Community Arts

Vampires don't bite but 'Time' DVD does

By Tony Sams · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 11:33 p.m.

Although the raging war in Underworld has been described as "Romeo and Juliet with vampires and werewolves," it feels quite distant from the Bard's original tale or something like West Side Story and much closer to other thrillers like The Crow or Blade. No matter; Underworld is a sleek success starring the beautiful Kate Beckinsale as Selene, a vampire whose allegiance falters when she meets Michael (Scott Speedman), a human who is mysteriously important to the werewolves.

Outkast not outdone in best albums of 2003

By John Barnett · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 11:16 p.m.

From grave digging to Polaroid shaking, 2003 offered up a significant amount of the 21st century's best music so far. The following are my Top Ten picks for the year's best albums:

The Penn and the sword equally mighty in 2003

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 11:15 p.m.

Faithful readers, after a prolonged respite I've returned with yet another installment of my ceaseless and predominantly pointless lists. Another year has come and gone, and with it comes the requisite, and by requisite I mean clichéd, Top Ten Films List. One must keep in mind when reading this list that I didn't see everything that came down the pipeline in 2003, though I did my damnedest. This list is not set in stone, and therefore, the Irish immigrants of In America, the teen temptresses of Thirteen and Charlize Theron and her newly mangled mug (Monster) will be riding the pine -- for now. So, with no further ado:

'Out of Time' bonus features cure insomnia

By -Jenny Kobiela · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:56 p.m.

When most police chiefs encounter a double homicide in their town, they don't discover that all the evidence points to them.

'Great Highway,' great record

By Nick Burton · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:36 p.m.

While glancing at the track list for this album, one will notice a seemingly strange collection of names: Salvador Sanchez, Duk Koo Kim and Pancho Villa. In singer Mark Kozelek's words, these were people who "struggled when they were young, lived fast, then died." A fitting statement when you hear the recurring themes of nostaligia, reflection and hope present on Ghosts of the Great Highway.

It's all 'Dirty Water' from here

By Cassidy Flanagan · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:34 p.m.

For his third album, MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, David Banner has included enough featured artists to make it a compilation CD of some of today's most popular rap artists instead of a solo disc. Although the album features artists such as Nelly, 8-Ball, Lil' Flip and Busta Rhymes, there is nothing spectacular about this latest disc from Banner.

T Bone Burnett goes back to roots, movies

By Cassidy Flanagan · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:33 p.m.

A combination of blue grass, blues and folk music, the soundtrack to the motion picture Cold Mountain has a charming feel to it. Produced by Grammy winner T Bone Burnett, the compilation includes new music from such award-winning artists as Alison Krauss, Gabriel Yared and Jack White, as well as the Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church. The greatest aspect of the album is the way in which many of the songs tell simplistic tales of people and their emotions in an easily relatable manner. The soft, flowing strings of banjos, violins and guitars take a backseat to the lyrics, which are filled with feeling.

MP3: Walk-out on the Walkman

By By Ryan Heath and Ryan Heath · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:33 p.m.

They're small, they're light-weight - some even call them sexy. No matter how you look at it, these tiny electronic wonders have grabbed a huge share of the portable audio market and are invading the homes of millions of Americans.

Rapper in the shadow of J. Hova

By -Brandon Tucker · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:31 p.m.

Jay-Z's retirement has everyone looking for the new big ticket at Roc-a-fella. Since its conception in 1996, Memphis Bleek was supposed to be Jigga's second coming. But after a career that has been a mild success (including a three-year hiatus filled with personal strife), those reigns seem more fit for Roc-a-fella's Kanye West, the hottest up-and-comer in hip-hop right now -- set to release his first solo album in February.

'Splinter'ing the gap between pop and punk

By Ryan Whirty · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:28 p.m.

Starting with its switch from indie fave Epitaph Records to mega-corporate Columbia in 1996, the Offspring has been fighting to retain its street cred as a hard-driving, honest band that plays a somewhat unique mélange of punk and metal. Unfortunately for the band, the massive success of 1998's Americana hinged on the runaway popularity of two singles -- "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get a Job?" -- that amounted to little more than punk-inspired novelty hits. That, for many listeners and critics, was proof that the once-hardcore quartet had gone hopelessly mainstream.

It's a jungle out there

By Kelly Phillips · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 10:20 p.m.

Three-year-old Uncle Fester's House of Blooze is typical of most bars: it's generally dark, loud, crowded, and rank with cigarette smoke, abandoned beer bottles and sweaty bartenders.

Investing in IU's future

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 1:03 a.m.

It seems as though our prayers have been answered. The national economy, as a whole, is improving. Wall Street posted its first winning year since 1999 -- unemployment fell in December to the lowest in 14 months. U.S Secretary of Treasury, John Snow, said improved job growth is on the horizon.

Concert to save forests

By Brian Janosch · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 1:03 a.m.

Heartwood and the Indiana Forest Alliance will be holding a benefit concert this Thursday to raise money in the fight to save Indiana's state forests.

Swimming icon impacted IU, world

By Josh Weinfus and Josh Weinfuss · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 1:03 a.m.

The swimming world lost one of its greatest men last week when James "Doc" Counsilman died in his sleep early Jan. 4 because of complications after his 25 year battle with Parkinson's disease. For the last six and a half years, Counsilman spent his time at Meadowood Retirement Community, where Marjorie, his wife of 60 years, said he became a prisoner in his own body because of the disease. "He had a wonderful career," Marjorie said. "I got to share all of that. I don't know how anyone could have been more fulfilled (with their life). He was obsessed with competitive swimming."

Girl killed in North Carolina collision

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 1:02 a.m.

MAXTON, N.C. -- A tractor-trailer slammed into a stopped school bus Tuesday, killing a 5-year-old girl who was boarding, and injuring the girl's mother and more than a dozen other students, officials said. About 20 to 25 children were aboard the bus, which was bound for Townsend Middle School and R.B. Dean Elementary School, said Henry Byrd, assistant superintendent of Robeson County schools.

Kernan addresses education, deficit

By Karen Green · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 1:01 a.m.

Governor Joe Kernan took to the podium for his first State of the State address Tuesday night and addressed a crowd of decidedly optimistic legislators. The night marked the four-month anniversary of the death of former Governor Frank O'Bannon. The first minutes of the speech seemed more like a football game than a formal address to state legislators, as the former lieutenant governor was greeted by cheering, clapping and the chanting of his first name.

Greek councils induct officers

By Dan Patrick · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 12:57 a.m.

The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association held their annual installation ceremony Tuesday night in the University Club in the Indiana Memorial Union. In total, 16 positions were filled for the upcoming year. Junior Ryan Goldschmidt was named IFC president and senior Mike Trent was named executive vice president of the administration. Junior Sarah King and senior Colleen Corley were named as president and vice president of PHA.

J-school narrows dean list to 7

By Mike McElroy · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 12:57 a.m.

The IU School of Journalism Dean Search Committee will soon know who takes the reigns from retiring Dean and Associate Professor of Journalism Trevor Brown next year. The committee has narrowed its choice of candidates down to seven finalists and will begin to interview them face-to-face in Indianapolis this week. At 17 years, Brown's term is the longest of any dean currently on campus, said Professor David Nord, who heads the committee.

IU adapts to demand for apartments, suites

By Asma Khalid · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 12:57 a.m.

After one year of communal bathrooms, cold showers and flip-flops, junior Tonya Vachirasomboon decided it was time to move out of Eigenmann Hall -- what she called the "noisy, dirty" dorm in the midst of renovation -- and into the apartment lifestyle offered at Willkie Quad. Across the nation, universities are succumbing to student demands for more spacious dorms, according to the Associated Press. Willkie marks the beginning of the housing revolution on IU's campus.

Bush to advocate trip to Mars

By Rami Chami · Wednesday, Jan. 14,2004 12:57 a.m.

President Bush will give a much-anticipated speech outlining a new long-term vision for NASA today. The speech will include the proposals for a permanent research station on the Moon and a manned mission to Mars. The proposed plans have already begun to draw a lot of praise and criticism from various camps in the field of astronomy. Professor Richard Durisen, chairman of the astronomy department, supports both the lunar project and the manned Mars mission.