6A the university daily kansan
news
tuesday, february 3, 2004
www.pipelineproductions.com
COMING SOON AT
BOTTLENECK
737 NEW HAMPSHIRE / LAWRENCE, KS
MED. 4
HANK III
SAT.
FEB. 7
COWBOY MOUTH (6PM)
FEB. 7
THE BILLIONS
THUR. 12
MR T EXPERIENCE (4pm
Ages 12+)
FEB. 17
BLUE OCTOBER
FEB. 18
MASON JENNINGS
FEB. 19
SOMEHOW HOLLOW (4pm
Ages All Ages)
SNOW: Chilly temperatures to rise by next week
hesitant to attribute it directly to that.
CONTINUED FROM 1A
The weather in Kansas is determined by the polar front, which is a boundary between the cold air mass from the arctic and the tropical air mass from the equatorial region. When the boundary is to the south of the area, there is a cold-weather region. If it is north, there is warm weather. Because of Kansas' location in a middle area between the two extremes, it experiences changing seasons and often unexpected weather.
The polar front is currently just barely south of Kansas, Hall said. If you go even a little south, it is considerably warmer. The strong winds are a result of being near a large temperature gradient, where there is a rapid change in temperature over a short distance.
Hall said he thought the current cold snap would last another week.
Edited by Joe Hartigan
Six more weeks of winter, says Phil
The Associated Press
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — If you're tired of winter, Punx-sutawney Phil had a message for you yesterday — get used to it.
After a rap on an oak stump roused him from his home on Gobbler's Knob, the world's most famous furry forecaster "saw" his shadow on Groundhog Day morning, which according to tradition means six more weeks of winter.
Phil even included a topical reference in his proclamation — to the capture of Saddam Hussein.
"I'm glad I live in this luxurious burrow on the knob, and not in a dirty, smelly, spider hole like a slob," said the proclamation read aloud by one of the organizers.
"When I come out, I don't want to negotiate; but to just do my job and prognosticate."
The prediction drew boos from thousands who gathered in 17-degree weather for the 118th annual festivity run by the Punxutawney Groundhog Club.
The spirited crowd, some clad in furry groundhog hats or even full-length costumes, chanted "Phil! Phil! Phil!" after fireworks and a long night of rock music drew to an end and the hour of the ceremony neared.
Including yesterday's prediction, the groundhog is reported to have seen his shadow 104 times since the tradition began in Punxutawney. It is rooted in a German superstition that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.
Looking for inspiration
Dessie Orear, Lyndon senior, looked at an unttled artwork by Josie Rosenthal. St. Louis senior, at the Senior Art Department Exhibition yesterday afternoon. The exhibit will continue through Friday.
Abhy Tillery/Kansan
Judge strikes 'vague' law
The Associated Press
U. S. District Judge Richard L. Williams called the ban on what opponents call partial-birth abortion "impermissibly void for vagueness."
The judge blocked the law last July, calling it a "no-brain case." He also has challenged the use of the term "partial birth infanticide" by the law's backers, saying it was an attempt to alarm the public.
RICHMOND, Va. — A federal judge struck down Virginia's ban on a type of late-term abortion yesterday, saying the law violated privacy rights and failed to make an exception for the health of the woman.
Virginia's law outlawed a procedure generally performed in the second or third trimester in which a fetus is partially delivered.
Lawyers for the Center for Reproductive Rights, who filed the suit, argued that the law was unconstitutional because it disregarded a four-year-old Supreme Court ruling allowing the procedure when the health of the mother is threatened.
The state law contained no such health exception.
"Courts across the country including the U.S. Supreme Court have been clear that such bans are an unconstitutional threat to women's health and lives," Nancy Northup, president of the center, said.
The group said the lawsuit was a precursor to a challenge to the limited federal ban, which is already being challenged in Nebraska, New York and California. About 30 states have enacted versions of partial birth abortion bans, but in many cases they have been overturned in court.
Virginia attorney general Jerry Kilgore said yesterday's decision was not unexpected, but he plans to appeal.
"This ruling is not surprising, given the number of times we have had to appeal rulings on similar legislation to higher courts," said Kilgore, a Republican.
The Associated Press
Super Bowl stunt could cost millions
NEWYORK—Suddenly, Brittney and Madonna's smoothfest seems G-rated.
Janet Jackson's bobolicious performance with Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday has sparked a federal investigation and set new standards for raunch in an entertainment industry that seems to be setting new highs—or lows—every day.
Gone are the days when a powerful performance is all that's needed to deliver a water cooler moment. Today, a barely there outfit, same-sex smooching, foul language — and now, a flash of nudity — are what's required to get America talking.
"Everytime an artist does something you think they sort of break the barrier, and it keeps getting more and more outrageous," said Tom Poleman, senior vice president of programming at New York
City radio station Z100. "I think artists will keep on exploiting every opportunity they can get."
When Timberlake snatched off part of Jackson's bustier, revealing a breast clad only in a sun-shaped "nipple shield," the barrier was not broken, it was shattered before 89 million viewers.
Federal Communications Commission chief Michael Powell said in a statement, "Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt." He promised an investigation, with potential fines of up to $27,500.
Despite the apparent premeditation — the display coincided exactly with Timberlake singing, "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song" — all involved denied that the peep show was planned, and Jackson and Timberlake both issued apologies.
"This was done completely without our knowledge," said Chris Ender, entertainment spokesman for CBS, which was deluged with angry calls. "It wasn't rehearsed. It wasn't discussed. It wasn't even hinted at ... This is something we would have never approved. We are angry and embarrassed."
The NFL said it was "extremely disappointed." Several members of Congress, the Parents Television Council and the Traditional Values Coalition expressed outrage. Even halftime producer and CBS corporate Viacom cousin MTV — the network that has given us Jackass, Diana Ross fondling Lil Kim's pastied breast and Madonna kissing Britney Spears at last August's MTV Awards — was contrite.
"Unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional," said MTV.
But was it?
Although Timberlake issued a statement shortly after the show
blaming the debacle on a "wardrobe malfunction," in comments to the syndicated show Access Hollywood right after the incident, he didn't seem too sorry.
"Hey man, we love giving you all something to talk about," he said, laughing.
Jackson's official Web site was bombarded with angry postings. Her spokeswoman, Jennifer Holiner, said a red lace garment was supposed to remain when Timberlake tore off the outer covering.
In a statement released last night, Jackson said it was a last-minute stunt that went awry.
"The decision to have a costume reveal at the end of my half-time show performance was made after final rehearsals. MTV was completely unaware of it," she said. "It was not my intention that it go as far as it did. I apologize to anyone offended — including the audience, MTV, CBS and the NFL."