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Clapping Actors, Golden Statues

Taliban urges holy war if attacked

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The hard-line Taliban said God would protect it if the world tried to "set fire'' to Afghanistan for sheltering terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden, and in comments broadcast Tuesday also called on all Muslims to wage holy war on America if it attacks. Hundreds of Islamic clerics gathered in the Afghan capital to discuss conditions for extraditing bin Laden to a country other than the United States, a Pakistan government official said. The conditions, including international recognition of the Taliban government and the lifting of UN sanctions, were discussed Monday in Kandahar, headquarters of the Islamic militia that rules most of Afghanistan, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The good, the bad and the journalistic

Ombudsmen don't become ombudsmen through some sort of bizarre, archaic initiation ritual. It's not exactly a job that one just decides to do on a whim.

Bosstones reveal beautiful and destructive sides

Dust off your plaid and prepare yourself for some serious skankin' because the Bosstones are back and better than ever. Some five years after "The Impression that I Get" catapulted them into the mainstream, the Bosstones have come full circle.

Team shows fire, can't seal win

IU coach Kathi Bennett held up a laminated white sign with huge, black letters spelling, "IOWA." Her team displayed weak intensity after a feisty first half against the Hawkeyes Sunday. She didn't want it to happen again. Not against No. 11 Purdue. Not for the Barn Burner. Her Hoosiers heeded Bennett's reminder -- at least after the first five minutes of the second half. The Boilermakers unleashed an 8-0 run to start the half. Then point guard Heather Cassady flaunted her senior leadership. After that senior forward Erin McGinnis unveiled her crazy three-point shooting savvy. The Hoosiers displayed passion in waves at Assembly Hall, but couldn't smother Purdue center Mary Jo Noon (18 points) and forward Laura Meadows' tenacity to seize rebounds.

Riders walk out on practice

Fifteen teams signed a letter protesting Team Major Taylor's participation in the 2002 Little 500. But that wasn't enough to get the rider's message across. Tuesday, 32 teams walked out of practice starts in protest. "The point was just to call the attention to people that have some authority that just about every rider is against Team Major Taylor being in the race," junior Riders Council member Patrick Thomas said. "The whole stupidity of this, everyone knows they're ineligible."

Performers help cause

This Saturday, a unique fund raising event for the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) will unfold at 312 S. Washington St. The PERFORMathon, a collaborative effort amongst community performers, visual artists and musicians, will provide the public with a smorgasbord of entertainment and the opportunity to support the BPP.

Thunder in the Heartland

If it were a movie, I'd call it "Thunder in the Heartland." That low, rumbling noise is coming from Martinsville. It all began with Martinsville Assistant Police Chief Dennis Nail's letter to the Martinsville Reporter-Times, in which he ruminated on all the things that just plain tick him off. An article WHEN from the Associated Press quotes Nail: "It offends me when I have to give up prayer in school. Once again because it might upset Hadji Hindu or Buddy Buddha ... When I look around I see no Mosque, or fat, bald guys with bowls in their laps. I see churches.

Weather causes low voter turnout

County, state and federal primary elections were held Tuesday, across Indiana. Turnout at polling locations was a record low 12.71 percent (11,514 voters), according to a tentative release by the Monroe County Clerk's Office Tuesday night. Heavy rain that affected a large portion of Southern Indiana Tuesday took part of the blame for the low turnout.

2,000 join annual running of the bulls

PAMPLONA, Spain -- About 2,000 people joined in the world's most famous running of the bulls on Sunday, making a perilous dash through the narrow streets of Pamplona while being chased by charging bulls.

Playwrights to hold showcase

The Bloomington Playwrights Project's School of Dramatic Arts is holding its first showcase this weekend, featuring plays written and performed by students in the School's classes. The BPP established SODA last fall to give Bloomington residents of all ages a chance to develop their dramatic writing, acting and production skills in a friendly environment. Students as young as 7 and as old as 60 enrolled in a wide range of classes that included Introduction to Playwriting, Directing and Cabaret Class. After the success of the fall classes, a second round was held this spring, and the hard work of the students in those courses have resulted in the plays shown in this weekend's showcase.

Student performs in 'A Chorus Line'

Friends and colleagues use one word repeatedly to describe Amy Birnbaum and her singing talents -- amazing. Birnbaum, a 20-year-old sophomore, will appear this weekend in a production of "A Chorus Line" at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St. A native of Long Island, N.Y., Birnbaum began performing professionally during high school. She started by reading Backstage, an industry trade magazine full of audition information and tips for amateurs. She took a homemade demo CD to famous Manhattan cabarets such as Don't Tell Mama, Danny's, Firebird and Skylight. Her persistence paid off when Birnbaum landed a gig as the youngest regular performer at Don't Tell Mama.

'Moto GP' races in the middle of the pack

"Moto GP" stands among some outstanding racing titles for the Xbox (i.e. "Project Gotham Racing" and "Rallisport Challenge,") but by comparison it's fairly meager. Despite strong graphics and easily executed controls, something's just lacking.

IU bench helps scoring burden on way to victory

It's no wonder Notre Dame entered Tuesday's game against IU shooting 52 percent from the floor. If the Irish don't shoot from three-point range, they shoot from three feet. Inside, inside, inside was the approach in the second half of IU's 76-75 victory, and the results didn't leave coach Mike Davis happy.

U.S. advises Venezuelan leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Bush administration, which expressed no regret when the Venezuelan military ousted the country's elected president last week, advised Hugo Chavez on Sunday to make good use of a second chance to govern. "We do hope that Chavez recognizes that the whole world is watching and that he takes advantage of this opportunity to right his own ship, which has been moving, frankly, in the wrong direction for quite a long time," said Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's national security adviser. She said Chavez "needs to respect constitutional processes" during this tumultuous period in Venezuela, the No. 3 supplier of oil to the United States and the world's fourth biggest exporter. Chavez returned Sunday to the presidential palace in Caracas, the capital, after he was freed by his military captors. Two days earlier, army commanders had forced him from office.

Events seek to address GLBT issues

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Student Support Services Office is gearing up for a weekend of addressing issues concerning GLBT youth. "Sexual Minority Youth in the Heartland: Issues and Methods for Youth-Serving Professionals," scheduled for July 19-21, is aimed at attracting educators, counselors, social workers, principals, mental health professionals and youth group leaders to build a better understanding of GLBT issues.

Guitarist displays quiet passion

The mysterious Tim Reynolds, a quiet, reserved guitarist who rarely speaks during performances, made his presence known Monday night as he rocked Axis Nightclub. The 90-minute show displayed his ability to speak to the crowd through music rather than words, but it fell short of our expectations. The recital had emotion, but the energy needed for a spectacular show wasn't there. After a surprisingly energetic performance from opening soloist Peter Prince, Reynolds took the stage in quiet fashion and settled the crowd down with a slow beginning to the show. Playing his 12-string guitar, he opened with a hard, bluesy riff with an unsystematic rhythm typical of most songs in his collection.

Knight files stay closed, judge rules

In a major victory for the University, a special judge ruled Monday afternoon IU does not have to release documents related to the firing of former basketball coach Bob Knight.

Up in the air

Working as the "kid-check" guy at Chuck E. Cheese wasn't exactly what Eugono "Iggy" Isiorho considered exciting. The high school job where he earned $5.50 an hour making sure kids were with their parents wasn't making his time worthwhile. Kicking plastic balls back into the ball pit area was pretty boring for him -- until he started picking them up and tossing them around.

New fraternity to unite greeks

The greek system is getting a new and diverse addition Jan. 19 when Delta Lambda Phi starts up. This new fraternity will be open to men of all sexual orientations. Currently, fraternities do not refuse homosexuals a place in a house. Neither is there overwhelming support or encouragement of homosexual men in these houses as the book "Out on Fraternity Row: Personal Accounts of Being Gay in a College Fraternity," written by Pam Freeman, assistant dean of students shows.