If a tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?This seemingly simple question has puzzled mankind for ages. Maybe moving the setting to a more familiar locale will make the answer more apparent.

If a basketball swishes through the net at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, and there are no fans in the seats, does it really make a sound?

You bet. There are 12 guys dressed in purple and white on the TCU sideline who live for that very sound, and dishearteningly, live to play the game in front of meager, unenthusiastic crowds.

The calendar may say it's a new year, but for the GrandMarc at Westberry Place it doesn't feel any different. A total of 23,000 square feet of the GrandMarc's retail space remains vacant, and, since leasing space with Perrotti's Pizza and CitiBank, the GrandMarc has been unable to recruit additional tenants.

Although negotiations with several businesses are in progress, Kimberly Moss, director of community operations for the GrandMarc, said both Starbucks and Dallas-based sandwich shop Which Wich, recently decided against leasing space in the GrandMarc.

Freezing temperatures and ice couldn't keep the Red Hot Chili Peppers away from Texas on Saturday. Despite canceling their Oklahoma City show the night before, the Chili Peppers rocked out Dallas' American Airlines Center in a high-profile concert that showcased the band's exceptional music skills.An all-star cast of drummer Chad Smith, guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Flea and frontman Anthony Kiedis put on a show that lived up to their stature as one of the world's most talented rock bands.

A celebratory spirit was in the air at the admissions office Tuesday as the staff mingled near silver balloons forming the number 10,000 and munched on Horned Frog cookies. The admissions staff members were celebrating their 10,000th application received, a milestone reached Friday.

For the 2006 school year, TCU received about 8,700 applications. This year's applications are ahead of last year's record, according to the admissions office, and the year isn't over yet.

We've all done it: As the new year rolls around, we make promises to ourselves to eat healthier, work out more often and get in shape.But, as school starts, priorities other than the food pyramid and the gym take over, and healthy living takes a backseat to grades and partying.

Not surprisingly, nutritionists agree food and exercise are fundamental parts of staying healthy.

The men's basketball team looks to continue its early success in conference play when it hosts the Colorado State Rams at 7 p.m. tonight in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.During the holiday break, the Horned Frogs (10-5, 2-1 in conference) sported a 4-2 record while downing two conference opponents, the New Mexico Lobos and the Utah Utes. The 10-5 mark through 15 games matches the record of the 2004-05 team, and is a six-game improvement from last season's record of 4-11 through 15 games.

TCU athletics director Danny Morrison continued to say Monday that he's not surprised head football coach Gary Patterson's name keeps cropping up as head coaching jobs open. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Friday that Patterson was in talks with officials from the University of Minnesota for the head coaching job. According to a Dec. 6 ESPN article, Patterson has also been considered for other head coaching positions.

Patterson's name was mentioned as a possible replacement at the University of Miami, a position that has since been filled.

The Bowl Championship Series is a hallowed time of the winter holidays when football fans can gather together to complain about which team they feel deserves to be No. 1.Is it the Boise State Broncos who...