Oct. 17--For months, people involved in job-generation efforts in Fresno County have been saying that now is the time to mine the computer companies in the Silicon Valley -- and lure some of their operations here.

Silicon Valley workers are enduring long commutes and housing prices that are so high they take your breath away. Likewise, their employers are facing a shortage of workers and are paying outrageous costs for rent and other necessities of business.

Well, it appears that linkages between the San Joaquin and Silicon valleys are starting to be established. The word on the street is that some high-tech companies are seriously considering moving some functions of ...