Women's Golf

The ambassadors of musical perfection

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

During their zenith Steely Dan was a pioneer of highly polished and perfected music that somehow managed to dodge one specific genre. While some might liken the unique group to fellow rock bands like The Doobie Brothers or Chicago, Steely Dan stands out as innovators of a sound and style that can only be described by listening to its music. It's not quite rock, not quite jazz. It's riddled with subtle laid-back R&B and soul flavors, but only below the surface. Dan is poppy when it wants to be but gives straight pop a twist. Above all, the band has always relied on the best musicians around to create the slickest of the slick.

The perfect murder. The perfect movie.

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

Woody Allen seems to have finally gotten things right with last year's "Match Point", and now "Scoop." It looks like he might be making a comeback after all. Its one thing for me to get into the movie and really like it; that's my personal taste, but you could tell that the entire audience (a semi-full theatre) felt the same way. "Scoop," a fast paced murder-mystery, has a little bit of Woody's "Manhattan Murder Mystery" and "Match Point" mixed together. Scarlett Johansson (who starred in Allen's "Match Point") stars as Sondra, a young American journalist who has a habit of sleeping with the people she interviews without ever getting the scoop. While in London she feels compelled to solve the mystery of the "Tarot Card Killer."

Blogapalooza: What the hell am I doing on a computer when they are still playing music?

By C. Warner Sills and Rob O'Connor · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

So I have decided that over the course of this weekend I will try and keep track of all of the lame -palooza puns that I see.

Something to hold you over

By Fryburg 84 · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

Meet Tommy, the most stereotypical and borderline offensive video game character since Mario. He's a Cherokee who lives on a reservation, hates the old ways of his ancestors and spends his day at a bar playing video poker. But one night his routine of getting hammered and blowing his paycheck gets interrupted when aliens abduct him, his girlfriend and apparently half of Texas. This puts Tommy on a course save the world and rediscover his heritage while kicking approximately 32 different kinds of alien ass (at least I think these things have asses).

Get down with the Boogie

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Reschke · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

Plastic inflatable penises were plentiful throughout the camp ground, as were signs that requested passers by to expose their breasts. Bike engines revved at all hours of the day and night. Clothing was optional, even for those people whose bodies were fighting a losing battle against gravity. Random and crazy were two words that could be used to describe many of the people in attendance, such as Don Berndt. "Fuck you Bob!" is what he and his T-shirt said. "There's so many fuckin' Bobs in the world you gotta say fuck you Bob," Berndt said. These are the kinds of things that happen when people sentenced to 40 hours of weekly work until the age of 65 are allowed to get down, let loose, and let it all (yes ALL) hang out. This weekend of freedom is called The Boogie.

One 'Bully' you wouldn't mind knowing

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

With "The Ant Bully," "Monster House" and "Barnyard" all in theaters, how's an 8-year-old supposed to choose what movie to beg their parents into submission to take them to see. Well, uh, if you were an 8-year-old, "The Ant Bully" would be a decent choice. Sick of being picked on by the neighborhood bully, nerdy Lucas takes his anger out on the helpless ant colony in his lawn. Fed up with the destruction to his society that Lucas causes, Zoc (Nicolas Cage,) the wizard ant (yes, a wizard ant, sounds dumb, but the plot needs to start somehow) creates a potion that shrinks Lucas to ant size. Put on trial for his crimes, the Ant Queen (an underused Meryl Streep, how do you underuse Meryl?!?) orders Lucas to work amongst the ants to learn and appreciate their ways.

Sex in the City

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Freiberg and David A. Nosko · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

There are clubs and then there are strip clubs. Bloomington offers Hoosiers many choices for basking in brews and hearty ha-ha's, but where can community members go if they seek half-naked human beings sliding down poles or sex toys to bring home to share with their partner? Also known as "adult entertainment," the city offers most forms of sensual self-indulgence and perverted pleasure, including topless dance clubs, bookstores with XXX video arcades, and lingerie boutiques offering everything from fluffy handcuffs to nipple clamps.

Lollapalooza's new home

By Alyson Brodsy and Rob O'Connor · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

One of the summer's biggest concerts is right around the corner and just a short jaunt away. The three day music festival, Lollapalooza, kicks off Aug. 4 in Chicago's Grant Park. This is the second year that the festival has made The Windy City the back drop for their three day party. Last year many people were hesitant to accept the third largest American city as a good location to hold an outdoor music festival, especially one which hopes to host 75,000 concert-goers. However, after last year's success the festival organizers have high hopes for this second time around.

Exceptions to the rule

By Alyson Brodsy and Ty Schrock · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

The 80s sucked. Greed was supposedly good, Reagan was in the White House and bands known more for their hairstyles than their music ruled the airwaves. So, in a time when Duran Duran and A Flock of Seagulls were the big thing, it was a little far fetched that an unassuming folk-rock quartet from Athens, Georgia would be able to become America's premier rock band. But that's exactly what did happen. That band, of course, was R.E.M. Owing equally to the Byrds, Patti Smith and Wire, R.E.M. was a mishmash of musical ideas and personalities featuring a guitar player (Peter Buck) who favored arpeggio-style chording over soloing, a drummer (Bill Berry) who knew restraint, and a multi-talented, McCartney-esque bassman (Mike Mills) who was the glue that held it all together. Add to this an incomparable and wonderfully weird frontman in Michael Stipe, and you have the unlikely, but winning formula.

Country meets rock and roll

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Thursday, Aug. 3,2006 12 a.m.

I was 11 years-old when my uncle gave me a copy of Last of the Red Hot Burrito Brothers by The Flying Burrito Brothers. My uncle was cool (he liked Gordon Lightfoot and had a banjo) but at the time I was probably more into listening to Creed and acquiring grass stains. However, my brother and I liked the name and the unfamiliar sound, so we would often sing along with the Burritos in our best adolescent country twang. For a young kid the Burritos were cool because, in my eyes, they were so uncool. But as my music tastes matured with age (I assure you, Creed is no longer on the top of my playlist) I started to enjoy the Burrito's music for more than just pure nostalgia and grew to realize that Gram Parsons and company's pioneering synthesis of traditional country music and rock 'n' roll was not only extremely ground-breaking but indeed cool.

IU study: Injection drug use up

By Zack Teibloom · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 8:34 p.m.

While usage of gateway drugs marijuana and cigarettes are decreasing among sixth to 12th graders, use of harder drugs is on the rise for Indiana 11th and 12th graders, according to a recent IU survey. The study also revealed increased after-school participation was the key factor in steering young adults away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The Indiana Prevention Resource Center released this week the 16th Annual Survey of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents. The study collected data from about 131,000 students in grades six to 12 in Indiana public and private schools.

'Best puzzle collection in the world'

By Julie Mahomed · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 8:33 p.m.

Puzzle enthusiasts from around the world gathered at IU this week to celebrate the grand opening of the newly refurbished Slocum Puzzle Room in the IU Lilly Library. Serious enigmatologists and library visitors alike can now view the exhibition and test their wits by trying to complete the puzzles themselves. "Confounding and delightful, precise and whimsical, the puzzles selected for this exhibition represent centuries of mathematical, social, and recreational history from across five continents," wrote Jillian Hinchliffe, Lilly Library curatorial assistant, in the Jerry Slocum Collection guide, "A World of Puzzles."

Nick Clooney engages local crowd on Darfur

By Sarah Core · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 8:33 p.m.

The older man's deep, hale voice resonated through the Monroe County Public Library's auditorium, as the audience, their faces upturned toward him, leaned forward, drawn to his magnetic personality like moths to a gleaming bulb. It's easy to see where Academy-award winner George Clooney gets his vibrant character from -- his father. But Tuesday evening, veteran journalist Nick Clooney was using his fame as a father and brother of celebrities for a more important cause. He came to Bloomington on his own steam to help raise awareness for the genocide currently occurring in West Sudan. "I went over a reporter and I came back an advocate," Clooney told a crowd of about 100 area and regional residents, some from as far as Louisville, Ky.

IU to help Indiana schools

By Julie Mahomed · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 8:33 p.m.

The IU School of Education will use its expertise to improve the caliber of future IU students when it opens the Center for Educational Science Research and P-16 Collaboration this fall, University officials announced this week. IU faculty members will work closely with Indiana elementary and secondary schools, building relationships with young students and improving their curriculum and test scores, said Catherine Brown, associate dean in the School of Education and director of the new center.

Colts already getting hit with injuries

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Marot · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 6:47 p.m.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- It was only Day 2 of training camp and already the Indianapolis Colts are dealing with injuries. Three defensive starters and two other projected contributors all watched Monday morning's practice from the sideline. The most prominent name on the new list -- defensive tackle Montae Reagor, who had an MRI on his sore knee Monday night. Coach Tony Dungy said the Colts were still waiting for a diagnosis but expected Reagor to rest for the next few days.

Coaches, players gain knowledge at IU soccer camp

By Matt Cunningham · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 6:47 p.m.

About 1,800 soccer players from across the nation and from as far away as Brazil, Japan and Luxembourg recently finished their IU soccer camp experience after completing their last of three summer sessions. The IU camp, which has been around for more than 30 years, is one of the most prestigious of its kind. Former campers include DaMarcus Beasley and Steve Ralston, both U.S. international players. "I think it is a good thing for the University," said third-year coach Mike Freitag. "It exposes a lot of kids to the University, not just soccer wise, but what sort of campus we have and school."

Orange juice and toothpaste: The story of the Indiana Pacers

By Alyson Brodsy and Matt Dollinger · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 6:43 p.m.

A couple of days ago I made the fatal mistake of brushing my teeth and then drinking orange juice. We've all done it. You get your morning routine mixed-up and you're left with an extremely bad taste in your mouth. And it doesn't just go away. The toothpaste/orange juice combination is lethal. In fact, the only time I've been left with a worst taste in my mouth was in early May when the Indiana Pacers bowed out of the playoffs in typical disappointing fashion. So the Pacers and its respected front office duo of Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh set off this summer to revamp the roster. It was clear the Pacers needed a serious personnel overhaul.

Man discovered 'masturbating' in IMU room

By Trevor brown · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 6:39 p.m.

The IU Police Department has advised Indiana Memorial Union staff members to be on the look out for a subject after a worker discovered a man believed to have been masturbating in the basement mail room of the IMU Monday afternoon, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said, reading from the police report. Minger said the witness notified the IUPD at 5:40 p.m. Monday and officers responding to the scene were not able to locate the subject in or around the building. The witness said when she arrived at the mail room, the doors were closed, and when she opened them she discovered a man looking out the south window with his hands in his genital area. He appeared to be masturbating. Minger said she described the man as a 6-foot-2 white male with blond curly hair. She said he was clean shaven, had brown glasses and was wearing green cargo shorts and a white shirt. She said there was no contact nor any words exchanged between the two.

A glimpse into the past

By Carrie Ritchie · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 6:39 p.m.

After returning to their lake house near Rochester, Ind., for the Fourth of July holiday, Indianapolis resident Kate Hinman and her husband, Martin, checked the mailbox for their copy of the Peru (Ind.) Tribune. While riding in the car, Kate Hinman thumbed through the sections of the newspaper until a name caught her eye and made her do a double take. They pulled the car over in shock and a minute later they were both staring at the name of Hinman's uncle who had died more than a decade ago. "I glance over and see 'Emerson Keller Elkins'," she said. "And I said, 'That's Uncle Emerson!'" The Hinmans never would've guessed that their relative was posthumously making headlines all over the state for something he did almost seven decades ago.

Germany enlists IU to help reform education system

By Allyson O’Connor · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 6:37 p.m.

With names such as Albert Einstein, former NASA Director Wernher von Braun and radio technology pioneer Heinrich Rudolf Hertz all being trained in at German universities, the country solidified itself in the past as a world leader in the advancement of science research. While Germany has historically maintained a staunchly regulated educational system, reform is currently underway and IU officials are assisting in the endeavor. The German Research Foundation has created the Excellence Initiative, designed to create flexibility within and competition among Germany's higher education institutions to ensure continued success of its programs and researchers.