Motion City Soundtrack's "Commit This to Memory" grabs you by the ears from the first few chords and doesn't let go.With its second full-length release on Epitaph Records, MCS avoids the sophomore slump and sticks to the style that has made it one of the darlings of the indie music scene.

Singer/guitarist Justin Pierre leads the quintet with his reserved, yet occasionally powerful, voice through catchy, hook-filled pop songs that have a narrative-like quality to them.

Starting GuardsMarcus Shropshire : A

Shropshire led the team in points, and he was the only Frog to have any success from three-point range. He played 36 minutes on a night when the Frogs had to show their depth.

Brent Reese-Hackett : C+

Reese-Hackett only played 16 minutes, but he didn't hurt the team in his first career start.

Nile Murry : B

Murray had a hard night from three-point range and left early with an injury. But he played well, leading the team in assists and steals for the night.

Starting Forward

As I wrote this, I hadn't yet boarded, but experience told me that, as a single traveler, I'd be getting a seat in the front of the plane - an ideal place if you don't mind being wedged in with an older couple wearing matching sweat suits.And I don't. Southwest's first-come, first-seated policy works for me.

As the world makes its annual trip into holiday-fueled "couple craziness," it's important for single folks to carve out their own place so they don't feel left behind in the season of togetherness.

It will snow tonight in Texas - even if just at TCU. Programming Council will host the second Frog Freeze Fest from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. today at Frog Fountain.

There will be fake snow made from large blocks of ice, as well as s'mores and other food.

Students can make their own music videos with the help of a Starstage in the Student Center Lounge, and an airbrush tattoo booth will also be available.

The Student Center Ballroom will host a performance of "The Griot," a one-woman act which looks into black history, at 7 p.m.

Japan, home to approximately 130 million people, has pledged $500 million in aid to help countries suffering losses from the tsunami. The United States, with a population of approximately 300 million people, is pledging a mere $350 million. Basically that boils down to about $1 per person for the United States, and around $4 per person for Japan.Yes, help is help. Anything the United States donates will be greatly appreciated by the countries who have suffered massive devastation.

The parking lot adjacent to Tucker Technology Center and Sid Richardson Building has been closed.But don't start to grumble just yet.

Although 300 students must make a detour from the lot, they haven't been completely forgotten.

It seems TCU officials planned ahead for the possible inconvenience --- and for a solution.

The TCU TRAC has been up and running since the start of the fall semester before plans for the privately owned apartment center known as GrandMarc at Westberry Place were even finalized.

In a game without much offense, the Horned Frogs prevailed over the Houston Cougars 58-51 Wednesday night thanks to timely shooting and critical defensive stops at opportune times.TCU has now won three games in a row over the Cougars and two straight at home in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Head coach Neil Dougherty has helped guide the Frogs to 13 wins total and a 3-1 record in C-USA play for the first time since TCU joined the conference in 2001.

The NCAA is reviewing information concerning the TCU investigation on the firing of head track and field coach Monte Stratton, athletics director Eric Hyman said.Stratton was fired Sept. 9, and associate head coach Brad Bowman subsequently resigned. According to a Sept. 9 press release, Stratton was fired in conjunction with an investigation that revealed serious improprieties in the track program.

Hyman said the NCAA is reviewing the information collected from the TCU investigation and it could be several months before any information is publicly released.

MIAMI (AP) - Former Oakland Raiders and TCU Horned Frog center Barret Robbins was charged Wednesday with three counts of attempted felony murder, less than a week after being shot during a furious struggle with three police officers investigating a burglary call. Robbins, a former Pro Bowler, was wounded Saturday night after Miami Beach police found him inside a women's restroom in a building housing a pub, a gym and a jewelry store. The pub owner called police after Robbins forced his way inside the building and refused to leave, a police report said.

What has the New Year brought to the world?Since the beginning of 2005, the Middle East has been facing chronic unrest. The potential for a legitimate Iraqi election by the end of the month is declining. Furthermore, the death toll of American soldiers in Iraq is nearing 1,500, and the civilian body count has surpassed 15,000. The recent tsunami in East Asia has taken almost 160,000 lives, and malaria threatens to take 100,000 more. And how is America reacting?

We're celebrating.

You elected five new student body officers on Nov. 9, 2004. Did you vote for them because they were your friends? Or did you vote for them because you believed in their campaign? I hope your reason was the latter.2005 is going to be a progressive and exciting year for the Student Government Association and TCU as a whole. We have hit the ground running with initiatives that will create tangible improvements for the whole student body.

Student Government Association President David Watson says he is in the process of making several changes within SGA."I've been very involved with student government, and over time I've created a vision for student government and seen its potential," Watson said.

Watson, a junior entrepreneurial management major, previously served as a representative, permanent improvements chairman and treasurer.

After working as treasurer, Watson said he can create a better system to disperse activities funding than the system in place.