Jay Leno, Bill Gates Host Party in Seattle

REDMOND, Wash. Microsoft Corp.'s billionaire chairman, BillGates, and comedian Jay Leno launched the company's massivelypublicized Windows 95 operating system Thursday before a cheeringcrowd of 2,500 invited guests.

Under a huge tent on Microsoft's suburban Seattle corporatecampus, Gates and Leno gave the first major demonstration of the newsystem.

Leno came armed with quips and surprised Gates by straying fromthe script in the show broadcast live by satellite to Chicago andother cities.

Microsoft originally planned to sell the program in April, 1994,but was delayed repeatedly by trouble making it work with existingsoftware.

Rivals Apple and …

Border staff, teachers join 1-day UK strike

LONDON (AP) — Airline passengers arriving in Britain escaped chaos early Wednesday despite dire predictions of long waits, as border staff joined teachers, hospital workers and weather forecasters in the country's largest strike in decades.

The one-day strike has been called to oppose government demands that public sector staff work longer before receiving a pension and contribute more money each month — plans which form part of a package of austerity measures designed to get a grip on the country's high borrowing levels.

Labor unions said as many as 2 million public sector staff were joining the strike, which would make it the largest since the infamous industrial dispute …

US senator: Stakes high on US climate bill

Coastal areas could veto offshore drilling plans under long-awaited legislation to curb global warming backed by two leading U.S. senators.

Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat, says the stakes are "sky high" for the bill that he and Joe Lieberman, an independent, are introducing on Wednesday.

The legislation aims to cut by 2010 carbon dioxide and other …

Irish win at Coal Classic

BECKLEY - Mount Hope basketball Coach Jim Maynor said thedifference between his Mustangs and third-ranked Charleston Catholicwasn't difficult to figure.

"They have five guys who can all get up and down the court,"Maynor said Monday night. "My team has never seen that before. Thatwas the difference. They simply beat us down the floor."

The result was an 89-54 Catholic win in a Class A first-round gameof the Mountain State Coal Classic.

After leading by 10 at the half, the Irish time and time againbeat the Mustangs down the floor in the fourth quarter for easy fast-break baskets.

The result was a 14-for-20 showing from the floor. That helpedCatholic go …

Adding Value

STRAIGHT TALK

I am honored to serve as the 33rd chairman of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). As a non-profit, cross-industry organization, ASE was chartered in 1972 to improve the quality of automotive service through voluntary technician certification. I believe the mission of ASE is as important today as when it first began.

We are experiencing a period of incredible change in automotive history. Great strides have been made in the areas of vehicle performance, safety, efficiency and the reduction of emissions through advanced technology. Hybrid gasoline/electric powertrains have become mainstream and are being adopted by all major vehicle …

Rockets-Spurs, Box

HOUSTON (75)

Artest 8-16 0-0 18, Scola 2-6 0-0 4, Yao 5-9 3-3 13, McGrady 2-12 3-4 7, Brooks 6-17 0-0 14, Hayes 1-1 1-2 3, Landry 4-6 0-0 8, Head 0-2 2-2 2, Wafer 2-6 0-0 6. Totals 30-75 9-11 75.

SAN ANTONIO (77)

Udoka 0-2 0-0 0, Duncan 8-15 6-8 22, Oberto 2-4 0-0 4, Mason 3-8 1-2 9, Hill 8-13 0-0 17, Finley 2-6 0-0 5, Vaughn 1-4 2-2 4, Bowen 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 1-7 1-2 3, Tolliver 1-2 0-0 2, Bonner 4-6 0-0 11. Totals 30-67 …

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: ; Reduction in bowls is possible for 2014

It's the morning after Super Bowl XLVI, so let's stick with thebowl theme.

Speaking collegiately and Roman numerically, there were XXXV ofthose postseason football games this year - many of them no-so-super matchups. Well, a couple of seasons from now, things may bedownsized to something less than triple-X.

Too many Brand X teams have played in too many Brand X bowls fortoo long. Finally, there seems to be a growing - and healthy -momentum for the reduction from 35 major college bowl games.

Such a move is going to be easier said than done. Trust me. Justa bunch of people lobbying that a 6-6 record isn't good enough forbowl qualification doesn't …