Mount Hood

Listen to these podcasts for a good laugh

Check out these comedy and slice-of-life podcasts

Rylie Horrall | Managing Editor

While many people find enjoyment in the uncertainty and suspense of a true crime podcast, I particularly enjoy listening to comedic or slice-of-life genres. They can provide a relaxing aura after a stressful day, or even a lighthearted ambiance for studying and working on assignments for classes. For those interested in expanding their list of chill and funny podcasts, try listening to the ones below:

  • “The Big Ones” (Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Earios) ⏤ Playing off of the title, this podcast answers morally challenging questions, spanning from relationship dilemmas to decisions made throughout history and more. Earios founders Maria Blasucci and Amanda Lund discuss their own answers to complicated ethical questions, and allow the listeners to do their own thinking on the topics.
  • “Can I Pet Your Dog?” (Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcasts) ⏤ As the title suggests, these weekly episodes cover dog-related topics that hosts Renee Colvert and Alexis Preston want the viewers to know. From discussions about their own dogs to dogs they saw on the street that week, this podcast provides some fun and lighthearted content for dog lovers.
  • “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness” (Stitcher, Spotify, Earwolf, Apple Podcasts) ⏤ Jonathan Van Ness is known from his TV shows “Queer Eye” and “Gay of Thrones,” but he takes on a different form of entertainment with this podcast. Episodes explore whatever he’s curious about that week, and includes various guest speakers relevant to the topics discussed.
  • “How Did This Get Made?” (Stitcher, Spotify, Earwolf) ⏤ This podcast centers around terrible movies that have been made; the hosts watch the movie submitted by listeners and then discuss the results with their “funniest friends.”
  • “Is We Dumb?” (Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcasts) ⏤ A recent addition to the comedy section of the world of podcasts, Dan Cummins and Joe Paisley explore the internet weekly for the dumbest and funniest content it has to offer. In their own words, it’s a chance to “laugh at the possible collapse of society.”
  • “Jenna & Julien Podcast” (Stitcher, Spotify, YouTube, iTunes) ⏤ Created by YouTubers JennaMarbles and julien solomita in 2014, this podcast centers around random conversations the two feel like having for their episodes. Listeners can hear about their everyday mishaps, drunk discussions, fun games to play and more. 
  • “The Slice of Life” (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox) ⏤ This podcast is all about, as the title suggests, life in general with conversations about geek life, entertainment and fun stories. Episodes are hosted weekly by Minnesotans Michael and Isaac to provide some relief from daily life occurrences.
  • “Sorry We’re Stoned with Tish and Brandi Cyrus” (Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcasts) ⏤ Hosted by mother-daughter duo Tish and Brandi Cyrus, this slice-of-life podcast covers candid conversations between the two. From advice to current events to insight into their personal lives, episodes provide an unfiltered look at their busy lives.
  • “SuperMegaCast” (Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Podbay) ⏤ Another YouTube-based podcast, listeners can hear about random encounters and events from the day-to-day lives of YouTubers Matt Watson and Ryan Magee. Episodes are released weekly and range in topics from what’s in the news to antics and interviews with their friends.


Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Catch these flicks coming out in April

Watch from home or hit the theaters for these new movies

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

There are always new movies hitting streaming services, and with select movie theaters opening back up, there are even more films to enjoy in April, while social distancing. Some films are re-releases of old school favorites, like Sky High, or popular series like Shadow and Bone. Whether people are going out or staying in, here are over twenty of the latest titles to hit the silver screen ⏤ and laptop screen ⏤ this month:

April 2

  • “Every Breath You Take” (AppleTV, Vudu, Amazon Prime)
  • “Roe v. Wade” (YouTube, GooglePlay, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Apple TV)
  • “Assault on VA-33” (YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime)
  • “The Girl Who Believes in Miracles” (Select theaters)
  • “Sky High” (2005) (Disney+)
  • “The Unholy” (Select theaters)
  • “Just Say Yes” (Netflix)
  • “Madame Claude” (Netflix)
  • “Godzilla vs. Kong” (Select theaters) 

April 6

  • “Dawn of the Beast” (Amazon Prime)
  • “The Enormity of Life” (AppleTV, GooglePlay, Vimeo, FandangoNOW)

April 7

  • “Dolly Parton: A Musicians Tribute” (Netflix)

April 8

  • “The Power” (YouTube, GooglePlay, AppleTV)

April 9 

  • “Voyagers” (Select theaters)
  • “Thunder Force” (Netflix)
  • “Held” (Theaters)
  • “Naked Singularity” (Select theaters)

April 10 

  • “The Nameless Days” (Select theaters)

April 16 

  • “Vanquish” (Select theaters)
  • “In the Earth” (Netflix, Disney+)
  • “Killer Among Us” (Select theaters)
  • “Monday” (Amazon Prime)

April 20

  • “Night of Sicario” (FandangoNOW)

April 22

  • “Stowaway” (Netflix)

April 23

  • “Shadow and Bone” (Netflix series) 
  • “Together Together” (Select theaters)
  • “Mortal Kombat” (HBO Max)
  • “Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train” (Select theaters) 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Review: “Birds of the Northwest”

Discover the joys of birdwatching with “Birds of the Northwest” 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Birdwatchers throughout the Pacific Northwest can rejoice: the visual identification guide “Birds of the Northwest” just made birdwatching so much easier. Award-winning photographer ⏤ and author of over 175 field guides and other literature ⏤ Stan Tekiela shows just how easy it can be to learn about native birds. Based on his best-selling bird field guides, this condensed copy manages to cover 130 species of birds found in Oregon, northern California, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

Readers can find key details about the birds and their behavior, such as which ones will eat from backyard feeders, how to tell the variation in a male and female bird and how to tell the difference between their counterparts. There is also an additional section on feeding birds, which are broken up into categories ⏤ Bluebirds, Chickadees & Nuthatches, Doves, Finches, Hummingbirds and Woodpeckers.

The guide is a very condensed pocket sized format, yet manages to go fairly in depth on the variation of identification marks for a bounty of birds. It has useful sections based on the main color of the feathers, going from mostly red, to yellow, green-blue, black and white, gray and fully black birds. Along the bottom of each page shows the average height of the birds in question and their silhouettes for quick comparison, and Tekiela gives brief descriptions of important characteristics for proper identification. 

He uses to-the-point phrases, like for the Pacific Stellar’s Jay, which is described as having blue streaks on its black head and a large crest. Normally, it’s around 11 inches tall and will eat from bird feeders. Learning to name and place birds is a timeless skill, and makes going outside that much more immersive. It takes patience and a handy guide, but in time, anyone can practice their birdwatching skills.  

Review: I would have to give this a 4.5/5 because the book is so handy and detailed, which makes it essential for beginner birdwatchers. Before buying this book, it was difficult to correctly identify each bird I saw since there were so many. After getting the guide, it’s become increasingly easier to find the right fowl. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

‌Give a big green thumbs up for gardening

These five YouTube channels make gardening easy-peasy 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

The saying that “April showers bring May flowers” is especially true in Oregon, with the sunny spring weather being pretty touch and go. In between the rainy days, gardening at home can be an explorative and rewarding hobby; anyone can cultivate their own garden, even if they have no green thumb or outdoor space. There are YouTube channels dedicated to all things indoor horticulture, and ones that teach the very basics of planting, harvesting and tending to a garden. Poking around on YouTube can help anyone feel prepared for the upcoming planting season, and these channels are some great go-to’s: 

  • AnOregonCottage

Brian and Jami share their experience running a country cottage in Oregon, with their videos focusing on enjoying a homemade life. They started the channel over ten years ago, and their videos include recipes, garden tours, plant maintenance and the transformation of their 100-year-old farmhouse. 

  • EpicGardening

Kevin Espiritu has a goal of teaching over 10 million people how to grow their green thumb and reconnect with nature, no matter where they live. He has specific plant guides for urban and organic gardening, tips for prepping plants, DIY projects on a budget and countless other tutorials on his channel. 

  • GardenAnswer

Laura has everything that an urban gardener could need, with her videos covering proper care for succulents, which fertilizer to use for specific plants, lighting options and how to get the most out of one’s garden. Along with tutorials, she shows the process of growing from seed, and how she made a fairy house out of homegrown materials. 

  • LearnToGrow

Misilla demonstrates the perfect tricks for indoor and outdoor gardening, sowing seeds, propagating and pruning ⏤ all while being beginner friendly. Many folks can gain inspiration from her outdoor space and setup, and since she’s located in the Pacific Northwest, her videos are great for learning about which plants work best for the area. 

  • TheRustedGarden

Gary Pilarchik provides an in-depth look at all the nuanced parts of growing a garden, such as which bugs can harm the plants, planning an outdoor space, preventing damage, repurposing supplies and advice for saving money on supplies.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Here are a few simple pranks to pull come April 1st

These practical jokes are entertaining for everyone

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

It’s no hoax — April Fool’s Day is nearly here. Traditionally, people pull lighthearted pranks and jokes on unsuspecting family or friends, most of which range in the surprise factor. There are many tried and true tricks, like using fake spilled nail polish on the carpet or the classic caramel dipped onion on a stick. If folks need some inspiration, consider attempting these silly April Fool’s Day antics:

  • Taping googly eyes to household objects is a simple way to provide some laughs through the day. Throw them on the lamp, the TV, on the outside of a coffee mug ⏤ anywhere is possible. 
  • Covering sensors on electronics, or removing the batteries, can be a harmless way to prank the household for part of the day.
  • Take dark colored paper and cut out an insect, then tape it to the inside of the lampshade to make it look like there’s a large bug lurking. Plastic toy insects work just fine in a pinch and are normally pretty cheap.
  • Scrape the filling from a few Oreo cookies, and replace it with white toothpaste. Leaving some of these cookies ready on a plate can help entice the prankee to fall for it.  
  • If there’s a near empty or fully finished jar of mayonnaise, rinse out the container very well and replace it with whipped cream, and then pretend to eat the “mayonnaise” right from the jar to see people’s reactions.
  • Replace photos in the house with random celebrity pictures or popular TV characters. Some examples people have used in the past are pictures of Danny Devito, Steve Buscemi and Shrek.  

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Honoring the experiences of BIPOC students across Oregon universities

This Instagram page holds Oregon universities accountable, one post at a time

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

The college experience can be an exciting time for many students, and it can also be inherently stressful — the days are full of cramming study sessions, keeping up with assignments and too many late nights. Unfortunately, there are larger issues that have been running rampant across many universities in Oregon, ones that heavily impact Black, Indigenous and People of Color students and their ability to feel safe on campuses. 

One student at Western Oregon University saw the need for a space where BIPOC students can voice their experiences with racism and harassment, so they created the Instagram account @bipocatoregonuniversities. They post experiences that are submitted anonymously through Google Forms, it allows for students from Western Oregon University, University of Oregon and Oregon State University to submit their stories anonymously. 

The creator of this page first saw a need for a safe space over the summer of 2020. They felt compelled to make the account after being profiled for a second time during Winter term of 2021, when trying to buy food at the Valsetz Dining Hall. They recounted this experience, “To people it may not be a huge deal, but for me when the simplest task of getting food is met with bias and assumptions based upon how I look, it can be difficult to feel welcome in a place you pay thousands of dollars a term to attend.” 

After experiencing this racial discrimination on Western’s campus, they followed their gut instinct and created the page to share stories from other students of color, and the page has been active since March 1, 2021.

“The purpose of this page is to make sure that universities do not have any room to think they can silence students of color’s voices by creating policies and forms that statistically deter students rather than helping them get the help and resources they need.”

Since the page started, students across universities have reached out to safely share their experiences, with the creator of the account saying, “So far this experience has been nothing short of phenomenally amazing. I have received overwhelming support from students around the state, as well as faculty, department heads, staff, and employees. I have encountered a particular post that was extremely ignorant and simply uneducated. I made sure to make an example out of what this page was not created to publicize. This page is for students of color, this is a time for particularly white students, staff, and faculty to acknowledge and truly listen to what students on this campus have endured.”

Additionally, “There are always ways for universities to grow and provide support for BIPOC students, such as hiring students of color for student work and leadership positions, a well-funded diversity center and additional supervisors, advisors and counselors of color.

There are many ways white students and staff can uplift BIPOC students, by “understand(ing) why our country, and why our world is the way it is. If you see something that is wrong, don’t just stand there and let it happen. Speak up, and just do the right thing. It’s okay to make good trouble.”

Students deserve to feel safe and represented on their campuses, and Instagram pages such as @bipocatoregonuniversities provide a space for students to be heard until the colleges decide to take further measures to address racism at their own schools.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

‌Hop to it, Easter is just a few days away

Plan something fun for Easter with these suggestions 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Easter get-togethers and egg hunts across the community will look a little different this year, but there is still an abundance of things to do come Easter Sunday. The day can be as simple as enjoying one’s own company ⏤ full of rest, relaxing and eating huge chocolate bunnies. Whatever people may have planned, here are a few things anyone can try to stay entertained:

 

  • For many people, dyeing Easter eggs is a must, although it can get messy. There are online tutorials that explain tips for beginners and ones that show elaborate designs. 
  • Easter egg hunts are a staple activity for people of many ages, and can also be a good way to keep kids engaged for a while. Try it with pets by putting treats in the eggs and hiding them in a place they frequent. 
  • The egg toss is perfect because all ages can participate in the competition. This is another messy game but it allows people to enjoy time outdoors and to practice their hand-eye coordination. 
  • It would be a shame to forget about the egg walk — which requires the player to hold a spoon in their mouth, while an egg balances in the spoon. Then, they walk a certain distance without dropping the egg in order to win. 
  • “Pin the tail on the rabbit” is an easy, interactive game to help entertain the youngsters. This will require a blindfold, a piece of paper, a pen to draw the bunny, some tape and a white cotton ball for the tail. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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