IUPD

So many choices...so little time

Don't call it a comeback

In the early '90s Dream Theater proved that progressive rock was not dead, just on a vacation. Its intricate songs and heavy riffs captured the ears of metal and prog fans alike at a time when neither style was popular, thanks the band's accessibility.

Rock underdog Nikki Sudden is back in the spotlight with bonus-reissues of old music.

Nikki Sudden represents rock's underdog, says Jonathan Cargill at Bloomington's Secretly Canadian records. Bands Sonic Youth and Pavement cite the Swell Maps, Sudden's early project with brother Epic Soundtracks, as an influence on their music.

Getting your 'Sim'-groove on

Have you ever dreamed of making out with Matthew Perry? Sleeping with Jennifer Lopez? Living in a large mansion with luxury furnishings? Being abducted by aliens? Playing "The Sims" can make all these dreams and more come true -- at least on your computer screen.

'Kung Pow!' hard to digest

It would seem appropriate to feel somewhat relunctant, or perhaps even frightened, about the prospects of seeing a movie whose selling point in previews is "from the director of 'Ace Ventura 2'."

Penn excels in mediocre movie

Somewhere in "I Am Sam" there is a very compelling story. There is a story of a man with the intellectual capacity of a 7-year-old, and the struggles he faces raising his daughter. There is a story of a girl who will be smarter than her father by the time she gets to first grade, and the difficulties she will face in school and at home knowing that Daddy is "different" These two stories are played out in the film's first 35 minutes, at which point the filmmakers chose to abandon them in favor of a courtroom drama. It was an unfortunate decision, because it turned a very insightful and touching film into a frustrating yawner.

Dave Bartholomew. Recognize, yo!

In 1949 Lew Chudd, the head of Imperial Records, signed Dave Bartholomew to a recording and production contract. Little did they know that they were setting in motion one of the most crucial developments in the history of rock and roll.

New James Bond can't compare to old

James Bond has never looked better. The latest 007 video game adventure for the Playstation 2 is chock full of great graphics and fun weapons. But "Agent Under Fire," despite its awesome graphics, can't quite top the original Nintendo 64 hit because of a crappy multiplayer mode.

A 'great divide' between this and Nelson's best work

In the Willie Nelson tradition, The Great Divide is an album filled to the brim with duets with famous stars. The marketing move is probably more than a little bit influenced by Carlos Santana's placid and gigantic-selling Supernatural (see the two songs written by and performed with Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas), but this is well-worn territory for the 68-year-old singer-songwriter.

Three-guard system ignites high-scoring Hoosier offense

Mike Davis' three-point philosophy has one point: If you're open, shoot it. Left corner, right wing, top of the key. Wherever. Heck, the second-year coach whose signature is sticky defense said he doesn't even mind when junior guard Tom Coverdale fires a three-pointer from 24 feet.

IUSA members lobby state reps

Three members of the IU Student Association headed to Washington, D.C. Jan. 18 to lobby Indiana Senate and House of Representative delegates. Legislative Relations office director Ben Piper, assistant director Rebecca Homkes and IUSA office manager Lydia Roll visited the Capitol to lobby for issues concerning higher education.

RPS offers variety of meal plans

In a board of trustees town meeting earlier this week, senior Ken Minami, representing the Residence Halls Association, voiced concern about increasing costs of meal plans to offset technology expenses in IU residence halls.

Nigerians turn anger on military

LAGOS, Nigeria -- Sadness turned to rage against Nigeria's military Tuesday for putting a huge arms cache smack in the middle of a crowded Lagos neighborhood and setting the stage for the explosions and panic that left more than 600 dead. Distraught people searching for missing loved ones blamed the military for storing weapons, including rockets and heavy artillery shells, in the northern Ikeja neighborhood.

New book a great way to waste time

Would you rather eat a sandwich bag full of lawn clippings or one live earthworm? Would you rather be caught doing something embarrassing in still photos or on audiotape? Would you rather always speak in rhyme or not hear every third word spoken to you?

Local bars affected by rules

This Thursday, as usual, I went out to Kirkwood to have some drinks with my friends. I went to several different bars, and it wasn\'t until I decided to leave that I noticed how crowded it was. Once I left, it took me a good 20 minutes just to get outside of the bar, and soon enough, I stumbled out to Kirkwood, only to be a part of the crowd that was still wanting to go out, but wasn't quite sure where to go.

The meaning of minority

Today, one of the most frequently uttered but ambiguous terms is "minority." Who or what exactly does a minority include? Does the term refer exclusively to African Americans? Does it involve all people of color? A minority is basically an under-represented group which, whether by number or characteristic, is set apart from a majority.

State of the Union preview

The Zeitgeist is looking particularly ghostly this decade.

IU should release files

IU has spent too much time and money holding Bob Knight's personnel documents. The University should not be able to hold them for confidentiality. The Indianapolis Star filed a lawsuit in October 2000 seeking access to Knight's personnel file, claiming IU, as a state government institution, violated Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.

Red Storm romp opponents

There is a legend involving a young boy within a small school in Rugby, England playing a game of soccer in 1823. Instead of kicking the ball towards the goal, he simply picked it up and carried it, therefor creating a wildly popular sport with the same name as its place of origin.

Ultimate frisbee requires strenuous preparation

The IU men's Ultimate Frisbee team, the Hoosiermamas, is going to be a solid contender this spring for a shot at nationals. Virtually the entire roster is returning from last year in which the Hoosiermamas won two tournaments, finished second in sectionals, third in regionals and made it to the semifinals. They were just two points shy of making nationals -- where the top two teams from each region receives a bid -- suffering a defeat from Ohio State 15-13.