Your customized headlines for Mon, Jul 16, 2012

Democrats are making increasingly explicit threats about their willingness to let nearly $600 billion worth of tax hikes and spending cuts take effect in January unless Republicans drop their opposition to higher taxes for the nation's wealthiest households.

The expansion of Medicaid called for in President Obama's health-care law would seem an irresistible deal for states: Starting in 2014, in exchange for spending a percent or two more of their own funds, states will get nearly a trillion additional federal dollars during the next 10 years to extend health insurance to 17 million of their neediest residents.

I am perched in the second row at the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis opener against the New York Sportimes, staring at hundreds of millions in net worth across the court.

Sitting in the early-evening sun is former AOL mogul Steve Case, in shades and a baseball cap, schmoozing with Raul Fernandez, vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns three local sports teams and Verizon Center.

As a child, I liked to tear things apart and put them back together. I knew that I would be in a technical field. I just didn't know exactly where.

When I joined the Navy, it became apparent.

I entered as a junior enlisted, and 24 years later made it all the way to the highest enlisted rank you could achieve — master chief, specializing in acoustic intelligence.