HOLIDAY THIS AND THAT

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- MAY 24, 2025

On the first holiday weekend of our semi-summer, it's a fine time to clear out a few items and make space for new ones. There are always some interesting informational tidbits in the crate beneath my desk. 

A good place to begin is an article from InterestingFacts.com that lists their top fifty fun facts. A case in point is a fact about squirrels. Did you know that male squirrels get smarter in autumn? “Male squirrels get smarter in the fall due to their hippocampus (a part of the brain involved in memory) increasing in size during the time of year when they gather even more nuts than usual.” 

This memory expansion does not need to happen in lady squirrels. “Female squirrel brains don’t show the same effect; researchers speculate that male squirrel brains may change in the fall to act more like the females’ brains already function all year long.” Forty-nine more facts at: https://interestingfacts.com/top-50-most-interesting-facts/. 

With graduations occurring this time of year, it might interest grads to know that good grammar could aid in job hunts, “Effective communication is crucial in today’s professional landscape. Subtle grammar mistakes can undermine your credibility and professionalism, leading to negative perceptions among colleagues and superiors. Strong communication is a key component of professional success, and mastering grammar is an essential step in that journey.” 

An easy example is confusing there, their, and they’re. “Each of these words has a distinct meaning. 'There' refers to a location, 'their' denotes possession, and 'they're' is a contraction of they are." More grammar mistakes at: https://www.wordstrivia.com/grammar/the-most-common-grammar-mistakes-that-are-secretly-hurting-your-career?. 

Knowing how to write in cursive is another thing that could be an asset for grads. “Mastering penmanship remains relevant in our digital age. We may not need to pass a penmanship test to get a job, but it’s still a valuable skill to cultivate outside of school. Research shows that handwriting notes activates multiple brain regions associated with optimal memory, much more so than digital devices. Taking down information by hand or writing a to-do list on paper will preserve that memory longer than typing it into a laptop or phone.” (https://wordsmarts.com/cursive-penmanship/?lctg=3a672565-19ac-4afc-98b6-2fa12c10f211)

Speaking of digital items, do you know how to measure the speed of your computer's mouse? Well, thank Disney for this speed scale. Computer scientists use a reference to Mickey Mouse to gauge the speed. “One mickey is the smallest measurable movement of a computer mouse, typically equal to 1/200th of an inch, or just over 0.1mm. The sensitivity of a computer mouse is likewise measured in mickeys-per-inch, while its speed is measured in mickeys-per-second.” (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/78605/10-ridiculously-precise-units-measurement)

Even if you don't use a computer mouse, it's a safe bet you have a smartphone. The iPhone debuted in 2007, but the smartphone’s true birthdate is November 23, 1992. The phone was Simon from IBM. “Simon was a smartphone in every sense of the word. It was completely wireless and had a digital assistant, touchscreen, built-in programs, and third-party apps.”

Simon never caught on. “The idea was so ahead of its time, there wasn't even a word for it yet. It was called the Simon Personal Communicator. The phone had only one hour of battery life and was eight inches long by 2.5 inches wide. Cell networks were still in their infancy, so reception was spotty at best.” By the time technology improved, Simon was long gone. (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/the-first-smartphone-debuted-in-1992/)

Whether you're old school or a techie, living someplace affordable is desirable. Wallet Hub provides some surprising information related to this. “With the combination of inflated prices and high interest rates in play, many consumers may wonder if they can even afford to buy a home. To identify the most affordable cities for home buyers, WalletHub compared three hundred U.S. cities across ten key metrics. The data set ranges from the costs of homes and their maintenance to tax rates and vacancy rates.” Good news for Michigan. Our state has three cities in the top twenty (Flint, Detroit, and Warren). Better yet, Flint is number one and Detroit is number two. 

Flint's affordability is due to many factors. “Flint, MI, is the most affordable city for home buyers, boasting the lowest cost of living index (COLI) in the country and the most affordable home prices relative to residents’ income. It also has the lowest median home price per square footage, at only $61. It's actually cheaper to buy property than it is to rent it.” See the entire report at:  https://wallethub.com/edu/most-affordable-cities-for-home-buyers/121950. 

Finally, regardless of where you live, getting around any city might be easier in the future. “The world’s first mass-produced flying automobile prototype has been unveiled. Created by Slovakia-based company Klein Vision, the AirCar production prototype made its public debut May 8. The vehicle already holds a Certificate of Airworthiness and has successfully completed over 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings. It’s capable of automatic transformation from car to aircraft in under two minutes.” (https://nicenews.com/innovation/aircar-first-mass-produced-flying-car-prototype/)

The mass produced Air Car is expected to be priced between $800,000 and $1 million. “The new model will run on gasoline and will be able to reach speeds of 155 mph, with a maximum flight range of about 621 miles.” A video of the AirCar in action is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEHbYGqtJp4&t=5s. 

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