Punit AggarwalNosal PartnersThe San Francisco executive leadership firm appointed Punit Aggarwal as a partner.

Washington PostEATON RAPIDS, Mich. — Determined not to sink along with other links in the auto supply chain, family-run Dowding Industries borrowed $12 million to leap into the green future and leave the dirty assembly line behind.

Silicon Valley’s early aversion to politics is long gone. In fact, the place seems to be on to its New New Thing ‘” politicians.

LOCAL, STATENew owners rename Nissan businessCapitol Nissan will be renamed Premier Nissan of San Jose after new owners bought the car dealership Thursday from Sonic Automotive.

Video software firm On2 Technologies said it will fight legal challenges to its planned acquisition by Google.

A college textbook publisher said Thursday it would become the first to rent titles directly to students, another option for students fed up with spending $100 or more to buy books they have little use for after a semester.

A lot of people worry about hackers using sophisticated techniques to break into computers to steal passwords or otherwise compromise security. Such techniques do exist. But more often than not, security is jeopardized by low-hanging fruit, such as an insecure password that’s easy to guess or to find.

Plus: Microsoft’s new touch-screen Zune is on sale next month. Next Office for Mac will include Outlook. Facebook tests ‘lite’ version. Mortgage rates climb. Stocks are mostly higher.

Growing use of the management tool saves jobs, but at a price ‘” big pay cuts for workers. Many are struggling.

General Motors Co. has confirmed it will assemble battery packs for its new rechargeable electric car at a new factory in southeastern Michigan.