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(02/14/08 5:00am)
In memory of the premature end of Bobby Knight's tenure at Texas Tech, we've dug into the archives to revive our warm memories of a mad, misunderstood man. Bobby Knight, you throw that chair, right into WEEKEND's Internet Video of the Week.
(10/11/07 4:00am)
"The Seeker: The Dark is Rising" is a story about a kid named Will Stanton, (Alexander Ludwig) who discovers he is the last member of a race of immortal warriors who defend the light. Along his journey, he must find six signs that have been forged as weapons against the dark. \nI was extremely excited when I heard about this movie. It is the second story in a series of five that were my favorite books growing up. These books were to me what "Harry Potter" is to everyone else.\nThe only similarities to the book, however, are the names. All the backstory and character depth are removed to make the main character more likeable. Some key scenes and moments are removed to make room for elements that make no sense and do not add to the story. I could make a laundry list of things that have been removed or added, but the worst of them all is that originally these stories were deeply rooted in Celtic and British folklore, and Hollywood in its infinite wisdom changed the main character and his family from British to American. \n"The Seeker" feels too much like "Harry Potter" meets "The Matrix" meets a made-for-MTV movie.\nBut the movie was bad even without judging it in relation to the book. The entire time it feels like some depth or explanation is missing, as if the moviemakers only read half the book and made up the rest.\nThe cinematography has some good moments, but is too imitative of other epic children's-book movies. The score is nothing special. It just feels as if this movie is a hurried attempt to recreate what "Lord of the Rings" or "Chronicles of Narnia" did. The acting is passable, but only enough to keep you from laughing. \nMy suggestion is to read the books and skip the movie. They have enough depth to keep you entertained for weeks and potentially years, while this movie has the depth of a wooden spoon.
(06/07/07 4:00am)
Kevin Costner as a serial killer? Not likely. As a baseball player or romantic lead, absolutely. But as a deranged killer on the loose? There is no doubt many viewers will be skeptical, to say the least, to see Costner in this role. It's difficult to imagine the always genuine and charming Costner in such an austere role … until you actually see the film. Costner, as Mr. Earl Brooks, is chillingly calculated and disturbingly good at portraying a killer.\nBrooks is a successful businessman with a beautiful family, too much money to spend and a serious addiction to murder. But when Brooks is caught in the act of his favorite pasttime by a photographer, Mr. Smith (Dane Cook), rather than turning Brooks into the authorities, Smith becomes his new apprentice. Smith, wanting to feel what it's like to kill, follows Brooks and his alter ego Marshall (William Hurt) through the steps of getting away with murder. Meanwhile, Detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) is on Brooks' trail and will stop at little to apprehend "the Thumbprint Killer," as he has been dubbed.\n"Mr. Brooks" is a tantalizing thriller that will keep you biting your nails throughout. Costner gives a breathtaking performance and is supported well by Moore, who is again stereotypically cast in the role of the strong woman with something to prove. The supporting cast is full of stars, and Cook's first attempt at a dramatic role comes off surprisingly well, although he also offers a few lame attempts at humor that the film would be better off without. \nRather than recycle the same old serial murder and police pursuit plotline, "Mr. Brooks" puts a new spin on Hollywood killing that will shock and awe. Furthermore, the scenes of Brooks' daily life and his obvious passion for his family will at times have audiences rooting for the killer, a morbid twist that will have them questioning their own morality.
(04/19/07 4:00am)
The nicest thing I can say about "Disturbia" is that I might have liked it more had I seen it when I was 11, but even at that age I think would have been hesitant to admit that I was at all entertained by such a lame cinematic offering. Other than the absolute climax of the film, "Disturbia" is not suspenseful, let alone scary. \nThe plot consists of the tired "the guy living next door hitting on my mom is an alien/psycho/vampire" stock story line used by countless films and young adult novels. \nBut it has what I am sure was meant to be a fresh, "contemporary" angle in that the protagonist (Shia LaBeouf from "Even Stevens") is confined to his home and spends most of his time spying on the neighborhood through a pair of binoculars. Of course, when you remember how long ago Hitchcock's "Rear Window" came out, the freshness of the concept really starts to wilt. \nI couldn't shake the feeling that the dialogue was slightly too forced, the acting a little less than good and the overall look and feel of the entire production a little too much like something I would expect to find on the Disney Channel. And that was even before I recognized it was former Disney star LaBeouf in the lead. I understand that every actor has to start somewhere and I get excited when I see a young actor grow. The problem is that with "Disturbia," LaBeouf has not grown and the worst part is it looks like he was really trying. There are a couple of moments in the film where LaBeouf tries to showcase his acting, moments in which the shot focuses in on his face and lingers just a bit too long as he attempts to express an emotion.\nThere is a bit of gore but very little action. Apparently it is OK for a PG-13 film to get to show the serial killer's workshop and his dead victims as long as the kids don't get to see any actual killing. There is really no action of the sexual kind either, though it is certainly promised throughout the film as the relationship with the girl next door develops. Ultimately, I'm hesitatant to recommend "Disturbia" even as a film to see with a younger sibling. It seems too nasty for really little kids and contains too little entertainment for anyone else.
(04/11/07 4:00am)
Before the end of 2007, Comcast Corporation will become the new cable provider in Bloomington, taking over for Insight Communications. It is the result of an agreement to split their joint venture, the Insight Midwest partnership, of which both companies held a 50 percent ownership. \nThe deal will shift 1.2 million Hoosier households’ cable services in Anderson, Bloomington, Kokomo and Lafayette from Insight to Comcast, according to a press release.\nInsight Senior Manager of Corporate Communications John Dobken said that after long discussion it was decided that this split was the best move for both companies. \n“When it was decided to break up the partnership, they took half and we took half,” Dobken said. “Given (Comcast’s) presence in the Illinois and Indiana region, it was decided this was the best split.”\nDobken said it is still too early to know if Comcast will change the pricing structure for the former Insight customers. \nThe idea of such a massive corporation taking over the cable services in Bloomington has some residents wary. \n“Insight is a local business with local people that understand your problems,” junior Beau Barnthouse said. “I’ve always had Insight and they have always been really good with good customer service.” \nBarnthouse went on to explain he has heard many horror stories from friends and acquaintances about problems associated with Comcast’s service, including poor customer service and unreliable Internet service. \nStill, the change seems to have little effect on most students at IU. When questioned about the change, most students, including senior Amanda Targgart said their cable providers mean little to them.\n“I don’t even really watch TV,” Targgart said. “I just have cable, and I don’t even know what Comcast is.” \n“Everyone back in my hometown has Comcast except me,” said sophomore Curtis Mannen. “I really don’t know anything about them.” \nThere are still satellite providers such as DirecTV that serve the Bloomington area and provide an alternative to cable.
(04/04/07 4:00am)
Winning is quickly becoming a tradition for the IU club baseball team, which improved its record to 15-1 the past two weeks. \nThe Hoosiers swept conference rival Northern Kentucky in a three-game series two weeks ago then took a contest against Rose Hulman on March 26.\nIt was not just the victories that were impressive for this Hoosier club, which currently stands alone at the top of the NCBA Great Lakes Region-South Division, but the rarest of all baseball accomplishments that took place during the second game of the double header against Norther Kentucky on March 24. \nFreshman Bryant Gastineau recorded the first perfect game in IU club baseball history, striking out eight batters in a shortened, five-inning contest that the Hoosiers won 10-0.\n“He pitched lights out,” first-year graduate student Matt Ostrega said in an e-mail. “He kept hitters off balance all game and did not allow a single ball to leave the infield.”\nOstrega was behind the plate catching for Gastineau’s historic performance.\nThe offense was led in the game by sophomore Jacob Redmond, who went 4-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run, two doubles and three RBIs. Redmond was also the winning pitcher in the earlier game of the double header. Ostrega added to the offense as well, connecting for a grand slam in the game and finishing with five RBIs.\nOn Sunday, March 28, the Hoosiers returned to the Bloomington North field for their final contest against Northern Kentucky, taking the game 8-4 behind sophomore Adam Myers’ seven-inning, seven-strikeout performance on the mound. Ostrega, along with junior shortstop Eric Bolin, led the offense, combining to score or drive in all of the team’s runs.\nIU won two of three games this past weekend. The Hoosiers split Saturday’s doubleheader with Loyola, winning the first game 11-1 before losing the second game 3-2. \nSunday, the Hoosiers rebounded to take the three-game series with a 4-2 win. \nThe results of the Hoosiers doubleheader against Ball State on Tuesday were not available by press time.
(03/21/07 4:00am)
The IU club baseball team returned to Bloomington from its spring break trip in Plant City, Fla., with its perfect record still intact, winning all seven of its contests and improving to 9-0 on the season.\nThe Hoosiers opened up the week with a 7-2 victory against Minnesota State-Moorhead. Freshman pitcher Bryant Gastineau picked up the win with a six-inning, eight-strike-out performance. IU did not allow an opposing base runner to reach third base after the first inning, in which Minnesota State-Moorhead scored its only two runs, both unearned.\nIn the second game, the Hoosiers shut out Minnesota State-Mankato, 10-0. The Hoosiers did not allow a single Minnesota State-Mankato base runner to reach third base all game, improving their streak of not allowing an opposing base runner to reach third base to 13 innings. Sophomore Jacob Redmond picked up the win and junior Kevin Rogers led the offensive charge with a three-run home run in the fourth inning.\nIU continued its offensive surge, taking its third and fourth games of the trip, 15-1 against Carnegie Mellon and 6-1 against Lafayette.\nHowever, the Hoosiers’ final three games of the trip were more competitive. \nIn their fifth game of the week, the Hoosiers went battled New York University, winning 12-7. Gastineau picked up his second win of the week with a six-inning, seven-strike-out performance, and Rogers hit his second home run of the trip to lead the offense.\nIn its final two contests, IU faced Georgia Southern, winning both games with a score of 7-4. Redmond picked up the win in the first game, his second of the week. \nIn the final game of the week, the Hoosiers staged a seventh-inning comeback win in which Redmond led the rally with a two-run double to tie the game and scored the winning run on a Georgia Southern error. Freshman Mike Yonke picked up the win, throwing three scoreless innings in relief.\nThe Hoosiers also owe a great deal of credit for their success to sophomore outfielder Chris Hollins, who put together a 15-for-22 performance at the plate during the trip, hitting one home run, two triples, three doubles and knocking in nine runs.\nIU returns home ready to open up conference play against Northern Kentucky with two doubleheaders 1 p.m. this Saturday and at noon Sunday at Bloomington North High School. The games are the Hoosiers’ first home games this season.
(03/06/07 5:00am)
Before moving on to the professional world, college students often test their limits through the use of various substances.\nThe substance of choice for many is alcohol. But in the words of Tom Cox, executive director of Amethyst addiction services in Bloomington, alcohol is the “most dangerous one there is.”\n“Approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population suffers from alcoholism,” Cox said. \nProblems including injury, death, disease and criminal behavior are associated with excessive alcohol use, he said. For many young people, alcohol use is an enjoyable social activity, but it’s not for everyone. Problems with alcohol are often discovered too late, many times requiring treatment and rehabilitative counseling to overcome the addiction or – in some cases – legal troubles.\nAlcoholism is a chronic disease, just as heart disease and diabetes are, so steps must be taken to watch for the warning signs, Cox said.\n“It’s hard to find a family that doesn’t have some history of alcohol abuse,” Cox explained. “Sixty to 70 percent of people have an immediate or close family member with a history.”\nCox said genetics play a major role in alcohol-related problems.\n“Kids with one parent suffering from alcoholism are three to four times more likely to develop problems with alcoholism,” he said. “Children with both parents, six to seven times more likely.”\nThose numbers are echoed by the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. But a genetic history of alcoholism does not guarantee one will become an alcoholic. More than half of all children of alcoholics do not become alcoholics, according to the institute’s Web site. \nData that point toward the problems of addiction seemingly do little to deter binge drinking at IU, where it is a regular practice. Binge drinking is defined depending on the sex of the drinker – when a man consumes more than four drinks or a woman consumes more than three drinks in a two-hour period, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.\nSophomore Charli Seltzer said she binge drinks at most once a week. Seltzer said there is no alcoholism in her immediate family, but even if there were, she would “not drink anymore than (she does) already.”\n“I don’t think (family history) is much of a deterrent until you get people into treatment,” Cox said.\nAll treatment patients at Amethyst are required to give full background reports, and many have a family history of abuse. Cox said that it becomes apparent to many patients during treatment how influential genetics really are on their drinking habits.\n“Before treatment, there are feelings of invincibility – the ‘it’s not gonna happen to me’ attitude,” he said. “There is a lot of denial.”
(02/28/07 5:00am)
The IU club baseball team opened its season with a rain-shortened series sweep against the Clemson Tiger club team last weekend, winning two games Saturday. \nGame three, which was scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled due to inclement weather.\nGame one came down to the seventh inning before the Hoosiers could stage a comeback. They scored five runs, all before an out was recorded, and captured a 10-9 victory. \nThe Hoosiers went down 8-5 in the fourth inning following a Clemson three-run homerun, but managed to stay in the game behind a strong relief pitching performance from freshman Frank Rizzo, giving them the opportunity to make their seventh-inning comeback. \nThe seventh inning rally was led by sophomore outfielder Chris Hollins, who hit a two-run single, giving the Hoosiers a 9-8 lead. Catcher Matt Ostrega added to the lead, knocking in Hollins.\nIU gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but held on for the win.\nIn game two, the Hoosier batters carried their momentum from game one and the Hoosiers cruised to a 17-7 victory behind a 4-for-6 effort from Ostrega at the plate. Ostrega smacked two doubles and a home run. Freshman pitcher Mike Yonke led IU to victory from the mound. \n“The offense was firing on all cylinders from the get go,” Ostrega said. “I think we surprised Clemson. They came in 2-1, already havin g played three games. They were surprised how good we came out. I’m not going to lie, I was surprised how hot our bats were.” \nThe Hoosiers upcoming weekend series against Ball State has been canceled due to weather. They are scheduled to play next Wednesday, March 7, against Rose Hulman in Terre Haute.
(02/23/07 5:00am)
The IU club baseball team opens its season this weekend in Clemson, S.C., with a three-game series against the Clemson club team. \nThe Hoosiers are coming off a successful fall season in which the team went 8-3, including victories against Ohio State and Illinois, two teams ranked by the National Club Baseball Association. \nFirst-year grad student Matt Ostrega founded the team last school year, and as a player-coach led the team to a successful opening season. They finished second in the Great Lakes Region-South Division last spring, with a final division record of 11-5.\nThis season the team has a new coach, former IU varsity baseball coach Bob Morgan, who Ostrega said is bringing a new level of excitement and experience to the team.\n“(Morgan) has come in and brought his experience,” Ostrega said. “He is one of the best coaches in D-1 history. He’s excited about the season and excited to help the team out.”\nOstrega attributed much of the team’s improvement since last season to Morgan.\n“He gets the most out of us every practice,” he said. “Everyone is going hard, everyone is learning something new every practice. Overall, we are becoming better individual players and a better team.”\nThe Hoosiers appear ready to achieve more success this season, hoping to win the division and make the postseason. That goal will be a challenge with both Illinois and Ball State in the Hoosiers’ division.\n“Illinois is ranked number eight in the nation,” Ostrega said. “Ball State is another tough team. They finished right behind us last year.”\nThe Hoosiers will play 38 games this spring, and possibly more depending on whether they can make the postseason. But the main goal for this team is still just to have fun.\n“If we are winning then we are having fun,” Ostrega said. “Our team goals are to have fun, finish with a winning record and win the division and make the postseason. We want to get to the postseason and play for a chance to make the World Series in Florida.”
(02/21/07 5:00am)
City Councilman David Sabbagh announced Monday he wants to bring change to Bloomington by taking on a new role.\nServing his third term as a Republican representing District 5 in the City Common Council, Sabbagh’s declared his new ambition to become the city’s next mayor.\n“There is a lack of leadership today in the mayor’s office,” Sabbagh said during an interview Tuesday. “Procrastination seems to be the mode of operation in the (current) administration. It’s hurting the business environment of the city.”\nSabbagh said he plans to tackle such issues as improving the business environment, creating new jobs and supporting the children of the community. He said his “bold and innovative” approach might be exemplified by his dreams of a mayor’s youth hiking group. \n“I’d like to get kids to do some hiking,” Sabbagh said. “I’d love to start a mayor’s youth hiking group so children can see the beauty of nature.”\nPlans of building more sidewalks throughout the town are one of the several steps he would like to take to protect the children of the community.\n“We need sidewalks,” Sabbagh said. “We want to build sidewalks so (children) can walk safely in this town, so that parents won’t have to worry. We should really have sidewalks within a mile of all of our schools.”\nImproving the economy of the city likely will be another key issue to Sabbagh, whose initiatives include new transportation systems.\n“Once we can get I-69 going, we want to work on a passenger rail system from Bloomington to Indianapolis,” Sabbagh said, adding it’s an idea that could make commuting to the state capital easier. “We want to complete needed infrastructure. We want to create an environment so we can have businesses and jobs created.” \nHis ideas might seem extreme – and expensive to some. But Sabbagh claims the lack of leadership shown by the current mayor, not money, is the issue.\n“We have sufficient funds and we would continue to raise funds the standard way,” Sabbagh said. “The current surplus of $3 (million) to $3.5 million is more than is needed. We need sidewalks.”\n“There’s been procrastination on the B-Line (Trail) and I don’t understand why that hasn’t started yet,” he said. “There was a lot of momentum before the current administration took over. We haven’t moved forward in the last three-plus years.”\nEach mayoral term is four years long, and Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan, a Democrat, is up for re-election in the 2007 city elections.\nKruzan said he agrees with Sabbagh about which issues need to be addressed during this election race. The election would come down to “which candidate and which political party can best protect our quality of life and promote economic vitality,” Kruzan said in an e-mail.\nKruzan said he is “very proud of the success City Council Democrats and (he) have had on both those fronts.”\nBoth candidates have expressed their desire to keep the race positive and avoid turning to negative tactics that so often tarnish elections.\n“City campaigns are about the issues,” Sabbagh said. “I will talk about the issues. That’s the way I have always run my campaigns and always will run my campaign.”\nKruzan said he believes that, in many cases, low voter turnout is a result of negative ads and personal attacks during election races.\n“David’s a good guy, and I’m hoping the race will stay positive,” Kruzan said in the e-mail. “We’ll be talking about what we’ve already done, but more importantly, what we plan to do in the next four years, if we’re fortunate enough to be re-elected.”\nFriday is the deadline to register as a candidate for the primary elections, which are scheduled for May 8.
(02/15/07 3:57am)
The Bloomington Playwrights Project is putting on the fourth installment of its series "SEX/DEATH."\nAs an added bonus, this year's version includes a little bit on the subject of birth as well.\nThe show is made up of six 10-minute pieces that deal with some of the comedic aspects of the SEX/DEATH subject matter such as awkward sexual situations, co-director Lauren Pope said. Some serious topics, including rape, will be explored as well, she added.\n"It's going to be really fun," Pope said. "There is some very serious stuff, and some very, very raunchy stuff and everything in between. It's going to be a fun time."\nPope said the cast has been working feverishly in preparation for the show, having only less than three weeks to prepare.\n"It's been a lot of work, but not a lot of time," she said. "We were really lucky to find the best of the best. This has been a very good cast to work with."\nThe production's stage manager bailed out at the last minute, leaving Pope and fellow co-director Anneliese Toft with the responsibilities.\n"It's up to me and Annie to do everything ourselves, the lighting and such," Pope said. "But we've got it down."\nDespite the abbreviated amount of rehearsal time and patchwork crew, Pope still expects the show to be a success. And she is excited to see all the hard work pay off.\n"I wrote one of the pieces that's going to be in the show, and seeing that come to life has been great," she said.\nThe theater is a strong passion for all involved in this performance, and Pope expects their passion to add to the quality of the performance. The show will be performed at 11 p.m. Feb. 14-17 and 22-24 at the Bloomington Playwrights Project theater, 107 W. Ninth St. \nTickets will be available at the door for a reduced price of $5, down from $8.\n"Now it will be more bang for your buck," Pope said.
(02/13/07 6:49am)
A new passport law for U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean could cause problems for students leaving the country for spring break.\nThe new law, which started Jan. 23, requires all people traveling by air to any of the previously listed destinations to present a valid passport or Alien Registration Card. The law will change again Jan. 1, 2008, to include all people traveling by sea.\nIU's spring break begins Saturday, March 10.\nWith the law change occurring so close to spring break, there was the question of whether students traveling to popular locations such as Cancun or Cozumel, Mexico, would know about the law and be prepared.\nMany students at IU seem to already be prepared for the change.\n"I heard about the law (change) so I got my passport renewed," said Kalen Royse, a sophomore planning on spending her spring break in Cozumel. "Now I'm just waiting for it to come in the mail."\nWhile some students were not aware of the change, travel agencies like STA Travel are making sure their customers are aware of the change before they purchase tickets.\n"(The new law) affects a lot of spring-breakers, so it's one of the first things they get told about," said Nicole Janostak, branch manager of STA Travel, 430 E. Kirkwood Ave. "We also have signs on our desks that have pictures of passports so they have a reminder right in their face."\nJanostak said the agents explain the general regulations on how to get a passport to their customers, and now, since it is so close to spring break, how to expedite the process to get the passport in time for break.\n"For fees (and the fees vary), you can get a passport as quickly as within 48 hours," Janostak said. "There is even a passport office up in Chicago where, if someone gets all their forms together and is willing to spend the night in Chicago, they can get their passport within a day"