Contrary to the Americans who, in spite of blunt evidence, still worship the act of marriage, with its fairy-tale rituals of proposing and funny kneeling, the French have a much more pessimistic, more realistic even, vision of the knot.

CNN: Gay rights: How U.S. leads the way

Building on the tax cuts in the Recovery Act, we're proposing a complete elimination of capital gains taxes on small business investment along with an extension of write-offs to encourage small businesses to expand in the coming year.

WHITEHOUSE: Job Creation and Economic Growth

In March, two European leaders Nicolas Sarkozy, of France, and David Cameron, of the United Kingdom prepared to act on their own, proposing a no-fly zone to protect civilians from what appeared to be an imminent massacre.

NEWYORKER: The Thin Red Line

Then in 1945 he published a paper proposing the concept of space stations which would orbit the Earth and be able to act as transmitters of radio waves.

BBC: Legendary science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke at 80

In addition, the Administration is proposing changes to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of investment in U.S. infrastructure and real estate to a broader universe of private investors.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House