Facebook has become one of the most popular and influential mediums for social networking in the world. It is no doubt a powerful and convenient social tool, giving you easy access to friends all over, but can it be used for business purposes just as efficiently? Creating an advertisement or event on Facebook is easy – anyone can do it. All it takes is a date, a place, and a description of the event. You can invite anyone if you’re friends on Facebook. People who are invited can respond online with a “Will be attending,” “May be attending,” or “Not attending.” Many organizations on campus have turned to Facebook to advertise events. The question: is this new wave of advertising efficient? And will student organizations continue to use it?
Marc Starnes says no. Marc is part of several groups on campus including Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, USG, and Circle K International. He has found that Facebook has neither helped nor hindered the attendance of advertised events. “We’ve advertised rushes and meetings on Facebook, and I have found that there is no increase of people there.” For an annual fraternity charity event, the pancake breakfast and Grundy Run, Marc set up a Facebook event and advertisements.
Last year the event was not advertised via Facebook. The difference: none. “There was no difference in attendance between this year and last year. Part of the problem is that there is no personality involved, and a lot of people don’t have Facebook – and those who do might not even check it very often.”
Brittany Ondraka agrees with Marc. Brittany is a member of Mu Beta Psi music fraternity, pep band, and Superior Winds. “We’ve advertised events on Facebook, and I don’t feel like too many people actually look very closely at the events they get invited to. I know that sometimes I see one and just reply to it without really reading through it.” Brittany says that she still likes to have the events on Facebook as a reference for people regarding dates and times, but that face-to-face communication is the best recruitment tool. “You really just have to get out there and talk to people, and put up posters. People like it when you invite them personally.”
It seems that Facebook has the advantage of being a quick reference, but when it comes to increasing attendance, word of mouth is the best method.

You stare out the window and all you see is gray. The trees are desolate, frail arms reaching towards an empty sky. Faces are pale, wanting, yearning, hoping. And still the winter loves to tease us with its bouts of sunshine when you just know another snowstorm is around the corner.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is not as serious as it sounds. It is commonly known as the Winter Blues or a time during the winter when depression is a direct effect of the environmental surroundings. It is common in Upper Michigan where sunshine is rarely seen during the mid-portion of winter.
Are you a victim of SAD? Common symptoms of the mild wintry disorder include difficulty waking up in the morning, oversleeping or overeating, craving for carbohydrates (weight gain), lack of energy, difficulty concentrating which in turn leads to depression and pessimism.
Behold! There are treatments for SAD that can prevent the weight gain and “sad” emotions. One such treatment is light therapy, which uses a light box that emits full spectrum light at 10,000 lux.
Some people turn to tanning beds to get their sunlight fix, which can also be effective in the treatment of SAD, though not always healthy.
Of course, there is always the choice of turning to drugs to help lift your mild winter depression, though personally not recommended. I don’t mean like marijuana, I mean official pharmaceutical drugs like anti-depressants. Come on, get your head out of the gutter.
The last and final treatment for SAD is negative air ionization. There is a release of charged particles into the subject’s sleeping environment. It is usually used with another sort of treatment for SAD to make the lasting effect stronger.
Personally, I do not turn to any of these treatments as a means of a cure for my Seasonal Affective Disorder. I look to physical activities to do outside such as snowboarding or sledding. I have found that being outside and participating in an active lifestyle during the winter has helped with the SAD. I also turn to music for help. Rhythms and beats have a powerful effect on my mood. I have found that while in the palm of my music, I am very vulnerable. It is very important to choose uplifting music for this kind of situation.
You will know SAD when you see it. It is like the swine flu, always on the prowl, looking for its next victim. Usually in mid-December it begins to shine its ugly face down upon the campus of Michigan Tech. Students begin yearning for Christmas break and it always seems too far away due to the large amount of end-of-the-semester exams standing in the way like fat bouncers in leather jumpsuits. They cackle maniacally bearing their silver teeth. There is always no hope until that final exam is finished. If you see a friend or a loved one showing symptoms of this disorder, steer clear.
If you are stuck at home, snowed in most likely, and need a means of escape away from the depression, I highly HIGHLY recommend video games. There is nothing like a good round of Call of Duty to cure my mood. Or if I become consumed by a horror survival game, there is no thought of this SAD. Suddenly I am thinking, what depression?

Nick Jr.’s Emmy nominated show Yo Gabba Gabba! will be returning for its third season on Mar. 8th at 10:30 am. The show, which has a following of toddlers, teens, and adults alike, has been a huge success for Nick Jr. Yo Gabba Gabba! is rich in the arts and makes the imagination work. The show takes place in a fictional world called Gabbaland, following the daily adventures of characters Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee, and Plex. Hosted by a character named DJ Lance Rock, the show features retro style graphics and costumes, and catchy tunes that teach kids life lessons about sharing, sleeping, eating healthfully, and being nice to everyone.
The show’s appeal to families is apparent: it gets kids off the couch and involved in the show, dancing and imagining. A regular segment on the show, called Dancey Dance Time, teaches kids how to do silly dances like the Jumpin’ Jellyfish and the Peanut Butter Stomp. Yo Gabba Gabba! introduces kids to different dancing styles and musical instruments.
Another segment, called The Super Music Friends Show, features well known artists playing a concert for their Gabbaland friends. Yo Gabba Gabba! also has a drawing segment, where artist Mark Mothersbaugh teaches kids how to draw.
Guest stars on Yo Gabba Gabba! have included Mya, The Roots, Of Montreal, Elijah Wood, Biz Markie, The Saltines, MGMT, and many more. The third season promises to entertain – look for stars like Weird Al, Anthony Bourdain, Weezer, Devo, Flaming Lips, and Mos Def.

On Feb. 6, 2010 at 6:00 p.m., Scott Michael Bennett, male-pianist and vocalist, will be performing at the Portage Lake United Church located at 1400 E. Houghton Ave. in Houghton, MI (located next to Wells Fargo Bank). Bennett will render for the Keweenaw community a variety of hymnal and spiritual song selections. FreshDay Music describes Bennett as “an inspirational young singer whose sincere goal is to dramatically inspire people of all ages to reach for a higher life with God as its [life’s] center and other people as its [life’s] focus.”
Bennett is a former member of the Grammy Award winning Phoenix Symphony Chorale and Arizona State University’s Men’s Chorus. In 2001, he was pronounced the winner of the National Young Artists’ Competition in the Vocal Performance category singing two Shakespearean songs with full orchestral accompaniment.  In 2002, at the age of 19, Bennett recorded and released his debut album “O Glorious Love,” recorded at Gaither Studios. 
This album contains fresh reinventions of some familiar hymns in addition to some obscure songs that are favorites among Bennett’s supporters.
His sophomore album, “Come As You Are” is a deeper creation that many listeners describe as “moving” and “inspirational.”  Several have shared that they were moved to tears as they envisioned the messages conveyed in his songs. 
Scott is very patriotic and is noted for including a brief tribute in his concerts to the men and women in law enforcement, EMT/EMS, fire fighters, Emergency Services Personnel, and even our troops. He has sung at the Pentagon and sings annually for a local Veterans Day program and Sept. 11 memorial program. 
Recently, Bennett married his best friend & sweetheart Heather Bennett (formerly Kincaid). Scott & Heather Bennett’s deep commitment to God, their spiritual growth, and each other, continue to create a dynamic duo in ministry. FreshDay Music continues through the new year with the Bennetts working side-by-side to inspire, hope, & share deep and meaningful messages to people everywhere through use of passionate music, multimedia, and presentations.
This event is free and is brought to you by the Center for Adventist Ministry to Public University Students—C.A.M.P.U.S. HOPE (Michigan Tech) and the Houghton Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
If you are interested in more information about the concert on Feb. 6, contact Alanna Knapp, CAMPUS Staff Member, at aknapp@mtu.edu. Scott & Heather are currently booking concerts for 2010 and would love to share at your church or event. Please contact FreshDay Music if you are interested in more information via their Web site at www.freshdaymusic.com.
All biography information was provided by FreshDay: inspire, hope, & share.

Chris Carrabba, the lead singer and heart of Dashboard Confessional, has been evolving. Die-hard fans often shy away from Carrabba’s evolution from the intimate, acoustic artist presented in Dashboard Confessional’s first album, The Swiss Army Romance, to the more heavily produced big-band musician he appears to be in his more recent albums such as Dusk and Summer and the newest, Alter the Ending. Although his sound has been changing over the years, for better or for worse, his thoughtful lyrics consistently remain the heart and soul of his albums.
Alter the Ending (released Nov. 10) brings a more refined big-band sound than was presented in Dusk and Summer. A few tracks such as “Until Morning” and “The Motions” seem a bit overdone instrumentally, however. The raw, emotional nature of Carrabba’s voice is unable at times to match the heavy sound of the band behind him. Other tracks such as “Belle of the Boulevard” and “I Know About You” are written appropriately for Carrabba’s vocals; the heavier instrumentation highlights rather than overshadows the heartfelt lyrics.
Despite some success with these big-band songs, the best tracks are the more personal, acoustic numbers of “Even Now” and “Hell on the Throat”. For fans of the older Dashboard Confessional albums these songs may very well sell Alter the Ending. They are reminiscent of the deeply thoughtful and passionate acoustic songs such as “The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most” and “Screaming Infidelities”. “Even Now” paints a portrait of sweet, fragile romance: “Even now I can feel your hand/
gently over mine/with almost no weight at all.”
Songs such as “Even Now” win the hearts of prospective Dashboard Confessional fans while satisfying the cravings of long-time listeners. Carrabba’s ability to capture a single moment in time or a particular emotion using sophisticated lyrics are what repeatedly set his music apart from the overwhelming stream of cookie-cutter emo bands that followed Dashboard Confessional’s debut. Carrabba laments foolish decisions, “When all the forays of your weekend/hang like smoke onto your clothes”, and celebrates perseverance, “And that’s the sign of a solemn man/I’ll make the best of the best I can/and I’ll be better for it if I ever get my chance” in Alter the Ending.
Dashboard Confessional has definitely changed over the years. Chris Carrabba was in his mid twenties when Dashboard Confessional released their first album. Carrabba was not far from the self-taught guitarist and skateboarding fanatic that he had been in his teens. Alter the Ending, however, presents the older Carrabba, now in his thirties. Change in age, environment, and experiences will undoubtedly be reflected in Dashboard Confessional’s music. It is selfish of fans to encourage Carrabba to remain the same person and musician that produced The Swiss Army Romance in 2001. He has proven himself a talented songwriter and performer and deserves to explore and grow with his years.
A first listen of Alter the Ending may produce disappointment in faithful Dashboard Confessional fans. However, listening to the lyrics and paying particular attention to the songs “Even Now”,” Belle of the Boulevard” and “Hell on the Throat” will remind the listener why Dashboard Confessional has captivated audiophiles for years and will illuminate the magic of an entire audience singing word-for-word the entire repertoire of a live performance.

The stylistic blending of music can be a risky and sophisticated one. That’s what makes musical innovators like Simon Shaheen so unique. Being one of the most inspiring and influential Arabic composers of his time, Simon Shaheen continues to evoke a sense of awe within his audience. The Philadelphia Inquirer dubs him as “A master of Arabic music.”
Shaheen will perform at the Rozsa Center of Performing Arts where he will display his extraordinary talent of blending classical Arabic with traditional Western and jazz styles. The audience will get a chance to experience the sheer beauty produced by such instruments as the Middle Eastern “oud” and the violin.
Born in Israel in 1955, Shaheen began playing the ‘oud at age 5. His father, Hikmat Shaheen, was a music teacher and a profound inspiration for his son. As Shaheen remembers, “Learning to play on the ‘oud from my father was the most powerful influence in my musical life.”
Shaheen later pursued a degree in Arabic literature and music performance whilst attending Tel Aviv University. In 1980, he immigrated to the United States and completed his studies in performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
Currently, Shaheen still resides in New York City where he has organized a myriad of musical retreats and art festivals dedicated to Arabic music and culture. In addition, he created the Near Eastern Music Ensemble in 1982; placing his upmost emphasis on traditional Arabic music. Shaheen, however, has dedicated most of his involvement with the recently formed Qantara ensemble. The band brought to him the vision of intermingling traditional Arabic with Western classical, jazz, and Latin American music. “I want to create a world music exceptionally satisfying for the ear and for the soul,” states Shaheen.
Shaheen has also released a few recording debuts highlighting his work. His first and most notable release with Qantara, Blue Flame, exemplifies their experimentation with cross-cultural influence. The album garnered a considerable number of positive reviews. The Washington Post describes the debut as, “eminently cosmopolitan.”
Simon Shaheen continues to make substantial contributions to western music as he continues his quest for innovation and experimentation.
The performance will be at the Rozsa Center on Nov. 18. Tickets prices are $20 and $15 for the general public; prices for MTU students are $15 and $10. The performance are from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. For more information contact the Rozsa Center of Performing Arts, www.rozsa.mtu.edu or call their office at (906) 487-3200.

Jazz was the theme last weekend at the McArdle Theater as Michigan Tech’s jazz ensembles made their debut for the 2009-10 season. On Fri., Oct. 30, and Sat. the 31, all four jazz ensembles had the opportunity to perform the music they had been working on since the beginning of the semester. The concert, titled “Jazz Showcase,” opened with the Research & Development Big Band, which performed such jazz classics as “Afro Blue” as well as a piece composed by director Mike Irish, “Lester Likes It.” Their performance was followed by one of the small-group jazz combos, known as Jazztec, on Friday and Momentum on Saturday. After a brief intermission, the Jazz Lab Band finished off the concert with songs such as “Old Man River,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Geller’s Cellar,” the last of which was also referred to as “Sheff Salad” in reference to a tradition of renaming the song after the soloist that plays it– in this case, alto saxophone soloist, Ben Sheff. While the groups wore standard concert dress on Friday, they showed up on Saturday’s performance in full Halloween regalia. Among the costumes visible were Abraham Lincoln, a hippie, a pirate, and even Luigi from the Super Mario video game series.
The Jazz Lab Band is the older of the two large ensembles, according to previously mentioned Director of Jazz studies at MTU and an assistant Professor of Music, Mike Irish. Founded in 1967, and one of the oldest of its kind in the Upper Midwest, the Jazz Lab Band is an intensive jazz experience that requires an audition of prospective members. In contrast, the Research and Development Big Band was added in 1973 “for students who don’t have as much time to devote to jazz” according to Irish.

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra had its first performance of the year on Saturday, October 17. The concert was a celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn, and featured selections from his most famous work, the music from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mendelssohn, whose music had a significant conservative streak and who disdained many of his contemporaries from their radicalism in music (and thus earned himself their disdain), was until recently somewhat unpopular. However, his reputation has rehabilitated itself somewhat as orchestras around the world celebrate his two hundredth anniversary (which actually happened in February). The KSO also performed Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody and Igor Stravinsky’s Suites No. 1 and 2 for Chamber Orchestra.
The event, which took place at the Rozsa Center, was generally well attended. Following the performance, the audience was invited to the lobby for free cookies and lemonade, and had the chance to meet director Dr. Joel Neves.
The event was Dr. Neves’ first performance with the KSO. Neves, who before working with the KSO had conducted in Cedar City, Utah, was impressed with the result of the concert. “I thought it was outstanding,” Neves told the Lode. “Everyone responded with great energy… it was a thrilling first concert.” He further remarked that the KSO was “outstandingly talented and dedicated.”
The KSO has already begun rehearsing for its next performance. On December 5, it will team up with the Michigan Tech Concert Choir will present George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Other concerts scheduled for the year are “A Night at the Opera” on February 20, and “The Bernstein Beat,” featuring Jamie Bernstein, on April 17.

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra will have their first performance of the season on Saturday, Oct. 17. The KSO, directed by Dr. Joel Neves, contains many Michigan Tech students in its membership. The theme of the concert is the 200th anniversary of composer Felix Mendelssohn, whose music to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed at the concert.
Mendelssohn was born in 1809, and became known as a musical prodigy early in life. He wrote his first symphonies at the age of 12, and wrote the Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1826, when he was only 17 years old (the rest of the music was not written until 1843, 17 years later). Mendelssohn also composed a number of symphonies, concertos, and choral works. An except from one of these choral works, a celebration of the invention of the printing press, would later be adapted as the tune for the popular Christmas hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
The concert is Dr. Neves’ first with the KSO. Dr. Neves has received B.A. and Master’s degrees in orchestral conducting from Brigham Young University, and a doctorate from Arizona State University. He has previously conducted the Orchestra of Southern Utah and the Cedar High Orchestra. In addition to his duties as conductor of the KSO, He is an Assistant Professor of Music at Michigan Tech, and teaches music theory and history.
The KSO concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Tickets cost $15 to the general public and $7 for people age 18 or younger, and can be ordered online through Michigan Tech’s ticket service at www.tickets.mtu.edu. Tickets are free to Michigan Tech students with a Tech ID through the Experience Tech program.

Aside from getting lost in the smelly belly of Green Bay, Wis., the thick, crisp night became saturated not just with the ecstatic juices of the musical dimension around us, but with the sweet melodies of its inhabitants, whose weapons hung from their shoulders and slapped their palms.
As expected with my vertically-challenged stature, I claimed a front row spot, though unintentionally placed myself in front of the stack of speakers towering over me like Godzilla. Its breath was hot and slightly disheveled my hair, but I liked it. Colored lights rolled over the teetering audience as I readied myself for the first band, Cage the Elephant. I had seen them once before at Summerfest where they crawled across the stage rhythmically like felines in heat and set the audience on fire with their tunes. Lead singer Matt Shultz danced around the stage, hopped into the audience and climbed the 8 ft. speakers, where he sat solemnly and dazed while singing. With their own twist of originality, Cage the Elephant delivered a stunning performance to a semi-coherent, music-whoring audience with such popular songs as “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Back Against the Wall.”
Manchester Orchestra followed with hardly any crowd involvement, but phenomenal vocals. Wooed by Andy Hull’s singing, the audience fell into a sort of melodious drug trip, enveloped by the power of the lyrics and the unity felt amongst strangers whose voices rang out collectively. Unity was at its highest during singles “I’ve Got Friends” and “Shake It Out.” Keyboardist Chris Freeman quivered to the sound of the harmony as he closed his eyes and air-humped the keyboard in melodic ecstasy. Although it was a short set, Manchester Orchestra left all listeners heavily intoxicated.
Last on the stage and the main act, Silversun Pickups had decent vocals. Bassist Nikki Monninger adorned a Prom-like dress under blue lights and happily tossed a guitar pick into the audience during the second song. Enthusiastic and maybe the loudest set thus far, Silversun Pickups satisfied their diehard fans.
Despite going semi-deaf for a period of time and driving 4 hours back home until 3 a.m., there is nothing like the pleasure felt when some impulsive journey takes hold of your mind and for that one moment, you do not know what is going to happen or how things will turn out. Unexpected events embellish a much-remembered existence.