Denver, CO

A more accurate title for this posting might be philosophy of the week - this quote coming from John Locke. I’m interested to know how readers interpret, and what readers take away from, this quote. Liberals, Conservatives, Moderates, Deeply Religious, anti-organized religion, etc. We all have valid points of view though we may not agree. So please leave a comment with your feedback, you can even leave it anonymously!

“To avoid this state of war is one great reason of men’s putting themselves into society and quitting the state of nature. For where there is an authority, a power on earth, from which relief can be had by appeal, there the continuance of the sate of war is excluded, and the controversy is decided by that power.” -John Locke

Here’s an author I personally enjoy and who has the incredible ability to change the way I think every time I read his books or articles.
Malcolm Gladwell is a staff writer for the New Yorker Magazine and is a best-selling author of two books, The Tipping Point and Blink. I’ve read both, they were thoroughly enjoyed, very insightful, and taught me a lot of useful information.
This particular article, click here, features a story about homelessness and car emissions in our own city of Denver. Even if you already have a firmly established view on homelessness, this article is worth reading through.

The Martial Arts gym I work and compete for is now offering Yoga classes as a separate program and part of our curriculum. Now, I consider myself a generally healthy, strong, and generally good-looking guy (just kidding!).

But I’ll be the first to admit that I couldn’t physically handle my first Yoga class! It’s a different type of training and exercise from everything I’m used to! Yoga requires patience, coordination, balance, etc. And by the end, I was dripping in sweat! My experience with Yoga taught by the energetic and encouraging Jennifer Moran at FusBoxe Martial Arts was certainly a positive one.

This Sunday run or walk to support AIDS research in the 20th annual AIDS walk. Opening ceremonies are at 9am, so you have enough time to show up before any Sunday football begins, or stop by after the big game. Walking or running is great exercise, and its for a great cause.

AIDS Walk Colorado

Date: Sunday, Sept. 9

Location: Cheesman Park map to Cheesman Park

Contact: 303-861-WALK

If you were to ask me where I will be in Denver this Sunday, I would say, “at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science of course!” So here’s your chance to meet the author of www.about-denverco.com (real exciting, I know and at the very least, enjoy some free learning and fun at the museum.

Free Day at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Sunday, Sept. 9

Location: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.

Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday

Free admission for Colorado residents.

A close acquaintance of mine turned me on to this event which I believe happens the first Friday in Denver almost every month (??)
Basically, how you describe the Art Walk is all the name: you have the opportunity to Walk and see Art. The important part: its free! Here’s the info:

Art Walk

Date: Friday, Sept. 7 at the Santa Fe Art District, 5th to 10th Ave. on Santa Fe Dr.

Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Free admission to art galleries along Santa Fe Dr.!

Denver Sunrise

More and more this month you should start noticing the shortening of our Denver days, and thus the lengthening of our Denver evenings and nights. Based on the information I’ve seen, in just this month of September alone, the sunrise (at 5:31 am this morning) will begin to stall and by month’s end won’t take place till estimated 5:56pm. Tonight the sunset is expected to begin at 6:30pm and will finish out this month with an early sunset beginning at 5:43pm.

But don’t let this gloomy news get you down! September brings with it all sorts of fun activities and events, fall sports, the colors of autumn, cool air nights, etc. In fact, this week there will be several postings on about-denverco.com about different events happening this month.

Denver Sunset

A Taste of Colorado

Enjoy food, beverages, music, kids activities, arts and crafts, attractions, events, and more this weekend at the Taste of Colorado.

Free Admission
Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver

Friday August 31st through Monday September 3rd

10:30 am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday
10:30am to 8pm on Monday

Fall is upon us, which means a shift in activity from the great outdoors to warm, snow-free indoors. If you’re looking for a fun activity for you and the whole family, you and a few friends, or anyone else, try some karate and martial arts lessons. The website I’m proud to recommend is:

Kids Karate Colorado .com

My experience with college and my overdrawn promise of College Week Writing (spanning two and a half weeks in total) culminates with this entry.
After a year at CU Boulder, a nationally recognized University and a prestigious one at that, I transferred to Metro State with less than high expectations. MSCD (Metro State) was, after all, cheaper, a commuter campus, and does not boast as beautiful campus as that of CU.

Despite my low expectations, the atmosphere, people, professors, programs, Independent Degree Program specifically, and even the campus (in downtown Denver), may have persuaded me to complete my degree and even recommend others to Metro State.

One of my biggest concerns entering into the state college from a University was the level of conversation and discussion in class. My assumption was MSCD students would be quiet, shy, unwilling to discuss, but how far from the truth was I! In every class I have had thus far, this being the start of my third semester with Metro, the classes have held intelligent, understandable discussions with broad participation from all students! Despite being a commuter campus, it is easy to make friends in and outside of class, and everyone seems willing to have conversation with you.
I remember a much respected high school counselor of mine recommending Metro State as a great school for business; at the time I did not take his recommendation with much salt, but after having experienced these programs as well I am proud to say that my college will graduate this student as a strong leader in business and innovative thinking!
The entire education I’ve experienced in Downtown Denver at Metro State College on the Auraria Campus has been rewarding and fulfilling and I will recommend this school to anyone. What amazed me and continues to do so - the greatest advantage of Metro - is its price compared to service and education received. Besides the location and price, there has been no distinguishable difference, in my mind, between Metro and CU Boulder. But I am happy to be saving thousands each month from what I would be paying in Boulder!

Attention Denver College Students:

If you’re not entirely sure what you would like your major to be, want to major in something that isn’t offered at your school, or are like me and want five majors but not the work load of five majors, turn your attention to your campus’ Individualized Degree Program.
I just attended a meeting on IDP and let me tell you, this is the way to go.
Take my situation for example: I want to study psychology, marketing, journalism, and public relations and then apply this knowledge to the fields of sociology and political science. Everything I just mentioned can be a degree in their own right, but I don’t have the time, money, or dedication to get all five or six or seven degrees! Enter the Individualized Degree Program (IDP) in which you can basically design your own major and choose the classes needed for someone (like yourself) to major in this field. I haven’t quite decided what to call my major (that’s right, you get to name it!) but I’ll be able to include the best of psychology, marketing, political science, etc. and only the courses that apply directly to my interest instead of something like Stats for Psych majors.
Many people choose the IDP program simply because none of the majors offered at their school suits their interests. CU Boulder has some 200 major programs while Metro State has around 50 or so. At either school it is entirely possible that there will be students not interested in the available majors. Again, enter the IDP program.
So if you are looking to enhance your learning experience and can’t do so with the offered majors, try looking into your campus’ Individualized Degree Program. Me doing so has certainly added a lot of value to my schooling and has motivated me to work harder.
And when you’re ready for a masters or PhD, might I suggest a program through Denver University? DU offers graduate courses through a program or division of their school they have aptly named ‘University College.’ So wait a minute here, just wait a minute - is it a college or a university? Tee hee

I’m hoping this image touches on an issue that is something we can all agree on, Democrats, Republicans, what have you.
The success of our future is largely dependant upon the quality of our education systems and education provided today.

As you can see from the above picture, CU Boulder boasts a remarkably beautiful campus. Students from all over the country are attracted to Boulder for its beauty, close proximity to the mountains, liberal arts instruction, nationally recognized Leeds School of Business, and among other things, the CU party life.
My first year of college was expended on the CU campus of Boulder and overall I am very happy with the education and college experience I received there. For what I look for in higher education, CU does a lot of things right and above average. I could tell that all my professors were passionate about education and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to spend two semesters under their tutelage.
In my free time, CU and Boulder provided enough political excitement, outdoor recreation, and plenty of outlets for volunteer work and community service opportunities.
My intent for college (though this intent of mine is ever changing) is to eventually graduate from CU Boulder though I do not currently attend this school anymore. But everything I experienced my freshmen year leads me to believe that CU will be a respectable school to earn my degree from. Thereafter, maybe a doctorate at Stanford? Who knows…
The one thing I did not like with CU Boulder was, when as a young and enthusiastic freshmen actively seeking to fix everyone else’s problems but my own (we’ve all been there!), I sought to create a group and school paper geared to reducing campus underage and binge drinking. While trying to navigate my way from this office to that department, everyone sending me to talk to someone else, I got the impression that CU isn’t actually all too willing to reduce the drinking habits of their students because that is a major pull and attraction for new students: CU Boulder the party school. Oh well, I suppose, that is business and they’re being good businesspeople if they avoid reducing alcohol consumption to maintain a reputation that brings in new students, but to me it still left a slightly sour or bitter beer taste in my mouth.

This post is more of a rant, and it certainly pertains to every college in the United States, not just the colleges and universities here in Denver.
College girls. Brought to my attention by my good friend Aaron. Readers let me know what you think…
In Aaron’s words,
“Have you ever noticed that college girls walk around dressed up like they’re going to the club, and it’s nice for us to look at and all, sure, but don’t you think a lot of it’s unnecessary for class?”
We discussed this at length, and I’m interested in feedback, especially from college age boys and girls, men and women.
Thanks for reading

Today’s entry is a blog storm, which is not so different from a brain storm. This week I want to focus on colleges and universities in Denver and the surrounding area, being that school is starting up again for college students.
For this particular blog storm, I’m asking readers to help me out by leaving comments or sending emails listing any Denver colleges that I am leaving out. If you see that your college, your teenagers college, the university you work at, etc. is not in the following list, I want to know! Thanks for the input and, as always, thanks for feedback.

Denver colleges include:

Metropolitan State College of Denver
Community College of Denver
Front Range Community College
(I welcome suggestions for tech and trade colleges here as well)

Denver universities include:

Denver University
University of Colorado Denver (and Boulder)
Regis University