In a recent Forbes, John Buckingham says that investors looking for long-term growth should combine three key elements: value, small-cap and dividends.

FORBES: Connect

We're not putting forward an across-the-board freeze, but rather an overall cap on non-security discretionary funding in which key investments are expanded but we cut back on programs that are ineffective, duplicative, or just wasteful.

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Instead, the key-press mechanics are executed by a plastic cap which slides around the display like a sleeve to keep the wear and tear on the OLEDs to a minimum.

ENGADGET: Optimus Maximus: the god of keyboards unveiled

The draft rules also outline a new cap-and-trade scheme for key pollutants, and will require the largest culprits to publicly disclose their emissions -- which environmentalists said was a step toward greater transparency.

CNN: Beijing tries to clean up its act

So here is the key question: was the IBM report a canary in the coal mine for large-cap multinationals pulling back their spending?

FORBES: Is IBM Signalling A Large Corporate Spending Pullback -- or a Big Shift to the Cloud?

But last August Beacon Hill was forced to impose new price controls and a cap on overall state health spending because "health-care spending has crowded out key public investments, " as Mr. Patrick puts it in his budget.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: The RomneyCare Bill Comes Due