Region

No. 16 IU just misses NCAA Tourney bid

By Matt Dollinger · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 10:46 p.m.

IU coach Amy Robertson already knew her team's fate. As the majority of her Hoosiers gathered together to watch the NCAA Tournament selection show Tuesday on CSTV, Robertson knew her squad had just missed the postseason cut. After all, she served on the committee that selected the teams.

Allen concedes; Democrats take Senate

By Alyson Brodsy and JIM KUHNHENN · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 10:42 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The anti-GOP wave that upended Congress rewarded Democrats with new opportunities to help set the national agenda and burdened them with the task of delivering on voters' expectations.

Opening Friday, 'Crucible' mirrors modern society

By Rachel Skybetter · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 5:37 p.m.

With Halloween last week and Thanksgiving well on its way, it seems only fitting that "The Crucible," a play featuring witch hunts and pilgrims, should open this week. The IU Department of Theatre and Drama will open the iconic American play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Set in Salem, Mass., a young girl, Abigail, played by senior Jessica Rothert, fends off accusations of witchcraft by manipulating other girls to turn the blame around and "cry witch" about other members of the Puritan community. Obsessed with John Proctor, played by graduate student John Armstrong, Abigail involves him in the trials. First she accuses his wife Elizabeth, graduate student Lilia Vassileva, of witchcraft and later she points the finger at Procter. The trial is presided over by Gov. Danforth, played by guest actor and member of the Actors' Equity Association Dan Kremer. As the lies and accusations mount, the state of the town and its people slowly deteriorate.

Bloomington's Best Buddies

By C. Warner Sills and Whitney Mitchell · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:59 p.m.

Toward the end of another lackluster psychology lecture, senior Kimberly Ranney grows anxious and glances at her phone to check the time. Only six more minutes until class is over, and then it's off to Kady's highly anticipated first basketball game of the season, she thinks to herself. After picking her up from school and walking her to the locker room at the gym, Ranney finds a good spot in the bleachers and chants "Go Kady!" as she makes her debut on the court. Anyone who didn't know the pair would think they were sisters by the way they interacted, but they aren't. Yet even though their connection isn't a biological one, Kimberly is Katie's big sister in the eyes of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Size does matter

By C. Warner Sills and Zack Teibloom · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:58 p.m.

WEEKEND writer Zack Teibloom takes a drink for the team on his quest to uncover what makes the Kilroys Sports' atmosphere so intoxicating. Bloomington has spoken. They enjoy the packed porch and one floor "birth canal" that is Kilroy's with "Sweet Caroline" wafting through the speakers. They still love sinking the biz and catching up with alumni at the "Cheers"-like atmosphere of Nick's. But most of all, the newly renovated Sports with "something for everyone" is where IU students want to spend their nights. After winning the last three years, Nick's English Hut was knocked off the top bar podium, according to the results of the 2006 Best of Bloomington poll. After not even cracking the top three last year, Sports won Best Bar with Nick's ranked second and Kilroy's taking the bronze. I went out Saturday night to talk to bartenders, managers, and the people who love the bars to see what the drinkers and drink dispensers really think.

I want my PopoZao

By C. Warner Sills and Joanna Borns · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:55 p.m.

Everyone remembers what they were doing the moment they heard that Kevin Federline was recording his own album. I was purchasing a new platinum chain shaped like a dollar sign... or maybe I was in the fast lane getting my smash on. I could've been skatin' off in my 'rari. I actually don't remember. (Warning: If you have a problem with abbreviating Kevin Federline to K-Fed, shield your eyes.)

Par for the course

By C. Warner Sills and Mark Perlman-Price · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:53 p.m.

Few video games are able to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. No matter how realistic the players or crowds look, you still know you're not intercepting an errant Brett Favre pass or dunking over Shaq. But when you're in "Tiger Woods PGA Tour '07", you cross that line. You can feel the pressure as your video game-self prepares to tee off on the 17th at TPC at Sawgrass, the gale-force wind just waiting to take your ball into the water, Tiger breathing down your neck as you compete in match play.

Only with Cuarón

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:50 p.m.

Long before Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón would direct "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" or earn an Oscar nomination for the widely appreciated "Y tu mamá también," he would leave his TV career in the dust and create his auspicious debut, "Sólo con tu pareja" ("Only with Your Partner").

Watch the flick, ignore the antics

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:49 p.m.

If you didn't see "Mission: Impossible III" this past summer because of Tom Cruise's behavior on TV, well, then you're a moron. As crazy as he has been on Oprah's couch and in interviews with Matt Lauer, the man makes damn good movies, and his whole Scientology background has no influence in his film work. Considering "M:I:3" was one of the best action movies of this year, I'd highly suggest you rent it now on DVD.

Dud looked like a 'Lady'

By C. Warner Sills and Stuart McWhirter · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:46 p.m.

I was first introduced to Lady Sovereign last year through a single, "Random." My first thought upon hearing the track was, "God, this sounds like a really bad M.I.A. song." Sovereign's debut album, A Public Warning, proved my memory's not as bad as I thought. Nearly every track sounded like M.I.A.'s fantastic fast-paced pieces, yet each song fell short of what M.I.A. regularly achieves. Lady Sovereign defies every convention; she is a white, female, British rapper. Although her music isn't always great, you can't say she's not a rebel. But believe me, she won't let you forget either.

Deftones in space

By C. Warner Sills and Brian J. McFillen · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:44 p.m.

Allmusic.com is, by far, one of the best music information resources available anywhere. However, its main page on the Deftones -- on the band's sound, on its influences -- is absurdly out of date. "Along with Limp Bizkit," the band's biography starts off, "the Deftones are often considered to be disciples of Korn, but in fact, they've been around for just as long (if not longer)." Ouch.

The Who are back

By C. Warner Sills and John Barnett · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:42 p.m.

As someone who used to listen to The Who's 1971 album Who's Next once a day for about a year, I can tell you that their first studio effort since 1982's It's Hard is, in fact, hard. Hard in a good way, though. Contrary to 1969's rock opera "Tommy," which consisted of a smattering of excellent full-length compositions stitched together with small fragments of tracks that served the purpose of gelling the narrative, Endless Wire is frontloaded with full songs, saving its own mini-opera for tracks 10 through 21.

This 'Flush' is not crap

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsky · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:39 p.m.

This past year has been big for animated movies. Hits like "Cars" and "Open Season" have been box office successes. So what exactly do directors like David Bowers and Sam Fell consider while trying to make "Flushed Away" stand out? For starters, it helps having a creative and original plot. And whether Bowers and Fell actually thought about gearing this movie directly toward kids, they were clever enough to add jokes that can be enjoyed by adults.

Stupider than fiction

By C. Warner Sills and Chris Freiberg · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:37 p.m.

Will Ferrell is a mediocre comedian. There, I said it. I'm sorry, but it's true. He has one and a half characters (crazy guy who screams stuff and mostly quiet, weird guy who occasionally screams crazy stuff).

Borat will not 'be execute'

By C. Warner Sills and Zack Teibloom · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 3:34 p.m.

I never thought I would rave about a movie where the main character repeatedly bashed Judaism and is involved in a full-frontal male nudity scene that prompts him to say, "My moustache still tastes of your testes," but "Borat" is niiiice. I'd waited two anxious years for the Borat movie after becoming obsessed with talking like Sacha Baron Cohen's character on "Da Ali G Show," and somehow the film exceeded my wildest expectations. I tell you more. Dzienkuje.

The Funk is all in the family

By Paige Ingram · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:28 a.m.

Marcus Randolph promised IU a hip-shaking show from his band, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and as they began to play The Rolling Stone's "Shake Your Hips" Wednesday night that's just what they delivered. "This is IU, and we're about to have a good time. This is ladies time," lead guitarist and vocalist Robert Randolph said, as three dozen women of all ages moved from backstage to center stage to dance along with the music. Then, Robert Randolph showed the group how to really move as he jumped up on his chair to join in the hip shaking. If that wasn't enough, two songs later, another audience member got an even more intimate experience with the band, taking over a guitar on stage.

IUPUI students demand minority support

By Whitney Mitchell · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:28 a.m.

Last week, minority student leaders at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis threatened to sue the University if administrators did not meet a number of demands, including $78,000 for black student groups and an undergraduate degree in African-American studies. Members of IU-Bloomington's Black Student Union said they agree with the move by their IUPUI counterparts. "We support what they are doing now, and I think the steps (IUPUI's black student leaders) are taking to address the concerns of minority students on their campus are good," said D'Anna Wade, IU's Black Student Union president.

Gordon signs IU letter of intent

By Matt Mattucci · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:28 a.m.

For months, IU coach Kelvin Sampson has dealt with questions regarding recruit Eric Gordon. For months, Sampson has given the same response: "I can't comment about that." With Gordon signing a national letter of intent with IU Wednesday morning, Sampson is finally able to talk about his prized recruit. "Gordon is a dynamic player. Offensively there's so many different ways he can score the basketball," the first-year Hoosier coach said at a press conference Wednesday evening. "This kid scores really high on the 'wow' scale. He's good. He's an impact guard."

IU alumnus nominated for Secretary of Defense

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:28 a.m.

Political science professors are divided as to the meaning of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's surprise resignation Wednesday, though they are pleased President George W. Bush nominated an IU alumnus to replace him. Bush nominated Robert Gates, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and current president of Texas A&M University to replace Rumsfeld.

Students optimistic for change after elections

By Brian Spegele · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:26 a.m.

The choice word for many students around campus Wednesday was "optimistic." Following the results of Tuesday's election, students said they were optimistic for change, others for peace, while many expressed a general hope for the future of the nation. Just a day after Republicans lost control of the House for the first time since 1994 and with the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, students who wanted reform said they are now ready to accept the changes Democrats have promised.