BONHOMIE BANTER

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- APRIL 19, 2025

The first holiday of the semi-spring/summer season is upon us. Easter is a time for folks to shake off the winter doldrums and gather for a bit of renewal. Smiles and positive vibes should rule the day. Topics featuring bonhomie banter (good-natured friendliness) can set the tone. 

A humorous way to get the conversational ball rolling is with some random useless facts. BuzzFeed has forty of these gems. “In a deck of cards, every king except for the king of hearts has a mustache. Coconuts and cows kill more people than sharks every year. The lint that collects in the bottom of your pockets has a name — gnurr.” More at: https://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/best-useless-facts. 

If food is being served at the gathering, a serving of spaghetto will leave you feeling hungry. “That’s because spaghetto refers to just a lone pasta strand; it’s the singular form of the plural spaghetti.” By the way, that pasta was not originally Italian. “Though its precise origins are somewhat obscure, Arab traders are thought to have introduced pasta to Sicily sometime in the eighth or ninth centuries.” (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/the-name-for-a-single-spaghetti-noodle-is-spaghetto/)

If you traveled by airplane to the get-together, you may be interested to know that boarding passes will soon be eliminated. “Boarding passes and the need to check-in for flights will be scrapped as part of plans to overhaul the aviation industry in the biggest shake-up in fifty years.” 

How will this work? “Passengers will be able to download a 'journey pass' to their phone when they book a flight. It will be automatically updated if any changes are made to the booking. With no check-in, airlines will be alerted to a passenger’s intention to fly when they arrive at the airport and their face is scanned.” More explanation at: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/transport/article/new-airport-rules-boarding-pass-check-in-fs8d5qg2j. 

That's pretty high tech stuff. Many of us will get those airport updates via G-mail. Did you know that the original “G” referred to a cat? “In the early days of the internet,  the first G-mail  gave cat lovers the ability to show off their feline fervor. Those first email accounts weren’t handled by Google. Istead, they were run by the studio behind the Garfield comic strip, Paws Incorporated.” However, Paws never used @gmail,com, which Google launched in 2004. (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/the-first-gmail-was-associated-with-garfield-the-cat/)

A low tech activity that takes place in the summer is painting a house. If you plan to update your abode, the Family Handyman suggests ten popular colors. “In 2025, exterior paint color trends are shifting toward warmer, natural tones and away from the cool grays and stark contrasts that have dominated recent years. Instead, homeowners are opting for soft, earthy neutrals like warm whites, beiges and sand tones, along with mid-range hues like muted blues and greens.” 

Back in my day, we had colors like white and blue. Today's choices are more cleverly named: Rosemary, Swiss Coffee, Needlepoint Navy, and even Anonymous. View the ten leading colors at: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/best-exterior-house-colors/. 

Another common summer activity is fishing. Bass, walleye, and panfish are usual catches around here, but Missouri anglers are dealing with a more frightening prospect if they land a northern snakehead. “The Missouri Department of Conservation has been warning residents of the sharp-toothed northern snakehead, a 'horrifying hybrid of fish and snake' that's been wreaking havoc on native species in Missouri.” Officials warn: “If a catch is made do not throw it back in the water.”

So, if you snag one of these what are you asked to do? “Kill the fish by severing the head, gutting it, or placing it in a sealed plastic bag. Experts warn that northern snakeheads can breathe air and survive out of water for a period. The fish can live on a cooler of ice for days. Even tossing them onto land isn't guaranteed to kill them because it could wriggle back into the water.” (https://www.newser.com/story/367124/feds-if-you-catch-this-fish-slice-its-head-off.html)

In other weird news from the animal kingdom, what would you guess is a current target of animal traffickers in Kenya? In this case, think small and then smaller. “Two Belgian teenagers were charged Tuesday with wildlife piracy after they were found with thousands of ants packed in test tubes. Kenya has in the past fought against the trafficking of body parts of larger species of wild animals such as elephants, rhinos and pangolins among others. But the case represents a shift in trafficking trends from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species.” (https://apnews.com/article/garden-ants-kenya-smugglers-belgians-vietnamese-624f12ae80e0d66a87f03966079efbc1)

Finally, a case where your vote counts. You can help Michigan gain some recognition. “Michigan’s Lake of the Clouds has landed among the stars of the state park world. The state’s beloved wilderness is getting national adoration from USA Today. The contest is to determine he best state park. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is representing Michigan in the national poll.” (https://www.mlive.com/life/2025/04/the-porkies-won-michigans-state-park-tourney-can-it-pull-off-a-national-win.html)

USA Today now gives you a chance to promote the Porkies. “It's your turn to decide which parks stand out as the very best. Cast your vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, May 12. Vote at: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-state-park/. This is a situation where it's perfectly legal to vote early and vote often. 

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews. 

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