Region

Enter the world of fast talking lobbyists

Ah, big tobacco. Every year its products contribute to a death toll that would make a regional conflict proud. Kills more than alcohol and guns combined. Loved the world over by its many consumers. All the while, it remains a truly vilified corner of the market. It's an easy target. I mean, come on, man. It's big tobacco! You can't smoke in bars in New York anymore (let alone Bloomington). There's massive counter-advertising campaigns aimed at it. The government demands a Surgeon General's warning to be placed on every box.

Country idol channels his inner- white trashiness on new album

The angry American returns - a little less angry. Toby Keith has been somewhat of a venerable journeyman in the country music business for the past 13 years, releasing everything from radio-friendly country to politically-charged agit-prop, all to the delight of his core fan base. His 10th long-player, White Trash with Money, fits nicely with the more radio-ready of his body of work. The title comes from a confrontation Keith's daughter had with a schoolmate in which said schoolmate criticized her for being glorified trailer bait, a notion which Keith seems to embrace about himself on this record, always with a wink and a smile.

'Hidden' hopes, unanswered questions

Imagine opening your front door one morning to find a VHS tape wrapped in a piece of white paper with a child's drawing on it. Poorly sketched, the picture depicts a child's face covered in blood. You place the tape in your VCR and all you see is two hours worth of footage containing the front of your home. Nothing exciting, nothing unusual, just nothing at all really. "Caché" ("Hidden") shows us just how paranoid one can become when unknown surveillance is placed upon them. Georges Laurent (Daniel Auteuil) and his wife Anne ("Chocolat" beauty Juliette Binoche) deal with the aforementioned problem almost daily.

Ignore the nudies

It's a fitting way to mark the passing of my final year here at IU. If my memory serves correctly (and let's face it, it's the end of my senior year, so it's highly probable that it doesn't), there's been some sort of pornography scandal every year I've been here. My freshman year it was the release of the infamous "Shane's World" DVD. Then came Teen Keira, followed by a slew of issues with Playboy.

Knock, knock. Who's there?

Alright, so here's the deal: It's Little 500 weekend, and you want to party. Most of us students have the hankering to head out this weekend, knock back two or three or 11 drinks, jump from party to party or bar to bar and enjoy what was dubbed a long time ago the "greatest college weekend." But there's a problem.

Zags' Morrison declares for NBA Draft

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga All-America forward Adam Morrison declared for the NBA draft Wednesday, passing up his senior season for a chance to be a lottery pick. The 6-foot-8 floppy-haired, mustached forward, who led Division I in scoring last season at 28.1 points per game, is a diabetic and said uncertainty over his future health prospects was a factor in his decision.

South African author, feminist dies

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- South African author, women's rights and anti-apartheid champion Ellen Kuzwayo died early Wednesday after a long illness, her family said. She was 91.

NEW HIRE

IU Athletics Chairperson and Professor of Business Administration James Wimbush welcomes new IU women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack to the University at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

White Sox complete sweep of Royals

CHICAGO -- Javier Vazquez watched the ball roll down the third-base line, his bid for a no-hitter riding on where it ended up. Third baseman Joe Crede had no play, either. He was too far back. As they both looked on helplessly Wednesday, Doug Mientkiewicz's slow roller off a checked swing didn't stray into foul territory. Instead, the ball seemed to have a mind of its own and stayed fair. And after 6 1/3 innings, Vazquez's chance to pitch a no-hitter was over.

Little 500 is IU's weekend to represent with style

A-Rod homers in 3rd-straight game

TORONTO -- Alex Rodriguez and Mike Mussina were happy to be heading home, especially after a win. Rodriguez homered in his third straight game, and Mussina made another sharp start, leading the New York Yankees past the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Wednesday. New York is 7-7 after playing 11 of 14 on the road. The Yankees host Baltimore Friday night in the start of a nine-game homestand.

Investigators in Duke lacrosse rape case search dorm rooms

DURHAM, N.C. -- Police searched the dorm rooms of two Duke University lacrosse players after the two were arrested on charges of raping and kidnapping an exotic dancer during an off-campus team party. District Attorney Mike Nifong said Tuesday he also hoped to link a third man to the alleged attack soon, but he said that person had not been "identified with certainty."

Math for artists

It's that time again. That time in the semester when we are all frantically making appointments to see our advisers, reading pages upon pages of course descriptions and wondering for the millionth time, "What am I going to do with my life?" Spring registration has begun.

IU falls to Ohio Bobcats 1-0

After ending a three-game losing streak with an 11-3 home win against Indiana State, the IU softball team hoped to string together some wins to push its record above .500. Despite a strong outing from senior pitcher Megan Roark, the Hoosiers lost to the Ohio University Bobcats 1-0 in Athens yesterday.

'American Idol' for big stars, too

LOS ANGELES -- It turns unknowns into icons overnight -- but "American Idol" isn't just for aspiring singers. With its unparalleled exposure -- the weekly audience is usually somewhere north of 30 million viewers -- "Idol" is now launching record sales of the established artists who appear as guests.

Who's your M.V.P.?

With the NBA season ending last night, it is time to decide the recipient of the Most Valuable Player award. While I would like to give it to myself (you should see the game I kick at Kilroy's), I have been informed that this is the National Basketball Association MVP, so reluctantly I made another valuable choice.

Sidewalk runway

Senior Tiffany Leonhard (left) and Julie Duhon. describe themselves as "an odd pair" for the fashion runway. On their style: Leonhard described her style as "whatever matches" and Duhon as "just me."

Author Reza Aslan addreses views on Bin Laden, Islamic reformation

Reza Aslan, an expert on Islam and the Middle East and author of the book "No god but God," addressed the issue of Islamic reformation in a speech entitled "Welcome to the Islamic Reformation: The Religion, Politics, and Future of Islam," Wednesday evening in the Whittenberger Auditorium of the Indiana Memorial Union. In his speech, which was sponsored by Union Board, he addressed the religion of Islam today, as well as how Muslims perceive Osama Bin Laden and his radical idea of Islam.

Speaker: get serious about environment

Former Environmental Protection Agency Head Bill Ruckelshaus said he thinks we need to change the way we live. "How do you convince (people) that we all need to live somewhat differently?" he asked. "You've got to convince them that it's their idea." In honor of the 35th anniversary of the EPA, Ruckelshaus spoke to the audience-packed Wells-Metz Theater Wednesday afternoon.

Un-covered

Sophomore Tanah Combs often finds herself naked in the middle of a classroom full of people staring at her, but it's not a bad dream. It's her job.