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Highly caffeinated

Coffee! O muse! O divine fuel! Without it, column writing would be impossible. Clearly, the ancient Ethiopian shepherds, or whoever it was that first discovered such homely little beans could be turned into a magical elixir, must have been masters of public debate. What a thing to hear! Ahh, to have been one of those sheep!

The 'gay' question

Tuesday is National Coming Out Day, and it's important to understand the struggle of those who might plan on taking the plunge and revealing their sexual orientation. An article in last week's Time magazine, however, insinuates that today, it's easy being gay. Ritch Savin-Williams, chair of Cornell University's human-development department, told the magazine he believes gay youth are moving toward a "postgay" identity, in part because many are not yet willing to call themselves gay. His neologism insinuates society as progressed so much that sexual orientation is no longer seen as an issue by the general public.

Abort the abortion truck scheme

If you're lucky, you haven't seen them: large moving trucks with pictures of aborted fetuses next to a coin or other small objects to show the minute scale of the fetuses. They've been circling the perimeter of campus for a week or so, silently making their point. They circle and circle, leaving us to wonder: Is anyone looking? The trucks' right to be here is a freedom afforded to the drivers and the campaign's supporters by the First Amendment. Mark Harrington, director of the Midwest region for the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (the organization sponsoring the truck campaign), responded to an inquiry about the trucks' presence on campus with, "We have all (the) invitation we need in the First Amendment."

IU coming up short in annual blood drive

Between now and Nov. 11, fans can bleed crimson, but students can give the gift of life and beat the rival Boilermakers in the 2005 IU versus Purdue Blood Donor Challenge. "It's a very friendly competition and it allows members to do something that will benefit their communities under the name of IU," said Senior Vice President of the IU Alumni Association John Hobson.

Campaign targets malicious software

University Information Technology Services begins today the second week of the month-long National Cyber Security Campaign, asking students to "Beware of Viruses and Worms" on their computers. Viruses, man-made computer programs constructed to destroy and corrupt data, are hidden within other files and programs and can slip into your computer's system through computing actions known as high-risk behavior. File sharing, music downloading, clicking on links received through instant messenger that are unverified by the sender and opening e-mail attachments from unknown senders are popular examples of high-risk behavior. Performing these actions make your computer more susceptible to contamination by viruses and worms.

Guatemala declares landslide areas cemeteries for hundreds feared dead, missing

GUATEMALA CITY -- Dozens of foreign tourists fled devastated lakeside Mayan towns on foot and by helicopter Sunday as Guatemalan officials said they would abandon communities buried by landslides and declare them mass graveyards.

Officials: NYC terror plot uncorroborated

NEW YORK -- A reported plot to bomb city subways with remote-controlled explosives has not been corroborated after days of investigation, law enforcement officials said Sunday amid an easing sense of concern. Interrogations of suspects captured in Iraq last week after an informant's tip about bomb-laden suitcases and baby carriages have yet to yield evidence that the plot was real, officials said.

Rescuers search rubble for survivors

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan -- Rescuers struggled to reach remote, mountainous areas Sunday after Pakistan's worst-ever earthquake wiped out entire villages, buried roads in rubble and knocked out electricity and water supplies. The death toll stood at 20,000 and was expected to rise. In this devastated Himalayan city, wounded covered by shawls lay in the street, and villagers used sledgehammers to break through the rubble of flattened schools and homes seeking survivors.

Book fines charged to bursar bill

Months from graduation, the Office of the Bursar can hold senior Jeremy John's diploma. He has an outstanding late fee for a movie he checked out -- five years ago. "I checked out a movie on Gandhi for a friend, and he says he returned it. Apparently he didn't because the library is charging me something like $100," John said. "I keep trying to talk to them, but they aren't going to take it off. They think because it is going on my bursar account that it isn't real to me, but I pay my own bursar bill."

Controversial film sparks discussion

A daughter came out as a lesbian to her conservative Christian mother who refused to accept her. Filled with guilt, the daughter committed suicide. Now the mother is an advocate for gays and lesbians, particularly those excluded from their religious congregations.

Historical Society celebrates 100th anniversary

The Monroe County Historical Society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year of promoting history in Monroe County. The society now consists of the Monroe County Historical Museum, the genealogy library and gift shop. Carrie Hertz, a 26-year-old IU student working on her Ph.D. in folklore, worked at the museum for two years.

Student photographer's work on display at local café

Leah Cornwell waits to be seized by the beauty of an object, and then she takes a picture of it. Her keen eye for the sublime has landed her work in a local gallery for the second time this year. A collection of the IU senior's photographs, taken while she was studying in Italy, is on display at Tutto Bène wine café through Oct. 30.

Fall Ballet features variety of music, dance during weekend

IU's ballet season is not limited only to "The Nutcracker" every Christmas. The IU Ballet Theater gave its first performances of the year Friday and Saturday at the Musical Arts Center which consisted of four pieces, including two world premieres. Many different styles of ballet were put on display by the dancers.

Award-winning 'Blast!' reconnects with Hoosier roots

Marching bands are not only a staple of high school football games, but occasionally one blasts off to international fame. "Blast!," which performed Thursday through Saturday at the IU Auditorium, is based on marching material standard to American high schools. "Blast!" tweaked the style and added its own flair to become a unique and award-winning production.

IUPD Blotter

Hep likes chances in his 1st Homecoming game

If you're an IU football player, you probably don't want to star in IU head coach Terry Hoeppner's latest documentary film. The tape is a montage Hoeppner put together of all the penalties committed in last weekend's 42-24 loss to Wisconsin. The head coach attempted to correct the Hoosiers' costly mistakes. "Not to embarrass anyone or ridicule anyone, but you don't want to be on that tape," Hoeppner said. "It's an educational process."

IU sets new record for private donations

This year, the private sector has made IU $301 million wealthier. IU President Adam Herbert announced Thursday that IU received an all-time record amount -- a 20-percent increase from last year -- for private sector support through gifts and nongovernmental research grants in the fiscal year 2005.But what this $301 million won't do is help alleviate the University's consistent debt, said Curt Simic, president of the IU Foundation. It's still too early in the planning process to determine exactly how this money will be used, he said.

The Great Homecoming Debate

Thousands of viewers will watch IU and the University of Illinois battle on the football field Saturday, but few have witnessed the schools' historical battle over homecoming, which started nearly a century ago. Representatives from both campuses claim their school started the tradition of homecoming, but for reasons based on different definitions of the event.

Death toll rises after landslide

GUATEMALA CITY -- Rescue workers in Guatemala pulled dozens of bodies from a massive mudslide and from a swollen river Thursday, raising to at least 236 the number of people killed from five days of pounding rains in Central America and Mexico.

New York increases subway security threat

NEW YORK -- Authorities stepped up mass transit security Thursday after receiving a credible threat that the city's subway system could be the target of a terrorist attack in coming days.