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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Marque Cass knows how to make people listen. Cass, a 17-year-old Bloomington High School North student, has spent the past year working on the radio program at Rhino's Youth Center and All Ages Club. He spends many hours after school and on weekends in the studio working on his increasingly popular hip-hop show with his friend Michael Russo. Cass is just one of more than 100 kids that make the most of their time after school and on the weekends by participating in Rhino's many programs.\nThis week, Rhino's is celebrating its 10 year evolution from a once-a-week performance space to a full-time education and entertainment center. Starting last night, the club will host events to mark its 10th anniversary. Atmosphere, Johnny Socko, MU330 and Blue Screen are all making musical contributions to the fest. There will also be an open house and silent auction Saturday to benefit the club, where anyone in the community is welcome to place bids on prizes such as recording studio time or a new guitar.\nJohnny Socko drummer Dylan Wissing is looking forward to performing at Rhino's for the anniversary celebration. The band has been performing at Rhino's since its creation 10 years ago.\n"We love playing there," he says. "Rhino's crowds… are really open, they are there to listen to the music."\nRhino's set up contributes to its relaxed atmosphere. Kids clutching skateboards are greeted by their friends. Couches are scattered around the room. Three arcade games and one claw machine crowded in the corner invite the challenge of a new player. The Rhino's logo consumes the wall behind the stage. Music from the production room fills the club. The door to the office is almost always open.\nWissing, a Bloomington native, says he thinks Rhino's is an important part of the community and wishes he could have had a place like Rhino's when he was growing up.\n"There wasn't a lot to do but cruise the strip," he says. Bloomington's entertainment scene was somewhat limited for teenagers when Wissing lived here.\n"It was not something easy to see that we needed," says Brad Wilhelm, director of the club. He says that just as general community outreach programs such as homeless shelters and job placement offices are essential, so is "alternative programming for disenfranchised youth."\nThe idea for this alternative program was born out of Bloomington's local alternative school system, Harmony School. An afterschool program called Rock and Roll High School was developed to expose kids to all aspects of the music industry. Professionals in all areas of concert production came in to help the students learn how to put on a successful rock concert. Every few weeks, students would put on shows for the rest of the community. Eventually they began to run out of room and needed another place to continue the rock and roll education.\n"We needed more time than Harmony was able to accommodate," says Steve "Roc" Bonchek, director of Harmony School. "We decided we needed some other funding to move downtown."\nHe says the Bloomington Prosecutor's office happened to have some extra money and the city saw the Rock School as a good thing to spend it on.\nIn 1992, the Rock School moved downtown into a rented space that was most recently occupied by the Cellar Lounge and was renamed Rhino's by the kids in charge. The selection of the large endangered species is a constant reminder of the club's ties to Harmony, as the rhino is the school mascot.\nWhen Wilhelm started at Rhino's nine-and-a-half years ago, he had much less responsibility.\n"There was no youth outreach, no substance abuse (programming), no issue counseling," he says. "Just music, once a week."\nMajor changes began in the spring of '94, when Rhino's became a member agency of the United Way. It moved to its current location in April of that year and Wilhelm worked with the kids to come up with additional programming. Despite the club's inconspicuous location in a strip mall on Walnut, kids still find their way there.\n"There is always a young person coming up with a new idea," Wilhelm says. "That is fun… to dream something and to make it happen."\nToday, in addition to learning club management, students have the opportunity to help produce a television program, produce a radio show or work on the Youth Mural Project. They also have access to counseling services and are always welcome to "just 'hang out'" from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.\nThe television show called RHINOPLASTY airs once a week on Community Access Television. New shows opens once a month. Students are trained in all aspects of the show's production, including writing, editing, producing and design. They edit the video they take on their digital video camera with an Apple G4 computer. \n"We try to think up stupid skits we think are funny," says 17-year-old Matt Romy. Romy says they created one skit called "Phillippe, Master Criminal" in which the central character, Phillippe, would go around committing minor misdemeanors like double parking.\nThe weekly radio shows are produced by a group of 60 students and air every Saturday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. on WFHB. Employees of the Bloomington Parks and Recreation help the students with the show. There are 10 individual shows within the four and a half hour time span, all with a unique feel. \nCass and his friend Michael Russo have a very successful hip-hop show that airs at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Cass said they had more than 30 calls to the show last week.\n"We'll do a contest or something and we'll get maybe six or seven phone calls in a minute which is really good for a local station," Russo says.\nThe Youth Mural Project allows students to work with a local artist to create projects that beautify the city. According to the Rhino's Web site, the project has served as a deterrent to graffiti. Their most recent display is at People's Park on Kirkwood.\nThe music is still a major part of the club, but now bands sometimes appear three or four nights a week. Local, regional and national acts all grace the Rhino's stage.\nMU330 trombonist Robert Bell says he likes that Rhino's shows people that "there is more to music than commercial radio."\nBeing one of two all ages music venues in town, Rhino's is one of the only places underage students can legally go to see musical acts on the weekends.\n"A lot of bars set up youth clubs and always failed," Bonchek says. "This is really a celebration of the community coming together to make it happen… to meet a need that wasn't being met."\nRhino's works in conjunction with the John Waldron Arts Center, Community Access Television, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, the United Way and many others.\nWilhelm expects to continue this partnership for the next 10 years as well.\n"We hope we will be at a bigger building and expand our offerings," he says. \nThe fundraising effort will also have to grow in order to provide resources for their expanding menu of youth opportunities.\n"We want to stay downtown because the kids like to be downtown," Bonchek says. "But it is hard to find an affordable space."\nHe says by keeping Rhino's in a central location, it prevents the club from becoming exclusive to kids from one side of town or another. He added that the Rhino's advisory board will be meeting after the celebration to discuss where they want to take the program and how they plan to get there.\n"For the people who do enjoy it and come here, it is a place to go and hang out with your friends and be creative with whatever you are doing," Romy says. "We're treated equally. A lot of times adults look down on teenage kids. We're not treated like that here"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
A.I. - PG-13\nStarring: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law\nDirected by: Steven Spielberg\nIf there is one lesson we can take away from Steven Speilberg's "A.I.," it's that collaboration is not always a good idea. I am sure that if Stanley Kubrick had a say in how "A.I." was produced, the end product would have made more sense. Unfortunately, he didn't and the message of the film got somewhat lost beneath underdeveloped characters and fancy sets.\nThe story begins after the ice caps melt and "orgas" (organic beings, humans) have started building "mechas"(mechanical people) to help with their everyday lives. People have to obtain licenses to have children, as resources are limited. Therefore, one scientist, Professor Hobby (William Hurt), develops a robot with the purpose of loving a parent. Hobby's creation, David (Haley Joel Osment) is the central character of the film and we follow him as he experiences the joy and anguish that accompanies such a strong love.\nThe acting in this movie was superb, although it was not used to its full potential. Osment did the best he could with what he had. I mean, I had a hard time understanding how he was supposed to act and I am 20. He could have benefited from clearer direction or a better understanding of what he was supposed to do. Jude Law's convincing performance was wasted as his character, Gigolo Joe, was not developed enough either. And the "nanny robot," the one other emotional robot in the movie, was wiped out way too quickly. \nAfter watching all of the bonus footage (which is probably longer than the actual movie) I developed a greater appreciation for every single detail and every drop of hard work that went into the film. Not only is there a segment on the feature disc about the making of "A.I.," there is an entire bonus disc that tells you everything from how the lighting was done to how they dreamed up the sets. \nThere are cast interviews and information about Kubrick's first thoughts about the movie so many years ago. Unfortunately they don't show any live footage of Kubrick from before he died; I was hoping there might have been a snippet from a past interview just so I could get a better idea of what he was like.\nFor me, the best parts of the behind-the-scenes footage were the explanations of the makeup application and the creation of all the robots. It almost takes the magic out of the walking, talking, teddy bear character when you discover that he had different heads for different expressions.\nMy recommendation is that you rent this flick, just to see how cool everything looks on screen. Just don't expect a Kubrick feel -- this one is drenched in the Spielberg sugar coat.\n
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Storytelling -- R\nStarring: Selma Blair, Robert Wisdom, Paul Giamatti, Mark Webber\nDirected by: Todd Solondz\nNow Playing: Showplace East 11\nYou know you've seen a good movie when you don't want to leave the theater after it's done. You just keep sitting in your chair, hoping that the credits rolling up the screen are a test to get the riff-raff out of the theater in order to show the real ending to those who really understood the movie. Well, this was one of those movies.\nTodd Solondz's "Storytelling" is another perfect example of his ("Welcome to the Dollhouse" and "Happiness") talent for his medium. The film is divided into two parts, "Fiction" and "Nonfiction." "Fiction" takes place in 1985 on a college campus. Vi (Selma Blair) and her boyfriend Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick) who has cerebral palsy, are both students in a creative writing class taught by the disgruntled Professor Scott (Robert Wisdom). A Pulitzer prize winner among average intelligence and a black man on what seems to be a mostly white campus, Professor Scott messes with his students' minds both in the classroom and in the bedroom (his female students, that is). \n"Nonfiction" tells the story of Toby (Paul Giamatti), a documentary filmmaker who chooses Scooby (Mark Webber), to be the main subject of his documentary on the changing face of high school in America. Scooby, a senior in high school, faces the familial pressure to stay on the right path by taking the SATs and going to college. Family dynamics and conflicts are fully fleshed out, inside and outside of Toby's documentary.\nI cannot say enough good things about this film. The plots for each part were perfect and despite their short length, the characters were fully developed. There was a perfect balance of comedy and drama. The characters were open entry points for practically anyone with an open mind. You could clearly see where the director came up with the titles for each segment. \nThe acting was so good in this movie, there was not one character that did not seem believable. These actors had a short time to convince the audience of their authenticity, which they all did quite successfully. Blair, Fitzpatrick and Wisdom gave fantastic performances and had great chemistry. The family in "Nonfiction" worked so well it was almost scary. They reminded me of at least five of the Jewish families our family was friends with through our temple. They had that suburban Jewish family dynamic down to the last detail. They even had the "white t-shirt" picture on the wall in the family room. Almost every Jewish home in Cleveland (including mine) has that family portrait of the entire family in white T-shirts and jeans against the white background. Every single actor in this segment was at the top of his or her game.\nI want to congratulate Solondz on making another brilliant piece of cinema and I encourage everyone to go see this film. It is a wonderful change of pace from the flat films that have been crowding the screen lately.\n
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Dunn Meadow is usually pretty quiet. Birds chirping, leaves rustling softly in the wind, the gentle rush of water from the Jordan River. But if you plan on going to Dunn Meadow to enjoy the silence this Saturday, you might be in for a bit of a shock.\nGuitars and steady drum beats from the annual WIUS Culture Shock will surely overpower the chirping and rustling so common on this grassy knoll. Vendors and student groups more numerous than the trees will line the perimeter of the area. For seven and a half hours this Saturday, Dunn Meadow will be home to one of Bloomington's biggest music festivals.\nFor the past 11 years, WIUS has been putting on Culture Shock in an effort to bring together some of the hottest independent bands out of the clubs and into a more open venue. \n"The early '90s was the big college music explosion," WIUS music director David Rosenstein says. "I think the idea was that college music was the alternative to mainstream music and was supposed to be shocking in comparison… so it was supposed to be a culture shock to see all these strange bands."\nThis year, Culture Shock will include performances from 12 bands, both local and regional. And don't expect homogeneity in the sounds emanating from the meadow. The bands are as diverse as the crowd WIUS hopes to draw.\n"I won't hesitate to say that Culture Shock is the best," WIUS Program Director Nick Blandford says. "There are other music events that happen, but I think I can say that ours is the largest, most diverse, and we will have the best lineup."\nThe musical entertainment will include everything from the psychedelic rock of the Impossible Shapes to the hardcore sound of Racebannon. There will be two stages set up on either end of the meadow, so that when one band stops playing, the next band can start.\n"It's a great show to play," Impossible Shapes band member Aaron Deer says. This is the second year that the band has been asked to play the festival. "It's nice to be outside instead of in a smoky bar or a tight basement."\nThe Impossible Shapes just released its second full-length album. The band has been together for almost four years and recently got back from a small tour during spring break. \nImpossible Shapes lead singer and guitarist Chris Barth says the band will play a lot of the songs off his solo album that was also recently released by their label. Barth says he is particularly looking forward to performances by Sex Tiger, Swearing at Motorists and the Decanters.\nRosenstein is also excited to see Sex Tiger. He says he doesn't often get an opportunity to see the band perform and really enjoys its pure rock sound.\n"They are one of the more interesting up-and-coming bands in Bloomington," he says. "They just play rock and roll, which you really don't get a lot of in this town. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just nice to see pure balls-to-the-walls rock and roll."\nLittle Joe Gould bassist Matt Armstrong says one of his favorite things about Culture Shock is the opportunity to see other bands before and after his own performance. Little Joe Gould was also a part of last year's Culture Shock lineup. He says he can't understand why anyone would resist coming out to the festival.\n"If you go to it, you haven't lost any money," he says. "Chances are you will find something you will like."\nLittle Joe Gould signed with Eyeball records last year and frequently piles into its minivan and station wagon to put on shows in the band's favorite venue in Iowa City.\nArmstrong says their most memorable show was the first one they played with all the current members right here in Bloomington last year at Collins. Right at the height of the show, the power went out.\n"When all the power went out, it seemed kind of cool," he says. "Everything just went black. We broke Collins."\nAlthough the outdoor location puts Little Joe Gould a bit out of its normal subterranean venue, the musicians hope to deliver an equally electrifying performance.\nBut music won't be the only source of entertainment on Saturday. Vendors and student groups will be set up to entertain wandering music fans. There will also be a large tent in the middle, manned by WIUS, with plenty of food and games. \nAnd to get the Bloomington community revved up for Culture Shock, there will be a pre-Shock concert at Rhino's at 9 p.m. Friday. Onesuitwonder and The Pieces will be performing at this free concert. \n"It's an indoor nighttime show, so it's more traditional, it's got a different feel to it," WIUS Special Events Coordinator David Carlson says. "It's a good little warm up… you have to give them a little taste so they can hardly even sleep on Friday night waiting for Saturday morning."\nCarlson has been at the helm of planning Culture Shock and says the event will go on despite the weather conditions. Should it rain, the bands will move to Rhino's to continue the concert. \nWhatever the weather, Rosenstein encourages everyone to come out for several reasons.\n"It really is close. If you want to see a show… you can't get any closer than that to campus," he says. "It's a Saturday, you shouldn't be in your room. You should get outside and have some fun on a wonderful sunny day as Saturday, April 13 will be."\nOn top of that, he says the sheer monetary value of seeing all these bands for free should be enough to encourage anyone to leave the confines of their home. Normally, seeing two or three of these bands could cost at least $5 at the door.\n"It's just good music," Carlson says. "You won't find anything better to do in the Midwest on that day"
(06/27/02 7:39pm)
It is a shame that this movie dropped off the radar of many moviegoers this year. "The Shipping News" received several Oscar nominations, despite its lower profile on movie screens across the country. But after watching the DVD, I can understand why people didn't get too excited over the concept of this film.
(06/27/02 4:00am)
It is a shame that this movie dropped off the radar of many moviegoers this year. "The Shipping News" received several Oscar nominations, despite its lower profile on movie screens across the country. But after watching the DVD, I can understand why people didn't get too excited over the concept of this film.
(04/10/02 3:37pm)
The story of its beginning is typical of most college bands. Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel met on a freshmen orientation outdoor adventure trip and connected because of their mutual longing for the high school bands they had to leave behind. Rosenworcel still remembers Miller's super-long bangs he sported back then and Gardner's highly matured look.\n"We decided we ought to jam in our dorm rooms," Rosenworcel says. \nSo for the first two years of college, the musicians, now named Guster, combined their skills on acoustic guitars and bongos until they had created their decidedly different sound.\n"By the time we were juniors we started making our first album," Rosenworcel says. He says they did most of their recording and practice from midnight until 6 a.m. "We took a lot of incompletes that semester."\nThey began spreading their music around by selling tapes out of their guitar cases and building up their mailing list. Unfortunately, they were issued a violation for their cassette sales three years after they started selling, according to their Web site. They also began to play other colleges on the East Coast, cramming into Rosenworcel's navy Chevy Nova for hours on end.\n"I had to drive with bongos in my lap," he says.\nToday Guster jams in amphitheaters and auditoriums instead of dorm rooms, the musicians can spread out in huge tour buses, Miller has cut his hair and Gardner is, well, still maturing. They have performed with the likes of Bob Dylan and the Dave Matthews Band and played at H.O.R.D.E and Woodstock '99. \nThey have fans all over the United States and abroad and are said to give a great live show.\n"They are one of the best bands I have ever seen," junior Patrick Riordan says. "They're only three guys, and they are able to put together good harmonies and creative guitar licks."\nRosenworcel says they don't really have a set ritual when they get revved up for a show, although they do like to request unusual items for their dressing rooms. He says they requested a live goldfish in a bowl for many shows, although they had to stop doing that after several of the fish started meeting unfortunate endings. They also like to request some sort of cultish film in the room.\n"One time we got a Phyllis Diller movie about a killer poodle," he says. "It gives student activities a chance to be creative."\nTheir recent move from an indie rock label to a major music corporation afforded them a lot of press. \n"We want an audience," says Miller in an interview from the Los Angeles Times in regards to the move. "There are some very worthwhile acts out there selling quite well, like Rage Against the Machine and Lauryn Hill. That's nothing to be ashamed of."\nLost and Gone Forever was the band's first album released by a major record label and was produced by Steve Lillywhite, who produced music by U2, Dave Matthews, Peter Gabriel and many others. The band recently finished recording its fourth album which will be released soon.\nRosenworcel says they tried out totally different things for this new release. Instead of sticking to their traditional bongo and acoustic guitar sound, Rosenworcel added a drum kit to his setup, Gardner plays piano and Miller is trying his hand at the bass.\n"Right now I am paying the price for it," Rosenworcel says.\nHe says they are all working hard now to try and figure out how to work their new instruments in a live setting. After four months of being confined in a studio, it's a trick to get back into the groove of performing their old songs, he says.\n"It still sounds like us," he says. "We are not holding to the rules that seem to dominate our last record… every record is a reaction against the last one."\nHe says they are going to take a break from the album by doing a college tour. Tuesday night's Little 500 concert will be the fifth time they have been in Bloomington and the first time they have performed at the auditorium.\n"They are generally a huge college act," Adam Blake, Union Board concert director, says. "They (will) provide campus with a great rock concert we haven't had in a while."\nBecause they will be renting a truck for their equipment for this tour, Rosenworcel says they plan on bringing their bikes so they can take a ride around campus. Biking is one of the band members' favorite offstage activities. \nThey also really enjoy receiving baked goods from their fans. Rosenworcel says he wants to thank their fans for all of the loaves of banana bread they have received over the years. Guster has kept up with its fans through tour and studio diaries on the band's Web site and even had a public charity yard sale when the members moved out of their old house. \n"People don't have to do ridiculous things (to meet us)," he says. "We are kind of accessible."\nJust don't forget to bring a fresh loaf of banana bread with you.
(04/10/02 4:00am)
The story of its beginning is typical of most college bands. Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel met on a freshmen orientation outdoor adventure trip and connected because of their mutual longing for the high school bands they had to leave behind. Rosenworcel still remembers Miller's super-long bangs he sported back then and Gardner's highly matured look.\n"We decided we ought to jam in our dorm rooms," Rosenworcel says. \nSo for the first two years of college, the musicians, now named Guster, combined their skills on acoustic guitars and bongos until they had created their decidedly different sound.\n"By the time we were juniors we started making our first album," Rosenworcel says. He says they did most of their recording and practice from midnight until 6 a.m. "We took a lot of incompletes that semester."\nThey began spreading their music around by selling tapes out of their guitar cases and building up their mailing list. Unfortunately, they were issued a violation for their cassette sales three years after they started selling, according to their Web site. They also began to play other colleges on the East Coast, cramming into Rosenworcel's navy Chevy Nova for hours on end.\n"I had to drive with bongos in my lap," he says.\nToday Guster jams in amphitheaters and auditoriums instead of dorm rooms, the musicians can spread out in huge tour buses, Miller has cut his hair and Gardner is, well, still maturing. They have performed with the likes of Bob Dylan and the Dave Matthews Band and played at H.O.R.D.E and Woodstock '99. \nThey have fans all over the United States and abroad and are said to give a great live show.\n"They are one of the best bands I have ever seen," junior Patrick Riordan says. "They're only three guys, and they are able to put together good harmonies and creative guitar licks."\nRosenworcel says they don't really have a set ritual when they get revved up for a show, although they do like to request unusual items for their dressing rooms. He says they requested a live goldfish in a bowl for many shows, although they had to stop doing that after several of the fish started meeting unfortunate endings. They also like to request some sort of cultish film in the room.\n"One time we got a Phyllis Diller movie about a killer poodle," he says. "It gives student activities a chance to be creative."\nTheir recent move from an indie rock label to a major music corporation afforded them a lot of press. \n"We want an audience," says Miller in an interview from the Los Angeles Times in regards to the move. "There are some very worthwhile acts out there selling quite well, like Rage Against the Machine and Lauryn Hill. That's nothing to be ashamed of."\nLost and Gone Forever was the band's first album released by a major record label and was produced by Steve Lillywhite, who produced music by U2, Dave Matthews, Peter Gabriel and many others. The band recently finished recording its fourth album which will be released soon.\nRosenworcel says they tried out totally different things for this new release. Instead of sticking to their traditional bongo and acoustic guitar sound, Rosenworcel added a drum kit to his setup, Gardner plays piano and Miller is trying his hand at the bass.\n"Right now I am paying the price for it," Rosenworcel says.\nHe says they are all working hard now to try and figure out how to work their new instruments in a live setting. After four months of being confined in a studio, it's a trick to get back into the groove of performing their old songs, he says.\n"It still sounds like us," he says. "We are not holding to the rules that seem to dominate our last record… every record is a reaction against the last one."\nHe says they are going to take a break from the album by doing a college tour. Tuesday night's Little 500 concert will be the fifth time they have been in Bloomington and the first time they have performed at the auditorium.\n"They are generally a huge college act," Adam Blake, Union Board concert director, says. "They (will) provide campus with a great rock concert we haven't had in a while."\nBecause they will be renting a truck for their equipment for this tour, Rosenworcel says they plan on bringing their bikes so they can take a ride around campus. Biking is one of the band members' favorite offstage activities. \nThey also really enjoy receiving baked goods from their fans. Rosenworcel says he wants to thank their fans for all of the loaves of banana bread they have received over the years. Guster has kept up with its fans through tour and studio diaries on the band's Web site and even had a public charity yard sale when the members moved out of their old house. \n"People don't have to do ridiculous things (to meet us)," he says. "We are kind of accessible."\nJust don't forget to bring a fresh loaf of banana bread with you.
(04/10/02 4:00am)
Dunn Meadow is usually pretty quiet. Birds chirping, leaves rustling softly in the wind, the gentle rush of water from the Jordan River. But if you plan on going to Dunn Meadow to enjoy the silence this Saturday, you might be in for a bit of a shock.\nGuitars and steady drum beats from the annual WIUS Culture Shock will surely overpower the chirping and rustling so common on this grassy knoll. Vendors and student groups more numerous than the trees will line the perimeter of the area. For seven and a half hours this Saturday, Dunn Meadow will be home to one of Bloomington's biggest music festivals.\nFor the past 11 years, WIUS has been putting on Culture Shock in an effort to bring together some of the hottest independent bands out of the clubs and into a more open venue. \n"The early '90s was the big college music explosion," WIUS music director David Rosenstein says. "I think the idea was that college music was the alternative to mainstream music and was supposed to be shocking in comparison… so it was supposed to be a culture shock to see all these strange bands."\nThis year, Culture Shock will include performances from 12 bands, both local and regional. And don't expect homogeneity in the sounds emanating from the meadow. The bands are as diverse as the crowd WIUS hopes to draw.\n"I won't hesitate to say that Culture Shock is the best," WIUS Program Director Nick Blandford says. "There are other music events that happen, but I think I can say that ours is the largest, most diverse, and we will have the best lineup."\nThe musical entertainment will include everything from the psychedelic rock of the Impossible Shapes to the hardcore sound of Racebannon. There will be two stages set up on either end of the meadow, so that when one band stops playing, the next band can start.\n"It's a great show to play," Impossible Shapes band member Aaron Deer says. This is the second year that the band has been asked to play the festival. "It's nice to be outside instead of in a smoky bar or a tight basement."\nThe Impossible Shapes just released its second full-length album. The band has been together for almost four years and recently got back from a small tour during spring break. \nImpossible Shapes lead singer and guitarist Chris Barth says the band will play a lot of the songs off his solo album that was also recently released by their label. Barth says he is particularly looking forward to performances by Sex Tiger, Swearing at Motorists and the Decanters.\nRosenstein is also excited to see Sex Tiger. He says he doesn't often get an opportunity to see the band perform and really enjoys its pure rock sound.\n"They are one of the more interesting up-and-coming bands in Bloomington," he says. "They just play rock and roll, which you really don't get a lot of in this town. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just nice to see pure balls-to-the-walls rock and roll."\nLittle Joe Gould bassist Matt Armstrong says one of his favorite things about Culture Shock is the opportunity to see other bands before and after his own performance. Little Joe Gould was also a part of last year's Culture Shock lineup. He says he can't understand why anyone would resist coming out to the festival.\n"If you go to it, you haven't lost any money," he says. "Chances are you will find something you will like."\nLittle Joe Gould signed with Eyeball records last year and frequently piles into its minivan and station wagon to put on shows in the band's favorite venue in Iowa City.\nArmstrong says their most memorable show was the first one they played with all the current members right here in Bloomington last year at Collins. Right at the height of the show, the power went out.\n"When all the power went out, it seemed kind of cool," he says. "Everything just went black. We broke Collins."\nAlthough the outdoor location puts Little Joe Gould a bit out of its normal subterranean venue, the musicians hope to deliver an equally electrifying performance.\nBut music won't be the only source of entertainment on Saturday. Vendors and student groups will be set up to entertain wandering music fans. There will also be a large tent in the middle, manned by WIUS, with plenty of food and games. \nAnd to get the Bloomington community revved up for Culture Shock, there will be a pre-Shock concert at Rhino's at 9 p.m. Friday. Onesuitwonder and The Pieces will be performing at this free concert. \n"It's an indoor nighttime show, so it's more traditional, it's got a different feel to it," WIUS Special Events Coordinator David Carlson says. "It's a good little warm up… you have to give them a little taste so they can hardly even sleep on Friday night waiting for Saturday morning."\nCarlson has been at the helm of planning Culture Shock and says the event will go on despite the weather conditions. Should it rain, the bands will move to Rhino's to continue the concert. \nWhatever the weather, Rosenstein encourages everyone to come out for several reasons.\n"It really is close. If you want to see a show… you can't get any closer than that to campus," he says. "It's a Saturday, you shouldn't be in your room. You should get outside and have some fun on a wonderful sunny day as Saturday, April 13 will be."\nOn top of that, he says the sheer monetary value of seeing all these bands for free should be enough to encourage anyone to leave the confines of their home. Normally, seeing two or three of these bands could cost at least $5 at the door.\n"It's just good music," Carlson says. "You won't find anything better to do in the Midwest on that day"
(03/27/02 5:00am)
Storytelling -- R\nStarring: Selma Blair, Robert Wisdom, Paul Giamatti, Mark Webber\nDirected by: Todd Solondz\nNow Playing: Showplace East 11\nYou know you've seen a good movie when you don't want to leave the theater after it's done. You just keep sitting in your chair, hoping that the credits rolling up the screen are a test to get the riff-raff out of the theater in order to show the real ending to those who really understood the movie. Well, this was one of those movies.\nTodd Solondz's "Storytelling" is another perfect example of his ("Welcome to the Dollhouse" and "Happiness") talent for his medium. The film is divided into two parts, "Fiction" and "Nonfiction." "Fiction" takes place in 1985 on a college campus. Vi (Selma Blair) and her boyfriend Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick) who has cerebral palsy, are both students in a creative writing class taught by the disgruntled Professor Scott (Robert Wisdom). A Pulitzer prize winner among average intelligence and a black man on what seems to be a mostly white campus, Professor Scott messes with his students' minds both in the classroom and in the bedroom (his female students, that is). \n"Nonfiction" tells the story of Toby (Paul Giamatti), a documentary filmmaker who chooses Scooby (Mark Webber), to be the main subject of his documentary on the changing face of high school in America. Scooby, a senior in high school, faces the familial pressure to stay on the right path by taking the SATs and going to college. Family dynamics and conflicts are fully fleshed out, inside and outside of Toby's documentary.\nI cannot say enough good things about this film. The plots for each part were perfect and despite their short length, the characters were fully developed. There was a perfect balance of comedy and drama. The characters were open entry points for practically anyone with an open mind. You could clearly see where the director came up with the titles for each segment. \nThe acting was so good in this movie, there was not one character that did not seem believable. These actors had a short time to convince the audience of their authenticity, which they all did quite successfully. Blair, Fitzpatrick and Wisdom gave fantastic performances and had great chemistry. The family in "Nonfiction" worked so well it was almost scary. They reminded me of at least five of the Jewish families our family was friends with through our temple. They had that suburban Jewish family dynamic down to the last detail. They even had the "white t-shirt" picture on the wall in the family room. Almost every Jewish home in Cleveland (including mine) has that family portrait of the entire family in white T-shirts and jeans against the white background. Every single actor in this segment was at the top of his or her game.\nI want to congratulate Solondz on making another brilliant piece of cinema and I encourage everyone to go see this film. It is a wonderful change of pace from the flat films that have been crowding the screen lately.\n
(03/21/02 5:00am)
Marque Cass knows how to make people listen. Cass, a 17-year-old Bloomington High School North student, has spent the past year working on the radio program at Rhino's Youth Center and All Ages Club. He spends many hours after school and on weekends in the studio working on his increasingly popular hip-hop show with his friend Michael Russo. Cass is just one of more than 100 kids that make the most of their time after school and on the weekends by participating in Rhino's many programs.\nThis week, Rhino's is celebrating its 10 year evolution from a once-a-week performance space to a full-time education and entertainment center. Starting last night, the club will host events to mark its 10th anniversary. Atmosphere, Johnny Socko, MU330 and Blue Screen are all making musical contributions to the fest. There will also be an open house and silent auction Saturday to benefit the club, where anyone in the community is welcome to place bids on prizes such as recording studio time or a new guitar.\nJohnny Socko drummer Dylan Wissing is looking forward to performing at Rhino's for the anniversary celebration. The band has been performing at Rhino's since its creation 10 years ago.\n"We love playing there," he says. "Rhino's crowds… are really open, they are there to listen to the music."\nRhino's set up contributes to its relaxed atmosphere. Kids clutching skateboards are greeted by their friends. Couches are scattered around the room. Three arcade games and one claw machine crowded in the corner invite the challenge of a new player. The Rhino's logo consumes the wall behind the stage. Music from the production room fills the club. The door to the office is almost always open.\nWissing, a Bloomington native, says he thinks Rhino's is an important part of the community and wishes he could have had a place like Rhino's when he was growing up.\n"There wasn't a lot to do but cruise the strip," he says. Bloomington's entertainment scene was somewhat limited for teenagers when Wissing lived here.\n"It was not something easy to see that we needed," says Brad Wilhelm, director of the club. He says that just as general community outreach programs such as homeless shelters and job placement offices are essential, so is "alternative programming for disenfranchised youth."\nThe idea for this alternative program was born out of Bloomington's local alternative school system, Harmony School. An afterschool program called Rock and Roll High School was developed to expose kids to all aspects of the music industry. Professionals in all areas of concert production came in to help the students learn how to put on a successful rock concert. Every few weeks, students would put on shows for the rest of the community. Eventually they began to run out of room and needed another place to continue the rock and roll education.\n"We needed more time than Harmony was able to accommodate," says Steve "Roc" Bonchek, director of Harmony School. "We decided we needed some other funding to move downtown."\nHe says the Bloomington Prosecutor's office happened to have some extra money and the city saw the Rock School as a good thing to spend it on.\nIn 1992, the Rock School moved downtown into a rented space that was most recently occupied by the Cellar Lounge and was renamed Rhino's by the kids in charge. The selection of the large endangered species is a constant reminder of the club's ties to Harmony, as the rhino is the school mascot.\nWhen Wilhelm started at Rhino's nine-and-a-half years ago, he had much less responsibility.\n"There was no youth outreach, no substance abuse (programming), no issue counseling," he says. "Just music, once a week."\nMajor changes began in the spring of '94, when Rhino's became a member agency of the United Way. It moved to its current location in April of that year and Wilhelm worked with the kids to come up with additional programming. Despite the club's inconspicuous location in a strip mall on Walnut, kids still find their way there.\n"There is always a young person coming up with a new idea," Wilhelm says. "That is fun… to dream something and to make it happen."\nToday, in addition to learning club management, students have the opportunity to help produce a television program, produce a radio show or work on the Youth Mural Project. They also have access to counseling services and are always welcome to "just 'hang out'" from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.\nThe television show called RHINOPLASTY airs once a week on Community Access Television. New shows opens once a month. Students are trained in all aspects of the show's production, including writing, editing, producing and design. They edit the video they take on their digital video camera with an Apple G4 computer. \n"We try to think up stupid skits we think are funny," says 17-year-old Matt Romy. Romy says they created one skit called "Phillippe, Master Criminal" in which the central character, Phillippe, would go around committing minor misdemeanors like double parking.\nThe weekly radio shows are produced by a group of 60 students and air every Saturday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. on WFHB. Employees of the Bloomington Parks and Recreation help the students with the show. There are 10 individual shows within the four and a half hour time span, all with a unique feel. \nCass and his friend Michael Russo have a very successful hip-hop show that airs at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Cass said they had more than 30 calls to the show last week.\n"We'll do a contest or something and we'll get maybe six or seven phone calls in a minute which is really good for a local station," Russo says.\nThe Youth Mural Project allows students to work with a local artist to create projects that beautify the city. According to the Rhino's Web site, the project has served as a deterrent to graffiti. Their most recent display is at People's Park on Kirkwood.\nThe music is still a major part of the club, but now bands sometimes appear three or four nights a week. Local, regional and national acts all grace the Rhino's stage.\nMU330 trombonist Robert Bell says he likes that Rhino's shows people that "there is more to music than commercial radio."\nBeing one of two all ages music venues in town, Rhino's is one of the only places underage students can legally go to see musical acts on the weekends.\n"A lot of bars set up youth clubs and always failed," Bonchek says. "This is really a celebration of the community coming together to make it happen… to meet a need that wasn't being met."\nRhino's works in conjunction with the John Waldron Arts Center, Community Access Television, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, the United Way and many others.\nWilhelm expects to continue this partnership for the next 10 years as well.\n"We hope we will be at a bigger building and expand our offerings," he says. \nThe fundraising effort will also have to grow in order to provide resources for their expanding menu of youth opportunities.\n"We want to stay downtown because the kids like to be downtown," Bonchek says. "But it is hard to find an affordable space."\nHe says by keeping Rhino's in a central location, it prevents the club from becoming exclusive to kids from one side of town or another. He added that the Rhino's advisory board will be meeting after the celebration to discuss where they want to take the program and how they plan to get there.\n"For the people who do enjoy it and come here, it is a place to go and hang out with your friends and be creative with whatever you are doing," Romy says. "We're treated equally. A lot of times adults look down on teenage kids. We're not treated like that here"
(03/21/02 5:00am)
A.I. - PG-13\nStarring: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law\nDirected by: Steven Spielberg\nIf there is one lesson we can take away from Steven Speilberg's "A.I.," it's that collaboration is not always a good idea. I am sure that if Stanley Kubrick had a say in how "A.I." was produced, the end product would have made more sense. Unfortunately, he didn't and the message of the film got somewhat lost beneath underdeveloped characters and fancy sets.\nThe story begins after the ice caps melt and "orgas" (organic beings, humans) have started building "mechas"(mechanical people) to help with their everyday lives. People have to obtain licenses to have children, as resources are limited. Therefore, one scientist, Professor Hobby (William Hurt), develops a robot with the purpose of loving a parent. Hobby's creation, David (Haley Joel Osment) is the central character of the film and we follow him as he experiences the joy and anguish that accompanies such a strong love.\nThe acting in this movie was superb, although it was not used to its full potential. Osment did the best he could with what he had. I mean, I had a hard time understanding how he was supposed to act and I am 20. He could have benefited from clearer direction or a better understanding of what he was supposed to do. Jude Law's convincing performance was wasted as his character, Gigolo Joe, was not developed enough either. And the "nanny robot," the one other emotional robot in the movie, was wiped out way too quickly. \nAfter watching all of the bonus footage (which is probably longer than the actual movie) I developed a greater appreciation for every single detail and every drop of hard work that went into the film. Not only is there a segment on the feature disc about the making of "A.I.," there is an entire bonus disc that tells you everything from how the lighting was done to how they dreamed up the sets. \nThere are cast interviews and information about Kubrick's first thoughts about the movie so many years ago. Unfortunately they don't show any live footage of Kubrick from before he died; I was hoping there might have been a snippet from a past interview just so I could get a better idea of what he was like.\nFor me, the best parts of the behind-the-scenes footage were the explanations of the makeup application and the creation of all the robots. It almost takes the magic out of the walking, talking, teddy bear character when you discover that he had different heads for different expressions.\nMy recommendation is that you rent this flick, just to see how cool everything looks on screen. Just don't expect a Kubrick feel -- this one is drenched in the Spielberg sugar coat.\n
(03/01/02 4:59am)
O - R\nStarring: Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles\nDirected by: Tim Blake Nelson\nI think it is probably every writer's hope that they will compose at least one piece that every generation will be able to relate to. William Shakespeare has written several and "Othello" is no exception. If you are looking to fill your night with a story of love, deception and death without the cheesy aftertaste, you might want to consider tossing "O" in your DVD player.\nAlthough I wished I could have seen this movie in the theaters, it was almost as good at home. Julia Stiles, Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Martin Sheen, Andrew Keegan and Elden Henson all delivered stellar performances. The necessary chemistry was there between the cast members, and in the context of today's high school life the story was actually believable. I think Shakespeare would have been very proud to see this if he were alive today.\nThe extra material included in the package was a welcome addition to the film. The second disk contained the first film version of "Othello," which was a silent film that came out in 1922. Although I did not have the patience to sit through the cuts back and forth from text to action, it was still interesting to watch. They might actually want to add a disclaimer to the box, telling people to watch this version before they see "O," so they can get a better idea of where the story is coming from. \nThe cast interviews were probably my least favorite part of the bonus disc. They all seemed forced and the questions seemed to be leading them on the path to anti-drug advocacy. The film contained drug use and not just a little mary jane. There were some serious steroids and cocaine that passed through the hands of the lead characters. Each cast member and director Tim Blake Nelson were asked about the drug use in the film. All of them of course responded in typical public relations manner. Now I am not saying I disagree with their viewpoints, but I found it interesting that the question about the use of drugs in the film was the only question common to all of the interviews.\nMy favorite part of the bonus disc was the explanation of the basketball shots. The director of photography explained his unorthodox methods for shooting these scenes which are usually shot stereotypically. It is always nice to know what is going on in the minds of the people who are in control of the cameras.\nSo if you want a real film, one with a lot of grit and absolutely no cheese, I would recommend taking a look at this one. And don't forget the second disc -- take your time with it and take a look at everything on it. This is one of those movies that goes beyond simple entertainment.\n
(02/28/02 5:00am)
O - R\nStarring: Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles\nDirected by: Tim Blake Nelson\nI think it is probably every writer's hope that they will compose at least one piece that every generation will be able to relate to. William Shakespeare has written several and "Othello" is no exception. If you are looking to fill your night with a story of love, deception and death without the cheesy aftertaste, you might want to consider tossing "O" in your DVD player.\nAlthough I wished I could have seen this movie in the theaters, it was almost as good at home. Julia Stiles, Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Martin Sheen, Andrew Keegan and Elden Henson all delivered stellar performances. The necessary chemistry was there between the cast members, and in the context of today's high school life the story was actually believable. I think Shakespeare would have been very proud to see this if he were alive today.\nThe extra material included in the package was a welcome addition to the film. The second disk contained the first film version of "Othello," which was a silent film that came out in 1922. Although I did not have the patience to sit through the cuts back and forth from text to action, it was still interesting to watch. They might actually want to add a disclaimer to the box, telling people to watch this version before they see "O," so they can get a better idea of where the story is coming from. \nThe cast interviews were probably my least favorite part of the bonus disc. They all seemed forced and the questions seemed to be leading them on the path to anti-drug advocacy. The film contained drug use and not just a little mary jane. There were some serious steroids and cocaine that passed through the hands of the lead characters. Each cast member and director Tim Blake Nelson were asked about the drug use in the film. All of them of course responded in typical public relations manner. Now I am not saying I disagree with their viewpoints, but I found it interesting that the question about the use of drugs in the film was the only question common to all of the interviews.\nMy favorite part of the bonus disc was the explanation of the basketball shots. The director of photography explained his unorthodox methods for shooting these scenes which are usually shot stereotypically. It is always nice to know what is going on in the minds of the people who are in control of the cameras.\nSo if you want a real film, one with a lot of grit and absolutely no cheese, I would recommend taking a look at this one. And don't forget the second disc -- take your time with it and take a look at everything on it. This is one of those movies that goes beyond simple entertainment.\n
(02/20/02 5:00am)
John Q - PG-13\nStarring: Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Kimberly Elise\nDirected by: Nick Cassavetes\nShowing: Showplace West 12\nOne of the few comforts you have when you leave the theater after an extremely emotional film is the fact that the actions that took place on screen don't happen in real life. But you cannot walk away from Nick Cassavete's film "John Q" with the same kind of reassurance.\nThis film tells the story of a working class family, struggling to make ends meet, that is suddenly burdened with the costs of keeping their son alive. John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) and his wife Denise (Kimberley Elise) are presented with two choices: either find the money to cover their son Michael's (Daniel E. Smith) heart transplant, or watch as his blood pressure falls to zero. Their insurance company won't cover the costs and the hospital refuses to take on the liability of fronting the $250,000 for a family with next to no money. \nAfter the hospital threatens to release Michael from their care for lack of funds, John Q. takes matters into his own hands by holding the chief cardiac surgeon and several other people hostage in the hospital's emergency room.\nAlmost every actor and actress in this film delivers amazing performances. Washington, Elise and Smith were all at their best. They made their emotions seem real and the situation believable. Washington played the character so well that a white girl from upper-middle-class suburbia could feel a little of his pain. \nThe pace of the film was perfect and despite the weight of the subject matter, small spurts of comic relief were appropriately injected, mostly thanks to Eddie Griffin, who plays one of the captives.\nThe only thing I could not figure out however, was the use of race in the film. Would the film have been as effective if the family was white? Why were all the people in power (the police chief, the negotiator, the doctors, the hospital administrators, the nurses, etc.) white?\nFurthermore, Washington's role plays into that stereotypical black man who resorts to violence in the end. It was the poor black man against a rich white world. The only stereotype his role defies is that of the delinquent black father that pops up in so many films.\nDespite these overtones, the message of the film was powerful and left few dry eyes in the theater. Health care in this country is in shambles and the fact remains that people are dying because of it.\nAlthough people are not holding up emergency rooms to get what they want, I am sure there are many people who would not hesitate to put their own lives on the line to save the life of a dying loved one. I highly recommend that everyone go see this movie with an open mind. You might just come out with a new sense of reality.\n
(02/06/02 5:00am)
So, it's that time of year again. That time when everything changes to pink and red. Little paper hearts and cutout cupids stick to store windows and the silver wrappers on Hershey's Kisses become a red shiny color. Flower shops are overrun with orders and candy stores stock up on those little pastel hearts, each engraved with their own hot pink message, urging the receiver to "be mine" or telling them that they are "hot stuff." A time of year to show your significant other that you love them.\nBut what about those people who don't have someone to purchase that unnaturally large teddy bear for? What do you do if you are single on the Valentine's Day, the holiday of love?\nA lot.\nIt is very easy to fall into a bout of depression when love is in the air and you are still flying solo, but not to worry. There is no reason why Valentine's Day can't be a happy day for all people, regardless of relationship status.\n"I don't think Valentine's Day has to be avoided by single people," sophomore Julie Gurovitsch says. "It is a day for love. You love your family and you love your friends. It doesn't necessarily have to be a girlfriend or a boyfriend."\nIn the past, Gurovitsch has spent the day celebrating rather than sulking. Last year she went out to dinner with her roommate, and after delivering valentines for her sorority's fundraiser, she will do the same this year.\nManager of the South Point Psychology group and licensed health counselor Julie Matthews says that spending time with friends is the best medicine for a bleeding heart.\n"We encourage people not to isolate themselves… and engage in things they like doing," she says. "(If they are alone) people tend to feel worse because they think more about it."\nDestructive behaviors including drug and alcohol abuse, crying, sleeping and channel surfing are indicators that you might need help, says Dr. Ron Zodkevitch on his Web site. Zodkevitch hosts a radio show about many of life's difficulites and offers similar information on his site. The page devoted to Valentine's Day explains the history behind the day, offers advice on what to give for valentines and tips for the single person.\nIf you find that you could use some help on Valentine's Day, Matthews says her clinic accepts walk-in patients or you can try the emergency section at the Center for Behavioral Health at 645 S. Rogers St.\nBut if you want to skip the doctor's office there are a few other options you can look into.\nIF YOU WANNA GO OUT WITH YOUR PALS…\nAlthough Matthews and Zodkevitch suggest staying away from drugs or excessive alcohol use during bouts of Valentine's depression, local bars will be catering to both couples and single people on Feb. 14.\nYou and your friends can escape the holiday at the Bluebird Nightclub and sip on 75-cent Long Island Iced Teas while listening to the musical stylings of Dave and Rae.\n"I think people will come out in groups even without dates," says Bluebird General Manager Dave Kubiak. "We encourage them to come."\nIf Kilroy's Sports Bar is more your style, you can find will have a wide range of drink specials on V-Day. When Miles from Home takes the stage, you and your crew can down shots of Absolut for $2.25, $4.50 pitchers of Jim Beam, and 32-oz. Miller Lights for $2.75.\n"Everybody else will be here," says Officer Manager Janet Parker. "Maybe they won't have to go home alone."\nLocal band Laborious Clef member Darren Lipper suggests doing something a little out of the ordinary on Valentine's Day, such as renting a "crazy" movie or going to see a band you wouldn't normally think about seeing. And even though Lipper's band doesn't have a gig lined up yet for Valentine's Day, he is hoping they might be able to perform that night.\n"(When you are) performing you can touch so many more people…and make them feel good," he says. "It's a good contribution to the whole holiday thing."\nFor those of you who cannot get into the 21-and-over bars, Rhino's All Age Music Club is having a Valentine's Day party of its own. Rhino's Valentine's Day show will feature Ultimate Fakebook and the Red Hot Valentines. Cover is $5 and the show starts at 8 p.m.\nBut if you don't want to go out to the bars, you and your friends might want to wander down to the Kinsey Institute's Sex and Humor exhibit at the School of Fine Arts gallery.\nMore than 200 items from the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction collection of art, artifacts, books and photographs will be on display. The gallery will feature all sorts of things that might make you think twice about the sex act. Decorated condoms, postcards, greeting cards and many other novelty items all have a place in the show.\n"Sex and humor has been linked together for many many years," says curator of the exhibit Catherine Johnson. "There is something a little absurd about sex… a lot of artists found humor in it."\nPieces in the exhibit come from a wide range of time periods and cultures. One replica of a Roman figurine protrudes from a piece that is more than 2000 years old and other pieces come from the 18th century. Items from Mexico, Thailand, the United States and several European countries all have a place in the exhibit.\nThis special event is a good place for the love-lorn on Valentine's Day, Johnson says.\n"Hopefully they will find it humorous if they are sad about being alone," she says.\n"They can go see this show and laugh a bit about sexuality."\nFreshman Alex Chrisman says one of her friends threw a "Single Girls Party" party for her and her other girlfriends several years ago. They dined on fettuccine and just "had fun being single girls."\n"We didn't talk about not having boyfriends," she says.\nYou can even give your friends a little smile before you go out for a night on the town with a little help from Sigma Delta Tau sorority. For $2, you can send your amigos in the dorms, fraternities and sororities a pink Valentine's card with a chocolate. All the money goes to Prevent Child Abuse America and each valentine is hand-delivered.\n"It's a really nice simple way to show somebody you care and that you are thinking about them," Gurovitsch says. "And it goes to a good cause."\nIF YOU WANT SOME TIME TO YOURSELF…\nValentine's Day is also a good time to rediscover how much fun being by yourself can be, Zodkevitch says on his site.\n"Instead of feeling unloved and rejected, agree to enjoy your own company," he says.\nThere are many places that will pamper you to your heart's delight for a small fee and are only a short walk away.\nAt the campus Health Center, you can schedule a massage and put it on your Bursar bill. You can either schedule a 45-minute, full body massage, or a 15-minute back and neck massage. Either way, you will come out more relaxed, says Director of Health and Wellness Education Anne Reese.\n"A massage is a great gift to give yourself," she says. "It can reduce stress… and increase feelings of well being."\nReese says the process for a 15-minute massage is simple and enjoyable. When you arrive at the center, you fill out a short form and the massage therapist brings you into the room. After discussing your problem areas with the therapist, you lie down on the special cushy massage chair so the therapist can go to work. All of the masseuses are licensed massage therapists and there are still several 15-minute appointment slots open for Feb. 14.\nIf you can't make it to the Health Center, don't worry, you still have lots of options. At the Mira Salon, 213 S. Rogers, you can get a facial, manicure, pedicure or even a seaweed-peppermint body wrap.\n"I think it is a good day to get some pampering done," says receptionist Kelley Bateman. "I say it is OK to be single… go out and do something for yourself."\nAnd just because it is a salon doesn't mean guys can't enjoy it as well. Bateman says many men get manicures, pedicures and even partake in the occasional facial.\nFacials can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and cost $35 to $80 dollars.\nIf you are into a little alternative healing, you could try an aromatherapy massage at Carmen Delgado's Oasis Spa, 221 E. Kirkwood Ave. Different combinations of scented oils can trigger the release of different hormones, Delgado says. There is a scent for almost every occasion. If you need a pick-me-up, you can try sage or grapefruit. If you need to get rid of some anxiety, try a little lavender or orange blossom.\n"It's good for the psyche," Delgado says. "I am in the business of making people feel good about themselves." \nAfter you have relaxed at the spa, all you have to do to get a romantic dinner for one is pick up the phone. Delivery places in Bloomington are abundant and open almost every hour of the night. Try a sandwich from the Village Deli or Brave New Deli and finish it off with a Cyclone from Jiffy Treat. Whether it's ice cream or falafel, it can all be brought right to your door.\nDON'T SWEAT IT…\nSome people think Valentine's Day is a holiday that has become commercial and corporate.\nReese shares a similar point of view.\n"All these types of holidays are blown out of proportion," she says. "Sometimes they are just mere occasions to give and receive presents."\nBut whether you think Valentine's Day is an evil ploy by the executives at the greeting card companies or a beautiful time to celebrate the love between two people, this year you can have the confidence to celebrate the day no matter who you are with.\n"Being happy alone is one of the best qualities a person can have," Reese says.\n\nTOP 10 MOVIES for the single gal/single guy on Valentine's Day...
(02/05/02 6:08am)
It's every parent's worst nightmare. Your child, bestowed the honor of going to Pakistan to cover America's latest war, is kidnapped in the process. Shady reports keep coming in, you don't know if he is dead or alive. You don't know where he is, who he is with or if the information you are getting is the truth.\nSadly, this is the reality for the family and friends of missing Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. According to the New York Times, Pearl has been missing since Jan. 23, when he was trying to conduct interviews in Karachi, Pakistan. Pearl's wife was with him in Pakistan and has pleaded for his release.\nNew reports come out every day about his whereabouts and the horrifying picture of Pearl flash on any given newscast several times a day. They show his hands bound with a chain and a gun pressed to his head that is being held down by his captor. According to Newsweek, these photos were mailed out to news organizations all over America.\nSo for two weeks, his relatives and friends have been left wondering. Where is he? Is he still alive? Is this a hoax? What's happening to him? Why can't we get any solid information on him?\nUnfortunately, the news networks are not doing anything to quiet the fears of his family or the general public. Three major news stations reported incorrectly that Pearl's body was found by the side of the road. ABC news, MSNBC and Fox News presented the information and retracted it all within a few hours. ABC news told the Times that it received confirmation of the report from a reliable unofficial source and the general inspector of Karachi's police department.\nMSNBC defended its broadcast by saying that there were "'contradictory reports' about the identification of the body." Fox News had the editor of The News, a national newspaper in Pakistan, on the phone to confirm the report. He did, but then later retracted.\nBut no amount of retraction can take away the feeling of urgency and despair the family and friends of Pearl undoubtedly felt when they heard the news. All too often, because of the fast-paced news cycle and competition between news networks, the basic principles of journalism get cast aside.\nIn the newspaper industry,when you get a report from an e-mail, a medium where identities can be easily falsified, it is best to get further confirmation. The Times reports that both of the news stations received their information from e-mails. \nAll too often, newscasts have become propellant of rumor and they simply cannot afford to be, especially when they are dealing with human life. The news of a false death can have terrible psychological effects on the friends and family of any individual. It is the responsibility of every news organization to present truthful information that is checked for accuracy. The news today is painful enough without lies.
(11/29/01 4:25am)
Imagine if we had the technology to create a medicine that could transform into anything the body needed. If the body was lacking white blood cells, this medicine could take care of it. If the body was lacking skin cells, this medicine could take care of it. If an organ of the body was being eaten by cancer, this medicine could create healthy cells to replace the cancerous ones. It would be great, right? You bet.\nWell, as we are slowly learning every day, the future is not so far off, and neither is this technology. Stem cell research has been in the works for years and recently, one scientist cloned a human embryo to further the research. Naturally, he shook the American landscape with this breakthrough.\nThanks to the scientists at the Advanced Cell Technology, the American people now have frightening visions of identical people running around the country. Well, calm down America. No one is going that far. \nAccording to an article on CNN.com, Robert P. Lanza, vice president of medical and scientific development at ACT and an author of the study, said "Our intention is not to create cloned human beings, but rather to make lifesaving therapies for a wide range of human disease conditions including diabetes, strokes, cancer, AIDS and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer\'s disease." \nPresident George W. Bush came out immediately condemning the cloning, saying that "we should not as a society grow life to destroy it, and that's exactly what's taking place." I wonder if he considers the death penalty destroying life.\nStem cells derived from these cloned cells can actually save lives. Stem cells are basically cells that have not yet been differentiated and can only be extracted from embryos. Scientists believe these cells could possibly be the key to curing many ailments. Stem cells can replace anything in the body -- skin cells, blood cells, lung cells -- without any fear of an immune response. This is still somewhat far off as scientists are still trying to isolate the elements to make stem cells become the kind of cells they want them to become.\nBut in the minds of America and certainly our president, therapeutic cloning is the equivalent of reproductive cloning and it is still scary. We are scared that one man may have too much power over human life. Creating life has always been up to some higher power or biological science, depending upon what you believe. \nBut this cloning is not about being able to produce another human being. It is about saving the lives of others. A wise man once told me that technology, no matter what it is, can be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. Nuclear power for example, could solve many of the energy problems America is experiencing. At the same time, nuclear weapons could wipe out all of humanity.\nWhy should we throw away this technology when we know it could cure so many diseases? Cancer is plaguing our country. AIDS is eating away at Africa. Diabetes is robbing children of their parents. We could stop this if we just trusted our scientists to go ahead with their research. \nI am not afraid of cloning. Biotechnologists and scientists go into their fields to help preserve and better human life, not to hurt it. If they can save even one life with this new technology, let them do it.
(11/15/01 4:11am)
Standing on the top floor of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., steps away from the balcony where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot, peering over an exhibit of the Memphis garbagemen strike, something inside me broke. \nThe exhibit below me consisted of a huge orange garbage truck, overflowing with trash. The ground was covered with bottles, fruit peels and old newspapers. Three gray, life-size figures dressed as national guards held their bayonnettes. Four more gray clay men faced them, holding signs that simply read "I AM A MAN." \nNot a black man, not a poor man. Just a man. A man, living in America, fighting for the same things those soldiers with the bayonettes hoped for: life, liberty and ability to pursue happiness.\nThe hate was too much for me. I have seen a lot of terrible things in my life. I have gone to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. I have seen the parents of a murder victim listen to the testimony of how their child died. I have walked past the church on Third Street where Won-Joon Yoon was killed. I heard the black community express their outrage at the IDS for running the Horowitz ad. Each of these things picked at a wound that I did not know I had.\nBut standing there, listening to the sweet sad sound of the protest songs, the wound was exposed. And it hurt.\nI hated those white people responsible for these atrocities. I hated the fact that I easily could have been a part of that if I had grown up in the South during the middle part of the 20th century. I hate the fact that Americans are so concerned with being "colorblind," they can't see that race is still a problem in our society.\nI have been brainwashed along with the rest of white suburban America into thinking that everyone has an equal opportunity, and that the struggle for civil rights ended after desegregation.\nBut the truth I realized after walking down Beale Street, eating catfish at the B.B. King Cafe, and reading notes from white Americans begging their government officials to keep segregation in place is that the civil rights movement is far from over. \nPeople are still being oppressed because of the color of their skin, and the government programs put in place to help are not doing their job. Black people comprise 22.1 percent of poor people in the United States according to the 2000 Census, and those of Hispanic origin come in a close second. Inner-city schools across the country are in shambles. Children in the suburbs are oftentimes still getting a superior education to those inner-city students.\nAlso, I found out that black Americans should not be the only ones responsible for correcting the situation. We, as white Americans, need to open our eyes and our minds. If we are really going to fight against terrorism and oppression, we need to start here at home. The struggle is far from over and the only way it is going to be successful this time is if everyone lends a hand.
(10/05/01 6:49am)
Dean of Students Richard McKaig expelled the Delta Xi chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha, 1012 E. Third St., from campus for alcohol-related violations Thursday. The chapter expulsion is effective for at least two years.\nPi Kappa Alpha president Timothy Kolar stood in front of every member of his house, struggling to read the statement given to him by the nine undergraduate members of the greek judicial board. He had the responsi bility of telling his brothers that they could no longer be united under the Pi Kappa Alpha name.\nPi Kappa Alpha -- the fifth fraternity chapter expelled within the last 18 months -- will appeal the decision, Kolar said. The appeal will take place sometime in the next 14 days, when a committee of three individuals will rehear the case. Kolar hopes the board of appeals reduces the expulsion to one year.\nThe University summarily suspended the chapter Sept. 19, after a sophomore pledge was taken to the hospital with a blood alcohol content more than four times the legal limit. The student, whose name was not released, apparently drank Jim Beam whiskey with his house "father" after a fraternity function, McKaig said.\nThe student was later released from Bloomington Hospital.\nIn 1998, the chapter was suspended from campus after the alcohol related death of then-sophomore member Joseph Bisanz.\nActing on the recommendation of the greek judicial board, McKaig found Pi Kappa Alpha responsible for violations of the University's Disciplinary Procedures for Student Organizations. In addition, the board found the fraternity responsible for failing to comply with disciplinary sanctions from Feb. 1999.\nIt took two days for the greek judicial board to finalize its unanimous decision. McKaig said he thinks the sanction is reasonable, based on the conditions set down for the chapter after Bisanz's death.\n"J-board does want to send a message that they are serious about these issues," McKaig said. "(Pi Kappa Alpha) had full and fair warning."\nAlthough expulsion prohibits the house from participating in campus activities, McKaig said it was up to the house corporation to completely close the Third Street house.\n"We do expect the chapter house to close sometime in the near future ... but that is private property," he said.\nExpulsion from the campus means that Pi Kappa Alpha is no longer a recognized member of the IU greek system, and effective immediately may no longer function as a student organization on the IUB campus. It will be unable to participate in intramural sports, social events, and campus activities such as Homecoming, IU Dance Marathon, IU Sing, and Little 500.\nTuesday's hearing lasted two hours, Kolar said. The senior presented Pi Kappa Alpha's case to the judicial board for an hour, followed by a one hour question-and-answer period. McKaig said the individual who was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning also appeared and told the judicial board no one forced him to drink.\nKolar and house officers Andy Bien, a senior, and Mike Haas, a junior, accompanied chapter adviser Timothy Haskell, a graduate student, to Assistant Dean of Students Jim Gibson's office, where they were read the sanctions.\n"We prepared ourselves for the worst," Kolar said.\nKolar said he was disappointed the chapter has been kicked off campus after attempting to rebuild its name.\n"We have one of the highest GPAs on campus ... everyone is involved (in activities)," he said. "That is why it took them two days to make the decision."\nHaskell became the advisor of Delta Xi chapter in August, and has been living in the chapter house since the beginning of the year. He said he was saddened by the decision, especially after IU made an effort to work with the chapter.\n"It is unfortunate that the chapter has come to this crossroad," he said in a statement. "I am disappointed that the chapter had to face this decision."\nDespite the sanctions, Haskell said he enjoyed his time with the men of Delta Xi, and his primary purpose now is to support the students.\n"Chapter members realize that this is a hard decision to hear," he said. "There are a number of emotions each student is feeling at this point ... but they are doing the mature and responsible thing."\nAfter the fraternity's suspension in September, Eric Wulf, the fraternity's national executive director, told the IDS that when Pi Kappa Alpha was reinstated last year, the fraternity\'s national governing body had not heard of any problems with its IU chapter until a local alumnus notified them of the recent incident.\n"At the time in 1998, we worked very closely with the University," Wulf said. "If the school or nationals knew we were going to have problems again down the road, we might have chosen a different action."\nEric Wulf could not be reached for comment Thursday.