Region

Rage against the voting machine

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 11:38 p.m.

One. Two. Three. Forty-five. Wait, what? 46. 47. 48. 79. What's going on? 80. 81. 1,583,027 ... If the people who count the votes really do decide everything, the next president of the United States could be Thomas Swidarski, CEO of Diebold. One of the primary manufacturers of electronic voting machines, Diebold has been repeatedly accused that its product has the potential to be tampered with, causing an incorrect ballot count.

Film, book resurrect flamboyant politician

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 11:22 p.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- For his first meeting with presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, Huey P. Long dressed in his flamboyant Kingfish mode: plaid suit, purple shirt and pink necktie. During lunch, Roosevelt's mother gazed down the table at the United States senator in the garish outfit. She whispered: "Who is that awful man?"

Russia marks 100th birthday of Shostakovich

By Alyson Brodsy and Jim Heintz · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 11:17 p.m.

MOSCOW -- It's a rare talent that would make internationally acclaimed cellist Mstislav Rostropovich feel second-rate. Dmitri Shostakovich had it. Rostropovich is among the renowned musicians who will put the wide and contradictory breadth of Shostakovich's vision on full display this month as Russians observe the 100th anniversary of his birth. The celebration will include a concert by Moscow Conservatory's orchestra, which will perform Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony conducted by Rostropovich.

Structural problems might force ISU to demolish recently renovated building

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 11:07 p.m.

TERRE HAUTE -- A building Indiana State University has spent nearly $1 million to renovate might be demolished because of structural problems too expensive to repair.

Around the World

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 11:01 p.m.

Space shuttle glides to a safe landing, Ahmadinejad: Iran doesn't need the bomb, Mogul pledges $3 billion to combat global warming, 4 Aides of Ousted Thai Leader Detained

IU Opera Theater presents 'Don Giovanni' this weekend

By Molly Peters · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 10:55 p.m.

This weekend, IU Opera Theater will present "Don Giovanni," a Mozart masterwork said to be one of the greatest operas ever written, according to the Jacobs School of Music Web site. This drama giocoso, meaning "playful drama" or "tragic comedy" in Italian, is based on the legendary Spanish tale of Don Juan. Don Giovanni is a lustful man who engages in episodic conquests of seducing women for nothing more than his own gratification. Giovanni is as easily loathed as is he is adored, as his malicious intentions are contrary to his irresistible charm.

Wal-Mart plans to test reduced prices for generic drugs

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 10:49 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart, facing pressure from critics who call its employee health care coverage inadequate, plans to begin selling nearly 300 generic prescription drugs for a sharply reduced price of $4 for a month's supply.

Zipped up: Hoosiers shut out Akron 2-0, Yeagle scores 4th of year

By Michael Sanserino · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 11:10 a.m.

When they arrive back in Bloomington, members of the IU men's soccer team might have a little more swagger in their step. Their confidence is back.

(Next) generational angst

By C. Warner Sills and Chris Freiberg · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 8:13 a.m.

It's no secret that I'm a huge gamer. And it's also no secret that I prefer what Nintendo and Microsoft have done with the original Xbox and Gamecube over what Sony has done. The Xbox has some great exclusive action in the "Halo" and "Project Gotham Racing" series. Nintendo has the best, most creative programmers on the planet and a truly legendary library of games based on Mario and "The Legend of Zelda."

When bad is good

By C. Warner Sills and Bryan Lufkin · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:11 a.m.

It's time to play everyone's favorite game: "Name that cinematic triumph!" Which 1990 classic features a soundtrack nearly entirely created by a Casio synthesizer, goblin costumes made from burlap potato bags and paper mache masks and a steamy love scene in an RV overflowing with popcorn? If you're one of the proud few who were able to immediately yelp, "Troll 2," then congratulations, you have mastered the art of watching bad movies. You have become one of millions around the world who unite to bask in the glory of cinematic detritus that is so bad, it's good.

B, X buses to change routes, schedules Oct. 1

By Kristi Oloffson · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:11 a.m.

B bus won't go to stadium; X bus will stop before 9 p.m.

Athletics budget deficit $213K less than expected

By Michael Sanserino · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:11 a.m.

The IU Athletics Department ended last year with a smaller budget deficit than predicted, but the department is still $7.2 million in debt, said Kathleen McNeely, IU's executive director of Financial Management Services.

Hotel-like hospital coming soon

By Kasey Hawrysz · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:11 a.m.

It all began with a one-line advertisement in the weekly nursing newsletter Judith Ingala received. All it said was that a new hospital in Bloomington was looking for a chief nursing officer, but that was enough for Ingala to send off her resume.

Music reviews from a nut and a novice

By C. Warner Sills and weekend staff · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:11 a.m.

* Editor's note: At WEEKEND we think it is important that the reviews you read each week are the best possible. This feature, where a CD is reviewed by one writer familiar with the artist and one who isn't familiar with them, will run alongside the other reviews in the coming weeks. We hope you enjoy the diversity of opinions.

Department proposes $55M project to trustees

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:10 a.m.

Representatives of the athletics department presented a $55 million plan for new and upgraded facilities to the board of trustees Wednesday afternoon.

Art by students is a hot commodity for patrons

By Joann Loviglio · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12:02 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- If there's an art to collecting art, Susan Guill just might be considered an old master.

Mayer continues the maturation proccess

By C. Warner Sills and John Barnett · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12 a.m.

John Mayer narrowly avoided being a teen pop idol in 2001 by virtue of the fact that he actually wrote and recorded a set of great songs on Room for Squares. He distanced himself even further from the teen fandom cesspool with his sophomore album, Heavier Things, on which he matured beyond his years to deliver a truly great record. His third album, Continuum, falls somewhere between the previous two, finding Mayer's wide-eyed soul and competent lyricism both at odds and in harmony with his nearing age 30.

Don't make this your last

By Olivia Morales · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12 a.m.

I have not, unfortunately, seen "L'Ultimo Bacio," the Italian film upon which the recently released "The Last Kiss," starring Zach Braff, was based. I am sure, however, that the original foreign film is better than its successor. Directed by Tony Goldwyn, "The Last Kiss" tries hard to be poignant, succeeds frequently, but fails in the grand scheme.

Less than Stellar show

By C. Warner Sills and Zack Teibloom · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12 a.m.

The Stella shorts are hilarious: A couple dozen absurd short films by David Wain, Michael Ian Black, and Michael Showalter, in which the three run around in suits playing with dildos, simulating gay sex, and sing and goof around. Sadly, the show couldn't capture the freshness and absurdity of the shorts.

More 'Office,' less productivity

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Sept. 21,2006 12 a.m.

In the wake of the demise of "Arrested Development," easily the best comedy on TV in recent times, one might say that it was "The Office" that grabbed the torch and just kept running toward the finish line, while collecting Golden Globe and Emmy accolades along the way.