Print edition for December 31, 2006

Bigger rewards from smaller resolutions: Navel-gazing is at a high point this week as Americans - and especially the hedonistically inclined among us - ponder what they want to change about themselves in the New Year.

Smith's World: The '06 Collection: Often his finished cartoon moves us to laughter. Quite frequently we're moved to reflect on the serious point that his cartoon has made. And occasionally we just hand the drawing back while nodding our heads and grimacing, struck by the sad reality of world and national affairs that his artistic temperament has uniquely revealed.

Seniors' dreams can fade away: By Mike Trask; Luana Rae Bello has packed her bags to move back to Sacramento.

Editorial: Embracing winds of change: On the national level, tensions rose as casualties mounted in the Iraq war. With the U.S. death toll nearing 3,000, Americans grew increasingly disenchanted with President Bush's war policy and made their views known at the polls in November, with Democrats gaining control of both the House and Senate for the first time since 1994.

Political campaigns grow along with cities: By Mike Trask; Explosive growth in Henderson and North Las Vegas is reshaping political campaigns in those once-sleepy desert outposts, with the communities responding in vastly different ways.

LOOKING IN ON: GAMING: By Liz Benston; Regulators haven't yet studied whether new rules are needed to govern private equity funds, the multibillion-dollar investment vehicles that are now all the rage on Wall Street and that have recently been approved to buy into a handful of Nevada casinos.

Jeff Simpson takes a look at the top casino takeover targets: Casino company consolidation has been a big trend in recent years, and there will likely be more mergers and acquisitions next year.

Day before election: 'Jim can still win': By J. Patrick Coolican; The day before the November election, Gov.-elect Jim Gibbons' pollster sent a distressing e-mail to the campaign brain trust, a small group of about seven advisers.

CHASING LAKE MEAD'S WATER: PART 3 OF 3: By Launce Rake; FRIDAY: The Colorado River and Lake Mead helped build the modern American West, but that foundation is far from solid as we struggle to live with a shrinking lake.

Letter: Evidence mounting that Bush is in denial: Bob Woodward in his book "State of Denial," former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft in his statements, and now former President Gerald Ford in remarks published Thursday (made to Woodward in 2004 ) clearly believe we are on "the wrong track."

Jack Sheehan on the posturing that goes on when guys get together and the subject turns to women: Several years ago, when I was 40 and single, I went out to dinner once a week with a group of successful Las Vegas businessmen. It was sort of a male-bonding thing, with good friends getting together to network, share war stories and commiserate over the types of issues that concern all men in the prime of life: namely health, finances and relationships with women.

Letter: Illegal migration hurts U.S. on many levels: The outcome of nearly all government funded studies is predetermined by those paying for these studies. Those who produce these studies aren't stupid and they know how to keep the financial winds blowing in their direction.

Editorial: Congratulations - to You: Time has named "You" the person of the year for 2006, saying that You - those of you in front of the computer (which Time dubbed machine of the year in 1982) - "control the Information Age."

Letter: Thanks to Rumsfeld ... for finally leaving: Unlike Mr. Gliddon, I can find very little reason to give thanks to our most recently departed defense secretary for a job well done.