Many of you may have noticed that One Lost Grizzly Bear has died. Call it a victim of the hunting season, or me just getting bored/lazy/tired of this blog, but it is no more.
BUT
I have started a joint blog with a good friend of mine named Brian. Nothing is up yet, but it should be pretty cool once it really gets going. Lots of music/movie reviews. Some art and design from Brian. Some writing of a less "newsy" nature from me. It's an idea we've both been kicking around for some time that is finally being pulled together. I would highly recommend checking it out.
A combination of forces have led me to decide that I need to have a OneLost section dedicated to quotations and other quips I hear throughout the weeks. The first, and probably greatest, is once again Laura Nelson, who showed me with her "Verbatim" section on "USC Transcribed" that out of context quotes can be just about the funniest thing imaginable. The second is this semester's English professor, one Dr. David Nunnery. Dr. Nunnery is perhaps, borderline the funniest intellectual I have ever met. He is good for one or two REALLY good lines a class.
This section will eventually get its own nifty graphic header (ala "Now Playing" and "Ring Out Ahoya," but until the Photoshop muse decides to make a visit, it will have to remain purely text.
To start everyone out, I will give you two backlogged quotes by Dr. Nunnery, and one uttered today by German Professor John Pustejovsky.
Dr. David Nunnery, on the importance of citation:
For the rest of the day I will be teaching APA formatting. Apparently inhaling out of the tailpipe of a car wasn't an option.
Dr. David Nunnery, on the perils of misinterpreting Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"
It's not about being the young individualist and taking the road less traveled. That's a dumb thing to do in the woods
Dr. John Pustejovsky on the Electors of the Holy Roman Empire
Student 1: So were there 7 or 12 electors? Student 2: Maybe they rotated between seven and 12. Student 3: So did some of the electors become "not electors?" Dr. P: Yes, that's where they got the title "formerly known as prince. HAHA, Pusto made a funny."
And so your day just got a little funnier. Glad I could help.
I have two more banked David Nunnery quotes so hopefully the man continues to tickle the old wit.
OneLost out from balmy Milwaukee (60 degrees tomorrow!)
I gave up on the witty, apologetic title this week (not like you guys haven't seen one or two of those before) in favor of an admission of guilt. I have excuses for why it has now been a week since my last (rather meager) post, but none of them are good and most of the start with "I" and end with "forgot." That being said, the title is sort of witty in its unwittyness if I don't say so myself.
To make up for the lack of content, I'm going to try to create some sort of super-combined-omnibus post here that covers lots of sections and lots of content all in one magnificent segment of prose and graphics. Think of it as my blog bailout bill (with the alliterations!). Unfortunately, no one will be receiving any sort of handout, other than a handout of happiness as they read the best free content on the web (stop clicking over to USC Transcribed. It was updated yesterday...this is the best content on the web RIGHT now).
Editors Note: Do click over to USC Transcibed. Read it. Enjoy. Laura is much less bitter than I am. Must be something about California in winter vs. Milwaukee in Winter.
Okay, so here we go. A blog post in four segments of varying timeliness and interest. Section number one is...
Dateline, Jan 31, 2009. Bradley Center in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
Enter: #25 ranked Georgetown Basketball Team onto the Al McGuire Court. Coach John Thompson III: "We are so awesome. Marquette is a backwater school way out west that doesn't know the first thing about basketball." Players: "Yeah...we rock, even though we lost to Cincinnati this week. The turn around starts now! The Golden Eagles suck!
Staging note: At this point, lower Marquette basketball team from rafters of Bradley Center. A bright glowing light shines behind them, casting them in sharp contrast to the paleness of the Georgetown Team.
Jerel McNeal: "Welcome to Milwaukee...prepare to be taken to task."
Proceed with 40 minutes of basketball, 25 of which are dominated by Marquette, ending in a 94-82 Golden Eagles win. Fans go crazy. Bradley Center is about to collapse. Marquette improves to 8-0. A certain Alaskan has his picture taken and is shown on SI.com. General goodwill prevails.
If you're keeping score in the Big East Free Spirit blog/basketball showdown, that equals Chris 1, Caroline 0
Marquette game #2 was somewhat more recent. I watched the Golden Eagles take on the Depaul Blue Demons (part deux of this year's matchup against the hapless team from Chicago) in my room last night before settling down to engage my literary passions with the always thrilling Jane Austen. Jerel McNeal continues to make a case for Big East Player of the Year (last nights line? A pedestrian 28 pts, 4 boards, 6 assists, 4 blocks, and 5 steals in 38 minutes). They team looked great at the start of the first half, jumping out to an early 29-12 lead midway through the first. The rest of the half was sloppy and Marquette only went into the locker room up 5. By the 12:00 mark of the second, I had basically stopped watching, the game was well in hand and we cruised to the 9-0 mark.
Basketball updates = done. Time for the first appearance of "Now Playing:"
Today's now playing artist is a new discovery to me. Thanks to Caroline for tuning me into the sound of Bon Iver and his mellow, acoustic, and often haunting tracks. I picked up his first album, "For Emma, Forever Ago" last week and have been listening non-stop since then.
Bon Iver just seems to be one of those artists whose music somehow wiggles its way into whatever sort of emotional space you are working with. Equal parts moving, forlorn, and wistful; it seems the Wisconsin to North Carolina back to Wisconsin transplant has produced a soundtrack to winter, heartbreak, longing, celebration, and just a general sense of introspection.
The roots of the album are something out of the 70s. Songwriter Justin Vernon leaves Raleigh, NC to take some time off at his dad's hunting cabin in northern Wisconsin. Brings guitar and old recording equipment with the intention of just fooling around. Writes lyrics and music. Record emerges. Record meets with smashing success. The Dylan-esque nature is undeniable. I also hear similarities to some of Led Zepplin's recordings done in various remote locals (castles, etc).
In my mind, this sense of location is perhaps the record's most distinguishing trait. It doesn't feel studio produced because it wasn't, or, at least, the studio work was minimal. As you listen, you can almost close your eyes and sit next to Justin as the snow falls outside, surrounded by trees, with a fire going in the stove. Overly sentimental and romantic imagery? Yes. Also true? Yes.
Tracks on "For Emma" that require a listen are "Skinny Love," "Flume," and "Re: Stacks." Bon Iver's newer EP "Blood Bank" is also worth noting as a worthy pickup. If you thought Kanye had done everything possible on an autotuner, then listen to "Woods" off the EP. I didn't think anyone could make me enjoy that sound again after "Love Lockdown" and "Heartless" took over the radio, but " Woods' " measured rounds make it worth the electronic manipulation.
First foray into music criticism done. Let me know. Do you want to see more? Less? Better? Let's see those comments.
In the spirit of catching creative lightening in a bottle and not relinquishing it until you manage to do something to harness its power, I present the newest section (with nifty banner!) on One Lost.
You will know get to enjoy updates under the banner of:
This section is my foray into the world of recommending/quasi-reviewing music. After promising myself that I would work on more radio pieces this semester and realizing that radio takes time, this is my consolation effort. I'm not ENTIRELY sure how this will end up playing out (get it...PLAYING out...I slay myself). I am envisioning it as a place where I can put music that I am listening to at the moment and provide a short commentary on why it has garnered my attention. It might also turn into a place to review new music.
Make sure to stay tuned (on a roll now!) for more updates and keep those comments spinning (that one was a bit of a stretch, but if you're going to pun, pun like there's no tomorrow).
Marquette beats Notre Dame 71-64 And that was in South Bend at the Joyce Center no less. I should also probably mention at this point that I WAS THERE.
Yes, rather than attend German 40 and Math 81, the "Quad Squad" (plus Mike Z.) decided that a better use of our Monday was making the 3.5 hour drive from Milwaukee to South Bend, Indiana to witness first hand Jesuit Marquette's dismantling of "that other Catholic School."
The highlight of the trip there was a close tie between mad Chicago traffic (at 1:30 pm? Stupid high population density) and our time spent in stunning Gary, Indiana. As we drove through the latter, Brandon piloted his Toyota Camry through 15 minutes of smog, steel mills, and dilapidated, unpopulated public transit stops. Ain't the Midwest great?
Once in South Bend (after $24 of interstate tolls -- really Illinois?) and getting lost on campus (apparently left and right on Notre Dame Ave. are not interchangeable) we finally arrived at the Joyce Center for an exciting Free Spirit Reunion with...Catherine Miller of Montana!
Justin, Chris, and Catherine enjoy their Free Spirit Reunion
Nothing sweetens a reunion quite like extending the Domers' home losing streak to 2 games after UCONN ended their 45 game period of home domination.
Activities at the game included: making fun of Kyle McAlarney for getting suspended for smoking pot last year, pointing out how ugly Luke Harangody is, good natured back and forth with senior citizens, telling an 8 year old to check the scoreboard before he gloats, highfiving more random Marquette fans than I can remember, and making fun Notre Dame to Gary, Indiana comparisons.
This win was big for Marquette, who had just been announced as the #8 team in the good old US of A. The embarrassment of breaking into the Top 10 and then losing would have been too much for me to bear and could have precipitated a move to Gary.
Our sights now turn toward Saturday, when the Golden Eagles take on #25 Georgetown (the school of FS Caroline Klibanoff) at the Bradley Center. A win there would make us 8-0 in the Big East and in prime position to have a very special year.
Al McGuire Center: The on-campus gymnasium that hosts Volleyball and Women's Basketball. Named for the legendary Marquette head coach who took the team to a 1979 National Championship
AMU: The Alumni Memorial Union. This new and beautiful building houses pretty much anything you could need to live on campus. The mail center, Spirit Shop, Brew Bayou, Marquette Place, and heaps of ballrooms and conference rooms all live in the AMU
Boat House: The Milwaukee Boat House located on the Milwaukee River about 2.5 miles from campus. This is where Marquette Crew trains and stores its boats
Bradley Center: The arena in downtown Milwaukee that is home to the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Admirals (hockey), and the Marquette Golden Eagles Men's Basketball Team
Cobeen Hall: The all girls dorm on campus. This is also where I eat on weekends because the dining hall in Straz is closed and has terrible hours on Friday
Memorial Library: The old and, at one time, only library building on campus. Housed here are the book stacks, some reading rooms, and a bit of study space. Less popular as a study location becasue it is stuffier and quiter than Raynor and has VERY low ceilings
O'Donnell Hall: The all guys dorm on campus. Also home to most of the men's crew team
Raynor (Opus North) Bridge: Officially Opus North but universally called Raynor Bridge or just "The Bridge." This area connects Raynor and Memorial Libraries and has a coffee shop and tons of study/meeting space. A popular destination for socializing, relaxing, or doing light homework
Raynor Library: The new library building on campus. It houses reference materials, spcieal collections, and a ton of great study space. It also holds some of the origional Lord of the Rings manuscripts
Rec Plex: The alternative rec center in Straz Tower. It used to be a YMCA but the University converted it so that it now has cardio and weight rooms, basketball courts, racquetball, and a swimming pool
Straz Tower: The 18 story monstrosity of a dorm that houses sophomores and the Honors Program Freshman. Also resident are the Rec Plex, Bob's Barber Shop, and a small theater
The Annex: Officially the "Union Sports Annex," a University-owned sports bar and rec center. Includes a restaurant with lots of TVs, a sport court, and bowling alley. A great destination for NFL games, Marquette away games, and Trivia and Bingo nights
The Brew: The name of the University owned coffee shop with locations all over campus
The Quad or The Mall: The only real green space on campus. It stretchs from 12th to 17th street between Wisconsin and Wells streets and serves as the setting for most academic buildings
Valley Fields: About a 15 minute walk from campus, the Valley is a field comlex with two turf fields for club and IM sports as well as a grass field for varsity men's and women's soccer.
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