ALMOST AMAZING

THE NEFF ZONE -- BYJIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- MARCH 8, 2025

Sometimes you can stumble upon things that are not earth-shattering. These items are sort of amazing and cool to know, but not essential. Life will go on whether you are aware of these nuggets or not. 

 

For instance, something pretty common at kidling parties is Silly String. It's fun shooting those colorful strands all over the place. But did you know that Silly String was not invented as a plaything? “In the 1960s, inventors set about producing a mixture that would rapidly harden after delivery via a spray can, providing a near-instant cast for anyone unfortunate enough to sustain a broken limb.” 

 

One nozzle they tried propelled a stream thirty feet. They took the idea to toy companies and it was rejected at first. However, one toy company saw the potential. “By 1972, when a patent was granted for this foamable resinous composition, Silly String had clearly moved on from its roots as a tool for healing and was well on the way to its destiny as a mess-making accoutrement for partygoers of all ages.” (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/silly-string-was-invented-for-broken-bones/)

 

If you happen to be at a party, Cheetos are likely to be on the snack menu. If so, be sure to inspect every corn puff before you consume it. You could be swallowing a chance for big money. “A Cheeto shaped like the beloved Pokémon Charizard has sold at auction for a total cost of $87,840.” 

 

The description reads: “Presented is a 3-inch long Flamin' Hot Cheeto in the shape of the Pokémon Charizard, affixed to a customized Pokémon card and encapsulated in a clear card storage box.” There were sixty bids on the uniquely shaped snack. See a photo at: https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/03/cheetozard-a-pokemon-shaped-cheeto-sells-for-nearly-88000-at-auction.html. 

 

Most people will never monetize their Cheetos, but they can increase their brain power by gnawing on something else. “Chewing on moderately hard foods might do more than just break down your lunch; new research suggests it could actually boost brainpower by increasing levels of a natural antioxidant, which in turn may improve memory. A recent study published in Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience found that chewing on wood, compared to chewing gum, led to a significant increase in a brain antioxidant called glutathione.”

 

The science behind this is beyond my personal brain power. It's all explained at: https://www.psypost.org/chewing-wood-may-boost-memory-and-brain-antioxidants-study-finds/. However, I am old school. At the next party I attend, I probably won't munch on the selections from the bowl of branches. 

 

Another brainy activity that everyone can enjoy is trying to say a tongue twister. “Tongue twisters are those delightfully tricky phrases or verses that are designed to challenge the articulation and coordination of speech. The hardest tongue twister is packed with sequences of similar sounds, particularly consonants, that are super tricky to say quickly or repeatedly.”

 

HowStuffWorks.com identified the most difficult tongue twister in the world: "Pad kid poured curd pulled cod." MIT researchers added: “Even though it looks easy on paper, it can quickly become a string of muddled syllables. This seemingly simple phrase packs a punch with its use of plosive consonants (the "p" and "k" sounds) and vowel transitions.” Forty-one more twisters at: https://people.howstuffworks.com/hardest-tongue-twister.htm.

 

News from the animal kingdom can be very entertaining. The Buzzfeed community was recently challenged to share the best dog names they've ever heard. These are very inventive, to say the least. For example, I'm a heavy metal music fan, so I got a chuckle out of one name: “Ozzy Pawsbourne, Prince of Barkness.” 

 

Many owners were creative. One couple had twin mini dachshunds named Weenie and Weenis. Another person related this story: “One day while waiting in the lobby, I heard the vet walk into one of the rooms saying, 'Hellooo, Mr. President!' His name was actually Mr. President!" More hilarity at: https://www.buzzfeed.com/abbyzinman/funny-dog-name-ideas. 

 

Then there's the parachuting cat with its own tiny helmet. “Thoth is no scaredy cat. The Bengal mix feline loves participating in whatever his daredevil owner, Ivan Kuznetsov, does. In 2024, the pair tried downhill skiing together, and Thoth took to the sport quickly, so the duo stepped up the intensity. On Feb. 8, Kuznetsov and Thoth went parachute-skiing together at Gribanovka Ski Resort in Russia. The cat's helmet comes from one of Kuznetsov's friends, who makes replicas of skydiving helmets.”

 

That's not all of the activities Thoth enjoys. His escapades include: skiing, snowboarding, swimming, rafting and tandem rock climbing. Thoth is one cool cat. (https://people.com/cat-parachute-skis-with-his-daring-owner-braving-the-chilly-jumps-in-their-own-tiny-helmet-11689977)

 

Finally, who doesn't like watching a panda? The Smithsonian's National  Zoo lets you do that with its Giant Panda Cam at: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam. “Watch Bao Li and Qing Bao as they explore their indoor and outdoor habitats. The Giant Panda Cam is live from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET daily.”  Be ready to say: “Awwww...”

 

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