrested Howards after he confronted Cheney at a 2006 appearance at a Colorado shopping mall.

Agents began monitoring Howards after Doyle observed him talking on his cellphone saying, "I'm going to ask [the Vice President] how many kids he's killed today."

Howards then entered a line to meet Cheney, where he told him that his "policies in Iraq are disgusting." Cheney simply thanked Howards, but Howards touched the Vice President on the shoulder as he moved to meet more people in the crowd.

After Howards walked away, he was stopped by Reichele. Howards denied touching Cheney, which prompted his arrest.

Colorado authorities charged Howards with harassment, but the charge was eventually dropped.

Howards subsequently sued Reichle and Doyle.

But in a victory for the Obama administration, the high court reversed the US 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and threw out the lawsuit Monday by ruling that the agents had immunity.

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