SPRING QUAGSWAGGING

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- APRIL 5, 2025

I must admit that this crazy weather has me at wits' end. It's so irritating that my mood can only be described by an obsolete word from the 1600s – quagswagging. This means something is oscillating, which fits with what's going on outdoors right now. I mean, when I wake up in the morning I can't decide to wear my winter sweats or my summer sweats. It's a daily dilemma.  

This oscillation is spilling over into what I focus on when reading the news. My attention span is all over the place. I'm jumping from one subject to another with no plan in mind. 

For example, I have a pretty common first name, but I was surprised to learn that  nearly one in ten moms wish they chose a different name for their child. A BabyCenter.com survey found even more. “Another fifteen percent of moms say they've had someone outright critique or mock the name they chose. Approximately ten percent of moms say their child's personality simply doesn't match the name they picked.” 

This syndrome is called name regret. The good news is that the problem fades after a time. “Twenty-one percent felt regret during the first year. After that, only six percent of moms say they had those feelings.”  (https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names/advice/baby-name-regret_41002220)

If warm weather ever arrives, you might want to look you best. A new wardrobe may be in order. WalletHub.com says you need to develop a budget for this. “Clothing straddles a fine line between a necessity and a luxury. Clothing is easier to afford in some states than others, though.”

In short, don't shop in Kentucky. “Kentucky has the most expensive clothing prices relative to what residents earn. That’s 2.4 percent of the state’s median monthly household income. For comparison, the same purchases would cost Nevada residents 1.1 percent of their monthly income.” Michigan is the eleventh highest at 1.84 percent. More comparisons at: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-where-people-spend-the-most-least-on-clothes/145022. 

If you do buy new clothes, eventually you'll want to wash them. SouthernLiving.com says you may want to pay attention to the common dryer sheet. “Odds are, dryer sheets are already a part of your everyday life and live inside your laundry room. But these fluffy sheets can be used in amazing ways beyond the dryer.

From cleaning your bathroom to combating stinky feet, there are thirteen genius ways to use dryer sheets in your home.”

One use has to do with those funky shoes. “Slice a dryer sheet in half and put a piece in each shoe after a day of use. Let the sheet work its magic overnight, and your shoes should smell better by morning.” More uses at: https://www.southernliving.com/surprising-ways-to-use-dryer-sheets-8734824. 

While the dryer sheets are deodorizing you shoes, you'll wind up with bare feet. After doing this, you may want to wash those tootsies. “The UK's National Health Service advises washing feet daily with soap and water. Although sweat itself doesn't smell, it contains a nutritious broth of salts, glucose, vitamins and amino acids, which serves as an all-you-can-eat buffet for bacteria that live there. People who washed their feet twice a day had around 8,800 bacteria living in each square centimetre of skin. Those who reported washing every other day had over one million bacteria per square centimetre.” More yucky stats at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250321-how-often-should-you-wash-your-feet. 

Enough about feet! In the summer a great way to pass time is to relax in the shade and read a good book. Reader's Digest has determined which book genre is the most-read in every state. (https://www.rd.com/article/most-read-book-genres-by-state/)

There are some common threads. “Romance may be the most popular genre, but there are plenty of other genres that Americans love to read, including fiction, poetry, fantasy, family drama, mystery and history. Perhaps a somewhat surprising favorite, poetry has become a beloved genre in several states after falling somewhat out of favor in recent years. And while fantasy was once considered an incredibly niche genre, it’s gaining steam.” Fantasy is the top genre for Michigan readers. 

If you travel this summer, be aware of a motor vehicle scam. “Online scammers are constantly evolving their tactics and methods, but one approach has gained popularity in recent months: text messages that claim you owe unpaid traffic tolls.” (https://www.popsci.com/technology/toll-scam-text/)

Beware if you get a text or email resembling this: “Your toll balance is outstanding. If you fail to pay by… you will face penalties or legal action.” The text then instructs a victim to follow payment steps from there. “According to an internet crime complaint report cited by CNBC, the FBI received over 60,000 reports of unpaid toll scams in 2024.” 

What to know and do? “Consumers should know that E-ZPass, or Tolls by Mail, will never send a text or email requesting personal, sensitive information. The same goes for FasTrak, I-Pass, and virtually any other reputable toll service in the US. The best thing to do is report the text as the junk it is, delete it, and even block the number for good measure.” 

Finally, riding bicycles is another popular mode of transportation in the summer. Did you know that bikes had a profound impact on the institution of marriage? “If you think meeting new people nowadays is difficult, imagine doing it without a phone, a car, or even a bike. This was the case for much of human history. The average distance between the birthplaces of spouses in England was one mile prior to the invention of bicycles. Most couples weren’t just from the same village — they were often from neighboring farms.” (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/bicycles-distance-between-spousal-birthplaces/)

Then the bicycle was invented in 1817 and the boundaries of courtship changed forever. “It made it easier for couples who lived farther away from each other to meet.” 

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

States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Clothes -- Click on a state.