IUSA

Creating A Diva

By Adam Sedia · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:51 a.m.

The coming of an opera's opening night evokes all the wonders of another world manufactured for the stage. When most of us go to the opera, we are so busy appreciating the final product that the efforts made to bring it from the score to the stage are often overlooked. The fact is, an enormous amount of time, money and labor are put into transforming an idea into an impressive reality.

Six teams rise and fall with young QBs

By Alyson Brodsy and Rusty Miller · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:49 a.m.

Experienced quarterbacks are proving their worth in the Big Ten. Just look at the stats. The top four passing offenses (Purdue, Northwestern, Penn State and Illinois) are all led by veteran quarterbacks. Five of the top seven quarterbacks in pass efficiency are holdovers. "If you're going to have only one experienced player back on your squad, you'd want him back at quarterback," said Purdue coach Joe Tiller, who has the luxury of having the best returning quarterback in the conference, Kyle Orton.

I'll tell you what your opinion is

By Alyson Brodsy and Daniel Hiester · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:48 a.m.

Seeing "The Corporation" was an awe-inspiring cinematic experience. I was fascinated by the story of how corporations went from having very little power 150 years ago to displacing democracy and controlling the world. I was blown away by how the film uses a DSM-IV, the book used by psychologists to diagnose mental illness, to show that corporations are psychotic. I was encouraged to see that people are actually making a difference by fighting back. And I really wanted to buy the movie's soundtrack.

Colts' James held out of practice but upgraded to questionable for Sunday

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Marot · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:47 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James was upgraded from doubtful to questionable for this week's game against Green Bay despite missing Wednesday's practice. Coach Tony Dungy said James worked out earlier in the day but was held out of the afternoon practice. Dungy said Thursday's practice could help clear up James' playing status.

Giving back the name

By Alyson Brodsy and Melanie Sims · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:46 a.m.

I just wanted to let everybody know -- despite what I might have said in earlier discussions, I am not African-American. I'm black (and Filipino). I doubt that I actually used the term African-American, but just in case, I take it back. Or better yet -- I'm giving it back.

Hitting the books, opponents

By Ricardo Hernandez · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:46 a.m.

Growing up in Chesterfield, Mo., strong safety Will Meyers was a First-Team All-Conference Athlete as a defensive and running back, an All-Area/All-Purpose Player and Parkway West High School's MVP for his senior season. His football accomplishments earned him much attention throughout the state; in fact, he was chosen to the All-State football squad as both defensive back and running back. And his talents did not stop there.

Failing at finance

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:45 a.m.

While educators statewide are emphasizing higher academic standards for our college students, Indiana is receiving a 2.0 on its higher education report card. The grades come from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, based in San Jose, Calif., in its "Measuring Up 2004" report. In the five categories, Indiana received a B, three C's and a D.

Boilers spike Hoosiers to open conference play

By Kevin Dwire · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:43 a.m.

The IU volleyball team wasn't able to rebound Wednesday evening from its three-match losing streak in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers fell to Purdue University in straight sets (30-22, 30-20, 30-12). The defeat dropped the team to 6-6 on the year and 0-1 in conference play, with what could prove to be a very difficult Big Ten schedule coming up.

Show me some teeth!

By Alyson Brodsy and George Lyle IV · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:43 a.m.

It's something I've noticed before but never really gave a second (or third) thought about until recently. I noticed it on campus. I've noticed it in my apartment building. It caught me by surprise at the slightly utopian Lotus Fest that I could only find three or four of them out of the hundreds of people who crossed my path that Friday night.

The luck hasn't run out for the Irish

By Matt Mattucci · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:42 a.m.

I grew up watching one, and only one, college football team play on TV every Saturday in my home. That football team was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I shared the same dreams and aspirations as the movie character "Rudy" did. There was only one place I saw myself going to college and eventually playing football, and that place is located in South Bend. But I was a little kid, and quite frankly, I didn't have the slightest clue.

Defense get big lift from transfer

By Dan Click · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:39 a.m.

Junior linebacker Paul Szczesny had a choice. When it came time to choose a school to continue his football career he had options: He could have been a Trojan, a Sooner, a Bruin or a Badger. Instead he decided to become a Hoosier, and the coaching staff and he couldn't be happier with the decision, he said. Szczesny (pronounced Skez-nee) thought about staying out West, but his Niles, Ill., roots brought him back to the Midwest as he began to consider schools in the heartland of America.

Business Briefs

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:37 a.m.

Fed institutes interest rate increase WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the economy moving ahead and the nation's payrolls picking up a bit, Federal Reserve policy-makers boosted short-term interest rates for a third time this year -- but left economists split about when the next increase might come. Federal Chairman Alan Greenspan and his Federal Open Market Committee colleagues -- the group which sets interest-rate policy -- increased the target for the federal funds rate from 1.50 percent to 1.75 percent. The funds rate is the interest banks charge each other on overnight loans and is the Fed's primary tool for influencing economic activity.

Outback Steakhouse to acquire Chi-Chi's

By Alyson Brodsy and Bruce Schreiner · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:34 a.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Chi-Chi's, the Mexican restaurant chain, may have served its last chimichanga. Outback Steakhouse Inc. this week closed on its $42.5 million deal for the rights to 76 restaurants in the Chi-Chi's chain, which was beleaguered by bankruptcy and a hepatitis outbreak. Outback plans to convert many of the restaurants into its own brands -- which include its signature Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grills, Bonefish Grills, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bars, Roy's and Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants. "We felt it was a good opportunity to acquire a large number of good locations that we can use for our brands," said Joseph Kadow, senior vice president for Outback Steakhouse Inc., based in Tampa, Fla.

Napster parent Roxio Inc. to begin offering pay-per-song online downloads

By Alyson Brodsy and May Wong · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:33 a.m.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Call it the kitty's third life. Roxio Inc. bought the Napster brand name and feline logo at a bankruptcy auction two years ago and with the acquisition of another music service, Pressplay, relaunched the once-renegade file-swapping pioneer as a legal music service last October. Now in its latest reincarnation, Roxio has shed its CD-burning software business and plans to concentrate solely on selling and delivering music over the Web. It will adopt Napster as its corporate name, trading under a new ticker symbol.

Three businesswomen find Bloomington Thai food niche

By Sopaporn Saeung · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:33 a.m.

Thai restaurants are neither new nor rare in the United States. There are more than 229 Thai restaurants located in Florida alone. But in Bloomington, where the Thai community comprises less than 100 people, it might come as a surprise that there are three Thai restaurants: Siam House, Esan Thai and Red Sea. Three Thai ladies, Wemonrat Pok, Ruangthong Schoonover and Kanokkan Kongcharoen, are behind the growing Thai scene in Bloomington. Though their paths were different, their common goal now is to serve authentic Thai food to a diverse community.

Around The State

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:25 a.m.

Bayh, Lugar vote with majority to approve new CIA director Indiana Sens. Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh sided with the majority Wednesday as the Senate voted 77-17 to approve President Bush's nomination of Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., as Central Intelligence Agency director.

Indiana's workforce development leads national trend

By Jill Brooks · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12:23 a.m.

Expansion Management magazine ranks Indiana economic development programs ninth in the nation. The study evaluated three different grants, according to financial value, ease of use and applicability. "This recognition is even more meaningful when you look at who it came from -- the professionals who help make decisions on business expansion and relocation," Gov. Joe Kernan said in a press release.

ALF on DVD? Surely you jest

By C. Warner Sills · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12 a.m.

With the upcoming release of "Diff'rent Strokes: The Complete First Season" on DVD, I thought it would be appropriate to take a second to analyze the new cultural phenomenon that is television on DVD.

'Maria' full of mediocrity

By Tony Sams · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12 a.m.

Rarely will a film critic claim a movie is too short for its own good, but that is precisely the problem with "Maria Full of Grace," an intrepid but rather ordinary independent film from first-time director and recent New York Film Academy graduate Joshua Marston.

Swing ... and a miss

By Matt Waters and Matthew Waters · Thursday, Sept. 23,2004 12 a.m.

What could be more American than baseball? Mediocre movies, of course. "Mr. 3000" is a movie that plays with the oh-too-familiar sports movie formula.