IUSA

Reaching out

Since the Dec. 26 catastrophe in southeast Asia, thousands of people have opened up their hearts and wallets to tsunami disaster relief funds. But as the tremendous outpour of support continues to come in large sums of money, officials fear history might be repeating itself.

Forum to address tsunami's impact, ways to donate

Although students might feel far removed from the tsunami's impact, it has sparked a longing in the IU community to comprehend the disaster.

supplying creativity

White House halts 2-year search for WMDs in Iraq

WASHINGTON -- The search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has quietly concluded without any evidence of the banned weapons that President Bush cited as justification for going to war, the White House said Wednesday. Democrats said Bush owes the country an explanation of why he was so wrong.

Illustrator finds true calling in drawing animals

Lexington, Ill. -- If he never sold another one of his pieces, Ben Mehl would live life happy. That's how much the 29-year-old Lexington native loves his true calling.

Jackie O's paper wedding dress on exhibit

Chicago -- When John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier married in September 1953, the nation was enchanted by the wedding, the couple and the young bride's off-the-shoulder gown. Now two artists have used paper to replicate the wedding dress in connection with an exhibit of her clothing, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years," currently at Chicago's Field Museum.

Book examines how simplicity can lead to momentous change

NEW YORK -- Malcolm Gladwell, whose best seller "The Tipping Point" explored how minor events can lead to momentous changes, got the idea for his next project simply by letting his hair grow long.

'Cookie cutter' fashion

When Meenal Mistry Fashion editor from Women's Wear Daily, came to visit IU in 2003, she told me she could see there was an aesthetic sense among the students on campus.

Around The Arts

Painter, musician and sculptor Graham Wood will be showing his work from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Buskirk-Chumley Textillery Gallery. Wood is a visiting artist from Richmond, Ind. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Let It Snow!

It seems that when it's cold and snowing outside, it's difficult to get motivated for anything more than a DVD rental or a trip to the movies. Luckily, production companies capitalize on this by releasing a barrage of new films over the holiday season. For those who didn't have time to catch these releases over winter break, Weekend has compiled a short list of this season's must-sees, must-hears and must-avoids.

BanishingtheButts

The weather forecast for the city of Bloomington is nonsmoker friendly with smoke-free indoor air aplenty since tobacco addicts are forced to feed their disease on islands within the sea of Bloomington. Smokers are hereby advised -- plan on enduring grave climate inconveniences while huffing and puffing your smoke of choice, shivering a so-called reasonable distance from the exterior of all public buildings, gazing inward toward the yellow glow of florescent lights and the shrill of cackled laughter from nonsmoking families occupying your once arse-imprinted stool, mingling within eyeball reach of a glorious moving image box.

Cheap books: A local library tradition

Bargain books at bargain prices for extraordinary minds with extraordinary amounts of free time can be found at the library this weekend.

Let It Snow!

It seems that when it's cold and snowing outside, it's difficult to get motivated for anything more than a DVD rental or a trip to the movies. Luckily, production companies capitalize on this by releasing a barrage of new films over the holiday season. For those who didn't have time to catch these releases over winter break, Weekend has compiled a short list of this season's must-sees, must-hears and must-avoids.

Just another pothead comedy

"Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" follows a simple premise that is summed up in the film's title. Harold (John Cho) and his roommate/buddy Kumar (Kal Penn) get stoned in their apartment, watch television and eventually get the "munchies." After a White Castle hamburger commercial literally lifts them out of their seats in a trance-like manner, the two stoners head for the closest miniature hamburger eatery to satisfy their craving.

Shivaree shows 'who's got' talent with latest

Shivaree's third album, Who's Got Trouble?, will, with any luck at all, finally catapult them to the big time. Their sound is soundtrack-ready jazzy, and this album, with its nice variances from song to song and overall cohesion as a work, can be enjoyed by old Shivaree fans and newbies alike.

2004: A cultural rewind

Many critics fear the idea behind the top ten list. Why, they -- who are paid to watch and write about movies for a living -- moan, "Why must we boil our favorite films into an arbitrary top ten list? What is the purpose of "ten" anyway? Why were they the 'Ten Commandments?' Why were there 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights? And more important, why were there ten seasons of 'Friends'?"

Acting, technology make 'Troy' shine

"Troy," loosely based on Homer's epic poem "The Iliad," tells the story of the Trojan War which was fought between the Greeks and Trojans. The war begins after Paris (Orlando Bloom), a prince of Troy, convinces Helen (Diane Kruger), the Queen of Sparta, to go back to Troy with him after they fall in love. Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson), Helen's husband, is furious at the loss of his wife and convinces Agamemnon (Brian Cox), the Greek leader, to go to Troy and rescue his wife.

Emo director tackles Melville-esque yarn

Wes Anderson is arguably the best and most eccentric filmmaker of his generation. His movies reflect the man himself in that they're weird as all get out. Such is the case with his latest, "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" -- his strangest, saddest and arguably most precious effort to date.

Scorsese, DiCaprio fly high in 'Aviator'

Martin Scorsese is long overdue for an Academy Award. His classic films "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and "Goodfellas" failed to earn him Academy gold and though "The Aviator" may not be as good as these previous masterpieces (it would be like comparing Picasso to Van Gogh), it is certainly good enough to merit at least one coveted Oscar.

BanishingtheButts

The weather forecast for the city of Bloomington is nonsmoker friendly with smoke-free indoor air aplenty since tobacco addicts are forced to feed their disease on islands within the sea of Bloomington. Smokers are hereby advised -- plan on enduring grave climate inconveniences while huffing and puffing your smoke of choice, shivering a so-called reasonable distance from the exterior of all public buildings, gazing inward toward the yellow glow of florescent lights and the shrill of cackled laughter from nonsmoking families occupying your once arse-imprinted stool, mingling within eyeball reach of a glorious moving image box.