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Thursday, July 31, 2014

3 things Malaysia Airlines must do to survive - Jul. 31, 2014

Malaysia Airlines was in big financial trouble before the twin disasters of Flight 370 and Flight 17 claimed the lives of 537 people.

With its reputation now severely damaged, executives are grappling with tough questions about the future of the airline.


3 things Malaysia Airlines must do to survive - Jul. 31, 2014

Heidelberg Bridge






Bridge in Heidelberg, Germany. November 2013.


Russia sanctions: West's top 15 targets - Jul. 31, 2014

Europe and the U.S. are trying to hit Russia's economy by restricting its access to Western finance, oil technology and arms.

Here are the 15 most important companies and individuals now subject to Western sanctions, imposed over the crisis in Ukraine:


Russia sanctions: West's top 15 targets - Jul. 31, 2014

RadioShack's days are numbered - Jul. 31, 2014

RadioShack's future is about as bright as the VHS tapes it used to sell.

The chain of 4,000 stores has just $62 million in cash left - a figure that is rapidly approaching zero. Things are so dire that it actually doesn't have enough money to close the 1,100 locations management says it needs to shutter.


RadioShack's days are numbered - Jul. 31, 2014

Europe hits Russia's biggest banks - Jul. 31, 2014

Europe cranked up the pressure on Russia on Thursday by including the country's top two banks on a list of sanctions.

Publishing details of new measures aimed at disrupting activity in Russia's banking, oil and arms industries, the EU said Sberbank (SBRCY)and VTB Bank were now banned from raising medium and long-term finance in Europe.


Europe hits Russia's biggest banks - Jul. 31, 2014

T-Mobile soars on $15 billion takeover bid - Jul. 31, 2014

Shares of T-Mobile USA soared more than 6% Thursday on a $15 billion takeover bid from a French telecom company.

The news that France's Iliad will be making an offer for T-Mobile quickly ripped through the markets, causing T-Mobile's (TMUS) stock to briefly be halted. It also drove Sprint (S)down 5%, as the wireless company had been rumored to be crafting its own buyout of T-Mobile.


T-Mobile soars on $15 billion takeover bid - Jul. 31, 2014

Women on U.S. currency? 'A pretty good idea,' says Obama - July 31, 2014

Move over, George Washington. Eleanor Roosevelt might be taking your spot on the $1 bill.

A young girl's letter to President Obama sparked a discussion about the possibility of adding women's faces on American currency. Obama mentioned the letter at an appearance Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo.


Women on U.S. currency? 'A pretty good idea,' says Obama - July 31, 2014

USDA's Agricultural Ties Run Deep

USDA Blog Post:

Mary Louise Reynnells (right) and Shellie Wallace-Polin in their FFA jackets, 1977.
Mary Louise Reynnells (right) and Shellie Wallace-Polin in their FFA jackets, 1977.
Earlier this year, in preparation for the 2015 opening of a new business history exhibition, American Enterprise, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History put out a call for current and past members of the National FFA Organization to submit their FFA jackets accompanied with their own personal agricultural history. The jackets and stories, to be featured in the agricultural portion of the exhibition, will examine the significance that agricultural education continues to play to our national identity.
At a ceremony last week, five jackets and their stories were selected; among them, a jacket from President Jimmy Carter and a jacket from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service employee Mary “Louise” Reynnells. USDA employees work every day to ensure that American farmers have access to the opportunities they need, and many of their ties to agriculture extend well beyond their time at USDA. Here is Mary “Louise” Reynnells’s story, and with it, her contribution to our agricultural heritage.

FFA Changed my Life

By Mary “Louise” Reynnells, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service
I grew up in the house my great-grandfather had built. It was four houses down from Pacific High School in San Bernardino, California. When I started high school, I decided to try the vocational agriculture classes. The area had been rural, but was steadily becoming a very large city. We were still considered in the county area. The high school still had an agriculture department, complete with barns, shops, greenhouses and pastures. I liked plants and animals, so I decided to see what “ag” was all about. I was soon interested in the Future Farmers of America, or FFA Chapter, there. I went to a couple of meetings and was hooked. It was a great way to meet people at the high school and to be involved in school and community projects. I felt liked I was a part of something much bigger than myself that had an impact on all. That was the start of the rest of my life.
Agriculture has been a big part of my life ever since, and I owe a lot of that to my high school agriculture teachers and the FFA program. In FFA I started raising sheep. I started out with the high school sheep and showing one of those at the fair. I later raised them at my home, where there was just enough room to raise a couple of sheep. In FFA I became Treasurer and then my senior year President. I raised sheep and showed at the fairs, worked in the greenhouse, and learned a lot about wood and metal work in shop. I represented my area as a State Delegate for FFA and also was voted as the FFA “Chapter Sweetheart,” which had an all-white jacket different than the traditional blue. I was taught a lot about leadership, respect for others and the earth as well as the plants and animals on the earth that help to feed and clothe us all. I learned a lot through working hard for what I wanted and the importance of giving back to my family, friends and community. My agriculture teachers were not only my high school instructors, but mentors for life. Even after I graduated, they stayed in touch while I went to college, where I got my Bachelors Degree in Animal Science.
My first job after college was with the University of California at Riverside with the poultry area of the Cooperative Extension Service. It was a dream job. I worked outside with the birds and then inside in the office on original research. That is where I met my husband, a USDA Extension Service National Program Leader for Poultry in Washington, DC. We were married and I moved back to the Maryland area near Washington, DC, and got a job also with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library as an Information Specialist – where I am today after 27 years.
I have traveled in my job all over the U.S. and have met many people working in agriculture. I have also met four sitting Secretaries of Agriculture and numerous Under Secretaries. I have made agriculture my life, and mostly because I got involved at high school in an organization called FFA.

Can Whole Foods turn itself around? - Jul. 31, 2014

Once the King of Kale, Whole Foods is now fighting to maintain its share of an increasingly crowded market for healthy food.

Whole Foods, the leading organic grocery chain, with 388 stores in North America and the United Kingdom, reported tepid sales growth and a cautious outlook for the next quarter late Wednesday.


Can Whole Foods turn itself around? - Jul. 31, 2014

FCC calls Verizon plan to throttle connections 'disturbing' - Jul. 31, 2014

Verizon's biggest users may soon find that their data plans aren't so "unlimited" after all. And federal regulators aren't happy about it.

Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler sent a letter to Verizon (VZ,Tech30) questioning its plan announced last week to slow down 4G connection speeds for certain customers with unlimited data plans. The news was first reported by Mashable, which posted a copy of the letter online.


FCC calls Verizon plan to throttle connections 'disturbing' - Jul. 31, 2014

WWE slams workers by axing 7% of jobs - Jul. 31, 2014

World Wrestling Entertainment is known for its bone-crushing body slams, but now the company is slamming its workers.

WWE (WWE) revealed plans on Thursday to slash 7% of its workforce in an effort to save cash.


WWE slams workers by axing 7% of jobs - Jul. 31, 2014

Is the iPad doomed? - Jul. 31, 2014

Tablet sales are "crashing," says Best Buy's CEO! IPad sales are sinking fast! Is this the beginning of the end for the tablet?

Easy, there, tiger. Tablets are still popular and sales are growing -- 11% last quarter, to be precise, according to tech consultancy IDC.


Is the iPad doomed? - Jul. 31, 2014

QE4? Wall Street craves a tax holiday - Jul. 31, 2014

As the Fed pulls away the easy-money punch bowl, maybe this bull market needs a "holiday" to keep the party going.

No, not another federal holiday to honor a dead president. (Coolidge, perhaps?) We're talking about an IRS holiday from Congress that would allow U.S. companies to bring back some of the $2 trillion in cash they've been stashing overseas to avoid paying taxes.


QE4? Wall Street craves a tax holiday - Jul. 31, 2014

Large Wine Barrel at Heidelberg Castle



Golfsmith - Best Brands, Best Prices


World's largest wine barrel at Heidelberg Castle. November 2013.



How to shop for back-to-school tax-free - July 31, 2014

If you're going to drop hundreds of dollars on back-to-school supplies, you might as well do it now.

Starting this week, 15 states are offering tax breaks that can save shoppers between 4% and 7%. (Mississippi had a tax holiday in July).


How to shop for back-to-school tax-free - July 31, 2014

Cronut creator launches ice cream sundaes in a can - Jul. 31, 2014

Cronut imitators, take note!

The chef behind the infamous Cronut, Dominique Ansel, announced his newest concoction: an ice cream sundae ... in a can.


Cronut creator launches ice cream sundaes in a can - Jul. 31, 2014

Santa Fe inn's $7 million profit-sharing plan - Jul. 31, 2014

When Terrell White was growing up in El Paso, Texas, he worked in the family business, a residential hotel called the Colonial Terrace.

"I did everything from washing dishes to cleaning the rooms to staffing the front desk," he said.


Santa Fe inn's $7 million profit-sharing plan - Jul. 31, 2014

Six obstacles to being a cyborg - Jul. 31, 2014

When Neil Harbisson gets out of a car, the antenna coming out of his head sometimes gets stuck in branches. It's one of the things he had to get used to when he became a cyborg.

Protruding from the back of Harbisson's skull is a metal antenna that allows him to convert the frequencies for color into frequencies for sound and vice versa. He was born colorblind and the appendage has essentially given him a sixth sense to make up for what his vision lacks.


Six obstacles to being a cyborg - Jul. 31, 2014

Western firms begin to feel Russian pain - Jul. 31, 2014

Adidas has become the latest big Western company to warn that Russia's economic turmoil is hitting its business.

It said Thursday it is shutting stores and scaling back expansion. The stock plunged 16%.


Western firms begin to feel Russian pain - Jul. 31, 2014

From maximum security prison to tech entrepreneur - Jul. 31, 2014

Staying in touch with loved ones while incarcerated is the ultimate lifeline, according Marcus Bullock, creator of photo postcard app, Flikshop.

He would know.


From maximum security prison to tech entrepreneur - Jul. 31, 2014

Sharp increase in older workers with 3 jobs - Jul. 31, 2014

Three jobs. That's the new reality for many older workers.

Today, 115,000 people over the age of 55 are working three jobs, according to the Department of Labor.


Sharp increase in older workers with 3 jobs - Jul. 31, 2014

Target taps Wal-Mart veteran to lead comeback - Jul. 31, 2014

Target's effort to recover from its recent security problems will be headed by a former Wal-Mart exec.

Brian Cornell has been named by Target (TGT)as its CEO, effective Aug. 12. Cornell, who's 55, is coming directly from PepsiCo (PEP), where he oversaw the company's global food unit for about two years.


Target taps Wal-Mart veteran to lead comeback - Jul. 31, 2014

Panasonic partners with Tesla on Gigafactory - Jul. 31, 2014

Tesla has found a partner for its plan to mass produce batteries for electric vehicles: Panasonic.

The companies announced Thursday that Panasonic (PCRFF) will contribute an undisclosed sum to a proposed "Gigafactory," the location of which has yet to be announced. Panasonic will also make and supply cylindrical lithium-ion cells to be assembled into batteries at the factory, and the two companies will set up a supply network for the materials used at the plant.


Panasonic partners with Tesla on Gigafactory - Jul. 31, 2014

Another food scandal? KFC just cannot win - Jul. 31, 2014

KFC is scrambling to limit the fallout of a second food scandal to hit its business in 19 months.

Parent company Yum! Brands (YUM) warned Thursday that global profits could suffer this year as sales in China tumble following revelations that one of its suppliers was using tainted and expired meat.


Another food scandal? KFC just cannot win - Jul. 31, 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Grieving parents drowning in $200,000 student loan debt receive relief - Jul. 30, 2014

Steve Mason and his wife Darnelle have been struggling to pay their daughter's six-figure student loan debt ever since she passed away five years ago -- and now they are starting to get some much needed relief.

After a CNNMoney story about the family's situation ran Tuesday, hundreds of readers reached out to offer words of encouragement -- and financial support -- to the family.


Grieving parents drowning in $200,000 student loan debt receive relief - Jul. 30, 2014

The 5 'worst' consumer complaints - Jul. 30, 2014

From "grandparent scams" to fraudulent investments, schemes targeting the elderly are by far the worst.

That's according to an annual survey of 40 local and state consumer protection agencies that were asked to single out the most common and outrageous complaints they have received over the past year.


The 5 'worst' consumer complaints - Jul. 30, 2014

Heidelberg, Germany






Castle in Heidelberg, Germany. November 2013.



Kim Kardashian game makes $700,000 a day - Jul. 30, 2014

Kim Kardashian is famous for doing nothing. Now she's got a game that's pulling in $700,000 a day where players have to do, well, nothing.

"Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" from Glu Mobil lets you create an avatar that can work to achieve virtual A-list status. Your mission: Hob-nobbing with celebrities, going to a photo shoot and wearing expensive clothes.


Kim Kardashian game makes $700,000 a day - Jul. 30, 2014

Walmart: Retail powerhouse past its prime? - Jul. 30, 2014

Walmart may not go the way of RadioShack (RSH) any time soon. But Goldman Sachs says that customers are abandoning the big-box pioneer in droves.

On Tuesday, the investment bank downgraded Walmart (WMT)'s stock to 'Neutral,' saying that big-box stores are losing out to online retailers and stores with more focused inventories.


Walmart: Retail powerhouse past its prime? - Jul. 30, 2014

The US Struggles to Deal with Vast Influx of Underage Immigrants - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Fleeing violence back home, tens of thousands of children and youth are fleeing Central America for the United States, many unaccompanied by a parent. The influx has bent US asylum policy to the breaking point.



The US Struggles to Deal with Vast Influx of Underage Immigrants - SPIEGEL ONLINE

USDA Conservationist Recognizes Iconic Microsoft "Wallpaper" from Field Work

USDA Blog Post:

Microsoft used this photo titled “Bliss” for the default wallpaper on its XP operating system. Photo by Charles O’Rear.
Microsoft used this photo titled “Bliss” for the default wallpaper on its XP operating system. Photo by Charles O’Rear.
Windows XP was recently retired along with the iconic photo of a verdant green field on rolling hills that was the operating system’s default wallpaper.
This photo, called “Bliss,” had puzzled me for some time as it looked so familiar.
Recently, I stumbled on an article that connected the dots. “Bliss” is from Sonoma County, Calif., where I served as a district conservationist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Photographer Charles O’Rear took this photograph in 1990s, which went on to become one of the most viewed photographs ever. O’Rear was traveling when he saw the field and stopped to capture its beauty.
I actually visited the site in 1992 to develop a conservation compliance plan, just a few years before the photo was taken.
The grass boasts the glowing green because it was planted to grow food for dairy cows, such as ryegrass and oats. The field was fertilized with manure from the nearby dairy, and the dairy farmer cut the field for food and also grazed his cows on it during the winter months.
The field is located on California 12 between Petaluma and Napa, just east of Schellville, between the Mulas Dairy and Stornetta Dairy. Today, the land is a vineyard.
As an NRCS conservationist, I help owners and managers of private lands with a variety of plans, and I’ve seen my share of fields, farms and ranches. After 32 years on the job, this field still sticks out in my memory for its beautiful scenery.
So, I found bliss! In a cow pasture.

Federal Reserve stays on cruise control - Jul. 30, 2014

The U.S. economy is strengthening but the Federal Reserve remains in cruise control.

The Fed decided to once again reduce its monthly bond purchases by $10 billion, as expected.


Federal Reserve stays on cruise control - Jul. 30, 2014

Did NSA snooping hurt U.S. image? Not so much – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

Did NSA snooping hurt U.S. image? Not so much – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs

No deal: Argentina's default is imminent - Jul. 30, 2014

No deal: Argentina's default is imminent - Jul. 30, 2014

Bank of America hit with $1.3 billion penalty over Countrywide mortgages - Jul. 30, 2014

Thousands of bad loans made years ago by Countrywide are Bank of America's problem now.

Bank of America (BAC) has been ordered to pay a nearly $1.3 billion penalty for mortgage fraud committed by Countrywide. The fraud happened years before BofA bought the struggling lender amid the financial crisis, saving it from collapsing under the weight of risky mortgages it had made.


Bank of America hit with $1.3 billion penalty over Countrywide mortgages - Jul. 30, 2014

Nine delicious, but unhealthy meals - Jul. 30, 2014

Warning: These meals are hazardous to your health. Delicious, perhaps, but hazardous.

French toast with enough saturated fat to last a week, a burger with more than three days worth of sodium and a stack of seafood with more than a day's worth of calories top this year's Xtreme Eating list of meals at full-service restaurant chains.


Nine delicious, but unhealthy meals - Jul. 30, 2014

Brutally honest cover letter leads to job - Jul. 30, 2014

For fresh-faced college graduates looking to land that first job, standing out from the crowd is never easy.

Matthew Ross did just that.


Brutally honest cover letter leads to job - Jul. 30, 2014

Amazon's Fire Phone: a shopping device that makes calls - Jul. 30, 2014

Amazon knows that you're not going to leave your iPhone or Galaxy S behind to buy its new Fire Phone without some convincing.

The Fire Phone costs the same as an iPhone 5S or a Galaxy S5: $650, or $200 with a two-year contract. It has a 4.7-inch screen -- larger than that of the 4-inch iPhone 5s but smaller than the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5. (Apple's forthcoming iPhones, expected in September, will reportedly come in 4.7 and 5.5-inch versions.)


Amazon's Fire Phone: a shopping device that makes calls - Jul. 30, 2014

Colmar, Alsace, France






Colmar, Alsace, France. November 2013.


Facebook doing away with annoying requests to send friends gift cards - Jul. 30, 2014

Facebook is getting out of the business of gift card peddling.

You will no longer be prompted with a wrapped-present icon to send your friends aStarbucks (SBUX) or Target (PBCFX) gift card on their birthdays -- Facebook's (FB,Tech30) Gifts service is set to be discontinued.


Facebook doing away with annoying requests to send friends gift cards - Jul. 30, 2014

'68 Olympians return to Echo Summit

USDA Blog Post:

John Carlos breaks the tape and sets a world record of 19.7 seconds in the 200-meter final during the Olympic Trials in September 1968. Tommie Smith (right) placed second, and Larry Questad (red shorts and white jersey) was third. (Courtesy Track & Field News/Rich Clarkson)
John Carlos breaks the tape and sets a world record of 19.7 seconds in the 200-meter final during the Olympic Trials in September 1968. Tommie Smith (right) placed second, and Larry Questad (red shorts and white jersey) was third. (Courtesy Track & Field News/Rich Clarkson)
On June 27, 11 members of the 1968 U.S. Olympic men’s track and field team returned to the Eldorado National Forest to commemorate the site that helped catapult them to 24 medals — including 12 gold — in the Summer Games that year.
Nearly 46 years ago, Echo Summit, on the forest 10 miles west of South Lake Tahoe in California, was the site of a high-elevation training facility. At an elevation of 7,377 feet, the 400-meter oval track, carved out of a stand of pine trees, was designed to prepare athletes for high-altitude conditions that were similar to those in Mexico City, where the Games would be held. The site was later declared a California historic landmark.
“I want to acknowledge the courage and leadership demonstrated so visibly by the Olympians who trained here before going to Mexico City,” said Laurence Crabtree, Eldorado National Forest supervisor. “Their athleticism attracted the world’s attention and they then had the courage to direct that attention to a much larger issue for us in this country than their speed and their strength.”
John Carlos breaks the tape and sets a world record of 19.7 seconds in the 200-meter final during the Olympic Trials in September 1968. Tommie Smith (right) placed second, and Larry Questad (red shorts and white jersey) was third. (Courtesy Track & Field News/Rich Clarkson)
John Carlos breaks the tape and sets a world record of 19.7 seconds in the 200-meter final during the Olympic Trials in September 1968. Tommie Smith (right) placed second, and Larry Questad (red shorts and white jersey) was third. (Courtesy Track & Field News/Rich Clarkson)
Some of the greatest athletes in U.S. track history arose out of the Echo Summit training facility. During the Olympic Trials there, athletes broke four world records—John Carlos broke the 200-meter sprint record with a time of 19.7; Lee Evans broke the 400-meter sprint record with a 44-second dash; Geoff Vanderstock set the 400-meter intermediate hurdles record with a time of 48.8 seconds; and Bob Seagren set the pole vault record with a vault of 17 feet, 9 inches.
“I’ve heard many people talk about how great this team was. Well, the greatness came from this location. This place breathes, it sweats, it gets cold, it warms up, and more than anything, it manifests love. Because this is where the love and the bonding started amongst all these individuals,” said Carlos, who attended the commemoration. “I think this particular environment kept us mellow and serene for what we had to do in Mexico. We realized all the time we were up here training what we were training for. The medals were great, but we had a greater mission.”
A month later at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, the track and field team set six world records, more than any other team prior. Tommie Smith and Carlos won gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter dash. Smith’s world record of 19.8 seconds stood for 11 years. Smith and Carlos may be best remembered not only for their athletic achievements, but for their raised fists and bowed heads on the medal stand – a statement protesting human rights conditions.
Other highlights included: Jim Hines taking gold in the 100-meter dash; and the Americans sweeping the 400-meter event, with Lee Evans, Larry James and Ron Freeman taking gold, silver and bronze, respectively. The U.S. also won gold in 110-meter hurdles, shot put, discus throw, long jump, high jump, pole vault, 4×100-meter relay, 4×400-meter relay, and decathlon.
The track was torn out and reinstalled at nearby South Tahoe Middle School, where it remained until 2007.  
Nestled among pine trees in the Eldorado National Forest, an Olympic-sized track offered athletes an opportunity to train at high altitude. The U.S. Track and Field Trials were held at the facility several months prior to the Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Mexico City. (Courtesy Track & Field News)
Nestled among pine trees in the Eldorado National Forest, an Olympic-sized track offered athletes an opportunity to train at high altitude. The U.S. Track and Field Trials were held at the facility several months prior to the Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Mexico City. (Courtesy Track & Field News)

Hyundai recalls 883,000 Sonatas - Jul. 30, 2014

Hyundai is recalling 883,000 Sonata sedans, one of its most popular models, for a problem with its transmission that could cause the car to be in a different gear than shown on its display.

The recall covers model year 2011 to 2014 Sonatas.


Hyundai recalls 883,000 Sonatas - Jul. 30, 2014

SPIEGEL Launches Orange Social Design Award - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Vegetables for all and collection bags for second-hand treasures: Smart design doesn't just look good -- it also seeks to do good. That's why we're launching the Orange Social Design Award, to be bestowed on ideas that look great and improve life in the city.



SPIEGEL Launches Orange Social Design Award - SPIEGEL ONLINE

No hot sauce for Buffalo Wild Wings stock - Jul. 30, 2014

Football season is around the corner, but one of the country's most popular wing joints isn't promising total domination on the field of spicy deliciousness.

Shares of Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) plunged more than 15% Wednesday after the company's outlook for the second half of the year came in below analyst forecasts.


No hot sauce for Buffalo Wild Wings stock - Jul. 30, 2014

GM sued by more than 600 recall victims - Jul. 30, 2014

More than 600 victims of crashes involving recalled General Motors cars have gone to federal court seeking compensation from the automaker.

Most of the victims in the case, including 29 people who died, can't receive money from thecompensation fund that GM has set up to pay victims of the recall of 2.6 million vehicles with faulty ignition switches. That's because their vehicles were not part of that recall.


GM sued by more than 600 recall victims - Jul. 30, 2014

AT&T strikes deal with Netflix to boost streaming speeds - Jul. 30, 2014

Netflix is paying up once again to boost lagging streaming speeds.

The online video service has reached a deal with AT&T to connect directly to the telecom giant's network, rather than delivering its traffic through third-party. That should improve streaming quality for Netflix (NFLXTech30) subscribers whose Internet service is provided by AT&T (TTech30).


AT&T strikes deal with Netflix to boost streaming speeds - Jul. 30, 2014

Thune on the President’s Failure to Lead - YouTube

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Thune on the President’s Failure to Lead - YouTube

Thune at Finance on Trade Enforcement - YouTube

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Thune at Finance on Trade Enforcement - YouTube

Thune at Finance on Tax Reform - YouTube

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Thune at Finance on Tax Reform - YouTube

Inhofe takes to Senate floor in support of Israel - YouTube

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Inhofe takes to Senate floor in support of Israel - YouTube

Corker: Obama Administration Won’t Commit to Seeking Congressional Review of Final Iran Nuclear Deal - YouTube

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Corker: Obama Administration Won’t Commit to Seeking Congressional Review of Final Iran Nuclear Deal - YouTube

Basil Cathedral






Cathedral at Basil, Switzerland. November 2013.


Building the Statue of Liberty Preview - YouTube

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Building the Statue of Liberty Preview - YouTube

College dorm shopping? Make a registry - Jul. 30, 2014

Move over brides and expectant moms: Now college-bound kids want to be showered with gifts also.

Gift registries have long been popular for lots of big life events, and now we can add college to the list.


College dorm shopping? Make a registry - Jul. 30, 2014

U.S. losing tech talent to Canada - Jul. 30, 2014

The land of the free isn't catering to talented techies quite like our neighbors to the north. So many entrepreneurs have given up on navigating the complicated U.S. immigration system and are heading to Canada to launch their startups.

For Madhuri Eunni -- originally from Hyderabad, India -- Canada offered her the ability to finally launch her own company, which she wasn't able to do in the U.S.


U.S. losing tech talent to Canada - Jul. 30, 2014

Stocks get boost from economic data - Jul. 30, 2014

The economy has snapped out of its winter stupor, but investors were playing it cool early Wednesday as they brace for the latest statement from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down slightly, while the S&P 500 was flat. TheNasdaq was up 0.3%.


Stocks get boost from economic data - Jul. 30, 2014

Big bankers: Wait 7 years for your full bonus - Jul. 30, 2014

It's time to get tough on high-rolling bankers. For real this time.

Regulators in the U.K. are proposing stiff new rules that would see banks withhold part of the bonuses due to top managers for seven years. Other bankers that make over £500,000 a year would only receive their bonuses in full after five years.


Big bankers: Wait 7 years for your full bonus - Jul. 30, 2014

Russia trading back up after 2-hour halt - Jul. 30, 2014

Trading in Russia's largest stock market was mysteriously interrupted on Wednesday for nearly two hours before resuming.

It's not clear what caused the trading halt, but the MICEX exchange apologized for the "inconvenience" and said the issue is "being investigated."


Russia trading back up after 2-hour halt - Jul. 30, 2014

After terrible start to the year, the U.S. economy bounces back - Jul. 30, 2014

What a relief. The deep economic contraction earlier this year was temporary after all.

New data released Wednesday show the U.S. economy bounced back in the spring, growing at a 4% annual pace in the second quarter. That was even better than the forecast of 3% growth, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by CNNMoney.


After terrible start to the year, the U.S. economy bounces back - Jul. 30, 2014

Meat scandal takes a bite out of McDonald's sales in Japan - Jul. 30, 2014

A tainted meat scandal that originated in China is now starting to stink up McDonald's sales.

The fast food chain's Japanese unit said Tuesday that it will fall short of profit and sales targets for the year, after a longtime meat supplier was shut down last week by authorities for unsanitary practices.


Meat scandal takes a bite out of McDonald's sales in Japan - Jul. 30, 2014

Chevy Volt top safety pick says insurance group - Jul. 30, 2014

What's the safest car on the road? It's the one that can avoid getting into a crash all together.

That's why General Motors' (GM) Chevy Volt won top marks for safety in small cars.


Chevy Volt top safety pick says insurance group - Jul. 30, 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Unleashing Climate Data to Empower America's Agricultural Sector

USDA Blog Post:

Cross-posted from the White House Blog:
Today, in a major step to advance the President’s Climate Data Initiative, the Obama administration is inviting leaders of the technology and agricultural sectors to the White House to discuss new collaborative steps to unleash data that will help ensure our food system is resilient to the effects of climate change.
More intense heat waves, heavier downpours, and severe droughts and wildfires out west are already affecting the nation’s ability to produce and transport safe food. The recently released National Climate Assessment makes clear that these kinds of impacts are projected to become more severe over this century.
Food distributors, agricultural businesses, farmers, and retailers need accessible, useable data, tools, and information to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of their operations – from water availability, to timing of planting and harvest, to storage practices, and more.
Today’s convening at the White House will include formal commitments by a host of private-sector companies and nongovernmental organizations to support the President’s Climate Data Initiative by harnessing climate data in ways that will increase the resilience of America’s food system and help reduce the contribution of the nation’s agricultural sector to climate change.
Microsoft Research, for instance, will grant 12 months of free cloud-computing resources to winners of a national challenge to create a smartphone app that helps farmers increase the resilience of their food production systems in the face of weather variability and climate change; the Michigan Agri-Business Association will soon launch a publicly available web-based mapping tool for use by the state’s agriculture sector; and the U.S. dairy industry will test and pilot four new modules – energy, feed, nutrient, and herd management – on the data-driven Farm Smart environmental-footprint calculation tool by the end of 2014. These are just a few among dozens of exciting commitments.
And the federal government is also stepping up. Today, anyone can log onto climate.data.gov and find new features that make data accessible and usable about the risks of climate change to food production, delivery, and nutrition – including current and historical data from the Census of Agriculture on production, supply, and distribution of agricultural products, and data on climate-change-related risks such as storms, heat waves, and drought.
These steps are a direct response to the President’s call for all hands on deck to generate further innovation to help prepare America’s communities and business for the impacts of climate change.
We are delighted about the steps being announced by dozens of collaborators today, and we can’t wait to see what further tools, apps, and services are developed as the Administration and its partners continue to unleash data to make America’s agriculture enterprise stronger and more resilient than ever before.