Author: fernandt

April 25, 2025

The NFL Draft’s Mr. Irrelevant 

Since 2000, 25 players have been dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant,” a title given to the final pick in the NFL draft. Among those who’ve been lucky enough to hear their names called at pick #262, very few have gone on to become highly successful and valuable pieces in a team’s organization. Names like Ryan Succop, Michael Green, and Brock Purdy often come up in talks surrounding the most successful “Mr. Irrelevant” picks to come out of the draft since 2000. In this week’s piece, we’ll be looking at two of these selections and discussing their perceived strengths/weaknesses as noted by NFL scouts and how their stats since being drafted have turned them into such successful and valuable players for their respective organization(s) to have on their team.

To kick things off, we’ll start by discussing the stats and perceived drawbacks of the 2022 “Mr. Irrelevant” draft selection, quarterback Brock Purdy, who was drafted at pick #262 by the San Francisco 49ers. Coming out of college at Iowa State, he wasn’t expected to be a very successful player like everyone who’d come before him in that year’s draft. Many thought that he would struggle because of his overall size, arm strength, perceived “lack of athleticism,” and his not-so-illustrious performance in college. However, Purdy quickly proved those naysayers wrong as his career progressed. Since being drafted, he’s played 82 games, appeared in a Super Bowl (Super Bowl 58), thrown for a total of 9,518 yards and 64 touchdowns, been intercepted only 27 times in 40 games, and had a passer rating of 104.9. With stats like these for a player who’s only been in the league for three years, it’s safe to say that Brock Purdy has already made a name for himself in the NFL and will only continue to succeed as his career progresses.

The 2009 “Mr. Irrelevant” draft pick has also certainly made a name for himself. Since being drafted into the league as pick #256 by the Kansas City Chiefs, place kicker Ryan Succop has had an incredible career in the NFL. Despite his not being a highly sought-after prospect from the University of South Carolina, many NFL scouts expected Succop to excel due to his high potential. Since making his debut in the league, Succop has appeared in 216 games for three different teams (one of them being a Super Bowl for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), made 320 of 386 field goals (82.9%) and 470 of 489 extra points (96.1%), and scored a total of 1,182 points over the course of this career. With such impressive stats, it’s easy to see how Ryan Succop’s name could be highly regarded forever.

 —Seth VanEss, Sports Editor

April 25, 2025

Get Odd; Be Happy

When people think about self-care, they might think about consistent routines. They may think of self-care as rooted in their image, adjusting themselves based on others’ perceptions and, along their self-care journey, forgetting to be happy. But you don’t need others’ approval to take care of your mental health. Here’s a list of some odd but fun things to do to feel good, in my personal opinion.

1. Dance like nobody’s watching: Put on your favorite playlist and just dance around your room. It’s a great way to relieve stress and boost your mood.
2. Talk to your plants: Seriously! Giving your plants some love and attention can be surprisingly therapeutic. Plus, it might help them grow better!
3. Write a letter to your future self: Share your hopes, dreams, and goals. It’s a fun way to reflect on where you are now and where you want to be.
4. Try a new food combination: Get adventurous in the kitchen! Mix together ingredients you wouldn’t normally pair and see what happens. You might discover a new favorite snack!
5. Have a themed movie night: Pick a theme, like “’80s classics” or “space adventures.” Then binge-watch movies that fit that theme. Don’t forget the popcorn!
6. Make a vision board: Gather images and quotes that inspire you, then create a collage. It’s a creative way to visualize your goals and dreams.
7. Go for a walk in a silly costume: Embrace your inner child and wear something fun while you stroll around. It’ll definitely bring some smiles!
8. Build a puzzle: Play some soft-toned music in the background, grab your favorite drink, and enjoy putting those pieces together. It’s great way to escape and feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish.
9. Sing in the shower:  Everybody sounds good in the shower. And what better way to relieve some tension by belting out your favorite songs.

These quirky ideas can add a little joy and creativity to your self-care routine.

April 25, 2025

The Canadian Tuxedo

The denim-on-denim trend is making a delightful comeback in Spring 2025, offering a fun and modern twist on the classic “Canadian tuxedo.” This season, designers are playfully embracing layered denim looks with fresh silhouettes, exciting washes, and creative styling techniques that render this trend more versatile and approachable than ever!

One of the most exciting parts of this denim-on-denim revival is the fun shift towards mixing contrasting washes! Imagine pairing your light-wash jeans with a darker denim jacket or a cozy mid-tone chambray shirt. This approach creates a balanced and intentional aesthetic that feels fresh and lively, steering clear of a monotonous look. Plus, oversized jean jackets, cropped vests, and even structured denim corsets are becoming favorites, effortlessly adding dimension and shape to your full-denim outfits!

Denim skirts and dresses are really making a splash! They’re frequently paired with matching denim accessories like bags, belts, and boots. This trend playfully nods to retro influences by bringing in ‘90s-style wide-leg jeans, fun distressed details, and even quirky patchwork designs for a bold and stylish statement.

No matter if you opt for stylish heels or go for a comfy pair of sneakers, the denim-on-denim trend showcases its amazing versatility, making it an essential look for Spring 2025. This exciting twist on a classic fabric offers effortless layering and keeps you feeling comfortable while exuding that cool, street-style vibe that’s just right for the season.

April 25, 2025

More random knowledge we dug up this week. 

Wandering Wikipedia: The Lobster War

This week, I felt like a crustacean, under a whole lot of pressure, and I needed a laugh. Luckily, a memory struck me. The memory of LOBSTER WAR! So that is precisely what I will be talking about today.

What is the Lobster War, exactly? The Lobster War was a conflict between the French and the Portuguese, in which France had lost almost all of its colonies on the African continent, and consequently, lost maritime waters where they would catch large quantities of lobster. However, with those territories and waters gone, the French supply of lobster sharply dwindled. This led to them sending a delegation to the state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, in order to request authorization for three ships to research the lobster nurseries off the Brazilian continental shelf for 180 days.¹ Additionally, all ships were required to have inspectors aboard who were part of the Brazilian navy in order to make sure they were doing what they said they were going to be doing.

Upon later inspection, it was found that they had numerous violations of Brazilian regulations. First, they had sent four ships, instead of the authorized three. Second, and finally, they were not researching the lobster nurseries; they were actually catching the lobsters with intent to return to France with them.

Later, in November of the same year (1961), with a new president in place, the French again requested permission to research lobster nurseries on the continental shelf. You’ll never guess what they did next. They went fishing, and so the Brazilian government was through with them and expelled them from their waters, thus beginning what will forever be known on Wikipedia as the Lobster War.

The war started as a simple, diplomatic argument about whether or not the French should be able to harvest lobster from the continental shelf. The French argued that they should be able to, since the lobsters swim through the water. The Portuguese instead argued that the lobsters crawl along the continental shelf. At the time, the French argument would allow them to catch the lobsters, since they were considered to be in international waters, but if the Portuguese argument held true, then the French would not be allowed to catch the lobsters, since they would be on defined Portuguese territory.

This whole diplomatic battle lasted until real conflict broke out on February 11, 1963. Countries sent warships to each other’s shores, and the Portuguese continued to escort away French fishing vessels, until March 10, 1963, when peace, and an agreement, were struck. The French would be allowed to catch Portuguese lobster in limited quantities, during limited times, and only if they shared their profits with the Portuguese government.

April 25, 2025

Meme of the Week: SpongeBob

In 1999, history was made with the premiere of the Nickelodeon cartoon SpongeBob Squarepants. Created by Stephen Hillenburg, the show stars SpongeBob and follows all the adventures he goes on with his friends in the ocean city of Bikini Bottom. Ever since the show came out, it has taken over the airwaves, and it has stayed like that for over 25 years. One way that the show has stayed so relevant was through memes.

In the first few seasons of SpongeBob, there were a lot of episodes that were considered the cream of the crop. When an episode evokes a positive feeling from the majority of viewers, then the remembrance factor skyrockets. With every episode from the first three seasons being at least a little memorable, a lot of the memes come from that era. Some of my favorites are “Imagination,” “No, this is Patrick!”, and “Confused Mr. Krabs.”

SpongeBob has been producing new episodes since the late ’90s, and I don’t think they’re going to stop soon. Hopefully even more memes will come from the show that can connect us back with our childhood.

April 25, 2025

Fantasy Fight Club: Marty McFly & Doc Brown vs. Rick & Morty

Are you ready to rumble?

Tonight’s matchup is a pair of positively iconic dynamic duos. Two mad scientists, two sidekicks, two crazy cars, and two ways to travel between worlds.

In the corner, as red as his puffer vest, is Marty McFly and Doc Brown from Back to the Future. With Doc’s DeLorean, custom-modded with a flux capacitor that allows it to travel through time once it hits 88 mph, along with Marty’s skills on a hoverboard and a skateboard, they’re sure to make formidable foes for any who would dare to challenge this dynamic duo.

Their challengers tonight, however, have yet to meet their match. They’ve been through multiverses, heisted alien treasure, and laid waste to planets at a time. If science could believe in a god, It would believe in this scientist. Tonight’s challengers, In the corner, as blue as Rick’s hair, are Rick and Morty from their show of the same name. There’s Rick, with his seemingly infinite knowledge, and Morty, with his teenage angst, unstable hormones, and probably PTSD from what Rick has put him through. This duo isn’t simply formidable: they’re downright dangerous.

So, who wins? That depends on who strikes the first blow, who shoots first, if you will. See, if Doc gets in the Delorean, goes back to when Rick is vulnerable, and puts an end to him there, he wins; however, if Rick portals to where Doc is vulnerable, he wins. So in the end, this fight comes to a draw.

—Sylvie Cavros

April 25, 2025

Fantasy Fight Club: Bill & Ted vs. Wayne & Garth

Welcome back to Fictional Fight Club, where fictional characters FIGHT TO THE DEATH! In this edition, we have two dynamic duos facing off against each other in the battle for radicalness. In one corner, we have two time-traveling best friends (deleted comma) who will do anything to make their adventures “excellent” — Bill & Ted. In the other corner, we have basement-show-hosts-turned-mainstream-sensations. who are here to rock your world — Wayne & Garth. Let’s get ready to rumble!

Starting off with Bill & Ted, they are just two dudes trying to start their band, Wyld Stallyns, and prevent Ted from being shipped off to military school. Needing to pass their history final, they use a phone booth to go back in time to interact with the greatest people in history. Having the power to time travel is a great skill, especially for getting advice for your history final.

Moving on, we have Wayne & Garth. They started off from humble beginnings, having a public–access TV show in their basement. When they get their big break, they discover the highs and lows of mainstream television. But with their goofy antics, they got their show and a lot of memorable allies to help them in the future.

With these two duos, the loveable idiot factor goes above and beyond. We’re dealing with time travel and the power to break the fourth wall. Both things would destroy the world as we know it. But if they went head-to-head, I believe that Bill & Ted will take the win. First off, they can go to any point in time, including the future. Fun fact about these two: they are worshipped in the future. Even if Wayne and Garth took them down, they can change the events of time.

Even if Bill & Ted annihilate the Wayne’s World bros, Wayne & Garth have an ace up their sleeve. They can manipulate the audience. The fourth wall is a powerful weapon, and Wayne & Garth could potentially make Bill & Ted come off as the worst people in the world. The only problem with that is I don’t think Wayne & Garth would stoop that low.

According to a local ’90s legend, my mom, Bill & Ted will win, she states, “because Bill & Ted were prepared to take on any challenge that came at them through all of time. Wayne & Garth just wanted to party on.” And honestly, I couldn’t agree more. But don’t fear Wayne & Garth fans, because I don’t think Bill & Ted would kill them. They probably would give them a primetime slot for Bill & Ted TV. I personally want to watch Wayne’s World in a Bill & Ted future.

And that will do it for another rendition of Fictional Fight Club. Tune in next time to see who will be fighting to the death!

April 25, 2025

Four Tips to Being a Good D&D Player (from a Forever DM)

Envision this: you are at your typical D&D table; everyone is laughing at the Dungeon Master’s (DM’s) silly jokes and people are making heroic moves, but eventually you end up in a serious and dangerous position with the main villain right in front of you. Your villain gives you a deal: he will spare your lives and leave you alone as long as you hand him one mysterious stone you found after clearing the dungeon. The entire party agrees, going with the obvious plot hook, except for one. Jimmy McJimface, your resident D&D pro, stands up and shouts, “We aren’t agreeing with this guy, right guys?!” and rolls a nat-one to attack.

Have you ever wondered if you are being a good player at your D&D table? Are you ever worried that the other players are getting annoyed at your antics? Do you struggle with communication skills? Well, follow these four tips to being a better D&D player!

1. Don’t be afraid of communicating openly! D&D is a team game. You’re playing with a group of people, which means you should have a clear idea of everyone’s expectations. Before you play D&D, have conversations about your expectations, what you want out of the game, your plans for your character, and if there are any problems with how someone plays D&D. When it comes to this amazing tabletop game, we all might have different expectations and playstyles, which is completely okay, but if you aren’t willing to communicate those aspects or adjust to other people, then you won’t have as much fun. You might also be ruining other people’s experiences without communicating openly. This isn’t saying that you can’t be a crazy character, or play as a murder hobo, but make that clear. Ensure that how you want to play also is fun for everyone else.
2. Make friends! If you are playing D&D, make friends with everyone at the table! If you aren’t doing that, then be prepared for things to be very awkward when you are sitting around the table before a game starts. This tip also applies to being in character! When you are playing as your character, be well acquainted with your other party members. You don’t exactly have to make your character friendly with everyone, but that doesn’t mean you should be some loner who is constantly leaving the party alone to do their own thing which takes time away from everyone else. If you are playing as someone who doesn’t make friends easily, play into that. Have awkward character interactions with other players. Make flavorful argument scenes. Spring your antagonistic character into a reluctant friend of the party. Remember, D&D is a team game, so always be willing to interact with other people and stop thinking that you don’t have a team!
3. Stop trying to “win!” D&D is a game yes, but unlike many games, you aren’t just trying to beat a level; you are trying to work your way through the story. For D&D, the game is the journey. The journey might lead to an awesome ending, but until you get there, stop trying to constantly speed things up. Yes, if you do somehow successfully kill the main villain in the first session, you would prevent lots of tragedy, but then where’s the flavor for the rest of the entire campaign? As a player, you are playing in a world or story that the DM is running; that doesn’t mean you have to act as a train being railroaded but also stop treating the game like a race. Sometimes in D&D, you will encounter difficult boss battles, or you might even lose something precious to you. Frustrating things might happen, and it’s all okay. Take a moment to breathe and remember that the point of the game is to have a fun journey. Journeys contain all sorts of twists and turns, so be prepared for all sorts of things. That means no, Jimmy, you may not use prestidigitation to kill the evil god that is bringing ruin to this world.
4. Your number one priority is having fun! This last tip is very simple. Have fun! That’s all that D&D is for; it’s an entertaining activity, and if you aren’t enjoying the hobby, then why are you doing it? When playing D&D, remember that you are just having fun with a group of friends all sitting around and acting like geeks. So, go have fun, you nerd!

April 25, 2025

The most unsettling true-crime cases … 

Joseph Clark, The Baraboo Bone Breaker

Trigger warning: child assault and torture.

Many people today never think that a sadistic killer could be living among them in their home state or even right next door. They typically believe that to only happen in the true crime TV shows and movies that are played and replayed across their TV screens at night. However, that nightmare can and did happen for one boy living in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Coming out of Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1995, our case for this week’s issue of Creep of the Week surrounds the methodical kidnapping and two-day torture of 13-year-old, Thadius (Thad) Phillips by his 17-year-old neighbor, Joseph (Joe) C. Clark.

In the early morning hours of July 29, 1995, Thad found himself being carried out of his house by an unknown individual. In his groggy state, Thad thought nothing of it, thinking it was just a family friend. After being carried for half a mile, Thad ws brought into a dirty, cluttered home, and quickly realized that it wasn’t a family friend who’d taken him, but his neighbor, Joe Clark. Inside the house, Joe lured Thad upstairs to his bedroom with the promise of looking at a model car collection. However, as soon as the pair got up to the room, Joe flew into an unprovoked rage. He threw Thad onto the bed on his back and grabbed his ankle, twisting it around until the bone snapped. Following this attack, Thad broke free, ran out of the room, and down the stairs while Joe chased after him. He made it halfway across the kitchen before Joe caught up to him and threw him onto the sofa, where he proceeded to break Thad’s femur. After this, Joe’s entire demeanor switched. He began to act normal and friendly again. Eventually, he would even go as far as to create “make-shift casts” for Thad by putting layers of crew socks on over his broken bones. This theme continued over and over for the next two days; Thad attempting to escape after throwing himself down the stairs, Joe catching up to him, snapping a bone, placing socks over it, and then acting like everything was normal again.

It wasn’t until the second night that Thad decided to make another attempt at escaping the house. Joe was gone, and Thad was locked in Joe’s bedroom closet, as he did not want to take the chance of Thad escaping again. While inside the closet, Thad was able to find a wooden guitar that he then used to smash through the door. After escaping the closet and bedroom, Thad threw his broken body down the stairs for the final time and crawled to the kitchen where he was able to reach a phone and call 9-1-1. This resulted in Thad being rescued from the house and the apprehension of Joe later that night while at a party. His arrest resulted in a life sentence plus one hundred years in prison, and Thad was able to make a full recovery.

Thad’s incredible story of survival can be heard in its entirety by searching for Season 5, Episode 18 of the hit television series I Survived, available free on Tubi, Sling TV, and Pluto TV.

April 25, 2025

Eco-Conscious Food Labels

An important part of shrinking our ecological footprints is making informed decisions about the products we consume — in many cases, the things we literally consume. Making informed decisions about what we eat means understanding the terminology and labeling that affect these choices. Organic: For something to be organic, the producer has to do more than just avoid using chemicals in pesticides and fertilizers. Organic growers are required to protect soil quality through things like rotating crops, limiting how much they plow their land, and planting cover crops to limit erosion. For animal products to be labeled organic, the animals that produce them must have a certain amount of access to pasturage, fresh air, and sunshine. Because of the requirements for something to be organic, we as consumers are exposed to fewer potentially toxic substances when we eat organic foods, and farmers are able to preserve valuable resources, like soil. For more information, you can read USDA’s “Introduction to Organic Practices.” Natural: If something is labeled “all-natural,” that does not mean that it is organic or even antibiotic- or hormone-free. It simply means that nothing synthetic or artificial has been added, such as flavorings or food colorings. This helps us avoid putting things in our bodies when we don’t know what they are.

Antibiotic-free: This is a label applied to animal products and means pretty much exactly what you would think it would mean — the animals that produce the products are raised without antibiotics or artificial hormones. This is important because antibiotics are often overused on factory farms, which can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This means that when a human gets infected with the same bacteria, there is a higher chance that the antibiotics will be less effective.

Cage-free vs. free-range vs. pastured-raised: A standard practice for industrially farmed chickens is to put them in cages for their entire lives. If eggs or something else are labeled as “cage-free,” that means that they were produced by animals who weren’t in cages. It doesn’t guarantee anything past that. “Free-range” means that the animals have a certain amount of access to an outdoors pasture area, but it doesn’t necessitate that they ever go out in this area. “Pasture-raised” means that the animals are allowed to graze and forage in a pasture for a significant part of their lives.

Of course, there are many more terms than these, but I thought these would be a good place to start, as these are some of the more common or important ones and have given me the most confusion in the past. I hope this is useful for you!

—Neesa Peak, Eco-Actions Editor