My friend Warrior, a mother of two young children, is fighting Metastatic Breast Cancer as I am, and she’s almost run out of options. But a drug Bayer makes called Xofigo (Radium 223) could save her life. Please, ask Bayer to grant Warrior “compassionate use” and allow her to take Xofigo. Warrior was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She has tried the chemo drugs that are available to her and undergone extensive radiation, but they have not stopped the cancer from progressing throughout her body. She has even broken her sacrum and been wheelchair bound in an attempt to stop the cancer. But there is one drug Warrior’s oncologist believes provides significant promise to her – Radium 223. It’s made under the brand name Xofigo by Bayer, and has been successful in treating prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone. The drug was approved in July by the FDA, but Warrior can’t access it because it was approved to treat prostate cancer, not breast cancer. This young mother has been fighting cancer for over a decade, and this drug is her last chance. Please, ask Bayer to do the right thing and grant Warrior compassionate use of Xofigo.

I just learned that MoveOn does NOT vet petitions. What is amazing that the right wing has not wholesalely discovered that anyone can join MoveOn, anyone can begin a petition, and that while the guidelines state the petitions are to be consistent with MoveOn goals no one actually checks. However, now that one anti gay marriage petition was successfully posted, the word will spread. If the Koch Bros post a petition, it;'s win-win for them. They get signatures or they get MoveOn members to drop their membership because they will think MoveOn has lost its way. Recall what Steven Biel of SignOn.org said "Our goal is to make America live up to our best progressive ideals as a nation. We don't answer to shareholders; we answer to our members -- seven million Americans who share a commitment to making our country better through collective action. We will never, ever, ever give right-wing front groups a channel for co-opting our members' organizing. In short, we take sides, and we're proud of it. We're for economic justice, equality for women and LGBT individuals, ending poverty, racial justice, quality education for all, a clean environment, and peace. Because like Howard Zinn said, you can't be neutral on a moving train."

The bipartisan Strong Start for America's Children Act has now been introduced in Congress. It’s a landmark bill that will expand universal access to high-quality pre-kindergarten services for all 3- and 4-year-olds, especially kids from low-income families. It will also strengthen quality child care for infants and toddlers. Studies show that children from low-income and underserved communities enter kindergarten already behind their classmates in key areas such as oral language and vocabulary skills. We must close the opportunity gap before it starts: early childhood education is a proven way ensure that all students have a fair shot at success in school and in life. Introducing this bill was only the first step. We need House and Senate leadership to see clear momentum right NOW for this must-pass legislation. Tell your members of Congress: endorse and co-sponsor the Strong Start for America's Children Act!

More than 30,000 people are killed by firearms each year in America. Random gun violence and mass shooting at malls, movie theaters and schools have become too common in America and we are becoming numb to many of these events. Victims of Gun Violence Remembrance Day provides us an opportunity to remember and honor these innocent victims. We honor Veterans who give their lives (voluntarily) to protect our freedoms. We need to honor all the innocent victim who lost their lives or have been damaged (involuntarily) due to gun violence or gun accidents.

Just this week in Richardson, Texas (Dallas County), parents and students alike were horrified when they heard Lookadoo was coming to speak at Richardson High. Some parents complained that Lookadoo promotes a "rape culture" where men are aggressive and women are better off keeping quiet. Thanks to twitter, the whole country has its eyes on Lookadoo. Check out the hashtag #lookadouche George West High School is in George West, Texas—Live Oak County (pop. 11,531)

Nature is lame. Plastic toys are better than science and environmental education. That’s the message conveyed by the new Toys “R” Us commercial about the “best field trip” kids could “wish for.” The ad depicts bored, yawning kids on a school bus labeled “Meet the Trees Foundation” as they begin a nature-oriented field trip. The kids are then showered with confetti as they jump for joy at the guide’s announcement that they’re actually taking a trip to Toys “R” Us — where the fun is, according to the ad. Children are already constantly bombarded with commercial messages suggesting that fun and childhood go hand in hand with an endless supply of plastic toys and violent video games. But we can’t recall an ad that so mocked education and nature in order to promote material consumption. The marketing campaign not only focuses children in the wrong direction, it burdens parents by undermining their efforts to make their children enthusiastic about school activities. The commercial is irresponsible and contrary to American values.

To people who have allergies to mammals who may need service animals, this could be a huge breakthrough for them. It is very uncommon for someone to be allergic to a reptile, and when a service animal is needed for someone with a stress disorder who is allergic to most mammals, a reptile could be perfect for them. This can also help people with epilepsy, because snakes can detect seizures. Due to being cold blooded, they can sense the change in body temperature that happens before a seizure. Please help us spread the word that reptiles can be just as helpful and sometimes even more so than our mammalian friends.

The closing of Janesville Acoustics is going to eliminate 290 jobs in the city of Norwalk. Janesville's parent company Jason Inc., claims that GM has asked them to relocate to be closer to its customers and to grow their business. Help us demand that our local, state and federal representatives step in to try to save the livelihood of 290 Ohio families. Sign this petition to support American families keep their American jobs.

County Commissioner Lawrence Romero introduced a 20-week abortion ban to the county commission and in mid-December they could vote to pass it. Even though the county does not have any clinics performing these services, politicians like Romero are pushing this law to let politicians tell women how to make personal medical decisions.

The Illinois State Board of Education is considering adoption of new, high quality science standards that include climate science. Unfortunately, a network of vocal activists is determined to stop our kids and grandkids from learning the facts about climate change. The Board of Education is expected to vote on the Next Generation Science Standards, including climate science, during their meeting in January. It’s important that they hear from parents, grandparents and science supporters right away to make sure Illinois students gain the foundation in 21st century science that they deserve. At a time when climate-related catastrophes are occurring with greater frequency and intensity — from Typhoon Haiyan to extreme heat, drought and flooding in Illinois — it’s more important than ever for Illinois students to gain a strong understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change. This will better position them to understand and even identify the solutions we need. Let’s send the State Board of Education a strong message that we want our kids to have access to the best possible science education to help them address the challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their lives. Your voice on behalf of all of our students matters, please send a comment!

.If the fuel rods at Fukushima catch fire, Japan and the American West Coast will require evacuation. That will only be the start of our misery.

As ASL interpreters serving the deaf community, we see every day how fatigue hurts interpreting accuracy. Accurate, high-quality interpreting is critically important -- and it can sometimes make a life-or-death difference. No one wants an overworked, injured or tired interpreter for an important call. But driven by desire for higher profit margins, our corporate employers are imposing higher and higher productivity demands on ASL video interpreters -- harming both our health and the quality of service we can give consumers. In response, those of us who work at four Purple Communications call centers formed a union and are now fighting for our first contract. Please join us in our efforts to set new standards to make the VRS industry safe and effective -- for interpreters and for the people we serve.