Author: Kana

Pay It Forward: Terrible (But Effective!) Ways to Fundraise 

Are you looking for a way to help the less fortunate in your community? These are phenomenal fundraising events that have been proven to raise money and awareness for great causes.

The Sriracha Challenge: This is an extra spicy way to raise money! The concept is simple: eat one heaping Chinese spoonful of sriracha sauce or donate to the charity of your choice. This is a social-media challenge, so all you do is nominate people on social media to either eat the sriracha, with video proof of course, or donate to the charity that you are supporting

Cow Pie Bingo: This fundraiser is simple, low cost, and may make living in the dairy state pay off literally. All that you need to do is divide a field into a grid and sell the squares. Once all the squares are sold, you put a cow in the field and let it do its business. Whoever paid for the square that the cow chose wins a usually outlandish prize, such as the cow pie bingo trophy. If you want to see this one in action, stop by Historical Days in Peshtigo, WI, in September. This celebration of the town’s past is held at Badger Campground, and one event is the cow pie bingo fundraiser because nothing says hometown pride like cow pies.

A Pet Rock Sale: This is a fantastic way to make money and clear out any rock pile you have lying around. Simply paint rocks that you have available or go collect some around your neighborhood. Then sell these works of art to benefit a great cause of your choosing. You can even go a step further and paint the cause you are fundraising for on the rocks. Not only are your customers getting an original new best friend, but they are also spreading the word of where your fundraising attempts will profit.

Crisco Challenge: This is a low-cost challenge that will be sure to have you looking your best. The challenge is to work a cup (yes a full cup) of Crisco into your hair to create the best curlicue possible, or donate to a great cause. This social-media challenge was originally based off Calvin in the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. Simply put the people you nominate either pay in donations to your cause or pay the penalty of glopping their hair.

—Tiffany Jablonowski, Local Favorites Editor

The Fun of Walmart

We all know that Walmart is the place to go when wanting a steal of a deal. Yet it isn’t just a store; it is a culture in and of itself. So here are the reasons why Walmart is amazing.

Lots of stuff
If Walmart has one good thing going for it, it’s that it has almost everything. From food to makeup to medicine to its own pharmacy, it’s got a lot. And the best part is the food is generally safer to consume than the food at The Dollar Tree. It doesn’t matter that the corporation makes $173 billion dollars per year yet pays its employees so little, the store had to offer food drives to their own workers! Who can be mad when there’s all this stuff to choose from?

It is a petting zoo full of “service dogs”
You should normally never pet a service dog. They are hard at work and have a job to do. However at least 50% of all Walmart “service dogs” are not actually service dogs. No, many (not all, but many) are random dogs whose owners throw “service dog” vests on them as they want to bring their dog in the store and not get in trouble. This is because Walmart technically has a no-pet policy. However, most Walmart employees don’t get paid enough to care.

So how do you know if it’s a service dog or not? Most service dogs do not pay any attention to others. Even if a person is trying to grasp their attention, the dog will continue doing its job. However, these Walmart dogs will get excited to see other people. I have had “service dogs” jump on me, run up to me, knock over items, begin eating packaged food, and knock items down. One even came up to me, sniffed me, and indicated it wanted to play. Another Walmart dog ran up to my friend and started humping his leg. That was a very interesting day.

Tantalizing conversations
(Trigger warning: mention of sexual assault.) 

There is no better way to expand your mind than to talk to other people. This is especially true at the hotbed of culture that is Walmart. You will have some of the most eye-opening conversations, as well as some of the best quotes to hang on your wall.

One time, this woman saw that I’d gotten a pedicure with neon-green coloring. She said to me, “That’s a really pretty color.”

“Thank you!” I replied.

“Yeah, I bet it stops you from being raped.”

I did not know what to say after that.

Another time, I was with a very close friend of mine. He was from France. A Walmart customer interrupted us to ask him where he was from.

“Sur Neuilly mostly; it’s in France,” he said.

“Oh, so are you a communist?” the customer snapped.

“Sir, I don’t have time for this.” my friend replied. That was very funny.

—Jalaine Olks

Finding Community: April Events 

Marinette

• Beehive Craft: The Craft Cave is holding an adults-only jute rope beehive-making class for $20 a person (see image at right). You can make a unique piece that you can “bee” proud to showcase. Create an unforgettable experience at The Craft Cave in Marinette, WI, on April 6th at 1:00 p.m. Call 715/587-4643 to sign up.
• Chicken and Gizzards Buffet: The Moose Lodge is holding a buffet that will include chicken (both baked and deep fried), gizzards, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, rolls, salad bar, and a dessert. The feast will be held at the Marinette Moose Lodge, located at N5233 E. Nettleton Rd. for $13 a person on April 6th from 5-7 p.m.
• Sushi Rolling with Ace: Spirit House is hosting Ace, who will guide you in the process of rolling two sushi rolls using ancient techniques. You will receive a sushi mat, the supplies to make a California roll and a Jambalaya sushi roll, and roughly an hour and a half of guided instructions from Ace. On April 13, two classes are offered at Spirit House in Menominee, MI, at 3:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. for a cost of $55 per person. Message info@spirithousemi.com with what class you would like to reserve your seat. You do not have to be 21 to join.

Green Bay:

• Collectorabilia Con: Sponsored by American Antiques and Jewelry of Green Bay, this comic con is sure to be heaven for any collector of comics, graphic art, Legos, toys, action figures, Pokémon, and so much more. Cosplay your way to an exciting time at the Resch Expo in Ashwaubenon, WI, on March 30th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $7, but kids 12 and under are free with an adult.
• Monster Jam: Monster Jam is a monster truck competition that will have your heart racing. The trucks tear up the track while competing in feats of speed and skill to prove they are the best. Make your way to the Resch Center in Green Bay on April 5-7 for multiple shows ranging in price from $35 to $100 with add-on options to meet the crew and see the trucks up close.
• Alice in Wonderland: Belonging Youth Ballet, Celebration Dance’s 9-and-up ballet company, is presenting Alice in Wonderland. This magical performance is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s books. On April 12 at 7 p.m. and April 13 at 1 p.m., come watch these inspired dancers at Celebration Church on Humboldt Road in Green Bay, WI. Tickets are $7-$9.

—Tiffany Jablonowski, Local Favorites Editor

Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Aim for confidence without crossing into arrogance. Let go of past burdens and embrace forgiveness. The Pisces new moon on March 10th brings focus onto the positive, helping you handle challenges with maturity and self-assurance. Strive to maintain an optimistic yet humble outlook as you move forward in a healthy, productive direction.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Find a way to express your emotions in a healthy way. Trust and confide in your friends and family. Allow yourself to daydream but remain focused on achieving well-defined short term goals rather than being overwhelmed by ambitious long-term dreams. If you feel stuck, take things step-by-step to work steadily towards your goals.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Visualize success to clarify what your goals are. Now will be an excellent time to network and connect with like-minded people. The people in your corner will support you. Let go of things that are no longer serving you and embrace change.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Don’t shy away from expressing your opinions. There will always be someone that won’t agree with you. Assert yourself without being combative, as arguments aren’t worth your time. Focus on your inner growth and peace without worrying about validation.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Embrace heartfelt conversations with people you wish to deepen a connection with. Don’t be afraid to open up and be vulnerable, as this could lead to healing and growth. Prioritize your happiness, don’t fixate on what you think others want from you.

Virgo (August 23 – September 23)
Get the ball rolling by expressing what you need and desire. Don’t expect others to read your mind. Recognize your worth not by your merit to other people, but to yourself.

Libra (September 23 – October 21)
Seize the day. This month, you will be feeling energized and inspired. Tackle the projects you’ve been procrastinating on. Unlock your inner potentional by recognizing barriers in your life.

Scorpio (October 22 – November 20)
There’s no reason to tackle a burden on your own; ask for help. Remember to slow down and listen to your body. Take breaks when you need to, so you can prevent yourself from burning out.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Prioritize experiences that make you happy rather than chasing fleeting moments. Focus on what is truly good for your state of mind. Figure out what you are ruminating about and break past the barriers.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Rise above conflicts that may arise this month. Cherish the small things in your life and your conflicts will not seem to be as big of a deal as they once were.

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Express your thoughts and opinions with confidence. Demonstrate maturity by being the bigger person. Be open to criticism and take responsibility for any mistakes you may make.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Stop comparing your journey to others. You are your own unique special person with your own life. Lower your expectations of the future and live in the moment. By doing this, you will allow yourself to grow and reinvent yourself in the best way possible.

Useless knowledge we dug up this week.

Fustian

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Fustian? Is that another one of those literary subgenres? A kind of psychological trope, maybe?” I am here to tell you in a very fustian manner that you are wrong about the meaning of “fustian.” Fustian means a fewstian things, but firstian things first: We’re here to discuss wordplay.

Fustian is a heavy cloth woven from cotton. Today, we’re more familiar with some of its varieties—denim, corduroy, velveteen, and moleskin—but fustian dates all the way back to the middle ages. Historians believe that fustian may have been named after the Egyptian city of Fustat, its likely birthplace. Over the next few centuries, fustian spread up into and across Europe, gaining popularity for its cost-effectiveness and durability. Long story short, a lot of people used fustian for a lot of things.

One of those things was padding clothing. In addition to being cost-effective and durable, fustian is also thick. This made it a natural choice to use as insulation for cold-weather clothing. And as fashions changed, tailors began to put that padding in less practical places, too. Anyone like shoulderpads?

As it always does, the English language took its own course. Clothing is not the only thing that can be padded; writing can, too. In the 1600s, “fustian” became an adjective used to describe someone who is trying too hard to sound smart. Purple prose? Sounds pretty fustian to me.  Incidentally, another synonym is “bombast,” a word that originally meant—you guessed it, a type of padding.

—Kana Coonce, Wandering Wikipedia Editor

Photo from Arad Branding, an exporter of Iranian goods.

Videos for Better Sleep and Study Habits

These YouTube videos were chosen to help readers with sleep and studying, even adding a studying playlist of instrumental but peaceful music to make long studying sessions all the better.

YT1: Proven Sleep Tips: How to Fall Asleep Faster
Many of us students struggle to sleep so we rely on energy drinks and coffee to keep us awake throughout the day. This video gives us tips on how to sleep better.

YT2: Become a Top 1% Student
It’s that time of the semester when we lose the motivation to do our schoolwork and study; all we want to do is lie in bed or stay in and do anything but schoolwork. This video gives us college students tips on how to study better.

YT3: Romanticizing Studying Playlist
I find it helpful when studying to listen to music without lyrics, so I don’t get distracted by the words coming from the artists I am listening to. This playlist is full of instrumental music to help students study better.

—Kelsey Vanderpool, YouTube Editor

Set yourself up for success and plan for your detox by picking a reasonable timeframe for the cleanse. Then, try the following activities to take your mind off your gadgets:

• Volunteer, read, learn a new skill, and socialize with loved ones.
• Spend more time in nature.
• Consume information mindfully. By putting your phone down, you can look at the world differently and take in information you wouldn’t before. Go to nature spots you wouldn’t before and learn more about what surrounds  you.
• Go out and shop with friends and don’t bring any phones. Just have it be your group and shopping, and have some fun.
• Go out and eat with friends and talk about what is going on in your life and theirs.
• Be with family and enjoy the time you have with them. Life is short, and people need to live it to their best ability. You can do that without a phone.

—Mackenzie Hebert

Digital Detoxing

What is digital detoxing? It is usually classified as when a person takes some time away from electronic devices and social media, which then provides an opportunity for a person to focus on social relationships and reduce stress. I know how much any social-media platform can affect someone within all aspects of their lives. Social media puts immense pressure on people, because they start comparing their lives, jobs, looks, and relationships to the “perfect” ones that influencers get paid to post.

Digital detoxing has wonderful benefits. Not only does it reduce stress, but it also can improve mental health. It also helps people regroup and focus on themselves and their lives. Some other benefits include things like increased productivity, better sleep, mood boosts, and even better physical health. Digital detoxing has also been known to reduce brain fog, boost creativity, and sharpen our attention span.

You can detox for as little or as long as you would like. The average time for a detox to be effective is 72 hours electronics-free; it is also recommended that you spend these hours in nature. If you want to feel max benefits and effects, the minimum amount of time for this would be the 72 hours. You may be thinking, “Well, how do I keep myself off my electronics?” Some suggestions would be to go out in nature where you would not have service or internet, get a lock box to put your phone and chargers for your electronics in it, or leave your phone out of your bedroom when going to sleep and invest in an alarm clock. Setting time limits on your streaming services, social media sites, or your work apps is recommended after your initial digital detox. Another way to digital detox without completely cutting out electronics is setting the “do not disturb” feature on your devices when doing work or going to sleep.

The word detox can make this sound like some big thing, but it truly is very simple. There are many resources out there to help you make your digital detoxing experience beneficial to you. The things that were discussed above are aimed to help you know how beneficial to yourself a digital detox could be. Digital detoxing will help you transform your relationship with your electronic devices and not rely on them so much.

—Cheyenne Schreiner, Self-Care Editor

Influential Athlete: Serena Williams

This edition’s influential athlete is Serena Williams, a famous tennis player sponsored by the brand Nike. Williams has a website called Serena’s World, which contains details of Williams’s various charitable donations and information on the Yetunde Price Resource Center, which was founded by the Williams family to help honor the lives and memories of its namesake, who was killed by a violent act. The Yetunde Price center ensures that the people who are affected by trauma get and have the necessary resources to flourish and survive. The Williams Family also collaborates with various local organizations to offer healing and trauma-informed programs to the people of Compton, California. The center also provides critical resources and services to the families that have been impacted or influenced by violence. It is a safe space that fosters healing, sharing, and supporting affected people. Serena herself is the face of the center because of her social media presence, which helps draw in a lot of support to the center.

—Cheyenne Schreiner

Photo by an unknown photographer, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND.