Month: February 2021

February 12, 2021

A Little Spiel About Running

Do you hate running? I’ll let you in on a little secret … so do I. It’s exhausting to have to force your body up at any time of the day and get your blood flowing. Running is one of the most difficult exercises to do, and it’s got to do with the fact that you’re pushing your body to maneuver through a long and tiring period of physical activity.

But behind the mentality of dreading that run—and thinking to yourself, “Why am I doing this to myself?”—choosing to run can be one of the wisest and most rewarding decisions that you make. So, do not fear, and allow me to assure you why jogging/running is the perfect exercise:

• It significantly improves physical and mental health.
• It reduces stress, improves heart health, and helps lessen symptoms of depression (If you’re worried about those sorts of things).
• It improves cardiovascular fitness.
• It helps to build strong bones, since it is a weight-bearing exercise!
• Did I already mention that it helps you get fit?

There are more reasons to support why running as an exercise is beneficial to your health. These are some of the primary reasons that people tend to focus on when they’re researching, “Why is running good for me?” So, whether it be for 30 minutes or an hour, running has a vast impact on your life, and you’d be doing your body a huge favor: not just in the now, but also long-term.

February 12, 2021

3 Ways to Track Assignments

With another semester upon us, and the constant stream of homework that flows with it, how does one keep track of a multitude of assignments​? Here are some suggestions to record and track the assignments as they come in, so you don’t miss another due date!

Daily Planner: Whether you download and print a template you find online​, or create your own out of a notebook and some paper, a physical daily planner is a wonderful option​ to keep track of those assignments​! Write down the ​coursework ​that your teachers put in their ​syllabi​, take it with you to class, and jot down whatever assignments pop up in lecture or on Canvas. Then you just scratch​ the assignment ​off when it’s done! This method also has the added benefit of you being able to put in any work hours you have, extra curricular meeting times, and anything else you feel needs to be included.

Apps: If you don’t want to lug around a physical planner/notebook, you could try an app on your phone or computer. The simplest would be to input your assignments straight into your calendar app, whether it be the one that is automatically installed, the Google calendar, or any calendar app you have. With this, you can see the time the assignment is due, put any pertinent information in the notes section, and get an alert however many days before the due date​.

Another option is the ​myHomework Student Planner ​app. ​The simple and organized interface allows you to view the assignments you insert, due dates, type of assignment, assignment priority, as well as filtering to find which assignment you should work on next. You can also set reminders for upcoming due dates. ​Available for free on the GooglePlay Store, as well as the Apple App Store, Mac App Store, and other platforms.

Spreadsheets: Using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to create an assignment tracker is easier than it sounds. Along with being able to personalize the interface, spreadsheets make it easy to move the assignments around if the due date changes, and they allow you to track what grades you get. In order to start one, you just need 6 columns at the top, labeled due date, class name, assignment type, assignment name, completed, and grade. After you input the assignments from the syllabi your professors give out, you highlight the whole sheet and sort by the first column (due dates). This should put the dates in descending order, so you can view what needs to be done near the top. And if the professors decide to either add or take away assignments, it is easy to just add or delete a row when needed.

February 12, 2021

Comfort at Home

With the pandemic still in full swing, it is more important than ever to take care of yourself and the people around you. As such, we have compiled a few things you can do at home to help relax in the stressful times we find ourselves in.

Yoga: Since a new semester is upon us, it may feel a little difficult to get back into the move and groove of the new term​. ​A good way to kick-start the grind is to do some yoga. Yoga can be done just about anywhere, with few to no accessories or equipment.​ And, it can be great for waking up, cooling down after a workout, improving flexibility, and more, all while being a tremendous relaxing activity, both for the body and mind. There are plenty of yoga channels and standalone instruction videos on Youtube that vary in length and difficulties. Some channels to check out would be Yoga with Adriene and BohoBeautiful Yoga.

February 12, 2021

Mix-and-Match Face Masks

Everyone’s skin is different, which may make it difficult to find a face mask that works for you. Below, I have included a mix-and-match face mask recipe to help you discover the perfect face mask for you and your skin.

Instructions:​ Choose one ingredient from each section. Then mix equal parts of each ingredient together. Some ingredients may cause breakouts if you do not completely clean your face after using, so after rinsing off the mask thoroughly, wash your face with a cleanser.

Choice One:
Fresh squeezed lime juice
Fresh squeezed lemon juice
Fresh mashed strawberries
Fresh mashed mixed berries (blackberries and raspberries)

Choice Two:
Raw or pure honey
Plain yogurt
Fresh mashed avocado
Fresh mashed bananas

How does each ingredient help your skin?

• Fresh-squeezed lime juice: Treats acne and dark spots, plus other benefits.
• Fresh-squeezed lemon juice: May help prevent acne and lighten age spots / acne scars, and more. May cause skin irritation and increase your chance of sunburn.
• Fresh mashed strawberries: May help reduce acne and is known to prevent UVA damage to your skin if used properly. Find out more about this amazing ingredient.
• Fresh mashed mixed berries:
  • Blackberries: Have anti-aging properties and work wonderfully for cleaning oily skin while also hydrating it, plus other benefits.
  • Raspberries: Help to cleanse your skin and work well with dry skin types, plus other benefits.
• Raw or pure honey: May reduce acne while keeping your face moist but not oily, plus other benefits. Anyone allergic to pollen, celery, or bee venom should avoid using this ingredient.
• Plain yogurt: Helps you fight against acne while also moisturizing your skin. Plus it can help relieve sunburn pain when used properly, and more.
• Fresh mashed avocado: May help increase your skin elasticity, which may then reduce the appearance of wrinkles and also helps prevent acne, plus other benefits.
• Fresh mashed bananas: May help with dry skin and acne, and more. Avoid using this ingredient if you have an allergy to latex or pollen.

February 12, 2021

COVID-19 and Local Restaurants

We are now living through the tenth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many small businesses have gone under in that short, yet unnervingly long-time period. Most of those small businesses that are still afloat are struggling. So how can you help the small businesses in your area and online? While many restaurants may not be doing dine-in currently, or have a very limited amount of seating available, that does not mean they don’t offer food to go. Remember that Chinese restaurant you used to go to with your friends all the time before COVID-19 struck? Look them up and order take out! Instead of ordering from the Domino’s in your area, try out a local pizza place! Just remember to tip your delivery drivers. Those who work in the food industry often rely on their tips, whether they are waiting tables or delivering food, so it is even more important now to be tipping your server since they are seeing less business.

If you don’t see a delivery feature on a local restaurant’s site, check the many food-delivery platforms such as GrubHub, Eat Street, or DoorDash.

Three Local Favorites in Green Bay:

• Glass Nickel Pizza (920) 490-1000: Pizza with an amazing hand-tossed, thicker crust. This beats any pizza chain I’ve ever had. If you’re gluten-free, I’ve heard from many people that they have the best gluten-free crust!
• Taqueria El Local (Delivery via UberEats) (920) 455-1060: An incredibly large menu of authentic Mexican food! Their burritos are enormous and filled with amazing ingredients to give you the best experience while eating. Wash it all down with a large glass of their Horchata, and you’ll be more than satisfied!
• Plia’s Kitchen (920) 437-3303: Order by phone and pick up an amazing and authentic dish of Southeast Asian cuisine. They have a small, but incredibly powerful, menu of different curry and noodle dishes. A personal favorite of mine is their Potato Curry: it’s the perfect comfort food and worth the trip out of the house.

Local Favorites in Marinette: 

• Blue Bike Burrito (715)735-9889: Fresh, organic burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. They’re only open on weekdays, but it’s well worth rushing over in between classes for one of their enormous burritos and an organic soda. Alternately, they now deliver!
• The Brothers Three (715) 735-9054: Pizza, burgers, fish fry, and more. The Brothers Three claims to make the best pizza in town, and many locals agree.
• Mickey Lu B-B-Q (715) 735-7721: Hamburgers grilled on a wood-fire stove, hot dogs, brats, and shakes. This charming 1940s-style diner may not have a huge menu (Or fries. Or actual BBQ.), but it makes up for that fact with the best butterburgers in Wisconsin.
• Real Pizza (715) 735-7121: Pizza and “comfort food.” Their French bread pizza is one of the most delicious and filling meals for one in the city.

February 12, 2021

Shaker’s Cigar Bar

Trigger Warning! This piece mentions suicide.
If you and your friends are over the legal drinking age of 21, stop into Shaker’s Cigar Bar in Milwaukee, WI! Rich with a haunting history, Shaker’s Cigar Bar resides in a building from 1894 where they now provide quality drinks, cigars, and food. What makes this place so chillingly intriguing? What first opened as a cooperage house, a place that makes barrels and casks, for Schlitz Brewery, eventually made its way to operate as a speakeasy and brothel in the 1920’s up until 1946, run by notorious gangster Al Capone and his brother, Frank Capone. According to the current owner Bob Weiss, while it was being owned and operated by the Capone brothers, many prostitutes either committed suicide or were murdered on the second and third floor of the building, and guests still report hearing stilettos click up and down the halls through the night. Bob Weiss opened it as Shaker’s Cigar Bar in 1986, and he and his staff began offering three different haunted tours to the public soon after realizing they weren’t the only ones occupying the building. The three tours rotate seasonally and include The Whoring 20’s, The Milwauking Dead, and the Cream City Cannibal Tour, where they focus on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and his victims. So, if you’re feeling brave, book a tour post-COVID and introduce yourself to a few transparent old-timers of Shaker’s Cigar Bar!

—Kira Doman

Sources: 

• https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/wisconsin/articles/meet-the-man-behind-the-milwaukee-bar-that-al-capone-once-owned/
• https://www.shakerscigarbar.com/https://milwaukeerecord.com/city-life/spent-night-milwaukees-haunted-cigar-bar/
• https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/shakerscigarbar

The Witches of Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin is home to not only the Whitewater Warhawks, but to generations and generations of witches. Or so they say. In 1889, Morris Pratt, a practicing spiritualist, opened an institute to teach the art of spirituality, among other courses, to the community. The institute was functional until about 1902. After Pratt’s passing, in 1946, the school was moved to Milwaukee, where it is open to students curious about spirituality to this day.

Rumors about the “witches” who attended Morris Pratt’s school of spirituality were really the start of the curious goings on in Whitewater. There is a perfect triangle made up by Hillside Cemetery, Oak Grove Cemetery and Calvary Cemetery. The locals claim every building unfortunate enough to be in this triangle is haunted.

Not only are these cemeteries home to ax-wielding murderess Mary Worth (whose spirit supposedly still lurks amongst the tombstones) and Morris Pratt himself, but legend has it that they were built on ancient burial grounds. People describe seeing apparitions and clouds of fog, hearing noises, and feeling sudden cold drafts that disappear as quickly as they come on.

In 1981, the girls of the Alpha Sigma sorority reported hearing strange noises coming from the basement while they were eating dinner. They went to investigate and discovered bricks thrown all around the basement floor, revealing a hidden tunnel. Rumor has it that this was how the “witches” traveled around town without being seen by the townspeople.

In the middle of Starin Park, which, coincidentally enough, is in the haunted triangle, stands an old stone water tower. It is claimed that the local witches would go there to practice magic and rituals, including animal sacrifice. Surrounding the water tower stands a seven-foot-tall iron fence, with the spikes on top pointing inward rather than outward. Legend has it that this is not to keep curious students out, but to keep whatever evil that waits inside in. 

 —Aleida Toebe, Haunted WI editor

Editor’s note: The Driftwood thanks Hannah J. Romero Photography for permission to use her photo of the Starin Park water tower. 

Sources: 

• Witches of Whitewater: The truth behind the legend 
• World’s First Spiritualist School Founded In Wisconsin | Wisconsin Public Radio 
• Haunted Whitewater – Witches, Spirits & Lake Monsters 

From the Driftwood Kitchen

This semester, The Driftwood will bring you easy-peasy recipes for new cooks. We’re talking REALLY easy—and fast.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Mac and Cheese

Chances are high that if you’re from Wisconsin, you probably love cheese; maybe mac & cheese is even one of your favorite meals! Let’s be real, though; a box of Kraft just doesn’t do the job, and unless you’re conveniently located near a Mac’s restaurant, you probably think getting your hands on some mac & cheese that tastes gourmet just isn’t possible, right? Wrong! This recipe is quick, easy, and best of all, it results in an oeey-gooey-super-cheesy bowl of total deliciousness. It’s one of my family’s staples, and is sure to become one of your favorites too!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni
• 1 cup American cheese, shredded
• 1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, bring the water and milk to boil. Stir in the macaroni and decrease the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring often, until the macaroni is soft. (It’ll be around 6 to 8 minutes.) Add in the American cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese is completely melted. (It’ll be around 1 minute.) Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until it is evenly distributed, but not completely melted. Cover the saucepan and let it sit for 5 minutes, still off-heat.

2. While the macaroni mixture sits, combine the panko bread crumbs, oil, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt and pepper salt in a nonstick skillet until the panko has completely absorbed the liquid. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the panko mixture is evenly browned. (It’ll be about 3 to 4 minutes.) Remove it from heat, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over panko mixture, and stir until combined. Transfer to a small bowl.

3. Stir the macaroni until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Transfer to a bowl and add the panko mixture over top. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

—Mallory Allen, Cooking Editor

Fettuccine Alfredo

This is a classic dish that can be eaten for lunch or dinner; take it on the go, or enjoy it over the table. I love this dish, and in fact, if you make enough, you’ll be able to feed just about anyone you know. It’s creamy, garlicky, and cheesy, and the best part, it’s not time consuming. Need I say more?

Ingredients:

• 24 ounces dry fettuccine pasta (one box of noodles)
• ½ stick of butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente and drain.

2. In a large saucepan, melt butter into cream over low heat. Add salt and pepper. Stir in cheese over medium heat until melted; this will thicken the sauce.

3. Add pasta to sauce. Use enough of the pasta so that all the sauce is used, and the pasta is thoroughly coated. Serve immediately. 

Yield: Serves 6 people. Time: 30 min.

—Bruce Kong

February 11, 2021

Phoenix Crossword: Green Bay Campus Edition

Click on the puzzle image below to get a PDF you can print out and complete! We’ll publish the answer key in the next Driftwood. 

—Sydney Sebert, Puzzles Editor, with Mallory Allen