YOU CAN'T MAKE UP THIS STUFF
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- NOVEMBER 18, 2023
Well kidlings, it's time for another round of "You Can't Make Up This Stuff," the game based on my brother Big Rob's theory that reality is stranger than any fiction. It's deer hunting season, so let's begin with an item for the hunters.
Deer hunting can be pretty easy, particularly when a whitetail comes to your house and rings your doorbell. This actually happened last week. “A Georgia sheriff's office shared security camera footage of a deer that wandered up to a deputy's front door and rang the doorbell. The deer ended up ringing the doorbell with its muzzle.” See the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O91iMuaaIY&t=15s.
Even better, this was a very nice six-point buck. After ringing the bell the deer ran away. No doubt he was chuckling while thinking: “Nah...nah...nah!
A different type of hunting is going on in the Pacific Northwest – troll hunting. For over a decade, artist Thomas Dambo has been carving massive wooden sculptures of the mythical creatures and displaying them in natural settings around the world. Now, six of his fanciful creations are in the Pacific Northwest (five in Washington and one in Oregon). These twelve to twenty-foot tall trolls are made entirely out of recycled materials.” (https://nicenews.com/environment/thomas-dambo-trolls-pacific-northwest/ and https://www.nwtrolls.org/).
Another big thing also recently came to light in Washington state. “A woman practiced her hobby for thirty-four hours and seven minutes. Alessandra Hayden of Gig Harbor broke the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon crocheting, the record-keeping organization confirmed.”
Not only did she set a record, but the effort paid off. “The blanket Hayden made during her attempt was donated to her daughter's school auction, where a friend bought it for $2,000 and gave it back to Hayden as a gift.” (https://www.arcamax.com/entertainment/weirdnews/s-2960472)
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, many people will be traveling to visit friends and relatives. If so, voyagers may want to avoid a scary part of Lake Michigan. “There's one part of Lake Michigan that is often compared to the Bermuda Triangle. The Lake Michigan Triangle covers an area between Benton Harbor and Ludington in Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Tales abound of ships that mysteriously disappeared, never to reach their destinations. To add to the mystery, divers have found underwater monuments the size of Stonehenge, complete with carvings of prehistoric creatures.” Yikes! (https://www.interestingfacts.com/great-lakes-facts/Y-G3vkDItwAIzM_o)
Given the danger of the Lake Michigan Triangle, traveling by airplane rather than by ship may be a better option. If so, be sure to check your seat before deplaning. “It’s been estimated that as much as $58 million is left behind on airplanes every year. Nearly $1 million was left behind in security bins in 2019, all of which was collected — and kept — by the Transportation Security Administration. That amount, which the TSA is required to report, has been steadily growing in recent years. (https://www.interestingfacts.com/fact/653859288cc9afdf71a6153c)
If you do manage to keep all your loose change, it could enlarge your holiday shopping budget. Some retailers will be attempting to make the shopping experience a bit less stressful. They will be utilizing something called “sensory-friendly" hours.
During these times: “(The store) will change the TV walls to a static image, turn off the radio and lower the lights where possible in order to make their stores a less stimulating environment.” (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/11/08/walmart-sensory-friendly-hours/71500645007/)
Speaking of shopping, sometimes less is more. This means that the perfect gift could be something very simple. A recent article proved this: “Forty genius products you didn't know existed that'll solve so many of your stupid problems.” This list is full of practical suggestions. “Things like a tool that helps you put on bracelets by yourself and a foot roller that massages to relieve pain are small items that will allow you to consider your life changed.”
The first item on the list is something that has the potential to alleviate wailing and the gnashing of teeth – a spiral book that keeps all your passwords in one place. The one recommended is the Clever Fox Password Book. “With alphabetical side tabs, and pages pre-labeled with website, username, password/hint, and notes, this book will keep you from that dreaded “wrong password, try again” notification.”
The best aspect of this list is that the majority of the items (or similar ones) can be purchased locally. See the list at: https://www.mic.com/life/genius-products-you-didnt-know-existed-thatll-solve-so-many-of-your-stupid-problems.
Finally, it's always wise to have something non-controversial to discuss at holiday gatherings. A new study in the U.S. News and World Report is just the ticket: “The Most Popular Dog Name in Each State.”
Fido and Rover didn't even make the top one hundred list. “Bella is the most popular name for dogs in thirty-seven states as well as the District of Columbia. Luna is the top name in eight states. Other standouts on the top one hundred names include: Loki (No. 38), Zeus (No. 40), Oreo (No. 44), Pepper (No. 52), Peanut (No. 61), Cookie (No. 67), Honey (No. 71), and Thor (No. 76).”
See the most popular dog names in the country and in each state at: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/pet-insurance/most-popular-dog-names-study. In Michigan, the top five names are: Bella/Luna (tie), Daisy, Charlie, Max, and Buddy.
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.
