Longform

Grow up

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:31 p.m.

For the second time, the Monroe County Alcoholic Beverages Board has delayed its decision about whether it will issue an alcohol permit to the current owners of the Von Lee Theater on Kirkwood Avenue. We understand the controversy, but not the delay -- a decision just simply has to be made soon. Jay Michener, new owner of the Von Lee and owner of Artemis LLC, has petitioned for an alcohol permit and says he intends to use the permit to establish an "upscale" bar and restaurant.

Georgian, Russian presidents meet

By Alyson Brodsy and Jim Heintz · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:28 p.m.

MOSCOW -- Russia and Georgia have agreed to renew discussions on Abkhazia, a Georgian separatist region bordering Russia, Georgia's president said Wednesday after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in a war in the 1990s and has been de-facto independent since then, under pro-Russian leadership. Ethnic Georgians fled the fighting en masse, and the region's status is among the biggest problems confronting Georgia, which is wracked by poverty and corruption.

15 Palestinians die in Israeli raid

By Alyson Brodsy and Ibrahim Barzak · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:26 p.m.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israel sent troops and tanks into a densely populated neighborhood and a refugee camp Wednesday to search for Palestinian militants, setting off the bloodiest day of fighting in the Gaza Strip in 16 months. Fifteen Palestinians were killed and more than 50 were wounded. Hamas, the militant Islamic group, responded with an ominous vow of retaliation, urging all its cells throughout Gaza and the West Bank to attack. Similar calls in the past have been followed within days -- sometimes hours -- by suicide bombings in Israel.

Bush appeals for tighter WMD control

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer Loven · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:18 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Bush, pointing to a black market weapons network led by the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, said Wednesday no new countries should have the ability to enrich or process nuclear material. He argued international efforts to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction have been neither broad nor effective enough and require tougher action from all nations. "The greatest threat before humanity today is the possibility of secret and sudden attack with chemical or biological or radiological or nuclear weapons," Bush said.

Shooting injures boy, crossing guard

By Alyson Brodsy and Joann Loviglio · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:17 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- An 8-year-old boy was shot in the face on a school playground Wednesday, and a crossing guard was wounded, caught apparently in the crossfire between two groups of men, police said. Children were arriving for class and some were playing in the schoolyard when dozens of shots rang out about 8:30 a.m., police said. Youngsters ran screaming toward the building as teachers and parents frantically tried to pull them inside to safety. Police searched for the gunmen and a gray Lincoln Continental.

Two day death toll reaches 100

By Alyson Brodsy and Mariam Fam · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:16 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A second suicide bombing killed up to 47 people Wednesday -- 53 died in Tuesday's attack -- pushing the toll to 100. The U.S. military posted a $10 million bounty on a Jordanian militant suspected of organizing violence by foreign fighters and plotting an acceleration in attacks aimed at sparking a Sunni-Shiite civil war in Iraq.

SHOOTIN' POOL

By -Brandon Tucker · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 5:11 p.m.

Billiards, pool, 8-ball, sticks. . . whatever you may call the game, students can be thankful for the abundance of good shootin' in Bloomington.

Connick goes classic... again

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:51 p.m.

It's been a year since Harry Connick Jr. released Other Hours: Connick on Piano, Vol. 1 on the Marsalis Music label, and on his latest offering, Only You, the supper-club crooner sticks to what he does best: covering the great standards of bygone days without really offering any original material. It's not that Connick couldn't one day emerge as a creative songwriter; he just knows what he's good at, and that happens to be wrapping his rich contrabass around the good stuff Sinatra and Noble wrote decades ago.

'Sun' and sentimentality

By Amanda Trost · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:48 p.m.

The themes of every country album are simple: nostalgia, love and plenty of beer. But Kenny Chesney manages to put a new spin on the same old country boy ideals. Distinctive reggae and rock sounds give When the Sun Goes Down an edge among all those sappy country records.

Pitch Black shines on major debut

By -Brandon Tucker · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:45 p.m.

It's been a long time coming for the Brooklyn-based Pitch Black, having awaited its first major release since forming in 1994.

Five for Fighting, Ten for repetition

By -Nate Bethea · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:42 p.m.

Right off the bat, Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik sets himself apart from nearly any modern singer-songwriter just on the strength of his voice. This man can SING, which you'd probably expect from someone with a significant background in opera. It's a shame that his awe-inspiring vocal cords can't carry The Battle for Everything, an album that winds up being relatively unremarkable.

'Barbershop 2 Soundtrack' is in 'Business'

By -Brandon Tucker · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:39 p.m.

Ah, the sequel. So many just don't live up to the hype anymore. So many are aimed at the almighty Benjamins. So many are disappointing. From this perspective, the Barbershop 2: Back in Business Soundtrack is a successful step up from the original.

'Crow' unlikely to 'Murder' Incubus' career

By Jessica Smith · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:36 p.m.

A rollercoaster ride -- you strap yourself in, hoping for the best ride of your life. Holding your breath, it's a little slow up that first hill. You finally hit the top, let go of all sensible thoughts concerning space or time, the adrenaline kicks in and that crazy rush fills your body. Before you know what happened, you breathlessly reach the end. Amazing.

If you want respect, learn to act

By Mike Ley · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:32 p.m.

Back in 1984, "Breakin'" took the breakdancing craze off the street and put it onto the big screen. Over-the-top choreography barely overshadowed the amateur acting and undeveloped plot of the old-school cult classic. In this respect, "You Got Served" is a case of cinematic déjà vu.

It's a 'Miracle' this isn't an ESPN original

By Cassidy Flanagan · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:31 p.m.

If Oscars were given for the year's best feel good movie, "Miracle" would be a shoo-in for a nomination. Based on the true story of the 1980 Gold Medal-winning U.S. Olympic Hockey team, "Miracle" takes you on a journey through all the pain and glory of building champions out of ordinary boys and achieving the impossible dream.

'Ocean's Eleven' + 'Full House' = 'Catch That Kid'

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:28 p.m.

Finally a crime caper for the kiddies and any fan of "Ocean's Eleven." This movie is pretty similar, except 12-year-olds are committing the crime, and they're not nearly as flashy as Brad Pitt and company.

'Barbershop 2' a cut above most sequels

By Jennifer Whalen · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:25 p.m.

In a world full of shoddy sequels, "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" not only generates laughs constantly throughout, but stands to be one of the best comedic sequels ever.

Racism wrongly crowned Elvis king

By Ryan Whirty · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:19 p.m.

Elvis Presley the King of Rock and Roll? Bullshit. Saying Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll is like saying Ronald Reagan was the greatest president of the 20th century or that Babe Ruth is the greatest baseball player ever -- a lot of people believe it, but it just ain't true.

Jackson puts the boob in the tube

By Natalie A. Trout · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:15 p.m.

Who in the world would have thought that the adorable little girl from Gary, Ind., who endeared herself to millions of Americans on the '70s sitcom "Good Times," would grow up to expose her right breast during a Super Bowl halftime show? Certainly the not the NFL. But are they crazy?

The Shermometer says: HOT HOT HOT!

By Phil McLaughlin · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 4:10 p.m.

In wake of other DVD releases such as "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons," it comes as no surprise "The Critic" made its DVD debut. The short-lived cartoon series about film critic Jay Sherman can now be seen outside of its 1:30 a.m. timeslot on Comedy Central's Sunday lineup.