IUSA

Panel to examine gay acceptance in black churches

By Kacie Foster · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12:04 a.m.

Tahirah Akbar-Williams knows words can hurt. And she knows hurtful words can have more of a sting when they come from members of your church. That's why Akbar-Williams coordinated a panel discussion to talk about issues black gays and lesbians can face in church and in the community. Area sponsors are hosting the panel discussion "Homosexuality and the Black Church" at 7 p.m. tonight in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center's Grand Hall.

Noted educator defends evolution

By Audrie Garrison · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12:04 a.m.

The recent push in some states to incorporate the teaching of "intelligent design" into public school science curricula has brought the old debate of creationism versus evolution into a new light.

Roberts picks up Democratic support

By Alyson Brodsy and Jesse J. Holland · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12:03 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Chief justice-nominee John Roberts, his confirmation secure, picked up support from fractured Senate Democrats Wednesday as President Bush met lawmakers to discuss a second vacancy on the Supreme Court.

Hurricane Rita becomes Category 5 storm

By Alyson Brodsy and Pam Easton · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12:01 a.m.

GALVESTON, Texas -- Gaining strength with frightening speed, Hurricane Rita swirled toward the Gulf Coast a Category 5, 165-mph monster Wednesday as more than 1.3 million people in Texas and Louisiana were sent packing on orders from authorities who learned a bitter lesson from Katrina.

After 11 years, Lotusfest is still Rockin'

By Bryan Lufkin and Byran Lufkin · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

There's no denying that Indiana has a unique culture all its own: the vast cornfields, cows and abundance of John Deere paraphernalia give the state an identity with which Hoosiers identify. But for many, the need for diversity, that only other ways of life can provide has become too great.

Touring the heavens with Sigur Rós

By Brad Wicklund and Kama Korvella · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

It's safe to say that before the year 2000, most of the world had never heard of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós. Although they formed in 1994 and released their first album Von in 1997, it wasn't until their stellar sophomore album, Ágætis Byrjun (Icelandic for "An Alright Beginning"), was released in the United Kingdom in 2000 and the United States in 2001 that they captured the minds of the music world.

Nobody likes a pair of twin quitters

By Alyson Brodsy and Joanna Borns · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

I challenge anyone to stand up, look me straight in the eye and say, "The Olsen Twins should not make another movie." You can't do it, can you?

Marathon Runner: Jonathan Rossing

By Maggie Bozich · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

In the past two years, Jonathan Rossing has run 7 marathons, clocking in more than 180 miles in those races, plus the miles and miles of training. But this Communication and Culture PhD student's real dream?

Gray's dramatic 'life'

By John Barnett · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

In 2000, seven years and four albums into his career, Manchester, England's own David Gray infiltrated the mainstream with the gorgeously infectious electro-folk of White Ladder. Seemingly stunned by that LP's six million sales, Gray offered up a sparse hit-and-miss, A New Day at Midnight in 2002, followed now by Life In Slow Motion, a record combining the heartfelt delivery of his early albums with the anthemic tendencies and everyman balladry of his later works, minus White Ladder's electronic flourishes.

Whodunit disguised as a slasher

By Sean Abbott · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

It has been a long time since a good "slasher" flick has graced the screen. It's been almost ten years since the last good one, "Scream," and over twice as long since the classics. And this is assuming you believe any slice-and-dice scary movie could be called "classic" or even "good," because most people do not.

“I know what a horrible film this is!” (Uh, like “I Know What you Did Last Summer”)

'Venom' is like poison to your eyes

By Matt McMullan · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

There is a reason that "Venom" is only playing in one theater in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. And I bet you know what that reason is. It's kind of lame. Surprise!

Don't let this 'Hitchhiker' guide you

By Evan Ross · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

One of the more beloved science fiction works of the last half century has been Douglas Adams' "The "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," finally released into theaters earlier this year. Many obsessed Adams fans worried that his bizarrely inspired smart slapstick space opera would be diluted by the big screen. As a film, "Hitchhiker's" captures the whimsy and magic of Adams' book. However, as capturing an exciting film on DVD, the disc falters.

What hath Arizona wrought

By C. Warner Stills · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

The idea of combing the soothing vocals of Iron & Wine's Sam Beam, with the smooth, Western-influenced sounds of Calexico is not something I would have predicted, however, after listening to the seven track EP, In The Reins, featuring these musicians in their prime, I was left wanting more.

David (Ruffalo) and Elizabeth (Witherspoon) sneak smiles between the sheets.

Welcome to 'Heaven'

By Olivia Morales · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

In the romantic comedy "Just Like Heaven," ever-affable good-natured Mark Ruffalo moves into a "haunted" apartment in San Francisco. Its view and privately accessible rooftop make the place a mouth-watering find, though one does pause to wonder how he can see all of San Francisco from a third-story walk-up.

Not a bad 'fever'

By Greg Schoenbaecheler · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

The insight into a hardcore Boston Red Sox fan cannot be summed up any better. "Fever Pitch" is the latest installment of the great comedic string of movies created by the Farrelly brothers. These brothers brought together the elements of a romantic comedy better than many recent movies.

Banhart has a whole lotof heart

By Nate Gowdy · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

Last spring Bright Eyes' It's Morning, I'm Wide Awake let me have it -- it was that cold bucket of water over the head that opens your eyes long before the sun is up. The Shins and Iron & Wine (both featured on that one soundtrack for that "Garden"-something movie) weren't the only ones making folk music beyond that of those making it 30 years earlier.

the sounds of lotusfest

By IDS staff and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

A sample of the Events coming to Lotus Fest.

Niccol thrives on realism in 'War'

By Robert O'Connor · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

"Lord of War" is the newest film by Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca"). It's the story of how Yuri Orlov (Nicholas Cage), a Russian immigrant, rises from poverty in the New York ghetto, Little Odessa, to eventually become one of the biggest arms dealers in the world.

Hollywood Hoosier

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

Standing amid the glass cases of the Lilly Library -- cases which house some of the 30,000 comic books donated as part of a special exhibition running from now until December 17th -- Michael Uslan finally feels like he is back at home.

Cave In's fifth almost too 'Perfect'

By Chris Wisner · Thursday, Sept. 22,2005 12 a.m.

For being the fifth full-length release in Cave In's long career, chances are that if they didn't get noticed with their previous album Antenna, then maybe their latest effort, Perfect Pitch Black, might finally pull them out of the underground.