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First Sept. 11 suspect on trial is convicted, sentenced to 15 years

By David Rising · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 2:50 p.m.

HAMBURG, Germany -- A Moroccan student was convicted Wednesday of more than 3,000 counts of accessory to murder for helping Mohamed Atta and two other suicide pilots in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, ending the first trial connected to the suicide hijackings.

Some question Brand's return deal

Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 2:47 p.m.

A six-year window to return to Indiana University was part of former President Myles Brand's deal when he left to lead the NCAA, and it has raised the ire of faculty members.

Why live college when you can watch it?

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 12:01 p.m.

If the buzz on "Old School" is any indication, fans of lowbrow collegiate humor are in for quite a treat. Early word indicates that Saturday Night Live veteran Will Farrell gives a performance of Belushi-esque proportions as a drunken, oftentimes naked, thirtysomething frat rat. Throw in the expertly honed motor-mouthed hilarity of Vince Vaughn, and we're looking at a college comedy masterpiece in the making.

IU unite, boycott Metallica

By Jason Gaddis · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 12 p.m.

Metallica is back in the press. After several years of hiatus and the departure of bassist Jason Newsted, the group has announced the June 10 release St. Anger, its first album of new material since 1997's Reload. While this could be the best metal album of the century thus far (the competition isn't that tough at the moment), it could also be a giant flop, and I'm guessing it's the latter. But that's not why IU students should boycott Metallica.

Medieval fantasy makes great RPG

By David Antognoli · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:58 a.m.

Fans of video game RPGs should drop what they're doing right now and check out "Suikoden III" for Playstation 2. Don't look for stunning graphics or Hollywood voice acting here. Instead, gamers should expect to find themselves enveloped by an epic story.

Directors latest a throwback to previous work

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:57 a.m.

Fans of Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight," "Erin Brockovich" or "Ocean's 11," expecting to see something similarly light and entertaining from his recent work, "Full Frontal," will be gravely disappointed.

A meeting of thought and expression

By Amy Oringer and Amy Orringer · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:55 a.m.

I magine yourself sitting in a tiny apartment in the artsy part of Brooklyn, sun streaming in the window, cars passing by, splashing dirty water onto day-old snow. You are forced to contemplate getting a real job because you were just dissed by your label for not coming up with a "hit single." What kind of music would you write? You would probably write something similar to Nada Surf's latest release, Let Go. This album is what happens when musicians are left to their own devices after a rumble with the music industry.

Ozzy Osbourne: the pop-metal godfather

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:54 a.m.

I feel like I know so much about Ozzy Osbourne. He likes to eat doves, bats and burritos. He has three kids, one of whom is invisible. His favorite four-letter word starts with an "f."' He has a successful metal tour named after him. But what about his music? Listening to the newly released two-disc compilation "The Essential" gives some clues. For one thing, Ozzy's solo work was less frightening and more melodic than Black Sabbath, the band that fired him in 1978. He indulged his McCartney fetish a little more, thereby creating what we consider pop-metal today. He was never as glam as Motley Crue or Poison, though it would have been hilarious if he had tried.

A quiet disturbance at the window

By Elizabeth R. Ross · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:52 a.m.

A vague disturbance is making me anxious, like I'm being watched. This must be how it feels to sense an earthquake's approach or feel the air change just before a funnel cloud drops. A contemplative pause reveals the storm's origin is outside Massive Attack's 100th Window. Played loudly, it would be a quiet album. At moderate to low volume, it's somehow more effective and sneaky. As a guest vocalist, Sinead O'Connor's gentle vocals had lulled me into a relaxed, introspective mood. But, as the album progressed, it began to fill the room like a murky, sick-green smoke.

Bleu cries for the real world

By Jessica Halverson · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:50 a.m.

Morning breaks over Bleu's Creek. There sits dejected Bleu on the deck, gazing at the sunrise. Last night his girlfriend dumped him. Read the lines of depression and frustration in his face. Then from nature's quiet, an acoustic guitar crescendos. In comes a melodic, slightly lost voice, singing words that rhyme. Welcome to Bleu's Redhead. With just enough distortion so as not to scare all the little girls away, Bleu has penned ballads that are more prone to the "Real World"/"Road Rules" episodes (four tracks have been used for those shows already) than to playing on anyone's CD player

All hail the new kings of rock &roll

By K James Sward · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:49 a.m.

If only rock and roll was a monarchy, Kings of Leon would fit right in. In an industry where talent is said to be in abundance there have been few records released to justify such a reputation -- until now. In their debut EP, the Kings of Leon serve up classic sounds in the style of 60s rock. At times the Nashville quartet's lead singer, Caleb Followill, calls upon the smoky, soulful vocal style of the late George Harrison, but the bulk of the material rings with originality.

9 bullets plus 19 tracks equals 50 Cent

By -Daniel Minchella · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:47 a.m.

Being the hot new rapper of the moment means having Eminem and Dr. Dre as your mentors, two singles in the top 5 and wearing a bulletproof vest every day. Having the most hyped album in hip hop and having beef with almost everyone gives 50 Cent a good reason to put his vest on before his underwear. Such is life in the spotlight and the crosshairs.

Almodóvar at his finest, arguably also his tamest

By by Isaac Edwards and Isaac Edwards · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:44 a.m.

Near-unsolvable moral dilemmas. Sexual expression a la kink. Criss-crossed gender roles. No, I'm not talking about the latest political scandal. Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is back at his old tricks with his new film, the critically-acclaimed and controversial "Talk to Her." Cleaning up on an international level, the film has garnered a mass of awards and has been nominated for two Academy awards, for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

Disney's latest is barely necessary

By -Paul Straw · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:43 a.m.

Going into a kid's movie one must keep in mind that it wasn't made to entertain a college student. Similarly, there can be movies that can entertain both child and adult, for example "The Lion King" or "Toy Story."

Dreamy album colorfully moody

By Jessica Palmer · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:43 a.m.

One Bedroom, the 5th release from Chicago's The Sea and Cake, is a soft interpretation of music as an expression of art. The music itself is what truly drives this album, as synthesizers and guitars blend with quick, danceable beats to form tight, refined pop grooves. The breathy voice of singer Sam Prekop is a complement to the instrumentation, and his echoed, dreamy approach gives the album some continuity and helps establish the mellow tone of One Bedroom. The album is easy to listen to, but is best suited to specific moods of the listener, something to pop in when you're feeling quiet, reflective or creative.

Rock and Roll classes offer a new twist on school

By Jamieson Hawkins · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:39 a.m.

Classes are sometimes thought of as dry and dull, compromised of tasks used more as nap time than for taking notes. But that's what you're paying tuition for, so you drag yourself through the slush against your will. But if you look hard enough, you can find classes that genuinely spark your interest and have you actually looking forward to the next lecture.

Cunningham helps art live on

By Natalie A. Trout · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:37 a.m.

When Michael Cunningham finished what he thought would be his artsy little novel, he expected to sell a few thousand copies and retire as gracefully as possible. It never crossed his mind, or the mind of his agent or editor, that "The Hours" would be a hit. Little did they know that it would win the Pulitzer Prize or be elegantly turned into a movie that would garner Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.

Affleck less than daring in 'Daredevil'

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 11:19 a.m.

Having been a longtime fan of "Daredevil" (especially the issues penned by Frank Miller and Kevin Smith), I had high hopes for its cinematic incarnation. Lo and behold, I emerged from the theater in bittersweet fashion. Much of what's presented is well done, but a lot also sucked bad.

Snow scuffle lands councilman in jail

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 12:41 a.m.

MUNCIE -- A scuffle over a 4-foot-tall pile of snow a neighbor dumped on his driveway landed a city council member in jail, police said. Councilman Sam Marshall's neighbor Charles Stoneburner told officers he was angry over a city plow pushing snow across his home's driveway and that he used a tractor to pile the snow in Marshall's drive.

Budget proposal would increase education, cut Medicaid funding

By Julia Balnford and Julia Blanford · Wednesday, Feb. 19,2003 12:39 a.m.

The bill, which gets part of its funding from the new keno casino game, would place nonviolent criminals into faith-based rehabilitation programs instead of providing new beds for them at the Miami and New Castle correction facilities.