If Americans want to see progress in the Middle East, they will have to shake up their attitudes toward themselves and the region, a leading scholar told a U of I audience Friday. Middle Eastern historian Rashid Khalidi held a book signing at the Illini Union Bookstore to promote his latest work, "The Iron Cage," about the Palestinian struggle for statehood.

One penny more for picking a pound of tomatoes doesn't seem like a lot, but it took the Coalition of Immokalee Workers four years to win that concession from Taco Bell. Now the CIW is turning its attention to McDonald's. Several CIW members will stop by Uni on Tuesday morning to discuss farmworker conditions as they make their way to McDonald's headquarters for a protest Friday. [UPDATED: McDonald's agrees to CIW demands.]

Timbaland's "Shock Value" promised to shock its listener with a hot list of tracks featuring exciting collaborations with artists including Elton John, The Hives, and She Wants Revenge. However, Andrea Park found the album nothing short of bland.

Following up on some of his comments in Maddy Hamlin's profile, "Almost famous" (see below), senior Devin Johnson discusses his film influences and inspirations.