Longform

Hello mother, hello father ...

By Joe Grace · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:41 p.m.

There's nothing quite like going home for the holidays. Especially when it's not your home. In fact, it's your girlfriend's home. In Chicago, a city where hiring hitmen to "deal" with boyfriends can't be that hard to arrange. For four days, and this will be the first time you've met her parents. "Hi! My name's Joe. I have kissed your daughter. Can I crash here a few days?"

Don't fear gay marriage

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:36 p.m.

Following a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down anti-sodomy laws, a great debate has arisen regarding the future of sex, morality and the law. Considering that the Canadian provincial government of Ontario has legalized same-sex marriage, many are wondering if the new sodomy ruling will open the door to gay marriage in the U.S.

Nigerian president accepts offer of asylum

By Alyson Brodsy and Glenn McKenzie · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:33 p.m.

MONROVIA, Liberia -- Embattled President Charles Taylor accepted an offer of asylum in Nigeria on Sunday, but gave no time frame for quitting power and insisted the transition must be orderly, urging the United States to send peacekeepers.

Surgeons begin separating brains

By Alyson Brodsy and D’arcy Doran · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:33 p.m.

SINGAPORE -- Surgeons entered a critical phase Sunday in a dangerous, marathon operation as they began separating the brains of 29-year-old Iranian twin sisters joined at the head. The operation, which could take two to four days, could be fatal to sisters Ladan and Laleh Bijani.

Landslides killed 21 people in central China

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:32 p.m.

BEIJING -- Landslides killed 21 people in central China, while authorities prepared Sunday to blast earthen flood barriers to divert river waters running at their highest level in more than a decade, officials and state media reported.

Mexicans select all 500 seats of congress

By Alyson Brodsy and Traci Carl · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:30 p.m.

MEXICO CITY -- Voters were choosing new lawmakers Sunday for all 500 seats in Mexico's lower house of Congress, an election key to determining whether President Vicente Fox can deliver on the many promises he made after his historic victory three years ago. Sunday's elections were the first nationwide vote since Fox's win in 2000. Polling began relatively peacefully, although campaigns were filled with allegations of misconduct -- including complaints about vote buying and Roman Catholic priests and bishops who urged Mexicans to vote against parties favoring abortion and gay marriage.

A vast fried-wing conspiracy

By Alyson Brodsy and Hank Grimes · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:12 p.m.

Last year, two teen-aged plaintiffs filed suit against the McDonald's Corporation, blaming the fast-food giant for their obesity. Their lawyer, Samuel Hirsch, claimed that, unbeknownst to consumers, Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, French fries and other menu items are so processed with additives and other ingredients that they can pose a serious health hazard. U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet dismissed the class-action lawsuit January 22 stating, "The law is not intended to protect people from their own excesses."

No-power hour

By Paige Gray · Sunday, July 6,2003 8:12 p.m.

Our nation just celebrated its 227th year. Wow. Think about all the huge, enormous, mind-boggling accomplishments and feats that have been achieved in that time block. One major advancement? The evolution of electricity.

Tinsley makes even Young sound bad

By Jessica Halverson and Jesscia Halverson · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

This bastard actually wrote a song with the lines "What a time for love/love makes it alright." Hurrah, hooray, the man with such an impressive background (has played/is playing with BOTH Hootie and the Blowfish and the Dave Matthews Band) has made a solo album.

'Full Throttle' running on fumes

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

Admittedly, I found the first "Charlie's Angels" flick to be a superficially entertaining guilty pleasure. Its sequel, "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" is not. Sure, each film boasts overly wire-assisted fight sequences, scantily clad leading ladies parading about in fetishistic slut gear and a thorough catalogue of '80s cheese metal.

Zombie flick lacks zombies, but still decent

By Jake Bilinski · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

Post-apocalyptic, zombie, survival, horror movies -- you gotta love em. "28 Days Later" has acquired a fair share of hype, and thus opened Friday to a pack of hungry, immature film-goers who unanimously declared their audible disagreement with seeing the protagonist's dong (really people, grow up). The question becomes: does this long-awaited flick live up to said praise? Yes, and sadly, no.

The few, the proud, the independently owned

By Robert Mixner · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

Fireworks and books. They don't seem to have much in common: fireworks are a loud spectacle best appreciated with others; books, on the other hand, are enjoyed quietly, and alone. One produces sparks, the other is highly combustible. Yet they have closer ties to each other than it might seem. This Friday, fireworks will commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence; books fed the spirits and inspired the minds of many of those signers.

The best, um, only Emo-Prog record of the year

By Seth Forster · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

Daily life seems to be a made up of extremes for The Mars Volta. There are no in-betweens, no subtle shades of gray for this band. Everything is done with such an intensity here that the lyrics could be an epic about washing the dishes and you'd still feel charged at the end of it.

The power of 'The Hours'

By Jessica Smith · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

"The Hours" is a deliberately jarring and masterful examination of the lives of three women on the edge of one of the most extreme cliffs one can face in life: the choice to live or die. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore, along with an incredible supporting cast including the talented Ed Harris, string this intricately woven plot along with acting so intense that even a mere glance expresses more emotion than "hours" of dialogue. All three women are alive during different time periods and live eerily parallel lives brought together by Virginia Wolfe's book, "Mrs. Dalloway."

Chick rappers: The stigma times three

By Michael Tapscott and Mike Tapscott · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

The trio of white, female, liberal arts students from Long Island known as Northern State (Hesta Prynn, Guinea Love and DJ Sprout) are attempting to shoot past a novelty label. A series of frenzied articles brought attention to the group, which is innovative because of who it is made up of, not because of what it does. The Beastie Boys are an obvious connection to Northern State, the girls are brash and absurd in a similar manner, but the stupidity may not be a rhetorical act in the case of Northern State.

The Von Lee and AT: One helluva team

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

For those of you not in the know, Kerasotes is Bloomington's sole theatrical film chain. Sure, it, like any other corporation has its strong suits. Hell, Kerasotes hooks your film-reviewing buddy, "Tenacious A," up with free passes when at the theaters on "business." And Showplace 12 does boast some of the comfiest movie theater chairs I've ever plunked my lazy butt onto. So, perhaps I should stop being a whiny, little pud and avoid biting the hand that feeds me? No, screw that, I'm in the right this time.

Peas dumb it down

By Michael Tapscott and Mike Tapscott · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

The Black Eyed Peas once presented themselves as an alternative to the West Coast gangsta rap scene. Unfortunately, Elephunk, the group's third album, finds them needlessly pandering to the current, radio hip-pop fare. The Peas have created an album full of feel-good, meaningless tracks that claims diversity, but ends up sounding like a Neptunes' production.

The lovechild of Radiohead and Coldplay

By Jessica Halverson and Jesscia Halverson · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

Who would have thought that evil would be propagated by fluid cello and tinkling piano lines. Bloomington's Murder By Death (formerly Little Joe Gould) takes a fascination with fire and darkness to a beautiful level in Like the Exorcist, But More Breakdancing, a spring release, if only falling somewhat short it's potential. Weird how the kindhearted directors of Octopus Palace seem fascinated with darkness.

'Love' shines as movie, fails as DVD

By Abhi Kumar · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

"Punch-Drunk Love" is about a man, his harmonium, his emotions and his search for that thing that's missing from everyone's life. The music, cinematography, direction and acting come together in a quirky and unconventional harmony to form this emotional rollercoaster of a movie.

Punk band operates like a 'Machine'

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Thursday, July 3,2003 12 a.m.

The Suicide Machines made one of the great sellout records with their 2000 self-titled punk-pop classic. On that album they backed off their strident political rhetoric and started singing about girls and other general confusion. Of course, "great" and "sell-out record" are an oxymoron, and the record flopped. Their 2001 follow-up Steal This Record was almost as good and got even less recognition.