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This was supposed to be the season the economy heated up, thanks to a wave of public works projects funded by the government's stimulus program. But summer is coming to an end and the recovery has not taken root. Forecasters are expecting another gloomy employment report on Friday.

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Village life in Britain is under threat, with the closure of the pubs and stores that form the center of small communities. In the Oxfordshire village of Appleton, local people have set up their own "community shop", staffed and managed by volunteers. The British government has been trying to encourage these projects and is introducing new legislation to make it easier for small rural communities to manage their own affairs.

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Lee la versión en español

We’re trying something new here at GovGab – once a month, I'll review a recipe from the government. Think Julie and Julia. Our first recipe is from FDA's Office of Women's Health: Diabetes Recipe Cards (also available in Spanish). You can order this free recipe and other recipes online from the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Pasta and Pineapple Salsa

I made a few tweaks:

• I bought fresh pineapple, already cut instead of canned.
• I used half of a green pepper instead of 1 jalapeno pepper.
• I bought fresh, deveined shrimp; I just had to peel them so it saved me time. You can also buy a package of frozen shrimp already peeled and deveined; thaw it out according to the directions on the package.
• I bought whole wheat rotini pasta to make it a little healthier. I cooked it according to the package.

Cooking experience:

I don’t own an outdoor grill, so I used an indoor grill pan, sprayed with cooking oil. I set the burner to medium-high.

This recipe required a lot of chopping, so I probably would make this on the weekend unless I pre-chopped everything beforehand. I also used a mini-chop to dice the onions - less tears for me.

It took me about an hour from start to finish. Maybe if I practice my knife skills were better, it would’ve saved me time.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Me: "It’s a nice light dish. I definitely would make it again. You could also substitute the pasta with romaine lettuce for a nice salad."

Husband: "This dish would not be out of place at a seaside resort, say Hawaii. It has a great aroma and combination of sweet and crunchy. It’s tricky to get good balance with the pasta. The shrimp holds up well as a leftover."

Son: "Mmm...yummy!" (picked out and ate the pasta only).

So GovGab readers – wanna try this recipe out? Try it with the jalapeno pepper! If you do, let us know what you think and leave a comment on this post.

The Southern Governors' Association wraps up its annual conference in Birmingham, Ala., Monday. State officials at the meeting heard from BP CEO Bob Dudley, claims czar Kenneth Feinberg and Thad Allen, the government's point person on the oil spill recovery on Sunday.

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Economists say investors' cash-only approach may contribute to increased confidence in future home values. Almost one-third of sales are all-cash transactions -- compared to 10 percent before the housing bust. The big spenders tend to be experienced investors who are still reselling or renting out properties for profit.

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Interstates changed the way we think about cities. The highways helped create the suburbs, the megalopolis and the 90-minute commute.  In return, Interstate 95 demanded sacrifices that changed some communities forever.

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Russia's drought and massive wildfires have sent wheat prices through the roof. Fortunately, most U.S. wheat farmers have had a stellar harvest and are likely to help meet global demand. That's especially the case in Colorado, which exports 80 percent of the wheat it produces.

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As many as one-third of homeowners owe more than their home is worth, and not being able to sell has kept them fixed in place. Staying home has kept people from seeking out better job markets. At what point will people begin abandoning houses in favor of finding jobs?

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