Most of the blackouts that plagued California during its 2000-2001 energy crisis would have been avoided if power wholesalers had operated at capacity, according to a report released Tuesday by state power regulators.

The analysis by the California Public Utilities Commission ( news - web sites) and Portland-based McCullough Research found that all four Southern California blackouts and four of the seven Northern California blackouts occurred because power-plant operators produced less than they could have.

Commission President Loretta Lynch said the five largest non-utility electricity generators were not operating at maximum capacity on all but two of the 32 days during which the state saw either blackouts or cuts in service to customers that had agreed to give up power during electricity crises.

Calif.: Blackouts Weren't Necessary

Tiger Woods switched to the Nike Golf forged irons Wednesday, giving him a new set of tools with the Ryder Cup only a week away.

"There's always an element of risk any time you change clubs, any club in the bag," Woods said. "But I think if you try them out, test them enough ... I'm still working on it, and hopefully they'll perform."

Woods, who has a five-year endorsement deal with Nike worth more than $100 million, has tested a dozen sets of forged irons since the beginning of the year. He will use them in competition for the first time Thursday in the American Express Championship.

Tiger Makes a Big Brand Switch

"Almost every night in his New Orleans studio, Reznor leaves his work on the upcoming Nine Inch Nails album (which he cheekily refers to as "More Songs About Oppression and Slavery") for the Nazi shoot-'em-up game Return to Castle Wolfenstein. For the 36-year-old, games and gadgetry aren't just diversions; they're a vital means of artistic exploration. "

Reznors relationship with machines...

Salon.com Technology | Trent Reznor's pretty hate machines

As investors anxiously await a stock market recovery, a top Las Vegas bookmaker says the odds strongly favor a rally next year.

Joe Lupo, race and sports book manager for the Stardust, set the odds at 2-1 that the Dow Jones Industrial Average will end 2003 between 9,000 and 10,000. (DJIA: news, chart, profile)

Lupo saw a far greater chance the Dow will soar rather than collapse. He put the odds at 4-1 that it will close the year above 11,000 -- in the area of its record high 11,909 -- and the chances of it finishing below 6,000 at 100-1.

If you don't want to bet on a company on Wall St., bet on the odds!

No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, more accustomed to navel-baring outfits on the concert stage, opted for a traditional white John Galliano dress at her London wedding on Saturday, as she married Bush guitarist-frontman Gavin Rossdale.

Another sad day! :(

Gwen Stefani Has No Doubt About Groom

"AES may have been broken. Serpent, too. Or maybe not. In either case, there's no need to panic. Yet. But there might be soon. Maybe."

Bruce Schneier on possible weaknesses in encryption systems

Interesting read about how the Federal Reserve operates.

Funky accounting at the Federal Reserve?

What else can I say, Bling Bling Sims!

Bling Bling Sims

The dossier is also expected to disclose that the Iraqi leader has reconstructed three plants to manufacture biological and chemical weapons, it said.

This is what the world has been waiting to see. It is interesting to note that the UK is releasing this information. Show me the information!

Saddam Hussein Trained Al Qaeda Fighters - Report

less filling, taste great?

Anheuser rolls out low-carb beer