Longform

Super-Tenor shines on Bloomington

By Eric Anderson · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:45 p.m.

The events of Jose Cura's still-blossoming opera career have already become the stuff of legend: He learned the role of Ruggero for Puccini's 'La Rondine' while performing in Verdi's 'La Forza del Destino' by attending 'Rondine' staging rehearsals in the basement of the opera house during the second act of 'Forza,' when his character was not present on stage. In 1999, he made history at the Metropolitan Opera as only the second tenor in the company's history to debut on opening night (the first being the grandest of all tenors, Enrico Caruso, in 1902).

Homeless Greeks

By Alyson Brodsy and Melanie Sims · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:44 p.m.

Black Greeks at IU are homeless. Okay, not all of them are homeless - just the ones in historically-black fraternities and sororities, such as National Panhellenic Council members Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Iota Phi Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Sigma Gamma Rho, Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi.

Stimulating sex research

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:43 p.m.

There are countless grants and funds poured into studies about cancer, heart disease and depression. And ever since a guy named Kinsey decided to study sex, here in Bloomington, the amount of money given to those following in his footsteps has increased substantially, raising awareness and sending the message that sexual research is just as important as other forms of study in the realm of public health.

"Bringing Down the House" is truth stranger than fiction

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:43 p.m.

Bringing Down the House," the first foray into non-fiction by novelist Ben Mezrich, has all the trappings of a delightful adventure caper; however, the twists and turns this tale takes are too bizarre to be merely cooked up in an author's imagination. "Bringing Down the House" is the true story of how several Massachusetts Institute of Technology students created a way to play the Blackjack tables in Las Vegas and win astronomical sums of money along the way.

Hollywood's 'erotic' new tourist attraction

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:39 p.m.

LOS ANGELES -- One of Hollywood's newest tourist attractions is easy to mistake for adult shops along the popular Walk of Fame. The nude pictures, sex toys and stag films aren't meant to arouse, but to edify at the Erotic Museum, which pays tribute to all things sexual, from the tame to the tawdry. It chronicles sex through the ages with nude abstracts by Pablo Picasso, erotic jade figurines from ancient China, vintage sex toys and sultry computer-animated dancers.

Auditorium rings with 'The Sound of Music"

By Meredith Hahn · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:37 p.m.

When seeing a musical performance upon which a popular film has been based, it is difficult to put aside one's expectations in order to remain objective. This was certainly the case at the IU Auditorium last night for "The Sound of Music". Like most people who have seen the movie on television or video many times over the years, I found it difficult to imagine anyone other than Julie Andrews in the role of the singing governess, Maria. As the night went on, however, it became easier to see clearly what worked and what did not in this show.

Court indicts real estate developer on bribe charges

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:36 p.m.

TEL AVIV, Israel -- An Israeli businessman was indicted Wednesday on charges of bribing Ariel Sharon with hundreds of thousands of dollars. Justice Ministry officials said they were considering indicting Sharon as well. The indictment against real estate developer David Appel complicates the prime minister's clouded legal situation. The Supreme Court has ruled that an indictment would compel Sharon to leave office pending the outcome of a trial.

Crews attempt to contain Norwegian oil spill

By Alyson Brodsy and Doug Mellgren · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:35 p.m.

OSLO, Norway -- Salvage crews worked Wednesday to limit the environmental damage from a freighter that capsized in an inlet along the west coast of Norway, killing 18 people aboard. Crews sought to contain oil and fuel leaking from the 544-foot MS Rocknes, which overturned Monday with 30 people on board. Only 12 were rescued. Ole Arvesen, spokesman for the Norwegian coastal service, said air was being pumped into the wreck to keep it afloat in their search for the bodies of the 15 who remain missing and presumed dead.

The real formula for success

By Matt Glenesk · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:34 p.m.

Numerous cities around the country claim to hold the distinction of being the nation's premiere "Title Town." Detroit, Green Bay, Wis., and New York have staked their claim as the nation's number one host for championship parades, but those three cities have cornered the market in only one sport -- hockey, football and baseball, respectively.

The simple pleasures: a hot cup of joe

By Jenica Schultz · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:33 p.m.

Bloomington's coffee fanatics have a variety of unique and colorful options when looking for a place to grab a hot cup of joe. Coffee houses range from hip and funky to modern and classic. Soma is just one of Bloomington's independently owned coffee houses, each of which offers its own specialized selection of drinks and treats as well as unique environments.

First Big Ten road win still elusive for IU Hoosiers

By Ryan Cost and Ryan J. Cost · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:32 p.m.

After Sunday's overtime win against Northwestern at Assembly Hall, junior guard Jenny DeMuth said she was dissatisfied.

IU honors football star Randle El's No. 11 jersey

By Natalie A. Trout · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:31 p.m.

In the middle of his senior year, former IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El had no clue where his football career would take him after he graduated. Two years later, Randle El stood in the middle of Assembly Hall holding up a framed No. 11 jersey in front of thousands of screaming fans.

Senior captains bring extra experience

By Jeff Fuldauer · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 11:30 p.m.

It's no secret the success of the IU women's tennis team has been the result of grueling off-season training and the consistency and depth from new talent. But leading the charge for the squad this spring stems from the trio of seniors who lead the team into Big Ten action.

Going Higher

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 5:52 p.m.

Six years ago, Josh Thurston was a 21-year-old repo man working for American Rental in rural Washington, Ind. His father, an employee at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center near Bloomington, was a seasoned rock climber with nowhere nearby to hone his skills scaling rocks.

New style in bloom

By Ben Warden · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 5:17 p.m.

According to Webster's Dictionary a lotus plant was fabled in the ancient world "to induce a dreamy languor and forgetfulness." Like the plant, the band Lotus hopes to create a sound that will make its listeners forget about the basic music they are used to, and never want to settle for it again. Blending styles such as electronica, improvisational rock and funk, the music of Lotus is definitely not your typical Phish-esque jam session. Lotus has just embarked on their first major coast-to-coast tour, and will be stopping at Uncle Fester's on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Reality TV: The ultimate oxymoron

By -Brandon Tucker · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 5:07 p.m.

There's an epidemic on TV, inhabiting more and more households across the land. It's making viewers dumber, and making the networks tons of money, while exploiting hundreds of people thirsty for fame.

White, black and blues

By Ryan Whirty · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 5:03 p.m.

Sweat stung my eyes as I stood at Albert King's grave. The summer heat in Edmondson, Ark., was starting to take its toll on me. After criss-crossing Paradise Gardens Cemetery for nearly an hour in the stifling Delta humidity, my face and brain were baking. I needed something to drink.

'Pool' shallow as movie and DVD

By Tony Sams · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 4:57 p.m.

Swimming Pool is supposed to be a psychological thriller, but it plays out like a third- or fourth-rate Hitchcock knock-off. It's frustratingly shallow, surprisingly conceited and gratuitously un-erotic, contrary to what it'd have you believe with Ludivine Sagnier sprawled out in a skimpy bikini on the DVD's cover.

'Nightmare on Friday the 13th'

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 4:55 p.m.

Beware. Your worst childhood nightmare has come true: Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) and Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger, stepping in for Kane Hodder) have finally teamed up.

Different city, same nothing

By Ben Warden · Wednesday, Jan. 21,2004 4:51 p.m.

Over the course of the first 10 episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry David manages to offend everyone from Ted Danson to an Incest survivors group. In his first major project since being co-creator of the '90s best sitcom, "Seinfeld," Larry David again revels in the minutia of daily life. David plays himself on the show, living in Los Angeles, presumably off his "Seinfeld" money. He does occasional work as a writer and stand-up comic, but more or less this is the diary of a permanent pessimist with too much time and money on his hands.