Let businesses handle government services

Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "In this world, nothing is certainbut death and taxes." Death and taxes are still among life's fewcertainties. The only difference is that taxes have grown sinceFranklin made that statement, and they're still growing.

That's why a proposal that state Sen. Judy Baar Topinka(R-Riverside) recently introduced is such good news.

The legislation (Senate J.R. 116) covers the concept ofprivatization - where services performed by state and localgovernment could be contracted out or sold to business. If theproposal passes both houses of the General Assembly, a committee willbe set up to study the impact privatization would have on the …

US teen sentenced for killing mother in India

JAIPUR, India (AP) — A court has convicted a 16-year-old American of killing his mother while on vacation in western India because he was traumatized by his parents' divorce.

Prosecutor A.K. Sankhla says the boy was sentenced Tuesday to serve three years in an Indian juvenile detention facility for attacking Cindy Iannarelli in August 2010.

Police say the boy slit his mother's throat and left the wrapped body on a sand dune near the Osian resort in Rajasthan state. He was arrested at the airport. The knife was never found, but police say they …

Obama prods House to pass health care bill

President Barack Obama says now is the time for Congress to "answer the call of history" and approve legislation revamping the country's health care system.

After meeting for nearly an hour with House Democrats, Obama went to the White House Rose Garden and said opportunities like passing a major health overhaul "come around maybe once in a …

Ordonez pushing to join Sox' OF

Will there be room next year in the new-look White Sox outfieldfor Magglio Ordonez?

Or will Ordonez, who has surprised the Sox with an eye-openingseason at Class AAA Nashville, be in another team's outfield?

No one is willing to answer now, but there is no questionOrdonez, 23, has impressed the organization this year by leading theAmerican Association in hitting with a .332 average."You have to look and wonder (about his chances next season),"said Steve Noworyta, director of minor-league administration. "Thething he's done is be consistent all season, and that's something(the Sox) wanted to continue to see. We're happy he's put up thosenumbers and been …

Less is more, more or less... [Bass techniques]

Playing in bands with larger formats such as more musicians/sequencing etc. has presented challenges to me. Usually, I like to find a groove that has a warm roundness to it in terms of tone and feel. A strong bottom end foundation allows the other band members to "let go" and do their thing whether it be singing or playing their instruments. Working with Sarah [McLachlan] has taught me that a little can often go a long way. The sound and space of one note can say a lot more and mean a lot more than 20 notes if placed well. Finding that place is not easy but when you do the feeling is amazing.

Speaking of space, the concept of playing at slow tempos is one that I have tried hard to …

Gen. Clark won't back off critique of McCain

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark rejected suggestions he apologize Tuesday for saying John McCain's medal-winning military service does not qualify him for the White House. Elaborating, Clark said a president must have judgment, not merely courage and character.

Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential hopeful, said Clark's comments had been inartful. McCain said Obama should go further than that.

"I think the time has come for Sen. Obama to not just repudiate Gen. Clark, but to cut him loose," McCain said en route to Colombia.

One ally of the Republican presidential contender accused Obama of "winking and nodding" when he should be …

Phillips' firm cleared over 20-year-old's quad bike death

The Princess Royal's former husband attended court yesterday tohear a judge rule in his favour and halt a prosecution against hiseventing company following the death of a 20-year-old.

Captain Mark Phillips' firm, Equiland, and two of its directors -Timothy Clayton and Timothy Henson - were previously charged withfailing to discharge a duty.

The charge related to the company's staff training policy forusing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), commonly known as quad bikes, andfollowed the death of Daniel Brookman from West Kington.

But at Bristol Crown Court, Judge David Ticehurst found thematters should be "stayed as an abuse of process" following two daysof legal …