Month: May 2023

Summer Edition

Interview Podcasts

There are some interesting people out there, so here are podcasts that interview those people and tell their stories. 

The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

If you have ever wanted to travel but either couldn’t afford it or wanted to learn more information about traveling, then this is the podcast for you! The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a show hosted by Amanda Kendle, who is a blogger and social media consultant. In this podcast, Amanda interviews different travel lovers who discuss all the different aspects that come with traveling, from learning a new language to navigating politics in different countries. Each episode is fascinating as you hear people’s traveling stories as a lot of them are different from the average tourist story. Although the episodes are short, averaging 30 minutes each, they are extremely informative. So far, my favorite episode is “Languages and Accents,” episode 261. In this one, Amanda interviews people about learning new languages and developing different accents. One woman had traveled to quite a few places since she was born, and I was absolutely baffled by the many places she had been to since a young age. My only complaint is that sometimes the sound quality from the interviewees is poor, making it difficult to understand them, but that doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of the podcast as I am still engaged and learning about the travel experience.

—Emma Krueger, Podcast Editor

Summer Edition

Beach Movies 

If you’re too exhausted after finals to go outside, soak up the sun vicariously with the Teen Beach Movie duology, both available on Disney+ and to rent on other streaming sites.

Teen Beach Movie

Teen Beach Movie was released in 2013 as a Disney Chanel Original and is currently not rated, though I feel a PG rating would have been fine. This film follows a young surfer, McKenzie, a.k.a. Mack, who gets lost at sea while out surfing during a huge storm and washes up in a strange new place. This place is filled with groovy people, rad retro ’60’s style, and one more thing … lots and lots of singing. In fact, there’s even a whole song dedicated to Mack being sick of singing titled “I Can’t Stop Singing.” After being transported to a whole new world while she’s out in a storm surfing, Mack has to try to figure out a way home once she realizes she’s stranded inside an actual movie, Wet Side Story (not a typo), all while being faced with a new love interest, Brady. This movie is based on and follows the plot of a classic film, West Side Story, with rival gangs (Surfers vs. Bikers), star-crossed lovers, and of course an extreme amount of singing. Teen Beach Movie is a fun, reinvented twist for the generation it was designed for. I would say it did it’s job of being an entertaining yet somehow almost brand-new story in its own way. The movie was an all-around success and became a hit amongst the kids. I give this film 7/10 stars simply because the singing gets to be a bit much.

—Jasmine Puls, Movies Editor

Teen Beach Movie 2

Teen Beach Movie 2, directed by Jeffery Hornaday and distributed by Disney, is the sequel to the film Teen Beach Movie. In Teen Beach Movie 2, the story continues with our main characters Mac and Brady, who are enjoying the rest of their summer, but something has been bothering them and that is: what will their relationship look like once school has started? Since the two of them started dating each other that summer, they don’t know how school will affect them. They promise to stay a team and navigate school together. Yet things don’t go as planned as they start drifting apart the minute they return back to their old routine. Yet there’s no time to focus on that anymore because low and behold, Lela and Tanner are at their school! Lela and Tanner are the main characters from Brady’s favorite movie Wet Side Story, into which Mac and Brady had been magically transported in the first Teen Beach Movie. The two had followed Mac and Brady back to the real world. It is now up to Brady and Mac to help Tanner and Lela return back to their movie before it disappears because without our leads, there is no movie! Will they make it in time, and will Mac and Brady’s relationship ever be the same? Personally, I think this movie is cute and very enjoyable. Although it is not as good as the first movie, it is still one of those films that you can kick back, relax, and enjoy. Even though the film takes place during the school year, you still get that sun-loving feeling from it, making it all the more enjoyable.

—Emma Krueger

Summer Edition

Playlists for Summer 

Music section editor Andrew Wiegman and contributor Kayu Brooks leave you with their favorite summertime playlists. 

I’ve always been a fan of making playlists. When I press “create playlist” on Spotify, it creates “New Playlist #226”. Now, most of them are garbage, but some of them actually turned out. I started making this one in particular on my break while working one morning over the weekend. The weather was just getting nice out, and the songs “Stay With Me” and “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes” (the two most popular tracks) rattled around my brain. I spent the entire 30-minute break scouring for even remotely close songs, and “Abroad” was the result. Almost two years later, it’s still my magnum opus in terms of playlists. I tried to make it as wide-reaching as possible, but there’s always room for more. Currently represented are Italy, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, France, and actual North Korean propaganda (it’s called “Don’t Ask My Name,” and wow does it go hard for actual North Korean propaganda), to name a few. It all comes together for a mix perfect for sipping coffee on the porch with a newspaper in hand, for drives to somewhere beautiful with the windows rolled down, or for the sweet moments in between. Pack your bags. Come get carried away. 

BONUS OFFER: Act soon and get the sister playlist, “Abroad Rejects,” for free! Two playlists for the price of one! Some songs are instrumental, some are in English, and there are even male vocalists. The songs that are most like the original playlist are at the top, but otherwise, there is no rhyme or reason to the order.

The Chromatics were an electronic, synth-pop band from Portland, Oregon that influenced many of the indie, alternative, and dream-pop genres from the early 2000s to their disbandment in 2021. “This is Chromatics” contains all of their greatest hits, including several from Night Drive. This 2007 release was the band’s third studio album and includes 15 songs and over an hour of distinct, wavy music with female vocalist, Ruth Radelet. As Night Drive is one of their longer works, it balances their gloomy songs with light energy to create a slow-burning balance throughout the album. The slow songs also provide an interlude between the moods within Night Drive. The band has had plenty of success and they have a reputation for melancholy. Some of their songs have been featured on various television shows, including Bates Motel, Riverdale, and the Twin Peaks revival series. My favorite tracks are “Circled Sun” and the cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill,” because the glittery synthesizers used in these songs contributes to the Chromatics’ timeless music. 

Summer Edition

Outdoors Edition

It’s summer, folks. Take advantage of the sunny weather and go soak it in with a classic indoor game … outdoors. (And one that you’ll want to keep firmly outdoors.)

Giant Sorry! (4 players)

The best part of the classic “Sorry!” series is the game mechanics of ruthlessly offing your friends. Why not just lean into the theme more and make it more dramatic by having giant plastic pieces? “Giant Sorry!” offers all that and more—just imagine it: “Sorry Mom, looks like I’m sending you back home.” *Punts the pawn across the lawn*

It’s structured the exact same way as the usual “Sorry!” but with bigger pieces. You receive a 64”x’64” vinyl mat of the board, foot-tall pawns, and a twister-esque spinner that you pass around for each turn. It’s also just easy to learn—intended for ages 6+—so you can make any party a hit by whipping out the giant edition.

The average price on online stores is around $20.00, usually with free returns.

Lawn Darts (2-4 players)

Lawn Darts, a.k.a. Jarts (Not jean darts, silly. The “J” stands for “javelin darts” since you throw ’em like one.) is a fun yet very dangerous (and I think even illegal in some places) game meant to be played by two players. The premise of the game is to throw huge 12-inch metal-tipped darts at the ground in a plastic ring in an attempt to win the most points. This game reportedly caused many injuries and accidents, but is still known as a fun outdoor game. There are safety bans on the original game in Canada and parts of the US, so if you get the chance to play with these bad boys someday, tell grandma to stand back, and make sure not to impale your little brother in front of everyone at the family cookout. The official report is here so you can’t say we didn’t give you a fair warning.

If your interest is piqued somehow, I certainly recommend giving it a go nonetheless, though I have not and probably won’t because I don’t want to risk losing my eye. (Don’t say we didn’t warn you.) Some companies, like Nerf, have come out with safer designs, luckily, that are far more enjoyable. Give the Nerf brand knockoff a try here for $29.75, a pretty penny to pay for some foam darts if you ask me.

—Jasmine Puls

Summer Edition

Summer Game Releases

Look forward to these future game releases coming out later this year!

Homeworld 3 (Summer 2023 release date TBA)

All systems are online, Captain. Homeworld 3 is the continuation of the renowned Homeworld series that sees you leading an expedition across the galaxy in your mothership. In the first game, you discover an ancient vessel buried underneath the sands of your dying, desert world. You travel across the galaxy, collecting resources, developing new vessels, and fighting astounding fleet battles that risk the very survival of your species. The second game followed with the same success, and here is hoping for the third to continue the game-defining space simulator. It is set to release in the first half of 2023, so keep a close eye on it! Now, all power to engines, Captain. We have a galaxy to explore. Coming to Steam.

Diablo 4 (June 6)

The Demons are back; has anyone seen my claymore? After nearly a decade since the last major release (we will not mention the mobile one), the Diablo series is making its return this summer. Diablo has always been about stomping demons, exploring war-torn dungeons, and collecting that glittering loot. There is already a lot of promise with the open beta that was released a few weeks ago. For those unfamiliar, Diablo is an RPG-style, hack-and-slash game where you march around the world as demon hunters slaying demons. From a raging barbarian to a terrifying warlock, to even a creepy witchdoctor, the player characters in Diablo allow for a variety of playstyles to account for how people game. Look forward to this release if you’ve been itching to kick some Demon butt. Coming to PS4, PS5, XBox One, XBox Series X/S, and PC/Steam.

Summer Edition

Our Staff’s Most Anticipated Summer Entertainment

Summer is a season of new books, blockbuster films, game releases, warm-weather events, and more. Our Driftwood staff shares the entertainment choices they’re most looking forward to this summer. 

Fool’s Paradise (May 12)

For fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philidelphia writer/actor Charlie Day, Fool’s Paradise brings us his directorial debut. The core premise is “a down-on-his-luck publicist gets his lucky break when he discovers a mute man recently released from a mental-health facility looks just like a method actor who refuses to leave his trailer.” It seems like just dumb, fun comedy, which is something that has felt like it’s been missing from Hollywood lately. I don’t remember the last time I sat down in theaters to watch just a comedy like this. As a Sunny fan myself, I am a little biased towards Day, but still, Fool’s Paradise seems like it has some promise to it, and I can’t wait.

The much-anticipated sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse finally arrives in theaters on June 2nd, this time with an even bigger cast of characters including Spider-Woman (voiced by Issa Rae), Spider-Punk (voiced by Daniel Kaluuya), and Spider-Man 2099 (voiced by Oscar Isaac) and featuring the return of Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Peter B. Parker from the first film. Clocking in at 2 hours and 16 minutes, Across the Spider-Verse will be the longest-ever animated film from a major Hollywood studio. If you’re a fan of superheroes or just enjoy good animation, Across the Spider-Verse is one to keep an eye out for.

Ghost Trick: The Phantom Detective for Nintendo Switch (June 30)

When Sissel wakes up with no memory next to a body that is presumably his, he has only the advice of a possessed lamp to guide him toward recovering himself and protecting those he may eventually come to love. Oh, and he only has one night to do it before his spirit ascends to the afterlife forever. Written by the creator of the popular Ace Attorney series, Ghost Trick flopped upon its Western release in 2012. Hopefully with this remake for the Switch, Ghost Trick can finally make it into more hands and receive the attention it deserves. The animations are butter-smooth, the soundtrack bops, the plot twists never fail to amaze, and the whole game drips with heart. I’m telling you, if you don’t pick up Ghost Trick, you’re missing out on an all-time great.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30)

I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan, though that’s based solely on the first and third movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, respectively. The second movie has an offensive colonialist plot and a shrieking love-interest who set my teeth on edge (though a then-adolescent Ke Huy Quan of Everything Everywhere All at Once fame rises above a stereotypical role with a charming performance as Short-Round). And the fourth was apparently one in a series of (screenwriter, in this case) George Lucas’s later-in-life attempts to torpedo his film legacy with wooden writing, a head-scratchingly labyrinthine plot, and a storyline that did the first film’s feminist icon Marion Ravenwood very, very wrong. But one and three are swashbuckling perfection, as our titular archaeologist hero goes off on a globe-trotting adventures seeking mystical treasures, punching Nazis, and delighting audiences through every repeat watch. Director Steven Spielberg has kept the plot details of Dial of Destiny largely under wraps, so I feel a little like Charlie Brown running at Lucy’s football, due to the spectacular letdown that was Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull (film four). But like I’ve long said, I’d watch a 105-year-old Harrison Ford if he made Indiana Jones and the Bedpan of Destruction, so here I go.

This thrilling monster flick centers around the crew of the Demeter, a Russian shipping vessel, as they journey from Carpathia to London with twenty-four unmarked crates. Little did they know, something evil lurks in those crates, and has been brought onto the ship with them. Stuck out at sea with a horrible creature, most likely some type of vampire, the crew must plan by day and fight by night. The Last Voyage of the Demeter is set to release in theaters August 11. It’s a perfect way to wrap up summer and jump into the fall spookies!

This paranormal documentary from production company Planet Weird features the chilling tale of a strange statuette with nails in its eyes and a noose around its neck. The piece was found in the Catskill mountains of southeast New York by two hikers, who then had intense paranormal experiences with it. At a loss with what to do, the hikers sent it to paranormal investigators and occult specialists, Greg and Dana Newkirk. The Newkirks then did various psychic and paranormal experiments with the statuette, having many weird experiences of their own. After progressively more intense paranormal phenomena occur, the Newkirks decide they need to figure out what to do with the cursed figure; thus, their journey begins. The Newkirks are some of my favorite paranormal investigators out there, and I’m amped for this new content from them! The Unbinding is due to release sometime this summer, though the exact date is still under wraps. Follow the Newkirks on social media to get a heads up about the release! 

May 3rd, 2023

                              — © 2023 by Grace Desotell

Grace Desotell is a senior in the Writing & Applied Arts program on UWGB’s Marinette campus, and she is also Co-Editor-in-Chief of the 2023 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal. When she’s not doing homework, she’s either vanished off the face of the earth or is outside enjoying a long nature walk. “The Box Elder Tree” appears in this year’s Northern Lights, selected through a blind jury process. 

May 3rd, 2023

Editorial Staff Profiles, Part I

With this semester coming to a close, we thought to share profiles on our editorial teams. Meet the Driftwood staff! Brought together by ENG 224: Practicum in Literary Publishing, the students on our staff also serve as editors for the Northern Lights. 

Kayu Brooks: Mother, Popcorn Lady, Editor

Kayu Brooks attends the Green Bay campus. While her major is in English, she recently completed a minor in Spanish! She hopes to one day get a career in the Green Bay Public School System, and though she is shy, she loves being arounds kids and hopes to use her Spanish-speaking skills to communicate with bilingual students.

In Kayu’s experience, she’s come to find that professors are willing to assist with assignments and answer questions about the class more than she assumed, so always speak up and ask! One of those professors is Mrs. Hayden, who teaches two courses that Kayu took. Kayu was amazed by this incredible professor, for Mrs. Hayden was open to her students and taught in many ways to make sure everyone understood.

Overall, Kayu’s experience in college has been positive. She has come to make many connections with fellow parents, and she’s also earned herself a bit of a reputation. Kayu is known as the “Popcorn Lady” since she would read in the same spot and munch on popcorn. She has even garnered the attention of  the food-service workers who prepare popcorn for her when she stops by. In English 224, Kayu has felt a growth in her confidence as a writer, spurred by writing articles for the Driftwood, and she feels proud of what she achieved. 

Kana Coonce: Cat Wrangler, Editor

Kana Coonce (Manitowoc campus) is currently going for the Writing and Applied Arts degree, but he’s been around for quite a while. It took Kana ten years to get where he is right now, so his advice to any students out there is that it’s okay to not know what you’re doing yet!

The course ahead for Kana is to get into publishing, mainly on the editing side, but his dream job is to be a fact-checker. He has been getting a lot of practice in that field thanks to English 224, and that’s due to the amazing work of Ms. Rysavy. She is a very warm and down-to-earth professor and has been a delight to have as a professor. 

Over the years, Kana has had several fun interactions during college, including the time he made the game “Pin the Head on Marie Antoinette,” which he still has the poster for. He’s loved meeting so many passionate people, too, and by far one of his favorite professors is at UW-Waukesha, a gender studies professor named Dr. Zanikowski. While she was a bit absent-minded, she was very intelligent and left a good impression on Kana.

Grace Desotell: Co-Editor-in-Chief, Garden & Hobbies Editor

Grace Desotell (Marinette campus) is currently working towards getting a BFA in Writing and Applied Arts, and being a Co-Editor-in-Chief has given her a remarkable experience. English 224 has been her favorite experience in college so far. 

From writing for the Driftwood, jurying the Northern Lights, and writing feature articles, there is a reason she took this class twice. Ms. Rysavy, the professor for the course, has been an extraordinary teacher and has taught many grounded, real-world lessons about writing. To anyone interested in coming to class, don’t come half-heartedly. It takes a creative person to thrive in class, but the experience you’ve earned is well worth it. Grace hopes to one day write for a nonprofit organization, and eventually, start an online book editing business, something she’s already been doing for this course.

Being a senior, she has been through a plethora of classes, and one of her favorite moments came when she was in biology class. She was sitting in the back of a stadium-style room, and when she pulled up on her jacket while leaving, a bunch of change came spilling out. The instructor graciously accepted the honor of having had money thrown at her. Grace’s only save was to admit that her lecture was that good. That wasn’t the only professor that got her laughing either. Professor Karl Boehler made Grace burst out laughing so many times that she could not pick a specific moment. It was that fun.


Emma Krueger: Editor

Unlike many of the other students in English 224, Emma Krueger (Green Bay campus) is currently going for a degree in Graphic Design and hopes to find a job that uses her artistic skill. Though her focus is on art, the Driftwood has become a unique experience for her. She has never published writings before and loves seeing what everyone comes up with.

She has had a few hilarious moments while she’s been in college. One thing that stood out to her was the college bingo nights. She adores how competitive people get over such a simple game, but her most bizarre story comes from her dorm room. She got a knock at the door, expecting her roommate or someone else. Rather, she saw her best friend in a cart while holding a 20-gallon fish tank with two fish inside. They bought one more fish to make the golden trio of Wubba, Bubba, and King Peaches.

Emma wanted to shout out her art professor Aaron Renier for being such an incredible instructor. He was Emma’s first art professor and left a wonderful impression on Emma. He was supportive and encouraging, and when they showed their final projects, he was ecstatic! It made Emma more confident in her artwork. Her advice to new students follows the trend of art. Don’t be afraid to do things on your own. Talk to new people. Experience new things. You never know if you don’t try.

Syd Morgan: Editor

Syd Morgan (Green Bay campus) is aiming to get an English degree with a Creative Writing emphasis so that she may one day work in a publishing company. Though she also wants to travel around the US in a Subaru Outback and experience van life.

She’s had a few fun interactions with the professors at UWGB. One that stands out for Syd was sharing her “awkward moment of the day” with Professor Aaron Weinschenk, but one of her favorite professors is Professor Jennie Young. She runs the Women in Literature course, an empowering class with a lot of great discussions.

In English 224, Syd’s favorite part is coming up with ideas and writing for the Driftwood. It has been very fun for her over the course of the semester. Now, normally, I try to weave the answers together, but Syd’s advice is so quotable that it deserves separation. “You can eat 100 pancakes in the span of 100 days, but you cannot eat 100 pancakes in one sitting. That’s all to say, get a little bit of work done every day, for you cannot do it all at once when it builds up.”

March 3rd, 2023

7 Self-Care Fails to Avoid During Finals Week

Finals Week is almost upon us, and even though you won’t have to go to class, the week itself can still be stressful. Here are seven things you won’t want to do as you get through this week and into summer.

1. Don’t skimp on sleep. if you pull all-nighters and don’t get your recommended six to eight hours of sleep each night, you might find your brain short-circuiting from exhaustion when you need it most. You’re not going to absorb your books through osmosis if you fall asleep on them. Better to build in a healthy sleep schedule so you’re well-rested and wide awake as you finish up the semester.
2. Don’t eat your stress. It might be tempting to inhale a Snickers for a quick energy burst or stress-eat a bag of cheese popcorn, but it won’t fuel your brain or your body. Keep your energy up with good nutrition and hydration. Stock up now on healthy snacks and beverages, and plan for quick but nutritious meals. No one needs a blood-sugar crash in the middle of a chem final.
3. Don’t treat yourself like a human studying machine. If you study for hours on end without a break, you will lose your mind, and it will not be well-timed. While it might be amusing for your classmates if you loudly rage-quit your history exam, it won’t do your GPA any favors. Plus, UWGB is a small school, and chances are, you’ll run into that professor again, and you’ll be mentally cringing every time you cross paths from now until you graduate. Take breaks and give your brain a much-needed rest. Remember your Pomodoro: Study for 25 minutes, then take a break for 5. After four cycles of this, take a longer 15- to 20-minute break. Your brain will work better—promise.
4. Don’t be a slug. It might be hard to work in exercise when you have SO MUCH TO DO, OMG, but it can help boost your energy and focus. You don’t have to do a full hour of CrossFit or go on a masochistic hour-long run. Give yourself permission to simplify your workout routine to a ten-minute walk or a fast 15 minutes of yoga each day, and you’ll still have time to study without disrupting your exercise schedule. There are plenty of free YouTube videos for quick, low-intensity, stress-busting workouts.
5. Don’t cave to peer or family pressure. Oh, sure, it’d be great to play a video game with your roommate for four hours, and yes, it’s hard to say no to mom when she offers to make your favorite spaghetti if you just come home for the weekend. But you know you should really be studying/working instead. Map out your busy days and times, and make it clear to friends and family that you won’t be available then. If you feel uncomfortable refusing them, practice saying, “I have an appointment,” which is a fine way to get people to ease off. If they press you for details, just give them a meaningful look. You know, the one that will cause them to back away and say, “Oh, THAT kind of appointment.” You don’t have to tell them that said appointment is actually with a stack of books.
6. Don’t be a masochist. Try to do something you enjoy every day, so you don’t suck the fun out of the entire week. Remember The Shining: All work and no play makes Jack go on a murderous rampage, and we don’t want that. Take time to read a book, watch a trashy TV show, play a video game, or catch up with friends (then tell them “I have an appointment” and run away when it’s time to go). Despite the deadlines hanging over your head, you need at least a little time off daily for optimal brain function.
7. Don’t forget to visualize the finish line. Just one more week, and you’ll have successfully finished another year of college and will be that much closer to your life goals. And, it’ll officially be time for summer sun and fun. (At least, we hope there will be sun.) Keep that in mind to motivate you as you run, walk, or drag yourself across this semester’s finish line. We’re proud of you!

May 3rd, 2023

Googly Eyes Make Everything Better

Sometimes self-care means doing little things to make you smile, and what’s more perfect for that than putting little googly-eyes on random objects? Here is our list of things to “eye” up!

• Pair of Scissors. Super-glue eyes on top of the screw/joint of the scissors and watch how every opening and closing of the blades transforms into the adorable, deadly mouth of the scissor monster.
• Doorknobs. Works best with round handles, a pair of eyes right above the stem of the doorknob creates the illusion of a little friend with a big nose.
• USB Ports. If there is room where the eyes won’t restrict the function of the device, gluing on a pair atop the open port makes for a striking, open-mouthed companion.
• Laptop. Slap a pair of eyes on the back of your device and carry around a new friend for all of your classes. It gives your professors someone new to lecture at too.
• TV Remote. You’ll feel even worse about losing it now. Look into the blank googly-eyed stare that has seen the horror of what’s in-between the couch cushions.
• Microwave. Someone to watch you watch your food! Of course, make sure you place them on the outside.
• Any Distinct Shape. This one sounds odd but truly, if you find any circle or rectangle that could resemble a mouth, the eyes will do the rest.