Region

Local bars, patrons brace for smoking ban

By Nellie Summerfield · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:41 p.m.

First in restaurants, then on campus and now even in bars ... lighting up a cigarette will be prohibited in all public buildings beginning Jan. 1, 2005.

Competing restaurants don't actually compete after all

By Cameron Thibos · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:39 p.m.

The Esan Thai Restaurant opened to little fanfare last October across the street from the Monroe County Public Library. Two other Thai restaurants, Siam House and Maung Tong Thai, are within the same downtown area. Nonetheless, Esan Thai survived the-make-or break first year, and now business is thriving.

The final judgement

By Felipe Maya · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:34 p.m.

It's the beginning of the end folks. And at this point all I have to say is: Screw finals, and all tests for that matter.

Britney Spears for president

By Joanna Borns · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:33 p.m.

What makes a good president? The exact qualifications might be impossible to pinpoint, but I know of someone who would make the perfect commander in chief.

Vilifying black athletes

By Jonathan Blanks · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:32 p.m.

There has been no indication whatsoever that race played any part of the brawl at the Pacers/Pistons game in Auburn Hills, Mich., last month. Yet, race has permeated the media coverage and commentary -- albeit covertly -- in the weeks since the melee.

Nudity not for necking

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:32 p.m.

While many IU students plan to resume business as usual when they return to campus after the holiday break, students at Bennington College in Vermont are preparing to uphold their right to college life in the nude. Reflecting the feel good attitude and free spirit conditioning of post-modern American ideology, some Bennington students have exploited an informal campus policy since the 1960s which allows them to conduct academic business and to participate in leisure activities while naked -- genitals blowing to-and-fro in the breeze in plain view for all to see.

Traditional country roots

By Brandon S Morley · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:24 p.m.

Just to give you an idea just how much time Willie Nelson spends playing: he's had the same guitar his whole career and, because he never used a pick guard, he flat out wore a hole through it.

'Pompeii' -- an overall explosive read

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:23 p.m.

It's a situation ripe for a Hollywood movie interpretation: rich and powerful people are living in the shadow of an impending disaster, unaware of the danger that is lurking near their homes. British novelist Robert Harris has done the next best thing. He's written a novel that dramatizes the disaster that befell Pompeii in A.D. 79.

Faltering Portugese government quits

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:18 p.m.

LISBON, Portugal -- Portugal, already reeling from an alarming economic decline, plunged deeper into crisis Saturday when the conservative government quit a day after the president dissolved Parliament and called an early general election. The chaos in government will translate into months of political paralysis that Portugal, one of the European Union's poorest nations, can ill afford.

Homeland security pick forced to withdraw

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 11:18 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The White House renewed its search for a homeland security chief Saturday as the candidate President George W. Bush thought ideal apologized for an immigration problem involving a family housekeeper that forced him to withdraw.

IU WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 7:15 p.m.

It took regulation, 2 overtimes and a shootout, but IU won its second straight national championship Sunday. IU won the shootout 3-2 after playing to a 1-1 tie. With under 10 minutes left in regulation, UC-Santa Barbara's Drew McAthy scored a goal to tie IU 1-1 in the national championship game. Sophomore forward Jacob Peterson scored as IU opened a 1-0 lead in the first half. Check back for more updates.

Hoosiers face Santa Barbara for title

By Brian Janosch · Sunday, Dec. 12,2004 5:12 p.m.

CARSON, Calif. - Pure emptiness. That's what shot through Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski when the clock struck 48 seconds in the second overtime of Friday's semifinal match. Pure excitement. That's what overcame sophomore midfielder John Michael Hayden when the clock struck 48 seconds and he witnessed his header tickle the back of the net.

Military working hard to upgrade armor, officials say

By Alyson Brodsy and John J. Lumpkin · Saturday, Dec. 11,2004 12:33 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Military officials said Thursday they were working hard to upgrade the armor on Army vehicles in Iraq, a day after a soldier had pressed Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on the subject. President Bush said, "The concerns expressed are being addressed."

Canned art

By Tony Sams · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 12:26 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- With a closely shaven head, a thick goatee, a light blue sports jersey and a full smile, Matt Lawrence chatted and laughed with people beneath a tent set up in front of a large mural, roughly 20 feet tall and 30 feet across, that he and another artist had worked on earlier Saturday.

Trading Places

By Maria Fragnoli · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 1:22 a.m.

Indiana desperately wants Catherine Beechler to stay. The IU senior will graduate this December and is in the process of finding a job after college. Millions of dollars and countless hours of planning by state officials have already gone into convincing Beechler that Indiana will offer the best jobs, wages, and lifestyle.

Another national title just 2 wins away

By Steve Slivka · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 1:20 a.m.

CARSON, Calif. -- One of NCAA's best offenses in men's soccer will square off against one of the best defenses tonight as No. 2 IU looks to defeat No. 3 Maryland and advance to the national championship match.

Roommate puts IU student up for auction on Internet site

By Rick Newkirk · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 1:20 a.m.

The eBay post reads loud and clear: "IU ROOMMMATE FOR SALE!! MUST SELL! Finals are coming!" How much would you pay for a curly-haired, 19-year-old dorm-dweller? As of press time, at least $14.50.

Pine e-mail system to retire

By Gavin Lesnick · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 1:20 a.m.

To be or not to be, that is the question. For IU's Shakespeare systems, the answer is not to be. University Information Technology Services sent e-mails to IU users this week informing them that the Shakespeare and Jewel systems, on which the Pine client runs, will be retired at the beginning of spring semester, eliminating the once-popular textual alternative to Webmail.

Texans match-up may be cure for Manning's TD record goal

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 1:13 a.m.

HOUSTON -- With only a few seconds left in a certain victory for Miami, Peyton Manning threw a meaningless 6-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison to cut the score to 24-15. The date was Sept. 6, 1998, and Manning had salvaged his rough NFL debut with the first touchdown pass of his pro career.

Suspended Pacers begin NBA arbitration

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Sheridan · Friday, Dec. 10,2004 1:11 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Ron Artest took the witness stand and described, in his words, one of the worst brawls in NBA history. Teammates Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal and Anthony Johnson did the same, and a union attorney and one of O'Neal's bodyguards also testified. It went on for six hours, with none of the witnesses being cross-examined by anyone from the league office.