Region

Minn. natives go 'Barn'storming

By Dan Patrick · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12:13 a.m.

One ranked team in one rickety arena. This is what's in store for the IU women's basketball team tonight when the Hoosiers lock horns with the No. 14-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers at the notorious 76 year-old Williams Arena. Williams Arena, nicknamed "The Barn," has risen into infamy since its original construction in 1928, featuring a raised floor, shaky rims and a notoriously raucous fan base. While they have heard about "The Barn," IU players will simply look at it as just another gym.

Intramurals give everyone a chance to win

By Matt Glenesk · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12:12 a.m.

College athletics have been mired in controversy and scandal for years, but on campuses around the nation sport continues to thrive in one of its purest states in the form of intramurals. IU offers its students a multitude of opportunities to partake in intramural sports; from softball, football and the ever-popular basketball to kickball, dodgeball and euchre.

Suicide bomber kills 4 with disguised vehicle in Baghdad

By Alyson Brodsy and Sarah El Deeb · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12:05 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A suicide bomber driving a van disguised as an ambulance blew up his vehicle Wednesday in front of a hotel frequented by Westerners, witnesses and police said. Iraqi police reported four people were killed, and South Africa said one of its nationals was among them. In the southern city of Nasiriyah, about 10,000 followers of a radical Shiite Muslim cleric forced the coalition-appointed governor to leave his office, insisting they would recognize only elected leaders.

A record so good it'll make you Dizzee

By Mia Partlow · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

When listening to Dizzee Rascal's first album, Boy In Da Corner, I have the distinct feeling that I am dancing in a seedy UK club smelling of beer, cigarettes and the sweat of 100 moving bodies. It is impossible to stop dancing. There is a frenzied air to the dancing, as if the song's subjects -- among them love (the unrequited teenage kind) and the threat of missed opportunities (the frighteningly real kind) -- are the reason we are all there, in that seedy club moving to the beat.

Falling into fame

By Jenny Sung · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

At the age of ten, Ryan Cook wanted to grow up to be just like his older brother -- a drummer. So for his birthday he asked for a drum set. Instead, his father gave him a guitar, hoping he'd follow in his footsteps. Disappointed, he abided by his father's wishes and began guitar lessons. Although reluctant at first, Cook soon fell in love with the guitar. It became his passion and a way of expressing himself. And though he swore he was never going to sing, he turned to songwriting soon enough.

Not Coldplay nor cold sore

By John Barnett · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Elbow certainly is a diamond in the rough among the current British art rock crop -- though it won't be the next Coldplay. Released in the UK last August to much critical and fan acclaim, Elbow's sophomore album, Cast of Thousands, makes its American debut this month. Free-form poetic lyrics about the amazements and annoyances of everyday life blend perfectly with subtle yet boundless soundscapes, making Cast a rewarding, if only slightly challenging, listen.

Double Teamed

By Jennifer Whalen · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Beginning in January, Robert Randolph and the Family Band will be co-headlining a tour with O.A.R. (Of a Revolution), an acclaimed indie-rock band which has gained popularity over the past few years, especially on college campuses. The two bands will be making a stop in Bloomington on Saturday, Feb. 2 to perform for the IU community. Co-headlining a tour may cause a power struggle for some bands, but Jerry DePizzo, saxophonist for O.A.R., says the band is excited to be touring with RRFB.

Fresh-faced cast has winning touch

By Jenny Mancino · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Director Robert Luketic has followed up his box office hit Legally Blonde with the sweet and refreshing romantic comedy, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!. This film is by no means a love story that will stand the test of time, but it satisfies the desires of an audience that loves romantic comedies.

Theron gives monstrously good performance

By Jack M. Silverstein and Jack Silverstein · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Some people who have seen what Charlize Theron looks like in her new film Monster -- either from the film or in publicity photos -- have said that she looks "fat and ugly." There is a perfectly good reason for people to have this reaction: they are morons.

Ain't no lie -- this is great blues

By Ryan Whirty and Ryan Wirty · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

It's almost unfathomable that three guys could cover Jimmy Reed, Collective Soul, Bob Marley, Jim Reeves and Gillian Welch and not make fools of themselves at some point. But guitarist Wendell Holmes, bassist Sherman Holmes and drummer Poppy Dixon have not only avoided looking foolish, they've given all the cuts on Simple Truths, their second album for Alligator, a brilliant, soulful shine that almost by default will put even the most grumpy listener in a pretty damn good mood.

Carrie Newcomer: A mother of music

By Doug Smith · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Carrie Newcomer will be performing on Feb. 7 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, celebrating the release of her latest album, Betty's Diner: The Best of Carrie Newcomer. From the timeless singer/songwriter tradition, Newcomer uses her personal touch of storytelling for the benefit of her audience and community. Her total love, compassion for and emersion in her work is not solely for her pleasure, but for those she has the opportunity to reach. Newcomer says the studio process of selecting tracks for a "best-of album" made creating this record stand out to her.

Saturday morning craptoons

By Doug Evans · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Remember back when Saturday was a day you went out of your way to wake up early, even though it was possibly the only day you knew you could afford to sleep in? Thank you very much, Sunday school. But it was worth all that and more just to see the classic Saturday morning cartoon lineup that network television had to offer. With cartoons like "Garfield and friends," "Ghostbusters," "Batman: The Animated Series," "Scooby-Doo" (when the gang was young, much like us), "X-Men" and the legendary "Looney Tunes" to name a few, there could not be a better start to the weekend.

Into the great, wide 'Open'

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Kevin Costner returns to the frontier with his latest entry to the Western genre, Open Range -- new to DVD. The film received strong critical notices upon its release this past August, and yet went relatively ignored by mass audiences. Those of you who missed Range during its theatrical run would be well advised to check out this sterling, 2-disc DVD set.

'Boy Meets Virus' on DVD

By Ben Warden · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, Cabin Fever aims to be a throwback to the horror films of the '70s and '80s where intense gore and strong sexual content dominate over plot. The director, Eli Roth, is proud of this and packs the movie with reference after reference of presumably his favorite horror movies.

There's good times to be had in 'Mexico'

By Tony Sams · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

I'm not entirely sure I know everything that was going on in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, an action flick new to DVD from hotshot director-writer-producer-editor-cinematographer-composer-special effects supervisor-production designer, Robert Rodriguez, and I'm not entirely sure that matters.

Post whatever-ism

By Greg O'Neill · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

I'm trying to get famous by calling our generation the Indoor Generation. Generation Y makes us sound genetically engineered. So what has the Indoor Generation inherited from Generation X? Sarcasm, apathy and irony. At least on a macro level, that sounds about right. All three have engulfed nearly every sphere of our culture -- entertainment, politics, humor, music, etc.

Islandvibes

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Aaron Zeis was perusing old 45s in Kingston, Jamaica, when he came across David Isaacs of the Grammy-nominated Jamaican band the Itals. Zeis, a Ft. Wayne native, had recently formed Bloomington-based One People Productions in response to a palpable need for live reggae shows in central Indiana and was intrigued by the "genuine kindness" of Isaacs and his bandmates.

Derivative sounds 'Eclipse' Stereolab's talent

By Craig Shank and Eric Smith · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

Stereolab songwriters Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier obviously adhere to the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," because they haven't felt the need to fix anything since the 1996 album, Emperor Tomato Ketchup. This isn't necessarily good or bad, but their effort certainly is in question with the release of Margerine Eclipse.

This 'Teacher's Pet' needs more than an apple

By -Jenny Kobiela · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12 a.m.

In recent years, there has been a surge of movies based on children's cartoons. Disney has perpetuated this trend by introducing Teacher's Pet, based on an animated show of the same name.

'Dude, where's my time machine?'