The one thing that Qwest has is its local franchise, and over the next two years it's going to become increasingly embattled as (cable company) Comcast starts rolling out more aggressively with their digital voice service. I don't think they get acquired at all.

The one who swings the biggest bat on this issue is the mayor.

The ongoing decrease in the number of people smoking in California is a major public health achievement. With California adults smoking 25 percent less than the rest of the nation, our state continues to benefit from lower rates of tobacco-related illnesses.

The ongoing dispute over the relocation of U.S. Marines on Okinawa should be quickly settled. This isn't just an issue for the U.S. and Japan. It has regional implications.

The online consumer is becoming more of a mirror, or cross-section, of the public at large.