IUSA

Launch delayed

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Thursday, July 13,2006 12 a.m.

Yeah…so when your movie sucks it's probably not such a great idea to put "failure" in the title. Matthew McConaughey plays eligible bachelor, Tripp, who at 35 years old, still lives with his parents. Frustrated by their situation, and jealous of their friend's sex lives (which brings back bad memories of Kathy Bates' "About Schmidt" hot tub scene), Tripp's parents (Bates and Terry Bradshaw) hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to date their son and get him to move out for good. Just like with McConaughey's "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days," (in which both leads have hidden agendas for why they want the relationship to falter) a premise that could make for a decent romantic comedy is wrongly executed, resulting in crap. It'd make more sense if Paula had found the man of her dreams, only to learn he still lives at home. And then maybe with some help from the parents, works to get him to leave; not because she is being paid to do so. Paula calls herself a "professional interventionist," which sounds more like a fancy term for hooker.

Dylan's revelatory comeback

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Thursday, July 13,2006 12 a.m.

Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding is one of the most fascinating albums in the history of rock and roll for one simple reason. Dylan had released five of the most important and influential albums imaginable from 1963 to 1966, and ended up in self-imposed exile after a near-fatal motorcycle accident 40 years ago this month. Instead of dying in the crash; after which his mythologized status would've grown exponentially with the likes of Hendrix, Lennon, Shakur, Cobain, Wallace, Joplin and Morrison; Dylan survived, heading back into the studio less than a year after the crash.

Cheaper than crack and just as addictive

By Alyson Brodsy and Fryburg84 · Thursday, July 13,2006 12 a.m.

"UNO" on Xbox Live Arcade is exactly like the card game. That's the best compliment I can give it and also the biggest complaint that I have. For those of us who never played the game when we were kids, the object of "UNO" is to empty your hand of cards by filling your opponents' hands by using special cards, skipping their turns and just by all around screwing them over. Since all the shuffling and dealing is handled by the computer and the interface is extremely clean and easy to use, the gameplay is fast and furious, almost too fast to plan out any kind of strategy, but this also keeps the game from getting boring.

Coming soon: Simon Hall

By Sarah Walden · Wednesday, July 12,2006 8:30 p.m.

When chemistry professor David Clemmer conducts his labs, his students are in two different places. Some are in a lab that is connected to his office, and others are in a lab down the hall. "Everything I do is split between these two labs," Clemmer said. Luckily, the former head of the chemistry department will not have to deal with an awkward set up for too much longer. Currently nearing completion and set to officially open its doors to classes by February 2007, Simon Hall will give Clemmer -- as well as many more professors and researchers -- the needed space to teach and carry out their experiments. "For the first time I'll be able to interact with everybody at the same time," Clemmer said.

Teter blood drive hopes to quell shortage

By Trevor brown · Wednesday, July 12,2006 8:27 p.m.

Local American Red Cross officials announced a critical blood shortage Tuesday and appealed for donors as a scheduled blood drive was held in Teter Quad in an effort to bolster dangerously low supply. "We have less than a one-day supply of all negative types as well as O-positive," said Don Creek, the Bloomington Red Cross donor recruitment representative. "The bottom line is that we are well below our ideal three-day supply for all types." Working as the Red Cross's head nurse during the Teter drive, Susan Machon said by about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, with an hour and half left in the day-long drive, progress in getting donors was going "slow" as only 18 successful contributions were drawn. However, that number is expected to rise slightly as traffic of potential donors picked up near the end.

IU signs deal with Tsinghua U.

By Trevor brown · Wednesday, July 12,2006 8:27 p.m.

A landmark agreement was reached Monday as University officials created a joint partnership with the prestigious Tsinghua University in China during the current IU delegation's trip led by Interim Provost Michael McRobbie. The pact, which was signed at a ceremony in Beijing by McRobbie and Tsinghua Vice President Chen Jining, will establish a cooperative research program that includes student exchanges and collaborations targeting improvements in information technology, said Larry MacIntyre, IU director of media relations.

World Cup fever sweeps IU

By Josh Bagriansky · Wednesday, July 12,2006 8:12 p.m.

Once every four years, IU senior John Dabkowski is a nervous wreck. But the native of Sittingbourne, England has no exams to take, no papers to write and no projects to submit. He's worried about something much more important to him, the World Cup. "The World Cup is such an important event in England," Dabkowski said. "The emotional roller coaster that it puts me through is unexplainable. But I love it."

Hoosiers fill last spot on staff

By Joel Sanders and Joel Sansers · Wednesday, July 12,2006 8:09 p.m.

IU women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack added the final piece to her staff Monday when she announced the hiring of Cheri Hogg as an assistant coach. Hogg spent the previous two years as an assistant coach under Legette-Jack at Hofstra University. "(Hogg) brings continuity," Legette-Jack said. "She knows my system and is a hard worker. She knows our goal is to win championships. It's great that she decided to join me at IU." Legette-Jack now has a full staff that includes Vera Jones, Marc Wilson and director of operations Jeana Finlinson. "I think we have one of the best staffs in the country," Legette-Jack said. "They all have a complete commitment to success."

Enterprising junior urges students to get baked

By Joseph S. Pete · Wednesday, July 12,2006 8:04 p.m.

While riding out a shift as a Circuit City floor salesman his senior year of high school, Jared Schneider realized he'd like to be able to wear shorts to work if he felt so inclined. He realized he wanted to work for himself. He's not waiting on a bachelor's degree. By late July, the 19-year-old junior plans to open Baked! of Bloomington, a downtown cookie delivery store. Schneider touts freshly baked cookies straight out of the oven as an alternative to yet another pizza or sub. To be open until 3 a.m. weekends, the store offers as its signature special the "Hot Box:" a baker's dozen with a quart of milk for $11. Selling freshness, Schneider promises that dough won't touch tin until the order is completed.

Behrman trial postponed

By Sarah Core · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:59 p.m.

The upcoming trial of Ellettsville resident John R. Myers II, charged with the murder of 19-year-old IU student Jill Behrman who was killed six years ago, has been postponed by a month. Tuesday Morgan Superior Court Judge Christopher Burnham set the new trial date for Oct. 10, at the request of the defense's attorney Patrick Baker of Indianapolis. Baker initially asked for a continuance at a scheduled pre-trial hearing Monday afternoon, requesting more discovery time be allowed for research regarding the witnesses who will be presented at the trial.

Dozens more evacuated as wildfire tears through communities in California desert

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:51 p.m.

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. -- Firefighters evacuated dozens more people from their homes early Wednesday as a wildfire raced across the desert and destroyed several homes in an area where dozens of Hollywood Westerns were filmed. Wind exceeding 40 mph fanned the flames, and officials said they didn't expect the weather to change anytime soon. The fire had covered more than 17,000 acres. Dozens were evacuated from communities in Little Morongo Canyon and Burns Canyon. Up to 1,000 fled the flames Tuesday, authorities said.

Musical seeks to bring Rembrandt's troubled personal life to the stage

By Alyson Brodsy and Arthur Max · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:37 p.m.

HOORN, Netherlands - Like most Dutchmen, Henk Poort knew little about Rembrandt, beyond his two or three most famous paintings. Then Poort was asked to play the Dutch master on stage. "Rembrandt The Musical" sounds like classic kitsch, part of the commercial hoopla surrounding the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt's birth July 15. But the $12.5 million show is a lavish production that seeks to illuminate Rembrandt's exuberant and sometimes tragic life. As an artist, he is portrayed as rebellious and disdainful of popular opinion. As a person, he is a somewhat rakish figure bedeviled by three women.

'Mermaid': nuanced romance, little else

By Alyson Brodsy and Lindsey Landis · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:28 p.m.

Jessie Sullivan was sick of her life. Her husband was boring and restrictive. Her daughter had "flown the nest" and gone off to college. Her mother had started a rapid descent into madness. Jessie felt trapped and deprived of the right to have what she wanted out of life. So, she did the only logical thing a "desperate housewife" could do. She had a torrid love affair. In Sue Monk Kidd's latest novel, "The Mermaid Chair," which is currently in production for a TV movie of the same name starring Kim Basinger, Jessie flees her role as a mother and a wife to take care of her own mother, who has, for no apparent reason, begun to methodically chop off her own fingers.

Site allows viewers to zoom in anywhere in Indiana

By Julie Mahomed · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:26 p.m.

A recently completed interactive Web-based map built from digital aerial photographs will enable users to zoom in on any area of land within Indiana, said Rick Hill assistant director for technical services with the Indiana Geological Survey. The Indiana Geographic Information Council contracted IU's University Information Technology Services and the Indiana Geological Survey to create the IndianaMap. The project was funded with federal money as part of the 2004 Indiana State and Local Homeland Security Grant was set aside to fund this project -- the 2005 Indiana Orthophotography Program.

Students groove globally

By Allyson O’Connor · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:24 p.m.

The evening finished with a conga line weaving its way through the tables to a cacophony of maracas, tambourines, assorted rattling instruments and of course, a conga drum. Thirty-one middle school and high school teachers representing 11 countries danced off a dinner of Indian food catered by Shanti Monday night in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. The evening was part of a series of educational seminars and cultural events hosted by the International Studies Summer Institute. The two-week program emphasizing global education fosters the opportunity for teachers from around the world to interact with each other in the professional educational setting and on a very personal level.

1,000 register for marathon

By Ryne Shadday · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:23 p.m.

As the countdown ticker on the IU Mini Marathon's Web site clocks down the final two months until the race starts, organizers are growing more upbeat with every day. Reaching 1,000 registrants Friday, the inaugural event raising money for the Bill Z. Littlefield Scholarship for Survivors, a fund that will help a cancer survivor attend any of IU's eight campuses. The group said it's well underway of reaching its goal of 5,000 participants.

Break the cycle of hostility

By Alyson Brodsy and David A. Nosko · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:19 p.m.

As humanity strives for 21st century diplomacy within a world governed by 20th century tools of destruction, let all our global neighbors make no mistake: Threats of aggression backed by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons have no place or use in any civilized -- yet alone democratic -- world whatsoever. Weapons of mass destruction do not deter but instigate. When will our international leaders awake to the real challenges of peacemaking, arise from the nightmare of saber rattling, and realize humanity's dream of global well-being -- thus saving our children and grandchildren from the innate human fallibilities that lead to war?

Smoking mad

By Alyson Brodsy and Michelle Manchir · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:18 p.m.

I had a great time at the Counting Crows concert last Saturday in Indianapolis. Everything was pleasant: mild, sunny weather; enjoyable music, fun company, air full of disease and cancerous chemicals. What? Bloomington has spoiled me because, as it turns out, not every venue, restaurant or city is smoke-free. I'd nearly forgotten this until the concert experience was spoiled for me due to lack of sufficient breathable air. I understand that complaining about secondhand smoke is a stale (but still valid and winning) argument: Why should others have to suffer so a smoker can feed his/her addiction? I won't go there, because we all know of the ample evidence that secondhand smoke contains the same cancer-causing agents as that inhaled by a smoker, and can cause the same diseases.

Spirit of Mumbai

By Alyson Brodsy and Jordan DeLong · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:17 p.m.

Living in Washington, I take the Metro all the time. It's a fantastic way to commute, shuffling thousands of people around every day -- but also opening them to the risk of terrorist attacks. When I heard about yesterday's bombings in Mumbai (formally Bombay), India, my heart skipped a beat. Watching bloodied, wounded people being pulled from trains brought to mind all the times I've been on the subway here, and how vulnerable you really can be. I can imagine it. Trains crammed full of average, hardworking people trying to get home to their families - a split second later, there are people dying and injured.

Contracts, marriage and God

By IDS staff and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:16 p.m.

The movement for same-sex marriage has delivered a series of judicial body-blows this past week. The New York Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state's constitution did not provide gay couples a right to the institution. Shortly afterward, the Supreme Court of Georgia reinstated an anti-same-sex-marriage constitutional amendment. Then, on Tuesday, Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court -- the court whose ruling led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the Bay State -- ruled that the legislature could ban it through a constitutional amendment. Ouch.