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WSJ: Microsoft Lawyer Pans Reported Google Antitrust Agreement
Microsoft, which has a history of being hunted by antitrust regulators, now is complaining that regulators aren't being tough enough against its rival Google.
In a blog post published Wednesday, Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner expressed disappointment in Google's potential agreement to avert a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. antitrust authority.
The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations have reported Google appears close to pledging several voluntary changes to satisfy the FTC concerns about potential abuses of its market position in Web search. The Journal also has reported Google is expected to sign a consent decree in a separate probe on of how it handled mobile patents that it acquired in its purchase of Motorola Mobility last year.
"News reports have stated that the FTC may close its investigation if Google merely makes certain 'voluntary commitments' to reform its behavior," Heiner wrote.
His post expressed skepticism that Google could "be trusted on the basis of non-binding assurances that it will not abuse its market position further." On the patents issue, Heiner also wrote Google's potential agreement "appears to be less demanding than the pledge the U.S. Department of Justice received from Apple and Microsoft nearly a year ago."
Heiner also reiterated a longstanding complaint that Google is hindering Microsoft's ability to offer a fully functionally YouTube mobile app for Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphones.
Microsoft says Google isn't providing access to YouTube data in the same way it does for Apple's iPhone and for smartphones powered by Google's Android software. The app for Windows Phone is therefore essentially YouTube's website without features offered for YouTube apps on other smartphones, the company says.
Microsoft has aired the YouTube complaint since at least 2011, but Heiner added a fresh allegation in his post.
"Last month we learned from YouTube that senior executives at Google told them not to enable a first-class YouTube experience on Windows Phones," Heiner wrote.
A Google spokesman disputed Microsoft's assertions. "Contrary to Microsoft's claims, it's easy for consumers to view YouTube videos on Windows phones," he said. "In fact, we've worked with Microsoft for several years to help build a great YouTube experience on Windows phones."
The post underscores the rivalry between Microsoft and Google, which compete in many areas including Web search and operating software for smartphones and computers. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer repeatedly has criticized Google for abusing its market lead in Web search, and for intruding on consumer privacy with Google's online-ad business.


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figleaves.com - Designer Lingerie, Bras, Briefs, Underwear, Swimwear
Discover figleaves' gorgeous range of sexy nightwear and treat yourself to something special. From ultra feminine babydolls in pastel shades with pretty details to sexy sheer chemises that will make you irresistible. You'll find a fantastic range of sizes and shapes to suit your body, and why not treat yourself to matching lingerie or a silk robe to complete your gorgeous look?
We now accept the following payment types: Maestro, Solo, Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, American Express, Paypal, JCB, Laser, Carte Bancaire and Carte Bleue

subset: commoncrawl


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Week in Review: Paving the Way for Innovative Medicines
Paving the Way for Innovative Medicines
07.19.13 | By
The biopharmaceutical community has made tremendous progress in recent years developing innovative treatments for chronic conditions, thanks to advancements in science and medicine. Not only do these advancements improve people's lives every day, they also provide hope that we may one day be able to prevent or cure diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer and HIV/AIDS. This week, the Catalyst addressed a number of these advances and highlighted the importance of continued innovation.
Did you think time was the only cure for a broken heart? Maybe not, according to an article in Everyday Health. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are training bone marrow stem cells to become heart cells by treating them with proteins that trigger heart development. Similar advancements are being made with Alzheimer's disease. Clinical trials are quickly enhancing our understanding of this complex disease, and there are now more than 100 potential new medicines in development to treat Alzheimer's.
To continue these important advancements, there needs to be an environment that fosters innovation and continued investment in research and development. Strong intellectual property protections both in the U.S. and abroad are essential. Given the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations this week, our "Conversation" forum specifically addressed this issue.
We are always excited to hear what the future might hold for patients. To learn more about innovation and new medicines in the pipeline, be sure to check back in the coming weeks for the launch of our new Medicines in Development Report on neurological disorders.


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Monday, January 14, 2013
IWC: For the Few
Posted by Shreve & Co. at 12:00:00 AM in IWC (29)
The International Watch Company (IWC) is named the International Watch Company for a reason. And that reason is that they make some of the best darn watches in the world. When luxury watches is the game, IWC is a superstar that connoisseurs and enthusiasts recognize. In 1986, Florentine Ariosto Jones, the American engineer and watchmaker, founded the International Watch Company. Recognizing the Swiss leadership in craftsmanship and the American leadership in modern technology, he mixed the best of both worlds and ended up as one of the leading innovators in the industry. To this day, IWC is a historical brand. It remains the only watch factory in East Switzerland that is operational to this day. IWC has maintained its vision to create few watches for small numbers of discerning people that value quality more than anything else. This is the same reason that IWC watches last for decades. IWC items continue to be rare pieces of mechanisms that are only fetched by true connoisseurs throughout the planet. To add an IWC piece to your collection visit Shreve & Co. – authorized dealer for IWC.
Reference: http://www.iwc.com/en/history/
Written by Shreve & Co. at 12:00:00 AM in IWC (29) | Comments (0)
Commenting has been turned off for this entry.


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WASHINGTON (November 16, 2012)--President Barack Obama had a constructive meeting with congressional leaders Friday on the looming "fiscal cliff" that could undermine the economy and slow job creation in the new year, the White House said.
Mr. Obama met with the top leaders of the House and Senate for more than an hour Friday on ways to avert the cliff, a series of automatic tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect Jan. 1., in the absence of intervening action.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Mr. Obama and the legislative leaders "agreed to do everything possible to find a solution" and find a balanced approach to reduce the deficit that includes increased revenue favored by Democrats and spending cuts favored by Republicans.
Congressional leaders expressed confidence they could reach a deal before Christmas.
House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell both said they offered higher tax revenue as part of a deal.
Boehner said he outlined a framework that is consistent with Mr. Obama's call for a "balanced" approach of both higher revenue and spending cuts.
"We all know something has to be done," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.


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EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Regulated List - This map identifies those states that list this species on their regulated list. For more information, visit Invasive.org
|Kingdom: Plantae
|Phylum: Magnoliophyta
|Class: Magnoliopsida
|Subclass: Dilleniidae
|Order: Violales
|Family: Cucurbitaceae
|Genus: Coccinia
|Subject: Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt
Other Common Names:
scarlet-fruited gourd


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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
Headlines for Friday:
|@1200-1300 Lunch and learn, Marketplace Classroom, IBM
|Connect to everyone from mesh on Linked In
|Make Toastmasters forms : E-Mail from Ari Caylakyan
|Add MSR feed to my Bloglines: http://research.microsoft.com/rss/publications.xml : E-Mail from Alvin Chin
|Find pictures of my hacked T-shirts
1. Linux Device Driver Kit: 01:23
Always wanted to write a kernel device driver but never got around to it? Now you have no excuse! Check out the Linux Driver Development Kit, which includes:
everything that a Linux device driver author would need in order to create Linux drivers, including a full copy of the O'Reilly book, "Linux Device Drivers, third edition" and pre-built copies of all of the in-kernel docbook documentation for easy browsing. It even has a copy of the Linux source code that you can directly build external kernel modules against.
Totally cool.
E-Mail from Don Marti
On Technorati: linux
Random Japanese sentence: ネコはネズミを捕まえる。 Cats catch mice.
2. Cooking: 01:28
My cooking misadventures always seem to draw the most comments. I guess it's because people here don't want me to accidentally poison myself. ;) Cooking is a very geeky thing to do. That said, most geeks are new to the whole shebang also, and it's nice to know that other people are struggling with the same issues, and some have even figured them out!
So yeah, even if the prevailing wisdom is that people should write topic-focused blogs so that they don't bother your readers, I'm still going to mix my cooking stories with my research stories and whatnot... =)
On Technorati: cooking
E-Mail from luis buenaventura
Random Japanese sentence: お留守中あなたの猫を世話してあげましょう。 I will look after your cat while you are away.
3. Philippines 2.0: 01:46
Joey de Villa posted a very interesting article on how to be Silicon Valley. Geeks at home: read this and let's make it happen. We don't need to be Silicon Valley, but we can still do something really cool.
(Incidentally, Joey's from Manila, and he now works at Tucows in Toronto.)
On Technorati: philippines, geek, entrepreneurship
Random Japanese sentence: 猫がネズミを嗅ぎつけたようですね。 Seems like the cat had the wind of a rat.
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


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Matthew McConaughey has pretty much been vanishing before our eyes the past few months. But he says there's nothing to worry about.
"I feel fine. I really do," McConaughey, 43, told the Daily Beast, saying his quest to lose nearly 40 pounds from his chiseled 183-pound frame was healthy, disciplined and well thought-out.
He probably said the same thing about the whole naked bongo episode.
The dramatic weight loss was needed to play HIV-positive Ron Woodruff in the upcoming film "Dallas Buyers Club."
"I'm eating fresh fish. I'm just eating small amounts. I'm not being starved," said the actor, who also says he's sleeping well. "If anything, it's as much a spiritual journey as it is physical."
I don't know. You see a lot of big beefy people in church.
Though his body's "fine," McConaughey says, "Everything has shrunk quite a bit. ... I don't have the leverage I used to. I have body soreness. But I'm as healthy as can be. My blood pressure, everything's fine."
Everything shrunk? Uh ...
McConaughey said getting back to his normal weight will be tricky, as he risks getting a form of diabetes.
"You can't just start eating cheeseburgers and ice cream," he said. "Your body will go into shock."
Contact Tony Hicks at email@example.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks.


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Join us for this one-of-a-kind, in-depth class that thoroughly covers one aspect of the game of fastpitch softball. Take this class for your own growth and development, or use this opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units, Master Coach Status or credits toward a Master?s degree in Kinesiology.
The NFCC's 2009-10 schedule features 13 locations around the country with one coming near you!
Winning Strategies for Game-Day Coaching ? Columbus, OH ? Nov 6-8
With Instructors: Carie Dever-Boaz, Heather Tarr, & Scott Whitlock!
See the link below for the Flyer & Registration form!
For More Information or to learn about other locations visit nfca.org/college
or contact Hildred Deese | 662/320-2155 | email@example.com
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ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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There are two ways to use Search on your iOS device.
Quick Search
Drag down from the middle of the Home screen and type what you're looking for.
Siri Suggestions
Drag right from the Home screen to show Search and get Siri Suggestions.
Get Siri Suggestions
Siri Suggestions include apps and contacts that you might be interested in. You'll also see suggestions for news, nearby places like restaurants, gas stations, retail stores, and more.
You can use Siri Suggestions with iPhone 5 and later, iPad Pro, iPad (4th generation) and later, iPad mini (2nd generation) and later, and iPod touch (6th generation).
Change search settings
Go to Settings > General > Spotlight Search.
From here, you can turn Siri Suggestions on or off and choose which apps to include in your searches. For example, if you don't want to see search results from your Messages app, you can deselect Messages.
If you don't want Siri or Spotlight to suggest nearby locations, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Then tap System Services and turn off Safari & Spotlight Suggestions. Find out where you can use Spotlight Suggestions.


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Early Phish at their greatest!!!! The quality of this show is amazing too!! And a TWO SONG SECOND SET!!! Holy Shit.
Let me start with the first set.
It starts out with an I AM HYDROGEN. What!!! To open a show!! I doubt you'll see stuff like that nowadays. And it was the debut of it too! WOW!!
Next is DON'T WANT YOU NO MORE. What an instrumental!! Page's playing is on point and I love the outro jam that the boys play after this one.
After that is CITIES. I love the Talking Heads, and I love Phish so this song is perfect. Trey's guitar is absolutely sublime on this one. Loving this shit so far.
Next is WILD CHILD. Wow! Phish covering Lou Reed!! Page is the real Wild Child on this song, as his playing is wonderful.
This is turning out to be the best first set I have ever listened to.
The song after that is SLAVE TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. Damn! I am turning into a slave to this band because this jam was so good, it rocked my socks off!!
Next is a JAM. Wow!! How often are Jams played? Well I just listened to a wonderful progressive one and it was a killer. The whole band is on point.
Next up is Alumni Blues. I was feeling sad because of the name but this song is amazing.
Then I fell asleep.
But you should get this. Best show of all time


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News Archive
It appears tiny and inconsequential enough, but the "super mouse" — created by researchers at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center some six years ago — has spawned plenty of new research into preventing and/or treating many types of cancer.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - 15:27
Scientists are struggling to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. The search has yielded a number of therapies, including deep brain stimulation, but many possible treatments can only work for so long. What makes a cure even more elusive is the scarcity of animal models for testing treatments. But even with these hurdles, a group of researchers found that certain symptoms of Parkinson's start to appear when mice suddenly lose their testosterone.
Monday, July 29, 2013 - 15:48
Every year more than 13,000 Americans will be diagnosed with a glioblastoma, the worst kind of brain tumor. There's no cure and few treatments. On average, people only have 15 months to live after diagnosis. Now, man's best friend could hold the key to helping these patients.
Friday, July 26, 2013 - 14:31
Ongoing research on paralyzed dogs may one day help military veterans and others who have severe spinal cord injuries. Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences have developed a therapy that might help paralyzed dogs regain some of their lost function.
Thursday, July 25, 2013 - 14:20
In the final hours of a nematode worm's life, a wave of cell death propagates along the length of its body. But, as if to have one last hurrah, the dying cells put on a bright blue light show, according to a paper published online yesterday (July 23) in PLOS Biology.
The discovery of this unusual death-related phenomenon came as a result of studies into aging, said University College London's David Gems. One of the prevailing theories to explain aging in organisms, he said, is that throughout life there is a slow accumulation of damage to cellular components. In mammals, some of that damaged material accumulates in the lysosomes of aging cells as a substance called lipofuscin—"a sort of biological crap," Gems said.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 16:10
A team of MSU researchers might have found a crucial link between peptide levels in the brain and the escalation of Alzheimer's disease.
For the project, professor Christina Chan and MSU alumna Hirosha Geekiyanage experimented with mice, which were genetically altered to be more likely to develop symptoms of the disease. The team injected a compound called L-cycloserine into the mice and later found it decreased levels of peptides that have been shown to lead to the plaques on the brain associated with Alzheimer's.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 15:25
Although medicine has advanced far enough to treat basic headaches, strained muscles and the agony of having a cavity filled, inflammatory pain—the kind that results from osteoarthritis, bone cancer and back injuries—has proved to be a far more elusive target. Current remedies, including morphine and other opiates, flood all the nerves of the body, causing dangerous side effects. More localized remedies, such as steroid injections, wear off over time. Recently researchers have begun working with a toxin found in a Moroccan cactuslike plant that may be able to deliver permanent, local pain relief with a single injection.
Monday, July 15, 2013 - 16:09
Scientists have created genetically-engineered mice with artificial human chromosomes in every cell of their bodies, as part of a series of studies showing that it may be possible to treat genetic diseases with a radically new form of gene therapy.
Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 15:04
Some people possess a small number of cells in their bodies that are not genetically their own; this condition is known as microchimerism. It is difficult to determine potential health effects from this condition because of humans' relatively long life-spans. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that microchimerism can be found in dogs as well. Jeffrey Bryan, an associate professor of oncology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and director of Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, says this discovery will help doctors determine what diseases humans with microchimerism may be more likely to develop during their lifetimes.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013 - 15:27
With some strains of tuberculosis resistant to many antibiotics and the only vaccine not very effective in adults, scientists around the world are trying to develop better drugs and immunizations for the disease. Among them are UW-Madison researchers Michael Thomas and Adel Talaat. He is focusing on four genes that activate TB in the lungs, where most TB infections cause the most harm. A vaccine using mutant versions of the genes could help the immune system fight TB, he said.
Monday, July 8, 2013 - 13:00
A federally approved drug already being inhaled by asthma patients may make mice with Down syndrome smarter, according to a new study.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 - 14:49
A drug used to treat canker sores in people has made some fat lab mice skinny. In the laboratory, Saltiel and his team used mice that were genetically modified to be obese or that were fed a high-fat diet and grew obese. Some of the mice then were given Amlexanox, a prescription-only drug approved in the U.S. to treat canker sores.
Monday, July 1, 2013 - 16:31
Humans and their pet dogs are close, so close that they both develop a type of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In humans it's the most common lymphoma subtype while in dogs, it's one of the most common cancers in veterinary oncology. Now, a study comparing canine and human B-cell lymphoma has found molecular similarities between the cancers, allowing researchers to better understand the origins of the disease in both species.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 14:14
Vampire bat venom could prove the key ingredient in future medication for stroke and high blood pressure after an international team of scientists identified ''a whole suite'' of ways bats prevent blood from clotting.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 16:19
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 14:49
Exercise can lead to more regular sleep patterns, an improved immune system, better brain function and a longer life, research suggests.
Glasgow University scientists found that old mice took longer to adapt to changes to their daily routine, but that their synchronisation improved if they had access to a running wheel.
Monday, June 24, 2013 - 14:42
Researchers have known for some time that stem cells are capable of producing new cells, but the new study shows how a select group of stem cells can create progenitors that then generate numerous subtypes of cells.
Friday, June 21, 2013 - 14:17
Studies in zebrafish reveal abundant potential source for repair of injured heart muscle.
Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 15:40
A study of wild mice, which typically carry several parasitic infections at a time, finds treating one infection may worsen another.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 - 15:13
In what CSU is calling the most realistic study of its kind, scientists are hoping to better understand how tuberculosis is transmitted, thanks in part to humans infected with the killer disease and hundreds of guinea pigs.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 - 15:44


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Main Content:
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Dress your baby from head to toe in affordable and cool baby boy clothes from Old Navy. You'll find everything from outerwear to accessories in the latest styles. Our collection features handsome fleece wear for those chilly winter days. Check out our great buys in everything you need to fill his closet in various sizes.


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SAN JOSE -- Joe Pavelski did it again. Alex Stalock, too.
The NHL's hottest goal scorer broke a scoreless tie in the third period, batting in a rebound as the Sharks capitalized on a rare Winnipeg Jets mistake Thursday night to skate away with a 1-0 victory.
And San Jose's backup netminder pitched his second consecutive shutout, making 20 saves to extend the Sharks' winning streak to five games.
Pavelski's goal was his 28th of the season, seventh in the last four games and 19th in the last 21. He's now alone in second place among NHL goal scorers, trailing only Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals with 35.
"We hope it lasts for a long time," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said of Pavelski's torrid streak. "Right spot, right time, great hand-eye."
The Sharks had just completed their second unsuccessful power play when the lone goal was scored at 6:48 of the final period, with Pavelski starting and finishing the sequence.
Pavelski's initial shot was blocked, but Jets forward Olli Jokinen failed to clear the puck out of the zone. Sharks defenseman Justin Braun corralled it at the blue line, then skated to the high slot and sent a soft backhand toward goalie Onrej Pavelec. The Jets netminder made the initial stop only to have Pavelski punch in the rebound.
"It was one of those that's just kind of hovering," Pavelski said, "and you're going to the net hoping for something like that and I just touched it."
All Stalock did was extend his shutout streak to 140:59, having beaten the Florida Panthers 3-0 a week earlier. He hasn't given up a goal since 4:01 of the third period of San Jose's 3-2 shootout victory in Chicago on Jan. 5.
"It's awesome," Pavelski said of Stalock's recent run. "He's come in and played great for us. He's made some big saves along the way. Nemo has been great. Al steps in on the odd nights and has been phenomenal."
Stalock's most dramatic save came late in the first period as he slid across the goal mouth to rob Jets captain Andrew Ladd at the end of a 2-on-1 rush.
"They made a cross pass to him and he was streaking in," said Stalock, who shared credit on the play with his defense. "He was going to have to lunge for it, so I just wanted to make it over there. We had a d-man on him under his stick, so he wasn't able to get much on it."
McLellan had said he'd begin using Stalock more often because of starter Antti Niemi's upcoming trip to the Winter Olympics with Team Finland, hoping to keep Niemi fresh for the playoffs. Stalock normally has waited four to eight games between opportunities, but this time there had been only two since he shut out Florida.
Did the shorter gap help?
"Maybe a little bit. You kind of are right back at it, game speed," Stalock said. "But every game is different."
Neither team could sustain much offensive pressure in a well-played, but relatively uneventful first two periods.
At one point it appeared the Sharks had taken a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by -- who else? -- Pavelski. But the referee waved it off immediately, ruling Joe Thornton had crashed into and interfered with Pavelec.
"It felt like my feet kind of like got kicked," Thornton said. "I don't know if it was the goalie. I just kind of went down. Too bad, but thank god it didn't affect the game."
Minnesota (28-20-5) at Sharks
(33-12-6), 7:30 p.m. CSNCA
Online extra
Scan this code with a smartphone to view a Sharks photo gallery or go to http://photos.mercurynews.com.


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Since the 1990s, fungal infections have emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed and critically ill patients. The yeast Candida is the most common human fungal pathogen and is responsible for both invasive and mucosal infections. Neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages are critical for host defense against invasive candidiasis, the most common deep-seated human mycosis and the fourth-leading cause of nosocomial bloodstream infection in the United States. Despite administration of antifungal therapy, mortality of patients who develop invasive Candida infection exceeds 40 percent. In stark contrast to the requirement of phagocytes for defense against invasive infection, mucosal candidiasis develops 1) in patients with impaired cellular immunity such as those with AIDS (more than 90 percent of whom develop oral thrush) or inborn errors of immunity leading to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) and 2) in the majority of healthy women, often associated with antibiotic use (vaginal candidiasis). In all of these conditions, detailed knowledge of immunopathogenesis at the molecular and cellular levels is lacking.
Our laboratory research focuses on 1) cellular and molecular factors that regulate the immune response against mucosal and invasive candidiasis in clinically relevant animal models and on 2) better understanding the genetic and immune defects that underlie enhanced susceptibility to mucocutaneous and invasive fungal infections in humans. Our goal is to develop a detailed mechanistic understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of innate and adaptive immune responses against Candida with an aim to devise novel strategies to improve the diagnosis and augment or supplement the current antifungal drug treatment against candidiasis. To this end, we utilize in vitro cell culture systems and clinically relevant mouse models of mucosal and systemic Candida infections to study host-fungal interactions by using a variety of immunological, biological, and imaging approaches.
The first step in mounting any immune response is the effective recruitment and activation of immune cells at the site of infection. Yet, the molecular factors that mediate these processes in the setting of candidiasis are poorly defined. Hence, a major focus of the laboratory is to investigate the role of specific members of the chemoattractant system in mediating trafficking and effector function of specific resident and recruited immune cells in anti-Candida host defense in vivo. Characterization of the role of candidate chemotactic factors in antifungal host defense in mice is then followed by human immunogenomics studies, in which genetic polymorphisms in the identified chemotactic factor genes are tested for correlating effects on biological function and for associations with candidiasis in patients.
Further, an important event that determines the outcome of candidiasis is germination of Candida yeast into hyphae. Hence, Candida mutant strains that are unable to germinate are avirulent in vivo. We have previously demonstrated that in disseminated candidiasis, the innate antifungal immune response is highly idiosyncratic for each infected organ, associated with organ-specific differential ability of Candida to filament in these tissues. Thus, our laboratory is interested in delineating the host factors that govern antifungal resistance versus susceptibility at different anatomical sites. To that end, a major focus of our laboratory is the study of the immunological mechanisms that account for central nervous system (CNS)-targeted susceptibility to systemic candidiasis and other systemic fungal infections in patients with CARD9 mutations. Hence, via an investigational review board (IRB)-approved clinical protocol, our lab is recruiting patients with biallelic CARD9 mutations to NIH to study them immunologically. In parallel, the cellular and molecular basis of enhanced susceptibility to CNS-targeted system fungal diseases in CARD9 deficiency is investigated in Card9-/-mice.
With regard to mucosal candidiasis, the laboratory investigates the mechanisms of Candida susceptibility in inherited immunodeficiencies that lead to CMC and in healthy subjects following antibiotic use. Hence, the laboratory aims to define the immunological mechanisms that account for universal susceptibility to CMC in patients with the autosomal-recessive autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) syndrome. APECED, caused by mutations in autoimmune regulator (AIRE), is the only primary immunodeficiency in which CMC develops in 100 percent of patients and is the only infectious disease phenotype. Hence, our laboratory, via an investigational review board (IRB)-approved clinical protocol, is recruiting APECED patients to the National Institutes of Health to study them immunologically. In parallel, the cellular and molecular basis of enhanced susceptibility to mucosal candidiasis in APECED is investigated in Aire-/- mice.
In addition, antibiotic use is the most common controllable risk factor for development of vaginal candidiasis in health women. Hence, our laboratory aims to define the microbiomic and immunological perturbations that lead to vaginal candidiasis in antibiotic-treated healthy women. Better understanding of the antibiotic-induced alterations in the commensal flora and mucosal anti-Candida immune response that result in vaginal candidiasis could form the basis for development of targeted probiotic and/or immune-based strategies for the prevention and therapy of vaginal candidiasis in humans.
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Dr. Lionakis obtained his M.D. and Sc.D. from the University of Crete in Greece. In 2002, he came to the United States and worked as a research fellow at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) under the mentorship of Dimitrios Kontoyiannis. At MDACC, Dr. Lionakis did clinical research on risk factors, diagnosis, and management of opportunistic fungal infections in cancer patients and bench research focusing on pharmacology and microbial factors in mouse and Drosophila models of invasive aspergillosis, fusariosis, and candidiasis.
After completing his clinical training in Internal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at NIAID, Dr. Lionakis joined the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology (LMI) in 2008 and began to work on fungal immunology under the mentorship of Philip Murphy. At LMI, Dr. Lionakis did bench research on how chemotactic factors regulate the innate immune response in invasive candidiasis. In 2010, he was recruited as an Assistant Clinical Investigator in the NIAID Transition Program in Clinical Research and established the Clinical Mycology Unit within LMI. In 2012, Dr. Lionakis was recruited as a tenure-track investigator in the NIAID intramural research program and established the Fungal Pathogenesis Unit within the Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
IDWeek Investigator Award (2015); BeHEARD Science Prize Winner, Rare Genomics Institute (2015); 50th ICAAC George McCracken Infectious Disease Fellow Award (2010); 49th ICAAC Infectious Disease Fellows Grant Program Award (2009); Henry McIntosh Award for Outstanding Resident in Medicine (2007); Offered Chief Resident position, Baylor College of Medicine (2006); Certificate of Merit, MD Anderson Cancer Center (2004); 1st place Bristol-Myers Squibb Award in Clinical/Translational Research, Trainee Recognition Day, MD Anderson Cancer Center (2004); 43rd ICAAC Program Committee Award for Outstanding Research in the Pathogenesis of Microbial Diseases (2003); Giorgos Gennimatas Scholarship Award (2002); GlaxoWellcome Scholarship Award (2000); Lilian Voudouri Foundation Scholarship Award (2000); The Hellenic National Scholarships' Foundation Scholarship Award (2000); Dretakis Foundation Scholarship Award (2000)
Timothy Break, Ph.D. Timothy obtained his bachelor's degree in biology from Texas Wesleyan University and then received his Ph.D. from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, studying innate immune responses against Listeria infection in mice. At FPU, Timothy focuses his work on Aire deficiency and the resulting primary immunodeficiency, APECED, which is associated with increased susceptibility to mucosal Candida infection. Using mouse models and clinical samples, he aims to uncover the mechanisms by which APECED leads to universal and specific susceptibility to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
Jigar Desai, M.S., Ph.D. Jigar obtained his bachelor's degree and master's degree in pharmacy from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in India and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, respectively. He did his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he studied the genetic factors that control Candida biofilm formation and the biophysical mechanisms of hyphal invasion. After that, he joined the FPU, where his research focuses on characterizing the Candida and host molecular factors that affect organ-specific fungal virulence.
Rebecca Drummond, Ph.D. Rebecca obtained her bachelor's degree in immunology at the University of Edinburgh. Rebecca joined the FPU after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen, where she worked on C-type lectin receptors in antifungal immunity. Her research at the FPU tries to understand the immune mechanisms that protect against infections caused by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans and how acquired and inherited susceptibility factors (such as antibiotic usage and genetic mutations) impair antifungal host defense.
Elise Ferré, PA-C, M.P.H. Elise obtained a Master of Science in health sciences for physician assistant studies from George Washington University, as well as a Master of Public Health with a concentration in community-oriented primary care. At FPU, Elise focuses her work on clinical care and clinical research in patients with inherited (e.g., APECED, CARD9 deficiency) and acquired (e.g., antibiotic-induced vaginal candidiasis) susceptibility to fungal disease.
Mukil Natarajan, M.D. Mukil obtained his bachelor's degree in bioengineering from Rice University in Houston, TX, and his M.D. from Duke University in Durham, NC. He then did his internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After completing a clinical fellowship in infectious diseases at NIH, Mukil joined the Fungal Pathogenesis Unit. His research in the FPU focuses on better understanding the role of microbiota in promoting antimicrobial host defense and organ-specific autoimmunity in patients with APECED. In addition, he is aiming to elucidate the genetic and immunological defects that underlie susceptibility to invasive fungal infections of the central nervous system.
Muthulekha Swamydas, Ph.D. Muthulekha obtained her bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery from India and her Ph.D. in anatomy and cell biology from Wayne State University in Detroit. Her work at FPU focuses on understanding the in vivo role of phagocyte-targeted chemoattractant receptors in host defense against invasive candidiasis in mice.
Swamydas M, Gao JL, Break TJ, Johnson MD, Jaeger M, Rodriguez CA, Lim JK, Green NM, Collar AL, Fischer BG, Lee CR, Perfect JR, Alexander BD, Kullberg BJ, Netea MG, Murphy PM, Lionakis MS. CXCR1-mediated neutrophil degranulation and fungal killing promotes Candida clearance and host survival. Sci Transl Med. 2016. 2016 Jan 20;8(322):322ra10.
Drummond RA, Collar AL, Swamydas M, Rodriguez CA, Lim JK, Mendez LM, Fink DL, Hsu AP, Zhai B, Karauzum H, Mikelis CM, Rose SR, Ferre EM, Yockey L, Lemberg K, Kuehn HS, Rosenzweig SD, Lin X, Chittiboina P, Datta SK, Belhorn TH, Weimer ET, Hernandez ML, Hohl TM, Kuhns DB, Lionakis MS. CARD9-dependent neutrophil recruitment protects against fungal invasion of the central nervous system. PLoS Pathog. 2015 Dec 17;11(12):e1005293.
Lionakis MS, Swamydas M, Fischer B, Plantinga T, Johnson MD, Jaeger M, Masedunskas A, Weigert R, Mikelis C, Wan W, Richard Lee CC, Lim JK, Rivollier A, Yang J, Laird G, Wheeler RT, Alexander BD, Perfect J, Gao JL, Kullberg BJ, Netea MG, Murphy PM. CX3CR1-dependent renal macrophage survival promotes Candida control and host survival. J Clin Invest. 2013 Dec 2;123(12):5035-51.
Lionakis MS, Holland SM. CARD9: at the intersection of mucosal and systemic antifungal immunity. Blood. 2013 Mar 28;121(13):2377-8.
Lionakis MS, Netea MG. Candida and host determinants of susceptibility to invasive candidiasis. PLoS Pathog. 2013 Jan;9(1):e1003079
Lionakis MS, Fischer B, Lim JK, Swamydas M, Wan W, Richard Lee CC, Cohen J, Scheinberg P, Gao J, Murphy PM. Chemokine receptor Ccr1 drives neutrophil-mediated kidney immunopathology and mortality in invasive candidiasis. PLoS Pathog. 2012. Aug;8(8):e1002865.
Visit PubMed for a complete publication listing.
Microbiomic and Immunologic Profiling of Women With Antibiotic-Induced Vaginal Candidiasis, #13-I-0181
The Natural History and Pathogenesis of Human Fungal Infections, #11-I-0187
Kontoyiannis DP, Arap W, Pasqualini R, Lionakis MS, Lahdenranta J, inventors; Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, assignee. Biopanning as an approach to study the pathogenesis of and produce novel treatment modalities for invasive Aspergillosis. United States patent application US 20050187161. 2005 Aug 25.
Last Updated February 01, 2016


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WASHINGTON (February 1, 2013)--U.S. employers added 157,000 jobs in January and hiring was stronger over the past two years than previously thought, providing reassurance that the job market held steady while economic growth sputtered, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday.
But there was one cloud on the horizon; the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent in December.
The unemployment rate is calculated from a survey of households, while job gains come from a survey of employers.
The hiring picture over the past two years looked better after the department's annual revisions, which showed that employers added an average of roughly 180,000 jobs per month in 2012 and 2011, up from previous estimates of about 150,000.
And hiring was stronger at the end of last year, averaging 200,000 new jobs in the final three months.
The White House said the report shows the U.S. economy is healing, but warned Congress not to inflict wounds with looming spending cuts.
Alan Krueger, chairman of President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, said the country continues to dig itself out of recession.
Krueger said Congress should avoid automatic, across-the-board spending cuts scheduled for March 1 and replace them with cuts and new tax revenue, but Republicans say that after letting tax rates rise for the wealthiest Americans, they are not willing to raise more taxes.
U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, said the report shows that the administration's policies are failing.
"Our continued high unemployment rate, along with the news earlier this week that our GDP contracted in the fourth quarter of 2012, shows that our economy is far from recovered," he said.
"Over the last four years, under the economic policies of President Obama, American families incomes have fallen by about 25 percent, the net worth of American families have fallen, more Americans than ever before are living in poverty, and tens of millions of Americans have been added to the rolls of food stamps and other welfare programs," he said.


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Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Clay Miller enjoys pitching against the best � in the regular season, in the Colorado high school playoffs, in the Connie Mack World Series.
After one more season facing high school hitters, Miller will get his chance to pitch against the best college hitters.
Miller, 18, is an early signee at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, a perennial power in NCAA Division II baseball.
�It�s nice to have the decision made. It�s nice to know where I�m going,� said Miller, who has posted staggering statistics for BHS over the last two seasons.
�Coach (Rob) Coddington from Durango (High School) ... he set me up with (the coaching staff) at Mesa,� Miller said of the DHS head coach and Miller�s Connie Mack coach in the Farmington-based summertime league.
The workout set up by Coddington, along with Miller�s body of work, impressed Colorado Mesa head coach Chris Hanks and his assistants.
�We�re very happy to have Clay,� Hanks said in an interview with The Durango Herald.
�You know, we recruit Arizona, Utah, Colorado ... mostly Colorado. But we also get into Las Vegas and California some. And Clay�s as good a left-hander as we�ve seen,� Hanks said.
�We made every effort to sign him.�
A 1.01 earned-run average in two seasons of high school baseball with 199 strikeouts and only 18 walks raised eyebrows.
�And Clay had an opportunity to ... pitch in the Connie Mack World Series. I think he gained a lot of interest � Division I � after that World Series,� the Colorado Mesa coach said.
The University of New Mexico was among those who courted Miller.
�Once Clay pitched in the Connie Mack World Series, that next week, I started getting calls from several colleges,� said Tom Horton, Miller�s coach at Bayfield High School.
�But Mesa was smart, they got on him early,� Horton said.
�I think he made a good choice for him. His parents will be able to watch him play. Plus, what a program (at Colorado Mesa),� Horton said.
�I believe he can step up at the next level,� Horton said of the lefty, who�s been clocked in the low 90s.
�He has tremendous drive. When it�s time to pitch, it�s all business for him,� Horton said.
�His arm works free and easy. And he�s got arm strength and velocity, which you can�t coach,� said Hanks, who�s regularly led the Mavericks to the NCAA Division II national championship.
�What he�ll need is experience ... innings,� Hanks said. �He�s got to be a little better with his secondary pitches. But he�ll be able to do that. He hasn�t had to develop them to this point.�
Hanks said he�ll get a chance at Colorado Mesa � early.
�As a freshman, he�ll be in there. We�ll try to bring him along gradually ... but I want him to get his feet wet,� said Hanks, whose Mavericks play their home games at Suplizio Field (home of the Grand Junction Rockies minor league team).
�He�ll have to survive some tough times ... that�s the biggest jump from high school (facing a steady diet of experienced, college hitters),� Hanks said.
�Playing on a summer travel (Connie Mack) team helps, but at the end of the day, the college guys are more experienced, stronger,� Hanks said.
�Definitely, I have to work on my secondary pitches,� said Miller, virtually echoing the words of his future coach.
Miller said he visited UNM in Albuquerque and talked to several other colleges.
�But I liked Mesa more than any place else,� Miller said. �I figured it would be a good fit for me.�
Miller said his summer ball was vital in his development the last three years.
�Summer ... was really important. It helped me start to learn how to use my other pitches,� said Miller, son of Mitzi and Robert Miller.
Miller is among six early signees to Colorado Mesa, including Grand Junction Central catcher Kyle Serrano, considered one of the top hitters in Colorado.
Two infielders/brothers from Highland High School in Queen Creek, Ariz., also signed � Kevan and Trevor Elcock.
PJ Gonzalez, an outfielder from Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, signed to play in Grand Junction, and the sixth player is former Grand Junction High School pitcher Alex Kitzman, who currently plays at Otero Junior College in La Junta.
�Clay comes in with some really talented kids,� Hanks said.
�Anytime we can keep kids from Western Colorado here at home, we are excited.�
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Josh Stephenson/Durango Herald


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I don't believe Mitt Romney is some sort of Ted Bundy capitalist out to retake America only for the rich and who truly dismisses half the country as worthless leeches feeling entitled.
Nor do I believe for a second that the one-time governor of pinko Massachusetts who brought us the universal health-care system now known as Obamacare truly is anything close to a tea party conservative.
Throw out the emotionally charged bumper sticker nonsense, and we have a capable, competent individual who would do a fine job as president.
Nor do I believe that President Obama is some dim Kenyan-born Muslim hell bent on redistributing the nation into a socialistic society and failed to wave his magic wand to end the recession that apparently any GOP president could have solved easily, only didn't before it worsened.
Throw out the nonsense and we have a capable and fully competent person in the position playing the cards he's been dealt, with some errors to be sure, but generally well. And I'd say we've upgraded the position, actually.
Romney and Obama pretty much have to etch a sketch a little to appease the loons at the poles of their parties, true. But the reality is Romney is moderate to the right of center, and Obama is moderate to the left .
You don't make the call to take out Osama or surge in Afghanistan, or start a universal health-care system as the governor of Massachusetts if you truly are way out there.
I think we have the two most competent tickets running since at least the Clinton-Dole race in 1996.
I get the overwrought crap that's passing for campaigning. For way too many otherwise intelligent people, the other guy can't merely be on the wrong path -- he must also be depraved, incredibly stupid and have so much more power to affect anything than a mere mortal president could possibly have in the first place.
So pardon me if I don't blame Obama for not changing everything so the sun rises in the west and lions still don't lie peacefully with lambs (unless it was a good meal). Or don't expect a miracle from Romney.
I'm also skipping all the accomplishments, screwups, policies and rest of that litany. By now you know it well if you pay any attention at all. If you don't, I pity you, frankly.
To me, it boils down to direction. If you think the broadly Democratic direction is the way to go now, then it's Obama. If it's the other, go with Romney.
I'm going with the Democratic path, this time. The GOP model has been tried, and looking ahead, it still doesn't meet the baloney test.
Editor and Publisher Don Rogers can be reached at email@example.com or 970-748-2920.


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Half the lights are out in the Superdome during a power outage in the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Officials of the utility company supplying power to the Superdome say the Super Bowl outage occurred when sensing equipment detected an "abnormality" in the system.
A statement from Entergy and the Superdome said Sunday that a piece of equipment monitoring electrical load sensed the abnormality and opened a breaker, partially cutting power.
The statement said backup generators kicked in before full power could be restored.
The Super Bowl was delayed for 34 minutes.


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Your family will beg you to bake this delicious dessert that's covered in Max's favorite--sweet strawberries!
Weekdays on Nick Jr.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stir the graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter into a medium bowl. Spoon the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate and press evenly on the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Bake until fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer pie plate to a wire rack and cool while preparing the filling.
Beat the cream cheese and 2/3 cup sugar into a medium bowl with an electric mixer set on medium speed, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until smooth. Add the lemon juice and zest and the sour cream, beating until just smooth.
Pour the mixture into the prebaked pie crust. Bake until center is just set, about 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Refrigerate until pie is chilled, at least 1 hour or overnight.
Toss the sliced strawberries with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar to coat. Arrange the strawberries on top of the chilled pie.
Add the Max Pie Topper.
Surprise party guests with this pair of costume-clad bunnies
Create bakery-worthy cupcakes that look like Max & Ruby
Make some-bunny smile with this cute & healthy lunch
Make this tasty fall treat with your little chef
Top off your favorite pie with Max's friendly face
Getting hot out? Chill out with these strawberry cream treats


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Police will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Thursday night at an undisclosed location in Lafourche Parish.
Louisiana State Police Troop C will conduct the DWI checkpoint starting at 9 p.m. The post will be staffed by Troop C and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office as an ongoing effort to removed impaired drivers from the roadways.
The public can report impaired drives to Louisiana State Police by dialing *LSP or *577 on their cellphone.


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Helping families on Main Street
May 2, 2013
Recent headlines have trumpeted good news on Wall Street with the stock market reaching record highs. For investment accounts, pension funds and other retirement plans this truly is good news....
I see where The number of Americans filing new jobless benefits claims fell sharply last week to its lowest level since the early days of the 2007-09 recession. No thanks to the republicans in Washington.
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text: Thank you for your interest in a fourth year elective at The University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The Visiting Student Program at UNC is very competitive and we can only enroll a limited number of both Domestic and International Students. Please visit the appropriate link below for more information regarding the program.


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PHOENIX -- Michael Choice has a thing about walls. On Monday, he ran into one, and a little later he hit a baseball over one.
The A's outfielder came up with a bit of a sore left knee after slamming his side into the wall while playing center field during Monday's 14-10 loss to Cleveland. He stayed in the game and homered later.
"I'm feeling good, basically picking up from where I left off last year," said Choice, who was hitting .287 at Double-A Midland last year until his season was ended in July by a broken hand.
Manager Bob Melvin said he likes Choice's offensive tools.
"He has a quick bat," Melvin said, "and that allows him to wait on balls."
Choice is rated the No. 2 prospect in the A's organization by Baseball America.
"It's good," Young said. "It was a little sore yesterday when I came out, but I worked with the trainers and it feels fine."
He was off Monday and will be held out an extra day Tuesday but is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday.
"After last year, it felt good just to be out on the mound in the U.S.," Okajima, who was released in spring training by the Yankees, said through an interpreter. "After New York, I was afraid I would never pitch here again."
Melvin likes the downward plane of Okajima's pitches, something that should be difficult for left-handed hitters to master.
"I'll be out here until they tear the uniform off me," Giambi said before going 0 for 1 with two walks against the A's. "It's a good opportunity to get some playing time, and they want me to mentor the young kids, which is something I'd been doing in Colorado anyway. And I love to play ball."
Giambi, who has 1,405 career RBIs and 429 homers, needs to have a decent spring to make the team, but Cleveland manager Terry Francona is an old friend and has said the opening is there if Giambi grabs it.
Giambi said he is open to coaching or managing when he's done playing.
"Obviously I want to put the ball in play," he said. "But I'm getting a chance to look at different pitchers and learn."


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Men's Nike Air Max 180 EM Running Shoes
Buy Online & Pick Up In-Store
Logging serious miles on the road or the treadmill calls for the serious impact protection of the Nike Air Max 180 EM Running Shoes. Designed to shield your feet from all that pounding, these runners also feature premium ventilation from the engineered mesh upper.
Not only do these running superstars help your feet breathe, they also have a Phylon midsole and Max Air 180 unit in the heel for superior cushioning right where you need it. A rubber waffle outsole rounds out the plush package, offering traction and durability as you rack up the miles.
- UPPER: Lightweight, breathable engineered mesh
- MIDSOLE: Max Air 180 unit and Phylon foam
- OUTSOLE: Rubber with waffle traction pattern


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Benefits You Can Change Anytime
403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan
Under the Institution's 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with Transamerica Retirement Solutions, formerly Diversifed, any employee including joint program students, scholars, and fellows who are earning W-2 wages can participate in this Plan by making their own voluntary contributions.
If you are already saving for retirement, you can elect to increase or decrease your contribution anytime (subject to IRS limits). The 2015 dollar limit for the annual 403(b) employee contributions is $18,000. This limit applies to all participants who will NOT be age 50 or over by the end of 2015. For any participants who will be age 50 or older by the end of 2015, the annual contribution limit is $24,000 (includes $6,000 catch-up contribution).
To change or setup your contribution amount for your 403(b) account, you must do so online through your account with Transamerica.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
AD&D rates will not change for 2016, and changes in coverage can be made at anytime. For more information, please contact the Human Resources Office at x2253.
Supplemental Life Insurance
In addition to the Group Life Insurance provided by WHOI, employees may purchase additional Supplemental Life Insurance for themselves and their family members. To purchase supplemental coverage for family members, employees must apply for and be approved for supplemental coverage for themselves. Employees may be required to provide Evidence of Insurability before purchasing or increasing your supplemental life insurance. Please contact the Human Resources Office at x2253 for more information.
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You may purchase additional supplemental life insurance for coverage of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times your annual salary, up to a maximum of $400,000. The cost of coverage is based on your age.
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You may select coverage for your spouse or domestic partner in units of $5,000 to a maximum benefit of $100,000. The cost of coverage is based on your spouse's age.
Dependent Life
You may purchase life insurance for your unmarried, dependent children under age 19 (or 19-25 if a full-time student) for an amount of $2,000 or $5,000. The maximum benefit for children under six months is $500. One low premium will insure all your eligible children, regardless of the number of children you have.
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This is a reminder that the Institution offers a group insurance discount program through Liberty Mutual. Any employee or retiree of WHOI is eligible to participate. Anytime that you want your personal insurance to be reviewed for cost or coverage, contact Liberty Mutual at (800) 368-6424.
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Ashley Potts is a team leader for the Crisis Diversion Unit for Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services. But that's not why she had the attention of eight state representatives Tuesday during a policy committee hearing about heroin in Greene County.
The United Mine Workers is mobilizing for a rally in Washington D.C. early next month to show support for the Miners Protection Act, a bill to preserve union health and pension funds adversely impacted by the recession and coal company bankruptcies.
Morgan Voithofer of Carmichaels Area High School was crowned the 2016 Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen at the pageant Sunday in her high school auditorium.
Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach is hosting a school clothes drive at First Baptist Church in Waynesburg from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
Greene County Veterans Affairs will hold a veterans outreach at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bobtown Senior Citizens Center. Veterans can make an appointment or stop by to learn about pensions, compensation, disability, health care, life insurance, funeral and burial...
Belle Vernon School Board voted to abolish the director of counseling position in a cost-cutting move.
A new report by a Washington, D.C.-based transportation research group suggests the planned extension of the Mon-Fayette Expressway will result in more jobs for the region.
The Mon Valley Alliance economic development group has opted out of receiving a share of a cash settlement a Monessen coke plan will pay under a federal clean air lawsuit.
Traffic alert for Mon Valley drivers: Find out about detour during Roberts Hollow Road closure.
The cash-strapped city of Monessen took steps to sell a building while it continues to negotiate the sale of City Hall to curb spending.
For the first time in 35 years, Peters Township has a new manager, with Paul Lauer succeeding the retiring Michael Silvestri.
The wrangling over a memorial stone removed from Cecil Township Park is far from over as a Tuesday hearing was continued.
A Clarksville man died Tuesday evening after a one-vehicle crash in Deemston Borough.
PA's Washington County Fight Against Heroin commemorates one year of fighting addiction with events Saturday at Seventh Ward park.
The congregations of West Washington and Jefferson Avenue United Methodist churches will hold a Prayers Against Violence Healing Service, to be held at West Washington United Methodist Church, 625 Fayette St., Washington, at 6:30 p.m. today. Pastor Ross Pryor will be officiating. A year ago, the...
Any family diligent about preserving family photos might well have some faded black and white images on the wall of relatives frolicking at the beach 100 years ago or more.
Labor Day is still 13 days off and the calendar says that autumn arrives Sept. 22, but for a lot of people the curtain comes down on summer when those yellow or orange school buses start traversing our roads for their five-days-a-week rounds.
We've been skeptical about cyber charter schools because, for all the imperfections of brick-and-mortar classrooms, they still offer better opportunities for socialization, interaction and intellectual growth than having a student sit in front of a screen all day tapping a keyboard and...
Just a few years ago, Greene County's three magisterial district courts were like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Every summer, thousands of us stream into carnivals and amusement parks and pay for the privilege of being spun, soaked, whirled, dropped, shaken, rattled and rolled on rollercoasters, slides and other rides. We hunger for the adrenaline-surging thrill, but also want the comfort and certainty that...
LONG POND – Will Power can't seem to do any wrong, which means IndyCar has another serious points race looming.
Less than 24 hours after the close of the Rio Olympics, Ryan Lochte took a major financial hit Monday for a drunken incident he initially tried to pass off as an armed robbery.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Coach Jim McElwain insists he enjoys a little chaos. If that's the case, then he really must be relishing his time at Florida.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil won the medal it wanted the most Saturday, claiming its first Olympic gold in soccer and providing a lift to a beleaguered nation in the process.
RIO DE JANEIRO – It shouldn't be that hard. The Americans make it look that way.
PITTSBURGH – Before the regular season, the Steelers were expected to sign one or two key players heading into their final contract year.
PITTSBURGH – When Senquez Golson suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot three days into training camp, it threw a curve into the Steelers' plans at nickel cornerback.
PITTSBURGH – Robert Golden isn't taking anything for granted.
PITTSBURGH – As Fitzgerald Toussaint sat at his locker 30 minutes after the Steelers' 23-16 playoff loss to the Denver Broncos in January, he felt the crush of the NFL world on his shoulders.
PITTSBURGH – Steelers tight end Ladarius Green said his head is just fine, thank you very much for asking.
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By Catholic News Service
SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) -- Safeguarding the dignity of the human person by protecting the family and promoting employment has been a constant theme of the pastoral work of Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Sao Paulo.
The 70-year-old Franciscan is known as a peacemaker who has mediated labor disputes, welcomed new Catholic movements into the church without pushing aside older groups, and worked to promote Christian unity and better relations with the Jews.
A frequent visitor to the Vatican and the preacher of Pope John Paul II's Lenten retreat in 2002, Cardinal Hummes is considered one of the leading Latin American candidates for the papacy in the coming conclave.
From a face-off in the 1970s with Brazil's military government over workers' rights to the more recent creation of church-run job-training centers, the cardinal's commitment to fighting poverty and promoting human dignity has focused on the importance of employment.
At a Christmas 2004 fund-raiser for one of the centers, the cardinal said, "Jesus was born poor among the poor to call our attention to the social injustice that makes a portion of humanity increasingly poor, suffering, humiliated and excluded from sufficient access to the goods of the earth."
The cardinal said that, as Pope John Paul II wrote in his 1981 encyclical on human labor, "Laborem Exercens," work not only creates goods for one's family and society, it also is a way to express one's personality, creativity and potential.
Training workers, creating jobs and guaranteeing decent working conditions, Cardinal Hummes said, are essential factors "in resolving injustice and its consequences, such as poverty and hunger."
Charity is not enough, the cardinal said: "Jesus, who was born poor, teaches us to care for the poor with love, intelligence and efficiency."
Cardinal Hummes was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Vatican's March commemoration of the Second Vatican Council document on the church in the modern world, the key text for explaining the church's commitment to justice and to bringing Gospel values to bear on economic, social and political life.
The cardinal told the conference that while the Catholic Church is called to promote unity, progress and dialogue, "a servant church must have as its priority solidarity with the poor."
Solidarity is essential for peace because it "corrects injustices, re-establishes the basic rights of persons and nations, defeats poverty, combats the revolts that injustice provokes, reduces the violence revolt gives birth to and builds peace," he said.
Cardinal Hummes also told the conference that in order to serve the world and show it the path to salvation, the church must be in dialogue with the world, with politicians and economists, with members of other religions and with scientists.
The church must "know how to listen, debate, discern and assimilate all that is good and true, just and humanly worthy" in the position of others as well as to share with them the fullness of truth found in the Gospel, Cardinal Hummes said.
"However, this always must be a dialogue and not the imposition of the church's convictions and methods," he said. The church must "propose and not impose, serve and not dominate."
The call to follow Christ, to participate in the life of the church and to feed the poor are recurring themes in the weekly column Cardinal Hummes writes for his archdiocesan newspaper and Web site. He also posts his personal e-mail address on the site.
When he was named archbishop of Sao Paulo in 1998, he asked for a chance to show all the people in the teeming archdiocese that he would be their bishop.
After the Vatican accepted the resignation of his predecessor, Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, many bishops jokingly said that the next archbishop would be known as "the martyr." Sao Paulo is not only the largest Brazilian diocese and the second-largest in Latin America, but also covers a sprawling metropolis filled with all the problems imaginable in a city in which the very rich commute to work in helicopters, while poor children starve to death in the streets.
"Of course, anybody would experience some kind of fear in front of this task," Cardinal Hummes said when his appointment was announced, "but I am planning to face it with the help of God."
The cardinal also focused on the need for God's help when he was invited to preach Pope John Paul's 2002 Lenten retreat, an invitation usually seen as a sign of papal favor.
"Even in our pastoral activities, many times we act as if everything depended on us and our human resources," he told the pope and Vatican officials.
But no church plan or project can have success unless it is God's will: Like Jesus, all disciples must spend hours in prayer and contemplation to discern God's will, he said.
"We cannot run the risk of paying more attention to human interests than to those of God, forgetting to verify things with him as sons who must take on the interests of their heavenly Father," Cardinal Hummes said.
During the retreat and in remarks to reporters, Cardinal Hummes also underlined the importance of dialogue and intense listening as the church tries to share the Gospel with modern men and women.
"The church knows it must dialogue, it must listen to all cultures, schools of thought and religions," he told reporters. At the same time, "the church knows it must be a point of reference, a firm point" in a world that many experience as changing so quickly that nothing is certain anymore.
A child of German immigrants, Claudio Hummes was born in Montenegro, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Aug. 8, 1934, and was ordained a Franciscan priest Aug. 3, 1958. After serving as superior of the Franciscan province of Rio Grande do Sul and president of the Latin American Franciscan Council, he was appointed coadjutor bishop of Santo Andre in March 1975 and became head of the diocese that December.
In the blue-collar diocese, where Volkswagen and Ford had their largest Latin American plants, Cardinal Hummes gained pastoral experience among laborers and on several occasions played the role of mediator between the companies and their unions.
In the late 1970s, he opened the doors of churches as a refuge for those hunted by the military regime.
In 1996, he was appointed archbishop of Fortaleza and strengthened his fame as a peacemaker, this time by opening the doors to new Catholic movements, such as the charismatics, without generating tensions among the more progressive basic Christian communities.
Pope John Paul named him to the College of Cardinals in 2001.


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Do you suffer from dull, uneven skintone? Laser skin resurfacing can be used to remove layers of damaged skin surface by using pulsating beams of light. Once healed, fresh, dewy skin remains giving you a beautiful complexion. Good for acne scars, wrinkles, and fine lines (but not for stretch marks), laser resurfacing takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours; recovery can last from 10-21 days. Find more about how laser resurfacing works, who is a good candidate for it, what to expect from the treatment, and much more.
©2005-2016 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.


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Parts of Mississippi are under a state of emergency after severe weather swept through the state.
Gov. Phil Bryant issued the order Tuesday after several areas reported sustaining severe damage.
The order will help local officials get much-needed aid to residents as agencies respond to the disaster.
Agents with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency have also been tasked to the affected areas.
Counties including Forrest, George, Greene, Hinds, Jones, Lawrence, Pearl River, Stone and Wilkinson have reported damage ranging from damaged roads and homes to injuries and flooding.
Crews said they will release more information as it becomes available.


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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
|Attend SFD meeting online @2100 (2005.06.29 sfd)
|Write letter to Canadian Embassy asking for early release (2005.06.29 MoveToCanada)
|Call Canadian embassy and ask about my reference number (2005.06.29 MoveToCanada)
|Ask Graduate House about arrangements if I arrive on Friday night (2005.06.29 MoveToCanada)
|Restore Marcelle's computer again
1. Really funky Planner sorting
The following code sorts completed tasks in reverse-chronological order and incomplete tasks in chronological order. This makes it easier to see the next action (top of list) and the last action (first completed task).
(defun sacha/planner-sort-tasks-by-date () "Sort tasks by date, status and priority." (skip-chars-forward "#ABC") (let ((ch (char-before)) status) (skip-chars-forward "0123456789 ") (setq status (char-after)) (goto-char (line-end-position)) (skip-chars-backward "]) ") (format "%1c%1c%10s" (cond ((= status ?o) ?1) ((= status ?X) ?3) ((= status ?C) ?4) (t ?2)) ch (let ((date (or (planner-task-date (planner-current-task-info)) planner-sort-undated-tasks-equivalent))) (if (or (= status ?X) (= status ?C)) (sacha/planner-invert-date date) date))))) (defun sacha/planner-invert-date (date) "Reverse the date in the sorting order." (mapconcat (lambda (ch) (if (string= ch ".") ch (number-to-string (- 9 (string-to-number ch))))) (split-string date "" t) ""))
ここのパソコンはシステムを変えることができないので何もできない。 Because the personal computer here cannot change the system, anything cannot be done.
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


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NEW: For a prettier blog interface, see the Wordpress version!
Headlines for Wednesday:
|@1230-1330 Star Wars exhibit at the Museum of Science
|@1330-1500 Museum of Science
|@1500-1700 Harvard Museum of Natural History
|@1700-1900 Museum of Fine Art
|Go to Walmart to buy supplies and lunch stuff
|MIT Museum
1. Boston Science Museum: 18:13
The Boston Science Museum is, of course, far more advanced than the underfunded science center of my youth. This one had augmented reality displays, lightning shows, and liquid nitrogen demos. The Star Wars exhibit was fascinating, drawing plenty of connections between the fantasies of the screen and the realities of current technology. Scattered throughout the exhibit were hands-on engineering challenges: build a magnetic levitation train from LEGO(tm), plan a Tatooine base, experiment with robots' facial expressions... It was fun to see adults eyeing the interactive areas, probably also wishing that the kids would hurry up and put the pieces back already!
It was a lot of fun, and I wish that I had more energy today. I had to miss the MIT museum and a few other museums because of cramps, but that's okay. Maybe I can take the second circus. =)
2. 'tinerant Tuesday: 18:22
Boston is pretty, with plenty of trees and beautiful brick buildings lining narrow, winding roads. It is thus all too easy to get lost in, not because the streets are difficult to locate on a map (they're clearly labelled) but because wandering around without any particular aim is so pleasant. =)
On Technorati: boston
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at [email protected] .


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3768 Harpers Ferry Rd
2014 Cigar and Whiskey Night
Registration for Cigar and Whiskey Night is now closed. For additional information please contact the Museum at 301-695-1864.
Share in an authentic Civil War experience — smoking cigars and sipping whiskey. National Museum of Civil War Medicine Executive Director George Wunderlich will bring his knowledge, his storytelling talents and his banjo. George will personally pick the cigars for the evening, drawing on his vast experience as a cigar aficianodo. A craft distillery will provide tastings and samplings of whiskey and bourbon from their small, organic and exceptional line of spirits. Expect generous rounds of a signature drink.
3rd Annual Cigar and Whiskey Night
An exclusive event for NMCWM members
Saturday, May 3rd from 6 to 9 p.m.
At the Antietam Iron Works
3768 Harpers Ferry Rd.
Sharpsburg, MD
Exceptional fare will be provided. Please contact the Museum for more details on pre-registration.
For overnight accommodations contact SpringHill Suites at (301) 582-0011 and mention you're with the Cigar and Whiskey Night event for a discounted rate. The proceeds from this event go directly to the operation and improvement of the Pry House Museum and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Online pre-registration for Cigar and Whiskey closes Thursday, May 1 at noon.
An exclusive experience that will transport you back in time. A unique Sesquicentennial event.
This is the 3rd annual event is limited to 75 attendees and will certainly sell out!


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Contact: Allen
R.J. DeSilva
(512) 463-4070
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2010
Texas Comptroller's Office Schedules April Tax Help Seminars
A diverse economy, growing work force and friendly business climate attract more businesses to the Lone Star state every day. Texas Comptroller Susan Combs' office regularly presents free taxpayer seminars throughout the state to help new and existing business owners understand their state tax responsibilities.
Twelve seminars will take place throughout April at various locations across the state. A complete list of locations, dates and times is available at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/seminars.html.
At the seminars, taxpayers can learn about sales tax forms, filing and paying taxes electronically, taxable goods and services, e-services to help taxpayers manage their accounts online, the Comptroller's e-mail subscription service that alerts taxpayers when new tax information is posted online, and the array of other services and information available from the Comptroller's office to assist taxpayers. Comptroller representatives will answer questions and provide assistance to attendees.
"A strong and diverse business community is the key to Texas' economic strength," Combs said. "We are committed to assisting Texas businesses by making taxes simpler, smarter, faster and, above all, transparent. We owe it to our taxpayers to provide the best customer service possible."
For more information about the seminar in your area, call the Comptroller's field office in your area.
Those who are unable to attend the seminars can call the Comptroller's tax assistance line at (800) 252-5555. Tax forms and tax information can also be found on the Comptroller's Web site, www.window.state.tx.us.
Manage your Comptroller e-mail subscriptions Add Comptroller topics to your subscription or stop subscriptions at anytime. If you have questions or problems with this subscription service, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Follow us on Twitter! Get quick Comptroller news and information you need to do business in Texas.


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Hello all,
Ive been using ps3 media server 1.50.0 for a long time. everything seemed to be perfect ( audio, subtitle) except that i used to get some lags when playing 1080p mkv movies. I decided to update to 1.60.0 and got many problems.
a huge audio delay when playing the movie
no subtitles any more ( i usually put the srt file in the same folder as the movie
the only good thing about it that that no more lags any more
is there is any solution for this ??
thanks alot


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Lawsuit against Marietta police officers dropped
February 1, 2013
MARIETTA — A lawsuit filed against three Marietta police officers in November has been dropped by the Marietta man who filed it. Jeremy Richards, 39, of 100 Cisler Lane, Apt....
this does sound a little odd. im in parkersburg but i support your statement Ron, this sets a bad precedence that if youre arrested just file a lawsuit against the arresting officers and you will get the charges dropped plus a little something extra. wow what a way to support your law enforcement community city government and way to keep your tax paying citizens informed
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
What is that smell? Raw sewage? How is justice served when public servants are protected in this fashion? Why is the public bound to an action made in secret? How can the public know if their elected officials and police are behaving appropriately when these deals are done behind closed doors? You're paying for this Marietta Taxpayers. Speak up! No more secret deals.
1 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Showing 2 of 2 comments


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I used my router to block it. That way all 3 computers that have PS3 Media Server with the plugin don't need to be individually blocked. I just cut the whole network off from accessing the site.
How to do that on your router, that's on you. I can maybe help you if you happen to be using a DIR-655 Xtreme N GB router with stock D-Link firmware.


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CONCORD — Gov. John Lynch today announced that a 12-member team from the New Hampshire State Police would deploy to New Jersey on Saturday to assist the New Jersey State Police with law enforcement duties.
Led by Field Operations Bureau Commander Major Russell Conte, the team is comprised of 11 additional Troopers from across New Hampshire. The team is expected to arrive by 8 p.m. Saturday at Fort Dix, New Jersey and will be deployed for 8 days.
"Hurricane Sandy had a devastating impact on parts of New Jersey and the recovery efforts there are ongoing. New Hampshire is pleased to be able to answer the request for assistance in supporting those efforts," said Governor Lynch. "We appreciate the members of the State Police who will be traveling to the state to provide assistance.
Comments are currently unavailable on this article
Location, ST | website.com


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- Apr 20:
- Sharks get boost from fourth line
- Apr 20:
- Sharks notebook: In twist, injuries help Brad Stuart stay fresh
- Sharks crush Kings, take 2-0 series lead
- Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart thrilled by how good he feels
- Sharks hoping for better success on faceoffs in Game 2
- San Jose Sharks, L.A. Kings sticking with same lineups for Game 2
SAN JOSE -- Calm down, citizens. Playoff series are best-of-seven. They are not best-of-two.
Therefore, that the Sharks spent much of Sunday night making the Los Angeles Kings look like befuddled and slow Southern California commuters on the Santa Monica Freeway in sore need of a defensive Botox injection ... well, do not get too caught up in the froth.
The Sharks' 7-2 victory was impressive. But it still merely means they have a 2-0 series lead with two more games left to win -- against a Kings team that a year ago fell behind two games to none against the St. Louis Blues in a playoff series but came back to win it.
"We've got a big test in a couple of nights," said Sharks forward Raffi Torres, speaking of Tuesday's Game 3 at Staples Center. "We're kidding ourselves if we think it's going to be like this in L.A."
Torres is correct. But man, it sure was fun to see the Kings try to play Whack-A-Shark at SAP Center. Whack-A-Shark is a little like the arcade game Whack-A-Mole, except with more spearing penalties and blood.
Sunday's Whack-A-Shark game started in the second period when the home team's offense came alive. Up would pop one Shark -- look, it's Mike Brown! -- to score a goal. And the Kings would give him special attention. Then up would pop another Shark -- hey, it's Raffi Torres! -- for the next goal. The Kings would then whack at Torres (who bled from a cut over his right eye) only to see another Shark -- yikes, Justin Braun! --score the next one.
This went on for four more goals by four other Sharks, in an offensive performance remarkably similar to the 6-3 victory in last Thursday night's Game 1.
Torres and Brown and Andrew Desjardins, the fourth line unit for our beloved Los Tiburones, will rightfully receive praise for igniting Sunday's offensive outburst after Los Angeles took a 2-0 first-period lead. But a strategic move by Sharks coach Todd McLellan also played a part.
Was it pure coincidence? The Sharks offense seemed to shift into a different gear when McLellan made a bold choice to shift Joe Pavelski's job assignment from a first-line winger to a third-line centerman about five minutes into the second period. This put rookie Tomas Hertl back on the first line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns, with Pavelski skating alongside James Sheppard and Tommy Wingels.
McLellan said he made the move on the fly when he noticed that the Kings "had us running around a bit" and chasing the puck. So he tapped Pavelski on the shoulder.
"Pavs' best spot is at the center ice position -- I believe that," McLellan said. "Whether we stay with that remains to be seen."
Centerman, in fact, is the position that Pavelski played for the USA at the Sochi Olympics. But early in the season, when Hertl was injured, McLellan had moved Pavelski alongside Thornton and Burns on the team's first line. Pavelski responded with the most dynamic scoring season of his career. So McLellan was loathe to make the switch back.
The loathing ended Sunday, to good results. With Pavelski winning more faceoffs on the third line to free up the fleet Sheppard on the wing, and with the speedy Hertl on the Thornton line, the Sharks kept beating the Kings down the ice and creating more chances -- although Pavelski wasn't certain the whole thing was an X's-and-0's deal at all.
"I think we just started playing better," Pavelski said. "We need everyone to beat this team."
This will indeed prove to be true, it says here, despite the routs in the first two games. The Sharks have not found Staples to be a friendly opposing rink lately. They lost all four of their playoff games in Los Angeles last spring and were 0-1-1 at the Staples Center this season. The Sharks' last regulation victory in L.A. was three years ago, during the 2011 playoff series between the teams.
"We can't really look at these two games and think the whole series is going to go this way," Brown said. "We know they're good. We can't change anything. We've got to do the same thing down there."
One problem for the Kings, a proud group, is that they might be slowed by injuries to their defensive corps. After Sunday's game, L.A. coach Darryl Sutter confirmed that he dressed seven defensemen for the game rather than the usual six because he wasn't certain that some of the "D" people could make it through the entire night. They all did. But they didn't look great.
And if the Whack-A-Shark game continues in Los Angeles, the series could be a short one. Just don't count on it.
Read Mark Purdy's blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/purdy. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MercPurdy.


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Jason Tarver recalls meeting with 49ers general manager Bill Walsh, coach Steve Mariucci and front office executive Bill McPherson in 2001, hoping to get a job as a low-level assistant coach.
His résumé included a master's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and an award bestowed by the UCLA chemistry department for distinguished teaching in biochemistry.
All which of made Walsh wonder why Tarver was sitting at the table.
"The first thing he asked me was, 'Why don't you go out and invent something?' " Tarver said.
A dozen years later, Tarver, in his second season as defensive coordinator, has helped reinvent the way the Raiders play defense.
Quarterbacks Philip Rivers of San Diego and Alex Smith of Kansas City came out of games against the Raiders talking about the confusing array of blitzes and alignments thrown their way.
Long a four-man rush team with press coverage influenced by the late Al Davis, the Raiders under Tarver and coach Dennis Allen are mixing coverages, blitzing often and seldom showing the same thing twice.
There are 10 new starters, none of whom were big-ticket items in the offseason but have the shared trait of being enthusiastic workers who believe in team defense.
Of the 16 sacks generated by the Raiders, Lamarr Houston has the most at three, and the remaining 13 are divided among 11 players.
Opponents are averaging 22 points per game and 99.0 yards per game rushing, with only the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning putting up the kind of points (37) and yardage (536) the Raiders have given up far too often in the last 10 years.
The Raiders are faster, are better tacklers and playing smarter than at any time in recent memory, and Allen credits Tarver with allowing his unit to play as fast as possible.
"He's really smart, and he's able to take something that might seem complicated and make it as simple as he can for the players," Allen said.
Free safety Charles Woodson, aware of Tarver's advanced education, has a mental picture of his coach in the role of a scientist.
"A lab coat, glasses, pens in his pocket," Woodson said. "I can see the whole thing."
Tarver, 39, who chose coaching over medical school, doesn't see his career path as unusual. Chemistry, like coaching, is about applying rules and logic to solve problems.
"You don't know how that weird-shaped brown ball and 22 pieces are going to move," Tarver said. "It's the ultimate puzzle -- a human puzzle."
In truth, for as good as Tarver was in his studies at Pleasanton's Foothill High, Santa Clara University and graduate school at UCLA, his passion was always football.
A safety at Foothill for coach Matt Sweeney, Tarver immediately took to scouting and preparation, which made up for what he lacked in pure athletic ability.
"He was just so off-the-charts smart," Sweeney said. "He was a 17-year-old that really could have been hanging out with 40-year-olds. Sometimes you win because of a certain number of guys who are behind the scenes acting like a coach with his classmates. That was Jason."
As a senior, Tarver blew out his anterior cruciate ligament, and according to Sweeney, "played his whole senior year without an ACL. He just put on a brace and lived with it."
Still living with it, as it turns out. Tarver had arthroscopic knee surgery last Thursday and was back in the office watching film by midafternoon.
Tarver's father is a research chemist at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, while his mother, sister and brother are all educators.
"We didn't talk about if we were going to college," Tarver said. "It was about where and when you would go to college."
Jon Evans, a Foothill teacher and assistant football coach who was a close friend of Tarver's brother James, spent much of his youth at the Tarver home. On the court where they lived, pickup football and basketball games were daily occurrences, with Jason doing most of the organizing.
Although Tarver was an "A" student, Evans can't remember a time when he saw him doing homework.
"He was always working on football and studying Coach Sweeney's game plans," Evans said. "I don't think he had to spend a lot of time to get straight A's. I don't think he was challenged academically until he got to college."
Tarver was a biochemistry major at Santa Clara but played football at West Valley College in Saratoga after Santa Clara dropped football. He worked for a year as an assistant coach at West Valley and caught the coaching bug, which he took with him to UCLA -- where Tarver worked as a graduate assistant coach and eventually as an instructor while getting his master's degree.
"I would finish with spring ball, throw a lab coat over my football coaching stuff and literally run across campus to teach a four-hour lab, and I loved it," Tarver said.
Raiders running backs coach Kelly Skipper, then the offensive coordinator at UCLA, said Tarver was immediately identified as an "out of the box thinker" who absorbed everything he could on both sides of the ball. The coaching staff was both amazed and amused at Tarver's workload and surprised that he seemed like a fairly normal person.
"The thing about him is here's a guy with that kind of intellect, and he relates to people so well," Skipper said. "He's not off in his own little world. I think that's what makes him a pretty good coach, because he can talk to players. He can talk to anyone, at any level."
When Tarver interviewed with the 49ers to be a quality control assistant, he talked for 3½ hours with Walsh, Mariucci and McPherson, got the job, and remained on the 49ers staff through the tenures of Mariucci, Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary, coaching both offense and defense.
Tarver was hired by David Shaw to be co-defensive coordinator at Stanford before moving on to the Raiders last season.
His coaching style is best described as relentlessly positive, and players appreciate the freedom to make their own adjustments within the system.
"He doesn't coach any robots," cornerback Tracy Porter said. "He calls the play, and if you see something different and make the play, he's all for it."
Said linebacker Sio Moore: "He allows you to just go, and gives everybody the confidence to make a play. Once you understand a piece of his brain, what he's trying to do, it makes things less complex. It makes it easy."
Sunday's game
Pittsburgh (2-4) at Raiders (2-4), 1:05 p.m. CBS
Name: Jason Tarver
Job: Raiders defensive coordinator
Age: 39
Bay Area stops: Foothill High (Pleasanton), Santa Clara University, West Valley College, 49ers, Stanford, Raiders.
Advanced degrees: Masters of biochemistry and molecular biology from UCLA.
Quotable: "He was just so off-the-charts smart,'' Foothill High coach Matt Sweeney said. ``He was a 17-year-old that really could have been hanging out with 40-year-olds. Sometimes you win because of a certain number of guys who are behind the scenes acting like a coach with his classmates. That was Jason.'