THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- AUGUST 2, 2025
Since it's baseball season, the phrase “out of left field” is particularly appropriate. The baseball idiom means something is unexpected, unusual, or surprising. The daily news is full of these “left field” oddities.
A prime example of this is finding out many Americans pronounce some state names incorrectly. “A recent study showed the top five US states that even Americans can't seem to get right.” The closest to us is Illinois. “While one might want to say il-ee-NOISE, the correct pronunciation is 'il-uh-NOY.”
The state name that seems to trip up most folks is Arkansas. “With Kansas just a few states over it seems that the obvious pronunciation would be 'are-Kansas'. But frustratingly, that's not even close. The true pronunciation AR-kuhn-saw.” (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14894155/state-names-pronouncing-wrong-say-correctly.html)
Driving around from state to state, you might notice the condition of roads. Help in fixing the roads could be on the way from a totally unexpected source. “Cigarette butts create a massive and messy environmental burden. Engineers recently developed a method to extract something beneficial from the discarded trash. According to their findings, published in the journal Construction and Building Materials, cigarette filters can substantially strengthen recycled asphalt ahead of its reapplication onto roads.”
This may sound weird, however it may solve a problem in a positive way. “The World Health Organization has estimated smokers throw away around 4.5 trillion filters every year, while recent projections indicate that number may climb as high as 9 trillion by the end of 2025.” (https://www.popsci.com/environment/recycled-cigarette-asphalt-roads/)
After traversing those cigarette butt roadways, you might stop for some liquid refreshment. Another oddity may help you avoid consuming a drink spiked with a drug. “An experimental kind of temporary tattoo can near-instantly test beverages for the presence of unwanted drugs. The study from Korean researchers developed a multicoloured temporary tattoo that reacts to the presence of GHB.”
There is more good news associated with this. “The newly developed tattoos not only allow the users to test their drinks discreetly, but also deliver results in less than a second. The results last for up to a month. The tattoos are inexpensive to manufacture and could be commercially available soon.” (https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/researchers-develop-temporary-tattoos-that-can-test-for-spiked-drinks/)
It's no secret that it has been really hot for a few days this summer. When it comes to the dog days of summer, those dogs can get sunburned just like humans. “Most pet owners know the dangers of overheating and hot pavement during summer, but there’s another seasonal risk that often flies under the radar: sunburn.
While it’s common to think of sunburn as a human problem, animals can suffer the same painful effects of too much sun exposure. It’s more than just an occasional red nose. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to peeling, inflammation, long-term skin damage, and in some cases, even skin cancer in pets.” PetGuide.com has a great article detailing what you can do to protect your dog from misery. Go to: https://www.petguide.com/pets/blog/news/pets-can-get-sunburned-too-heres-what-you-need-to-know-44632900.
Speaking of dogs, a strange result of the Superman movie is happening. “Krypto is proving to have a real world impact too. Thanks to the film, there’s been a surge in dog adoption interest. Following his appearance in the film, viewers are looking into adopting pups like him.”
We're not talking just a few random adoptions. “According to the dog training app Woofz, Google searches for 'adopt a dog near me' jumped up 513 percent after the opening weekend of 'Superman,' while the more specific 'rescue dog adoption near me' rose by 163 percent.” (https://www.thewrap.com/superman-2025-dog-adoptions-increase-krypto/)
Cats are in also in the news. In fact, they are the center of a major trend this summer. Have you ever noticed that your cat loves to roll around on your concrete driveway? “The rough surface of the pavers makes for a great back scratcher. The texture is also extra suited to holding onto scents, which are vital to cats' sense of safety, ownership and belonging in their space.”
So, maybe it was inevitable that the concrete experience would eventually move indoors. “Cat parents, clear your shopping carts of those robo toys and costly towers. This summer's hottest commodity is a simple slab of concrete. Pavers sell for about two dollars - a real bargain for those who have felt the sting of buying a pricey toy or scratching post just to watch their cat snub it entirely.” (https://www.usatoday.com/story/pets-animals/cat/2025/07/20/concrete-slabs-cats-viral-trend/85272493007/)
Finally, there's great animal news from the United Kingdom. The first snow leopard to be born at the Chester Zoo in its 94-year history is now being watched by people all aver the world.”
This is an important development. “Snow leopards, nicknamed the 'ghosts of the mountains,' are one of the world’s rarest big cats. They’re found in remote regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas, but only around 4,000 are estimated to remain in the wild. The species, currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, and poaching.” (https://nicenews.com/environment/first-snow-leopard-born-chester-zoo/)
Watch a video of the cub at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBNXTYfh3PM&t=308s. Be prepared to give this a big ”aaaawwwwwww.”
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.