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Made in the USA: Baseball bats, sticky notes, kitchen mixers and more

Some prominent companies still make their products in the US, and finding them is easy.

This story is part of Road Trip 2021, CNET’s coverage of the Biden administration’s push to grow American manufacturing and make more things in the USA.

Though much of what we wear, carry in our pockets and use at home is made overseas, not everything we buy is imported. Buying USA-made goods is a popular idea, but as my colleague Ian Sherr wrote for CNET’s Made in America series, that belief doesn’t always carry over to behavior.

The federal governments wants to change that by encouraging Americans to buy more things at home. Shortly after taking office in January, President Joe Biden issued an executive order mandating stricter enforcement of «Buy American» standards within federal agencies. Then in July, he proposed a new rule that would hike up the minimum percentage of American-made parts required in products that the federal government purchases.

The goal of both efforts is to boost domestic manufacturing with the government’s purse — the federal government shells out $600 billion every year for goods and services — and encourage consumers to «Buy American.»

From cookware to beauty supplies, here are a few everyday products still being churned out on the home turf.

Post-it Notes

These pioneering sticky notes were invented by two scientists at Minnesota-based 3M: Spencer Silver, who’d discovered an adhesive that could stick surfaces together but yield when you pulled them apart, and Art Fry, a church choir singer who just wanted bookmarks that wouldn’t slip out of his hymnal. Post-it Notes are made at a 3M plant in Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Pyrex kitchenware

My parents have stocked kitchen cabinets with Pyrex baking dishes, storage containers and measuring cups for as long as I can remember. (A few have definitely surpassed my 21 years of age.) The Pyrex brand came to be more than a century ago when the wife of a Corning scientist made a cake on some glass scraps her husband brought home because her casserole dish had broken. Its glassware is manufactured in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

Burt’s Bees lip balm

Launched in Maine during the 1980s by a beekeeper (the eponymous Burt) and an artist, Burt’s Bees offers a lineup of natural care products, including its famous beeswax-based lip balm. Burt’s Bees currently manufactures in North Carolina.

Sub-Zero appliances

Wisconsin knows a thing or two about the cold, as evidenced by Madison-based Sub-Zero’s refrigerators and freezers. The company has come a long way since the 1930s, when its founder, Westye Bakke, set out to find a better method of stockpiling insulin for his son with diabetes. Even now, Sub-Zero manufactures in Wisconsin and Arizona.

Alex and Ani jewelry

If you’re in search of some bling for yourself, Alex and Ani jewelry is reasonably priced, free of skin-irritating nickel and made in America.

Airstream trailers

Airstream’s silver streamlined travel trailers have become immensely popular as the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged Americans to take road trips for travel (there’s now a yearlong backlog for existing orders). The company has built them at its plant in JacksonCenter, Ohio, for decades.

La-Z-Boy chairs

Since creating its first recliner nearly a century ago, La-Z-Boy has supplied plushy, nap-provoking chairs to legions of snoring grandpas. As of 2019, La-Z-Boy manufactures most of its chairs and sofas in Tennessee.

Mustang cars

There are few images more American than that of a sleek Ford Mustang cruising down a US highway. Opened in 1987, Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan assembles the Mustang. The 2021 iteration starts at $27,205. (The new Mustang Mach-E electric cars are made in Mexico and China.)

Not Your Mother’s hair care products

I’m not sure what NYM has against my mother’s hair care products — but this company makes well-regarded shampoos, conditioners and creams right here in the US.

Weber grills

It’s Hot Grill Summer, and whether you prefer gas or charcoal to cook your burgers and ‘dogs, there’s a Weber grill that can take care of it. Weber sources parts both domestically and internationally but manufactures its grills in the US.

Steinway & Sons pianos

A gorgeous Steinway filled my family’s house with music for many decades. A German immigrant to the US founded the company in the mid-19th century. Steinway pianos sold in the US are made in Astoria, New York. For the rest of the world, they’re built in Hamburg, Germany.

KitchenAid stand mixers

These durable (and heavy) appliances last for decades and can be used for much more than just mixing cookie batter. Made in Greenville, Ohio, they come in a selection of vibrant colors. And as CNET found on a factory visit, they have a devoted following.

Gibson guitars

Listened to any music in your life? Then I guarantee you’ve heard someone strumming a Gibson. The company manufactures its acoustic guitars in Montana and its electrics, including the famed Les Paul, in Tennessee.

Louisville Slugger bats

Beloved by MLB stars and backyard ballplayers alike, the Slugger baseball bat is an American classic. And yes, it’s made in Louisville, Kentucky. You can join CNET’s Erin Carson on a trip inside the factory to see how the bats make their way from a forest to the playoffs.

Crayola crayons

Growing up, the coolest thing I owned was undoubtedly my three-tiered display of every Crayola crayon imaginable. (I still miss it sometimes.) Crayola’s annual output of crayons approaches 3 billion, and its major manufacturing facilities are based in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

Technologies

Two Cryptocurrencies in One Messenger: Verum Messenger Adds Bitcoin Mining

Two Cryptocurrencies in One Messenger: Verum Messenger Adds Bitcoin Mining

The private Verum Messenger, primarily chosen by users for secure communication, now offers a new way to use the app. To the existing ability to mine its native Verum Coin cryptocurrency, Bitcoin mining has been added. Both functions operate in parallel within a dedicated tab of the messenger.

The Convenience of Built-in Mining

The main advantage of this solution is its simplicity. Users do not need to:

  • Install additional software
  • Study complex setup instructions
  • Undergo additional verification checks
  • Mining is activated in a separate application tab, and the mined funds can be withdrawn to an external crypto wallet at any time.

The Evolution of a Private Messenger

The addition of Bitcoin mining is a logical step in the evolution of the Verum Messenger ecosystem. The app is gradually transforming from a simple communication tool into a multifunctional platform.

In addition to mining, the following features are already available:

  • A built-in VPN for secure connections
  • eSIM with internet access in 150+ countries
  • Full encryption of all data
  • The ability to completely delete chat history and setting

What This Changes

Verum Messenger now offers users not just a protected space for communication, but also the ability to earn cryptocurrency simultaneously. This is especially valuable for those who want to get started with mining without delving into technical complexities.

This approach aligns with the project’s overarching philosophy — to create secure and user-friendly digital solutions that offer more opportunities while maintaining confidentiality.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Nov. 30, #433

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Nov. 30, No. 433.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.


Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Gridiron gains.

Green group hint: Get a kick out of it.

Blue group hint: Baseball legend.

Purple group hint: Rocky Mountain team.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Football scoring plays, abbreviated

Green group: North American soccer leagues.

Blue group: Associated with Ted Williams.

Purple group: Members of the Denver Broncos, familiarly.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is football scoring plays, abbreviated. The four answers are 2-pt, FG, PAT and TD.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is North American soccer leagues. The four answers are LIGA MX, MLS, NWSL and USL.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with Ted Williams. The four answers are .406, LF, Red Sox and Splendid Splinter.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is members of the Denver Broncos, familiarly. The four answers are Bo, Courtland, RJ and Troy.


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Technologies

The Best Sound Is Still Highly Discounted for Cyber Monday. Listen Close for 55+ Headphone Deals Now

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