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The grand opening of the RTD W-line was attended by much pomp and circumstance, including speeches by Senator Michael Bennet and Governor John Hickenlooper. Golden residents eagerly anticipated the new transportation option.
Opinion 11
Satire
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be proven. Now think about that again. That statement itself can not be scientifically proven. Relativism Students gathered on Tuesday, is self-contradicting. Stefanick also discussed the to listen and debate moral relativism, a philosophy that denies the exis- impacts of relativism. For example, tence of absolute truth. The lecture he argued that relativism takes away invited students to redefine toler- the meaning in life. He said, When ance, to seek absolute truth with you dont have anything else to compassion, and to find purpose believe in, you end up with bumper stickers that say, volleyoutside of themselves and their When you dont ball is life. No, it is not. F i n a l l y, S t e f a n i c k desires. The question and answer have anything else challenged students to rethink what it meant session afterwards briefly touched on to believe in, you to be tolerant. He said, relativists cant tolerate, a diverse range of subjects including end up with bum- because to tolerate you first have to disagree. I homosexual marr i a g e , a b o r t i o n , per stickers that dont tolerate a sunny, day, I tolerate and religious acsay, volleyball is beautiful snow in April. He stated ceptance. that acceptance does Chris Stefanick, life. not mean agreeing that a popular catholic everyone is entitled to blogger and author from the Denver-based Augustine their own belief, and disagreeing Institute, came to mines on Tues- with them, but instead it is about day, April 23 to enlighten students tolerating and loving them anyway. and help them find purpose. The He argued that believing in truth Fellowship of Catholic University does not make a person a bigot Students (FOCUS) invited Stefanick. or a hater. He also encouraged Craig Soto, the president of FOCUS students when he said, dont at Colorado School of Mines, said, judge people, but we must judge it was a great talk, and we were peoples actions so that we know excited to see such an incredible how to act. Students reacted in a variety of turnout. Stefanick argued that people ways to Stefanicks message, and cannot create their own objective many remained in Metals Hall aftertruths. He said, the argument goes, wards to debate issues amongst only scientifically verifiable facts can eachother.
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Lleida, Spain - According to a variety of case studies, scientists determined that the European Union (EU) is undermining its competitiveness in agriculture due to its agricultural policy of not not using genetically engineered crops (GMOs). According to the researchers from the University of Lleida-Agrotecnico Center in Spain, the EU agricultural policy is inconsistent and obstructs what it sets to achieve. Boulder, Colorado - A new study from researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder indicate that forced exercise can reduce anxiety and depression just like voluntary exercise. Past studies demonstrated that people who exercise generally have less stress related disorders and the perception of control over ones body when they exercise can benefit that persons mental health. But according to this new study even a person who is forced to exercise, thus eliminating the perception of control, still reaps the benefits of reduced anxiety and depression.
Orlando, Florida - Researchers from the University of Central Florida demonstrated that species can evolve over generations regardless of whether they have to compete for food, habitat, or other factors. They used a computer model to mimic how organisms evolve and their results indicated that competition is not necessary for evolution to take place. According to Kenneth Stanley, a professor with the research team, evolvable organisms separate themselves from other less evolvable organisms over time simply by becoming more diverse. Their results do not correspond with commonly held beliefs and indicate that the traditional selective and adaptive explanations for increasing the ability to evolve deserve more scrutiny.
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Local News
Fort Collins police used tear gas to disperse a party near Colorado State University last Saturday. The police reported that officers were called to the neighborhood after complaints about the 300 revelers. The police also reported that officers asked the attendees to leave, but the crowd became belligerent and began throwing bottles. Ultimately, the police used tear gas and pepper spray to break up the party. Three attendees were treated for minor injuries. Joanne Albertson, a 61 year woman from Loma, Colorado, was planting potatoes when she discovered a cooler containing two rusted handguns and 2.5 pounds of cocaine, worth about $50,000. The Mesa County sheriffs department says they do not believe the weapons belong to Albertson, and the spokeswoman recalled a SWAT raid at the property prior to Albertsons occupancy. Two were arrested in connection with a shooting outside a Denver Dennys Saturday. Police report that a fight began inside the restaurant early Saturday morning, ending when a male victim was shot outside the restaurant. He ultimately died at the hospital. Late Saturday night, a CU Boulder student escaped a scissors-wielding attacker. She was returning from a party when an unknown man, believed to be about 50 with a scruffy beard and crooked teeth, held her down, put the scissors at her throat and started to remove her clothes.
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Boulder, Colorado The study involved a lab experiment using rats. During a six week period, some rats remained sedentary while others exercised by running on a wheel. The rats that exercised were divided into two groups that ran a equal amount of time but one group ran whenever it chose to, while the other group ran on mechanized wheels that rotated according to a predetermined schedule. After the six weeks the rats were exposed to a laboratory stressor and their anxiety levels were tested the next day. The anxiety or stress was quantified by measuring how long the rats froze, when they were put in an environment they had been conditioned to fear. The longer they froze the greater the residual anxiety from being stressed the previous day. Another group of rats was also tested as a control group without being stressed the day before. The study demonstrated that no matter whether the rats were forced to run or chose to run they were protected against stress and anxiety. The sedentary rats on the other hand froze for much longer periods of time than any of the active rats. The implications for humans dictate that those that perceive exercise as being forced such as some athletes or patients following a doctors exercise prescription still garner benefits in terms of reducing their anxiety and depression.
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Growing problem
Groundwater Sustainability
Eric Hake Staff Writer
Dr. Graham E. Fogg of UC Davis, visited the Colorado School of Mines campus and presented about groundwater sustainability. Fogg started by talking about the importance of California farmland. He said, California produces 50% of the nations fruits and vegetables with irrigation. Regarding water, its sustainability, and the reason for his research into the subject, he added, Its going to take centuries for this to play out and for me, the call to arms was: Well, we better figure this out. Is an entire resource going to be lost? Shouldnt we know about it and warn somebody and rethink our regulations and whether they are effective and working? According to Fogg the groundwater in most systems is hundreds to thousands of years old yet the pollutants that humans are adding to the water are only fifty to sixty years old. Fogg says, Highly mix and molecular ages typically range greatly within a single sample. As a result, in many systems the quality of the groundwater is likely to decline in the near future. Fogg went on to ask what is the evidence that the water quality is getting worse? Historically, data from city wells is often limited because after the detection of high levels of contaminates, the city will shut down that well and discontinue testing the well for contaminates. Recently though, cities are gathering data from these shut down wells and from rural and suburban areas where most non-point sources exist. Fogg also said, The question is, How long is it going to take the contaminated water to move down and to gradually contaminate more and more ground water? Fogg believes the answer to this question depends on the contamination sources. The main sources that Fogg outlined were farmland runoff and cattle manure runoff. The fertilizer used on crops contains many contaminants that adversely affect the groundwater. Fogg believes that if farmers drill shallow wells they could reuse the contaminated groundwater to water the crops. The nutrients in the contaminated groundwater would supplement the fertilizer and allow farmers to use fertilizer in more sustainable amounts without decreasing their crop yield. Fogg ended his lecture by informing the audience what needed to be done to sway public opinion. He said, We need to be able to answer the question, If we reduce nitrogen loading by fifty percent is that going to amount to a profit or not? If you cant tell people when positive effects will occur then youre not going to get anybody to change their practices. Unfortunately, Fogg also said that models that can accurately predict how groundwater interacts and moves in order to determine requirements for keeping contaminants at a steady state, have not even come close to being produced. Solving this problem, like many modern public health issues is going to be no easy task and requires lengthy research before public interest is swayed.
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Geek Week
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shock, when you kill Andrew Ryan, why doesnt he regenerate in a Vita-Chamber? I know theres one in the next room and whos to say what the range is on those things? How do you spend your spare moments? Video games, Netflix, cooking. What are your greatest accomplishments? Almost getting out of this school. Also, becoming a shaman. Who would win in a fight between Yoda and Darth Vader? Well, as Red Letter Media pointed out, Yodas greatly diminished stature is offset by his use of the Force. Also, Darth Vader is the Chosen One, so I think hed be about equal in Force powers to Yoda. However, because of his stature, I think he could beat the crap outta Yoda. If you could be dropped into any fictional setting, what would it be and why? Batman. Definitely Batman. As long as you live in the right place, you get to see a lot of action and you know that Batmans got your back, unless he shows up too late. Plus, you might end up with super powers by the end of it. Whats your favorite thing about Mines? Probably the community. Its nice to have good friends around when your course load is encumbering. Whats your best nerd story?
A couple summers ago I actually made some thermite with some friends. It took awhile to get the right mixture of aluminum powder and iron oxide, but when we did, man it lit up well. Also, we found that cinder blocks are really good to stop thermite. Which would you rather have: a functional sonic screwdriver, or a working teleporter? That depends. I dont like travel that much, so I think Id go with the teleporter, assuming I wont end up like Jeff Goldblum [in The Fly] or some other teleporter accident. Do you have any plans for the future? Get a job. Get a Nobel Prize. In Chemistry, preferably. If you could get a team of scientists and engineers to pour all of their effort into research and/or development of one thing or area, what would it be and why? Fusion power and space flight because we need unlimited energy and we need to get outta here. Do you have a favorite quote? You cant fight fate and you cant survive aloneI cant help but notice that almost seems like a definition of who I ama person whos trying to do both. - Batman Do you have any advice for fellow geeks and Mines students?
I would like to quote [The] Red Green Show: The handymans secret weapon: duct tape, were
all in this together, and If women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
JORDAN FRANCIS / OREDIGGER
Ben Johnson embraces being a geek and aspires to someday take the title of Master of Molecular Manipulation.
A final, minor complaint is that at times the game slows down. With such massive levels and a remarkably high draw distance, the Nintendo 64 cannot always handle the number of objects it must render in a given scene. The game is actually only one of three Nintendo 64 games to require the Memory Expansion Pak (the other two being The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask and Perfect Dark) which doubles the consoles memory and allows for the scale of the game. This requirement may be a concern for gamers looking to play the original cartridge version, as OEM Memory Expansion Paks sell for $20 on eBay. To check, open the door labelled memory expansion on the top of the Nintendo 64. If the module inside has a red top, it is good. Overall, Donkey Kong 64 gives a great impression. The game is long, varied, and challenging, which adds to its replay value. Every level is unique and the levels have many areas to explore. The collection aspect means there is always something to find, whether it be golden bananas, regular bananas, or blueprints. Well-produced music enhances the games levels and its impressive-forthe-time graphics. Despite a few minor camera problems, a nearly impossible mini game, and some framerate issues, this is a solid game. Anyone who enjoyed Banjo-Kazooie or Super Mario 64 will also enjoy Donkey Kong 64. Play the console or an emulated version and discover why one of Nintendo and Rares less talked-about titles deserves just as much acclaim as Banjo-Kazooie.
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omorphs infesting the ship and fall under attack. In the meantime, mercenaries from WeylandYutani attack the Sephora and her crew to cover up their misdeeds. Now, Winter needs to fight for his life against xenomorphs and Weyland-Yutani and save his fellow marines. This story is sub-par. The characters are completely one-dimensional. There is nothing to them except their basic personalities. As a result, it is hard to connect to them. When one dies, it is hard to feel sad or vengeful because all of the characters are so flat. In addition, the story explains plot points too poorly for proper emotional investment so it feels like random events happen in the game with little explanation. The over arching theme is that no marine is left behind. This is a great theme, but is hammered in so much that it becomes annoying. Happily for Aliens fans, this game contains a lot of callbacks to earlier movies which fall flat to people unfamiliar with the movies. There is a lot of fanservice for the fans but nonfans are confused and lost. After a while, the player forgets about the story and just focuses on getting through the game. The final aspect of Aliens: Colonial Marines is the multiplayer. There is little to say except that it is fun. It pits xenomorphs against marines in deathmatch and survival modes. For
CO those UR who enjoy on- TESY S line multiplayer, it is EGA great and challenging. Players can upgrade the xenomorphs in multiplayer and have more variety. The campaign is multiplayer as well, but it is poorly done. The split-screen is surprisingly awkward with neither player having a great view of the area and in multiplayer the game runs slower. The drop-in drop-out co-op is tough for the game to handle. Still, the multiplayer is well done and provides a lot of enjoyment. Fortunately, the PC scene is working on modifications to improve the game. The purpose of these mods is to improve gameplay and add to the game in terms of game modes, gameplay, stability, and more. This is great for PC gamers, but not console gamers. The mods cannot improve the story, but can improve the gameplay. Overall, Aliens: Colonial Marines is a mixed bag. The campaign is awful gameplay and storywise with dumb AI, flat characters, and little narrative flow. The multiplayer truly feels like an Alien game and brings great challenges. Unfortunately, there is little to attract those who are not already fans of Alien and hook them to the other media. The sad thing about this game is that it had so much potential. It could have been better, but that did not happen. Fortunately for the true Alien fans, the mods that are coming for PC will provide a rich game experience to reward fans of the movies.
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other anchor point, reducing the amount it can wobble. The exception to static lines in Summer is just around the cor- two inch ratchet tension systems ner and it brings with it many out- are the Gibbon jib and surf lines. door activities that everyone enjoys. These are made from an elastic For those considering getting into material specifically for the user to slacklining the type of line a person perform tricks on. In fact recent buys can have a large influence on developments in slackline elasticity the type of slacklining they will be created tricklining. Tricklining is a able to do. As with many sports, competitive sport where competislacklining has several genres such tors are judged on amplitude, creas, long lines, high lines, trick lines, ativity, trick difficulty, and style. and primitive set ups. The only difference between For those just learning to slack- the jib line and the surf line are the line, becoming familiar with all the length of the line and ratchet arm. genres is imporThe surf line is the tant, even if they For [beginners], be- longer of the two and will not be partakhas the longer ratchet ing in them any- coming familiar with arm. The length altime soon. Long lows one to achieve lines are classified all the genres is im- larger bounce amas any line over plitude and the long 80 feet in length. portant, even if they arm allows one to These lines need will not be partak- tension the line to a pulley system high levels, further in order to tighten ing in them anytime adding to the bounce them. The cost of height the user may pulleys, a brake, a obtain. While these soon. multiplayer, rope are not beginner and webbing, can cost upwards of lines, athletic and ambitious beginsix hundred dollars depending on ners should not rule out these lines. the quality of the equipment. High It is easy for a beginner to set them lines (often also long lines) are de- up between short distances and fined as any line sixty feet or higher learn the basics before attempting above the ground. These lines re- their first tricks on these lines. The quire all the same equipment but surf line, more expensive than the also require line lockers, a harness jib lines, is long enough, about 100 for the slackliner, back up webbing, feet, to provide a beginner with a and other back up equipment. good introduction to long lining. These systems can cost upwards of Other ratchet systems that fifteen hundred dollars. Besides the should be considered by a begininitial cost, the equipment knowl- ner are the Gibbon flowline and edge required to set up these lines tubeline. They behave like their 1 and advanced skill level required to in long and high line counterparts, walk these lines makes these lines but are easy and cheap to set up. impossible for beginners. Sometime these lines, as well as The other types of slacklining are primitive setups, are criticized by more cost efficient and easier for the beginners as hard to walk due to beginner to learn on and to set up their thin width. This is kind of a in a safe manner. A variety of begin- misnomer. The difficulty in walking a ner slacklines can be bought from slackline comes from an inability to companies like Gibbon, Slackstar, keep ones legs and body steady on Singing Rock, and others. Normally the line and rarely from an inability these lines are 2 inches in width, to place ones foot on the slackline use a ratchet system to tension the itself. slack line and can range in length The last slackline setup is called from 10 to 30 meters, though Gib- a primitive setup. Appropriately bon sells some one inch lines, and named, climbers created this setother line varieties. Because of their up in the early 1980s. This setup, easy setup and relative cheapness, sometimes viewed as the purest ranging from about 50 to 140 dol- form of slacklining, uses one inch lars, these lines are the most con- (though sometimes 11/16 and 1/2 ventional lines. Unfortunately, most inch) webbing. The tensioning sysof these lines, excluding some of tem is created with carabiners using Gibbons lines, cater too much to a pulley with the line wrapped back the beginner, and prevent progres- through the pulley system such that sion once the slackliner is ready to the friction of one tensioned line on move onto more advance slacklin- the other keeps the system from ing. un-tensioning. This setup is still the The concerns slackliners have cheapest one can buy. The only with these conventional entry level downfall with this system is that a slacklines are threefold. First off, friend is required to help tighten the these lines are static and non- system to an appropriate amount. elastic, making the line difficult to When a beginner is buying their perform tricks on, excluding some first slackline it is often recomyoga maneuvers. Additionally, the mended that they first buy a primiclassic line does not behave like the tive setup. This system allows them webbing used in other advanced to familiarize themselves with some systems like highlines and long- of the equipment and setup techlines, making the transition to more niques that are used later on in long advanced slacking difficult. Fur- line and high line systems. Additionthermore, the heavy ratchet used ally, these lines have the same elasto tighten the line dampens the line tic qualities as long and highlines. and gives the lines an awkward deThe beginner slackliner should layed wobble. This ratchet problem avoid static, two inch wide, ratchet can be reduced in two ways. One tensioned systems, such as the way is by further tensioning the Gibbon classic line. These lines, line, but high tension in a static line while they work well for a while, makes the line almost immobile and will be quickly outgrown by an frankly kind of boring. The other is avid slackliner. Instead the Gibbon by finding a tree wide enough that surfline, or a primitive set-up is recthe ratchet is close to the tree or ommended.
Petrie crawled into the room and got as far as the partition door when a stream of water was turned in [sic]. He was knocked against a corner and painfully hurt. Luckily, he was able to call for help before passing out. Colorado pioneer Anthony Tripp died at St. Lukes hospital from pneumonia this week in 1921. He had lived in Jefferson County for 50 years. Tripp was born in Cornwall, England in 1853, and came to Baltimore as a boy. Later, he moved to Central City and engaged in mining in Gilpin County until 1879, when he moved to Jefferson County, taking up a ranch near Guy Hill. He retired in 1919 and moved to Golden, where he was active in the Golden Masonic lodge and affiliated with the Methodist Church. He was survived by his wife and five sons.
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The Orediggers solid pitching deserves credit for an important series win over CCU.
The No. 22 Colorado School of Mines golf team, led by junior Michael Lee, finished second at the RMAC championship last Monday and Tuesday in Goodyear, Arizona. After day one, Mines sat in second place out of nine teams with a total of 590, 12 strokes back of leader UC Colorado Springs. Lee sat in second after posting rounds of
72 and 68, three shots back of the overall lead. Day two was much the same, with Mines finishing second place out of the nine teams.The defending champions of the event simply could not overcome their day one deficit of -12. Mines finished 17 strokes back (886) of champion UCCS who finished with a team total of 869. Lee shot a 76 on day two to come in third and earn all-tournament honors. Sophomores Jordan Arndt
(73-79-69-221) and John Ahern (71-77-74-222), Junior Kyle Grassel (78-74-77-229) and senior Chad Herges (76-79-77-232) rounded out the scorecards for the second place Orediggers. Respectively, Arndt and Ahem finished seventh and ninth and Grassel and Herges finished twenty second and thirtieth. The next stop for the Orediggers will be the NCAA West/South Central Super Regional May 6-9 in Dupont, Washington.
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o p i n i o n
Dont trust anyone, and if youre sick for more than a month, go to the health center! Antonia McMullan
Get as much sleep as you can. If you can take a nap, DO IT! Andrea Christians
Study Break
Sudoku Puzzle - Medium
Study hard, trust yourself, dont give up, and ask for help. Mengyuan Yu
College can be stressful but not everything has to be about homework, you can do other stuff too. Nohemi Almaraz
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