NewsTidBits.com

Americans' Negativity About U.S. Moral Values Inches Back Up

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:36 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Forty-three percent of Americans say the state of moral values in the United States is "poor," far more than say it is "excellent" or "good," and up from 38% in 2011. A lack of tolerance is...

Indy 500 Drivers Sweat the Tech Details

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:13:42 +0000

Design News - This year, when Indy teams search for a competitive edge on the track, they're going to have to dig deeper into the mechanical aspects of the car than ever before in the history of the race.

Can a side gig help your career?

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:13:38 +0000

CNN - Top Stories - Certain kinds of moonlighting may actually help you in your main job, and wise organizations can embrace, rather than squelch, entrepreneurial zeal.

20 weird reasons to quit your job

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:13:37 +0000

CNN - Top Stories - Leaving to take a better offer elsewhere is nice, but pretty dull compared to climbing Mount Everest, or joining the circus.

How to Keep Business Projects on Track

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:30:32 +0000

TIME - We've all been there. Business projects that start out full of excitement and promise lose focus and energy until it seems like they're a long way from that goal that once seemed so promising....

Keep Gen-Xers Engaged

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:30:31 +0000

TIME - Generation X may be a smaller population than Baby Boomers or Millennials, but it wields great influence in today's organizations. People in this generation are the all-important bench strength...

AN-2132 - Synchronizing Multiple GSPS ADCs in a System: The AutoSync Feature

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:30:27 +0000

National - App Notes - Synchronizing Multiple GSPS ADCs in a System: The AutoSync Feature...

Job-hunting app matches candidates' personalities with vacancies

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:42 +0000

Springwise - Apply App.ly makes job hunting less daunting by narrowing down the choice and matching candidates with vacancies, not only through previous professional experience, but also by personality...

How Much Should You Save for a Comfortable Retirement?

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:41 +0000

U.S. News - The answer: more than you may think

Retirement is a Transition Opportunity

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:40 +0000

U.S. News - Here's what you can learn from the retirement of professional athletes.

Fewer Young Americans Smoking

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:39 +0000

U.S. News - Rates have dropped since 2004, but 1 in 12 teens, one-third of young adults still light up

Science of Spatial Learning

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:38 +0000

U.S. News - Center seeks to transform teaching practices.

Mario Batali's Food-Stamp Budget Rice and Beans

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:37 +0000

Europe Insight - BusinessWeek - The celebrity chef and host of The Chew offers up a meal that costs $1.45

Parents of graduates, What would you do differently?

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:48 +0000

The Work/Life Balancing Act - Lessons from parents of high school graduates

Facebook IPO Day Finally Arrives

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:46 +0000

ABC - Money - Facebook's initial public offering, the biggest and most anticipated IPO for a U.S. technology firm, has garnered the attention of high school students to professionals, many of whom are likely...

How Employers Can Make Us Stop Multitasking

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:45 +0000

Harvard Business Blogs - Tony Schwartz's recent post The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time made a convincing case for staying focused....

Benefits of Biking to Work Keep Adding Up

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:43 +0000

Kiplinger.com - The number of Americans who bike as their primary means of transportation to work has increased almost 40 percent in the past decade --and with good reason.

Quirky Tech Accessories for Your Home & Office

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:42 +0000

Life Scoop - While functionality is the most important aspect of any gadget, if it can also make you laugh I think it serves a much greater purpose. Sometimes we get a little too serious

Top 10 Most Influential People to Follow on Twitter

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:41 +0000

Life Scoop - Twitter has provided an outlet for the masses to express themselves in 140 characters or less at a time. Celebrities and politicians alike have taken to Twitter, which allows these high profile

New Sunscreen Guide: 1 in 4 Products Deemed Safe

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:39 +0000

WebMD - With warmer weather on the way, the Environmental Working Group has just released a new edition of their popular sunscreen guide.

Coffee May Be Part of the Recipe for a Longer Life

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:38 +0000

WebMD - Whatever you call it -- joe, java, mud -- it is likely a key way to jump-start your day, and now new research suggests it may not only be good at that -- but it may make your life longer.

More People -- Even Kids -- Need to Wear Sunglasses

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:37 +0000

WebMD - With summer nearly upon us, our sunglass habits could use improvement, according to a new report issued today by The Vision Council, an industry group.

Super Snorkel Helps You Breathe Underwater

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:36 +0000

Discovery Channel - The ring-shaped snorkel brings fresh air in and keeps water out.

Design tips for home offices in small spaces

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:35 +0000

WebWorkerDaily - Got a remote gig that allows you to work from home but a home that isn't exactly palatial? Design pros channel James Bond to offer clever solutions to keep your business and personal life from...

Kennedy's Kids Face Complex Grieving Process

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:34 +0000

ABC - Health - The four children of Robert Kennedy Jr. and Mary Kennedy face a complicated grieving process in the aftermath of her suicide, mental health experts say.

Save on health care, even as your body falls apart

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:32 +0000

CNN - Personal Finance - You managed to glide through your twenties and thirties without any major health issues. Yet, as the calendar pages turn, you're finding that a host of minor -- and perhaps a few major -- medical...

12.010 Computational Methods of Scientific Programming (MIT)

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:31 +0000

MIT OpenCourseWare: New Courses - This course introduces programming languages and techniques used by physical scientists: FORTRAN, C, C++, MATLAB(r), and Mathematica. Emphasis is placed on program design, algorithm development...

15.599 Workshop in IT: Collaborative Innovation Networks (MIT)

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:30 +0000

MIT OpenCourseWare: New Courses - Diversity begets creativity-in this seminar we tap the amazing power of swarm creativity on the Web by studying and working together as Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs). As interdisciplinary...

Fugitive penguin 337 spotted alive in Tokyo Bay

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:29 +0000

Reuters: Oddly Enough - After Penguin Number 337 made a daring bid for freedom from a Tokyo aquarium and vanished into the waters of Tokyo Bay two months ago, many feared the worst for the adventurous...

How to Avoid Weight Gain: Eat on a Schedule

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:28 +0000

Livescience.com - When we eat may be an important factor in preventing weight gain.

SpaceX Is Set to Send Its Rocket to the Space Station

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:27 +0000

NYT > Science - A private company's test flight will carry 11 student experiments onboard, including one involving winemaking.

Graphene Could Rust-Proof Your Car

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:23 +0000

Discovery Channel - A single layer of carbon atoms works as a mighty rust-proofing agent.

Image: The shake, rattle and roar of the J-2X engine

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:20 +0000

PhysOrg.com - The shake, rattle and roar lasted just seven seconds, but the short J-2X test conducted May 16 at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi moved the space agency...

All I Want For Christmas: Husky A200 Unmanned All-terrain Vehicle

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:16 +0000

redOrbit - Tech - Having the "latest-and-greatest" disease has both advantages and disadvantages. It's a diagnosis with symptoms like keeping up...

Cloud-Based Home Automation Unit Announced

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:11:15 +0000

redOrbit - Tech - A Los Altos, California-based startup company, founded by some of the brains behind the Apple iPhone and Google Gmail, has announced a new chip that could be the first step in connecting home...

SpaceX Dragon to smuggle SECRET package to the ISS

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:31:44 +0000

The Register - Mysterious cargo buried in the belly of the beast
Just to add some icing to the SpaceX Dragon launch cake, the cargoship may be carrying a secret payload that nobody knows about....

Hewlett Packard Should Retool 25,000 Jobs, Not Cut Jobs

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:14:37 +0000

Forbes - Technology - Hewlett Packard, as reported by Bloomberg, is considering cutting 25,000 jobs or eight percent of its workforce to save $1.2 billion. HP should keep all those jobs and invest some of its $8...

What To Do When The Next Layoff Could Be You

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:14:36 +0000

Forbes - Technology - All Things Digital reports that Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Meg Whitman will put the wheels in motion next week to eliminate about 30,000 jobs. Add them to the list of companies that are...

Honda UNI-CUB Segway Alternative: Look Ma, No Hands!

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:14:33 +0000

ABC - Technology - The Segway a bit too big for you? Or require a bit too much standing for your liking? Well, Honda's got an interesting-looking solution in the works — the Honda UNI-CUB. Called a "personal...

Chip Shot: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day!

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:13:58 +0000

Intel Newsroom - On this prestigious and sugary occasion, we give you the top apps to commemorate National Chocolate Chip Day! Before tackling teaspoons of this and tablespoons of that, make sure you have your...

Soyuz Capsule With 3 Crew Docks With Space Station

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:13:46 +0000

U.S. News - A Russian-made Soyuz craft carrying three astronauts has docked with the International Space Station, putting the crew in place for the imminent arrival of the first...

Dan's Cave, Abaco Island

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:13:39 +0000

National Geographic Photo of the Day - Following the guideline her life depends on, a diver threads the needle through a stalagmite forest in Dan's Cave on Abaco...

TED: Carl Schoonover: How to look inside the brain - Carl Schoonover (2012)

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:48 +0000

TEDTalks - Video - There have been remarkable advances in understanding the brain, but how do you actually study the neurons inside it? Using gorgeous imagery, neuroscientist and TED Fellow Carl Schoonover shows...

Playlist: The roots - and effects - of income equality

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:47 +0000

TED Blog - Explore these TEDTalks that discuss income inequality - what causes it, the brutal effects, and how we might fight it. Start with this talk from Richard Wilkinson, whose 2009 book The Spirit...

How 60 hairdressers are spreading ideas in Buenos Aires

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:46 +0000

TED Blog - Whose talk keeps you glued to your chair? Your hairdresser's. Which makes these talented folks a perfect vector for spreading big ideas. TEDxBuenosAires invited 60 hairdressers and stylists...

How To Encourage Learning By Making 'Smart Mistakes'

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:45 +0000

The 99 Percent - Avoiding mistakes is impossible. But what if we accept that risk is inevitable and focus on making "smart mistakes" instead?

Stay-at-Home Moms Report More Depression, Sadness, Anger

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:44 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Stay-at-home moms in the U.S. are more likely than employed moms to report experiencing sadness and anger and having ever been diagnosed with depression. However, low-income stay-at-home moms...

In Presidential Election, Age Is a Factor Only Among Whites

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:43 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Barack Obama has a wide lead over Mitt Romney among voters younger than age 40, while Romney wins among those 40 and older. But differences by age are apparent only among whites; nonwhites...

Support for Islamists Declines as Egypt's Election Nears

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:42 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Ahead of Egypt's presidential election, support for several Islamist parties is down significantly. Egyptians are also much less likely to want the Muslim Brotherhood to hold a strong and influential...

Romney Registers Personal Best 50% Favorable Rating

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:41 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Fifty percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Mitt Romney, his personal high by 10 points. While this is one of the lowest favorables a presumptive nominee has had, it nearly matches...

M 6.2, off the coast of Aisen, Chile

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:40 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 18, 2012 02:00:41 GMT

M 6.7, off the coast of Aisen, Chile

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:39 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 18, 2012 02:00:41 GMT

M 5.1, southern Iran

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:38 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 17, 2012 21:40:41 GMT

M 5.0, Santa Cruz Islands

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:37 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 17, 2012 19:49:33 GMT

Composite of a Series of Images Taken From Space Aboard the Space Station

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:29:00 +0000

NASA Image of the Day - This is a composite of a series of images photographed from a mounted camera on the Earth-orbiting International Space Station, from approximately 240 miles above Earth. Expedition 31 Flight...

Herschel's Cygnus X

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:13:35 +0000

Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Herschel Space Observatory's

Brokers with Free Dividend Reinvestment Programs

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:13:37 +0000

Bargaineering - Thus far, my investing in individual stocks has been confined mostly to dividend stocks and a bunch of companies I really like (and have good financials), such as Apple and Southwest (ok, mostly...

U.S. Unemployment Edges Down in Mid-May

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:13:37 +0000

Gallup Headlines - U.S. unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, declined slightly to 8.2% in mid-May from 8.3% in April. Seasonal adjustments show a similar slight decrease in unemployment...

3 Questions I Get Asked Often

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:13:36 +0000

Thoughts on the Run - In my work life, I spend my days helping businesses optimize their processes and grow through technology and marketing. To do this I ask a lot of questions. A lot. For me it's fun though as...

Forget the Helicopter, Drones Make Aerial Videos Attainable

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:14:15 +0000

Wired News - The average episode of Top Gear runs around $1 million to produce. But those high-style, high-flying and incredibly expensive aerial shots just got slightly more affordable with the introduction...

Not Your Average Science Fair

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:14:08 +0000

CSR@Intel - This blog was posted on behalf of Greg Fagan, Intel Corporate Affairs. Follow him on Twitter @GREG_INTEL. Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is...

Porsche's 918 Spyder hybrid on track for 2013 release, now with 770 bhp and 94 mpg

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:14:04 +0000

gizmag - Porsche's hybrid 918 Spyder is a 770 bhp supercar that can top 320 km/h, accelerate from 0-100 km/h in under three seconds and lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in seven minutes 22 seconds....

How To Make The Most Of Your Too-Short Work Break

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:13:46 +0000

FastCompany - If you're not the type who can sit on a park bench and contemplate nothing, and the conversation around the Keurig machine bores you, what can you do with 15 minutes that isn't really work...

The Eagle Has Crashed (1966)

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:13:43 +0000

Wired News - NASA tried to anticipate every emergency Apollo astronauts might face. In 1966, a NASA engineer analyzed the potentially catastrophic consequences of an abort just before landing, only a few...

Can We Keep Offices From Going Extinct?

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:14:38 +0000

Portfolio.com: Business News - With cloud computing about to make offices more optional, future workplaces might include living room-like spaces, walls that you can virtually write on and maybe even your own garden, say...

An East End Saturday - Part 2 (With Recipe)

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Little Jimmys Food Blog - It makes me jittery when I have something I want to post, but I can't get to it right away. There is a nagging sort of itch in the back of my brain that can only be scratched by talking to...

TEDxMogadishu report: A rebirth of hope

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:29:59 +0000

TED Blog - From the TEDx Tumblr, this inspiring story: TEDxMogadishu - the first TEDx event in Somalia - will happen tomorrow, May 17, and livestreamed around the world. Between 50 and 100 people from...

TED: David Kelley: How to build your creative confidence - David Kelley (2012)

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:29:58 +0000

TEDTalks - Video - Is your school or workplace divided into "creatives" versus practical people? Yet surely, David Kelley suggests, creativity is not the domain of only a chosen few. Telling stories from his...

Americans' Optimism About Their Financial Future Recovers

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:29:57 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Americans' expectations for their personal financial situations have recovered from the low point of four years ago, with 63% now saying they expect to be better off a year from now, up from...

One-Third of U.S. Small-Business Owners Feel Debt Burden

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:29:56 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Thirty-six percent of U.S. small-business owners are uncomfortable with their company's debt, according to the April Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index poll. One in five past borrowers...

Do You Qualify for Unemployment Benefits?

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:29:55 +0000

Bargaineering - Even though the economy is showing signs of improvement, they aren't large signs, and unemployment remains stubbornly high. Additionally, some companies are still planning layoffs, and you...

How Capital Gains Taxes Work

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:14:05 +0000

Bargaineering - When you hear about billionaire Warren Buffett paying a lower effective tax rate than his secretary, you're hearing long term capital gains at work. The tax code smiles favorably on investment...

New national standards ask schools to teach climate change

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:14:04 +0000

Climate Reality - As a scientist, I know how important it is for our kids to get a top-notch science education. So it's extremely significant that a new set of national science standards - the first to be released...

Opportunity's Traverse Map From Sol 2951

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:13:40 +0000

NASA Image of the Day - After spending 19 weeks working in one place while solar power was too low for driving during the Martian winter, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is on the move again. The winter...

Star Formation in the Tarantula Nebula

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:13:37 +0000

Astronomy Picture of the Day - The largest, most violent star forming region known in the whole

Nyiragongo Volcano Expedition

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:13:36 +0000

National Geographic Photo of the Day - A cooking tent belonging to expedition scientists glows in the twilight on the rim of the Nyiragongo volcano—one of the...

10 Bike-Related Recalls to Check Out Before You Hit the Road This Spring

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:13:36 +0000

CPSC.gov - Before you hit the road, look to see if your bike or bike accessory has been recalled.

5 Ways Process Is Killing Your Productivity

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:14:50 +0000

FastCompany - If your team spends its days asking for permission before executing, taking an hour to complete expense reports or time sheets, attending redundant meetings, or answering irrelevant emails,...

Google follows an email's epic journey with 'The Story of Send' (Video)

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:14:11 +0000

9to5 Google - Google released an animated video today that explores what happens to an email once the "send" button is clicked in Gmail. The cartoon visually depicts a digital message's journey as it travels...

Gray Whales May Face New Threat in Arctic

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:31:04 +0000

ABC - Technology - Gray whales are starting to make a strong comeback in the Pacific thanks, in part, to Mexico's aggressive eco-tourism program, where whale-watching...

Is Smart Really On the Upswing?

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:59 +0000

Forbes - Business - Smart fortwo sales jumped 63 percent this year in the U.S. and things would seem to be looking up for the Daimler AG subsidiary. But considering it only sold 3,028 units through April and IHS...

Tsingy Climbing, Madagascar

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:15:01 +0000

National Geographic Photo of the Day - Climber John "Razor Sharp" Benson weaves through skin-ripping pinnacles. In Malagasy, the formations are called tsingy, meaning...

National Mood a Drag on Obama's Re-Election Prospects

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:18 +0000

Gallup Headlines - Gallup finds several indicators of national mood -- including U.S. satisfaction, economic confidence, and presidential job approval -- holding steady in May at levels that don't bode particularly...

TED: Jean-Baptiste Michel: The mathematics of history - Jean-Baptiste Michel (2012)

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:12 +0000

TEDTalks - Video - What can mathematics say about history? According to TED Fellow Jean-Baptiste Michel, quite a lot. From changes to language to the deadliness of wars, he shows how digitized history is just...

The Difference Between 'Money Work' and 'Busy Work'

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:11 +0000

The 99 Percent - Are you doing everything you can to generate new income? The more effective you are with "money work," the more time you'll have for "creative work."

Americans See Obama as Solid Favorite to Win Election

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:10 +0000

Gallup Headlines - By a 56% to 36% margin, Americans think Barack Obama rather than Mitt Romney will win the 2012 presidential election. This is the case even though voters' preferences are evenly divided between...

U.S. Economic Confidence Unchanged Last Week

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:09 +0000

Gallup Headlines - U.S. economic confidence for the week ending May 13 is -18, unchanged from the previous week, meaning Americans are maintaining a slightly more positive outlook on the U.S. economy than was...

M 6.0, New Britain region, Papua New Guinea

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:08 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 16, 2012 00:59:34 GMT

M 5.2, south of Tonga

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:07 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 16, 2012 01:28:21 GMT

M 5.1, south of Tonga

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:06 +0000

USGS M 2.5+ Earthquakes - May 15, 2012 19:22:30 GMT

What Yahoo's Recent Scandal Says About Leadership

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:05 +0000

Debbie Laskey - By now, everyone has heard about the scandal at the very tip of Yahoo's leadership iceberg. Hired as CEO of Yahoo in January 2012, Scott Thompson took over the reins of a once-great tech company...

Video Highlights from Mountain Skies Electro-Music Festival 2012 in Asheville by Hong Waltzer

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:04 +0000

Mark Mosher - Last weekend I had the honor of participating at the Mountain Skies Electro-Music Festival 2012 in Asheville, NC. It was my first time in Asheville and the first time for this particular event....

Best 529 Plans

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:03 +0000

Bargaineering - The amount of collective student loan debt in America has surpassed $1 Trillion but to bring it closer to home, Finaid says that the rate of college tuition inflation is normally twice that...

Should Your Kids Contribute to Your Family's Financial Stability?

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:02 +0000

Bargaineering - For many families, the recession still hasn't ended. While "technically" the Great Recession has been over for years, practically speaking many families are still feeling the pinch. As a result,...

Video: Living on Thin Ice in India

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:01 +0000

Climate Reality - Last month, Climate Leaders Bhavesh Swami and Parth Joshi went on an expedition to Dhur, India to learn how climate change is impacting Himalayan communities. Watch this video to follow their...

Half of Americans believe Facebook is a passing fad

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:13:59 +0000

BGR - Half of all Americans think Facebook is a passing fad and the social networking site's expected asking price of $34 to $38 is too high, according to a joint poll conducted by The Associated...

Expedition 31 Prepares for Launch

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:13:37 +0000

NASA Image of the Day - The Soyuz rocket is seen in the monitor of a video camera moments before Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineers Joseph Acaba and Sergei Revin arrived to board the rocket at the...

Bus-Size Asteroid Zips Close By Earth

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:01:54 +0000

Space.com - Asteroid 2012 JU never posed any threat, NASA says.

Grainger April Sales Up 12%

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:01:35 +0000

Zacks Analyst Blog - W.W. Grainger reported year-over-year sales growth of 12% in April 2012.