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Online Only: Doubleplus ungood untruths

Two weeks ago the ghosts of George Orwell and Josef Stalin appeared in midtown Manhattan. Orwell was carrying a placard that read: "I Told You So," while Stalin's read: "Russia Did It First." The characters in the fictitious scenario above were drawing attention to a rule under consideration by the New York City Board of Health that would allow a citizen born in one of the five boroughs to legally change information on his birth certificate. The New York Times reported that the proposed rule allowing revision of historical documents will likely be adopted soon.

Nation of wusses

People are wusses. I'm talking about those whiny, crying, annoying, simple, egotistical types who just can't fathom a life in which maybe their views are wrong and someone else's views are right. So they spend every waking minute trying to explain why they are right and you are wrong and how, if you don't agree, you are stupid.

You gonna eat that?

I've been watching you for a while now. Studying your behavior. Anticipating your next move. By now, I can read you like the Encyclopedia Britannica entry on the pale-headed brush finch. But I have to be certain of your intentions. Let's end this charade. I'll just be blunt. Are you gonna eat that?

Commission mission

Educashion iz varry impoortent. In fact, some people go so far as to suggest that the economic future of the state of Indiana is dependent on the success of public institutions like IU. Over the past 30 years, however, higher education's share of state general appropriations has declined by about 5 percent. That may not seem like a lot of money to at first, but given the billions of dollars it takes to run IU, it's a substantial chunk of change, the kind of money that proverbially "makes the world go 'round."

Around the World

See what's going on around the world!

Pope calls for 'brotherhood' with Islam but warns of widening religious divides

ANKARA, Turkey -- Pope Benedict XVI began his first visit to a Muslim country Tuesday by urging all religious leaders to "utterly refuse" to support any violence in the name of faith, but he expressed worry that the risks of more conflicts and terrorism were growing in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Bush says U.S. won't quit Iraq until 'mission is complete'

RIGA, Latvia -- Under intense pressure to change course, President Bush on Tuesday rejected suggestions Iraq has fallen into civil war and vowed not to pull U.S. troops out "until the mission is complete." At the opening of a NATO summit, Bush also urged allies to increase their forces in Afghanistan to confront a strengthening Taliban insurgency.

Charities asking for holiday help

Bet Savich, director of the Bloomington Volunteer Network, hopes that before the bags are packed, the plane tickets are bought and carpools home are arranged, students will remember the volunteer opportunities that are needed before and during the winter holiday season.

Woman hits 2 school buses in same day

A Bloomington resident ran into the back of two public school buses within a span of 35 minutes Monday, according to a police report.

County Republicans file for vote recount in three races

The Monroe County Republican Party is filing for a recount contest in three county races from the Nov. 7 midterm election, saying they found problems with voter registration and absentee ballots. An $11,000 bond paid for the recount was filed before noon Monday, just minutes before the recount deadline, said Monroe County Republican Party Chairman Franklin Andrew.

The Sampson effect

It's a subtle difference, barely noticeable except to the most dedicated eyes.

Online Only: The Angry Philosopher

On Friday, Nov. 17, the Playstation 3 went on sale across America. Hordes of excited gamers waited in line for hours to get their hands on a limited supply (400,000 units) of the new game console.

Cran-terrorism

Last week's holiday marks the beginning of our yearly custom of gorging ourselves at family Thanksgiving feasts, office Christmas parties and New Year's Eve lush-fests that give the most health-conscious among us excuse to splurge. Between the end of November and the beginning of January, we put away more food and drink than Rush Limbaugh can put away narcotics in 10 lifetimes.

Jet blues

For me, home is too far to drive for just the Thanksgiving weekend, so last Wednesday I braved the holiday hordes and flew out of Indianapolis International Airport. Now let's be clear: JFK is an international airport. LAX, Dulles, Atlanta and O'Hare are all international airports.

Protect children

Crimes against children, especially those of a sexual nature, are the most evil acts our criminal justice system has ever had to face. This seems to be one of the very few issues liberals and conservatives can agree on.

Blog-worthies?

Do you ever stop and count the number of Web sites you visit daily? There are the essentials: Webmail, Gmail, Facebook and (God forbid) MySpace. Then there are sites for you news junkies: NPR, CNN and The Onion (that's right, it's news -- sorta). Maybe you even visit idsnews.com as part of your daily online routine.

Put Up Your Dukes

The numbers don't necessarily play in IU's favor. The Hoosiers haven't played a game in nine days. Four years have passed since IU's last victory against Duke University. And the Blue Devils are 70-3 on their home court since that same year, 2002. But IU coach Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers say they are looking forward to the experience of playing one of the top teams in the country inside of one of the most raucous arenas in all of college basketball.

Officials say lack of women faculty not unique to IU

Female tenured faculty account for less than 22 percent of senior-level faculty at IU, but an absence of women is not only a problem at the top of the faculty status ladder. It's evident in various academic departments, namely the sciences.

IU gets No. 2 top school in Collegehumor.com rankings

IU might not have beaten Purdue at football, but the Hoosiers beat the Boilermakers and nearly every university in the country in a recent Collegehumor.com poll.

Bus drivers unhappy with campaign to hire student employees