IUSA

Dancers compete for cash in weekend showcase competition

Senior Sarah Wilkins found herself $1,000 richer Sunday after dancing the afternoon away. Wilkins competed in Bloomington's first Showcase of the Arts Competition in Contemporary Dance this weekend in the dance studio at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The competition is part of the Showcase of the Arts series, which will award more than $15,000 to performers this year alone in the areas of visual arts, dance, drama, literature, music and musical theater.

Famous Jiu Jitsu instructor to visit IU

The instructor tells his students the proper way to put opponents into a choke hold after pinning them down. The first thing the instructor tells them is to cross their opponent's arms so each is firmly under the jaw and their thumbs are on the chest. He then instructs the students to push their arms down and elbows up. At this point the opponent is at the mercy of his captor.

The future of music downloading

To the record industry, John Seroff is something of a criminal. For music fans, he's a budding revolutionary. Seroff is the publisher of http://tofuhut.blogspot.com, better known as Tofu Hut, a genre-blending MP3 blog that treats its readers to free downloads of obscure music and well-written ruminations on little-known artists. Seroff's recently posted the music of Malicorne, a '70s French folk band, and Riko, a female MC from Britain. But by allowing people to download free music, Seroff and the other bloggerati have caught the attention of the record industry.

Police discover fresh concrete in search for bodies

INDIANAPOLIS -- Investigators using dogs and special radar equipment discovered what they described as a "mass" under concrete in the basement of a home where they were searching for three family members that a brother and sister told police they killed.

Topping trees increases disease, pest problems

Limbs are strewn across the yard as a chainsaw cuts into the tree's bark. Another receives a buzzed haircut. The act of tree topping, which is the extreme removal of big branches on older trees either for aesthetic or practical purposes, can be seen around Indiana. Many homeowners top their trees when they feel the limbs have grown too tall and become unsafe.

Bloomington leads in disability access

Bloomington often touts the ideal of inclusion -- and a recent report from a federal agency gives the city credit for its work.

Student designer shows off creations

To the background of birches, Individualized Major Program senior Katherine BonDurant reinvigorated timeless pieces in her fashion show "Winter in Red Square" Feb 5 at the Bloomington Convention Center. By contrasting stiff equestrian styles and fabrics with satin and silk in addition to delicate nuances, BonDurant softened her otherwise traditional line.

A model consumer

The way of fashion photographer

Freshman trio looks to contribute to lacrosse

Most freshmen approach college as a fresh start to their lives. They migrate to campus and leave behind all the things they didn't accomplish in high school and move on to a new set of goals. But freshman club lacrosse players Ryan Furman, Michael Link and Brennan Matthews want to achieve one of the few goals that eluded them in high school -- a lacrosse championship.

The Jeffersons: Movin' on up in the record books

Ahh, junior high track. Those were the days. Nothing like practicing on an asphalt track at the county rec center with the faded lines ... in jeans and a T-shirt. Yep, that was me one day in eighth grade when I showed up for team photo day in that attire. Thankfully I've moved on since that embarrassing day in northwest Ohio and somehow managed to continue my running career. In high school, I ran a 5-minute-9-second mile.

O'Neal selected for 5th All-Star Game

NEW YORK -- Miami's Dwyane Wade and San Antonio's Manu Ginobili were among six players picked as NBA All-Stars for the first time when reserves were announced Tuesday.

La Créme de porno

To a man, porn is like a juicy Big Mac: While it might be cheap, it's always piping hot, it satiates his appetite and it doesn't require a lot of fussy presentation. Ain't no shame in it, boys. A man got to eat. But Oxygen TV believes a woman's porno palate craves a more complex fusion of flavors.

Judge allows wrongful death lawsuit for embryo

CHICAGO -- All Alison Miller and Todd Parrish wanted was to become parents. But when a fertility clinic didn't preserve a healthy embryo they had hoped would one day become their child, they sued for wrongful death. A judge refused to dismiss their case, ruling in effect that a test-tube embryo is a human being and that the suit could go forward.

East River scandal

An organization meant to bring peace to the world and act as an international conflict arbiter has been tainted by scandal. It should be obvious the organization I'm talking about is the United Nations, and the scandal is the Oil-for-Food program. The important questions: Were the program's terms violated, and if they were, does that irreparably damage the reputation of the United Nations?

Rice calls to mend European, U.S. ties

PARIS -- Trying to mend fences with Europe, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday "it is time to turn away from the disagreements of the past" that alienated longtime allies over the U.S. invasion of Iraq. France was the most vocal opponent of President Bush's handling of the war with Iraq, and the new secretary of state deliberately chose Paris for the major address of her first official tour of Europe.

Shake that, Ashcroft

February makes me shiver. And I can't remember if I cried, but something touched me deep inside the day Attorney General John Ashcroft left the White House, otherwise known as the day the music died. As far as cabinet members go, President George W. Bush sure knows how to pick 'em.

Hoosiers bring hope home

Around here, "h" stands for Hoosiers. Lately, Habitat for Humanity has given the letter a new connotation, using a red "h" as the motif for its petition drive. Around campus it stands for Hoosiers helping Habitat build more affordable local housing. Today the IU chapter of Habitat, working with the chapter at Bloomington High School North, begins collecting about 10,000 signatures.

President promotes domestic agenda

DETROIT -- President Bush promoted his entire domestic agenda Tuesday -- from a massive Social Security overhaul to a new, austere budget -- as changes needed for faster job growth and a solid economic expansion.

A Jersey 'State' of mind

When it comes to the success of "Garden State," the empty shelves at the local Best Buy on the day of the DVD's release speak for themselves. And I was the customer fortunate enough to acquire the very last copy.