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Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, w…
Humans have always h…
Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, was often interpreted as displeasure on behalf of those same beings—a punishment for failing to observe proper rituals. It doesn’t take a history scholar to understand this impulse. Weather, now as then, is both an enemy and ally. On one hand, it provides everything from the raw material for food—sunlight driving photosynthesis, wind the primary method of plants spreading their seeds—to …
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, ge…
Sometimes, writing a…
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, getting splashed in a Halloween horror show in the basement of a spaghetti emporium, sweating through a DIY D&D in a comic shop, savoring (har har!) Sweeney Todd’s enraged high notes, and trying to quiet my howling dog in a public house. I’ve found myself in some odd and awkward scenarios. To update the metaphor, writing this column is a lot like drunk-clicking through an endless algorithm o…
Jessie Hanson
January 8, 2020
According to the American Public Transportation Association, “the transportation sector produces one-third of greenhouse gas emissions in the united states.” This means that being conc…
Accordin…
According to the American Public Transportation Association, “the transportation sector produces one-third of greenhouse gas emissions in the united states.” This means that being concerned about the future of our planet includes being concerned with how you are getting around. One option might be moving closer to where you are travelling to, but you might want to consider the alternative forms of transportation in our modern city. Luckily, this is Boulder, where we have great alternative methods of transportation such as B-cycle, the regional bus system, and eGo carshare. B-c…
Corey Blum
December 5, 2021
There is a great respect and appreciation for the public land here in Colorado, and the majority of Colorado voters in 2016 “opposed efforts to turn national public lands over to the state.” (Cons…
There is a great res…
There is a great respect and appreciation for the public land here in Colorado, and the majority of Colorado voters in 2016 “opposed efforts to turn national public lands over to the state.” (Conservation Colorado 2016). With this sentiment in mind, Colorado made itself the first state to create a holiday focused on appreciating the benefits received from public land. Be one of the first to celebrate this holiday on this coming Saturday, the 20th of May, as it will be the one of the first celebrations ever of Colorado’s New Public Lands Day! Colorado’s public land holds great value …
Corey Blum
May 16, 2017
This past year, states all across the nation have been significantly increasing the percentage of renewable energy that they are aiming to achieve. On this past Wednesday, the 7th of October, new ren…
This past year, stat…
This past year, states all across the nation have been significantly increasing the percentage of renewable energy that they are aiming to achieve. On this past Wednesday, the 7th of October, new renewable energy goals for California were signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. The San Francisco Gate reported on the event. This bill requires that “by the end of 2030, half of California’s electricity will come from the wind, the sun and other renewable sources under a new law that sets one of the country’s most ambitious clean-energy targets”. Some other states that have done so alrea…
Corey Blum
October 8, 2015
A little over a month ago, CNN reported that, “More than 3 million of gallons of wastewater from the Gold King Mine spilled into the nearby Animas River.” According to the Denver Post the rive…
A little over a mont…
A little over a month ago, CNN reported that, “More than 3 million of gallons of wastewater from the Gold King Mine spilled into the nearby Animas River.” According to the Denver Post the river has been safe for recreational use since a little more than a week after the spill, and even the fish in the river are now safe to eat. However, this contamination caused quite a commotion for good reason, and there are reasons to be exceedingly cautious of this sort of event happening in the future. CNN reported that “Leading toxicologists say there could be health effects for ma…
Corey Blum
September 17, 2015
Throughout the ages as human society has developed our planet and conquered new frontiers, people brought with them all sorts of things. Including other species. Anthropogenic development has a…
Throughout the ag…
Throughout the ages as human society has developed our planet and conquered new frontiers, people brought with them all sorts of things. Including other species. Anthropogenic development has allowed other species to inhabit places once not accessible to them by riding on the metaphorical coattails of humanity. In fact white-nose syndrome, which continues to devastate bat populations across North America, arrived in North America on the actual bottom of someone’s shoe that the person had worn spelunking. Invasive species can cause no major issue for their new environments but ca…
Corey Blum
January 19, 2015
Pay It Forward Friday is Back for the New Year! This weekend, send us your best outdoor adventure photo to enter in a chance to win one of three great prizes, courtesy of Crystal Ski Shop! Grand P…
Pay It Forward Frida…
Pay It Forward Friday is Back for the New Year! This weekend, send us your best outdoor adventure photo to enter in a chance to win one of three great prizes, courtesy of Crystal Ski Shop! Grand Prize: Full tune with ironed on wax, a $50 value 2nd place: Full demo ski rental, ski or board, a $35 value 3rd place: Nordic Snow Shoe Rental, a $12 value Crystal Ski Shop was founded in 1976 by CU alumni. Since then, the owners have all been CU alumni. Current owner and CU alumni Justin Burger is all about paying it forward. He has agreed to make a big contribution for our Pay It Forw…
Corey Blum
January 16, 2015
2015 is a new year, full of potential. While there is a collective hope for a more sustainable future not just locally but across the world, it is important to not forget sustainability's local victo…
2015 is a new year, …
2015 is a new year, full of potential. While there is a collective hope for a more sustainable future not just locally but across the world, it is important to not forget sustainability's local victories that have already happened. Boulder county is a region where there has already been notable successful sustainable reform. According to Boulder county's website, sustainability means “The use, development and protection of resources in a way that enables Boulder county residents to meet their needs and maintain a high quality of life, without compromising the ability of future resid…
Corey Blum
January 12, 2015
The Mountain Pine Beetles have been a prevalent issue for forests across North America for roughly a decade; however, new uses for the large number of trees that Beetles have killed have proven an aff…
The Mountain Pine Be…
The Mountain Pine Beetles have been a prevalent issue for forests across North America for roughly a decade; however, new uses for the large number of trees that Beetles have killed have proven an affordable raw material for producing a variety of goods. "Only [seven] years ago, industry believed little could be done with it apart from artistic or cosmetic uses for wood, which was being marketed as 'denim pine.' Traditional uses of pine, in construction and elsewhere, were considered impossible for beetle-kill wood". - The Sustainable Lumber Company While builders did not think…
Corey Blum
January 5, 2015
One of the largest agricultural producing regions of the United States is under grave danger from water shortages. According to Mercury News, "The Central Valley, home to the world's largest swath o…
One of the largest a…
One of the largest agricultural producing regions of the United States is under grave danger from water shortages. According to Mercury News, "The Central Valley, home to the world's largest swath of ultra-fertile Class 1 soil, is the backbone of California's $36.9 billion a year, high-tech agricultural industry. Its 6.3 million acres of farmland produce more 350 crops, from fruits and vegetables to nuts and cotton, representing 25 percent of the food on the nation's table". This modern day bread basket of the United States produces a quarter of the food that is eaten in the United State…
Corey Blum
December 21, 2014
Most of the ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains have environmental protection policies because the mountains they are built upon are considered National Parks. These ski resorts are required to includ…
Most of the ski reso…
Most of the ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains have environmental protection policies because the mountains they are built upon are considered National Parks. These ski resorts are required to include a certain level of eco-friendliness, commitment to environmental stewardship, and commitment to environmental restoration. Resorts are often a part of the community they are in, especially in a ski town. Resorts offer many jobs and include shops, restaurants and residences. Because the resorts are at the heart of the local economies in these ski towns, when a ski resort uses less energy fro…
Corey Blum
December 14, 2014
The oil and gas industry in the United States is exponentially growing due to the use of a relatively new technology called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. In fact, the United States is …
The oil and gas indu…
The oil and gas industry in the United States is exponentially growing due to the use of a relatively new technology called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. In fact, the United States is on its way to becoming the number one exporter of oil in the world. While fracking in the United States has allowed for increased oil and gas production, it is far from benefitting the United States in other important sectors. Fracking is done by injecting a mixture of dangerous chemicals, water and sand into shale deposits at high temperatures. This mixture is then pulled back to the surfa…
Corey Blum
December 8, 2014
On Wednesday November 12th in the Netherlands, Earth’s first road that generates electricity from sunlight was opened in the town of Krommenie according to CNN’s website. Officials from SolaRoad, …
On Wednesday Novembe…
On Wednesday November 12th in the Netherlands, Earth’s first road that generates electricity from sunlight was opened in the town of Krommenie according to CNN’s website. Officials from SolaRoad, the company that developed this solar roadway said that while this is currently only a test route the electricity generated can be used to power parts of the transportation system such as traffic lights and stops, but also homes. The Solar Roads can also be programmed for a vast amount of extra utility, and according to SolarRoadways.com there are vast benefits for using solar roadways in contrast…
Corey Blum
November 30, 2014
After the publication of the International Report on Climate Change by the United Nations, a few things were made very clear according to an article on TheGuardian.com. One of the truths that rang lou…
After the publicatio…
After the publication of the International Report on Climate Change by the United Nations, a few things were made very clear according to an article on TheGuardian.com. One of the truths that rang loudest is that carbon emission reductions will be a necessity in order to decrease the severity of the impacts of climate change. Reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon an individual pollutes can be very difficult. While someone might be very carbon conscious, they may have no control over certain aspects of life that create pollution. The U.S.’s Energy Information Administration’s website an…
Corey Blum
November 16, 2014
The importance to control the potential dangers of fire is paramount for protecting the homes and properties in and near the Front Range. The local forests have been increasing in fuel load and fire s…
The importance to co…
The importance to control the potential dangers of fire is paramount for protecting the homes and properties in and near the Front Range. The local forests have been increasing in fuel load and fire severity. With the threat of fire an ever-pressing issue the community’s mind, it is important for locals to understand what is going on with forests across the region. Coloradoforestrestoration.org (CFRI) has a science research with recommendations for how to approach the persistent fire hazard that we face in Colorado. Fire is a natural part of our ecosystem’s development. G. David and E. Wo…
Corey Blum
November 9, 2014
Saving money and reducing the pollution you emit this winter is easy when you take the right steps. Being sustainable typically involves reducing, reusing, and recycling resources. The following steps…
Saving money and red…
Saving money and reducing the pollution you emit this winter is easy when you take the right steps. Being sustainable typically involves reducing, reusing, and recycling resources. The following steps are easy ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle this winter at home. Most of these tips come from SustainableKentucky.com or the context institute staff of context.org. It’s easy to make reducing your contribution to polluting cost-effective by following the steps below. Compost: Even if you don’t use your own home’s organic waste for compost, your neighbor’s garden can. Consider donating yo…
Corey Blum
November 2, 2014
The Ballot in Boulder County has topics to vote on this year that if passed will not only benefit individuals but also strengthen the community as a whole. Mentioned below are some of the topics th…
The Ballot in Boul…
The Ballot in Boulder County has topics to vote on this year that if passed will not only benefit individuals but also strengthen the community as a whole. Mentioned below are some of the topics that have the potential to boost Boulder’s resilience in the long term against future threats. Boulder Weekly has put up a voter guide with info on all the different topics to vote on this year and the ballot is available to read and for use on Boulder County’s website. GMO Labeling Across the country, states are voting on GMO labeling that would help protect consumers’ rights to know …
Corey Blum
October 26, 2014
After Lockheed Martin announced its plans to develop a compact fusion reactor, Aviation Week was given exclusive access to view the experiment and interview a member of the team developing it. Lockhee…
After Lockheed Marti…
After Lockheed Martin announced its plans to develop a compact fusion reactor, Aviation Week was given exclusive access to view the experiment and interview a member of the team developing it. Lockheed’s fusion reactor, which is the size of approximately a freight truck and takes only three months to build, is capable of keeping an airplane in flight with “unlimited range and unlimited endurance” according to Lockheed Martin’s Compact Fusion Research and Development team. The compact fusion reactor (CFR) is in theory safer, cleaner, and more powerful than existing nuclear reactors. Un…
Corey Blum
October 19, 2014
Learning how to dispose of each type of waste properly can help to avoid threats to human health, animal health and environmental health. Hospital bills are not cheap, and exposure to hazar…
Learning …
Learning how to dispose of each type of waste properly can help to avoid threats to human health, animal health and environmental health. Hospital bills are not cheap, and exposure to hazardous wastes can turn into hefty hospital bills. One of the largest contributors to adverse affects on human health is plastic that has been improperly disposed of. However, a new plastic substitute that causes no damage to the environment has been introduced into the public market. This breakthrough in technology, if implemented appropriately, will protect future human health, animal health, and t…
Corey Blum
October 12, 2014
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