As a law enforcement officer, it is your duty to observe license plates, check their registration status through the secretary of state database, and make sure vehicles on the roadway are not stolen. As a citizen, it is your duty to observe the license plates of vehicles involved in crimes and report the crimes as well as your observations to local authorities. The Mackinac Bridge Michigan license plates are far too difficult to see, often requiring the observer to be only 10-20 feet away, they should be removed from the roadways immediately.

There are better ways to strengthen Social Security and none require cuts. Do not hurt seniors by tying Social Security Cost of Living to a chained CPI.

Because we love him. But we care to much to let him leave

We have all been personally affected by the recent crime on campus, and serious change needs to happen to make us feel safe again. "As a result of increased crime, I recognize the immediate need for additional police presence on the University of Minnesota campus and the surrounding neighborhoods."

SCE seeks to construct a new Moorpark-Newbury 66 kV sub-transmission line in a right-of-way (ROW) that has served for decades exclusively as a 220 kV transmission corridor (providing power from Ormond Beach to the Moorpark substation). An existing Moorpark-Newbury 66 kV sub-transmission line runs parallel to it through a 2-mile wide green belt, approximately 1800 feet to the west. We are writing to protest this plan and request that any enhancement of the Moorpark-Newbury line be contained within the existing sub-transmission corridor. This may entail some additional expense to enhance the east-west run from the substation. However, it is reasonable and prudent in order to keep the potential hazards and burden of the new sub-transmission lines from compounding the burden already born by homeowners adjacent the existing 220 kV facilities. SCE admits it has studied no alternative site. Background: The ROW in question abuts the residentially zoned communities of Santa Rosa Valley and Moorpark (to its east). It also forms the eastern boundary of a 2-mile wide swath of Open Space (O-S) and Agricultural (A-E) zoning. (The existing 66 kV ROW lies entirely within this swath.) Discussion: The proposed project addresses no immediate need, but rather an anticipated possible future overload of the existing 66 kV line. According to SCE, the existing line has never lost power. Even in the “worst case” scenario projected by SCE (i.e., heat storm peak loading), “de-energized distribution” is admittedly a mere possibility. Further, this “need” assessment was made in 2005, based on the 2003-04 housing boom and prior to our dire economic crisis. It also predated the explosion of private solar electrical systems. Reassessment may reveal that projected growth and “need” have not occurred. Thus, at best, this is a preventative, possibly unnecessary, “rainy day” measure. The project is not entitled to Exemption G status. Constructing a sub-transmission power line facility in the shadow of a 220 kV transmission line creates hazards (see below) not contemplated in the granting of exemption under Section III.B.1. Rather, for public and environmental protection, this proposal should undergo the scrutiny required for permits under General Order 131-D, Section III.B. Several environmental concerns mitigate in favor of relocating the project to the existing 66 kV easement approximately 1800 feet west of the proposed site: 1. Brush Fire Hazard The easement traverses an extremely fire sensitive rural residential region. As evidence by last week’s wind-driven Porter Ranch fire, it is long past time to get serious about this hazard and its proximity to populated areas. Each year, our annual “red flag” wind season downs power lines, some of which ignite brush fires. Last year, the season began in September and did not relent until late-Spring 2008, with winds sometimes gusting at near-hurricane force. As reported in the LA Times, 10/18/08, Section A, page 20, electrical lines ignited four of the State’s 20 worst fires. The loss of life and property attributable to electrically ignited brush fires is staggering. The proposed project moves this ignition point 40 feet nearer to populated residential areas; whereas enhancing the existing Moorpark-Newbury-Pharmacy would bury it deep within the buffer of the 2-mile wide green belt. 2. Earthquake Hazard SCE has explained that, because earthquakes are considered “unpredictable,” it has no earthquake structural fortification requirements. SCE proposes to erect new TSPs in Section 2 of the project right on top of the Simi-Santa Rosa fault line. It is a very active fault line. The 220 kV towers have withstood numerous earthquakes. On one occasion, the force caused the 220 kV lines to slap together, creating sparks. Given their proposed proximity, the new TSPs could topple into the 220 kV wires, or perhaps worse, onto our homes and properties. 3. Compound EMF Exposure Another potential hazard is EMF exposure. While acknowledging its inability to verify a relationship between EMFs and negative health consequences, the CPUC affirmed its cautious policy of prudent avoidance of EMF exposure (D.06-01-042). In doing so, it implicitly acknowledged the existence of scientific evidence correlating illness with EMF exposure. Prudence mitigates in favor of locating the new 66 kV lines in the existing sub-transmission line deep within the green belt. This would avoid compounding EMF exposure at the 220 kV line, which flanks so many residential properties. 4. Other Environmental Concerns The ancient native chaparral that blankets our hilltop to the east of the 150’ tower is sensitive habitat for several endangered species of birds as well as native plants. By locating the new TSP within the 100’ buffer that currently separates the towers from our property lines, SCE will create a brush clearing burden over our hillside, jeopardizing this important habitat. (This is probably true of any number of neighboring properties along the easement.) Additionally, the new TSP at the dead-end of Presilla Road will require the removal of a “Heritage Tree” (protected by the Ventura County Tree Protection Ordinance). This tree has a 12-½ foot trunk girth and is approximately 80 feet tall. This tree also visually softens the “industrial” impact of the existing transmission facilities. While it does not hide the towers, its position in the foreground serves as visual mitigation for all who travel Presilla Road. There may be a number of such protected trees doomed by this proposal. Pubic Hearing: A public hearing may not be necessary if the CPUC honors this request for relocation of the project to the existing 66 kV easement within the green belt. In the event this request is denied, we hereby lodge our protest to the project, request an evidentiary hearing and an Environmental Impact Report, as well as compliance with the permit process of General Order 131-D, Section III.B.

In our primarily capitalist economy, businesses will not be able to control themselves as long as competitors are rewarded for Thanksgiving Day sales. As well, consumers who are enticed by deals will be unable to control themselves because any "protest" would simply reward other shoppers who will get the best deals that the protesters won't. The solution to Black Friday bloodying Thanksgiving Thursday is government. State governments have the power to levy sales taxes on retail transactions, and if each state's legislature and governor passes a law levying a special Thanksgiving Day sales tax of no less than 35% on non-grocery retail sales transactions, businesses that have succumbed to the temptation to open on Thanksgiving Day - which ruin holiday traditions of not only their customers but also those of their employees and their families - will find that the profit incentive will have been eliminated by the sales tax. The encroachment of Black Friday will be stopped, and our national holiday traditions will be restored. Sign this petition to add your name to those who wish to #SaveThanksgiving. Let our leaders across the nation see that it is up to them to salvage our heritage.

As a health care consultant and Move On member I am desperate for the President to take the offensive in explaining the many critical benefits of the ACA. The President needs to stop apologizing and conduct regular press conferences to correct misinformation, contrast the ACA with the dismal status quo healthcare system, and give real life examples of the hundreds of thousands of individuals benefiting already. We need him to help us fight for non discriminatory healthcare for all Americans!

First off, the following 8 steps are suggested by Paul Stamets as a viable solution to diffusing, containing, & securing the radioactive elements of the disaster: 1. Evacuate the region around the reactors. 2. Establish a high-level, diversified remediation team including foresters, mycologists, nuclear and radiation experts, government officials, and citizens. 3. Establish a fenced off Nuclear Forest Recovery Zone. 4. Chip the wood debris from the destroyed buildings and trees and spread throughout areas suffering from high levels of radioactive contamination. 5. Mulch the landscape with the chipped wood debris to a minimum depth of 12-24 inches. 6. Plant native deciduous and conifer trees, along with hyper-accumulating mycorrhizal mushrooms, particularly Gomphidius glutinosus, Craterellus tubaeformis, and Laccaria amethystina (all native to pines). G. glutinosus has been reported to absorb – via the mycelium – and concentrate radioactive Cesium 137 more than 10,000-fold over ambient background levels. Many other mycorrhizal mushroom species also hyper-accumulate. 7. Wait until mushrooms form and then harvest them under Radioactive HAZMAT protocols. 8. Continuously remove the mushrooms, which have now concentrated the radioactivity, particularly Cesium 137, to an incinerator. Burning the mushroom will result in radioactive ash. This ash can be further refined and the resulting concentrates vitrified (placed into glass) or stored using other state-of-the-art storage technologies. By sampling other mushroom-forming fungi for their selective ability to hyper-accumulate radioactivity, we can learn a great deal while helping the ecosystem recover. Not only will some mushroom species hyper-accumulate radioactive compounds, but research has also shown that some mycorrhizal fungi bind and sequester radioactive elements so they remain immobilized for extended periods of time. Surprisingly, we learned from the Chernobyl disaster that many species of melanin-producing fungi have their growth stimulated by radiation. The knowledge gained through this collaborative process would not only benefit the areas affected by the current crisis, but would also help with preparedness and future remediation responses. SOURCE: http://punkrockpermaculture.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/paul-stamets-on-radiation-contamination-around-fukushima/

I am starting this petition as a concerned mother and citizen. I have a small child and currently live in a rural county with no animal control. This is a danger not only to my child, but to everyone living in this county. It is time for this to change.

My son David attends Bessie Carmichael K-8 school at the K-5 campus and participates in the after school programs there. When I went to pick him up in the evening a few days after Daylight Savings ended (November 3, 2013) I was surprised to see how dark the playground was. When I asked a program staffer if anyone had asked the school's custodial staff to update the timer on the playground lights I was informed that the floodlights that are supposed to illuminate the playground were not working and that Principal had submitted a work order in September for their repair. So far the District has not sent out Maintenance staff to fix them. This represents a serious safety hazard for children and school day/after school staff alike and must be remedied immediately.

Philosophically, it makes no sense for political parties to boss political primaries. But the objection is not just philosophical, it is pragmatic: DC usually backs the wrong candidate. Here in Montana, our state party rules ban intervention in primaries. We let the voters decide and it is a smart policy. But the Washington, DC based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is trying to boss our 2014 senate nomination. The Senate Majority Leader even tried to prevent voters from even having a choice. Adding insult to injury, new Public Policy Polling results show the candidate the DSCC is backing has *worse* poll numbers for the general election, in a race that could decide control of the US senate. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't rock the boat. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't mention "single-payer" and talk about health care as a fundamental right. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't mention "Snowden" and talk about the need to restore the Fourth Amendment. Washington, DC wants somebody who will follow orders, not fight to fix the filibuster. Montana voters deserve a choice. And Montana Democrats should be the only ones deciding who will represent us in the November general election.

As torture survivors flee for their lives, most of them carry the heavy weight of multiple and cumulative traumas in addition to the on-going traumatic experiences that can be associated with being a refugee. Receiving asylum in the United States can be a lifeline to safety and provide a path to healing. However, when asylum seekers arrive at a U.S. border or port of entry, they are frequently shocked at the treatment they endure upon reaching a perceived destination of safety and protection, as they are arrested, shackled, and confined. Due to the long-term impacts of torture and trauma, the fact of being detained at all is often retraumatizing for survivors of torture. Further, particular elements inherent in the detention experience—including a profound sense of powerlessness and loss of control—may recapitulate the torture experience. Beyond this, the indefinite nature of immigration detention is a blanket over it all, contributing to severe, chronic emotional distress. In less than three years – from October 2010 to February 2013 – the United States detained an estimated 6,000 survivors of torture as they were seeking asylum protection. Given the extreme hardship, particularly in light of less expensive and more humane alternatives, survivors of torture should not be detained. Once detained most asylum seekers do not have access to legal information and representation. Only 14% of the asylum seekers in immigration detention have access to the legal orientation program (LOP) or some form of legal assistance. Most of the asylum seekers including torture survivors forced to represent themselves and some lose their legal battle and deported to the country where they were tortured or persecuted. There are important steps that the Department of Justice can take to mitigate the harmful impact of detention on survivors of torture and improve the immigration detention system overall, including: • Expand the Legal Orientation Program to serve all detention facilities used by ICE and guarantee that all immigrants in detention receive a legal orientation Program as soon as possible; and • Establish systems for government-funded counsel for survivors of torture and other particularly vulnerable immigrants in detention. Please sign this petition and help torture survivors in detention facilities.