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Movie Review: "Venom" exceeds all expectations

This year has been full of high expectations for superhero movie releases, including “Venom,” which did not disappoint. Warning, to those who are waiting and have yet to see the film. There are hints to plot points, spoilers to the film and the extras after the credits present in this article. If you do not wish to ruin the movie before you see it, please consider skipping over this article. The story focused on journalist Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, whose hard hitting news stories dealt with bringing down corrupt people in society. Carlton Drake, played by Riz Ahmed, the founder of the human conservation and life lengthening research project called the Life Foundation, is the next on Brock’s list of people to take down.

Album Review: Young the Giant blur genre lines on latest album

Young the Giant, an indie-rock band based out of Irvine, C.A., released their fourth studio album, “Mirror Master,” on Oct. 12, 2018. The quintet has been egging on eager fans who have been tuned into the band’s instagram page for the album’s release since early June. Several tracks have been released since then, leading up to the official release of their new 12-track album. Starting up in 2004, the five bandmates Sameer Gadhia, Jacob Tilley, Eric Cannata, Payam Doostzadeh and Francois Comtois have come a long way from their former days as “The Jakes.” Although there are different members of the current band, the present quintet has been together for 10 years. It has been two years since the band’s last album, “Home of the Strange,” and eight years since their self-titled debut album back in 2010, which included three chart-topping singles of the alternative genre.

The federal elections on this year's ballot

Midterm elections are approaching and there are countless races voters need to know about. Early voting begins on Saturday, Oct. 20 and the General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 6. On the ballot are two Federal Offices, seven New Mexico State Offices and more than 10 other items. For this article, we’ll be focusing on federal elections that will be on this year’s ballot. Local and state elections will be covered in subsequent articles.

A journey through Austin City Limits — Day 1

Now I know Texas is hot, but Friday, Oct. 12, the first day of weekend two of Austin City Limits (ACL), was a particularly uncomfortable day to say the least. The entire day, Zilkner Park, where the festival is held, felt like drudging through a middle school locker room, in a climate so humid it should be criminal. Other than the weather causing my dry desert body to sweat like I’m one of the Bellagio Hotel fountains in Vegas, the whole experience of ACL day one was truly unforgettable. This being my first large music festival outside of Albuquerque’s music and arts festivals such as Fiestas and SOMOS, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I quickly learned that most festival goers treat music fests like television.

Football: Lobos lose nail-biter to Colorado State

FORT COLLINS, CO — An opportunity to spoil Homecoming and break an eight-game losing streak, squandered. The University of New Mexico (3-3, 1-1 Mountain West) had an 18-17 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but the two minute offense and a second chance for field goal kicker Wyatt Bryan gave the Colorado State Rams (3-4, 1-1 MW) a 20-18 victory on Saturday. “I think we have a chance to have a good team, because there’s a bunch of hurting people in that locker room and because of that we have a chance to try to continue to get better,” head coach Bob Davie said.

Between Two Lobos: UNM students give advice on sex and relationships

Nonfatal shooting outside Frontier Restaurant

A non-fatal shooting occurred across from the University of New Mexico on Tuesday night outside the Frontier Restaurant. Around 11:00 p.m., an adult male was shot multiple times on Cornell and Central by an unknown assailant. No other injuries were reported. The identity of the lone victim is currently being withheld by the Albuquerque Police Department.

Controversial murals in Zimmerman Library may be removed

The conversation surrounding a piece of art at the University of New Mexico’s main library may be coming to an end soon. The Three People’s Murals, located in Zimmerman Library, have been a point of contention for decades. However, UNM Associate Vice Provost Alex Lubin has presented a plan for the murals to the Office of the President. The murals are composed of four different paintings that hang in the West Wing of Zimmerman Library and have been criticized by many for their “racial undertones.” The murals were painted by Kenneth Adams and completed in 1939.

On the run: The chase crew of the Balloon Fiesta

Thousands of visitors packed into Balloon Fiesta Park last Saturday for the opening day of the 47th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Hundreds of balloons of all shapes and sizes took to the morning sky as spectators cheered on the pilots and bid them a safe trip. The work of a balloon pilot is no easy feat. Pilots and chase crews arrive to the park well before dawn to take part in the event. Keith Lutz and his crew have been participating in the fiesta for the better part of a decade. Lutz and his wife Michelle first took an interest in ballooning as spectators. Later they became participants on a chase crew until Lutz decided he wanted to become a pilot. Now Lutz and his crew, named The Flying Monkeys, help him fly his balloon, High Maintenance II.

Centennial Library to temporarily close for repairs

The University of New Mexico Centennial Library will be temporarily closed from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13 because UNM Facilities Management will be replacing sewer lines in the surrounding area. The maintenance work was planned because of a severe water leak last month. According to Karl Benedict, an associate professor and director of Research Data services at UNM libraries, there was a water leak during the week of Sept. 22. The leak impacted staff and faculty offices.

Bus Routes to change for Fall Break

The University of New Mexico shuttle service is tapping on the brakes this week on Thursday Oct. 11 and Friday Oct. 12. As students gear up to celebrate the beginning of the fall season, or just enjoy two days without classes, they can expect their usual commute to look just a little different during Fall Break.

Movie Review: "A Star is Born" shows Gaga at her best

“A Star is Born,” the latest adaptation of a story that has been told in Hollywood for decades, is a deeply affecting film showcasing the darker side of life in the spotlight. The film, which opened on Oct. 5, marks the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper, who stars alongside Lady Gaga. Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a successful country-rock musician who tries to hide his alcoholism and hearing loss from the public. After a concert which leaves him visibly drained, Jackson stops at a bar where he encounters struggling singer Ally, played by Gaga. Jackson instantly recognizes Ally’s talent and encourages her to come on tour with him. As they travel and perform together, they bond over their love of music and begin to form a romantic relationship. Although they clearly love each other, Jackson’s drinking problem and declining career continuously drive a wedge between them.

UNM students react to Kavanaugh's confirmation

University of New Mexico students have shared their opinions on recent confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who recently received confirmation from the United States Senate. Kavanaugh was sworn into the Supreme Court on Saturday, Oct. 7. Like the rest of the country, UNM students had a variety of opinions to share on the matter. Grace Leishman said no one should be confirmed to the Supreme Court with such allegations, particularly because some of his friends corroborated the stories about his drunken behavior.

Women's Soccer: Lobos score three unanswered in second half to stun Utah State

Things weren't looking very promising. The University of New Mexico women's soccer team trailed 2-0 to the Utah State Aggies on Sunday afternoon at the UNM Soccer Complex, despite outshooting its opponent in the opening 45 minutes. Two goals allowed and just one save on the UNM side, while Utah State's keeper saved both of the rare attempts on goal on the other. But after halftime, the Lobos' fortune quickly flipped and the team rode the wave and overcame the odds to earn a 3-2 win over the Aggies and pick up an important Mountain Conference victory. UNM head coach Heather Dyche said the win was obviously important in the standings and the halftime message focused on the women having faith in themselves and their abilities. She said they really played for each other, which makes it fun to be around.

On the rise: The 2018 International Balloon Fiesta

The 47th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicked off this weekend with hundreds of balloons and thousands of spectators, with some balloons ascending and some remaining static due to weather limitations. Balloonists from all over the world gather in Albuquerque every year to celebrate the unique story that each balloon tells, featuring balloonists from Great Britain and Ireland, with a big flight of local Albuquerque balloons. Each group of balloonists gives out collectable cards that state the home of the balloon, the balloon’s name and sometimes including information on the pilot. Another popular collectable item that attendee’s sport are traditional enamel pins.

Deadline: How to make sure you're registered for the midterms

The last day to register to vote for the November 2018 Midterm Election is Tuesday, Oct. 9. The midterm election is less than 30 days away, and according to the New Mexico Secretary of State Website, there are more than 1.25 million registered voters in New Mexico as of Sept. 2018 — 45.8 percent registered as Democrat, 0.7 percent registered as Libertarian, 30.4 percent as Republican, 22 percent registered as Independent and 1 percent registered as Other. New Mexico state law requires voting registration to cease 28 days before the election.

Men's Soccer: Lobos lose to UAB in four-game skid

The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team (3-9-0, 1-3-0 C-USA) lost its fourth straight game on Saturday against the UAB Blazers (3-6-2, 1-3-1 C-USA), 4-0. The Blazers opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Aidan O’Hara drilled a ball past Lobo goalkeeper Ford Parker thanks to a through ball from Tarnue Tyler. It was the first of three shots that the Blazers would put on the goal in the half. The Lobos had their only shot on goal of the match at the end of the half, as a Nick Barreiro free kick nearly deflected off a player and into the net before a save from UAB keeper James

Football: Lobos dominate UNLV on the road in Mountain West opener

The University of New Mexico football team put on a dominant performance behind junior QB Sheriron Jones and stellar defensive play, as they defeated the UNLV Rebels 50-14 in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon. Jones threw for 250 yards on 13-of-20 attempts, including four touchdowns through the air. His offense, in a well-balanced affair, had 252 yards on the ground. Jones rushed for 72 yards. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s defense forced eight three-and-outs during the game, and didn’t allow the Rebels’ offense to pass the 100-yard threshold until halfway through the fourth quarter.

Chinese culture celebrated at Dragon Lights Festival

Beginning Oct. 5, the Dragon Lights Festival, previously called the Chinese Lantern Festival, made its return to Expo New Mexico. Vibrant lantern displays were powered by more than 15,000 LED lights, accompanied with captivating performances and vendors. The festival was able to offer a piece of a China to our city. New Mexicans from all over the state gathered for opening night. As the sun was beginning to set the curtains of the main stage drew back, revealing the performances for a night of cultural radiance. Plate spinners, China jar juggling, contortion, face changing and other performances were all presented to the public to enlighten the community on the elements of Chinese culture. “We have a small, but vibrant and very important part of our city that is Chinese,” said Tim Keller, mayor of Albuquerque. “What a wonderful bridge to the Chinese people of Albuquerque that is the Dragon Lights Festival, which we are so happy to have in our city.”

UNM students start denim recycling program

The University of New Mexico’s Environment Coalition partnered with the Blue Jeans Go Green program to kick off a denim recycling for insulation campaign on Friday afternoon in the Student Union Building atrium. The kick off campaign included a jean ribbon cutting ceremony by Emily Wilks, the vice president of the Associated Students of the UNM. Formed in 2017, UNM’s Environment Coalition consists of seven student organizations committed to organizing projects that aim to promote sustainability and an eco-friendly campus and community, according to a press release addressing their goals and partnership with Blue Jeans Go Green.