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Entertainment

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London theater pays tribute to Shakespeare

LONDON - Shakespeare’s Globe is preparing a summer devoted entirely to its namesake, with “King Lear” kicking off a three-play repertory in May at London’s newest - and oldest - playhouse. This summer’s lineup starts May 12 with Julian Glover as Lear, Shakespeare’s most fearsome monarch. Joining “Lear” in repertory May 27 is “Macbeth” and then “Cymbeline” follows June 30. The 20-week season finishes Sept.

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Fox refuses to promote female contraceptives

By DAVID BAUDERThe Associated Press NEW YORK - The Fox television network turned down a commercial for a female contraceptive product that its makers wanted to run during the racy hit reality series, “Temptation Island.” The show - which drew its biggest audience ever during its fourth airing Wednesday night - features four unmarried couples brought to a tropical island to test their relationships by dating attractive singles. One couple was removed from “Temptation Island” during Wednesday’s episode when it was revealed they had a child. A bargain-hunting advertising representative for the spermicide Encare said he made his request for ad time Monday, the same day The New York Times ran a story saying prices were being driven down because advertisers were reluctant to be on the show. The request was rejected, said Al Kestnbaum, president of Chestnut Communications in Greenwich, Conn. “I can’t believe that they have a show that glorifies promiscuity but won’t accept an ad for a female contraceptive product,” Kestnbaum said Thursday. Fox will accept contraceptive ads only if the product’s main stated purpose is disease protection, spokeswoman Julie Rothman said.

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Michigan college life displayed in new book

Leslie Escobar
February 2, 2001

Imagine that you are a senior in college, about to graduate with a degree in engineering, with the support of your family, friends and girlfriend.Then, you meet someone who convinces you to completely change everything about your life, right when all your work is about to pay off.This is Alex Kim’s dilemma in “Apple Pie,” a novel by David Mazzotta.Born in Grosse Pointe, Alex is the youngest son of Korean immigrants.

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Dreams are like movies

Vince Estes
February 2, 2001

John Versical always has ideas floating around his head that would make good stories. And although he does entertain more serious fare, those ideas usually involve various household items violently attacking people. “I was originally going to do a cable access show about a guy who gets killed by inanimate objects, so we did one about a walkie-talkie,” the humanities senior said. Sitting alone in the empty offices of Our Small Planet Productions, 201-1/2 E.

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Puffy didnt possess gun, witness claims

NEW YORK - A former corrections officer who moonlighted as a bodyguard for Sean “Puffy” Combs testified Wednesday that he had never once seen the rap impresario carrying a weapon. Prosecution witness Leonard Curtis Howard said he would never have associated himself with Combs if the defendant had carried a firearm. “If he is going to carry an illegal firearm, there is no reason for me to be there,” Howard said under cross-examination.

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Lansing-based dance company comes to U

Juliana Keeping
February 1, 2001

MSU’s Fairchild Theater will host “25 Alive!,” a show by the Lansing-based professional modern dance company, Happendance, this Friday through Sunday.And its dancers say the show is more than just steps, turns and modern movement.“My favorite piece is ‘Shards,’” said Kelly Harris, a no-preference sophomore and member of Happendance since last year.

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Lopez tops film, music charts

NEW YORK - Jennifer Lopez is quickly becoming the queen of all media. Lopez’s romantic comedy, “The Wedding Planner,” debuted at the top of the box office this week, and now her new album, “J.

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VH1 aims to please, not MTV

Leslie Escobar
February 1, 2001

Does anyone else think MTV really, really sucks?I have increasingly noticed the awards-show reruns, ’N Sync tributes and old “Road Rules” episodes are the only programs ever on anymore.I remember way back in the day, when I was in elementary and middle school, when actual music videos were still played.

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Landscapes grace Kresge

Juliana Keeping
February 1, 2001

Water, snow, wading cows and a lot of woodlands now grace the walls of Kresge Art Museum. They’re painted, of course, in landscape portraits of the 19th century, and will be there until March 18 in Kresge’s “Masterpieces of 19th-Century American Painting: From the Simple to the Sublime.” “I saw one museum patron laying on his back on the floor, looking at a painting,” Kresge curator April Kingsley said.

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Dingees CD reaches pun rock perfection

Dan Julian
January 31, 2001

The Dingees The Crucial Conspiracy (Tooth and Nail Records) Attention punk rockers - not punk rock posers - the real punk rockers: Shell out some hard-earned cash and pick up the latest piece of punk rock perfection by The Dingees. The Orange County ska-punk rockers, who grew out of a summer side project in 1996 with some members of The Supertones, have turned into one of the best true ska-punk rock bands out there. The album opens with the high-strung Clash-influenced “Spray Paint (We Won’t Carry Over)” and takes the listener on a journey of many different artistic influences including Rancid, Operation Ivy and Green Day - with a touch of the Ramones, Black Flag and The Specials. The political content is found in virtually every song including “Middleman:” “Some Pharisee elitist got you mocking monkey see, your heart ain’t out in person seems it’ll probably never be, you missed the point pretty close to perfect, when you’re backbiting me.” “Summer” is a classic feel-good rock song with a generous array of horns similar to something The Supertones would kick out, while “Dear Sister, Dear Brother” and “We Rot The Voodoo” both scream Bob Marley. “Christina Fight Back” is an anthem about young women fighting against eating disorders and “Ronnie Raygun” is an intense and quick-driven angry song that sounds like it was recorded on a regular tape deck in someone’s garage.

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Bumpus returns with second album

Dan Julian
January 31, 2001

Bumpus Stereoscope (Kaprow Records) Bring on the ruckus - it’s time to jam to Bumpus! Like a sequel to a movie, it is usually difficult to make a follow-up to an album that has as much impact as the original.

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New flick not so sweet

Vince Estes
January 31, 2001

Don’t get the wrong idea. Any movie with cheerleaders robbing a bank, persistent tampon jokes and a Conan O’Brien running gag is probably going to be bad. But “Sugar & Spice” is charming, in a charmless sort of way.

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Bumpus is back

Dan Julian
January 30, 2001

Chicago-based hipsters “Bumpus” can’t get enough of East Lansing. After a high-energy performance last November at Rick’s American Cafe, 224 Abbott Road, the group is returning to the venue Wednesday to hold its CD release party at 10 p.m.

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TV not to blame for societys stupid actions

Matt Treadwell
January 30, 2001

Will somebody please explain to me why people are so dumb?A 13-year-old Connecticut boy was hospitalized Saturday with second- and third-degree burns after allowing himself to be lit on fire.Police reported the boy - with help from a friend - poured gasoline on his feet and legs and had his friend ignite the flames.