Region

A 'Veil' of gray

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 10:05 p.m.

Much like 2005's "The White Countess," "The Painted Veil" takes an excellent cast of actors and places them in tumultuous China during the late 1920s, somehow managing to make the story as bland and boring as possible. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts star as Walter and Kitty Fane, a doctor and his wife who leave their London setting to battle a cholera epidemic that breaks out in Shanghai. Upon their arrival, Kitty, bored to tears and disappointed with her marriage, has an affair with local diplomat Charlie Townsend (Liev Schreiber), which Walter is all too aware of. And so Walter declares a proposition to his wife: Come with him to a cholera colony deep in the Yangtze Valley in an attempt to redeem herself or suffer a painful divorce that will leave her in ruins. Obviously, she takes the first offer.

Another awful parody

By C. Warner Sills and Matt McConnell · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 10:02 p.m.

"Epic Movie," the sixth installment in the "Movie" series, uses the familiar formula of loosely basing the plot off a popular movie and then parodying dozens of other films along the way. Going into "Epic Movie," you already know it's not going to have the best acting in the world, and you can be pretty certain it won't snag any Oscars for best director either. So, really there is only one way to judge it: Is it funny? Unfortunately for me and about 100 other paying customers that night in the theater, it isn't. In fact, "Epic Movie" finds a way to make "Scary Movie" look like a cinematic masterpiece.

Fathers and mothers

By Abram Hess · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 9:28 p.m.

I have a Super Bowl prediction: At half-time the Colts and their cheerleaders will switch roles. Peyton Manning will spend the second half prancing about the sideline half-naked, while the cheer squad blows a double-digit lead over the Bears.

Talk English; you're in America

By Thomas Wachtel · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 9:20 p.m.

There's a scene in one of my favorite books ("Ball Four," if you're wondering) in which a person says to a group of people speaking Spanish: "Talk English, you're in America now." I'm sure that the irony of that sentence was lost on him.

I love lobster

By Colin Dugdale · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 9:12 p.m.

My grandmother and I have dramatically different tastes. She likes Republicans; I like Democrats. She likes hugging my little brother Sean; I like duct-taping him to the walls. I like partying at Pi Kapps; she likes partying at Acacia.

Pimp my protest

By Edward Delp · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 9:09 p.m.

Much has been made about the recent rally for "peace" in Washington, D.C. According to the group organizing the event, United for Peace and Justice, the rally drew more than half a million people. According to news reports celebrities including Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins were there. Wow. I guess President Bush ought to be intimidated.

Buying our diplomas

By Aparna Venkatraman · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 9:08 p.m.

Recently, the Indiana Attorney General's office shut down a Web site for producing and selling fake IU law degrees for $59.95. In addition, the Web site, www.noveltyworksdegrees.com produced "authentic-looking" degrees from any university in 45 majors. It is estimated the site sold as many as 300 degrees before it was reported to the attorney general's office and shut down -- though the owner is not facing criminal charges.

Miss Indiana not in America's top 10

By Allie Townsend · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 5:20 p.m.

Perfectly poised and positioned on stage, Miss Indiana Betsy Uschkrat, an IU graduate student, stood in a sea of 52 of the country's most accomplished young women during the 76th Miss America Pageant Monday night.

Hoosiers focus on stopping Wisconsin star Alando Tucker

By Matt Mattucci · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 12:30 a.m.

He scored a season-high 32 points against No. 7 Pittsburgh on Dec. 16, 2006. Fifteen days later he dropped 29 on Georgia. Then, last week, he scored 27 against the Iowa Hawkeyes and was named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week. There are many reasons why the media named Wisconsin's Alando Tucker to the preseason first-team All-Big Ten team and why he's second in the conference in scoring.

Women discuss new HPV vaccine

By Shannon McEnerney · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 12:30 a.m.

The IU Women's Student Association sponsored a discussion on HPV and the new vaccine Tuesday night, as part of the ongoing V-Day Campaign.

The legacy of Rex

By John Wustrow · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 12:30 a.m.

It's nearly 2:30 p.m., almost the end of another school day at Bloomington High School South. As the afternoon announcements are wrapping up, the approximately 1,800 students at the school are left with a message. "Remember to pride yourself and the Panthers," the woman giving the announcement says. The high school certainly has something to take pride in this week. One of Bloomington South's former students, Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, is preparing to lead his team Sunday in Super Bowl XLI.

Castro, Chavez meeting shown on Cuban TV

By Anita Snow · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 12:28 a.m.

HAVANA -- Cuban state television on Tuesday showed a video of a healthier looking Fidel Castro meeting and speaking with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the first images of the ailing leader shown in three months.

IU computers will have new Windows Vista by '08

By Michael Reschke · Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 12:27 a.m.

Computers on the IU campus will likely be updated in 2008 to Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista.

Justice Department wants suit found moot

By Aparna Venkatraman · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:52 p.m.

The Facts: The Washington Post has reported that the Justice Department filed papers wanting a judgment in favor of the ACLU that would prevent the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program declared moot because of lack of live significance. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced that NSA surveillance will now be under the supervision of an 11-member secret court as part of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act. Is this a bureaucratic runaround or legitimate reform?

Affirming and denying action

By Aparna Venkatraman · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:52 p.m.

With the November 2006 passage of a ballot proposal in Michigan banning the use of preferential treatment as a means to diversification, affirmative action is once again in the national spotlight. IDS columnists debate the effectiveness of affirmative action programs in the United States.

Hendrix class caters to rock 'n' roll music fans

By Katrina Loh · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:45 p.m.

"Do you hear that? He's playing it backwards!" yells an energetic professor over the blaring rock music at the front of the lecture hall.

Survey: Fewer students go to first-choice school

By Michelle Gutknecht · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:44 p.m.

NORMAL, Ill. -- An annual national survey conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles reveals smaller percentages of college freshmen are attending their first-choice schools. And even those accepted to their first choice are instead settling for their second or third choices.

Photojournalist to share work, experiences

By Maggie Hames · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:43 p.m.

In the midst of chaos, James Nachtwey has been there to capture the emotion and reality of today's wars.

House OKs bill to raise minimum wage by '08

By Deanna Martin · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:43 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Legislation that would raise the state's minimum wage and lessen the impact of the inheritance tax passed the House Tuesday on a 71-29 vote, with only Republicans voting against it.

Indiana Supreme Court visits law school

By Alisha Chaudhary · Tuesday, Jan. 30,2007 11:43 p.m.

Offering law students the opportunity to witness a hearing, the Indiana Supreme Court held an oral argument Tuesday in the Moot Court Room of the IU School of Law. Five Indiana Supreme Court justices heard the appeal in Richard Brown v. State of Indiana, a 2004 case from the Marion Superior Court.