New USDA Map May Mean Earlier Planting In North

A new map from the USDA has some northern gardeners hoping to grow plants that used to be considered too fragile for cold weather zones. The hardiness zone chart is about a half zone warmer than the last one issued in 1990. The USDA says the changes are not due to global warming, but to more sophisticated mapping methods. Seed sellers and buyers say that, whatever the reason, the warmer temperatures expand possibilities for planting this spring.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/02/03/146362934/new-usda-map-may-mean-earlier-planting-in-north?ft=1&f=1007

bill clinton

Presidential Fathers and Sons

Michael Medved, Wall Street Journal
Voters this year look set to continue an odd pattern that's prevailed in presidential politics for a quarter century. They will elect either a candidate with a famous father or with no father.The surviving serious contenders—Barack Obama, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney—all exemplify one of these two categories. For the seventh consecutive election, the winning candidate will be either a privileged prince with an adored, powerful patriarch, or an up-from-nothing scrapper with no relationship with his biological dad.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/02/05/presidential_fathers_and_sons_272975.html

fox news

Former Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White calls voter fraud verdict 'a travesty'

Republican Secretary of State Charlie White was charged with illegally registering to vote at his ex-wife’s house, and was convicted on six of seven felony voter-related counts in the early hours Saturday morning by a Hamilton County jury in Noblesville, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis.


Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/y3iHTFJg_OU/

george w bush

As Population Shifts, So Do Political Tactics

In the last decade, population growth in Western swing states outpaced the national average, according to David Damore, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With the Nevada Republican caucus underway, guest host David Greene talks with Damore about the electoral shift and the issues potential voters in the region view as priorities.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/02/04/146393356/as-population-shifts-so-do-political-tactics?ft=1&f=1014

al gore

Senate passes bill to ban insider trading among lawmakers

Trying to restore lawmakers' sagging image with voters, the Senate has passed a bill to explicitly prohibit members of Congress, top aides and senior administration officials from insider trading. It requires them to publicly disclose financial transactions within 30 days instead of once a year.


Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/AeBwmH1lc4Q/

hillary clinton

From Shipwrecked Concordia, A Treasure Beckons

It may be just a matter of time before treasure hunters set their sights on the ship's sunken spoils. The Costa Concordia was essentially a floating luxury hotel and many of the passengers embarked on the ill-fated cruise with their finest clothes and jewels.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/02/02/146302610/from-shipwrecked-concordia-a-treasure-beckons?ft=1&f=1004

harry reid