The Improv Nashville Show: Improv Nashville performs scenes, games, and a one-act play based on audience suggestions. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. 8 p.m. Jan. 11, 18 and 25, 12th South Arts Venue, 2907 12th Ave. S.; $10. For tickets call 418-0905 or visit www.improvnashville.com.

Thinkin' Lincoln: New MKS flagship is part of a banner year of intros ...

The new Bullitt has a 315-horsepower V-8, stiffer suspension, heavy-duty brakes and dark green paint, like McQueen's car. Available only with a 5-speed manual transmission, Bullitt goes on sale early in 2008 with a $31,075 base price. Ford plans to build 7,700.

But Ford will not be alone in rolling out new finery. Honda, for one, is trotting out a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle that it will lease to fewer than 100 retail and fleet customers next year. Toyota also plans a fuel-cell announcement but offered few details.

It does unveil the redesigned 2008 Sequoia and Nissan its 2009 Murano.

BMW of North America shows three new models: the 1-Series coupe, the M3 and the Mini Clubman wagon.

The 1-Series hearkens back to the BMW 2002 of the 1970s.

Salmond’s bold new era of progressive nationalism

Nothing could better demonstrate just how much things have changed in Scotland in the past year than the fact that there is now no-one arguing for the constitutional status quo.

Alex Salmond may have been radical in office, but in one sense he has been profoundly conservative. He has become a Privy Councillor and insisted that Queen Elizabeth II will remain head of state of an independent Scotland. The SNP are now talking about the "social union" with England remaining, even when Scotland wins political independence. This is a recognition, I believe, that the UK still has a future, and that the SNP has come to terms with the modern world.

Democrats dread drawn-out, costly campaign

And especially you can't undo an election where 1.7 million Florida Democrats have gone to vote in a secret ballot and replace it with a caucus that maybe 50,000 people would show up," Nelson added.

On Thursday, the Illinois senator's campaign announced it had raised $7.2 million in the first 36 hours after polls closed on Super Tuesday.

Longbridge revival hit by hitch with parts shipments from China

The long-awaited restarting of production at Longbridge, the old MG Rover car factory, has suffered a fresh setback after a series of problems with shipments of components from China.

NAC UK, the division of the carmaker based at the Birmingham factory, is now seeking to source some components from Europe. The company denied that there were problems with the quality of the parts and said that breakages and damage had occurred when the supplies were sent on the 10,000km (6,200 mile) journey.

Wet weather causes NASCAR to postpone California Sprint Cup race

FONTANA, Calif. - One of the longest days in NASCAR history ended with Jimmie Johnson out front and a long way to go. The two-time reigning Sprint Cup champion was leading Sunday when the Auto Club 500 race was stopped by rain after 87 of the scheduled 250 laps. Five hours later, NASCAR and track officials gave in to the water seeping out of the ground and across the asphalt track and postponed the completion of the race until this morning at 10 a.m local time.

"The car is driving great," Johnson said before the postponement.