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(07/12/07 4:00am)
Ever write a last-minute essay without knowing a damn thing about the topic, but for some reason you're just really on your game, and you write beautifully? You know, one of those grade-A bullshit papers that meets all the requirements and appears all snazzy, but lacks anything truly tangible?\nThat's "Transformers."\nIt meets the explosion requirements for a summer blockbuster. It certainly exceeds the required number of cheesy, cliche action scenes. It even features alien robots, doubling up on the summer blockbuster requirement of robots, aliens, superheroes, natural disasters or time travel.\nFor those reasons, the movie would earn a passing grade. But I'm no easygoing T.A. "Transformers" drops into D+ territory because, behind the glitz and glamour of shiny robots and mass chaos, this is a bad movie.\nPerhaps my disappointment with "Transformers" stems partly from my expectation that it would offer a change of pace from long-winded, short-sighted action flicks. With Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg attaching their names to the project, I anticipated a clean, compact thriller that starts, peaks, ends and leaves you desperate for more. And the trailers only fueled that fiery expectation.\nInstead, "Transformers" felt more like a hybrid between the 1999 cartoon movie "The Iron Giant" and a Chevy commercial. And no, I wasn't feeling the revolution.\nThe cold, robotic heart of this movie rested on the relationship between Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) and his camaro-bot "Bumblebee." This plotline is torn right from "Iron Giant": boy discovers robot, boy grows to love robot, secret government agency tries to separate boy and robot and robot eventually computes a human emotion: love. The only difference here is that we also get some eye candy in Sam's typical nerd-aiming-way-out-of-his-league love interest Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox). Her acting almost matches her sex appeal, but she leaves LeBeouf looking like he should stick to the Disney channel.\nThe rest of the undeveloped story lines revolve around a troop of soldiers in the Middle East (shocker) and two "pack it in" performances from Jon Voight and John Turturro.\nFrom there, the action scenes were cool and the robots were impressive, but the bang hardly exceeded the bore of the non-robot-fighting scenes. Plus, it seemed that each cool action sequence was capped off with some "Ra-Ra Freedom Ra-Ra" speech from Optimus Prime, which really killed the mood.\nSorry Transformer fans, but you may want to stick to the toys.
(07/12/07 4:00am)
I've seen this movie before. It was called "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and fill in the blank with the title of another stupid romantic comedy. \nBut for those of you who missed it, here is the idea: Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) decide to tie the knot, but before they can say "I do," Reverend Frank (Robin Williams) puts them through his marriage prep course. The rest of the plot follows the basics for all romantic comedies: fall in love, have a fight, separate with sad music, realize they love each other after all, make up, roll the credits.\nBut what set this particular romantic comedy slightly above the rest were Williams and his youthful sidekick, played by Josh Flitter. Williams comes up with some really twisted ideas on how to make Sadie and Ben realize their eternal love, and the audience gets some cheap laughs from the process. Also, Flitter adds some much-needed swagger to every one of his waddling steps. And his lines are pretty amusing, too.\nBut for every good, funny scene, there are two more useless, not-funny scenes. \nMoreover, one missing aspect of this movie was its development of Sadie's rich yet bizarre family. Sadie's divorced sister Lindsey (Christine Taylor) had the potential to be a comedic character but, despite Taylor's attempt to salvage a useless role, was left with minimal lines and no laughs. \nThis movie's comedy is a little better for the norm in its genre, but not enough to save the movie.\nI wouldn't recommend seeing this movie if you pee standing up. But if you want to see it and miss your opportunity, don't worry. I saw previews for about five more movies coming out that have the same plot, so just see one of those.
(07/12/07 4:00am)
The line:\n"It probably tastes pretty horrible, but it's worth having. Ughh god, I got an explosion of goo in my mouth!"\nThe Setup\nBear Grylls, of "Man vs. Wild," eating a grub in Mexico
(06/28/07 4:00am)
I've watched Steve Carrell evolve from correspondent on "The Daily Show" to nitwit boss on "The Office" to suicidal Proust scholar in "Little Miss Sunshine." With each of these roles, I gained a sense of hope for the evolution of his acting career. \nThe difference between those roles and his latest foray, "Evan Almighty," is that he has never been so responsible for carrying a movie. Turns out, he's not up to the job.\nCarrell reprises his role as news caster Evan Baxter in prequel "Bruce Almighty." This time around he is a Congressman who gained his position with a campaign promise to "change the world." That's where God steps in, once again played by Morgan Freeman. He starts turning Carell into a modern-day Noah, asking him to build an ark in preparation for a flood. With pairs of animals following him and a uncontrollable beard growing from his face, his job on Capitol Hill gets messy. \nMany try to come to Carell's rescue, but none can save the film. Morgan Freeman, usually wonderful, plays The Omnipotent One with little effort. The same goes for Lauren Graham, previously seen starring in "Gilmore Girls," who plays Carrell's wife. There's nothing wrong with her portrayal, but there's also nothing that makes her noticeable, except maybe the character's monochromatic obsession. (Every shirt she wears -- and even the van she drives -- is blue.)\nThat's the main flaw of the movie: repetitiveness. For Carrell, his crutch is physical humor. From getting hit in the groin to wearing a biblical-style robe in inappropriate situations, it's the same shtick over and over. Even more than that, the concept of God interfering in modern-day life has already been done in the first "Almighty" movie. \nThe one saving grace might have been the animals themselves. They're not computer-generated, at least not judging by the dozens of animal trainers listed in the credits. Species of every kind follow Carrell through Capitol Hill and eventually help to build the ark, sharing tools and snacks with Carrell.\nDespite its predictability, the plot isn't too blame. Sure, the idea of God interfering with modern times has already been done in the first Almighty movie, but this one has family values, political corruption and religious overtones ... all the things that make America tick.\nWhat has always impressed me about Carell is his ability to humorously interact with other actors. His comedic timing is top-notch on The Office, and he got the family dynamic down in Little Miss Sunshine. The chemistry in this film, however, is not believable. Carell seems to be trying his best to entertain, but the other actors aren't on the same page. \nPerhaps I went in with too high of hopes for a humorous summer blockbuster movie. But for now, I'll stick with the original flood story. It has a better ending.
(06/21/07 4:00am)
With the comic book world continually making appearances on the big screen, audiences have come to expect certain elements from Marvel-inspired movies. So in light of all of the hype surrounding "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," action, explosions and epic storylines are no doubt on the minds of most comic fans. Unfortunately, in a world dominated by the likes of Spiderman and Batman, the Fantastic Four hits audiences with a whimper of mediocrity, unable to match other comic book films in plot, character or acting talent.\nIn the movie, the Fantastic Four are faced with the prospect of being famous, complicating weddings, endorsement deals and love lives. But that drama is superseded by a cosmic anomaly who threatens to destroy the universe. Modeled after the character in the comic's Galactus series, the Silver Surfer (Laurence Fishburne and Doug Jones) emerges as a destroyer of worlds. As time is running out, the Four must find a way to stop the shimmering menace and defeat an old enemy, as an impending evil hangs literally overhead.\nFrom the love story to action sequences, the punch lines to the punch outs, cliches are the name of the game for the Fantastic Four. The plot is predictable, and every archetypical line is expected. The acting is also sub par, as Jessica Alba gives one of the worst performances of her career as the Invisible Woman, a.k.a. Susan Storm. Couple this with the fact that director Tim Story underutilizes the film's best attribute, the Silver Surfer, and the result is a film that fans can afford to miss.\nThat said, the film does have a few saving graces that keep it from being a total bust. Though not seen enough in battle sequences, the Silver Surfer and the cinematography surrounding him is one of the most exciting sights that can be found in theaters this summer. Story also does a wonderful job of creating Galactus, a creature almost as large as the solar system. And despite dismal performances from his counterparts, Chris Evans perfectly captures the cocky character of Johnny Storm.\nIn short, go for the Surfer and go for the comic book comparison, but don't be surprised at your disappointment when the credits roll. Maybe the third movie will save this crashing comic-book franchise from destroying the world.
(06/14/07 4:00am)
Bruce Springsteen is the consummate American musician -- the best under the Stars and Stripes. \n"I believe that the life of a rock 'n' roll band will last as long as you look down into the audience and can see yourself, and your audience looks up at you and can see themselves," the Boss once said. \nSpringsteen looks down and sees us. But he still rides because we look back at him and see everything we hope to have: persevering optimism and humble, working-class family values. Truth be told, he seems to have achieved the sublime perfection we all seek. \nIf you appreciate his music at all, get Live In Dublin now. If you can feel anything, try to stop the hair on the back of your neck from standing on edge during revamped classics like "Highway Patrolman" and "Atlantic City" or Pete Seeger greats like "Mrs. McGrath." \nThrough the originals and covers, Springsteen works through those lofty American values he and Seeger champion: Family is family, no matter what. And sometimes everyone needs a helping hand. \nNo one deserves a lift more than those left for dead in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Whoever said protest is un-American has no music in his heart. Fortunately, though, our friend's got a lot of both. His adaptation of "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live" chides our current president:\n"... And what happened to you poor black folks, well it just ain't fair / He took a look around, gave a little pep talk, said 'I'm with you' then he took a little walk / Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?"\nI don't know the answer to the question the song poses, but listening to the Boss is a good start to finding it.
(06/14/07 4:00am)
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.\n"Norbit" was the second time I've been fooled by Eddie Murphy's ability to play multiple characters -- the first time being when I watched "The Nutty Professor." "Norbit" fooled me because, like "The Nutty Professor," it was downright hilarious, despite how horrendous the previews made it look.\nThe story is about Norbit (Murphy), an orphan left at Mr. Wong's (also played by Murphy) orphanage, who is bullied into marriage by an extremely large woman named Rasputia (Murphy again). After years of marriage, Kate Thomas (Thandie Newton), Norbit's childhood sweetheart, returns to their hometown with her fiancé Deion (Cuba Gooding Jr.) to buy the orphanage. But Deion's marriage to Thomas is only a scam to make money.\nFrom this point on, the plot is fairly straightforward. In fact, it is so predictable, even Helen Keller could have seen what was coming next.\nIf you can get past the shoddy script, the acting and humor are phenomenal, and the make-up is so good you cannot even tell that Mr. Wong and Rasputia are being played by Murphy. "Norbit" is also helped greatly by the lead charcter's pimp friends Pope Sweet Jesus (Eddie Griffin) and Lord Have Mercy (Katt Williams), who are equally humorous in their scenes.\nIf Murphy put half the effort he put into his acting into the script, "Norbit" could have easily been one of Murphy's better movies. However, this was not the case, and we are only left with a few good laughs as we are babied through a basic script.\nSadly, the extras are terrible. A comedy with Murphy needs a gag reel, but there was no such thing on this DVD (although I found one on the "Norbit" Web site). The only reason the extras are even worth taking a glance at is for a few extra jokes from the pimps in the deleted scenes. Besides that, the extras are disappointing.\nAll in all, if you don't want to think and just want a few quick laughs, then make some popcorn, get comfy and enjoy "Norbit" ... as a rental.
(06/14/07 4:00am)
"3… 2 … 1 … Go! Go! Go!" \nTwo players from each side dive right and left, sliding on their knees through the mud to take cover behind wooden pallet bunkers. Even before they reach their positions, a hail of paintballs is launched from either side in an attempt to eliminate them. Each player bobs up and down and side to side, peering out to shoot down their opponent and then moving back to avoid the return fire. \nWithin seconds, the first cry comes out: "I'm hit!" Then another. Two players leave the field with one hand raised to signify their defeat. Unit 55 is down to one. \nOutnumbered three-to-one, Ronnie Buthius tucks himself behind a small stack of wood, hoping to avoid the final, fateful paintball. In desperation, he peeks out for a shot and takes it. But before he even realizes it, he's taken out an opponent, and he too feels the splatter of paint and plastic against his jersey.\nIn less than thirty seconds the first game of the speedball tournament is over, and all three members of Unit 55 are eliminated. Their rival team takes the flag waiting in the middle and hangs it on the opposing end, signifying their victory and giving them 45 points. \nBetween games the teams huddle under tents to talk trash, down Gatorade and escape the scorching heat. Though enemies on the field, during the breaks teams intermingle, sharing stories and cigarettes.\nBut Buthius, team captain and senior commanding officer, is all business. With his team trailing, he impatiently clicks his fingers against the trigger of his gun in anticipation, mimicking the rapid-fire motion he'll need to win the next game. He tries to pull the team together and boost morale by saying, "We're better than this."
(05/10/07 4:00am)
"He's (G.Love) one of those guys you'll be learning about in rock class 30 years from now."
(04/30/07 4:00am)
A Bloomington man was arrested after stabbing a man on Kirkwood Avenue early Saturday morning.\nBloomington Police Department Officer Cody Decker responded to a call from someone who said his friend had been stabbed, said Sgt. Daniel Carnes. reading from a police report. The caller waved down Decker at the intersection of North Lincoln Street and East Kirkwood Avenue and told Decker that a man wearing a gray long-sleeve sweat shirt with a gray stripe had just stabbed his friend.\nDecker began looking for the subject in the 200 block of East Kirkwood Avenue. He found a man who fit the description and then located a sweat shirt and two knives near the subject. The caller and the victim were both able to positively identify the subject.\nThe subject was later identified as David Oakley, 29. The victim and the complainant told Decker they were walking in the 200 block of East Kirkwood Avenue when Oakley began exchanging words with them from across the street. Oakley then ran across the street and “got in the victim’s face,” Sgt. Carnes said. The victim told Oakley that the comments that originally started the argument had come from other people in the street. Oakley began to walk away when another person made comments to him, which Oakley again thought came from the victim. Oakley then stabbed the victim in the right hand and fled the scene, Carnes said.\nThe victim was treated at Bloomington Hospital. Oakley was arrested for battery with a deadly weapon, a Class C felony.
(04/27/07 4:00am)
A Bloomington man was arrested after stabbing a man on Kirkwood Avenue early Saturday morning.\nBloomington Police Department Officer Cody Decker responded to a call from someone who said his friend had been stabbed, said Sgt. Daniel Carnes. reading from a police report. The caller waved down Decker at the intersection of North Lincoln Street and East Kirkwood Avenue and told Decker that a man wearing a gray long-sleeve sweat shirt with a gray stripe had just stabbed his friend.\nDecker began looking for the subject in the 200 block of East Kirkwood Avenue. He found a man who fit the description and then located a sweat shirt and two knives near the subject. The caller and the victim were both able to positively identify the subject.\nThe subject was later identified as David Oakley, 29. The victim and the complainant told Decker they were walking in the 200 block of East Kirkwood Avenue when Oakley began exchanging words with them from across the street. Oakley then ran across the street and “got in the victim’s face,” Sgt. Carnes said. The victim told Oakley that the comments that originally started the argument had come from other people in the street. Oakley began to walk away when another person made comments to him, which Oakley again thought came from the victim. Oakley then stabbed the victim in the right hand and fled the scene, Carnes said.\nThe victim was treated at Bloomington Hospital. Oakley was arrested for battery with a deadly weapon, a Class C felony.
(04/24/07 4:00am)
An IU student was arrested after he choked and punched his girlfriend Sunday. Cameron Kamman, 20, began arguing with his girlfriend, 20, at about 6 a.m. in the 400 block of East 15th Street, Bloomington Police Department Detective Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from the police report.\nKamman grabbed the victim by the neck and squeezed. He then punched her in the face and pulled her hair, Canada said. The victim said Kamman pulled a chunk of her hair out, Canada said.\nThe victim then contacted Bloomington police. Kamman was arrested for battery, strangulation and illegal consumption.
(04/24/07 4:00am)
The rays from the afternoon sun were drying the pudding that covered IU junior Josh Falcon’s body and hair. The scent of warm chocolate and sweat surrounded him after the third annual pudding wrestling competition held Friday at Terra Trace Apartments.\n“You don’t live college until you have been smacked in the face with pudding,” Falcon said.\nFor many, the pudding wrestling has become a Little 500 tradition.\n“I missed it last year, but that was a mistake,” Falcon said.\nFalcon was part of a crowd of people that gathered around an inflatable pool filled with 150 gallons of pudding. Terra Trace management served food to spectators as they listened to music from the Clayton Anderson Band.\n“With great music, a great apartment complex, the tastiest pudding around and Little 500, it doesn’t get any better,” said IU senior Clayton Anderson.\nOnce the wrestling began, spectators including freshman Rachel Thomas became participants.\n“One guy picked me up and threw me in,” Thomas said.\nThomas was declared the winner of a three-way match, and as she waited for her next match, she stood uncomfortably, covered in pudding.\n“It’s kind of cold,” Thomas said. “It’s starting to dry up on me, and it feels kind of gross.”\nOther people at the event, like junior C.J. Stults, enjoyed the feeling of being covered in pudding.\n“It’s kind of nice,” Stults said. “It might be good for \nthe complexion.”\nStults said the pudding wrestling at Terra Trace was the best thing he had done so far to celebrate Little 500.\n“I’ll be here next year for sure,” Stults said. “Except next year I’m wrestling every girl I can find.” \nThe tradition of pudding wrestling at Terra Trace began three years ago when the IU football team defeated Oregon. Matt Suter, now a senior, was at Yogi’s Grill & Bar when he began talking to some friends about organizing KY Jelly wrestling to celebrate the win. Suter said he decided to use pudding instead because KY Jelly would have been too expensive. Once that decision was made, Suter and his friends bought 66 gallons of pudding at Sam’s Club.\n“I thought the management at the apartment complex would be pissed because it ruined the grass,” Suter said. “For about a year after that, every time it rained pudding came up from the ground.”\nBut Terra Trace management was actually pleased with Suter and his pudding party because of the publicity it brought to the apartment complex. Suter said he got a check in the mail for $50 from Terra Trace management for referrals. People began signing leases at the apartment complex and mentioning Suter’s pudding party.\nThat spring, one of Suter’s friends, Dustin Stender, talked Terra Trace management into sponsoring another round of pudding wrestling for Little 500.\n“I didn’t know it would be every year, but it just kind of took off,” Stender said. “It’s Suter and I’s little child. It has a life of its own now.”\nThe event has been held every Little 500 weekend since then, and Kathy Sadler, manager for Terra Trace Apartments, said it has become their trademark.\n“We make T-shirts that we hand out when people sign leases,” Sadler said.\nSadler said the apartment complex was better prepared for this year’s pudding wrestling. “The first year was a little messy, but we got through it,” Sadler said. \nThis year they had more trash cans and water hoses for people to wash the pudding off themselves. This was also the first year a trophy was awarded to the winner, sophomore Kelsey Mellman.\n“I’ve never done anything like that before,” Mellman said.\nMellman said she was totally surprised to win because she did not wrestle until the end.\n“It was completely nasty,” Mellman said of the pudding. “I clogged my shower trying to get it all off.”\nJunior Erica Schmidt said she loves that Terra Trace hosts the pudding wrestling. She came to the event last year when she heard about it from some of her friends that live there. She has wrestled in the pudding both years.\n“The nastiest part is getting pudding in your mouth because it’s been all over everyone else’s body,” Schmidt said. “All the rest is fun.”\nDespite getting pudding in her mouth, Schmidt has not shied away from the event.\n“I’m coming back every year,” Schmidt said.
(04/19/07 4:00am)
Yellowcard is taking time out from putting the finishing touches on their latest album, Paper Walls, to come to IU on Friday. Ryan Key, guitarist and vocalist, said the band has "finally got the sign off" for one of their best friends to design the artwork for their album cover.\nKey lives four houses down from the friend in Los Angeles, but he said he's not going there until the design is done.\n"We'll be most proud of this artwork," Key said. "I don't want to give anything away, but it's gonna be killer."\nSo in the mean time, they're packing their bags and jetting cross-country to experience part of Little 500 weekend. Because of the band's busy performance schedule, they will arrive at about 8 or 9 p.m. today, perform Friday night and head back to the hotel to leave the next morning. The band's performance will include older songs, newer songs and songs from their latest album, which they said also displays their range.\nThe band's time in Bloomington is limited, but Key said he will likely stay for the party after the show.\n"You could probably count on seeing us out at that shindig," Key said. "I'm the only single one in the band, so it's hard to get people to stay."\nKey said his favorite part of performing is taking it all in and appreciating it. He said the band has put together a set of "full-on Yellowcard rocking" for their concert at IU.\n"Hopefully everyone's into that," Key said.\nAnd the same kind of mix is on their new album, due out this summer. The new album incorporates the best of Yellowcard's old and new sounds.\n"People are gonna be genuinely stoked with how we melded the two song styles," Key said.\nKey said he likes it when bands change with every record, even though younger fans may not. He said the obvious difference between the band's newest album and their last album, Lights and Sounds, was what was driving them to make the record.\n"It was such a personal experience for the band coming off of all this touring," Key said referring to the consequences of the band's most successful album, Ocean Avenue. "It was so insane what happened to our lives all of a sudden."\nThe success of Ocean Avenue caused Key to become more introverted when he was working on Lights and Sounds, he said. Key said he has learned a lot about who he is supposed to be since then and that the new record is more about the "end of finding yourself."\n"The new album is closer to the end of that search for who you are and who you love and who loves you," Key said.\nKey said what he loves about Lights and Sounds is that it makes him remember how it felt to be lost and confused.\nKey said that his longest relationship ended as Ocean Avenue began to do well. He said not having someone to share his experience with makes him feel alone.\nKey said the new record is what got him out of feeling the way he did while writing Lights and Sounds during the winter months. Now, with a summer release, Key said the most important thing is for the band to "put out a high-energy record" and "have it feel good for people." He said a lot of people fell in love with Yellowcard because they "lifted you up and took you out of that dark place," and their latest album does just that.\n"It will be fun to put all three records into your disc changer and listen to the ride of what it's been like to be Yellowcard for the past five years," Key said.\nKey said adding all the bells and whistles to an album at the end of production is the most fun, even though he has been working 12 hours a day in the studio.\n"You lose track of time in there," Key said. "It's like being in a casino in Vegas."\nKey said he puts such a large amount of passion and personal energy into his work he can't provide the same amount for a relationship.\n"I'm a workaholic," Key said. "I hardly sleep at night because my brain is constantly turning."\nOne of the things Key's workaholic personality helped him with was performing on stage. Key said he found a way to be more comfortable with himself and who he is on stage. He said he loves being on stage now because he feels like he is spending time with the people who are there to see the band.\n"It's finally a real genuine good time," Key said. "There's nothing better than being from Jacksonville, Fla., and coming to Bloomington and having thousands of people singing the words to a song you wrote a couple of years ago"
(04/18/07 4:00am)
The new Starbucks in the Indiana Memorial Union has brought more students to a part of the building that has usually been quiet. Graduate student Luke Hankins was sitting in that part of the building when he was inspired to write a poem he named after the university motto, “Lux Et Veritas”.\n“The contrast between that space and the international coffee chain was the impulse behind the poem,” Hankins said in an e-mail. \nThe fireplace in that part of the building is one of the objects that retains a sense of history, Hankins said. The fireplace made Hankins really consider the university motto.\n“I can’t say that Starbucks has inspired the same kind of reflection, except by way of contrast,” Hankins said.\nHankins is working toward his MFA in creative writing, specializing in poetry. In addition to his studies at IU, Hankins is also an associate editor of Asheville Poetry Review, which is a literary journal distributed in the U.S. and parts of Europe. Asheville Poetry Review is based in Hankins’ home state of North Carolina. \nHankins said in a phone interview that he became serious about his writing in high school because of an inspirational English teacher.\n“She was a very small and quiet person, but when she looked at you it felt like she was reading your thoughts,” Hankins said “When she talked to me about writing, her passion for it really impressed me.”\nHankins attended Lee University in Tennessee after high school. He was a sophomore when he first heard about graduate creative writing programs.\n“As soon as I heard that there was such a thing, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Hankins said.\nHankins began looking into creative writing programs during his junior year and applied to several. He said IU was his first choice and being admitted to the program was one of his proudest accomplishments.\n“I admire the work of the faculty members here,” Hankins said. “And the teaching opportunities here are much better.”\nHankins plans to work in the publishing industry doing editorial work after he graduates. He wants to work for in independent publishing house and “avoid New York City at all costs.”\n“First of all I’m not attracted to the big city,” Hankins said. “I need to be a bit closer to nature.”\nHankins doesn’t want to work for a big publishing company because he said they are driven by money rather than a real desire to print the best poetry they can find.\n“They don’t care as much for the art as they do for capital gain,” Hankins said. “That’s not true of all, it’s a generalization, but it’s kind of the impression I get.”\nThe reasoning behind Hankins’ personal aspirations is also exhibited in his advice to undergraduates searching for their careers.\n“Think less about what will make you money and more about what will give you real fulfillment,” Hankins said. “All the money in the world cannot make up for an unsatisfying life doing something you don’t want to do.”
(04/17/07 4:00am)
Bloomington police have reported two more instances of counterfeit bills being used at local businesses over the weekend.\nA man got change for a counterfeit $100 bill on Sunday at Uncle D’s New York Pizza, 430 E. Kirkwood Ave. A worker from Uncle D’s contacted Bloomington Police after discovering the bill was counterfeit at about 3:30 p.m., said BPD Detective Sgt. Jeff Canada. Around midnight, the manager of Uncle D’s contacted Bloomington Police and said the man who asked to get change for the counterfeit bill had returned to the establishment.\nThe suspect offered to pay $20 to get change for the $100 bill. The case is still under investigation, Canada said.\nThree counterfeit $20 bills were turned over to Bloomington police Friday. An employee of a Circle K store, 2510 S. Leonard Springs Road, had the first bill for about a month, Canada said. About a week and a half ago, the other two counterfeit bills were used at the store. All three bills had different serial numbers.\nOn April 10, another instance of using counterfeit bills was reported at Night Moves, 1730 S. Walnut St. The two counterfeit $100 bills were recovered and two individuals were arrested.
(04/16/07 4:00am)
A dollar bill attached to a fishing line caused a man to strike a teenager Saturday.\nAn 18-year-old and a 15-year-old went to the College Mall and purchased a series of items to use for practical jokes, said \nBloomington Police Department Sgt. Daniel Carnes, reading from a police report. One of those items was a fishing line. The two teenagers attached a dollar bill to one end of the line and laid it on the ground outside the mall. One of the teenagers would yank the dollar bill out of reach by pulling on the fishing line when someone tried to pick it up, Carnes said.\nThe two teenagers began laughing when they did this to a man pushing a stroller, according to the report. The man then approached the two and asked them what they were doing, Carnes said. The 18-year-old told the man they were “just having fun,” according to the report. The man asked them if they thought what they did was funny, and they said yes. The man then struck the 18-year-old in the face with an open hand and told both teenagers to leave, Carnes said. As the 15-year-old was trying to walk away, the man grabbed him by the arm and asked him if he thought what they did was funny. The 15-year-old told the man he did not think what they did was funny.\nThe teenagers told officers the man began following them in the mall, so they located mall security. Mall security was unable to locate the man. Officers checked mall surveillance cameras, but the incident was not captured.
(04/12/07 4:00am)
Bloomington police arrested two people after they tried to use a counterfeit $100 bill Tuesday night at Night Moves, 1730 S. Walnut St.\nJeanice L. Romero, 41, and Derek Dearmon, 34, ran up a bill at the establishment, BPD Detective Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report. After a bartender at the establishment would not accept the counterfeit bill, Romero left her ID with the bartender intending to return and pay the tab. Romero and Dearmon then went to Suburban Lanes, 2634 N. Walnut St., where they stole a man’s wallet, Canada said.\nThe man who had his wallet stolen contacted the BPD. While the complainant was talking to officers, he called his credit-card company, which informed him that his card had been used at Night Moves.\nDearmon and Romero had returned to Night Moves and tried to use the stolen credit card to pay their tab, Canada said. When officers arrived they found another counterfeit $100 bill inside Romero’s vehicle.\nDearmon told officers the bills had been printed on a computer. Officers obtained a warrant for Romero’s residence, which was where Dearmon was staying. Officers removed computer equipment including a laser printer.\nDearmon and Romero were both arrested for theft, forgery and fraud. Dearmon was also charged with public intoxication, resisting law enforcement and felony intimidation after he told his arresting officers that he was going to kill them after he got out of jail, Canada said.\nCanada said he contacted the Secret Service and the investigation was turned over to them Tuesday morning.
(04/11/07 4:00am)
About eight months ago, Liam Kyle Sullivan took what he called “a big risk” and put a video of himself on YouTube.com.
“I thought this could either be really amazing or really embarrassing,” Sullivan said in a phone interview.
The video is called “Shoes” and has been viewed more than 16 million times. Sullivan has since added several videos, including “Text Message Breakup” and “Muffins,” in which he portrays different characters. However, “Shoes” and Kelly, the persona he plays in multiple videos, have become his trademark. Their popularity has spread across the country.
Freshman Elizabeth Eckel said she first heard about the video last year from her choir teacher in her hometown of Indianapolis. She said people at her high school, especially those in the performing arts department, were talking about the video and reciting Kelly’s lines.
“They’d be like, ‘Oh my God, shoes,’ and I was like, ‘What are you guys talking about?’” Eckel said. “So they showed me and when I came to Bloomington I showed my friends.”
(04/10/07 4:00am)
Bloomington Police are investigating a sexual battery case that occurred Sunday morning at a strip club.\nA waitress at Night Moves, 1730 S. Walnut St., told officers that while she was working, a man asked her if she remembered him, said Detective Sgt. Jeff Canada,reading from the police report. The woman told the man she did remember him because he used to be friends with her brother.\nLater that night the man asked the waitress where the restrooms were, Canada said, reading from a police report. When the waitress showed him, he shoved her into the men’s bathroom. The woman began to scream, and the man put his hand over her mouth. He took his other hand and grabbed one of her breasts and then put his hand down the front of her pants, Canada said.\nThe man left the restroom when someone else came in. One of the doormen later saw that the woman had a problem with the subject and then escorted the subject out of the club, Canada said.\nThe event occurred around closing time. The woman reported the incident to police later that evening, Canada said. The woman said she knows the name of the subject. Officers are working to locate that individual, Canada said.