Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Stop putting yourself in the center of the U.S.-Iran conflict

Alyssa Martinez | January 12

News of the killing of Iranian top Military Commander Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike three days into the new year sent war trepidation throughout the nation. In the age of social media, this apprehension led memes under hashtags like #WWIII and #WW3 to explode on Twitter. Though the death left many citizens and experts around the globe speechless, Soleimani — who was widely regarded as a key figure in thwarting the spread of ISIS in Iran — did not go quietly. Thousands of Iranian people mourned Soleimani’s death during funeral processions on Jan. 7. In a broadcast speech earlier that day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif labeled the attack as a “stupid mistake by assassinating the greatest commander who stood in the face of terrorism" in the region, and said that Iran would respond in a proportionate matter “against legitimate targets.”

Opinion

Affordable meals for college students to survive 2020

Ellie Aikman | January 12

With 2020 rolling in a new year and decade, University of New Mexico students may begin to scramble around for their next meal. UNM offers three different meal plans: the lobo, the silver and the red, as well as an array of different plans for dining dollars and various places around campus to eat. Besides La Posada, UNM’s campus offers places like Einstein’s Bagel Bros, the Student Resource Center, Mandalay at Freshbox and the Union Club on the first floor of the Student Union Building — each of which are meal swipe friendly locations where a rushing college student can grab something to go between classes.

Opinion

A Guide to not going completely crazy during finals week

Spencer Butler | December 8

Well, here we are. The final week of the semester should bring joy, happiness and adulation. Instead, it brings dread, hopelessness and much-unneeded stress. This sense of impending doom comes in the form of final exams, as they are the major reason for the massive loss of hair and mental breakdowns. But, with a plan of action and with a little luck, you can survive and thrive during your final exams. I am not an expert in the field of finals, but these are the things that I have done to do better on the most important exam of the semester.

Opinion

What is a sugar baby?

Christina Kaskabas | December 1

A sugar baby is someone who receives financial and or material gifts in exchange for a relationship. The sugar daddy or momma is usually much older than the sugar baby, according to Urban Dictionary. It is common for people to believe that only women can be sugar babies, but the term is universal. A sugar baby can be anyone that fits the definition, regardless of their gender or expression.

Opinion

A guide to hiking in central New Mexico

Colin Peña | November 24

From climbing massive mountains then skiing down them up North, to desert backpacking and rock climbing down South, there are outdoor activities year-around in New Mexico. For many students at The University of New Mexico, these outdoor activities are popular, but it is not always necessary to take a three-hour drive to have a good time outside. Exploding 5,000 feet above the Rio Grande, the Sandia Mountains sit in Albuquerque’s backyard. No Albuquerque local can find the eastern direction without looking for them, but the Sandias are often forgotten when talking about New Mexico’s natural beauty.

Opinion

'The Outer Worlds' offers the soulfulness 'Fallout' lacked

Caitlin Scott | November 11

Placing you in a galaxy run by private corporations, "The Outer Worlds" is a first-person sci-fi role-playing game. On Oct. 25, game developer Obsidian Entertainment released "The Outer Worlds" for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. The game starts off with your character being lost in transit while a colonist ship is on its way to the farthest edge of the galaxy. Your character wakes up years later only to find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy threatening a colony that is important to the game's story.

Opinion

Ode to oft-misunderstood weeds

Alex Hiett | November 11

Earlier this year, I received a letter from the City of Albuquerque informing me that the property I share with three other units was in violation of the "Weed, Litter, and Snow Removal Ordinance." It stated that if we didn’t remove our weeds, we would be fined by the city. Personally, I’ve always found it difficult to distinguish between "weeds" and plants. The delineation between the two appears to stem from a plant’s perceived friendliness to humans and our ability to control its growth — this line is blurry.

Music

A contemporary spin on Henry V: The King movie review

Daniel Ward | November 7

David Michôd and Joel Edgerton’s “The King” breaks free from the poetic iambic pentameter Shakespearian style it’s based on and recreates the plot with more detail than many past cinematical versions of the play. “The King” is a historical drama based on Shakespeare’s play, “Henry V,” and was released Nov. 1, 2019, on Netflix. Set in 15th century England, King Henry IV (played by Ben Mendelsohn) is dying from sickness and must choose one of his sons to succeed his throne. He is left with two choices: Prince Hal (Timothee Chalamet,) the firstborn with a reputation of avoiding his responsibilities, or Prince Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman,) who is eager to be king, but is soft and thirsty for war.

Opinion

Big Mouth is going through changes in season 3

Liz Pritchard | October 24

It’s springtime at Bridgeton Middle School and all our favorite characters return. The third season of Big Mouth premiered Oct. 4 on Netflix and, in its traditional style, reminds us all that growing up is an objectively awful experience. The hit Netflix show tackles the challenges that arise with puberty, masturbation, menstruation, first kisses and breakups. Audiences follow the characters as friendships are tested and sexual orientations are explored, but the same raunchy humor of the animated series remains with the beloved Hormone Monsters giving their opinions to the kids.

Opinion

Educated and in control: knowing more about birth control options

Alanie Rael | October 24

When it comes to choosing a birth control that works for the individual, the list of options is wide and diverse. While some contraceptives are inserted to last between five and 12 years — like the implant or an IUD — others can be less invasive on the body, such as condoms or the pill. At the University of New Mexico, education about sex and protection is strongly advocated for by offices like Student Health and Counseling (SHAC). However, the details of birth control options are not always given to students, and many women do not know how contraceptives are affecting them, or even protecting them from unwanted pregnancy.

Opinion

Review: Pointless "El Camino" perfects nostalgia fuel

Justin Garcia | October 13

I’m not sure who asked for this movie, and I’m not sure why I watched it. “El Camino” is the latest spinoff in the “Breaking Bad” series, following the commercial and critical success of “Better Call Saul.” The 2-hour movie acts as an epilogue to the beloved show. The movie picks up immediately after the final episode of “Breaking Bad” as Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) speeds away from his cage in Todd’s (Jesse Plemons) Chevy El Camino. After reconnecting with fan-favorites Badger (Matt Jones) and Skinny Pete (Charles Baker,) Pinkman seeks to leave the Albuquerque behind.

Opinion

"Catherine: Full Body" improves upon the original

Caitlin Scott | October 7

"Catherine: Full Body" is still as weird as the original while adding more movie-like elements to the game. On Sept. 3, game developer Studio Zero released "Catherine: Full Body" in the United States and Europe. The game's initial release in Japan was on Feb. 14. Although this game is a remaster, there are many reasons why players of the original (released in 2011) should play this game. There are 13 distinct endings, new levels, new music and another love interest added to the game. Even with these additions, the game will still feel familiar to returning players. To those who never played "Catherine," they will be coming into a more polished version of the original.

Opinion

Opinion: Video game preservation necessary to measure cultural impact

Caitlin Scott | October 2

Video game preservation is a relatively new concept. It wasn’t until the preservation of other types of media (such as movies, television shows and/or music) in which consumers started taking video game history seriously. Most video games created throughout history are no longer accessible to study and play. This is because interactive media is a quickly evolving industry. Games that are merely a year old are considered outdated today due to the constant development of new technology. Older games are hard to come by because developers would throw out source code, computers and even the games themselves. An example of this is the mass burial of video game cartridges, consoles and computers in Alamogordo, New Mexico. These artifacts were buried in 1983 and weren’t discovered until 2014.

Opinion

Opinion: Students’ religious affiliations ought to be respected in classroom rhetoric

Beatrice Nisoli | September 30

During my time as a student at the University of New Mexico, I have been pleased to observe professors not only encouraging discussion of social liberties in a healthy and intellectual manner, but also delicately sidestepping language or teachings that could threaten any student’s identity. Students’ gender, sexuality and race are always respected when acknowledged, and when these topics are discussed objectively, they are addressed in a purely impartial and educational manner. Of course, I cannot speak for all students’ experiences, but thus far I have been nothing short of thrilled with classroom decorum in this respect.

Opinion

"Borderlands 3" meets all expectations

Caitlin Scott | September 26

On Sept. 13, game developer Gearbox Software released the highly anticipated "Borderlands 3" for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia and Microsoft Windows. "Borderlands 3" comes seven years after its predecessor "Borderlands 2". The game improves on previous outings yet stays familiar in the best ways possible. There are returning characters from "Borderlands 2" such as ClapTrap, Mad Moxxi and Lilith, as well as newcomers like Ava. "Borderlands 3" is a much bigger game than the first, second and pre-sequel. It adds many layers of customization, from character clothing to special abilities and weapon class modification. There is a little bit of everything for every play style.

Opinion

Best milkshakes around UNM

Alanie Rael , Megan Holmen and Amanda Britt | September 26

Eating with Wolves is back and shaking things up with another review from the staff at the Daily Lobo. Editors Amanda Britt, Megan Holmen and Alanie Rael rated local restaurants in the Downtown and EDo districts on both their chocolate and speciality milkshakes. As temperatures get colder and fall approaches, Standard Diner, Holy Burger and 66 Diner all offer great options for this end of summer favorite. Each milkshake was rated on the following criteria: taste, atmosphere, service and presentation.

Opinion

Editorial: UNM Athletics unjustly criticizes Daily Lobo reporter

The Daily Lobo Editorial Board | September 23

On Saturday, the Lobo football team eked out a tight, exciting 55-52 victory against the rival Aggies. It was one of the most electrifying games at Dreamstyle Stadium in recent memory. Better still, it was done before a crowd of almost 30,000 people, suggesting that UNM football can be a desirable product for UNM students, alumni and the community. We’d love to be writing a triumphant editorial, touting the comeback of the once-great football program. Instead, Saturday's game was another reminder of the disgraceful and unjust treatment Daily Lobo reporters receive while covering UNM Athletics. In this most recent dust-up, Assistant Athletics Director of Communications Frank Mercogliano felt compelled to message a student and suggest he was endangering his journalism career.

Opinion

Intentional Walk Rule: College should not follow in MLB's footsteps

Caitlin Scott | September 23

On Feb. 22, 2017, MLB changed its intentional walk rule. Instead of four pitches leading to an intentional walk, managers can now signal from the dugout to have the player take first base — sans the four pitches. Players are now told to "take your base" as they near the batter's box. The rule was changed all in the name of shaving off seconds from game times. Yes, we're talking mere seconds of a game. According to SBNATION reporter Kelsey McKinney, eliminating the four pitches saves Major League Baseball one minute per walk. That’s one minute every 2.6 games.

Opinion

Learning about spoon theory

Megan Holmen | September 16

"Spoon theory" is a concept used within the chronic illness and disability community to describe the limited energy those living with chronic illnesses or disabilities have. The concept was coined by Christine Miserandino, a woman living with Lupus, and she described the units of energy she had as spoons when explaining her limited energy to a close friend. Those who relate to spoon theory or are a part of the chronic illness community often refer to themselves as “spoonies.” Though we all have limited energy, those of us with chronic illnesses or a disability have to be aware of our energy every second of every day because, once we are out of spoons, we are done with the day’s activities — even if there is more that needs to be done.

Opinion

"Fear and Loathing" in Taos Vortex

Luke Standley | September 6

Earthships, communes and now an anti-establishment art collective gone corporate: Meow Wolf hosted the second Taos Vortex music festival in history on Aug. 16 through 18. Vortex was, appropriately, a whirlwind. With colors and characters everywhere — some the delusions of an inebriated mind and others not — it’s easy to forget why it’s all there. Music. This year’s line up was admittedly disappointing compared to its predecessor, but that wasn’t going to kill my enthusiastic devotion to the memories of yonder. Iron & Wine, Snail Mail, Too Many Zooz, Wajatta, Empress Of; all honorable mentions, eclipsed by the orphic spectacles of Parliament, Funkadelic and Flying Lotus. They had three stages, all of which had setlists scribbled in sharpie by presumably an intern on the map of Kit Carson Park. “Spire,” the main stage was at the front of the park and was surrounded by bougie tents hosting beer taps.