41 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(05/13/12 11:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This week, as probably everyone already knows, President Obama announced that he supports gay marriage. During the past few years, the president had been saying his stance on this issue was “evolving,” until he finally made his announcement Wednesday. To me, the timing of the president’s announcement seems completely motivated by politics, rather than a conclusion to the evolution of his stance on the issue. Announcing his support of gay marriage can help Obama win back some of the more moderate voters he might be losing to Romney and reenergize many of his supporters. In terms of political strategy, it is a rather sound move. My problem with Obama on this occasion is that he is attempting to rally support for the upcoming election by using an issue he has absolutely no power over. Not only that, but the federal government should have no power on marital law. If you read through the 4,543 words of our constitution, not once will you see anything about marriage, whether it is between a man and a woman or anything else for that matter. The constitution does not discuss this topic at all. Not even Congress’ favorite “We can do whatever we want” clause, the “Necessary and Proper” clause, would give the federal government the ability to make a ruling on this issue. This clause grants the federal government the power “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers.” Congress would not be able to apply this clause because marital law has nothing to do with “carrying into execution the foregoing powers.”Our federal government needs to stop wasting its time discussing issues over which it has no power. While President Obama has every right to state his position on gay marriage, people need to realize he has no influence on the legality of the issue.This is an issue that needs to be dealt with at the state level. States have the ability to decide legality. This is a perfect example of why our country was designed the way it was. The states can represent their citizens’ beliefs and needs better than a large federal government.Since our country was founded, the federal government has constantly expanded its reach beyond what it was designed to actually do. The issue of gay marriage is a perfect example of why the federal government needs to stay within its boundaries and let the states work it out for themselves.— wfgryna@indiana.edu
(05/06/12 11:25pm)
There are few jobs
in the world where if something goes wrong all of the blame can be placed on
one person — absolutely and unequivocally one person.
(04/26/12 12:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I have to start this column by thanking Martha Johnson because without her it probably would have taken me a bit longer to decide what to write for my last column of the semester.For those of you who do not know, Martha Johnson is the chief of the General Services Administration.If you go to the GSA website, you will see its values include integrity, effective leadership and responsible decision making. What is even more ironic is that the GSA says its vision is “a government that works ever better for the American people.”Johnson and two of her top executives were about as good at these things as North Korea is at launching missiles. In March, Johnson paid $820,000 for an employee conference in Las Vegas. When I say she paid, I mean her agency did, so you and I as taxpayers actually did. The expenses included $79,511 for breakfast and refreshments, a breakfast that cost almost $50 per person, a dinner costing almost $100 per person and more than $100,000 in expenses for a “pre-planning” trip. Oh, and I forgot to mention $7,000 of sushi and $3,200 for a mind reader.That decision making is about as responsible as when my friend Paul did a cannon ball into a glass coffee table. Even if our country wasn’t almost $16 trillion in debt (and counting), $3,200 for a mind reader is absolutely ridiculous. But because our country is so far in debt, this expense is absolutely ridiculous.Last August, our Congress could barely come to a consensus about whether to raise the debt ceiling and how to begin to cut federal expenses. I am pretty sure Speaker of the House John Boehner and President Barack Obama would have had a little easier time coming to agreement to cut expenses such as this compared to some of the other things they debated.Then again, we do have to remember who nominated Johnson as chief of the General Services Administration. That’s right: Obama. When Obama nominated Johnson, the approval of her nomination was prolonged. Because of this, Obama came out and said, “Nobody can tell me that there’s anything particularly wrong with her.”Turns out President Obama spoke a little too soon. If she thinks it is OK to spend taxpayer money on a mind reader, I think there might be something “particularly wrong” with her.Even funnier is that in 2009 when President Obama was elected, he was quoted as saying, “I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street.” So, I guess President Obama was elected to nominate “fat cat” administrators?Once again, Martha Johnson, thank you for giving me a great topic for my last column of the semester.— wfgryna@indiana.edu
(04/11/12 8:33pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After the question of who would ultimately win the 2012 Masters Golf Tournament, the question of women becoming members of the prestigious club seemed set to be a major talking point of the weekend.Traditionally, the CEO of International Business Machines Corporation has always extended a membership opportunity to the Augusta National Golf Club, and this has never been an issue in the past as the prior CEOs have all been men. But recently, Ginni Rometty was named CEO of IBM, placing Augusta National and its chairman Billy Payne in a precarious situation. Luckily, the obvious question and issue of Rometty’s membership flew under the radar throughout the week as Payne, Rometty and IBM declined to comment about the situation. What this really shows is that the question of Rometty’s membership shouldn’t be an issue.Augusta National was founded in 1933 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts to be the most breathtaking golf course in the world and a “men’s” club. This tradition has continued for 79 years. Ten years ago, the club’s men-only tradition came under severe attack by Martha Burk, as she said the club’s closed membership to women was sexist. Then-chairman Hootie Johnson responded to Burk’s claims in saying that Augusta National has the right to its single gender membership just as a sorority or fraternity does.And that is exactly what Augusta National is: a fraternity. Membership just also happens to come with the best golf course in the world. It seems that Rometty recognizes what Augusta National is, and this is probably why she and IBM have not pressured Payne and the Augusta members to grant her membership. Rometty was even at this past weekend’s Masters Tournament, sitting just behind the 18th green.The most interesting aspect to me about the almost annual membership controversy is who is at the head of it. Burk, who led the strongest attack against Augusta, is a widely-known feminist activist. Annika Sorenstam, arguably the best female golfer ever, never raised a question about the club’s membership policy. Contrary to the belief of many that women are not allowed to even play the course, Sorenstam, and many women, have played Augusta on multiple occasions. Nancy Lopez, another all-time great female golfer, has publicly stated her support of the no female members rule at Augusta. While many people view Augusta National as a Little Rascals-esque “he-man woman haters club,” this is really not the case. Nearly every day the club is open, women play the course. Augusta National is not by any mean sexist against women. It is simply following the tradition in which it was founded. I applaud Rometty for her poise and understanding of the club’s tradition and not challenging “a tradition unlike any other.” — wfgryna@indiana.edu
(03/29/12 12:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>About four years ago, two men took on two difficult jobs. Each of them was chosen to rebuild a great institution. Each faced difficult and unprecedented challenges. Tom Crean was hired as the IU men’s basketball coach, and Barack Obama was elected as president. Since then, Crean has resurrected IU from ashes, while Obama seems to be lagging behind in his performance.The EconomyDuring the past four years, Crean’s leadership has led a resurgence of fans back into Assembly Hall, selling out game after game. Students are lining up to spend their precious little cash on tickets. Nick’s, Kilroy’s and Sports have become more and more crowded on game nights year after year. And, as most students know, as IU basketball rises, so do liquor and food sales. During four years of Obama, our unemployment rate has risen about half a percentage point, not good enough to match Crean’s effect on the Hoosier economy.The DeficitCrean’s teams lost the following number of games in the past three years: 25, 21 and 20. That deficit is now a surplus! Twenty-seven victories versus nine deficits this year and memories such as victories against Kentucky and Ohio State, as well as an appearance in the Sweet 16, have created a surplus of enthusiasm and pride. Twenty-five losses in 2009 versus nine losses this year is a 62-percent reduction in the Hoosier deficit. Beat those numbers, Obama! In 2009, the U.S. deficit was about $10 trillion. As of March 28, it was $15,593,010,330,151.55. Crean’s leadership has stabilized the Hoosiers into a cohesive “party,” as he knows how to sacrifice and compromise for the good of the Hoosier Nation.Hoosier Health CareCrean has implemented a Hoosier fan health care program — winning — which has been known to cure frustration, anger, madness, hindsight and player drug abuse.Obamacare continues to be debated and reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court for constitutional validity. Department of DefenseAdding to the core of Cody Zeller, Christian Watford, Will Sheehey, Victor Oladipo, Jordan Hulls and Maurice Creek, Crean is bringing in a top 10 recruiting class, “The Movement.” Crean is reloading to keep attacking the goal of adding a sixth banner to Assembly Hall. Meanwhile, Obama is trying to determine a purpose for our troops without demoralizing their spirit and our nation.The State of the UnionFollowing Friday’s loss to Kentucky, Crean said, “The Indiana men — and quote me, the Indiana men, these mighty men — they gave it all. They left it all on that court. I’m proud of what we did. We don’t take the moral victory in any sense, but when you give every ounce of fight you have, you can move forward.” What did Obama say in his recent State of the Union? Most people probably don’t know. To Crean and his team, thank you for leading this Hoosier nation back to victory. I can’t wait until next year! You can stay as long as you like.— wfgryna@indiana.edu
(03/07/12 11:43pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rambunctious, absurd, pedantic, ostentatious, opinionated, ridiculous and controversial — typically, people who fit this description garner loads of attention and make great entertainers. Axl Rose, Charlie Sheen, Kanye West, Mel Gibson and R. Kelly all fit this mould, and all have given us more than their fair shares of ridiculous quotes. They are all massively entertaining because of it. Someone who fits this mould better than all of them combined is Rush Limbaugh. No one on the planet is better at providing ridiculous quotes and never-ending laughs than Rush Limbaugh. Last week on The Rush Limbaugh Show, he gave his take about the testimony given on Capitol Hill by a Georgetown University law student named Sandra Fluke advocating for contraception. Luckily for us, Limbaugh did not disappoint when presented with this golden opportunity. Limbaugh went on to call Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” and said “she wants to be paid to have sex.”This is simply Limbaugh at his best: taking exception with a point of view and blowing his opinion into ridiculous proportions. At this point, I don’t even understand how people get angry with Rush anymore. In his illustriously entertaining past, he has managed to call soldiers endorsing withdrawing troops from Iraq “phony soldiers” and criticized Michael J. Fox for “exaggerating the effects of his disease.” Given his track record of absurd remarks, his comments about Fluke came as absolutely no surprise to me. What came as more of surprise to me was when companies who advertise during his show began to pull their commercial spots. What did they expect was going to happen? With Rush Limbaugh, you know exactly what you are going to get: completely unfiltered, absurdly conservative views. People expect Limbaugh to be more like Wolf Blitzer or Anderson Cooper because he mainly talks about politics. In reality, he is more like Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert — entertainment.I love Rush Limbaugh. Even as a like-minded conservative, Limbaugh says some things that shock me, but you have to take his comments in context. Limbagh is an entertainer and is extremely good at creating controversy. Controversy brings attention, and attention brings in advertising. Limbaugh and others might consider him more of a real political force, but when you accept him as an entertainer, you can truly appreciate him.Limbaugh’s comments remind me of a question in an intro politics class I took. A girl asked the professor, stone-faced, where the Cold War was physically fought. The question was beyond stupid, but it was absolutely hilarious. This is a perfect embodiment of Limbaugh and what he represents: beyond stupid but absolutely hilarious. — wfgryna@indiana.edu
(02/28/12 1:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After the hosting disaster that was Anne Hathaway and James Franco, it seems the Academy decided to be more conservative this year.Unlike last year, Billy Crystal seemed to have the show under complete control from the opening moments, which is expected, as it was his ninth time as the host of the Oscars. Crystal worked in quite a few good one-liners about the theater formerly known as Kodak and strong women (like J. Edgar) wearing heels.Crystal did what was expected of him and little more. He wasn’t outstanding, but he added something to the show.In person, the Cirque Du Soleil performance was probably one of the highlights of the show, but it didn’t translate well on TV. Nevertheless, it was a nice change from the typical musical performance.One of the more intriguing bits from the show were three segments of testimonials from a variety of actors. The first was a reflection on their movie experiences growing up, the second was about what they thought made a great movie and the last was about what they learned or saw about themselves in films. These clips gave a unique insight to many different actors and how movies have changed and are still changing their lives.Another highlight was the fake test crowd for “The Wizard of Oz” as portrayed by Christopher Guest and his crew, who got easy laughs from good jokes.Nevertheless, this year the Academy Awards seemed a little lackluster. The show and presentation did not match the star power of the crowd, turning much of the anticipation into whom the camera would show next. In the end, Billy Crystal described the ceremony best: “Millionaires present each other with golden statues.”— wfgryna@indiana.edu
(02/16/12 3:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“A Different Kind of Truth” is the first studio album from rock legend Van Halen since 1998.Many bands have tried a late career album release. Very few have seen any success. Some have failed outright.Luckily for Van Halen, this is not the case. “Truth” is the band’s first album with bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, son of guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. The band still has its other notorious frontman, David Lee Roth, too.This latest effort pales in comparison to “1984” and other Van Halen classics, but it is a breath of fresh air in today’s music world. The first single from the album, “Tattoo,” is a nice glimpse back to Van Halen’s glory days in the 1980s.“A Different Kind of Truth” is a different kind of music by today’s standards, but it proves that anything with Eddie Van Halen on guitar will still be worth listening to.
(02/08/12 4:55pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There has recently been a picture circulating around Facebook of a urine sample for a drug test with the caption, “Shouldn’t you have to pass a urine test to collect a welfare check, since I have to pass one to earn it for you?”To many people, especially conservatives, this picture poses a rather logical question.For most jobs, employees must pass a drug screening to gain employment and make a living, so why shouldn’t welfare recipients do the same thing? In reality, this notion makes perfect sense. Why should the government fund or subsidize someone who is breaking the law and using drugs?This idea has gained so much momentum that several states have instituted such programs or are working to institute them. One of the first states to start a program like this was Florida. Florida’s program tested all welfare applicants and reimbursed those who passed the test. Florida found that only 2 percent of applicants tested positive, and 2 percent did not complete the process. Doing the math shows the program would end up costing the state about $180 million and would only save $40,000-$60,000 from people who failed the drug test.After seeing the Florida program fail and run into constitutional problems, states such as Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania are working to adopt an adjusted program. These states are proposing or implementing programs that randomly test welfare applicants who have a previous drug-related conviction, are on probation for drug-related offenses or missed requirements for the welfare process. These programs should be implemented by every state and even on a federal level. Unlike the Florida program, these proposals bypass testing thousands of applicants. “They’re poor” is not a sufficient reason to believe people might be using drugs. These programs target people when there is a concrete reason to believe they might take drugs. If potential welfare recipients are using, there is no reason they should receive assistance from the government. While there will always be a debate about how much the government should assist the less fortunate, there should be no debate about whether it should assist drug users. Cost wise, these programs are massively more efficient. While there are likely to be targeted applicants who pass their tests, and they will have to be reimbursed, this is money more efficiently spent than the “blanket” testing program in Florida. The proposed testing would discourage users from applying and encourage them to break their habits in order to receive the assistance they need. Such a program discourages drug use and reduces exploitation of the welfare system. Additionally, it is a direct response to taxpayers who feel their hard-earned money is being more responsibly distributed to those who need and deserve assistance. Welfare supporters argue the assistance is fair to the less fortunate but implementing targeted drug testing programs makes the system fair to the people who pay for it as well.— wfgryna@indiana.edu
(02/03/12 4:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Pro Letarians, Oreo Jones, DJ Wally Wonder and headliner DJ XV, who was the final, and most polished act, entertained a large crowd at the Bishop Wednesday. XV’s visit to Bloomington was part of his Midwest State of Mind Tour, which ends Feb. 4. Zack Eastman, an associate with Knuckle Rumbler independent booking agency, set up the stop in Bloomington. “This is probably the third or fourth show we’ve done with XV, and they have all been awesome,” Eastman said. XV took the stage a little after 11:30 p.m. and immediately began an adrenaline-filled show. The set contained 17 songs, one of which was a cover of his favorite artist, the Notorious B.I.G. From the outset, XV pumped energy straight to the crowd, opening with “The Kick,” “Vizzy x3” and crowd favorite “That’s Just Me”. Clips of Tupac and Snoop Dogg were mixed into the set as well. Known for being a big video gamer, XV threw in multiple references to “Skyrim” and “Modern Warfare 3” throughout the show, particularly before “Foreign Exchange Student”.Sez Batters, a friend of XV’s who has been with him for the whole tour, made an appearance on stage for “Squarian Anthem.” The show appeared to be ending after “Isn’t it Awesome” and “Awesome,” until Batters came back onstage and called XV out for one more track: “UFC.”Each of the 17 songs pumped more energy to the crowd, making for one powerful and memorable concert.XV said the tour has been going even better than anticipated. “This is my third headlining tour, but my first with no support,” XV said. “And I was a little bit nervous about it at first, but the turnout has been amazing. It’s dope to be touring the Midwest.”Currently, XV is working on his new album “The Kid With The Green Backpack,” and he gave a little insight to what the album might be like. “Visualize the rap version of Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall,’” XV said. “That’s what I want.”
(01/27/12 12:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>President Barack Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address focused much upon what was expected: the economy, jobs, energy, education, national security and tax reform.While he promoted many of his own political goals and views, there are a few things conservatives in particular might have noticed.Obama talked extensively about wanting to create as many jobs as possible in America and reducing the number of jobs outsourced from our country. This sentiment is a little contradictory as, just a week ago, Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline application, which would have yielded $7 billion in private investment and created thousands of jobs.Obama rejected the proposal on the grounds of environmental concerns, which many engineers and scientists had testified against. His emphasis during the address on job creation and national energy security reveals that his move to deny the pipeline proposal was even more politically aimed against the GOP than we thought. Additionally, Obama directed even more attacks against his conservative opponents. Obama spoke of “an economy built to last, where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded.”He undoubtedly struck a chord with many conservative thinkers. In almost every Republican debate and anywhere else conveying a conservative mindset, the idea that “hard work pays off” is among the most core values. The second part of that quote is what might be even more valuable. While it is true that lending institutions might have given loans to individuals who had no business receiving them, the individuals who received them are just as guilty.The GOP often endorses the sentiment that life is not fair and that you need to be responsible for your own actions. This is where many people can learn from that quote.If you work hard, make responsible decisions and take accountability for your decisions, it will pay off.Despite the nitpicking that liberals, conservatives, Democrats and Republicans can do to the president’s address, there are two parts that should not go overlooked: the beginning and the end.Obama opened and closed his address by referencing the accomplishments of SEAL Team 6 and that Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to our country. While our economy is still in the rebuilding phase and our country still has a long way to go, we can all take comfort that our country is a safer place because of this achievement.-wfgryna@indiana.edu
(01/26/12 3:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With his new mix tape “Friend of the People,” Lupe Fiasco continues to bring light to social issues with his music.In “Lupe Back,” Fiasco references the recent police brutality at the University of California at Davis and the Occupy Wall Street protesters interrupting a speech made by President Barack Obama.Also evident on the tape is Fiasco’s lyrical cleverness, with lines such as “watch the throne as I dance in a chair.”Other strong tracks include “Friend of the People,” “Double Burger W/ Cheese” and “WWJD He’d Prolly LOL Like WTF!!!”Overall, Lupe has put together a great mix tape with 12 strong tracks. His next album, “Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album,” still has no definite release date, but “Friend of the People” has done an excellent job bridging the gap.
(01/25/12 10:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To most people, 20,000 construction jobs, $7 billion in private investments and one million barrels of North American oil sounds like a good trade for allowing 1,700 miles of pipeline to be built across the United States.Unfortunately, President Barack Obama does not see it this way. Instead of garnering these benefits for the American people, Obama has decided to let these million barrels of oil per day be shipped off to China and have the United States continue to pay $36 billion dollars annually to foreign regimes for imported oil.In a purely political and cowardly move, Obama tried to delay the decision until 2013 to postpone the GOP’s success on this matter. In retaliation, the GOP gave him an advanced deadline on the decision. Because of the deadline, Obama blames the GOP for a “rushed and arbitrary deadline” that did not give his administration the time it needed to fully evaluate the proposal of the Keystone XL pipeline.The rejection of the proposal and blaming of the Republican Party is purely political.By rejecting this proposal, Obama was able to make the GOP look desperate to create jobs and incapable of getting things done, while pleasing left wing liberals and environmentalists.Obama’s biggest “concern” of the pipeline was its environmental effects and the health and safety of the American people.But the reality is that numerous scientists and engineers testified to the safety of the pipeline.This sentiment would have some merit if it were not for the estimated 700,000 miles of sanitation piping across our country that is massively outdated and presents its own health and environmental dangers.When you compare the 1,700 miles of piping proposed for Keystone XL and the grand total of 55,000 miles of oil pipelines in the United States to the 700,000 miles of sanitation pipelines, the environmental risks do not even compare.Additionally, the 1,700 mile Keystone XL pipeline would only represent 3 percent of all crude oil pipelines in the United States.Not only does the Keystone XL proposal pose fewer risks than other pipelines that receive no attention at all, it also has environmental benefits.By producing more oil domestically, greenhouse gases will be reduced because the oil will be piped rather than transported by tankers and barges.Also, 90-95 percent of water used in refining of the “tar sands” can be recycled or recovered, making the processing more efficient than most people realize.The truth is: Oil is like Batman. Dressed in black and everyone is afraid of it, but we all know we need it.In denying the proposal for the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama has made a selfish mistake. Rather than agree to a proposal that would stimulate the American economy through job creation and investments, Obama has used this proposal to his political advantage to please liberals and environmentalists, while taking a ‘win’ away from the GOP prior to the 2012 elections.— wfgryna@indiana.edu
(01/12/12 1:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Common’s new album, “The Dreamer/The Believer,” is less boasting about himself and more about toasting others. The album is more than just a collection of songs; it has a message of dreaming and believing.“The Dreamer/The Believer” was produced by No I.D., and this collaboration might be the first step in Common moving into another level of fame and notoriety.John Legend makes an appearance on the title track “The Believer,” which keeps with the motivational message. Some of the other strong tracks from the album include “Blue Sky,” “Celebrate,” “Lovin’ I Lost” and “Ghetto Dreams,” featuring Nas.Common’s latest effort leaves the listeners believing that they can go out and accomplish their dreams.
(12/01/11 2:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The winner of the 2011 Best of Bloomington’s Delivery Award is Jimmy John’s. Known for its delicious and inexpensive subs and the ridiculously fast delivery, it is no surprise Jimmy John’s takes home the prize. With locations on 10th Street, Kirkwood Avenue and East Third Street by College Mall, Jimmy John’s delivers to just about all of Bloomington.What sets the restaurant apart from other delivery in Bloomington is its consistently quick delivery speed, which, as many students will attest, is often less than 15 minutes. Senior Dean Raskin said Jimmy John’s often does better than that, and most of the time the sandwiches are delivered by bike. “I remember when I lived in Briscoe, Jimmy John’s would sometimes get me my food in, like, five minutes,” Raskin said. Manager Wesley Higgins of the 10th Street location said Jimmy John’s is able to deliver so swiftly for two main reasons. “We can make our sandwiches in less than 30 seconds,” Higgins said. This enables Jimmy John’s to get a large number of orders out the door at once. “And our drivers and riders know how to get up and go, and they know the routes extremely well,” Higgins said. This lightning-quick delivery is what makes Jimmy John’s so appealing to students. They get their food more quickly than from anywhere else.To ensure nothing ever happens to the unbelievably quick and reliable delivery Jimmy John’s provides, keep an eye out for the Jimmy John’s delivery riders when driving because they play a pivotal role in what makes Jimmy John’s the 2011 Best of Bloomington Delivery Award winner.
(12/01/11 1:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>What makes Kilroy’s on Kirkwood the best bar in Bloomington? While most bars in Bloomington have their peak times or big events that make them the place to be, there is always a reason to be at Kilroy’s. One of Kilroy’s biggest draws is its daily special. From $1 wells on Mondays to $3 Thursdays, Kilroy’s almost always prices its drinks lower than other bars. Even people who do not go to IU know about Kilroy’s legendary $2 Tuesdays. The bar’s appeal goes beyond its drink prices. Many students stop by Thursdays to pick up the weekly T-shirt, which can be anything from a KOK shirt to a spinoff of a sports team’s logo. Breakfast Club before home football games makes people want to head to Kilroy’s before starting their tailgating.One of the newer and more under-the-radar weekly events is Trivia Night. Senior Alec McNees is a member of one of the trivia teams that consistently contends for prizes. “Trivia Night is Kilroy’s hidden gem,” McNees said. Every Wednesday night, teams face off for 15 trivia questions, and the winning team gets free bottle service and beer. Adding to the fun are the challenge lifelines that can be anything from eating and singing challenges to a girl having to flash the crowd to get the question right. While all of these things work to give students a reason to go to Kilroy’s any day of the week, this isn’t why students always show up. People want to go to Kilroy’s because they feel it’s where their friends will always be. “There is always this feeling that one of your friends is at Kilroy’s,” senior Thomas Gillespie said. This gives Kilroy’s an edge against other bars in town. The bar has an atmosphere and aura that constantly attracts people. Any time you walk by Kilroy’s, you see people out on the front or back patio, standing in line to get in or waiting for a drink inside. This is what makes Kilroy’s the best bar in Bloomington: There are always people there and that at any time, you can have a drink and a great time.
(11/20/11 7:55pm)
Most Christmas albums stick to the usual Christmas hits and
themes, and they typically all end up being at least OK. The Jigsaw Seen’s
new album, “Winterland," breaks this trend.
(11/17/11 2:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Summer Camp’s new album, “Welcome to Condale,” gets the band on the right foot for its first full-length album. Tracks like “Last American Virgin,” “Losing My Mind” and “Brian Krakow” are musically and lyrically inspired. Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey mix a 1960s girl-pop sound with 1980s synth to form a refreshing, indie-pop mix.Much of the lyrics reference failed relationships, and the honesty in many of Sankey’s lyrics is refreshing, especially on “Better Without You” with lyrics like “Stop callin’ me late at night / ... I don’t care anymore / ... It’s so annoying when you whine / You were always wasting my time.”The album does not have a weak link in any of its 12 songs.To put it in the words of Sankey, “Welcome to Condale” was not “wasting my time.”
(11/10/11 1:34pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Packed with plenty of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, season four of “Californication” hits all of its usual chords.
A pending statutory rape lawsuit is not enough to keep Hank Moody (David
Duchovny) from sleeping his way through the women of Los Angeles. Moody
even manages to get himself caught between a mother and daughter and
involved with his own lawyer.
As his best friends get divorced, his daughter begins to distance
herself and his wife continues to slowly move away from his path of
self-destruction, Moody’s life seems to be evolving from its rather
stagnant state.
“Californication” seems to finally be moving past showing the constant
string of mistakes that continually stall Moody’s progress in life.
After receiving three years of probation instead of jail time for his
actions, maybe he will use this second chance to finally get his life,
and his family, back together.
(11/10/11 1:34pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Packed with plenty of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, season four of “Californication” hits all of its usual chords.
A pending statutory rape lawsuit is not enough to keep Hank Moody (David
Duchovny) from sleeping his way through the women of Los Angeles. Moody
even manages to get himself caught between a mother and daughter and
involved with his own lawyer.
As his best friends get divorced, his daughter begins to distance
herself and his wife continues to slowly move away from his path of
self-destruction, Moody’s life seems to be evolving from its rather
stagnant state.
“Californication” seems to finally be moving past showing the constant
string of mistakes that continually stall Moody’s progress in life.
After receiving three years of probation instead of jail time for his
actions, maybe he will use this second chance to finally get his life,
and his family, back together.