I am the Campaign Director of GMO Free NY (www.gmofreeny.net and www.facebook.com/GMOFreeNYnet). Our mission is to advocate for the passage of a GMO labeling law in NYS. We are a founding member of the NY GE Food Labeling Campaign (http://gmofreeny.net/nygelabelingcampaign.html). GMO labels will give us the information we need to decide whether we want to continue being the unwitting guinea pigs of agrichemical and junk food companies. GMO labels will put the power back in consumers' hands, which is where it belongs. It's time for NY's lawmakers to stand up to corporate bullying and put people before profits.

Christians, we have become too desensitized to offensive material like the sign mentioned. Please help me take a stand to say that this is not acceptable in our community.

Microsoft announced that it was discontinuing support of Windows XP, one of its most successful and popular products, as well as Office 2003. It warns of possible risks without this support, without specifying the risks or the likelihood of their occurring. Microsoft's solution: buy Windows 8 (which has gotten terrible reviews) and Office 2010. Windows XP is about 12 years old. Would any appliance or car manufacturer discontinue producing parts for used cars or appliances in such a short period of time? Would any large corporation proclaim that it is incapable of continuing to support its older products, because it needs to concentrate on supporting newer products?! Of course not! Nonetheless, this hugely profitable corporation (net worth estimate: almost $70. billion) says it does not have the ability or wherewithal to continue to support its products. Computers are no longer luxury items. In fact, Microsoft was one of the companies that helped to make PCs first ubiquitous and then indispensable. However, not everyone needs the latest model or many of the additional features of newer versions, and spending hundreds of dollars on new models that are unnecessary can be really a blow to many people. I urge Microsoft to reconsider, and allow those of us who happily utilize this excellent product to continue doing so, without threats of risk, or actual risk, just to add to its profits.

Vladimir Spivakov, a leading Russian conductor, has signed a public letter pledging a full support to President Putin’s aggression toward Ukraine. Now Spivakov is coming on tour to the US and Canada. We do not welcome Spivakov here!

Keystone Progress has learned that a backroom deal by Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey may result in President Obama appointing a Tea Party lawyer to serve as judge on the Western Pennsylvania District Court in Pittsburgh. The nomination of David J. Porter is working its way to the White House as part of a deal between Pennsylvania’s two United States Senators. Senators Casey and Toomey are expected to jointly present Porter to President Obama any day now as part of a deal that will allow Casey to nominate people for 3 other vacancies. Insiders say Toomey and the Republican Party are willing to make any deals necessary to get Porter on the bench. He represents the type of jurist the GOP hopes to place on the bench across the country. Porter is not just a lawyer with a right-wing point of view. He is a right wing activist and leader in anti-choice, anti-marriage equality, pro-gun movements in Pennsylvania. He is not just a member of the Republican Party. Porter is well-known in legal circles for being part of the Rick Santorum wing of the Republican Party. In fact, he has served as Santorum’s counsel. See more at: http://keystoneprogressblog.blogspot.com/

I am a victim of this country's corrupt family law system and the so-called "child support" program. I feel my case is somewhat extreme and I am hoping my case will help shed some light on what is being done to non-custodial parents all across the Globe! According to the corrupt family court system, the Non-Custodial parent is presently only good for MONEY! We need to change this NOW!!!!!!

My grandson who is 5 y/o was tongue kissed by his father's family when he was 3 y/o. The police and CPS did not charge anyone with a crime. Family Court Judge Anthony McGinty said noone is allowed to French kiss my grandson anymore. There was no penalty. This is wrong and has to be changed.

ust a few weeks ago, the U.S. Senate considered legislation that would dramatically improve and expand benefits available to veterans and their families. The bill was marked by a number of bipartisan proposals and received overwhelming, unanimous support in early procedural votes. And then, in an effort to please the Tea Party wing of their party, Republicans killed the bill. The bill would have made more veterans eligible for in-state tuition and expanded powerful incentives to place unemployed veterans in good-paying jobs. It sought to expand support for family members caring for wounded veterans and give the VA additional tools to address the backlog that stands between too many veterans and their benefits. The bill would have even allowed the spouses of fallen service members to take advantage of their spouse’s benefits under the GI Bill – a fantastic idea. But politics got in the way, and veterans paid the price. Our petition calls on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to drop the shenanigans and allow the veterans bill back on the floor for a vote. Join us, and let Senator McConnell know we’ve had enough.

The City of Alton has applied for a State grant to improve Gordon Moore Park. The plans include fixing the courts and stands at the Simpson Tennis Center. If repaired, the tennis center is ideal for kids programs, recreational play, school tournaments, and USTA tournaments including the Bud Simpson Open, Alton Open, and Alton Junior Open. It is truly a gem waiting to be restored.

Time changes are very annoying and we the voters should have a choice in whether we want the time change or not.

I want our democracy to work. I want ALL Americans to be able to do their civic duty in voting on every Election Day. Let's free people up to vote and honor Election Day by making it a national holiday. Thanks.

While the loss of flight 370 is tragic, the entire mainstream media has covered absolutely nothing else since it's disappearance. Even when there were no new developements, the mainstream media persisted in speculation and inumerable repititions of information that was already widely known. It is the responsibility of the newsmedia to ensure that viewers are aware of all pertinant and current events. The practice of extended wall to wall coverage of this or any other issues by the mainstream media is a failure to meet their obligation to keep the viewers informed on newsworthy events. The signers of this petition collectively ask, both now and in the future, that media organizations do not engage in the practice of wall to wall coverage and keep people updated on ALL current events.