Daily Archives: October 3, 2012

Between the end of regulation and overtime, Emmaus coach John Cari let loose a tirade on his team. It worked. Immediately.

Cari's Green Hornets needed just 34 seconds in the extra period Monday to trip up Freedom, 1-0, in a matchup of Lehigh Valley Conference boys soccer contenders at Freedom High School.

Senior AJ Bishop scored the game-winner off a pass from classmate Ben Roda. Emmaus improved to 8-3-1 overall and 8-2 in the conference. Freedom is now 8-5 and 7-3.

"We talked about this being a possible trap game," Cari said, "and it was exactly that. It was a Monday game. We traveled. It was on grass. It was afternoon instead of night. We looked lackluster. We lacked fire and passion. I didn't think the kids were competing and I told them that."

The Green Hornets controlled possession to start overtime and Roda eventually worked a pass to Bishop, who had plenty of open space to work with on the left side of the field.

Bishop, the LVC's leading scorer with 13 goals and two assists, took a quick dribble with his left foot then powered a far-post shot past Freedom goalkeeper Josh Wasilick. The Patriots and their boisterous fans protested to the officials for an offside call but the tally counted.

"Ben played me a great ball," Bishop said. "I've got to give all the credit to Ben; he's a great distributor."

"AJ's a very talented player and we did a poor job of getting him touches in the second half," said Cari, who coached Emmaus to the District 11 Class 3A title last year. "We saw what happens when we get him the ball. It only took one touch in overtime for AJ to get us the winning goal."

Freedom coach Michael O'Connell, meanwhile, sensed his team tiring late in the second half.

"We looked spent at the end of regulation. We were down two starters, one to injury and one to suspension, so we were undermanned a bit defensively. We didn't pressure the ball in overtime and it looked like we were looking at each other out there," O'Connell said.

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Emmaus scores overtime goal to beat Freedom

Dawn Gilchrist-Young doesnt just read and teach books, she defends them.

As chair of the English department for Swain County High School, Gilchrist-Young is joining Banned Books Weeks, which is a nationwide celebration this week in honor of one of our greatest freedoms.

The freedom to read.

[The idea of banned books] means the constraining of ideas and thought, good or bad, based on rigid standards, whether liberal or conservative, therefore censorship ultimately means the constraining of human potential and the progression of thought, Gilchrist-Young said.

Protected by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights, the freedom of the press remains one of the strongest and most controversial of the rules and regulations granted by the founding fathers. Over the long and bumpy road of challenged books, the list may surprise some with the titles held accountable, which include The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone with the Wind, among others.

Freedom of the press and written word are so important. I think that most Americans understand the basic reasons for a free press, said Jeff Delfield, head librarian for the Marianna Black Library in Swain County. However, even those who would defend a free press will challenge library books. Theres a sort of disconnect, like Sure its OK for you to say or write this opinion you have, but its not OK for that opinion to end up inside a library.

According to the Library Bill of Rights (1939), the American Library Association states, Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

As a librarian, Im a strong believer in the freedom to read, Delfield said. My job is not to provide the correct side of an issue but all sides. Its a readers job to decide whats correct for himself or herself.

Applying that philosophy to her bookstore, Allison Lee, the co-owner of Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, believes the biggest concern with banning books is that it hinders education.

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Finding freedom in the written word

HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PrepaYd, Inc. (OTC PINK: PPDC) , which owns 100% of Bank Freedom today announced it is considering selling or merging Bank Freedom. Recently PrepaYd, Inc. has received unsolicited inquiries from qualified parties looking to buy versus build a prepaid debit card company. As of today no letter of intent has been reached with any party however the company may actively seek other candidates if its current talks don't materialize into an agreement.

About PrepaYd, Inc.

PrepaYd, Inc. is a provider of financial services in the prepaid debit card industry. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, offers prepaid debit cards to America's estimated 60 million underbanked citizens. In addition to the underbanked consumer demographic, small and mid-size businesses have found a much-needed product with the company's Prepaid Business Expense Card Program. With the diminishing credit card markets, companies need a new way to fund employees' expenses other than through traditional credit cards or cash reimbursements.

PrepaYd Inc. also owns PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. which provides the postpaid experience without the contract, and is a new leading provider for No Contract Wireless Service with Unlimited Plans starting at $35 per month. Since the company's official launch in December 2011, the company has expanded its distribution through independent retail locations and by offering service plans that include Nationwide Coverage in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and by including all sales, telecom and usage taxes. For more information about PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. visit http://www.PrepaYdWireless.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT: To the extent that this release discusses any expectations concerning future plans, financial results or performance, such statements are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and reflect only management's belief and expectations based upon presently available information. These statements, and other forward-looking statements, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and the company assumes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this release.

For more information about PrepaYd, Inc. visit http://www.PrepaYdInc.com.

Contact: Bruce Berman 702 430 4775

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Owner of Bank Freedom Considers Sale or Merger of Bank Freedom after Receiving Unsolicited Inquiries from Parties ...

3 October 2012 Last updated at 11:50 ET

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh regiment have exercised their right to march through Bridgend with colours flying and bayonets fixed.

The Freedom of Bridgend was conferred on The Royal Welsh in August 2008.

The battalion's Fire Support Company and the Band of the Prince of Wales Division were clapped and cheered as they marched through the town.

A number of soldiers from the Bridgend area have been killed on active service in recent years.

Around 130 troops took part in the event, led by Shenkin and Taffy the Regimental Goats and the respective Goat Majors.

I also took part in the initial freedom parade, here in Bridgend, not long after I started in the battalion and these events mean a lot to the boys

Army cadets and ex-servicemen from the county also took part.

Colonel Huw Lloyd-Jones MBE told the crowd: "It's a very great honour and privilege that we are back here in Bridgend since the Freedom of the County was conferred on us.

"We promise to go wherever you send us and do whatever you require of us, to risk our lives in the nation's interest.

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Soldiers in town freedom march

CAIRO ?? Graffiti and artwork from last year denouncing former dictator Hosni Mubarak can be seen on walls and buildings, reminders of the freedom with which Egyptians expressed themselves during their revolt.

Yet nearly 20 months after the uprising that ousted Mubarak, who stifled free speech for decades, Egypt is deciding whether to embrace or restrict liberties cherished in the West.

The impending completion of a draft constitution will decide the question of whether Egypt creates a society that looks to the Western model of tolerance of dissenting views or the authoritarian example of criminalizing opinions that are repugnant to the majority of citizens.

One path for the future was brought into focus last month when hundreds of Egyptians denounced America for allowing a filmmaker to make a video critical of Islam. Several thousand Salafis who support a stringent Islamic state in Egypt stormed the U.S. Embassy compound with others and tore down the American flag.

"Those who insulted Prophet Mohammed [with] the film are hiding behind the Western laws of freedom of expression that we totally reject," said Abdel Shafi, head of the Islamic Lawyers Association. "What they did and the laws they take refuge behind are totally despicable."

Shafi said a constitution being drafted by lawmakers should clearly indicate that freedom of expression and opinion should be applied to everything but religion.

"Disdaining religion is a clearly defined crime within the Egyptian legal system," he said. "What we need now is to practically and strictly uphold those laws."

Dina Zakaria, a representative of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) that dominated parliamentary elections before the body was dissolved, said the Brotherhood believes in freedom of religion and speech. "If you don't allow for it you are encouraging extremism in society," she said.

There's one exception, she said.

"Humiliation of any religion, of any prophet, we are against that," Zakaria said. "This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It means that you just give a chance for those who want to create chaos to do that."

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In Egypt, freedom is up for debate

by Michael Dixon Thepress.Net

Senior quarterback Dante Mayes fights off Heritage defensive back Dmaree Lewis during the Falcons 31-24 win Sept. 28. Photo by Angelo Garcia Jr.

Someone was hurt and came out, Mixon said. I needed to step up and make a play.

Mixon also contributed big-time on the other side of the ball, carrying the offense most of the first half after playmaker Darrell Daniels left with an injury. While the Falcons managed only a single field goal before halftime, Mixon kept the Falcons offense on the field long enough to ensure that Heritage wouldnt score more than a field goal of its own.

Freedom and Heritage got their offenses cranking in the second half. Daniels returned to score a 46-yard touchdown, and run for another. Not to be left out, Mayes scored on a 65-yard keeper himself. The Patriots offense, however, put up a good fight. Heritage scored on a three-yard run from junior Nick Zalec and a one-yarder from Julian Johnson to close a wild third quarter.

Freedom appeared to ice the game on a 53-yard TD sprint from Mixon, but Heritage responded with a 22-yard scoring strike from Carter to senior receiver Johnny Briseno.

We were off and on, but I felt that we stepped up when we needed to, Mayes said. We stuck to the short game and gave the ball to Joe.

Not only does the victory usher the Falcons into their bye week on an upbeat note; it gives some of their banged-up players more time to heal. Daniels played for most of the second half, but was clearly not 100 percent. Were on bye, baby, Freedom head coach Kevin Hartwig said. Thats the biggest adjustment right there. Now we have a week to get healthy.

The Falcons record now stands at 4-2 overall and 1-0 in Bay Valley Athletic League play. When they return to the field in two weeks, theyll face Pittsburg, which has earned an identical record after beating Liberty 29-8.

Heritage (0-6, 0-1 in the BVAL) will use its bye week to regroup. Despite being winless so far, the Patriots have lost by only a touchdown in three of their six games. The Patriots face an undefeated Antioch team Oct. 12.

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Freedom survives league opener against Heritage

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 Malaysias Internet freedom has worsened this year as seen in the latest global survey of 47 countries, putting it on the same level as Libya after Putrajaya introduced new laws seen to curb electronic media use.

Internet freedom for Southeast Asias third-biggest economy was judged to be only partly free, after it scored 43 out of 100 points the same as Libya dropping two notches in the Freedom on the Net 2012: A Global Assessment of Internet and Digital Media report released last week by Freedom House, a US research organisation advocating democracy, political freedom and human rights.

The annual study evaluates each country based on barriers to access, limits on content, and violations of user rights, and traces trends from January 2011 to May 2012. The lower the numerical score, the better the ranking.

Each country is marked on a score from 0 (the most free) to 100 (the least free), which serves as the basis for an Internet freedom status designation of Free (0-30 points), Partly Free (31-60 points), or Not Free (61-100 points).

Malaysia took the 23rd spot, trailing behind the Philippines, South Korea, India and Indonesia among the Asian countries surveyed.

But Malaysia came out ahead of Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar and China. Singapore was not included in Freedom Houses global study.

The top five spots in descending order were occupied by Estonia, the United States, Germany, Australia and Hungary, which scored fewer than 20 points out of 100.

The report cited the recent amendments to the Evidence Act 1950, namely Section 114A of the law, which holds the computer or equipment owner liable for seditious content as a very troubling development.

It noted that bloggers and Internet users who were critical of the federal government and royalty have also been subject to arrests, legal harassment, fines and detention even as it noted such cases had dropped compared to last year.

It also noted the increase in the use of cybertroopers deployed by both government and opposition parties to produce either favourable content for themselves or harmful content towards opponents.

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Malaysia slips in Internet freedom; same ranking as Libya