Region

Enviable place, unenviable time

I know more than a few IU folks from the Chicago area. I use the term “area” because I wouldn’t want to spoil the racy feeling one gets by saying they’re from Chicago, when in truth they happen to be from Evanston, Arlington Heights or somewhere else on the unfashionable “outskirts” of the city.

Bound for nowhere

Our past stories sung its praises, but they didn’t have to – the statistics told the same story. Upward Bound, a government-created, national education program, was doing great work. It took high school students from low-income families, who would be the first in their families to attend college, and brought them to a University to introduce them to college through visits, tours and coursework.

Illusion of privacy

Just a friendly reminder: Be careful about what you put on Facebook. Last week an 18-year-old Philadelphian decided it would be a good idea to brag about his drug use, and use his mugshot as his profile picture on MySpace after he killed one person and injured another with his vehicle while he was under the influence. As a result, police officers attained a search warrant and confiscated multiple items, including his computer.

Parenting problems

"Honey, get out of that sewage pipe!” This is the call I heard from an exasperated young mother in the park a few days ago. “It’s just muddy water and stones!” her son called back. “No sweetie, it’s sewage. Do you know what sewage is?” The mom then proceeded to get on her hands and knees to pull her child out of the tantalizing opening of the sewage tunnel. I tried to picture what I would do in this mom’s situation. I couldn’t picture myself crawling into sewage to rescue my child. Instead I saw myself watching on from a nearby lawn chair, laughing in resignation and maybe helplessly shouting out some vague suggestion like “try not to swallow any.”

Drawing the lines

In preparation for my upcoming year in China, I’ve been meeting with native speakers to help improve my Mandarin. Even though our topics of conversation are admittedly only vessels for a richer vocabulary and more accurate grammar, it speaks to my seemingly inborn knack for strife that the conversation usually turns to politics.

IU imaging center receives $930,000 grant

Thanks to a recent $930,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, IU's Light Microscopy Imaging Center will be able to purchase new equipment, according to an IU news release.

Spencer teen dies after crash Thursday

A Spencer, Ind. teen died early Thursday morning after his car crossed the center line, struck a utility pole on the opposite side of the road and caught fire.

Hoosier Alum in 15th after day one at British Open

IU graduate Jeff Overtonis is in a tie for 15th place at the 137th British Open Championship.

Hoosier Alum Overton in 15th after day one at British Open

Lovin' live

Absurd, even. But John Mayer’s Where the Light Is (like his previous double live album) is a brilliant exception. Featuring 22 tracks, you can be sure with Mayer you’ll never hear a song sound anything like it did on his studio album.

Still rockin'

Hole In The Sun has an almost perfect mix of fast and slow songs; songs that interchangeably go from infectious guitar riffs to ardent melodies.

Close to main-event status

With Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, The Maine deliver what they should: simple, catchy pop songs about girls and young life. None of the members are that great of musicians, nor do the songs surprise whatsoever, but they have that something that propels bands into stardom. After a few listens, damn near very track sticks in your head much like sugary taffy sticks to your teeth.

Don't skip this one

Fights features just about anything that pop-punk fans could hope for: chugging guitars, soaring hooks and relatable lyrics about relationships and teenage dramatics. It’s absolutely nothing that hasn’t been done before, but the tracks stand out in comparison to their over-produced peers.

Charming American girl

The incredible acting of the cast helps “Kit Kittredge” excel. Each character brings something unique to the table; some have funny quirks while others must act as the voice of reason.It is especially in the interactions among the characters that the film finds its spark and in retrospect, its charm.

Defining cinema

Not quite ruined

A fairly average movie in a genre filled with below-average offerings, “The Ruins” is a good watch for a Sunday evening with your buddies. You can both laugh at the movie’s more ridiculous moments, and cringe at the frightening parts.

Certainly worth a listen

Bodies of Water are an up-and-coming band to watch out for, and A Certain Feeling is certainly worth a listen.

Possible to impress

Recorded here in Bloomington at the Art Hospital, The Impossible Shapes prove that local, original music is alive and well and will not stop fighting the festering disease that is known as the cover band.

'Journey' falls flat

Overall, one probably has a good sense of the movie just from watching the trailer alone and in fact, that is all I would suggest.   

A hell of a letdown

To its credit, many of the fights were clever and entertaining, and the special effects were nothing to sneer at. But it’s almost redundant to compliment special effects anymore unless they’re truly groundbreaking. Besides, like dates, movies can’t just look good; they’ve got to have brains, too.