I do not believe that this article [Article 37] as written agrees is within the true spirit of the Federal constitution. I believe belief or non-belief in God (or Gods) should not be a factor in qualifying a person to hold office in the state of Maryland.

THE UNKEPT PROMISE THE STORY: Landmark lawsuits were filed on April 24, 2014 against all nine nuclear weapon states in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and, on the same day, against the United States in U.S. Federal District Court. At the heart of the lawsuits is this: holding these nations accountable for their breach of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), specifically Article VI of the treaty. At no time ever before in U.S. history has the United States been sued in U.S. court for breach of an international treaty. A BRIEF HISTORY: The NPT was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. Article VI obligates signatories to pursue negotiations in good faith for an end to the nuclear arms race at an early date and for nuclear disarmament. The NPT nuclear weapon states (U.S., UK, Russia, France and China) are in violation of their treaty obligations by continuing to modernize their nuclear forces and by failing to negotiate in good faith for nuclear disarmament (44 years since entry into force of the treaty does not meet the definition of at an early date). For the same reasons, the four nuclear weapon states not party to the NPT (Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea) are in violation of customary international law. THE LAWSUIT: The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has filed these lawsuits in the ICJ and in U.S. court. RMI is a small island nation in the Pacific whose people have suffered greatly at the hands of U.S. atmospheric nuclear tests in the 1940s and 1950s. Their filings are a bold form of peaceful, non-violent action aimed at making substantial changes to the status quo on an issue that threatens the security and future of all generations.

It is time to call for an end to the campaign of hate against Obama. Why? Why? Why? Why do they hate this successful President so much? Even when he uses their policies or supports their position they will abandon their own ideas just to continue to hate him; so, what is it that they really hate about him? It is time to face the truth and finally admit that the Republican party has officially become the party of hate towards a man, (our President) because of the color of his skin; and no matter how much they try to deny it… their behavior reveals the truth. Why would almost every Republican Governor deny medical coverage to their poor people who desperately need medical support from a plan based on a Republican Governor’s administration and plan originated by a Republican think tank (the Heritage Foundation)… We all know that just like the nation has had to apologize to its citizens for allowing past transgressions; (Japanese Internment, human syphilis experimentation on African Americans, the Native American trail of tears… etc.)… in the future we will all know that there will be formal apologies to this President from a new generation of American leaders (true Republican leaders). Cut the crap… it is time to stop this outrage right now… and all Americans must stand up to the radical few!

We need to stop the cradle to prison pipeline. Give all kids a chance at meaningful lives. Emphasize prevention of crime.

Hello neighbor! If you live in Strathmore at Appletree point and own your home, I am asking for your support. Some of you I have had the pleasure of speaking with in person, but for those of you I haven't met yet, I'd like to explain why I am asking you to sign our petition to permit residents of Strathmore at Appletree Point to raise hens. Two and a half years ago we embarked on a family adventure. That winter we were buying our Christmas tree at a farm that also sold eggs. Our daughter Sofia (11 at the time) asked if we could raise chickens to have our own eggs. We told her “sure, if you do all the research about it, and agree to take care of them.” Much to our surprise, she did, and Tom (after we checked with our immediate neighbors) found himself building a coop. For two years now we have been enjoying their funny personalities and their delicious eggs. They have become much-loved pets. Several months ago we received notice from the Board that chickens were not allowed at Appletree Point and they would have to go. We knew Burlington allowed residents to raise hens, and we had no idea that the neighborhood rules were any different. Much to our surprise, we discovered Strathmore bylaws, which were drafted more than 20 years ago, prohibit the raising of any number of chickens. We were shocked; our hens are clean and quiet and don’t bother anyone. In fact, most Appletree residents we have spoken with didn’t realize that there have been chickens living amongst them for two years! This rule is sadly outdated. As part of the local food movement, cities and towns across the nation are enacting “hen friendly” legislation. People everywhere are learning about the fun and positive aspects of raising backyard chickens. Help us save our hens, and help change the neighborhood bylaw that will allow us to join this national movement. Therefore, we propose that: Strathmore at Appletree Point’s bylaws be amended to align with the city of Burlington’s current policy regarding the raising of hens. Written approval from each adjacent property owner regarding both existence and placement of the hen’s housing structure (i.e. coop) be required. Animal care will be guided by published “best practice” regulations and education. Hens may not roam free and must be in a secure enclosure allowing up to 10 square feet of space per hen. The hen coop must be screened and not visible from the street. Complaints regarding improper hen raising will be heard by the Board, and will follow the Board’s usual procedure for resolving neighborhood disputes. If you are a resident and own your property, click here to sign the petition: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/petition-to-allow-residents?source=c.em&r_by=11009232 Do you need more information before you decide? Have you heard negative things about chicken raising? Let me address your concerns. Myth 1. Chickens are too noisy. Fact: Laying hens—at their loudest—have about the same decibel level as human conversation (60 to 70 decibels). Hens are so quiet that there have been cases of family flocks being kept for years without the next door neighbors knowing it. Myth 2. Chickens cause waste. Fact: A 40-pound dog generates more solid waste than 10 chickens. To be more specific, one 40-pound dog generates about .75 pounds of poop every day. Ten chickens generate about .66 pounds daily poop. The advantage to chicken poop is that it can be used as valuable, high-nitrogen fertilizer. Unlike dog or cat poop, chicken poop can be combined with yard and leaf waste to create compost. Just as valuable, about 40 percent of the chicken manure is organic matter necessary for building fertile, healthy topsoil. There is one huge advantage to family flocks that is often overlooked during chicken debates. That is their role and value in solid waste management systems. Chickens, as clucking civic workers, are biomass recyclers and can divert tons of organic matter from the trash collection and landfills. Combine their manure with grass clippings, fallen leaves and garden waste, and you create compost. Composting with chicken helpers keeps tons of biomass out of municipal trash collection systems. All this can save big time taxpayer dollars, which is especially valuable in these times of stressed municipal budgets. Myth 3. Chickens attract predators, pests and rodents. Fact: Predators and rodents are already living in urban areas. Wild bird feeders, pet food, gardens, fish ponds, bird baths and trash waiting to be collected all attract raccoons, foxes, rodents and flies. Indeed, chickens are part of the solution to pesky problems. Chickens are voracious carnivores and will seek out and eat just about anything that moves including ticks (think Lyme disease), fleas, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, stink bugs, slugs, and even mice, baby rats and small snakes. Myth 4. Property values will decrease. Fact: There is not one single documented case that we know of about a next door family flock that has decreased the value of real estate. On the contrary, local foods and living green is so fashionable, that some realtors and home sellers are offering a free chicken coop with every sale. An example of this can be found at www.GreenWayNews.com. And the benefits of raising backyard hens? Hens produce affordable fresh, healthy and delicious home-grown eggs, free of pesticides and antibiotics. They produce rich garden fertilizer via chicken waste by-products, which is high in nitrogen, eliminating the need for petrochemical fertilizers. They reduce backyard pest populations, through the consumption of bugs by hens. Hens make great pets, as their behavior is interesting and entertaining. They are people-friendly, quiet, and unaggressive. What about this cold, cold winter we’ve just been through? Although it’s true chickens don’t love the snow, and would rather sit on a little girl’s head than get their feet in it, they are hardy and don’t require muc...

I'm starting this petition on the behalf of my son Allen A. Chambers who I no longer have with me due to insensitive hospital staff . My son went in for outpatient surgery at Sacred Heart Hospital to correct to his sleep apnea. After a successful surgery he was taken to triage to recover where he never woke up again. At the time of death I was notified that Allen came through the surgery fine but in triage the tube was pull out before he was able to catch his breath. After looking at the monitor they realized his breathing was off and tried to reinsert the tube but it was to late. All staff gathered and the surgeon gave his explanation , then followed by the anesthesiologist. I was informed that the problem lay with the triage staff. I was sent an anonymous letter by hospital staff informing me that the tube was pulled before he had time to catch his breath and the lady over that shift has done this several times before with no repercussions. I reside in North Carolina and I have tried numerous times to get an answer and my son's death's certificate that they will not release and no help is being offered. They closed my case and refused to give me any information about it. My son fought in the Army for twenty years, and he served his country well; it is heart breaking knowing that he lost his life at the hands of a cold hearted individual. It hurts me when I see my family and others out with their children and I have nothing but a memory. Allen deserves justice and I deserve an explanation. These senseless hospital murders have to stop!

I'm beyond sick of legislators taking corporate money to keep from doing their jobs. For too long now this has been a major issue in our government. And the problem is getting worse. The supreme court's recent decision to allow corporations to give unlimited amounts of money to lawmakers was absolutely inexcusable.

You read that right. Gov. Scott Walker is trying to use the Hobby Lobby ruling to take birth control away from women. He thinks women shouldn't be guaranteed contraceptive coverage. We can’t stand by and let Gov. Walker use the Supreme Court decision to serve his own personal, anti-choice agenda. It’s up to us to hold the governor accountable for putting bosses’ beliefs ahead of health care that only women need. Sign our petition to Gov. Walker now. Tell him to keep his hands off our birth control.

Imagine praying silently in church, when suddenly strangers rush in and start shouting: "Abomination! You're going to hell!" Last Sunday in New Orleans, a group of anti-abortion protestors called Operation Save America disrupted worship at First Unitarian Universalist Church -- later bragging that they had brought the "truth of the Gospel" to a "Synagogue of Satan." The protestors went on to picket a doctor's home, and hold a mock funeral with a casket they claimed was an aborted fetus. There's no justification for this behavior, no matter how you feel about abortion. Operation Save America -- formerly Operation Rescue -- was hosted in Louisiana by a local Southern Baptist Congregation. If state and national leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention stay silent now, it is a tacit endorsement of these extremist protests.

After finding out about banfield I thought it was a good idea to get the wellness plan for my 2 year old husky who was perfectly fine, probably the healthiest dog in the world. After he got his vaccines, which were for the lepto, rabies, parvo and bordetella, he started feeling weak and lost his appetite a month after that. I took him back to find out what it was and they thought there was something wrong with his stomach, I knew there wasn't anything wrong with his stomach because when you felt up his abdomen he didn't complain or anything but since I'm not an expert I trusted what the doctor said. He gave him antibiotics for an infection, to control diarrhea and throw up which was $300, I didn't mind the cost because I thought I was saving money with the wellness plan plus it was going to my dog who was my best friend. After he was done with the medication he was feeling worse and didn't eat AT ALL, he was loosing weight so fast and didn't have any energy. I took him back and they thought it was either parvo or endocrine disease so I paid for more test which were $500. They told me it was parvo virus so I bought antibiotics for parvo which were $200 and I did my own research of things i could do to fasten the treatment so he could get better. Another month went by and he was worse than ever, he went from being 70 pounds to almost 30, he still tried to run but he barely had any muscle, fat or energy left. I called them to make an appointment because the treatment wasn't working and they told me it was actually leptospirosis. After a month of trying to fight parvo they told me it was another thing. I did more research on it so i could help my dog out and i saw an article about a woman talking about her dog dying because of the vaccines so I started to look more into it. I learnt that a dog should NEVER get more than one shot at a time because animals have different immune systems and that it takes at least one or two months to recover, Bear had 4 on the same day. On the same page I saw a comment about a girl who was a vet tech and worked at banfield but quit because she saw so many dogs overdose and when a dog gets more than 1 shot their immune system can get so low that they actually get the diseases they got vaccinated for. The leptospirosis shot Bear got is supposed to be an independent shot but banfield gave him 3 more shots along with that and made him suffer without helping him. Bear passed away yesterday and I am frustrated i can't do any justice for him because its their policy. I advise anyone that is looking into going to banfield to go to another vet, don't think your saving money because of the wellness plan since it's a year contract I have to finish paying off for my dead dog. I'm not the only person this has happened to, it's not fair for animals to suffer because of this chain that's in it for the money. Please help me do justice for bear.

I worked for five years on gun safety issues. I know first hand that allowing more guns into our community will put our neighbors at risk. Our elected leaders should be writing our laws, not a federal judge in New York.

Here are the facts plain and simple. There are children in crisis. A family does not without conscience send their child through dangerous miles of unspeakable violence to get to America because they feel like it. We are facing a real opportunity to step up and help our actual neighbors. Literally, our neighbors. Even if you decide not to sign this petition, please send word to your representatives that the disgusting behavior of some at the border through their yelling, policing, etc... is unacceptable and we need to support these child refugees in the same way that we supported families after other crises in our history.