Can't Beat / Join 'Em - You wouldn't think a good thing could come of the union of two such dark forces of evil as Verizon and Rupert Murdoch. Nevertheless, I'm hoping Jamie and I can catch a break on our utility bills by signing up for a video-phone-Internet package offered jointly by the "Baby" Bell and satellite-provider DirecTV. Heck, we already subscribe separately to both companies anyway, to the tune of two hundred bucks or more a month. (Now if I could also combine my Earthlink account, we'd really be cooking with gas.) With local competitor Starpower on the ropes, however, these bad guys are the only ones left who might really stir up the market and make Comcast work hard on its cable franchise. So that's where we are in DC, Ben. How's Sacto?