Month: April 2023

April 26th, 2023

— © 2023 by Andrew Wiegman

Andrew is a freshman on the Marinette campus and a member of the Northern Lights and Driftwood editorial staff. This poem was selected for inclusion in the 2023 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal by the staff in a blind-submission process. Andrew is physically incapable of complimenting themselves and is a certified “Silly Fella,” whatever that means.

Join us on May 4th at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate the launch of the new 2023 Northern Lights and be among the first to grab a print copy! Click here for more info on our launch party. 

April 26th, 2023

Humanizing Our Professors:
John Thornberry, Lecturer, Theatre and Dance

John Thornberry is a Lecturer at the Mariette Campus who is a part of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Hailing from Kentucky, Mr. Thornberry has earned a handful of degrees. He earned two Bachelor of Arts from Berea College, one for English and another for Theatre. At the University of Louisville, he acquired his greatest degree, Master of Fine Arts for Acting. He is currently helping run Theatre on the Bay as a director, designer, and technical director. On the side, he’s been working on a newer theatre company, Coastal Players, and has helped local high schools with their productions. Before that, he was across the United States in the Big Apple itself, New York City.

For several years, Mr. Thornberry was a theatre stage manager on Broadway and Off-Broadway. He helped found two theatre companies in Manhattan which are still active to this day. Mr. Thornberry moved to Boulder, Colorado, and stayed there for more than a decade, working in several theatre companies as a director and designer, while also teaching film and theatre courses.

As Mr. Thornberry has plenty of experience in directing, production, and teaching, he has a plethora of advice when it comes to a classroom environment. As he puts it, “Everyone—students and faculty alike—should be bringing their ‘A’ game to the classroom.” Students need to be ready to learn, not simply stand back and wait until class is done. It is on the instructor to be straightforward with their expectations, while also being consistent and fair with their students. Teachers should be adaptable with their students. For it to be productive, both the students and the instructors need to be energetic, positive, and ready to learn.

Being a long-time performer, Mr. Thornberry has a few favorites when it comes to theatre. Currently, his sentimental favorite one is 1776. He always wanted to play John Adams in the play. He is also a very big fan of Thomas Kail’s direction of Hamilton. He has always wanted to direct Sunday in the Park with George, saying, “The first act of that show is one of the best constructed pieces of musical theatre that I know.” He is also a great admirer of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and Tony Kushner’s Angels in America. Though, theatre isn’t the only thing that he enjoys. He has been a longtime fan of Star Trek ever since he was 11 years old! One of his all-time favorite quotes comes from Captain Picard himself. “Fear is an incompetent teacher. Yes, they have life, but no one is teaching them what it’s for. To be alive is a responsibility as well as a right.”

—Aidann Woodcock, Profiles Editor

April 26th, 2023

Only You Can Prevent All-Nighters

Finals Week is right around the corner, and unless you have amazing study habits (and we hope you do!), you might have found yourself pulling a few all-night cram sessions or essay-writing marathons in the past. Does the thought of doing that again sound awful? It is. But with a week-and-a-half left before the end of the semester, you still have time to prevent cramming and all the stress that comes with it.

“Trying to study all night before an exam may cause you to be too tired to focus during a test, or you might even fall asleep in class,” says Academic Success Coach Sam Lee.   

Sam recommends the following tips to prevent cramming and study more effectively: 

• Plan your study sessions now. Starting now, or at least a week before your first exam, Sam recommends setting aside 30 minutes to an hour each day per class to study and work on final projects or papers. Put your study hours on your calendar and treat those time blocks as set in stone. Don’t schedule major events or appointments during those hours. Reduce your work hours and other meetings, if possible.
• Avoid distractions during study hours: Tell friends and family you’re studying and unavailble during your set study hours. Avoid studying with friends, if you’ll be more engaged with talking with them than hitting the books. Turn off your phone and hide it. Keep healthy snacks and drinks nearby so you’re not always running to the refrigerator or snack machine. Don’t even think about firing up Netflix.
• Study in an effective location: Study in a quiet location with few distractions, like the library or a study room on campus.
• Encourage yourself. Sam recommends writing the following on a Post-It note where you can see it every day to get into the right mindset and encourage yourself to follow through with your study plans: “I am going to study early, so I don’t cram. I am going to get an A on this exam. I can do this.” You might give yourself little rewards after studying, like a snack or an episode of your favorite trashy TV show.
• Take breaks! Schedule your breaks so you remember to hydrate, eat meals, and rest. You might try the Pomodoro method, which bulids in breaks and was created to maximize your ability to recall what you’re studying: Set a timer for 25 minutes. Study until your timer goes off. Take a five-minute break. Repeat four times, then take a longer 15- to 20-minute break.
• Go over past material. Sam recommends rewriting your notes from class, in a condensed, and reworded format, which will help cement concepts into your brain. If you have a cumulative exam, go over old exams and assignments, as well. You might also brainstorm the kinds of questions your professor might put on the exam, and challenge yourself to answer those questions during your study periods.
• Review the night before an exam. Don’t start studying any new material the night before an exam. Set aside this time to review and get a good night’s sleep!
• Visit your Academic Success Coach. Sam Lee can help you develop a study schedule that works for you, give you more tips to study effectively, help you organize your final assignments, and more. Visit the Academic Success Coach’s website to book a virtual appointment. (It’s free!) Scroll to the bottom of the site to access Sam’s “Academic Success Library” of videos with study tips and more.

April 26th, 2023

Juggling

Feeling particularly clownish this week? Well, you might as well double down and learn how to juggle. Plus, once you’ve figured it out, you’ll be able to slightly impress any party for the rest of your life!

How to:

• Start simple. The trick is getting used to the rhythm. Practice tossing and catching one ball to get in the swing of things. Make sure your hands are moving in a half-circle scooping motion every time you toss the ball up. Every object you juggle needs to make an arc in front of you.
• Add. Once you’ve gotten used to the basic idea, try juggling two balls. The goal is to perfect the timing it takes to toss one while the other reaches its peak in front of you. Make sure you’re throwing about eye-height.
•  Add again. Undoubtedly the hardest stage. Hold two balls in your dominant hand and one in the other. Toss ball 1 from your dominant hand, then when it’s at its peak, toss ball 2 from your non-dominant hand. Catch ball 1. Toss ball 3 when ball 2 reaches its peak. Catch ball 2. Toss ball 1 when ball 3 reaches its peak. Catch ball 3. Repeat for a very fun forever.

Tips:

• Start with objects that won’t bounce and roll away (for example, hacky sacks or t-shirts). You’ll be dropping things a lot while you learn—don’t waste the energy it takes to run around, trying to pick things up.
• Stand near a wall with a big vertical space so your throws don’t get too far away from you, and you have the room to experiment.
• It might help to think that juggling is more about accurately throwing a ball into your hand rather than catching it. Once you’ve become comfortable tossing the balls without looking at your hands, you’ve mastered the most important part of the trick!
• Watch a video! Visually seeing the timing of a throw or scooping motion from a practiced juggler will help.

April 26th, 2023

Everyone has that one thing they enjoy more than anything to pass the time. It might be knitting, clothespin art, or even painting. For those of you looking for new or more challenging hobbies, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve picked out ultimate, step-it-up activities to push your perseverance and boost your creativity.

Clay (Plasticine) Models 

As children, my siblings and I spent much of our time playing with Play-Doh. We made cupcakes, ice cream cones, and a variety of other food-inspired objects out of it. As we grew older, we discovered modeling clays that we baked in our kitchen oven, usually in the shape of animals or, once, a partial nativity set. I’ve yet to actually play with the brand Plasticine, a kind of clay that doesn’t harden with air or heat.

While Play-Doh of the past or homemade varieties are food-based and nontoxic, Plasticine is oil-based and cannot be made at home—though minus a sick stomach, you won’t die if you accidentally ingest some. According to mommyandme.ae, Plasticine was invented by William Harbutt, in the English city of Bath, 1897. He needed a substance that his art students could easily correct and remold repeatedly. Soon after, he discovered that his own children enjoyed it as well, and began marketing it commercially in 1899.

Plasticine is cheap material found in your usual craft aisle these days, but it has the added benefits of both not drying into hard or dangerous objects and of being easier to clean up than Play-Doh—just be sure not to leave it in the heat to melt. You can find it in any color or even play with your own pigmentation. It’s a fun way to learn how to make models, have “cupcake” wars,  or even illustrate children’s books of all things (see the link below). You can use it any way you might use other clay or Play-Doh, only without the hassle of it drying out when you step away.

If you think this might be your ultimate hobby, check out this link for some great ideas that inspire both creativity and engaging educational opportunities.

April 26th, 2023

It may feel like the winter weather will never let up, but planting season is just around the corner! And whether you have a green thumb or have never grown a thing in your life, this is the perfect year to gear up your garden with some new gardening know-hows.

Watermelons

How can I possibly grow a big, tasty watermelon, you ask? We’re in the Midwest; it’s COLD! Good question. And the answer is, by making a few careful decisions long before the growing season even begins. So, water-you waiting for? Let’s get started!

1. Pick a short-growing variety. Some species grow faster than others with Golden Crown, Sugar Baby, and Yellow Doll (70-75 day fruit maturity) beating out Carson, Crimson Sweet, and Sangria, or even their seedless cousin species Honey Heart and Triple Crown (80-85 days). The shorter the warm seasons in your state, the shorter maturing time you’ll want to choose. Keep in mind, too, that seedless varieties will still require you to plant a traditional species next to them to ensure pollination later on.
2. Start indoors. Once you select a melon seed, you’ll want to begin your planting season about three weeks before you plan to transplant into the garden, preferably in late May when the risk of frost has gone. You are welcome to give your melons an easier time by soaking them for a few hours, then allowing them to sprout in a folded, damp cloth, or else you can sow them directly in your pots at 1” deep, in soil that is 75-90°F. If you choose the latter, water your containers thoroughly the day before planting. Do not water the seeds again until sprouted.
3. Give them your sandy, your loamy, your well-drained soil. Watermelons dislike clay, so having a raised bed may be the best option for optimal growth conditions if you live in an area with clay soil. Be aware, however, that they need LOTS of space—at least 7 feet between plants due to excessive vine lengths. The outdoor temperature should remain 60°F or above at night, and plants should be watered about an inch to two inches’ worth every week (or 16 gallons) until they begin to ripen, at which time you should stop watering them altogether.
4. Pollinate, prune, and wait. Melons can be difficult to get pollinated, so consider giving them a hand. When flowers appear, you can pinch those off that do not have tiny, round fruits attached (males) and rub them on those that do have the fruits attached (females). If you’re worried about doing it wrong, you can also just use a small paint brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another. While it can vary depending on your selection, you should typically only allow four melons to grow per plant; that way they will not produce fruit that is too small or unhealthy. Once that’s done, you wait. The melons will be ready to pick as soon as the maturing time is up, the skins have lightened, and giving them a knock produces a hollow sound. Give one a taste before you pick all of them.

Growing Ideas

1. The Oddly Shaped Melon. The Japanese have mastered the technique of the square watermelon, though they can be grown in many shapes. All it requires is a cube of tempered glass (or other transparent material to let in sunlight) placed around the growing melon. Then, voilà! An oddly shaped melon will begin to take form.
2. The Trellis Melon. Unfortunately, melons dislike small spaces (pots) due to needing lots of root space. However, they do very well hanging from a trellis, which means you can still grow the vines, leaves, and fruits in a contained area. You can use wood, T-posts with strings, an old ladder, or even a cattle panel bent into an arch. Whatever you use, just make sure it will hold up to the weight of your watermelon variety.

April 26th, 2023

Coffee and Bagel Shops

Looking for a refreshing coffee, tea, or smoothie? Pair your drink with a delicious treat from these local coffee shops located in Green Bay and Marinette.

Marinette

Zinger Coffee & Tea (715/732-5454): 1739 Marinette Avenue, Marinette. This drive-through coffee location offers a wonderful selection of coffee; tea; plenty of smoothie options; and treats such as cookies, scones, and chocolate-covered espresso beans. Zinger Coffee has great daily deals such as purchasing a specialty latte and receiving a muffin top for only $1.00! (Deals are posted on the Zinger Coffee business page on Facebook.) This coffee location contains monthly featured drinks. For April, it is cookies & cream or pastel Peep lattes. Stop by for a refreshing drink at Zinger Coffee from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. They are closed on Sundays.

The Bagel Shoppe & Café (906/864-4370): 2210 10th Street, Menominee, MI. This all-in-one coffee and bagel shop serves a variety of homemade bagels, cream cheeses, and specialty breads. There are many refreshment options including an espresso bar that serves local Door County coffee, fresh fruit smoothies, and tea. A great feature of this café is that there are so many lunch combinations such as deli sandwiches, homemade soup, and freshly made salads. Top off your breakfast or lunch with some of their delicious baked goods such as their famous frosted bagel bites, cookies, or turnovers. This café offers delicious homemade items with flavor options for everyone. Check out The Bagel Shoppe from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. They are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Green Bay

The Attic Corner (920/435-6515): 730 Bodart Street, Green Bay. The Attic contains a full espresso bar, including a wide selection of over 60 loose-leaf tea options, and serves as a used bookstore. A great quality of this coffee shop is the delicious trade coffee for sale. There is plenty of seating and free Wi-Fi available, which makes for a perfect place for working and reading. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while browsing for a new book to add to your collection. Stop by the Attic from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. 

Daily Buzz Espresso Bar (920/940-0130): 124 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay. This coffee shop is a great place to stop by for a quick treat and a coffee, especially after a walk on the nearby boardwalk. In addition to the bakery selection, their menu also includes breakfast and lunch choices such as bagels, avocado toast, wraps, and salads. Many of the items on the menu have vegetarian and gluten-free options as well. I highly recommend the Bee’s Knees cold brew, which is my personal favorite. Visit the Daily Buzz from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the weekends.

March 9th, 2023

— © 2022 by Ongnia Thao

Ongnia Thao says, “I’ve always been too shy to show off my poetry, and I decided to take a chance. I hope someone out there can find comfort in my poetry like I do.” She attends the Sheboygan campus. This poem was originally published in the 2022 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal.

Submit your poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction to the 2023 Northern Lights! Click here for more information.

March 9th, 2023

Humanizing Our Pets

The unsung heroes of the editorial staff of the Driftwood. The true creative power behind the newsletter.

Name and Title: Cass or Cass boy, Driftwood Best Boy (Honorary rank because he’s a dog.)

Ambitions: Being able to sharpen my fox-like hunting skills so I can steal more treats without my mom or tiny leader noticing. So far, I have successfully stolen many dropped McDonald’s French fries, and I even swiped a few chicken nuggets recently (so I KNOW I am getting closer to achieving professional stealth status and reaching that final goal of A WHOLE CHEESEBURGER).

Crimes I am not proud of: I was taking an INNOCENT stroll through the woods after my wonderful mom took me off my tie out (she didn’t want me to go inside, did she?), nudging a stick of butter off the counter to take a little nibble, and knocking my tiny leader off the porch when I ran out the door to go play.

Name and Title: Angel, Driftwood Co-Editor-in-Chief & Honorary Calls-It-As-I-See-It Spearhead

Owner: Grace Desotell

How well did you take the news that you were adopted? You know, I never really thought of it as being adopted. Hm. One moment, I was laying on a bed of straw with a sniffle; a day or two later, I perked up a bit and realized pillows were better, so I never moved back to the barn. I like to think of it as I adopted my owner, you know?

What’s your educational background? I partook in eight weeks of Feral Cat 101 before I flunked out. They said I enjoyed cuddles too much. Their loss.

What have you accomplished in your life? Good question. I frustrate my owner through no fault of my own at least every other day, hair up the baby’s seat every day, but it’s been a long time since I scratched up a door frame. I’ll be right back…

What are your ambitions? Eat. Sleep. Claw the nicest piece of furniture in the house. Watch the dog steal things that don’t belong to him off the table and stash it in his bed for later. Oops, my owner didn’t know that yet. Sorry not sorry. Better luck next time, Pup.

Name and Title: Smallz, Human Resources Director

Owner: Aidann Woodcock

How well did you take the news that you were adopted? Wha-what? What do you mean adopted?!

What’s your take on rising inflation? Who do you think caused it?

What crimes have you committed? Don’t check the backyard.

What did the birds do to wrong you? They know what they did. We’ll never forgive them.

Name and Title: Omelette, Driftwood Advisor & Evil Mastermind

Owner: Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

What have you accomplished in your life? I’ve terrorized my brothers Watson and Fat Kitty into proper submission, trained my humans to give me treats on demand, and have let all and sundry know that the rule of the house is “where I fits, I sits.” If I deign to sit on a human, said human must not move until I am done, and they must rub my belly. This is the way. I also take excellent care of my fur.

What are your ambitions? Total world domination. What else?

What crimes have you committed? In the words of Machiavelli, “It is better to be feared than loved.” Also, “politics have no relation to morals.” On that scale, I have committed no crimes. Also, my face and my tiny little legs are ridiculously cute, so my humans are always distracted by them into forgiving me.

Name:  Marble, Driftwood Fact-Checker and Resident Bad Boy

Owner: Ariel Rutten

What’s your educational background?  Graduated with a Masters of “Being a Complete @$$hole” in Household and Family Sciences.

What are your ambitions? To see the great outdoors. My owners think that just because I want to immediately come back inside because my paws are cold means I don’t have what it takes to be a great hunter. I’ll prove them wrong, the fools.

What secrets are you hiding from your owner? I puked on her bed when she left for college. I can’t wait to hear her great sigh when she returns. Then, while she’s changing the sheets, I’ll bite her hands! Such a clever and witty game I construct.

March 9th, 2023

A Realist’s Guide to Self Care

Self care may be all the rage, but maybe you’re tired of hearing about it. You stayed up all night completing your latest paper, you work a thankless retail job on top of going to school full time, and you just spent all your cash on fixing your so-ancient-it’s-one-step-up-from-a-Model-T car’s transmission and will have to subsist on ramen noodles and air for the rest of the month. You’re tired, you’re cranky, and you’re a little hangry. And you want to tell the next person to advise “taking time for you” to put their Yoga with Adriene videos somewhere impolite. 

If the above sounds all too familiar, you’re in luck. I’m hangry and tired, too.. To help us both feel better, here are my most realistic tips for self care for the frazzled.

• Try a primal scream. Psychotherapist Arthur Janov invented “primal scream therapy” to help people expel repressed childhood trauma. The goal is simply to scream as loud as you can and let out all your pent-up feelings. If you regularly avoid anything that might bring on emotional catharsis, consider giving Janov’s technique a try. Stand in the middle of Walmart and unleash a few primal screams. With the advent of the self-checkout lane, the store has signficantly fewer human employees to unceremoniously banish you from the store, and you might just scare the people around you enough that they clear out, leaving you to shop the normally chaotic aisles in peace.
• Engage in deep breathing. The next time you get a spam call on your phone, answer it, and instead of talking, engage in a bit of deep breathing. This is even better if you forget to take your allergy medication that morning and can add some stuffed-up slurping noises. If the telemarketer doesn’t immediately hang up, you can always try a primal scream. Either one might finally get you off their calling list.
• Do Yoga with Adriene. Stream a Yoga with Adriene YouTube video on your computer or TV and heckle it. Adriene can’t hear you, but telling her to buy herself a donut might make you feel better about not having time to exercise. Apologize to Adriene and then go have a donut in her honor.
• Grab a cuppa. Brew yourself a cup of chamomile tea. Wait for it to cool down enough to avoid burns, and then fling it in at the next person who tells you that chamomile tea is “soothing.”
• Get our your journal. Write down how much you hate journaling. Keep writing until you degenerate into ranting nonsense and start sounding like Grandpa Jerry after a few too many hours yelling about political correctness at the corner bar. Burn journal before someone discovers it. Write some deep-and-misunderstood poetry instead. Brood and sigh dramatically like the unsung Byronic hero you are. (Editor’s note: Submit deep-and-misunderstood poetry to Northern Lights by April 2nd!)
• Drink more water. Make a pact to drink the five 8-ounce glasses of water that experts recommend imbibing daily. Midway through your first glass, realize that you hate water and make yourself a pitcher of Kool-Aid instead, preferably cherry. Pour half your weight in sugar in it and enjoy the nostalgia while pretending it’s totally the same as getting your five recommended 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Smugly pat yourself on the back before you start twitching from insulin shock.
• Sit and be still for ten minutes. Realize after 30 seconds that you have way too much to do to sit and be still for ten minutes. Make it ten seconds instead and then go do your homework. No matter how much you threaten it, your history textbook isn’t going to read itself.
• Take a bath. Realize after two minutes of letting the water run that you haven’t cleaned said bath since the pre-COVID era. Decide that not cleaning the bathtub is self care and run away.
• Buy yourself flowers. As you head to the checkout counter, realize that you cannot afford flowers as you are currently subsisting on ramen noodles and air. Put flowers back. Pretend you totally did not just pick them up and carry them around the store like a dork as you skulk out the exit. Remind yourself that it’s the thought that counts..
• Celebrate the holiday. It’s April Fool’s Day this weekend. Get out your dad jokes and your DIY pranks, and unleash jokester armageddeon on your loved ones.

This guide was unofficially and unwittingly “sponsored” by Despair, Inc.’s “Demotivational” posters. Actually, that’s just my excuse to share one of my favorites with you. Fair use FTW!  Image courtesy of Despair, Inc. 

Caption: When you wish upon a star, your dreams can come true. Unless it’s really a meteor hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you’re pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it’s death by meteor.