Back in Happy Valley

From Thon to State Patty's

Penn State students are good at raising money, as evidenced by Thon's amazing $6.6 million total this year.

That was only last weekend, and this weekend of course features a different student event called State Patty's Day.

All aboard for a wild weekend in town, apparently, and police are ready for long hours and extra patrols.

Perhaps the students enjoying this alternative St. Pat's will be just off their Thon fund raising and line dancing. So here's a thought: How about if they raise the money to pay the borough for the added police costs this weekend?

What about it?

You might recall our suggestion in an editorial last month that it would be better for students to hold a community service day as the alternative St. Pat's event. That went over like a lead balloon, apparently.

So here we are.

Let's take it easy on State Patty's or pay the consequences, and I'm sure the borough would welcome any donations.

Good Life

Good Life in Happy Valley, our quarterly magazine, will be in your paper Saturday if you're a Centre County home subscriber.

You'll be happy if you are.

It may be our best magazine so far, and I previewed it in my printed column last Sunday. Here's that link if you missed it.

Enjoy Good Life this weekend.

Among friends

That describes the atmosphere last night at the Bryce Jordan Center, as a small crowd of hoops fans gathered for the Penn State-Iowa game.

The announced attendance was 6,058 but anyone who was there knows it was half that, or perhaps less.

Still, the crowd saw a gritty effort by Penn State to come back from a miserable start in the second half and to beat Iowa 65-64.

Again, Jamelle Cornley played like an "Ultimate Warrior," taking from the headline over Saturday's story about him and his contribution to this team.

Penn State has a pretty good record in close, close games. The Lions have to win a few more to qualify for the post season, and you have to think efforts like last night's could carry them.

Michigan comes next, on Saturday night, and let's hope everyone at the Jordan Center last night brings a few friends.

Looking ahead in politics

Want a preview of the fall presidential campaign, if Barack Obama and John McCain would face off as appears likely now.

Here's a fascinating McClatchy piece that looks ahead at how the Republicans might run against Obama.

Speaking of Obama, the Democrat's campaign has set up shop in Centre County, as Mike Joseph reports today.

The challenge is Penn Staters too -- register 3,219 people and Obama would likely visit.

Here's what Michael Stewart, president of Penn State Students for Barack Obama, told a group yesterday:

“It’s going to come down to you guys — how much you want to put into this — whether we can get to this number. If you guys want Barack here, they’re going to look at numbers.”

Half million mark

We zoomed past a half million unique visitors to CentreDaily.com overnight, marking the second straight month that we surpassed 500,000.

This is uncharted territory for us, and we thank you for joining this bustling online community.

What are you reading?

Everything is the easy answer. Local news is the best answer. And more of you are finding video and reading blogs and more.

Enjoy the site, and look for more to come.

A class act

I don't know how many games Todd Ceisner covered for the Centre Daily Times. He was on staff when I came and reminded me of a prep writer in Harrisburg, a guy who does his job and does it well.

I never had a complaint about Todd's work, other than from readers who wanted their own spin on something. You could count on him for highly professional coverage.

Day in and day out. Game after game.

His farewell column should hit a nerve with anyone in this business, about the rewards we should take from it.

He's a class act and we wish him well, and know he'll do well. I have a feeling that Centre County high school athletes, fans and coaches would join me in saying that.

Where's Ray?

Virtually every week we hear from one reader or several who wonder what's going on in the Ray Gricar investigation.

Today's report by Pete Bosak shows that questions are still being asked and work is still being done, as we near the three-year anniversary of the former district attorney's appearance.

We've linked a lot to the main story, for you to keep up with it all. There are some interesting similarities to the case and this years-old book, if nothing else.

Seems like Bellefonte Detective Matt Rickard is taking the right approach, in reviewing everything and checking into everything. At least today you know that work is being done.

A hoops fan

For some reason, I'm showing up in the reader comments about Penn State basketball like I'm part of the problem.

Let's confront the matter. I love basketball and have a men's hoops season ticket. Been attending Penn State games since my college years -- a long, long time ago.

Love seeing the Big Ten teams in the Bryce Jordan Center, no matter the year.

I like to see good basketball, and there's where Jamelle Cornley fits. He is an "Ultimate Warrior," like Jeff Rice wrote Saturday, and you only had to watch Sunday's game in Minnesota to see why.

Rice writes some great stories on the players, who stay out of trouble and do what they can. He has access to the coach, a situation that's much different than football. Overall his coverage is very good.

Yes, the team is struggling but we've seen that in Big Ten play before. Penn State did beat Michigan State -- remember -- and perhaps something can happen down the stretch.

We get blamed, always, for being too easy on the team or for being too tough. Often the same day, concerning the same story. 

I'm looking forward to March Madness like always, even getting to some of the action on a western trip.  Shows you, in case you're wondering, that I do like hoops.

Blaming the messenger

So now we have Hillary Clinton, loser of 11 straight Democratic state primaries and in trouble in Ohio and Texas, blaming the media for being soft on her opponent.

In particular, she's upset that Sen. Barack Obama's stance on health care is not being questioned.

"We can't get the press to cover this -- what he says about his plan is not true," Clinton said as quoted by the AP of Obama's health plan.

When in doubt blame the media, but if you ask me Clinton has more problems than the press.

You can follow it all every day on our Decision 2008 page online. Here's hoping Clinton and Obama crisscross Pennsylvania often leading to the April 22 primary, and I think I can speak for everyone in the press with that hope.

There's nothing like a good debate like this. There's no need, really, to blame the messenger, however.

Thon shatters records

I encouraged you -- in my printed column -- to stop at Thon, and I hope you did.

What a scene.

I stayed only a few minutes and saw what I expected and what I'd seen in our photos and video.

Repeating: What a scene.

The result is $6.6 million for the Four Diamonds Fund and Penn State students should be so proud. They've raised the bar, they've done it the right way, and they've helped many young people and their families.

Thon is the feel-good story of '08, and now you can send well wishes, watch the video and see the photos, read all about it and celebrate this record. Perhaps you helped them reach it.

That McCain story

Perhaps you're still talking about the New York Times' John McCain story, published last week and creating a political buzz.

Linked here is what Times' public editor Clark Hoyt has to say about it, if you don't get the printed paper.

Hoyt is the former Knight Ridder Washington Bureau chief and is well spoken, on this and other issues. Take a look.

Images of Thon

Penn State students in John Beale's class are shooting Thon, and you'll see some of their best images along with ours in the Thon photo galleries on CentreDaily.com.

Already students' work is there, and the photos of Thon are special. Be sure to give them a good look.

New this year is our Thon video, and today's is by photo intern Catrina Rawson.

Readers can add their photos to our Penn State or events blog on the community blogs page, linked here and linked with the main Thon stories each day.

The images of Thon tell the story. Enjoy them.

Classes are canceled but ...

When schools are canceled, sports should be canceled.

I realize high school wrestling is on a crash course of weekly deadlines, with the states at Hershey just around the corner.

And I realize today began district or regional action, so every school may not have been off due to weather like the Centre County schools.

But the fact remains that the Centre County schools were closed, yet their wrestlers traveled the roads and hit the mats like the others.

And there's where I raise a question. If schools are out, should sports be played?

I say no. What do you think?

Meaning of Thon

Heather Hottle is a copy editing intern for us this semester and is fully active in Thon.

She wrote a column for our Blue Magazine that really shows you the meaning of Thon. It's linked here.

She's had medical challenges and she's now giving back and working so hard with so many students to make Thon a success. It all happens this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Perhaps you can visit. Perhaps you can help.

Here's our editorial today in support of the students.

When cartwheels work

Debbie Patrick's Notes from a Teacher blog is a scream, and her most recent post on presidential facts is a classic.

She brings kindergarten to all of us, and I hope you enjoy it like I do.

Every post, every column, is special.

That brings me to my niece, Cassidy, who is in first grade and is all of 6. Almost 7, she'll tell you.

I saw her in California just a couple weeks ago and I thought back today at this and can't believe I didn't blog it yet. When we stopped at rest areas she wandered onto the grass and just did cartwheels.

Good ones, too, and soon the shoes were off and she looked like a Californian.

She takes gymnastics and is getting quite good. I guess cartwheels are like walking down the street, as long as she doesn't have heels on.

I can just imagine Cassidy's class in school in Colorado, and I think Debbie Patrick's blog gives us a glimpse.

It's great, but what I can't imagine is being a teacher surrounded by a group of these kids. Perhaps one is enough.

Cartwheels anyone?

Lunar eclipse photos, video

Photographers John McGregor and Chris Weddle teamed up to shoot the lunar eclipse last night, and readers saw Weddle's photo in the paper this morning.

New online, and finished at 3 a.m., was McGregor's video, and here's the entire package for CentreDaily.com readers.

Readers have been enjoying it and contributing -- four photos have been posted at this writing to our reader events blog, and there's room for more.

I didn't see this myself so I'm glad to see the photographers' work.

The spirit of Thon

So many of you visit our Web site because you long to find out what's going on at Penn State or here in Happy Valley.

I know. Perhaps you went to school here and would love to relive those student days. Or perhaps you just can't wait, really can't wait, to make your next visit.

Perhaps you'd love to move back and work here. Maybe, just maybe, you can get lucky like me.

It's not always easy or always fun, but being in Happy Valley is great, and being here at certain times of the year is greater.

One of those times is right now, the days leading to the Penn State dance marathon, or Thon.

There's a spirit in the air, an energy, and it surrounds you in Happy Valley. So much student work goes into Thon, and there's such a great outcome. Always.

I took a couple of speaking spots at Penn State Friday to go back on campus, amid that spirit. Why not? I'm back in Happy Valley, after all.

Thon is coming at you on the Web, with a whole batch of new content coming tomorrow from our Blue Magazine. Look for it.

And enjoy Katy Hopkins' new blog, Talk Thon to Me, started just this week. This student from Lancaster County is making the most of blogging and is reaching so many Penn Staters who are oh so interested in Thon.

This year look for video all weekend and next week, in addition to photo galleries and all of our Thon content. Come back if you can -- it's at the Bryce Jordan Center these days -- or camp out online otherwise and take in that Happy Valley spirit.

You'll feel good. No doubt.

A loss for Albuquerque

Albuquerque is one of my favorite cities, so allow me to mourn the impending loss of the afternoon paper, the Albuquerque Tribune.

It lasted 86 years and it'll go away like most other afternoon papers, but I'm pleased to say I picked it up every time I visited Albuquerque and admired its work.

The Tribune staff past and present should be proud.

I hope to get a copy of the final edition on Saturday and have my New Mexico friend working on it. Perhaps you Penn Staters know him. Now if that isn't pressure ...

Alcohol at the State

Honestly, now, what is the problem with the State Theatre getting in position to serve a drink to patrons?

It needs a liquor license to do that, and theatre representatives are being open about their hopes.

Some borough council members don't get this, but it is fairly common for theaters to serve alcohol. It's not a problem, either; patrons do not go to these places to get drunk and cause trouble.

The State would be a responsible user of a liquor license, I would say. Council could divert its attention to Pugh Street in a bigger way to see another type of user.

Anyway, what do you think about this? Go ahead and vote in our poll attached to today's story.

Great photos deserve votes

Our voting mechanism for the photo contest finalists is working fine now, so go ahead and cast votes for your favorites.

Five categories of finalists are on display here, and you'll see more in Saturday's paper in the Centre Living section.

The finalists are all good and we need many, many votes to pick winners. So go for it.

Thanks to all readers who sent in photos, as we received about 500 this year.

Selective snow

It's one of these Happy Valley days, with snow flurries, then sun, then snow flurries, then ... well you get the picture.

The early morning was a classic. There was no snow on my street, but just as I turned the streets had a bit of a covering all the way to the gym.

Same deal coming back, snow until my street.

Perhaps it's selective snow in State College, and I can't complain.

And I guess I should note, since this is the topic of the day, that I haven't seen any crows venture to my neighborhood.

Sunshine in PA

I devoted my Sunday printed column to the state's new open-records law, and I'll share it here with you.

No need to repeat anything, but it's a great step forward overall for Pennsylvania and a credit to legislators who have worked to make the changes, effective in January 2009.

It means a lot to me, happening this year as I serve as president of the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors.

Let me share, too, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's take on this new law, from its Web page.

And let me share Jamie Blaine's passopenrecords blog, linked on our community blogs page right here on CentreDaily.com.

It is looking a bit brighter in our state, and you know how we do need sunshine in Pennsylvania.

No ice. Repeat, no ice

For another time this winter, I can say -- and this time declare -- that ice is gone from the driveway and the front of my place.

Gone, only to return?

That's been the process this winter, and we're only in mid February so I'm not declaring any victory.

But for a day or two I'm ice-free, and that's cool.

It was some winter weekend here in Happy Valley, not for weather but for Penn State sports. Many football fans returned for sports as part of a winter weekend deal, and it was nice to see so many people around.

I'm sure the stores and restaurants liked it too.

Hey all, don't stay away so long. There's plenty to do here in Happy Valley, just follow it all online here or in Weekender. Any weekend is great, you'll see.

Back to the no ice reality, it's great to shout it out on this Presidents Day.

Republicans 'power' politics?

I have a political question on this foggy Monday morning, and perhaps you have one too.

Why, with the likelihood of a crowded primary field, would anyone suggest that a candidate not run?

Perhaps the GOP powers didn't see it coming that nine Republicans would line up for the wide-open seat in Congress.

But they have, and one is left out.

Be sure to read Mike Joseph's report today about Republican "power" politics. Or maybe just Republican politics, leaving out the power.

Business Matters

Jennifer Thomas, with a contribution by Mike Joseph, wrote our Business Matters section today, our largest business section of the year.

This is a favorite of Centre Daily Times readers, and it's already getting strong readership on the Web.

This year's focus: Service jobs and job training.

Here's the full content, if you can't get one of our Sunday papers. Enjoy it.

The youth vote

Yesterday we highlighted the register-to-vote efforts at Penn State and the great success so far as we move toward the Pennsylvania primary.

Hat's off to the students, and this really to me will be the story of this election.

Will young people get involved in a big way and then stay with it to keep their elected officials on track for change?

That's what has to happen if we really, really want change, because the young have the most to gain and need to get fully invested in the process.

Signs so far show that they are getting involved, at Penn State and elsewhere, and we're watching closely to see where it goes from here.

Clearly they are supporting Barack Obama in a big way at this point, and I look forward to him visiting Happy Valley and Penn State in coming weeks.

Jerry Garcia's art

I really can't believe my sister, Ginny, isn't flying in this weekend to see the traveling exhibit of Jerry Garcia's art.

She proudly owns a piece in Colorado and still loves Jerry and the Grateful Dead after all these years.

She's been hanging out online today, reading our Weekender story and seeing the online images.

Too bad, but I'll have to visit the exhibit and tell her about it.

Nice job to everyone for bringing it to Happy Valley.

Superdelegates in focus

The Democrats have a train wreck ahead if they let the super delegate situation get out of control.

A good McClatchy story today reviews this and is worth reading.

The Democrats -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- are engaging voters with a great primary campaign, and we might get it all here soon in Pennsylvania. They cannot afford to let super delegates behind closed doors shape the final outcome.

It's worth taking a look at this now.

Coming out of the 'Dark Ages'

I want to highlight a quote regarding the open-records law by Rep. Tim Mahoney, who sponsored the progressive bill that was considered by the House State Government committee before it was gutted and then rebuilt somewhat by the Senate.

Mahoney is quoted in Adam Smeltz's story about Penn State getting a break on disclosures according to the bill, passed by both chambers and signed into law today.

Sen. Jake Corman said he was behind the changes, but truth be told everyone in the Senate knew about them and the entire House knew when it took the Senate bill for revisions. Nobody in the House stepped forward to correct the changes that let Penn State and other state-related universities somewhat off the hook.

That's an aside to my point here, however, and it was made by Mahoney in expressing his disapproval that the open-records measure goes easy on the universities.

Mahoney said, "We've been in the Dark Ages too long."

Bravo, Rep. Mahoney. To date I've only heard journalists and a few questioning citizens say it that strongly about Pennsylvania and its tendency to close records to the public.

This law is historic in that it will allow sun to shine in this state starting next year. So we've come somewhat out of the "Dark Ages," but let's just say there's room to improve.

Corman protects his turf

It warms my heart, and perhaps it warms yours, that Sen. Jake Corman is such a friend of Penn State that he would work to shield the university from much of the new Right-to-Know law.

Details have emerged to show his influence, and you could say he's protecting his turf.

No reason to share PSU salaries, he says, since the university doesn't get much from the state anyway (only $350 million a year if you're counting) .

Interesting. Now read Claudia Vergara's open records blog on our Web site to show Corman won't give out any information about himself, either, and last I looked he was fully paid by taxpayers.

Vergara, a Penn State student, is blogging her efforts in trying to get information from the state, after being shut out the first semester. Take a look at the Corman similarities.

Surprise you?

14 for school board

I'm glad so many people -- count 'em 14 -- want to join the State College Area school board.

Congratulations on your civic engagement.

Now just imagine, like I am, being one of the four incumbents or one of the four newcomers on the board who are faced with this decision.

Several of the 14 were clearly in one camp or another regarding the high school issue. I know, I heard from you.

Will the eight members look past that and just pick the best person?

Or will they remember so well those frosty days of last spring and summer?

I just wonder what will happen. Stay tuned.

Brighter PA

I'm late, I know, in saluting the Legislature for a strong open-records bill that just passed.

We've waited and we're pleased. More to come in my Sunday column, but a tip of the cap to legislators on this one.

Greeted by snow

There's nothing quite like leaving California for Happy Valley and landing here late in the afternoon during a steady snow.

First stop the house, next move grab the shovel and dig out.

A Happy Valley reality if there ever was one, and do I need to mention that it was about 85 degrees over the weekend in Anaheim.

Speaking of Anaheim, one of the roads leading to the Honda Center (home of the PBR for the weekend, and my destination), is called State College Blvd. I kid you not.

State College Blvd. runs along side the Angels stadium and right near the Crystal Cathedral. That's probably all you need or want to know.

It's nice to be back, and I'll start paying close attention to the weather again.

Our first winning writer

Congratulations to Jill Hackman, who started the fourth Centre County story in a great way today.

I highlighted her work in my Sunday print column, and looked ahead to next Sunday's Business Matters section in the Centre Daily Times.

Here's the column, and I hope you enjoy both the story and our biggest business section of the year.

Design gains attention

Assistant news editor Diane Lewin does a great job overseeing our design, and designing many of our front pages, and she did her usual fine work with Sunday's front page.

It was innovative and shined from a newsstand (or on the Web) in its treatment of our big cost comparison story, and it is highlighted with other papers around the world today in a newspaper design blog.

Sharing with you how we are featured in this blog.

Paycheck to paycheck II

Today's cost comparison report by Anne Danahy is essentially a follow to our paycheck to paycheck series that got strong reaction in late November and early December.

It's all still posted online for you, and today's story takes it further.

When I looked at the costs examined last week, I noticed that the only product or service that went down in price year to date is pork.

Is it time for more of that other white meat?

Out here in sunny California, the Orange County Register leads with a similar story about costs rising and how people are coping.

This is a sign of our times, and I'm sure today's cost comparison report hits home.

California dreamin'?

As it gets cold back in Happy Valley, I'll give you a weather report from California.

Anaheim, to be precise. About 78 degrees and sunny, or something like that.

You just walk around and say it's February and I'll take it. Enjoying a weekend out here.

You'll get a dose of reality on Sunday -- and I'm not talking about the weather -- when you read our price comparison. You know prices have gone up. On Sunday you'll find out how much in just a year.

History being made

Take a minute and think about the presidential race and what is playing out before your eyes.

History is being made, as each of the candidates left in the Democrat race will make history on his or her own.

You'll tell grandchildren about this, and you may well be the one to decide it all.

Well, that's dramatic, but Pennsylvania's primary will mean something this year, it appears, and we'll get to hear directly from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Maybe they'll stop in State College in April. And John McCain and Mike Huckabee. Now wouldn't that be nice.

Watch history unfold this year. And be sure to vote when the time comes.

A place for everybody

In San Diego for a corporate meeting and after just one day I'm walking around saying, "Why doesn't everyone live here?"

It is beautiful, take my word.

I made the above comment to an editor who is from Orange County, CA, and she responded, "Everybody does live here."

She works in Washington state.

A long strange trip

The old "mechanical problems" reared its ugly head Wednesday morning at University Park Airport, making a routine trip across the country a long strange trip indeed.

Hate to say, but this is third time that mechanical problems have canceled UP flights for me in two years.

The worst was the Christmas 2006 stretch when a United on Dec. 23 from State College had problems, making it impossible for Denver travelers to make their connection in D.C. Remember the blizzard messes? I ended up leaving four days later.

Today was the Delta Atlanta flight, canceled in the morning. I joined about 18 others in taking a van to Pittsburgh for an Atlanta flight in the afternoon.

I blog this here in San Diego after a super long day of travel.

Mechanical problems happen, we all know, but you never find out details and you just adjust, don't you.

I'll be flying out of University Park in March so we'll see what happens.

Awaiting action

I'm not the only one, believe me, planning to watch very closely to see what the House Republicans do with the open-records bill that should have been passed today.

Improve it?

Oh really. Or will they hold it hostage?

All eyes are now on the House GOP, so let's see some action. If they hold it hostage they will read about it again and again, because the bill passed by the Senate is not bad.

Pennsylvania needs some sunshine, let's all nod in agreement.

Readers and writers

I find it amazing that 20 readers took time to write a first chapter to our fourth annual Centre County story.

Twenty readers -- a record in this unique newspaper project -- and I wish all of them could win.

Now the pressure is on our judges, including yours truly, to pick the winning entry. Look for it Sunday in the CDT and here online and then we'll start the chapter process over.

Amazing, and rewarding. Our readers are very special.

I'll have more to say about this in my Sunday column, which I'll finish from California. Leaving for a few days on business and pleasure, but I'll blog and read online like all of you.

Thanks to our readers and writers.

Dead on arrival?

Budget day in Harrisburg used to mean tons of copy by our Patriot-News Capitol reporters and plenty of headaches by all to put it all into a huge package for the capital-area readers.

It was appreciated, I think, since so many Patriot-News readers work for state government.

I'm not sure what they do now, being away for five years, but from here we work with Associated Press coverage and our own localizing and present a package for our readers.

I've seen my share of these, clearly, and one look at the highlights of Gov. Ed Rendell's has me shaking my head. In fact, I don't have to look any further than the bottom line -- the governor wants to grow the state budget by 4.2 percent.

Are you kidding?

It's time, folks, that Harrisburg tightens its belt and holds spending in line while limiting the fat from government. Nobody really wants to increase state spending -- and state government -- by 4.2 percent. Do they?

It's an election year and a tough economic year, so legislators should come to their senses. They should look inward and cut the fat from the legislative accounts and the cost of the legislature overall. Of course they won't do that, but at least I can suggest it.

Memo to Harrisburg: At least hold the line on state spending. Make tough choices. This is no time to grow the government.

Covering a late game

I always think one reader represents a group thinking similarly, so let me perhaps shed light on what it's like to cover a game late in the night, for the next day's newspaper.

Case in point was Saturday night's Penn State-Michigan State basketball game, which ended around 10:30.

Our copy deadline for the Sunday paper is around that time, and everything has to be finished in the next hour. So there wasn't much time for basketball writer Jeff Rice to turn around a story and for sports desk to put it on the page, with photos.

They did a remarkable job, as the story ran at the top of the sports page with a celebration photo, and we had a basketball tout at the top of the front page. Yet, that wasn't enough for one reader, and I'm sure others, who perhaps expected much more for an upset of this magnitude.

Timing is everything in print, and you do what you can. In this case it was a fast turnaround that worked.

The story gained great readership online, with photos, and that's something I talk about a lot when it comes to late events. We do what we can in print, and perhaps have more online.

Rooting for ... the Giants

It took a lot for an Eagles fan like me to root, even a little, for the Giants, but let's just say Jay Alford's sack and the gritty play of the New Yorkers made it easier.

Yes, I can't believe I'm saying this but I ended up a Giants' fan Sunday night.

I'm sure there are a few others saying this same thing today, so I'll join the chorus. I was in New York last Monday and just can imagine the excitement there today.

It should be a great parade tomorrow too, as the East shines in warm February weather.

Record readership

We had record readership here in January, and today I devoted my printed column to the topic.

By the numbers: We had 599,000 unique visitors to CentreDaily.com in January, including 115,000 from Centre County and University Park and 45,000 from Altoona.

We've told you how our Web site is visited daily by people in every state and dozens of countries; now we're shouting about local visitors who are joining in on vibrant chats, reading breaking news and finding exclusive online content, and reading and sometimes writing blogs.

It's great, a wonderful community of Web readers and I'm glad you're among them.

Thanks for your great readership.

Giant hoops win

The basketball crowd was treated to a gem last night in the Bryce Jordan Center, as the young Nittany Lions came together and turned away Michigan State in grand style.

A student-led celebration broke out on the court afterward, fitting for Penn State fans celebrating the first home win over a top 10 team since 2001 against Illinois.

And Michigan State was top 10, led by Drew Neitzel. Who didn't expect him to take over the game like last year? But no, Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle played outstanding games, and the Nittany Lions broke away late to win.

The crowd helped, no doubt, and it was nice to see the big place rocking. You even saw a few fans sitting under the big blue curtains covering the two end zones. Can't say I've seen that before.

Today's headline calls it "A Giant Leap," and let's hope the Nittany Lions make it a springboard for a great second half of the Big Ten season.

Enjoy our coverage today, and don't miss our hoops memories column this weekend. Brian Allen shared his Rec Hall memories, and I know fans appreciated it based on what I heard last night.

Look for these columns every Saturday in the Centre Daily Times.

Spelling woes

About 95 percent of the comments posted with stories are great. They share ideas, respond to others, or generally just weigh in on a topic that connects.

Then there are 5 percent, and a classic one in this category is a poster who wrote this in response to a post that spelled Bellefonte incorrectly:

"Nice editing there. Belfont?? Good God this rag makes me sick. I can see a typo like Bellfonte or Bellefont, but BELFONT???"

Comment by anonymous. It should have said clueless too, because we don't edit these comments. We provide a forum for readers, and some clearly can't spell.

Interesting that anonymous/clueless reads us, considering what he/she apparently thinks.

He/she might find it interesting that 599,000 unique visitors read us in January, which is the subject of my column Sunday. Clearly, some of those cannot spell.

Scholarship the right idea

Penn State's Faculty Senate deserves a bravo for sponsoring a scholarship to help students afford the rising costs to attend the university.

Faculty Senate chairwoman Dawn Blasko said it best in Friday's story, as profs are seeing more and more students who are having trouble making ends meet.

Meanwhile, Penn State keeps growing and adding jobs and new facilities.

The university can't count on much more from the state, we all know. Somehow, the costs to students have to be kept under control, and efforts like the Faculty Senate's must be applauded.

I think back to when I attended PSU in the late '70s. Could I afford it now, coming from Lancaster? I don't think so.

Wonder how many others think that way?

Slip slidin'

I guess I left home at the right time today, because the drive to work wasn't bad and the stuff falling didn't ice the windshield as I drove.

That's the worst situation, in my view.

This is Harrisburg weather and it should stay down there. We don't want or need ice in Happy Valley.

You'll slip slide in slush this afternoon. But a decent weekend follows, and for the start of February that isn't bad.

Just watch your step.