Last week I wrote about the importance sports in communities. Never did I think my argument could be taken to an unhealthy degree, but it has been. That’s because students in the Pittsburgh area will be given an extra two hours sleep today thanks to the Super Bowl.
Author: USM
Brew review
After last week’s foray with stouts, my taste-buds needed a reawakening. To me that means one thing: hops – and lots of them. That’s why this week I’ve chosen an array of beers all of which are centered more on their use of hops than on their delicate use of specialty grains.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Pattenaude announces task force members
University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude announced the members of a 12 person task force assigned to address the $42.8 million shortfall projected for the next 4 fiscal years.
The task force is part of Pattenaude’s plan to restructure the state university system, the outline of which he presented to the UMS board of trustees on January 11th.
DVD Battle: Stand-up edition
Carlin vs. Rock
The Razzies, the other side of Hollywood
The Golden Raspberry Awards, aka the Razzies, were created in 1980 with the sole purpose of balancing out the Academy Awards. However, you never want to receive or become nominated for this anti-prestigious statue. It dishonors, (or honors, depending on personal taste) the worst acting, screenwriting, songwriting, directing, and most importantly filmmaking that the industry produces every year.
The unfortunate passings of the year
This year brought cinema-goers some of the most unique and entertaining movies since, well, perhaps last year depending on who you talk to. But with this great time also came great losses to the entertainment world. A great deal of these were shocking, emotional, unexpected, and also reminded us that life is only temporary, as depressing and obvious as that sounds.
Five albums to get snowed in with
Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago
After breakups with his band and girlfriend and a bout with a liver ailment, Justin Vernon sojourned in a tiny cabin in northern Wisconsin during the winter and created this minimalist masterpiece. Catharsis at its core, Vernon’s falsetto and mellow guitar strums portray the fragility of beauty with a sound too delicate for words.
University cuts Lifeline
According to Cecilia Ziko, the first time that the Lifeline Fitness Program saved her life was in 1983, one year after her first child was born.
“I needed to make a change,” she remembers. “I needed to make a life for myself.”
After reading an article about the popularity and success of Lifeline’s programs, Ziko decided to give the program a try.
Oats, blankets and humor
When most people attempt to do something new for the first time; whether it be playing an instrument, learning to surf, running a marathon, or jumping over a bar that stands anywhere from four to five and a half feet tall, they generally are not very adept at it.
Building something out of nothing
504 Congress Street has been home to a lot of business in the past two decades, and unfortunately for a string of entrepreneurs, it hasn’t been any one of them for very long.
Rob Evon is the latest to take an active interest in this prime piece of downtown real estate, smack in the middle of Portland’s arts district, just around the corner from Monument Square.
January 20th 2009
January 20, 2009, I was a witness to the fulfillment of Martin Luther King’s dream that people will judge others by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
More than twice the population of Maine stood before, behind and around the Capitol Building with more people spilling out of Metro gates like the march of the penguins and walking the streets of DC in hopes of finding a giant Jumbotron where they could watch the swearing-in ceremony.
Electrical Fire Prompts Evacuation of Sullivan Gym
An electrical fire in the boiler room of The Sullivan Fitness Complex forced over 100 people at the gym and the adjacent day care center to evacuate the building at 12 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. There were no injuries.
The fire was caused by a short circuit in the building’s backup electrical system.
Police report rise in thefts
Students and faculty who bring their laptops to campus may want to be more cautious. Last week, three thefts were reported within a four-day period on the Portland campus- two of which were laptops.
These thefts are part of a trend over the last few weeks, during which USM Police have seen an increase in thefts of electronic items such as laptops and iPods.
Strong recruiting yields more wins
Being a former high school hockey player myself, I was excited at the chance to write this article, and consequently attend a game. As co-captain of my own team (back in the day) I never thought I had enough skills to join an elite college team like the Women’s Huskies, so I didn’t try out.
Featured artist
Free Press: What is your major and concentration?
Nick Downing: My Major is Art and Entrepreneurial Studies with a concentration in sculpture. I also have a minor in art history.
FP: What year/class are you?
ND: I am a senior, but I am anticipating being back for another semester in the spring.
Remember to love
Lately, I have spent a lot of time thinking about human nature. I’ve been thinking about collective consciousness, the power that it may have, and how greatly our emotions really affect our lives.
There are two emotions that all other feelings stem from-love and fear.
Muskie School economist predicts prolonged recession
A buzzing throng of local business figures, students, and other guests assembled at the Hannaford Lecture Hall at 7 am on January 14th to witness Muskie School professor Charles Colgan’s annual economic forecast.
A grim excitement filled the air prior to the lecture, as more than 400 guests milled around the urns of coffee, platters of danishes and sliced canteloupe.
Animated films remain afterthought at Academy Awards
The 2009 Academy Award Nominations were announced last Thursday with a sound no louder than a “thud.” The lackluster Oscar push of this year’s nominations left much to be desired from last years onslaught of intellectual and intriguing titles. “Slumdog Millionaire” seems to be this year’s favorite for best picture, already taking home the Golden Globe’s Best Picture award (Drama) along with many other accolades from contests around the world.
Letter from the Editor
Over winter break, I fell into a normal, domestic routine that comes with time spent at home. No cable means I am woefully dependant on network television to fulfill my entertainment needs.
As I lazed around the homestead, I watched as The Price is Right gave way a solid three hour late-afternoon block of courtroom judge shows, followed by my now-close friends, Ellen, Phil, and of course, The Big O.
Budget gap widens
In an effort to create a financially sustainable university system in Maine, UMS Chancellor Richard Pattenaude last week announced a six-month process aimed at spurring “major transformative changes”.
In a meeting with trustees on Jan 11, Pattenaude predicted that without significant restructuring of the UMS system, Maine’s seven public universities would face a $42.
Women’s basketball working out kinks
The USM women were busy over break. While most of us were away with family, food and drink, the Huskies were ascending the national rankings – all the way to 15th in country. But now, in the rigors of conference play, the Huskies are clawing to gain traction and stop a mid-season plunge in conference play.
Epicurean Epics
Rosey and I have been friends since we met at UMO in the late seventies. Last weekend, her sisters and I met in South Thomaston, as Lynda’s husband Joe had flown to Florida to play some baseball. Lynda and Joe live in a house on Patten Point that is warm with pine, rich with art, and has generous windows that frame the sea and islands.
New library entrance unlocks new worlds
The new entrance to USM’s Glickman Library officially opened last Wednesday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The new entrance that faces the campus is part of an ongoing revitalizing project financed through private donations and government earmarked funds, which the University hopes will make the campus more attractive to its students and faculty.
Brew Review
Stouts are one of craft brewing’s biggest mysteries. For those who don’t frequent the aisles of specialty shops, stouts often become synonymous with Guinness. But beyond the macro-brewed, oily-black goodness of a Guinness Draught, there’s a whole new world of stouts waiting to test your palate.