When you take a core of enriched uranium-235 and start flinging neutrons at it, something very special happens. First, the neutron strikes the nucleus of a single atom of uranium-235, causing it to split into fragments. Then, these fragmented atoms release neutrons of their own, which strike the nucleus of neighboring atoms, causing a cascading […]
Continue readingAuthor Archive: Kristen Ridgway
Local History Thursday: Peaches and Pioneers, an Early History of the Palisade Peach
It’s August, which can only mean one thing on the Western Slope; it is now peach season! If you’ve spent any time around the Grand Valley during late summer, you’ll know that we can get a bit crazy over our peaches. Everywhere you look, it’s peach cobbler, peach jam, peach wine, peach ice cream, or […]
Continue readingLocal History Thursday: Butch Cassidy’s Ride to Hell
It goes without saying, but Butch Cassidy was a real fascinating character. Despite being one of the Old West’s most notorious outlaws, he’s almost talked about as a sort of folk hero. Unlike many other outlaws and gangsters of American past, like Jesse James and Al Capone, Butch Cassidy is firmly established within an almost […]
Continue readingLocal History Thursday: …The Harder the Bust (Black Sunday, part 2)
On Wednesday, April 26, in a boardroom located in a Sixth Avenue skyscraper in Manhattan, a group of Exxon executives decided to kill the Colony Shale Oil Project. They considered a variety of factors, including the rising cost of the project, an unfavorable petroleum market, and declining first-quarter profits. They made their decision, shook hands, […]
Continue readingLocal History Thursday: The Bigger the Boom… (Black Sunday, part 1)
Forty-one years ago, on May 2, 1982, the news dropped like a bomb on the Western Slope; Exxon was pulling the plug on its $5 billion investment in the Colony Oil Shale Project, effective immediately. Overnight, $85 million in annual payroll disappeared as 2,100 workers were laid off from the project. The resulting upheaval was […]
Continue readingLocal History Thursday: Blood on the Mountain, a Deadly Shale Mining Incident
Here on the Western Slope, we have a long and troubled history with oil shale. Despite its tremendous abundance, the oil shale industry has never really lived up to its many promises to transform Western Colorado into a domestic energy juggernaut, and in the past these broken promises have cost us dearly. The economic, environmental, […]
Continue readingeResource Spotlight: Colorado Historic Newspapers
Here at Mesa County Libraries, we’re very passionate about our local history, and we love to help make researching it more accessible for everyone. If there’s one eResource we love that helps open a window into the past, it would definitely be Colorado Historic Newspapers! The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection (CHNC) is a free archive […]
Continue readingeResource Spotlight: World Travel, Recipes, and Culture
One of the best things about traveling is getting to experience all of the culture and food that you might not otherwise try. Mesa County Libraries now have two new free eResources to help you plan your next trip – or your next meal! With AtoZ World Travel and AtoZ World Food, the world is […]
Continue readingeResource Spotlight: Mango Languages
Hola, ciao, and bonjour! Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Want a refresher on your high school foreign language classes? Frustrated by the pushiness of the Duolingo owl? With Mango Languages, learning a new language is a breeze! Mango Languages offers courses on over 70 world languages. Explore popular languages like Spanish, […]
Continue readingeResource Spotlight: Universal Class
Did you know that Mesa County Libraries patrons have access to over 600 free online classes? If not, then you should definitely look into Universal Class, a free eResource offering tutorials, lessons, and classes on a diverse array of topics. There’s something for everyone on Universal Class, from history lessons, art/hobby tutorials, cooking classes, test […]
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