Community Arts

New ad sparks interest in tiny Indiana town

EVANSVILLE – Yes, there is a town called Santa Claus. A new RadioShack commercial has brought added attention this holiday season to the southern Indiana town named after the jolly old elf.

Not exactly the holiday we need

If you hoped the $750 billion financial bailout would improve the economy and save your job prospects, you probably have been disappointed. Unfortunately, if you were waiting for a good plan for the remaining $350 billion allocated for the bailout, you have to keep waiting. Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence recently signed on to a plan to create a tax holiday that would free the nation from income taxes for two months. The leftover $350 billion would cover the budget hole from the government losing two months of its biggest money maker.

Health Reform in 2009: Are you Ready?

Several weeks ago Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released a much-discussed position paper on health reform in 2009. It outlines, in 104 pages, the problems of our current health system – high cost, low quality and 46 million uninsured. It also presents a plan for action, which is, without getting into details, one that resembles President-elect Barack Obama’s proposal more than it does Sen. John McCain’s.

Go green, fight unemployment

The news that we are reading today is incredibly depressing. We are seeing a financial crisis similar to that of the Great Depression: we are encountering job loss, leading to financial meltdowns which are supposedly “fixed” by giving billion-dollar companies more billions of dollars.

Statistical outliers

During Thanksgiving break, I was hanging out with a group of friends when my friend’s mom asked us all what we were studying at school. My guy friend was the first to reply, “engineering.” The parents swooned and said things to the effect of, “Wow, you must be studying all of the time.” Then it was my turn. “I’m studying history,” I said, and they replied, “Oh, that’s fun,” where fun was clearly code for “easy.”

A (rightfully) dying breed

Are three million jobs and $300 billion in business trade worth saving?

Who cares?

The IDS has lately given ample space to letters by David House, in which he trots out the same tired, old dog and pony show to explain why he believes homophiles should be denied equality before the law.

Pause Game

For gamers, the holiday season has cemented itself as worthy of celebrating just for the sheer number of game titles that hit stores. At the end of October I found myself looking online at the list of upcoming games the way Hercules looked upon his Twelve Labors: a mighty challenge that would reward me not with penance for slaying loved ones but with blistered thumbs from slaying death zombies.

Downturn in global economy makes recycling industry tank; cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum lose value

Norm Steenstra’s budgeting worries mount with each new load of cardboard, aluminum cans and plastics jugs dumped at West Virginia’s largest county recycling center.

5 men charged with plotting Sept. 11 attacks confess at war-crime tribunal

Five men charged with plotting the Sept. 11 attacks told a military judge Monday that they want to immediately confess at their war-crimes tribunal at Guantanamo Bay.

More than a dozen arrested in response to Mumbai attacks

Security forces raided a camp used by militants blamed for the Mumbai attacks and arrested more than a dozen people in Pakistan’s first known response to the assault, militants and an intelligence official said Monday.

Possible $15B bailout for failing U.S. auto industry would come with strict provisions, White House oversight

A bailout plan for the failing U.S. auto industry could include a Cabinet-level oversight board and a provision to withdraw the money if the overseers decide the companies are failing to take steps to overhaul themselves.

Fashion: Why so many fall in love with it

As a business major, I’m often asked by readers and friends why I’m so passionate about the fashion industry.

Amos Lee to headline Tots concert

After performing last year at Assembly Hall with Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello, Amos Lee is returning to Bloomington.

Dispute in heaven creates hell on Earth

A little celestial anarchy goes a long way.

Wittman dismissed from NBA's Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS — Former IU basketball standout Randy Wittman was fired as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, two days after an embarrassing 23-point loss at home to the last-place Los Angeles Clippers. Kevin McHale, vice president of basketball operations, took over as coach.

OUT! kicks off holiday season with “Queens Who Care”

OUT!, IU’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Student Union, was host to its first “Queens Who Care” event to raise money for Bloomington Hospital’s Positive Link program, which benefits people with HIV/AIDS.

Snow does not stop women’s formal recruitment

While the song “Let it Snow” could describe the winter scene of the IU campus Saturday and Sunday, the members of Alpha Phi sang a different tune.SLIDESHOW: 19 Party

Child services to take no legal action against Planned Parenthood employee

Hoosiers downed in NCAA Tourney

Mike Freitag had little to say. After Saturday’s 3-2 elimination loss to St. John’s in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers headed home, one match short of the College Cup.