INTRIGUING THEORIES

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- FEBRUARY 14, 2026

When it comes to theories you have the option to examine them before including them in your quiver of knowledge. Sometimes science comes into play, but other times the ideas are simply intriguing to consider. 

For instance, a theory related to last week's Super Bowl is that a normal human being would be able to consume the $180 LX Hammer Burger at the big game. “The burger in question featured a bone-in beef shank, a roasted mirepoix demi-glace and blue cheese fondue that cascaded down the burger on all sides. All of that sat in between two brioche buns.”

Would a person even attempt to tackle this monster? An apt observation summed up the possibility. “One imagines a medical professional would need to be called in at some point before a person finished the entire burger.” See the thing at: https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/super-bowl-2026-monstrous-180-burger-slathered-in-blue-cheese-fondue-delights-and-also-disgusts-fans-011814739.html. 

Another theory with a bit more gravitas has to do with parenting. Traditionally, parenting styles have fallen into four groups: authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, and uninvolved. An article on Parents.com adds two more classifications – dog and cat. 

This sounds odd but there is an interesting point here. “When children are small, aim for a dog parenting style. You want to be a dog: you're wagging your tail when you're excited to see them, you’re always there and you’re really enthusiastic. They need that. But as they grow older, mimick a cat’s more standoff nature—to a point. You’re always around; you’re not overly on top of them. But if they’re interested, they can come to you.” More explanation at: https://www.parents.com/cat-vs-dog-parenting-styles-11902339.

In a related theory, there is good news for parents and especially grandparents. “Having a grandparent around to babysit can give parents much-needed time off,  but grandparents themselves may reap some health benefits from this arrangement, too. A new study published by the American Psychological Association suggests that looking after grandkids can boost cognitive abilities and, in some cases, slow cognitive decline.” (https://nicenews.com/humanity/taking-care-grandkids-brain-boost/) 

When it comes to health, research says there's a simple thing that benefits every age group. “Singing is one of those rare activities that don’t require talent to be enjoyable — those of us who can’t carry a tune often have just as much fun as professional crooners. Partaking in song is one of the great joys of being human, and there’s plenty of research behind that.” 

It turns out that there are multiple benefits of bursting into song. It reduces stress, boosts cognitive health, improves respiratory functions, and even stimulates immune responses. Who knew that caterwauling in the shower was a resource? (https://nicenews.com/health-and-wellness/mental-physical-health-benefits-singing/)

Of course, being healthy depends somewhat on where you live. The Visual Capitalist offers their theory in an article with graphics. “For the analysis, states were measured on 99 indicators such as economic hardship, smoking rates, and mortality.” (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/americas-healthiest-states-ranked/)

The healthiest states are: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Utah. “The small state of New Hampshire leads the nation with a score of 0.99. The state’s social and economic factors—seeing the lowest food insecurity, homicide rates, and highest high school completion—drive health outcomes.” 

The least healthy states are: West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. “Louisiana, with a score of -0.94 ranked worst overall, followed by bordering states, Arkansas and Mississippi. Beyond economic hardship, these states see some of the nation’s highest homicide rates, severe income inequality, and low levels of physical activity.”  

Finally, today is Valentine's Day and that usually means a bit of romance is in the air. Luckily, some theories about smooching indicate that this activity can be beneficial. “Matilda Brindle, a University of Oxford evolutionary biologist agrees that kissing can carry significant weight. In fact, she says human ancestors might have been kissing as far back as 21 million years ago.” 

She also adds some advice. “With Valentine's Day approaching practice, practice, practice. There are so many benefits to kissing. It helps you to feel closer, more connected, more comforted. So we can all use a little bit more of that these days." (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-a-kiss-just-a-kiss-exploring-art-science-behind-smooches/)

Now, when it comes to kisses there is one iconic smackaroo that tops the list. If you want to replicate this, first you will need to cook some pasta. “It doesn't get much more romantic than Lady and the Tramp over a shared plate of spaghetti. In fact, that moment of puppy love was one of the best movie kisses of all time.” 

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