October 2013 – Page 6 – The Oredigger

The Past, Present, and Future of Petroleum Systems Modeling

Dr. Marek Kacewicz of the Chevron Energy Technology Company spoke about the development of petroleum systems modeling, from some of the early stages, to the present day, while addressing some of his personal goals and wishes for the future. As he put it, petroleum systems modeling is “an integration of geological disciplines to basically evaluate sedimentary basins.” A majority of the work done by Kacewicz focuses over a broad slate of time scales and regional scenarios. Kacewicz was introduced to the crowd as a long-vetted member of the modeling community, and while he did not start out as a geologist, his background in mathematics helped him focus in on the technical issues facing the development of modeling systems.

Joint Ventures in Seabed Extractions in Disputed Water – Cases from East Asia

The often nonspecific International Laws of the Sea sometimes clash with the traditions of history and the goals and ambitions of existing countries. They clash in ways that result in regions of water which have multiple disputed claims of rights and ownership, particularly in countries around East Asia. As Dr. Yoichiro Sato conveyed, the conflicts of interests and power in that area of the world are fascinating, multi-faceted affairs. According to the international Law of the Sea, each country is allowed twelve nautical miles of territorial water which is to be split in the event of an overlap. Coastal states are each allowed an exclusive economic zone of two hundred nautical miles, and coastal countries are each allowed a natural prolongation of up to three hundred fifty miles of extended continental shelf.

Headlines from around the world: 10/7/13

The United States government has officially shut down. The recent failure to pass a national budget has forced a closure of many government services including national parks and monuments. Federal loan, passport, and permit services are frozen until further notice. Many government workers and military service men and women will retain their salaries, but approximately 800,000 nonessential were let go.

Mad Men Review

By the time most students graduate Mines, they will have jobs. Alumni will mostly have decent starting salaries and lead a comfortable lifestyle. In a few years there might be a promotion, then a wife, a nice new house, and a family. But what about those who want more than just a mundane existence? What about those who want not just a promotion but to own a company? Or maybe go out with the girl they were too nerdy for in high school? And own a mansion with so many bedrooms that it looks more like hotel? That is how the other half lives. They live like they have nothing to lose but the world to gain. That is what the show Mad Men is all about. How does the other half live? Or rather, how did they live?

Birthing Complications

This week’s installment of the Fiction Column by John Bristow

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Comic Corner: Grim Leaper

Grim Leaper is an unusual four part love story from Image Comics, the company responsible for publishing titles such as Spawn, Invincible, and The Walking Dead. The story follows a man named Lou Collins who finds himself in a cycle of constantly dying and reincarnating into the bodies and lives of various random people in his hometown. He believes himself to be cursed, constantly getting a second chance to do something with his new lives, but he keeps getting killed before he can figure out what that something is. Then, on his fourteenth body, he meets Ella Patrick, a girl who shares his curse. She dies soon after they meet and the hunt is on for both of them to try and find one another again. They continue to meet up with each other and grow as people throughout their constant quest to reunite.

Community Spotlight: Modmarket

It is like stepping into heaven’s fast food restaurant. Modmarket has a modern design and a fresh feel that makes any foodie feel at home. The menu is diverse and filled with healthy options. Modmarket is a Colorado owned business that was started by two guys that were tired of the typical unhealthy and highly processed fast foods. So instead of complaining about it, Anthony Pigliacampo and Rob McColgan started their own restaurant centered around their wants.

Oredigger Challenge Recap

Students and faculty came together on the Saturday morning of Homecoming for the first annual Oredigger Challenge. The morning started off a bit chilly, but the air was thick with anticipation. As soon as the the Mines Activity Council blew the whistle the teams were off. The first round consisted of six challenges: balancing an egg on a stationary football, followed by a rather messy gummy bear flour excavation, then putting on a frozen t-shirt, passing a lifesaver with a straw, trivia, and lastly students and faculty put their engineering skills to the test and had to build a water bottle tower. One team of professors came prepared with goggles for the gummy bear and flour and blow torches for melting their frozen t-shirt, some may call that cheating but at Mines we call that good engineering. The team known as The Freight Train chugged it’s way to first after the first round, finishing in 23 minutes. Only the top ten teams could continue on to the second round.

Faculty Spotlight: Mark Seger

For a man that needs no introduction, Dr. Mark Seger is perhaps the most well-known professor on campus. Most students, whether fond of the doctor or not, have experienced his unique teaching style and command a great respect for him. Seger has potentially taught the most students on campus at least once, attributing to his impact on the Mines community as a whole.

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Romeo and Juliet Review

Ranking as one of the most prevalent love stories of all time, William Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet” resurfaces in a new movie release set for theaters October 11. The screenplay for this movie was written by Sir Julian Fellowes, creator of the famous PBS series Downton Abbey, and will appeal to viewers in their late teens through early twenties.

Monthly Archives: October 2013