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.

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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