The Driftwood #41: Campus Services #1

February 9, 2024

Library Services Still Available for Marinette Students

library logoEven though our campus library has closed, students are still able to access library services–and you won’t have to drive to the Green Bay campus to do so. Here’s a brief list of what you can get through the UWGB library:

  • Research help: To access research assistance, visit the online Library Research Guide or call the research desk at 920/465-2540. You can also use the “Chat with a Librarian” e-chat feature. Just click on the chat pop-up on any library website page.
  • E-books and digital articles: 88% of the library’s collection is available digitally. Log into the library website and click the “Available online” checkbox in the Search@UW field, and enter your search terms to see what’s available.
  • Laptop and mobile hotspot checkout: If you need a laptop or a signal-boosting mobile hotspot for the semester, you may still check one out from the library. E-mail the circulation department (circdept@uwgb.edu) or call 920/465-2540, and the librarians will make arrangements to get one to you here in Marinette. You may also pick them up at the Green Bay or Sheboygan campus libraries if you’re nearby.
  • Citation help: Need help citing your sources in MLA or APA format? The library’s citation guide can help! You might also try the NoodleTools online tool, free through the library with your UWGB login.
  • Other questions: If you need help with any other library-related question, contact the Green Bay campus librarians via chat on the website, e-mail, or phone (920/465-2540).

Driftwood #43: Fun Facts #1

March 8, 2024

Easter Facts

  • Easter does not have a set date because the church never recorded the exact date of Jesus’s resurrection. In 325 A.D., the celebration for Easter was set as the first Sunday after the first full moon of the Spring equinox by the council of Nicaea. This is the reason that Easter day ends up anywhere between March 22 and April 25th.
  • The church forbade eating eggs during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) until the 16th century. The eggs represent new life and rebirth, so people saved all eggs laid during Lent and painted them to serve as decoration until the fast was over. On Easter Sunday, the family would have a feast that included the eggs in celebration of the rebirth of Jesus.
  • A lost tradition in churches is egg-tossing during the Easter Vigil which takes place on the night of Holy Saturday. The priest would throw an egg to a choirboy, and the choirboys would toss it to each other around the church. Whoever was still holding it at midnight would get to keep it.
  • During the 16th century, children in Scotland and Northern England would go door to door reciting rhymes for eggs, cheese, and bacon to add to their family’s Easter feasts.
  • cascaronesCascarones are an alternative to the popular dyed hard-boiled eggs. Originating in China, cascarones are believed to have been brought by Marco Polo to Spain and then to the Americas. In the lower United States and Mexico, the insides of the eggs are removed from the shell by making and then blowing through a small hole in the bottom. Once cleaned, the eggshell is painted, filled with confetti, and sealed with tissue paper. On Easter day, it is tradition to smash the cascarones over people’s heads to give them luck, and it is also considered a sign of affection.
  • An old superstition stated that you needed to wear new clothes on Easter to have good luck for the rest of the year. New Yorkers would walk along the streets to show off their new clothes after mass. This is believed to be the beginning of the New York Easter parade.
  • Each year, 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced in a variety of flavors. No matter the flavor, 89% of Americans eat their bunnies’ ears first. Only 9% will go for the tails or feet first.
  • The world’s largest chocolate egg was made in Italy measuring 34 ft high and 15,873 lbs., but the most expensive chocolate bunny ever made cost $49,000.00. Besides the 548,000 calories of chocolate, the bunny had a pair of 1.07 carat diamonds for eyes. This hare stood about a foot tall and weighed about 11 lbs.
  • Peeps yellow bunniesAmerican’s each Easter buy more than 700 million Peeps. In 1953, this would have been impossible to keep up with demand because it took 27 hours to make one Peep, but now they have the process down to just six minutes a Peep.
  • Although people may say that Peeps last forever, they have been scientifically proven to only have a two-year shelf life.
  • Jellybeans became a popular Easter candy around 1914 because World War I made eggs harder to get. The chewy candies were a great substitute on the Easter table because of their resemblance to colorful Easter eggs. Americans consume roughly 16 billion jellybeans each Easter, with cherry being the most popular flavor among children.
Tiffany Jablonowski
Top photo of cascarones from My Mercado Mexican Imports. Bottom photo from Peeps Brand
Sources: 
  • Blyde, Braden. “7 Surprising Facts about Chocolate Easter Eggs.” Signs of the Times, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 11 Apr. 2022, signsofthetimes.org.au/2022/04/7-surprising-facts-about-chocolate-easter-eggs/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.
  • “A Brief History of Cascarones.” Mommy Maestra, 21 Apr. 2011,www.mommymaestra.com/2011/04/brief-history-of-cascarones.html. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.
  • Clark, Casey. “10 Fun Facts about Easter Candy You Didn’t Know.” SpoonUniversity, 30 Apr. 2021, spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/18-easter-basket-goodies-you-need-this-spring. Accessed 27Feb. 2024.
  • Fairchild, Mary. “Find out Why the Date of Easter Changes Every Year.” Dotdash Meredith, 15 May 2019, www.learnreligions.com/date-of-easter-change-every-year-700670. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.
  • Smith McDonough, Lauren, et al. “25 Funny and Unexpected Trivia Facts about Easter.” Hearst Magazine Media, 9 Mar. 2023, www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/holidays-celebrations/g3323/easter-interesting-facts/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.
  • “The World’s Most Expensive Easter Bunny Also Has 548,000 Calories.” Huff Post, 25 Mar. 2015, www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/the-worlds-most-expensive-easter-bunny-also-has-548-000-calorie_n_6939530.  Accessed 28 Feb. 2024.

The Driftwood #42: Sports Center

March 1, 2024

March Madness: What You Need to Know

March Madness basketballMarch Madness is coming around the corner. We should check and see how these college teams are doing.What is March Madness?March Madness is the yearly college basketball tournament held by the NCAA that spans from mid-March to early April. The tournament began with eight teams playing against one another in 1939, where Oregon beat Ohio State to take home the first tournament title. Over the years, it grew from an eight-team event to 16 in 1951. In 1975, it doubled to 32 before doubling again to 64 in 1985. Currently, 68 teams make it into the tournament with eight teams participating in play-in games to make the official first-round field of 64. (Play-in games are games you must win to get to the tournament and have to keep winning to move on. If a team loses two in a row, they’re out of the running) Learn more about the history of March Madness hereCollege Sports Scores For the Big Ten Conference (includes Madison)Wed, Feb 7th– Michigan beat Wisconsin 72 – 68– Northwestern beat Nebraska 80 – 68Thu, Feb 8th– Penn State beat Iowa 89 – 79

Sat, Feb 10th– Purdue beat Indiana 79 – 59– Michigan State beat Illinois 88 – 80– Rutgers beat Wisconsin 78 – 56– Ohio State beat Maryland in double overtime 79 – 75– Nebraska beat Michigan 79 – 59Sun, Feb 11th– Iowa beat Minnesota 90 – 85– Northwestern beat Penn State 68 – 63Tue, Feb 13th– Michigan beat Illinois. 97 – 68– Wisconsin beat Ohio State 62 – 54Wed, Feb 14th– Maryland beat Iowa. 78 – 66– Michigan State beat Penn State 80 – 72Thu, Feb 15th– Purdue beat Minnesota 84 – 76– Rutgers beat Northwestern 63 – 60How Teams Qualify for March MadnessCollege basketball teams can qualify for the March Madness Tournament by earning the automatic qualifying bid that is given to each conference. The winner of the conference tournament earns a right to the NCAA Tournament. After all the automatic bids are handed out, a selection committee fills out the rest of the field with deserving teams. After 32 teams earn automatic spots by winning conference tournaments, the NCAA Tournament selection committee convenes on Selection Sunday to decide on 36 teams that will earn at- large berths to round out the field of 68.2024 March Madness Predictions for Big Ten TeamsThe Purdue Boilermakers are locked to reach the NCAA Tournament and could wind up with the No. 1 overall seed. The No. 2-ranked Boilermakers have a 23-3 record, including 12-3 in Big Ten play. The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Wisconsin Badgers also appear to be locks to reach March Madness. The No. 14-ranked Fighting Illini are 19-6 and 10-4 in conference play, while the No. 20-ranked Badgers are 17-9 and 9-6 in Big Ten play. While the Michigan State Spartans have not entered the AP Top 25 Poll since November, they should once again reach the postseason, as they are 17-9 and 9-6 in the conference. The Northwestern Wildcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers also seem highly likely to qualify for March Madness. While both teams are 18-8, the Wildcats are 9-6 in Big Ten Play, while the Cornhuskers are 8-7.To see more scores and updates on the Big Ten, click here.

—Mackenzie Hebert, Sports Editor

The Driftwood #42: Fun Facts #1

March 1, 2024

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Facts

  • St. Patrick in stained glassSt. Patrick was not born in Ireland and Patrick was not his given name. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, and his home country was Britannia (Roman Britain).
  • St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders when he was 16 years old and sold into slavery. It took six years before he was able to escape back to Britain. St. Patrick credited the years spent in slavery with restoring his faith in Christianity.
  • St. Patrick is credited with banishing all the snakes from Ireland, but scientific evidence (fossils found on the island, and the inability of snakes to swim to the shores) shows that snakes never inhabited Ireland. Instead, there is a common belief that the snakes in Irish lore are meant to symbolize banishing the Pagans and spreading Christianity.
  • St. Patrick’s Day was originally a religious holiday to acknowledge the spread of Christianity in Ireland. After the emigration of nearly two million Irish to America, the holiday became more a celebration of Irish pride then Christianity.
  • St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in Ireland with a feast of ham or pork with cabbage instead of the American traditional feast of corned beef and cabbage. The potato famine of 1845, an outbreak of mold that crippled potato crops leading to almost a million Irish dying of starvation, caused about a million Irish natives to come to America. They were extremely poor and could only afford the cheaper substitute of corned beef, which had to be boiled twice on its own before the final third time with cabbage to combat the briny taste of the meat.
  • St. Patrick was originally represented not by green but by blue, more specifically the color known as “St. Patrick’s blue.” The blue was to honor the royal crown as well as ancient Irish flags. Green did not become the official color of St. Patrick’s Day until 1798.
  • St. Patrick’s Day is symbolized with shamrocks because people believe that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity.
  • St. Patrick’s Day is honored with parades across many countries. In the United States, an estimated 100 parades take place, including one in Arkansas that holds the world record for the shortest parade being only 98 feet long.
  • St. Patrick’s Day is not observed on March 17th if the Holy Week (the week before Easter) lands on the 17th. The holiday was celebrated on April 3rd when this happened in 1940. In 2008, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated on March 15th. The holiday will not fall on Holy Week again until the year 2160.
  • St. Patrick’s Day and Leprechauns have been said to go hand in hand. The leprechaun is a fairy that is part of Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of magical beings who served the goddess Danu, believed to have lived in Ireland long before it was inhabited by humans. Early accounts describe them as wearing red coats (not green), and a variety of hats that were three cornered (instead of the top hat). They are also thought to be tricky, grouchy, and above all solitary.
Tiffany Jablonowski

Photo licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by Nheyob.
Sources: 
Cohen, Jennie. “St. Patrick’s Day Legends and Myths Debunked.” History, A&E Television Networks, 16 Mar. 2012, www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-myths-debunked. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
“15 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Leprechauns.” Mental Floss, 17 Mar. 2022, www.mentalfloss.com/article/62173/15-lucky-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-leprechauns. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
Onion, Amanda, et al., editors. “7 Surprising Facts about St. Patrick’s Day.” History, A&E Television Networks, 16 Mar. 2020, www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
Sanger, Erika. “10 Bizarre Facts about St. Patrick You Never Knew.” Ireland Before You Die, 26 Feb. 2019, www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/10-facts-about-st-patrick-you-never-knew/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.
“30 Amazing Facts about St. Patrick’s Day.” The Factfile, 10 May 2021, thefactfile.org/st-patricks-day-facts/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.

The Driftwood #41: Local Favorites #1

Pay It Forward: Golden House and the Rainbow House

 

Are you looking for a great way to get out and give back? Golden House is an incredible nonprofit organization promoting a comprehensive domestic-violence program including safety, support, housing, and prevention. Their philosophy is to, with integrity, help all victims find a life without abuse. Starting back in 1979 as a help line, Golden House has grown to house and support over 150 victims a year, as well as supply counseling, mental health services, and prevention education to many more. They are located at 1120 University Ave in Green Bay, WI, and serve the Brown County area. Volunteering here is a great way to get involved because of the variety of jobs needed. Can you cook a meal, paint a house, do a group activity, or teach a life skill? Here you can display all these talents and many more. All you need to do is fill out the volunteer application on their website to get started.

The Rainbow House serves victims of domestic abuse in the Marinette area. They offer a variety of services including free parenting classes, safety planning, legal advocacy, LGBTQ+ services, and youth and teen services. If you are able to give, they accept monetary donations, including donations of items on their Amazon and Walmart wish lists.

Tiffany Jablonowski, Local Favorites Editor

Golden House sign

The Driftwood #41: Local Favorites #2

Finding Community

 

Titletown skatingTrying to plan a night out? Just been too busy to find something fun to do to relax after a long week? Here are some fun events that are sure not to disappoint!

Green Bay: 

  • Does every day feel like a Monday? Break the routine by heading out to “Mayhem at Merlo Winery” on February 16 in Green Bay for an all-ages murder-mystery game night. Tickets start at $10.00, and the mayhem starts at 6:30.
  • Another fun evening can be spent ice skating at Titletown (pictured right). Monday, February 19, meet up at the Titletown ice skating rink in Green Bay at 6:30 for skating and cocoa. Make sure you bring money for skate rentals! Not a fan of ice skating? Titletown has many winter fun activities planned on their calendar of events.
  • If it is too cold outside, come down to the Green Bay Community Theater on Monday, February 19, or Tuesday, the 20th, to audition for Don’t Drink the Water from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Woody Allen wrote this comedy about an incompetent son running the American embassy behind the Iron Curtain, and American tourists who accidentally take pictures of things they should not have seen. Rehearsals begin in early March, and the show runs April 11-13 and April 17-21.

Marinette: 

  • Love wine and mystics? Then come to the Forgotten Fire Winery in Peshtigo, WI, on Friday, February 16, 2024 for Fortunes by the Fire. LJ will be doing 15-minute palm and card readings from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. There will be a sign-up sheet available and a special rate of $20 (cash only). This event is for ages 18+.
  • Sledding and Hot Chocolate is being put on by Biehl Bridges to Recovery at Marinette City Park on February 17, 2024. You bring a sled, they will bring the hot chocolate, and everyone meets up on top of the sledding hill. A $5 donation is requested, but no one will be turned away.
  • R&S Saddle Saloon in Marinette, WI will be hosting an adult prom to help stay forever young on Saturday, February 17, 2024. This event is set to begin at 9 p.m. with a chance to win a gift certificate for people participating by dressing up. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy dancing the night away.

Tiffany Jablonowski, Local Favorites Editor

The Driftwood #41: The Trash Vortex

You’ve reached the place where all the bad, but oh-so-satisfying entertainment exists. Here, in the Trash Vortex, we provide you with only the trashiest, most bingeworthy recommendations. It’s a dark hole you won’t escape!

Movies That Should Talk to the Hand

Iconic 90s rom-com classics like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and The Wedding Singer (1998) and their leading couples continually defy the odds—namely that nothing should get unceremoniously dumped faster than what’s considered “romantic” some ten years ago. At least these discounted leftovers from Valentine’s Day have something to offer.

Cool as Ice (1991)
movie posterIt’s said that one’s rom-com is another’s psychological horror. Vanilla Ice’s debut on the silver screen is one such movie. Our “hero” wins over an uptight honor student with the power of freestyle rapping and being “hip with the kids” (whatever that means). As evident from that plot description, this film audaciously lacks self-awareness. Whatever possible offense to take from Cool as Ice’s haphazard attempts to impress teens are lost with how absurd it gets, witness protection subplot and all. Available on Amazon Prime.

Simply Irresistible (1999)
movie posterA chance encounter with an omnipresent benefactor gives a struggling chef the power to cook her feelings into whatever she makes. This movie features flat acting, flatter characters, and attempts at humor that read more as unintentional cringe comedy than human interaction. Don’t let the fancy Jewel Kilcher-flavored music standard for the late nineties fool you—this movie is as cookie-cutter as it comes. Available free on PLEX.

 

Sasha Bouyear, Trash Vortex Editor

Never Been Kissed (1999)
Never Been Kissed posterIf you’re in the mood for a ’90s rom-com starring Drew Barrymore, do yourself a favor and watch The Wedding Singer. But if you wouldn’t mind an unintentionally hilarious hate-watch, Never Been Kissed is here to fulfill your every snarky wish. Barrymore plays Josie Geller, who was so unpopular in high school that she was known to her classmates as Josie Grossie. So when adult Josie the journalist is assigned an undercover story that requires her to pose as a high-school student, she jumps at the chance for a do-over. With the help of her brother Rob (David Arquette), who formerly ran with the popular jocks in his teens, Josie manages to overcome her innate awkwardness and get a taste of life in the in-crowd. She also develops a schoolgirl crush on her teacher Mr. Coulson (Michael Vartan). And, putting the “gross” in Josie Grossie, Coulson returns her feelings, even though HE THINKS SHE’S A STUDENT. The #MeToo ick factor is too intense to get lost in the romance, but it’s great for indulging in a group cringe with your friends. Available on Starz. 

Tracy Fernandez Rysavy, Driftwood Advisor

The Driftwood #41: Podcast Picks

Informational Podcasts

If you’re looking for obscure knowledge to impress your friends with at the bar, look no further!

Radiolab

RadiolabRadiolab consists of fun, informational deep dives into an eclectic variety of topics, from how blue horseshoe crab blood is used in pharmaceuticals to modern drone tactics used in wars like the Russo-Ukranian Conflict. The podcast sets out to explain these topics with solid, competent journalism laid out in a pleasant manner, accompanied with a stunning, dynamic soundtrack, this podcast makes learning enjoyable and easy. Consulting a healthy array of topically relevant sources, including many firsthand interviews from those deeply involved and respected within their communities, Radiolab reliably relays useful, relevant information about the world around us.

One particularly admirable aspect about Radiolab is their commitment to journalistic integrity and neutrality in covering these stories. Covering such controversial topics as the death penalty, religious fundamentalism, and politics in the Middle East, such an approach is necessary and appreciated.

With glowing reception amongst listeners and critics alike, this show has been hailed as one of the most innovative on American podcast apps (and radio, as it is also broadcast in New York). It has even won two Peabody Awards for broadcast excellence, over four years! So, in short, I highly recommend checking out this podcast.

—Logan Meek, Podcast Editor

The Driftwood #41: Video Games

Warframe

 

Warframe iconAmong free-to-play games, Warframe is the only one to have its own official convention in North America. Warframe is an immensely popular online co-op game, blending fast movement, hack ‘n’ slash, and third-person shooting into a satisfying experience. Players play as warframes, which essentially function as classes, each one with different speed, shields, health, and abilities, cooperating in groups of four to complete the chosen mission.

The true pleasure of Warframe at this point might be the collectathon. Being almost a decade old, it carries a daunting amount of content. With a decade of factions to impress and armaments to earn, it will take even the most-dedicated player a year to compile an up-to-date arsenal, and thus should provide at least a year of continuous entertainment. Warframe currently has over 50 warframes and hundreds of weapons for the player to earn, master, and freely switch between to keep the gameplay fresh.

Warframe is free to play, which basically means there is no subscription and the initial game is practically a demo. Without a purchase, you will have access to the full game and all its content, but your playability will be significantly hindered. You can only hold so many warframes and weaponsand good weapons and warframes are nearly irreplaceableso you’ll need more inventory space. That’s how they get you. These inventory upgrades cost “platinum,” an in-game currency that is either bought with real money or traded with players. The best way to obtain platinum is to wait until you get a coupon from your daily log-in bonus. Definitely buy platinum in bulk to get the best deal, wait until you get a 50% off coupon, and spend it wisely, prioritizing necessities. With these guidelines, a $50 purchase should last years, although it will allow few in-game luxuries like cosmetics.

 

—Gage Wilson, Video Games Editor

The Driftwood #41: The Book Bachelor

For the romantics among us who like to read reviews before we shop….

The Book Bachelor: Edward Cullen

Edward Cullen
Photo: Blingee shareable image by rosycrystals.

The year is 2006. George W. Bush is still the president. You have the five most recent episodes of Pretty Little Liars saved on your DVR, but you haven’t watched them yet because your dad deleted an episode by accident, and you don’t want to miss something importantbut when your friends start talking about recent plot developments, you’ve been nodding along. (“OMG! I know, right?”) Your middle-school librarian asks you if you’re allowed to read Twilight when you try to check it out, and you don’t get the joke, so you laugh. “No, are you?” That’s a good question. No one has ever asked you if you’re allowed to read a book before. You nod, because even if you’ve begun to doubt the truth of your answer, this book has a cool cover. And vampires. You don’t know the cataclysm that lies in wait. You couldn’t. You’re only a tween.

Edward Cullen…. Yes, he had us all fooled. If only we’d had a trusty Subjectively Created Ranking, the Edward vs. Jacob War would have been over before it started. Our fallen Livejournal friendships, never forgotten. We dedicate this review to your memory.

So … how does he stack up? Our experts ran the numbers. 

Dependability:
He disappears for large swaths of time, and only reappears when you’re in mortal peril. 2/5 ★★☆☆☆

Affection:
Well, he hasn’t eaten you yet! Unfortunately, he won’t stop telling you how much he wants to eat you, so it’s a bit of a vibe killer. 3/5 ★★★☆☆

Cuddlability:
Literally built like a sculpture. Pretty to look at, but attempts to cuddle will result in bruises. 1/5 ★☆☆☆☆

Charisma
Edward possesses so little charisma that it goes full circle to being charisma again. That haunted stare had America’s 12-year-olds in a death grip. 5/5 ★★★★★

Funness of dates
I’m sure Bella smiles in this series. In fact, she probably smiles when she’s with Edward at some point. Most of the time she looks miserable, though, so I’m going to give him a boring/5. You’d have more fun with Jacob. 🥱☆☆☆☆

Listening/communication skills:
Sure, he can read your mind, but hear me out: He’s 17 years old. Forever. 1/5 ★☆☆☆☆

Emotional intelligence:
Same as above. 1/5 ★☆☆☆☆

Regular intelligence:
Okay, it’s hard not to be well read when you’ve been 17 for 70 years. His poetic voice could use some work, though. 4/5 ★★★★☆

Coolness:
He’s a vampire, which is an automatic 5/5. ★★★★★

Overall: You can do better, queen. He’s lame, and, like, forever.

—Kana Coonce, Bachelor Editor