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(01/17/08 5:00am)
"3:10 to Yuma" is described in its advertising as the greatest Western since "Unforgiven." Whoever said this should be shot. Comparing this movie to "Unforgiven" is an insult to Clint Eastwood and the western genre altogether.\nThe story revolves around rancher Ben Evans (Christian Bale) who has had to make sacrifices to raise his family. An opportunity to make some money arises by transporting outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to a prison train. Wade's posse has other plans. Along the way Evans and Wade face moral dilemmas, learning what it means to do the right thing.\nBale and Crowe show us why they're badass, but the acting as a whole was too over the top. Each character was a caricature. Charlie Prince (Ben Foster) hams up the drama too much to be an outlaw. Think Jim Carrey as the Riddler, without the humor, but with guns. Byron McElroy (Peter Fonda) makes sure you know he is a lawman, but the director wants you to know he's not all good. They even have the Western equivalent of the anonymous extra who the filmmakers set up as the first to die.\nThe DVD's unfortunate irony becomes clear in the documentaries. One talks about how the West really was, about how outlaws weren't all bad and lawmen weren't all good. This seemed hypocritical considering the main characters were still "mythological" characters of the West. Then, the other documentary detailed how Westerns lately have been cliche, even though the characters of "3:10" were nothing but cliches. The dynamic between Evans and his son felt more "Dawson's Creek" than "Lonesome Dove." Oh yeah, and the documentaries are shorter than the credits, which makes them essentially worthless.\nThe commentary is nothing more than the director talking about what he did and bragging about how he did unique things that weren't done in previous Westerns. Mangold is proud of doing things differently despite his obvious rip-offs from other Westerns. \nIf you're a Bale or Crowe fan, it's worth picking up, but otherwise this is one train that derailed too late.
(01/17/08 5:00am)
If you were to die tomorrow, how would you want to spend the last day of your life?\nWhen Ed Cole (Jack Nicholson) finds himself dying of cancer in the same hospital he owns, the cynical money tycoon has only one option: He must befriend his roommate who is in the same boat, a man named Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), who has spent life working hard to better it for others. Carter and Ed irritate each other at first, but their commonality of imminent early deaths soon forces them to grow a deep bond of hope. When Ed spies Carter making a "bucket list" -- all the things Carter has ever wanted to do before "kicking the bucket" -- he convinces them to go through with it together.\nThe duo travels around the world, checking off activities on the list. From skydiving and visiting Egypt to kissing the most beautiful girl in the world, Freeman and Nicholson portray with honesty the unique bond between them. In the face of death, we still get a taste of Nicholson's deep longing for more than just money and Freeman's need to repair the rift between his wife and him.\nFreeman and Nicholson deliver believable and honest characters, full of raw emotion once they let their guard down. By the end of "The Bucket List," you don't feel as though you've seen two people become friends in a movie; you feel like you know them as friends of your own.\nA mix of drama and fun, "The Bucket List" is uplifting but encourages viewers to think and question life. Best of all, veteran actors Freeman and Nicholson deliver the same caliber of acting we've come to expect in their Oscar-winning careers. Smart and funny, it's a sob story with hope from a unique friendship that inspires viewers both young and old to craft bucket lists of their own. The film doesn't attempt to dodge predictability and may not do anything drastically new, but it's a feel-good film viewers won't regret.\nThe film's writers do play the inspiration card in typical fashion, but also make one grand point most viewers will take heart in: You can travel all over the world, but sometimes the best things in life are waiting right at home.
(01/17/08 5:00am)
When he acquired Village Deli nine years ago, owner Bob Costello had only one goal in mind: to bring the more-than-30-year-old restaurant back to its original objective.\n"Village Deli is a really busy place," Costello said. "On a typical day, we serve 800 to 1,000 people in six hours. It feels more like a New York deli than restaurant."\nAnd like a New York deli, Village Deli's atmosphere is infused with energetic vibes and an enthusiastic wait staff to help you decide from the extensive menu.\n"We want customers to have good, quick and friendly service," Costello said. "We want them to feel welcome and entertained, and we have enough college students that it's a pretty entertaining atmosphere."\nThe high energy of Village Deli is what makes it the unique business that it is, he said. Serving such a diverse base of customers, Costello said his business feels no competition from other popular delis and breakfast diners.\nHowever, you shouldn't confuse Village Deli with the typical burger-and-fries joint. Boasting a menu including dolphin-safe tuna salad sandwiches, "basic" BLTs and the Jammin' Jamaican on a kaiser roll, the restaurant provides seemingly endless possibilities of taste.\nAlthough it excels at its lunch and dinner dishes, Village Deli is best-known for its breakfast items, especially its pancakes, Costello said.\n"They're nine inches 'round," he said. "They're huge and really good."\nMade from scratch, the pancakes can come with either fresh fruit, homemade granola, chocolate chips, walnuts or peanut-butter chips depending on the taste of the discriminating diner.\nBut Costello said his favorite dish at the restaurant is The Spinach Scramble.\n"It's the perfect complement to eggs," he said. "It's got Swiss cheese, fresh-cut onions, spinach and bacon. The combination is just amazing."\nI've always found it difficult to find a restaurant where vegetarians can eat, but in Bloomington, there are countless options. I began my search for veg-friendly dining at Village Deli, and was more than impressed with the selection of meat-free meals.\nI chose the I Dream of Falafel, or Tahini on My Mind, platter with homemade tahini and the famous Village Deli Hot Potato Chips. Stuffed into a toasted pita, the aromatic falafel was appreciably spicy but not crunchy enough for my taste. Lettuce, tomato and diced cucumbers were stuffed into the pita, making it a little messy but delicious nonetheless.\nMy friend chose the highly recommended Spinach Scramble, complementing the "chewy bacon and cheesiness" of the omelette. Using the accompanying toast, she created a sandwich that "took it to another level."\nIn addition to falafels, Costello said vegetarians can enjoy vegetarian chili and Dave's Veggie Burger Deluxe, topped with lettuce, onion, mayonnaise, guacamole and hot-pepper cheese. The Deli Melt and Vegetable Village Delight are also available for the herbivore.\n"We make everything ourselves; everything is homemade." Costello said. "It's labor-intensive, but you can taste the difference with our dishes"
(12/06/07 5:45am)
Every year during the holiday season, wreaths and Christmas-colored lights appear all around campus, most notably the candle-shaped light adorning the Indiana Memorial Union. \nBut while most decorations are associated with Christian symbolism, student religious group leaders said they were not personally offended by the University’s efforts. However, this year, the IMU has gone “out of its way” to begin including other religions in the winter holiday season, said Rabbi Sue Shifron, director of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center.\nRather than solely giving out candy canes, traditionally associated with Christmas, the Union is distributing Hanukkah gelt, which are chocolate coins, and other food appropriate for Kwanzaa, Shifron said.\n“This is a difficult time of year for Jewish and non-Christian students, and it’s important for people to remember that not everyone celebrates the holiday,” she said. “People just need to be a little bit more aware and inclusive in their language and what they’re saying.”\nBruce Jacobs, IMU interim executive director, said the Union’s distribution of various religious candies is part of a campaign to teach tolerance and acceptance on campus.\n“This program is designed to help teach all the people who come to the Union every day about each other and the world around us and thus help unify the campus,” he said. \nHillel Center Student President Dena Kranzberg said although most decorations are targeted for Christmas, she does not find them to be religiously offensive.\n“I associate Christmas with being American before I would associate it with a religion,” she said. “It’s become so commercialized that I don’t feel like anyone will be judging me because I’m Jewish.”\nHowever, the commercialism does not make the holiday less beautiful, Kranzberg said.\n“I love the lights on the (Courthouse) Square, fraternities and sororities,” she said, “and I don’t feel like adding Jewish stars would be very fair to the other religions.”\nMuslim Student Union President Myeda Hussain, who said she is not personally offended by the decorations, agreed with Kranzberg. However, she said the University should recognize that there are other faiths on campus that celebrate holidays, too.\n“Since the decorations are linked to Christmas, IU needs to make more of an effort to celebrate other faiths,” she said.
(11/30/07 7:06pm)
“Sex is cleaner with a packaged wiener.” \nThat slogan, featured at Thursday’s “Latexhibition” on campus, was a blunt message, encouraging safe-sex practices and raising awareness for Bloomington Hospital’s Positive Link. The organization helps treat patients with AIDS. \nThe Latexhibition is in its second year and is held to observe World AIDS Day, which is Saturday.\nSponsored by the IU Center for Sexual Health Behavior, the display of erotic latex illustrations lured hundreds to the Indiana Memorial Union’s Dogwood Room. \nThe carnal crafts were all made by the school of Health, Physical Education and Recreation’s F255 Human Sexuality students, said instructor Dayna Fischtein.\nThe three top entries of the contest, with categories of best overall entry, best education entry and best use of latex, were auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting Bloomington Hospital’s Positive Link.\nThree of Fischtein’s students, freshmen Emmalee Luckman, Amber Gyselinck and Ashley Messina, created the winning entry, a purse and pair of heels made entirely from condom wrappers.\n“At the beginning of the year, students were barely touching condoms and uneasy about handling them,” Fischtein said. “By the end of this project, they were handling them without hesitation, which is the whole point of the assignment, to become comfortable with safe-sex practices.”\nIU Center for Sexual Health Behavior Research Coordinator Chris Fisher said the estimated number of condoms and latex products used in the exhibition was between 1,500 to 2,000. \nKinky creations this year included a scene of a hotel room with a Barbie and Ken doll, decorated with dozens of colorful condoms and provocative phrases, including “Don’t be a loner, cover your boner!”
(11/30/07 4:30am)
In an attempt to break the world record of most dreidels spun at the same time, student president of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center Dena Kranzberg will lead students, faculty and community members in a spiraling challenge. \nHillel will sponsor the dreidel spin off at 2 p.m. Sunday in an attempt to “retake” a record IU set three years ago, Kranzberg said. \nThree years ago, the record was having slightly less than 500 dreidels spinning at once, she said. Now participants face a world record challenge of spinning 871 dreidels.\n“It’s said that IU has a campus population of about 10 percent Jews,” Kranzberg said. “That’s about 3,500 people, which would be more than enough people to break the record.”\nThe rules of the dreidel spin-off are simple: Each person in attendance gets one dreidel to spin.\nTraditionally, dreidel spinning rules vary from area to area, but all have similar elements in common – a four-sided top is spun, landing on one of four Hebrew letters. \nThe letters are an acronym for the Hebrew phrase “A great miracle happened there,” Kranzberg said, in reference to the miracle of Hanukkah.\nWhile the game itself is an ancient Hebrew gambling game, the Guinness World Book of Records has no room for cheating, Kranzberg said. \n“Guinness doesn’t allow us to spin a dreidel in each hand,” she said.\nA representative from the 53-year-old publication will also be present to observe the 10-second spin-off.\nThe Universities of Michigan and Maryland plan to break the most dreidels spun at the same time record on Wednesday, Kranzberg added. \n“If we do break the record on Sunday, it might get taken back Wednesday,” she said.\nWhile the event attempts to break and hold a world record in the most dreidels spun at the same time, the event also involves charity. \n“This year is the 60th anniversary for Toys for Tots,” she said. “We’ll be collecting toys for (the organization).” \nKranzberg said that she has also invited the Muslim Student Union and Black Student Union, in addition to the Leo Dowling International Center to come and participate in the event. \n“The goal for this event is to get people together to have fun,” Kranzberg said. \n Since students must be registered in order to count for the potential record-breaking, Kranzberg encourages anyone interested to register online at www.iuhillel.org/dreidelspin/ Students can also register by calling Hillel at 856-3854 or registering before the event begins on Sunday.
(11/29/07 5:54am)
Suggestive sculptures personify a slippery subject today at IU’s second annual Latexhibition in observation of World AIDS Day, which will be held Dec. 1. \nAn internationally recognized clinician will join the condom-laden art exhibit on campus, which recognizes the day that raises awareness of the AIDS epidemic and how to prevent the spread of the disease. \nDr. Brian Dodge, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, said World AIDS Day began in 1988. Events throughout the world, including those on campus today, are held this week to commemorate the day. \n“With the mission of our center being education, research and \ntraining, this is a great opportunity to share the work we do with community,” Dodge said.\nTo promote sexual health and education, the IU Center for Sexual Health Promotion is hosting the Latexhibition art contest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the Dogwood Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. Artists from the community create displays for the art exhibit that includes latex barrier devices to promote preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Dodge said the event attracts people from across the country, as well as the community, to be creative with latex to commemorate the event. \nCenter Research Coordinator Christopher Fisher, who organized Latexhibition, said the purpose of a condom-laced art show is to “promote sexual health through art.”\n“We invite students, faculty, staff and community members in Bloomington to design some kind of artistic piece out of latex, condoms, dental dams, anything made out of latex,” he said. \nWhile the Latexhibition’s Web site has photos of the winners’ entries from last year, Fisher said some entries were especially memorable. \n“One entry was a window box piece that had an all-American hotdog stand, with fries, soda and a hot dog wrapped in a condom,” he said. “The message of the piece was ‘Don’t forget to wrap your wiener!’”\nAlso featured that year was a Christmas tree made entirely out of condoms, a Magic Eye picture spelling the word “Safe” and a snowman made out of multiple latex products.\nA panel of judges will review the artwork and award monetary prizes to the best displays.\nIn addition to Latexhibition, the Center for Sexual Health Promotion is sponsoring a speech from Dr. David Malebranche, a sexual health researcher and clinician from the Emory University School of Medicine. \n“We usually just have one speaker a year, and this year we were really fortunate to have Dr. David Malebranche,” Dodge said.\nDodge said Malebranche is a professor in general medicine and only one of the few researchers sponsored by the National Institute of Health to conduct research on black bisexual men. He will deliver his speech, “Black Bisexual Men and HIV: Time to Think Deeper,” at 7 p.m. today in the Dogwood Room of the IMU. \n“He also has a clinical practice in which he routinely works with HIV-positive people in Atlanta on a diverse spectrum,” Dodge said. “He embodies everything I think of about the day: researching, treating people (and) educating about HIV/AIDS.”
(11/29/07 4:35am)
For senior Leela Summers, Christmas is about more than just receiving presents.\nThe project leaders of Fair Trade Bloomington, a nonprofit organization that sells international goods made by independent craftsmen, began the initiative three years ago when IU alumni Nichole Common and Meghan Cutsumbis wanted to bring the principles of fair trade to IU’s campus, project leader Summers said. \nFair trade gifts will be sold from 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. today in the Indiana Memorial Union. Paying workers fair wages for their services, creating safe and healthy working conditions and complying with child labor laws are all fair trade principles.\n“The overall goal of this project is to build awareness about Fair Trade Bloomington and our initiative to open a fair trade store in Bloomington in the near future,” Summers said. \nShe said the project is supported by the organization Students In Free Enterprise from the Department of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design.\nStudents from the organization and Fair Trade Bloomington will sell the items, she said. \nItems available for sale include “beautiful hand-made jewelry, hand woven baskets, ornaments and other holiday items, instruments, unique ceramics, as well as other great gift items,” Summers said.\nSome items are made by the Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative, which began in order to create jobs for women who are skilled weavers.\nThey also create crocheted and knitted items and bags from recycled newspaper, Summers said.\n“The Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative helps women work together in groups, obtain government help in skills training, buy raw materials, provide an access to low-interest loans to capitalize the industry and obtain titles to their land,” she said. \nThe fair trade sale will be carrying their recycled newspaper hot mats, place mats, coasters and frames at the sales, she said.\nFor more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com.
(11/27/07 8:34pm)
Treating and preventing AIDS is only part of the partnership that flourishes between the IU School of Medicine and Kenya’s Moi University Teaching and \nReferral Hospital. \nIn addition to administering antiretroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS patients and teaching the importance of sex’s ABCs – abstinence, be faithful in marriage and condoms – the partnership encourages gender equality and empowering women, said Dr. Robert Einterz, associate dean for international affairs at the School of Medicine and co-founder of the IU-Moi partnership. \nThe program, Academic Model for Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS, received a $60 million grant from the federal government on Nov. 19 to continue its AIDS efforts in Kenya, Einterz said.\nThe grant comes from the United States Agency for International Development, a federal organization that encourages U.S. involvement in developing countries, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which provides funding and support for AIDS prevention and treatment efforts in Kenya, according to an IU press release. \n“Depending on the area of the country, about 7 percent, or 140,000 people, in Kenya are HIV/AIDS-positive,” Einterz said.\nOut of that number, nearly 60,000 have been treated as a result of the AMPATH program, he said.\nKenyan organizers mostly run AMPATH, Einterz said, although there are several IU students and researchers who participate in the program.\n“We have 26 HIV clinics across western Kenya that deliver antiretroviral therapy treatments to HIV/AIDS patients,” he said. “The grant money will continue to fund that program in addition to our newest program.” \nOver the next five \nyears, AMPATH will further \ndevelop its latest campaign; \nhome-based counseling and testing to identify persons who have not been tested for AIDS, \nhe said.\nSince 1990, IU has collaborated with Moi University with the goal of stopping the AIDS epidemic in Kenya. \n“The first step (to preventing AIDS) is to care for the persons infected by HIV,” he said. “This opens the door to prevention and treatment.”\nFor the AMPATH program, post-identification treatment includes more than the \nantiretroviral treatment, Einterz said. \nEducation and identification of HIV/AIDS-infected persons is a huge part of treatment, especially with the introduction of the home-based counseling and testing program, he said.\n“It’s so important for people to know their HIV/AIDS status and their partner’s status,” Einterz said. “With the home-based testing, we go door-to-door and test people in their homes for the disease.”
(11/26/07 3:07am)
While most students braved traffic jams and delays at airports in order to get home for Thanksgiving, many international students at IU did not have the luxury of flying to their home countries for the break. \nUnable to stay in their dorms for the break, international students had the option to live in McNutt or Eigenmann residence halls during academic recess, according the Office of International Services’ Web site.\nSandy Britton, director of the Dowling International Center, said most international students are paired with local Bloomington families to celebrate the holiday through an organization called Bloomington Worldwide Friendship. \n“The International Center has a weekly electronic newsletter that sends an announcement to international students right before Thanksgiving with contact information for different community groups and families,” Britton said. \nThe students then coordinate with the families and groups for Thanksgiving dinner plans. \n“We aren’t the ones to assign the students to families, though,” she said. “They kind of pick who they share their dinner with.” \nSometimes students do not want to remain in Bloomington for the holiday, Britton said. \n“Thanksgiving is not something they grew up with,” she said. “Many go away, to big cities, because it’s not a big thing for them.” \nIn the past, Britton said the Dowling International Center collaborated with the International Friendship Association for a large Thanksgiving banquet, but it was difficult to make plans for a nice dinner and to have it catered. \n“Logistically, it’s easier to have all the students go to the families in town,” she said. “Most want a family meal to see how families celebrate Thanksgiving.”\nThe togetherness of the holiday is what the international students like, Britton said. \n“They want to be part of the warmth, and to connect with churches and local families,” she said.
(11/19/07 1:47am)
A computer teacher, opera singer and folklore doctorate student: seemingly not the first group of people who come to mind when you think of belly dancers. \nBut the three women of Different Drummer Belly Dancers are just that: a potpourri of unlikely ladies who are out to break stereotypes. The group will give a demonstration at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the John Waldron Arts Center to kick off the holiday season.\nMargaret Lion, the founder and director of Different Drummer Belly Dancers, is an instructor in the IU Department of Kinesiology and teaches computer courses at Ivy Tech Community College. Member Teri Herron is a doctoral student in voice, and Jeana Jorgensen is a doctoral student in folklore. \nCombining the traditions of Egyptian, Turkish, American Tribal Style, hip-hop and modern, the aim of this “fusion troupe” is to defy labels. Herron said that belly dancers are typically thought of as especially young and slender, and their group wants to challenge that idea. Herron said belly dance gives her opportunities for fun performances, and makes her feel good about herself and her body. Lion called it the “original pilates.” \nThe troupe, with the motto of “We All Dance To A Different Drummer,” gave a demonstration on Nov.. 10 at the Morgan County Public Library in Martinsville. Drawing a curious crowd of 25 people, Herron taught some basic moves of belly dance, including the shimmy and Turkish twist. \n“Don’t go so far, you’ll fall over!” she said to them as they turned their bodies in unfamiliar ways. \nAt the demonstration, an 87-year-old woman, several girls in their late teens and small children were trying out moves. \n“The stereotypes, we are here to break them,” Herron said, who took her first class in 2000. “Anyone who has a desire to dance can.”\nLion agreed, adding that it “doesn’t matter what your size, shape, body type or color is.” \nHerron, who used to teach dance class at a YMCA, told the students that one hour in dance was like one hour in the cardio room.\n“The only difference is time goes by much faster working out when you’re having a blast doing it,” she said. \nIn order to get a better workout, the troupe members said that they squeeze into heavy, elaborate costumes. Herron said that in full dress, each woman can weigh 30 to 50 pounds more than her usual weight. In addition to shimmy belts, or scarves with heavy coins stitched onto them, the members of Different Drummer Belly Dancers wear skirts, pantaloons and cut-off tops. The shimmy belts function as a percussion instrument, Herron said. \n“They help us keep time,” she said. She added that they help train the dancers to isolate hip muscles.\nMake up for the troupe includes a trio of dots placed beneath the eyes as a “tribe marker,” Jorgensen said. \nDifferent Drummer Belly Dancers performs at various places, such as renaissance fairs and Gen Con, a large gamer convention held in Indianapolis during the summer. \n“Gen Con also draws in sci-fi crowd (in addition to gamers),” Herron said. “We danced to music from ‘Shadowhearts’ game, the ‘300’ video game and the theme song from Xena Warrior Princess.”\nHerron said that when people recognize something that is familiar to them, like a theme song from their favorite games or television shows, they enjoy the performances even more. \nAside from Friday’s performance, Different Drummer Belly Dancers will bring belly dancers Carolena Nericcio and Megha Gavin to Bloomington for the “Tribal: Pura Gala Event” on Feb.. 29, in collaboration with the Bloomington Area Arts Council. The event will include a gala dance performance and two days of belly dancing workshops.
(11/16/07 4:04am)
For some cultures, the Festival of Lights has not yet faded.\nThe Indian Student Association will host its annual Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, celebration Friday evening. Beginning at 7 p.m. at Bloomington South High School, the event will feature a variety of Indian culture, music and dance.\nAlthough the Asian Culture Center celebrated Diwali last week, the Indian Student Association’s celebration is quite different, said Indian Student Association Public Relations Chair Anand Dave.\nFriday’s show will be more about music and culture, he said.\n“From the more classical Bharatanatyam to a modern fusion touch, the whole spectrum is covered along with the instrumental stylings of the tabla (Indian percussion instrument),” he said. “IU’s competitive Bhangra and Raas-Garba teams will take the stage, closing out a night sure to please those both familiar with and new to the celebration.” \nA dinner will be served following the performances, Dave said.\nHindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists all celebrate Diwali in India, he said. Also known as Deepavali, the festival extends throughout India and Nepal and is characterized by rows of lights.\nWhile there are numerous versions of the Diwali story, Dave said the most common story is that the holiday celebrates the homecoming of the god Rama, who was exiled by his father for 14 years. The tale says that he and his wife Sita were welcomed back into their home city of Ayodhya by rows of lamps, he said.\nRaised Hindu, Dave said that for him Diwali has always consisted of going to mandirs (temples) and participating in their respective celebrations with his family. \n“When I was younger I felt as though I merely followed my parents and went through the motions, (but) Diwali today means much more,” he said.\nDiwali is often recognized as the Hindu new year, so for Dave, the meaning of Diwali has become a time of reflection.\n “With or without religious connotations, Diwali remains a time of celebration, something anyone can appreciate regardless of their religious convictions, or lack thereof,” he said.
(11/16/07 2:21am)
Last summer, 11 IU undergraduates, graduate students and professors traveled thousands of miles to Osaka, Japan, with one thing on their minds: communication. \nThe group of Americans aimed to capture “communication” in photographic form, and they only had four weeks to do it.\nAt 8 p.m. Friday, the Art Hospital, 1021 S. Walnut St., will host their work in an exhibit titled “IU Overseas: Japan Photography Exhibit.” The exhibit will feature individual and collaborative work by the students during their month-long excursion in the Land of the Rising Sun. Photography graduate student Kevin Mooney explained the program, and said last summer’s was the first photography program in Japan for IU students.\n“James Nakagawa, in the photo department, wanted to have a program similar to Jeff Wolin’s program in Paris,” Mooney said.\nDue to the success of the Osaka trip, the School of Fine Arts now offers both programs in the summer during alternating years, Mooney said.\nJapan Institute of Photography and Film, the host school in Japan, allowed the IU visitors to use its facilities and equipment, he said. \nThe students were then put into groups with students from the Japanese school who didn’t speak English.\n“Only one of the students in our group could speak Japanese,” Mooney said. \nThe theme of “communication” was definitely put to the test with a language barrier in place, he said.\n“The collaborative project had to be done in four weeks, and they had to come up with an idea and produce the work.” \nAt the end of four weeks, the students from both schools presented a show of their best photographs, Mooney said.\nHis own personal piece with Nakagawa was a mandala, or circular design, of photographs taken in Hiroshima. \n“We made portraits of (Nakagawa), myself, and the nine students around the A-Bomb Museum,” he said.\nThe A-bomb Dome is an iconic structure that was one of the only buildings left in the aftermath of the atom bomb dropped at the end of World War II, Mooney said.\n“The picture of the A-bomb Dome is in the center, and the 11 of us are in circling prints around the dome,” he said.\n“IU Overseas: Japan Photography Exhibit” will soon be replaced by the December exhibition of work from the SoFA study-abroad programs. In that exhibit, all of the fine arts programs that took place in other countries will display their work together. \nThe photography department wanted its own exhibit to show off the individual works of the students in Osaka and the project overall was not just about “communication” but more about the experience of being in Japan, Mooney said.
(11/15/07 5:00am)
Move over, Tenacious D. A new musical-comedy duo is in town. Self-proclaimed as "formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo," Flight of the Conchords consists of Bret and Jemaine, who started working as a standup duo nine years ago. \nTheir new series finds them living in New York City, trying to make it big and build an American fan base. The show also stars Rhys Darby as their incompetent manager Murray, Kristen Schaal as their only fan Mel, Arj Barker as their stoner friend and a fair share of other guest stars. The show mixes their classic songs into a plotline, similar to the Tenacious D shorts but much more developed. What results is one of the freshest and smartest comedies produced in years.\nSeason one is filled with several great moments, musical and unmusical. On the "Bowie" episode, Bret is guided in his dreams by David Bowie, played by Jemaine, who even leads him to flash a music executive. "Bret Gives up the Dream" has Bret quitting the band for a career in sign-holding. "Drive By" finds Bret and Jemaine being discriminated against by a kiwi-hating fruit stand owner played by Human Giant's Aziz Ansari. Bret and Jemaine mix deadpan delivery, quirkiness and silliness to make a smart and original blend of comedy.\nMusically, Flight of the Conchords tackles more genres than The Beatles' White Album. Its songs are often imitations of artists, producing extremely accurate musical and visual impressions. For example, "Inner City Pressure" finds Bret and Jemaine doing their best Pet Shop Boys impression, with conversational vocals, still-shot video and a whole lot of synthesizer. "Think About It" is a classic impression of political Marvin Gaye, imitating his smooth streetwise soul while Jemaine sings hilariously stupid lines like "They're turning kids into slaves just to make cheaper sneakers / But what's the real cost, cause the sneakers don't seem that much cheaper / Why are we still paying so much for sneakers when you got little kid slaves making them?" No song feels like any of the others, and all have plenty of comical lines.\nThe season consists of twelve episodes on two discs. Unfortunately, there are no extra features that add to the value of the package, because the only extras it contains are episode previews. But with a price tag of only $20, the first, and hopefully not last, season of "Flight" is definitely worth it.
(11/15/07 5:00am)
We have all been through the frustration of not getting into classes or of being on the wait-list for a month. The registration period may be winding down, and you may be disappointed with your classes for next semester, but for most of us, there is still next fall. I've scoured the depths of IU's bulletins to find some fun and informative music-related classes in various departments that might help you when you log on to OneStart to register for next semester. Sorry, seniors.
(11/15/07 5:00am)
Lawsuits are hot:\n \nApparently having billions at birth isn't enough for Paris Hilton. The tabloid tart sued Hallmark in September for using her picture and the catchphrase "That's hot" in a greeting card. The company recently filed a motion to dismiss, saying Paris has been such an attention whore that she has "subjected herself ... to the parodist's pen." If Paris is hard-up for money, she should just go make another night-vision porn: "One More Night in Paris."
(11/12/07 3:56am)
“Diwali Mubarak!”\nGuests to the Mathers Museum of World Cultures were instantly welcomed Friday night by Education Curator Deeksha Nagar. A huge banner that read “Diwali Mubarak!” hung overhead, inviting visitors to experience one of the largest holidays in the Hindu religion, Diwali, the festival of lights.\nLarge mosaics called “rangoli” covered the lobby and hallway floors as guests ventured throughout the museum. \nMade with dried green and yellow split peas, red lentils and rice, rangoli are welcoming signs for friends, family and guests during Diwali. The circular designs were also created with chalk and paper squares, but they all had the same \npurpose.\nVisitors also had the option to learn a traditional Indian dance called “garba,” which originated in the Indian state of Gujarat.\nBraving the cold weather, nearly 50 guests formed a circle in the parking lot of the museum as IU student Anand Shah demonstrated the simple dance.\n“Typically, there would be an altar in the middle and the dancers would form a circle around it,” Shah said.\nMost of the attendees did just that, and began dancing circularly and clapping rhythmically. Several of the dancers were children, who seemed to enjoy the dance and interaction the most.\nFollowing the dance demonstration was storytelling by Nagar, who told the story of Diwali as part of the ancient epic tale, \n“The Ramayana.”\nDiwali celebrates the victory of good over evil, she said. It is the homecoming of the god Rama after a 14-year exile. According to the story, villagers put out lamps, called “diyas,” to welcome the deity back from \nthe forest.\nIU graduate student Hemali Jambusaria further explained how the holiday is celebrated in her hometown of Bombay.\nFriday, she said, marked the second-to-last day of Diwali, a five-day holiday. Called “Lakshmi Puja,” the day is celebrated at home with lots of sweets, “mithai,” and family members. Relatives and friends exchange gifts before going to the temple.\n“It’s a very festive occasion,” Jambusaria said. “There are lots of firecrackers and we light up our houses.”\nAfter the storytelling, celebrators walked to the Asian Culture Center, where Indian food awaited. Nagar then explained the “puja,” or prayer.\nWhile Nagar chanted the traditional prayer of Lakshmi Puja, Asian Culture Center Program and Administrative Assistant Babita Upadhyay lit incense and placed the sticks into a lemon. \nNagar mixed a red rice powder together with water and placed on herself a “tika,” a red dot on the forehead between the eyes. \nShe then placed a tika on the forehead of a statute of Lakshmi, then offered to put one onto Diwali celebrants.\nSunday marked the final day of Diwali, “Bhaiduj,” a day when brothers and sisters celebrate each other.\nThe Indian Student Association will host its Diwali celebration at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Bloomington High \nSchool South.\nFor more information, e-mail isa@indiana.edu.
(11/12/07 2:53am)
The word “potpourri” usually implies a diverse mixture of various objects, which have an underlying theme in common. “Potpourri” is typically thought of as a collaboration of flower petals, pine cones and other scented aspects of nature, but Saturday night saw a “potpourri” that transcended the sense of smell.\nThe Buskirk-Chumley Theater opened its doors to the African American Arts Institute’s 14th annual “Potpourri of Arts in the African American Tradition.” The event commemorates the first seasonal performance by all three ensembles in the Institute, offering an immense variety of musical and dance performances.\nThe program was dedicated to Isaiah Sanders, IU alumnus and recipient of the African American Arts Institute’s Herman C. Hudson Alumni Award for Artistic Excellence. Sanders, a former member of the IU Soul Revue, has a repertoire of performances with such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and The Emotions. He also provided the theme for the Institute’s performance season: “Proud and Keeping It Real!”\nAfter introductions by the emcee, junior Ariel Simpson, the program began with the African American Chorale Ensemble, which delivered a variety of old-time and contemporary gospel. Within this ensemble were three other troupes: Sojourner, Soul-ACE and God’s Progress. Soul-ACE was the only all-male chorus, bringing the audience smooth R&B tones. The other two choirs were female-only; Sojourner performed a more soulful exhibition while God’s Progress executed a contemporary piece with salsa-like rhythms.\nChoral Director Keith McCutchen said this year is only the Choral Ensemble’s second in existence, which makes him feel like he needs to prove himself.\nHe said the Choral Ensemble has had to prove that they are funky and soulful enough. He has also had to show his beliefs through the direction of the choirs.\nAll of the ensembles came together for the two final songs of their set, “Clap Praise” and “When I Get There.” \nFollowing the spiritual performance by the Choral Ensemble was the African American Dance Company, which began with a solo performance by Dance Company Associate Instructor Meghan McGuire. Delivering a contemporary dance display to Christina Aguilera’s “A Song for You,” McGuire’s bluesy performance matched the blue background her silhouette moved against.\nThe blue background transitioned into a sunrise orange as the other members of the company sulked onto the stage. This section of the performance, titled “Collective Images,” traveled through the defining eras of African American history in the United States, including the time periods of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. The dancers then flowed into the final segment of their performance, “Hope for the Future.” The entire company leapt, spun and whirled to Incognito’s “I Can See the Future,” concluding their season’s inaugural performance.\nFinally, after an intermission, the IU Soul Revue came to the stage, dressed straight out of the disco era. The band broke into funky, soulful beats as the group’s performance began.\nThe Soul Revue had the most interactive performance, causing audience members to get out of their seats and dance in the aisles and rows. People of all ages were clapping and singing along, enjoying themselves and the performance.\nThough the explosive, lively act by the Soul Revue was the evident crowd favorite, all acts of “Potpourri of Arts” delivered memorable exhibitions of talent and skill. The next performance by one of the ensembles will be the IU Soul Revue’s show on Nov. 28 at Bear’s Place.
(11/10/07 8:28pm)
The spicy aromas of curry and ginger filled Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall on Thursday night, welcoming in nearly 800 students, faculty and community members to the first IU World’s Fare.\nAttendees were ushered into the hall, wielding tickets and cups provided to them by the sponsors. The Union Board Diversity Performance Committee, in collaboration with the Office of International Services and Office of the Vice President for International Affairs, also passed out cookbooks featuring the available cuisine at the fair, in addition to other dishes that were not prepared. \nIMU Dining Services prepared the recipes under the direction of General Manager Steve Mangan.\nThe event featured nearly two dozen cultures, offering their authentic cuisine to attendees.\nThe IU African Student Association provided a unique display of culture, constructing a hut with a brown, papered roof and flags from African nations. \n“The symbolism of the hut is to promote a united Africa,” IUASA President Emaelaf Alemu said. “The future of Africa will have no war, but people will be able to keep their culture. We’re here to focus on the positive, not the negativity.” \nIUASA members served “jollof rice” from West Africa, which contained beef, chicken, vegetables and a variety of spices. \nThe Kazakh Student Association allowed students to sample “manti,” an authentic dish made from ground beef, lamb stock, onions and spice. The cultural display included a scale model of a traditional nomadic hut, intricate costumes and chocolates.\nOther dishes from World’s Fare included Cuban-style flan and “arroz con pollo” (rice with chicken) from the \nInternational Latin American Student Association, “pho” (beef noodle soup) from the Vietnamese Student Association, “zerbeyan rice” by the Saudi Students Club, potato pakora (fried potato dumplings) from the Pakistani Students Association and curry puffs from the Singapore Student Group. \nDuring the food tasting, a performance by the African Ensemble began, providing background music to the cultural atmosphere. \nSophomore Renee Szostak came to World’s Fare after noticing the incredibly long line stretching from Alumni Hall to the formal lounge in the IMU. \n“This is so cool,” she said while tasting rice pudding from the Indian Student Association’s booth. “This event is a great was to open students’ eyes to cultures of the world, that they might never have the opportunity to experience.”
(11/09/07 3:00am)
The Asian Culture Center is offering the fifth installment of its weekly talk series, “Who are Asian-Pacific Americans?” with a lunch discussion focusing around “International Students and Asian Americans.” \nThe discussion will begin at 12 p.m. Friday at the Asian Culture Center. The event, sponsored by the Asian American Association, will address important issues and generalizations surrounding the Asian student community at IU.\n“Since a very high number of racially Asian students at IU are international students, we have a tendency to assume that anyone who looks Asian is from Asia,” said Lori DesRochers, Asian Culture Center graduate assistant and student outreach coordinator. “In reality, of course we have Asian students who are born and raised in Indiana, only speak English and don’t know anything about Asia.” \nThe discussion will be entirely student-led, DesRochers said, by senior Kenny Tang and freshman Kim Sarabia.\nThe students will foster discussion about international and domestic Asian students, DesRochers said.\n“It’s an important topic, given the fact that even within the Asian-American community there is confusion about who can or should call themselves ‘Asian American,’” she said. “The question is, what are the differences between those students?”\nThe Asian Culture Center invites all students and faculty to participate, regardless of their ethnicity or race. Since it is part of the culture center’s noon-time talk series, lunch will be provided \nto participants.