Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) recently investigated a large pig breeding farm in North America and discovered horrifying conditions. The investigators found dozens of dead and rotting piglets. Each of the mother pigs was confined to a crate so small she could not turn around or move her head. At pig breeding facilities, piglets are taken away from their mothers at just 17 days, well before they are weaned. Many become sick and injured and die slow, painful deaths. In the course of the investigation, DxE rescued a young piglet and named her Madison. Watch Madison’s video at www.TakenAt17Days.com Companies like Costco claim to be progressive yet they sell products from farms just like the one DxE investigated. Sign the petition and ask Costco to cut ties with all animal-abusing companies.

To get Farrah off the show

When Twitter suspended white supremacist Richard Spencer’s account, in defense of its actions the company issued the following statement, "The Twitter Rules prohibit targeted abuse and harassment, and we will suspend accounts that violate this policy." With his attack on United Steelworkers Local 1999 president, President-elect Trump has crossed the line. He has attacked an individual for speaking out and as a result, this individual has now become subject to the wrath of Trump’s loyalist’s. This from USA Today November 16, 2016 with regard to Richard Spencer: As a private company, Twitter has no obligation to provide a forum for white nationalist views and "can do what it wants," said James Grimmelmann, a law professor who studies social networks at Cornell University. "The case for saying Twitter ought to leave these accounts up is that free speech has purposes and those purposes would be served by having private companies be compelled to be more neutral platforms," Grimmelmann said. "This is not a constituency in imminent danger of having its viewpoints shut down by the powers that be in the United States. We just had an election that proved that there are really ample chances for people espousing strong right-wing racist views to get their views heard." This observation can be carried one step further to apply to the president-elect who is about to step up to the ultimate bully pulpit. We the undersigned request that Twitter suspend the account of Donald J. Trump

No internet service provider (ISP) shall not discriminate the flow of traffic to any and all websites. We ask for the internet to remain open and free from censorship and pay to play systems that benefit the wealthiest of online companies while hindering the competitive market that the internet currently is. Moreover, Net Neutrality should be protected like water rights for the internet is the largest collection of knowleged ever gathered together. A persons thirst for knowleged can not be quenched when they are limited to taking in the biased avenues of information forced upon them by profit driven coporations.

If a private citizen's fire alarm goes off, we are sent a bill, if a paramedic is called we are sent a bill. Donald Drumpf is still a private citizen. Why should taxpayers or the city of New York be responsible for paying for his security? The cost is over $1 million dollars a day! He is NOT a public servant...yet. Even big celebrities, Including the POPE, have their own security details. The public should not foot the bill for his outlandish lifestyle. Let him be responsible for that. He has even admitted to NOT paying ANY taxes! Let Taxpayer money go towards Taxpayer services, not 1 private citizen and his entourage. There should also be a cap on how much is spent on other services he uses and/or curtails others from receiving, and let him budget himself accordingly.

The original design and intent of the Colonnade Apartments is not to be fenced in. The grounds surrounding perimeter of the building is filthy and has needed industrial cleaning for several years. Security problems, maintenance and cleanliness of the building need to be addressed and resolved from the inside out. A fence in the front is contrary to the interests of the tenants.

NOTHING DOING! will demonstrate the quiet power that is at our command whenever we want it. Business needs us. Let’s show Businessman Trump that we mean business. We boycott ourselves and it sends a simple, peaceful but powerful message: We are the ones in charge. Sign this petition, and then please share and spread the concept. Find out more and make a pledge to contribute nothing to change everything at the website. www.nothingdoingday.com Can we, the American Majority (64 million and counting) and the rest of the world, stop this minority-elected president and his crew from driving us backwards, or even worse, off a cliff? We can change the course of history. How? Maybe we do nothing. Maybe doing absolutely nothing could change everything. In the past, Gandhi defied British colonialism, Mandela broke a century of apartheid, and King inspired a civil rights revolution. Maybe it can work here and now.

The recent election has spurred the fears of many Americans for an assortment of reasons, whether fear for personal safety, for the continued defense of the Constitution, or for the position of Americans abroad. In recent days even outspoken Trump supporters have professed concerns with some of President-elect Trump's actions and appointments. While activism is vital, we must not forget that Congress is the first and most powerful check against the Executive Branch. We must continue to remind Congress that we hold them to their responsibilities towards the American people, regardless of partisanship or party affiliation. Congressional leadership must be reminded that we the people are watching, and we the people expect them to act for the wellbeing of all Americans.

Donald Trump repeatedly tweets out misinformation or outright lies but he is not the only one. There is money to be made by drawing eyeballs to a webpage, whether the information written there is true or not. I ask our Congress to make it illegal to purposefully misinform the American people. You can't yell fire in a crowded theater and you shouldn't be able pass off boldfaced lies as the truth either.

The Palm Springs Vacation Rental Subcommittee (consisting of Councilmembers JR Roberts and Geoff Kors) has completed the draft ordinance changes and will be presenting the proposal to the rest of the City Council this Wednesday, November 30th, 2016 at 5:00pm at the Palm Springs City Hall, Council Chambers. Please attend this important meeting if possible. There are MANY changes being proposed, and I advise all parties to review the document link at the bottom of this petition. After reading the lengthy list of new suggested changes, if you disagree, I suggest you sign the petition to let the City Council know you are dissatisfied. Some of the more controversial changes include (but are not limited to): - Limit the number of contracts to 28 per year. - Non owner occupancy is considered a contract, even if no monetary compensation occurs (i.e. friends and family using a vacation rental will count against the 28 maximum contracts per year). - Only 1 financial interest in a vacation rental allowed per natural person, or trust of a natural person (i.e. only one vacation rental allowed per natural person or trust). - No corporate ownership interest allowed. - EXISTING owners who own multiple vacation rentals and/or corporate owners will only be allowed a 4 year period, to Jan. 1, 2021, to terminate use as a vacation rental (i.e. the grandfathering clause has been given an expiration date!). - Maximum of 2 occupants per bedroom, up to a maximum of 8 occupants per vacation rental. It appears the "plus 2" provision for couches will be eliminated. - 1 car per bedroom, up to a maximum of 4 cars per vacation rental. - Annual building and safety inspections upon renewal of permit. - Increase in annual fees from $234/year to $900/year. The city plans on the formation of a Vacation Rental Enforcement Department, which will have a budget of approximately $1,700,000/year. This will be paid for by the increase in the annual fees noted above. A list of applicable fines is also included in the 48 page document. Additional specific enforcement changes are likely. *I encourage everyone to read the ordinance changes themselves, at the link provided below. My interpretation of these proposals may inadvertently differ.** It is unlikely the City Council will end up with an ordinance change that pleases the entire community. There is rare consensus on this topic as it relates to improved enforcement methods to help reduce noise and associated complaints. Most appreciate the extensive efforts to examine this topic and search for long overdue improvements for families and neighbors negatively impacted. However, many of the provisions included in this draft could be changed in order to reduce the economic and socio-economic threats that will likely accompany this change in policy. Also, many in the community have expressed serious concern that a third party economic impact study, which was shared with members of the City Council during the public comments portion of the recent study session, is not being considered. This economic impact report is set to be completed in December, and yet the City Council is electing to move forward with a potential vote without examining the last but very important aspect of this issue - the economic risks to residents and businesses associated with this possible decision. Contractors, landscapers, housekeepers, pool maintenance persons and many others will see their work levels diminish, yet the city has not provided any documentation of the proposed effects of this ordinance change. Analysis has also not been shared that estimates the short term and long term consequences on the real estate values as a result of increased inventory of sellers choosing to leave the market. Many feel such a study would be the responsible way to wrap up several months of hard work that the Vacation Rental Subcommittee has dedicated to this topic. Lastly, the city appears to be sending mixed messages on its course for the future. Ten "Vacation Rental Objectives" were created the past several months, in which the Subcommittee attempted to vet many of the possible changes through. However, what is the "Mission Statement" or list of objectives for the future of Palm Springs? How do the proposed vacation rental changes match with the long term vision and goals for the city? Does the city have one? The city has succeeded in attracting visitors through the fantastic efforts of events such as Modernism Week. However, how does this change in policy affect our overall brand? Has the Subcommittee examined any studies into how many people visit Palm Springs for the sole reason they can stay in a mid century modern home? Many questions remain, and further research efforts should be made before drastic changes are enacted. Here is the link to the 48 page document/ordinance change created by the city: http://ci.palm-springs.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=48863 If you feel compelled, you can email the City Councilmembers with your specific concerns or suggestions. It is suggested you do so well before the Wednesday night meeting, to give them a chance to read your correspondence: Mayor Robert Moon [email protected] Councilmember JR Roberts [email protected] Councilmember Geoff Kors [email protected] Councilmember Ginny Foat [email protected] City Clerk James Thompson [email protected] Regards, Brian Wilson

Mrs. Gina Verdibello, a Jersey City resident and ran for a seat in the November 8, 2016 Board of Education election and received 14,727 votes --- just 552 votes short of capturing the third seat. Gina Verdibello born to immigrant parents from Italy and Peru, she grew up in Fort Lee, NJ. While attending Rutgers University she met her husband Robert who grew up in Jersey City. They have 3 young children that attend PS 17. Gina has a BA from Rutgers University in Art History and has worked at Liberty Science Center, the American Folk Art Museum and The Picower Foundation in fundraising and development. She has also been a Realtor at Century 21 Kenny Realty in Jersey City. She started Girl Scout Troop 12026 at James F. Murray PS 38. She is currently a board member of the West Side Community Alliance (WSCA) and Casa Colombo. At Joseph H. Brensinger PS17 Gina is the Parent Council Vice President and Title One Representative for the school. She has been a parent member of the Early Education Committee at the Board of Education for three years. Gina is a parent advocate for the children of that attend public school in Jersey City. She attends and speaks at all Board of Education meetings and most recently testified at the Trenton Board of Education against the new PARCC standardized tests and advocated for new Pre-K buildings for Jersey City. She continues to fight for better facilities and making our public schools the best they can be. As the fourth top vote-getter and, as set by precedent of the Jersey City Board of Education, Gina Verdibello is next in line for the seat being vacated and should be appointed to the board. We believe the appointment of Gina Verdibello reflects the will of the public and a that of the 14,727 parents, teachers and residents who voted for her on November 8, 2016 in the Jersey City school Board of Education election. We ask that the current board members act in fairness and respect the will of the people of Jersey City and the lawful, democratic mechanism of the State of New Jersey and vote to appoint her to the Jersey City Board of Education.

Prejudice and bigotry against the progenitors of heavy metal music is hurtful to 70s rockers and is bring interpreted as cultural age discrimination.