Region

Keeping it weird on eBay

By Alyson Brodsy and Derek Kagemann · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 11:41 p.m.

Maybe the hookah you bought your freshman year doesn't spark the same interest that it once did, or perhaps the steadily growing pyramid of bottles in your living room has turned from prodigious feat to passable yawn.

Act your shoe size

By Alyson Brodsy and Joanna Borns · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 11:37 a.m.

Recently I woke up in the morning and felt something strange under my pillow. It was small, furry and not aesthetically pleasing at all. It was a troll doll. But why was it under my pillow? Was I visited by the kitschy nostalgia fairy? What was taken in exchange for this mysterious gift? Let's hope it wasn't a kidney.

Under pressure

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 1:11 a.m.

Allegations that paramilitary organizations hired by Coca-Cola in Colombia assassinated union leaders prompted eight members of the student organization No Sweat! to lay on the floor of the Indiana Memorial Union lobby covered in faux blood. The protest took place earlier this month during a press conference following a board of trustees meeting. In response to the accusations that Coca-Cola bottlers have committed labor and human rights violations in Colombia, eight universities nationwide have chosen not to renew their contracts with the company, said Pablo Largacha, director of public affairs and communications for Coca-Cola. IU's contract with Coke, for which the University receives approximately $1.7 million annually, expires in 2009, said IU Spokesman Larry MacIntyre.

Ruling could change Little 500

By Chris Engel · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 1:11 a.m.

A rule proposed by the Little 500 Riders' Council could change the landscape of the annual race if it is approved by the IU Student Foundation. The proposed rule would let Category 2 riders participate in the Little 500 for the first time in the event's history, as long as the rider did not enroll at IU as a Category 1, 2 or 3 rider. Cyclists classified as a one or two are considered professional-level racers and have been banned from the Little 500 since the early 1990s. USA Cycling rates cyclists on a scale from one to five, with five as the most amateur ranking.

IU has finalist in idea contest

By Peter Stevenson · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 1:11 a.m.

Filippo Menczer may have come up with the best idea since sliced bread. Menczer had no idea his entry in the "Since Sliced Bread" contest would get so far in the competition. But on Jan. 9, the Informatics and Computer Science Professor was named one of seven finalists for his idea to link minimum wage with the cost of living. If he wins the contest, Menczer will win a $100,000 prize. If he finishes in second or third place, he will win $50,000. The contest, run through the Web site www.sinceslicedbread.com, asked entrants to submit an idea, and in 175 words or less describe the issue or problem, how they would fix it, and how fixing it would benefit working men and women.

Alito expected to be approved for full Senate vote today

By Ben Woodson · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 1:06 a.m.

The U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee is scheduled to decide today whether Samuel Alito, Bush's nominee for Supreme Court associate justice, will be voted on by all members of the Senate. The committee is expected to vote in favor of Alito on a party line vote. All 10 Republicans announced their support of the nominee and eight Democrats are expected to vote against his confirmation, according to The Associated Press. After the committee vote, the debate will go to the Senate floor, where the GOP holds a majority with 55 senators. During last week's Congressional hearings, Democrats pressed Alito on traditionally important issues for a Supreme Court nominee such as abortion, but because of the recent disclosure of Bush's controversial wiretapping program, executive power became one of the most important issues at the hearing.

Dungy announces return to Colts for 2006 season

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Marot · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:54 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Dungy needed one week to decide he still wants to be an NFL coach. Now it's back to pursuing that elusive Super Bowl run. The Indianapolis Colts said Monday that Dungy would return as their coach next season, ending speculation he might retire following the December death of his 18-year-old son, James. "I was always coming back unless I said I wasn't," Dungy said through the team . Dungy and team president Bill Polian were en route to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Monday and were unavailable for comment. The Associated Press left a phone message for team owner Jim Irsay.

Tuesday night 'golden' opportunity for IU

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:53 a.m.

Like the men that once originated the nickname, this year's Hoosiers are heading west for a "Gold Rush." But unlike the Hoosiers of yesteryear, the 2006 variety is guaranteed to strike gold -- and plenty of it. The Hawkeyes and all their fans will be clad in their metallic-yellow getup for the program's first-ever "Gold Rush Game." "We're hoping to have a little fun and give our fans a chance to be a little student-like," Iowa coach Steve Alford said in a statement. "Because, as you know, the Hawk's Nest does a pretty good job of being gold on game night." Crowds and colored uniforms are the least of IU coach Mike Davis' worries as his No. 11 Hoosiers (12-3, 4-1) seek their first conference road win of the season. Davis said the Hawkeyes should be extra motivated after suffering a 30-point loss to Michigan State on Saturday. The last time Iowa (14-5, 3-2) lost before that, it responded with three straight victories, including an upset against No. 8 Illinois at home. "I thought (Iowa) was one of the top two teams in our league before the season started," Davis said. "It's going to be a difficult task."

God is hate?

By Alyson Brodsy and Levi Harris · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:48 a.m.

I've lived a sheltered life. As the son of a preacher man, I grew up naively believing that God was a being of unconditional love. But as it turns out, God hates America. Protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., are trying to spread the word by picketing at the funerals of fallen American soldiers, even here in Indiana. When I read about the protesters, I was alarmed. If God hated America, he probably hated other things. It seemed important to find out what those things were, so I did some research. According to people in the best position to know what God thinks, i.e. fundamentalist Christians, He's actually quite hateful.

Has Bush-bashing gone too far?

By Alyson Brodsy and Peter Chen · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:46 a.m.

We love to laugh at the misfortune of others. It's a piece of human nature. That's why blooper reels, banana peels and "Family Guy" are funny. We have even incorporated a German word to describe this very phenomenon, schadenfreude, into semi-common usage. I mean, that's all "The Daily Show" really does. Yet, when this extends to the real political realm, I think we get into rather murky territory, both abstractly and pragmatically. As a liberal, I feel a certain duty to make catty comments about President Bush constantly. Every time he poorly conjugates a verb, I grin. When a bad Bush policy initiative stalls, I laugh. But sometimes, the liberal hate of the Almighty Bush becomes our own misfortune, making us both hypocrites and idiots.

We're just better

By Alyson Brodsy and Jacob Stewart · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:45 a.m.

We all know IU is better than Purdue. It's almost implicit in all of our souls. Even Purdue students, deep down inside, want to be IU students. They'll deny it, but we all know the truth. In a recent Indiana Daily Student article, IU administrators, students and faculty gave a list of 10 reasons why IU is superior to that other place.

Bounce the blank check

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:42 a.m.

Shortly before Christmas, The New York Times revealed President Bush had authorized the National Security Agency to wiretap and monitor phone calls within the United States to identify possible security threats. While there is already checks-and-balances protocol set in place for such action, the president says sometimes the actions must be taken immediately and that the order falls within the boundaries of the law.

Wiretapping program raises legal questions

By Anne Purcell · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:35 a.m.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Bush administration made a commitment to defeat terrorism in every way it knew possible. Now some people think it has gone too far. Last month, The New York Times reported that a government insider had leaked information showing that the Bush administration has been allowing the National Security Agency to conduct warrantless international wiretapping on calls from a person in the United States to a person abroad on terrorist suspects and those tied to terrorists since Sept. 11, 2001. Some claim what the president is doing is unconstitutional and illegal, while President Bush and supporters defend his right to exercise his commander-in-chief powers, overriding the other two branches of government for the sake of national security. Law professor Dawn Johnsen is troubled by Bush's policy.

Snake befriends hamster dinner

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:31 a.m.

TOKYO -- For one snake, dinner became an unexpected roommate. Zookeepers at Tokyo's Mutsugoro Okoku zoo were stunned to find that a 3.5-inch dwarf hamster they had offered as a tasty meal to their four-foot rat snake instead became friends. "I've never seen anything like it," said keeper Kazuya Yamamoto.

Critics say FBI safeguards not enough anymore

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:30 a.m.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Critics question whether safeguards put in place a quarter-century ago following FBI wiretapping misconduct are strong enough to prevent abuse in the 21st century. Others fear the information superhighway is turning out to be a fast path to mass surveillance. What makes the White House surveillance program, acknowledged after The New York Times disclosed it in December, a cause of such concern is that it skirts existing laws and employs techniques resembling a wide-mouthed vacuum before the fine-toothed combs can be wielded. It's being performed by the ultra-secret National Security Agency, which is believed to have the most advanced information vacuuming technology available.

Antibiotic may be linked to liver problems

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Researchers reported Friday three cases of severe liver problems, including one death, in patients at a North Carolina hospital after they began taking a novel antibiotic. Federal regulators said they were reviewing an unknown number of U.S. cases involving the drug, telithromycin, and were consulting with their counterparts overseas. One patient at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., died after taking telithromycin, which is marketed as Ketek, researchers at the hospital said. Another required and received a liver transplant, while the third recovered from drug-induced hepatitis after treatment with Ketek was stopped. The severity of the cases warranted the researchers alerting doctors to what they called a "possible link with telithromycin," said Dr. John Hanson, who works in the liver transplant center at Carolinas Medical Center.

Epilepsy foundation elects professor

By Matt Cunningham · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:29 a.m.

The National Epilepsy Foundation elected Janice M. Buelow, Ph.D. to their national advisory board Dec. 13 in Washington D.C. Buelow is an assistant professor in IU's School of Nursing and an expert on the impact of epilepsy on children. She currently teaches in the Department of Adult Health. Buelow called the invitation to join the group a great honor. "Being involved with the national organization allows me to work with other professionals to improve the quality of life of persons with epilepsy on a national level," Buelow said.

Hoosier Bus adds Purdue route

By Nellie Summerfield · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:23 a.m.

Beginning Feb. 3, Hoosier Bus will add Purdue University to its route to fit riders' demands, allowing students to travel between the two campuses on select weekends and breaks. "The Purdue route was created in response to many requests from students both at IU and Purdue, as well as family members in Chicago," said Yvonne Pevitz, public relations coordinator for Hoosier Bus. Hoosier Bus' coaches will travel from IU to Purdue to Chicago and back select Fridays and Sundays, giving transportation opportunities to those who don't have cars or who do not want to fly.

Board advises against Bieghler clemency

By Alyson Brodsy and Ken Kusmer · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:21 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Parole Board voted unanimously Monday to recommend against clemency for Marvin Bieghler, the self-professed "King Kong of Kokomo" sentenced to death for the execution-style slayings of a Howard County couple in 1981. Barring a last-minute reprieve from Gov. Mitch Daniels or the courts, Bieghler, 58, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City early Friday. Bieghler, an admitted marijuana dealer, was convicted of killing Tommy Miller, 20, and Kimberly Jane Miller, 19, whose bodies were found Dec. 11, 1981, in their mobile home near Russiaville, Ind. Tommy Miller had been shot six times and his pregnant wife three times. Authorities contended he killed the couple because he believed Tommy Miller had told police about his operation moving marijuana from Florida to the Kokomo area and also felt Miller owed him a drug debt.

Consortium bids on toll road

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Jan. 24,2006 12:21 a.m.

• Statewide Mobility Partners, which has bid $3.8 billion to operate the Indiana Toll Road for 75 years, is a consortium of Spain's Cintra and Macquarie Infrastructure Group of Sydney, Australia.