The Quill

Useless knowledge we dug up this week.

The Spaghetti Tree Hoax

In 1957, the BBC aired a three-minute segment on the Swiss spaghetti harvest. Yes, the spaghetti harvest. Did you think spaghetti came out of a box? Narrated by the BBC’s leading news commentator Richard Dimbleby, a trusted voice by the British public, this seemingly benign April Fools’ Day joke bamboozled an audience not yet accustomed to such an exotic delicacy. If Dimbelby said spaghetti grew on trees, then by jove, it grew on trees. The esteemed men on the television would never tell lies, after all. Why, that’s just … well, it’s just poppycock! What sort of monster would do such a thing?

Needless to say, the decision to tell lies on national television was a controversial one. The day after the Spaghetti-Tree Hoax aired, the BBC allegedly received hundreds of phone calls either debating the story’s veracity or inquiring how one might grow a spaghetti tree of their own. The official response? “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

Oh, and if you’re curious: The cost of this charade amounted to a little over $3,000 by today’s standards—including travel to Switzerland. Really makes you wonder what else is possible with a bit of cash and a dream, huh?

—Kana Coonce, Wandering Wikipedia Editor

Videos for Better Sleep and Study Habits

In the spirit of April Fools’, this week, we have three videos that will make you laugh, ranging from dogs to cats and vines and funny baby videos!

YT Video 1: Funniest Animals 2023
Everybody loves animal videos, whether it be them talking or doing something completely random. This video is completely animal videos that are guaranteed to make you laugh.

YT Video 2: Vines That Kept Me Alive
Remember before TikTok we had Musically, and before that we had Vine? This is a compilation of Vine videos guaranteed to bring back feelings of nostalgia and fun.

YT Video 3: Best Funny Baby Videos
Babies can be either annoying, cute, or funny. This video is a compilation of babies being funny and confused, which will make you laugh.

—Kelsey Vanderpool, YouTube Editor

Influential Athlete: Russell Wilson

This edition’s influential athlete is Russell Wilson, who plays quarterback in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2014, Russell and his wife Ciara created the Why Not You Foundation. This foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty through education, and empowering youth to have the “Why Not You?” attitude. In other words, the organization challenges youth to embrace opportunities, overcome obstacles, and make positive impacts throughout their lives. The foundation also supports equal opportunities for students, and even children’s health and food-security initiatives. Wilson works hard at extending the foundation’s support and impact by advocating for research into illnesses like pediatric cancer, making visits to various children’s hospitals across the U.S., and partnering with various organizations like the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America. One of the foundation’s more recent endeavors surprised ten nonprofit organizations from Colorado and Utah with $100,000. These grants were given to help further build their work for creating healthier communities. You can donate to this charity here.

—Cheyenne Schreiner

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

A Ridiculous Sport to Try

Why pickleball? 

I chose pickleball for this issue’s coluimn because it is a goofy sport, which I never thought about playing until the teacher brought it up in gym class my senior year. Like, what the—? What is that sport? It was kind of fun for me, but I’m also competitive and wanted to try to make it enjoyable for myself by beating my opponent. But it is just so ridiculous—like, why it is even a thing? It is literally multiple sports combined. Like, just play those sports separately! Well, let/s see what pickleball is about.

What is pickleball? 

Pickleball is a blend of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. It’s played with a flat paddle, similar to an oversized ping-pong paddle. The ball is a lightweight, perforated plastic ball that’s slightly larger than a tennis ball (like a wiffle ball).

This ball is “dinked” (or hit) back and forth across a low net (2” lower than a tennis net), on a court that’s about a third the size of a tennis court. The gameplay is most similar to tennis, but the scoring is different—you can only win points on your serve.

Pickleball is most commonly played in doubles, and the combination of this format and a small playing area makes it an inherently social game. In fact, pickleball and its fans (a.k.a. “pickleheads”) are known for their easygoing, welcoming nature, and thriving social scene.

Learn more about pickleball at Pickleheads.com.

—Mackenzie Hebert, Sports Editor

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

March 29, 2024

April Fools’ Day Facts

• Perhaps the biggest April Fools’ Day joke of all is that most countries celebrate the holiday, but nobody knows the actual origins of what started the traditional day of tricks. All we know for sure is that now the date of April 1st is a day to celebrate spring and sunshine after the bleakness of winter with harmless pranks.
• A widespread belief is that April Fools’ Day began in 16th-century France when they switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. This switch changed the first day of the new year to January 1st instead of the previous April 1st. Any person that was still celebrating the new year as April 1st was called a fool.
• Historians also speculate that April Fools’ Day origins are connected to the vernal equinox, when the sun is directly above the equator, making day and night the exact same length. This is considered the beginning of spring, which is when Mother Nature’s unpredictable weather makes fools of us all.
• France celebrates Poisson d’Avril, which translates to “April fish.” The most common prank includes sticking a picture of a fish to someone’s back. If you happen to find a fish on your back, someone thinks you were easily caught or gullible.
• Scotland celebrates April 1st as Huntigowk Day where people are sent on fake errands as pranks. The prankster tasks an unsuspecting person with a deceptive mission—think sending someone for “blinker fluid”—and if they do the task, they are the gowk.
• Although many countries post fake news stories to celebrate, Sweden newspapers and news outlets will traditionally post one fake story mixed with the actual news. The citizens will have to figure out which is fake and what is the real news.
• Canada, Australia, and England celebrate the day with traditional pranks with a slight twist to the rules. The prank needs to be completed by noon. If you prank someone after noon, then you are considered a fool. In England, if you successfully prank someone before noon, you are called a noodle.
• Greek tradition says that if you fool someone on April Fools’ Day, their misfortune becomes your good luck. Also, if Mother Nature provides a rain shower on April 1st, collect as much water as you can because it has healing powers.
• Saudi Arabia also celebrates April Fools’ Day with pranks, but make sure you do not post them on social media. Under the anti-cyber crime law, any prank posted with or without consent is a crime that is punishable with hefty fines and/or imprisonment.
• Many countries around the world observe some form of April Fools’ Day, but no country has made the tradition of April 1st pranks an officially recognized holiday

March 8, 2024

Easter Facts

• Easter does not have a set date because the church never recorded the exact date of Jesus’s resurrection. In 325 A.D., the celebration for Easter was set as the first Sunday after the first full moon of the Spring equinox by the council of Nicaea. This is the reason that Easter day ends up anywhere between March 22 and April 25th.
• The church forbade eating eggs during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) until the 16th century. The eggs represent new life and rebirth, so people saved all eggs laid during Lent and painted them to serve as decoration until the fast was over. On Easter Sunday, the family would have a feast that included the eggs in celebration of the rebirth of Jesus.
• A lost tradition in churches is egg-tossing during the Easter Vigil which takes place on the night of Holy Saturday. The priest would throw an egg to a choirboy, and the choirboys would toss it to each other around the church. Whoever was still holding it at midnight would get to keep it.
• During the 16th century, children in Scotland and Northern England would go door to door reciting rhymes for eggs, cheese, and bacon to add to their family’s Easter feasts.
• Cascarones are an alternative to the popular dyed hard-boiled eggs. Originating in China, cascarones are believed to have been brought by Marco Polo to Spain and then to the Americas. In the lower United States and Mexico, the insides of the eggs are removed from the shell by making and then blowing through a small hole in the bottom. Once cleaned, the eggshell is painted, filled with confetti, and sealed with tissue paper. On Easter day, it is tradition to smash the cascarones over people’s heads to give them luck, and it is also considered a sign of affection.
• An old superstition stated that you needed to wear new clothes on Easter to have good luck for the rest of the year. New Yorkers would walk along the streets to show off their new clothes after mass. This is believed to be the beginning of the New York Easter parade.
• Each year, 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced in a variety of flavors. No matter the flavor, 89% of Americans eat their bunnies’ ears first. Only 9% will go for the tails or feet first.
• The world’s largest chocolate egg was made in Italy measuring 34 ft high and 15,873 lbs., but the most expensive chocolate bunny ever made cost $49,000.00. Besides the 548,000 calories of chocolate, the bunny had a pair of 1.07 carat diamonds for eyes. This hare stood about a foot tall and weighed about 11 lbs.
• American’s each Easter buy more than 700 million Peeps. In 1953, this would have been impossible to keep up with demand because it took 27 hours to make one Peep, but now they have the process down to just six minutes a Peep.
• Although people may say that Peeps last forever, they have been scientifically proven to only have a two-year shelf life.
• Jellybeans became a popular Easter candy around 1914 because World War I made eggs harder to get. The chewy candies were a great substitute on the Easter table because of their resemblance to colorful Easter eggs. Americans consume roughly 16 billion jellybeans each Easter, with cherry being the most popular flavor among children.

March 1, 2024

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Facts

• St. Patrick was not born in Ireland and Patrick was not his given name. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, and his home country was Britannia (Roman Britain).
• St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders when he was 16 years old and sold into slavery. It took six years before he was able to escape back to Britain. St. Patrick credited the years spent in slavery with restoring his faith in Christianity.
• St. Patrick is credited with banishing all the snakes from Ireland, but scientific evidence (fossils found on the island, and the inability of snakes to swim to the shores) shows that snakes never inhabited Ireland. Instead, there is a common belief that the snakes in Irish lore are meant to symbolize banishing the Pagans and spreading Christianity.
• St. Patrick’s Day was originally a religious holiday to acknowledge the spread of Christianity in Ireland. After the emigration of nearly two million Irish to America, the holiday became more a celebration of Irish pride then Christianity.
• St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in Ireland with a feast of ham or pork with cabbage instead of the American traditional feast of corned beef and cabbage. The potato famine of 1845, an outbreak of mold that crippled potato crops leading to almost a million Irish dying of starvation, caused about a million Irish natives to come to America. They were extremely poor and could only afford the cheaper substitute of corned beef, which had to be boiled twice on its own before the final third time with cabbage to combat the briny taste of the meat.
• St. Patrick was originally represented not by green but by blue, more specifically the color known as “St. Patrick’s blue.” The blue was to honor the royal crown as well as ancient Irish flags. Green did not become the official color of St. Patrick’s Day until 1798.
• St. Patrick’s Day is symbolized with shamrocks because people believe that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach about the Holy Trinity.
• St. Patrick’s Day is honored with parades across many countries. In the United States, an estimated 100 parades take place, including one in Arkansas that holds the world record for the shortest parade being only 98 feet long.
• St. Patrick’s Day is not observed on March 17th if the Holy Week (the week before Easter) lands on the 17th. The holiday was celebrated on April 3rd when this happened in 1940. In 2008, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated on March 15th. The holiday will not fall on Holy Week again until the year 2160.
• St. Patrick’s Day and Leprechauns have been said to go hand in hand. The leprechaun is a fairy that is part of Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of magical beings who served the goddess Danu, believed to have lived in Ireland long before it was inhabited by humans. Early accounts describe them as wearing red coats (not green), and a variety of hats that were three cornered (instead of the top hat). They are also thought to be tricky, grouchy, and above all solitary.