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Spacey transforms loser into loveable

Get to the theater early, skip the popcorn and make sure you're in your seat when the opening credits start to roll. Whatever causes you to get to the theater late, make sure it doesn't happen when going to see "The Shipping News" starring Kevin Spacey because the first 15 minutes have more storyline than any other drama has had in a long time.

State faces funding woes

A modest increase in IU funding during a tough year in the state budgeting process has IU officials gratified but not thrilled. The two-year budget -- approved close to the midnight deadline Sunday -- provides more money for some areas and cuts in others. With the funding increase below the expected 4 percent inflation, officials say another rise in tuition is certain, and it appears the hike could be greater than in recent years.

Police have evidence to arrest star Iverson

PHILADELPHIA -- Police say they have enough evidence to arrest NBA All-Star Allen Iverson on charges he barged into a home with a gun and threatened two men while looking for his wife.

21-year-old Australian Hewitt wins his first Wimbledon title

WIMBLEDON, England -- If there were ever any doubts about Lleyton Hewitt's status as the world's top player, there aren't any more.

Hoosiers declaw Bearcats

"Kim (Grodek) will help us immediately," women's soccer coach Joe Kelley said about his freshman midfielder. Friday night, those words came true as Grodek scored the only goal in the 1-0 season opening victory against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis. Grodek scored the goal at the 43rd minute, right before the end of the first half. She split the defense, took a pass from sophomore midfielder Emily Hotz and blasted a shot from the right side to the far post, as the sun was setting in the background.

Two students killed in fall from window

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Two male college students were killed early this morning after tumbling from a third-story dorm window at the University of Kentucky while wrestling, according to school spokeswoman Mary Margaret Colliver. A 19-year-old UK freshman was pronounced dead at the scene and a Western Kentucky University student, who was visiting his brother at Kirwin Tower, died later at the University of Kentucky Hospital. "The two males were apparently wrestling in an open area of the third floor of the dormitory," Colliver said. "They smacked against a plate glass window, the window gave out and the two fell three stories to the ground."

MTV's attempts not that original

Last week I was with a few friends and we stood in a parking lot trying to decide what to do that evening. Our group decisions are always democratic, and this time the "MTV Movie Awards" won. I have to admit, whenever I watch MTV I always feel like I'm being brainwashed by some old, overweight, perverted producer sitting in a control room who's secretly sending me subliminal messages to have sex and buy his artist's album.

U.S. accepts Afghanistan nation building role

UNITED NATIONS -- As rebel forces gained ground against the ruling Taliban, the Bush administration on Monday enlisted the support of seven nations and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to speed efforts to form a new government in Afghanistan.

Pop fueled rock finds its place in California sun

Student death not so distant

It's easy to dismiss Ross Greathouse as an ill-fated addict or to categorize his drug-related death with the sinking of the Titanic or the AIDs victims in Africa. He died of a cocaine/heroine overdose a week ago, and already his death registers as something distant and alien -- it has nothing to do with me. But many people on campus are deeply affected and forever changed by his death. They are the ones who knew him when he was a kid from North Vernon whose greatest aspiration was to become an expert juggler. Those who knew him when he was a geography student with a fascination for vintage maps. When he was a friend who belted out a Berry White song to two pretty girls -- he had no idea who they were -- just for the fun of it.

Resolution may face veto

The United States asked the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to provide immunity for all people taking part in U.N. peacekeeping operations, a move aimed at protecting Americans from prosecution by the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal. The U.S. draft resolution faces an uphill struggle in the 15-member council where the International Criminal Court has wide support, including from two veto-wielding members, Britain and France. In April, the new tribunal received the ratifications necessary to become a reality on July 1. The milestone was hailed by human rights advocates and many nations but staunchly opposed by the United States.

Lance and Joey pull it off

Has the world gone mad?

Doesn't it really seem like the world has gone totally insane? Consider what has occurred in the last sixteen weeks: 1. Terrorists destroyed two of the tallest buildings in the world. On the same day, terrorists struck the Pentagon -- the symbol of America's military power. America continues to be "on high alert" for another terrorist attack. 2. All-out war in the Middle East seems imminent. Palestinian terrorists continue to kill Israeli citizens, provoking Israel to become more intransigent. The Bush administration is considering cutting ties with the Palestinian Authority. Peace has never seemed more distant. 3. India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, have come to the brink of war. Last Friday, India tested a short-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. Needless to say, India did very little to de-escalate the situation. Who knows what's going to happen there. 4. Argentina -- potentially a major world power -- collapsed. Last December, Argentina had five different presidents in one two-week stretch. It defaulted on its $142 billion national debt, its currency lost almost half its value and there've been several riots.

What tomorrow brings

\"I hate to write when bad things happen." These were the opening words of an e-mail my best friend sent to me a few days ago. I believe we all feel the same way, but nevertheless, find no greater comfort than in sharing our stories with others.

HPER associate dean shares 'Wall' memories

Two years ago, while on a lecture tour in Asia, David Gallahue, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation associate dean and Great Wall Walk coordinator, visited the Great Wall of China as a tourist. He was taken through the overly-crowded public areas of the wall. Gallahue was so intrigued by the experience that he felt he needed to get back to China so he could experience what else the wall had to offer.

U.S. Consulate in Karachi reopens

Saying she came "with a heavy heart," the acting U.S. ambassador grieved today with relatives of Pakistanis killed when a car bomb exploded outside the American consulate and praised cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani agents tracking the killers.

Accused enemy speaks: Don't take my rights or airplane food

OK, so my ACLU buddies, my lesbian pals and my fellow fags, my pagan brothers and sisters and many others are enemies of Jerry Falwell's America, and we invoked the wrath of God to such an extent that He had to kill more than 6,000 people. And you're worried about extremists in Afghanistan? You're worried about flying in an airplane? Despite the obvious testimony of Sept. 11, before you worried about air rage and getting stuck on the runway. If you're worried about flying, worry about getting stuck in a line up of suspicious characters -- you know, people who tried to board an aircraft with a manicure set. Worry about the fact that airlines have announced they will no longer serve meals in coach -- what meals? I don't begrudge them saving money, and I hate the pretzels -- thank God the CEO of Delta is only paid 35 million dollars a year (his Golden Parachute is worth twice that).

Ebola outbreak hits western African countries

GENEVA -- An outbreak of fever in the west African nation of Gabon has been confirmed as the deadly disease Ebola, the World Health Organization said Sunday. It is the world's first documented outbreak of Ebola since last year in Uganda, where 224 people -- including health workers -- died from the virus.

Budget cuts will affect technology

Information technology on campus could take a hit from the state's recent budget cuts, and students might be asked to make up the difference with a new fee. In the first round, UITS is faced with a $9.6 million cut. As the department struggled to regain control, they were hit with yet another cut, this time of $11.6 million, adding up to a total of about $20 million in budget cuts from Indiana.

Give respect to baseball's savior

First and foremost, I just want to let you know that I am a die-hard Cubs fan. I loved the home run chase of 1998, and while I was cheering for Sosa, I was happy to see Big Mac take the all-time single-season homerun crown. Some might say that those two brought baseball back from the depths it had sunk itself from the 1994 strike, but I beg to differ. The home run chase was exciting and captivated an entire nation, but nothing brought baseball back from the pits of hell like Cal Ripken, Jr. did when he broke Lou Gehrig's unbreakable record of 2,130 consecutive games.