Longform

VMAs showcase more than talent

By Alyson Brodsy and Nekesa Mumbi Moody · Friday, Aug. 29,2003 12:34 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera gave a writhing tribute to Madonna as MTV kicked off its 20th annual Video Music Awards Thursday by reaching into its past.

Moore's masterpiece invades your home

By Jake Bilinski · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:17 p.m.

I have issues with Michael Moore. Ever since his Academy Awards acceptance speech where he turned his podium time into a selfish, anti-war/anti-Bush rant seemingly for the sake of being controversial, I've felt like boycotting this film. Granted, the Awards are mostly political and generally fail to honor the true 'bests,' but they're still something sacred to me.

Tennessee rockers offer country-fried flavor, Southern style

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:17 p.m.

What would happen if one were to throw classic discs by Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, Randy Newman, Dire Straits and new school rockers the Strokes into a blender and hit puree? Physically, it'd be one hell of a mess. Sonically, it'd sound something akin to Kings of Leon's debut record, Youth and Young Manhood -- a near revelation.

Avoid "Marci X" by any means necessary

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:17 p.m.

Apparently, Hollywood decided recently that any time a white person says words like "gangsta," "wack" or "phat," the audience will burst out laughing. How else can one explain "Head of State" or "Bringing Down the House?" Well, it's not funny and hasn't really been funny since Barbara Billingsley spoke jive in Airplane! 23 years ago.

Radiohead 'bends'

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:14 p.m.

The curiosity in watching Radiohead live is not necessarily in watching lead vocalist Thom Yorke's gawky, lazy-eyed jitterbug around the stage. Or at least not so much anymore.

Not a puppy, not yet a dog

By Natalie A. Trout · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:14 p.m.

He can't lie. He loves B-O-O-T-Y. But are we disturbed by the fact that the once rapping child prodigy used to want puppy love and was the flyest thing walking through junior high school?

Neptunes' clones diverse and dominent

By -Daniel Minchella · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:12 p.m.

If you haven't already realized the Neptunes exist at the pinnacle of popular music's development so far, that they are both indicative and emblematic of now, then you probably never will. What happens in The Neptunes Present…Clones is Pharrell, Chad and company saying "look what we can do" and then proceed to show us that they can do nearly everything.

Oh, to be Young again in 'Greendale'

By Mia Partlow · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:11 p.m.

What more can one say about the illustrious Neil Young? His high-pitched crooning is well known among hippies and true-blue country folk alike; his work with Crazy Horse (this time without rhythm guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro) has been groundbreaking and influential to say the least. And of course, he has done an excellent job releasing a live album (with bonus DVD), something which is hard to master: Greendale sounds neither too live, nor too much like a studio album.

Trappin' some Southern

By -Daniel Minchella · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:11 p.m.

With slow beats and laid back rhymes, the South often gets criticized for the lack of quality lyricists. This is where T.I. throws up his dukes and presents his new album Trap Muzik. The 22-year-old Georgian prides himself with elaborate lyrics, while maintaining a heavy Southern style.

This Bazooka's bubble won't burst

By Mia Partlow · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 12:10 p.m.

The rock revival is still in full force and while it's easy to criticize all the bands hopping on the New York of '78 bandwagon, there is merit to be found in some of these bands. You guessed it -- the Star Spangles is one such example. Their album, Bazooka!!!, has an energy and enthusiasm that is hard to find in any genre of music.

I'll Only Stand on My Soapbox

By Holly Johnson and Holy Johnson · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:24 a.m.

This week, I packed up my shoebox others deem a car and made the meandering trip back to Bloomington from my hometown of (prepare yourselves) Evansville, Ind., after more than a year away. I spent my junior year -- yes, the entire year -- abroad in Canterbury, England, followed by internships in Evansville and New York. Into those 365-plus days I crammed enough travel (and racked up enough credit card debt) to satisfy my wayward yearnings for at least a few decades.

Val's First Phishin' Trip

By Val · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:22 a.m.

I went to my first Phish concert this summer. Knowing very little about the band and wearing closed-toed shoes, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I came away with a genuine respect for the band, if not the full-blown obsession that seemed to drive many of those in attendance.

Pappas wins decathlon, now Olympic favorite

By Alyson Brodsy and Rob Gloster · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:21 a.m.

SAINT-DENIS, France -- It was a painstakingly slow, yet totally sweet, victory lap. With an American flag draped over his shoulders, Tom Pappas gingerly walked and lightly jogged around the track on which he had just wrapped up his world title in the decathlon.

Davenport winning, feeling optimistic

By Alyson Brodsy and Howard Fendrich · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:21 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Lindsay Davenport is replacing thoughts of retirement with hope for a U.S. Open title. If her injured left foot holds up, she just might pull it off.

Smoltz put on 15-day disabled list with elbow tendonitis

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:20 a.m.

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves closer John Smoltz went on the disabled list Wednesday with tendonitis in his right elbow, probably derailing his chances of breaking the single-season save record.

Baylor player indicted on murder charges

By Alyson Brodsy and Angela K Brown · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:19 a.m.

WACO, Texas -- Former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson was indicted Wednesday on a charge of murdering his former teammate and roommate Patrick Dennehy, and prosecutors began the process of extraditing him to Texas.

And you think you're nervous

By -Val Tsoutsouris and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:18 a.m.

Jon Drummond wasn't a happy guy when he got tossed out of the 100-meter competition at the World Championships of Track and Field in Paris for a false start during a qualifying heat.

Thomas out as Pacers coach

By Alyson Brodsy and Dan Gelston · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:17 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Isiah Thomas was fired Wednesday as coach of the Indiana Pacers, a surprise move by new boss Larry Bird that came only two months before the start of the season.

A hell of a town... and DVD, too

By -Kehla West · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:15 a.m.

The DVD release of "Chicago" is a triumph equal to the triumph of the movie. A Behind the Scenes segment includes commentary by director Rob Marshall, screenwriter Bill Condon and costume designer Colleen Atwood. The segment moves easily between shots of the actors working in pre-production and shots of the finished product (these actors worked it) and presents the movie as the result of all the pieces coming magically together.

U.S. News & World Report ranks IUB programs among top in nation

By Christina Galoozis · Thursday, Aug. 28,2003 2:07 a.m.

U.S. News & World Report has named several IU-Bloomington programs among the best in the country for the second year in a row.