For many UC Davis students and employees,the intersection of the eastern side of campus with Third Street is an important gateway into downtown Davis. Now the city of Davis wants to improve that area,turning it into a more polished city-campus connection.

Apple announced last week that iTunes will offer all songs without Digital Rights Management software, meaning the music will no longer be protected by copyright software that restricts play to authorized devices. As a result, most songs bought on iTunes can now be played on almost any computer or device, including non-Apple mp3 players. Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing for Apple, made the announcement at Macworld 2009, an electronics trade show in San Francisco.

The New York Times recently announced that it is now selling advertising space on its front page. The ads will be relatively small and appear below the fold. This development should be a signal to anyone who hasn’t been paying attention so far that newspapers as we know them are in trouble (much like the boat breaking in half would have beena clue to get off the Titanic).

Louis Sachs’ winter break ended early this year. He spent his break in Golan,a city in Northern Israel,with10other students on an all-Jewish educational trip.Halfway through his time abroad,on Dec.25,five Israeli soldiers from his group were called to duty.The soldiers left for Gaza the next day,beginning what officials in the Middle East are calling the most deadly attack in the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict.To date,the campaign has claimed the lives of880Palestinians and13Israelis,according to BBC reports.

The Recording Industry Association of America announced last month that it would no longer file mass lawsuits against illegal file sharers. Instead, the RIAA said it would work with individual internet service providers to stem the flow of illegal music downloads on the internet.

In times where the state budget is tight and student fees are on the rise, University of California officials are debating how to account for reduced funding.One option being considered is accepting a greater percentage of out-of-stateand internationalstudents,whoseheightened tuition fees will increase revenue.

I’m not sure whether this list entry was prompted by four of the most interesting classes I’ve taken at Davis all occurring simultaneously or whether it was because of my embarrassing realization that I had never before completed every word of reading assigned to me during the week it was assigned.

Despite a last second line-up change in the event that’s often viewed as the most nerve-racking, the uneven bars turned out to be golden for the Aggies.

A former UC Davis nutrition department employee was sentenced to 12months in prison for stealing$160,000of federal program funds for personal use over the course of six years.

One week into its Big West Conference schedule, the UC Davis men’s basketball team has to like where it stands. The Aggies either led or were within two possessions of taking the lead in the final minute of all three games.

Quincy Amarikwa and Dylan Curtis have done it all from a collegiate soccer standpoint. After leading the UC Davis men’s soccer team to its second NCAA Tournament berth in as many years on the Division I scene,Amarikwa and Curtis were named the Big West Conference’s Offensive Player and Midfielder of the Year,respectively,en route to garnering All-American honors. Now,they’re looking to prove they can have success all over again.

TODAY Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament 6to8p.m. Griffin Lounge,MU Get there early; seats fill up quickly.Must be there by6p.m.If you’re one of the top30players,you could end up in the tournament of champions!