Daily Archives: March 3, 2022

Happy Wednesday, everyone. We got some big news for the USWNT and USMNT yesterday, so we start there:

Turner Sports, HBO Max wins U.S. Soccer TV rights in 8-year deal - SSFC

8 years, $25-27 million per year for U.S. Soccer, as TNT, TBS, and HBO Max will be the new home of the USMNT and USWNT starting next year.

Washington Spirit to join European powers for womens tournament in Portland, Ore. - WaPo

The Washington Spirit will participate in the Womens International Champions Cup this summer, which will be hosted by the Portland Thorns. Chelsea FC is the 3rd team, and either PSG, FC Barcelona, or Bayern Munich will be the 4th team to round out the tournament.

The final team in the USL W League is here, and its right down the road in McLean:

Fantasy Focus: Vela-va Start - BRU

The first week of Fantasy MLS is in the books, and we see who led the weeks top team.

Power Rankings: Atlanta, LAFC & Nashville soar after MLS is Back weekend - MLS

They got D.C. United in 19th, up 2 spots. The disrespect...

Lokomotiv Moscow coach Markus Gisdol quits in protest at Russias invasion of Ukraine - ESPNFC

The Lokomotiv Moscow coach has quit after Russia invaded Ukraine, saying he couldnt coach in a country that was invading another.

D.C. United may have a new chant that we need to learn...what do yall think?

Shakhtar Donetsk evacuate Brazilian players to Romania - BBC

Brazilian players in Ukraines domestic league have had issues getting out of the country. Shakhtar Donetsk has evacuated their players to Romania.

Barcelona want their own cryptocurrency to challenge footballs elite - ESPNFC

Barcas trying to do their own crypto. Its probably gonna be named Ms Que Un Currency and be thoroughly disappointing.

Enjoy the day, everyone. Peace to Ukraine.

Read the rest here:

Wednesday Freedom Kicks: Turner Sports gets U.S. Soccer TV rights, Washington Spirit to play in WICC - Black And Red United

My parents both lived through wartime Europe, and they made sure to instill in us kids an appreciation for what we have here in Canada

Lately it seems that freedom is in the news a lot.

Around the world there are many nations that deny basic freedoms and rights to their citizens that we take for granted. To a certain degree, it seems that freedom is in the eye of the beholder.

For instance, many in Canada are demanding freedom from Covid-19 health mandates, and, to some of them, Justin Trudeau is viewed as a dictator. Meanwhile, the people of Ukraine have been forced to fight for freedom from the invasion of their sovereign nation by Vladimir Putin.Perhaps that puts some perspective on the definition of freedom and the infringement of freedom.

But freedom does come in many forms.

By chance, Arlene and I watched the movie The Peanut Butter Falconthe other day. It is a great movie about a young man with Downs syndrome who makes good his escape from an institution and lucks into a better life. He found his freedom, and he helped those around him to find theirs too. It puts another perspective on freedom while highlighting kindness to those around us.

I am also happy to say that I recently discovered a new personal freedom as I was cutting the cheese in our kitchen. When Arlene saw what I was doing,she said I should be using a cutting board to protect the counter top.

Really? I asked.Dont forget that in the very near future we will have to move out of the house because of BC Hydro, so why are we worried about protecting the counter topanyway?

She paused, and I could see her thinking about it. Sometimes that is not good, but in this case I took it as a good sign.

In fact, I continued, I think cutting on a counter without a cutting block is true freedom.

I could see from the look on her face how that line wasnt quite working, so I quickly compromised.

OK, let me re-phrase that. From now on, in this house, there is no more need for cutting boards.

I could see I had found a chink in her armour.

SCREW BC HYDRO, AND SCREW CUTTING BOARDS! I shouted defiantly while looking for a Canada flag to wave in support of this newfound freedom.FREEDOM!

I felt a sense of euphoria as never before. The realization that one of the fast and hard rules of the kitchen had just vanished felt like a lifetime burden being removed.

But Arlene sensibly countered.Youre not going to develop another bad habit that we will have to break once we move out of the house are you?

Hmm just like her to burst my bubble of happiness at a moment like this, I thought. But I quickly assured her not to worry.

In all seriousness, I am truly thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. My parents both lived through wartime Europe, and they made sure to instill in us kids an appreciation for what we have here in Canada. My empathy goes to the people of Ukraine and their struggle to keep their freedom.

Ken Boon lives and writes at Bear Flat.

Read more from the original source:

Bear Flat Dispatch: Freedom is in the eye of the beholder - Alaska Highway News

Editor's note: This episode of SouthBound includes discussions of rape, murder and suicide. We try not to dwell on those things, but if those issues are triggers for you, please listen with care.

Photo by Christine Rucker

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In 1984, a young woman named Deborah Sykes was raped and murdered in a field a few blocks from where she worked at the afternoon paper in Winston-Salem.

Police soon focused on a suspect: a 19-year-old named Darryl Hunt. Despite a case that even prosecutors thought was shaky, a jury convicted him of murder and he was sentenced to life in prison.

He spent 19 years there until new DNA evidence proved he hadnt committed the crime. So, in 2004, after spending half his life in prison, Hunt went free. Except free is not exactly the right word.

Hunt became an advocate for other prisoners, and a documentary turned him into a bit of a celebrity. But he struggled with depression and anger. He took drugs. And in 2016, he killed himself in a shopping center parking lot.

Journalist Phoebe Zerwick wrote a series of stories in 2003 that helped free Hunt from prison. Now Zerwick, who teaches at Wake Forest, has written a book about Hunts life before during and after his prison term. The book is called Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt. Its an extremely appropriate title.

Show notes

Other music in this episode

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Author Phoebe Zerwick revisits Darryl Hunt's wrongful conviction and bittersweet freedom - WFAE

By: Brian Genest Feb. 2022

Break out the party horns: February 26 is Dracuts birthday. As the town turns 321, theres a lot to celebrate about our past, present, and future. One of those things is Dracuts rich agricultural heritage.No farms, no food isnt just a catchy bumper sticker slogan, its also the harsh reality.

In Dracut, were fortunate to continue to have a number of working farms. Our local farms provide us with fresh food, healthier eating choices and the opportunity to support in-town commerce and our town farmers. DracutFarms.com has details about all the farms in town, the Community Preservation Act and other information about local agriculture.

Open space, preservation and conservation remain high priorities for the town. Right now, the newly-formed Beaver Brook Farm Development Ad-Hoc Subcommittee is digging in and plowing ahead to help make some decisions about the future of the 24-acre parcel.

The seven members recently approved a charter, mission, and goals to guide the subcommittee as it works in conjunction with The Friends of Beaver Brook Farm, a private non-profit group, on land-use plans and other long-term considerations for the preserved property.

The subcommittee is working off the plan that was developed by a previous committee under the leadership of Ellis Neofotistos. The Board of Selectmen approved that plan in 2020 by a 4-1 vote.

Selectman Heather Santiago-Hutchings voted against the plan.The decaying out buildings are the immediate focus at Beaver Brook Farm. Several options are being discussed, including selling those buildings to the developer who bought and plans to restore the historic Justus Richardson farmhouse on the property.

At the Beaver Brook Farm and all over town, Dracuts farming roots run deep. So does our towns patriotism. Even before America was a nation, farmers from here in Dracut joined the battle for freedom, putting down their hand tools and picking up muskets. They left their farms and joined the battlefield, fighting for our independence in the Revolutionary War under the leadership of Joseph Bradley Varnum.

From the 1700s to today, citizens of Dracut have proudly served our nation in times of war and peace. Throughout history, they have fought for and defended freedom at home and abroad. In two World Wars, as well as in Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf and other locations around the world, citizens of Dracut have served our country in uniform.

Our heroes from Dracut who gave the ultimate sacrifice are remembered and honored with monuments, parks, and other memorials in town. For example, Dracuts World War I monument, which got restored recently thanks to the efforts of a private group, honors the 164 town citizens who fought in The Great War and never returned home to Dracut.

Farms and freedom are just two things that make Dracuts legacy special. Its a legacy we should celebrate and continue as we look to the next 300 years. Happy birthday, Dracut!

Brian Genest is the producer and host of Eye on Dracut, a monthly news magazine show about town happenings that airs on DATV Channel 8 and online at DracutTV.org.

More here:

Celebrating Dracut's Legacy of Farms and Freedom The Valley Patriot - The Valley Patriot

The WPIAL basketball championship finals have arrived. After more than two months of regular-season action and almost two weeks of WPIAL playoff battles, 24 teams 12 on the boys side and 12 on the girls side have concluded their paths to the Petersen Events Center for their respective classifications title games. Now, its time to crown some winners.

Championship games for all classifications for boys and girls teams will be spread across three days Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday features title games for Class 3A girls and Class 1A and Class 4A boys the Freedom Area girls (Class 3A) and Quaker Valley boys (Class 4A) teams will compete this day.

Heres a preview of Thursdays Day 1 of the WPIAL basketball championships for the two games that feature teams from The Timescoverage area.

Matchup: No. 3 Freedom Area (18-4) vs. No. 1 North Catholic (18-5)

Game information:7 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, at the Petersen Events Center

Scouting Freedom Area

More:Freedom Area punches first-ever ticket to WPIAL title game with dominant win over Avonworth

Scouting North Catholic

Matchup: No. 1 Quaker Valley (22-0) vs. No. 2 Montour (20-4)

Game information:9 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, at the Petersen Events Center

Scouting Quaker Valley

More: Thiero, Frank dig deep and deliver to send Quaker Valley to WPIAL finals

Scouting Montour

Contact Parth Upadhyaya at pupadhyaya@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @pupadhyaya_.

Originally posted here:

Path to the Pete: Freedom Area, Quaker Valley eye WPIAL basketball titles on Thursday - The Times

The Northeastern State University Fishing Team is partnering with Operation Freedom Outdoors, connecting students with veterans as part of a friendly bass fishing tournament at Lake Tenkiller on April 3.

Cody Smith with Operation Freedom Outdoors said Northeastern students approached the nonprofit about the NSU Fishing Team getting together with a group of veterans for a day of fishing as part of a friendly tournament.

Itd be a great learning experience for the collegiate bass team to be able to sit and bridge that gap between civilians and military personnel and give college kids a glimpse into the veterans lives, Smith said.

The tournament will begin at 6 a.m. April 3 with check-ins and lines in the water by 7:30 a.m. The event will conclude around 2:30 p.m. and prizes for the top three spots and other giveaways would be available.

The NSU Fishing Team is proud to partner with Operation Freedom Outdoors on this, NSU Fishing Team President Grayson Hudson said. We are excited at the opportunity to spend some quality time fishing and chatting with a few of our nations veterans.

Smith said Operation Freedom Outdoors mission is to support veterans by taking them fishing and hunting. He added getting involved in the outdoors can be therapeutic for veterans struggling with isolation and combating suicide and other mental issues.

Smith said it is also a way for veterans to connect with others. He hopes the tournament is a way for students and veterans to form bonds while doing a sport both groups enjoy.

NSU is proud to support veterans and help foster connections between our students and the military community, said NSU Vice President for University Relations Dan Mabery. This is a unique opportunity for these two groups to fellowship together, and I am sure it will be a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

For information and to register for the event, contact OFO at (918) 706-4717 or operationfreedomoutdoors@gmail.com.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

Original post:

NSU partners with Operation Freedom Outdoors to host fishing tournament for veterans - Muskogee Daily Phoenix

To the editor:

We have used our freedom to separate ourselves into political groups, and we have allowed our differences to become so great that we no longer trust each other. It seems we are standing on opposite shores. Will we swim the gap? Some will trust the water, others will need life jackets, but the important thing is to realize we need to reconnect, for the good of our country and our hearts.

Freedom is a value, one among many. Unbridled freedom does not bring happiness, nor does it create livable communities. We have other values, such as fairness, security, loyalty, compassion, equality, justice, environmental responsibility. All are valid, and discussions as to how to prioritize them can be civil and respectful, if we trust each other. Trust is a choice, a good habit that requires exercise. (I heard a new beatitude in church last week Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.)

Respectful relationships are essential to a functioning democracy. Our competitive nature is interfering with both our freedom and our trust. The love of winning can become addictive, and the fear of loss can paralyze us. Remember, our core values are all valid. After elections, we voters must insist that our elected representatives work with each other.

The past two years have taught us a lot about ourselves and our communities. We have had to choose whom to trust. We have made mistakes, but we can decide to look for the humanity in each other and to recognize the shortcomings in ourselves. Fortunately, we have different faults and strengths, so our group projects tend to succeed.

Only the educated are free. Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, who lived about 2000 years ago, understood that freedom requires us to use our intelligence to distinguish truth from falsehood. When in school, we trust our teachers to share their knowledge with us, and our worldview expands. Whether this expansion continues depends on the sources we trust.

Our freedoms allow us to spread disinformation. It takes effort to ferret out the truth, to expose false prophets, and to admit to having followed them. Who among us hasnt shared facts that we later learned were not accurate?

While freedom is a value, trust is a way of life. When we choose to trust each other, our democracy gives us the ultimate freedom to live without fear.

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Freedom and trust | News, Sports, Jobs - Daily Mining Gazette