I love to ski and I only get to go once a year typically, so I like to make it count. Due to friendships and tradition, I have usually gone to Poconos. I took care of my ESACT (isn't that was it was?) credits in two years at Big Boulder while at PSU Hazleton and generally gone to Camelback in recent years. However, I wonder if I should have been going to Western Pa. instead. I figured I'd do a little crowd-sourcing and get some insight on where the better skiing is -- Poconos or Western Pa. I'll be coming from Northern Virginia, so they are probably about the same distance.

If you have skied both regions, let me know which you think is best. I'm an intermediate skier, but I "train" for months to get ready. I can handle a black diamond at a place like Whitetail or the old Big Boulder with ease, but generally don't push it too far into the blues at a place like Camelback.

Also, any suggestions for a good place to get a helmet for a good price? I decided that if I'm going to wear one while bicycling, I probably ought to wear one while skiing.

UPDATED: Looks like this was something of a hoax. PSUMark2008 added this Onward State link in the comments:

Penn State Pools Closed Over Break To Everyone, Not Just SuePa

Okay, somebody may have successfully tricked Sara Ganim (and me, others), who has been the lead reporter on the scandal. It is too bad, because Ganim has been doing excellent work on this painful story. I am sure some people blame her. Those people are not very bright and hopefully don't have Penn State degrees.

ORIGINAL: Sue Paterno was told she's not welcome to use on-campus swimming pools. Really.

What has she ever done to deserve that treatment? She's a distinguished alumna. She is in no way involved in the Sandusky scandal. He got to use campus facilities for years after he was allegedly raping a boy in a shower.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Let's get #freesuepa trending. People have lost their minds at the alma mater. Maybe we need to get her on the BoT next election.

2001: Penn State vs. Ohio State: Joe Paterno breaks Bear Bryant's record wins 324th game

Over my blog, I recall one of the best games I ever saw, the Oct. 27,  2001 between our Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Like a lot of Penn State Ohio State games in Beaver Stadium, the scoring ended early in the 4th quarter and the game became a defensive struggle. That sure beats the last two visits from OSU.

Funny how 10 years later, Joe Paterno is tied with an all-time wins leader again. That time it was the Bear for the I-A all-time record. Now, Eddie Robinson and the all-time Division I record.

I have two videos in the post. Enjoy.

I think I have mentioned it before, but does anybody remember the "Eye of the Lion" song that used to play on some radio shows during pregame? I last heard it in 1996. It was a Penn State version of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" except it was a woman singing and name checking the teams Penn State used to play. It was as good as it sounds. I'd love to get a copy of it for the next time we "get the band back together" for a game.

Penn State running back Stephfon Green charged with furnishing alcohol to minors
That's from the CDT

That explains it -- I wonder if he was buying for teammates. I could see Joe Paterno being very displeased about that if it were the case. At least we have some clarity on that matter and it wasn't, as speculated by no one, a Brooklyn vs. Bronx thing. Which reminds me, Joe is just a really big hipster, just way ahead of his time. Is that enough words?

After adding my list to What Stadiums Have You Seen CFB In? I feel compelled to make a suggestion to all of you out there who don't have mortgages or children or both -- go to as many Penn State road games as you can. Now that I have a son in daycare, I never realized just how much money I used to have. The money we spend for daycare every month could have been a very sweet trip to Chicago or Madison. I hear Minneapolis is a good destination as well. In retrospect, I could have stayed with a friend in suburban Detroit for UM and MSU trips too.

I am not complaining, just pointing out that as priorities change, I'm wishing I had dropped a few hundred bucks and made some trips to the places I mentioned above. Not Indiana though, I don't care how cheap the airfare/hotels are, it's Indiana. I did make it to Boston College which was great except for the game, but mainly because I was going to be in New England the week before, otherwise I doubt I would have done it.

This goes for home games too, but chances are if you are going to home games now, you probably still can once your little one arrives, especially if you have parents/in-laws nearby.

Back in the mid-90s, I recall one of the pre-game shows used to play "Eye of the Lion" a Penn State spin on "Eye of the Tiger." You figured that out of course, but getting to the rigth word count means I might as well mention it anyway.

Did that help?

Anyway, some woman was singing the song and if I recall correctly, mentioned all the old eastern schools the Nittany Lions used to play. Since I haven't heard it since 1996, I don't remember too much about it. The "legend" lives on amongst my friends and I though and surely somebody has a copy of it. It needs to be digitized and put on a youtube video.

I'm back to remind you that parking passes for football games cost $40 on game day. Forty-freaking-dollars. Of course, you don't need to get stuck scrambling for twenties -- buy them in advance for a more reasonable $12 (including service charge). You can apparently get them via the PSU Athletics Ticket Office at (800) NITTANY or e-mail golions@psu.edu. You can also just get them on Ticketmaster, so I assembled direct links to parking passes for each Penn State home game.

Looks like the Youngstown State game is no longer available on Ticketmaster, so good luck with the Ticket Office.

Just as RUTS warned us, the new cost of parking passes bought the day of a Penn State game is going up this fall. After being $20 last year (weren't they $10 just a few years ago? I remember when the were $5) buying them on gameday will set you back $40.

There is a solution though and it will make your life a lot easier if you do it -- buy them in advance for a more reasonable $12 (including service charge). You can apparently get them via the PSU Athletics Ticket Office at (800) NITTANY or e-mail golions@psu.edu. You can also just get them on Ticketmaster, so I assembled direct links to parking passes for each Penn State home game.

Single game tickets also appear to be available.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

Ann Arbor news says Syracuse, Nebraska, Mizzou, Pitt, Rutgers to Big Ten.

[Links removed because links are power, and if we give them power, they win. We can't reward this kind of behavior. -KHD]

This morning I published a Q&A with Blue Sapphire P.J. Maierhofer on my blog. After 5 football seasons, her Penn State career is ending, but she still has a few things coming up. Topics include the field at Capital One Bowl, her favorite half time shows, the Blue Sapphire Classic, and many more. This is the second Q&A with perhaps Penn State's most beloved feature twirler to date, the first running in fall 2007.

As disappointing as yesterday's #10 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #16 Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten conference game was there were a couple of upsides. I cannot remember seeing any erectile dysfunction or prostate medication commercials during the ABC telecast.Those are like Summer's Eve ads for men. Without the soft focus.

So, there was that for those of us watching at home or local Penn State Alumni Association viewing party. Those of you at the game at least got to tailgate.

I compiled a list of Penn State beat writer predictions for the season. Most predicted a 13-game season though one notable columnist skipped including a bowl game in his prediction.

I didn't get one long-time publisher's prediction though, but I'm sure he's going with no less than 12 wins. If anybody has anymore from the beat, please let me know. Also, you are welcome to add your predictions to my post.

Happy Penn State Football Eve Eve!

Excellent news! Penn State is playing near D.C. next year. Indiana sold their home game to FedEx Field in Landover (nee Raljon) Md. just inside the Beltway. At last, a Penn State home game that is Metro accessible! We're going to take over, let's sell it out.

The Crimson Quarry's take:

Indiana sells 2009 home game against Penn State, will play at Redskins stadium in Landover, Maryland.

Four more damn words

I'm a Penn State grad and native Washingtonian who just got wind that Indiana will shift its 2010 game with the Nittany Lions to D.C. Since I am not a subscriber to the Herald-Times, I can't see anything other than the headline "Indiana to make $3 million by moving Penn State game to DC" . I am very eager to find out the details, so if anyone could pass this along, this blogger and Black Shoe Diaries reader would be most grateful.

I may have mentioned in previous comments (and certainly on my blog) the my group of Penn State friends and I have a victory tradition -- post-game bourbon. Since October 27, 2001, every Nittany Lions victory has been celebrated with some of the "brownest of the brown liquors."  I started the tradition it because of this quote by Joe Patenro after the 2001 Northwestern game:

This is the kind of game you love. I'm going to go home and get in trouble with a good stiff bourbon. Then I'm going to take a nap and get out some Ohio State tapes.

Over the years, the tradition has remained in place, but there have been reports of JoePa preferring Jack Daniel's, something a few of my friends, who preferred filtered Tenneessee sipping whiskey, have tried to use as defense for changing the tradition. Rather than go into another season with this uncertainty, I decided to go to the source or as close as I could get to settle the matter once and for all:

http://www.yurasko.net/wfy/2009/08/joe-paterno-debate-whiskey.html

Just like last Saturday, a service that I am paying extra for is not working. Comcast says it is ESPN's fault, ESPN does not have anybody available. Is this happening on other providers as well? It is happening to Comcast in Alexandria, Va.

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

DOWN WITH ESPN

As I mentioned on <a href="http://www.yurasko.net/wfy/">my blog</a>, the BigTenNetwork overflow channel 801 is not showing a picture. In, none of the BTN overflow channels are working. Is this a problem outside of Northern Virginia?

Why they show the Ohio State game here on the regular BTN does not make a lot of sense to me. Penn State is much closer (so is Temple for that matter) than Ohio State and we have a lot of alumni around here.