Region

Landlines lose ground to mobile

Monday, Jan. 22,2007 11:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans with traditional landline telephones has declined sharply over the past three years -- a trend with ramifications for phone surveys that inform policy and market research. About one in eight households did not have a landline telephone in the first half of 2006, according to data the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collected in its National Health Interview Survey. Three years earlier, it was about one in 20.

Black hole envelops Mercury-size mass

By Roberta Kwok · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 11:22 p.m.

Imagine going for decades without a substantial meal. According to recent observations, it's been 50 years since the black hole in the middle of the Milky Way took a big gulp. This supermassive black hole, named Sagittarius A*, is equivalent in mass to 3 million suns -- and its appetite is proportionally as large. Astronomers estimate the gaseous "meal" ingested by the black hole tipped the scales at roughly the same mass as the planet Mercury.

A 'KiSS' is what hamsters need for sex

By Sara Schrock · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 11:22 p.m.

A hormone that humans need for puberty has been found to play a role in seasonal reproduction in hamsters, say IU researchers. The hormone, kisspeptin, or "KiSS," is a recently discovered neuropeptide -- protein produced in the brain -- and appears to mediate the decline in libido that male hamsters experience as winter approaches and the days become shorter.

A time to act

By David Weisburd · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 11:17 p.m.

ver dream of achieving something great? Well, it's time to stop this bad habit. What I hear from people all the time is what they plan on doing. That's great, but if you're not taking any action toward that goal, the probability of achieving your goal is actually declining. It is my personal belief (no offense to Mr. Marx) that hope -- not religion -- is the opium of the masses. Hope alone has stolen the dreams of millions of people.

Around the World

Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:53 p.m.

President Hugo Chavez told U.S. officials to "Go to hell, gringos!" and called Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "missy" on his weekly radio and TV show Sunday, lashing out at Washington for what he called unacceptable meddling in Venezuelan affairs. The tirade came after Washington raised concerns about a measure to grant the fiery leftist leader broad lawmaking powers. The National Assembly, which is controlled by the president's political allies, is expected to give final approval this week to what it calls the "enabling law," which would give Chavez the authority to pass a series of laws by decree during an 18-month period.

Iran bars 38 nuclear inspectors

By Nasser Karimi · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:50 p.m.

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran said Monday it has barred 38 members of a U.N. nuclear inspection team from entering the country, in what appeared to be retaliation for sanctions imposed last month over its contentious atomic program.

Illegal immigrants used as runway models

By Mar Roman · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:44 p.m.

MADRID, Spain -- A Spanish fashion designer used illegal African immigrants as models in a Barcelona fashion show to draw attention to the plight of thousands of poor migrants who embark on dangerous sea expeditions for a chance at better lives in Europe. Eight Senegalese immigrants paraded down the catwalk in white and beige outfits Thursday as part of the show, which also featured a white wooden fishing boat -- the same type many illegal immigrants use to reach Spain's Canary Islands off west Africa.

Parcells retires from Dallas after 4 years

By Aaron Beard and Jaime Aron · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:43 p.m.

IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells retired from coaching Monday, leaving the Dallas Cowboys after four years without a playoff win and just two weeks after a stinging wild-card loss to Seattle. During a 19-year career that also included coaching the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets, Parcells made it to three Super Bowls, winning twice with the Giants.

A time to be born, a time to die

By Ryan Brown · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:43 p.m.

In the last few days of 2006, Google Video and YouTube were bombarded with searches for Saddam Hussein's hanging. Somewhere in the midst of the world's top secret execution, one of the attendants managed to capture the event on a cell phone, documenting perhaps one of the most defining moments of our time.

The anatomy of a Super Bowl species

By Andrew Shaffer · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:42 p.m.

A ninth Cincinnati Bengals player was arrested within nine months, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was caught carrying a suspicious water bottle and legendary head coach Bill Parcells announced that he's retiring from coaching. But, who the hell cares? The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears will face off in Super Bowl XLI, and finally Bloomington is going bowling -- Super Bowling, that is. Of course, there is only one town on Earth that will serve the front lines for this February feud. If Chicago and Indianapolis were the respective capitals of this gridiron clash, only one region will be the bedrock of bedlam. "What town?" you ask.

IU Art Museum curator leads 'noon talk' on influential engraver

By Kyle Meehan · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:41 p.m.

Stanley William Hayter's work and influence is the subject of an upcoming "noon talk" from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the IU Art Museum. Though trained as a chemist, Hayter studied engraving under Joseph Hecht in the early 20th century. Many feel that his artwork and the studio he founded revitalized what was then considered an archaic practice, influencing generations of artists.

Report: School board member bought meals for voters

By AP Reports and Alexandra R. Moses · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:40 p.m.

A school board member faces criticism for using $422 in school money to buy meals for teenage voters on the day they cast absentee ballots in primary races that included the district in which he was seeking re-election.

Awkward Silence Comedy to host 'improv jam session'

By Brian Hettmansperger · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:40 p.m.

Junior Brian Frange jumps up on stage and asks the audience to suggest a setting for the next improv game. Someone yells, "dildo factory!" Two members of Awkward Silence Comedy immediately start improvising the intricacies and potential hazards of working at a dildo factory. The audience erupts with laughter.

Juvenile intimidates police with BB gun

By Michael Reschke · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 10:39 p.m.

Police say an off-duty Bloomington Police officer witnessed a juvenile brandish a gun while both were driving Friday night on Kirkwood Avenue.

TSA might sue IU grad student

By Sonia Rana · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:52 p.m.

The Transportation Security Administration is conducting a civil investigation into an IU Ph.D. student that could lead to substantial monetary penalties, according to a letter from the TSA posted on the student's blog.

Rehab won't save Lohan's soul

By Stefania Marghitu · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:21 p.m.

After a tumultuous 2006, hard partier and sometimes actress Lindsay Lohan finally checked into rehab. In a most ironic turn of events, it was Brandon Davis, the same guy who once called her a "fire crotch," who so fixedly urged her to check herself into the Wonderland Center in West Hollywood. This was just after he spent some time at the center himself. Ah, celebrities -- they're so fickle. One minute they're calling each other fire crotches, the next they're recommending rehab centers to one another.

Hot to hibernate

By Abby Schwimmer and Ab Schwimmer · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:17 p.m.

Remember the last time you were woken up early? More than likely, you let out a stream of expletives, moaned in agony and reached for the nearest available object to throw at the wall.

The liberal fundamentalist

By Brian Stewart · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:15 p.m.

My connections at the highest levels of government have guaranteed me an advance copy of President Bush's State of the Union address, which he will deliver tonight at 9 p.m. in an effort to rescue his orphaned Iraq policy. Here are some excerpts of what he will say: "What's the point of having this superb military if we can't use it?" "America is the indispensable nation." "The requirements of justice are to bring democracy and freedom to people 'round the world. The starving, the wretched, the dispossessed, the ignorant, those living in want and squalor from the deserts of Northern Africa to the slums of Gaza, to the mountain ranges of Afghanistan -- they too are our cause."

Context matters

By Scott Leadingham · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:13 p.m.

A very wise professor of mine once quipped that context matters in every situation. Granted, this was a very ambiguous statement, but I thrive on such ambiguity.

Let the (minute) man speak!

By Aparna Venkatraman · Monday, Jan. 22,2007 8:12 p.m.

In a country divided over illegal immigration, a debate about undocumented immigrants is bound to ruffle some feathers. In July 2006, the Minuteman Project aimed for precisely that when it decided to hold a meeting to examine the impact of illegal immigration in Compton, Calif. But the group was denied access to the Compton Community College -- because, college officials said, special-interest groups are not allowed to use the school's facilities.