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(11/14/02 5:00am)
Whether or not *NSync will make another album wasn't on the minds of the group's fans the week Justin Timberlake's debut solo album hit the streets. Arguably the most popular member of the group, Timberlake has released Justified with hopes of making it big on his own.\nJustified isn't just another *NSync album minus the other guys in the group. Timbaland and The Neptunes help out with the sweet R&B and hip-hop-sounding tracks on the album. \nThe first three tracks have the best beats. "Señorita," "Like I Love You" and "(Oh No) What You Got" have killer beats and would be great to dance to. "(Oh No) What You Got" would make a great rap song, but Timberlake pulls it off as a jammin' pop song with decent vocals. \nRumors linking Timberlake and Janet Jackson in a romantic relationship circulated for quite some time, but perhaps the singers were just spending time together working on the track "(And She Said) Take Me Now." Funny thing is, Timberlake's voice is so high that it can be hard to decipher whether it's him or Jackson singing. Either way, it works as a fun pop song that should be released as the next single.\nInstead, "Cry Me a River" is set to be the next single released off the album. It's actually not that great of a song, probably one of the most boring tracks on the album. There are speculations about whether many songs like this on the album are about ex-girlfriend Britney Spears. It will be interesting to see how Timberlake's album sales compare to Spears' album release a year ago.\nTimberlake's upbeat hip-hop songs are his strongest suits on Justified. To some, it appears as if he's trying to be the next Michael Jackson. Not even close. Timberlake has way too many unsuccessful slow songs. Then again, what is Michael Jackson better known for, "Man in the Mirror" or "Beat It?" Timberlake's fast songs could be enough to carry him close to the top of the pop charts.
(11/14/02 4:55am)
Whether or not *NSync will make another album wasn't on the minds of the group's fans the week Justin Timberlake's debut solo album hit the streets. Arguably the most popular member of the group, Timberlake has released Justified with hopes of making it big on his own.\nJustified isn't just another *NSync album minus the other guys in the group. Timbaland and The Neptunes help out with the sweet R&B and hip-hop-sounding tracks on the album. \nThe first three tracks have the best beats. "Señorita," "Like I Love You" and "(Oh No) What You Got" have killer beats and would be great to dance to. "(Oh No) What You Got" would make a great rap song, but Timberlake pulls it off as a jammin' pop song with decent vocals. \nRumors linking Timberlake and Janet Jackson in a romantic relationship circulated for quite some time, but perhaps the singers were just spending time together working on the track "(And She Said) Take Me Now." Funny thing is, Timberlake's voice is so high that it can be hard to decipher whether it's him or Jackson singing. Either way, it works as a fun pop song that should be released as the next single.\nInstead, "Cry Me a River" is set to be the next single released off the album. It's actually not that great of a song, probably one of the most boring tracks on the album. There are speculations about whether many songs like this on the album are about ex-girlfriend Britney Spears. It will be interesting to see how Timberlake's album sales compare to Spears' album release a year ago.\nTimberlake's upbeat hip-hop songs are his strongest suits on Justified. To some, it appears as if he's trying to be the next Michael Jackson. Not even close. Timberlake has way too many unsuccessful slow songs. Then again, what is Michael Jackson better known for, "Man in the Mirror" or "Beat It?" Timberlake's fast songs could be enough to carry him close to the top of the pop charts.
(11/14/02 4:37am)
Leia Pratapas, a junior, sits at a booth with three of her best friends on her 21st birthday. On her head is a blue construction helmet, which perfectly holds two 15-cent drafts on each side, with a tube that conveniently reaches her mouth.\n"I think it's leaking," Pratapas screams as she spills beer onto the table and giggles. Her friends down their own 15-cent drafts at the Bluebird on a Wednesday night. One of her friends knocks one over on the table and doesn't seem to mind she's lost a beer.\nTo some, Wednesday night is the best night of the week for drinking, and it's all because of the 15-cent Miller Lites sold at the 'Bird. With lines that usually go down the block and a crowd busier than anywhere else in town, the 'Bird and its 15-cent drafts have become a big part of college life at IU.\nVisitors will find it's a place where you can be yourself and not have to dress up to fit in. Most people appear to go for the music, to hang out with friends and, most importantly, for the popular drink special on Wednesday nights.\nPratapas and her friends continue to consume 15-cent drafts as the night progresses. A friend asks Pratapas how many she is going to drink.\n"How ever many you buy me, I guess," Pratapas says before taking another drink out of her hat.\nAt another table, freshman Andrew Phillips sits with his friends talking before things have gotten too crazy for the bunch. \n"I love this," Phillips says. "This is my first time here for this. It's only 15 cents for the beer, so that leaves money to buy shots, which is what we'll be doing later."\nJoey Reaves, a sophomore, agrees about the shots and says he comes to the 'Bird for 15-cent drafts as much as possible. \n"I'm not big on counting beers," Reaves says, "but I could spend $8 to $9 on beers and tips alone. That doesn't even include shots."\nHelping make the night possible is bartender Brent Mortara. Mortara fills up cup after cup for the waiting customers, and does so with a smile.\n"I don't mind working on 15-cent draft nights," Mortara says as he takes an order from the next customer. "I get to make money and see lots of people have a good time."\nAnother customer, senior Brendan Riley, interrupts Mortara and orders six 15-cent drafts. Riley hands out the beers to his friends as they all take a sip of the frothy cold Miller Lite. He admits to being a fan of 15-cent draft night since he was a freshman.\n"I come here on Wednesdays about once or twice every few months," Riley says, taking another sip. His friends argue with him that it's actually a lot more often. Yet, Riley and his friends do agree that they normally consume 10 to 12 drafts each Wednesday they are there.\nFifteen beers are the most seniors Jody Agler and Leanne Fairbanks say they have consumed in one night. The two come to the 'Bird every Wednesday night because of the drink special.\n"The only thing that sucks is that you have to wait in line for half an hour to get a beer," Agler says. "It ends up costing you more time to get less beer."\nFairbanks disagrees immediately. "You can get lots at one time though. You can buy like six at a time," she says.\nAgler jumps back, asking how one should go about carrying six beers. Fairbanks says you ask your friends to help.\n"But those friends who carry your beers might drink them," Agler says as the two girls laugh and take another drink.\nThe two reached the conclusion that it is possible to carry up to four 15-cent drafts at one time. The consensus seemed to be that a dollar would buy you four beers, with the extra 40 cents going as a tip.\n"It's all about the 'Bird on Wednesday nights," Fairbanks says. "Fifteen-cent drafts"
(11/12/02 9:53pm)
Coach Steve Rainer of Premier Sports said he's satisfied with the competitive game his team played against the IU women's basketball team Friday night. The Hoosiers came out on top in the exhibition game, 70-65.\n"Some exhibition teams come in, and they don't compete," Rainer said. "They don't give their opponent a challenge, but we gave IU a challenge tonight."\nIU coach Kathi Bennett said she was happy with the overall outcome of the game, but said the team is still shaky in some spots and has some areas to clean up. She said she still believes the team will improve.\n"We made some positive steps, and we know we have a ways to go, but there's so much potential. And it's all very exciting to me," Bennett said.\nHitting the floor hard for the night was senior Jill Hartman, who started in the game and recorded 18 points and four assists. Sophomore guard Jenny DeMuth added 15 points and 10 rebounds.\nDeMuth said she doesn't mind the pressure of being a leader on the team and knows it's a role she has to accept. She said it would now be key to keep everyone together and focused on their defense and running their offense.\nRainer said he was impressed with DeMuth on the court.\n"She is hard-nosed, and she made two critical baskets at the end of the game," Rainer said. "I was enjoying what she was doing out there."\nFreshman Cyndi Valentin said she was nervous about her first game in Assembly Hall but managed to score six points and have two assists. Valentin said it felt good to hit her first shot.\n"My parents and my coach called me before the game and helped calm me down and get me focused," Valentin said. "It was really exciting to play out there tonight."\nBennett said she was impressed with the presence of the freshmen Friday evening and even had a line up in the first half of the game that consisted of four freshmen.\n"They did really well coming in," Bennett said. "They were very energized. I thought Jamie (Gathing) gave us a lot of energy too."\nIn just 17 minutes of play, junior forward Jamie Gathing raked in eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.\nProviding the team with energy from the sidelines was senior point guard Kristen Bodine. Bodine suffered a sprained ankle in practice, but will most likely not miss any more games due to the injury.\n"We played without Kristen Bodine, and I think that left us pressed a little bit," Bennett said.\nPremier Sports center Jannon Roland, former Purdue player, said she thought IU shot the ball well for it being their first game. The 1997 Big Ten MVP said IU's post players were strong and well coached.\n"We had them down a few times," Roland said. "But they came back."\nBennett said she was impressed with what the team accomplished.\n"We got to see what we want to work on," she said. "That's what exhibition is for"
(11/07/02 5:58am)
The last we heard from Christina Aguilera, she was singing with Mya, Pink and the girls in the song radio overplayed perhaps more than any other song has been overplayed. While some people are already sick of her latest single, "Dirty," think twice about judging the album off that one track.\nMy roommate insists on referring to Aguilera as "Christina Hootchilera." Aguilera's outfits are skimpy (or non-existent), half her hair is fake and she wears more make-up than most prostitutes. Oddly enough, "Dirty" is nowhere near the dirtiest song on the album. "Get Mine, Get Yours" has the most provocative lyrics, including lines such as "Gotta hit that spot just right / Work me like a nine to five," and "I want your body not your heart." The song explores a strictly physical relationship with no strings attached. \nSome critics refer to Aguilera as a slut and a whore. It makes perfect sense then for her to have a song about the societal double standard that lets men do what they want sexually, but if women do the same, they are labeled with dirty names. Who helps out on this controversial track, "Can't Hold Us Down?" The only female in the industry sluttier than Aguilera: Lil' Kim.\nAguilera doesn't keep it all skanky on the album. Listeners will be surprised at the number of serious, heartfelt (instead of groin-felt) songs on the album. "I'm OK" points fingers at her abusive father. "The Voice Within" and "Beautiful" are two other songs that showcase Aguilera's out-of-this-world vocal abilities and have absolutely amazing and insightful lyrics. \nStripped takes many steps ahead of recent pop albums. The best thing about the album is that, unlike most other CDs from artists in this genre, the songs don't all sound the same. Aguilera has managed to come up with hip-hop-sounding songs, dramatic ballads, intense love songs and promising lyrics about making it through life.\nAguilera didn't throw this album together overnight. Perhaps that's why we haven't heard from her as a solo artist for quite some time now. Following in the footsteps of legendary pop singers like Janet Jackson and Madonna, Aguilera took the time to find the perfect emotions and lyrics that would make the album worth the wait. \nI've been waiting for over a year now to find a CD worthy of that perfect 10. I had no question after one listen that Stripped was it.
(11/07/02 5:00am)
It won't be long before the sounds of bells and Christmas music fill shopping malls across the country. Whether it's the College Mall here in Bloomington or the plethora of malls in Indianapolis, the aisles and lines will be a headache to some, but a great experience for others. \nSerious shoppers looking to go somewhere big can check out Indiana's largest mall, Castleton Square. Castleton Square is like a bigger version of College Mall, your traditional shopping mall with a few restaurants every once in awhile for tired shoppers to take a break. T.G.I. Friday's and the Garden Café Food Court provide shoppers with a variety of food.\n"I like all the malls in Indy, but Castleton is by far my favorite," says Ashley Charlesworth, a senior. "Circle Centre is far too busy. I can find a lot of cute party clothes at Castleton."\nCharlesworth says she likes to meet her mom at Castleton and do some serious shopping at the many stores it has to offer. Big name stores include L.S. Ayres, Von Maur, Sears and Galyan's Trading Company. Over 130 specially shops help make up this popular mall.\nThe ultimate shopping experience in Indianapolis always includes a trip to Circle Centre Mall in the heart of downtown Indy. The four levels high, two block long shopping center is anchored by its two popular department stores, Parisian and Nordstrom. It's the only Nordstrom in the state of Indiana and therefore makes Circle Centre stand out from other shopping malls in town.\nCircle Centre prides itself with a list of stores and restaurants offered nowhere else in Indianapolis. Hollister Co., Orgins, Pacers Home Court II and the Colts Pro Shop are just a few of the retailers you won't find anywhere else in town. Be prepared for a long day, though; the mall is fairly spread out and is usually always a hopping place and very busy.\nDana Moore, an employee of Franklin Covey at Circle Centre, sits among planners and paper products and says she sees college students everyday.\n"Circle Centre is a great place to shop in Indy," Moore says. "There's a lot of variety here and it's just downtown."\nMoore says the only downfalls of Circle Centre are the prices. The variety and chance of a great shopping experience are excellent, but the mall wasn't made for a college budget. Moore also says it'd be her favorite place to shop, even if she didn't work there. \n"They have everything here," Moore says. "Why go anywhere else?"\nCircle Centre isn't only about shopping for clothes. There are jewelry stores and specialty shops that line the center of the mall and it's aisles. Shoppers can even get their teeth whitened at Brite Smile, the professional teeth whitening center.\nCircle Centre doesn't compare with the upscale shopping found at The Fashion Mall at Keystone, which is just down the road from Castleton. Located at the intersection of 86th Street and Keystone Avenue, this shopping venue isn't for those on any sort of a tight budget. The cleanliness and appearance of the place will tell shoppers that right off the bat.\nMatt Devine, a junior, says the Fashion Mall at Keystone is his favorite shopping venue in Indianapolis because they have all the stores Bloomington doesn't have.\n"I know a lot of people go to Keystone because they have Abercrombie for Kids," Devine says. "Keystone is better than Castleton and Circle Centre because it is smaller and easier to get around. Places like Castleton, you have to walk a country mile just to get around the mall to your favorite stores."\nDevine says he makes the trip to the Fashion Mall about once a month, but it isn't for a college budget. Stores like Banana Republic and Parisian make it a ritzier place to shop, Devine says, and while he does have a college budget, he breaks the rules and shops there anyway.\nCharlesworth says the Fashion Mall is entirely too expensive.\n"I don't like shopping at the Fashion Mall," Charlesworth says. "It's ridiculous how expensive that place is."\nNo matter what the serious shopper is looking for, it can be found in Indianapolis. Lots of students hit up Indianapolis' Broad Ripple for the nightlife it offers, but besides nightlife, Broad Ripple has a variety of shopping stores. It's just 20 minutes north of downtown and offers lots of unique shops and art galleries. Broad Ripple is also popular for it's antiques and vintage clothing.\nOther malls in Indianapolis include Washington Square, Greenwood Park and Lafayette Square Mall. \nJust up SR 37 is fabulous shopping at many different venues. With Christmas just around the corner, those wanting a serious shopping experience will probably be headed up to Indianapolis and make a day, or even a weekend, out of it.\n"Shopping in Indianapolis is great," Charlesworth says. "I love the malls and the stores and wouldn't want to go anywhere else to do my shopping"
(11/07/02 5:00am)
The last we heard from Christina Aguilera, she was singing with Mya, Pink and the girls in the song radio overplayed perhaps more than any other song has been overplayed. While some people are already sick of her latest single, "Dirty," think twice about judging the album off that one track.\nMy roommate insists on referring to Aguilera as "Christina Hootchilera." Aguilera's outfits are skimpy (or non-existent), half her hair is fake and she wears more make-up than most prostitutes. Oddly enough, "Dirty" is nowhere near the dirtiest song on the album. "Get Mine, Get Yours" has the most provocative lyrics, including lines such as "Gotta hit that spot just right / Work me like a nine to five," and "I want your body not your heart." The song explores a strictly physical relationship with no strings attached. \nSome critics refer to Aguilera as a slut and a whore. It makes perfect sense then for her to have a song about the societal double standard that lets men do what they want sexually, but if women do the same, they are labeled with dirty names. Who helps out on this controversial track, "Can't Hold Us Down?" The only female in the industry sluttier than Aguilera: Lil' Kim.\nAguilera doesn't keep it all skanky on the album. Listeners will be surprised at the number of serious, heartfelt (instead of groin-felt) songs on the album. "I'm OK" points fingers at her abusive father. "The Voice Within" and "Beautiful" are two other songs that showcase Aguilera's out-of-this-world vocal abilities and have absolutely amazing and insightful lyrics. \nStripped takes many steps ahead of recent pop albums. The best thing about the album is that, unlike most other CDs from artists in this genre, the songs don't all sound the same. Aguilera has managed to come up with hip-hop-sounding songs, dramatic ballads, intense love songs and promising lyrics about making it through life.\nAguilera didn't throw this album together overnight. Perhaps that's why we haven't heard from her as a solo artist for quite some time now. Following in the footsteps of legendary pop singers like Janet Jackson and Madonna, Aguilera took the time to find the perfect emotions and lyrics that would make the album worth the wait. \nI've been waiting for over a year now to find a CD worthy of that perfect 10. I had no question after one listen that Stripped was it.
(11/07/02 4:37am)
It won't be long before the sounds of bells and Christmas music fill shopping malls across the country. Whether it's the College Mall here in Bloomington or the plethora of malls in Indianapolis, the aisles and lines will be a headache to some, but a great experience for others. \nSerious shoppers looking to go somewhere big can check out Indiana's largest mall, Castleton Square. Castleton Square is like a bigger version of College Mall, your traditional shopping mall with a few restaurants every once in awhile for tired shoppers to take a break. T.G.I. Friday's and the Garden Café Food Court provide shoppers with a variety of food.\n"I like all the malls in Indy, but Castleton is by far my favorite," says Ashley Charlesworth, a senior. "Circle Centre is far too busy. I can find a lot of cute party clothes at Castleton."\nCharlesworth says she likes to meet her mom at Castleton and do some serious shopping at the many stores it has to offer. Big name stores include L.S. Ayres, Von Maur, Sears and Galyan's Trading Company. Over 130 specially shops help make up this popular mall.\nThe ultimate shopping experience in Indianapolis always includes a trip to Circle Centre Mall in the heart of downtown Indy. The four levels high, two block long shopping center is anchored by its two popular department stores, Parisian and Nordstrom. It's the only Nordstrom in the state of Indiana and therefore makes Circle Centre stand out from other shopping malls in town.\nCircle Centre prides itself with a list of stores and restaurants offered nowhere else in Indianapolis. Hollister Co., Orgins, Pacers Home Court II and the Colts Pro Shop are just a few of the retailers you won't find anywhere else in town. Be prepared for a long day, though; the mall is fairly spread out and is usually always a hopping place and very busy.\nDana Moore, an employee of Franklin Covey at Circle Centre, sits among planners and paper products and says she sees college students everyday.\n"Circle Centre is a great place to shop in Indy," Moore says. "There's a lot of variety here and it's just downtown."\nMoore says the only downfalls of Circle Centre are the prices. The variety and chance of a great shopping experience are excellent, but the mall wasn't made for a college budget. Moore also says it'd be her favorite place to shop, even if she didn't work there. \n"They have everything here," Moore says. "Why go anywhere else?"\nCircle Centre isn't only about shopping for clothes. There are jewelry stores and specialty shops that line the center of the mall and it's aisles. Shoppers can even get their teeth whitened at Brite Smile, the professional teeth whitening center.\nCircle Centre doesn't compare with the upscale shopping found at The Fashion Mall at Keystone, which is just down the road from Castleton. Located at the intersection of 86th Street and Keystone Avenue, this shopping venue isn't for those on any sort of a tight budget. The cleanliness and appearance of the place will tell shoppers that right off the bat.\nMatt Devine, a junior, says the Fashion Mall at Keystone is his favorite shopping venue in Indianapolis because they have all the stores Bloomington doesn't have.\n"I know a lot of people go to Keystone because they have Abercrombie for Kids," Devine says. "Keystone is better than Castleton and Circle Centre because it is smaller and easier to get around. Places like Castleton, you have to walk a country mile just to get around the mall to your favorite stores."\nDevine says he makes the trip to the Fashion Mall about once a month, but it isn't for a college budget. Stores like Banana Republic and Parisian make it a ritzier place to shop, Devine says, and while he does have a college budget, he breaks the rules and shops there anyway.\nCharlesworth says the Fashion Mall is entirely too expensive.\n"I don't like shopping at the Fashion Mall," Charlesworth says. "It's ridiculous how expensive that place is."\nNo matter what the serious shopper is looking for, it can be found in Indianapolis. Lots of students hit up Indianapolis' Broad Ripple for the nightlife it offers, but besides nightlife, Broad Ripple has a variety of shopping stores. It's just 20 minutes north of downtown and offers lots of unique shops and art galleries. Broad Ripple is also popular for it's antiques and vintage clothing.\nOther malls in Indianapolis include Washington Square, Greenwood Park and Lafayette Square Mall. \nJust up SR 37 is fabulous shopping at many different venues. With Christmas just around the corner, those wanting a serious shopping experience will probably be headed up to Indianapolis and make a day, or even a weekend, out of it.\n"Shopping in Indianapolis is great," Charlesworth says. "I love the malls and the stores and wouldn't want to go anywhere else to do my shopping"
(11/05/02 3:34pm)
Coach Kathi Bennett remembers a Christmas when her father, coach Dick Bennett, came home from a horrifying game. The veins sticking out of her father's head made her think he was going to die. Not only had his team had just lost a game, but he almost got into a fight in the stands. People had been screaming at him, "Coach Bennett, you're a bum!" and "Why'd they bring you in here for?" Bennett saw the highs and lows of coaching growing up with a father as a coach and at first didn't think it was worth it.\n"As you mature you see the rewards," Bennett said. "I think I saw my dad and the passion he had for the game. His knowledge and how hard he worked, what he accomplished -- it's incredible."\nWhat Bennett once saw in her father, her own players are noticing in her.\n"She brings so much knowledge and wisdom to the game," senior Jill Hartman said. "She loves it so much. She's so passionate about basketball that you just can't help but follow her."\nSenior Kristen Bodine said before playing for Bennett, she had never wanted to be a coach, but Bennett showed her how you can behave and treat people. It gave Bodine an entirely new perspective on coaching. Under Bennett, Bodine has grown as a basketball player and as a person.\nBoth the highs and lows of coaching have been prevalent in Bennett's years as a women's basketball coach. She coached for Teiyko Marycrest, Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Evansville before coming to IU in 2000. \nPerhaps having an even bigger effect on Bennett's life than her father is the near-fatal accident that occurred in February of last season. The accident forced Bennett to look at life in a different light, and she realized that all that's required of her is her best.\n"I'm enjoying teaching and what I do more," Bennett said. "The reason why I coach is the relationships with my players. It's everlasting and it's what motivates you to continue."\nBennett said it was a humbling experience and felt like while she sat in the hospital, her team was successful without her. There was a part of her that needed to be with the team.\n"I needed them more than they needed me," Bennett said. "That was the reason why I wanted to get back."\nShe did make it back and nine months later said her health is perfect and couldn't be better. \nEven Purdue's coach, Kristy Curry, has noticed Bennett's impact on the team and said Bennett has done a great job with such a great program. Curry said she knows Bennett's Hoosiers will be a tough game this season.\nBennett's accident is over, she's recovered, and it's time to think about the season. Attendance may not be high at Assembly Hall for women's games, but that's far from close to anything that's on her mind. \n"With nine new players, I can't be worrying about that stuff," Bennett said. "We're doing more and more things to try and help with attendance. I think you're going to see more fans. This will be an exciting group to watch play."\nBennett's father had a great impact on her life as a basketball coach. It's an impact he still makes on her life today. They still have a relationship and talk basketball on the phone at least a few times a week. \n"I'd be crazy not to ask him for advice," Bennett said. "There's nobody better"
(11/05/02 3:32pm)
Coach Kristy Curry of the Purdue Boilermakers said IU finished last season on a momentum swing after winning the Big Ten Tournament. While that may be true, the Hoosiers have a lot on their minds concerning this season, not what happened in the past.\n"I believe in this group and I think they're going to be a really good team," coach Kathi Bennett said of her Hoosiers. "It's a belief this team has, and the confidence got started last year. But right now we have a lot to work on, we're so young, inexperienced, and these girls have never played together before."\nBennett said the success of the team would not come overnight. It could be quite a process for the Hoosiers to be a successful team in the Big Ten this season. \nThe Hoosiers will have to be a great defensive team to be competitive in the Big Ten, Bennett said. She added they will have to double team and be very effective at it. \n"We also need to do a much better job than we have been doing at taking care of the ball," Bennett said. "We have way too many turnovers and that's going to kill us."\nAside from what the team is struggling with, senior Kristen Bodine said this is the year for senior Allison Skapin and Jill Hartman to shine.\n"This is it for them and they've worked so hard and waited their turn," Bodine said. \nOne of the strengths the team will carry this season is their ability to score. Bodine once said in practice that she didn't think there were enough balls for the women to keep shooting and scoring with. \nHartman looks forward to scoring most against Purdue and Penn State and said it would be fun to try and shut down Penn State's gun.\nBennett, however, has a different feeling about playing Penn State and said it's going to be unbelievable there, with scores of people that the team won't be used to playing in front of.\nCoach Jane Albright of Wisconsin is no stranger to playing at an intimidating place and said playing at Assembly Hall will be one of their tough games.\n"History's proven that's a real tough place for us to play at for whatever reason," Albright said. "That's going to be a tough game."\nOnly time will tell the success of the women's basketball team this season. Bennett said every season is a new season, and a new time to believe.\n"You just keep hammering away," Bennett said. "I believe this group at the end of the year can do the same as last year's group."\nBennett said it sounds almost magical, but the belief this team has seems to prevail over their abilities on the court right now. \nThe seniors that laid the foundation for this year's team are gone, but they have renewed an energy and a belief that the team can accomplish anything. Bodine said the Hoosiers that the fans will see on the court are just now learning how to play with each other, but their inexperience will be in the shadows of their hopes and dreams.\n"We might take a couple steps back this year," Bodine said, "but we're going to be right there at the end of the year, where we were last year"
(11/05/02 3:29pm)
Playing a sport at a Big Ten school is something some high school kids only dream about. For freshman Brigett Branson, a 6'2" forward from Bloomingdale, Ind., that dream came true.\n"I've always wanted to come here since I was a little girl," Branson said. "I'm from Indiana and I grew up knowing Indiana basketball."\nThis year's women's basketball team will include five freshman faces. Cyndi Valentin, Kali Kullberg, April Williams, Angela Hawkins and Branson are the five freshmen that coach Kathi Bennett said won't be strangers to seeing playing time. Bennett said they need the new girls and the talent they bring to the court.\n"Cyndi, as a freshman, finishes around the basket better than a lot of other players that have come in," Bennett said. "I really like what I see from her in that area and I think she'll be one of the freshman that will contribute."\nBennett said it's going to be up and down for Valentin until she knows what is expected from her. It will be a learning process, but if all goes well, Valentin will be a player that will definitely help the Hoosiers out on the court.\nValentin, a Bloomington native, chose to be a Hoosier to stay close to home. She said it just felt right for her to be here. Now that practice has gotten intense, Valentin has discovered college basketball is a lot different than what she experienced in high school.\nBranson said the biggest difference between high school and college play is the running.\n"In high school you get away with a lot of jogging and here it's sprint all the time," Branson said. "You have to be in a lot better shape than in high school."\nKullberg, Williams and Hawkins will also be looking for playing time this season as freshmen. Kullberg, a 5'8" guard from Mound, Minn., is a defensive-minded player with a number of athletic accomplishments from high school in basketball, volleyball and softball. \nA Covington, Tenn. native, Williams averaged 20 points and nine rebounds during her senior season at Covington High School. \nThe tallest Hoosier this season is Hawkins who considered Alabama, Providence and South Florida before choosing IU. Her rebounding and shot-blocking helped her to be considered as a national top-60 prospect. \nSenior Jill Hartman has noticed the freshmen and their abilities on the court. She said she also likes to see how they work together with the team. \n"They are doing really well," Hartman said. "A lot better than you would think going into it. There's a lot thrown at them."\nValentin and Branson both said the freshmen have great chemistry together. They all live on the same floor of their dorm and hang out together outside of practice. \n"This freshman class is great," Branson said. "Everyone is so open, so friendly. Instantly we clicked and became really tight and have a really good bond already."\nBonding off the court may help the overall chemistry of the team, but Bennett said the real inspiration should come from the upperclassmen.\n"They have to lead the way as far as making it known what it takes to get to the next level," Bennett said. "This group has great willingness and their coachability is awesome"
(10/31/02 5:05am)
It's said that the IU experience isn't complete without seeing John Mellencamp in concert at least once. For those who haven't seen him live yet, or those who want to see him again, Mellencamp will make a stop at Assembly Hall Sunday on his current tour.\nTo say Mellencamp has had a successful career would be an understatement. His 17-album discography spans 25 years, and he has a host of awards. His recent ventures include collaborations with the likes of rapper Chuck D. and a Broadway-style musical with Stephen King.\nDespite an already groundbreaking career, Mellencamp shows no signs of slowing down. With a new album out just last year and this tour with Alice Peacock, he is still working hard. While his schedule is jam-packed with concerts, benefit shows and songwriting, he took the time to talk with IDS Weekend about his career, his band and race in America.\nYou seem to have a lot going on right now with the tour and different projects. What would you say is your main priority?\nI would say my main priority is to try to make it through this afternoon. I try to take it a day at a time.\nCan you tell me about your new band member, Mike Ramos?\nMike was in a band called the Bodeans, and he played on Paul Simon's last record. He's really a great accordion player, and I'm glad to have an accordion player back in the band. He also plays on the keyboards, and he was kind of in my band in the early '90s for a few months, but then his father got sick and he had to go take care of his father. But we're happy to have him back.\nCan you tell me about the (rock journalist) Timothy White benefits and the impact he had on your life as a musician?\nYou got 40 hours? Tim White was absolutely the conscience of the music business. There's nobody that will be able to take his place. It would take six or seven people to do what Tim did. I talked to Tim probably every day of the week about the music business, and we became friends over the last 20 years. \nJust to see the support of people who came out to do this benefit...myself, Sting, James Taylor, Don Henley, Jimmy Buffett and a new girl named Heather Headley. You know, a lot of support came out (like) Billy Joel. There were a lot of people who wanted to help Tim's situation.\nYou're a future writer - well, he was editor of Billboard magazine, and these guys don't make a lot of money. I mean, they make a good living of course, but he has an autistic child, and that's really what it was for. It's because the kid is only 11 years old and chances are Judy, his wife, will have to take care of the child her entire life. \nHow did you get paired up with Stephen King to do a project?\nI've known Steve for a long time, maybe since the mid '80s. I had the story, I was with Steve and I told him the story. We both talked about something that we had never done before, which was a musical. We decided to try and make this into a musical, and Steve is getting ready. He says he's going to retire, but he might just write books and put them into a vault, which is what I bet he does. \nI think that we talked about it and kicked it around, I wrote a couple of songs, and he wrote the story. Now he has to write the book. Kind of like a screenplay for a musical.\nWhen do you hope to have the project finished by?\nThis winter we hope to be able to complete the project, but we'll see.\nI read this is supposed to be a Broadway-style play. Will it actually be on Broadway?\nWell, we hope we're doing something that nobody's ever seen before. This is not "Cujo" meets "Jack & Diane." I can tell you that. \nSteve wrote "The Green Mile" and "Shawshank Redemption" - it's more along those lines. It's funny too. There are funny bits in it. We'll see what kind of songs I write and what these paid people actually end up saying, and then we'll see what happens. \nA lot of people say an IU student's experience is not complete without a John Mellencamp concert. Why do you think students should come out to your show?\nI think they should if they want to. I hate to sound like I'm selling anything. I live here, that's the biggest thing. I've played Little 500 maybe three or four times. I think the students should come if they want to come. \nI hate to come off crude, but I think we're one of the best rock bands there is, and we're right here in town. If it was me, I'd go on over.\nWhat's different about this tour compared to your past tours?\nI don't know if there's anything different about it. I've been recording for 25 years and I have so many songs, I've made 20 albums. I couldn't possibly sing all the songs that I wanted or I should sing on stage. \nI don't know why, but I've been able to write a few songs that have gone on for a long time. I think it's because they were kind of more than pop songs. They were songs that asked people to look at themselves or question where we're at. The best songs are the songs that people go, "Hey, that song's about me!" If a guy can write that song, then that's great. There's so much pop music today that I'd be embarrassed to say this song is about me. It's just so crumby, terrible and shallow.\nDo you have one favorite song you like to perform at a concert?\nActually, right now I'm doing a song in this show that was written by (bluesman) Robert Johnson. I like playing that song. It's called "Stones in My Pathway." It was recorded in 1934.\nDo you ever get tired of performing the Mellencamp classics?\nI get tired and bored with everything. I'd say that's probably one of my strongest suits. I'm still interested in life. \nI wrote a song many years ago called "Jack & Diane" about two people who lost interest in life. I think that's the key to everything: To be able to stay interested. So many people are like, "Eh, fuck. I got that figured out. I already know what that's about." You know. Wrong! They make big leaps of assumption.\nSo at this point in your life are you satisfied with what you've accomplished?\nNo, no, no. I don't think a person should ever be satisfied with what they've accomplished. I'll be trying to write the best song I ever wrote on my death bed probably.\nDo you know how many more albums you'll come out with or are you going to just keep going?\nI'll just keep going.\nWhat has been the absolute best moment of your entire career?\nGosh, I don't know. I've had so many great moments. I really don't know. I don't really think about those things. I've had a lot of good moments. I've had a lot of moments that have been very satisfying, but on the same token I've had a lot of really shitty ones too. As high as you can get, you can get that low.\nMy biggest problem right now is I'd really like to quit smoking these fucking cigarettes. I've been smoking too long, and I don't like it. It's scary and terrible.\nWhat does your doctor say about that?\nWhat do you think he says?\nNo plans to quit though, you just wish you could?\nI don't know. I keep thinking one of these days I'm going to wake up and act like I've got some sense in my head. But so far that hasn't happened.\nIt's been said that you are one of America's most successful mainstream rock singers of the past two decades. How does it feel to hear that?\nI don't believe it. I just don't believe it.\nTell me about working with Chuck D. and how you ended up doing the song "Cuttin' Heads" with him?\nChuck D. is probably more like me than anybody I've ever worked with. Just the way we've chosen to express ourselves. I started a long time before he did, and when he got into the music business, the business had changed a little bit. But we both kind of came from the same place - a place of honesty and trying to have some sort of integrity in this creepy fucking world we live in. \nSo Chuck and I, the time we spent together was great. It was fun.\nWhat about the song "Cuttin' Heads," how can students relate to it?\nI don't know. I don't know if they can or not. Surely people are concerned with race. Race is America's black eye. I just don't understand. It's hard for me to believe that it still is what it is. It's sad.\nI have a lot of races in my band, so I'm in a situation where I get to hear a lot of different sides of the story and how people were brought up, how they feel about this word and that word, and the future. To me it's very interesting.\nYou had a birthday recently, how did you celebrate that?\nWell, I have to say that the birthday fairy passed me by. Fuck birthdays.\nYou seem to follow IU sports, have you been keeping up this fall with the football team?\nYup, I was at the game the other day. \nDo people at sporting events approach you for autographs? How do you feel about that?\nI have no idea what they are going to do with those damn things. I mean, what do you do with a damn autograph anyway? I've never asked anybody for one. But I figure if they want it, I'll give it to them. But it's not really my favorite thing to do.
(10/31/02 5:00am)
It's said that the IU experience isn't complete without seeing John Mellencamp in concert at least once. For those who haven't seen him live yet, or those who want to see him again, Mellencamp will make a stop at Assembly Hall Sunday on his current tour.\nTo say Mellencamp has had a successful career would be an understatement. His 17-album discography spans 25 years, and he has a host of awards. His recent ventures include collaborations with the likes of rapper Chuck D. and a Broadway-style musical with Stephen King.\nDespite an already groundbreaking career, Mellencamp shows no signs of slowing down. With a new album out just last year and this tour with Alice Peacock, he is still working hard. While his schedule is jam-packed with concerts, benefit shows and songwriting, he took the time to talk with IDS Weekend about his career, his band and race in America.\nYou seem to have a lot going on right now with the tour and different projects. What would you say is your main priority?\nI would say my main priority is to try to make it through this afternoon. I try to take it a day at a time.\nCan you tell me about your new band member, Mike Ramos?\nMike was in a band called the Bodeans, and he played on Paul Simon's last record. He's really a great accordion player, and I'm glad to have an accordion player back in the band. He also plays on the keyboards, and he was kind of in my band in the early '90s for a few months, but then his father got sick and he had to go take care of his father. But we're happy to have him back.\nCan you tell me about the (rock journalist) Timothy White benefits and the impact he had on your life as a musician?\nYou got 40 hours? Tim White was absolutely the conscience of the music business. There's nobody that will be able to take his place. It would take six or seven people to do what Tim did. I talked to Tim probably every day of the week about the music business, and we became friends over the last 20 years. \nJust to see the support of people who came out to do this benefit...myself, Sting, James Taylor, Don Henley, Jimmy Buffett and a new girl named Heather Headley. You know, a lot of support came out (like) Billy Joel. There were a lot of people who wanted to help Tim's situation.\nYou're a future writer - well, he was editor of Billboard magazine, and these guys don't make a lot of money. I mean, they make a good living of course, but he has an autistic child, and that's really what it was for. It's because the kid is only 11 years old and chances are Judy, his wife, will have to take care of the child her entire life. \nHow did you get paired up with Stephen King to do a project?\nI've known Steve for a long time, maybe since the mid '80s. I had the story, I was with Steve and I told him the story. We both talked about something that we had never done before, which was a musical. We decided to try and make this into a musical, and Steve is getting ready. He says he's going to retire, but he might just write books and put them into a vault, which is what I bet he does. \nI think that we talked about it and kicked it around, I wrote a couple of songs, and he wrote the story. Now he has to write the book. Kind of like a screenplay for a musical.\nWhen do you hope to have the project finished by?\nThis winter we hope to be able to complete the project, but we'll see.\nI read this is supposed to be a Broadway-style play. Will it actually be on Broadway?\nWell, we hope we're doing something that nobody's ever seen before. This is not "Cujo" meets "Jack & Diane." I can tell you that. \nSteve wrote "The Green Mile" and "Shawshank Redemption" - it's more along those lines. It's funny too. There are funny bits in it. We'll see what kind of songs I write and what these paid people actually end up saying, and then we'll see what happens. \nA lot of people say an IU student's experience is not complete without a John Mellencamp concert. Why do you think students should come out to your show?\nI think they should if they want to. I hate to sound like I'm selling anything. I live here, that's the biggest thing. I've played Little 500 maybe three or four times. I think the students should come if they want to come. \nI hate to come off crude, but I think we're one of the best rock bands there is, and we're right here in town. If it was me, I'd go on over.\nWhat's different about this tour compared to your past tours?\nI don't know if there's anything different about it. I've been recording for 25 years and I have so many songs, I've made 20 albums. I couldn't possibly sing all the songs that I wanted or I should sing on stage. \nI don't know why, but I've been able to write a few songs that have gone on for a long time. I think it's because they were kind of more than pop songs. They were songs that asked people to look at themselves or question where we're at. The best songs are the songs that people go, "Hey, that song's about me!" If a guy can write that song, then that's great. There's so much pop music today that I'd be embarrassed to say this song is about me. It's just so crumby, terrible and shallow.\nDo you have one favorite song you like to perform at a concert?\nActually, right now I'm doing a song in this show that was written by (bluesman) Robert Johnson. I like playing that song. It's called "Stones in My Pathway." It was recorded in 1934.\nDo you ever get tired of performing the Mellencamp classics?\nI get tired and bored with everything. I'd say that's probably one of my strongest suits. I'm still interested in life. \nI wrote a song many years ago called "Jack & Diane" about two people who lost interest in life. I think that's the key to everything: To be able to stay interested. So many people are like, "Eh, fuck. I got that figured out. I already know what that's about." You know. Wrong! They make big leaps of assumption.\nSo at this point in your life are you satisfied with what you've accomplished?\nNo, no, no. I don't think a person should ever be satisfied with what they've accomplished. I'll be trying to write the best song I ever wrote on my death bed probably.\nDo you know how many more albums you'll come out with or are you going to just keep going?\nI'll just keep going.\nWhat has been the absolute best moment of your entire career?\nGosh, I don't know. I've had so many great moments. I really don't know. I don't really think about those things. I've had a lot of good moments. I've had a lot of moments that have been very satisfying, but on the same token I've had a lot of really shitty ones too. As high as you can get, you can get that low.\nMy biggest problem right now is I'd really like to quit smoking these fucking cigarettes. I've been smoking too long, and I don't like it. It's scary and terrible.\nWhat does your doctor say about that?\nWhat do you think he says?\nNo plans to quit though, you just wish you could?\nI don't know. I keep thinking one of these days I'm going to wake up and act like I've got some sense in my head. But so far that hasn't happened.\nIt's been said that you are one of America's most successful mainstream rock singers of the past two decades. How does it feel to hear that?\nI don't believe it. I just don't believe it.\nTell me about working with Chuck D. and how you ended up doing the song "Cuttin' Heads" with him?\nChuck D. is probably more like me than anybody I've ever worked with. Just the way we've chosen to express ourselves. I started a long time before he did, and when he got into the music business, the business had changed a little bit. But we both kind of came from the same place - a place of honesty and trying to have some sort of integrity in this creepy fucking world we live in. \nSo Chuck and I, the time we spent together was great. It was fun.\nWhat about the song "Cuttin' Heads," how can students relate to it?\nI don't know. I don't know if they can or not. Surely people are concerned with race. Race is America's black eye. I just don't understand. It's hard for me to believe that it still is what it is. It's sad.\nI have a lot of races in my band, so I'm in a situation where I get to hear a lot of different sides of the story and how people were brought up, how they feel about this word and that word, and the future. To me it's very interesting.\nYou had a birthday recently, how did you celebrate that?\nWell, I have to say that the birthday fairy passed me by. Fuck birthdays.\nYou seem to follow IU sports, have you been keeping up this fall with the football team?\nYup, I was at the game the other day. \nDo people at sporting events approach you for autographs? How do you feel about that?\nI have no idea what they are going to do with those damn things. I mean, what do you do with a damn autograph anyway? I've never asked anybody for one. But I figure if they want it, I'll give it to them. But it's not really my favorite thing to do.
(10/17/02 4:00am)
There hasn't been a love story this good in a long time. From the director of "The Wood" comes a movie that will tug on your heartstrings and possibly make you look at your best friend of the opposite sex in a different light.\n"When Harry Met Sally" showed the world that men and women can't just be friends. "Brown Sugar" is also living proof of that. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) grew up together listening to hip hop, and eventually both establish careers in the hip-hop field.\nDre, who works for a record label, and Sidney, an editor of a music magazine, are best friends who are meant to be a couple from the start. But, everything happens for a reason, and in this movie everything happens at the perfect time.\nDiggs and Lathan have the most amazing chemistry on screen. Fans could see it in "The Wood" and in "The Best Man," but "Brown Sugar" blows them both out of the water. It is certainly both actors' finest moments of their careers.\nMos Def plays a levelheaded rapper, Chris V, who is looking for his chance at the big time. Mos Def brings comedic relief to the movie. He's hysterical, and he shows the world that some rappers can actually do an exceptional job at acting.\nFans of "Love and Basketball" can't pass this movie up. It's better than that. "Brown Sugar" is so well crafted that it stands as the most beautiful love story in a good while. Anyone who's ever been in love can feel all the emotions all over again just by watching the movie. It's very mature, classy and well thought out. "Brown Sugar" takes many steps beyond other movies in its genre and is well worth a trip to the theater.
(10/16/02 5:07am)
There hasn't been a love story this good in a long time. From the director of "The Wood" comes a movie that will tug on your heartstrings and possibly make you look at your best friend of the opposite sex in a different light.\n"When Harry Met Sally" showed the world that men and women can't just be friends. "Brown Sugar" is also living proof of that. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) grew up together listening to hip hop, and eventually both establish careers in the hip-hop field.\nDre, who works for a record label, and Sidney, an editor of a music magazine, are best friends who are meant to be a couple from the start. But, everything happens for a reason, and in this movie everything happens at the perfect time.\nDiggs and Lathan have the most amazing chemistry on screen. Fans could see it in "The Wood" and in "The Best Man," but "Brown Sugar" blows them both out of the water. It is certainly both actors' finest moments of their careers.\nMos Def plays a levelheaded rapper, Chris V, who is looking for his chance at the big time. Mos Def brings comedic relief to the movie. He's hysterical, and he shows the world that some rappers can actually do an exceptional job at acting.\nFans of "Love and Basketball" can't pass this movie up. It's better than that. "Brown Sugar" is so well crafted that it stands as the most beautiful love story in a good while. Anyone who's ever been in love can feel all the emotions all over again just by watching the movie. It's very mature, classy and well thought out. "Brown Sugar" takes many steps beyond other movies in its genre and is well worth a trip to the theater.
(10/10/02 7:05am)
It's all about rhythm and lyrics for the soulful duo Floetry. Marcia Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart (nicknamed the Songstress and the Floacist, respectively), the two women who make up the group, released their first album, Floetic, on Oct. 1. It could be a bit of a disappointment to fans of their first single.\nTheir sound is different, more of an MTV2 sound than mainstream "TRL." The first single and title track, "Floetic," could lead to a lot of misconceptions about the duo. The rest of the album is much more laid back and soulful. \nThere are two bonus tracks, and one is the original demo version of the song "Butterflies" that was released by Michael Jackson. Floetry has also helped write songs for Jill Scott and Glenn Lewis.\n"Mr. Messed Up" is a fun track. The title is self explanatory, but the song tells the title character not to "take it personal," and yet in the CD booklet a personal message is enclosed at the end of the song saying "U know who U R!" Apparently, someone is to take it personal.\nFloacist and Songstress thank a lot of people for influencing them. Macy Gray and Patti LaBelle are two examples, and it's obvious that Floetry models most of its sound from these two artists. Floetry's musical talent is almost as good as those two as well.\nListeners should check out the other songs online before purchasing the CD to know exactly what they're getting into. It's a great CD to sit back and chill to, but it will take a serious R&B and soul fan to truly appreciate the music and lyrics of this album.
(10/10/02 6:23am)
Most anyone raised in a Christian household knows the vegetables from "Veggie Tales." Christians young and old seem to be in love with the talking vegetables, their stories and their songs. Jonah is the first full-length movie for "Veggie Tales" and sold out its first night here in Bloomington.\nJonah is a familiar story from the Bible about a prophet who was swallowed by a big fish and lived to tell about it. The story says that after God gave Jonah another chance, Jonah still refused to believe he was forgiven. "Veggie Tales" managed to take this same story and tell it with a talking asparagus. \nThe animated film is just as charming and heart-warming as past videos of "Veggie Tales," but is quite longer. The 85-minute movie is just right for kids and keeps the attention of adults as well. It's funny for young and old alike with some adult humor. (Clean adult humor, of course.)\nThere's a lesson to be learned from every "Veggie Tale." Jonah teaches the lesson of God giving the wayward prophet a second chance, and that we too should have mercy for people and give them second chances as well.\nWho in Bible times would have thought that some day an asparagus would be telling people the story of Jonah? Whether they would believe it or not isn't the issue. "Veggie Tales" are spreading the Christian word through this adorable and lesson-teaching film from which everyone can learn something. Wait till it's out on video though: Kids in the theater aren't any more quiet during "Veggie Tales" than they are at any other movie.
(10/10/02 4:00am)
Most anyone raised in a Christian household knows the vegetables from "Veggie Tales." Christians young and old seem to be in love with the talking vegetables, their stories and their songs. Jonah is the first full-length movie for "Veggie Tales" and sold out its first night here in Bloomington.\nJonah is a familiar story from the Bible about a prophet who was swallowed by a big fish and lived to tell about it. The story says that after God gave Jonah another chance, Jonah still refused to believe he was forgiven. "Veggie Tales" managed to take this same story and tell it with a talking asparagus. \nThe animated film is just as charming and heart-warming as past videos of "Veggie Tales," but is quite longer. The 85-minute movie is just right for kids and keeps the attention of adults as well. It's funny for young and old alike with some adult humor. (Clean adult humor, of course.)\nThere's a lesson to be learned from every "Veggie Tale." Jonah teaches the lesson of God giving the wayward prophet a second chance, and that we too should have mercy for people and give them second chances as well.\nWho in Bible times would have thought that some day an asparagus would be telling people the story of Jonah? Whether they would believe it or not isn't the issue. "Veggie Tales" are spreading the Christian word through this adorable and lesson-teaching film from which everyone can learn something. Wait till it's out on video though: Kids in the theater aren't any more quiet during "Veggie Tales" than they are at any other movie.
(10/10/02 4:00am)
It's all about rhythm and lyrics for the soulful duo Floetry. Marcia Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart (nicknamed the Songstress and the Floacist, respectively), the two women who make up the group, released their first album, Floetic, on Oct. 1. It could be a bit of a disappointment to fans of their first single.\nTheir sound is different, more of an MTV2 sound than mainstream "TRL." The first single and title track, "Floetic," could lead to a lot of misconceptions about the duo. The rest of the album is much more laid back and soulful. \nThere are two bonus tracks, and one is the original demo version of the song "Butterflies" that was released by Michael Jackson. Floetry has also helped write songs for Jill Scott and Glenn Lewis.\n"Mr. Messed Up" is a fun track. The title is self explanatory, but the song tells the title character not to "take it personal," and yet in the CD booklet a personal message is enclosed at the end of the song saying "U know who U R!" Apparently, someone is to take it personal.\nFloacist and Songstress thank a lot of people for influencing them. Macy Gray and Patti LaBelle are two examples, and it's obvious that Floetry models most of its sound from these two artists. Floetry's musical talent is almost as good as those two as well.\nListeners should check out the other songs online before purchasing the CD to know exactly what they're getting into. It's a great CD to sit back and chill to, but it will take a serious R&B and soul fan to truly appreciate the music and lyrics of this album.
(10/03/02 4:00am)
Since "Legally Blonde," the name Reese Witherspoon stirs a lot of excitement among movie fans, but some may be disappointed at the overall outcome of her latest movie.\nMelanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) is living the life she never thought she would. Her boyfriend, Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), is everything a girl could want in a guy, and she's a successful fashion designer in NYC. When Andrew proposes and gives Melanie her choice of a ring from Tiffany's, it's a dream come true for her. But Melanie has a few secrets in her past.\n"Sweet Home Alabama" is an adventure for Melanie as she goes back home to Alabama for the first time in seven years. Waiting for her is her husband, Jake (Josh Lucas). Lucas is quite possibly Hollywood's newest blonde-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob. Jake is adorable, funny and loving, just like everyone and everything else in the movie.\nMelanie's past is brought back to life when she travels back home and sees that many things are just as she left them. Quite possibly the funniest scene in the movie involves a drunk Melanie playing pool at a bar. \nNow she's moved on to bigger and better things in New York City, but it's hard for viewers to envision this troublemaker-turned-fashioned designer in a transition from one to the other. The movie lacks background and explanations for a lot of key elements of the movie.\nThe movie's plot and ending can be called by anyone. It's the typical romantic comedy. It does go steps above many other romantic comedies this year, but the magic just isn't there like it is in so many older movies of its type.\nMoviegoers can't ignore the innocence and sweetness of the "Sweet Home Alabama," but a sold-out theater is a bit much for this one. Everyone seems to be saying they love it, but given time to sit and think about it, it's not as funny as it looks or sweet as it appears.