Metro Post-Telegraph

Creature of aesthetic: Brandon Maldonado

Landen Crespin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:27:20 +0000

BIKER BOYZ: Brandon, Picasso and Leroy cruise the Lower Highlands of Denver. Photo: Landen Crespin

DENVER – Almost indescribable, the image requires a double take.

Black aviator sunglasses and a trucker hat atop his short black curls, he zooms along on his gloss black beach cruiser. The elegant curves of the bike and the sparks of light glistening off the chrome wheels are confused by two small, furry things in baskets on either side of his rear wheel. Picasso, or ‘Pico’ for short and Leroy are the dogs of artist Brandon Maldonado. Their tongues shoot out with joy as the trio cruises the streets in the Lower Highland neighborhood of Denver, or LoHi where Brandon calls home.

A quick glimpse into his house/art gallery/painting and drawing studio which he has named Intersecting Parallels offers an accurate, yet complex illustration of who Brandon is. Antique furniture weathered and scarred by years of mysteries are strewn throughout the house, numerous fake crows peer out an elegantly dressed front window, perched atop a chair eyeing young couples and hipsters as they walk to a number of trendy restaurants and bars nearby.

Have I failed? When asked of his biggest failure. Photo: Brandon Maldonado

Brandon has spent most of his life in Albuquerque, New Mexico only recently relocating to Denver, the city of his birth. Born in 1980 his creativity was influenced by fantasy worlds, skeletons and monsters like that of the Star Wars trilogy, his Skeletor action figure and the monsters of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Around the age of 10, he began soaking up the skateboard culture and style that are an apparent influence in his art to this day. “The major skateboard brand at the time was Powell Peralta. Most of their graphics were of skulls and skeletons, and that stuff really blew my mind. Skateboarding exposed me to this whole underground culture of break dancing, gangster rap and graffiti, which became most influential to me. There was something very real to it for me. It was both edgy and defiant, but at the same time very beautiful…” said Brandon.

His interests had instilled in him a deep fascination for the darker realm of graphic media which continues to be a predominant theme in his art, but where does his inspiration start as well as end?

Brandon is a creature of aesthetic in all aspects of life. “The visual language of art has the ability to communicate beyond the confines of spoken language. I believe this quality is the essence of visual arts and is the medium’s greatest strength,” he explains. His artistic fascination remains with the contemplation of the mystery of death, which has helped him exterminate superficiality from his work. He theorizes that since the beginning of time, humanity has tried to come to terms with this mystery involving the termination of physical life by providing answers to the abstractness of sentience and mortality. “[Death] is truly a great mystery and something I often think about,” said Brandon.

The Portrait of Doña Catrina hangs in Intersecting Parallels gallery. Photo: Landen Crespin

Brandon is illustrating an internal world, one we are familiar with and that is instilled within all of us. We can relate to his art because of the universal human emotions he illustrates. His goal is guiding the viewer to transcend the technical aspects of his visuals and experience the profound metaphysical and emotional concepts acutely referenced in his images. “The most rewarding part about being an artist is—it’s a very lonely profession, you have to be isolated working in your studio. People don’t relate to you, they don’t get you, and when you put [your art] out there they react to you like you’re speaking—like your paintings are about them. Something that is personal to you is also personal to them,” Brandon said, this relationship with his audience is what gives him the most pleasure.

This relationship along with his internal desire, drive his creativity. He often partakes multiple paintings at one time, alternating which he works on as his inspiration fluctuates. He is constantly sketching elaborate ideas as well as working on contracted pieces, the number of Maldonado works is increasing significantly.

Schism from The Rose Period by Brandon Maldonado.

Like many master artists of the past, Brandon’s art has become segregated into ‘periods’ as he has evolved. Beginning as a young artist with his ‘drawing’ phase his work consisted mainly of Dia de los Muertos themed art. At the age of 24 he began to learn the medium of oil painting which had intimidated him due to his lack of formal training and color-blindness. Under the wing of the Mexican painter Ricardo Chavez-Mendez well known for his trademarked style Curvismo, Brandon began to interpret the themes of classical painting and develop technique.

Now somewhat established as an artist and immersed into the medium of oil paint he had a new vehicle for his rampant creativity. Seemingly unstoppable, he began his continuing spree of oil paintings which include themes like Mythic Visions, Dia de los Muertos and the Rose period. Unlike Pablo Picasso’s Rose Period where he used cheerful tones of red in opposition to his preceding Blue Period, Brandon’s Rose Period consists of paintings including roses.

Intersecting Parallels Gallery. Photo: Landen Crespin

Consistent themes appear in his art, which, like most things either appeal to an audience who loves it, or is disgusted by it. “I don’t like it at all,” said one critic. He brings aspects of his life that affect him, and translates those into his own language. A bad break up, authority, the joy of riding a bike, loneliness, love, death, confusion and longing to name a few, all come out through the stroke of Brandon’s brush, his translation of life.

Portrait of the Artist(in progress) by Chris Perez www.chrisperezfineart.com

However much evolution has occurred in his technique, a consistency remains, stemming back to his roots of graffiti influence, “It was the big headed characters and often distorted anatomy that made a big impact on me, and also the boldness. It wasn’t really until I was in college that I began to understand and appreciate the works of the old masters, but once the floodgate opened I began to create a bridge between to two worlds and my own work,” said Brandon. Including an associate’s degree in fine arts, he also has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and world religion from the College of Santa Fe, however he considers his artistic style and appreciation primarily self taught through independent study of the master painters. “I pick up my paintbrushes and attempt to use art as a vehicle for inspiring change. The process of making a painting in itself is a meditation for me. I discriminately chose the themes of my work, making certain that each concept is ultimately something I believe is worth saying and contemplating,” he says, coincidentally defining himself.

Closing in on ten years from learning the medium of oil, the question is, what will his progress look like in that same time in the future? Maybe he’ll have cut his ear off, maybe he’ll live in a “modest house in a modest neighborhood” with a vast collection of other artists’ work, which he would prefer having over being an artist himself. Only he can elaborate: “It’s the journey that brings life purpose, people are always looking for a destination. If you listen to a song and wait for the last note, the bang of the gong, then you kind of miss the point that you should have been dancing the whole time. So, in other words, I’ll keep going with it and see where it takes me…enjoy the ride.”

I’ve pondered whether or not there is a boundary between Brandon’s highly fickle personality and his perfectionism. He’s worked since August 1st, eight months getting Intersecting Parallels to his liking, once staying up until 5 a.m. rearranging the furniture again and again. Perhaps it’s neither indecision nor perfectionism that drives his quirkiness, but to be simply satisfied with himself and his product.

When the self-proclaimed “Painter of poetry” isn’t overfilling our imaginations with mysteries he’s managing his business and eating candy. Brandon's Shopping cart. Photo: Landen Crespin

M.E. Sprengelmeyer helps young journalist

melodibyerly — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:04:54 +0000

TRUE BELIEVER: M.E. Sprengelmeyer believes the future of print is in print. Photo by Melodi Byerly

DENVER – Changing the story one good deed at time… M.E. Sprengelmeyer gives back to young journalists and works hard to keep the fraternity together. “I want to show students that journalism is still alive,” he said.

From working as the sole Washington correspondent for The Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colorado to becoming The Owner of The Guadalupe County Communicator in the small town of Santa Rosa, New Mexico Sprengelmeyer has no issue with remembering where he came from. “I will never forget when my first Editor Lisa Grace Lednicer slapped me down and how much I learned from that experience,”Sprengelmeyer said.

Sprengelmeyer took over The Guadalupe County Communicator in August of 2009 and since then has made it very clear that he is willing to help students that have a passion for journalism. “You just know it when you see a student that is really going to shine in the journalism world and it makes you want to help,” said Sprengelmeyer.

“When I first took over the newspaper my goal was to show the world that I could do it, plus I wanted to save journalism nationwide.”

He has worked with students from The University of New Mexico and Metropolitan State College. Sprengelmeyer keeps a very busy schedule with the daily operations of his newspaper but still seems to make time to sit with a student for a couple of hours editing their story to help guide them in the right direction. He is even willing to publish a student’s story or there photo in his newspaper if he feels like it is good enough creating a great opportunity for the student to get their first by-line.

In January 2011, Sprengelmeyer worked for a week with a group of students from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado. It was a Social Documentary class offered by the Journalism program at Metro State. Professors Mr. Kenn Bisio and Mr. Joe Mahoney escorted the students to Santa Rosa.

The students were dropped in the small town of 2,600 people and were challenged to find stories to write and pictures to take. The first night there they were introduced to Mr. Sprengelmeyer and from then on out he challenged them in every way possible. It didn’t take long before the students realized that in a small town like Santa Rosa you have to be able to get real with the people because the stories lie within the hearts of their community.

Sprengelmeyer offers paid internships to students and even allows them to stay in his own home to make it cheaper for them.

Sprengelmeyer along with the professors spent many hours with the students that week helping them with story ideas, editing and looking at photo shoots. “It was a life-changing opportunity,” said Sean Mullins.

By the end of the week each student felt a sense of belonging in Santa Rosa and some will return not only to work with Mr.Spengelmeyer but because the little town got inside of their hearts. “We need more people like M.E. His paper is the poster child of kick-ass small town journalism,” said Sean Mullins.

Sprengelmeyer offers paid internships to students and even allows them to stay in his own home to make it cheaper for them. Two students from Metro State College have stayed with Sprengelmeyer in his home and worked with him at the Communicator. “I believe that journalists are part of a fraternity and I want to help keep us a tight niche family,” said Sprengelmeyer.

With the field of Journalism becoming more competitive everyday it is great to see a journalist who has had such a successful career open his heart, his home, and his newspaper to help young, aspiring journalists follow their dreams. By donating his time he hopes to shape the next generation of young journalist’s.

“I truly believe the future of print is in print,” said Sprengelmeyer.

”When I first took over the newspaper my goal was to show the world that I could do it plus I wanted to save journalism nationwide. Now my love for Santa Rosa has grown so much that my only concern is how I can save my town,” said Sprengelmeyer.

9News Parade of Lights Gets Denver an Early Start to Christmas

LeAndra Fagen — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:26:20 +0000

Christmas lights illuminate Denver's Civic Center Building. Photos by LeAndra Fagen

DENVER – The Mile-High City’s Parade of Lights stepped off smartly the evening of Dec. 2^nd and 3^rd to the delight of tens and thousands of excited fans lining Bannock Street from 14^th Avenue all the way to Civic Center Park.

Doors were open to audiences both old and young and those prepared for the cold weather, and the few who preferred to leave their winter coats and mittens behind.

“I enjoyed the parade a lot more this year,” said veteran spectator Meredith. “I learned my lesson a couple years back when I left the parade early because it was so cold. I packed an extra coat, and wore leggings under my jeans to stay extra warm and my friends made tons of hot chocolate to keep us warm during the entire parade.”

The Parade of Lights is hosted by 9News, American Furniture Warehouse and GO Automotive Group. If you missed the parade, it will be rebroadcasted for viewers Dec. 10^th at 6 p.m. on 9News, Dec. 17^th at 5 P.M. on MY20, and 9News will show a final broadcast of the parade on Christmas Eve at 10:30 p.m.

“I attend the parade every year but I also play it on my television on Christmas Eve to keep my children involved with the whole Christmas feeling,” said Maria Gonzales.

As the parade was getting set to go the crowd enjoyed hot chocolate and apple cider vendors, Christmas music, and tons of lights that lit up all of downtown Denver. Access to the parade provided delightful Colorado views. Crowds of people took the Light rail which brought them right to the heart of Denver. There people enjoyed Christmas decorations, delicious restaurants, ice skating, breweries, unique shops, Christmas music, galleries, and to make the season bright, carriage rides

“I have never seen so much going on in one place. The activities were wonderful all that was missing was the Colorado snow,” said Roger a visitor to Denver.

The parade offered a variety of floats such as: The carousel float, Christmas story float, clock tower float, gingerbread house float, jewelry box float, magic mountain float, ship of lights float, and finally what children of all ages waited for, the Santa Claus float. Following the assortment of floats was huge balloon characters such as Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer and a variety of local school bands. All while the parade took place, there was never a quiet moment because Christmas tunes played in the back ground, people sang cheerfully, and families laughed and viewed in awe.

“It’s the kind of event you grow up going to then you take your children and so on,” according to review on yelp.com

Since the parade is free for anyone donations are asked for but not required. These donations go to help cover the coast of the parade that Corporations don’t cover. You can offer your support by donating $10 to Merry Munchkins, $25 to Handy Helpers, $50 to Eager Elves $100 to Reigning Reindeer, and $500 to Santa’s Stars.

It was a holly, jolly Parade of Lights show. --- Santa

Not only did sponsors and donations make the parade possible but hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers submitted their request no later than Oct 30^th. Anyone 11 years old and up can volunteer each year through www.denverparadeoflights.com by completing the form and be prepared to hear a call back no later than November 25^th for your participation. There is no limit because each year the parade gets bigger, the crowd grows larger and the amount of characters and participants in the parade makes the parade even grander!

If your love Christmas and can’t wait to celebrate in the Spirit of Christmas the parade of lights is the place to start.

“You definitely get the full on effect of Christmas,” said Hannah a volunteer at the parade.

If Christmas lights, music, carolers, carriage rides, hot chocolate, reindeer, and Santa Clause doesn’t get you in the early Christmas mood what can? Don’t forget

For more information on the Denver Parade of Lights Visit

www.denverparadeoflights.com

www.denverparadeoflights/volunteers.com

www.9news/denverparadeoflights.com

to tune into 9News if you missed the parade or want to re-watch it.

“Check Please!”

Nikki Work — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:40:54 +0000

PAY UP: Leave a 13-20 percent tip for wait staff. One should tip minimally, even if the service is fantastic.

DENVER – By day, she is a Metro State nursing student. By night, Lilia Chavez, works for tips as a server and a To-Go Specialist at Chili’s Grill and Bar.

Chavez, a sophomore, has worked at Chili’s for three years, and like many other Metro students, her job is a necessary component for her education.

However, with the state of the economy and with the holidays just around the corner, tipped employees like Chavez are experiencing the country’s money woes firsthand.

“Bad tips are a lot of work for nothing,” Chavez said. “It affects me because I get less than minimum wage and tips are how I make my money.”

The 2011 minimum wage for tipped employees in the state of Colorado is $4.34 per hour. In 2012, it is proposed to rise to $4.62. The problem, though, is that once tips are claimed, that hourly wage is nearly entirely taken for taxes.

In an article featured on Fox Business’s website, Constance Hoffman, etiquette coach and trainer, recommended that one leave a 13-20 percent tip for wait staff, and went on to say that one should tip minimally, even if the service is fantastic.

Hoffman also said that tips are shared by restaurant workers. While in some cases this is true, it is not in all. For example, at Chili’s, servers tip out the bartender mandatorily, but any other tip outs are done by choice. In this respect, a server’s tips are their entire wages.

After a study of 54 tables at one Chili’s location, an average percentage of tips to bills could be calculated. Over the span of four shifts, weekend, weekday, lunch, and dinner, the average tip percentage for one server was 17.52 percent.

This is consistent with the results of a poll taken on Facebook. Out of 147 responses, 44 percent of people surveyed said they tip 15-20 percent, based on service received.

Bringing up second place in the survey was the flat 20 percent option, with 36 percent of the votes. Only 1.4 percent of those who took the survey said they would leave 10 percent of their bill or less.

Another area of the restaurant that is up for tipping debate is the Takeout or To-Go center. In her review, Hoffman said that takeout tips were unnecessary. Chavez, who relies on To-Go for a significant amount of her income, disagrees.

“To-go tipping is obviously less than serving,” Chavez said. “I’ve heard from people that they believe that in to-go, all you do is pack up the food. I really wish this would change. If everyone tipped at least a dollar in to-go it would go a long way.”

And though Chavez now advocates for takeout tips, she knows that a lot of people don’t understand the amount of work that goes into the job. She admits that until she started doing it, she didn’t realize its scope, either.

“I actually used to not tip,” Chavez said. “Then, you realize how much work it is, and you better believe [now] I tip where ever I go.”

And wages aside, tips are a personal matter to servers. Since tips are, or at least can be, a direct reflection of service, many servers take poor tips personally. For Chavez, it’s the good ones she tries to take to heart.

“The good [tips],” Chavez said with a smile, “let me know I’ve done something right.”

Auraria Health Fair offers students advise on good nutrition and exercise

Caitlin Sievers — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:57:44 +0000

HEALTH MATTERS: Volunteers from the NSSLHA Lindsay Wickler and Beth Schneider (from left) advise MSCD student Joel Orozco about verbal development in childhood. Photo by Caitlin Sievers

DENVER — Students milled around the Tivoli Turnhale on Wednesday, learning from various local sources how to stay healthy through good nutrition and exercise. Jennifer Miller, the president of Future Doctors of Denver organized the event titled “Fight the Fat War” in conjunction with student activities. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about health issues and let students know about alternative therapies.

Students walked around the event, going from booth to booth to learn about health issues, grab informational brochures and get some freebies along the way.

Representatives from the Alternatives Pregnancy Center talked to students about its services and programs.

“We offer support and services to men and women in unintended pregnancies,” said Hollyn Ernstmann, a volunteer at the booth.

The ladies at the Colorado Dietetic Association booth informed students about the differences between healthy sources of sugar and fat and unhealthy ones. They were attempting to portray sugar and fat in a healthy light according to Ynke Dekoe, a volunteer at the booth.

Information about Auraria’s Healthy Moves program was available, such as class times for pilates, yoga, zumba and belly dancing classes. These classes are free and open to the whole Auraria community. Healthy moves is sponsored by the Health Center at Auraria.

One booth informed students about the differences between allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine. Chris Waasdorf, a second year student doctor at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, who was manning the booth explained that doctors who study osteopathic medicine have a difference in philosophy than those who study allopathic medicine. They believe that the body can heal itself. These doctors might prescribe medicine, but will also recommend lifestyle changes for their patients.

“Osteopathic doctors still try to maintain a holistic approach,” Waasdorf said.

Tricia, a representative from mylifeline.org talked about how much the website helped her when she was battling cancer.

“When I had my web-page, it was amazing,” Tricia said. Mylifeline.org provides cancer patients with a place to connect with friends and family. The patients can give everyone updates on their progress on the website as well as get help with some everyday activities that become overwhelming when one is fighting cancer. Tricia added that she was thankful to have the website because it was a way to find someone to walk her dog for her when she wasn’t feeling up to it.

Representative from the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) gave out informed people about standard language and speech milestones for the first year in a baby’s life. They also offered information about hearing damage and vocal cord damage. Pictures of vocal cord lesions represented what can happen when a person talks to loudly, or yells too often. One of the representatives, Beth Schneider explained that sometimes even school teachers get these lesions from talking loudly in class all day.

There were also booths representing the National Kidney Foundation, Auraria Health Center, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, and the School Traditional of Chinese Medicine.

Some classes offered through Healthy Moves offered in Tivoli 640
-Beginner’s Yoga- Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1.
- Hatha Yoga- Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon.
-Yoga for stress management- Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2.

Helmets Save Lives…Remember to wear yours. Luck is a miracle!

Cherise Scrivner — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:00:09 +0000

Devastating tragedy; Father blessed by miracles

EASY RIDER: Brain Sipes has always been a huge Harley Davidson fan. Photos by Chanel Sipes

LAFAYETTE, Colo.- Sept. 25, 2008 was just another day, the sun was shining brightly filling the gorgeous blue Colorado sky. Or so it seemed to be just another beautiful day to, Brian Sipes, 45, of Lafayette. Sipes could not believe the gorgeous weather that had been brought his way. It had been a rough week for Sipes, one of mourning and remembering the anniversary of his mother, Nancy Sipes, whom lie to rest Sept. 22, 2004. He felt there was nothing more perfect than to venture off for the afternoon, cruising the town on his 05’ FLHX Road King. Sipes had no inkling of the event that was about to occur and would ultimately forever change his life.

Sipes has always been an avid Harley Davidson fan. He has lived his entire life riding and exploring new avenues, and has looked death straight in the eye. By some miracle Sipes is here today, living father of five children ages 17-23.

Sipes and his wife at the time took off joy riding for the day with several close friends. The crowd was out enjoying the stunning weather, delicious food and refreshing drinks. They ventured from spot to spot enjoying the beauty of Colorado in their graces. The afternoon went spectacular, the party continued on into the evening as the crew headed on their way toward Longmont to hit one of their favorite spots. Moments before the group arrival at the restaurant and tavern in Longmont, their destination, Sipes noticed that his wife was driving behind a man who had joined them earlier in the afternoon, and was driving a bike with no tail lights. Sipes sped his way to the front, to notify his wife to fall back off the driver, for better safety. The two backed off the biker and Sipes took lead in front of his wife for safety precautions.

It was not before long the driver in front of Sipes did exactly as he had expected, and took a sharp right turn with hardly any notice. Sipes took the turn too quickly, as his back tire began to hit sand, gravity took over tossing Sipes nearly 50 feet down the street, knocking him completely unconscious. When ambulances arrived Sipes was pronounced “dead.” Paramedics immediately tried to resuscitate Sipes, in every way possible, through CPR, and the use of a diffibulator, paramedics brought a beat back to Sipes heart.

Luck in his presence…

Sipes was rushed to Longmont Hospital for urgent intensive care. Sipes’daughter, Chanel recalls the time spent with her father just the day before his accident.

“I remember just the most ironic thing ever, and that was recalling what my dad had asked me, just the day before his accident. He turned to me and asked, ‘what would you ever do if something ever happened to Me? He sounded serious like he meant what he said. I was shocked by the question, but I told him, I would lose it, that I would have no clue what to do with myself. Little did I know one of my biggest fears was just right around the corner.”

After three excruciating dreadful weeks, including long nights of praying and hoping a miracle would find its way to the Sipes family, the family finally received the miracle they had been wishing for with every last hope in the world. The Sipes family did everything possible with will to achieve survival and maintain strength in such a difficult and life altering situation.
Scars that Sipes acquired remind him each day what a lucky man he is, and to how it was a miracle he survived without a helmet. It reminds him every day to always wear a helmet, and appreciate life. You never know lifes surprises that are headed your way!

The day Brian Sipes awoke from his three-week-long coma in intensive care, hope was replenished in the hearts of the Sipes family; that at one point had no idea the path of survival that lie ahead of their father. A miracle occurred, and there he was, laying back in his hospital room, dazed, semi-conscience, yet life filled his face and body again.

The family reiterates the story like it was yesterday, and they remember every thought and lasting memory of the situation the father of the Sipes family was involved in. Brian was in a coma for three weeks at the Longmont hospital. Sipes was then transferred to the Boulder Community Hospital on October 15^th. In Boulder Sipes began to learn to relive, including intense physical therapy, and having to relearn how to walk, write, and talk all over again. Sipes had been paralyzed on the entire left side of his body and the right cheek bone on his face was fractured including multiple injuries to his head. Doctors had no clue what fate would bring Sipes way, but knew with focused therapy Sipes would hopefully regain feeling in his entire body again one day and begin to recover from the tragic accident.

On Dec. 21^st Sipes finally returned to the family home with regained ability to feel the left side of his body. The accident was something that many people changed Brian Sipes very much and the person he is today. The transition home was not only difficult on Brian in the fact that he was attempting to remind himself of everything like it was new; but the situation was extremely one of the most difficult situations they have ever faced as a family.

Sipes had been married for nearly 10 years before the accident, and not only did his wife stand by his side through recovery but exceptionally, his children. With time heartbreak and doubt become something extremely familiar and hard to bear in the Sipes household. The injuries Sipes suffered from, particularly in his brain, caused him to be temperamental, quickly upset or agitated, and all this became very difficult for the entire family to bear

“We felt we were putting in so much time and energy and it was just so hard and frustrating observing how upset and vulnerable my loving father was acting,” Chanel explained. “He was not only my father, but he was a close friend, not only did I look up to him but as did many people. He was an asset of admiration to the entire community.”

Sipes recalls back to events that he remembers prior to his critical motorcycle accident. All of the incidents that have occurred in Sipes life he says, “Make me the man I am today!” He remembers certain things now, after long intensive hours of physical therapy and brain exercises. Following the accident, Sipes brain, over many weeks went through several stages of “re-living” events that occurred in his past. Chanel said, “ My dad went through stages, one week he was re-living a prior accident when he had fell from a building, the next week he was going through the death of his mom all over again, four years later, like it just happened yesterday, and he had just been told. It was really difficult for us to all learn how to understand, but he had forgotten almost everything, and it was like the accident set the restart button on my dad.”

Sipes talks proudly of his past, the things he has come to remember following his accident, including his passions & experiences. He began his working career as a Colorado construction worker, working several large projects across the U.S. including some of Colorado’s most favorite structures such as The Pepsi Center, Coors Field, Colorado Mills, Park Meadows, & The Flatirons Mall. Sipes spent a great chunk of his life contributing to the construction of Colorado, and Iron working remains one of his most favorite past times.

Despite many accidents, Sipes always manages to bounce back.

His career ended with tragedy as Sipes was accidentally knocked 25 feet, off a beam by a greatly intoxicated crane operator. Sipes fell hard using his left arm as protection to his head. He recalls watching his life flash before his eyes.

“I remember seeing my children, my family,and knowing I had to protect my head,” he said. Sipes recovered from the accident. As the ambulance rushed the scene, dirt flying through the air they came upon the area of the location where Sipes had fallen. After moments of laying on the ground, before the paramedics arrived, Sipes arose quickly and began walking off holding his arm as he struggled to walk. The ambulance arrived and stopped a man in attempt to get directions to the scene of the accident, to quickly discover the man they were speaking to was Brian Sipes himself.

“The x-ray tells the story of the painful and serious injuries I suffered as a result of this incident. Notice I did not say accident. I have since come to understand the difference between an accident and an incident. This was not an accident.”

Metro donation drive brings in supplies

James Crussell — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:47:41 +0000

Food Drive: MSCD Senior, Senaye Gebré Michael in the Center for Urban Connections

-As Thanksgiving draws near, the number of donations rises higher

DENVER – MSCD began hosting their annual Food & Clothing Drive on Nov. 7, and will be running up until the 19th. They are collecting non-perishable foods and clothing items such as jackets to donate to the Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver.

Students from the Center for Urban Connections (CUC), Urban Leadership Program (ULP), and Campus Recreation at Auraria (CRA) teamed up to make this donation drive happen. The drive hopes to obtain around 40,000 donations.

Items such as non-perishable foods, and winter clothes such as jackets are being accepted in the drive.

“The drive has stepped up within the past couple of days,” said MSCD Senior Senaye Gebré Michael. “We went out the email on Nov. 7, and we were off to a slow start, but things have started to pick up the past few days.”

With the drive running annually, the Center for Urban Connections in Tivoli 243 has been the home base of operations.

“Our mission is to connect with people beyond the borders of campus,” said Michael. “I think Thanksgiving Break has had some affect on the donations. People want to give back at this time of year.”

“There are so many opportunities, short term internships and volunteer opportunities availiable in the Center for Urban Connections,” Michael said.

Donations are being accepted in the CUC office in Tivoli 243, and PE Building Room 110. People who donate are also eligible to win in a drawing for prizes such as Comedy Works Tickets, Outdoor Adventure Vouchers and so on.

There are numerous volunteer opportunities in the CUC office, and check in the office for upcoming events and donation drives.

“Our office is on facebook as well as twitter, so feel free to follow us,” Michael said. “We also have a volunteer board in the office, so check in for upcoming events.”

*According to FeedingAmerica.org:

1 in 8 people struggle with hunger

Food insecurity exists in 17.2 million households in America, 3.9 million of them with children

39% said they must choose between paying for a meal or paying rent

*Information taken from Center for Urban Connections Email

An American in Argentina

Knotthibahdi Duffy — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:43:13 +0000

An American in Sao Paulo: Maybe This Shouldn't Get A Sequel.

Twenty years old and he’d never been on a plane alone before. Chain-smoker, twice-spent resident in detox, and paying his own rent: For all vices and otherwise, Ryan Tabb fell under all qualifications of being an independent adult. But it was sitting there in that airplane lobby, waiting for his Mexico City flight that would transfer to São Paulo before finalizing in Buenos Aires, Argentina that it hit him. He was sort of alone.

“There were times there where I felt like I was the only American in the whole country,” said Ryan of his three-month stay in Argentina. “But luckily I was almost always with my girlfriend. That pretty much made every difference.”

Ryan was still 20 when he met Antonela Nervi while working his day-job as, as he puts it, “The Soup Man” of the Mezzaluna, a restaurant located at the Lions Square Lodge in Vail, Colo. He cooked, she served, and together they “made a mean overpriced breakfast.”

“I just saw her this one shift and I knew I had to talk to her – like, why not, you know? – and that was pretty much that,” Ryan said of meeting his soon-to-be girlfriend from Argentina. And after three months of solid dating – “I seriously don’t think there wasn’t ever a day I didn’t see her.” Ryan decided he wouldn’t let the end of the ski-season get in the way of love. He was putting all $2,400 of the year’s profits into a flight down to Antonela’s home outside Buenos Aires. “I could’ve saved a whole bunch of money if I had just done a one-way [ticket], but, you know, I kinda still live here and all,” said Ryan.

And so, only a month later, did Ryan sit waiting on his trans-continental flight, with little idea what to expect. He had been to Mexico, but admits to being almost exclusively around “just touristy stuff.” What he found upon arriving in Argentina surprised him in its contrast to American life – but he also found a whole lot was similar as well.

“Seriously, I ate Burger King there like…12 times,” said Ryan. “They’ve even got this burger with four patties that I don’t think they even offer up here, probably due to some sort of FDA law or something.” As to whether this was a meal Ryan often enjoyed, he pleads sanity. “No f##king way! I didn’t even order it once. I’m just saying they had it. That burger was almost more American than America.”

There were still a number of things still foreign to him, though. “Well, for one we didn’t even have dinner 10 o’clock,” said Ryan. “And then lunch was just whenever we woke up, and that sort of included breakfast in a way because we always slept in.

“And they had really, really good food too. Argentinians are huge carnivores. It pretty much sucks to be vegetarian down there. This one time we had this huge barbecue – I forget, it was like for my girlfriend’s friend’s birthday or something – but anyways, we pretty much ate every part of the cow.”

Surprisingly, said Ryan, he never got sick. “If the water was bad for you, it’s not like I drank any anyways. I should’ve gotten a sponsorship from Gatorade or something. That’s all I drank.”

Ryan claims to have done more things than just have simply ate, however. When his girlfriend had to go to class – she went to Universidade de São Paulo and majored in English – he’d take his skateboard out and explore parts of town. “There were all these ruins. OK, not ruins. But like buildings they just started building, and then stopped. And there was one in every town I ever went to with Anton. All the wiring would be exposed and sh#t and people would go up and put graffiti all over them.

“I did a lot of exploring other places too. Like, pretty much all the time because Anton would be gone for so long. There was this one time I snuck into this football stadium,” Ryan said before pausing and then smiling. “Oh, sorry –soccer stadium. Sock-hurr. But yeah, I went in there and it was totally empty and kind of creepy because it was sort of late in the afternoon. And all of a sudden this guy comes out from behind the seats and starts screaming at me. I didn’t know whether he was a bum or not or if he was just a security guard that lived there, because it seemed like he was just lying behind the seats sleeping before he saw me. But yeah, I ran out of there for my f##king life and almost left my board.”

There were other times Ryan felt on the brink of death as well. While never, as he claims, having any run-ins with drug cartels or every finding himself held at knife-point because he clearly looked like a tourist. “Argentinians pretty much look European. They’re all blonde and stuff. I fit right in.” Ryan said he did find intersections “f##king terrifying.”

“So what happens is that in a lot of towns there were no stop signs. I never drove – Anton drove a lot – so whenever she’d slow down I’d lose my breath,” Ryan said, miming his exact reaction. “Luckily though you don’t even really need a car down there. I wouldn’t want one. The subway is so good it comes like every time you blink.”

One would expect, then, that travelling either alone – or just travelling in general – would require some amount of fluency in Spanish, Argentina’s official language. To the dismay of high-school Spanish teachers worldwide, Ryan claims otherwise. “I tried to speak Spanish, but then whoever I’d be talking to would realize I’m not Argentinian and then would start speaking English to me. Like, perfect English. My girlfriend speaks perfect English, but I never expected, like, the entire nation to.”

“It was crazy,” Ryan said. “That and those burgers. It’s like, if I was just coming here for the hell of it and didn’t have my girlfriend to see… I should’ve just stayed in the U.S. Everyone talks to you about the Simpsons and everyone likes Oasis [a 90s English rock-band]. And everyone had Nikes on. Seriously, I don’t know whether it’s a good or bad thing. I’m just saying, that’s how it was.”

Despite it all, Ryan says he still wants to go back. “Oh hell yeah, I’m definitely going back…We talk on Skype like every day, so I totally expect to go down there again.” As he says this, he’s smiling in anticipation, stops, and swivels his chair in his Denver-home to turn around: Eyes set exactly upon the calendar.

Students freeze to see President Obama

Melodi Henis-Byerly — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:36:13 +0000

Obama Line: Many students faced the freezing temperatures to get the chance to stand only 50 feet away from Obama while he spoke. Photo by Melodi Byerly

DENVER – Obama was scheduled to speak to students Wednesday morning on his new plan for the future; helping higher education students with their financial aid and to make it easier on them once they graduate. Students stood in line on an average of five hours between the two days and were ecstatic to hear him speak. Chris Byerly, a graduate student at UCD, said, “I can’t believe I am going to see him up close and personal.” Two thousand students stood in line previous day in the freezing cold on Tuesday Oct. 25, to receive their free ticket to see the President of the United States of America speak.

Many students faced the freezing temperatures to get the chance to stand only 50 feet away from Obama while he spoke. “The lady in front of me did not have a hat on and her hair was completely frozen because the snow falling down was so wet, said Kellie Faulken, a junior at Metro State. The blizzard conditions made it hard for everyone to be patient and stand in line for two hours that morning. “I gave up, the line was just too long and I was freezing to death,” she added.

Many students that had stood in line both days to get their chance at seeing Obama up close and personal were sadly mistaken when 10:15 a.m. came upon them and the doors closed. They handed out 4,600 tickets to students that stuck it out in line on Tuesday morning, but half of the students did not get in on Wednesday. The students were outraged.

“I stood in line for a total of almost four hours freezing, and I did not get in to see him speak. It is not fair and not very smart to upset so many students like this. Word travels fast around campus and Obama made a mistake by not booking a bigger venue, said Jonathan Lockwood, a Public Relations senior at Metro. Obama should have planned a little better, spoke at a bigger venue, handed out the correct amount of tickets, or let everyone in that had stood in line for hours in the freezing temperatures.”

Students affiliated with the Colligate Entrepreneurial Organization wanted to sell hot chocolate, coffee, hot tea and muffins to the students standing in line the day of the speech, but this was not allowed. In Obama’s speech he proceeds to promise to fight for the little people yet it was not allowed for any school organization to sell or promote their club anywhere on campus that day. Even the tables that you see all over campus were frozen that day –no rentals allowed.

“We could have made $1,000 that day and that would have supported us all year long,” a student said. “Obama doesn’t care about us… he left us standing in freezing and broke.”

Tim Tebow turns into a no go

shawnmartin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:49:06 +0000

Hike!: Tim Tebow takes a snap during the first quarter of the Oct. 30th game against the Detroit Lions. Photo by Shawn Martin

DENVER– Headed into Sunday’s Oct. 30, game against the Detroit Lions; Tim Tebow became the talk of the NFL with his miraculous comeback he led against the Miami Dolphins the previous week.

The majority of the Bronco fans felt as if they had found the next great football sensation, ignoring the fact he had arguably the worst statistics for a QB during the first 55 minutes of the game before the 15-point comeback (4-14 for 40 yards). Tebow did end up winning the game for the Broncos and the hearts of all Denver fans who believed in him.

I was probably one of few people who live in the Mile-High City who doesn’t believe the Broncos future rest in the hands of Tebow, but I just let his game do the talking. When I was headed to the game, I couldn’t walk five feet without seeing something Tebow related. Walking into the stadium I tripped over countless fans “Tebowing,” (To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.) a short-lived phenomenon Tebow pose that fans reenacted to following the Miami win. This proves the Denver fans have issues and are setting themselves up for utter disappointment.

The stadiums atmosphere was great, but it didn’t last long. The Broncos started out fast, driving down the field and almost getting a touchdown pass from Tebow to Eric Decker. Unfortunately Decker was out of bounds leaving Denver to settle for a field goal. Fans erupted feeling even more confident about the man behind center.

Lion’s quarterback Mathew Stafford quickly gave Denver a reality check, and showed any spectator how the position should be played. Stafford drove the Lions 80 yards throwing a 41-yard touchdown to Titus Young who was wide open due to safeties miscommunication.

After the Lion’s first touchdown, the game became out of hand as they scored 38 straight additional points after the first quarter. Tebow’s two turnovers, a fumble loss and an interception, both ended up being defensive touchdowns. The score was so out of reach, Denver could clearly tell another come back became impossible.

Even though Tebow’s first home start this season had failed, hopeful fans never booed him. This drove me nuts, if you know football at all, you should know Tebow just isn’t fit for the NFL as a QB, and Kyle Orton is the best option Denver has to win. Any other team in the league would have benched Tebow sometime during this game.

I’ve seen Denver fans completely kick former quarterbacks to the curb. Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, and even Kyle Orton all were praised at one point, then booed all the way to the bench. None of them played as bad as Tebow, but fans kept their mouths shut and the entire stadium was silent.

It was just announced Tebow will start this Sunday in Oakland to play the Raiders. It is what the fans still want? Broncos Vice President John Elway is probably okay with the decision. First and foremost, the only way to quiet the fans is for Elway to set Tebow up to fail. If Denver continues to lose, they stay in the running for Standford’s quarterback sensation Andrew Luck, who is expected to be the number 1 draft pick in 2012. He would be a perfect fit for Denver who seems to be the team with the most QB questions unanswered.

What comes of the rest of the season is all a mystery, but what we do know is the fans got what they wanted, and don’t seem as pleased as they might have hoped. Next time I think they will leave the decisions on who is playing to the professionals.