IUSA

Nothing new about this race

By C. Warner Sills and Chris Freiberg · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:28 p.m.

Let me start my review of "Need for Speed Carbon" by saying there is nothing particularly bad about it. Yes, the FMV cutscenes are ridiculously cheesy and completely unnecessary, but they're also easily skipped over and don't really get in the way of things. The tuning and street racing is solid, but that is also my biggest complaint: There's very little difference between the racing in this game and that of "Need for Speed Underground" which came out three years ago.

Nerds, crosswords and an IU grad

By C. Warner Sills and Jake Brown · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:26 p.m.

If you're looking for an exciting way to spend a weekend night, I suggest watching a documentary about crossword puzzles. Seriously. Directed by Patrick Creadon, "Wordplay" is a behind-the-scenes look at the masterminds of The New York Times' crossword puzzle and the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Creadon does the best thing he can to actually make this movie interesting: He tells the stories of the people involved. Creadon focuses on the editor of the Times crossword Will Shortz, who is originally from Crawfordsville, Ind. and graduated from IU with a degree in enigmatology (the study of puzzles).

Pixar pulls off another winner

By C. Warner Sills and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:24 p.m.

There's something about "Cars" that I just can't put my finger on. It has nowhere near as an original concept as some past Pixar films. The story's nothing new; a hot shot egocentric rookie learns the errors of his ways through small town values and the guidance of a crotchety old wise-man, who used to be a hot shot egocentric rookie himself. The humor isn't quite as razor sharp. Yet "Cars" is so pleasant and at ease with itself, it's just as enjoyable as its Pixar siblings.

Make the 'Pain' stop

By C. Warner Sills and Dan Hopmann · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:21 p.m.

I hope Keith Urban cracks open a fortune cookie soon and reads the following message: "Give up on your music, and just be happy with your lovely wife." Nicole Kidman could undoubtedly support her husband if he decided to call it quits. My wish won't come true, though, which is a travesty; Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing digs Urban deeper into the hole that is his career.

An unfitting legacy for the late ODB

By C. Warner Sills and Chris Green · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:19 p.m.

This posthumous release tactic seems oddly familiar...does the name 2-Pac ring a bell? Ol' Dirty Bastard, the spastic but loveable member of the world-famous Wu-Tang Clan, has a new record out, two years after his untimely death in the Wu-Tang studio. This is the third proper release from Dirty, and unfortunately, by far his weakest effort.

Protest music for a new era

By C. Warner Sills and Brian J. McFillen · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:18 p.m.

In the years since the invasion of Iraq, critics have occasionally complained about the dearth of protest music today. But it's out there -- it just doesn't sell well or get much mainstream airplay (you can decide which leads to which). And after digging around a little, you'll find modern music that could easily hold its own against what your boomer parents listened to -- including the two albums by The Evens.

'Queen' of the castle

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:15 p.m.

When Princess Diana was fatally killed in a car accident in 1997, I was an eighth grader. It was a time when I was young and had more important things on my mind -- I really didn't know much about her at all. After seeing "The Queen," I felt as if I was given a most rewarding history lesson.

Scott/Crowe melodrama slightly overripe

By C. Warner Sills and John Barnett · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:13 p.m.

Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe's second project together has none of the same energy or vitality of their last project, "Gladiator," and the pair's upcoming "American Gangster" looks to pack serious heat. For now, though, we have a relatively lighthearted melodrama in "A Good Year," a movie with a concept worthy of a Lifetime Original, but with a unique performance by Crowe that nearly transcends the simple, standard formula.

Tower of Iñárritu

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:11 p.m.

As the story goes in the Bible, long ago all people spoke the same language and lived in a giant tower that pushed toward the Heavens. God, who feared what his own creations might accomplish -- and seeking to punish mankind for its blind ambition -- struck down the structure and made everyone speak different languages so they would be unable to communicate with one another.

ONLINE ONLY: Borat: Cultural Offending of Romania

By Alyson Brodsy and Ayesha Awan · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 11:02 p.m.

I'll confess I'm just one of the masses when it comes to the new movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." I laughed at the online trailers and eagerly waited in line for a ticket.

'Ugly' and proud

By Alyson Brodsy and Peter Chen · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:58 p.m.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France -- In America, my relatively liberal views ensure that I am called "un-American" a decent amount. It does not help that I don't "look American," a fact that French folks have mentioned to me numerous times. With my English major, political views and slanty eyes, I might as well be from Canada.

Jordan River Forum

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:57 p.m.

Am I the only one who is fed up with asking and hearing, "Which bus is this?" The IU Auditorium's advertising on our campus bus marquees is a real inconvenience to passengers and drivers.

The real MLK

By Alyson Brodsy and Jonathan P. Rossing · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:57 p.m.

Ground has been broken for the Martin Luther King Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is a well-deserved monument but one that may further fetishize King and strip power and urgency away from his incomplete work.

Gutter balls

By Alyson Brodsy and Colin Dugdale · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:56 p.m.

Last Friday, with no Bible study to attend, my friends and I decided to go drunken bowling. For all you losers (or anti-winners, if you prefer) who haven't partaken in this glorious sport, you should know that there are two main differences between drunken and sober bowling.

Trusted trustees

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:54 p.m.

Here at the IDS editorial board, we have been known to scrutinize just about every decision made on the IU campus. And over the years, the board of trustees has taken a lot of guff from us. But now hell might be freezing over as we applaud the trustees' recent decision to make $9 million of additional financial aid available to the freshman class of 2007. By allocating these funds for incoming students, the trustees have won our undying love and affection. We feel their plan is (dare we say it?) worthy of a gold star. Here's why:

Professor gives keynote address in South Korea

By Lee Hurwitz · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:52 p.m.

Professor Alan Rugman wanted to put his already-extensive credentials to better use. When he was offered the opportunity to be the keynote speaker at a nationwide symposium on South Korea's foreign direct investment policy, he jumped at the chance.

Former European CIA chief to speak

By Zack Teibloom · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:49 p.m.

Former Chief of the CIA European Division Tyler Drumheller will be speaking on campus today. He recently released his book that accuses the Bush administration of filtering intelligence and exaggerating Saddam Hussein's weapon stockpile to legitimize the attack on Iraq.

Program offers leadership training

By Ryan McLaughlin · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:48 p.m.

A program sponsored by the IU Alumni Association will give students the chance to sharpen their leadership skills and to network with others during a six-day leadership institute. IU's campus session of the LeaderShape Institute will be held Jan. 2 to 7 at the Waycross Camp and Conference Center in Morgantown, Ind.

Bush, Putin discuss Iran, nuclear weapons over lunch man says

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer Loven · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:45 p.m.

MOSCOW -- President Bush, eager for Russian help in ongoing nuclear disputes with North Korea and Iran, tended to the sometimes frosty Washington-Moscow relationship Wednesday by paying a quick call on President Vladimir Putin. Bush paused to visit the Russian leader for an hour and a half at an airport stopover on his way to Asia for an eight-day trip that includes stays in Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia. Bush has meetings scheduled with several important allies, including Putin, on the sidelines of a summit of Pacific Rim leaders in Hanoi, Vietnam, later this week. But only Putin rated a social call as well.

Top general against timetable in Iraq

By Alyson Brodsy and Anne Plummer Flaherty · Wednesday, Nov. 15,2006 10:44 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The top U.S. commander in the Middle East warned Congress on Wednesday against setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, putting him at odds with resurgent Democrats pressing President Bush to start pulling out of the violence-torn country. Gen. John Abizaid spoke as the Senate Armed Services Committee began re-examining U.S. policy in the wake of last week's elections, which gave Democrats control of Congress starting next year and was widely seen as a repudiation of the administration's war policies.