IUSA

A 'Congenial' sequel

If you liked the original "Miss Congeniality" and you like Sandra Bullock, you will want to see "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous." On the flip-side, if you hated the first, then chances are you will hate the second. Again, the movie focuses on friendship -- congeniality.

Race relations stacked with schtick

Latin Explosion

For most college students, salsa is nothing more than a snack food. To dance enthusiasts, however, salsa is an intricate style of Latin dance.

A 'Very Engaging' love story

Compared to other World War I epics such as "Paths of Glory" and "All Quiet on the Western Front," Jean-Pierre Jeunet's recent entry, "A Very Long Engagement," holds its own in the arena. Whereas the aforementioned dramas focus on stories of soldiers and their frontline dramas, "Engagement" offers another take on the era, seen through the eyes of two forlorn lovers.

Senior Slump

The epidemic is spreading as the school year is approaching its end. This epidemic isn't as prominent in freshmen, sophomores, or juniors -- they're safe for a while. Professors have witnessed it and seniors are affected by it. It doesn't have a bedtime, study time, break time or class time. It doesn't always target seniors and it doesn't just affect spring students. The ever-famous senioritis is catching on around campus and more and more students have to face summer school just to graduate.

Moby's 'Hotel' is musically vacant

Moby's newest album didn't change my life. Moby likely didn't change his life recording the two-disc release either. It doesn't deliver mind-altering riffs or weighty lyrics nor redefine Moby as an artist or break any molds. The record does have plenty of Moby's familiar beats and melodies. All of the tracks flow together well and all are pleasing to the ear, and yet none of the songs are terribly innovative and most have an unremarkable feel. This isn't a CD I would listen to if I was looking to find myself through music. Hotel would be great background music for a low-key, intimate party where no one is paying too much attention to the stereo.

'Ice Princess' is actually cool

OK, I'll admit I asked my boyfriend and best friend and neither would go see "Ice Princess" with me over spring break. Lucky for me my cousin Maggie, who is in kindergarten, was free on a particularly dull Friday night and attended the opening of the latest Disney movie with me. I didn't have to twist Maggie's arm to go see what I thought would be another one of those ultra-girlie movies full of montages including skating, girls running around frantically and maybe a love interest.

'Kagemusha' a moving masterpiece

In 1980 Japanese film-directing legend Akira Kurosawa found himself in a rut. Coming off a successful Academy Award win for his film "Dersu Uzala," Kurosawa was unable to attain financing for his samurai war epic "Kagemusha." After being turned down, Kurosawa began painting storyboards for his film although he felt it would never see the light of day. This all would change, however, once film directors Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas learned of Kurosawa's lack of funding and made the decision to finance the Japanese auteur. This same decision allowed Kurosawa to bring about one of the finest films in his cinematic career.

Beck back with 'Guero'

While most everyone has a tale of heartbreak, few have articulated it as Beck did on 2002's Sea Change. Presented in breezy acoustic arrangements and worn-out vocals, Beck's look at his breakup with a longtime girlfriend saw the eternally-choirboy-looking recording artist extremely bummed, bringing about such melancholic triumphs of abandonment and failure as "The Golden Age" and "Lost Cause."

Martin Sexton at the Bluebird Nightclub

Singer/songwriter Martin Sexton will be performing with Jill Sobule at the Bluebird Nightclub Friday. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $15. The show is 21 and over.

Debut will lead to future 'Employment'

Surfing the new wave of New Wave -- think: Franz Ferdinand and the Killers -- comes Leeds, England-based band the Kaiser Chiefs (named after the South African football club). Cribbing off rock luminaries from the '60s (the Kinks), '70s (the Jam and the Clash), '80s (Adam Ant ... when he still mattered) and '90s (Blur), the Chiefs do chiefly what Kasabian -- the British band whose debut I reviewed last week -- didn't. They've taken their influences and run freely with them.

What happened to the dark comedy?

Public relations industry no longer creates simply 'fluff'

A good lawyer used to be vital to keeping a company out of hot water. Now a good publicist is just as important. No longer seen as a "fluff" profession, public relations has become essential for the business world. Its increasing importance has garnered media attention in recent years, from a New York magazine cover story to "PoweR Girls," the newest MTV reality show.

Around The Campus

Noah Feldman, the chief U.S. constitutional adviser to the Iraqi government and assistant professor of law at New York University will speak about Islam and democracy in Iraq tonight at 7:30 in the Whittenberger Auditorium. Feldman's lecture will be followed with a question-and-answer session.

IU 1st in Big Ten in private financial support

The IU Foundation announced Monday that IU ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and 13th in the nation when it comes to garnering financial support from the private sector.

College Republicans, Democrats to face off

Although election season is nowhere in sight, the IU College Republicans and College Democrats think it's time to bring political discussion back to Bloomington. The two groups will square off in one of two spring semester debates at 7:30 tonight in the Indiana Memorial Union's Georgian Room.

Earthquake death toll estimated to be 1,000

GUNUNG SITOLI, Indonesia -- Firefighters freed a man trapped in a crumpled house on remote Nias island on Wednesday, 36 hours after he was buried in rubble. As the first foreign military help arrived, officials said an estimated 1,000 people had died in the region's latest large earthquake. Later, a magnitude-6.3 quake

Summer housing deadline approaching

While many students are in the midst of bustling around and wrapping up what is left of the school year, others are signing up for summer classes at IU.

Have it your way

The Burger King is so much more than just a monarch. Not only is he the mascot of a fast food chain second only to McDonalds, he is also an artist.

Do change your do

I hate Clay Aiken.