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Sad bastard music done right

By B. James Reid · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:52 p.m.

They say optimism and pessimism are defined by deciding whether a half filled glass of water is half full or half empty. It's probably safe to say that Eels frontman E would see it as half empty. In fact, E's worldview looks about as bleak as the results of Christina Aguilera's most recent VD test. Who really cares if the album is a little (and by a little, I mean very negative), E speaks to the cynic in all of us.

Mellencamp returns to 'roots'

By Brian Eliott Johnson and Brian Elliott Johnson · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:51 p.m.

John Mellencamp has made a career of singing about slices of American life. Now with his latest, Trouble No More, he is at it again, but this time around he's letting others speak for him with an album full of covers and traditional songs ranging from Robert Johnson to Woody Guthrie to Lucinda Williams. Those expecting to hear echoes of his classic albums, such as The Lonesome Jubilee and Uh-Huh, may find disappointment with this latest effort, but those going into it with open ears will find a world that, while it doesn't hold the same personal sentiments of "Cherry Bomb" and "Little Pink Houses," still triumphs.

A carnival of caring

Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:22 p.m.

The Fun Frolic carnival that begins tomorrow will be improving kids' lives not only for the week the carnival is here, but for years to come. Twenty percent of the profits will be split between IU Child Care Services and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Monroe County. Big Brothers, Big Sisters Development Director Tom Hargis said the program receives a little more than $25,000 every year because of the carnival. "It goes to support essentially everything we do," Hargis said.

Bell back for benefit concert

Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:22 p.m.

After nearly three years, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is returning to his hometown of Bloomington to perform at 8 p.m. June 24 at the Musical Arts Center. This concert is one of the first of many coming attractions of the IU School of Music's Summer Music Festival.

Groups look for changes

By Ryota Kashiwa · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:22 p.m.

The supporters of Indiana Equality, an initiative to extend civil liberties to people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, are looking for a few good legislators.

Professor passes away at home

By Rob DeWitte · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:20 p.m.

IU's anthropology department suffered a tragic loss Monday. James H. Kellar, director emeritus of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, died at home.

Duvall tangos the night away

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:11 p.m.

"Assassination Tango" is the third film written and directed by Robert Duvall following "Angelo My Love" (1983) and "The Apostle" (1997). It is a film that slowly envelops a cross-section of a life, eventually revealing that amid cultural chaos, personal strife and moral evil lies the overwhelming pull towards normalcy.

Flick subverts, embraces stereotypes

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:10 p.m.

"Better Luck Tomorrow" is a curious and occasionally disturbing little gem. Following its 2002 Sundance Film Festival premiere, Roger Ebert rightfully defended the film when a fellow critic (also white) labeled it an "immoral" representation of Asian Americans. While the movie, which boasts an Asian American director and cast, doesn't present the group in the greatest of lights, it's certainly not immoral.

Waves of fear: Turning up the BPM

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:07 p.m.

This New Wave of the New Wave thing, interesting in terms of nostalgia, is basically a genre of subtleties. Like picking from a hat, it's a general rule of thumb that the discovered band will be arbitrary and that there is another one waiting, buried in a shallow grave. It is a group of bands (most based in New York) whose sound recalls the late '70s and early '80s era of CBGBs and amphetamine-driven New Wave, No Wave and Post-Punk bands like the Talking Heads, Television, Wire and Gang of Four.

Walker lacks Diesel power

By Abhi Kumar · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:06 p.m.

That's right boys and girls, you can sit through this movie and watch the Ken and Barbie dolls of the moment driving around in suped-up cars having a ball. For all you car lovers, there are plenty of Mitsubishis (even a Lancer Evo for those in the know), Mustangs and a Beemer in action.

Today I painted something blue

By Jessica Halverson · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:06 p.m.

When you're an outcast, you feel it. You know the stares from the other kids at work. Smoker. Tomboy. You're into Xiu Xiu, can't recommend DMB or 50 Cent. Grandaddy, not Pete Yorn. Maybe you can't pay attention so well. Dripped paint on the blueprints. Drifted off with the last instructions, completed your menial task the wrong way. You're almost 21; thought this feeling and the breakouts would have faded away with high school.

Indiana golfer struggling on European tour

Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:03 p.m.

SAINT OMER, France - Andrew Johnson belongs to the same golf club as Tiger Woods. But not to the same world. As Woods defends his U.S. Open title this week at Olympia Fields near Chicago, fellow Isleworth member Johnson lines up in the $660,000 Saint Omer Open, a modest new event on the European Tour.

'Schmidt' hits the fan on DVD

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:02 p.m.

Warren Schmidt, as played by Jack Nicholson in a career redefining performance, is a loser. "About Schmidt," the highly acclaimed yet commercially maligned glimpse into this Midwesterner's scorched psyche is not. As co-written and directed by Alexander Payne -- one of our generation's greatest satirists -- the film skewers the elders of Middle America in a fashion akin to his treatment of high schoolers in the equally entertaining "Election."

Cartoons explain many loopholes of 'The Matrix'

By -Paul Straw · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:01 p.m.

"The Animatrix" is a collection of nine cartoons expanding on the world of "The Matrix." Those out there who are big enough geeks (myself included), might have known four of the cartoons had been previously released on the internet and a fifth, "The Final Flight of the Osiris," played before the movie, "Dreamcatcher." The DVD includes those five along with four new animated featurettes.

Woods dismisses idea of career slump

By Jim Litke · Wednesday, June 11,2003 9:01 p.m.

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - Superman had Kryptonite. Samson had Delilah. Tiger Woods has his weak moments, too. Or not.

NCAA championship bound

Wednesday, June 11,2003 8:58 p.m.

The IU track and field teams are sending large contingents to the NCAA Championships this weekend. A total of 13 athletes left early Monday for Sacramento, Calif.

IUPD Blotter

Wednesday, June 11,2003 8:55 p.m.

The IU Police Department reported the following activity: May 31 • Non-student Benjamin Y. White, 41, a resident of Southern Avenue, was arrested for marijuana less than 30 grams.

New Jersey, sports capital of the world?

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, June 11,2003 8:55 p.m.

This hasn't been your garden variety NBA and NHL postseasons, but it has been your Garden State variety. After all, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup Monday one day after Continental Airlines Arena co-tenants, the New Jersey Nets, played an NBA Finals game in that very same building.

Alumni receive award for service

By Brandon Morley · Wednesday, June 11,2003 8:54 p.m.

IU will recognize five former students this weekend with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award at a luncheon in the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall. The criteria for receiving the award include achievements in their fields and important contributions to their communities.

Sosa's suspension cut to 7 after appeal

By Ronald Blum · Wednesday, June 11,2003 8:52 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Sammy Sosa's suspension for using a corked bat was reduced Wednesday to seven games by major league baseball, which accepted his explanation that he simply made a mistake.