Longform

'Sword' proves psychotic and violent

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:34 p.m.

In the world of Chambara (Japanese for sword fighting) cinema, there are two kinds of films. The first comes in the form of hokey, poorly organized samurai films which present unrealistic battles and pathetic attempts at a storyline.

A somewhat 'Incredible' DVD

By John Barnett · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:32 p.m.

There's a burning question hovering about in the heads of Hollywood's power players these days; that question being "Is Steve Jobs' Pixar Animation Studios even capable of making a film that doesn't win the hearts and dollars of tens of millions?" Apparently not, as the near-universal critical and monetary praise of Pixar's latest effort, "The Incredibles," would show.

Stop making biopics!

By Olivia Morales · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:30 p.m.

I realize some people lead fascinating, harrowing and complex lives. I'm also glad for this truth. The fact that some people have lives that are worthy of being adapted into biography films is not what concerns me. What concerns me is that these films, commonly called biopics, are being made and released with such alarming frequency that they are stomping on and casting shadows over other truly interesting and original films.

The Death of Gonzo

By Doug Evans · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:26 p.m.

Probably the most insane, yet most genius thing Dr. Hunter S. Thompson ever did was to run for sheriff of his hometown Aspen, Colo. Crazy because he was more of a fringe journalist who used rather unorthodox methods, such as taking various mind-altering substances and writing about his ensuing adventures while on assignment. Genius because he knew what he wanted to change and had the guts to back up the facts.

The F-word

By Amy Obermeyer · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:24 p.m.

Feminist backlash is the perfect excuse for everything. Prior to feminists of the 1960s, life was perfect. After all, everyone was safe in the 1950s. There was no threat of nuclear war, no blatant racism, no thought-police blacklisting powerful people holding the wrong political opinions and no organized crime. Everyone was safe and happy until those rabid women and girly men came along.

Playing God

By Warren Christopher Freiberg · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:23 p.m.

For those of you not in the know, Terri Schiavo is the Florida woman in the midst of a now-national legal battle between her husband and parents over her right to life or death, depending on what side you take.

Business of church

By Edward Delp · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:21 p.m.

Defending and propagating one's religion in a secular society isn't easy. One must be steadfast to overcome obstacles and critics. However, sometimes defenders of a faith can go too far.

Entrusting new leadership

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:20 p.m.

Trustees are boring. They just sit in some boardroom a few times a year to talk about IU and vote on some stuff, right? Wrong.

Tax could help pay for Colts arena

By Alyson Brodsy and Deanna Wrenn · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:18 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- An extra dime for a haircut here and a hundred dollars tagged on to a legal bill there could add up to millions of dollars to fund a new Colts stadium, a top state senator said.

Around The State

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:18 p.m.

Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage advances in House INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana House finalized a first step toward a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, approving the proposal with wide bipartisan support.

Israel hands over 2nd of 5 towns

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:14 p.m.

TULKAREM, West Bank -- Israel completed the handover of the West Bank town of Tulkarem to Palestinian control Tuesday, ceremonially unlocking a gate that had blocked traffic between the town and main points in the West Bank.

Schiavo's parents file appeal

By Alyson Brodsy and Jill Barton · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:13 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Warning that Terri Schiavo was "fading quickly" and might die at any moment, her parents begged a federal appeals court Tuesday to order the severely brain-damaged woman's feeding tube reinserted.

Kyrgyzstan's president attempts to restore peace

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, March 22,2005 11:13 p.m.

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan -- Opposition supporters and police formed joint patrols to keep order in a southern city of Kyrgyzstan where protesters have seized government offices. President Askar Akayev pledged Tuesday he would not impose a state of emergency despite demonstrations about alleged election fraud.

Federal judge delays ruling on reinsertion of Schiavo's tube

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, March 22,2005 4:40 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Armed with a new law rushed through Congress over the weekend, the attorney for Terri Schiavo's parents pleaded with a judge Monday to order the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube reinserted.

Swatting a state insect

By Rick Newkirk · Tuesday, March 22,2005 12:34 a.m.

Something was bugging Lisa Conrad, so she did what any warm-blooded American schoolteacher might do. She wrote a poem to the State Congress.

Athletics department: Davis stays

By Josh Weinfus and Josh Weinfuss · Tuesday, March 22,2005 12:34 a.m.

IU coach Mike Davis will return next season to coach the Hoosiers, a source in the athletics department said Monday. The official announcement will come today in the form of a press release, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said. However Greenspan refused to comment further.

Planned Parenthood sues state agency to block clinic record seizures

By Lindsey Jancek and Lindsay Jancek · Tuesday, March 22,2005 12:34 a.m.

Agents from the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Units entered three Planned Parenthood health centers, including the one in Bloomington, earlier this month and demanded medical records on minors who had received health services.

Trustee to step down

By Tony Sams · Tuesday, March 22,2005 12:34 a.m.

Jamie Belanger, considered to be the youngest non-student ever to serve on the IU board of trustees, has decided he will not seek a second term when his present term ends this summer.

IU selects Hamm for dean of journalism

By Tony Sams · Tuesday, March 22,2005 12:02 a.m.

It's taken two different search committees and a two-year nationwide hunt to find someone to replace Trevor Brown, the outgoing dean of the IU School of Journalism. It won't take three.

Catholic Bishops preach an end to death penalty in Indiana

By Alyson Brodsy and Ken Kusmer · Monday, March 21,2005 11:55 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana death penalty opponents received a boost Monday when the national body of the state's largest church denomination began a renewed push to abolish government executions throughout the United States. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops marked the start of Holy Week, when Christians observe the death of Jesus Christ, by announcing it would step up lobbying against capital punishment at both national and state levels and increase education in parishes.