Mr. Rock is not especially audacious just because he brings up race.

Oh please, Mr. Rock, exercise your power and tell us whom you're sleeping with.

Mr. Rock said competition was also falling in long distance.

Mr. Rock said his challenge was to try to shorten the company's product cycle from the current period of less than three years.

Mr. Rock will not be running the show this time around.

"There is the potential for people getting crazy over this," Mr. Rock said.

Mr. Rocks is the state census director and, therefore, a little touchy on this subject, but he has a point.

Mr. Rock is clearly climbing on some people's lists, however.

Mr. Rock still ran his decision by a few friends, something he said he rarely does.

Mr. Rock said that was especially a problem in attracting new credit-card business.