IUSA

Anime flick disappoints

Although surpassing the quality of the original "Ghost in the Shell" would not prove any serious challenge, the movie's sequel "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" succeeds where its predecessor failed: creating an animated movie worth watching.

Nemo still owns the ocean

Now, usually movie knockoffs aren't too horrible. "Save The Last Dance" was a commendable attempt following "Center Stage," "Deep Impact" tried its best to entertain "Armageddon" fans and so on and so forth.

Sentimentality smolders fire flick

"Ladder 49" excels in all the places a movie about firemen should, but smothers itself the rest of the way. Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix), an experienced fireman, enters a huge burning building with his team.

Studio Struggles

Aside from the occasional opportunity to sleep in, record production is not a good career choice for lazy people. The exceptional producers put their heart and soul into each record that comes out of their studio, and that can be exhausting.

POP! (without the bubblegum)

With the billions of dollars being pumped into the music industry every year, it can be tempting for rock bands to alter their style to appeal to the masses. Watching Creed and Evanescence make millions while other bands continue to wait can get to you after awhile. But for The Wrens and The Mendoza Line, two bands who are coming to play the Bluebird this Friday, they've found a way to make pop music without selling out.

New center offers chance for extensive graduate study of 18th century

Graduate students will now be able to combine studies of the 18th century as a result of the new Center for Eighteenth-Century Studies, which was inaugurated Wednesday night in the School of Fine Arts.

Herbert speaks to U.S. Senate

IU President Adam Herbert provided testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, D.C., Wednesday in a congressional hearing on international student visas. In the name of national security, the U.S. State Department and the Office of Homeland Security have implemented several perceived problematic changes in the visa application process for foreign-born students and international researchers since the Sept. 11 attacks. At the request of Committee Chairman and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Herbert joined Purdue University President Martin Jishcke and University of Maryland President C.D. Mote, Jr. as witnesses to the disastrous impact the new visa policy has had on foreign student enrollment and spending.

University places AEPi on social probation

Alpha Epsilon Pi was placed on social probation for an incident concerning a party which the Dean of Students was called to investigate at a hearing Tuesday, said an AEPi brother who wished to remain anonymous. Social probation restricts a chapter from participating in officially sponsored campus events, such as dances and parties, said Dean of Students Richard McKaig, although he had yet to be informed of the ruling by press time. "It means we are not going to be able to pair for our Homecoming," said AEPi President, junior Nathan Schiller. "(The judgement is) a major blow to our character and our reputation on campus."

End of discussion

The Bloomington City Council met Wednesday and discussed several issues including an amendment to Bloomington's Municipal Code. The amendment, which passed 9-0, revises the definition along with the permitted and conditional uses of hospitals and outpatient care facilities in Bloomington's medical district. The amendment corrected the language in the ordinance to clarify the difference between outpatient facilities and hospitals.

Hospital facilities subject of ongoing debate

The six-month controversy concerning the existence of an outpatient facility in Bloomington was clarified Wednesday night when the Bloomington City Council amended the municipal code to alter definitions concerning the words 'hospital' and 'outpatient care facilities.'

Around The Arts

The School of Fine Arts Gallery is transforming itself into a lounge environment tonight for its interactive multimedia exhibit. At 8 p.m. Friday, for one night only, the gallery will show "Lounge," an exhibit featuring video art, music and interactive environments. The event is free and open to the public and will allow viewers to see art from a comfortable vantage point. For more information, visit http://sofa.fa.indiana.edu.

Kelly, Jay-Z unite for concert

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The handwritten script appeared slowly at first, unspooling across the wide-screen video monitors inside the Allstate Arena as if scrawled by some giant, invisible hand. "Dear Fans, Thank you," it began, as the 23,000 people inside the suburban Chicago stadium cheered each word. "So many times I started to quit and walk away ..." another line read. False friends were excoriated, loyal fans praised. "For those of you wondering how I'm doing ... I'M ALL RIGHT," the note added. It was signed: R. Kelly. As Kelly and Jay-Z kicked off their long-awaited Best of Both Worlds Tour, this was the first and only time the R&B icon acknowledged that, in his world, things could be better. Kelly is facing felony child pornography charges stemming from allegations that he videotaped sex acts with a girl believed to be as young as 14 years old. He has also been accused of maintaining a pattern of sex with underage girls. His next court date is Nov. 4. Thursday night, much of the Chicago audience seemed unconcerned with the hometown star's legal troubles. For three-plus hours, they sweated and swayed to the string of hits unleashed by Kelly and Jay-Z, the purportedly "retired" hip-hop capo. After waiting more than two hours past the scheduled starting time, most fans seemed elated that the show -- slated to visit 40 cities over the next few months to promote Kelly and Jay-Z's second collaboration, "Best of Both Worlds: Unfinished Business" -- was finally underway.

IU Alumna starts own online jewelry company

Beth Stevning had big dreams when she graduated from IU in 2002. Two years later, she made her dreams a reality by starting her own online business. She sells her personal creations off of her Web site,www.b-jewels.com. For Beth Stevning, making jewelry started out as a hobby. She had always made friendship bracelets with her sisters and bead bracelets at swim meets, but as she got older, her creativity matured and her skill at the craft blossomed. When she started making jewelry as gifts for her friends, people started asking about her wearable works of art.

Astros win Game 1; Yankees rally in 12

Astros 9, Braves 3 ATLANTA -- The Killer B's didn't have to go it alone. Roger Clemens and the powerful Houston lineup made sure the Astros got off to a good start in their quest to finally win a playoff series. While Clemens continually pitched out of trouble, Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran and Jason Lane hit homeruns for the Astros to lead a 9-3 rout of the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their NL division series Wednesday. The Astros set a franchise record for runs in a postseason game. They twice scored seven while losing to Philadelphia in the 1980 National League Championship Series -- the first of their seven straight playoff series losses.

From behind quarterbacks to behind bars

Everybody makes mistakes and has mishaps from time to time. Not a single person on the planet can argue with that. I make them all the time with certain predictions in this very column and there's not a day that goes by I don't hear about them. For "normal" people like you and me who are not considered a celebrity, our mishaps and mistakes are essentially kept in silence.

Improvisational pianist to play at Waldron Center

Alumnus Hakan Ali Toker will perform at the John Waldron Arts Center Friday night, but he has no idea what he is going to play. Known for his one-of-a-kind combination of diverse musical styles, the Turkish-born pianist is a master of improvisation. Toker plans to take requests from the audience Friday and transform familiar pieces into something entirely unique.

The spiritual side of fashion

Rodney Dangerfield dies at 82

LOS ANGELES -- Rodney Dangerfield, the bug-eyed comic whose self-deprecating one-liners brought him stardom in clubs, television and movies and made his lament "I don't get no respect" a catchphrase, died Tuesday. He was 82. Dangerfield, who fell into a coma after undergoing heart surgery, died at 1:20 p.m., said publicist Kevin Sasaki. Dangerfield had a heart valve replaced Aug. 25 at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center.

Art all around

IU is a treasure chest of great artwork. Art adorns the campus on almost every corner, greeting students as they enter academic buildings in the form of sculptures. Though the sculptures are unique to IU, many of them go unnoticed and unappreciated.

Site aims to keep graduates in Indiana

Many Indiana residents are familiar with the term brain drain -- the idea that thousands come to Indiana to receive degrees at highly-ranked colleges and universities, but then leave the state to find employment elsewhere.