CRATE TOHUBOHU
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- SEPTEMBER 6, 2025
The crate beneath my desk is in a tohubohu (state of confusion) and it's time to clear it out. The collection of chaotic topics needs to be set free. Organization must be tossed into the wind.
It might be easier to just close my eyes and try to avoid the mess, but one of the items actually deals with closed eyes. “On average, humans blink fifteen to twenty times per minute, with each blink lasting about 0.1 to 0.4 seconds. We can blink as many as 16,000 times a day while we’re awake — which adds up to roughly between 27 and 107 minutes).”
There is a benefit to blinks that you might not realize. “Studies have shown people often perform better on memory and problem-solving tasks with their eyes closed, and they can also unlock a deeper level of creativity.” (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/humans-spend-10-percent-of-waking-hours-with-eyes-closed/)
With your eyes closed, your sense of smell comes into play. Pure Michigan has something that taps into this. “The state's tourism campaign has made a room and body spray from the scents of a Michigan summer. The sprays sell for $32 online. The product line started with summer but a fall scent, 'HARVEST' and winter one, 'FIRST SNOW,' are planned for later in the year.” (https://www.npr.org/2025/08/24/nx-s1-5506282/michigan-fragrance-beach-scents)
If you do open your eyes, there's a chance you'll spy some unwanted guests in your home. “Summer is officially over, and as the months get colder, you may have already noticed an increase of spiders invading your home to seek warmth, food and shelter until the warmer temperatures return.”
Tom's Guide has some ways to prevent this invasion. “Experts advise to soak cotton wool in peppermint essential oil, before putting them on windowsills or around door frames. The strong fragrance will be too overpowering for such pests, and will prevent them from entering. In addition to peppermint, spiders hate citrus, eucalyptus, and lavender.” More strategies at: https://www.tomsguide.com/home/people-are-urged-to-put-cotton-wool-on-windowsills-this-month-and-its-not-as-wild-as-it-sounds.
During the cold weather, you want to keedthose spiders out. This is not the case with family pets. You want to keep them indoors. Watching them in close quarters will give you a chance to gauge their mental acumen. Dictionary Scoop helps with this. “Every dog has its own unique traits that make it stand out. If you're wondering how smart your dog is, join us as we explore the 10 dog breeds considered the smartest in the world!”
Which breed is number one? “The Border Collie is widely recognized as the most intelligent of all dog breeds. It has it all: athleticism, energy, agility, speed, quick learning, sharp memory, excellent tracking skills, fast responses, intense focus, and outstanding problem-solving ability.” To see if your Fido was one of the other nine finishers, go to: https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/Top-10-smartest-dogs-Find-out-if-your-pup-made-the-list.
If you have an old dog and you want to keep it around for as long as possible, there's a way to do this. “Around three million Americans live with cardiac pacemakers: small, implanted devices that regulate slow heart rates by delivering electrical pulses to the organ. In use since the late 1950s, they can significantly improve quality of life — not just for humans, but for canines, too.
The proviso is that it's very pricey. “Veterinary care can be expensive, and because implanting pacemakers often requires echocardiograms, bloodwork, anesthesia, and hospitalization, not to mention the price of a brand-new device itself, they’re cost prohibitive for some pet parents.” More information, including how to donate a used pacemaker, at: https://nicenews.com/health-and-wellness/donate-your-old-pacemaker-dog/.
Something that can also be pricey involves humans. “In some states, caring for your hair is more costly than others. To determine where Americans are paying the most for a trim and a perm, WalletHub analyzed the price of men’s barbershop haircuts and women’s beauty salon visits in each of the 50 states, then compared them to the median household income.” (https://wallethub.com/edu/states-where-people-spend-the-most-least-on-hair-care/156675)
That coiffure costs the most in Arkansas and the least in New Jersey. Michigan ranks number five on the list. This may shock you, but hairstyle is not a priority with me.
Finally, if the change of seasons makes you feel a bit overloaded, an Oxford University neurologist suggests employing the five minute rule. “When you don’t feel like doing something, start anyway and tell yourself you’ll just do it for five minutes, and then you’ll reassess how you feel. By limiting the commitment to just five minutes, the task feels more manageable and less intimidating. It helps you get over the hurdle, and it limits any procrastination tendencies.” (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/23/brain-doctor-no-1-rule-that-boosts-my-brain-and-energy-when-i-hit-a-mental-wall.html)
There's one more thing to consider. “In the brain, something is always better than nothing. You can build on something, but you can’t build on nothing.”
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 Hair Care