OPINION

Nassau County has a New Year’s gift for 100,000 daily passengers on L.I. Bus: it’s going French, having been sold to France’s Veolia Environment SA, whose transportation unit operates many other U.S. systems.

In less than a week from now, commissioners with the U.S. International Trade Commission will be one step closer to making a decision on SolarWorld Industries America's trade dispute against Chinese dumping of solar cells.

The unanimous American League Cy Young Award winner, Justin Verlander can now add another prestigious piece of hardware to his trophy room after winning the American League Most Valuable Player Award on Monday.

It has been said that the U.S. lost its innocence on November 22, 1963. Forty eight years have passed since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on that horrific day in Dallas. And in some sense, the nation has never fully recovered.

Hillary Clinton for President 2012 may be gaining momentum. Two Democratic pollsters, including one who worked for Bill Clinton and another who worked for Jimmy Carter, have stepped out and said suggesting that very thing. They argue that President Barack Obama should give up on another four years in office to roll out the political red carpet for Hillary Clinton.

Occupy Wall Street brought a Sunday serenade to Bloomberg's home--with drums and chanting. And vows to keep it up for 24 hours, until 2 p.m. Monday.

The technology community last week mourned the suicide of Ilya Zhitomirskiy, a brilliant young mathematician who co-founded Diaspora, a social network site devoted to privacy.

Playing during the NBA lockout is understandable, but only so as far as staying competitive and sightseeing. But as far as making a statement to the NBA owners and its fans, it's almost like a copout.

Some economists are warning that failure to reach a plan by the super committee could cause another credit rating downgrade for the U.S., similar to the S&P downgrade, which sent shock and uninspired awe rippling through global financial markets. Reasonably, one might expect the super committee to reach agreement on a plan, considering the amount of money they are dealing with -- $1.5 trillion -- is small in the big scheme of things.

When California's Proposition 8 has its day in court, any judge who respects the U.S. Constitution will strike it down as a violation of the 14th Amendment, because civil rights cannot be subject to popular vote.

According to FIFA President Sepp Blatter, there is no racism in soccer. But there is, Sepp, and it's a serious problem.

Prudent interventions by major central banks averted a global financial calamity during the financial crisis’ acute stage three years ago. Another intervention to address Europe may be needed, and should be implemented, if central bank officials deem it necessary.

It was George Orwell who made famous the line, “Big Brother is watching you” when he published ‘’1984” back in 1949. That was in the era of telexes, telegrams and the old AT&T.

There’s been an upsurge of reporting on the happenings of young Americans. If the news isn’t reporting on the recession’s impact on fresh graduates, they’re noting that young Americans are marrying later in life and suffering from what some call “failure to launch syndrome.” As the New York Times so recently, and aptly, asked: “What is it about Twenty-Somethings?”

Apple’s mega-selling new iPhone 4S has everyone in titters. It has a faster processor, a better camera, a new and improved this and that. But really, it’s all about Siri. She’s the seductive little voice-activated personal assistant that lives inside every new iPhone.

The drum beat to limit medical care for the elderly grows louder. President Barack Obama's health law reduces future funding for Medicare by over $500 billion in the next decade and shifts most of those resources to fund a vast expansion of Medicaid. It's like robbing grandma to spread the wealth. To bamboozle the public, advocates for limiting health care spending on the elderly are distorting science to make their case.

China’s millionaires want out. And if Congress is smart, it will lure them to the United States, along with others who aren’t quite so rich.

So far, the dispensers of global financial justice -- the bond vigilantes -- have given the U.S. a pass on the budget deficit issue. But that can’t last forever, which is why it behooves Democrats and Republicans to reach agreement on a budget deficit reduction package now, starting with a super committee agreement.

George Harrison inadvertently became the greatest promoter of Indian culture and Hinduism to the Western world during the 20th century.

What has America gotten itself in to? Just about every state and every city is cutting back funding to services needed by those who need it most.

Given the increasing presence of women in high levels of politics around the world, I am wondering what the “standard protocol” for such greetings should be?

With a banking sector that seemingly cycles from reticence to lend, lending at prohibitive interest rates, and outright banker-to-banker mistrust (the latest round of which is being driven by renewed concern about Italy's debt), is today's U.S. banking sector where Framer/Founding Father Alexander Hamilton wanted it to be?

Accused child molester Jerry Sandusky took to the airwaves on Monday night to assert his innocence on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams, but seemingly failed to convince anyone of his defense.

Under normal circumstances, we could feel sorry for Herman Cain, who has never before held political office. If he were still just a businessman, it would all be horribly unfair. But Cain is more than that now, for the moment at least. He became a legitimate contender for the highest office -- President of the United States. With that comes the terrible trail, the one candidates must must be able to navigate like carefully stepping through a mine field with 1,000 pounds on their back if they hop...

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is too volatile for network television and the mainstream.

Only Italy could produce a leader like Berlusconi.

According to Herman Cain, the Occupy Wall Street movement isn't just a conspiracy to distract voters from President Obama's policies -- it isn't a movement at all. Perhaps he should check a dictionary.

Can anyone bring any sense of fiscal stability and normalcy to the Italian government? Perhaps Mario Monti, center, can -- and all in the European Union, and those who believe in the euro, not just the citizens of Italy, will no doubt be rooting for him.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” Thursday to poke fun at his gaffe at Wednesday’s GOP Presidential Debate when he claimed there are three government agencies he would eliminate as President – but then couldn’t name a third.