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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Ace your next job interview - Aug. 29, 2013

Ace your next job interview - Aug. 29, 2013

Married same-sex couples gain equal tax benefits - Aug. 29, 2013

Two months after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, the Treasury Department on Thursday ruled that legally married same-sex couples will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.


Married same-sex couples gain equal tax benefits - Aug. 29, 2013

Rollback - Toshiba Ice Blue Satellite 14" U945-S4110 Ultrabook PC

August 29, 2013

Rollback! Toshiba Ice Blue Satellite 14" U945-S4110 Ultrabook PC with Intel Core i3-3227U Processor and Windows 8 Operating System - Was $598, Now Only $499 at Walmart.com!

Good through Sept. 10, 2013

2013/08/29 DARPA-funded Atomic Clock Sets Record for Stability

2013/08/29 DARPA-funded Atomic Clock Sets Record for Stability

The Beginner's Guide to Properly Placing GPS Devices

The Beginner's Guide to Properly Placing GPS Devices

International Reaction on Syria Slowed by Doubts in London - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Uncertainty over how to respond to presumed poison gas attacks in Syria has gripped several Western capitals. British Prime Minister David Cameron backed away from his bellicose rhetoric from earlier this week and Chancellor Merkel is attempting to play intermediary.

International Reaction on Syria Slowed by Doubts in London - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Who doesn't have to pay federal income taxes? 43% of Americans - Aug. 29, 2013

A little more than 43% of U.S. households -- or 70 million homes - will end up owing no federal income taxes for 2013.


Who doesn't have to pay federal income taxes? 43% of Americans - Aug. 29, 2013

Steinbrück's 100-Day Plan Has French Accent

Merkel Challenger Unveils Plans for Minimum Wage and Tax Hikes - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Beginning Farmers Cattle Operation Benefits from Initiative for Underserved Farmers


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USDA Blog Post:

Emma and Percy Brown of Vicksburg, Miss., are beginning farmers whose lives have benefited from funding through the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative.
Emma and Percy Brown of Vicksburg, Miss., are beginning farmers whose lives have benefited from funding through the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative.
For over a year, Mississippi retirees Percy and Emma Brown traveled 50 miles roundtrip three times a week from their home in Vicksburg, Miss. to their farm in Port Gibson in order to water their cattle. It was a time consuming process that involved filling up eight barrels with many gallons of water for the growing cattle herd.
That all changed when the Browns, who were new to farming, heard about USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency that helps private landowners implement conservation. They visited the Port Gibson field office and learned that they could receive funding from NRCS for livestock water troughs through the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative.
The Browns were able to install the farm’s first-ever water troughs with StrikeForce funds. The farm now has two water troughs located in separate pastures. That means that the Browns’ days of hauling water are over, and they can now spend that time on other farm projects.
The national StrikeForce initiative addresses high-priority funding and technical assistance needs in rural communities in 16 states, including Mississippi, with a special emphasis on historically underserved producers and communities in designated counties with persistent poverty. The initiative provides an opportunity for NRCS to work with underserved landowners to determine how to best leverage available financial assistance. Beginning farmers like the Browns are considered historically underserved.
Farmer Percy Brown and Patrick Smith, NRCS district conservationist in Port Gibson, Miss., visit about conservation planning on Emma and Percy Brown’s farm.
Farmer Percy Brown and Patrick Smith, NRCS district conservationist in Port Gibson, Miss., visit about conservation planning on Emma and Percy Brown’s farm.
“We just really wanted to get started and we didn’t really know how,” Percy says.
StrikeForce also helped the Browns install conservation practices such as cross fencing, one key to implementing a rotational grazing system which can help reduce the pressures caused by overgrazing. Negative effects of overgrazing include soil compaction, decreased soil organic matter and reduced forage availability for the livestock.
The Browns now have peace of mind knowing their 15 head of cattle will always have drinking water. The water troughs have also freed up more time for the Browns to enjoy their retirement days working on the farm.
Since the Browns installed two water troughs and heavy use pads on their farm from additional EQIP funds through the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative, they are no longer spending hours using a water hose to fill up eight water barrels for their cattle.
Since the Browns installed two water troughs and heavy use pads on their farm from additional EQIP funds through the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative, they are no longer spending hours using a water hose to fill up eight water barrels for their cattle.

Gay Activists in Germany Silent on Alliance with Pedophiles in 1980s - SPIEGEL ONLINE

In the 1980s, gay rights groups in Germany formed an alliance with pedophiles who advocated the legalization of sex with minors. It's a dark period few care to talk about now.

Gay Activists in Germany Silent on Alliance with Pedophiles in 1980s - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Celebrate Labor Day with a MyPlate Picnic


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USDA Blog Post:

Kid-Friendly, Classic American and Foodie Fare MyPlate Picnic Menus
Kid-Friendly, Classic American and Foodie Fare MyPlate Picnic Menus
A picnic is an easy and relaxing holiday activity. USDA’s MyPlate resources can help take the “labor” out of your Labor Day picnic. You can enjoy an easy, healthy meal by following this simple MyPlate formula: 5 food groups + family and friends = fun! When planning your picnic, be sure to include more healthful choices of menu items from each food group (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy) and water or 100% juice to drink.
Fruit
Celebrate the end of summer by enjoying seasonal fruits. You can make an easy (and portable) fruit salad by dicing up fresh fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, plums, kiwi, and strawberries. If you choose to include apples, bananas, or pears, just add a splash of citrus (like orange juice) to prevent browning. And if you’re feeling more adventurous, try this refreshing MyPlate watermelon gazpacho recipe. You can bring it in a lidded container, or divide into jars for individual portions.
Vegetables
When it comes to vegetables, there are many fun ways to include them in your picnic. You could simply chop up veggies like carrots, celery, and cucumber to serve with hummus or lowfat yogurt dip. Or make an easy bean dish like garden cannellini bean salad or crispy edamame. For kids, try fun snacks that include veggies like ants on a log. Just spread celery stalks with reduced-fat peanut butter and sprinkle with raisins.
Grains
There are many easy grain choices for your MyPlate picnic. Make sandwiches on whole wheat bread, in a whole wheat pita, or a whole grain wrap. You could also bring along whole grain crackers or make your own snack mix. For example, mix salt-free pretzels with whole grain cereal and nuts and then add some seasoning like a dash of chili powder for a savory snack mix or cinnamon sugar for sweet!
Protein Foods
Sandwiches are a great way to pack your protein foods to-go. Sandwiches like tuna apple salad or chicken-arugula focaccia can be packed in baggies or individually wrapped in parchment. You could even tie them up with string and add name tags for each person if you’re feeling creative. If you won’t be eating your picnic right away, bring peanut butter to spread on whole wheat crackers, celery sticks, or apple slices. Or make your own peanut butter and banana sandwiches when you get to your picnic spot!
Dairy
When packing dairy for a picnic, be sure to include an ice pack or frozen water bottles to keep low-fat milk and yogurt products cool. Try a red, white, and blue parfait made with low-fat yogurt, fresh strawberries and blueberries. Or low-fat cheese cubes go great with crackers, apple or pear slices, and sliced veggies.
Beverages
For a healthy and refreshing beverage choice, bring water and add flavor with fruit, such as lemon, lime, or orange wedges or herbs from the garden like mint or basil. Juice boxes that are 100% fruit juice are another good choice and are easy to pack in your picnic basket.
Family, Friends & Fun
There’s one more thing you’ll need to make your MyPlate picnic complete. Don’t forget to pack the fun! Balance your meal and snacks with lots of activity. Bring along a game like horseshoes or charades, or pack a Frisbee or football, or just bring your sneakers to go for a nature walk with family and friends.
This Labor Day, give our sample MyPlate picnic menus a try. We have something for everyone whether you’re looking for kid-friendly, classic American, or foodie fare. Or you can design your own. For more recipes and ideas visit the MyPlate Recipes Pinterest page or ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Germany Shies from Taking Active Global Role - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Opinion:

The world admires Germany and would like to see more active engagement from the country. But Germans themselves are reluctant and Chancellor Merkel has steered clear of taking on more global responsibility. Berlin should rethink its role in the world.

Germany Shies from Taking Active Global Role - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Male Menopause Myth: Testosterone Gels Over Prescribed - SPIEGEL ONLINE

A supposed epidemic of male menopause is upon us -- but in reality, this is a prime example of how pharmaceutical companies create and exploit new markets. Treatments such as testosterone gels could be doing more harm than good.

Male Menopause Myth: Testosterone Gels Over Prescribed - SPIEGEL ONLINE

The Oxford (B-school) blues - Aug. 29, 2013

Harvard had Jeff Immelt, Jamie Dimon, and Sheryl Sandberg. Stanford's business school had Vinod Khosla and Phil Knight. And the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School had ... Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who graduated in 2010.


The Oxford (B-school) blues - Aug. 29, 2013

Schurman Retail Group: Crafting a real paper success - Aug. 29, 2013

When Marcel Schurman, now 87, left his home in Switzerland to work in London after World War II, he had no idea he would meet a beautiful Jewish refugee from Germany named Margrit, now 88. The two fell in love, and when she decided to emigrate to the U.S., he followed, and they got married. Soon after, working out of their Berkeley apartment, they started a small business importing art cards from Europe. Today the Schurman Retail Group owns Papyrus, Carlton Cards, Paper Thread, and the retail stores of American Greetings, making $200 million in sales in 2012. Their story:


Schurman Retail Group: Crafting a real paper success - Aug. 29, 2013

Married, with Startups - Aug. 29, 2013

Married, with Startups - Aug. 29, 2013

Last Group of Ethiopian Jews Repatriated to Israel - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Some 450 Jews from Ethiopia landed in Israel on Wednesday, the last arrivals in a program to relocate the community to the Holy Land. The campaign, which lasted for nearly thirty years, has been plagued by controversy.

Last Group of Ethiopian Jews Repatriated to Israel - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Israel joins the Mideast's energy riches - Aug. 29, 2013

"Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses," Golda Meir, Israel's fourth Prime Minister, told a banquet in 1973. "He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil." And it's true: In a region flush with crude, Israel has always been an energy importer.


Israel joins the Mideast's energy riches - Aug. 29, 2013

India oil play eases currency pain - Aug. 29, 2013

India oil play eases currency pain - Aug. 29, 2013

ECB to Introduce Women Quota in Top Management Positions - SPIEGEL ONLINE

The European Central Bank has announced plans to introduce gender quotas for top levels of management. It's a much needed move, and one that could have a wider effect on the banking industry as a whole.

ECB to Introduce Women Quota in Top Management Positions - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Big banks paying U.S. for mortgage mess - Aug. 29, 2013

Regulators at the Federal Housing Finance Agency are on the verge of scoring some of the government's biggest victories against Wall Street banks since the financial crisis.


Big banks paying U.S. for mortgage mess - Aug. 29, 2013

Wave of fast food strikes hits 50 cities - Aug. 29, 2013

Fast food workers in 50 cities across the U.S. are walking off the job Thursday as they protest for higher wages.


Wave of fast food strikes hits 50 cities - Aug. 29, 2013

Pensioners Find Happiness By Moving Into Shared Apartment - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Getting old often means getting lonely. Five pensioners from Hamburg tried to improve their lives by moving into a shared apartment. SPIEGEL journalist Barbara Hardinghaus, seeking options for her own parents, explored how they fared. She found that old age and happiness can go together.

Pensioners Find Happiness By Moving Into Shared Apartment - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

San Bernardino bankruptcy gets green light - Aug. 28, 2013

A federal bankruptcy judge Wednesday rejected an attempt to kick the city of San Bernardino, Calif., out of bankruptcy court.


San Bernardino bankruptcy gets green light - Aug. 28, 2013

CDFI - Important Part of Infrastructure









USDA Blog Post:

The 8th Annual Governor’s Native American Summit was held last week at Utah Valley University in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Utah’s Rural Development State Director Wilson “David” Conine wanted to share with attendees the importance a community development financial institution (CDFI) can play in tribal development.  He turned to his counterpart, South Dakota Rural Development State Director Elsie M. Meeks who has over 20 years of experience working for Native community economic development.
Meeks recognized CDFI as an important part of the infrastructure for delivering consistent funding for housing and small business development activities that benefit low and moderate income people.  They combine multiple sources of public and private capital in order to make loans and investments available in ways tailored to the particular underserved geographies and types of businesses or borrowers.  Developing capacity among these types of organizations can increase utilization of USDA programs in a region, many of which provide long-term below-market capital for permanent improvements in rural areas.
A successful example from South Dakota includes The Lakota Fund.  A certified Native CDFI established in 1986 that serves the Oglala Lakota Oyate on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Its products and services include microloans, small business loans, business loans, credit builder loans, training, and technical assistance.  Sources of funding from Rural Development include rural business opportunity grants (RBOG), rural business enterprise grants (RBEG), Intermediary Relending Program (IRP), and rural microentrepreneur assistance program (RMAP).
The keynote speaker for the event was Governor Gary Herbert and Meeks was a guest speaker. The Governor’s Native American Summit provides a forum for Utah’s American Indian population to network with state agencies and other organizations, and more importantly, a chance to strengthen relationships with the eight Sovereign Tribal Nations of Utah.

The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge! Summer Fun that Helps Kids Learn


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USDA Blog Post:

This is a screen capture from the Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge online game for kids. The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge teaches moms and children about healthy habits and provides practical ways they can incorporate them.
This is a screen capture from the Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge online game for kids. The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge teaches moms and children about healthy habits and provides practical ways they can incorporate them.
It’s summer time! And kids’ thoughts naturally turn to ways to have fun and enjoy themselves! Moms, on the other hand, want kids to continue to learn and develop their skills while they enjoy the lazy days of summer.  The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge is an online game that meets the needs of moms and kids. The game inspires kids to jump into good nutrition and have fun while learning. It also helps kids to make good food choices and encourages them to be physically active between events to warm them up for the next challenge and to celebrate!
In this online game from USDA, kids pick their player and progress through four track and field events including the javelin, high jump, long jump, and the dash. To win, players must quickly pick the right answer to questions about healthy eating and nutrition. As players advance from one event to the next, they are encouraged to be active: “Now jump up and down five times to celebrate!” When kids answer correctly, their players get a medal at the end of the game. Questions are randomly selected so kids can play multiple times to get a better score or “go for the gold” on the winner’s stand.
Moms can feel good knowing that this video game reinforces the healthy eating habits they want their kids to develop. The game is also a fun, interactive way for moms and kids to enjoy their time together while learning about whole grains, fruits, vegetables and foods made with low fat milk. The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge also provides practical ways mom and child can apply what they learn. The kids’ activity sheets reinforce the skills kids learn in the game, and are an excellent “quiet time” activity for rainy summer days!
Check out the Especially for Moms resources; this page includes kid-friendly recipes, videos, fact sheets and easy, low-cost ways to make fruits, veggies, low-fat milk and whole grains a part of family meals and snacks.
Nutrition.gov provides easy, online access to government information on food and human nutrition for consumers and is managed by the USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL) Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC). More resources about nutrition, healthy eating and physical activity can be found at www.Nutrition.gov.
This is a screen capture from the Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge online game for kids. The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge teaches moms and children about healthy habits and provides practical ways they can incorporate them.
This is a screen capture from the Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge online game for kids. The Track & Field Fuel-Up Challenge teaches moms and children about healthy habits and provides practical ways they can incorporate them.

Syria Crisis Unlikely to Thwart Merkel Re-Election - SPIEGEL ONLINE

In 2002, the Social Democrats got re-elected by opposing the Iraq war. Now they're against attacking Syria, but it won't help them oust Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sept 22. Deft as ever, she'll keep Germany out of the fight, while firmly backing her allies.

Syria Crisis Unlikely to Thwart Merkel Re-Election - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Save Up to $400 on Select PCs at the Microsoft Store

August 28, 2013

Save up to $400 on select PCs at Microsoft Store

Offer good through Sept. 15, 2013.

Renovate your home: 5 smart fixes - Aug. 28, 2013

Allyn Brown didn't really like the cramped, choppy layout of his 1970s ranch home, but the location was just too good to give up.


Renovate your home: 5 smart fixes - Aug. 28, 2013

Picture This: In the Red - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Picture This: In the Red - SPIEGEL ONLINE

German Interior Minister Friedrich Discusses NSA Spying Affair - SPIEGEL ONLINE

In an interview, German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich discusses his confidence in the United States and its claims it is not conducting mass spying on Europe, concerns about Facebook and a determination to continue the fight against terrorism.

German Interior Minister Friedrich Discusses NSA Spying Affair - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Turkish Community Alleges Institutional Racism in Murder Probe - SPIEGEL ONLINE

The Turkish Community in Germany has published a report responding to a series of racist murders authorities failed to detect for years. The paper is intended to complement recommendations put forward by a parliamentary committee.

Turkish Community Alleges Institutional Racism in Murder Probe - SPIEGEL ONLINE

FEMA Representatives Encourage Edison Locals to Prepare (ID: 67792)


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Edison, N.J., Aug. 27, 2013 -- Federal Emergency Management Agency Private Sector Specialist Pamela Mason, speaks at a press conference for the Sam’s Club Emergency Preparedness Expo. This event allows home and business owners to network with community-minded emergency managers to learn how to prepare for disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Rosanna Arias/FEMA

Greece joining euro was a mistake, says Merkel - Aug. 28, 2013

Greece should never have been allowed to join the euro, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, as she tries to lay the blame for the eurozone's debt crisis at the door of her political opponents.


Greece joining euro was a mistake, says Merkel - Aug. 28, 2013

Car Sharing Increasingly Popular in German Cities - SPIEGEL ONLINE

As collaborative consumption becomes increasingly mainstream, many young Germans are starting to see vehicle ownership as inconvenient and old-fashioned. Keen to keep up, the auto industry is turning to car-sharing.

Car Sharing Increasingly Popular in German Cities - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Indian Economist Jayati Ghosh Warns of Chaos and Violence - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Indian economist Jayati Ghosh believes her country's current financial problems are of its own making. She also warns of widespread chaos and an increase in violence if India's economic imbalances are not tackled head on.

Indian Economist Jayati Ghosh Warns of Chaos and Violence - SPIEGEL ONLINE

'The first bullet came whizzing past my ear' – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

'The first bullet came whizzing past my ear' – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

Report: Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in Danger of Collapse - SPIEGEL ONLINE

It's one of largest and most popular covered markets in the world -- but now management claims vendors have weakened the structure of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar to the point it may collapse. Merchants view the situation differently.

Report: Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in Danger of Collapse - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Federal Reserve governors: A wealthy bunch - Aug. 28, 2013

There are an awful lot of millionaires at the Federal Reserve.


Federal Reserve governors: A wealthy bunch - Aug. 28, 2013

Euro Crisis Can Require Politicians to Hold Their Tongues - SPIEGEL ONLINE

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has raised the possibility of a third bailout for Greece. Now many are calling for leaders to lay out all they know about the euro crisis. But total transparency carries serious risks.

Euro Crisis Can Require Politicians to Hold Their Tongues - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Detroit pensions: Bribes, a $5,000 poker chip and a big financial hole - Aug. 28, 2013

No issue in the Detroit bankruptcy is more contentious: How deep is the hole in the workers' pension funds?


Detroit pensions: Bribes, a $5,000 poker chip and a big financial hole - Aug. 28, 2013

White House interns speak up about whether being unpaid pays off - Aug. 28, 2013

It's hard to put a price on the opportunities that come from working as a White House intern. But the cost of not being paid is very real.


White House interns speak up about whether being unpaid pays off - Aug. 28, 2013

Refugees from Chechnya Seek New Life in Germany - SPIEGEL ONLINE

A decade after the end of the war against Russia, thousands of Chechens have headed for Germany seeking asylum. They are fleeing from Chechnyan leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who many say is a brutal strongman who ruthlessly persecutes his enemies.

Refugees from Chechnya Seek New Life in Germany - SPIEGEL ONLINE

India in crisis mode as rupee hits record low - Aug. 28, 2013

The Indian rupee extended losses to another record low on Wednesday as government efforts to stabilize markets failed and investors continued to pull money out of the country.


India in crisis mode as rupee hits record low - Aug. 28, 2013

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Las Vegas Sands resolves laundering case with $47 million deal - Aug. 27, 2013

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands has agreed to give up over $47 million as part of an agreement to avoid charges over its failure to report suspicious transactions by an alleged drug kingpin.


Las Vegas Sands resolves laundering case with $47 million deal - Aug. 27, 2013

New York Times down in possible 'malicious attack' - Aug. 27, 2013

The New York Times' website went down for several hours on Tuesday. A spokeswoman said it was likely because of a "malicious external attack."


New York Times down in possible 'malicious attack' - Aug. 27, 2013

California wildfires further strain federal budget - Aug. 27, 2013

Federal agencies are scrambling for money to fight devastating fires in Northern California and elsewhere.


California wildfires further strain federal budget - Aug. 27, 2013

Logistics & Inventory in Alaska (ID: 67773)


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Nenana, Alaska, Aug. 23, 2013 -- FEMA logistics specialists survey homeowners building supplies in a distribution yard, which are destined for upper river Yukon territories by barge for eligible individuals that were affected by recent flooding. FEMA funds the barge shipments of the re-building supplies to the eligible residents affected by disaster. Adam DuBrowa/FEMA

Public Information Officer and a Newspaper Reporter Discuss Individual Assistance (ID: 67772)


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Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 24, 2013 -- FEMA Public Information Officer Victor Inge (L) is interviewed by staff writer Sam Friedman (R) from The Daily News-Miner regarding the end of the FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) registration period. FEMA is distributing IA disaster assistance grant information to news organizations in an attempt to register individuals that may be eligible for assistance before the registration period closes. Adam DuBrowa/FEMA

Barging Resources up the Yukon (ID: 67785)


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Nenana Landing, Alaska, Aug. 23, 2013 -- FEMA contracted the Inland Barge Company to ship critical rebuilding supplies to the residents who were affected by severe flooding. Barging supplies and resources is one way to get things inland to remote villages, but it will take up to 10 days. Adam DuBrowa/FEMA

Forest Service Hosts National Boy Scout Jamboree


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USDA Blog Post:

Boy Scouts work on pulp and paper merit badge at the Forest Service exhibit. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Boy Scouts work on pulp and paper merit badge at the Forest Service exhibit. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Did you know the U.S. Forest Service has a long connection to the Boy Scouts of America? Roughly 78 percent of Forest Service employees were Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts in their youth; and many scouting projects, including Eagle Scout projects, take place on national forests or grasslands.
“The Boy Scouts of America is a longtime valued partner of the Forest Service,” said DeVela J. Clark, deputy forest supervisor on the Monongahela National Forest. “Scouts have assisted our National Forests and Grasslands with numerous conservation service projects across the country.”
The Forest Service has been a part of the National Boy Scout Jamboree since 1967, when the Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, Pa.
This year, more than 40,000 Boy Scouts attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in West Virginia. Every four years the Jamboree happens, and scouts come from across America and around the world to sleep under the stars, learn new skills, work on merit badges, and make new friends. The first Jamboree was held in 1937. This year’s Jamboree marked the 103 anniversary of Boy Scouts in America. It also marked the first time the Jamboree was held at its new permanent home – Summit Bechtel Reserve, commonly referred to as “The Summit.”
“We think it’s awesome to have the National Jamboree held in West Virginia now and into the future. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the state’s national forest and beautiful landscapes to a wide range of people,” said Clark.
At this year’s Jamboree, Scouts experienced many outdoor and adventure skills: canoeing, ziplining, rock climbing, rappelling, archery, whitewater rafting, shooting sports, skateboarding, mountain biking, bicycle motocross, kayaking, all-terrain vehicle riding, stand-up paddle boarding and more. In recent years, the Jamboree has gone high-tech, offering Scouts the latest in robotics, geospatial mapping and computer technology.
Others had the opportunity to travel north to participate in service projects on the Monongahela, focusing on improving wetland habitat at several newly created vernal pools and two recreation sites.
During the Jamboree, there were several agency exhibits along the Conservation Trail giving the Forest Service a chance to share their conservation education message with each new generation of scouts. The Forest Service exhibit features the Decision Trail, where visitors must make their own decisions about how to manage a specific resource problem, and at the end of the trail they find out the consequences of the decisions they’ve made.
The agency exhibit also includes two smokejumpers demonstrating their equipment, the pulp and paper merit badge, and a tent where scouts can join an internationally known sculpture artist, Jorge Rodriquez, in creating a stone sculpture during the 10-day Jamboree.
There were also several appearances by Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl to assist in re-enforcing conservation values.
Keith Lawrence, forest supervisor on the Savannah River Site, explains the tornado scenario. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Keith Lawrence, forest supervisor on the Savannah River Site, explains the tornado scenario. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

2013/08/27 Elite Group of Young Scientists Embark on DARPA Research Efforts

2013/08/27 Elite Group of Young Scientists Embark on DARPA Research Efforts

3 things to remember before wading into Syria – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

3 things to remember before wading into Syria – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

Controversial Catholic Bishop Faces Calls to Resign in Limburg - SPIEGEL ONLINE

A German bishop who has faced controversy for years because of his luxurious lifestyle -- including lavish jewelry and a first class flight to India -- is facing growing criticism. Many believe his days in office are now numbered.

Controversial Catholic Bishop Faces Calls to Resign in Limburg - SPIEGEL ONLINE

FDP Party Used Same Stock Footage for Ad as Far Right NPD - SPIEGEL ONLINE

FDP Party Used Same Stock Footage for Ad as Far Right NPD - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Euro Crisis Threatens to Upset Merkel's Re-election Campaign - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Chancellor Angela Merkel has been forced to concede that Greece will require additional aid -- an admission that has dented her reputation as a crisis manager ahead of the election. But she still hasn't revealed the true scope of the costs facing Germany.

Euro Crisis Threatens to Upset Merkel's Re-election Campaign - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Picture This: Slippery Slope - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Picture This: Slippery Slope - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Mercedes Convertible Allegedly Belonged to Hermann Göring - SPIEGEL ONLINE

A classic Mercedes-Benz dating back to the 1930s is currently being restored in North Carolina. Its owners claim it once belonged to the infamous Nazi official Hermann Göring, but the auto company is being cautious.

Mercedes Convertible Allegedly Belonged to Hermann Göring - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Understanding America’s AirSea Battle concept – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

Understanding America’s AirSea Battle concept – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

Appeal of Diverse Side of Ag Statistics


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USDA Blog Post:

Troy Joshua (left) visited Matty Matarazzo’s (right) farm. Matarazzo owns and operates the Four Sisters Winery in Belvidere, N.J.
Troy Joshua (left) visited Matty Matarazzo’s (right) farm. Matarazzo owns and operates the Four Sisters Winery in Belvidere, N.J.
This post is part of the Science Today feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.
2013 is the International Year of Statistics. As part of this global event, every month this year USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will profile careers of individuals who are making significant contributions to improve agricultural statistics in the United States.
Growing up in the rural community of St. James, Louisiana, I always had a passion for agriculture. In 1992, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and earned a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Washington State University two years later.
For my master’s thesis, I created an economic model analyzing the profitability of the Washington state asparagus industry. To get the data for my thesis, I created and mailed questionnaires, editing and analyzing all of the responses. This experience sparked my interest in the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and I joined the agency’s California Field Office in 1994.
The California office opened up new horizons for me. Growing up in Louisiana, I was used to what we call “conventional” farming. But California agriculture is much more diverse, giving me a chance to learn about different crops, such as grapes, almonds, and oranges. That was just the beginning of my NASS career. I expanded my knowledge of American agriculture, accepting assignments over the next few decades in Mississippi, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey offices.
These experiences also honed my statistical skills and prepared me for my current role as the chief of the Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch. Diversity is truly the nature of my branch. We publish all of the agency’s data on farmer demographics, farm income, prices, labor, as well as on pesticide and herbicide use in agriculture. Just a few weeks ago, for example, we published updates to farm expenditures figures, which showed that producers’ expenditures topped $350 billion for the first time in history.
It is the diversity of statistics that appeals the most to me about my current role. One day I may meet with farmers who talk to me about their increases in farm inputs as compared to the value of their crops sold. The next day, I may handle one of our frequent requests from university professors looking for farmer demographics data for the U.S. and specific regions. To me, that’s the true beauty of statistics – the fact that these numbers touch every facet of our lives.

Home prices soar 12.1%, but pace of gains stabilizes - Aug. 27, 2013

Home prices are still surging, but the pace of the gains has steadied as interest rates continue to rise.


Home prices soar 12.1%, but pace of gains stabilizes - Aug. 27, 2013

Intruder Volkan Was Asleep in Merkel Bed on Government Jet - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Volkan T. was reported on Tuesday to have been fast asleep in a bed used by Chancellor Angela Merkel when police boarded the government jet where he had partied in his underpants, high on drugs. She wasn't there. Prosecutors have yet to find a motive.

Intruder Volkan Was Asleep in Merkel Bed on Government Jet - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Police arrest ex-JPMorgan 'London Whale' banker - Aug. 27, 2013

A former JPMorgan banker charged with concealing massive losses related to the bank's 'London Whale' trade has been arrested in Spain.


Police arrest ex-JPMorgan 'London Whale' banker - Aug. 27, 2013

German Pundits Weigh Pros and Cons of Syria Intervention - SPIEGEL ONLINE

The US, the UK and France have laid the rhetorical groundwork for a military strike against Syria. Germany too looks as though it will not remain on the sidelines this time. But will it happen? German commentators warn that escalation may only make things worse.

German Pundits Weigh Pros and Cons of Syria Intervention - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Currency Crisis Hits Developing Countries in Asia and Elsewhere - SPIEGEL ONLINE

As the credit glut in the US nears an end, the currencies of developing countries like India, Thailand and Indonesia are plummeting. Now there are fears that a redux of the 1997 market crash is on the horizon.

Currency Crisis Hits Developing Countries in Asia and Elsewhere - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Dwindling Young Sumo Wrestlers Face Hard Life in Japan - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Sumo is as Japanese as Mount Fuji or the cherry blossom festival, but the traditional sport is facing problems. Deterred by the harsh training and life of privation that comes with joining a stable, dwindling numbers of boys are interested in becoming sumo wrestlers.

Dwindling Young Sumo Wrestlers Face Hard Life in Japan - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Civil War in Syria Destroying Economy - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Food is scarce in Syria, the currency is collapsing and entire industries have come to a standstill. But not even economic suffering brought on by the civil war will likely help end it.

Civil War in Syria Destroying Economy - SPIEGEL ONLINE

How the Fed's communication policy has cause more confusion - Aug. 27, 2013

When Ben Bernanke finishes his term in January, one of his key legacies will be a more talkative Federal Reserve.


How the Fed's communication policy has cause more confusion - Aug. 27, 2013

AT&T to add another Windows Phone 8 device to its lineup – the Nokia Lumia 925 - The Official Microsoft Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

AT&T to add another Windows Phone 8 device to its lineup – the Nokia Lumia 925 - The Official Microsoft Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Shape-shifting alloys hold promise








Sandia Labs News Releases


Shape-shifting alloys hold promise

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Imagine untwisting a finger-size spring, then holding the flame from a lighter underneath the unraveled section. Like magic, it twirls itself into a spring again because the metal alloy remembered its original shape.
Sandia National Laboratories researchers think such shape-memory alloys could be used to improve safety in weapons components in a fire or other accident. Materials scientist Don Susan said a thermal device made from a high-temperature shape-memory alloy might, for example, close or open a switch or lock a gear to prevent it from turning.

Sandia National Laboratories’ Mark Reece, left, and Don Susan examine a new shape memory alloy button they have removed from an arc-melter. Several new alloys have been developed at Sandia. (Photo by Randy Montoya) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image.
“It’s almost unlimited what you can think of, what you can do with shape-changing alloys,” he said.
Susan is principal investigator for a project that aims to create high-temperature shape-memory alloys for weapons components. Accomplishments so far:
  • Researchers made new alloy compositions, including nickel titanium platinum, nickel titanium palladium and nickel titanium hafnium, and filed technical advances for those compositions. Filing a technical advance is a first step in documenting an invention for a later patent application.
  • The team has characterized such key properties of the materials as the way they change shape, strength and ductility.
  • Team members have produced prototype parts that show shape change at desired temperatures.
  • Sandia is the first to demonstrate a property called super-elasticity in higher temperature shape-changing alloys, and filed a technical advance for that. Super-elasticity is a rubbery sort of behavior in metals, such as eyeglass frames that twist without snapping. Susan said Sandia doesn’t currently intend to exploit this property but it could provide future design options.
The project, now in its third and final year, is funded by Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program.
Alloys remember original shape
Shape-memory alloys work somewhat like the thermal sensor in a building’s fire sprinkler system. That thermal sensor is made of a liquid that expands and breaks a glass enclosure, triggering a switch that turns on the sprinklers. Similarly, shape-memory alloys change shape instead of simply expanding.
“If you bend a wire, it’ll go back to straight if it was originally straight,” Susan said. “If it was originally bent and you made it straight, it will go back to bent. It will remember a shape when you heat it up.”
Such an alloy can trigger a process simply because it’s able to change shape, said project manager Jim McElhanon, who started the project with weapon safety engineer John Debassige. Susan later replaced McElhanon as principal investigator. Other team members are Tom Buchheit, Jordan Massad, Don Bradley, Mark Reece and Tom Crenshaw.
“I truly believe this research on [high-temperature] shape-changing alloys will allow us to create new devices that significantly impact nuclear weapon safety. The shape-memory alloys we are developing can passively change shape via exposure to a particular temperature or actively change shape by passing current, which generates heat, through the material,” McElhanon said.
Shape-memory alloys have been around for decades and various types are sold commercially. They’re commonly used in such medical appliances as stents that change shape at body temperature. A tiny stent, stored at below-body temperature, can be squeezed small enough to fit into an artery, then opens up the artery when warmed to body temperature, Susan said.
Shape change needed at specific temperatures

Tom Crenshaw, left, of Sandia National Laboratories mounts a small shape memory alloy sample into a hydraulic test frame for mechanical testing while Tom Buchheit looks on. Sandia researchers are creating high-temperature shape memory alloys. (Photo by Randy Montoya) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image.
The Sandia alloys can change shape at temperatures below room temperature to greater than 500 degrees Celsius, or about 930 degrees Fahrenheit.
Commercial alloys change shape at temperatures that don’t meet Sandia’s needs, Susan and McElhanon said. Sandia built upon recent research into higher temperature shape-memory alloys to create its own alloys.
“Folks at Sandia were studying these alloys decades ago, but the temperatures were always too low to be useful for our parts until these new alloys came along over the past 15 years or so,” Susan said.
Any shape change has to take place above the temperature at which components are manufactured, Susan said.
“You don’t want this to happen when you’re making the parts,” he said. “You don’t want it to happen when it’s sitting out in the sun either. It has to be higher than that.”
In April, the Consortium for the Advancement of Shape Memory Alloy Research and Technology (CASMART) voted to add Sandia as a member. Government, academic and industry experts started CASMART in 2006 to share applied research on shape-memory alloys.
“Joining the consortium is a huge step forward for the labs,” McElhanon said. “We are collaborating with the world experts in the area.”
Computer models to show behavior
Sandia works on shape-memory alloys with Ron Noebe and his colleagues at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio and with colleagues at Texas A&M University in College Station. NASA and Texas A&M are both consortium members. NASA is interested in the alloys for flight applications, while the university works on materials processing — turning the alloys into specific shapes, Susan said. Texas A&M researcher Brian Lester worked with Sandia this summer on computer models of shape-memory alloy behavior.
“Our computer models can’t handle something that changes shape like that,” Susan said. “When you heat something up, it expands a little bit and when you cool it down it contracts. We can handle that in the computer codes, but not this more dramatic shape change.”
Susan envisions future Sandia research on shape-memory alloys for wind and solar energy and perhaps satellites.
“They are really interesting materials,” he said. “Most of what we work on at Sandia is stainless steel, aluminum, the kinds of things we’ve worked on forever and that most of our parts are made of. So it’s interesting to work on something different and explore the possibilities.”

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Lew to Congress: Raise debt ceiling before mid-October - Aug. 26, 2013

The United States will reach the limit of its borrowing authority in mid-October, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Monday.


Lew to Congress: Raise debt ceiling before mid-October - Aug. 26, 2013

How can I bulletproof my career? - Aug. 26, 2013

Po Bronson, who studied the science of competition, and co-authoredTop Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing, answers the question of how to make your job more secure.


How can I bulletproof my career? - Aug. 26, 2013

Special Offers from Walmart (Aug. 26, 2013)



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Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack: Western Intervention Draws Nearer - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Evidence clearly suggests that Syria's president has deployed chemical weapons. The latest poison gas attack should set aside once and for all any reservations about military intervention. The credibility of Western countries is on the line.

Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack: Western Intervention Draws Nearer - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Smokey Bear Pauses from Routine to Distribute Awards








USDA Blog Post:

Hi there! Smokey Bear here. We all know that bears love to hang out in the forests, but as our Nation’s symbol for wildfire prevention, I don’t get to do that as much as I’d like. So I’m really excited to tell you about a trip I recently made to the woods of Pennsylvania.
I went to the Boy Scouts of America Camp Karoondinha to help present a Bronze Smokey Bear Award to Pennsylvania State fire wardens for their “Wardens Helping in Prevention” program.
Since 1968, the fire wardens have volunteered their time to make presentations at schools, malls, fairs, and other events as part of their firefighting duties. The fire wardens use a manual designed for all ages that focuses on basic leadership skills and includes Smokey Bear games and coloring sheets, public service announcements, and more.
This year, Forest Service Northeastern Area Deputy Director Jim Barresi went with me to present the award because my paws aren’t much good for holding statues. The Smokey Bear Awards are given annually to national, regional, and statewide groups for excellence in wildland fire prevention. My gold Smokey Bear statues are awarded to national programs, silver statues to regional programs, and bronze statues for statewide recognition. These awards are not given out lightly—those who receive them have put a lot of effort into their programs.
At the awards ceremony, I was thrilled to see more than 100 wildfire trainees in their orange vests with yellow stripes…some young and some pursuing a new chapter in their lives. They are the next generation of wildfire fighters and educators, and my heart was touched by their presence. Hope they invite me back soon!
Remember: Only YOU can prevent wildfires!
Northern Area State and Private Forestry Deputy Director Jim Barresi (second from left) presented the Bronze Smokey Award to the Wardens Helping in Prevention in Pennsylvania. With Barresi are (from left): Levi Gelnett, state fire prevention specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) Bureau of Forestry; Barresi; Dave Coder, Pennsylvania fire warden; Randy White, state fire supervisor, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry; Dan Devlin, state forester, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry; and Amy Griffith, District 7 forester, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry.
Northern Area State and Private Forestry Deputy Director Jim Barresi (second from left) presented the Bronze Smokey Award to the Wardens Helping in Prevention in Pennsylvania. With Barresi are (from left): Levi Gelnett, state fire prevention specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) Bureau of Forestry; Barresi; Dave Coder, Pennsylvania fire warden; Randy White, state fire supervisor, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry; Dan Devlin, state forester, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry; and Amy Griffith, District 7 forester, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry.

Size Matters as Nanocrystals Go Through Phases


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Berkeley Lab Researchers at the Molecular Foundry Reveal Fundamental Size-Dependence of Metal Nanocrystals Undergoing Phase Transitions

AUGUST 26, 2013
Lynn Yarris (510) 486-5375  lcyarris@lbl.gov
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Palladium nanocubes interacting with hydrogen gas were directly observed through in situ luminescence to reveal that size can make a much bigger difference on phase transformations than scientists previously believed.
Understanding what happens to a material as it undergoes phase transformations – changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas or a plasma – is of fundamental scientific interest and critical for optimizing commercial applications. For metal nanocrystals, assumptions about the size-dependence of phase transformations were made that now need to be re-evaluated. A team of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has demonstrated that as metal nanocrystals go through phase transformations, size can make a much bigger difference than previously believed.
Working at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry, a DOE Nanoscale Science Research Center, the team led by Jeffrey Urban and Stephen Whitelam developed a unique optical probe based on luminescence that provided the first direct observations of metal nanocrystals undergoing phase transformations during reactions with hydrogen gas. Analysis of their observations revealed a surprising degree of size-dependence when it comes to such critical properties as thermodynamics and kinetics. These results hold important implications for the future design of hydrogen storage systems, catalysts, fuel cells and batteries.
“No one has ever directly observed phase transformations in metal nanocrystal systems before so no one saw the size dependence factor, which was obscured by other complicating effects, hidden in plain sight if you will,” Urban says. “The assumption had been that for nanocrystals beyond 15 nanometers, the thermodynamic and kinetic behavior would be essentially bulk-like. However, our results show that pure size effects can be understood and productively employed over a much broader range of nanocrystal sizes than previously thought.”
Stephen Whitelam (left) and Jeffrey Urban at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry led the first direct observations of metal nanocrystals undergoing phase transformations during reactions with hydrogen gas. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)
Stephen Whitelam (left) and Jeffrey Urban at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry led the first direct observations of metal nanocrystals undergoing phase transformations during reactions with hydrogen gas. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt)
Urban and Whitelam, both of whom hold appointments with Berkeley Lab’s Materials Sciences Division, are the corresponding authors of a paper describing this study in the journal Nature Materials. The paper is titled “Uncovering the intrinsic size dependence of hydriding phase transformations in nanocrystals.” Co-authors are Rizia Bardhan, Lester Hedges, Cary Pint and Ali Javey.
While it is well established that materials on the nanoscale can offer physical, chemical and mechanical properties not displayed at the microscale, knowledge as to how these properties can be altered as nanocrystals undergo phase transformations has been lacking.
“Quantitative understanding of nanocrystal phase transformations has been hindered by difficulties in directly monitoring well-characterized nanoscale systems in reactive environments,” Urban says.
Urban and his colleagues addressed this problem with a custom-built stainless steel gas-tight cell with optical windows and heating elements and connected to a high vacuum pump. They used this experimental setup to collect in situ luminescence spectra with a confocal Raman microscope as palladium nanocubes interacted with hydrogen gas. The nanocubes were synthesized by wet-chemistry and were all clear-faceted single-crystalline objects with a narrow range in size distribution.
“Our experimental setup allowed for rapid, direct monitoring of minuscule alterations in luminescence during hydrogen sorption,” Urban says. “This allowed us to uncover the size-dependence of the intrinsic thermodynamics and kinetics of hydriding and dehydriding phase transformations. We observed a dramatic decrease in luminescence as the palladium nanocubes formed hydrides. This lost luminescence was regained during dehydriding.”
This scanning electron micrograph shows palladium nanocubes with a side length of approximately 32 nanometers.
This scanning electron micrograph shows palladium nanocubes with a side length of approximately 32 nanometers.
A statistical mechanical model whose development was led by Whitelam and co-author Hedges was then used to quantify the observational data for palladium nanocubes of all sizes. Because of the narrow size distribution of the nanocubes, Whitelam, Urban and their colleagues were able to show a direct correlation between luminescence and phase transitions that can be applied to other metal nanocrystal systems as well.
“Simple geometric arguments tell us that under certain conditions, thermally driven solid-state phase transformations are governed by nanocrystal dimensions,” Whitelam says. “These arguments further suggest ways of optimizing hydrogen storage kinetics in a variety of metal nanocrystal systems.”
The next step in this research will be to examine the effects of dopants on phase transformations in metal nanosystems.
“Our luminescence-probe and statistical mechanical model are a versatile combination,” Urban says, “that allow us to look at a number of gas-nanocrystal interactions in which controlling the thermodynamics of the interactions is paramount.”
This research was supported by DOE’s Office of Science through the Molecular Foundry and through the Center for Nanoscale Control of Geologic Carbon Dioxide, a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center. Additional support was provided by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and by Mohr Davidow Ventures, a venture capital firm.
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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. For more, visit www.lbl.gov.
The Molecular Foundry is one of five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs), national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale, supported by the DOE Office of Science.  Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative.  The NSRCs are located at DOE’s Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge and Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories.  For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit http://science.energy.gov.
The DOE Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.