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This 'angel' is a blessing

"An Angel at My Table" is a rare commodity: a film about a woman saved by her work. It's an uncommon scenario in today's films, where most narratives insist people can only be saved by each other. The film follows the life of Janet Frame, an English prodigy, from her childhood into adult years where she is hospitalized for schizophrenia. She then remains in the psych ward for eight years, not because she is crazy, but because she is paralyzed by her own fear of the outside world. Her way to heal herself is by writing stories and poems, which eventually free her from her self-made prison.

Clooney gains much directorial credibility

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is a great film on many levels, but above all, it's important and relevant. It demonstrates journalism in its purest form and features the most honest and integral journalist of his time, Edward R. Murrow (Strathairn in a role that demands Oscar consideration).

A modest effort from Kozelek

Alright. Time to familiarize people with Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon leader Mark Kozelek. Kozelek began making music with his group the Red House Painters in the early 90s. After RHP's split in 2001, the singer-songwriter-producer-guitarist went solo on an album of AC/DC covers which were so unlike the originals a radio station in Santa Barbara misinterpreted one track as a Leonard Cohen number. Then, in 2003, Kozelek released Ghosts of the Great Highway with his unplugged Sun Kil Moon project, sounding like the House Painters' folksier, sunnier alter ego. Fast forward two years to the present, Kozelek's at it again with a sophomore album under the Sun Kil Moon moniker.

'Chicken' has a bad case of ADD

I remember the first time I heard about Pokémon. Must've been seven or eight years ago. On the evening news they said some cartoon show in Japan was causing seizures in epileptic children. Lots of flashing lights, everything moving at a hyperactive pace.

A DVD trip to the Dark Side

Rarely in cinematic history have films begun with a money shot, but such is the case with George Lucas' latest, and most likely final, astronomically budgeted, multi-billion-dollar-grossing "Stars Wars" installment. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi pilot their Jedi Starfighters over the expansive surface of a massive cruiser ship, then plunge headlong into the biggest and most chaotic space battle (or battle, for that matter) ever seen in any film. The first 25 minutes of "Star Wars: Episode III" is crammed with non-stop action, almost to the point of geekish delirium.

'Pete & Pete' a brilliant paradox

We had it lucky growing up. The kid shows we had were truly great, like "The Tick" and "Pinky and the Brain." But before an invulnerable idiot in blue spandex foiled a chair-faced madman's plan to deface the moon, and before two albino lab mice tried to take over the world, there were two red-headed brothers with the same name whose epic suburban adventures became the stuff of cult legend.

IMU voted best place to lay your head

Along with having a social life, studying and sleeping rank high on collegiate "to do" lists. The University population has spoken, and the library and the Indiana Memorial Union have been ranked as the Best in Bloomington for studying and sleeping on campus, respectively. Sitting in the lobby of the Herman B Wells Library, sophomore Katrina Babin simultaneously listens to her iPod and translates her Arabic homework as she waits for her professor.

Best Of Bloomington 2005

Second to outfit selection, restaurant selection is the most stressful part of a Saturday night on the town. Have you just worked up the courage to ask that hottie in the third row of your psych class out for dinner? Well, when those big brown eyes gaze back and ask "where?" you've got to be prepared with an answer because, quite frankly, sweaty palms and flushed cheeks won't exactly keep 'em coming back for more. Or are your overeager parents in town for the weekend and ready to attempt to take Kirkwood on in true Hoosier manner?

'All' is nothing much

Turn on VH1, plug in the guitar and press record. This seems to be the formula for Santana albums these days. It comes as no surprise that All That I Am, Santana's second attempt at recreating the magic of 1999's Grammy classic Supernatural, is the guitar legend's most unimaginative work to date. The man who released masterpieces such as Abraxas and Caravanserai noodles and wanks his way through 13 tracks that seemingly feature whatever pop star walked into his studio that morning, stars such as "American Idol" reject Bo Bice. Carlos, please, do we have to endure yet another "collaborative" effort?

What's on your wall?

I love looking into other people's dorm rooms. I don't necessarily care to meet those who inhabit them. I don't really care about how the beds are set up or the fancy lamp shades. My attention goes straight to the posters on the wall. Lately this game has become a bore. Every room seems to have the same posters. It's time for people to be different. We need to escape the lure of what I deem the "college posters." There are several overused posters.

Still 'fresh' after all these years

Punk music tends to not look back. However, with the genre falling into such disarray in the 80s and early 90s, there has been a resurgence in punk nostalgia. The San Francisco band the Dead Kennedys re-released their first full-length album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in order to celebrate its 25th anniversary. In a quarter of a century, a lot has changed in the music world. However, this repackaging of Fresh Fruit is a perfect example of paying attention to the past while still inspiring others for the future.

Say it ain't so Trey!

Following the breakup of the seminal prog-rock/jamband Phish, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio quickly sought to break all ties with the band and its grassroots organization, favoring a clean slate for a solo career. Shine finds Anastasio, who released five solo works while with Phish, working free of the limits that come with the title of "side project." Phish's last release Undermind found Anastasio's compositions evolving from mere launch pads for the extended jams that came to define Phish into songs you might find on an alt-rock radio station.

OK to blink

When Blink-182 broke up, every stereotypical hate-it-cause-it's-on-the-air rock listener took their shots at the pop-punk band. In 30 seconds flat they could denigrate any punk band whose lead singer didn't sound like he just finished smoking 60 French cigarettes. Me, on the other hand, I nearly cried. Well, not really. But I wasn't happy about it. The high school dropouts produced some of the greatest summer anthems, doing so in great teenage angst style. Which was perfect for me -- I was a teen when all of their albums came out. Not to mention, these were the guys I had seen play amazing shows, always with great company. They introduced me to Mest, New Found Glory and Simple Plan before any of them made it big. They also toured with two bands I love, Green Day and No Doubt, during back-to-back summer concerts.

Chicago lawyer writes war novel

CHICAGO -- Author Scott Turow's father served as a field surgeon in a medical unit during World War II, but his stories about that experience stopped flowing before his son reached his teen years. Now Turow -- whose work as an attorney has often inspired his best-selling legal thrillers like "Presumed Innocent" -- has used his father's conflicted views about war and courage as the jumping off point for his latest novel, a foray into historical fiction called "Ordinary Heroes."

They dressed that way so we wouldn't have to

Uptown almost perfect, except for service

Rumor has it that the Uptown Café is one of the hot spots in Bloomington. Located just off the square in the heart of downtown, the café, better know as Uptown, is recognized for its great food and personable atmosphere. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we sat in the restaurant's outside seating.

Jordan River Forum

I would like to thank Kacie Foster for her Nov. 3 article "Forum aims to reduce 'casual racism' on campus." As mentioned in the article, the Facebook can be a great tool to promote student interaction on campus but not when some IU students create groups such as "We hate Asian drivers." This illustrates the need in our community to actively promote the value of diversity on campus.

Finito to Scalito

Dear Judge Alito (or shall I say "Scalito"?), It seems I have caught you at a very momentous time in your life. Early next year you will begin your hearings for appointment to the Supreme Court. While you are, no doubt, a highly accomplished jurist (you have written about 300 rules and participated in about 1,500 cases), I have some concerns, especially regarding the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Old paths, same story

It was a strange sight. They were children, probably dressed in some of the nicest clothing they own. They had violins and guitars and awkwardly screeched out string notes, as many of us probably did in third grade.

Why France matters

By the time this column goes to print, it will have been two weeks since violent protest demonstrations began in Clichy-sous-Bois, a Paris suburb. The spark that caused the riots was nominally the death of two young men on an electrical substation, but since then, the burnt hulks of cars and injured civilians have become symbols of the North African Muslim underclass living in France. People across France and around the world are asking, "How do we stop the riots?" But before the last of the fires is extinguished, they will also be asking "Why?"