Region

Mashed potatoes an all-purpose crowd pleaser

You can please some of the people all of the time with chili-lime spiked spareribs, and all of the people some of the time with a decent dose of chocolate, but you can please all of the people, all of the time, with a hearty helping of homemade mashed potatoes. Consider mashed potatoes a winter anchor, your most faithful standby for any meal -- elegant, down home, and everything in between. They are easier to make than you may have imagined, too -- just boil, mash and eat. Perfecting mashed potatoes is another (and highly subjective) story. Some cooks insist on a perfectly smooth mash; others will fight to the quick for a few lumps of texture. Some swear that heated milk is the only way to go; still others vow that it is buttermilk or bust.

Band makes music life's pursuit

The Bouncing Souls never desired nine-to-five office jobs. Good times and music went hand in hand, and that meant too much for them to trade in their instruments for suits and ties or their BMXs for laptops.

The Odds: Part 2

Alumnus Chad Millman tracked a couple of professional bettors and a bookmaker -- all living in Las Vegas -- as their fortunes rose and fell with each game during the 1999-2000 college basketball season. Excerpts of Millman's book "The Odds," which went on sale March 20, appear in today's IDS.

Users ignore fireworks requirements

With every Fourth of July holiday, the use of illegal fireworks always comes to the forefront. If people celebrate with their own backyard fireworks display and they could ignore the law.

Hark! In the morn, a Canadian-Scottish violin

"Cheticamp, a French-Acadian village of three thousand souls, is situated on the northwest shore of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia." Thus begins Anselm Cormier's essay about life in Atlantic Canada that appears in The Dances Down Home, a collection of jigs and reels by Anselm's brother, violinist Joe Cormier.

Village Deli surprisingly offers tasty cheeseburger, toppings

After eating at some of Bloomington's finest hamburger establishments, picking the best burger was daunting. In the end, it had to be done, and my choice for best burger in Bloomington goes to the Village Deli, 409 E. Kirkwood Ave.

Hoosiers suffer tough losses over weekend

Another tough weekend for the women's volleyball team leaves the Hoosiers with a 4-12 overall record and a 1-7 record in the conference after hard losses to Michigan State University and University of Michigan. The weekend left the Hoosiers dissatisfied as they search for more victories.

It's Davis: Officials say he earned it

Mike Davis wondered if he was walking out of Assembly Hall for the last time as IU's men's basketball coach following IU's victory over Minnesota Feb. 28. But he was there again Wednesday when IU President Myles Brand removed the interim label from Davis' title and announced Davis' four-year contract worth at least $400,000 per year. "For the next four years, I plan on taking this basketball program to the next level," Davis said. "I look forward to bringing a lot of great players here and having a lot of great memories." Brand called Wednesday a "very important day in the history of IU basketball."

Bill chips away at abortion rights

A bill that would allow criminals who commit a crime against a pregnant woman to be charged separately for violence against a fetus gained approval by a House subcommittee last week.

Repent and be saved

Gotti burial in Roman Catholic cemetery approved

NEW YORK -- Notorious mob boss John Gotti will be interred in a Roman Catholic cemetery alongside his son, but his family was denied permission to hold a funeral Mass for the convicted killer. Gotti, responsible for at least five murders during his bloody reign atop the Gambino crime family, will not receive a Mass of Christian burial, the Rev. Andrew Vaccari, chancellor of the Diocese of Brooklyn, said Wednesday.

From city hall to center for arts

The stone building at 122 S. Walnut St. was once Bloomington City Hall. Until 1985, it housed the police department. And 10 years ago it was redeveloped to fulfill a new purpose: bringing the arts to Bloomington. Through all the residents, the building's face has changed little. It is unlike any other place in Bloomington. The two theaters and three galleries in the John Waldron Arts Center give local artists and performers a place to show their work.

Words bring comfort to desis

Take care. Be good and don't do anything I wouldn't do," was one of the last things my mom said to me as she left me to fend for myself out here last fall. By the simple instruction, she had clipped my wings. She also got me thinking. Take care. It's a phrase which most of you take for granted and has now become ingrained in your daily speech. It probably rivals "whassup" in the frequency of its usage. But what about desis like myself?

Buskirk movie ban may be lifted

Talks regarding a lift of a ban on showing movies at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre on Kirkwood Avenue look optimistic, State Senator Vi Simpson said.

Distracting the public eye

Dear Dr. Brehm, As you prepare to take on the duties of Bloomington chancellor, I feel the need to tell you I can't imagine IU without basketball -- try as I might, I simply cannot.

'Nutcracker' delightful

With Christmas quickly approaching, this weekend marked the occasion with a perennial favorite, Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed by the IU Ballet Theater at the Musical Arts Center. With four performances, the ballet gave everyone a chance to get in the holiday spirit with the retelling of a magical story. The first act shows the main character, Clara (sophomore Julie Brumfiel on Friday night and Saturday matinee, junior Dori Goldstein on Saturday night and Sunday), receiving a nutcracker from the eccentric Dr. Drosselmeyer (Thor Lok Johnson) at her family's holiday party.

Carlin pleases with trademark wit

Comedian George Carlin strode onstage in his trademark black jeans and shirt, with nothing more than a few papers, a glass of water and his notoriously filthy mouth to keep him company. Despite his loathing for politics and complete disregard for tact and compassion, he started by addressing the issue of the World Trade Center attacks. He even practiced some of the act he intends to use in his upcoming performance in New York to see if it was well--received.

All-Star game isn't funny

Tuesday night's Major League Baseball All-Star game meant one and only one thing to me: Have I seen the "Frasier" rerun on the competing network, or did I miss it the first time around?

World to America: Why now?

Now that we have bombed Afghanistan, we must ask whether throwing devastation at an already devastated country has really done anything to prevent terrorism, punish a global network of anti-American terrorists and enlarge our understanding of a confusing international web of cause and effect.

Derby field set for Saturday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Edgar Prado isn't just responsible for riding Harlan's Holiday in the Kentucky Derby. The jockey also got to pick the colt's post position.