Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Switzerland and the Czech Republic broke new ground in Davis Cup tennis on Saturday playing out the longest match in the tournament's history in Geneva.

Lasting seven hours and two minutes, the doubles match between Swiss pair Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli and Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol comfortably beat the previous record of six hours 20 minutes set in 1982 when John McEnroe beat Mats Wilander (9-7 6-2 15-17 3-6 8-6) in the tie between the United States and Sweden.

The epic match eventually went the Czech pair's way 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-7(5-7) 24-22 to hand them a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday's reverse singles.

Wawrinka, who toiled for five hours against Novak Djokovic in Melbourne two weeks ago, tweeted after the match: "Ice bath done! Now massage and food... Lets be ready for tomorrow!!!!???? ... And congrats to Berdich and Rosol!"

The Swiss no.2 must win the first singles match against Berdych on Sunday to keep the tie alive.

The U.S.'s tie with Brazil in Florida is also well poised after the Bryan brothers suffered a shock five-set defeat (6-7 7-6 4-6 6-3 3-6) to Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares on Saturday.

John Isner will play Thomaz Bellucci in the first reverse singles match on Sunday. Should he win, the U.S. will play Serbia in the quarterfinals in April.

The 2010 champions reached the last eight on Saturday when Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic defeated Belgian pair Steve Darcis and Ruben Bemelmans in four sets 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-4. The victory followed wins for world no.1 Novak Djokovic and Troicki in Friday's singles matches.

Surefooted Djokovic wins

France are also safely through to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Israel in Rouen.

Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau beat Israeli pairing Dudi Sela and Jonathan Erlich in straight sets 7-6 (7/3) 6-1 6-0 which followed singles' wins for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet on Friday.

The French, whose last Davis Cup triumph was in 2001 will now play Argentina after they whitewashed Germany in Buenos Aires -- David Nalbandian and Horacio Zeballos winning their doubles match against Christopher Kas and Tobias Kamke 6-1 6-4 5-7 6-2.

In Vancouver, Spain -- runners up in 2012 -- are in danger of losing to Canada. The hosts are currently 2-0 up against a Spanish team without Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro and Fernando Verdasco.

The ties between Italy and Croatia and Kazakhstan and Austria will be decided on Sunday.

Italy hold the edge in their tie in Turin after Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini won their doubles match against Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig on Saturday.

Austra fought back against Kazakhstan in Astana on Saturday with Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya winning their doubles match against Andrey Golubev and Yuriy Schukin in straight sets 7-6 6-3 7-6.

Response: Switzerland and Czech Republic play longest doubles match in Davis Cup history. Czech Republic win 24-22 in final set in match lasting seven hours and two minutes. Bryan brothers suffer shock loss to Brazilian pair in Florida. Serbia and France safely through to quarterfinal after 3-0 wins over Belgium and Israel.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- "I hope you have a boy." These were the words of a well-wisher to Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and Prince Philip on the eve of the birth of their first child in 1948.

Prospects look considerably brighter for royal girls in 2013. Over the past few weeks, as the craze surrounding the birth of the Duke and Duchess's first-born has reached fever pitch, there's been very little fantasizing of princes per se. If anything, the pendulum now seems to have swung the other way.

Perusing the web, I've been struck by how many comments indicate a popular preference for a girl. To quote one particularly enthusiastic respondent to a recent article on the royal birth, "I'm personally wishing it to be a girl for the good of the entire human race and the sustainability of the planet."

Why the shift in sentiment?

In part, the enthusiasm for royal daughters can be attributed to the passage of the Succession to the Crown Act, which became law in late April 2013. The act, greenlighted to save the British government from the embarrassment of denying the throne to William and Kate's first-born -- should that first-born be a girl -- erases the male preference in royal succession.

The change in law means that the new royal baby, regardless of its sex, will be third in line to the throne. Thus, the refreshing banality of Kate's recent statement that, "I'd like to have a boy -- and William would like a girl!" From a constitutional perspective, the sex of the child no longer makes a difference.

There's another reason for the eagerness, at least in some quarters, for a female heir. The very uncontroversial nature of the passage of the Succession to the Crown Act reflects a particular historical reality in Britain. Male preference aside, women have worn the crown there for most of the past two centuries.

Queen Victoria reigned for almost 64 years; Queen Elizabeth II has already clocked in 61. That's a lot of time to get accustomed to female sovereigns. And not just accustomed to them, but extremely fond of them in the process.

While Victoria's reign (1837-1901) was regarded as an "accident" until the very end, it was an "accident" that most Britons came to consider a very happy one. As the muckraking journalist William Thomas Stead proclaimed in 1897, the year of Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, "England indeed has been fortunate in her Queens." So confident was Stead in queens' abilities to lead the British nation that he would go on to note that, "Many a time and oft has the idea recurred in these later years whether by some inversion of the Salic law our dynastic line could be made to pass only through female sovereigns. This being past praying for, we shall do well to make the most of our good Queens when we have them."

Surely there was something overly compensatory about Stead's remarks. Queen's reigns, under the terms of the old succession laws, were always understood to some extent as aberrational. As Victoria herself once confided to her prime minister, William Gladstone, "The queen is a woman herself and knows what an anomaly her own position is."

Yet the "anomalousness" of female sovereigns was far more of a problem in the early modern period than in the modern time. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Britain emerged as a constitutional monarchy, with the king -- or queen -- taking on an increasingly ceremonial or "dignified" function. Women have shone in this role (both on and off the throne), helping to transform the monarchy into an institution intimately connected with cultural diplomacy, middle-class morality, family life and charity work. (Queen Elizabeth is currently involved with more than 600 different charities.)

Historians often describe this as a "feminization" process. Whatever it is, it's a role to which women, for a wide range of reasons, are more habituated to playing.

The real question we should be asking, then, in the days leading up to the royal birth, is not 'boy or girl?' It's whether we would have the same levels of enthusiasm, or at least complacency, regarding a female heir, if that heir were to inherit a position that had significant executive, legislative or judicial powers.

The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Arianne Chernock.

Response: Arianne Chernock: Popular opinion prefers that Prince William and Kate have a girl. Chernock: The fervor has to do with a new succession law that gives girls equal rights. She says another reason is women have worn the crown in Britain in recent history.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Dropping like flies.

Yet another one of the names floated to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has removed themselves from consideration for the role.

According to a source familiar with the process, MichÃ¨le Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, sent a letter Tuesday to the Board of Directors of The Center for a New American Security, a Washington, DC, think tank where she serves as CEO, that "family concerns" drove her decision.

The same source says that she informed the President of her decision last night.

Flournoy is the third big name to remove themselves from the consideration process, after the President announced Hagel's resignation on Monday.

On Monday afternoon. a spokesperson for Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, who served in the Army's 82nd Airborne, said he "loves his job and wants to continue serving the people of Rhode Island in the United States Senate."

Another name that has been floated is Sen. Carl Levin, of Michigan. But an aide to Levin tells CNN that the retiring Armed Services Committee chairman has not been approached by the White House yet and he is not interested in the job.

"He is looking forward to returning home full time," Levin's spokeswoman Tara Andringa told CNN.

Levin is 80 and has served six terms in the Senate.

Other names being floated for the gig include White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and â€‹former Defense Secretary Colin Powell. But a source familiar with the search process tells CNN that neither are being considered.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, on the other hand, could be in the mix, according to the source.

A senior administration official said the President still wants to make his pick "as soon as possible."

"Days not weeks," the official added.

The official also said that the President's preference remains that he wants somebody who is steeped in the inner workings of the Pentagon. The development that Flournoy had removed herself from consideration took several officials by surprise.

Response: Michele Flournoy takes herself out of the running for Secretary of Defense. Obama wants to pick a replacement for Hagel "as soon as possible," sources say. Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, an Army veteran, also declined interest.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(EW.com) -- Zooey Deschanel is bringing her quirky style to a Macy's near you.

The "New Girl" star has partnered with Tommy Hilfiger to create a 16-piece clothing collection called "To Tommy, From Zooey," which is scheduled to arrive in stores this spring.

Items like coats and peek-a-boo print dresses will be priced between $98 and $199.

Several pieces combine '60s mod silhouettes with color-blocking and nautical accents, a look the actress describes as "Modical." According to a release from Hilfiger's press team, the line "captures the buoyant attitude of the sixties, the decade in which Hilfiger made his fashion debut and from which Deschanel borrows her doe-eyed look."

"Working with Tommy on this capsule collection has been really amazing," Deschanel said. "I am a fashion fanatic and I am always looking for new ways to incorporate vintage, feminine pieces into my own wardrobe. Tommy and I share many of the same inspirations â€” old school music, classic films and old Hollywood icons â€” and his guidance during the design process helped to put a really unique twist on each piece."

"Each piece is original and fun," added Hilfiger. "The collection is the perfect fusion of Zooey's adventurous style and the classic, cool, American spirit at the heart of the Tommy Hilfiger brand."

The "To Tommy, From Zooey" line will be sold in over 200 Macy's stores and Tommy Hilfiger outposts in North America, Europe, Mexico and Japan starting April 14th. (A selection of handbags and jewelry will follow later in the month.) The actress will promote the collection by appearing at events in New York, Los Angeles, and Mexico and will also appear in an ad campaign shot by photographer Carter Smith.

Tell us: Would you wear clothes designed by Zooey Deschanel?

See the original story at EW.com.

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© 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Response: Deschanel will have a 16-piece clothing collection called "To Tommy, From Zooey". There will be items like coats and peek-a-boo print dresses. Each piece is original and fun," says Hilfiger.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Negotiating teams from Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to end a dispute on oil payments to allow the resumption of southern oil exports through Sudan's territories, Sudan's state-run Ashorooq TV reported early Saturday, citing official sources.

The negotiating teams met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the head of the African Union, the state-run TV station said. Both countries still have to discuss when to resume southern oil exports through the north.

Sudan's economy has suffered since the separation of South Sudan last year, which took with it nearly 75% of the country's oil wealth. While most of the oil wells are in the south, the pipelines and port to export the oil are in the north.

The agreement covers how much the landlocked South Sudan will pay to use those facilities.

South Sudan halted oil production in late January after accusing Sudan of stealing $815 million worth of its crude. Sudan said it had confiscated the oil to make up for unpaid fees.

The negotiating teams agreed that Sudan will receive $25.80 per barrel that passes through pipelines from the south to the north as an export tax and refining cost, Ashorooq TV reported. The teams are expected to meet later Saturday to discuss territorial disputes.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the deal Saturday, saying it "reflects leadership and a new spirit of compromise on both sides."

"The Government of Sudan deserves credit for taking this step," Clinton said in a statement. "If Sudan would now also take the steps to peace in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur, and if it will respect the rights of all citizens, it can likewise give its people a brighter future."

Border clashes have brought the countries to the brink of war and left South Sudan coping with a massive humanitarian crisis as people flee the fighting.

The South Sudan state of Upper Nile has been flooded with refugees crossing the border from Sudan. In total, aid agencies estimate that at least 150,000 refugees from Sudan are currently in South Sudan.

Regarding two areas in the Blue Nile and Nubia, the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, a rebel force in the border region, agreed to a partial cease-fire so humanitarian aid could reach victims of hostilities, the state-run TV station said.

CNN's Amir Ahmed contributed to this report.

Response: NEW: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the deal Saturday. While most oil wells are in the south, the pipelines and port are in the north. South Sudan halted oil production in January after accusing Sudan of stealing.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(MNN.com) -- I don't know if I've watched too many scary movies lately, but I've been pondering natural burial alternatives for dearly departed pets. I know eco-sensitive burial methods are increasingly popular with humans, but I wasn't sure about pets, so I checked it out.

Ecologically sensitive burial methods have risen in popularity as of late, thanks much in part to the shaky economic climate. For budget-conscious families and green-minded mourners alike, cremation has emerged as an especially attractive alternative to old-fashioned burials that cost an arm and leg and are extremely resource intensive -- those resources being toxic embalming chemicals like formaldehyde, and concrete, steel and timber.

Then, of course, there's the land itself and the copious amount of water and landscaping chemicals needed to keep the carefully manicured plot where your great Aunt Enid is interred looking its best.

Although cremation, in the end, is greener than traditional $4,000 metal casket-in-the-ground burials, it isn't without environmental minuses, specifically in terms of energy use and emissions.

When it comes to sending a pet off into the great beyond, the options -- and their eco-drawbacks -- are similar: burial in a pet cemetery -- or zoological necropolis, if you will -- or more commonly, cremation.

There's also the bury-in-the-yard option, although you may want to check in with any local ordinances that may prohibit this if you plan on interring anything larger than a hamster, canary or goldfish.

MNN: Former Marine wins fight to adopt retired bomb-sniffing dog

If you go this route, you should also probably not plan on moving anytime in the near future. And then there's freeze-dried taxidermy for those who really can't stand the thought of parting with their furry companion.

There is a natural pet burial movement, although it's a relatively small one. Founded in 2010 by Eric Greene, the Green Pet-Burial Society is a nonprofit organization that offers "support for a gentle return" and seems to be the go-to resource for those curious about pet burials where eco-friendly/biodegradable containers, shrouds and unadorned pine boxes placed in natural settings are favored over plastic boxes and immaculately landscaped pet cemeteries.

The Green Pet-Burial Society works in cooperation with the Green Burial Council in certifying eco-friendly pet cemeteries and maintains a list of participating providers including green cemeteries like Dust to Dust in Swansea, South Carolina., and the Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve in Glendale, Florida., that allow pet remains to be buried in family plots.

Some pet cemeteries, such as Pennsylvania's Keystone Pet Cemetery, offer "Bio Cremation," a process that uses alkaline hydrolysis instead of fire and boasts a dramatically reduced carbon footprint: It cuts natural gas usage by 90%, electricity usage by 66%, and CO2 emissions by 90%.

So there you have it -- the small but growing green pet burial movement. Not to be a Donald Downer, but if you have the chance, I'd also check out this story about pet estate planning (yes, estate planning ... there's quite a few wealthy animal heirs out there) and grieving. In the meantime, enjoy frolicking with your pets while you can.

© Copyright 2011 Mother Nature Network

Response: Ecologically sensitive burial methods have risen in popularity. For a bury-in-the-yard option, you may want to check in with your local ordinances. 'Bio Cremation' uses alkaline hydrolysis instead of fire and leaves a lighter carbon footprint.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- A British football fan has been shot and wounded in Kyrgyzstan after a local became upset with a group of supporters chanting in a bar.

England fans celebrate following victory against Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup finals.

The incident took place ahead of England's World Cup qualifying match away to neighboring Kazakhstan on Saturday.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman said the attack took place in a bar in Bishek on Tuesday.

"The British honorary consul is liaising with those involved and with the local authorities," she said.

Britain's Sun newspaper reported on Thursday that the local in the bar told the England fan and his friends to stop chanting, and shot him in the thigh with a pistol when they continued.

The wounded man is aged in his 30s and is from Rochdale in the north-western county of Lancashire, the paper said.

Kyrgyzstan, with a population of more than five million people, is a landlocked nation bordered to the north by Kazakhstan.

England will be seeking to maintain a 100 per cent record in the European Group Six qualifier in Almaty, having won all five games so far to be five points ahead of second-placed Croatia.

Response: England supporter shot in the leg in a bar in Kyrgyzstan by an angry local. The local was upset by the chanting of the man and his fellow supporters. The British Foreign Office says the attack took place in Bishek on Tuesday. England will play neighboring Kazakhstan in World Cup qualifier on Saturday.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- It turned out to be a duel between the young, reigning world champion and a motorcycling racing legend. The former won.

Marc Marquez held off Valentino Rossi to claim the opening MotoGP race of the season in Qatar on Sunday, picking up where he left off last year. That despite breaking his leg last month while dirt biking.

Marquez took control in his Repsol Honda with nine of the 22 laps remaining but nine-time world champion Rossi caught him with two laps to go in his Yamaha.

The lead changed hands a few times until Marquez led entering the final lap -- and Rossi couldn't get close enough to pass him again. Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa finished a distant third.

"I enjoyed a lot that race, especially after the injury," Marquez told BT Sport. "I didn't expect that race, honestly. But yesterday I had a good feeling and today the last lap with Valentino, I didn't think about the leg and the injury.

"The last lap I pushed my 100% but not before we overtook each other two or three times. It was so nice, no?"

The 21-year-old, who lost his pole advantage seconds after the start, saved his fastest lap time for the end.

But Rossi wasn't too disappointed, especially since he began well behind on the grid.

"I was a little bit not precise in my mind because I said, 'What do I do? Do I attack?'" Rossi told BT Sport. "But starting from 10th, second is a great result.

"Marc was strong. I tried, tried and tried but at the end I was unfortunately a little bit too far (away).

"I enjoyed the race very much."

Rossi's teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, didn't.

The two-time MotoGP world champion -- and last year's winner in Qatar -- crashed in the first lap after a blistering start that saw him move to the front.

He was unhurt.

"Luckily I feel good," he told BT Sport. "I lost the front. I made a junior mistake."

The second race of the season takes place April 13 in Austin.

Response: Reigning world champion Marc Marquez wins the opening MotoGP race of season. Marquez holds off nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi under the lights in Qatar. Former world champion Jorge Lorenzo took the lead in the first lap before crashing. Marquez's teammate Dani Pedrosa moves up to take third place.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- The World Cup's most prolific goal scorer has hung up his golden boots.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored a total of 16 goals at four World Cup finals, announced his retirement from international football on Monday.

The 36-year-old scored two goals at this summer's tournament to surpass former Brazil striker Ronaldo's record of 15 as Germany lifted the trophy for the first time in 24 years.

Polish-born Klose scored five goals at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan and five more in Germany four years later -- a feat that earned him the Golden Boot that year.

Four more followed in South Africa in 2010 before two goals -- a crucial equalizer in the group game against Ghana and a second in Germany's 7-1 rout of hosts Brazil in the semifinals -- completed his tally.

Klose also has the distinction of being Germany's all-time top goal scorer with 71 goals from 137 internationals.

"The success of the team stood and always stands for me in the highest place," Klose said in a statement published on the German national side's official website.

"With the national team I achieved our greatest goal, a goal which we had together within the squad.

"In addition, I achieved personal goals and those who know me know that I am very ambitious, but I am a striker and the task of a striker is to score goals.

"Therefore the records never concerned me, but it was always about giving my best for the team."

German national coach, Joachim Low heaped praise on the retiring marksman.

"He has given everything for Germany," Low said in a statement.

"I have the greatest respect for Miroslav's decision as well as (his) incredible national team career that will be hard to beat ... I am happy and grateful that I was able to work with Miroslav Klose.

The striker announced in July that he will play club football for one more season before retiring altogether.

Klose, who joined Lazio from Bayern Munich in 2011, signed a one-year extension to his contract with the Serie A side in May.

Read more: U.S. soccer legend Donovan retires

Response: World Cup finals' most prolific striker calls it a day following Germany's 2014 triumph. Klose scored 16 goals in four World Cup finals and 71 in total for Germany in 137 matches. Klose: "Records never concerned me -- it was always about giving my best for the team.".


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced the resignations Tuesday of three high-level government officials, most notably Communications and Transport Secretary Luis Tellez Kuenzler.

The government of Mexican President Felipe Calderon, seen here in January, is facing elections in July.

Abraham Gonzalez, a key official for the powerful ministry that oversees Mexico's government, also resigned. So did Sergio Vela Martinez, president of the National Council for Culture and the Arts.

No official reasons were given for any of the resignations, which analysts said did not appear to be related. But at least two of the resignations did not come as a surprise.

Tellez, who stepped down from a Cabinet-level post, had been involved for weeks in a controversy over taped comments revealed last month by CNN journalist Carmen Aristegui.

In the taped conversation, Tellez said former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari had stolen government money. Salinas has not been formally accused of any crime.

Tellez received an anonymous threat in late February from an apparent political enemy telling him to resign or more damaging audiotapes would be released to the media. He refused and turned the matter over to authorities.

Ana Maria Salazar Slack, a political analyst who is host of a daily radio show in Mexico City, called it "an almost soap opera-ish scandal" that left Calderon little choice but to force Tellez to resign.

"Although Calderon wanted to keep him in office, it made it very difficult to keep him there," she said.

Calderon moved Tellez to a post as a presidential aide dealing with economic matters.

Other observers also were not surprised by the move.

"That was waiting to happen," said Andrew Selee, director of the Mexico Institute at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center. "But evidently the president values his counsel and has kept him in a high-profile position in the presidency from which he'll continue to have influence."

Robert Pastor, the Latin America national security adviser for President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s, praised Tellez but said political considerations prevailed.

"He's a very competent fellow," Pastor said. "One of the most competent people I've known in Mexico. But this tape in particular was very embarrassing."

In a televised news conference after Calderon announced the changes, Tellez expressed his "gratitude for this opportunity that few Mexicans obtain."

Replacing Tellez will be Juan Molinar Horcasitas, the head of the Mexican Institute for Social Security.

Molinar belongs to the same party as Calderon, the National Action Party [PAN], while Tellez belongs to the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party [PRI]. That played a role, Slack said.

"The president is sending a signal to his party that he's going to support people from his own party," Slack said. "Beyond the political scandals of the tapes, there's a decision for the president to appoint people very close to the party."

Gonzalez's departure was not a surprise either, since he is running for a congressional seat in July and Mexican law requires him to resign.

Analysts spoke highly of Gonzalez's replacement, Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez. He had been the top person in the foreign ministry for Latin and North America.

"Gutierrez moving in is outstanding," the Mexico Institute's Selee said, calling him "one of the smartest people ... I've met" and "an impressive guy."

Consuelo Saizar Guerrero takes over as head of the National Council for Culture and the Arts, replacing Vela, whose reasons for resigning were not disclosed. Saizar previously served as head of the Economic Culture Fund, the government's book-publishing enterprise.

The arts and culture post will play a significant role in 2010, when Mexico celebrates 100 years of its social revolution and 200 years of its declaration of independence, radio analyst Slack said.

As for the timing of resignations from three key posts, Slack linked it to Mexico's election calendar.

"In order to understand these changes," she said, "you have to understand there are midterm elections in July. So if there are going to be any changes, they have to take place right now."

Meanwhile, Peter Hakim, president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue, said the changes do not portend a political shift.

"This doesn't sound like any major direction in change for Calderon," Hakim said.

Response: Analyst says timing of resignations linked to Mexican midterm elections in July. Communications and transport secretary resigns amid controversy over comments. Key official for ministry that oversees Mexico's government leaves.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Thomas Perez has climbed America's "ladder of opportunity" and now can help others do the same, President Barack Obama said on Monday in nominating the assistant U.S. attorney general as labor secretary.

The son of Dominican immigrants who worked different jobs such as collecting garbage to help pay for college, Perez has dedicated himself to fulfilling the promise of equal opportunity for all, Obama told a White House ceremony to introduce Perez, 51.

CNN's Jessica Yellin reported earlier this month that Obama would name Perez to the Cabinet position.

If confirmed by the Senate, the lone Hispanic Cabinet selection of Obama's second term so far would succeed Hilda Solis, who resigned in January.

In brief remarks, Perez thanked Obama in both English and Spanish for what he called the honor of the opportunity.

He pledged to work with "our partners" in organized labor, the business community, grassroots organizations and Congress, adding that he looked forward to meeting with senators from both parties to discuss the way forward.

"True progress is possible if you keep and open mind, listen to all sides and focus on results," Perez said.

Obama urged that Perez be confirmed "as quickly as possible."

Perez's nomination comes as the economy continues a sluggish recovery from recession, with unemployment hovering near 8%.

The Labor Department, among other things, oversees analysis and reporting of unemployment statistics as well as occupational safety and other wage and employment issues.

While some indicators show improvement, economists warn some fragility remains and political leaders are divided on policy prescriptions for stronger growth.

Obama and Democrats call for a combination of stimulus spending, budget cuts and reforms to the tax system and entitlement programs to reduce chronic federal deficits and debt while maintaining government support for education, research and other areas they consider vital to economic development.

Republicans seeking to shrink government say that reducing its cost is the fastest and best way to prompt growth by reducing regulations and lowering taxes. They call for spending cuts and entitlement reforms, as well as changes to the tax system that would reduce rates without increasing revenue.

In nominating Perez, Obama called on him to continue efforts by Solis and her team on helping returning war veterans get jobs, improving worker safety in coal mines and other steps to strengthen workers' rights.

"Like so many Americans, Tom knows what it is like to climb the ladder of opportunity," Obama said, adding that Perez made protecting the promise of equal opportunity for all "a cause of his life."

The Labor Department would likely play a role in new employment programs under any comprehensive immigration reform.

Perez's nomination pleased unions and workers' rights groups, but rankled Senate conservatives due in part to his record at the Justice Department.

"This is an unfortunate and needlessly divisive nomination. The top priority of the secretary of labor should be to create jobs and higher wages for American workers. But Mr. Perez has aggressively sought ways to allow the hiring of more illegal workers,"  said Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. "Mr. Perez has also had a controversial tenure at the Department of Justice where he has demonstrated a fundamentally political approach to the law."

Perez, who has overseen the agency's civil rights division, has been active in several high-profile cases in recent years.

In 2010, he launched a probe into the law enforcement tactics of Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio after the lawman's hard line anti-immigration policies led to accusations of civil rights violations.

The Justice Department determined that Arpaio had engaged in "pattern or practice of wide-ranging discrimination against Latinos and retaliatory actions against individuals who criticized" his department's activities.

Arpaio condemned the investigation as politically motivated and a "witch hunt" provoked by the Obama administration's disfavor of the state's controversial immigration law.

Perez also became involved in a controversial 2008 voting rights case after it drew attention from Republican legislators and became the target of a Justice Department inspector general's report.

The watchdog concluded that that DOJ's voting rights section lacked professionalism and pointed out pervasive warring between employees who disagreed politically.

The case stemmed from a complaint against members of the New Black Panther Party who stood outside a polling station in Philadelphia on Election Day dressed in boots and berets and carrying a nightstick.

Civil charges for attempted voter intimidation were sought by the Bush administration, but later dropped against three of four defendants after Obama took office. Republicans accused the DOJ's political leadership of interfering in the decision.

Though Perez had not yet been confirmed to oversee the civil rights division when the decision was made, he said in testimony to Inspector General Michael Horowitz in May 2010 that politics played no part in the decision.

Horowitz was not satisfied with Perez's account of the situation, saying in his report that Perez should have tried to get more information before testifying.

Perez was not accused of any wrongdoing, but he has been criticized for not doing enough to improve what the inspector general described as a dysfunctional department.

Before rising to the Justice Department position, Perez led Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. That office is charged with "safeguarding workers, protecting consumers, providing a safety net and cultivating a thriving workforce," according to its website.

He also spent 12 years as an attorney in the Justice Department's civil rights division, rising to become deputy assistant attorney general in the 1990s.

Perez also worked for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, and spent the final two years of the Clinton administration as head of the Health and Human Services Department's civil rights office.

Response: Perez thanks President Obama in both English and Spanish. Obama called on the Senate to quickly confirm Perez. Perez is the first Hispanic nominated to Cabinet during Obama's second term. Conservative senator calls nomination "unfortunate and needlessly divisive".


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN)If you were planning on using a Taylor Swift-penned phrase on, say, a locket or a jewelry box, think again. Because you could be trying to shake off a legal bill.

T. Swizzle, whose business savvy is rivaled only by her aptitude for earworms, has taken out several trademarks for phrases like "Party Like It's 1989," "This Sick Beat," "Cause We Never Go Out of Style."

This means you'll need Swift's permisison if you want to use any of those phrases on a whole host of stuff: aprons, "non-medicated" toiletries and -- we kid you not -- walking sticks.

The filings are on top of dozens more she's held for years. They were reported by Vox, citing the legal database, Justia.

Interestingly enough, "Shake It Off" is not on the list. Perhaps because that trademark is already held by a diet company.

Swift took out the trademarks last year on the heels of her fifth studio album, "1989."

Given the incredible success of that album, you can't blame a girl for wanting to protect her brand. And if you're hate, hate, hating on her for that, well, you know what you can do.

Swift sends epic care package to fan

Response: Swift has taken out several trademarks. 'Shake It Off' trademark held by a diet company.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Soccer superstar David Beckham will spearhead England's presentation of the country's official bid document for the 2018 World Cup hosting rights.

Beckham, who will miss this year's tournament in South Africa due to injury, will lead the English Football Association delegation to world governing body FIFA's Swiss headquarters on Friday.

FIFA will make a decision on December 2 as to which country will be the 2018 host and also for the 2022 event.

England, who have also asked to be considered for 2022 if unsuccessful for 2018, will be up against the United States, Russia, Australia and joint bids from Belgium and the Netherlands, and Portugal and Spain.

With Europe likely to win the 2018 event, Japan, Qatar and South Korea are bidding for only 2022 hosting rights.

Beckham will be able to play a more active role in England's bid due to the ruptured Achilles he suffered while on loan at Italian club AC Milan, which has also ruled him out of the Los Angeles Galaxy's Major League Soccer season.

He has already contributed to the campaign, taking part in an expo for bidding nations last December.

"It's fantastic news that David's schedule has enabled him to present and head our bid in Zurich," Football Association and bid chairman David Triesman told the FA Web site on Monday.

"It is entirely appropriate that he does so as our bid is about football and the passion for it in our country. Nobody represents that better than David. He is a fantastic footballer and a global role model."

England's bid book will feature proposals for stadiums, training venues, base camps and fan parks.

The FA said about 16 stadiums are required with minimum capacities of between 40,000 for group matches and 80,000 for the opening match and final.

FIFA has strict requirements for accommodation, transport, IT, medical services, broadcasting, safety and security, ticketing, hospitality and commercial rights.

Response: David Beckham will head England's presentation bid for the the 2018 World Cup. Soccer superstar will lead delegation to FIFA's Zurich headquarters on Friday. World governing body will make decision on hosting rights for 2018 on December 2. Beckham is ruled out of this year's World Cup in South Africa due to injury.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:LONDON, England (CNN) -- A 47-year-old charity worker who says she has never been kissed is now a YouTube sensation after a singing performance that wowed the notoriously harsh talent judge Simon Cowell.

The YouTube video of Susan Boyle's performance has had more than 5 million hits.

Susan Boyle, from West Lothian in Scotland, appeared on the television show "Britain's Got Talent" last weekend with an inauspicious start.

Slightly plump and with short brown curly hair, Boyle stood somewhat uncomfortably in the middle of the stage wearing a gold lace sheath. She told the judges and the audience of the show that she was single, she lived with her cat, Pebbles, and she had never been kissed.

"I'm trying to be a professional singer," Boyle asserted, as the audience laughed. "I'm going to make that audience rock."

When she added that she wanted to be as famous as Elaine Paige, who's been called the "first lady of British musical theater," some members of the audience snickered and rolled their eyes.

But after Boyle sang the first few notes of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables," the audience erupted in wild cheers and applause, and two of the three judges' jaws dropped.

The applause lasted the length of her performance, which ended with the crowd on its feet.

Cowell, who also serves as a judge on "American Idol" and who's known for his stinging criticism of those he deems to have no talent, said Boyle's performance was fantastic.

"I knew the minute you walked out on that stage that we were going to hear something extraordinary," he proclaimed.

His fellow judge, Piers Morgan, said it was "the biggest surprise I have had in three years on this show."

"When you stood there, with that cheeky grin, and said, 'I want to be like Elaine Paige' everyone was laughing at you. No one is laughing now. That was stunning. An incredible performance," Morgan said, adding he was reeling from shock.

Amanda Holden, the third judge, had tears in her eyes and described Boyle's singing as "a privilege to hear."

A clip of her performance on YouTube.com has had more than 5 million hits, and many fans say they were moved to tears by the story.

Boyle said after the show that she felt "bloody fantastic."

Each of the three judges voted "yes" to Boyle's return to the actual competition round of the show. The performance this weekend came during the auditions.

Response: 47-year-old British charity worker wows Simon Cowell with singing. Clip of Susan Boyle singing has become a YouTube sensation. Boyle, from West Lothian, Scotland, said she wanted to be a professional singer.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Tehran, Iran (CNN)  -- Iran plans to launch satellites into orbit early in the new year, its defense minister told the semi-official Fars news agency Wednesday.

"This satellite, which was built by Iranian scientists, is a big step for the continued presence of Iran in space and for taking advantage of the opportunities offered in this field," Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said.

The launches of the Tolou satellites -- which means "sunrise" in Farsi -- are scheduled to take place in February and March, according to Fars.

Iran launched its first satellite, Omid, in February, an event that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed at the time as a "source of pride" for the Islamic republic.

The U.S. State Department expressed "grave concern" over the launch.

"Developing a space launch vehicle that could ... put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. "So that's of grave concern to us."

The Pentagon called the February launch "clearly a concern of ours."

"Although this appears to be satellite, there are dual-use capabilities that could be applied to missiles, and that's a concern to us and everybody in region," Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said at the time.

For Iran, the planned launches are an important step for its military.

"Using these modern technologies, Iran's armed forces are capable of catching the enemies off guard, identifying their software and hardware potential and depriving the enemy of movement and maneuverability," Vahidi told Fars.

The development comes as the international community considers additional sanctions against Iran should Tehran not answer questions about its nuclear program. Western powers fear Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies.

Response: Iran reportedly plans to launch Tolou satellites into orbit in February and March. "This satellite ... is a big step for the continued presence of Iran in space," defense chief says. U.S. State Department had "grave concern" about Iran's first satellite launch this year. U.S. official: Sateliite launches could lead to development of ballistic missile system.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN)It might sound like a Vin Diesel movie, but tennis authorities in Australia are hoping that the FAST4 format, which debuted Monday with an exhibition match between world No. 2 Roger Federer and former Wimbledon and US Open champ Lleyton Hewitt, could "revolutionize" the sport.

That contest ended in the Swiss star's favor, beating his old friend and rival 4-3 2-3 3-4 4-0 4-3 at Sydney's Qantas Credit Union Arena.

This new version of tennis, which marks some of the most significant rule changes in the sport's history, consists of the best-of-three sets with quick changeovers and sudden-death playoffs to prevent tiebreaks from dragging on. The first player to four games wins the set.

"Playing Roger in this new format will be an exciting challenge for both of us and a lot of fun," said Hewitt ahead of the match.

"It's a fantastic innovation for tennis, and one that I hope will take off."

The Australian roadshow will decamp to Melbourne next, with Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal taking on three opponents in separate matches Wednesday.

First he'll line up against former US Open finalist Mark Philippoussis before taking on current US Open junior champion Omar Jasika, finally playing a best-of-five match against compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

New game, new rules

Billed as tennis' answer to cricket's TV-friendly Twenty20, the two formats share more than just a catchy approach to branding.

Both take a fast-paced approach to sports that, for the uninitiated, could be considered soporific. Cricket traditionally takes five days to play a Test -- international -- match, and men's singles tennis can last for hours, or in some rare cases, days.

Players will also have to hurry during end-changes, as there are no seating breaks and they get a scant 90 seconds to sit in between sets.

A couple of more fundamental rule changes, including the removal of the service let rule -- that requires a server to retake their service if the ball hits the net cord -- and the removal of the advantage point.

In FAST4, the receiving player gets to choose which side the serve -- for a sudden death "power" point -- is directed to at deuce.

Faster, glitzier tennis

FAST4 promises to provide some of the extravagance and glamor that, the majors aside, some evidently feel is missing from the sport.

Proponents hope that the truncated timeframe -- each set is supposed to last no more than 15 minutes, with games typically not lasting for much longer than an hour -- will allow for a greater number of people to find the time to play tennis.

"The new format is a game changer and is set to revolutionize the game of tennis, particularly at club and social levels," Tennis Australia' s chief executive officer Craig Tiley said.

"Time today is precious and this new fast format is perfect for any player who wants to fit their tennis matches into a busy lifestyle."

Tennis Australia high performance coach Craig Morris added: "Our long term objective in creating a product like FAST4 tennis is to attract more people to the sport, and get more people to play tennis.

"There's no plan to replace traditional tennis, this is a great complementary product that is entertaining for fans and fun to play."

It's not the only innovation that the sport is toying with.

The International Premier Tennis League, "the first city-based professional league in the world, played across four countries," debuted in November in 2014.

Response: New, quicker format debuts in Sydney. Shorter matches, new time-saving rules and shorter changeover times promise to jazz up the sport.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Former world No. 1 Roger Federer has paid tribute to his "wonderful friend" Ivan Ljubicic after the Croat announced on Wednesday he will end his 14-year playing career next month.

Ljubicic will retire from tennis after April's Monte Carlos Masters, bringing the curtain down on a career which has seen him hit No. 3 in the world rankings, win the Davis Cup with Croatia in 2005 and collect 10 ATP Tour titles.

Sixteen-time grand slam winner Federer hailed Ljubicic, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, as a fearsome opponent, but said the time was right for the 32-year-old to hang up his racket.

"I have a very good friendship with Ljubicic," Federer told the ATP Tour's website. "It's been sad seeing him retiring really since I've known about it for quite some time.

"He's one of the most feared players on tour... He's been a wonderful friend to me on tour, and it's also been very beneficial to the game of tennis, not just on the court but off the court because he's been part of the political system here.

"We've talked at length at times about it, but I think it comes at the right time for him and he's in a perfect spot with his family. He's just had a second daughter. He's had a wonderful career."

Federer has played Ljubicic, who reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2006, on 16 occasions over 10 years between 2000 and 2010, losing three of those matches.

"It's never an easy decision for any professional athlete to retire," said Ljubicic, whose most recent title came at Indian Wells in March 2010, an event which three-time champion Federer will play in next week.

"I look forward to the next stage of my life. Tennis has given me so much and I want to continue to stay involved and contribute in some ways."

Response: Roger Federer has praised Ivan Ljubicic ahead of his retirement next month. Croat Ljubicic will end his 14-year playing career after April's Monte Carlo Masters. Former world No. 1 Federer described Ljubicic as a "feared opponent". Ljubicic won the Davis Cup with Croatia in 2005 and rose to world No.3 in 2006.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Denmark produced the first major surprise of Euro 2012 as Morten Olsen's side secured a 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Kharkiv.

Famed for their Total Football approach, the World Cup finalists were left totally frustrated by a Danish side that was never fazed by the star-studded reputation of Bert van Marwijk's team.

Michael Khron-Delhi scored the only goal of the game to leave Holland -- one of Euro 2012's heavyweights -- a real challenge to qualify from Group B and reach the knockout stages.

Van Marjwik's side next play Germany, who beat Portugal 1-0 in Lviv thanks to Mario Gomez's second-half goal, in a game that never matched the drama of Denmark's victory.

Denmark 1-0 Holland

Billed as Group B's rank outsiders, Denmark had to ride their luck against a Dutch team that dominated possession for long periods in Kharkiv's Metalist Stadium.

Amid those lucky breaks though Simon Kjaer and Daniel Agger in central defence showed plenty of steel and when the Danes did get hold of the ball they produced some intricate passing moves.

Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen was also outstanding, notably when he thwarted Dutch substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after the Schalke forward was sent clear by Wesley Sneijder's wonderful pass with the outside of his right foot.

That Huntelaar. who scored 48 goals in all competitions last season for the German Bundesliga club, was left on the bench by Van Marwijk was the first surprise of Saturday's game.

Before he was introduced in the second half, Huntelaar could only watch as Robin van Persie's eye for a goal went missing.

A frustrating evening for the Dutch striker, who has scored 30 goals in the English Premier League for Arsenal this season, was encapsulated when he completely miskicked the ball early in the second half.

Van Persie should have scored early on in the game but put his shot wide and later on in the first half the Arsenal striker was thwarted by Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen's alertness.

Completely against the run of play, Krohn-Dehli gave Denmark a shock lead after he gathered Simon Poulsen's deflected cross and drilled a shot through the legs of Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Arjen Robben then curled a left-footed shot against the post as Denmark's goal continued to lead somewhat of a charmed life.

The second half mirrored the first with the Dutch pinning the Danes in their own half, but the Danes refused to be cowed and after surviving a late handball appeal against Lars Jacobsen, Olsen's team held on to secure a memorable victory.

Germany 1-0 Portugal

Saturday's second game had been billed as one of the most intriguing of the Euro 2012's group stages but it rarely failed to live up to the pre-match hype.

It offered the tournament a first glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 60 goals for Real Madrid this season, but as to often the Portuguese forward flickered in and out of an international for his country -- in truth more out than in.

Ronaldo has scored only five goals in 19 appearances during major internatioal tournaments and with Portugal adopting a strategy of containment he was never able to significantly influence the game.

It was not until late in the second half that he forced Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into a save and for the most part Germany were able to minimize the Portuguese forward's threat.

Soon after making that save Neuer had a fortunate escape when he misjudged Nani's looping cross, allowing the ball to bounce off the bar.

The Bayern Munich goalkeeper quickly recovered his poise to brilliantly save from substitute Silvestre Varela, who had been set up by Nelson Oliveira's ingenious reverse pass.

Nani then had a rising shot blocked by Holger Badstuber as Portugal finally put Germany under sustained pressure for the first time in search of an equaliser.

Given that late surge of Portuguese attacking activity the question is why Paulo Bento's side only started to test Germany's defense after having gone a goal behind.

Germany had arguably shaded a forgettable first-half, with Gomez going close early on with a header that was well saved by Rui Patricio, though Portuguese defender Pepe did hit the upright with a clever shot following a corner.

But it was Gomez who finally broke the deadlock, connecting with Sami Khedira's cross from the right, cleverly guiding a header past Patricio.

Response: Denmark deliver first major surprise of Euro 2012 with win over the Netherlands. Michael Krohn-Dehli scores winner for Denmark. Mario Gomez scores for Germany in 1-0 win over Portugal. Dutch still have to play Germany and Portugal in Group B.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Ukraine's FC Dnipro earned a 1-0 victory over English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur as the knockout stages of the Europa League got underway on Thursday.

Yevhen Konoplyanka scored from the penalty spot nine minutes from the end to hand the Ukrainian Premier League side a priceless lead ahead of next week's return leg at White Hart Lane.

The first leg at the Dnipro Arena was played in front of a sparse crowd following the terrible violence that has taken place in recent days on the streets of the capital Kiev, 280 miles (450 km) northwest.

A national day of mourning was declared on Thursday following the loss of dozens of lives in anti-government protests.

Both sets of players wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the dead and observed a minutes silence before the start of the match.

Read more: Sergey Bubka urges Ukraine to end violence

Once the game got underway Spurs dominated possession but it was the home side who made the most of their chances.

Roberto Soldado should of put Spurs ahead in the 56th minute but fired over the bar from five yards after Paulinho had played in an inch-perfect cross from the right.

Tim Sherwood's side were made to pay for their profligacy when Jan Vertonghen brought down striker Matheus in the box before Konoplyanka scored from the spot kick to end Spurs' 100% record in the Europa League this season.

Dynamo Kiev, who are currently lying third, one place above Dnipro, in the Ukrainian Premier League, had to have their last 32 first leg tie with Valencia moved to Cyprus because of the ongoing violence.

The match played in the GSP Stadium in Cyprus' capital Nicosia was won 2-0 by the Spanish side.

In other matches, last season's runners up Benfica beat Greek side PAOK Salonika while 2011 champions Porto could only manage a 2-2 draw against German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Italian clubs enjoyed a mixed time of it on Thursday with Fiorentina running out 3-1 winners against Dutch side Esbjerg.

Serie A leaders Juventus, who finished third behind Galatasaray in the Champions League Group B last December, had better luck against fellow Turkish side Trabzonspor beating them 2-0.

Napoli, however, only managed a 0-0 draw with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium and Lazio lost 1-0 to Bulgaria's Ludogorets Razgrad at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Response: Ukraine's FC Dnipro beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in first leg of Europa League tie. Dynamo Kiev lose 2-0 to Valencia in tie that was played in Cyprus. Juventus make positive to Europa campaign following Champions League elimination.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Ever wanted your own dinosaur? A rare Diplodocus longus perhaps? Answers to the name "Misty?"

Well, here's your chance to add some prehistoric chic to your urban warehouse conversion. Forget feature wall, think feature fossil -- and a 17-meter long one, at that. Late Jurassic (150 million years ago, or so), is the new mid-century vintage, you know.

"Misty" is the first complete skeleton of a large dinosaur to come up for sale at auction in Europe, but she hails from the U.S. state of Wyoming.

The dinosaur appears alongside items including Dodo bones, a fossilized Ichthyosaurus (Ichthyosaurus communis) from southern England's Jurassic coast, and taxidermy and antique and modern artworks on a natural history theme in the "Evolution" sale at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst, southern England.

Author and painter Errol Fuller, who is curating the exhibition and sale, says Misty was found in 2009 by the then 11 and 14-year-old sons of paleontologist Raimund Albersdoerfer.

Dinosaur hunter Albersdoerfer had been excavating the fossil hotspot Dana Quarry in Wyoming, and sent his sons, Benjamin and Jacob, to a nearby area to dig around.

"He directed them to this area -- just very close to, but not actually in the quarry --where he thought there might be some very worthless fragments and they came back at the end of the day and said they'd found an enormous bone," Fuller said.

"They quickly realized that there was going to be many other bones... so they stopped work on the proper quarry."

It took Albersdoerfer's team nine weeks to dig out the female Diplodocus longus skeleton.

She was named Misty, Fuller said, after the site itself was branded the "mysterious quarry" because it had gone from being an area of which not much had been expected to one of great potential.

While restrictions are placed on fossils found on U.S. government land, Fuller said Misty had been discovered on private property.

"It's perfectly legal to bring it from America and legal to move it to any country in the world," he said. "Museum workers will sometimes try to stop these things... but almost every great fossil discovery was made by fossil collectors or dealers."

Backhoe cuts into dinosaur's tail, revealing rare fossil find

Fuller estimated that there could be about half a dozen Diplodocus longus skeletons -- and several plaster casts of them -- in museums across the globe.

Misty, he said "looks just like the one in [London's] Natural History Museum -- except that one is a plaster cast."

So how would one display a dinosaur skeleton in one's warehouse, for example?

Fuller said Misty's bones had been conserved and consolidated and she would be relatively robust as long as the skeleton was "reasonably carefully handled and reasonably carefully housed."

It would take two or three people about a day to take it down and another to put it up again and Summers Place could arrange supervision of this, Fuller said.

"It's been specially designed so that it can be dissembled and assembled again," he said. "There's no piece so heavy that two people couldn't lift it."

That said, Misty in her entirety is "colossal," Fuller says. Her bones are secured to a metal armature, which can be taken apart and bolted together again.

Designing it, he said, would have been "a conceptual puzzle" because the skeleton couldn't be arranged without the armature and it was hard to design the armature without knowing the exact size it needed to be.

The result, Fuller said, is "a feat of engineering. It's maybe 60ft long by 12ft high and a colossal weight. There are quite a lot of safety considerations because you don't want pieces falling off."

Summers Place has put an estimate of £400,000 to £600,000 ($640,000 to 960,000) on Misty.

Fuller musingly compared the fossil to a Ferrari that sold for almost £18 million ($27 million) in August.

Read more: Ferrari sells for record $27.5 million

"If I was a rich man, I could actually have a fossil dinosaur... that would impress my friends much more than a Ferrari and it would cost me just a fraction of £18 million," he said.

"That is really incredibly cheap if you compare it with a collector's car and you've got a much more spectacular, gob-smacking exhibition."

Talk about overtaking the neighbors.

Evolution will open for viewing on November 23, ahead of the November 27 auction.

Response: Diplodocus longus dinosaurs are believed to have roamed Earth 150 million years ago. Some museums house rare Diplodocus longus skeletons or plaster replicas. The sons of paleontologist Raimond Albersdoerfer found a complete skeleton in Wyoming. The skeleton -- known as "Misty" -- will be auctioned in late November in England.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN)  -- Venezuela will give a 300-acre island in the Delaware River to the state of New Jersey, the governor's office announced.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez used the Earth Day celebration to announce the transfer of Petty's Island.

The Venezuelan-owned Citgo Petroleum Corp. had bought Petty's Island -- between Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- to use as a fuel storage facility.

The island is home to a pair of American bald eagles as well as several great blue herons and state-endangered black-crowned night herons, New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine said in a news release Wednesday.

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez announced the island's transfer as part of Wednesday's Earth Day celebrations. Plans are being finalized for the transition, which will not occur before 2020, Corzine's office said.

"Earth Day is a fitting time to consummate the donation of this special place," Corzine said in the news release. "Petty's Island has become an important home to bald eagles, kestrels and a wide variety of waterfowl. We are opening a new chapter in the island's long history by restoring it and giving it back to nature and the people of New Jersey."

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection must certify that Citgo's cleanup of the island has met state standards before the title can be transferred, the news release said.

Citgo has agreed to create a $2 million fund to allow the Natural Lands Trust, a state land-preservation board, to manage the island, the release said. The company is setting up another $1 million fund to help establish a cultural and education center.

Activities on the island will be limited to hiking and bicycle riding, the governor's office said.

The island is part of Pennsauken Township, New Jersey.

Response: Petty's Island, a 300-acre island in Delaware River, will be given to New Jersey. Venezuelan-owned Citgo Petroleum Corp. bought island for fuel storage facility. Activities on island will be limited to hiking and bike riding, governor's office says. Venezuela announces gift as part of Earth Day celebration.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Maram scrunches up her little nose and pauses as she remembers. The eight-year-old was daddy's favorite.

"When he was going to work he was shot," she says. By whom, no one can say for sure, but Syria's merciless war does not differentiate between combatant and civilian -- and it is leaving behind countless children like Maram who have lost one or both parents along with their innocence.

"I saw him when they brought him to the house when he was dead," Maram continues. "I said 'God have mercy on you' and I prayed."

She has an inquisitive, heart-shaped face. She listens intently to our questions, and often stops to think before answering.

"I would see him in my dreams, I would see him giving someone something or taking someone somewhere. I used to see him, but now I don't anymore."

She is one of around 34 children between the ages of two and 10 who live during the week at the Beyti Orphanage in southwest Turkey, near the Syrian border. Their fathers are all dead -- some lost to illness and some, like Maram's dad, to the violence consuming Syria. Their mothers, refugees in Turkey, can't afford to properly clothe and feed them.

At Beyti there is bath time, fresh clothes, and beds to sleep on. There are toys to replace those that the children had to leave behind, regular hot healthy meals, and clean water to wash with.

Maram and her friend Mohammed whisper next to me on the couch. He pulls a tie out of his pocket. "Someone was giving them out," he explains.

The pair erupt in giggles as Maram tries to put it on him. Her father had taught her how to tie the knot, but she doesn't really remember.

"Are you guys best friends?" I ask.

"We're not friends, we're siblings," Mohammed replies. Maram looks at me, her eyes open wide, and she smiles.

"He considers himself my brother," she tells me.

"We're all family here," another child pipes in.

The Beytin Orphage, which opened in September, was established by the Maram Foundation. It was named not the little girl we met, but for another of the same name who was paralyzed from the waist down by a shrapnel wound to her spine.

"We're trying to raise our children away from all of the ideologies happening inside Syria," Beyti's co-founder Yakzan Shishakly tells us, alluding to the radical extremist violent Muslim ideology that is thriving in his homeland. "And we also want to give them the right to have a normal life away from the war because of the regime."

The focus here is not only on trying to create a "normal" environment, but also on helping these children heal from the trauma they witnessed.

"There were some cases that were very obvious, those were the cases of anger and aggression," says Mayada Abdi, head of the orphanage, describing some of the children who have come to Beyti since it opened.

Maram was very solitary when she first arrived, preferring to stay alone.

"She would remember things that were beautiful memories that were taken from her, especially those that were tied to her father, all her trips," Abdi says. "All her stories are about her father. So you would often find her sitting remembering those times."

Nothing can alter the inexplicable pain brought into these children's lives by violence that defies logic, from a war they are too young to understand. But at least here they have a chance to perhaps move past it and salvage what they can of their childhood.

Maram, for one, is already looking to the future. "I want to be an Arabic teacher," she says. "Back home in Syria."

Response: Thousands of children have lost one or both parents during Syria's brutal civil war. The Beytin Orphanage in southwest Turkey was established in September by the Maram Foundation. "We're trying to raise our children away from all of the ideologies happening inside Syria," Beyti's co-founder says.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's swipe at federal spending to monitor volcanoes has the mayor of one city in the shadow of Mount St. Helens fuming.

Gov. Bobby Jindal says spending for the U.S. Geological Survey is questionable.

"Does the governor have a volcano in his backyard?" Royce Pollard, the mayor of Vancouver, Washington, said on Wednesday. "We have one that's very active, and it still rumbles and spits and coughs very frequently."

Jindal singled out a $140 million appropriation for the U.S. Geological Survey as an example of questionable government spending during the GOP response to President Obama's address to Congress Tuesday night.

The governor, a rising Republican star, questioned why "something called 'volcano monitoring' " was included in the nearly $800 billion economic stimulus bill Obama signed earlier this month.  Watch "Is Jindal prime-time ready?" »

"Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington," Jindal said.

But Marianne Guffanti, a volcano researcher at the U.S. Geological Survey, said, "We don't throw the money down the crater of the volcano and watch it burn up."

The USGS, which received the money Jindal criticized, is monitoring several active volcanoes across the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii. One of those is Mount St. Helens, about 70 miles north of Vancouver, Washington, and neighboring Portland, Oregon.

The volcano killed 57 people when it erupted in 1980 and sputters back into action periodically, most recently in late 2004 and early 2005, when it sent plumes of steam and ash thousands of feet into the air.

USGS researchers are also keeping a close eye on Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano, about 100 miles from Anchorage, which is predicted to go off again within a few months. Its last eruption, in 1989, disrupted air traffic and forced down a commercial jet that sucked ash into its engines.

"If we can give good information about what's happening, that system of diversions and cancellations all works much more efficiently," Guffanti said. "And fewer people are delayed and standard business is resumed quickly."

Louisiana is no stranger to natural disasters itself, having been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But Timmy Teepell, Jindal's chief of staff, said the governor stands by his statement.

"That was just one example of wasteful spending in the largest government spending bill in history," Teepell said. "The governor made it clear that we need to grow jobs, not government." iReport.com: Share your thoughts on Obama, Jindal speeches

The $140 million line-item for the USGS includes not only monitoring, but also replacement of aging equipment "and other critical deferred maintenance and improvement projects."

The spending could provide new jobs "no different than the amount of money you would spend on building a street or building a bridge or something," said Danny Boston, an economist at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pollard, a former Army officer who has served as Vancouver's mayor for 14 years, said USGS equipment used to keep tabs on volcanoes is frequently damaged or destroyed. He said he wasn't sure how many jobs the money could produce, but, "For us and the people who live closer to it than Vancouver, it's important." iReport.com: Jindal's tone 'insulting'

"We lost lives the last time, and we could lose them again," he said.

CNN's Brian Todd and Matt Smith contributed to this report.

Response: Jindal stands by statement that volcano appropriation is questionable. Mayor of Vancouver, Washington, says volcano near his town still spits, coughs. "We don't throw the money down the crater of the volcano," researcher says. $140 million appropriation for U.S. Geological Survey also used on equipment.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN)The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks hail from two of the finest craft beer regions in the U.S.

Boston is home to Samuel Adams, the largest-selling craft beer company in the country, as well as some smaller, notable breweries like Trillium Brewing and Cambridge Brewing Co.

Seattle was one of the key players in starting the microbrew revolution, partly because of its proximity to fresh hops in the nearby Yakima Valley. One of the leaders of that revolution was Elysian Brewing Co., now famous for its creative pumpkin beers and flagship Immortal IPA. Just last week, Elysian announced that Anheuser-Busch bought the company to further expand its craft portfolio. So, for better or worse, you're likely to start seeing much more from this craft beer forefather.

In fact, Elysian and Boston's Harpoon Brewing have set up a friendly wager for Super Bowl Sunday: Three kegs of beer from each brewery will be poured in the opposite breweries' taprooms the week after the big game. The loser will be required to fly the flag of the winning team until the beer is gone.

In keeping with that friendly competitive spirit, let's break down the roster of these two craft beer cities.

The quarterback is the leader of the team and, in many instances, the most recognizable name to viewers. This brew must define what the city is all about and be the No. 1 "draft" pick at the local sports bar.

XXXXX Stout  -- The Pike Brewing Co.; Seattle, Washington

Just blocks from the iconic Pike Place Market, Pike Brewing is one of the oldest and most respected breweries in Washington. Its XXXXX Stout, much like the Super Bowl, has a fondness for Roman numerals. It's the quintessential Seattle beer with rich chocolate and espresso flavors, because what would Seattle be without its coffee?

Harpoon IPA -- Harpoon Brewery; Boston, Massachusetts, and Windsor, Vermont

Since 1993, Harpoon's hoppy pale ale has been a New England staple. This style of beer is right out of the Pacific Northwest playbook, but Harpoon was one of the first to produce an IPA on the East Coast.

These brews are among the most widely available from each region, but still great representations of the area. If you're looking to cheer on a particular team but do not live in the Boston or Seattle area, you can still most likely catch one of these brews at your local store.

Boston Lager -- Samuel Adams; Boston, Massachusetts

Samuel Adams Boston Lager is the most widely recognized craft beer in the country. It's crisp, refreshing and arguably the most "patriotic" beer you can find.

Audible Ale -- Redhook Ale Brewery; Woodinville, Washington

While Redhook makes its home in Woodinville, it also has a brew house in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which is about an hour's drive from Boston. This pale ale is fairly low in alcohol, and thus a pleasing session brew, meaning you can drink a few over the course of a game and not get inebriated. Don't call an audible -- stock up on this one.

These brews might be stars locally, but they haven't received much national attention ... yet. Their scope is still pretty small, but they are hitting the gym and building a pretty strong following among local craft beer fans.

Mass Rising -- Jack's Abby Brewing; Framingham, Massachusetts

Jack's Abby is a unique craft brewer that specializes in lagers. Some craft beer snobs might think lagers are boring, but Jack's Abby gets pretty inventive with the style. One standout is Mass Rising, a double India pale lager that is hopped-up, crisp and drinkable.

Tamerlane Brown Porter -- Black Raven Brewing Co.; Redmond, Washington

Black Raven has been producing some of the best brews in the state, and its Tamerlane Brown Porter is an all-out winner. It combines the nutty, malty characteristics of an English brown ale with the coffee flavors of a porter.

The Super Bowl calls for times to be bold and take a chance. A little divine intervention doesn't hurt either. Same goes for your beer.

Spencer Trappist Ale -- Spencer Brewery; Spencer, Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to the only Trappist brewery in the United States. The monks of St. Joseph's Abbey brew this Belgian-style "table beer" sustainably and consume the fruits of their labors only on Sunday evenings, which is impeccable timing for the big game.

Sky Hag IPA -- Airways Brewing Co.; Kent, Washington

Sky Hag is bitter, loaded with West Coast hops and may not be pretty, but it will get you where you want to go. Airways has a number of delicious brews with air travel themes, like Seat Kicker IPA and Pre Flight Pilsner, because founder and brewer Alex Dittmar was a full-time airline employee before starting the brewery.

Response: Seattle and New England are craft beer powerhouses. The Seattle Seahawks play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN)Could it get any cuter than seal pup kisses? The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Interior this week shared a photo of a Weddell seal nuzzling up to what looked to be its mom in Erebus Bay, Antarctica.

The expression of the mother is priceless.

The photo was taken in October by USGS scientist William Link. Link, a statistician, was helping researchers tag newborn seal pups. He confirmed Friday that the adult seal was the baby's mom.

It's hard to know what she was thinking when her baby nuzzled up to her in this photo, but Link said the animals flare their noses when disturbed, "so this Mom was pretty relaxed," Link told CNN Friday. "I have a great shot a few seconds later where Mom yawned hugely. She looked utterly content, to me."

The agency's public affairs department had asked scientists for interesting images to post on social media.

As the Instagram caption notes, the Weddell seals of Erebus Bay have been studied extensively for over 40 years.

"Because of its isolation, this population is undisturbed by human activities. The Weddell seal population is healthy and stable, and thus gives a good example for studies of animal population dynamics."

Link said it was a privilege to see the animals up close.

"I was awed," he said. "It's incredible that animals can live and thrive in such harsh conditions. It's hard to describe the remoteness and isolation of the spot -- bitter cold, high winds, no life to be seen except for the seals, an occasional skua or an emperor penguin."

After a seal pup is born, Link said its mom spends all her time close to her baby in a very small area, with hardly any interaction with other seals.

"Mom doesn't even leave for a swim until the baby is nearly ready to be weaned, and even then doesn't get to eat. So while baby puts on a couple of hundred pounds, Mamma loses about twice that much," he said.

For more information on the seals, visit WeddellSealScience.com.

Response: The USGS has been studying Weddell seals in Antarctica for more than 40 years. The agency had asked scientists for interesting images to post on social media.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:(CNN) -- Italian teenager Federico Macheda enjoyed a remarkable debut to English football as he curled home an injury-time winner that sent Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 home win over Aston Villa.

Macheda receives a hug from manager Sir Alex Ferguson after scoring Manchester United's last-gasp winner.

It seemed United would have to settle for a point after Cristiano Ronaldo's double had only proved enough to keep United level against a Villa side that thoroughly deserved a lead provided by John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

But 17-year-old substitute Macheda, a former member of the Lazio academy who arrived at Old Trafford in 2007, was to have the last word.

Who is Federico Macheda?

At exactly the same moment as Yossi Benayoun struck for Liverpool at Fulham on Saturday, Macheda turned onto Ryan Giggs' low pass before unleashing a stunning shot that curled past Brad Friedel and sent Old Trafford into ecstasy.

United, missing a host of players including Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, started poorly against an out-of-form Villa side who had gone eight matches without victory.

However, a stunning piece of skill from Cristiano Ronaldo gave them a 14th- minute lead. James Milner and Friedel got themselves into a muddle, forcing the Villa keeper to handle a back pass.

The resulting free-kick saw Ryan Giggs brush the ball to Ronaldo, who sent a fierce shot over the wall and into the roof of Friedel's net in a flash.

Villa were not to be denied and they drew level when Gareth Barry wriggled his way into space by the touchline and Carew crept between Gary Neville and John O'Shea to steer a deft header into the bottom corner of the net.

The visitors then took a deserved lead on the hour mark when Ronaldo gifted possession to Stiliyan Petrov, who swept upfield unopposed. He found Carew, whose perfect cross was headed home by Agbonlahor.

The goal stung United into life and they levelled with 13 minutes remaining when Michael Carrick exchanged first-time passes with Giggs on the edge of the Villa box, before presenting Ronaldo with a lay-off. The world player of the year did not have a lot to aim at but he found the one small gap Friedel was unable to cover.

A draw would have been a fair result, but United poured forward and in the third minute of five added on minutes at the end of the match, Macheda delivered the killer blow to leave the defending champions a point clear of Liverpool at the top with a game in hand.

Meanwhile, in the day's other match, Everton moved to within one point of Villa in sixth position after a comfortable 4-0 victory over Wigan, courtesy of a double from on-loan Manchester City striker Jo.

Response: Federico Macheda scores an injury-time winner as Manchester defeat Villa 3-2. The win lifts champions above Liverpool to top of Premier League by one point. Everton consolidate sixth place in table after a comfortable 4-0 win over Wigan.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Montgomery, Alabama (CNN) -- Alabama's attorney general questioned Wednesday whether the federal government has the legal right to ask for data from school districts in the state, which has recently passed controversial legislation intended to reduce illegal immigration.

In a letter sent Wednesday, Attorney General Luther Strange said he was "perplexed and troubled" about a request from the Justice Department for information about Alabama's schools.

The Justice Department issued the letter Tuesday to Alabama school districts to ensure they are complying with federal law, which declares that a child may not be denied equal access to schools based on his or her immigration status.

Strange's letter noted that the law was still being litigated.

Strange set a Friday noon deadline for Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for DOJ's civil rights division, to provide the legal authority for his request.

Last spring, the Alabama legislature passed the law known as HB 56 relating to illegal immigration and a federal judge allowed most of its provisions to go into effect, including a mandate for public schools to ask about the immigration status of students enrolling in the system. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit granted the Justice Department's request for an emergency injunction for that section of the law but allowed other controversial parts to continue being enforced.

Justice urges Alabama schools' compliance on immigrant laws

The Alabama Department of Education sent a memorandum to school districts recommending they wait for resolution of the issue between the state attorney and Justice Department before responding to the DOJ request.

In the days following the implementation of HB 56, the number of Latino students skipping class spiked.

Malissa Valdes, communication manager for the Alabama Department of Education, said the number of Latino absentees has since leveled off but remains several hundred higher than normal.

The Department of Education also released enrollment numbers for the current school year showing an overall decrease in the student population but a 2.8 percent increase in Latino students, who represent some 35,000 of the state's 740,000 students.

Valdes said the state tried to inform the districts of possible changes related to HB 56 while stressing that no student should be denied enrollment regardless of legal status.

"If everyone sticks exactly to what the law asks from them and they don't go beyond, then there should not be any danger to the education of all students that are welcomed, no matter what," Valdes said.

Allison Neal, the American Civil Liberties Union's legal director in Alabama, said she is happy the Justice Department is asking state educators to do what they can to prevent Latino students from becoming discouraged about attending school.

"We want to make sure students have the right to their education," Neal said.

Valdes said the state sent letters to the schools and to students' parents before and after the law was enacted to prevent confusion.

The ACLU declined to comment on Strange's response to the DOJ request.

Officials at Birmingham City Schools have tried to encourage parents to keep their children in our schools and have told them their children would not be affected by the immigration law, said Michaelle Chapman, the schools' director of communications, in a statement. "On the heels of the court decision allowing the law to go into effect, we sent an automated call to all parents explaining that no information would be collected regarding children who already were enrolled. The call went out in Spanish to our Latino families."

The Montgomery School District sent Spanish-speaking teachers to areas with large numbers of Latinos to encourage the families to continue to send their kids to school.

At Evergreen Estates, a mobile home park on the outskirts of Montgomery, parents awaiting the return of their kids from school said they were not aware that some parents were keeping their children home out of fear of the law.

A Guatemalan woman in the United States without legal papers said she had left from Georgia with her eighth-grade son when the state started talking about a similar law and was considering leaving Alabama, too.

"I hear they are looking for farm workers in Florida," she said.

But, she added, she had never considered taking her child out of school.

Valdes said the number of students withdrawn from state schools will not be known for months because the schools have not received official notification from the families about permanently removing their kids.

She said the department will continue to work to ensure all children in Alabama continue to be educated. "We are here to educate the children but have to follow every law that is passed and active," Valdes said.

CNN's Terry Frieden and Joe Sutton contributed to this story

Response: Attorney General Luther Strange says he is "perplexed and troubled" over DOJ request. Feds want to make sure that Alabama schools are not denying children equal access to schools. Move comes after Alabama passes a controversial immigration law.


Prompt:
Explain the text in one sentence.
 Text:Americans love beef; we eat nearly 63 pounds per person each year. Although that's a lot, the amount is down from our 1976 high of 89 pounds. When buying beef, we tend to stick to what we know, which may be why almost 60 percent of our beef dollars go for ground beef. Even as an experienced chef, I often brought home familiar cuts. But researching my book, "Field Guide to Meat," led me to expand my repertoire to tasty, if less familiar, cuts like hanger steak and tri-tip. Soon you can do the same, knowing which cuts to choose for maximum flavor and nutrition.

A 3½-ounce serving provides 27g to 30g of protein and is an excellent source of iron, zinc, and phosphorus.

Beef Background

Humans began domesticating cattle, Bos taurus, about 8,500 years ago. Columbus first brought cattle to the New World, and by 1690, descendants of Columbus' cattle ranging in Mexico were driven north and became known as Texas Longhorns. Others arrived later with the colonists. America's top five cattle breeds are Angus from Scotland, Hereford from England, Limousin from France, Simmenthal from Switzerland, and Charolais from France.

More than 90 percent of the beef we buy originates in America, while most of the rest is Canadian bred. The beef we eat comes mostly from 18- to 24-month-old steers, averaging about 1,000 pounds, and yielding about 450 pounds of meat. Each is divided for wholesale into eight primals (major portions): the chuck (shoulder and upper ribs), the rib, the loin, the sirloin (hip), the round (upper leg), the brisket (breast), the plate (belly), and the small flank. Organs like liver and kidneys are called variety meats.

When evaluating your choices at the grocery store, here are a few key terms and facts to know:

• Grain-finished: Nearly 75 percent of U.S. beef comes from cattle fattened on grain (usually corn) for three to six months in feedlots. Since corn is not a natural part of a cow's diet, cattle fed on it may experience stress and other ailments, so they are routinely treated with antibiotics. They also receive growth hormones to increase their size (and value, as beef is sold by weight). Until recently, inexpensive corn has helped keep down the price of beef.

• Grass-finished: Grass- or pasture-finished beef comes from cattle that forage on grasses and legumes. Their meat is lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories than grain-finished. (Because it is quite lean, cook rare to medium-rare for juiciness.) Grass-fed beef has a distinct flavor, often described as bold, complex, and gamy. Many people believe that grass-fed cattle are a more sustainable choice. However, raising grass-fed cattle is time-consuming and requires large open spaces, variables that raise its price. Most is imported from Canada, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Brazil.

• Aging: Dry-aging is the traditional process preferred by many steak lovers. The concentrated, intense flavor of dry-aged beef develops as it hangs in special temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms from 10 days to six weeks. The longer the aging, the better the flavor and tenderness, but also the more the shrinkage as water evaporates and a dark crust develops, which must be cut away. About 90 percent of American beef is sold as large vacuum-packed cuts. During the average seven-day period the beef spends "in the bag," it ages in a process called "wet-aging."

• Processing and packaging: Until the 1960s butcher shops bought beef as half- or quarter-carcasses. Packers then began selling vacuum-packed beef, the same large cuts sold at warehouse club stores. Retailers refrigerated the boxes until needed, then opened the package and cut the meat into portions for sale. Next came case-ready meat, which precluded the need for skilled butchers on-site in markets. Leak-proof and easily stackable, case-ready packages are produced in USDA-inspected plants and have a longer shelf life. Packages covered with a sealed layer of clear plastic are modified-atmosphere packages, which have a gas-filled space inside to help preserve freshness and color.

Nutrition

• Fat content: The USDA defines "lean beef" as having less than 10 grams (g) of total fat, 4.5g or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3½-ounce serving (100g) of cooked beef. Half of the fat is saturated and half is heart-healthy monounsaturated. There are 29 naturally lean cuts of beef, including many familiar to Cooking Light readers, such as tenderloin, flank steak, and sirloin, as well as five lesser-known cuts. Others, such as ribeye or chuck roast, naturally contain more fat, although it is similarly divided between saturated and monounsaturated.

Because lean beef contains less fat, it's best cooked to medium-rare (145°F) or medium (160°F) to optimize tenderness. If using fattier cuts, slice away the outer rim of fat and cut or pull out any pockets of fat before cooking. For larger cuts, allow the fat to baste the meat while cooking, then trim away before eating, or skim it from the surface of braised dishes or stews.

• Other nutrients: A 3½-ounce serving provides 27g to 30g of protein -- more than half of the 50g recommended daily in a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet. All beef is an excellent source of iron, zinc, and phosphorus. In general, the redder the meat, the more iron it contains (beef liver has the most). Beef also contains thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin and is a rich source of B12, found naturally only in animal foods. CookingLight.com: Fat and Ground Beef

At the Market

• Inspection and grading: USDA inspectors examine all live animals and beef shipped out of state, which encompasses most of today's supermarket beef. Grading is voluntary and done by the same inspectors. The more marbling -- the small white flecks of fat within the muscles -- the higher the grade. Three grades of beef are sold to consumers. Only three percent is highly marbled Prime, sought after by top steak houses and butcher shops. About 57 percent is moderately marbled Choice, the most common supermarket grade. The remaining 40 percent is lean Select.

• Private labels: Supermarket chains and large food distributors also have developed private brands with their own specifications. The first such program began in 1978 with Certified Angus Beef, which must come from Angus cattle. Niman Ranch Natural Beef and Certified Hereford Beef are two others.

• Natural and Organic: Beef labeled "natural" must not contain any artificial ingredients and cannot be more than minimally processed, such as ground beef. "Organic" beef must come from cattle raised and certified according to the USDA's National Organic Program. Organic cattle must be fed 100-percent organically and without antibiotics or hormones. Both natural and organic beef can be either grass- or grain-finished.

Ways to Save

• Buy lean cuts. Often, leaner cuts are cheaper than fatty ones. And when the fat cooks away, lean cuts provide more meat for your dollar.

• Buy in bulk. Large or family-sized packages cost less per pound than smaller packages. Divide into portions, and freeze the surplus.

• Be your own butcher. Beef that has been presliced into steaks or made into patties costs more than less processed meat. Buy bigger cuts, and do some of the preparation work yourself. CookingLight.com: Beef on a Budget

• But don't go overboard. Advice to buy a side or quarter of beef may seem sensible, but you'll likely have more meat than you can store. Such a purchase may yield what one buyer describes as "cheap steak and expensive hamburger."

For more tips on making healthy taste great, try Cooking Light - CLICK HERE

Copyright 2009 Cooking Light magazine. All rights reserved.

Response: Humans began domesticating cattle, Bos taurus, about 8,500 years ago. Americans today consume nearly 63 pounds of beef per person each year. Most of us tend to stick with beef cuts we know.