Search

For any fan of disruptive consumer technologies, watching Airbnb's rise has been all sorts of fun. Since its debut in 2008, the company, based in San Francisco, has booked more than two million nights of lodging all over the world. But it's not a hotel. Instead, it allows people to rent out their entire home or apartment -- or just a room or a bed -- to others who find Marriott boring or want to see life in a new area as a local would. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BURLINGAME, Calif. There are no one-handed push-ups or headstands on the yoga mat for Gordon Murray anymore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE BASICS The Stanford Court would seem to have everything going for it. It's in a gorgeous old building near the top of Nob Hill. A new owner threw $34 million at it for a top-to-bottom renovation that is mostly finished. But then the economy fell to pieces, and the new owner walked away from its loan, leaving plenty of questions about the property's future. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses the struggle to have paid paternity leave accepted by U.S. employers. California is the only state in the U.S. to have a such a plan. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows anyone who has had a child to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave while retaining medical coverage and being guaranteed their job upon return to work. Some feel that the stigma attached to paternity leave could be lessened if more fathers who could afford to stay home would.

Looks at legislation either in place or being considered to curb identity theft. California and Texas which allow consumers to put a "security freeze" on their credit history; Other states considering the same legislation; Recent thefts of credit card data and databases which have motivated states to respond as the Federal government has been slow to react; Consumer advocates who favor the freeze, credit bureaus which oppose the legislation; The hassles of a freeze on a credit history; Suggestion on some ways to foil thieves.