Boooo!

Hey Monsters!

For my JTC 326 class I had an audio project and I decided to do mine on Halloween. Listen up and maybe you'll learn something about this ghostly day. Happy Haunting!

Stay Spooky with Denver Concerts October 25 - October 31

It seems as if the music scene this week is a little more hardcore for the spirit of Halloween. This week we do not see many country or pop artists. Almost all are either metal core or punk rock. On Monday our local venue, The Aggie Theatre, will host the metal/screamo band Stick To Your Guns. Also, on Monday Interpol will be playing at the Ogden Theatre. Papa Roach will scream down the house at the Fillmore Auditorium on Tuesday night, and on Friday night Bayside and Senses Fail will by playing at The Summit Music Hall. On Friday the Grizzly Rose is hosting their special Halloween bash with Eli Young Band and We The Kings will play at the Marquis Theater.Finally, The Grizzly Rose will be having a throw back to the 80's night on Saturday with Kiss, Journey and Van Halen tribute bands.

Maybe next week there will be some music for all you alternative, pop, country lovin' people.

Nickelback, Keeping Rock Rocking

Nickelback hit the stage of the Pepsi Center on Monday, October 18 and completely stole the show.

Nickelback is a solid rock band who started on the music scene over 13 years ago in Alberta, Canada. The band is made up of singer Chad Kroeger, bassist Mike Kroeger, guitarist Ryan Peake and drummer Daniel Adair. Since 1995 the band has made hit after hit until reaching multi-platinum status. For example, the group has sold over 30 millions albums worldwide and in 2001 their breakthrough album Silver Side Up sent 13 singles to various Billboard charts. Nickelback ranks as the 11th best selling music act of the 2000s, and is the 2nd best selling foreign act in the US behind The Beatles for the 2000s. Not only is Nickelback considered one of the "Artist of the Decade" they are also successful in the pop and country genres. In 2009, Billboard Magazine also named Nickelback as the Adult Pop Artists of the decade. Some of Nickelback's most famous songs are "How You Remind Me", "Hero", "Someday", "Photograph", "Far Away", "Rockstar", "Gotta Be Somebody", and "If Today Was Your Last Day." Nickelback has also won various awards at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, World Music Awards, and People's Choice Awards.

Currently the band has released six studio albums, one compilation album, one EP, twenty seven singles and five video albums. Their CD's in order are: Curb (1996),  The State (1998/2000), Silver Side Up (2001), The Long Road (2003), All the Right Reasons (2005), and Dark Horse (2008).

And We're Back! Upcoming Denver Concerts. October 17 - October 23

Concert season is starting back up again! After a few weeks of not many concerts, Denver is starting to bring in more acts. According to Ticketmaster, this week there will be 30 total concerts but only a few big names. On Monday, October 18 Nickelback will be playing with Three Days Grace and Buckcherry at the Pepsi Center. On Tuesday, October 16 alternative band, The Script will by playing at the Ogden Theatre. Pop-Punk Band, Say Anything will be playing with Motion City Soundtrack and other special guests on Saturday, October 23 at The Summit Music Hall. Finally, Matt Costa will also be playing on Saturday, October 23, but at the Bluebird Theater. This week provides many concerts that all music lovers will enjoy. Check out this weeks concerts, and I'll be back next week to update you again!

Reading, You're Lucky If You Can.

Literacy to Illiteracy

Percentages drastically changing for the worst

Fort Collins, CO -- “Pi Burger Fry is hands down my favorite philanthropy of the year. I love burgers, I love fries and I of course love Pi Beta Phi,” Announced Charlie Fredrick at this year’s end of Pi Beta Phi’s philanthropy event on Wednesday, September 29th. Every year Pi Beta Phi sorority puts on their philanthropy event called Pi Burger Fry, which helps to raise money for their national philanthropy, First Book.

So, Tell me, What Is First Book?
Everyone in the community is invited to this event and admission to all the burgers, flies, soda and fun is only $5.00. In order to attend Pi Burger Fry attendees must make a small donation of $5.00. Pi Beta Phi’s Vice President of Philanthropy, Erin Eastburn, explains, “All the money that Pi Beta Phi raises goes directly to First Book. First Book helps support school and children that need help with their reading and literacy programs. The money also helps First Book sponsor book drives and other philanthropic events to raise awareness of the unseen problem of illiteracy.”Although, First Book is Pi Beta Phi’s national philanthropy anyone can donate to the cause. Donations can be made in the form of books or monetary. Every $2.00 donated provides one new book for a child in need and so far First Book has provided more than 70 million brand new books to children in need. This year, Pi Beta Phi raised $2,085.00 which means about 1,042 books will be donated to children around the nation.

Is It Really That Bad?
Pi Beta Phi member Lili Beck stated, “Compared to other sorority philanthropies First Book may not seem like such a big deal, but illiteracy is a drastically increasing problem in the United States.” Currently, two million adults are functionally illiterate and it is estimated that 42 million American adults are not able to read or write in any way. By not stopping the illiteracy issue it is estimated that illiteracy will grow by about two million each year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is estimated that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they have reading problems, and approximately 50 percent of the nation's unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs.

Illiteracy, More Than Just Not Being Able To Read

The reason First Book is so focused on children is because two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Furthermore, over 70 percent of inmates in America’s prisons cannot read above a 4th grade level. On greater scale, illiteracy statistics show that as illiteracy increases so do crime rates. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Education, 60 percent of America's prison inmates are illiterate and 85 percent of all juvenile offenders have reading problems.

Not only is Pi Beta Phi helping to change illiteracy rates, locally in Weld County a nonprofit organization started in 1976 called Right to Read. Right to Read is an adult education center whose motto is, “Literacy Opens Worlds.” This organization is a classroom set up that teaches over 250 adults and families each year how to read at a proficient level. There are an estimated 30,000 adults in Weld County who are not native English speakers. These are hard-working individuals who have few resources to acquire English skills, skills that are essential to economic and social success. In Weld County roughly 10.3% of the population lives in poverty. The cycle of opportunity is closed to most of these individuals who often lack the skills to improve their economic lives (right to read).

Pi Beta Phi, First Book, Right to Read any many other organizations are doing a small part in helping cure the illiteracy problem, but if we all take time to donate books we can significantly help to decrease this issue as well. Attending philanthropy events, such as Pi Burger Fry is the most fun way to make a difference. Gamma Phi Beta member, Shannon Good said, “I love attending sorority and fraternity philanthropy events because not only do I get to hang out with all my friends but I am doing my part to make a difference and help a specific cause.”