Opinion

Opinion, Reviews

Creating a Personal Streaming Service, Part Two

By Quinn Smalley Previously, we discussed what happens when we subscribe to streaming services. We end up discreetly spending hundreds of dollars each year to access just a handful of shows we want to watch. More importantly, we forfeit our ability to own our media.  It may not sound important to own a few of your favorite movies or shows, especially in an age of convenience and minimalism. Physical media takes up space and can be inconvenient having to get up and change the disc when you’re ready for the next bit of entertainment. But with that convenience, you needlessly open your wallet and sacrifice the all-too-important right of ownership and control. What if I told you that you could have the convenience we crave and maintain control over your media library? Having a DV...
Reclaiming Ownership: The Power in Owning Physical Media
Opinion

Reclaiming Ownership: The Power in Owning Physical Media

By Quinn Smalley How much do you spend on streaming services each month? According to Deloitte, the average American spends almost $70 monthly on platforms like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, Max and Apple Music. The bare minimum you can pay for a Netflix subscription is $7.99 for an ad-supported plan. Prime Video starts at $9 a month, also ad-supported, with the option to go ad-free for an additional $3—or $2 if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. These prices may not seem like much upfront, but they add up quickly, especially if the content you want to watch is spread across multiple services. A common scenario consumers face is having to pay for several similar services just to access specific shows. For example, if I wanted to watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “The Tra...
January’s Most Captivating Albums
Arts & Entertainment, Opinion, Reviews, Top Stories

January’s Most Captivating Albums

By Cristian Padilla Photo by Tada Images This year started off strong musically. Coming off of 2024, with pop culture at one of the most active points it has ever been with iconic moments such as BRAT summer and the Drake/Kendrick Lamar beef, everyone is waiting for what's next. Will 2025 surpass or even live up to the hype 2024 had? These January releases offer hope that captivating artistry will continue into the year. “Eusexua” by FKA twigs “Eusexua”, released Jan. 24, is FKA Twig’s third full-length album. With 11 tracks and a runtime of 42 minutes, it has become a fan favorite for those in the art pop and electronic scene. Characterized by its deep emotion and raw energy, it speaks of transcending the human plane to become an amoeba of feeling.  It opens with t...
Coffee House of the Desert 
Features, Food, Opinion, Pima News, Reviews, Top Stories

Coffee House of the Desert 

By Roman Contreras Photo by Sonoran House via their Instagram Local coffeeshop Sonoran House is located off of Speedway and Tucson Boulevard. There you can find yourself transported into an atmosphere of comfort and productivity. Customers can be found busy at work, their gazes never leaving the screens of their computers as they sip on their coffee or indulge in the locally sourced sweet treats the shop serves.  Sonoran House opened up in the middle of 2024 in the heart of Blenman-Elm which is one of Tucson's historic neighborhoods dating back to 1900. This historic neighborhood was the perfect spot for Arianna Wilson and Courtney Bedient to open their shop. The two Tucson natives feel a special connection to their hometown, having started not just one, but two businesse...
Jackson’s Journal: 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Arizona Sports, College Football, Opinion, Sports, Top Stories

Jackson’s Journal: 2025 NFL Mock Draft

By Jackson Melin Cornerback Travis Hunter playing against the Colorado State Rams, photo by the Colorado Buffaloes With the NFL season wrapping up, the draft order is all but decided. The Tennessee Titans hold the coveted first overall pick. They finished 3-14, which ties them with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns for the worst record in the league. The first selection is awarded to the worst team in the league; however, this was a three-way tie. Out of the three teams, Tennessee had the lowest “strength of schedule”, which means that they faced lower-quality opponents.  So, who are the top prospects?  The University of Miami’s Cam Ward set the school’s single season record in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, resulting in Ward winning the Davey O...
Jackson’s Journal: Simple Bears’ Necessities
Opinion, Sports, Top Stories

Jackson’s Journal: Simple Bears’ Necessities

By Jackson Melin Quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze, photo by the Chicago Bears Since 2000, the Chicago Bears have had 20 starting quarterbacks, tied for second most of all time. No Chicago Bears quarterback has ever thrown for more than 3,900 yards or 30 touchdowns. The Bears were founded in 1920, yet only have one Super Bowl win to their name (excluding pre-NFL championships). With that in mind, how does this franchise only have one ring? One word, ineptness. Reflecting on the years that have passed, you’ll find continued errors, wasted opportunities and failure to learn from previous mistakes. The Bears have passed on franchise-altering talent since its conception. Here’s a short list of the available missed players in the past 15 years: Patrick Mahom...
Review: Samara Joy at Fox Theatre in Tucson
Arts & Entertainment, Events, Opinion, Reviews, Top Stories

Review: Samara Joy at Fox Theatre in Tucson

By Jaymes Grace A signed copy of "Portrait" by Samara Joy on vinyl The amazing Miss Samara Joy made an appearance at the Historic Fox Theatre in Downtown Tucson this past Halloween night. As I waited to enter the venue, the theatre was abuzz with anticipation. I was introduced to this 24-year-old jazz great only two weeks prior, but the theatre was packed with gray-haired aficionados of jazz, who unlike myself, have been enthralled with Joy since the release of her self-titled debut album in 2021. Once I entered, the stage was set—four chairs, a drum set, a piano and bench, a stool and a stand-alone music stand for the bass player. Right at 7:30 PM, Joy’s seven-piece band entered, took their seats against the blue and red-lit backdrop and began to play their jazzy notes. Joy g...
Opinion: A-Ma(ye)zing Grace
Opinion, Sports, Top Stories

Opinion: A-Ma(ye)zing Grace

By Jackson Melin Drake Maye, photo by the New England Patriots  Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Bill Belichick; those are the names that are immediately thought of when mentioning the New England Patriots. The 6-time Super Bowl-winning dynasty was a force from 2001-2019. But those times are long gone, and no trace of the original team is still on the roster. This is a new-look Patriots team with a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback.  The Patriots hired former player Jerod Mayo as head coach this last offseason to try and rebuild the dreadful 4-13 squad. They also drafted North Carolina’s quarterback Drake Maye third overall in the 2023 draft. So far, the experiment hasn’t worked out as the Patriots have a 1-4 record. The veteran “bridge QB” Jacoby Brissett has under...
Addams Family Musical Delightfully Spooks at PCC’s Proscenium Theatre
Arts & Entertainment, Events, Features, Opinion, Pima Arts, Pima Theatre

Addams Family Musical Delightfully Spooks at PCC’s Proscenium Theatre

By Steve Forrester If you have a taste for bizarre, spooky humor and appreciate stunning performances from your fellow students, The Addams Family - A New Musical delivered. The musical was held at the West Campus’s own Proscenium Theatre from April 18th through April 28th. The production was quite impressive, as the PCC drama department brought in a gifted director named Jose “Chach” Snook, who is a guest director of sorts, invited to helm this project by the PCC drama director. This guest director has quite an extensive background having worked in New York City on several plays in the Theatre District, as well as on several tours here in Tucson and other places of note. His credits also include a tour of Sweeney Todd in the 1990s, which appeared in a theatre in Park Mall. ...