Month: April 2022

April 13, 2022

Serial Story: Noah’s Dream Journal #5

February 26, 8:05 AM

So, it’s been a while since I’ve written in this thing. It’s also been a while since I’ve had a dream. A few months have passed and I honestly don’t mind, what with worrying if I’m going insane with these dreams or not. However, I did have a dream last night, but it was different from the rest.

I was at a party at some guy’s place with a bunch of people I didn’t know, and I started walking around. Everybody was going into separate rooms in pairs, probably doing God knows what. I thought it’d be something fun, so I tried to open a door or two, but they didn’t open. Not a single door I tried worked, I couldn’t do anything except walk out of that party and find something else to do.

I found myself at an Irish pub where I lost myself and my thoughts to the singing, chatter, occasional fighting, all that good stuff. I was feeling good when I heard a voice from a corner of the pub. I immediately knew that voice from anywhere: it was Doc!

I couldn’t see his face buried beneath all of the people, but I did see his arm holding a glass of beer. He must’ve sensed I was scared and told me, “Don’t fret, Noah. We did what we needed to do. You’re cured!” When his hand got lost in the crowd celebrating over the soccer game, that’s when I woke up.

To be continued…

Click these links to read previous entries: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Continue reading “The Driftwood #26: Serial Story”

April 28, 2022

A little-known secret around campus is that our professors were once students. Nervous, confused, and probably as hungry as we all are while sitting through lectures, here are their first experiences as professors and what tips they have to offer for students taking their courses.

Humanizing Our Professors: Keith West
Geoscience Department: Marinette Campus

Professor West was fresh out of grad school when he stumbled through his first lecture as an exhibit curator for a small college museum in New Mexico. Unfortunately, he had some stage fright, relying on his notes to get him through a foggy memory and talking faster to make up for lost time. This resulted in a student’s dramatic reaction of flinging his pen over his shoulder, completely giving up on taking notes—not exactly a sign that things were going great. The next day, when he braved the class again to get something out of a storage closet, he spared them any painful anticipation of a second incident by explaining that he wouldn’t be teaching them again, as it was only a one-day opportunity. With a great deal of kindness, one student announced that, “it wasn’t that bad.”

While not every first experience is a perfect one, learning is about getting back up and trying again. Luckily, the Professor did just that, and today he encourages his students to not just be spectators but to engage with their materials because it’ll only make the experience better. After all, asking questions and discussing lessons gives you the chance to explore things that wouldn’t have otherwise been taught to you. Instructors aren’t mind-readers. Students have to speak up to be heard. In addition to that, he wants students to know that while he organizes his classroom, it isn’t actually his course; it belongs to everyone in it. Again, your classes will proceed as normal unless you put the effort in to make them better or more enjoyable. Truly, words of wisdom for every class at UWGB, as students’ honest opinions are very-much welcomed by professors in every department and on every campus. Education, then, is definitely a team effort.

April 28, 2022

Celebrity Q&A: Seth Rogan

Seth Rogen is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Originally a stand-up comedian in Vancouver, he moved to Los Angeles where he would start his acting career. He can be found in lots of comedies and movies that are just fun to watch. Some of the few that he starred in are This is the End, Pineapple Express, and The Interview.

Q: How do you feel about stoner comedy? Do you feel like you have a desire to elevate it? Do you like it as what it is? [Editor’s Note: “Stoner comedy” features protagonists who act like they enjoy recreational cannabis use, whether they actually do in the film or not.] 

A: Comedy in general is the least respected art form, period. So I am accepting of that, as someone who has dedicated their life to it. Comedy’s never gonna win awards; they do not even get nominated for them. Every top-ten list of movies, one like fancy f—ing comedy maybe gets nominated, but that movie’s not funny. So the truth is, yeah, I make the least respected genre in the least respected art form on the planet Earth, but I get paid very well, so I’m okay with that!

—Vulture

Q: Do you have a hero from the worlds of acting, comedy or otherwise?

A: I would not be able to narrow it down to one person. That would be too hard. I have many heroes. But who has inspired me? Trey Parker and Matt Stone consistently do incredibly funny stuff. [Editor’s Note: Parker and Stone are the co-creators of the popular adult show South Park. They also voice some of the main characters of the show.]

—WebMD

Q: Is a daily dose of laughter the key to good health?

A: I laugh a lot. And I feel relatively healthy. Not sure I look like it…

—WebMD

—Will Kosmal, Celebrity Q&A Editor

April 28, 2022

Field Trip Travel Stories

It was last semester, October of 2021. My geology class entered the bus en masse with all of our rain gear and lunch boxes. We were going to multiple places, beautiful places deep in nature, to study rocks and land formations. The first destination was Dave’s Falls. I had been here several times, but it was rather gorgeous at that time of the year. My class and I needed to take notes on the rocks of the area, making guesses on what type of rocks we saw and noticing the fractures and crevices to attain an idea on how they had formed. I could not help but notice the girl whom I had a crush on. She was a cultured nature-freak I had in a couple of my classes during that semester, but I missed my chances and will probably never see her again. The place was divine.

The next destination was to a waterfall called Long Slide Falls, pristine in all its beauty. This was my first account of being here, and it was one of the grandest waterfalls I have ever seen. I spotted many edible plants while I was there, including wintergreen and uva-ursi, but I needed to remind myself not to get distracted, as I was supposed to observe the rocks. Professor West made a statement that Amberg rock was prevalent there, and he briefly explained how those rocks were formed. Lunch was next on the list. I packed an apple, a Protein-3 snack, a fruit cup, and some Cheetos. There was a lake where some of the other classmates were dipping their toes in.

The last and final destination was Piers Gorge, which featured a collection of rapids in the Menominee River. The formation of the rocks were rugged and bumpy, making it difficult to walk. Shale was prevalent there, as my professor explained, and some of us collected some of those rocks. I found more wintergreen to collect, but once again needed to remind myself not to get distracted. When the time was up and it was time to go back to Marinette, I was so sore and tired, but I felt so relaxed by the therapy of nature. All in all, this was the best field trip I have ever been on. I would like to return to these parks some time soon.

—Conner Tuthill, Travel Editor

April 28, 2022

Writing Exercise

Life as an Inanimate Object
This writing activity focuses on the personification of inanimate objects. The following piece identifies what objects without speech abilities would say if they could talk.

River: I supply water to the Earth and all of its creation, fertilizing land, hydrating the land creatures, and giving refuge to the fish. I am sacred to the world in all three of my forms, and I have lasted for billions of years. I am loud, but also silent, because I feel ill more often these days. I have been accumulating strange foam and goo, peculiar foods of peculiar tastes. As for the fish who reside within me, illness is rampant. I do not know how much more of this I can handle.

Tree: I give unconditional refuge to the critters who live within me. Squirrels and birds create their homes on me, and I have no problem with that at all. I am honored to share my gifts to Earth’s creation. My fruit is imperishable, and it arrives every year for all creatures who buffet on me. But it has been rather lonely these days. Some of my brothers, sisters, and cousins have been uprooted and killed. I watch in horror as they are dragged away and chopped up into pieces.

—Conner Tuthill 

April 28, 2022

Flash Fiction

The Email

Alison looked at the email on her computer with a smile. She scanned the words on the screen, filling her heart with a pleasant warmth that she hadn’t felt in a very long time. “I am sorry to inform everyone that your co-worker John Dillons was found dead in his home late last night.” Finally, her hard work has been acknowledged!

—Serenity Block, Flash Fiction Editor

April 28, 2022

Serial Story: Noah’s Dream Journal #6

March 2, 3:38 PM

My therapist was surprised to hear I had another dream. He must’ve thought I couldn’t have dreams anymore after a few months. Hell, that’s what I thought. He asked me everything that happened to see if there was anything linking it to the last one, anything new that could mean something, basically anything he could derive meaning from.

I told him everything that I had written in the journal, and he too was puzzled at the return of Doc. He tried his best to figure out what Doc meant when he said that I was “cured,” but he had nothing. He tried his best to come up with some optimistic meaning like, “Perhaps you’re cured of these night terrors. You shouldn’t be seeing him any time soon.” I hope so.

As much as I’m terrified to see what the night has waiting for me, I want to have another normal dream again. I miss the nights when I didn’t have to fear where I would wake up the next day, or even if I would wake up. I wanted to feel safe again. Maybe that’s what the Doc meant.

To be continued…

Click these links to read previous entries: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. 

—Jake Puestow, Serial Fiction Editor

April 28, 2022

Something Like Sushi

There are some people who love going outside when summer comes and hovering over a grill making some burgers, brats, or even a steak. And then there are people like me, who passionately despise mosquitos. So, when the semester ends and you want to relax and unwind, maybe a little sushi could do the trick.

Maki

• Fish (cooked or raw)
• Rice
• Seaweed wrap
• Sushi-rolling mat

[Editor’s note: Not all types of fish are safe to eat raw, so if you want raw fish in your sushi, ensure that you use a safe type.]

You’re going to want to start with your rice because that’s what’s going to take the longest time to prepare; I’d recommend making a large amount of rice so you can have leftovers and not just a small amount for only sushi. Rinse the rice to get rid of the starch and place it into an open pot with 1.5x the amount of water than there is rice. Set the stove to medium-high heat, mixing the rice occasionally, and turn off the stove once the water starts bubbling a lot. Place the lid over the pot to let the steam fluffify the rice for about half an hour at least.

While that’s being tended to, you can prepare the fillings. I tend to be simple and cut a salmon into small, thin pieces, but you can use anything you want. When your rice is ready, place it onto your seaweed wrap in a thin layer and then your fillings in the center. Carefully wrap it on a sushi rolling mat (they’re cheap), and after your first assured failed attempts, you’ll have yourself some sushi.

—Jake Puestow, Cooking Editor

April 28, 2022

Shaking Off the Winter Slumber

It’s almost time to throw off your backpack, treat yourself to a celebratory beverage, and maybe walk across that big stage every student dreams of at the end of their educational journey—or at the very least, you’ll get to enjoy summer break. However, between winter and the saggy mid-section of a long semester, we’re all feeling a little tired. It’s important to stay positive and keep looking ahead. Some of our biggest projects are still in the works, and we need to give them our all to make it to graduation in one piece. Here are some ways you can shake off the winter slumber.

1. Go on daily walks. Whether winter has you bored out of your gourd or in a groggy state of mind, the outside air and scents of an impending spring will help you wake up. Take time to notice the colors, listen to the returning birds, and remember to stay focused on your goal just a little longer.
2. Do something you want to do. If you get that one magical free hour in your day or week, pick a favorite hobby or activity and enjoy it. Doing what you love will help refresh you in the midst of all the things that bog you down (like homework)
   .
3. Prep your garden. If you have the space, getting the ground and seeds ready to go for warmer days will leave you feeling energized. Or, try large containers or even an indoor grow light if you only have a small space. Nothing says summer like a plot of budding flowers or a fresh, leafy salad in the making.
4. Plot your summer priorities. Think to the future! What do you want to do? Where would you like to go? Are you moving houses, swimming at a beach, or learning how to tango? Let your imagination consume you and inspire you to end courses on a high note.
5. Adjust your head space. Are you feeling down, like maybe you didn’t do so well this year? Stop worrying about what you can’t change and make improvements on what you can. Acknowledge your feelings and short-comings, forgive yourself for any wrongs, and take things one day at a time. You can overcome this; just believe in yourself.

April 28, 2022