Speller Alex J. Clifton Wells, 13, of San Diego, California, participates in Round II of the E.W. Scripps Company sponsored 2009 National Spelling Bee in Washington, May 27, 2009. Reuters Pictures 8 months ago

Speller Alex J. Clifton Wells, 13, of San Diego, California, participates in Round II of the E.W. Scripps Company sponsored 2009 National Spelling Bee in Washington, May 27, 2009.

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  1. President Barack Obama meets with bipartisan House and Senate leaders to discuss the economy and jobs, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. From left are, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Md., House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and the president.
  2. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, second from left, listens to President Barack Obama, right, during a meeting of House and Senate bipartisan leaders to discuss the economy and jobs, Tuesday, Feb. 2010, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington. From left are, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Md., Boehner, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. and the president.
  3. Vice President Joe Biden, far left, takes his seat in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, before the start of a meeting between President Barack Obama and bipartisan House and Senate leaders to discuss the economy and jobs. From left are, Biden, House Minority Leader of John Boehner of Ohio, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., the president, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev.
  4. An electric car is seen during a demonstration of the California-based company Better Place in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. The developers of a new electric vehicle say Israel is on schedule to inaugurate a revolutionary electric car grid by next year, with dozens of recharge stations and thousands of cars on the road.
  5. An electric car is connected into power supply at a recharge station during a demonstration of the California-based company Better Place in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. The developers of a new electric vehicle say Israel is on schedule to inaugurate a revolutionary electric car grid by next year, with dozens of recharge stations and thousands of cars on the road.
  6. California forward Jamal Boykin (10) keeps UCLA forward Reeves Nelson (11) from scoring during a fast break during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. California won 72-58.
  7. California guard Patrick Christopher (23) gets by UCLA guard Michael Roll, bottom right, for a basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. California won 72-58.
  8. UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic (41), of Serbia, fakes the shot as California forward Omondi Amoke, left, attempts the block during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. California won 72-58.
  9. California forward Jamal Boykin (10) shoots over UCLA forward Reeves Nelson (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. California won 72-58.
  10. UCLA guard Malcolm Lee, right, attempts to get around California guard Patrick Christopher (23) on a fast break during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. California won 72-58.
  11. UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic, left, of Serbia, collides into California forward Omondi Amoke, left, as he goes to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles.
  12. UCLA guard Malcolm Lee (3) attempts the steal from California center Markhuri Sanders-Frison (45) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles. California won 72-58.
  13. California guard Jorge Gutierrez (2), of Mexico, drives on UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic (41), of Serbia, as he goes to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles.
  14. California center Markhuri Sanders-Frison (45) shoots over UCLA forward James Keefe (13) and forward Tyler Honeycutt (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles.
  15. UCLA guard Malcolm Lee, back left, gets a hand on the ball to block the shot as California guard Jerome Randle (3) drives to the basket on a fast break during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in Los Angeles.
  16. An actor in a sheep costume with "demon eyes" is seen in a screen grab captured February 5, 2010 from a controversial web-based political advertisement video posted by the campaign of California Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina. A bizarre campaign ad by Fiorina featuring what has been dubbed a "Demon Sheep" has transcended California politics to become an Internet sensation, but analysts wonder if it was such a good idea. But political experts say the point behind the three-minute, 21-second blurb, attacking Fiorina's top rival for the Republican nomination, Tom Campbell, as a "fiscal conservative in name only," may have been lost.

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  2. Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, left, Spain's first deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, center, and Spain's Finance Minister Elena Salgado, right, are seen during a plenary session at the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010. This was Zapatero's first appearance in the Parliament after Spain's recession-plagued economy contracted 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth straight quarter of GDP contraction and refuted government assertions that the country might climb out of technical recession at the end of 2009, as other major European economies have.
  3. France's rugby coach Marc Lievremont (C), with his assistant coaches Emile Ntamack (L) and Didier Retiere, attend a news conference at Rugby Union National Centre in Marcoussis, south of Paris, February 10, 2010. France will face Ireland in the Six Nations championship match on February 13, 2010 at Stade de France.
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