Opinion

David McRaney, author of "You Are Not So Smart," a book on psychology, insists that procrastination is, in fact, not the result of laziness or lack of time management skills, but rather that, "procrastination is fueled by weakness in the face of impulse and a failure to think about thinking." In addition to love, fear and other familiar emotions I am utterly convinced that procrastination is yet another common denominator of humankind. It plagues both the young and the old, the student and the employee, the homeless and the housewife. But, of course, we all know this.

The California Supreme Court's decision backing Governor Jerry Brown's plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies and take control of their cash and assets, threatens the city's ability to continue redevelopment efforts.

Jon Coupal likes to say his hard-fighting organization, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, exists to beat back constant attacks on Proposition 13, the landmark 1978 initiative that limits property taxes in California.

Well, it's finally over: The most important, earth-shattering, paradigm-shifting, portentous political event since - oh, gosh, a very long time ago, really - has concluded, and by that I am of course referring to the Iowa caucuses, in the relentless view of the media. Never in the history of a Mongol horde of reporters with nothing better to do has there been such a lengthy, breathless, heart-stopping buildup to a non-binding straw poll among 20 percent of the Republicans in a state whose total population could fit into metropolitan Los Angeles without appreciably slowing down the traffic on the 405.

Cheers to the Santa Clara Valley Water District board and employees who recently negotiated new contracts that will save the agency $7.7 million over the life of the three-year contracts. Starting in April 2012, employees will contribute 15 percent of their health care premiums and pay an increase of 1.1 percent to 11 percent of contributions toward the California Public Employees Retirement System. And, new employees who start after Jan. 1 2012 will earn a rate of 2 percent of their salary for retirement plans, multiplied by their years of service at the age of 60. Current employees maintain the 2.5 percent at the age of 55. Employees will also lose a paid holiday, reducing them to 12 per year. Sick leave payouts upon retirement are capped at 480, with a 50 percent rate of the equivalent cash value.

Earlier this week I was driving down San Benito Street in my 2001 Ford truck unwillingly going below the speed limit behind a distracted driver behind the wheel of a Dodge Viper sports car.

There is an old joke that goes "Christians have their cross; Jews have their Star of David; Muslims have their crescent; and Unitarians have the question mark."

If you are a fan but never had the opportunity to experience the King of Pop perform, this is as close as you will ever get. "Cirque du Soleil" has combined Jackson's music, dancing and awe-inspiring visuals into a celebration of the experience of one of his legendary concerts.