Topic: California

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Playing the IRS card: Six presidents who used the IRS to bash political foes

Since the advent of the federal income tax about a century ago, several presidents – or their zealous underlings – have directed the IRS to use its formidable police powers to harass or punish enemies, political rivals, and administration critics. Here are six infamous episodes.
Briefing
IRS 101: Seven questions about the tea party scandal

The Internal Revenue Service is under the microscope now, as revelations have emerged that the agency wrongly targeted conservative groups seeking nonprofit status. Here’s an accounting of what has happened, along with the ramifications.
20 most obscure team nicknames in pro sports

Most pro team nicknames make sense at some level. But there are a fair number of head-scratching nicknames. Here are 20 with explanations on their selection:
Fortune 500: Top 10 companies in 2013

Fortune has released its annual list of the largest corporations in the United States, and there were a few notable changes in this year’s group. Here are the Top 10.
GMO, Organic, and seven other food labels you should know

A quick, easy guide to nine commonly seen (and misunderstood) food labels, from 'GMO' to 'grass-fed.'

All Content

Web gardens around the world

Best gardening blogs
Letters to the Editor

Readers write about the Golan Heights and immigration issues in America.
The race for nonfood biofuel

High gas prices and politics push companies toward the ‘holy grail’ of biofuel: cellulosic ethanol.
What comes after silicon?

As computer chips get faster, normal materials may not keep up – physics won’t allow it.
My favorite cookbook

Readers share their picks.
Diplomacy thriving, but without U.S.

The fall election and an era of diffused power may be factors.
Red planet, in black and white
More Mail Bag matches

Readers remember their experiences with the Monitor's old pen-pal column.
Warm-up for a global-warming law

Congress to begin work on a bill the next president would be willing to sign.
Letters to the Editor

Readers write about negotiating with terrorists and taxing college endowments.
Imports fall, improving U.S. trade balance

The shift reflects consumer stress, but it could help boost US manufacturers.
Unlikely residents: Tropical parrots thrive in US cities
Bud and blossom – symbols of hope

The longing for beauty sprouts fresh in adversity.
Letters to the Editor

Readers write about disaster aid and extremists' viewpoints of US presidential candidates.
Water-rich New England builds ... a desalination plant?

Brockton, Mass., seeks a certain supply to assure growth. Some worry about what such installations portend.
How does your city’s carbon footprint stack up?

A report by the Brookings Institution looks at the 100 largest metro areas in the US, using data on residential energy consumption and highway transportation.
Is water becoming ‘the new oil’?

Population, pollution, and climate put the squeeze on potable supplies – and private companies smell a profit. Others ask: Should water be a human right?
Etc.
USA
Cellphones go into visual search mode
Letters to the Editor

Readers write about the farm bill, the dollar's power, and whale-inspired technology.
How to catch a wave in just a weekend of trying

Our Little Kahuna investigates the best way to sample surf if you've never done it before: skimboarding, bodyboarding, or surfing.
Seniors record stories to preserve personal history

With notebooks, tape recorders, and video cameras, families are coaxing a lifetime of memories from beloved relatives.
RFK as orator and candidate

Robert Kennedy moved voters with talk of social justice.
Etc.