Community Arts

"One day, 12 hours, six minutes ..." In the same way that Indiana anticipates the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the nation anticipates the release of the next installment of Harry Potter, due out Saturday -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." With Bloomington proving to be no exception, residents and visiting students alike are gearing up for the highly anticipated novel. Many questions hang in the air unanswered: What does J.K. Rowling have in store for her readers? Who is the half-blood prince? Who will die? But most importantly, why does everyone care so much?

Local bookstores stock up on new book, prepare for crowds

If "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has fans waiting anxiously, it has booksellers salivating hungrily. With more than 1.4 million copies pre-ordered on www.amazon.com alone, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is shaping up to be the most hyped and long--awaited of the best--selling books.

Can I quote you on that?

The American Film Institute has put to paper what it considers to be the 100 greatest movie quotes of all times.

The Rejects 'Move Along'

The All-American Rejects continue their hot pop-punk writing with Move Along, which debuted July 12.

A 'Fantastic' comic book movie

Call me crazy, but sometimes I want my superheroes to act, well, super.

In the name of Rock

Imagine picking up the newest album from the punk sensation "Sweet Children." Doesn't have much of a ring, does it? But if the same album is from "Green Day," it just has a little more punch. A good band name can be instrumental and some try many times to clear that hurdle before landing on the perfect name.

Missy cooks up a sufficient stew

Since 1997, Missy Elliott and her production collaborator/romantic partner Timbaland have crafted some of the most daring and adventurous hip-hop to be found on this or any planet.

Don't get too 'Hot' and bothered

Fifth grade: that itchy space between childhood and the realm of the teenager.

'Seek' out this scary flick, avoid extras

There are two kinds of scary movies for me.

Drink this 'Water'

"Dark Water," the most recent edition to the current wave of Japanese horror film remakes, is a standard ghost story that is not only superior to its original, but also both "The Ring" series and "The Grudge."

Beauty in black & white

Having already seen two films from Italian director Luchino Visconti, "The Leopard" and "Death in Venice," I possessed a level of excitement in seeing "Le Notti Bianche" ("White Nights") since I was already impressed twice before

Slaves to rock 'n' roll

Their newest album, "Bite Your Tongue," is only two weeks old.

Bush to address Black Expo

President Bush will be visiting Indianapolis today to attend the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration. Mitch Daniels used his connections with Bush to secure his presence at Thursday's Corporate Luncheon, which will last from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Tickets for the luncheon were sold out before the president announced he would speak. Seats were largely purchased by businesses and corporations.

Space shuttle launch called off Wednesday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A faulty fuel gauge on Discovery's external tank forced NASA to call off Wednesday's launch of the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster 2 1/2 years ago. The space agency did not immediately set a new launch date. The decision came with less than 2 1/2 hours to go before launch, as the seven astronauts were almost done boarding the spacecraft. Up until then, rain and thunder over the launch site appeared to be the only obstacle to an on-time liftoff.

3 passenger trains collide in Pakistan

GHOTKI, Pakistan -- Three trains collided in a deadly chain reaction in southern Pakistan after a train driver misread a signal early Wednesday, killing at least 127 people and injuring hundreds in the country's worst crash in more than a decade, police and railway officials said. The nighttime accident jolted passengers awake to a horrifying smashup that left metal, glass and body parts strewn across a remote railway station near Ghotki. Rescuers frantically cut through twisted metal to reach survivors, as ambulances and buses ferried the injured to nearby hospitals.

Chief Justice Rehnquist hospitalized

WASHINGTON -- Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, ailing with cancer, is in the hospital with a fever, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Rehnquist was taken by ambulance to an Arlington, Va., hospital Tuesday night and was admitted for observation and tests, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.

Should Karl Rove be fired for his involvement in revealing Valerie Plame's identity?

It's sad that before being proven guilty, Karl Rove is being marked by some as a criminal. Obviously Democrats are eager to strike a dagger in the heart of the President's administration, and they will do so at any cost, even that of justice and fair investigation.

Bush: No comment on Rove during investigation

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Wednesday that he will withhold judgment about top aide Karl Rove's involvement in leaking the identity of a CIA agent until a federal criminal investigation into the matter is complete. "This is a serious investigation," Bush said at the end of a meeting with his Cabinet, with Rove sitting just behind him. "I will be more than happy to comment on this matter once this investigation is complete.

NHL back on ice for '05 season

After the first season since 1919 to go by without a Stanley Cup Champion, the NHL finally has agreed to get back on the ice for the upcoming year. The head of the players and owners association met for 10 days in New York, determined to make sure the puck drops for the 2005-2006 season, and agreed to a new six-year labor agreement.

Quick hitter

It's that time of year again and the Tour de France has begun. The riders, with Lance Armstrong leading the pack, are now in the Alps. Armstrong, known well for punishing other riders into submission through the mountains, has continued to do much of the same this year. Trailing two days ago, he has started to build a soft, early cushion in the peaks and currently leads by 38 seconds. Could he really do it again?