
Whether you know it or not, in your dorm, apartment, house, bedroom, hole in the wall, or wherever it is that you sleep at night, you have a man-station. Its function comes out between your morning shower and leaving for the day. Having something like this is essential, because it's your one stop before you go out the door. Ever since I dedicated a dresser in my room to all these essential items, I have yet to lose my keys, my wallet, my cell phone, or any of the other items on it. If you don't already have this separate, set-aside, organized station, my suggestion is to make one - it makes starting the day a lot easier. Here's some typical things to start with.
So the next time you lose forget your keys, can't find your iPod, or are begging a professor to let you run home and grab that paper that you left at home, go home immediately, clear off a dresser, and fill it with the essentials. If you already have one, tell us. What's on your man-station?

You may have forgotten, but it was not long ago that the Big Ten formally announced it would look into expansion. The internet was abuzz at the possibility of a twelfth member, be it Notre Dame, Pitt, or even the recently gridiron-challenged Syracuse. Then things died down a little. Until today, when word got out that that member could be...The University of Texas?!
The Lawrence Journal-World reports today the Big Ten has had preliminary talks with Texas about joining the league. The Big Ten announced in December that it would actively explore the possibility of expansion during the next 12-18 months, but this is the first legitimate report of discussions with another institution.
While Texas wasn't even considered in our Big Ten expansion poll, it wasn't because the Longhorns wouldn't be a great addition to the conference. Quite the opposite - taking Texas from the Big 12 would be a nearly unbelievable coup. Not only would the Big Ten extend its reach into the South, but would get an athletics program with an incredibly impassioned fan base. While these are merely talks, it's encouraging that not only has the conference worked beyond an announcement of intent, it set the bar high in starting its courtship.

Penn State has asked that a federal judge drop the lawsuit against several University police officers filed by Penn State Student Chris Ferry, one of the participants of the Mifflin Streak last year. He's suing for $150,000 in damages for a concussion he suffered after he was tackled by police during the streak, saying his shoulder never healed properly, a year and a half after the fact.
Penn State's reaction is appropriate; this suit is absolutely ridiculous. Ferry seems to be suffering from a case of green fever, and I don't think there's a judge in these United States who'd find him entitled to that heap of money. Seriously, Chris, what did you think would happen? The vast majority of streakers get leveled, either by a police officer or by, at a football game, for example, one of the players on the field, and the general public has usually applauded the tackler. Sorry that your shoulder had a few permanent effects from breaking the law. What did you think was going to happen? Even partially clothed, look what happens to this streaker at a Tampa Bay Rays game.
This shows that the trend is continuing that people think they can just sue for anything to get a large bit of extra cash. Penn State certainly has bigger fish to fry, and so does the federal justice system.

Wednesday night's UPUA meeting tackled a few lingering issues within the assembly, including last week's amendment proposals for the Elections Code, which were vetoed by President Gavin Keirans, and this year's State Paddy's Day.
Last week, Keirans vetoed the 2010 Elections Code, stating that there was a significant, even unconstitutional (the UPUA's constitution, that is) issue with the proportion of representatives proposed in the new amendments. The amendment would have changed the number of On-Campus Reps from six to eight, and the number of Off-Campus Representatives from 10 to 12.
Another issue that Keirans cited was a part of his decision for the veto, were the new changes to the timeline of the election, including the date of the election this year and the period in which candidates would be eligible to campaign.
Learn more about the election issues (and State Patty's Day) after the jump.

It's been nearly a week since college football's National Signing day, when football recruits from coast to coast bring joy or break hearts via fax machine. Though the class of 2009 was hardly unimpressive, championships are a lot easier to win when the program acquires a large number of talented prospects in a short time. And now that the dust has settled, it's safe to say that Penn State has done exactly that.
Read on for a more detailed analysis, if you dare.