Unfortunately, the ease of access and simplicity of the cloud doesn't extend to the legal issues supporting it. While traditional software licensing and IT outsourcing agreements can be a model for cloud computing, there are new risks and business practices that must be considered.

In a challenge to a San Francisco law that bans tobacco sales at drug stores, three California appeal court justices on Wednesday looked like they wanted to avoid ruling on Walgreens' constitutional argument that the city is violating equal protection rights. Instead, the panel appeared more interested in whether a drug store that sells food is really a grocery store that would be exempt. The local ordinance bans tobacco sales at drug stores but not at supermarkets or stores like Costco.

Six of the nine Supreme Court justices attended the State of the Union address in January, but don't be surprised if that number goes way down next year, in light of comments made by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. in Alabama on Tuesday, after he was asked about an unusual episode that occurred at this year's address. Said Roberts: "To the extent the State of the Union has degenerated into a political pep rally, I'm not sure why we're there."