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A once in a lifetime album

The year was 1979. Ambient music pioneer Brian Eno and Talking Heads frontman David Byrne began work on a two-year exercise in the experimental that would take their budding creative marriage to new heights. In 1981, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts was released to much acclaim, earning immediate status as a groundbreaking work, a synthesis of world music, ambient and the polyrhythmic funkiness of the Talking Heads. Twenty-five years after its initial release, My Life has been given new life with seven bonus tracks and extensive liner notes by Byrne and Eno. The re-release is a complete package, shedding new light on the creative process behind one of the definitive experimental works of the last quarter century.

Oh good lord, it's a kid's show

Imagine if when you were six years old you'd found some of your daddy's mescaline in the medicine cabinet, took it, ate 10 Oreos and watched "Sesame Street." That's "Wonder Showzen," MTV2's usually demented, often scatological, always brilliant kids' show knock-off created, directed and voiced by the members of obscure indie rock band PFFR. The format of "Wonder Showzen" is not unlike that of "Sesame Street," "Barney & Friends" and their ilk. Real live kids between the ages of five and 12 interact with a host of puppet pals, and then there's the occasional cartoon, public service announcement or trip to the local farm/factory/zoo.

LITTLE 500 SAFETY

Scattered across tables in common rooms around campus sit paper triangles urging students to register against rape with the IU Student Association rape crisis fund on one side and another important message on the other. "The Little 500 Weekend -- protect yourself, protect your friends." Little 500 riders have helmets to help shield them from dangers during the race, students who participate in any of the activities associated with Little 500 week don't have protective gear to keep them safe during the parties and substantial drinking that accompany the week.

"World's Greatest College Weekend"

Little 500 has been dubbed the "World's Greatest College Weekend," but what does that mean? Surely IU students would be able to shed some light on why this weekend is better than any event that takes place on any other campus throughout this big blue marble. Let's start with junior Ashley Timberlake, a student walking past the Indiana Memorial Union. She probably has some crazy story from past Little 500 weekends. "The last couple years I've had tests all week; so, I haven't been able to go out," she says.

Completely Finished

"An Unfinished Life" is a charming story that is parallel with reality. With a superb cast featuring the likes of Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Josh Lucas and newcomer Becca Gardner, "Unfinished" is able to please the audience as well as entertain. Jean Gilkyson (Lopez) and her young daughter, Griff (Gardner), travel from the Midwest out to Wyoming in an effort to escape Gilkyson's abusive boyfriend. With no money and no place to go, Gilkyson decides to go to the ranch of her dead ex-husband's father, Einer (Redford), who blames her for the death of his son.

Don't brave 'The Wild'

Almost all animated movies lately have been great and very well done. With that said there was no reason to think that "The Wild" would be anything but another superb Disney masterpiece. Unfortunately this particular film wasn't anything to brag about. "The Wild" is about Ryan, a lion cub (Greg Cipes) who wants to be able to grow up and be able to roar like his father, Samson (Keifer Sutherland). After living in the New York Zoo his entire life he thinks the only way he will be able to do this is if he escapes to the wild.

Concept album takes on Orwell

By 1977, Pink Floyd had achieved the kind of lucrative success of which most bands only dream. The consecutive releases of Darkside of the Moon and Wish You Were Here launched them into international stardom. So how did they follow up these two career defining albums? By releasing what was easily their least accessible, and yet in many ways best album: Animals. With all of the songs coming in at under a minute and a half or well over 10 minutes, the album received zero radio play. The clear message was that Pink Floyd was not going to cater to their fans. And the result is a brilliant album that seems to have escaped the eye of most listeners save the true Floyd fan. Behind The Wall, Animals is Pink Floyd's most clearly conceptualized album. It is loosely based on the George Orwell book "Animal Farm," although it is influential more in its theme than its actual content.

Coming soon...Mediocrity

A couple weekends ago while donning Showplace West 12 with my presence during a screening of the retched "The Hills Have Eyes," I saw a teaser trailer for yet another upcoming horror remake of the classic film, "The Omen." The trailer featured a lingering shot of a creepy-looking demon child, perched on a slow-moving swing set. The music was eerie, the Amish-looking child was motionless and the audience in the theater was silent. As I watched the fairly intriguing trailer, I began to think to myself, "Well, Warner, this is pretty much the only good that will come out of this film."

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."