Region

Mama Lisa? Scan suggests subject of da Vinci masterpiece was pregnant

By Angela Doland · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:57 p.m.

PARIS -- Researchers using three-dimensional technology to study the "Mona Lisa" say the woman depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th-century masterpiece was either pregnant or had recently given birth when she sat for the painting.

Imperial shrinkage

By C. Warner Sills and Brian J. McFillen · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:56 p.m.

Beyond all others, two words apply best in describing Kasabian's Empire. These words aren't original, or witty, or bold -- but they are nonetheless true. And, ultimately, this reviewer can only call 'em as he sees 'em. So, what are these two words? "Sophomore slump."

Books Don't Bore

Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:56 p.m.

In the Monroe County Public Library there is a special enclosed zone where children play as their parents look on. It is symbolic of how parents are the last gatekeepers between young adults and books now that are rarely banned. On the 25th year of the American Library Association's commemoration of Banned Books Week -- Sept. 23-30 -- Bloomington is a shining example of a town that promotes open learning with few or no banned books.

Kweller doing what he does best

By C. Warner Sills and Ryan Corazza · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:55 p.m.

He's a little goofy, perhaps even a little neurotic, but that's precisely what we've come to love about Ben Kweller since his 2002 full-length debut, Sha Sha. And with his new self-titled effort, we're treated to plenty of that, but also Kweller at his best musically -- an eclectic blend of piano and acoustic guitar -- a sound a bit absent from his harder, more in your face disc -- 2004's On My Way.

Art Museum features tribute gallery for former professor

By Lindsey Landis · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:54 p.m.

Budd Stalnaker was an artist, a faculty member in the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts and a collector. Stalnaker died in May of this year, and the IU Art Museum is honoring his passion and life's work with a special exhibition that will open Saturday and run through Dec. 17.

Ugly Dutchess

By Eamonn Brennan · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:52 p.m.

If you're a particularly non-enterprising music consumer, you might not download your music. You might, if you're completely missing the point of Internet access, buy albums in CD form from Amazon.com instead of downloading them from one of a dozen legal or hundred illegal music sharing sites.

Jordan River Forum

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:51 p.m.

Columnist brings doom Response to "No Hard Drugs" by Jacob Stewart, Sept. 22: We're doomed. If the incoherent ramblings of Jacob Stewart in his column published in the IDS Sept. 22 are any indication of the thought processes as well as the writing ability of his generation, we are all doomed. Bruce Symington Medicine Hat Alberta, Canada

Kanye protege doesn't disappoint

By C. Warner Sills and Eric Smith · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:50 p.m.

Kanye West's first graduating class of protégés is exceeding expectations this summer. Rhymefest's Blue Collar hit stores with little anticipation in July but was highly praised by critics. Lupe Fiasco's debut album, Food & Liquor, spent the better part of 2006 having its release delayed by Internet leaks and record company disputes. In fact, anybody with BitTorrent and a general interest in hip--hop probably had half the album in May.

Ph.D. candidate solving history's mystery abroad

By Lindsey Landis · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:50 p.m.

Every day doctoral student Charles Stewart spends hours writing and researching in the library- but not at the Herman B Wells Library or anywhere on campus. Stewart has been studying at the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus, since Sept. 5, and he will spend the next nine months doing the same. When he is not pouring through volumes of Greek, Russian, French and German texts, he drives around the churches of the Mediterranean island to count domes and analyze frescoes.

A cup half full

By Alyson Brodsy and Colin Dugdale · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:47 p.m.

Coffee is hot. According to a recent beverage statistics report, it's the most popular beverage in the world. There are more than 400 billion cups consumed each year -- more than eggnog, Fresca, celery juice, Panda breast milk, lava and Ovaltine combined.

Nameless at IU

By Alyson Brodsy and Ayesha Awan · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:46 p.m.

I have two classes in which the professor doesn't know my name or really anybody else's for that matter. Big deal, you say; it's college. Classes are too big for professors to know the names of their students. But that's the kicker, you see. Each of these classes is about 20 students strong. Is it really that hard to memorize our names, or do they simply not care? Gasp. Did she just imply that a member of the distinguished IU faculty does not care about his or her bright and impressionable students? Yup. I did.

4 Russians detained for spying

By Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:46 p.m.

TBILISI, Georgia -- Georgian authorities detained four Russian military officers on spying charges Wednesday, and security forces surrounded Russia's military headquarters in Tbilisi to demand that another suspect be handed over, the interior minister said.

Packin' pols

By Alyson Brodsy and Jonathan P. Rossing · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:45 p.m.

If you plan to visit the Indiana Statehouse next year, leave your gun at home -- unless you're an elected state senator or representative. Lawmakers are welcome to come to work packing heat. One never knows when congressional debates might get out of hand, I suppose.

Li 'Fearless' in his final fight

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:45 p.m.

As many have learned, "Fearless" marks the final time martial arts powerhouse Jet Li will perform his craft in front of the camera. He has become convinced that the culture of Wushu held so dear to him has become abused and tainted in so much of his Western output. It's a shame really, as I'm convinced that "Fearless" is Li in his finest hour.

'Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day'

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:45 p.m.

Wanna play a game? OK, we need one illegal immigrant and a mob of angry zealots. The immigrant will run around, and everybody else will be the mob and hunt him or her down. The first to catch the immigrant wins $200 in blood money -- er, that is, cash prizes! Sounds fun, right?

Saudis plan 560-mile fence across to Iraqi border

By Jim Krane · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:45 p.m.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with plans to build a fence to block terrorists from crossing its 560-mile border with Iraq -- another sign of growing alarm that Sunni-Shiite strife could spill over and drag Iraq's neighbors into its civil conflict.

White House will not release full intelligence report

Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:44 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The White House refused Wednesday to release the rest of a secret intelligence assessment that depicts a growing terrorist threat, as the Bush administration tried to quell election-season criticism that its anti-terror policies are seriously off track.

Great actors don't make a great movie

By Olivia Morales · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:43 p.m.

I recently re-watched "A Civil Action," a taut legal drama penned by Steven Zaillian whose other impressive credits include "Gangs of New York" and "Schindler's List." In the company of these beautifully written and well-studied dramas, I am shocked that his adaptation of Robert Penn Warren's "All the King's Men" was as blandly bad as it was.

7-Eleven dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo for gas

Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:43 p.m.

DALLAS -- 7-Eleven, Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier after more than 20 years as part of a previously announced plan by the convenience store operator to launch its own brand of fuel.

Fire on city's northwest side puts man in hospital

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 27,2006 10:43 p.m.

A fire Wednesday on the city's northwest side put one person in the hospital with at least second-degree burns. The Bloomington Fire Department was called to 1411 W. Illinois Court at about 1 p.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene, heavy smoke from a fire in the rear of the apartment building was already visible, Fire Chief Jeff Barlow said.