Longform

Sailing toward mediocrity

By Craig Shank and John Barnett · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12 a.m.

Starsailor's second album, Silence is Easy, which follows on the heels of 2002's somewhat superior Love is Here, is a pompous display of production. How fitting that former reclusive genius/current charged murderer Phil Spector was at the helm during much of the album's creation.

ACOUSTIC PAIN

By Phil Kijak · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12 a.m.

The amount of noise Jackson Pain creates without the aid of distortion, forming a solid wall of sound, doesn't seem like it could be coming from an acoustic set. Senior Mike Chapman's vigorous guitar and vocals, along with the combination of senior Rob Stogsdill and Kyle Gobel's horn section, create soaring melodies backed up by Jeff Lawson's crash-filled drums and Andrew Caito's bass. All of these elements come together to form a sonic anomaly where it's hard to believe there is barely any electric influence on stage.

Long live the 'King'

By Craig Shank and John Barnett · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12 a.m.

'm the first to admit to being a sucker for award shows. No matter how hokey, silly or self-serving they may be, something about them draws me in, and I end up watching, stunned, like a deer in headlights.

Solving Racism Part 2

By Jack M. Silverstein and Jack Silverstein · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:57 p.m.

This is the second in a three part series. How do you change a person's prejudices? As we have seen, people's prejudices and beliefs are difficult to change. And yet, people's beliefs do change. How does this happen? In order for a person's beliefs to change, they have to be challenged. If a person believes gay people are evil, his belief may be changed if it is challenged by a positive experience he has with a gay person, or by a new popular belief of society. In time, he may begin to change his beliefs. Beliefs and prejudices change over time as they are challenged by other beliefs. The other part of the racism equation is power -- the systems and institutions that control large parts of society.

Barbie meets the hood

By Melanie Sims · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:50 p.m.

White girls with microbraids and violet-eyed brothas with blonde hair -- it was like Soul Train meets TRL, right there in the middle of Wal-Mart's toy section. And if you're wondering whatever happened to Sisqo -- he's been secretly kidnapped and cloned, along with Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. Or at least, that's become my theory since seeing Happy D, Kiyoni Brown, Liam, P.Bo, Tika and Tre, in standard B-boy stance, patiently waiting to be purchased by some good-intentioned soccer mom hoping to spoon feed her 10-year-old a taste of manufactured multiculturalism.

The new tax menu

By Paul Musgrave · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:41 p.m.

Taxes -- and how governments collect them -- have subtle and far-reaching effects. Take Indiana's local governments -- cities, counties and townships. Most of their revenue comes from property taxes, based on the value of buildings and land. This system worked well in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when economic activity was primarily physical. But the economy is no longer tied to the land as closely as it once was. Instead of manufacturing and agriculture, most economic activity today is in the service sector, which includes everything from Arby's to advertising firms.

Former nuclear scientist admits leaking top secrets

By Alyson Brodsy and Burt Herman · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:38 p.m.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The founder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program claimed responsibility Wednesday for leaks of nuclear secrets he said were made behind the government's back, begging forgiveness in an extraordinary televised address to the nation.

Give us our rental rights

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:35 p.m.

It's 11:30 Saturday night. After a week of planning, you've finally decorated your living room for that special two-month anniversary. The rose petals are scattered. An aromatic candle spreads its sweet scent. Marvin Gaye serenades in the background. Just as things begin to get interesting, in walks the landlord with a wrench in his hand. "Didn't you say your sink was broken?" he asks. Under current law, scenarios like these happen all too often. Landlords are free to wander in and out of their rental properties as they please. But this might soon change. A bill recently introduced in the state legislature would ban unannounced visits by landlords. The bill, introduced by IU alum and State Rep. Matt Pierce D-Bloomington, requires landlords to give tenants at least one day's notice before entering a renter's place of residence.

Five dead in rural Monroe County fire

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:29 p.m.

UNIONVILLE, Ind. - Three children and their parents died Wednesday in a fire caused by the overuse of electric heaters in their rural Monroe County trailer home, officials said. All died from smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning and burns, county Coroner David Toumey said. Firefighters called at 5:46 a.m. to the home 10 miles northeast of Bloomington arrived to find it engulfed in flames. They found five bodies in what remained of the trailer.

Optometry grant to aid community

By Stacie Vasko · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:28 p.m.

IU has received a $150,000 grant to go toward something other than the traditional benefit of scientific research, or the frequent expansion of an academic department. Last November, the IU School of Optometry, in partnership with the School of Medicine, received a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to aid in providing the proper eye care for those who are not able to afford or have access to the medical necessity, said Gerald Lowther, dean of the School of Optometry.

Talk will focus on 'cultural icon'

By -Jenny Kobiela · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:27 p.m.

Joe Louis, the second African-American heavyweight boxing champion in American history, will be the subject of a program at 7 p.m. today at the Monroe County Public Library. Professor Emeritus William Wiggins, Jr., of IU's African American and African Diaspora Studies, will present the talk. According to the Monroe County Public Library's Web site, Louis was known as the "Brown Bomber" for his boxing talent and heavy punching prowess. He became the heavyweight boxing champion in 1937 and defended his title 25 times until 1949.

Local Dean group fighting onward

By Obaid Khawaja · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:27 p.m.

Howard Dean supporters gathered at the Monroe County Public Library Wednesday for a voter drive. The group, which calls itself the Bloomington Dean Supporters, will be sending postcards to undecided registered voters in Wisconsin and Virginia and calling voters in Michigan urging them to vote for Gov. Dean in the primaries and caucuses to be held the next week.

Housing fair aids in home hunting

By Krissy Wynkoop and Kristin Wynkoop · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:26 p.m.

Many students found a new home Wednesday, thanks to a visit to the Housing Fair. Or at least, they have a better idea of where they want thier new home to be. Neon-clad construction workers, a life-size Elvis cut-out and piles of candy greeted visitors to the fair, sponsored by the IDS. Over 100 rental complexes made an appearance, making it hard to stand out without a bit of ingenuity. The representatives from Colonial Crest apartments were decked out in construction gear while sporting buttons that read "Making friends, Building relationships." The slogan and the outfit are symbols of the relationship between the complex and the resident, said Elena Colón, assistant manager in leasing. "We want to relate to our residents and let them know that we're out there to help them," she said.

State revenues for January fall short

By Alyson Brodsy and Mike Smith · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:26 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Even though expectations were lowered, state tax collections in January still came in $21.5 million below target. "The bottom line is, it continues to reflect the sick economy in the state of Indiana," state Rep. Jeff Espich of Uniondale, the fiscal leader for House Republicans, said Wednesday. Just last month, a group of economists and budget analysts lowered the amount of tax revenue it expected Indiana to take in during the current, two-year budget cycle ending July 2005.

Program to hold bowling fundraiser

By -Jenny Kobiela · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:25 p.m.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana is jump starting its fundraising with the 2004 Bowl for Kids' Sake program. Honorary chairperson Elaine Mellencamp started the program with a press conference at Bloomington's dePaul School Tuesday afternoon. Participants will form teams of six and collect pledges during the month of February, which will culminate in a bowling party at Suburban Lanes in Bloomington. IU will bowl Feb. 25 and 26, while other community members will bowl Feb. 28 and 29.

Pyrotechnics bill passes Senate

By Mike Malik · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 11:25 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- As State Sen. Vi Simpson D-Ellettsville stood up to speak in front of her fellow senators about the Senate Bill 326, the "pyrotechnics bill," she knew if she did not convince the plurality of the senators in the room to vote yes on the bill she co-authored, it would not be heard again for 10 months. The "pyrotechnics bill" as it has been dubbed by many, is legislation concerning the use of indoor pyrotechnics throughout Indiana.

'Pearl' proves a real cinematic gem

By by Isaac Edwards and Isaac Edwards · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 9:19 p.m.

Much like Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," a certain shroud of mystery surrounds the subject of what is oft considered Delft artiste Johannes Vermeer's masterpiece, "Girl with a Pearl Earring." Painted during the decadence of the 17th century Dutch Golden Age, Vermeer's portrait was and still is starkly minimalistic with a quiet sense of intimacy. Managing to bring the subtle intensity of Vermeer's painting to the silver screen, director Peter Webber adapts Tracy Chevalier's acclaimed novel, making his feature directorial debut with "Girl with a Pearl Earring."

'Big Bounce' more like 'Big Suck'

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 9:17 p.m.

Oftentimes Elmore Leonard novels make smooth transitions to film (i.e. "Jackie Brown" and "Out of Sight"). Sadly, this is not the case with The Big Bounce -- not even a great cast that includes Gary Sinise, Charlie Sheen and Willie Nelson can save this dreck.

WORTH THE RISK?

By Tiffany Sanders · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 9:02 p.m.

Imagine this: All of your friends are old enough to hit the bars, but you're not -- so you're left at home alone. So you get a fake ID and join them at the bars every weekend with thousands of other students, partying as a pseudo-21-year-old. Then, during one of your weekend outings, your good time screeches to a halt as you are confronted by undercover off-duty police officers.

Is a Jägerbomb worth risking pneumonia?

By -Brandon Tucker · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 8:58 p.m.

Late last Thursday night I was tooling around in my Geo Prizm doing donuts in the stadium parking lot. The fresh four inches of powder gave me a once-in-a-winter chance to turn my four-cylinder economy ride into a performance ATV.