There has been a personal attack on 2 of the best tennis players in WTA history. Coach Shamil Tarpischev's attacks on Serena and Venus Williams were not only sexist, but racist also!!!

Our most recent petition campaign was successful in supporting Abdel Rahman to attain a Blue Card from UNHCR-Egypt on September the 2nd of this year, after over a decade of life-threatening racial, ethnic, economic and religious persecution in the inhospitable host state of Egypt. [1] I have lived, studied, and worked in Egypt for over a year in 2007-2008, and 2010, specifically focusing on community-based self-education efforts in African refugee communities. This is how I met Abdel Rahman, as he was the director of the El-Wafaa Refugee Culture Center, a non-political, non-tribal, non-religious community education organization in Ain Shams, Cairo. More than anything, this is a plea for the physical safety of a respected community leader, who has shown a remarkable contribution to international research, and education initiatives. For example, after 40 years of isolation, Abdel Rahman brought the American University of Cairo to the impoverished Cairo suburb of Ain Shams, to facilitate English courses for refugees and asylum seekers from Africa living in Egypt. Abdel Rahman belongs to the Zaghawa ethnic group in Darfur, one of the three major indigenous groups subjected to systematic genocide by the Sudan-government backed Janjaweed militias in Darfur from 2003 up to the present. Due to this ongoing strife, Abdel Rahman became a refugee, and continues to seek resettlement out of Egypt, where he has also lived through life-threatening forms of social and institutional persecution. Abdel Rahman is originally from Darfur, and has been living in Cairo, Egypt for over a decade, suffering the agonies of life as an African refugee. On Sunday March 23rd, Abdel Rahman was brutally assaulted at night in Cairo, and represents the countless many who face such challenges on a daily basis. (We have a translated police report proving the details of the incident, for any interested in following up.) He then successfully reopened his file with the UNHCR-Cairo office, and now seeks immediate relocation out of Egypt. [2] In 1951, Egypt made reservations to refugee rights chartered by the UNHCR Refugee Convention, also known as the Geneva Convention, effectively disallowing refugees the right to access public relief and humanitarian assistance. Most of Egypt's refugees are hopelessly unemployed, and in dire need of educational, and professional opportunities, especially those further marginalized by race, ethnicity, and religion, as is the case with African refugees in Cairo, Egypt. Most refugees in Cairo are suffering from third-rate medical care. In many cases refugee patients have received false medication, leading to further complications. Egypt, as elsewhere in Africa, is known by its diversion of humanitarian aid for the interest of its own poor rural citizens. Refugees in Egypt live in perilous situations, often with specific needs that can not be addressed in the country where they have sought protection. Meanwhile, resettlement countries such as the UK, the U.S., and Canada pledge to provide legal and physical protection, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals, effectively allowing refugees to become naturalized citizens. [1] http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/unhcr-egypt-reopen-emergency?source=c.em.mt&r_by=8673541 [2] http://www.nationofchange.org/refugee-rights-egypt-cairo-s-african-refugee-demonstrators-call-peace-and-civil-rights-syria-sudan-a

I've recently been rejected three times by the Veterans Administration (VA) for restorative work on my rotted teeth and jaw. I believe that I am qualified for such care under the law already in existence, but the VA disagrees. In addition to me, there are probably up to 8.6 million veterans in the VA Healthcare System who are receiving no dental care whatsoever, and the very rare few (perhaps up to 5 percent) who are receiving very substandard dental care. This needs to end, and veterans and those who agree with this petition need to sign it and pass it on.

U.S. negotiators are facing a November 24 deadline to try to conclude a comprehensive agreement with Iran on constraining its nuclear program. The New York Times recently reported [1] that the White House has decided to try to avoid in the near future a Congressional vote on any agreement reached with Iran, using the President’s power – granted by Congress – to suspend U.S. sanctions on Iran, rather than seeking legislation to repeal them. The U.S. Treasury Department has concluded that President Obama has the legal authority to suspend the vast majority of U.S. sanctions on Iran without seeking a vote by Congress. But some Members of Congress, like Republican Senator Mark Kirk and Republican Senator John Cornyn, want to derail President Obama’s efforts to achieve a diplomatic agreement. [2] President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry will have a brief window of opportunity after the U.S. election in November to negotiate an agreement – a window of opportunity that may not come again. [3] When President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry negotiated the interim nuclear deal with Iran, Senator Warren [4] and Senator Sanders [5] were early supporters. Former Secretary of State Clinton attacked the deal through surrogates [6], only finally embracing the deal [7] when opponents of the deal were about to concede. [8] If key Democratic leaders don’t support President Obama’s diplomacy, an agreement with Iran will be much less likely. Urge these three key Democratic leaders to support President Obama’s diplomacy with Iran by signing our petition. References: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1567

The primary purpose of assessment in our public schools should be to improve teaching and learning. However, the high-stakes tests mandated in Massachusetts offer little benefit for students. High-stakes testing stifles innovation, narrows the curriculum, and hinders students from developing advanced thinking and problem-solving skills. Even US Education Secretary Arne Duncan admits that “testing issues today are sucking the oxygen out of the room in a lot of schools.”

"Mr. James Caplan discovered and has made a significant contribution in researching and applying medical ozone/oxygen for the treatment of sickle cell anemia patients. It is unconscionable that this inexpensive, proven treatment has been ignored for so long by the medical establishment, in this country. This treatment relieves patients of excruciating pain that they suffer many times during the year, every year of their lives. The time for action is NOW!!!"

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United, the way elections are decided has been completely altered This decision by the Supreme Court has opened the floodgates to allow Super PACs and special interest groups, run by the likes of the Koch brothers and Karl Rove, to spend millions of dollars to influence elections. To make matters worse, we can never be completely sure of their true motives or where their money comes from. Despite this, they spend enough money to put their interest front and center while middle class families in Arkansas – those who don’t have a million dollars to spend on campaigns – get drowned out. Arkansas has seen unprecedented amount of special interest money being poured into its elections this year and it will only increase over the next fourteen days. While we cannot reverse what has already been done, we can lessen the impact of big money in future elections. I know that we can take back control of our democracy, but we must come together and take action.

I believe that water is a human right, and we need to protect it. This bill would allow NJ municipalities to sell their publicly owned water utility WITHOUT public input. To protest this, a petition with 15% of the voters' signatures would need to be filed with the municipal clerk within 20 days of notice of the sale! This bill denies our rights as citizens a say in OUR water, and a choice in the sale. This bill also will result in higher costs for ratepayers as it requires the public owner to submit sensitive information to the private bidders. This bill does not support us, but instead supports private companies in more easily purchasing and profiting off of people's basic needs, water.

The building will invade privacy by allowing views into neighboring homes, will block views, and the now discreet campus will become an industrial feeling business building. A building of this scale does not belong in our residential community and goes against the original Terra Linda Master Plan of neighborhood schools!

I would like Rails and Trails running between Remsen Lake Placid corridor so people that like trails can have trail runs, walk and bike on and those people like me would like to have upgraded and have ski trains in the winter time and etc. There is no reason why we can't have both rails and trails because we can.

Teresa Giudice was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison for a white collar crime. I say she can serve her time under house arrest so her four little girls can stay with their mother.

Because the skinny jeans were amazing