Financial Times

California's population at the turn of the century will be bigger and more diverse than ever. Latinos are the fastest-growing group, while whites will record the slowest growth rate. A look at California's ethnic makeup and some predictions about its population as a whole: * Total population: 1990: 29.98 million White: 57.4% Latino: 25.9% Black: 7.0% Other 10.0% * 2000: 36.44 million White: 50.7% Latino: 31.6% Black: 7.0% Other 11.

Alan Hare, 76, a distinguished soldier-spy who later turned Britain's Financial Times into a leading international business newspaper. Hare operated in Albania during World War II and spent one winter sharing a cave with the country's future Communist leader, Enver Hoxha. Hare lost several toes and was awarded Great Britain's Military Cross. After the war, he worked as a free-lance journalist before joining the Secret Intelligence Service in 1948.

The sudden death of Thomas G. Lakin, chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District, was met with surprise and then grief by college officials and community leaders. "I am quite shocked," Trustee Gregory P. Cole said. "He was a marathon runner in tiptop physical shape."

Pierce College officials hope to begin accepting bids soon for a privately operated golf-driving range on the campus to bring revenue to the fiscally strapped school. The school will send out requests for proposals to anyone who asks, Pierce College President Mary Lee said Monday. She said she hopes to have the facility--which would be on the north end of the campus between Mason and Winnetka avenues--in operation by next fall.

Campaign finance reports filed Tuesday reveal that candidates for several high-profile San Fernando Valley-based seats are relying heavily on borrowed money to finance their political quests, with one tapping his own wallet for $125,000 while another got a $275,000 loan from a friend. Candidates say tough financial times and a plethora of office seekers and races have forced them to increasingly finance their own campaigns or turn to family and friends.

For the Pollyannas who think that a savings-and-loan-type debacle couldn't possibly afflict the country's pension system--think again. Many of the largest U.S. companies have been skimping on their pension con tributions for more than a decade. As a result, the gap between promised benefits and assets available to pay for them is growing relentlessly. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation recently published its annual list of the 50 companies with the most poorly funded pension plans.

Max Henry Fisher, 71, former editor of the Financial Times and the executive credited with transforming that newspaper into Britain's leading financial newspaper and an influential European journal. A native of Germany, Fisher was interned in Britain as an enemy alien at the outbreak of war and later sent to Australia. When he was released in 1942, he volunteered for the British army and served in France.

Western Digital Corp. Chairman Roger W. Johnson isn't your typical high-tech company chief executive. Schooled with a generation of managers at General Electric Co. in the 1960s, Johnson believes that executives should demonstrate civic-mindedness by participating in the political and volunteer organizations of the communities where they live and do business.

Who's on first? Forget it. The question in 1993 is this: Which team is Who with now? A dizzying winter of player movement might require a summer of competition to sort out, particularly in the National League West.

Now is not a great time to be a young arts organization. But the Antelope Valley Master Chorale, which debuted last year, is singing of bless ings. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen. The text comes from the very end of Handel's "Messiah," the masterpiece that practically no chorus can escape at this time of year.