Tyler R. Sutton, 18, pleaded guilty this morning in Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 to three counts of operating a vehicle with a controlled substance causing death and feticide, all Class C felonies.

If Judge Thomas Busch accepts Sutton’s plea with the Tippecanoe County prosecutor’s office, at least two of those counts would have to be served concurrently – meaning the former North Montgomery High School student could spend 16 or more years in prison. [Journal & Courier]

The Times Higher Education, a London-based higher-education magazine, recently ranked Penn the 11th-best university in the world, a three-place improvement over last year.

The rankings are based on peer and employee review as well as data on the school’s research output, teaching, and international orientation.

The survey ranked 200 schools in 32 countries.

[Daily Pennsylvanian]

Princeton University Professor Paul Krugman, known as much for his criticism of George W. Bush’s policies as for his academic work, won the Nobel Prize in economics for his theories on world trade.

Krugman, 55, was honored “for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity,” said the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which selects the winners. His work showed how economies of scale influence trade and urbanization. [Bloomberg]

To begin, it doesn’t matter how we got where we are. I really don’t care how often Obama wants to talk about who is to blame, but we are here now, we are screwed and we have to get out. YES, we know, McCain was not voted Miss Congeniality…we heard. And yes, no one really knows how to pronounce Ahmadinejad – we got it.

The sad part is, we sat around COED office drinking and watching the debate – and when it was done, we started talking and it was quite obvious that we were all watching different debates.

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Prepare for your mind to be blown: Scientist predict that there will be no ice at the North Pole this summer, the most dramatic evidence of global warming to date. Though the thaw is not yet complete, predictions set the odds at greater than 50:50 for a full meltdown.

Disappearance of the arctic ice will allow, for the first time in modern days, countries near the pole access to the predicted natural resources uncovered by the melting. Though the environmental impacts are more symbolic than consequential, politically and economically, the consequences are substantial. (more…)

Being the college graduate of the group, I think it might be time to get a little serious about the upcoming elections. There are a plethora of issues at stake, and while the media like to pose it as race/gender war, I tend to think the major issues teeter on fiscal responsibility and economic stability – I know, I am a buzzkill…sorry!

This weeks topic: the taxes. The tax code right now sucks. WTF we do about it is the major question. Of course, health reform is a large issue, but as the COED office’s grandfather (@ 25), as long as I can remember there has always been a need for health reform – but it never happens. As long as the economy is steady, it makes a great election talking point but then dies off. Yeah Clinton tried it, but it got pissed all over like a Girl Scout at R-Kelly’s house.

For those of you failing Econ 101, let me re-use a very famous explanation: (more…)

Dorm living always brings along one of those douchy cheeseballs who finds motivation in hanging an inspirational poster on their wall.

Winners (Three dudes running in the sun rise): While most are dreaming of success, winners wake-up and work hard to achieve it.

Integrity (Waves crashing on a rocky beach): Integrity comes when character is tested; keep true and never be ashamed of doing what is right.

Sure, broski: flaunt the fact that you are articulate, interested in reading/politics/economics and are probably better than me at everything. One day you’ll be my boss but at least my friends and I can check out the following gallery of bad motivational posters and laugh at you behind your back.

Check out the motivational glory after the jump! (more…)