Everyone could be affected by the potential for death and destruction the current crisis in the Middle East portends. The US has an opportunity to respond to an outrageous act by a crazed despot in a way that does not continue the madness, the killing of one another.

On the evening of August 29, at approximately 6:15 pm, I brought my 12 week old miniature schnauzer, Kobe to Banfield Pet Hospital at 3780 Riverchase Village, Hoover, AL 35244 because we noticed labored breathing of Kobe. At home, around 4 pm, Kobe appeared to be in distress and exhibited labored breathing. We rushed him to the facility per the request one of the staff members who answered the phone. Upon arrival, we advised the staff of Kobe’s condition, they immediately took him in for examination, but before they would render any service, they wanted to know how we would be paying; it appeared that their main concern was the method of payment we were using versus Kobe’s well-being. We were told that Kobe’s condition appeared to be from trauma, which we knew was inaccurate, as Kobe had not experienced any type of trauma. Kobe was a "house dog" who we took extra special care of. On the day prior, August 28, Kobe came into Banfield for his scheduled immunization and well-puppy check-up. During the emergency visit on August 29th, the vet constantly asked, did anything happen after the shots? She asked numerous of times throughout the visit about the shots, this raised red flags for me eventually. I had to wonder was she asking because they were aware that something happened during his immunizations. When the hour approached 7 p.m., we were advised that the facility was closing, therefore, their work was done and we needed to take Kobe to a local emergency animal hospital 10 miles down the street. Kobe was barely breathing when we were sent away. He was gasping for air. While we were rushing out of the facility, with the hopes that Kobe’s life could be saved, we were approached and informed by the billing account manager that she forgot to charge us for blood work, after we had already paid over $600...I had my puppy in my arms dying, while being harassed for more money. How insensitive! My only concern was getting Kobe to the emergency hospital. She advised me that she would send my account to collection on the same day for the additional $126 if I didn’t pay immediately….they were full aware that Kobe was in grave condition, but the only concern for Banfield’s staff was the money. I told her to do what she needed to do because I was rushing Kobe to the hospital in hopes of saving his life. The vet and facility manager alerted the Animal Hospital that we were on the way there. The facility manager of Banfield then asked me how I planned on paying for the services at the animal hospital because it would run in the tune of a couple of thousands of dollars. She then offered me a credit care application, because of her assumptions that we could not pay for the services, she then alerted the animal hospital that we would applying for credit (again based on her assumptions). We finally arrived at the animal hospital were Kobe was immediately placed on oxygen and administered meds. We were approached as to how we would be paying for his care because it appears that Banfield relayed that we would need credit to pay for continued care. It was speculated that Kobe was more than likely over-immunized or had some type birth defect. If it were the latter, it should have been detected by Banfield during his prior visits; especially since he was seen less than 24 hours prior was his check-up. Kobe’s condition worsened in minutes…he was in so much distress that the vet suggested that we should opt to euthanize Kobe. We experienced the worse nightmare and watched Kobe take his last breath. We were told that he suffered from epistaxis, pulmonary edema, labored breathing and respiratory distress. It is puzzling to me how a very healthy 12 week old puppy, who was examined and immunized less than 24 hours prior is now deceased. I am completely stunned and outraged as to the way my family and I were treated in a crisis. Kobe did not deserve to die. Neither the staff nor the vets at Banfield showed any compassion; their one and only concern was money. I contacted the store on the following day and spoke to a staff member to settle the final bill of $126 and was advised that the billing account manager had already sent my account to collections in less than 10 hours. This was unbelievable! I did, however fulfill my final financial obligation with Banfield. I asked to speak to the store manager and was advised that she was off for the next couple of days. I finally was able to reach the store manager two days later to advise her as to what happened. Although she was very apologetic, this didn’t rectify why Kobe died literally in the hands of Banfield’s neglectful staff and why I was so grossly mistreated. I understand that everyone may not be “pet lovers”, but if you are in the business of caring for pets, you should be. Kobe was “my child,” I am suffering a tremendous loss. My 11 year old daughter and I had to watch Kobe die and no one cared. There are several things that need to happen with this practice: Immunizations needs to be looked into further; especially when dealing with an infant puppy, an investigation should be rendered as to how many puppies have died or experienced anaphylaxis or other problems because of immunization and staff needs to be more compassionate, along with many other complaints. Looking back on the day of the vaccinations, I noticed Kobe being very lethargic, whimpering and a presence of diarrhea; however, I attributed this to a normal reaction from immunizations and was also advised the day prior by the vet that he would more than likely be very sleepy. There have been numerous of complaints and lawsuits lodged against Banfield for its neglect, incompetencies and unethical behavior. Over the past several years, a number of veterinarians have complained that Banfield is extremely low quality and profit driven. Numerous of complaints were lodged against Banfield including the promotion of over-vaccination of pets. In 2010, a former V...

Why PA Should Implement Online Voter Registration: • Streamlining voter registration just makes sense: SB 37 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that will lower administrative costs for state and county election offices. It will speed up processing of voter registrations and ensure greater accuracy of poll books, helping prevent voter registration errors, irregularities, and fraud. • It benefits county election boards & individual voters: Online registration makes it easier for citizens to change their registration address when they move, conveniently keeping voter rolls up-to-date with county election offices and the state. It saves counties money over time because it streamlines the voter verification process. • PA voters deserve the same convenience that voters in 16 other states now have: Online registration has been enacted and implemented by 16 other states, including South Carolina, Kansas, and Colorado. In Arizona – one of the first states to enact online registration – 70% of all new and updated registrations are done online.

The home loan interest rate is the most important to families. Keeping it low and constant will provide afforability, comfort and future home owners able to make the payments. Keeping home interest rates below 3% will give families more cash to spend and improve the economy.

"If you continue to do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always gotten"...and in the case the HIV epidemic is rising in the South. The gaps in care, testing, linkage to care, and retention services must be addressed to reduce the rising new rates of infection.

This petition is about trying to protect my Family (immediate and global) from the most immediate threat to their security - namely, an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction at the Fukushima reactor site in Japan. Whether it helps or not is up to all of us. It might make no difference at all but if we don't at least try to change course, we will most certainly get where we are heading and that is no place I want for my children or anybody else's. Thank you. Your sister in Hope, Joyce Katzberg (Rhode Island, USA)

I have personally experienced this due to having cancer and not being able to be sick and work. So I have had to pay larger deposits and except crappy places to live based upon my credit status all because cancer does not discriminate.

Elected officials neglect the job they were sent to do in order to run for some other office.

This weapon is projected from cellphone towers! The patent holder is Raytheon (#7629918), a military contractor. It's developed by Dr. Jamie Tyler, and Arizona State University! The weapon is used on a "targeted" bases. And it causes cognitive memory loss, induced heart symptoms that may lead to heart attacks, and artery hardening; obstructed breathing rhythm, muscle fatigue, visual problems, joint pains, headaches, impotence, unnatural agitation, and also induced sleepiness; and infused tumors, that may evolve into cancer! All at the active control of a central base ran by government agencies like the counter intelligence division in Tucson, Arizona. They also use agents in Dolce, New Mexico, that sometimes collaborate with the NSA, in computer tapping! The RFDE weapon also allows them to be audibly heard talking to you against your will through the use of sonic, microwave, and low wave radio technology. They often identify themselves as the government and then use racially derogatory, and sexually explicit language! Which gives the weapon a psychological, as well as physical torture aspect!

It's a historic victory that President Obama has agreed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force in Syria. But despite the President's promise that he only intends to conduct "limited strikes," the AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) he sent to the Hill is a blank check for war. It isn't geographically limited to Syria--this president or a future president could use it to strike Iran. It doesn't prohibit the use of U.S. ground troops. It isn't limited in duration. If this AUMF passes, it is likely to remain; the Iraq AUMF has never been repealed. If you oppose a U.S. military strike on Syria, sign the petition. And even if you support only limited strikes, sign the petition, because the Syria AUMF isn't a mandate for limited strikes--it's a blank check for war. [Update 9/4: the authorization introduced by Menendez last night partially addresses three issues: it is time-limited, it is limited to Syria, it speaks against ground troops. However, the time limit is 2-3 months, not 2-3 days as promised earlier, and it only prohibits ground troops in Syria "for the purpose of combat," We've seen in Iraq and Afghanistan that "training" includes U.S. troops embedded in foreign combat forces. The Menendez bill authorizes a longer and broader war - "degrading" Syrian military forces and arming and training Syrian rebels, thus intervening in Syria's civil war to try to change the balance of military forces, despite earlier claims - than the 2-3 days of cruise missile strikes that were marketed to the public.]

Justin Bieber is not a naturalized American Citizen and has abused the generosity of all Americans with his vulgar and most often times illegal behavior. Spitting at Americans, urinating in places other than designated facilities, multiple instances of assault on Americans resulting in injury to U.S. citizens. As citizens of the United States who love and respect out country, we ask our government to have this individual deported back to his own native Canada.

Without a U.N. Mandate, we would be wrong, in firing upon Syria. First, get the U.N. Mandate , secondly, Congressional approval, then proceed from that point. Be absolutely sure, that the Assad administration, used those chemical weapons and not the rebels . Some of those rebels, are not saints either. The Metamorphosis Project, strongly protest , going about it, any other way.